Announcements

Press release:

Genesee Community College's Board of Trustees voted earlier this month to approve a new Health Sciences degree program.

The program, which will offer an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree, must first be approved by the State University of New York and the New York State Education Department. If approvals are received as expected, the College will launch the new degree program in fall 2014.

The program will help students prepare for careers in established and emerging health care fields, such as unit coordinators in health care institutions, members of lab staffs, geriatric specialists, health assistants and wellness educators, health interpreters, medical records administrators, and dozens of other fields, according to Rafael Alicea-Maldonado, dean of Math, Science and Career Education, who helped shape the proposal for the new program.

The program is primarily designed as a transfer program, and students earning degrees will have the opportunity to complete two years of baccalaureate study at other colleges and universities. A number of colleges and universities in Upstate New York offer bachelor's degrees in the health sciences and wellness fields, and Genesee anticipates establishing transfer agreements with at least several of these colleges.

"Thousands of jobs in health sciences fields will be created in Western and Central New York in the years ahead," Alicea-Maldonado said. "An aging population, an increased focus on health and wellness in industry and new medical technology will all spur job growth.

"Even more significantly, the new federal Affordable Care Health Care Act will extend health care coverage to tens of millions of Americans in 2014 and the demand for allied health professionals who can help consumers prevent disease and manage a more complex health care system will be intense."

Courses in the new program will include a variety of biology and chemistry courses, Gerontology, Responding to Emergencies, Statistics, Introduction to Developmental Disabilities, Developmental Psychology Across the Lifespan, General Psychology, Introductory Sociology and a variety of liberal arts courses.

Trustees were enthusiastic about the new program, citing their own observations about the need for memory care providers, eldercare specialists and other professionals in the region.

Genesee currently offers a Health Studies Certificate program, which can be completed in one year of full-time study. Graduates of the program sometimes enter another of Genesee's health care degree programs, or obtain work as patient assistants in hospitals and other health care institutions.

The new Health Sciences program will join Genesee Community College's other prestigious health care degree programs. The College offers degree programs in Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant Studies, Respiratory Care, Polysomnographic Technology and Veterinary Technology. The College also offers degree programs in Human Services and Alcohol and Substance Abuse Studies.

Press release:

Did you ever wonder who wore corsets? Why did they wear them for over 500 years? Did you know men wore corsets in some time periods? What were the benefits of wearing them? 

A review of the fashion corsetry in the 18th and 19th centuries will be presented by Gail Argetsinger at the Holland Land Office Museum, 131 W. Main St. Batavia, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 25.

She is an associate professor and costume designer in the Department of Theatre at SUNY Brockport who designs and builds the costumes for the plays and teaches costume-related courses at Brockport.

A favorite class is History of Costumes, which studies many corseting techniques. Her costumes have been seen frequently onstage in the Rochester area, particularly at National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology and the Jewish Community Center of Rochester. She has designed several outdoor dramas throughout the country, including the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, the musical UTAH! for the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in St. George, Utah, and the Hill Cumorah Pageant in Palmyra. She lives in Greece with her husband, Jerry, and two sons.

This lively and informative presentation is the last of the Spring 2013 series of lectures brought to you by the Holland Land Office Museum. It is open to everyone – all ages will enjoy this – general admission is $5 per person or $2 for museum members. Refreshments and a question and answer session with Professor Argetsinger will follow.

For more information or to make a reservation, please call Jeff Donahue, Director, at 343-4727.

Photo and information submitted by Robert Mullen.

The Apple Award - Presented to the Batavia City School District...

...at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce - Business Education Alliance - Annual Spring Breakfast Meeting held on Fri., May 17th, 2013 at the Terry Hills Golf Course, Restaurant, & Banquet Facility.

Accepting the award (pictured L to R) from BEA President Mrs. Kitty Maerten (Superintendent of the Alexander School Distirict) are Mrs. Jillian Thomas - High School Business Teacher and Junior Achievement Coordinator for the Bataiva City Schools, Mr. Shawn Clark - Batavia High School Principaland Mrs. Eileen Ognibene - High School Business teacher and coordinator for the B.E.E.P. (Business Education Employability Profile) offered through the Career and Financial Management course offerings.

The Apple Award is given to schools and/or programs that exemplify the characteristics of authentic learning through educational opportunities that integrate real world business experiences (both in-the-classroom and out-of-the-classroom) for enhanced student learning. Batavia City Schools was recognized for having a superintendent on the BEA board, a liaison who attends the monthly meetings, junior achievement programs offered in the district, a job shadowing program, a CFM class that worked with the BEA to offer mock interviews, job shadows, and an employability portfolio (B.E.E.P.) that students interviewed for in order to qualify for a scholarship.

Press release:

The Oct. 23-31 trip to China will be the last the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting.

This is the last opportunity to take advantage of the exceptional value this trip offers. Walking across the Great Wall, standing in Tian Am Men Square, and viewing the gardens where the leaning Yanyan Pagoda that pre-dates the leaning tower of Pisa are just a few of the stops on the tour.

There is also an opportunity to see “up close and personal” the terracotta army in Xian. Dating from the third century B.C., the terracotta warriors were discovered in 1974 and are still being unearthed today.

Similar to the successful yearly trips since 2007, the Chamber is offering the community the unique opportunity to travel to China for the low price of $2,299. Price includes air fare (from JFK), bus to/from JFK, 4-5 star hotels, three meals a day, bus tours (with guides), admission to tourist spots, and airport taxes throughout the trip.

Of professional interest, this trip will present opportunities to learn a great deal about how the Chinese business system operates.

An information meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. June 5 at the Chamber Office in Downtown Batavia. To sign up or for more details call Melissa at the Chamber at (585) 343-7440, ext. 27.
Details on the trip can also be found at www.geneseeny.com/trips

Press release:

Warm weather is back and Darien Lake is helping Western New York cool off this summer with more than one million gallons of water. Darien Lake’s water park will open this Saturday, May 18, 2013, from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

“We made a big splash for our 50-year anniversary with new attractions and upgrades at our opening last weekend,” said Bob Montgomery, general manager at Darien Lake. “Now, with summer weather here again, families can beat the heat and have a blast as we open our water park.”

Free with the price of park admission, the water park is a 10-acre water park keeping park guests cool with more than 1 million gallons of water. There is something for everyone, with slides, tube rides and more.

Take the plunge on the Tornado, which boasts a high-speed 132-foot long tunnel that rockets thrill seekers at speeds of 20 mph or take a break as you relax and float down the lazy river on the Flotation Station. Guests can soak up the sun and ride the waves in Crocodile Isle, a 600,000 gallon wave pool.

At Hooks Lagoon, children will have barrels of fun with pirate ships, water slides and pools. Also perfect for families is the Big Kahuna, a four-person rafting adventure.

The water parkwill be open during every park operating day from now through Sept. 2. For the months of May and June, Darien Lake’s operating schedule is primarily weekends and holidays, with full-season daily operation beginning June 14.

For additional details on the water park and all of attractions and lodging available at Darien Lake, please visit www.DarienLake.com.

The Allstate Foundation recently presented two $1,000 grants to the HomeCare & Hospice Foundation, Inc. in honor of local Allstate Insurance agents Mike Roth and Keith Roth, who are both event volunteers for HomeCare & Hospice.  Pictured are Mike Roth Linda Cummings abd Keith Roth.

You can buy tickets for the 2013 season at Darien Lakes at The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce. Opening Weekend is May 11.

The chamber office is conveniently located in Downtown Batavia, 210 E. Main St.

Adult Tickets Available Only. 

Prices for “Good Any Day” tickets are, $30 per person for Chamber Members and for Non Members $34.99.  Ticket price includes both Darien Lake Theme Park & Splashtown at Darien Lake. This price includes FREE PARKING.

Children's tickets are NOT available at the Chamber Office -- they can be purchased at the gate for $29.99. Chamber Adult tickets CAN BE USED FOR CHILDREN. Children tickets are priced by height & must be less than 48” tall. Children under 2 years get in free.

Tickets are available at the Chamber Office Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They are not available for purchase on weekends.

Independent Living of Genesee Region (ILGR) is presenting its Third Annual Luncheon and Fundraiser on Friday, May 10 at Terry Hills Golf Course and Banquet Facility, Batavia.

The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. with New York State Assemblyman Stephen Hawley who represents the 139th district. The assemblyman will deliver the keynote address followed by a question-and-answer session.

The Third Annual Luncheon and Fundraiser will support ILGR’s programs and services for people with disabilities throughout the Genesee Region. The assemblyman will focus on the work of his office within the community.

Independent Living of Genesee Region (ILGR) is a part of the WNY Independent Living, Inc., family of agencies. The ILGR office is located at 113 Main St., Suite 5, Batavia. For more than three years, the agency has offered individuals of the Genesee Region (Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties) four core services including information and referral, peer counseling, independent living skills training, and individual and community advocacy, through empowerment, education and equality for all, regardless of disability.

Press release:

United Memorial Medical Center held a dinner on May 2, 2013 at Bohn’s restaurant to recognize volunteer service within the organization. Their gifts of time were spent filing records in Human Resources, assisting visitors, comforting family members waiting for a loved one in surgery, stuffing envelopes in the Foundation, helping patients on Hope Haven, serving coffee at the refreshment kiosks at the Hospital and at the Jerome Center, and helping someone choose just the right item in the gift shop.

Their dedication and compassion assists United Memorial in caring for patients and visitors every day. Volunteers are part of our team and part of our UMMC family. We depend on them and turn to them when we need a helping hand with a daily task or need their input on a large project.

Each year, United Memorial and our auxiliaries, the UMMC League and St. Jerome Guild, Inc. honor volunteers who have reached milestones in the cumulative number of hours they have volunteered. This year Guild members Priscilla Dirisio, Jean Havens and Rosemarie Monachino received pins commemorating 100 hours of service. Debbie Pellegrino, Marge Rimmer, Judy Thrasher, and Fran Wigton were honored for 1,000 hours; Betty Luperino received her 2,000 hour pin; and Mary Grace Demarse was honored for 3,000 hours.

Dorothy Baker, the 2011 Genesee County Health and Humanitarian honoree, received her 20,000 hour pin; the equivalent of more than 10 years of full time employment. Dorothy volunteers at the Jerome Center Gift Shop and Refreshment Kiosk and organizes the annual poinsettia and spring flower sales.

League members who were honored include Kathy Hoerbelt and Norma Meyers for 300 hours; Lil Irrera and Carol Smith for 500 hours; Anne Barone and Tim Weatherbee received pins for 700 hours; Doris Lindebauer reached the 1,000 hour milestone; Kay Benton the 1,500 hour; and Linda Pembroke, 3,500.

Augustine Fleming, has volunteered at United Memorial’s Hope Haven unit for over 7,000 hours. Her dedicated volunteer hours to patients recovering from addiction would equal nearly four years of full time employment.

Last year, 79 individuals volunteered 14,689 hours to United Memorial; over 20 months of time compressed into one year.   United Memorial measures the time they have donated since their true gifts of compassion, empathy and care they each bring to the lives of our patients, visitors and colleagues is immeasurable.

Tri-Town Youth Athletics is holding sign-ups for football and cheerleading this Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Alexander Elementary School in the lobby. The school is located at 3314 Buffalo St. in Alexander.

Fees are $90 for football; cheer is $150.

Bring the child's birth certificate, current physical exam documentation, and current report card.

There are no weight restrictions. All teams are age-based, and age is determined by how old the child is as of 12/1/2013.

Age groups for football:

• 6-7 -- Instructional
• 8-9 -- Mini
• 10-11 -- Junior Varsity
• 12-13 -- Varsity

Age groups for cheer:

• 6-7 -- Instructional
• 8-9 -- Mini
• 10-11 -- Junior Varsity
• 12-14 -- Varsity

For information on the football program, please call Kris Kramer at 716.982.1441

For information of the cheer program, please call Lisa Lyons at 585.356.7571

Seeking to reward their fans, the Batavia Muckdogs have announced that they will be partnering with HULEDET in order to give local fans a free ticket for their birthday.

HULEDET (http://www.huledet.com/), a one-year old company based in New York City, partners with local and national companies to enable them to reward their loyal customers on their birthdays, and to bring in new customers with the incentive of a birthday perk.

As fans enter Muckdogs home games this season, they will be given the opportunity to register to receive the birthday gift by simply providing their name, e-mail address, birth month and day, and zip code. When the first day of their birthday month comes, they’ll receive an email from HULEDET giving them a free ticket to use during their birthday month.

Fans with birthdays during the off season need not worry – they’ll get their gift from the team on their half birthday.

Says Muckdogs’ General Manager Travis Sick, “We are thrilled to introduce this new birthday perk for our fans. We believe everyone should get a gift for their birthday and this is our way of helping our fans celebrate their special day with the Muckdogs. In our mind, there is no better place to spend your birthday then at a baseball game on a beautiful summer day.”

The Muckdogs are one of 21 minor league baseball teams who will be working with HULEDET during the 2013 Season. Says HULEDET founder Michael Frankel, “We have seen great success with HULEDET at local restaurants and businesses, and we are excited to work with the Muckdogs as we bring HULEDET gifts to sports fans around the country this spring.”

Fans may join the Batavia Muckdogs birthday list online as well at http://www.HULEDET.com/BataviaMuckdogs

For more information from HULEDET, contact Michael Frankel at mfrankel@HULEDET.com or by calling 866.612.0719. Contact for the Muckdogs is General Manager Travis Sick at tsick@muckdogs.com or by calling 343.5454.

Genesee County Federation of Historical Agencies

History Open House -   April 6^th at GCC  10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Every half hour there will be a live presentation which includes music and fashion show (War of 1812 and Civil War uniforms). These are free, family friendly presentations. Following the presentations, representatives will be present to answer questions and show artifacts. Tables will be set up in the forum with displays and artifacts.

Door prizes will be awarded every 15 minutes!

Historical presentations and information as follows:

Presentations

10 a.m.          GCC Glee Club “Here Comes Treble”  (Welcoming)

10:30 a.m.      GCC – Civil War Initiative by Derek Maxfield

11 a.m.           Tonawanda Reservation Mini History by Terry Abrams        

11:30 a.m.       Ely Parker by Holland Purchase Historical Society

 NOON            Peace Garden

1 p.m.              Military Historical Outfit review – War of 1812 & Civil War

1:30 p.m.         Kellogg Company, Genesee County Militia – Militia in 1812

2 p.m.             Genesee Area Genealogists – Tracing Your Family History     

2:30 p.m.        Stafford Historical Society – Red Ware