Announcements

Press release:

Once again, the Western New York Independent Living Inc. Family of Agencies (WNYIL) is gathering nominations of members of the disability community who have made ongoing, significant contributions, such as support, assistance and inspiration to others.

Deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Friday, April 13.

The winner will be honored with WNYIL's Independent Citizen Award at its Fifth Annual “Night for Independence" Gala on Saturday, May 12^th at the Classics V Banquet & Conference Center, 2425 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst.

Ideally, the nominee should meet the five core values of this award: 

• Exemplifying independence in the community, such as: by beginning a special project; by spearheading an awareness effort; or by gaining the support of decision-makers, for the benefit of others with disabilities or the general community;
• Going above and beyond what would be expected to assist others, by offering personal experience or expertise, organizing individuals around an issue, enlisting partnerships, and/or revealing self-sacrificing work;
• Remaining active in the community over an extended period, even after an initial success with an activity or major project;
•  Rejecting others’ criticism or doubt, that potentially could have deterred the individual from striving to reach and achieve personal goals;
•  Showing the world the value of one person’s actions by encouraging others to have a contributing, encouraging, and positive attitude about making the community a better place for all. 

If you are aware of an individual who has served those with disabilities, and who, you feel, would meet all these criteria, please contact Marykate Waringa of WNYIL’s Office of Community Engagement at (716) 836-0822, ext. 146; or email her with the candidate’s name, a paragraph about his/her qualifications and contact information, as well as YOUR name and contact information, to mwaringa@wnyil.org.

Thank you for your willingness to help acknowledge deserving members of our community! 

WNYIL is Western New York's largest cross-disability, consumer-directed, non-residential organization for persons with disabilities. At WNYIL, individuals of all ages and all types of disabilities learn to exercise their freedom of choice to take control of their own lives, in order to live more productively in, and contribute to, the community.

Press release from Brian Graz:

Genesee 4H District public speaking presenters from left: Caris Carlson, Amelia Brewer, Colton Tarbell, Melissa Keller, Clare Mathes, Madison Harrington, Eva Rhoads, Corrine Rhoads.

Submitted photos and press release:

Congratulations to the Genesee County 4-H members who participated in the 2018 Finger Lakes District 4-H Public Presentations and Horse Communications Contests on Saturday, March 24. 4-H members from across the region came together to compete at the district level and gave presentations in front of a panel of volunteer judges.

The 4-H Public Presentations Program gives youth an opportunity to improve their public speaking skills in a fun, competitive format. The 4-H Horse Communications Program is a public speaking contest in which youth give a presentation on an equine related topic.

Members qualified to compete in the regional contests by giving an outstanding presentation at the Genesee County 4-H Public Presentations Contest in February.

Representing Genesee County at the Finger Lakes District 4-H Public Presentations Contest were Amelia Brewer, Caris Carlson, Madison Harrington, Melissa Keller, Clare Mathes, Corrine Rhoads, Eva Rhoads and Colton Tarbell.

Representing Genesee County at the Regional Horse Communications Contest were Alexandria and Tarbell Alianna Baris.

For more information about the Genesee County 4-H Program, contact the Genesee County 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or 585-343-3040, ext. 101. Program and enrollment information can also be found on our website at genesee.cce.cornell.edu/genesee4h.

Below are Region 2 Horse Communications contestants Alexandria Tarbell, left, and Alianna Baris.

Press release:

What: Spring Open House at Genesee Community College

When: 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 14

Where: Genesee Community College -- One College Road, Batavia

Who: Everyone looking for an affordable higher education

Registration is open now for both summer and fall 2018. Have you seen all of the great courses being offered at GCC? Don't miss your chance to get started on your college degree!

The admissions team and student success coaches at Genesee Community College are here to help you pursue your degree or certificate program. Apply today and get registered right away!

Representatives from GCC's student services offices will be on hand to answer questions about admissions, career and transfer services, student activities, athletics and you can attend a financial aid session. Tours of the campus will be available, including the new Student Success Center, Richard C. Call Arena and College Village -- GCC's apartment-style residential housing.

Register today at www.genesee.edu/openhouse or call 1-866-CALL-GCC.

Can't make it to Open House? Join us on a Friday Visit Day. Learn about GCC's application and admissions processes, financial aid opportunities, take a campus tour, and sit in on a college class. Friday Visit Days begin at 9 a.m. and end at noon on the following dates:

• April 20
• May 4

You can also visit www.genesee.edu/VT for a virtual campus tour.

GCC offers a comprehensive selection of over 70 degree and certificate programs. Dedicated to student success and accessibility, GCC offers a totally FREE application process, FREE career counseling, FREE tutoring and FREE parking.

With more than 100 courses available online every semester and 15 degrees that can be earned completely online, GCC is more convenient than ever. GCC's Campus Centers located in Albion, Arcade, Dansville, Lima, Medina and Warsaw provide additional options to attend class close to home.

Contact GCC's Admissions Office at 585-345-6800 or email Admissions@genesee.edu today to get started. For online, door-to-door driving directions go to: http://www.genesee.edu/about/visit/maps/

Press release:

The fourth ARTiculations Ability Exhibition® -- a forum for artists with disabilities in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties to display their work publicly -- will open at Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) in Batavia on Tuesday, April 3.

Titled "Life, Lines & Light," it features the work of Beth Allen, DMV, a veterinarian and mental health activist, whose photographs of animals, plants and beautiful landscapes, mostly in Genesee County, depict inspirations from her own life journey.

A product of a partnership between ILGR and the University Heights Arts Association (UHAA), the Exhibit will be on display through June 22^th.

The Opening Reception, is Friday, April 13th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at ILGR’s office, 113 Main St., Suite 5, in Batavia. Allen will be handing out a few of the photo postcards she has created for sharing as Door Prizes at the Reception.

An amateur photographer who picked up the hobby from her mother, Allen found the "mindfulness" she employs when taking pictures to be soothing for her mental health issues, and useful in the support groups she facilitates, so she has dubbed the process "Mindful Moments."

Other artists with disabilities residing in the Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties are encouraged to submit their work to this juried competition, as there will be additional ARTiculations® planned quarterly exhibits in the future.

For more than a year, ILGR has been “art partnering” for people with disabilities with the UHAA, a group of artists in North Buffalo with a commitment to community that places art in businesses and nonprofits through an established ARTpartnering program.

The organizers are pleased to note that the ARTiculations Ability Exhibitions® have “mapped” into UHAA’s system by placing a plaque with a Quick Response (QR) code scatter bar graph that can bring up information about it when scanned by your smart phone.

For questions on the event, please call Bridget Mosman at (585) 815-8501, ext. 400.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of the Western New York Independent Living Inc. family of agencies that offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

Rev. Ruth Rosa Warner along with Boy Scouts from Troop 6006 are holding a Pasta Dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 14th, at the First United Methodist Church, 8221 Lewiston Road, Batavia.  Dinner includes pasta, meatballs, salad, bread, dessert, beverages.

Pre-sale tickets are two for $10 or $5 each if purchased by April 6th. Ticket locations are at Marchese Computer Products, 220 Ellicott St., Batavia, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; and Licata Chiropractic and Wellness Center during regular business hours.

Tickets can be purchased at the door: Adults $7 and children under 10, $5. A free delivery service will be offered to senior living homes in Batavia if ordered by April 6th.

Any questions please call Steve Ognibene 585-409-8358 or email sognibene@gmail.com

Press release:

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Alabama is hosting its 34^th annual Spring into Nature celebration from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 28.

This year we welcome back spring with the theme "Your Backyard Refuge." Join us for a variety of nature-related exhibits, crafts, fishing demos, and games for the kids.

Bird feeder/nesting platform construction, viewing of live birds of prey, archery games, and face painting are among the returning favorites. Don’t forget to meet "Puddles," the blue goose mascot of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Food will be available for purchase and all activities are free.

Please contact Refuge staff at 585.948.5445, ext. 7037, or visit our website here for further information.

Iroquois NWR is located midway between Buffalo and Rochester, and is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Individuals with disabilities and any other person who may need special assistance to participate in this program should contact the Refuge at (585) 948-5445 or at the Federal Relay No. 1-800-877-8339.

Press release:

In April, the premier consumer-run disability service organization serving Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR), is resuming “The Wellness Hour” -- a series of four FREE classes to help the whole community to live healthier.

Taking place from 10 to 11 a.m. every Tuesday in April in the front lobby of the ILGR office, 113 Main St. at Center Street, Suite 5, Batavia; the series of Informational talks is designed to expand participants’ awareness of tools that can promote wellness.

• April 3rd—Jill Smith, Healthy Living in Batavia: 
  On screenings for cancer, such as breast and prostate cancers
• April 10th—Nicole Cummings, personal trainer:
  Be as fit as you can be
• April 17th—Laura Koepp, naturopathic doctor: 
  Using noninvasive procedures and natural remedies to promote self-healing; she is the author of "Broken: a Mother's Story," about her family's struggles after her daughter survives an auto accident
• April 24th—Chris Saraceni, M&T Bank:
  All about reverse mortgages 

ILGR stresses that the information shared is not intended to replace a doctor’s instructions. You should always consult with your physician or health care provider before beginning any new treatment.

While reservations are not required, so that we can plan, we would appreciate participants calling Bridget Mosman to RSVP at 585-815-8501, ext. 400.

All WNY Independent Living, Inc. services are accessible to persons with disabilities, including sign language interpreters and materials in alternative formats. To request a specific reasonable accommodation, please contact (716) 836-0822, ext. 126.

Press release:

The Bergen Swamp Preservation Society is hosting a free public presentation on endangered species at the Gillam Grant Community Center on Saturday, April 28, to encourage Bergen Swamp community members to be aware of the sensitivity of this ecosystem.

The society wants to bring awareness about the need to preserve the rare animals in the swamp, discourage poaching or killing these animals, and how to identify and report some non-native invasive species.

Bergen Swamp Preservation Society's “Meet and Greet” at the Gillam Grant Community Center will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 6 p.m. The center is located at 6966 W. Bergen Road in Bergen. Refreshments will be available.

The Bergen-Byron Swamp is a refuge for a diversity of wetland plant and animal life. How many people have actually seen some of the most famous animals of the swamp? Now is your chance to meet some of these animals in person with Seneca Park Zoo herpetologists.

These professional herpetologists will share with the public a live Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, a black rat snake and a spotted turtle.

Learn about the natural history of the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, as well as some of the other reptile species found in the swamp. Learn why these reptiles are an important part of the ecosystem and what you should do if you encounter one!

Bergen Swamp Preservation Society trustees will also be on hand to answer any questions about the swamp’s special flora, fauna and geology. Learn about a new non-native invasive grass, brachypodium sylvaticum -- commonly known as false-brome, slender false brome or wood false brome -- that threatens the Bergen Swamp and what we can do to mitigate its threat.

Also, please note that Bergen Swamp Orchid tour will be held Saturday, May 19th. Tours are at 9 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. and meet at the Gillam Grant Community Center on West Bergen Road, Bergen.

Press release:

Long ago each full moon was given a name to mark the season of the year. Join us for the Full Moon Hike: Full Worm Moon on Saturday, March 31st, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and welcome the magic of springtime.

Explore the forest by moonlight as we search for animals, hear old stories, and discover the world waking up from a long, cold winter.

Meet at the Interpretive Nature Center and dress for the weather, hike will go on rain or shine! $5/person, $10/family. Preregistration is required! Call 585-344-1122 to reserve your spot!

Call (585) 344-1122 to register. For more information visit our website at http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/parks/, or contact Shannon Morley at Shannon.Morley@co.genesee.ny.us or (585) 344-1122. 

Press release:

The Alexander Fire Department is hosting a All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast with the Easter Bunny! It is this Sunday, March 25, 8 a.m. to noon at the Alexander Fire Department Recreation Hall. It is located at 10708 Route 98, Attica.

Menu will be pancakes, French toast, scrambled eggs, ham, sausage, bacon, sausage gravy and biscuits, home fries, fruit, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, juice and real maple syrup!

The Easter Bunny will be there along with an indoor bounce house, coloring contest, face painting and 50/50 raffle.

Adults: $10; Children (5-12): $5; Under 4 eat free!

Please join us for some Easter Fun with Bunny!

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum will be hosting the 12^th Annual Batavia Antique Show and Sale on Friday and Saturday, April 6^th & 7^th. The antique show will take place at the Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel located at 8315 Park Road, Batavia.

The show opens at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 6^th and continues until 8 p.m. It reopens Saturday, April 7^th at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. The admission is $5 per person, which helps support the museum to continue to hosts events and programming for the community.

The Batavia Antique Show and Sale is an annual event that brings together antique dealers, collectors and vendors from across Western New York, the Southern Tier, Central New York, and even out-of-state.

It contains a wide variety of vendors displaying many different and unique items, including: jewelry, glassware, books, and much more.

Each attendee will receive with their purchase of a ticket a $5 Free Play to be used at Batavia Downs. In addition, Saturday admission is free with the proof of Friday attendance.

For more information about the 12^th Annual Batavia Antique Show and Sale, please contact the Holland Land Office Museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com

Join the Genesee County Master Gardeners this spring as we “Catch the Gardening Bug.” Our first gardening program this spring will be “Companion Plants for Bearded Iris” on March 28 from 6 to 8 p.m., presented by Master Gardener Brenda Fox.

Bearded iris are some of the most beautiful flowers, yet are surprisingly easy to grow. The first half of the program will focus on how best to grow iris, and will discuss when to plant or divide, soil preparation and sun requirements. The second half will explore colorful combinations with shrubs and perennials. These will be illustrated with lavish photos showing both contrasting and complementary color schemes.

Other topics will be “Dahlias 101” on April 5; “Permaculture 2.0” on April 18 and “Dividing Perennials” on April 25.

Classes will be held at the Genesee County Cornell Cooperative Extension at 420 E. Main St., Batavia. Cost is $10 per person. Preregistration is required as class size is limited.

Contact Brandie at 585-343-3040, ext. 101 or stop by our office to register. Visit our website at: http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/events for more information.