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Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) would like to remind the public to be safe as they celebrate Halloween this weekend.

In addition to monitoring your children while trick or treating, wearing safe and appropriate costumes, and checking candy before allowing children to eat it, the assemblyman is reminding the public that the governor has instituted a drunk driving and underage drinking crackdown for the holiday weekend.

“With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, there is more time to celebrate; but at the same time, there is more opportunity for accidents and poor decisions. I encourage all parents and guardians to do their best to keep their children safe this Halloween,” Hawley said. “I also encourage everyone to be vigilant when they are out on the roads. Please do not drink and drive.”

The governor’s special traffic enforcement detail will begin Friday, Oct. 30, and continue through Sunday, Nov. 1. Gov. Cuomo encouraged both the New York State Police as well as local and county law enforcement to increase patrols during the weekend. His decision was in response to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that showed 43 percent of all people killed in motor-vehicle crashes on Halloween night from 2009 to 2013 in the United States were killed in accidents involving drunk drivers. Furthermore, 19 percent of fatal pedestrian crashes on Halloween night during the same time period involved drunk drivers.

A report released by the federal government in 2012 confirmed that Halloween is the deadliest day of the year for young pedestrians, with an average of 5.5 pedestrians under the age of 18 killed each Halloween (compared to an average of 2.6 on other days). Most accidents happen during dusk and early evening, when trick or treaters are out and drivers are adjusting to changing light as the sun sets.

In addition to staying safe on the street, Hawley encouraged homeowners to make their homes safe for trick or treaters arriving at their homes, making sure to clear sidewalks and front porches and have adequate lighting.

(Submitted photo of Batavia Bulldawgs Mini Division 2015 NOFA Champions.)

(Submitted photo of Batavia Bulldawgs Varsity Division champions T/K)

Press release:

The Batavia Bulldawgs youth football and cheer are excited to announce that they are the 2015 NOFA Champions in the Mini (8-9 yr. olds) and Varsity (12-13 yr. olds) Division!

In the Mini division the Mini Bulldawgs battled Attica youth football to the very end for a 13-7 win. The Bulldawgs pulled off the exciting win on the final play of the game Oct. 24 with only eight seconds remaining. The Mini team was coached by Head Coach Brian Mruczek, along with Otis Thomas, Kenny Griffin and Tom Domboroski.

“As coaches we emphasized on becoming a family and the drive to never give up.” Mruczek said. “Over the course of the season, this team became family and learned to believe in each other. The championship game was exactly how our season went. Hard work, dedication, the will to never give up and the ability to believe in each other!”

The Bulldawgs finished with a record of nine wins and only one loss.

In the Varsity division, the Bulldawgs took on undefeated Newfane youth football. In another close game, the Bulldawgs sealed a 13-6 win to take home the championship. The Varsity team coached by head coach Barry Warner, assisted by Paul Grazioplene, Jason Pratt, Matt Beach and Mike Dillon.

“This team has laid the foundation of the Bulldawgs and its future success,” Warner said. "The Varsity team consisted of many of the remaining players from the inaugural season of the Bulldawgs. It was a great way for the kids to end their Bulldawgs career with us."

The team finished with eight wins and two losses for the season.

The Bulldawgs would like to congratulate all the players, cheerleaders, coaching staffs, and Bulldawg families on an amazing season. We would like to also thank all our corporate sponsors and community leaders that have supported us all season.

We are looking forward to concluding our season next Saturday, Nov. 7^th, with the CheerDawgs competing in the 2015 NOFA Cheer Zone, which takes place at Attica High School starting at 10 a.m. Please come out and support our CheerDawgs!

(Submitted photo of NYS ARC President Laura Kennedy presenting an Employer of the Year Award to Jeremy Smowton, of Bessey Tools in Le Roy.)

Press release:

NYS ARC President Laura Kennedy presented an Employer of the Year Award to Jeremy Smowton of Bessey Tools, last week during NYS ARC’s Fall meeting in Albany.  Bessey Tools was nominated for the award by Genesee ARC to recognize its longtime partnership with the business whose United States headquarters is in Le Roy.

Smowton, vice president of Finance at Bessey Tools, reflected on the company’s association with Genesee ARC.

“We truly appreciate the hard work and effort the team from our local ARC provides for Bessey Tools," Smowton said. "They are a conscientious group that cares about the work they do, which we feel they do very well. At Bessey Tools, we are proud to have the privilege to serve our community through Genesee ARC. We look forward to a long standing future relationship.”

Genesee ARC has had a business relationship with Bessey Tools for the past 15 years and has had an onsite enclave at their factory since January 2013, employing 6 to 10 people daily.

Scott Jones, Genesee ARC director of Employment Services, said individuals work at ten different stations, assembling clamps, operating drill and hydraulic presses, packing and barcoding products.

“When Bessey Tools decided to move an assembly operation from Long Island to Le Roy, they asked Genesee ARC to handle the production because of our quality work and 15-year track record of excellence,” Jones said.

The Award presentation coincided with October’s 70^th annual observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities.

Genesee ARC is one of 54 Chapters of NYS ARC, the largest provider of services to people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in the nation, offering supports encompassing all aspects of a person’s life from birth through end-of-life care.

(Submitted photo of Kelly Rapone, with the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, and Amber Ciesiulka, with Darien Lake Theme Park Resort, with their respective awards.)

Press release:

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce and Darien Lake Amusement Park Resort both received awards recently for Excellence in Tourism Marketing from the New York State Tourism Industry Association.

The New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA) has recognized leaders in New York State’s tourism industry who have achieved a high level of excellence and accomplishment at the 2015 Tourism Excellence Awards. The winning individuals or organizations were selected on the basis of demonstrated commitment, leadership, and accomplishment in travel and tourism.

Genesee County Chamber of Commerce earned the “Excellence in Tourism Marketing -- Statewide” for its Haunted History Trail of New York State program. Created by Genesee County Chamber of Commerce in 2013, it is the only statewide haunted tourism trail in the country. The program includes partnership with 30 tourism promotion agencies and promotes over 60 haunted inns, hotels, museums and more across New York State and was developed to draw tourists who have an interest in ghosts.

Darien Lake Amusement Park was recognized for “Excellence in Tourism Marketing -- Private Sector ” for their 2015 overall marketing program which focused on delivering an exceptional value and experience to season pass holders, daily visitors and overnight guests. Darien Lake Amusement Park Resort is New York State’s largest amusement park resort featuring over 50 rides and attractions including a 10-acre waterpark and a variety of overnight options including a hotel, cabins and a campground.

The organizations received their awards at the NYSTIA Tourism Excellence Awards Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 22, at The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. Kelly Rapone and Taylor White, Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, and Amber Ciesiulka, Darien Lake Theme Park Resort, accepted the awards at the event.

Press release:

The Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming County Health departments are participating in National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) Oct. 25 -31, joining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in encouraging all to learn more about how to prevent lead poisoning.

This year's theme is "Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future,” which stresses the importance of testing your home, testing your child and learning how to prevent lead poisoning’s serious health effects. Lead particles can be ingested or inhaled posing serious threats to human health. If not detected early enough both children and adults are at risk.

“Lead does not affect everyone equally," said Laura Paolucci, Wyoming County Health Department administrator. “Individuals at highest risk for lead poisoning are those exposed to lead through occupational means or hobbies, fetuses and children up to 6 years old.”

Lead-based paint and lead contaminated dust are the most hazardous sources of lead for children. Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978. All houses built before 1978 are likely to contain some lead-based paint. However, it is the deterioration of this paint that causes a problem. Get your home checked for lead hazards by finding a certified inspector or risk assessor at http://www2.epa.gov/lead.

Symptoms of lead poisoning vary depending on the blood lead level which is determined by a blood test.

“Young children, infants and fetuses absorb more lead than adults," said Brenden Bedard, director of Community Health Services for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “A small amount of lead that may have little effect on an adult can have a large effect on a child who is still growing and developing. If a child is overexposed to lead it can cause devastating consequences including the possibility of irreversible brain and nervous system damage.

"Even children who appear healthy can have lead poisoning. Pregnant women should also be especially cautious of lead exposure. The presence of lead dust can cause difficulties during pregnancy. Lead enters the bloodstream and can pass the placental barrier from the mother to the unborn child. If you, your child, or other family members are at risk please take the time to contact your physician.”

Low levels of exposure to lead can cause memory and concentration problems, muscle and joint pain, and can affect nervous system function. High levels of lead exposure have been associated with nerve disorders, digestive problems and in extreme cases, death. However, it is important to remember that many individuals show no outward signs of lead poisoning. An individual may have an elevated blood lead level even if they appear healthy and show no signs of lead poisoning.

Thankfully exposure to lead can be prevented. Follow these tips to be healthy from the start:

• Make sure children do not have access to peeling paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint;
• Children and pregnant women should not be present in housing built before 1978 that is undergoing renovation; They should not participate in activities that disturb old paint or in cleaning up paint debris after work is completed;
• Create barriers between living/play areas and lead sources; Until environmental clean-up is completed, you should clean and isolate all sources of lead; Close and lock doors to keep children away from chipping or peeling paint on walls; You can also apply temporary barriers such as contact paper or duct tape, to cover holes in walls or to block children’s access to other sources of lead;
• Regularly wash children’s hands and toys; Hands and toys can become contaminated from household dust or exterior soil; Both are known lead sources.
• Regularly wet-mop floors and wet-wipe window components; Because household dust is a major source of lead, you should wet-mop floors and wet-wipe horizontal surfaces every two to three weeks; Windowsills and wells can contain high levels of leaded dust and should be kept clean; If possible, windows should be shut to prevent abrasion of painted surfaces or opened from the top;
• Take off shoes when entering the house to prevent bringing lead-contaminated soil in from outside;
• Prevent children from playing in bare soil; if possible, provide them with sandboxes; Plant grass on areas of bare soil or cover the soil with grass seed, mulch, or wood chips, if possible; Until the bare soil is covered, move play areas away from bare soil and away from the sides of the house; If you have a sandbox, cover the box when not in use to prevent cats from using it as a litter box; That will help protect children from exposure to animal waste.

Visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website to see product recalls related to lead and other hazards: http://www.cpsc.gov/

For information about how to prevent lead poisoning or health department services contact,

• Genesee County Health Department at: 344-2580, ext. 5555, or visit the Web site at www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/health/index.html. Visit Facebook at Genesee County Health Department and Twitter at GeneseeCoHealthDept.
• Orleans County Health Department at: 589-3278 or check out the Web site at: www.orleansny.com/publichealth. Visit Facebook and Twitter: the user name for both is OrleansCoHealth.
• Wyoming County Health Department at: 786-8890 or visit the Web site at www.wyomingco.net/health/main.html

Press release:

The 31st annual Health and Humanitarian Award of Genesee County will be presented to John C. Dwyer on Friday, Dec. 4, at an awards luncheon at Terry Hills Restaurant.

The award presented by The Jerome Foundation and United Memorial Medical Center Foundation recognizes volunteer men and women of Genesee County who have helped promote emotional, physical and spiritual well-being of the area’s residents. Nominations reflected “ordinary people who reach far beyond themselves to the lives of those in need, bringing hope, care, and friendship, and helping build a stronger, healthier community.”

In naming John Dwyer for this year’s award, the Foundations will recognize 60 years of his volunteer efforts and leadership to more than 30 community organizations involved with health care, job creation, education, and humanitarian needs of Genesee County.

Mr. Dwyer has given his time and talent to Genesee County Water Resources Agency, Genesee County Industrial Development Agency, Children’s Home Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, Batavia Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, and other civic organizations.

Improvement of educational resources in the Genesee County area has been of special interest to Mr. Dwyer. He has served in leadership roles at Genesee Community College, Notre Dame High School, and St. Joseph School.

Health care has also been a priority. Mr. Dwyer served as president of the former St. Jerome Hospital Foundation, and chaired various fundraising campaigns with the goal of improving healthcare in Genesee County.

In one of several letters nominating Mr. Dwyer, Mary Pat Hancock, the former chair of the Genesee County Legislature, said “John’s documented activities and his continued involvement in our community speak for themselves, but it is love for Genesee County, his pride in Western New York, and his positive vision for the future that have given strength and focus to his efforts, and helped insure a positive outcome.”

Marie Call, a friend and colleague, also remarked on Mr. Dwyer’s achievements, saying “John has demonstrated his passion for, and commitment to, a wide variety of community organizations that have had an impact on thousands of people from school children to senior citizens.”

The Health and Humanitarian Award luncheon is open to the public. Reservations can be made by contacting United Memorial Medical Center Foundation at 344-5300. Seating will be limited so early reservations are encouraged.

A statement from Assemblyman Steve Hawley:

“As a veteran, I am appalled by Gov. Cuomo’s recent veto of the Veterans Buyback bill. This legislation would have allowed honorably discharged veterans to purchase up to three years of their service from New York State to count toward their public retirement system benefits. More importantly, veterans who have served in conflicts such as Bosnia, Afghanistan and Somalia, are not given the option for a service credit and this bill would have addressed such a concern.

“I am deeply troubled that Gov. Cuomo supports taxpayer-funded college tuition for illegal immigrants but refuses to sign this legislation as a token of gratitude for those that have honorably defended our freedom. The legislature overwhelmingly passed this measure for the second straight year and Gov. Cuomo blatantly ignored the pulse of the people. Furthermore, he again vetoed the bill days before Veterans Day (Nov. 11), adding insult to injury and further alienating our needy veterans. This act illustrates the governor’s myopic view of the public’s needs and I plan to push this legislation when we head back into session in January.”

Live wires are down and sparking next to a structure at 13810 Sky Road on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. Alabama Fire Department is responding.

Lauren Picarro-Hoerbelt, president of the GO ART! Board of Directors, reports that the organization is conducting a new executive director search. Heather Grant, the former executive director is leaving Nov. 1. They have hired Interim Director Jennifer Gray until a permanent person is chosen for the position.

Here's their press release:

GO ART! seeks an energetic, organized, communicative manager for a two-county regional arts council, responsible for:

• Staff of two full-time and three part-time employees;
• Annual budget of $338,000;
• Working collaboratively with county and municipal government agencies;
• Writing and supervising grant applications and projects, including approximately $138,000/year of New York State Council on the Arts regrant funds;
• Working with a diverse clientele including other arts organizations (historic preservation, music, visual and performing arts), individual artists and groups;
• Administering an Historic Landmark facility in downtown Batavia, New York and seven local and regional galleries;
• Supervising GO ART! sponsored and/or based events including annual July 4^th “Picnic in the Park";
• Working with a volunteer Board of Directors, currently eight members representing both counties;
• Leads development and fundraising efforts including locating possible sources of funds.

1. Letter addressing why the candidate would be a good choice for GO ART!  (Please see the GO ART! Executive Director Job Description on the GO ART! Web site at http://www.goart.org/news/).

2. Résumé.

3. Two (2) Reference Letters (may not be from a relative of the Candidate) – at least one (1) Reference Letter must be from a community leader, an educator, or a person working in the artistic community.

If submitting electronically, submit all documents in .pdf or .docx format to:

GOARTDirectorSearch@gmail.com

If submitting via U.S. Mail, mark envelope as Confidential and mail to:

Executive Director Search Committee

GO ART!

201 E. Main St.

Batavia, NY 14020-2205

Attn.:  Lauren Hoerbelt – Search Committee Chair

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR ELECTRONICALLY SUBMITTED BY MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY, NOV. 20.

Press release:

Have you ever wondered why one permit is approved and the other denied? Or had great ideas about youth programs but didn’t know who to tell? If you volunteer for a committee then you can have those questions answered and have your ideas heard!

For about an hour a month (or sometimes less!) you can be on the inside and help make your community better. There are a variety of committees and boards so find one that meets your interests.

For example, if you want to help provide leadership development programs for City of Batavia youth, consider joining the Youth Board.

You will be part of a group that focuses on preventing juvenile delinquency by providing youth programs, services and activities! The time commitment is minimal at just a few hours a year but consider the impact those hours can have. Volunteers are needed so get your application in today and start making a difference in our City’s youth!  Applications are available at the City Clerk’s office or online at www.batavianewyork.com in the documents section.

Volunteer today to see the difference you can make! Applications are available at the City Clerk’s office or online at www.batavianewyork.com in the documents section. 

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”  – Dr. Seuss

(Submitted photo.)

Last week in Atlanta, Le Roy's Wolcott Street School was honored as a 2015 National School of Character.

Pictured from left are Sam Murphy, Character.org board president; JoAnn Hyde, Wolcott Street School counselor; Carol Messura, principal; Jon Wilson, WSS assistant principal; and Sheril Morgan, director of School of Character.

To celebrate the distinction, the school is holding a "Day of Character" on Friday, Nov. 6th, a culminating in an event at 1:40.

Specifics on the award can also be found on character.org.

Press release:

Today, the City pf Batavia is conducting a test of NY-ALERT, the state's All Hazards Alert and Notification System.

This Web-based portal allows State agencies, county and local governments, emergency service agencies and institutions of higher learning to provide emergency alerting information and private notifications to defined audiences. Road closures, fire and police activity, evacuation notices, and other emergency notifications are some examples of how the City of Batavia may use NY-ALERT.

NY-ALERT is FREE and subscription based. The City of Batavia encourages members of the community to register on the NY ALERT Web site at www.nyalert.gov. Your e-mail address will be your identifier. When you register, you can list multiple devices from which you will receive alerts and notifications.

Most alerts are issued locally by Genesee County or the City of Batavia. Local officials determine when to issue an alert and what devices to send alerts to. You may receive information on all the devices you registered, or just one. Each emergency is different; therefor, each alert will be tailored to meet the notification needs of the incident.

If you do not have access to the worldwide Web, you can still sign up for NY-ALERT by calling 1-888- 697-6972.

A live wire is down in the roadway at 9732 Francis Road, Bethany. National Grid is notified. Bethany fire is responding. The location is between Paradise Road and Batavia-Bethany TL Road.

A house fire is reported at 2463 Brown Road. East Pembroke Fire Department is responding along with mutual aid from Corfu, Pembroke, Alexander, Darien, and the City's Fast Team. Town of Batavia is requested to fill in at East Pembroke. The location is between Ridge and Halstead roads.

UPDATE 2:27 p.m.: East Pembroke -- all available manpower to the scene.

UPDATE 2:28 p.m.: East Pembroke command calls Town of Batavia to a dry hydrant on Wilkinson Road. Oakfield is asked to fill in at East Pembroke's hall.

UPDATE 2:32: The city's first platoon is called to headquarters.

UPDATE 2:35 p.m.: Command says an occupant is out of the house.

UPDATE 3 p.m.: Tankers from Bethany, Alabama and Oakfield are requested to the scene. National Grid was advised that wires are down. The high winds are making this fire difficult to fight.

UPDATE 3:07 p.m.: A crew from Elba is requested to stand by in its quarters in case needed for the Oakfield Fire District.

UPDATE 3:23 p.m.: Without specifying why they are needed, Mercy medics are called to the scene.

A utility pole is snapped and down in over the roadway along with wires at 64 Clinton St.

City fire is responding.

UPDATE 2:04 p.m.: The street will be temporarily closed near the incident. The wires are "still hot and there is concern they could start arcing."

UPDATE 2:33 p.m.: Power is out at Clinton Street and East Main.