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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.

A three-vehicle collision is reported at 5215 Clinton Street Road, Batavia. One male is requesting EMS. Town of Batavia fire and Mercy medics are responding. The location is in the area of Crystal Lane.

UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: A 30-year-old male who was not wearing a seatbelt is being transported to UMMC with neck pain. There was "window spidering" in the vehicle he was riding in as a result of the impact.

Press release:

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council has announced plans to reopen the former Batavia Club Bar in the historic Seymour building located at 201 E. Main St. in Downtown Batavia.

GO ART! members and special guests are invited to a private prelude opening at the newly named Tavern 2.o.1, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 6.

Guests will be treated to hors d'oeuvres from the Red Osier Landmark Restaurant. Specially priced tasting of the selection of wine, cider and beers being served at Tavern 2.o.1 will also be available.

The doors officially open to the public immediately following the private prelude -- at 7 p.m. on April 6. Guests will enjoy live entertainment, door prizes and raffles.  

Tavern 2.o.1 will be serving a selection of wines, ciders and beers (many of which are locally created within the GLOW region).

Staff and Board members will be on site for the opening reception to promote and describe the delicious libations.

"Our bar has the capability to offer events that people are traveling to Rochester or Buffalo to attend," said GO ART! Board President Tammy Hathaway. "After numerous requests from groups to partner and hold festivities, we made the commitment to open the space as a tavern and to begin scheduling some fun evening experiences for the community.’’

Currently, Tavern 2.o.1 will be open for both public and private events held at GO ART!’s headquarters, the Seymour building. However, there is talk of the bar being open for regular hours in the future.

For more information on events at GO ART! visit our website at www.goart.org

Kyle Carretto, of Corfu, is in the back row, third from the right.

Submitted photo and press release:

A team of Rochester Institute of Technology students, including Kyle Carretto, of Corfu, took second place at the annual Northeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition held March 16-18 in New Hampshire.

University at Buffalo took first at the 2018 regional competition. RIT placed second and Northeastern University placed third.

The annual event is part of the nation's largest college-level cyber defense competition, an extracurricular event that helps to train the next generation of cybersecurity experts. The competition gives student teams the opportunity to assume responsibility for the information technology operations of a simulated organization, allowing them to apply cyber defense skills in a real-world scenario.

For the competition, a group of industry professionals from government and companies-called the red team-is assigned to break into computer networks to exploit information from a mock company. Teams of students are "hired" by the company to prevent that information theft from occurring.

In this year's scenario, teams were brought into a fictitious security company called "Wild Eagle" and were expected to secure the network after members of their previous team left the company. Students had the opportunity to test their skills securing and defending widely deployed technologies, including Windows and Linux servers and workstations, next-generation firewalls, and cloud services.

Teams were scored on their ability to detect and respond to outside threats, maintain existing services, respond to business requests such as the addition or removal of services and balance security needs with business needs.

Rochester Institute of Technology is home to leading creators, entrepreneurs, innovators and researchers. Founded in 1829, RIT enrolls about 19,000 students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, making it among the largest private universities in the U.S.

The university is internationally recognized and ranked for academic leadership in business, computing, engineering, imaging science, liberal arts, sustainability, and fine and applied arts. RIT also offers unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation. Global partnerships include campuses in China, Croatia, Dubai and Kosovo.

Phillips S. Muzzy Jr. is indicted for the crime of third-degree burglary, a Class D felony. It is alleged that on Oct. 22 at about 12:45 a.m. that he knowingly unlawfully entered  the Pavilion Farms gas station on South Lake Road in Pavilion with the intent to commit a crime. In count two, he is accused of second-degree criminal mischief, also a Class D felony, for allegedly intentionally damaging property belonging to others. Muzzy allegedly damaged a glass door, computerized cash register system and cash drawer, in an amount exceeding $1,500. In count three, the defendant is accused of petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly stealing property from Pavilion Farms. In count four, Muzzy is accused of another count of third-degree burglary on the same day. He is accused of knowingly and unlawfully entering another gas station, Crosby's on Telephone Road in Pavilion, with the intent to commit a crime. In count five, he is accused of third-degree criminal mischief, a Class E felony, for allegedly intentionally damaging the property belonging to another. He is accused of damaging a glass door in an amount exceeding $250. In count six, Muzzy is accused of fourth-degree grand larceny, another Class E felony, for allegedly stealing property from Crosby's having a value exceeding $1,000.

Karaya D. Cummings is indicted for the crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a Class B felony. It is alleged that on Oct. 8 in the Town of Le Roy that Cummings knowingly and unlawfully possessed a narcotic drug -- heroin -- with the intent to sell it. In count two, she is accused of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, a Class E felony, for operating a 2006 Hyundai on Route 490 while her privilege to drive in New York was revoked by authorities. The indictment states the defendant had 10 or more suspensions in effect, imposed on at least 10 different dates, for failure to answer, appear or pay a fine in Monroe County in the City of Rochester from Feb. 4, 2014 through Oct. 23, 2016, and on Christmas Day (Dec. 25) 2013 in the Town of Ogden.

(The Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School 2018 National Junior Honor Society.)

Submitted photos and press release: 

Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School celebrated the new membership of two dozen middle school students to the school’s National Junior Honor Society in a ceremony on March 21.

The inductees are:

• Eighth-grade: Aidan Clark, Leanna Curts, Angelique Heick;
• Seventh-grade: Cassidy Ball, David Brumsted, Dayanara Caballero, Cameron Carlson, Caris Carlson, Evan Cuba, Kendan Dressler, Frank Hersom, Ryan Muscarella, Valerie Pastore, Kendall Phillips, Austin Salmonds, Emily Salmonds, MacKenzie Senf, Zoey Shepard, Ava Wagoner, Lillian Walker, Leyna Wheeler, Hannah Wies, Nicholas Zwerka. 

The NJHS program highlights the well-rounded students at Byron-Bergen. Inductees are selected based on their high standards of scholarship, citizenship, service, leadership, and character. All members are required to demonstrate their achievements in each of these areas. New members join 40 standing members to round out the Byron-Bergen chapter

The evening began with a welcome from faculty advisors Ken Gropp and Kerri Smith. NJHS Vice President Alayna Streeter led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The ceremony continued with opening remarks from Superintendent Mickey Edwards and Principal Patrick McGee.

(The traditional lighting of the candles symbolizing the tenets of the NJHS: character, service, leadership, scholarship and citizenship.)

Students Hope Hersom and Kelly Ireland led the traditional candle-lighting ceremony, that centers on the five qualities all members work to embody. Alaura Rehwaldt lit the candle symbolizing Character; Elli Schelemanow, Leadership; Grace Huhn, Service; Colby Leggo, Scholarship; and Corden Zimmerman ended with Citizenship.  

NJHS President Sarah Sue Streeter spoke about working hard for everything you want. She shared her story of not qualifying for membership in the society when she expected that she would. She was extremely disappointed, and determined to do better the next year.

“I worked and worked and worked,” she said. “And all the hard work paid off. When you really want something, you have to be willing to work hard to get it.”

The induction ceremony featured two guest speakers who were chosen by NJHS members: Byron-Bergen teachers Roxanne Wood and Peter Spence. They each spoke about the five qualities NJHS members must embody and how they are part of a successful life.

Wood challenged students to “set your goals higher than you think you can reach.”

As part of the induction ceremony, each new inductee received a certificate and pin, and the distinct honor to be a part of the National Junior Honor Society.

More than a million students participate in NJHS:https://www.njhs.us/. Membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments, but also challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service.

(All new inductees received a certificate and pin, and were acknowledged by the school’s administrators. Below, Ava Wagoner is congratulated by Ken Gropp.)

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:

Alexander Central School District partners with the YMCA to provide the UPK program to Alexander residents.

The UPK classroom is located in the Alexander Elementary School building and UPK is FREE to eligible Alexander District residents. Children who turn 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2018 are eligible to register for UPK.

Registration packets are available in the Alexander Elementary Main Office, located at 3314 Buffalo St., Alexander.

If the amount of registrations exceed the number of alloted UPK spaces, a lottery will take place Monday, April 9. Parents will be notified of placement the week of April 16.

Parents may select from a morning class (9-11:30 a.m.) or an afternoon class (12:45-3:15 p.m.).

Classes meet Monday through Friday. Bussing is available to school for morning students and home from school for afternoon students. Parents must make transportation arrangements for midday.

Parents are strongly encouraged to fully register prior to the potential lottery date of April 9.

For further information, please contact Maria Thompson, GLOW YMCA UPK director, at 585-344-1664 or mthompson@glowymca.org

Press release:

Mercy Flight has teamed up with our trauma community partners to offer Stop the Bleed training in Genesee County. Stop the Bleed is a nationwide movement started in the wake of the active shooter Sandy Hook tragedy.

Since this movement launched, Mercy Flight has jumped on board to train bystanders to be immediate responders to prevent life-threatening bleeding. Bleeding deaths can happen in just minutes, and can easily be prevented. 

Coming up on Saturday, April 7th Mercy Flight is hosting a session with Genesee County Emergency Management to teach how to apply pressure, proper tourniquet use, wound packing and life-threatening bleeding prevention. It will be held at the GCEM office at 7690 State Street Road, Batava.

There are three-time options for the April 7 class: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Each class is limited to 30 participants. (The 11 a.m. time slot is nearly full already.)

The one-hour course is jam-packed with valuable information for any member of the public, including teachers, coaches, parents.

To sign up for the class, visit Mercy Flight's website here.

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:

Press release:

The Genesee Community College Foundation is proud to announce its 2017 and 2018 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees. The entire community is invited to join us at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, in the Conable Technology Building at One College Road in Batavia for the induction ceremony.

Candidates for the Alumni Hall of Fame are nominated by friends, family, colleagues or other associates.

Each of the selected honorees has made impactful contributions to their profession and has provided distinguished service to the community and/or Genesee Community College. The GCC Alumni Hall of Fame, which is located on the second floor of the Conable Technology Building, boasts honorees from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds.

Each of these outstanding GCC graduates has made a lasting impact on their communities and earned this honor. We are proud to welcome the following to the Alumni Hall of Fame:

2017 Inductees

George Walker IV, '98, SVP of Creative Development, Dynamic Attractions

James Branciforte, '80, CEO Lifetime Assistance Inc.

2018 Inductees

Georgann Carrubba, '03, President and CEO, Tencar

Scott Gardner, '98, President and CEO, Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce

The complete list of Hall of Fame members is available at www.genesee.edu/alumni/HallofFame/.

The Alumni Hall of Fame Induction is free and open to the public. GCC welcomes all Hall of fame members, GCC alumni, and of course, the friends and family of our newest inductees to attend this celebration.

Press release:

On Saturday, March 24th, the kids and families of March for Our Lives will take to the streets of Washington, D.C., to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today. There will also be a rally that day in Batavia, followed by a march to Batavia City Hall.

Led by student leaders, we will march in solidarity with Washington, D.C.

When: Saturday, March 24th, 12 p.m.

Where: Rally at Williams Park, 101 Pearl St., Batavia

What: Speeches by local student leaders as well as local Pastor Jim Renfrew and retired Monroe County Sheriff's Lieutenant Gary Pudup of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence. A march to Batavia City Hall will follow the rally.

For more information please contact glowprogressives@gmail.com