Batavia seeks sculpture to crown bridge

Although it may seem that Batavia's Wilson Street bridge work will never be done, the city is starting the process of putting its final touches in place.

The city council approved putting out a call last week for artist submissions for a sculpture that will adorn a plaza near the bridge.

There will eventually be four plazas -- one at the bottom of a stairway at each corner of the bridge. One sculpture a year will be placed there starting in 2008, featuring the themes nature, art, science and history.

The first sculpture will be the "nature" theme. Artists from across the country will submit their ideas to the city by Nov. 15, and a public open house with all the ideas will be held Nov. 29.

The nominations will be narrowed down to a group of finalists with another public open house, and the winner will be announced on March 3, 2008.

The sculptor will get a $30,000 commission for the work, which will come from funds from an area TIF district.

The first sculpture is scheduled to be installed on Aug. 1 of next year.

River clean-up: A local conservation group is asking for help this Saturday cleaning up the area around Batavia Creek on the southeast side of town.

Volunteers will be removing invasive non-native vegetation and adding native plantings on the park district property near the Prairie Path, west of Hart Road and north of Fox Trail Drive. The cleanup is being organized by the Batavians for a Healthy River group.

Anyone wanting to help should bring gloves, waterproof clothing and boots, lopers and handsaws if they have them. Volunteers will meet between 8:30 and 9 a.m. just west of where the Prairie Path intersects Hart Road. The cleanup is scheduled to end at 11:30 a.m.

For more information, including a map of the area to be cleaned and restored, visit www.bataviansforahealthy river.org.

Good at bean bag toss? The Batavia Parks Foundation will have an adult bean bag toss tournament on Sept. 29.

The $50 fee for a two-player team includes a minimum of three games, beer, wine, soda and snacks. First- and second-place prizes will be awarded.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. at Shannon Hall at the Eastside Community Center, 14 N. Van Buren St.

Participants must be at least 21. Child care will be provided.

The proceeds will benefit the Batavia Parks Foundation, and a portion of the fee is tax-deductible.

A registration form is available on the Web site at www.bataviaparks.org.

Financial award: The Batavia school district was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for last school year from the Association of School Business Officials.

This is the sixth year the district has participated in the program and its sixth award.

lhague@dailyherald.com