Announcements

Information from Music Theatre International and Batavia High School:

"Into the Woods" is an epic fairytale about wishes, family and the choices we make. It will be performed by the Batavia High School Production Club next month.

Book author James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the music and lyrics, take favorite storybook characters created by The Brothers Grimm and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece...and a rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching.

The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

One of Sondheim's most popular works, "Into the Woods" is a musically sophisticated show with the opportunity to feature actors adept at dark comedy. Designers will especially enjoy highlighting the fantastical elements of this magical word.

The production was originally directed on Broadway by author Lapine and Jonathan Tunick created the orchestrations.

The BHS performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3, with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 4.

Tickets at the door are $10 for adults; $8 for students and seniors. Presale tickets are $8 for adults and $6 students and seniors. They are available at the high school's main office, 260 State St. in the City of Batavia.

Anyone who is looking for some help in enrolling in college will get that opportunity at two upcoming College Entry Help Sessions, offered free of charge at Genesee Community College.

The first one scheduled is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, in Room T121 of the Conable Technology Building at the Batavia Campus, One College Road. The second one will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21, at the same location.

Both appointment and walk-in sessions will be available on both dates. Appointments are also available on additional dates by request. To schedule any appointment, please email AEOC@genesee.edu or contact Adult Education Director Kate Trombley, M.S. at (585) 343-0055, ext. 6285.

This is a continuation of the Adult Educational Opportunity Center's yearlong schedule of open monthly sessions designed to get anyone started on their way to a college degree.

During these sessions, the AEOC's outreach specialists will help potential college applicants with a variety of services, including:

• Financial Aid Counseling: help completing the FAFSA, understanding various financial aid options including student loans and Pell grants, retrieving transcripts, and assistance with special circumstance applications.
• Enrollment Assistance: completing college applications or enrollment forms, ACT Test registration and completing Entrance Exam Prep through Accuplacer. 
• Veterans Services: AEOC outreach specialists are trained to assist any veteran in navigating services available for higher education.

It is important to note that these College Entry Point Sessions are not limited to students attending or planning to attend GCC. Anyone interested in attending ANY college or in need of assistance in getting started can participate. Information regarding GCC and all other area colleges will be available at these sessions. 

Additional details and a list of the session dates for all of 2018 is available here.

The above work by Alex Segovia is entitled "A New Beginning."

Submitted photo and press release:

"The Kite Boy" -- An Acrylic Exhibit by Alex Segovia will be displayed in the Oliver’s Gallery in the Seymour Dining Room at GO ART! in Downtown Batavia now through April 7.

There will be an artist's reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 15.

Segovia writes: "I was born September 4th, 1970, in El Salvador, Central America. I come from a very humble poor family. We were cotton pickers. I had a wonderful childhood, in spite of having limited resources and also my country having a civil war, that lasted 12 years.

"I was good at drawing, writing and making kites. Sometimes kids would come up to buy from me drawings and kites. I do not have any education in arts, but I did finish (high school) and since I went to an American school, by 14 years old, I was already speaking English.

"The 2 most important jobs I've held in my life, (are) making furniture and being part of an NGO that did social work in poor communities. Since most people don't make much money in my country, and I wasn't the exception, I could not buy the proper materials for painting. It was until I came to the U.S. that I eventually started drawing and painting."

GO ART!  201 E.  Main St.   Batavia, NY 14020

Gallery Hours: Thursday, Friday 11-7 / Saturday 11-4 / Second Sunday 11-2

585-343-9313
www.goart.org

Press release:

As part of our continued community partnership, the Batavia Police Department offers the following services to landlords in an effort to help them choose the best possible tenants and evaluate police responses to their properties.

These services were developed in direct response to feedback the department received from landlords and directly address the concerns they had. Below are the listed services and information on both programs.

Property Owner FOIL (Freedom Of Information Law) Request – This service will tell landlords how many times the Batavia Police Department has responded to a property within the time frame requested. After the initial request, we will provide a monthly contact summary every month on the second Tuesday of the month. Landlords can have the information emailed to them at no cost. For a hard copy, a charge of $.25 per page will be assessed. Copies of actual reports will not be provided.

Tenant Background Check – This service will show landlords the times a potential tenant has been arrested. This information will only show arrests and not how many times the potential tenant has had police contact. The information provided will include arrests from the Batavia Police Department ONLY and will cover the previous five years. The potential tenant will have to submit the background check form, in person, as we must verify their identity. Cost for this service is $10 which will need to be collected from the potential tenant at the time the form is turned in. The background form cannot be turned in by the landlord.

Copies of the above request forms can be found under the “Police Department” section on the City of Batavia’s website located at http://www.batavianewyork.com/Files. Forms can also be provided via email, U.S. Mail or by stopping at Batavia Police Headquarters located at 10 W. Main St., Batavia, NY 14020. Results can be sent via email, U.S. Mail or in person.

Press release:

Want to appreciate the challenge of accurate weather predictions? Understand world events? Or improve your business communications? You can learn all of these things and more with late start, 12-week classes at GCC. Register now for the session which begins Feb. 12.

GCC offers more than 30 classes in a variety of subjects during the 12-week session with many courses offered online. Here are a few of the options:

* Introduction to Meteorology (MET101): Stop blaming the weatherman and learn for yourself how to read weather maps and charts; how to observe, study, and predict storm systems; and how fronts develop, as well as thunderstorms and tornadoes.

* International Relations (POS203): Examine interactions on the global stage and discern recurring patterns including the rise and fall of great powers. This online course is taught by Professor Charles Scruggs and will cover everything from nuclear proliferation to terrorism.

* Business Communications (BUS106): Explore integrated communications and strategy as best applied in a business context. This online course is taught by Professor Lauren Paisley.

Check out all the course offerings at http://www.genesee.edu/courses/schedule/. To apply online for classes at any of Genesee Community College's seven campus locations, new students should go to http://www.genesee.edu/Admissions or call the Admissions office at 585-345-6800.

Besides the 12-week session, GCC also offers late start eight-week classes, which begin March 19.

The community is also invited to check out GCC at an upcoming Open House or Friday Visit Day at the Batavia Campus.

--- The Open House is an opportunity to tour the college which includes seeing College Village, our new Student Success Center and the Richard C. Call Arena (athletic facility). In addition, attendees will meet representatives from all student services offices and can choose to attend a financial aid session.

--- Friday Visit Days are another great opportunity to visit GCC! During a Friday Visit attendees will learn about applying to GCC, receiving financial aid, take a tour of campus and sit in on a college class!

Batavia Campus Open Houses

March 7 ~ 5 to 7 p.m.

April 14 ~  9 to 11 a.m.

Friday Visit Days (at Batavia Campus)

March 2 -- 9 a.m. to noon

(Saturday) April 14 -- 9 to 11 a.m.

March 23 -- 9 a.m. to noon

April 20 --  9 a.m. to noon

May 4 -- 9 a.m. to noon

"There's only one way to really experience GCC and that's to visit our main campus or one of our campus centers," said Virginia (Ginny) Taylor, Ph.D., vice president for Student and Enrollment Services.

"We hope many people take advantage of these opportunities to check us out and see what makes GCC a great place to learn. We are devoted to helping students of all ages achieve their goals."

Take a stroll down Memory Lane with a fun winter concert by the Genesee Chorale on Sunday, March 4 at St. Joseph's Catholic School.

The performance begins at 4 p.m. The school is located at 2 Summit St. in the City of Batavia.

The nonprofit ensemble of 75 members from Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Livingston and Erie counties will perform: "In My Life," "Blackbird," "Blowin' in the Wind," "As TIme Goes By," "Someone to Watch Over Me," and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."

These and other choral renditions of favorites have been prepared under the direction of Ric Jones. Soloists and small groups will round out the program, which draws from pop, rock, Broadway, film, and even a television series.

Tickets are available through the box office online here for $8 or they may be purchased at the door for $10.

Press release:

The Arc of Genesee Orleans will again be presenting an Art Show & Film Festival in celebration of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

It will be held Saturday, March 17 at the GCC Stuart Steiner Theatre located on 1 College Drive, Batavia.

There will be a collection of artwork created by individuals served at the Arc of Genesee Orleans on display in the foyer at Stuart Steiner Theatre. You will have an opportunity to meet and talk with the artists from 12:30 to 1 p.m. and the Sprout film screening will begin at 1 o'clock.

You can enter to win a beautiful framed work of art courtesy of an artist served by the Arc of Genesee Orleans. Admission is free.

For more informatiom, contact Shelley Falitico at 343-4203 or visit arcgo.org

The Warrior House of Western NY Gun Raffle/Chinese Auction and Spaghetti Dinner will be held starting at 1 p.m. on Satruday, April 7, at Ascension Parish Hall. It is located at 17 Sumner St., Batavia (formerly the Sacred Heart Social Center).

Must be 18 to win prizes and must be able to pass NICS check. Warrior House is not responsible for NICS outcome.

For more information, contact Edward Spence at (716) 560-0697.

The event will last until all prizes are awarded.

They are:

1) Stevens 301 20 ga. shotgun

2) $75 cash

3) Savage A22, 22 long rifle

4) Mossberg 500 20 ga.

5) $100 cash

6) Savage 93-22 mag

7) $125 cash

8) Thompson Center Triumph 50 cal.

9) Winchester 94 Trooper 100 anniversary 30/30

10) $150 cash

11) Springfield Armory M1A 308 Winchester

12) Windjm AR-15 .223/5.56

13) Chiappa M19 9 mm carbine

14) $200 cash

15) Savage Axis II 30.06

Press release:

The HomeCare & Hospice Foundation is gearing up for its 24^th Annual Spring Bouquet Flower Sale, a fundraiser held every March to benefit members of our community facing medical difficulties.

Proceeds from these vivacious yet inexpensive bouquet sales will benefit terminally ill hospice patients and their families throughout Allegany, Cattaraugus, Genesee and Wyoming counties, who will also receive free bouquets complements of HomeCare & Hospice and Western New Yorkers like you. Proceeds will also support services for the frail, elderly, disabled and those recovering from advanced illness.

A traditional bouquet, consisting of nine vibrant floral stems, is an $8 donation while the larger, more lavish Bouquet of Hope, consisting of 18 floral stems, is a $15 donation.

Bouquet orders can be placed at all HomeCare & Hospice offices, online here, and through hundreds of volunteers at workplaces in communities served by HomeCare & Hospice, or by contacting Ellen Brokaw at 585-343-7596 or emailing her at ebrokaw@homecare-hospice.org.

“Last year we raised over $16,000 to benefit our patients,” said Nick O’Keefe, development coordinator for HomeCare & Hospice. “It truly is a wonderful and easy way to benefit the community, and bring Spring to life in Western New York.”

Orders are now being accepted and should be placed by Feb. 7^th. The bouquets will then be delivered during the week of March 5^th. A free delivery service will be provided for those ordering at least four bouquets. Others may choose one of five HomeCare & Hospice regional offices for pickup.

HomeCare & Hospice, a nonprofit United Way agency, provides specialized medical care and social/emotional support for patients and families coping with life-limiting illness in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Genesee and Wyoming counties.

Say "I love you" with a special homemade treat! The Batavia Career and Technical Education Center's Culinary Arts Club will host a pop-up bakeshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Handmade scones, cherry pies, cookies, cakes and baked goods of all assortments will be for sale! 

This pop-up shop will be held in the Culinary Arts Dining Room at the Batavia Career and Technical Education Center. The center is located at 8250 State Street Road, Batavia. Use side door 71 and find room a-124-B.

Any questions may be directed to Chef Tracy Burgio at (585) 344-7795 or tburgio@gvboces.org.

This event is open to the public.

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The Batavia Career and Technical Education Center is a program of the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership. The Partnership operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services providing shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York state.

Press release:

GO ART! is offering the opportunity to participate in the Second Annual Juried Show. The theme is "ELEMENTAL." You can interpret it any way you would like. Any Media. No larger than 3'x3'.

Submissions will be accepted March 1-3.

The exhibit will hang from March 8 - May 5. The reception will be held on March 15, 6-8 p.m. Cash awards will be distributed at that time.

The awards will be based on the amount received from the submission fees.

GO ART! Members may submit up to 5 works for $30. $5 for each additional piece.
Non-members may submit up to 3 works for $30. $5 for each additional piece.

Contracts may be found at www.goart.org/galleries

Press release:

Part of the Y’s charitable mission is the philosophy that we never turn away someone with an inability to pay for membership or programs. To that end, we raise funds annually through the Strong Communities Campaign to help subsidize scholarships for youths, teens, adults, families and seniors in our community.

• This year’s campaign runs from Feb. 1^st  – March 31^st; 
• Our goal is to raise $45,000;
• We want to positively impact at least 800 people’s lives in the Greater Genesee Community;
• Reaching our goal will insure that children and families regardless of their socioeconomic status will have the chance to benefit from the important lessons of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility through YMCA programs and services.

We need your help! Please consider a gift to support us in achieving this goal and making our community stronger for all.

To make a gift, contact Jeff Townsend, executive director, at (585) 344-1664 or online at www.glowymca.org under the “giving” tab.

Press release:

Have you ever thought about the role of a school board? Have you considered running for a seat on your school board? The Genesee Valley School Boards Association (GVSBA) will host two informational meetings for community members to learn more about the roles, responsibilities and election process.

These meetings will be held on March 7 at the Charles G. May Center, 27 Lackawanna Ave. in Mount Morris, and March 14 at the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership, 80 Munson St. in Le Roy. Registration is required; please sign up with your school district board clerk by Feb. 16. Both sessions will run from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Pizza will be provided.

It is important for prospective members to understand that, while the board elections are held in May there are timelines regarding filing petitions that must be met. Details regarding this election process will be explained.

GVSBA Executive Director Tom Cox will present this program based on information provided by the New York State School Board Association. It is vital that prospective members understand the roles and responsibilities and expectations of the position of a board member. There are ample resources provided through various sources to help board members learn and grow.

Taking on the responsibility of a school board member is a tremendous way to serve the students and adults of your community. The time commitment is something that will also be outlined in these workshops.

For more information please contact Tom Cox, GVSBA executive director, at tcox@gvboces.org or Sandra Lee James at sljames@gvboces.org