Milestones

A total of 1,534 SUNY Oneonta students earned dean's list honors for the fall 2017 semester. To qualify for the Dean's List, a student must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher while carrying a course load of 12 hours or more.

Dean's list honorees include:

Ciera Baker, of Oakfield (14125)

Jacquelyn Carson, of Le Roy (14482)

Located in the hills of Central New York, SUNY Oneonta is a midsize, public, liberal arts and sciences college with a pre-professional focus. The college enrolls approximately 6,000 students in a wide variety of bachelor's degree programs and a number of graduate certificates and degrees.

Press release:

Hon Gary A. Graber, Town Justice, Town of Darien, recently completed the Special Consideration for the Rural Court Judge Course, a six-week Web based course provided by the National Judicial College.

Judges in rural courts throughout our nation share a unique circumstance marked by these issues: isolation, underfunding, lack of collateral social services in the community, and a high public profile.

This faculty-led online course shares techniques and experience from rural judges in meeting these challenges, and provides tools and suggestions to the participants which can be adapted in their courts as circumstances warrant.

This course is tailored to rural court judges in more sparsely populated communities and jurisdictions. This faculty-led online course offers a convenient way to learn skills particular to the special nature of judging within a rural area.

Key topics included:

• Identify areas of professional and personal isolation resulting from your service on a rural bench;
• Analyze the role of a judge on the Adjudicator and Agent-of-Change Continuum;
• Identify and analyze provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct addressing issues of particular challenge to the well-known rural judge;
• Identify the ethics pitfalls in dealing with disruptive defendants and litigants;
• Analyze how the rural judge can remain involved in his or her community within the context of proper judicial conduct;
• Recognize the threats to judicial independence resulting from recent efforts to inject politics and social or economic agendas into court decisions;
• Identify the purpose and limits of the inherent power of the court and how to effectively deal with other branches of government;
• Create a plan to deal with threats and emergencies;
• Recognize the phenomena of implicit bias.

Since its founding more than 50 years ago, The National Judicial College has been the nation’s premier judicial education institution. The NJC pursues its mission of "education | innovation | advancing justice" with the support of individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving and improving the rule of law.

Its supporters include scores of active and retired judges and attorneys along with government agencies and private foundations. Teaching at the NJC is a high honor, and most NJC courses are taught by judges who volunteer their time. The same is true of the members of the NJC’s boards of trustees and visitors.

Justice Graber has served as a NJC faculty member since 2008.

Submitted photo and press release:

Hon. Gary A. Graber, justice in the Town of Darien, recently delivered a presentation regarding the role of the judiciary in cases they may hear involving the holders of the commercial driver’s license.

This was one of many classes held for the constitutional county court judges within the State of Texas during their fall session in Galveston on Nov. 16.

One of the most important assets of being a judge is to ensure public safety to insure the public’s trust and confidence in the courts. Each judge handling traffic court cases must be extremely aware how the federal law is adopted and applied by the states and stakeholder responsibilities insuring safe operation by those possessing a commercial driver’s license and the vehicles they operate.

Justice Graber, a member of the faculty at the National Judicial College, Reno, Nev., has been routinely lecturing on these subjects to criminal justice personnel both within New York and throughout the country since 2008.

Scott Meyers, 22, of Le Roy, recently began an 11-month term of service in the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), an AmeriCorps program. Meyers, based out of the regional campus in Sacramento, Calif., is currently serving on his first project. 

Founded in 1994, AmeriCorps NCCC is a residential national service program that supports disaster relief, the environment, infrastructure improvement, energy conservation, and urban and rural development. Over the past 23 years, more than 1 million Americans have served the nation through the family of AmeriCorps programs.  Currently, about 80,000 people serve in AmeriCorps programs nationwide each year, with about 2,000 of those in AmeriCorps NCCC.

As a Team Leader, Meyers is responsible for managing the daily activities of 12 to 14 Corps Members on their service projects.  He serves as a role model, educator, safety manager, and liaison between the campus and project sponsor.  He began his term of service with a month training in September.

Meyers then assisted with Corps Member training, which began in Sacramento in mid-October. This training emphasized teamwork, leadership development, communication, safety, and project preparation.

Twenty-three teams composed of 279 Corps Members and Team Leaders began service projects in November throughout the Pacific region and areas affected by recent hurricanes.  Some of these projects include supporting wildfire response and recovery in California and Washington, renovating transitional housing for homeless youth in Wyoming, and assisting with hurricane recovery in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, among a variety of other projects.

There are four additional NCCC campuses located in Denver, Baltimore, Vinton, Iowa, and Vicksburg, Miss., each of which is a hub for its respective area of the country.

Before joining the NCCC, Meyers graduated from Le Roy Jr. Sr High School in June 2013, then attended State University of New York Brockport, which he graduated from in 2017 with a degree in Political Science.

Meyers said, “I joined AmeriCorps NCCC to serve communities around the country, and develop my leadership skills.”

Meyers is the son of Carol Meyers.

AmeriCorps NCCC members, all 18 to 24 years old, complete at least 1,700 hours of service during the 10-month program. In exchange for their service, they receive $5,815 to help pay for college.

Other benefits include a small living stipend, room and board, leadership development, team building skills, and the knowledge that, through active citizenship, they can indeed make a difference.

AmeriCorps NCCC is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. For more information about AmeriCorps NCCC, visit the website at www.nationalservice.gov/nccc.

Jenna Lawson, from Corfu, has been named a Presidential Scholar for the 2017-18 school year at SUNY Geneseo.

Lawson is among 15 new Geneseo Presidential Scholars, top-achieving members of the senior class who also serve as ambassadors for the college. They represent a variety of academic areas and exemplify the college's institutional values.

To receive the honor, a student must hold a minimum grade-point average of 3.6 and have earned at least 70 credits.

They also must demonstrate academic achievement across the curriculum, affirming Geneseo's values of excellence and innovation. Examples of such achievement could be involvement in major directed studies, substantial overseas studies, independent research, conference presentations, significant artistic projects and/or record of creativity. They also must demonstrate an active involvement with the community.

SUNY Geneseo is a premiere public liberal arts college dedicated to developing socially responsible citizens with skills and values for a productive life.

Alyssa M. Baumler, of Basom, took part in an internship in summer 2017 through SUNY Oswego's Center for Experiential Learning. A senior majoring in Wellness Management, Baumler interned with Healthfirst -- Health Fitness Corporation in New York.

The Center for Experiential Learning at Oswego places students in internships and career awareness opportunities that allow them to earn college credits while garnering valuable life experience.

During the last year, more than a thousand Oswego students took part in experiential learning while working at hundreds of businesses, nonprofit agencies and government offices and on campus in dozens of departments and programs -- not counting the hundreds of student teachers working in area schools.

About SUNY Oswego

Admission to SUNY Oswego is competitive. U.S. News Media Group counts SUNY Oswego among the top public regional universities in the North for 2018, and the Princeton Review includes Oswego in its 2018 college guidebook "The Best Northeastern Colleges" and in its national list of "Green Colleges."

A 156-year-old comprehensive college in the State University of New York system, Oswego enrolls about 8,000 students in its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; School of Business; School of Communication, Media and the Arts; and School of Education.

For more information visit oswego.edu.

Major General Anthony P. German, The Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

Samantha Futter, from Batavia, serving with the Company A (Distribution), 427th Brigade Support Battalion is promoted to the rank of Specialist.

Army National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability, and development potential.

These promotions additionally recognize the best qualified Soldiers and attract and retain the highest caliber Citizen Soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard.

For more information about the New York Army National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov or www.1800goguard.com.

The University at Albany congratulates the more than 3,300 students who graduated at its 173rd Commencement from May 19-21.

Anthony Misisco, of Pavilion, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in Spring 2017.

James Pisaturo, of Bergen, graduated with a Master of Science in Curriculum Development & Instructional Technology in Spring 2017.

Jessica Dudek, of Batavia, graduated with a Master of Science in Professional Accountancy in Spring 2017.

SUNY New Paltz has released the dean's list for outstanding academic achievement during the spring 2017 semester.

Dean's list designation is reserved for students who excel academically and earn at least a 3.3 grade-point average in a semester with a full-time course load.

The College is proud to congratulate Sabrina Wright, of Bergen, for being named to the spring 2017 dean's list.

Some 3,500 students graduated during Rochester Institute of Technology's 132nd commencement celebration, held in May, including:

Michael Barnard of Bergen (14416), who graduated with a BS in criminal justice. 

Juliana Blackburn-Baskin of Batavia (14020), who graduated with a BS in international business. 

Michael Burns of Batavia (14020), who graduated with a BS in management information systems. 

Cassandra Golda of Bergen (14416), who graduated with a BS in international business. 

Erica Hickey of Byron (14422), who graduated with a BS in advertising and public relations. 

Ryan Hochreiter of Le Roy (14482), who graduated with a BS in mechanical engineering. 

Rachel Kobel of Bergen (14416), who graduated with a BS in environmental sustainability, health and safety. 

Alexis La Boy of Le Roy (14482), who graduated with a BS in civil engineering technology. 

Samantha Mitchell of Batavia (14020), who graduated with a BS in business administration-accounting. 

Maryssa Peirick of Batavia (14020), who graduated with a BS in diagnostic medical sonography. 

Russell Schultz of Le Roy (14482), who graduated with a BS in computer science. 

Courtney Smith of Batavia (14020), who graduated with a BS in political science. 

Christopher Snyder of Darien Center (14040), who graduated with a BS in bioinformatics. 

Ryan Warner of Batavia (14020), who graduated with a BS in physics. 

Rochester Institute of Technology is home to leading creators, entrepreneurs, innovators and researchers. Founded in 1829, RIT enrolls about 19,000 students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, making it among the largest private universities in the United States.

The university is internationally recognized and ranked for academic leadership in business, computing, engineering, imaging science, liberal arts, sustainability, and fine and applied arts. RIT also offers unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation. Global partnershipsinclude campuses in China, Croatia, Dubai and Kosovo.

Press release:

Girl Scouts of Western New York Troop 42141 from Oakfield made a trip to Cabarete located in the Dominican Republic this past July. 

Girl Scouts Ava Flores, Abby Gardner, Emma Osborn, Regan Burgett, Taylor Wells, along with troop co-leaders Kelly Flores, Stephanie Burgett, and Robin Woodams spent the week-long trip making new friends with some local girls who are now starting their own Girl Scout troop!

They did a beach cleanup and also did volunteer work with a boys group called Inspiredr. The girls also had the opportunity to have fun snorkeling and learning authentic cultural dances. 

The girls also held an exciting bridging ceremony where they moved up from Cadettes to Senior Girl Scouts as they zip lined across the jungle canopy! A bridging ceremony acknowledges accomplishments achieved at a certain age level of Girl Scouts and advances them to the next program level.

The girls added that the trip fulfilled their personal mission statement, commenting, “The purpose of our trip is to expand our limits, have cultural experiences, make new friends, and have fun!”

To learn more about Girl Scouts of Western New York, visit gswny.org.

Mario Rosales Jr., a 10th-grade student at Batavia High School, was selected as the Staff Honor Cadet at the 2017 Buffalo training.

Mario was selected by the Navy Sea Cadet Corps commanding officers for the honor. Cadets from several divisions across various states attended the training. Mario served as the company commander for the Alpha company and is also a petty officer in the Sullivan's Division.

Mario is a member of the varsity cross-country and track teams at Batavia High School and works part-time at Ed Arnold Scrap Processors during the summer. He is the son of Mario and Gretchen Rosales, of Batavia. He is the grandson of Al and Sue Rosemark, from Elba, Vicki Brownell, of Albion, and Antonio and Virginia Rosales, of Mexico.

Gary A. Graber, town justice in Darien and Darien Center, attended the National District Attorneys Association's Commerical Driver License/Commerical Motor Vehicle Conference in Cincinatti, Ohio, this summer.

He spoke, from a judicial perspective, on Commerical Vehicle Law.

In a July 6 letter thanking him for his contribution to the conference, National Traffic Law Center Director Thomas Kimball wrote:

"Dear Judge Graber:

"On behalf of the National Traffic Law Center and all the participants in our class, let me extend out deepest gratitude for your valued contribution to traff safety at NDAA's CDL/CMV Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, was June 15-16, 2017.

"Your judicial perspective on Commercial Motor Vehicle Law was extremely informative and very well received. Many participants commented on how helpful your discussions were, especially as it relates to the topic of Masking.

"We recognize the substantial time and energy you put into your teaching segments and arranging your visit.

"Thank you again for your contribution and your consistent partnership with the National Traffic Law Center."

(Photo above: Dorothy (Stefani) Bater, of Le Roy, and sisters Dolores (Stefani) Lathan, of Le Roy, and Ruth (Stefani) Tracy, of Rochester, were the oldest in attendance at this year's Stefani-Costa family reunion.)

Submitted photos and press release:

The families of the late Baptist and Christina (Costa) Stefani, and Dominic and Johanna (Rigoni) Costa gathered for their 37^th consecutive annual family reunion at Le Roy’s Wildwood Park on Sunday, July 30, 2017. Wildwood Park is located on Munson Street Extension near the Le Roy Community Swimming Pool. Both founding families made their homes in Lime Rock (New York).

Linda (Orlando) Totten, of Elba, Carol (Orlando) Panepento, of Pavilion, Gloria (Orlando) Oliver, of Le Roy, and Amy Panepento, of Le Roy, hosted the event.

After a potluck buffet and cookout, followed by selections from a sweets table, the family held a short business meeting.  A review of family news since last year included the following:

• Dorothy (Stefani) Bater, of Le Roy, was the oldest person in attendance at age 90, followed closely by Dolores (Stefani) Lathan of Le Roy, who is one day younger. 
• The youngest family member to attend was 14-month-old Ryder Christopher Barclay, of Byron. He is the son of Samantha Blake and Joe Barclay. Ryder’s proud parents are expecting another addition to their family in April.
• The only new member of the family is Abby Grace Aradine, born on on Oct. 17, 2016. She is the daughter of Jeffrey and Bethany (Pocock) Aradine, of Bergen. Her older sister, Kate, was last year’s youngest reunion participant.
• Michelle Goldstin and Tim Sisson, of Piffard, have recently become engaged to be married.
• Rena C. Wagner, 90, of Batavia, passed away on Thursday, July 6, 2017. She was born Dec. 17, 1926 in Asiago, Italy, and was a daughter of the late Peter and Battastina Dalle Ave Costa. She is survived by her brother, Victor (Jean) Costa, of Le Roy, and her sister, Mary Regone, of Virginia.

Next year’s event chairs are Marilyn (Costa) Pocock, of Bergen, Darlyn (Costa) Hawkins, of Le Roy, and Richard Costa, of Stafford.

(Photo below: Jennifer (Slane) Blake, of Elba, enjoyed the reunion's beautiful weather with grandson Ryder Barclay.)

Press release and submitted photo:

ALBANY, NY -- The New York State School Facilities Association announced that Allison Della Penna, a junior at Utica College, is a recipient of the Fred Hack Memorial Scholarship.

Della Penna, a graduate of Batavia High School, is studying Child Psychology. She is a member of the Division 3 NCAA Women's Volleyball Team; acts as a resident assistant; and is an honors program member, scholar athlete and recipient of the College's President's Award. She has been on the dean's list four times.

Allison is the daughter of Matthew and Ellen Della Penna, of Batavia. Her father is director of safety, security and operations for the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership.

The Fred Hack Memorial Scholarships were established in the mid-1990s in honor of the association's first executive director. six scholarships are awarded each year to children of NYSSFA active and affiliate members who are enrolled, or planning to enroll, in a full-time program of study at an accredited post-secondary school.

The New York State School Facilities Association is a professional organization of more than 600 school facilities directors, facilities managers, head custodians, health and safety coodinators, and other key school facilities personnel. It's headquartered in Albany.