Stories from

Submitted photos and press release:

Officials at Genesee Community College are delighted to announce the College's 50th graduating class will hear from the new State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor, Kristina M. Johnson, Ph.D., as the keynote speaker at the commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 20.

Johnson is the fourth SUNY Chancellor to grace the College's commencement stage with Nancy L. Zimpher appearing in 2010, John R. Ryan in 2007 and Robert King in 2003.

GCC's first-ever graduating class received their diplomas in 1969 inside the auditorium of the New York State School for Blind. Through the years, GCC has held commencement ceremonies in several other locations to accommodate the growing number of graduates.

Batavia High School, the William W. Stuart Forum in the Batavia Campus and finally the Anthony T. Zambito Gymnasium have all hosted GCC's commencement programs. This year, GCC's Class of 2018, the College's 50th Class of graduates, will celebrate their success in the new and permanent venue, the Richard C. Call Arena.

"This year's Commencement Ceremony is going to be a special day for so many reasons. First and foremost, graduation is a sacred event celebrating the personal accomplishments of hundreds of students -- each with his or her individual story and journey. It is, without question, the best day of the year for the whole College community," said GCC President James M. Sunser, Ph.D.

"Secondly, we are honored to welcome Chancellor Johnson to our campus and look forward to hearing her distinguished remarks. Finally, this event brings our 50th Anniversary celebration to a grand crescendo, and what better place than in our new Call Arena."

SUNY Chancellor Johnson joined The State University of New York as its 13th Chancellor just six months ago in September. With 64 college and university campuses located across New York State, SUNY is the nation's largest comprehensive system of public higher education. It serves more than 1.3 million students annually, employs more than 90,000 faculty and staff, and connects more than three million alumni around the world.

Prior to joining SUNY, Johnson was cofounder and CEO of Cube Hydro Partners LLC, and had served as undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Energy. She served as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Johns Hopkins University from 2007 to 2009 with direct oversight of the academic operations and budget of nine schools that included leading interdisciplinary programs, academic centers and institutes. As Dean of the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University from 1999 to 2007, Johnson created intensive student/faculty research partnerships and led a strategic planning process as part of Duke's "Building on Excellence" university plan.

Among Johnson's many academic awards are:

• 40 years of Title IX -- 40 Women Who Have Made an Impact by ESPNW (2012)
• Woman of Vision Award for Leadership by the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (2010)
• Milton Steward Award from the Small Business Technology Council (2010)
• John Fritz Medal (2008)
• Society of Women Engineers Lifetime Achievement Award (2004)
• Dennis Gabor Prize for creativity and innovation in modern optics (1993)
• Fulbright Faculty Scholar (1991)
• National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator (1985)

In addition, Johnson was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (2015) and the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame (2003), holds 118 U.S. and international patents, has published 149 referenced papers and proceedings and has received honorary degrees from the University of Alabama at Huntsville, Tufts University, McGill University, Trinity College, Dublin and the National University of Ireland, Galway.

Johnson received her B.S. with distinction, M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University. After a NATO post-doctoral fellowship at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, she joined the University of Colorado -- Boulder's faculty in 1985 as an assistant professor and, later, full professor.

Additional commencement information can be found here. For families interested in using GCC's Child Care Center for children 5 years old and younger, the reservation deadline is Friday, May 4.

Below is a photos of GCC's first graduating class -- the Class of 1969.

The Alexander Fire Department is hosting its annual Spring Gun Raffle from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, at their Recreation Hall, 10708 Route 98, Attica.

Tickets are $25 each, which will include chances on 25 guns and four cash prizes.

Eight (8) guns will also be included in floor/door raffles. Food, beer, pop, 50/50, and bell jar tickets available.

Only 975 tickets sold -- ticket admits one person. Tickets can be bought at the Alexander Country Deli or by calling 507-9930.

Serena L. Snyder is indicted for the crime of bail jumping in the second degree, a Class E felony. It is alleged that she did not appear personally on Sept. 26 in Genesee County Court as ordered after having been released from custody on the condition she would do so, nor did she voluntarily appear in court within 30 days thereafter. She was to appear in court in connection with an unspecified felony charge against her.

Steven Obara is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated as a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Oct. 8 in the Town of Pembroke that Obara drove a 2007 Jeep on Route 33 while he was intoxicated. In Special Information filed by the District Attorney's Office, Obara is accused of having been convicted of driving while intoxicated, as a misdemeanor, on Feb. 1, 2011 in the Town of Elma in Erie County. That conviction was within 10 of the commission of the crime alleged in the current indictment.

Press release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) has invited individuals from a number of local businesses and agencies to a “Lunch in the Dark” at the New York State School for the Blind (NYSSB) to experience lunch in a darkened environment in order to better understand eating and socializing with vision loss.

Taking place from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 26th, at the School Gymnasium, 2A Richmond Ave., west of State Street, in Batavia, the event challenges the participants to dine using blindfolds as the only way to have a “total experience.” As a group, participants will discuss the best practices of making events with food more accessible, as well as strategies for eating with vision loss.

To encourage participation, Dibble Family Catering will offer a big spread: pasta with traditional red sauce, roast beef, honey-roasted turkey breast, chef salad, fresh rolls, coffee, tea, and dessert. The ticket price of $15 includes the meal, and some materials participants can take home.

After the meal, with the assistance of an ILGR staff person, they will have the chance to try out activities when blindfolded, such as using adapted devices.  Services of ILGR that may be useful to citizens who are visually impaired, such as the Medicaid Application Assistance Program, will be explored.

Members of the public who have not been formally invited are welcome to attend, if they preregister. For questions, or to RSVP, please call Donna Becker at 815-8501, ext. 411.

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.

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:

Chapin International will be hosting its 11^th Annual Chapin Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Terry Hills Golf Course in Batavia.

Chapin has proudly selected Justice for Children as its charity to support this year. As in the past all funds collected will go directly to the charity.

Please join us this year supporting Justice for Children by a donation, sponsorship or participation. The tournament provides everyone an opportunity to contribute to this truly amazing charity.

Justice for Children was selected out of several other local charities by Chapin's Golf Committee. Many of you may not even know or have heard of Justice for Children. That is a good thing that you never have had a reason to need the services provided. The services are every discreet, provided to protect the privacy of the children in need. All services are free.

The golf tournament is modestly priced at $75 and includes 18 holes of golf with cart, lunch, and dinner. Shotgun start is at 1 p.m.

Every person will receive a prize. Opportunities will be available for chances to win a car in the Hole-in-One contest.

Three local car dealerships -- Ken Barrett, Castilone, and Toyota of Batavia -- offer cars for the contest. All participants will have two opportunities during the tournament to win.

Max Pies Furniture in Batavia will be again offering a lounge chair to the winner of the putting contest held during registration hours before the tournament starts.

Longest drive, closest to pin, and closest to the line will also be available for all during the event. Everyone at all skill levels will have a chance to win. Mulligans and Skins will be offered as well.

Please go to www.chapincharitygolf.com for registration or sponsorship opportunities.

Early registration is advised to avoid missing out, our event fills to capacity quickly.

For any questions or information contact Norm Hubbard, tournament director at nhubbard@chapincharitygolf.com or call/text 409-7575.

About Justice for Children

The Justice for Children GLOW Foundation is honored to be the beneficiary of the 11^th annual Chapin Charity Golf Tournament. The mission of the Justice for Children GLOW Foundation Inc. is to provide philanthropic support to enhance the work of the Justice for Children Advocacy Center and multidisciplinary team throughout Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming (GLOW) counties.

The support provided by Chapin will assist us in meeting our goal of ensuring that every child who comes to the Justice for Children Advocacy Center receives the care and support necessary to begin their journey toward healing.

Since opening in 1998, the Justice for Children Advocacy Center has served more than 2,500 children and their families who have been impacted by physical or sexual abuse. In 2018 alone, 287 children and their families benefitted from the services available at the Justice for Children Advocacy Center. These services include victim advocacy, forensic interviewing, mental health counseling, medical exams, and multidisciplinary case review.

The proceeds from the Charity Golf Tournament will be used to replace existing, outdated medical equipment with a state-of-the-art imaging system to be used on site at the Justice for Children Advocacy Center’s Batavia office. This equipment will improve our highly skilled medical providers’ ability to identify, diagnose, and document injuries that have been inflicted upon children who have been physically or sexually abused.

Additionally, this system will create opportunities for continuing education and peer review for our medical providers, allowing them to keep their skills sharp and up to date with current best practices. The welcome addition of this equipment will aid us in our goal of ensuring that all the children we help receive the highest quality care possible.

Press release:

The Downtown Batavia Business Improvement District will hold its Annual Meeting & Awards Breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Friday, April 27^th at City Church Generation Center, 15 Center St., Batavia. Registration opens at 8 a.m.

There will be an overview of this year’s goals, announcement of newly elected board members, and presentation of “Spirit of Downtown” Awards.

Cost is $20 to attend. All BID Members are invited. RSVP by Monday, April 16^th to the Downtown Batavia BID office at 200 E. Main St., Suite 12, Batavia, NY 14020 or at www.DowntownBataviaNY.com.

This Year’s Spirit of Downtown Business Award winners are Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle and Genesee Valley PennySaver. Spirit of Downtown Volunteer Award winners are Jeff Gillard and Derik Kane.

For further information contact Beth Kemp at 585-344-0900 or bkemp@DowntownBataviaNY.com.

Smoke in the house is reported at 8272 E. Main Road, Le Roy. The caller says you can smell the smoke and smoke detectors have activated. First responders on scene report nothing is showing.

Le Roy Fire Department and Le Roy Ambulance Service are responding. The location is between Church and Linwood roads.

UPDATE 3:29 a.m.: Mumford's Fast Team is called to provide mutual aid to the scene.

UPDATE 3:31 a.m.: Traffic is being shut down on Route 5 at Linwood Road and at Church Road by Le Roy Fire Police.

UPDATE 3:37 a.m.: Stafford Fire Department is called to provide one engine to the scene and Pavilion is asked to fill in at Le Roy's Fire Station on Clay Street.

UPDATE 4:13 a.m.: Command says the furnace was malfunctioning. Three responding units will remain on scene for a few more minutes, he says, and others can pick up and return to service.

The sixth annual Casablanca Casino Night Fundraiser to benefit GC CASA for Children will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 20, at Terry Hills Banquet Facility in Batavia.

Proceeds will go toward programs for abused and neglected children served by GC CASA.

Tickets are $75 per person and are available by calling the CASA office 344-2580, ext. 2484, or at the door the evening of the event.

Price includes $500 in casino chips, food, beer, wine and $10 in free play at Batavia Downs Casino.

Cash in "winnings" for tickets to Chinese auction and a chance to win valuable prizes.

Sponsored by Main St. Pizza Co., Batavia Downs Gaming & Casino, Terry Hills, and CASA for Children.

Press release:

Genesee County 4-H Fur and Feather Club along with Wyoming County 4-H Rabbit Ears Club are hosting a double rabbit and cavy youth show on Saturday, April 21, at the Genesee County Fairgrounds, 5056 E. Main Street Road, Batavia.

The show is open to all local youth ages 19 and younger (you don’t need to be a 4-H member). Showroom opens at 8 a.m., health checked by 9 a.m., judging promptly begins at 10 a.m.

Entry Fee is $3 per animal if postmarked by April 13 or $4 day of show. Participants may enter in both shows.

For complete show rules and entry forms please click here, or contact the Genesee County 4-H Office at 343-3040, ext. 101.