Announcements

From Tara Pariso:

Genesee County CASA for Children, Inc. would like to thank all of its volunteer advocates. Not only is this National Volunteer Appreciation Week,  but our advocates deserve recognition all year long for their hard work,  dedication, and caring for the abused and neglected children in Genesee  County.  The work the advocates do can be stressful, heart wrenching, and  trying at times, but in the end knowing that you are advocating for a child  in need is what makes it worth it.  A huge Thank You to all of the CASA's in  Genesee County.

*In picture: Tara Pariso, Executive Director, Thelma Montreal, Deborah Davis,  Peggy Lamb, Eric Friedhaber, Linda Buzzell, and Donna Machowiak.  Not  pictured: Lisa Cochrane, Fran Moyles, Irene McNutt, Diane Mills, Marilynn  Palotti, Amanda Rissinger, Dawn Jaszko.

The Batavia Society of Artists will have a Spring Show in the Gallery Room at the Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia from May 1-29. It is free and open to the public during regular library hours.

Genesee Community College has expanded eligibility for its Promise Plus Tuition Scholarship Program for GLOW high school and GED graduates.

Every graduate will receive a scholarship covering the cost of tuition for one or two college courses during the July 6 – Aug. 7, five-week summer session if they attended high school in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans or Wyoming counties.

Also, students who live in the four-county service area, including home-schooled students, who earned a GED Diploma in 2010 are also eligible for up to two tuition-free courses, regardless of age.

Graduates of the Royhart, Pioneer, Wayland-Cohocton, Honeoye Falls-Lima, Lima Christian, Akron, West Valley, Fillmore and Barker School Districts are eligible, too.

And high school graduates who attended high schools outside of the GLOW service area but have accumulated GCC college credits through the College's ACE Program are also eligible to participate.

Lastly, Job Corp GED recipients and students graduating prior to the beginning of the first module of summer classes will be considered for the tuition scholarships on a case-by-case basis.

Under the Promise Plus Scholarship Program, students outlined above can take up to two tuition-free summer courses at any of the college's seven campus locations including Albion, Arcade, Batavia, Dansville, Lima, Medina and Warsaw. The scholarship pays all tuition and fees and the student is only responsible for purchasing textbooks.

The credits earned can be used to get a head start on college and can be used not only at GCC, but will transfer to all State University of New York (SUNY) schools and most other colleges and universities as well.

The deadline for submitting the Genesee Promise Plus Scholarship Application is June 18. There is no limit to the number of students receiving these scholarships. The one-page application form is available at all seven GCC campus locations as well as on-line at <http://www.genesee.edu/promise>.

For more information contact <http://tmlanemartin@genesee.edu > or call 345-6800 or 1-866-CALL-GCC or stop in at any GCC campus.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children will offer an information session for people interested in volunteering to help children victimized by domestic abuse or neglect.

This session will feature information on what being a CASA volunteer entails, as well as the testimonies of experienced volunteers. People will also have a chance to apply for a volunteer position.

No prior experience or training is necessary. Anyone who is passionate about helping children in the community is encouraged to attend.

This meeting will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. at 430 E. Main St. (GCASA Conference Room, 2nd floor). For more information, please contact Tara Pariso at 344-2550, ext. 2331.

Those looking for a fun, tobacco-free family night can find just that in the Elba Central School gymnasium from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21. Families with children in Pre-K through sixth grade are welcome to play games like Dance Dance Revolution and basketball; refresh with smoothies, ice cream, and other healthy snacks; and enjoy a DJ and live entertainment.

"This will tie in with our tobacco-free policy," says school nurse Cathy Contant, "and we're hoping it will really reduce the (TV) screen time that families have."

Contant is one of the main organizers of the night, along with counselor Kelly Carlie and several teachers. It is also a senior project for students Sherday Schultz, Julie Marshall, Rebecca Morse and Meghan Andrews.

The four seniors agree that they hope the night will encourage fitness and family togetherness in a fun way. They are hoping that local families will, for at least one night, turn off the TV and spend more time together.

"We want to promote a healthy lifestyle," says Marshall.

The night will be co-sponsored in part by Reality Check and Genesee County Stop DWI.  There is no admission charge and is open to anyone with young children.

The Genesee County Legislature has proclaimed the week of April 18-24 as "Federation of New York Insurance Professionals Week."

Katie Kegler, treasurer of the Genesee Region Insurance Professionals (GRIP) was on hand to accept the proclamation from legislature Vice Chair Hollis Upson.

GRIP was formed in 1961 and is the local affiliate of the Federation of New York Insurance Professionals. Both organizations are open to members of the insurance and insurance-related industries, and provide members opportunities for education, community service and networking.

The City of Batavia will celebrate both Earth Day and Arbor Day from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 24.

The morning will begin at Austin Park on Jefferson Avenue with: a presentation on “Eco-friendly, Cost-Saving Energy Tips” by National Grid; a Seed Starting Display by the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners; a composting display by GLOW; and a proclamation by City Council.

Volunteers will then be assigned a city park or downtown Main and Ellicott Street area to pick up debris. The volunteers will be asked to regroup at Austin Park at 11:30 a.m. for a tree-planting ceremony.

There will be giveaways donated by Target during the main presentation and free reusable shopping bags donated by Lowes for the first 50 volunteers.

The tree for the planting ceremony has been donated by Lowes. ARC is also donating its services and supplies for the event and Tim Horton’s is donating coffee and TimBits for the volunteers.

This event will take place rain or shine. Volunteers are needed to give a couple hours of their time to get out and recognize Earth Day & Arbor Day and to help Clean up & Green up Batavia!  There are additional hours available for students interested in community service hours. 

If there are any questions, please contact:

Jodie Freese
Office of the City Manager
One Batavia City Centre
Batavia, New York 14020
Phone:   (585) 345-6333
Fax:        (585) 343-8182
E-mail:   jfreese@batavianewyork.com
 

Do you remember participating in the incubation and embryology project, either as a student or as an adult?  Odds are you are familiar with this program, just one part of Cornell Cooperative Extensions’ 4-H Youth Development programming.   Extension educator Barb Sturm is again visiting Genesee County classrooms, delivering this exciting hands-on learning experience.  

One component of Barbs’ job is Ag in the Classroom, an effort to help students, teachers and parents learn about agriculture, why it is important, why we should care, and how important agriculture is not only to Genesee County, but to the entire world!

What you may not know is why this program (incubation and embryology) exists, and why it matters. This interdisciplinary project is designed to provide youth with a “hands on” experience while classroom teachers have the opportunity to satisfy science, math and ELA core requirements.  While watching the fuzzy little chicks find their way out of the eggs, youth are increasing their knowledge and developing personal confidence and leadership ability through related project activities.  They are developing an interest in the science of embryology.  And as they learn about incubation, hatching and brooding, they  have opportunities to demonstrate the skills they have mastered in embryology.

This is one of the more well known programs that Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County offers as part of the 4-H Youth Development Program.  There is so much more that 4-H offers to youth.   Through hands-on, experiential learning, youth develop life skills including

Learning to Learn

•          Developing intellectual curiosity

•          Learning through experience

•          Learning by using the five senses

Leading Self and Others

•          Working on a team

•          Identifying one's own competencies

Relating to Others

•          Trusting one's self and others

•          Accepting diversity

Communicating With Others

•          Disagreeing and refusing

•          Speaking before a group

•          Creative expression

Planning and Organizing

•          Setting short-term goals

Whether you are directly involved in this program or not, over the next few weeks, students in Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Corfu, East Pembroke, Leroy, Oakfield and Pavilion will be learning all about it. 

Donations and assistance have been received from Cargill, Harper Hill Farm, and the Genesee County Fur & Feather 4-H Club.  Thank you one and all for your participation and support of this, and all, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County programming.

If you have questions or are interested in learning more about the Incubation and Embryology project, 4-H, or Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, please (585)343-3040, or visit our website, www.genesee.shutterfly.com

Volunteers are needed for various outdoor projects at Genesee County Park located on 11095 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany.

If interested, please contact Judy Spring at 344-1122.

Thirteen-year-old Eric DiLaura was announced as the winner of Roxy’s Guitar Giveaway. Eric is a Batavia resident and guitar student at Roxy’s, studying with instructor Paul Ronfola. Over 400 people signed up to win throughout the month of March.

Roxy’s is a full-service musical instrument dealer, offering new and used instruments, accessories, lessons, instrument repair, rentals and much more. For more information, visit www.Roxys.com

The Canisius College Chorale under the direction of Frank Scinta, will continue its 2010  Sacred Spaces Concert Series with a program at St. Mary’s Church in Batavia at 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 18.

St. Mary’s Church, one of two sites of Resurrection Parish, is located at 18 Ellicott Street.

Sacred Spaces stems from an idea the choir proposed five years ago to feature its music in some of Western New York's most beautiful and acoustically resonant environments -- namely, the sanctuaries of our area churches. As a result, the choir has visited more than 25 houses of worship with its repertoire of sacred and secular music.

Now in its 12th season, the Canisius College Chorale remains one of WNY’s most active collegiate music ensembles. Composed of 120 undergraduate and graduate members, the chorale regularly presents concert programs to school, church and community audiences throughout WNY and Southern Ontario, Canada.

Its repertoire covers more than five centuries of composition and nearly every interpretive style of choral music. In recent years, the chorale has performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ars Nova Chamber Musicians, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus. In addition, the chorale has made appearances at Toronto’s St. John Latvian Lutheran Church and Holy Rosary Church. The chorale released its fourth CD
recording in February, 2009.

Resurrection Parish and its Music Director Mark Hoerbelt invite you to enjoy an evening of great choral music for all ages and tastes. The concert will feature works by Mendelssohn, Hogan, Bernstein, Hovland, Dawson and others. Admission to all events in the Sacred Spaces series is free.

For more information, please contact Hoerbelt, (585) 343 1842 or Scinta, (716) 838 4252.

Genesee Community College students in the Business Forum Club set their ducks afloat last month with one goal in mind; to raise funds for United Way. The second annual United Way Ducky Derby was held in the college's Olympic-sized pool. The students surpassed their goal of raising more funds than last year, selling 466 ducks for a grand total of $1,065 in ducky donations. Last year, the Ducky Derby earned $862.

Students raised the funds by selling numbered rubber ducks. The ducks then were set free in the pool at the Batavia Campus. With the help of a "current" created by members of the college's swim team, the first duck that made it to the end of the pool won the race to the hooting, hollering and cheers of a captive fan base of staff, students and faculty.

The winner of this year's race was a duck purchased by Robert Knipe, dean of Learning Technologies at the college. His winnings totaled over $500, but he graciously donated all the money back to the students' United Way Genesee Community College Campaign. The overall GCC United Way Goal is $17,000, and the College's campaign runs through next week.

Volunteer Genesee students in the Business Forum Club include Jeweliet Blair, Alyssa DelPlato, Dave Farabella, Amanda Hoffmeister, Adam Hoopengardner, Ben Kibler, Jamal Murphy, Travis Newberry, and John Sciarratta.

The Business Forum students thanked the entire College community for its support, and specifically recognized the following people for their donations and help to make the second annual Duck Derby a success: Roger Loos from Batavia's Falleti Ice Rink (for loaning the rubber ducks), Pauly's Pizza, Darien Lake Theme Park and Resort, Tops Markets, Bio Kleen, Alex's Place, Mike Kroll (GCC swim coach), Leslie Flannery, Doug Nagowski, Claire Vanderberg, GCC swimmers, Donna Rae Sutherland and Mike Perry, GCC staff, GCC bookstore, GCC cafeteria, GCC Student Activities, and GCC Cougar mascot and everyone who purchased a duck.

For further information please contact Rick Dudkowski, Business faculty member, at 343-0055, ext. 6390 or <http://mrdudkowski@genesee.edu>.
 

Batavia's own Joey Pero and his Band will perform at the Curt Anderson Memorial Classic XVII, sponsored by Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps.

It will be held starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 24 at Greece Apollo Middle School, 700 Maiden Lane, Greece.

St. Joe’s is excited to bring Joey Pero and his Band to the event. Originally from Batavia, now living in NYC pursuing his music career, Joey has close ties to the drum corps world. His father was a member of St. Joe’s Junior Corps in the 1960s, and was one of the original members of Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Corps when it formed in 1991. Joey has also played with Mighty St. Joe’s throughout the years and in the past has written the arrangements for a few of St. Joe’s’ songs.

Joey will perform music from his recently released solo album, "Resonance," and will be available to sign CD’s during admission and after the show.

For the percussionists in the crowd, CADRE (Canadian Associates Drumming Rudimental Excellence) from Ontario, Canada will entertain with their cumulative energy as they perform classic rudimental drum solos. Also appearing is a fan favorite, and two-time DCA World Brass Ensemble Champions, Prime Time Brass. Having recently returned from Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, they will play a mixture of big band/jazz, pop, and patriotic numbers.

Also performing are “From Parts Unknown,” previous DCA World Champion Mini Corps, and the Ghost Riders will present newest show. Mighty St. Joe’s is also pleased to have the Greece High Schools Marching Band open the show with the national anthems and some of their latest music. Of course, as the corps enters its 20th season, Mighty St. Joe’s is eager to entertain the audience with several new songs.

Tickets are $15 each (general admission) and can be ordered in advance by sending a SASE to Rae Shults, 52 Wind Way Circle, Rochester, NY 14624, or they can be purchased at the box office on the day of the show.

The Salvation Army will offer emergency disaster training at the Batavia Salvation Army, 529 E. Main St. this month.

Introduction to Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) will be offered from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, April 16. This course is designed for new disaster workers who have limited disaster experience and who have just begun their association with The Salvation Army's emergency disaster services program.

The course provides participants with an overview of The Salvation Army's mission and its role within disaster work. Participants will also be taught how to prepare and equip themselves for a disaster deployment.

Then on Saturday, April 17 there will be a class on the Incident Command System (ICS). It takes place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and provides participants with a general orientation to The Salvation Army Incident Command System (ICS) and explains how it is used to command, control and coordinate disaster relief operations.