Announcements

Five Batavia churches will open their doors to view and learn the history of their beautiful stained glass windows. Batavia’s Stained Glass Window Tour is from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 11.

Tickets are $10 and include a tour book and dessert reception at 4 p.m. at St. James Church.

The churches participating are First Presbyterian, First Baptist, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic, St. Paul Lutheran and St. James Episcopal. The event is sponsored by the Landmark Society of Genesee County and all proceeds benefit the St. James Restoration Fund. 

For ticket information, please call 343-6802.

 

This information was provided by Tim Yaeger, emergency services coordinator for Genesee County.

Flood Awareness Week is next week, March 15-19.

Spring’s arrival in New York State is always a welcome sight to those who have braved months of harsh winter conditions and its chilling winds, blowing snows and frosty ice. However, it is important to remember that this is also the time of year when flooding can occur quickly and without much warning.

Spring rains and winter snow and ice thaws can cause flooding and affect homes, property and, most importantly, your safety. New York's Safety and Emergency Management Office joins the National Weather Service offices serving New York State in observance of Flood Awareness Week.

Use the tips below and on SEMO’s website to learn what to do before flooding occurs, how to stay safe during such an event, and where to find help when you need it.
<www.semo.state.ny.us>

Terms to Know

Flood or Flash Flood Watch: Indicates that flooding or flash flooding will occur within a few hours of heavy rainfall, a dam or levee failure, or that water is being released from an ice jam.

Flood or Flash Flood Warning: Inundation of a normally dry area near a stream or other watercourse, or unusually severe ponding of water has been reported or is imminent. Be prepared! Learn the safest route from your home or business to high, safe ground should you have to leave in a hurry.
Develop an emergency plan and identify a meeting place if family members become separated. Know what to do and when to do it.

Be prepared!

• Make an itemized list of all valuables including furnishings, clothing, and other personal property. Keep the list in a safe place.
• Plan what to do with your pets.
• Keep your automobile fueled. If electric power is cut off, gasoline stations may not be able to pump fuel for several days. Have a small kit of disaster supplies in the trunk of your car.
• Find out how many feet your property is above and below possible flood levels. When predicted flood levels are broadcast, you can determine if you may be flooded.
• Have emergency supplies on hand.

Before the flood

• Stay informed! Monitor the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Weather Radio or your local radio and TV station broadcasts of information. Subscribe to NY-ALERT <www.nyalert.gov> to receive the latest information for your location.
• If local officials advise evacuation, do so promptly.
• If directed to a specific location, go there.
• Know where the shelters are located.
• If there is time, move essential items and furniture to the upper floors of the house. Disconnect electrical appliances that cannot be moved. Do not touch them if you are wet or standing in water.
• If you are told to shut off water, gas, or electrical services before leaving your home, then do so.
• Secure your home: lock all doors and windows.

Travel with care

• Leave early to avoid being marooned on flooded roads. Follow recommended routes. Do not go sightseeing.
• As you travel, monitor local radio broadcasts for the latest information.
• Watch for washed-out roads, earthslides, broken water or sewer mains, loose or downed electrical wires, and falling or fallen objects.
• Watch for areas where rivers or streams may suddenly rise and flood, such as highway dips, bridges and low areas.
• Do not attempt to drive over a flooded road. Turn around and go another way.
• If you are in your car and water begins to rise rapidly around you, abandon the vehicle immediately.

The hidden danger -- crossing low water

• Nearly half of all flash flood fatalities are vehicle related! When driving your automobile during flood conditions, look out for flooding at highway dips, bridges and low areas.
• Even the largest and heaviest of vehicles will float.
• Water moving at two mph can sweep cars off a road or bridge.
• As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Do not drive through flowing water!
• A hidden danger awaits motorists where a road without a bridge dips across a creek bed.
• Motorists develop false confidence when they normally or frequently pass through a dry low-water crossing.
• Road beds may have been scoured or even washed away during flooding creating unsafe driving conditions.
• Those who repeatedly drive through flooded low-water crossings may not recognize the dangers of a small increase in the water level.
• Driving too fast through low water will cause the vehicle to hydroplane and lose contact with the road surface.
• Visibility is limited at night increasing the vulnerability of the driver to any hidden dangers.
• Heed all flood and flash flood watches and warnings.
• Remain aware of road conditions!

After the flood

• Stay informed! Listen to the radio or TV or bulletins from NY-ALERT for instructions from local officials. And heed them.
• Wait until an area has been declared safe before entering it. Be careful driving, since roads may be damaged and power lines may be down.
• Before entering a building, check for structural damage. Turn off any outside gas lines at the meter or tank. Let the building air out to remove foul odors or escaping gas.
• Upon entering the building, use a battery-powered flashlight. Do not use an open flame as a source of light. Gas may be trapped inside.
• When inspecting the building, wear rubber boots and gloves. Watch for electrical shorts and live wires before making certain the main power switch is off.
• Do not turn on electrical appliances until an electrician has checked the system and appliances.
• Throw out any medicine or food that has had contact with floodwaters. Test drinking water for potability. Wells should be pumped out and water tested for drinking.
• If the public water system is declared “unsafe” by health officials, water for drinking and cooking should be boiled vigorously for 10 minutes.

Emergency supplies to stock

Food and Water
Bottled water – one gallon per person per day
Ready-to-eat canned foods – vegetables, fruits, beans, meat, fish, poultry, pasta, soup, juice
Milk – powdered, canned or shelf-stable brick pack
High-energy foods – peanut butter, jelly, nuts, dried meat (for example, jerky), granola, trail mix
Staples – sugar, salt, pepper, instant coffee, tea bags, cocoa
Instant and small children’s needs – baby food, formula, disposable diapers
Specialty food – for elderly or people on special diets
Pet food

Health & Hygiene
Prescription medication – at least one week’s supply
First-aid kit
Pre-moistened hand wipes – towelettes or baby wipes
Disinfectant no-rinse hand soap
Toiletries
A list of family physicians, important medical information and the style and serial number of medical devices such as pacemakers

Personal
A change of clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes for each family member
Sleeping bags, bedding or blankets for each family member
An extra pair of glasses or contact lenses and solution (be sure to check the expiration dates)
Identification, credit cards / traveler’s checks / cash, and photocopies of important family documents including home insurance information

Household supplies and equipment
One gallon liquid chlorine bleach
Battery-powered radio or television
Flashlights
Extra, fresh batteries for radio, television and flashlights
Manual can opener
Plastic bags – zip sealing, garbage
Fire extinguisher (small canister A-B-C type)
Food thermometer – able to measure temperature from 0 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit

Tools
Rope
Shovel
Hammer and nails
Utility knife
Work gloves
Duct tape
Electrical tape
Clean-up supplies
Broom
Buckets
Dust masks
Disinfecting spray
Mop
Paper towels
Rags (to clean with)
Rubber gloves
Scrub brush
Sponges
Trash bags

Emergency plan

• Meet with your family members and discuss the dangers of possible emergency events including fire, flood, severe weather, hazardous spills and terrorism.
• Discuss how you and your family will respond to each possible emergency. Know how to contact all family members at all times. Think 24/7 and 365.
• Draw a floor plan of your home. If possible, mark two escape routes from each room.
• Select two places to meet: a spot outside your home for an emergency such as fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you cannot return home (a real possibility during the day when most adults are at work and children are at school).
• Identify an out-of-town friend or relative as your “emergency family check-in contact” for everyone to call if the family gets separated. Make sure all family members have the correct phone number. It is often easier to call out-of-town during an emergency than within the affected area.
• Post emergency contact numbers near all telephones, including: local police, fire and health departments, poison control, your children’s schools, doctors, child/senior care providers and insurance agents.
• Have your family learn basic safety and first-aid measures.
• Keep family records in a waterproof and fireproof safe.
• Have emergency supplies on hand.
• Teach adults how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at main switches. If, for any reason, you do turn off natural gas service to your home, call your natural gas utility to restore service. Do not attempt to restore gas service yourself.
• Make arrangements for your pets. Most shelters do not allow pets. Prior to an emergency, contact your county or local emergency management office and ask them where you could leave your pet. Have identification, leash and proof of vaccination for all pets. Have current photos of your pets in case they get lost.

The Association for Conservation of Recreational and Natural Spaces, Inc., (ACORNS) is one of nine nonprofit park and trail groups selected to receive a Capacity Building Grant from the statewide advocacy organization, Parks & Trails New York.

ACORNS was formed to provide service and support of the parks owned and managed by Genesee County. Its mission is foster environmental education, recreational opportunities and responsible environmental stewardship of local parks.

The Parks & Trails grants are designed to help groups increase organizational visibility and generate community support, grow membership and attract additional volunteers. ACORNS' grant will be used for membership and volunteer recruitment brochures and banners.

"Grassroots groups play a key role in the development and promotion of our state's many parks and trails, which make such a significant contribution to the economy of our cities, towns and villages as well as to the health and well-being of their residents," said Robin Dropkin, executive director, Parks & Trails New York.

"Made possible by a generous private donor, these nine grants are a small investment in strengthening our state's not-for-profit park and trail organizations that will reap big benefits, enabling these groups to leverage more private funding and marshal more volunteer power to better fill the gaps in government spending created by challenging economic times.

Parks & Trails New York received 55 applications from organizations located in 30 counties throughout the state. This is the second year that Parks & Trails New York has offered funding assistance.

“This grant comes at a critical time as we implement our membership-growth strategy and expand our outreach efforts,” said Julia Garver, President of ACORNS. “Our organization relies on the hard work and commitment of volunteers, and as funding for projects in the parks in Genesee County is jeopardized, we need to continue to grow our volunteer base. We are grateful for the support of Parks & Trails New York, and its recognition of the incredible value of volunteers.”

For 20 years, Parks & Trails New York has helped hundreds of groups and municipalities build, maintain, and promote parks, greenways, and more than 1,200 miles of multi-use trails.

More information on the grant program and Parks & Trails New York can be found on the website, www.ptny.org or by calling 518-434-1583. More information about ACORNS can be found at http://acorns.shutterfly.com/ or by calling 585-343-8514.

Free family movies are offered at the Richmond Memorial Library for its March Family Matinees series.

Snuggle up with the kids and relax while enjoying G- and PG-rated films newly released on DVD. Bring the whole family, pack a blanket, pillow and picnic lunch to the Chldren's Room at 1 p.m. on Saturdays this month (6th, 14th, 20th, 27th).

Call the Children’s Room 343-9550 x4 for more information. The library is located at 19 Ross Street in the City of Batavia.

The New York Agriculture in the Classroom program known as Agriculture Literacy Week takes place March 15-19 and is available to second-graders at no cost to them.

It is being coordinated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County and coincides with National Agriculture Week.

Volunteers who are involved in agriculture are needed in classrooms. If you would like to get involved as a teacher or reader, please contact Barb Sturm at CCE-Genesee County at 343-3040, ext.122 or e-mail at <bbs228@cornell.edu>.

How many kids really understand where the food on their table comes or, for that matter, where the kitchen table comes from? The importance of trees in our everyday lives is the learning focus this year.

Second-graders will be with visited by a community member involved in agriculture. This year, "The Tree Farmer," written by Chuck Leavell and Nicholas Cravotta, will be read to the class and then donated to the school library. Teachers will also receive a resource packet including additional lessons and information on the timber industry.

New York Agriculture in the Classroom is a partnership of Cornell University, NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets, NYS Education Department, and NY Farm Bureau. The program works with cooperative extension educators, teachers, farm bureau members, and others throughout the state to foster an awareness, understanding, and appreciation of agriculture and the total food and fiber system.

There will be a summer opportunities and activities fair at Alexander Central School on March 19. 

The Genesee County Business Education Alliance is looking for local agencies, groups and organizations from Genesee and Wyoming counties that are holding summer activities and opportunities for middle school students. 

You are invited to set up a booth or table to promote and give information to students. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Melinda Chamberlin at 343-7440 ext. 25 or at <mchamberlin@geneseeny.com>.
 

Despite predictions of a snowstorm, 18 brave souls made it to the Richmond Memorial Library Thursday for "Reel Discussions," a monthly program -- free and open to the public -- for library patrons who like to watch and discuss movies (as well as enjoy refreshments).

RD is run by Rita McCormack, media services librarian at RML, and takes place at 6 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of every month. During each meeting, patrons watch a feature-length film from the library's collection and discuss it afterwards. Refreshments include bottles of water and treats ranging from cookies to cupcakes to cake (and sometimes bags of white cheddar popcorn).

For more information on the program, please see RML's Media Services page or call the library at (585) 343-9550.

An essay competition sponsored by the Cornell Club of Buffalo is open to all 11th graders in Western New York and Southern Ontario, Canada. This means all juniors in public or private schools, as well as home-schooled students in their penultimate year of schooling.

The Cornell Club believes that participation in this contest will aid students in the development of their critical thinking and writing skills. Development of these skills is vital to the maturity of a well-rounded lifelong learner and will make one a much more attractive applicant during the college admissions process.

The club says: "One of the most important skills that you will continue to develop during the balance of your high school years and in college is the ability to thoughtfully evaluate opposing viewpoints - in other words, to think critically. This skill is important not only for students and scholars, but also for nearly every occupation you might choose, as well as for your personal mental growth and maturity."

The Grand Prize will consist of $100, a certificate, a letter of award and a limited edition copy of  Cornell University’s Reading Initiative book of the year, “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck. Each Second Prize and Honorable Mention prize will consist of: a certificate, a letter of award and a limited edition copy of the “Grapes of Wrath.”

There will be one Grand Prize awarded, and as many second prizes and honorable mentions as the club sees fit. The Cornell Club of Buffalo offers the prize; winning or placing favorably in the essay contest in no way implies a favorable admission decision by any of Cornell's seven undergraduate colleges.

The Rules:

• Answer the PROMPT below as completely as you can in 1,000 words or fewer. There are no limits to the range of your response, but it should give a picture of your personality and beliefs, and should imaginatively include your own life experiences including, but not necessarily limited to: reading, school, travel, work, personal successes, personal failures, sense of humor, current events, family history, etc.
• If you refer to another author’s work in a manner that would require citation, you may include footnotes or end-notes in any commonly accepted format. These citations will not count toward your 1,000-word limit.
• Finally, on the last page of the document include:

1. Your name
2. Your parents’ or guardians’ names
3. Your home address, telephone number, and e-mail address where we may contact you
4. The name of your school
5. The name of your English teacher with his/her school phone number.
6. Please do not include any identifying information (your name, your teacher's name, etc.) on any page other than the last page.
7. All entries must be in Microsoft Word format or text format.
8. Submit your essay as a single e-mail attachment to the following e-mail address:

c.sasiadek@gmail.com with the subject line “Cornell Club Essay Competition.”All entries must be e-marked no later than April 1.

PROMPT:
There are some who argue that the purpose of higher education is to train individuals in immediately practical skills with an eye toward fulfilling the perceived needs of society and the economy -- by training students in fields such as agriculture, medicine and engineering. There are others who argue that the purpose of higher education is to develop general learning skills and to add to human knowledge whether in an immediately practical manner or not. They believe that fields such as art, philosophy and the classics are more important than practical fields of study.
What is your opinion regarding these two educational philosophies?

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will offer an improved parcel of land in Pembroke at a surplus real estate auction next month.

It will be made available for inspection. It is one of five parcels in the region to be auctioned off at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 16 at the NYSDOT Regional Office, located at 1530 Jefferson Road in the town of Henrietta, Monroe County.

Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. The auction is open to the public.

The other vacant parcels are located in the towns of Avon, Livingston County; Chili and Perinton, Monroe County; and Farmington, Ontario County.

The properties for sale, deposits and upset (starting bid) prices are listed below. Each parcel had been acquired by NYSDOT for highway improvements and is no longer needed for transportation purposes.

To register, bidders must present a certified or bank check for the amount of the deposit required on the property for which they intend to bid.

Prospective bidders may obtain more information about the parcels for sale by contacting Steven Wanamaker at NYSDOT at (585) 272-3447, or online at  HYPERLINK "http://www.nysdot.gov/R4surplus" www.nysdot.gov/R4surplus

--Property 800 is 0.20 ± acres of improved land located at the northwest corner of Route 77 and Ogden Street in the Town of Pembroke, Genesee County. This parcel will be open for inspection to interested parties March 11 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The deposit required in order to bid on this property is $725 and the upset price is $14,500.

--Property 611 is 0.445± acres of vacant land located on the southern side of Marshall Road, just east of Interstate 390 in the Town of Avon, Livingston County. The deposit required in order to bid on this property is $650 and the upset price is $6,500.
 
--Property 787 is 3.98± acres of vacant land located on the north side of I-490 westbound and bordered on the north and east by Willowbrook Office Park in the Town of Perinton, Monroe County. Access to this parcel is only provided through abutting private property and access onto I-490 is prohibited. The deposit required in order to bid on this property is $15,000 and the upset price is $302,000.
 
--Property 788 is 1.147± acres of vacant land located on the southwest corner of Ballantyne Road and Scottsville Road in the Town of Chili, Monroe County. The deposit required in order to bid on this property is $1,000 and the upset price is $17,500.
 
--Property 797 is 1.199± acres of vacant land located on the east side of State Route 332, just south of Clover Meadow Lane in the Town of Farmington, Ontario County. The deposit required in order to bid on this property is  $2,600 and the upset price is $52,000.

For the 2010 season, Darien Lakes Theme Park and Resort plans to hire more than 2,000 seasonal employees.

They will seek recruits at 10 career fairs at colleges and universities across Western New York.

Interested candidates are encouraged to fill out an application at <www.PARCJobs.com>

Locally, there will be a Darien Lakes table at a job fair scheduled at Genesee Community College from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13.

The managers at Darien Lake say:

"You can have fun while you work, whether you operate the legendary Ride of Steel coaster, spin pink puffs of delicious cotton candy at the Cotton Ranch, or guard our guests' safety in the Crocodile Isle wave pool. You will spend your summer bringing joy and smiles to those around you."

According to the park, retirees are welcome -- their life experience is much appreciated. There are both part-time and fill-time jobs available and seasonal benefits available.

Darien Lake Theme Park Resort, owned and operated by PARC Management, is New
York State's largest theme park resort. <www.GoDarienLake.com>

Western Regional Off-Track Betting has announced it will be sending one person to the National Harness Handicapping Championship (NHHC) to be held at the Meadowlands Racetrack on April 24.

This year, 26 OTB branches will host qualifying contests that will take place on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The first contest is set for Saturday, March 6 with the last qualifier on Wednesday, March 31. There is no charge to participate.

Batavia Downs Casino will host the Finals on April 11. The winner of that contest will represent OTB in the NHHC.

“Once again, it will be March Madness at Western OTB with all our branch qualifiers being held in one month,” said Martin Biniasz, OTB director of marketing. “We have had an excellent response to these free contests and are pleased to offer them to our valued customers again.”
 
Like last year, there will be two types of contests, one that offers a noon registration and one that offers a 5:30 p.m. sign up. In both contests, all entry forms must be submitted by 6:40 p.m.

But unlike last year, all contests will be conducted on races 1-5 at Buffalo Raceway as well as races 1-5 at the Meadowlands.

The branch contests will be played exactly as they have been in the past with points being awarded on how a patron’s selections perform. Patrons are also required to select one Best Bet per track, for which they will receive double points.

The contests that offer a noon registration will pay $25 to the winner. The contests with a later start time will pay $100 to the winner if he or she is present when the final scores are posted. If not, the winner will take home $25.

In both contests, one of every six patrons that participate will qualify for the Batavia finals. Patrons can play in as many contest as they like but can only qualify once for the finals.

The Batavia Downs winner will receive two nights' hotel accommodations in New Jersey, $500 in spending money and entry into the NHHC.

The top 10 finishers in the Batavia contest will receive prizes.

A complete list of OTB qualifying locations and starting times are on-line at www.westernotb.com <http://www.westernotb.com/> and are posted in all Western OTB branches.

Our first annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser was a huge sucess!  We exceeded our goal and helped a lot of anxious and excited boys earn money to go to Camp Sam Wood this summer.  The boys all had a lot of fun serving dinners and also helping make cakes for our cake raffle!

We would like to express a HUGE thank you to the families in our community and to the wonderful local businesses and individuals who helped by donating time, money and goods to make this fundraiser sucessful.

Thank you to Norton Farms, Inc, Phat Katz, Penna's Catering, Stans Harley Davidson, Bezon Farms, Lee Shuknecht & Sons, Inc, Walmart, Tops, Matty's Pizzeria, Sallome's Italian Deli, The Batavia Muckdogs, Batavia Downs, Genesee Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, LLP, Bohn's, D&R Depot, Post Dairy Farms, G Mortellaro and Sons, Scooters Family Restaurant, Uncle Sal's Pizzeria (who generously made the delicious meatballs!), Raymond Smith Sr, J.D Buckley & Sons, Inc, The Ganson House and Barilla.  Please support these wonderful local businesses who were kind enough to support us!

Genesee Community College will once again offer the Genesee Promise Plus Scholarship program to all 2010 GLOW area high school graduates. Under the Genesee Promise Plus Scholarship program, any 2010 high school graduate is eligible to take up to two free college courses during the July 6 - Aug. 7 summer session if they attended high school in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans or Wyoming Counties (the College's GLOW service area).

The Genesee Promise Plus also includes the following students:

• Students who live in the four-county GLOW service area who earned a GED Diploma in 2010 are eligible for up to two free summer courses, regardless of age.
• 2010 GLOW area graduates from home-school programs.
• 2010 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.

Under the Genesee Promise Plus Scholarship Program, students can take up to two 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 required textbooks. These earned credits can be used to get a head start on college and can be used not only at GCC, but can also be transferred to State University of New York (SUNY) schools and most other colleges and universities.

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

For more information, contact Tanya Lane-Martin through email, tmlanemartin@genesee.edu  <http://tmlanemartin@genesee.edu> or call the Admission's Office at 585-345-6800 or 1-866-CALL-GCC. In Batavia, the college is located at 1 College Road.

Here's information provided by a press release from GCC.

More than 600 students were able to begin or continue their education at Genesee Community College during the last five years as a result of the Genesee Community College Foundation's Emergency Assistance Program.

The foundation provides financial grants for students who may have to leave college as a result of sudden personal hardships that occur through no fault of their own. Over the last five years, emergency grants have been provided to students who were victims of house fires, death or desertion of a spouse, or some other personal emergency or tragedy.

Although the foundation raises funds for emergency grants as part of its annual fundraising efforts, a mainstay of emergency-assistance support comes from earnings from the foundation's Challenge Fund. It's a $525,000 endowment fund created between 2000 and 2004 by private donors and the Department of Education. The fund was established after the college received a highly competitive Department of Education challenge grant, offering two dollars for every private dollar raised. The foundation raised the private dollars, created the endowment and dubbed it "The Challenge Fund."

The college is fortunate to recently receive a second endowment challenge; this one is an $80,000 dollar-for-dollar challenge for each of the next five years. As the foundation raises $80,000 in private gifts, the Department of Education will forward an additional $80,000 to expand the endowment, and the earnings will provide more assistance to students in need in the future.

In each case, the emergency grant provided a modest sum that enabled the student to continue their education, according to Alice Weather, director of the Foundation's Annual Fund.

"For example, one student recently lost her school supplies and textbooks in a fire that destroyed her family home," Weather said. "We provided funds to replace these materials. We sometimes see single parents in their 30s or 40s who are working, raising a family and struggling to get an education, then their car breaks down. For most of us this isn't a huge problem, but students depend on their cars to get to class, so we can help with emergency repairs.

"In another case, we provided funds for a week of child care after an adult student's mother, who had been babysitting, was rushed to the hospital with a medical emergency. To many students the grant is literally the lifeline they need to overcome an emergency and stay on track with their education."

"Students are often stretched to the limit," said Tamara Adams, outreach specialist in the Adult Educational Opportunity Center (AOEC) at Genesee. "We want to retain students who are truly dedicated to their education and have genuine needs from emergencies. Every semester I see unexpected expenses turn into a financial crisis that can end up taking a student out of school. We cannot permit strong, capable students to disrupt their education over a few hundred dollars."

Adams noted that students facing an emergency must have a nomination from a faculty or staff member, employer or human services agency who can verify the emergency before a grant will be made. When the emergency assistance money runs out, students have to be turned away. The occasions of students needing emergency or unplanned emergency support are growing and becoming more costly.

Adams said that the college often receives thank-you notes from students who have received emergency support. A victim of a devastating fire wrote: "Thank you so much. You have helped me tremendously when I thought all hope was lost. I had to find another apartment and my text books were completely incinerated. I just want to say thank you to everyone!"

The Genesee Community College Foundation seeks financial support to meet the new endowment challenge grant to support students in need as well as to provide for a wide range of other scholarships, including academically oriented scholarships and scholarships for students preparing for careers critical to the region's growth. Pledges and gifts for the foundation scholarship and grant programs are payable to: The Genesee Community College Foundation, One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020.

For more information on foundation programs call (585) 345-6809 or write to the address above or foundation@genesee.edu

The Genesee Community College Foundation was founded in 1986 by civic and business leaders to provide philanthropic and volunteer support to the College. The foundation has provided several thousand scholarships since that time, assisted in the financing of two new buildings on the Batavia Campus, and it was instrumental in the acquisition of student housing.