Announcements

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council announces a series of free workshops designed to assist applicants with the process of applying for the 2015 Reach, Ripple & Spark Grant Programs.

These programs offer funding to assist in the creation and presentation of arts and cultural programming throughout Genesee and Orleans counties. Intent to Apply forms are due Sept. 2 for arts and cultural projects scheduled to take place in 2015.

Reach Grants are available to all nonprofit organizations, local government agencies or tribes and individual artists with a sponsoring organization. Reach projects should be artistic or cultural in nature and should demonstrate a significant community benefit. Deadline for Reach Grant Applications is Oct. 2.

Ripple Grants are specifically for individual artists from Genesee or Orleans counties. Artists who wish to create a new project that in some way reflects community life or culture and/or engages the local community are encouraged to apply. Deadline for Ripple Grant Applications is Oct. 9.

Spark Grants (previously known as Arts Education Grants) are directed to cultural organizations and/or individual artists working in partnership with public schools within Genesee or Orleans counties. Projects must focus on the exploration of art and the artistic process. Inter-curricular collaboration is encouraged but not required. Deadline for Spark Grant Applications is Oct. 16.

Registration is recommended and all workshops are free. Application forms, guidelines and instructions will be distributed at the workshops and will be available for download from the GO ART! Web site at www.goart.org.

The Decentralization Regrant Program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

To register for any of the workshops or for additional information, contact Heather Grant at 585.343.9313, ext. 26, or e-mail at hgrant@goart.org

All new applicants are required to attend one of the following workshops, all begin at 6 p.m.:

Monday, July 28

Byron-Bergen Public Library

13 South Lake Ave., Bergen

Tuesday, July 29

Lee-Whedon Memorial Library

620 West Avenue, Medina

Wednesday, July 30

Pavilion Public Library

5 Woodrow Drive, Pavilion

Monday, Aug. 4

GO ART!, Seymour Place

201 E. Main St., Batavia

Tuesday, Aug. 5

Yates Community Library

15 N. Main St., Lyndonville

Wednesday, Aug. 6

Haxton Library

3 N. Pearl St., Oakfield

Wednesday, Aug. 13

Hoag Library

134 S. Main St., Albion

The National Alliance On Mental Illness of Rochester will be presenting Family to Family, a no-charge, 12-week educational course for families and friends (parents, spouses, partners, siblings ) of people living with mental illness.

Classes will be held each Tuesday Sept. 9 through Tuesday Dec. 2 from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Mental Health Association 25 Liberty St., Unit 4, Conference Room, Batavia.

The classes will provide information, insight, empathy and empowerment based upon factual information on mental illness, medications, crisis intervention, accessing the mental health system and self care which is taught by NAMI trained family members.

Pre-registration required; participants register for the entire 12 weeks. Deadline to register is Sept. 2.

Go to www.namirochester.org or call NAMI Rochester at 585-423-1593, or Mental Health Association at 585-344-2611 for more information and registration.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County will be offering “Principles of Gardening” training on Wednesday evenings, starting Sept. 10 and running through Nov. 19, from 6 to 9 pm. Classes will be held at the CCE office at 420 E. Main St., Batavia.

Participants will enjoy training in horticulture topics, including botany, plant pathology, entomology, soils & fertilizers, lawn care, vegetable gardening, weed identification, woody ornamentals, fruit, perennials and annuals. Each class will focus on a different topic throughout training.

Pre-registration and payment by Aug. 25 is required. Class size will be limited. No walk-ins will be allowed. The fee for training is $225 per person.

This training is also the first requirement to becoming a Genesee County Master Gardener.

Graduates of the program (Genesee county residents) are then eligible to apply to the Genesee County Master Gardener program. (Other county residents should contact their local Master Gardener program.) A Master Gardener volunteer should have a willingness to give back to the community and help put into practice what they learned at training. Enthusiasm for sharing their skills and knowledge is a must.

For an application or to register contact Brandie Schultz at 585-343-3040, ext. 101, or stop by the Extension office located at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia.

Lite the Knight 5K & Family Fun Night
Saturday Aug. 16 starting at  5 p.m.

Join Le Roy and our surrounding communities as we come together to raise funds for a memorial scholarship! 2014 Recipients: The Bordonaro Family.

In addition to the 5K run/walk on an illuminated course, this year's event also features: a 3-on-3 basketball tournament; wellness fair; many free childrens' activities; a performance by Le Roy Marching Knights; a chicken barbeque by the Smokin' Eagle BBQ and Brew; and free live music by Flipside.

The Le Roy, Stafford, Caledonia and Pavilion fire departments have volunteered their time and assistance in support of the event, and will be setting up an interactive display of their fire engines for children and families to experience.

Call 585.768.4550 for more information or visit our Web site: villagefit.com

Info is also on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/1429104164034907/) & Twitter (https://twitter.com/LeRoyVillageFit)!

Follow this link to register for the 5K: https://www.getentered.com/Register/groups/default.aspx?newgroup=true&event=28196

Press release:

YWCA of Genesee County has been doing some restructuring and, as a result, will not offer The Market @ North Street this year.

The Sunday market will be reconsidered next year. For more information, call (585) 343-5808.

The Oakfield-Alabama Central School class of 1984 is planning its 30-year class reunion to be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 26.

Alumni and thier guests are invited to attend a casual get-together at the Caryville Inn on Main Street in Oakfield. Cost per person is $15. There will be a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres served throughout the evening.

For more information and to RSVP visit the Facebook page "Oacs EightyFour" at https://www.facebook.com/oacs.eightyfour <https://www.facebook.com/oacs.eightyfour>

Many classmates have yet to be located and a list of those is available on the FB page. It is quickly approaching so please visit and RSVP today.

Press release:

United Memorial Medical Center is participating in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology landmark effort, the Safe Motherhood Initiative to combat maternal mortality and morbidity in New York State.

The Safe Motherhood Initiative is working with healthcare providers and birthing facilities to develop and implement standard approaches for handling obstetric emergencies such as obstetric hemorrhage (severe bleeding), venous thromboembolism (blood clots), and severe hypertension in pregnancy (high blood pressure).

The project has one goal: to save the lives of women faced with severe complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Close to 99 percent of the nearly 250,000 live births in New York State result in the discharge of a mother and her baby. Yet, there are mothers who die or suffer severe permanent harm. New York State currently ranks 47^th in the country for its maternal mortality rate.

Participation in the program is an example of United Memorial’s commitment to patient safety and quality and to the continual improvement and implementation of best practices.

The program will provide maternal safety bundles consisting of clinical education videos, algorithms, step-by-step checklists and other hands-on materials to help obstetric providers adopt uniform clinical protocols to improve the diagnosis, prevention, and management of the leading causes of maternal death.

The program is funded by Merck for Mothers, a 10-year, $500 million initiative focused on creating a world where no woman dies giving life. Additional information may be found at www.merckformothers.com.

United Memorial Medical Center provides obstetric and gynecologic physician services through the Women’s Care Centers located at 33 Chandler Ave. in Batavia and at 100 Ohio St. in Medina. In 2013, approximately 650 new babies were safely delivered at United Memorial.

The annual celebration of Le Roy sports excellence -- the Le Roy Oatka Knights Sports Hall of Fame -- will be held starting at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 18, in the high school auditorium. It is located at 9300 South Street Road.

Attire is casual and the event is open to the public. There will be a ceremony and refreshments. Donations are grealty appreciated for the Hall of Fame, a nonprofit organization.

Rich Funke, former sports and news anchor at News 10NBC, will be on hand to help honor the inductees.

For more information and nomination forms, check out the Web site   www.leroyhalloffame.com or stop by the Village & Town Hall.

The Stafford Historical Society invites the public to the 10th annual Taste of Stafford event on Thursday, July 10 in Ilette Park, located at the corner of Route 5 and Route 237 in Stafford. The hours are from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Taste of Stafford allows the community an opportunity to meet with friends, family and neighbors while enjoying delicious local food, to listen to the music and watch the entertainment; also to try their luck with our 50/50 and basket auction.

The Stafford Museum of History will be open to the public to view our displays that include our newest acquisition, the "Call Communion Box." Since our theme this year is, "Stitches in Time -- Quilts Past and Present," quilts with local provenance will be on display in the museum.

Bring your most comfortable lawn chair and enjoy the afternoon. (Rain? We will meet at Stafford Fire Hall.)

Putt Putt Golf Tournament

Aug. 1, 2014  5:30 p.m.

Golf, prizes, basket auction, live auction

$35 includes golf, dinner, 5 basket raffle tickets

$120 per team of 4

Call Sue at MHA 344-2611 for more info or to register.

Deadline to register is July 14.

Press release:

Opening day, June 19^th, at the Downtown Batavia Public Market’s (FARMACY) new location at the Bank Street & Alva Place Parking Lot was a huge success. Many of the vendors sold out of their produce, fruit and food.

The markets’ sponsor, Batavia Business Improvement District, was more than pleased, as it was biggest opening in its nine years. They choose this site because it is more central to the Jerome Center, Washington Towers, Genesee Country Mall, YMCA and the surrounding neighborhoods.  Bank Street is also a well- traveled street with local traffic.

The market will be open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 pm, June 19th – Sept. 25th. Plenty of convenient parking at our new location.

The FARMACY offers: baked goods, tomatoes, berries, dog treats, herbs, peaches,  potatoes,  BBQ sauce, honey, maple syrup, olive oil, wine & handmade quilts & crafts and lots more.

There will be nutrition and gardening programs offered and give- a-ways that will be announced throughout the market season. Stay tuned.

“Shop Local, Shop Downtown."

Sponsored by: Batavia Business Improvement District. For more info contact the B.I.D. Office at 585-344-0900 / visit us at www.downtownbataviany.com. or like us on Facebook at downtownbataviabusinessimprovementdistrict.

A man lost a magnetic car sign between Route 63 and Route 77 from the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 193. If found, please call the Genesee County Sheriff's Office at 585.343.5000.

Calling all eighth- through 11th-graders, the Genesee County Youth Court is recruiting new members! Youth Court is a voluntary alternative for young people who face disciplinary action through school or law enforcement.

Youth who are referred admit to the charge and appear before a court of their peers. Three youth judges listen to both sides of the issue and determine an appropriate disposition. The goal of Youth Court is to improve youth citizenship skills and decrease problematic behavior.

Youth Court members learn about the judicial process and law enforcement; develop group decision making, leadership and public speaking skills; participate in all roles of the courtroom -- judge, prosecution, defense, and bailiff.

Those who are interested can go online to download an application from the Web site <www.co.genesee.ny.us> where you will find a link on the Youth Bureau page. Applications are due by Aug. 22.

Interviews of potential candidates will take place during late summer/early fall with the training to begin in October. For more information on the Genesee County Youth Court, please contact Chelsea Dillon at the Genesee County Youth Bureau, 344-3960.

Press release:

The Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming county health departments are encouraging county residents to “Choose Health.” Taking small steps in our day-to-day living and making positive health choices will lead to healthier outcomes. Is this a step you can take?

With warmer weather finally here many of you may have started or are planning home renovation projects, if you are, make sure you are being lead safe.

If your home or apartment was built before 1978 and there is chipping/peeling paint you could have a lead paint hazard. According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, approximately 24 million housing units have deteriorated leaded paint and elevated levels of lead-contaminated house dust. More than four million of these residences are homes to one or more young children. With lead exposure having the ability to affect nearly every system in the body, it is important to put in place protective measures.

You can still work on your house but you need to take some easy steps to make sure that you and your family, especially young children and pregnant women, are not exposed to lead dust and paint. Follow these basic principles (from "Lead Paint Safety, A Field Guide for Painting, Home Maintenance, and Renovation Work") when doing any work on your home or apartment:

• Assume: Paint in homes built before 1978 contains lead, unless a lead-based paint inspection shows it does not. Exposing anyone to dust, especially children and pregnant women can be harmful.
• Check: Federal, State and Local regulations. Check OSHA rules for worker safety and EPA and your local community rules for proper waste disposal.
• Avoid: Creating dust – Use low dust work practices (for example, mist surfaces with water before sanding or scraping, NEVER use heat). Also avoid spreading dust – cover and tape the area under work and around air vents with durable protective sheeting (plastic or poly) and keep dust contained to the immediate work area.
• Protect: Occupants, particularly children and pregnant women. Keep them away from the work area; clean up the work site as you work and before they return. Workers need to wear proper respiratory protection for lead dust, keep clean and don’t take dust home if working elsewhere or to other areas of your home. Keep work clothes / shoes separate from family clothes. Wash work clothes separately. Don’t wear work shoes around the house.
• Clean Up:After all work, clean-up is particularly important if painted surfaces were broken or wall cavities were opened. Take dust wipe samples (contact your local health department for more information) to make sure that it is safe for children and pregnant women to return. Use a HEPA filter vacuum to capture the finest dust.
• Maintain: A dry building – moisture problems can cause paint failure, building wear and tear, and encourage pests and mold. Well-maintained paint generally does not pose a health risk; all painted surfaces are to be checked regularly for dust or paint chips. Clean and cleanable surfaces are to be damp mopped/dusted often, keep floors and painted surfaces smooth and clean rugs and carpets well.

If you are planning on doing any homes repairs and have questions regarding whether or not you have a lead paint hazard, call your local county health department. Keep your family lead safe, your home should be a safe environment. To ensure a child has not been exposed to lead, a test for the toxic metal is necessary at ages 1 and 2.

For information about this topic or health department services contact:

• Genesee County Health Department at: 344-2580, ext. 5000, or visit their Web site at www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/health/index.html. Visit Facebook at Genesee County Health Department and Twitter at GeneseeCoHealthDept.
• Orleans County Health Department at: 589-3278 or check out our Web site at:www.orleansny.com/publichealth. Visit Facebook and Twitter: the user name for both is OrleansCoHealth.
• Wyoming County Health Department at: 786-8890 or visit their Web site at www.wyomingco.net/health/main.html

The Genesee County Dairy Princess, 17-year-old Kayla Wormuth, of Elba, will officially proclaim June as Dairy Month and hand out free ice cream at the next local legislators meeting on Wednesday, June 11, starting at 5:30 p.m.

As always, the public is welcome. The meeting takes place in Batavia's Old County Courthouse downtown.

Press release:

Genesee Community College salutes its director of Development and External Affairs Richard Ensman Jr. who has been recognized by Batavia Rotary Club as a Paul Harris Fellow. Ensman was among five local citizens who received the honor this past week. He was joined by Gregg McAllister, of Tompkins Investment Services, Carol Grasso, a community volunteer, New York State Assemblyman Stephen M. Hawley, and Susan Schuler, of First Niagara Bank.

"Batavia Rotary wanted to recognize Rick's outstanding commitment to the Club and to the community," said Rosalie Maguire, who presented his award.

The awards ceremony was Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at the Rotary Paddlewheel Awards Event held at Terry Hills. Ensman was caught off guard when he was called to the podium. Recipients are not notified in advance. He was chosen for his overall Club participation and his leadership on the Paddlewheel Committee.

Mike Hodgins, chair of the Batavia Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellowship Committee, shared the history of this prestigious award beginning with the founding of the Rotary by Paul Harris in Chicago in 1905. Named after the founder, the Paul Harris Fellowship was established in 1957. Rotarians and members of the community who are not Rotarians can receive the honor. Those recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow are presented with a certificate signed by the president of Rotary International and the chairman of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation, as well as a lapel pin and medallion. The local Club also makes a $1,000 contribution to the Rotary Foundation in the awardees' names.

There are more than one million Paul Harris Fellows worldwide, which is the highest distinction Rotarians receive for their service to the club and/or the community.

Press release:

WNY Pediatric Gastroenterology (WNYPG) announces the opening of their Batavia practice focusing on the care of infants, children and adolescents with gastrointestinal, liver and nutritional disorders.

With the escalation of autoimmune disorders in WNY children, including celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease, the physicians and other medical staff at WNYPG want Western New Yorkers to know that they are accepting new patients without long wait times.

The medical practice is located at 166 Washington Ave. Phone is 225-4132. (Web: wnypedgi.com)

They are committed to see patients within 48 hours. Dr. Daniel Gelfond focuses a significant portion of his practice on celiac disease and is a medical advisor to the WNY Gluten Free Diet Support Group.

Gelfond completed his residency at Long Island College Hospital and Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, and completed his fellowship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he worked with world renowned, Dr. Alessio Fasano at the Center for Celiac Research.

A nationally recognized physician scientist, Dr. Gelfond conducts clinical investigations studying gastrointestinal disorders in patients with cystic fibrosis. He is board certified in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, and accredited by the Royal College of Physician Educators. He has contributed to numerous publications, and recently published a textbook titled Pediatric Gastroenterology.

Dr. Humaira Hashmi completed her residency in Pediatrics at Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey, and her fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology at Women & Children’s Hospital in Buffalo. Dr. Hashmi enjoys teaching, and has a special interest in managing children and adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. She also focuses on childhood obesity and helps families educate and manage their children’s nutrition.

Dr. Hashmi is actively involved in local and national clinical studies, is a member of the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, and a member of the Gastroenterology Women’s Coalition. Dr. Hashmi is board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, and accredited by the Royal College of Physician Educators, and contributes to numerous publications.

Both physicians are excited to be working together to help children and families throughout Western New York with gastrointestinal and nutritional issues. Dr. Gelfond lives with his wife and three children in East Amherst. Dr. Hashmi also lives in East Amherst with her husband, and their three children.

Press release:

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting two trips in 2015.

The first is a 12-day tour of National Parks of America from Aug. 8 - 19, 2015. Some highlights on this tour are Scottsdale,Yellowstone, Old Faithful, Mount Rushmore and lots more!

The second is an 11-day tour of Spain's Costa del Sol & the Portuguese Riviera from Nov. 5 - 17, 2015. Some highlights on this tour are Madrid, Granada, Costa del Sol, Cascais, Lisbon and so much more!

More details on all of the trips the Chamber has to offer can be found on their Web site: www.geneseeny.com/trips. You can also contact Melissa at the Chamber at (585) 343-7440, ext. 27, or e-mail at chamber@geneseeny.com for more information.

The Holland Land Office Museum is offering a Senior Bus Trip on Wednesday, Aug. 27, to the Lockport Locks, with an Erie Canal Cruise, and a visit to Black Bird Cider Works.

Cost is $45 per person, which includes the cruise and lunch. Hard cider tasting costs $3.

The bus will leave the museum at 8:30 a.m. and return no later than 5 p.m.

For reservations and information, call the Holland Land Office Museum 585.343.4727.

Bus provided by the Muriel Marshall Fund for the Aging in Genesee County.

The Holland Land Office Museum has a program called "Have History will Travel." If your school or organization would like a free history presentation, please contact Museum office at 585.343.472.