Stories from

Press release:

This year, Byron-Bergen High School’s athletic department will recognize an alumnus who has demonstrated not only athletic achievement but also character, citizenship, success and leadership during and after their time at the school.

The department is proud to announce that this honor will be awarded to Clyde Bianchi in a ceremony at 6 :15 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9,  during the scheduled JV and Varsity basketball games at the Jr./Sr. High School gymnasium.

Bianchi, a 1987 graduate of the school, was an exceptional multisport athlete. He played on the varsity teams for basketball, baseball, and soccer, and was named to the Genesee Region All-Star Teams for all three sports during a stellar high school career.

In 1985, a motor-vehicle accident left the promising young athlete paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair.

His spirit and perseverance continued to propel Bianchi forward, however. He graduated with a Regents degree in Math and Art, and worked full time to pay for higher education at Genesee Community College and The College at Brockport where he earned his undergraduate degree in Business, Math and Economics.

He attended the Rochester Institute of Technology from 1997-2000, studying information technology.

From 1994-96, Bianchi played professional basketball with the Rochester Wheels, winning the 3-on-3 Wheelchair Basketball Rochester Championship for all three years. He is also a professional power lifter, a billiards champion, and plays football.

Bianchi had a very successful career as a computer engineer, advancing to director of technology, a position he held for 10 years. Since 2013, he has been the CEO and president of the largest animal boarding facility in the Rochester area, Howlywood. Located in Bloomfield, the company is owned and operated by Bianchi and his family, including his wife and business partner, Kelly.

“Clyde Bianchi is an inspiring role model for our student athletes and for everyone at our school,” said Athletic Director Rich Hannan. “He set the bar on his life high and never compromised.

"He has always made sports and competitive principles an important part of his life and he has made significant contributions to his community. We are absolutely honored and proud to recognize his achievements, and add his name to our Athletic Wall of Fame.”

From the GCEDC:

The annual meeting and luncheon of the Genesee County Economic Development Center will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 9, at Batavia Downs in the Paddock Room.

Co-keynote speakers are Thomas Kucharski, president and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara, and Matt Hurlbutt, president and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise.

According to the GCEDC, 2017 was a landmark year for Genesee County, and you are invited to learn more about how the center is connecting the "Buffalo-Rochester Metro Corridor" and advancing economic development regionally.

At the annual meeting, the GCEDC and its partners will be celebrated and highlights from 2017 will be reviewed; also, the economic landscape in New York State for 2018 will be discussed.

This is an excellent opportunity to network with economic and elected leaders from around the region. The GCEDC will unveil the "2018 Economic Development Partner of the Year Award."

Feel free to arrive an hour early, at 11 a.m., for an informal networking opportunity.

Batavia Downs is located at 8315 Park Road, Batavia.

To register for the event, click here.

For more information, contact Rachel Tabelski, Marketing & Communications director for the GCEDC, at rtabelski@gcedc.com or phone 585-343-4866, ext. 12.

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:

In support of National Wear Red Day this Friday, Feb. 2, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is encouraging residents to join him in wearing red to support women’s cardiac health.

Heart disease and stroke cause one in three deaths among women each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds.

“National Wear Red Day is an important event that raises awareness for cardiac health and helps encourage individuals to live a healthy lifestyle,” Hawley said.

“Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, but education and action are integral parts of changing that statistic. I will be wearing red on Friday, and I encourage my fellow residents to show your support and do the same.”

Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and Body Mass Index (BMI) are important numbers to be aware of and monitor for optimal cardiac health.

For more information, or to join the conversation and show your support, please visit https://www.goredforwomen.org/.

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

As a result of the decision by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to allow more than 51,000 inmates statewide to use electronic tablets free of charge, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has written a letter to Gov. Cuomo and DOCCS demanding that the program be shut down immediately.

Today, Feb. 1, Hawley wrote:

Dear Governor Cuomo:

I am distraught and dismayed relative to the news accounts that tablets will be made available to 51,000 incarcerated individuals within our state correctional facilities.

This policy decision to reward and furnish luxury items like these tablets to prisoners is an affront to our law abiding citizens. Our citizens, veterans, school districts and libraries all across our state, struggle to provide for their families, students and patrons. What message does this send to them!

We already have people moving to New York State for our lavish Medicaid programs and now criminals will also be moving here and if convicted and sent to a state prison will have access to luxuries not afforded in other out of state correctional facilities.

I call on you to reconsider this misguided policy and urge JayP Inc. to work with our school system, libraries and veterans organizations to furnish tablets to law abiding citizens instead of those who are currently incarcerated.

Sincerely,

Steve Hawley

Member of Assembly

139th AD

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.

Submitted photos and press release:

The Genesee County 4-H Program hosted a community service card making event on Jan. 30.

4-H Staff Jessica Reisdorf and Brandie Waite along with 4-H Volunteer Julie Keller, helped coordinate and lead the event. They spoke to 4-H’ers on the importance of community service and volunteering and how they relate to citizenship.

More than 20 4-H’ers ages 7 to 15 volunteered their time to create over 50 beautiful and thoughtful handmade cards that will be distributed to the New York State Veterans’ Home in Batavia.

The youth worked together on this project with the common goal of brightening the residents' Valentine’s Day and to let them know that the community cares about them.

Genesee County 4-H members will be continuing this service project at the Batavia JOANN Fabrics store in the Valu Home Plaza on West Main Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 3.

To learn more about the Genesee County 4-H Youth Development Program visit our website at: http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/4-h-youth-development