Mysterious rubber ducks popping up in Batavia

I've never received a rubber duck in the mail before.

But there it was -- marked #196 on his tailfeathers and "RACE ME!" on his chest -- mailed to the office without a return address.

There have been signs popping up around town about "duck hunting" season, but the details surrounding it are few.

I called Britta McKenna at Batavia MainStreet, and while she wouldn't admit to sending it, she seemed to know more than a little about the project.

From what I can gather, there are more of these little guys out there in the city.

"If you find me, be sure to keep me! I will be valuable very soon!" says a note next to a photo of one of the ducks on the www.bridgingbatavia.com Web site.

"We're trying to create a little bit of excitement throughout the end of bridge construction," McKenna said.

She would confirm that there were prizes involved. Another spot on the Batavia bridge Web site makes a reference to ducks being hidden each week.

So take from it what you will -- but if you find a duck, keep it.

Just not #196.

School boundaries: If you have an opinion about Batavia elementary school boundaries, this is your chance to tell the school district about it.

Boundaries could be changed as early as next year, with three new classrooms opening at Grace McWayne Elementary School and one at Alice Gustafson Elementary School.

Some schools are overcrowded, while others, such as J.B. Nelson Elementary School, have open rooms.

Administrators held two community meetings last week to ask people what factors should be important when determining the boundaries.

Some of the suggestions were: grandfathering current students, keeping siblings together, not moving students that have been moved before and moving as few students as possible.

The presentation from those meetings, which includes a map of the current boundaries, is on the district's Web site at www.bps101.net.

It also includes a comment form that can be mailed or e-mailed to the district.

Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Al McCloud said he plans to use the public input to mold a recommendation on the boundaries to the school board, which will ultimately vote on the issue.

Administrators told parents last week that they expect more public input as the process goes along, and that the school board won't hear the recommendation and vote on it in the same night.

Crafts for kids: The Batavia Public Library will have its last "Drop-in Craft" event from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday.

Children will be able to make a reindeer magnet. Supplies are provided and no registration is needed.

lhague@dailyherald.com