Announcements

A diverse catalog of art projects produced by Genesee Community College Fine Arts students will be on display in the Roz Steiner Art Gallery later this month.

The display reflects coursework from painting, drawing, photography, ceramics and 2D and 3D design classes.

The exhibition runs from March 22 through April 26, with two artists' receptions to welcome the public to view the works. The opening reception is at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, with a second community reception set from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 30. Many of the student artists will be present and refreshments will be served at both events.

"Teaching students how to both make and display artwork is an integral part of our mission here at GCC," says Shirley Verrico, gallery director and GCC instructor. "We are fortunate to be able to do so in a state-of-the-art gallery."

Among the projects are hand-built and wheel-thrown ceramics pieces that Fine Arts and Ceramics assistant professor Maureen "Moi" Dugan describes as a mix of various methods and approaches.

"It's awesome to see a non-art major blossom in the studio," Dugan said. "They may be hesitant when they start the class, but have a fine body of work when they leave!"

The drawings and paintings run the gamut from Impressionist to finely detailed drawings and the three-dimensional pieces focus on structural works using foam cores, mixed media and "found objects."

Fine arts and photography instructor Andrew Super says the black and white photos in the exhibit express a great range of interests and backgrounds of GCC students. Most of the photos presented are from independent projects where students are asked to look at the world around them and respond to their environment via the camera. The result is an eclectic mix of images, ranging from narratives to abstract expressions of the everyday world.

Rehearsals and set construction are well under way as Genesee Community College prepares to launch its Spring 2012 theatrical season with a production of the Neil Simon comedy "God's Favorite."

The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 29 when the GCC Forum Players, in conjunction with the Genesee Center for the Arts, take the stage in the Stuart Steiner Theatre.

"God's Favorite" is loosely based on the biblical Book of Job, with God and Satan making a bet involving a wealthy Long Island businessman whose faith is tempted by a wisecracking messenger from God.

The cast and crew, under the direction of Fine and Performing Arts Director Maryanne Arena, reflect the GCC community of faculty and students, as well as local performers. They include Jerry Newell, of Attica, as pious businessman Joe Benjamin, and Rochester's Ben Liebrand as the tempter Sidney Lipton.

Rounding out the cast is: Patrick Dodge, of Warsaw, as prodigal son David Benjamin; Tyler Eldred, of Dansville, as son Ben Benjamin; Perry's Sara Stabley as Ben's twin sister Sarah Benjamin; Nikole Marone, of Batavia, in the role of Joe's long-suffering wife Rose Benjamin; Rochester's Whitney Sellers as maid Mady; and Bobby Steeves, of Albion, as the butler Morris.

GCC technical theater faculty member Ed Hallborg tackles the set design and technical direction of the comedy, with students Alison Scharvella (Copake Lake) and Roger Williams (Kendall) sharing stage manager duties.

"The cast and crew work incredibly hard and have shown an amazing amount of dedication to their craft," Arena said. "I am extremely proud of each and every one of our performers and crew members."

In addition to the debut performance on Thursday, tickets are also available for the 7:30 p.m. shows on Friday, March 30, and Saturday, March 31, as well as a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 1.

General admission prices are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (55+), students and GCC faculty and staff, and $3 for Genesee students with valid ID. GCC alumni receive a $2 discount with valid alumni ID card. The theater box office is open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and one hour before the start of each performance.

Reserve tickets are available through the box office at boxoffice@genesee.edu or by calling (585) 345-6814. Payment is accepted via cash, checks, and Visa or MasterCard credit cards.

Genesee Community College is located in Batavia, just two minutes from NYS Thruway Exit 48. Visit http://genesee.edu for door-to-door directions sent via email.

Press release:

United Memorial Medical Center will host a community education event, Diabetes Alert!, on Tuesday, April 17 at Bohn’s Restaurant and Banquet Facility, Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. for informational displays. A light dinner, served at 5:45 p.m., will be followed by a program featuring guest speaker, Michele Barrios (RN BSN CWOCN) on the topic of wound prevention and care. Additional presenters include Rosann Quinn, YMCA fitness instructor on the topic of yoga, and registered dietician Amy Miller (RD CDN CDE) from United Memorial.

Tickets, which include a light dinner and program, are $10 each and available through the hospital’s Healthy Living Department. Checks may be made payable to UMMC and mailed to: Healthy Living, 127 North St., Batavia, NY 14020.

Payment may be made in person at the office location at Cary Hall, 211 E. Main St., Batavia, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets are pre-sale only and available until April 6.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 8.3 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes, and of that number, 28 percent is undiagnosed and untreated. Diabetes is a condition that results when the body fails to efficiently use the hormone insulin, causing excess sugar to build up in the blood. People with diabetes are also at risk for a number of other health complications including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, depression and lower extremity amputations. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

In addition to the yearly educational event, Diabetes Alert!, United Memorial provides a number of services to the community for chronic disease management as it relates to diabetes, including a diabetes self-management course held several times throughout the year. The multi-session course is typically covered by most insurance plans and provides participants with a number of ways to manage their illness with medication if necessary and healthy lifestyle changes to their diet and physical activity.

For more information on classes or to register for the event, please call Healthy Living at 344-5331.

Press release:

For the first time ever, trekkers who take part in Genesee Community College's annual alumni Trek the Trail walkathon can go online to solicit pledges from family and friends, form teams, and create their own web page!

The fundraiser, which benefits the GCC Foundation Student Scholarship Fund, includes a morning of fun and outdoor activities for all ages. For a $15 donation, each registered trekker gets a T-shirt, treats, prizes and lunch, and a chance to join their friends and family on an engaging stroll around the Batavia campus.

And new this year, walkers can register, ask for and tally pledges, challenge friends, and create their own page on the Trek the Trail website: www.gccfoundation.kintera.org/trek.

Last-minute registration gets under way at 9:30 a.m. on April 21, with sign-in at the Stuart Steiner Theater Lobby. The trek then heads out along the Cougar Paws Pathway, with various stops for healthy treats along the Nature Trail to the soccer stadium and baseball fields, where kids (big and small!) can run the bases. New this year: a photo opportunity in front of the giant GCC sign at the old soccer fields.

Hikers continue to College Village, where playtime awaits at the Ducky Pond, and moves to the gym, where future hoops stars can show off their dunking style. Walkers then progress to the Student Union and the Forum, where various medical technicians will offer blood pressure readings and other healthy check-ups. The walkathon wraps up with lunch under the tent.

"This is a terrific opportunity for folks to enjoy some light exercise in the fresh air, have fun with their children, and help the College Foundation provide scholarship money for students," said Alumni Affairs Coordinator Jackie Christenson. "We're very excited about the new website and think it will make this fundraiser more accessible for a lot more people!"

Prizes will be awarded for most pledges and most creative team (costumes are welcome!), and those who correctly answer trivia questions along the way will be entered into a prize raffle.

Sponsorship opportunities for Trek the Trail are still available and can be arranged by contacting Jackie Christenson, Alumni Affairs coordinator, at 343-0055, ext. 6265 or jkchristenson@genesee.edu.

The 15th annual showcase featuring antiques, collectibles, artworks for sale and appraisals will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, at the Elba department rec hall. For the first time ever -- admission is FREE!

The fire hall is located on Route 98 in Elba.

There will be basket raffle and 50/50 drawings. Dave Cutitta, a Batavia dealer in coins and precious metals for 40 years, will be buying, selling and appraising silver and gold coins and scrap.

Lunch available.

There will be 50-plus tables of advertising, buttons, jewelry, glassware, pottery, primitives, Victorian, postcards, handmade silk scarves, felted purses, paintings, quilting, Mother's Day gifts, candy, and folk art. Something for everyone. Don't miss it!

Press release:

Students interested in a career caring for animals can learn more about the details of Genesee Community College's Veterinary Technology program during information sessions on the Batavia campus next month.

The college will host two meetings to introduce incoming students, as well as those still in high school and the general public, to the exciting possibilities of a career as a veterinary technician. Both sessions will be held Thursday, April 5.

Meetings will take place in the Conable Technology Building, Room T119, from 12:30 to 2 p.m., and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Among topics that will be discussed:

• Careers in veterinary technology
• The application and admissions process
• Academic requirements
• Program prerequisites
• Degree and licensure
• Frequently asked questions

For more information, contact program Director Kathryn Seweryniak at 343-0055, ext. 6187, or via email at keseweryniak@genesee.edu.

Press release:

Genesee Community College is pleased to once again offer an exciting hands-on opportunity for area middle- and high-school students to apply what they know about technology and learn even more. The fifth annual Tech Wars competition will take place this Thursday, March 15 at the Batavia campus.

The competition is open to middle- and high-school students, who will participate in multiple project-based events of skill, chance and ability. Events will include CO2 dragster design; AutoCAD technical drawing and architectural design; logo design; manual drafting; sculpture; web page design; bridge design; catapult; mousetrap cars; robot tractor pull; Rube Goldberg demonstration; king of the hill and the ever-popular sumo robots.

Teams of students aged 9 through 14 will also compete in the NXT/RCX robotic marshmallow catapult launch to try to propel their marshmallows the farthest from various points.

"The interest in this competition continues to grow each year because it's fun, but it also illustrates the how the broad range of careers in technology young people can explore," said Debbie Dunlevy, GCC tech prep program director and co-chair of the Tech Wars competition. "The Tech Wars encourage kids to think beyond the classroom, engage their creativity and strengthen their team-building and problem-solving skills to embrace technology as a fun, yet rewarding, way to make a living."

College Tech Prep helps students explore various career options and make a smooth transition from high school to college and ultimately to professional careers. The Tech Wars is among several dynamic programs giving students the opportunity to learn hands-on, often in business settings and with industry professionals.

For more information, please contact Debbie Dunlevy, Genesee Community College tech prep program director at 343-0055, ext. 6316, or dkdunlevy@genesee.edu or visit the Tech Wars website at http://www.techwarsgcc.org.

On Monday, GO ART! announced gallery exhibits through April. The following information is about the two in Genesee County.

• GO ART! Bank of Castile Main Gallery, Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia – The premier GO ART! "Members Exhibition" featuring more than 60 works by 22 artists. Exhibit dates: Weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, April 27.

***A free Meet-the-Artists Opening Reception takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 16, at the Bank of Castile Main Gallery.

• GO ART! Batavia Satellite Gallery, Genesee County Senior Center, 2 Bank St., Batavia – The inaugural “Digital Art Show.” In the Batavia Satellite Gallery, 24 works by 13 artists are featured. Exhibit dates are weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, April 27.

***A free Meet-the-Artists Opening Reception takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 16, at the senior center.

For more information on these exhibits and other GO ART! programs and services, please visit www.GOart.org <http://www.GOart.org> , email info@GOart.org or call 343-9313.

GO ART! exhibits are supported, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Attention parents, guardians, fourth-grade teachers and art instructors, the Landmark Society of Genesee County is calling for entries to the 22nd Annual Architectural Drawing Contest for fourth-graders.

All Genesee County schools and homeschoolers are invited to participate. Please also note that  the contest has expanded to include artistic photography and mixed media of historic sites and/or architectural details such as friezes, columns, etc.

Last year's winning artwork was also displayed on the sponsor's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Landmark-Society-of-Genesee-County/120196221335371.

Please be creative! Do not feel you have to copy from the Architectural Heritage of Genesee County book. Judges are especially looking for unique pieces -- photographs, images manipulated on the computer, etc.

Please send all entries by Thursday, May 3, to the Richmond Memorial Library circulation desk or to John Kennedy School.

The entries will be hung as soon as they are received on Thursday, May 3. Adults' help to hang the artworks will be most appreciated!

This year's contest and awards ceremony will be held at the Richmond library beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 10.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
 
Laurie L. Oltramari
President, Landmark Society of Genesee County
P.O. Box 342
Batavia, New York 14020
(585) 343-1457
LLB1999@yahoo.com

Submitted by a reader:

Twelve months ago I almost lost my dad. He had a massive stroke on February 22nd, 2011 as a result of high-blood pressure. It was the day after my mom’s 50th birthday party and I was 22 weeks pregnant with his first grandson.

My dad, Doug Hagen, is my Superman. He is the most kind-hearted, hardest working, funniest and by far one of the smartest people I’ve ever known. He has owned and operated his own business for over 20 years which has always kept him close to home and always available to his family.

He lived to work and worked to live. If I ever needed anything I would call him, he seemed to know everybody one way or another and had the answer to any question.

My dad, who is use to spending most of his day outside either working, snowmobiling or at his camp, has since spent the past year of his life in a hospital and in rehab. He’s made more progress than ever expected and is more determined than ever to get his life back.

His family and friends are hosting a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraising Benefit from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 1st at the South Alabama Fire Hall to help assist with this recovery costs. Please take a moment out of your day to help support a prominent member of your community and help me get my Superman back.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Presale tickets are also available. Call 297-4144 for tickets.

The fire hall is located at 2230 Judge Road in the Town of Alabama.

Press release:

The Spring Open House for EnGarde Batavia is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. for Friday, March 16 at the Harvester Avenue fencing studio.

Main Street Pizza will be providing pizza and wings for those who attend this free event. While there is no charge, preregistration is highly recommended.

The open house will allow attendees to learn about competitive Olympic fencing, the skills that are used and to experience firsthand a fencing workout led by one of our coaches. The workout will cover the equipment, practice drills and a “trial” match. Attendees are asked to wear comfortable clothing and athletic footwear.

There is no age limit to attend and participate in the Open House. Fencers as young as 7 and as old as 67 have enjoyed being part of the EnGarde Batavia experience. If you are in good health and able to exercise then fencing is a way to engage in exercise and have fun in our studio setting.

When Tom Clark, artistic advisor to EnGarde to Encore, first observed the fencing classes he was impressed by the physical workout the young fencers under went.

“There were students as young as 10 whom where working on increasing their endurance, improving their eye/hand coordination and their mental agility," Clark said. "These are all skills that will make them physically and mentally better to compete as they go through life.”

Fencing is part of the upcoming summer Olympics that are being held in London. While generally considered a European sport with its roots in France and Italy, many colleges and universities in this country have teams or clubs that compete on an intercollegiate level. Scholarships are available at many institutions for students who exhibit the skill and commitment to competitive fencing. While some students work toward the Olympic Dream many fence as a form of exercise and improving their competitive edge in their chosen field.

For more information on the Open House and to register visit EnGardeBatvia.com or email Colin Dentino at Colin@EnGardeBatavia.com.

Mitzie Collins (on hammered dulcimer) and Roxanne Ziegler (Celtic harp) will perform a free concert at the First Presbyterian Church in Le Roy at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 18.

The concert is part of this year's bicentennial events at the church. The musicians will perform a variety of Irish sacred and secular music.

The choir will participate in three of the songs. If you would like to join the choir for this concert, there will be a special pre-concert practice at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 18 at the church.

The beautiful, historic church is located in the heart of the Village of Le Roy -- at the corner of Main Street (Route 5) and Clay Street (Route 19).

All are welcome!

The Genesee County Youth Bureau will honor its AmeriCorps members during National AmeriCorps Week, March 10 – 18. This year’s theme is AmeriCorps Works.

All AmeriCorps programs are urged to use this opportunity to celebrate all of the great things that our members have accomplished, to encourage participation in national service and to thank our community partners for their support of the program.

AmeriCorps members agree to complete a specific number of service hours over a set time period. Members receive a modest living allowance while serving and upon completion of their commitment qualify for a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. The education award can be used to pay for college or graduate school or to repay qualified student loans.

The Youth Bureau received a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to establish an AmeriCorps program beginning in October 2004. Since that time, 231 members have been placed at more than 60 host site locations performing a combined total of 170,900 hours of service and earning more than $453,000 in education awards.

Members serve at a variety of organizations in the Genesee County area. Sites include schools, community centers, libraries, county government departments and other human services agencies. Assignments fall under the categories of youth development/mentoring, volunteer recruitment and public safety/community outreach.

Members are celebrating AmeriCorps Week by writing articles about their experience, creating displays and coordinating service projects for youth volunteers.

Members have been able to explore career options, learn valuable skills, help finance their education and have the satisfaction of knowing that they have made a positive contribution to their community.

If you would like more information about serving in AmeriCorps or hosting a member at your agency, contact Kathy Frank at 344-3960 or kfrank@co.genesee.ny.us.

Sent in by a reader:

Male dog found on Reed Road in Bergen on Sunday evening, March 11. Taken to the Genesee County Animal Shelter in Batavia. Call 343-6410 if you think this may be your dog. Very nice boy, I hope he goes home.

Press release:

 

The New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute will begin its annual Honorary Membership drive in Genesee County within the next ten days according to Sheriff Gary Maha.

The New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute was established in 1979. It is a not-for-profit corporation, tax exempt organization, and contributions to the Institute are tax deductible.

While the Sheriff’s Office is a unit of county government, many of the concerns of Sheriffs and other law enforcement agencies are best addressed on a statewide level. The Sheriffs’ Institute provides centralized training programs and services for all Sheriffs’ Offices, where those programs and services would be unavailable or impractical on a single county basis.

The flagship program of the Sheriffs’ Institute is the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp for economically challenged children. The Sheriffs’ Camp, in its 35^th year of operation, is located on Keuka Lake and 840 children from across New York State attend each summer. The Sheriffs’ Institute pays the entire cost of the camp stay and transportation.  Most children attending wouldn’t otherwise have an opportunity for vacation travel or a summer camp experience.

The Sheriffs’ Camp program combines summer recreation with activities designed to teach an understanding of, and respect for, our laws and the men and women who enforce them. The strong camper to counselor ratio allows for individual attention with an emphasis on the development of self esteem.

“In these difficult economic times we cannot forget our youth who will not have the opportunity for a summer camp experience or a summer vacation,” Sheriff Gary Maha said. “By becoming an honorary member you are supporting the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp for economically disadvantaged children.”

In addition, the Sheriffs’ Institute operates a scholarship program that provides one scholarship to each of New York State’s Community College’s Criminal Justice Programs. This program is designed to help attract the best and the brightest to the criminal justice vocation.

For more information about the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp and other Sheriffs’ Institute Programs, visit our website, www.sheriffsinstitute.orgor simply google  “Sheriffs’ Institute kids” and it will be your first option.

Financial support for many of the Sheriffs’ Institute programs comes from Honorary Membership dues. Invitations for Honorary Membership are extended on a non-partisan basis, and the invitees are selected at random. Any persons interested in supporting the efforts of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute by becoming an Honorary Member should contact the Sheriff if they do not receive an invitation in the mail, or visit our web site at: www.sheriffsinstitute.orgto download an application.

All donations made to the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute are tax deductible. In addition, Sheriffs’ Institute is registered with the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau.

OAKFIELD-ALABAMA UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Children who reside in the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District and who will be 4 years old by December 1, 2012 are eligible to be registered for our Universal Pre-Kindergarten program for the 2012-2013 school year.  If you need a registration packet, please call the elementary office at 585-948-5211, ext. 3211, to request one or email tbonner@oahornets.org

The elementary school office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located at 7100 Lewiston Road in Oakfield.

OAKFIELD-ALABAMA KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Kindergarten registration is scheduled for Monday, March 26^th through Friday, March 30^th at the elementary school office between the hours of 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM.  Information packets have been sent to families.  If you did not receive a packet or are new to the district, please notify the elementary office at 948-5211, ext. 3211. Please bring the following mandatory documents with you:  your child’s birth certificate, proof of residency and a current immunization record. Only children who have reached their fifth birthday on or before December 1, 2012 may be registered for the 2012-2013 school year.

Press release:

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Membership Committee has developed a NEW and exciting Series of Seminars to help you and your employees stay informed of the hot topics facing your business today! We invite non-members as well as chamber members to attend.

The seminars will cover topics such as accounting, insurance and technology/computers. We have leading experts in each industry to present and share their knowledge with you.  Presenters include Freed, Maxick CPAs, P.C. on accounting issues, Lawley Genesee on insurance topics and Marchese Computer Products discussing technology/computers.

In order to keep these seminars intimate and allow for a more personalized setting they will be limited to 20 people per session. We feel this will create a more casual environment that will allow attendees to feel more comfortable to participate and ask questions.

All seminars will be held at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Office, 210 E. Main St., Downtown Batavia. Networking and light refreshments will begin at 7:45 a.m. with the seminar to start promptly at 8 and end at 9.

All sessions are FREE for Chamber Members and $5 for non-members. Call Kelly Birmingham at 343-7440, ext. 26, to RSVP.

REMEMBER each seminar is limited to 20, RSVP on a first-come basis.

Here's the Spring schedule of FREE seminars:

• Thursday, March 15 -- INSURANCE 

"Employee wellness"

Presented by Julie Ciura with Lawley Genesee Benefits Group and Dr. Lawrence Sherman, medical director at UMMC's Corporate Health Center

• Thursday, March 22 -- ACCOUNTING

"Estate and business succession planning"

Presented by Tim Moag, CPA, Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C.

• Thursday, March 29 -- COMPUTERS /TECHNOLOGY

"Why are you printing in a paperless office? Come learn how to utilize the 75 percent of your computer that didn't even know exisited."

Presented by Paul Marchese, owner of Marchese Computer Products

• Tuesday, April 17 -- INSURANCE

"Insurance 101 -- Everything you wanted to know about business insurance but were afraid to ask."

Presented by Bill Fritts, CIC Lawley Genesee Insurance

• Tuesday, April 24 -- COMPUTERS / TECHNOLOGY

Topic TBA

Presented by Paul Marchese, owner of Marchese Computer Products

• Tuesday, May 1 -- ACCOUNTING

"Business valuation: What's your business worth?"

Presented by Ron Soluri Jr., CPA, CVA Freed Maxick, CPAs, P.C.

Join us for the Geocaching 101 and Advanced Geocaching Courses at The BEST Center at Genesee Community College!  Everyone is welcome!

Today, more than 1.6 million geocaches have been hidden, and found by more than 5 million people worldwide. On this past Leap Day alone, over 79,450 people logged a cache or an event, which is more than double the amount from four years ago!

Want to learn more about geocaching?

Don’t just hear about it - EXPERIENCE it! 

Register NOW and get your cache on!

GPS units will be provided (or bring your own!) and each person will get a free geocaching swag item!

---

Geocaching 101

Saturday, April 14 • 9:00AM - 12:00PM • Batavia Campus

Wednesday, May 23 • 6:00PM - 9:00PM • Batavia Campus

"Family Matters" is the theme for the next three-part segment being offered through the "People's Law Series," a collaborative initiative between the Genesee Community College's BEST Center and the Genesee County Bar Association.

Each of the following three seminars, being offered as part of GCC's Leisure Learning non-credit community workshops, are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday evenings at Genesee Community College, Batavia campus in room T102. Each seminar costs $10 and will be presented by well-known local attorneys who have extensive experience in Family Court proceedings.

For the updated list of courses visit: http://www.genesee.edu/best/development/leisure-learning/ and contact The BEST Center to register by calling 345-6868.

Seminar I -- March 13
"Getting Past Your Breakup -- Custody, Visitation and Child Support"

Presenters: Robert B. McCutcheon, Esq.; Peter M. Casey, Esq.

This session will focus on the definitions of sole versus joint custody and the custodial parent. Attendees will learn about child support payment plans and other financial responsibilities, as well as court orders and attorney representation, mediation, and understanding who makes the decisions regarding a child's health, education, religion, and general welfare.

Seminar 2 -- April 17
"Matrimonial Actions"

Presenters: Deborah L. Burhans, Esq.; Benjamin J. Bonarigo Sr., Esq.

Divorce is a life-changing event and understanding the principals of matrimonial law can only help ease the transition and process. Spousal support, distribution of marital assets and debt, taxation, health insurance and separate property principles are among the topics of this session.

Seminar 3 -- May 15
"Juvenile and Family Offense Matters"

Presenters: Durin B. Rogers, Esq., Deputy County Attorney for Genesee County

When the actions and behavior of children result in Family Court proceedings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members and friends are all concerned and need information. Knowing about the Juvenile Delinquency proceedings, PINS (People in Need of Supervision), and understanding the legal ramifications of truancy, substance abuse, sexting, bullying, fighting, stealing, the destruction of property and the Family Offense proceedings are among the topics covered in this session.
 

"Family matters often involve and are a significant concern to the greater family network including grandparents, aunts, uncles and others. This series is affordable and specifically segmented to target an array of different Family Court issues," Ray Chaya, director of The BEST Center and coordinator of the new Leisure Learning program said.

Durin B. Rogers, Esq., president of the Genesee County Bar Association noted that the series allows for local attorney's to give back to the community. "This segment of the People's Law Series provides an excellent general reference point for domestic situations that impact many families at one time or another." It should be noted that the three-part series is provided as a public service for general reference information and is not intended to be legal advice for specific cases.

Founded in 1912, the Genesee County Bar Association is a voluntary professional association that pools the collective talents and experiences of approximately 100 member judges, lawyers, and legal professionals across the county to improve the practice of law, advance the goals of the justice system, and benefit the community.

As the BEST Center's Leisure Learning division continues to develop and introduce new programs, the public is invited to share ideas and opinions for future topics. A short Leisure Learning online survey is available at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22EGQ7R6K59/ and all survey participants will be entered into the Leisure Learning drawing to win a Kindle Fire electronic reader.

The Batavia High School class of 1982 will be holding a weekend full of events Aug. 3-5 to celebrate our 30th year reunion.

If you are a classmate, a parent of one or just know of one of our classmates who has not been in contact with Darlene Bohn Naparstek or Amy Boland Joslyn, please send an email to Darlene at darnapar@gmail.com or call 561-672-1478 so we can make sure that you are included in all the events.