Announcements

Batavia area senior citizens and youth got together last week to celebrate their outstanding service to the community. It was a mutual admiration society with a broad age range.

The "Minnie Tea Celebration" was held by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program in conjunction with the Genesee County Youth Bureau. It took place at the Senior Center on Bank Street in honor of RSVP volunteers who helped the Genesee County Health Department at the end of 2009 as well as teens who planted and cared for an indoor garden for the Minnie Garden Project. 

RSVP volunteers served the health department by distributing flu vaccines -- both seasonal and H1N1 -- and by performing other tasks such as nursing, paperwork and triage. Thanks to the diligent work of these hearty seniors, the GCHD managed to issue over 6,000 doses of the vaccine by the end of 2009.

Meanwhile, area high-schoolers got to try their hands at gardening with the help of Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener David Russell. He was beaming with pride at the tea party and couldn't say enough about the students' dedication to the Minnie Garden Project.

"I'm so proud of the job these kids did," Russell said. "These are kids with different backgrounds who came together and did an excellent job. I'm really proud of them."

In addition to being awarded certificates, the youths were given the honor of having their produce served as hors d'oeuvres at the tea party.

The party was funded by a grant written by 22-year-old former Youth Bureau member Vicki Ripper. Since she finished working at the bureau in November, AmeriCorps Vista volunteer Lauren Paluta and Youth Bureau employee Angela Barbeau have taken control of the program.

Paluta put together last week's event with RSVP Coordinator Dorian Ely. Paluta was the hostess in Ely's absence and, together with Barbeau, she presented certificates of appreciation to the senior and youth volunteers.

In the last two photos, Hannah and Leah Rosenbeck hand out decorated terra cotta flowerpots to the seniors as they return to their seats after receiving certificates. See the article on RSVP's intergenerational project for more information on this.

Genesee Community College's annual daffodil sale to benefit the American Cancer Society is now under way and runs until March 12. Daffodil orders will be taken through March 11 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Forum at the Batavia Campus.

There are three different bouquets to choose from: a potted daffodil plant for $10; fresh cut daffodils (10 per bunch) for $10; and a Bear and a Bunch (10 per bunch with a 2010 limited edition Boyd's Bear) for $25. Orders will be delivered the week of March 22.

This year's helpers for Daffodil Days includes an alumnus and cancer patient, Suzanne Smith, who graduated in May with a Travel and Tourism degree and was diagnosed with cancer this past fall.

"On the day I graduated, I was healthy. In November 2009, I was diagnosed with myeloma," Smith said. "That is how quickly cancer can change one's life."

At Smith's graduation, when she walked across the stage to receive her diploma, she had a slight back pain. Later she enrolled in Empire State College to complete a bachelor's degree. But during the summer her back pain increased to the point where she couldn't even walk. Doctors could not find anything until around Thanksgiving when she was diagnosed with myeloma, a rare form of cancer. She began radiation treatments and now hopes to be the "voice" that encourages people to support the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days.

The campaign is one of the cancer society's oldest and most beloved fundraising programs. As the first flower of spring, the daffodil represents hope and renewal. Each spring, the society offers daffodils to donors in appreciation for a contribution. By ordering bunches of daffodils for friends, family members and people touched by cancer, donors share a message of hope as they raise funds and awareness to defeat cancer.

All daffodil orders and payments are due by March 12. Cash, check and credit cards are accepted. For further information or to place an order please contact Valerie Hale at 343-0055 x6200 or vahale@genesee.edu <http://vahale@genesee.edu> , Berneda Scoins at 343-0055 x6270 or bjscoins@genesee.edu  <http://bjscoins@genesee.edu> and Jackie DiBella at 343-0055 x6255 or jedibella@genesee.edu <http://jedibella@genesee.edu>
 

Volunteers For Animals is collecting returnable pop/beer/water cans and bottles to help raise money for the animals.

Bring in your empties to:

• Genesee County Animal Shelter, located at 3841 W. Main St. Road in the Town of Batavia
• Rob’s Bottle and Can at 214 Ellicott St. in the City of Batavia. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
• Easttown Beverages on East Main Street in Batavia. Just tell them that they are for Volunteers For Animals and they will do the rest!

All of the money collected from the deposits will go directly toward helping the animals at the Shelter. NYS recently started to include water bottles as returnables - so don't forget the water!

Volunteers For Animals
PO Box 1621
Batavia, NY   14021
www.vol4animals.org <http://www.vol4animals.org>

Working in partnership with:
Genesee County Animal Shelter
3841 W. Main Street Road
Batavia, NY   14020
(585)343-6410

Adoption Hours:
Sunday - Friday 1 - 3 pm (closed on Thursdays)
Wednesday 7 - 9 pm
Saturday 11 - 1 pm

Adopt a New Friend at the Genesee County Animal Shelter

UMMC provides Free health care screenings for men and women in our community without health insurance. For women age 40-64 we will pay for a free annual mammogram, pelvic exams and pap smears and breast exams. You can go to your own Doctor and your choice of places for a mammo. For men and women 50-64 we will pay for a colon screening kit used in the privacy of your own home. Other exams may be covered also. And if you are diagnosed with cancer we can help you apply for a Medicaid program that will pay for all of your health care needs. Call (585)344-5497 for more information.We want you to stay in the best health possible!

Volunteers for Animals in Genesee County is once again vying for a $20,000 grant and other prizes.

The Animal Rescue Site is awarding $100,000 in grants to eligible Petfinder.com member rescue organizations with the most votes to help animals. The grand prize is a $20,000 grant and there are many other prizes.

You don't have to register and voting is free. You can vote once a day and the contest goes until April 18.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com <http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com>
Click on the tab “Shelter Challenge” on the RIGHT EDGE
Shelter Name: Volunteers For Animals
State: NY
City: Batavia
Then hit Search to vote.

Once you've cast your first vote, the Batavia shelter's name will be listed and ready for you to cast your vote each day subsequently.

Volunteers for Animals will NOT be sending out daily reminders but you can sign up for a daily reminder with The Animal Rescue Site. Follow the link below, top left hand side is a link for "Daily Click Reminders." Or simply add the website page to your toolbar.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_shelterchallenge_sidetabs <http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&amp;link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_shelterchallenge_sidetabs>

Volunteers for Animals has just received a new batch of sweatshirts and hoodies in lots of sizes and great new colors.

Sweatshirts are $15 each, hoodies $20. Stop in during regular adoption hours to check them out. Proceeds benefit our nonprofit organization helping animals in Genesee County.

Some of the colors include Carolina blue, forest green, red, pink, winter white, gray, brown, golden yellow, royal blue, purple and khaki. There is also a nice selection of T-shirts for those of looking forward to warmer weather.

Volunteers For Animals
P.O. Box 1621
Batavia, NY   14021
www.vol4animals.org

Working in partnership with:
Genesee County Animal Shelter
3841 W. Main St. Road
Batavia, NY   14020
(585) 343-6410

Adoption Hours:
Sunday - Friday 1 - 3 pm (closed on Thursdays)
Wednesday 7 - 9 pm
Saturday 11 - 1 pm

Adopt a New Friend at the Genesee County Animal Shelter

The New York Farm Bureau has honored Sen. Michael H. Ranzenhofer with the "Circle of Friends" Legislative Award for the 2009 Legislative Session.

“It is an honor to be recognized in the farm bureau’s ‘Circle of Friends’ and it is a pleasure to represent many farms and agri-businesses in our community," Ranzenhofer said in a press release. "As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I will continue to work with my colleagues in Albany and with the members of my Agricultural Advisory Committee to protect the future generations of our local farms."

New York Farm Bureau President Dean Norton announced the recognition recently in a letter to the senator.

“On behalf of the New York Farm Bureau, I would like to thank you for your positive voting record in support of the farm community and welcome you as a member of our ‘Circle of Friends’ for the 2009 Legislative Session," Norton said.

The farm bureau bases the award on the legislator’s voting record on important issues to the agriculture community and other evidence of support. The farm bureau will present Ranzenhofer with the award at the 2010 State Agriculture Day in Albany.

Ranzenhofer created an Agricultural Advisory Committee to discuss State issues important to preserving the financial and economic stability of the local agriculture industry last June.

This is the first time that Senator Ranzenhofer has received the award since he started serving in the Senate in 2009.  He represents the 61st  District, which includes all of Genesee County (and part of the City of Tonawanda, the towns of Amherst, Clarence, Newstead and Tonawanda in Erie County).

Free public influenza clinics will be held by appointment only from 2 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays until further notice.

The Genesee County Health Department offers both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines. To schedule an appointment, please contact the health department at (585) 344-2580, ext. 5000.

Parents of children ages 9 and under who received their first vaccination more than 28 days ago, are encouraged to bring those children to receive the second (booster) vaccination.  All children under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Additional information and a listing of the many volunteers who devoted their service to the residents of Genesee County throughout this endeavor, are available at www.ReadyGenesee.com and www.co.genesee.ny.us/dpt/publichealth.

The Leadership-In-Action Class at Oakfield-Alabama will be hosting a Going Bald for Bucks event for the Roswell Cancer Institute. You will have to collect donations from sponsors, and in return for these donations you will have the choice to have your head shaved to a clipper setting of one inch or you can have ten inches of non-chemically damaged hair which will be donated to Locks of Love. The shaving of the head is to honor cancer patients who lose their hair due to radiation or chemotherapy.

If you are interested, the application/pledge form can be found at the Oakfield-Alabama High School location and on the Hornets website; www.oahornets.org.  There will be a link called Bald for Bucks which will take you to the forms.

The forms and money are due to the Oakfield-Alabama High School office by March 12, 2010. Make sure the pledge form is signed, and has sponsors listed for you.

The date of the event will be March 26th, 2010 from 1:15pm-2:30pm.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Tracy Schlagenhauf or Cindy Kowalik at 948-5211.

Oakfield-Alabama School Address:

7001Lewiston Road

Oakfield, NY 14125

Volunteers at Genesee Community College will provide free income-tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the 2010 tax season.

The Genesee County Department of Social Services is coordinating with volunteers at the college to provide appointment-based services (at DSS) as well as two walk-in service days at the Batavia Campus (T205). Walk-in service days will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 and from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18.

The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $49,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own basic tax returns. Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other convenient locations. Most locations also offer free electronic filing.

Genesee Community College is the newest local community group to provide these tax services. Genesee's volunteers consist of faculty, staff and current students. They have been certified and trained by the IRS to prepare the tax returns. The taxes are prepared by the certified volunteers with the IRS approved "Taxwise" program, an online program that the preparers use. Mark Castiglione from Genesee County DSS is the VITA site coordinator for Genesee County. Both Federal and State returns are filed. The client leaves with a copy of the returns that have been prepared.

Under the leadership of Certified Public Accountant Cheryl Corke, assistant professor of Accounting at Genesee, the student and faculty volunteers have undergone rigorous online training to be able to use the IRS computer software. Three faculty members have been certified to prepare the taxes, Cheryl Corke (accounting), Amy Conley (accounting) and Donna LaMura (chemistry). In addition to the certified faculty members, there are a number of accounting students and college staff who have been active and will assist in the program.

"We have a strong, dedicated group of volunteers who are excited to help our community members prepare their taxes," Corke said. "We've been working hand-in-hand with DSS and the IRS to make the walk-in sessions go as smooth as possible."

The VITA program is a free service for clients with basic returns (no schedule Cs, Ds and no businesses) and with a combined income of $49,000 or less. There will be a welcome table with a checklist of all the materials people need to have prior to preparation services (Social Security cards for all individuals including dependents, all W-2s and 1099s, etc. and proof of identity such as driver's license).

For more information please contact Cheryl Corke at 585-343-0055 x6323 or at cacorke@genesee.edu <http://cacorke@genesee.edu. >.

Stuart Steiner, Ph.D, president of Genesee Community, supports Gov. David Paterson's Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act.

He says it would grant greater autonomy to State University of New York campuses and permit new economic development and partnership initiatives on SUNY campuses. [Gov. Paterson's announcement is described in this release from the Governor's office: http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/press_01151001.html]

Steiner issued this statement on the proposed legislation:

"Last (month), Gov. David Paterson proposed the Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act which, if enacted by the State Legislature, would give state-operated SUNY campuses more autonomy and flexibility and permit many new initiatives on all SUNY campuses.

"The Governor's proposed Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act is a powerful proposal that is being put forth at the right time. Dollars for public higher education are being limited and even severely reduced, so there is a great need to maximize the use of the dollars available to SUNY. For the state-operated campuses, the Act removes much of the tangled bureaucratic process for use of SUNY funds, and shifts many decisions and operational responsibilities to the SUNY Board appointed to provide oversight to SUNY colleges.

"If the dollars allocated to SUNY are going to be limited, then it seems that decisions about how to best use those dollars and how to generate tuition and other revenue should be left to those who have been appointed to be responsible for this multibillion dollar operation.

"The Act does very little for community colleges in terms of direct assistance, but whenever our public four-year institutions and university centers are strengthened, everyone benefits, especially the tens of thousands of students that we transfer to SUNY and CUNY colleges every year. When those colleges have the flexibility to use those resources to support the growing number of students, everyone wins. SUNY suggests that once the Act is fully implemented, state-operated SUNY colleges may be able to take in an additional 20,000 students. Hopefully a designated portion of these seats will be set aside for transfer students who graduate from SUNY community colleges, especially in those programs that are now at capacity.

"While the Governor should be saluted for this bold proposal, which outlines changes that have long been sought and long been needed, it was disappointing to see the Governor's budget proposal making such a large cut in state aid to community colleges. At this time in New York State history, when we are trying to maximize the use of our limited public resources, it seems that the Governor and Legislature should strongly support community colleges since we are, by far, the least expensive of all colleges and we provide the lowest cost-per student in any level of education in the state. As in the past, the community colleges will look to their local legislators to continue the support they have historically given to community colleges, and specifically to help minimize the level of state aid reductions for the coming year.

"Again, the Governor should be commended for The Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act, and I believe that the more our citizens become familiar with the Act, the more they will embrace and support it."

Debra Crossett was named Employee of the Month for January at Genesee Community College. She has held the position of secretary in the office of Student Activities for the past two years.

Since joining the staff, she has been deliberate in her approach to serving others and has exemplified professionalism and personal integrity. She has an innate compassion for others and always provides the best possible customer service she can to those with whom she comes in contact. She brings a high degree of motivation and commitment to the position as well as an ability to work independently. She often takes the initiative when she sees something that needs to be done and she willingly offers assistance to others. Crossett serves as an excellent role model to Genesee students and to her peers.

She began her clerical career at the Batavia Daily News shortly after graduating from high school and the Office Careers program at Genesee-Wyoming BOCES. Several years, later she accepted a position as switchboard operator and ambulance dispatch for St. Jerome Hospital for four years. She also worked in the office at Graham Manufacturing for four years. After her youngest daughter was born, she left the clerical field and began an at-home daycare which she continued for six years while her daughter was young. She also worked as a teacher's aide, which allowed her to be home after school hours. Four years ago, she went back into the office career field again when she was hired part time in the CAP office (Center for Academic Progress) at Genesee.

As secretary in the office of Student Activities, Crossett is the personal secretary to the director and assistant director of Student Activities. She maintains office records and performs clerical procedures, orders supplies for office and student events, prints and maintains student ID cards, oversees 13 work-study students, schedules meeting times and appointments, maintains and assigns student lockers and (most importantly) is available to students who need a listening ear. In other words, she's great at multi-tasking.

"My favorite aspect of working at Genesee is the opportunities that arise to make a difference in students' lives," Crossett said. "I also feel so blessed to work with such supportive and caring co-workers."

Crossett is a Batavia native, married to Ryan Crossett and they have two daughters, Nicole and Carissa. She makes sure to save time for her faith and her family. She also enjoys walking, bike riding, camping, making flower arrangements from her flower garden and assisting her husband with his photography business. Her immediate family, along with several other family members and friends enjoy vacationing together on the oceanfront in Outer Banks, North Carolina.

 

The Stafford Historical Society will hold its annual Taste of Stafford July 8. This year’s theme will be to honor our “HomeTown Veterans."

If you are a veteran and/or a family member is a veteran or someone currently serving our country from the Town of Stafford, we would like to know. In the Museum, will be a master list of veterans from Stafford who served or are serving in our military. Please let us know the name, branch of service, rank and the years served.

Also, if you would like to donate any items, or copies of the items, for loan to the Stafford Museum, we would be interested in displaying the items as well. We need all this by March 15. If interested please contact us by mail to Jim or Helen, C/O Stafford Historical Society, P.O. Box 28 Stafford, NY 14143 or call Jim at 344-3166, or Helen  at 343-6662.