Press release:

The Class-A Short-Season New York-Penn League and its member clubs are proud to announce that the league's philanthropic arm, the NYPL Charitable Foundation, will once again award over $10,000 in scholarships this summer to deserving high school graduates from the league's 14 markets.

Now in its seventh year, the 2015 NYPL Scholarship Contest is open to any graduating senior from a public or private high school within the league's footprint. Any student who has been accepted at a two or four-year college or university, vocational school, or technical education institution is eligible. Applicants will be judged based on academic performance, volunteer and extracurricular activities, and the impact their local NYPL club and Minor League Baseball have had on their lives.

The scholarship contest will consist of two stages -- a local round and a divisional round. In the local stage, students will apply directly to their local NYPL team, with one applicant chosen by each of the 14 teams to advance to the divisional/final round. The 14 finalists will then be separated by the division of the team they represent. The winning application from each of the NYPL's three divisions (McNamara, Pinckney and Stedler) will receive the top prize of a $2,500 scholarship. All other finalists will receive a $250 book award.

The deadline to submit applications to the nearest NYPL team is June 26.

“The New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation and our 14 member clubs are pleased to have the opportunity to assist outstanding high school seniors within our league’s footprint for the sixth consecutive season,” said Ben J. Hayes, president of the New York-Penn League. “This program will again recognize those seniors who not only meet and exceed traditional scholarship criteria, but demonstrate the positive community impact and lifelong memories fostered by their local NYPL clubs throughout the year.”

High school seniors interested in entering the 2015 Scholarship Contest can obtain the official application from their local NYPL club, or by visiting the league's official Web site, New York-Penn League.com.

Each club's winner, including the three $2,500 scholarship recipients, will be selected in late July and honored at a game in August.

The New York-Penn League and its 14 member clubs created the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, in 2003. The mission of the Foundation is to provide focus and support for the collective and individual charitable and community efforts of the New York-Penn League, its clubs, and their staff.

The Batavia City Church will host guest speaker Erin Kelly, oldest daughter of Buffalo Bill's former quarterback Jim and his wife, Jill, as part of their Life Night Service.

The service will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 4. The church's band will start the service and then Erin will share thoughts and personal experiences from her latest book "Kelly Tough." A question and answer session will follow.

The book is a story of love between a father and his daughter. In her book, she emphasizes how her faith in God and ability to find strength in weakness helped her to withstand the challenges of her father's and brother's illnesses. 

Marty Macdonald, senior pastor at The City Church, talked with Jill Kelly's brother, Jack Wagner, to set up having Kelly speak at The City Church. According to Macdonald, the church loves what the Kelly family stands for and everyone is looking forward to hearing her story of family love and the greater love of the heavenly Father.

"I hope it will really bring people home," Macdonald said. "There are so many people in our society that are facing challenges whether it's cancer or broken homes or loss of employment, so many things that bring pain and hurt to people. Our hope is that as Erin is sharing her story it will bring great encouragement and hope to let them know that, hey, you can make it. You can go on another day and you don't have to give up."

The City Church regularly invites guest speakers to share their stories at their weekly Life Night Service. The church will welcome their next guest, Pastor Tommy Reid, for their Sunday morning service at 8:30 a.m. on June 7.

Photo from The City Church's Facebook page.

Lower oil prices could hurt Batavia-based Graham Corp. in the coming fiscal year, company officials say, so they're looking to trim the company workforce by 10 percent through a retirement incentive program.

The workforce reduction announcement was coupled with news that the publicly traded company posted $4.2 million in profits, up 80 percent from a year ago.

For the fiscal year, company revenue was up 45 percent to $14.7 million.

For more on this story, visit the Buffalo News.

Press release:

The Board of Directors of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) will consider three projects at its June 4, 2015 board meeting.

ADK Hospitality plans to build an 82-room hotel connected to Batavia Down’s Gaming facility which will serve as an important amenity to the gaming, restaurant, banquet and racing activities at Batavia Downs. The capital investment is approximately $5.49 million.

Manning, Squires Hennig Co., Inc., plans to expand its corporate office and maintenance facilities in the Town of Batavia to include a 5,000-square-foot shop and additions to its main office space. The capital investment is approximately $1.3 million. The project is expected to result in 88 retained jobs and the creation of five new jobs. 

O-AT-KA Milk Products plans to add 205,000 square feet of warehousing space to its manufacturing facility on the corner of Ellicott Street and Cedar Street in Batavia. The project will retain 334 jobs and create 21 new jobs. The capital investment is approximately $10.25 million.

The GCEDC Board meeting will take place at 4 p.m. and is open to the public.  Meetings are held at the Innovation Zone Conference Room at MedTech Centre -- 99 MedTech Drive, Batavia, on the first floor, across from Genesee Community College.

The controversy that erupted two weeks ago over a health department demand that the Batavia Little League secure the proper permits to sell hots and pizza was actually years in the making, department officials told members of the County Legislature yesterday.

At the request of the Human Services Committee, Paul Pettit, Public Health director, and David Whitcroft, Environmental Health director, attended the committee's meeting at the Old Courthouse and answered legislators' questions.

The fee schedule for various permits issued by the department changed in 2003 and that made it mandatory for most of the area nonprofit groups that hold events and serve food to acquire health permits. 

It was sticky issue when nonprofits were exempt because it isn't always clear what qualifies as a nonprofit, or what events should get exempted, Whitcroft said.

"It was an ethical problem," Whitcroft said. "It was entirely subjective. Who determines who doesn't have to pay? There was no standard to decide and that gives a lot of power to individuals to decide who gets waivers. I wasn't comfortable with that power."

In 2013, the county's Public Health Committee learned that for some reason, youth baseball had been exempted from the permit requirement, and nobody really knew why that was or how that happened.

"It seemed unfair because if I'm playing with a bat and ball, I don't have to pay, but if I'm playing with a soccer ball, then I have to pay," Pettit said.

Most of those bat-and-ball organizations complied with the new rules once it applied to them, Whitcroft said, and in many cases, the department was able to work with organizations to help better determine which permit was appropriate to the situation, or how food operations might be changed to lower permit costs.

The rules can be "interpreted generously" when organizations are cooperative, Whitcroft said.

Whitcroft implied that Batavia Little League was less than cooperative, telling officials that they refused to comply. That left the county with no option but to require a permit level with a $175 price tag.

Now, the league is more cooperative and the department is working with league leaders on what could be a lower cost option.

Permit fees barely even cover the costs of field inspections of food services, Pettit said. The department is not looking to turn a profit on permits, just cover the direct costs of inspections, he said.

Every business, group or organization that serves prepared food (rather than pre-packaged food) is required to obtain some level of Health Department permit. It's not just a piece of paper, Pettit said. It serves as notice to the county that food service is taking place and triggers an automatic inspection of the food service. There is an inspection with each and every permit issued.

There are some exceptions to the permit requirement. Churches with kitchens that serve only their own members need only obtain a letter of permission. There are about 60 letters of permission on file in the county.

Outside groups that use church kitchens for fundraisers or other public meals are required to get a temporary health permit.

Bake sales involving anything that doesn't need to be refrigerated are not required to get a permit.

Your kid's lemonade stand, however, is required to have a health permit.

"It's required under New York State law and I should enforce it, but I never have," Whitcroft said.

In all, various permits issued by the Health Department generate about $90,000 in revenue annually. Less than $8,000 of that revenue comes from groups that could be considered nonprofits.

Brockport State College hosted the section V Class B track championships this weekend and both Batavia teams walked away with new records, team bests and trophies.

The Batavia girls came in first place with a total of 87 points. Team photo above is with all of Batavia High School track coaches.

Highlights:

Pentathlon -- fourth -- Nicole Maltese Nicole Maltese 2109.00 points

100 Meter Hurdles -- first -- Marissa Dispenza 15.78

3200 Meter Relay -- third -- Zickl, Canale, Bromley, Cassidy, (Nichols, Wingate) 10:11.99

100 Meter -- third -- Kiaya Franklin 12.86

400 Meter -- second -- Kiaya Franklin 59.29; third -- Marissa Dispenza 1:00.66

400 Meter Relay -- fourth -- Cohen, Dinehart, Canale, Zickl,( Denise, Ross) 51.51

400 Meter Hurdles -- third -- Marissa Dispenza 1:09.00

800 Meter -- second -- Sophia Dinehart 2:30.65

200 Meter  -- second -- Kiaya Franklin 26.34

1600 Meter Relay -- second -- Dispenza, Dinehart, Canale, Franklin, (Freeman, Pitcher) 4:17.32 

The Batavia boys finished in second place for Section V. Both teams will send students to the state qualifier in Caledonia Mumford this Friday.

Results can be seen at   http://live.yentiming.com/#/results/meet/217

Bloomberg: Even Big Oil Wants a Carbon Tax
NPR Planet Money: Economists Have A One-Page Solution To Climate Change

Traci Turner will spend the next eight weeks interning for The Batavian. Her internship is possible through the generosity of the New York Press Association.

She will work full time covering news through the end of July.

Born and raised in Bergen, Turner is a 2013 graduate of Byron-Bergen High School and is a third-year journalism major (minor in advertising and public relations) at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Previously, she's been an intern for WBTA AM/FM and currently holds a studio producer position at the radio station. 

"I'm happy to be interning at The Batavian and I’m looking forward to serving its readers," Turner said. "I couldn’t imagine pursuing any other career but journalism."

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today called on the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to stop selling drivers’ personal information without their consent to for-profit companies. The DMV reportedly raked in $60 million from the practice last year. Hawley was appalled and astonished that this has been happening without the consent of citizens and called on the DMV and governor’s office to end the process immediately. 

“It’s appalling that in this day of technology and misuse of personal information that we would compromise New Yorkers, without their knowledge, in order to generate revenue,” Hawley said. “In an age where cyber crimes and identity theft are at an all-time high, it is unacceptable that our own state government would conduct a practice that increases residents’ susceptibility to these serious crimes. We have no idea exactly what information is being sold, to whom it is being sold, and what these for-profit companies are doing with the data. I plan to sponsor legislation that will stop this practice unless drivers consent and I will make this a priority during the last three weeks of session.”

Assembly Bill 2509, a bipartisan effort, addresses this issue and currently awaits action in the Assembly Committee on Transportation. To sign the petition against this practice, use the following link, http://bit.ly/1HuIK8P.

The Zonta Club of Batavia is making birthing kits to send to Third World countries in an effort to reduce the risk of infection in pregnant women and their babies. 

On Saturday, 20 Zonta Club members and Batavia High School Z Club members spent four hours putting together 1,085 birthing kits. The kits are composed of a square meter of plastic sheet, two umbilical cord clamps, five pieces of gauze, a pair of vinyl gloves, a small bar of soap and a razor blade. All of the contents are packed into a quart-size sandwich bag and sent to a holding facility in Pittsburgh.

(Photo of Lee Cummings)

"We were talking and, here, everyone wants to get the birthing suite at the hospital and that's our biggest concern," said Lee Cummings, chairperson of the Birthing Kit Committee and Zonta Board member. "There, women literally get a plastic bag with six items in it to give birth and reduce the rate of infection in these countries."

The kits are shipped to clinics in impoverished countries to help women who don't have access to medical facilities. The kits have been sent to rural areas in Kenya, South America and there are now recent requests from Nepal. Women walk for miles to reach clinics where the kits are given out. Due to limited resources, hospitals and clinics have also started to use the kits in their facilities.

Zonta is an international organization for the advancement and empowerment of women. The Birthing Kit Project was developed by Zonta's international governor six years ago.

The Batavia club started the district project five years ago. Over the years, the local club has assembled and sent three large shipments totaling 3,700 birthing kits. Every spring, the club collects items for the kits and assembles them. They also make a smaller amount of kits every autumn as well.

"Our goal started out years ago as 500 kits, and then it was 750, and now it's 1,000," Cummings said. "We try to do a 1,000 a year."

The project is a community-wide effort. The club gets most of the supplies for the kit from United Memorial Medical Center. The hospital donated umbilical cord clamps, gauze, vinyl gloves and razor blades. Local hotels also donated bars of soap. In past years, local doctor offices have sent checks to help with the cost of shipping.

Shipping costs to send the kits to those who need them most is a significant expense for the club, approximately $400 to $500, according to Cummings. The club is also pays for the plastic sheeting, which costs hundreds of dollars as well.

By 2016, the group plans to make 1,000 more kits to fulfill their two-year goal of 2,000 kits. The club is in the process of planning a date to use the rest of the supplies they have collected and make more kits. They plan to put together another 400 kits for Fall 2016.

Kelsey Anne Sanders, 28, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, was arrested May 30 for allegedly allowing her dog to habitually run at large in the neighborhood. She was issued an electronically generated appearance ticket and released from custody. She is to appear in City Court on June 9. The matter was investigated by Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence.

Amanda M. Rumble, 27, of State Street, Batavia, was arrested May 27 after her dog was allegedly observed by law enforcement to be running at large on State Street. There have been previous complaints filed with regard to Rumble's dog running at large throughout the neighborhood, according to Officer Kevin DeFelice's police report. She was issued an appearance ticket and is to appear in City Court on June 9.

Tyrone L. Richardson, 39, of McKinley Ave., Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, fourth-degree criminal mischief for allegedly disabling equipment to prevent an emergency call, and criminal obstruction of breathing / blood circulation. Richardson was arrested May 29 following an investigation into a domestic incident on Evans Street in the City of Batavia. The matter was investigated by Batavia Police Officer Eric Foels, assisted by Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk.

Sean Douglas Lacy, 28, of West Bergen Road, Bergen, was arrested May 29 and charged with driving with a BAC above. .08, driving while intoxicated, and speeding (66 mph in a 55-mph zone). He was charged with DWI after being stopped for allegedly speeding in the Town of Stafford. He is scheduled to appear in Stafford Town Court on June 25. The matter was investigated by Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Erion, assisted by Deputy Gregory Walker.

Jayson W. Dersham, 32, of Wortendyke Road, Batavia, is charged with second-degree burglary. He was arrested May 29 for the crime which he allegedly committed on Feb. 22 on Maple Street in the City of Batavia. The matter was investigated by Batavia Police Officer James DeFreze, assisted by Officer Matthew Lutey.

Glenn H. Quintern, 56, of Central Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt. He was arrested May 30 as the result of an incident on Central Avenue wherein he allegedly violated an order of protection. He was put in Genesee County Jail on $10,000 bail. The matter was investigated by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay, assisted by Officer Chad Richards.

Tyler Austin Stoddard, 20, of Meiser Road, Pembroke, is charged with second-degree criminal contempt. He was arrested May 9 follwoing an incident wherein he allegedly contacted a person via phone, in violation of an order of protection issued by Genesee County Family Court. The matter was investigated by Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Hale.

Benjamin D. Seekins, 26, of Woodrow Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon. He was arrested May 28 after he was allegedly found to be in possession of metal knuckles while officers were investigating a suspicious condition. He is scheduled to appear in Batavia Town Court on June 18. The matter was investigated by Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Erion, assisted by Deputy Chad Minuto.

Celestino Barrera-Antunez, 34, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with failure to appear. An arrest warrant was executed and Barrera-Antunez was arrested May 30 after he allegedly failed to appear in court May 22 on a traffic ticket. He posted $210 bail and is to appear in City Court on June 9. The matter was investigated by Batavia Police Officer Christopher Lindsay, assisted by Officer Chad Richards.

John M. Morton, 36, of North Canal Road, Lockport, is charged with failure to obey a stop / park sign. He had an active arrest warrant out of the City of Batavia for not answering a parking ticket. He turned himself in at Batavia Police Headquarters on May 31 and posted $25 bail. He is to appear in City Court on June 2. The matter was investigated by Batavia Police Officer James DeFreze.

Jason E. Waddington, 38, of Mount Read Boulevard, Greece, is charged with improper parking between 2 and 6 a.m. Waddington had an active arrest warrant out of the City of Batavia for allegedly failing to answer a parking ticket dated April 11, 2011. He was located by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and turned over to Batavia Police Officer James DeFreze. He posted $100 bail, was issued a computer-generated appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court on June 9.

The annual Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Classic is underway at Terry Hills today. The entire Buffalo Bills team attended the morning's events, which included for the players a long-drive contest and a football throwing contest.

Above, head coach Rex Ryan wallops one during the long-drive contest.

Jim Kelly on the anniversary of the Bills' Super Bowl run and the prospect for the Rex Ryan era.

Jim Kelly on Rex Ryan.

Jim Kelly on tournament fun.

Jim Kelly on continuing the tournament.

Players react to a teammate's errant tee shot during the long-drive contest.

A player reacts to his own errant tee shot.

Players participate in the football throwing target contest.

Actor Dennis Haskins (TV show "Saved by the Bell") with Kathy Leffel. Leffel lives on Clinton Street Road and has for years on tournament day invited her friends over and served brownies from under a tent in her back yard to any celebrity golfers who stopped by. Most years, all the big stars do, such as Dan Marino and Jim Kelly himself. Leffel has sold the condo and will be moving, so this is probably the last year of the brownie party.

The ignition of the fuel on a diesel engine creates a low, aggressive grumble, booming bass and grungy chugging. Who would have thought that the same sounds could be heard in songs written in the Marine barracks in Iraq?

Dan Clor, 39, who grew up in Le Roy, wrote the songs in 2006. After his tour, he brought them to Los Angeles, where he lives now, and started recording them in 2007. From there, Weapon-X was born.

The name comes from a Marvel comic. It was recommended to Clor by a Marine friend. The band started playing live shows and people took to the name. Clor asked Marvel and they let him use it.  

As a Marine, Clor is moved by his time in the military. The band plays shows for veterans and receives a lot of support from them.

“I feel like three out of four veterans hear our music and latch onto it pretty well. Marines and vets are usually in your corner as long as you don’t screw up,” he said.

Although their songs have a lot of military and underdog overtones, Weapon-X doesn’t want to be put into a corner. They’re inspired by a lot of heavy and forceful music.

“It all started with Pantera, Metallica and (Black) Sabbath. I like everything from Johnny Cash to early '90s rap stuff,” Clor said. “Metallica is the band that made me go to House of Guitars and buy my first guitar. I didn’t know what to do with it.”

Not only did he learn how to play guitar, but at 18, Clor was teaching music lessons at Roxy’s when it was in the Batavia Shopping Center. He’s grateful for the time he spent in Genesee County.

“I thought it was cool to be raised in the small-town atmosphere,” he said. “Everyone is real close to each other. I did like just kind of having that closeness, but I felt a little stifled. I knew I wanted to move somewhere bigger. I needed more activity, more opportunity.”

Clor moved to L.A. in 2003. He went to the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. After running low on money, he decided he had to get right to work in the industry. Now, in addition to being the front man of Weapon-X, Clor owns Victory Music Academy in L.A. There, he helps build and develop young bands. He aims to be a mentor for people who like to play edgier and darker music.

For now, Clor is back in town. He and Weapon-X are preparing for the Beast Coast Tour. This tour marks the first time the boys are playing the East Coast since the band's inception.

“We decided to come back here because we were getting a lot of response from people back home,” he said. “We put feelers out there and the response was really good.”

The tour kicks off at Montage Music Hall in Rochester on Friday for $15. They will play a second show at the same location on Saturday. Both shows are being sponsored by Center Street Smoke House. The tour will also see stops in Syracuse, Cambridge, Mass., Philadelphia, New York and Washington, D.C.

The band consists of Clor on lead vocals and guitar, Bill Scott on guitar, Ryan Whyman playing the keyboard, Jesus Rauda on bass, and David Thueson on drums. Unfortunately, the usual bass player and drummer could not make it. The Beast Coast Tour will see Jared Swaney on bass and James D. Jackson on drums.

New York Times: Key Parts of Patriot Act Expire Temporarily as Senate Moves Toward Limits on Spying

Greg Rada sent in these photos. He said this stopped train had Upton Road and Wilkinson Road in Town of Batavia blocked for several hours this evening.

A car has crashed into the house at 9346 Creek Road. Unknown injuries. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding. The location is between East Road and Old Creek Road, Batavia.

UPDATE 4:28 p.m.: One minor leg injury is reported.

UPDATE 4:45 p.m.: Howard at the scene says a car was stopped in the driveway and the driver's foot slipped off the brake, causing the vehicle to move and hit the nearby enclosed porched. A woman was sitting inside the porch and some debris fell on her leg, causing a minor wound. Medics treated her at the scene. A code enforcement officer is heading there to assess any structural damage to the porch.

UPDATE 5:13 p.m.: The code enforcement officer is on scene. The Town of Batavia Fire Department is back in service.

Early in the spring, we contacted all of the Genesee County golf courses to get information on public golf tournaments. We thought since there are so many tournaments during the summer, golfers might appreciate being able to plan in advance with tournaments they would play. Below is the information we received back or just otherwise know about.  The list is likely incomplete, but it's the best we can compile at this time.

Terry Hills Golf Course:

• June 10 -- Leadership Genesee 12:30 p.m. shotgun, $100 per golfer
• June 12 -- BNAR (Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors) for Mercy Flight 12:45
• July 20 -- Young Life 12:30 p.m.
• July 29 -- Chamber of Commerce (for more information, click here)
• Aug. 1 -- Ricky Palermo Tee Times TBD
• Aug. 11 -- Leone Memorial 12:30 p.m.
• Aug. 16 -- AAA for WNY Veterans 1 p.m.
• Aug. 30 -- Alex’s Place, 1 p.m., for Crossroads

Batavia Country Club:

• Thurs. June 11 -- Genesee/Orleans Ministry of Concern
• Fri. June 12 -- Gillam Grant Community Center
• Sat. June 27 -- Matt Luxon Memorial
• Sat. July 25 -- Batavia High Football
• Sat. Aug. 1 -- Crossroads
• Fri. Aug. 7 -- Genesee County Cancer Assistance
• Thurs. Aug. 20 -- Van Hulbert Memorial
• Sun. Aug. 23 -- Jim Thompson Memorial
• Wed. Sept. 16 -- Mercy Flight

Stafford Country Club will once again host the Genesee ARC golf, tennis and bocce ball tournament. It is July 13. There are a variety of packages available. Click here for more information.

At the Le Roy Country Club on Aug. 22, the third annual Andrea Mangefrida Memorial Golf Tournament will be held.

Notre Dame High School held its 2015 commencement ceremony Saturday evening at the school.

Several students and supporters of the school received honors and awards during the ceremony.

The valedictorian was Abigail Bleier and the salutatorian was Natalie Moulton.

Anna Warner was named Woman of the Year and Joseph Falkowski III, Man of the Year.    

National Technical Honor Society Memberships went to Emma Francis and Emily Vandenbosch.

Special recognitions awards were:

• Msgr. Eugene F. Kolb Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Education: Phil and Sally Bleier
• Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award for Outstanding Contributions to ND High School, Julie Mancuso and Jerry and Carm Reinhart

After the jump (click on the headline or the link below), more awards, more information on the special recognition awards and the concluding remarks by Dr. Joseph Scanlan, who officiated his final Notre Dame graduation with his retirement at the end of this school year.

John Fix hugs his son Dylan while Lorie Fix reacts to the moment.

To purchase prints, click here.

ND Class of 2015 “Top Ten” Academic Students

• Abigail Bleier – Valedictorian
• Natalie Moulton – Salutatorian
• Olivia Marchese
• Janelle Fancher
• Dennis Bleier
• Lucas Hull
• Anna Spring
• Emily McCracken
• Lindsey Bender
• Emily Vandenbosch 

National Honor Society members:

• Kristian Bank
• Lindsey Bender
• Abigail Bleier
• Dennis Bleier
• MaryBernadette Bochicchio
• Olivia Clark
• Audrey DiMatteo
• Joseph Falkowski III
• Janelle Fancher
• Kathleen Fischer
• Dylan Fix
• Rosemary Flumerfeldt
• Chase Hughes
• Lucas Hull
• Olivia Marchese
• Emily McCracken
• Paige Misiti
• Lydia Moens
• Natalie Moulton
• Taylor Perzia
• Marin Phillips-Reinhart
• Anna Spring
• Emily Vandenbosch
• Anna Warner

The 2015 Anima Christi (Spirit of Christ) awards:

• Abigail Bleier
• Dennis Bleier
• MaryBernadette Bochicchio
• Audrey DiMatteo
• Joseph Falkowski III
• Janelle Fancher
• Kathleen Fischer
• Dylan Fix
• Lucas Hull
• Emily McCracken
• Lydia Moens
• Natalie Moulton
• Caleb Nellis
• Patrick Spear
• Emily Vandenbosch
• Lana Votypka
• Anna Warner
• Joseph Zickl

Remarks delivered on the Special Recognition Awards:

This year it is our distinct privilege at Notre Dame High School to recognize two [2] individuals and two [2] couples for their meritorious dedication and service to Notre Dame High School  . . . and Catholic education in general. Their tireless "behind-the-scenes" efforts and positive contributions to the ND community serve as examples of “Leaders who Serve” to all of us at ND -- Board members, administration, faculty and staff, students, parents and alumni.

Msgr. Eugene F. Kolb Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Education 

Our first award recipients will receive the Msgr. Eugene F. Kolb Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Education. This year’s recipients have been staunch supporters of Catholic Education for many years in both word and action. 

No matter the venue -- whether it was supporting Catholic education at the former Holy Family Elementary School in Le Roy or here at Notre Dame High School -- this couple could always be counted on to volunteer at the drop of a hat to promote and foster Catholic education in the greater Genesee-Orleans County area.

No task was too big or too small for this couple to accomplish . . . whether it was serving as a members of the Holy Family School Home School Association and supporting fundraisers to promote Catholic Education at the Elementary level or serving as members of POND and/or the Chairperson of our ND Board of Trustees Technology Committee -- this year’s recipients have set the bar high – in keeping with our ND Mission statement of “developing leaders who serve” - when it comes to serving others. Staunch supporters of the Catholic education system, they have supported Catholic education by providing their children:  Abigail and Dennis – members of this year’s graduating class -- with the opportunity for a Catholic education throughout their formative years at Holy Family and at Notre Dame High School.

Please join me in recognizing this year's recipients of the prestigious Msgr. Eugene F. Kolb Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Education  . . . Phil and Sally Bleier  . . . Congratulations, Phil and Sally.

Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award for Outstanding Contributions to ND High School

Our next recipients – one individual and one couple -- will be receiving the Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award for Outstanding Contributions to ND High School. They have also been individuals that could always be counted on to lend a hand if anyone needed help at ND! 

The first recipient of the Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award began her educational career as a student in the Syracuse City School District where she graduated from Henniger High School prior to receiving a degree in Travel and Tourism from Niagara University.

In keeping with our ND Mission Statement of “Developing Leaders who Serve” her never ending dedication to the students of ND has come in many forms. She was one of the initial founders of POND [Parents of Notre Dame] where she helped to organize our annual “welcome back” family picnic, and teacher appreciation day – which eventually turned into teacher appreciation week. She also ran the ND Book store for ten [10] years and worked many a Darien Lakes concert fundraiser in order to provide scholarships to deserving ND students.

No task was too big, or too small, for her to accomplish. She always approached any task at hand with a positive, "can do" attitude, and never once looked for individual recognition in the process. She truly serves our students as a role model and an example of the ideals which we expect all ND graduates to aspire to. 

Please join me in recognizing this year's recipient of the Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award for Outstanding Contributions to Notre Dame High School . . . A proud parent  along with her Board of Trustee husband Rick of 5 ND grads –[ Morgan ’01, Alexandra ‘03’ , Ricky ’05,  Patrick ‘08 , and Madelyn ‘14]  . . . Mrs. Julie Mancuso! Congratulations, Julie!

The next recipients of the Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award have contributed endless hours of dedicated service to ND  . . . most recently playing key roles in support of our current $5 million dollar Notre Dame “Faith in the Future” Capital Campaign as honorary Co-Chairpersons.

No task was too big or too small for this couple to tackle . . . this couple has always been the first to answer the call for assistance with a “can do” attitude whether at ND or in the Greater Batavia area. Collectively, they have served as advocates for ND’s original capital campaign in the early 2000’s for upgraded lab facilities and energy efficient windows as well as being generous benefactors and, as previously mentioned, Co-Chairs of our current capital campaign. 

Additional roles that these soon to be honorees have played currently include membership on the ND Board of Trustees, the UMMC Hospital Board as well as past membership on the Saint Jerome Guild and CASA Boards. 

Please join me in recognizing this year’s recipients of the Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award for Outstanding Contributions to ND High School. . . . The proud Grandparents of Class of 2015 member Marin Phillips-Reinhart  . . . Jerry and Carm Reinhart!  Congratulations, Jerry and Carm Reinhart!

Reverend David J. Scheider Alumni Award for Promoting the ND Image in the Community

This year's recipient of The Father David J. Scheider Alumni Award for Promoting the Image of ND in the Community -- a member of our 50 year anniversary class being honored at today’s graduation -- actively supported his Alma Mater until his untimely death on September 11, 2014.

Identified as a “die hard” Notre Damer, whose devotion to his Alma Mater was legendary, this year's award recipient never forgot his ND or Batavia roots and truly "bled blue and gold" as evidenced by the following memories shared by his sons Alex and Christopher:

His youngest son Alex remarked in a recent e-mail that “ND was more than just a high school to my father, it represented his family, his upbringing and much of his moral compass . . . My Dad always put his family and friends above his own desires, and that selflessness started at ND . . . ND and the education he earned [here] were more than just a platform for success , [rather] it was a launching pad for his philanthropic and selfless life of service to others."

His oldest son Chris remarked that there “were few things which his Dad spoke of with such fondness more than his Notre Dame experience. ND is firmly part of his heart and soul and forever will be there.”

His early years in education were spent right in our own backyard at the former St. Mary’s Elementary School here in Batavia.  . . Upon graduation from ND in 1965 -- where he was a stellar student-athlete and Student Council President as a senior - he went on to St. John Fisher College where he would graduate with a degree in Political Science in 1969.

Banking and the world of finance were in his blood. . .  It didn’t take him long to successfully rise through the banking ranks throughout his professional career, eventually securing the position of CEO of Hudson City Bankcorp -- one of America’s nationally renowned leading lending agencies based in Paramus, NJ.

It was at Hudson City where he drew national attention as Mad Money’s George Bailey “National Banker of the Year” while helping Hudson City earn the Forbes Magazine Best Managed Bank Award in the U.S. in 2007, the same year that he was recognized by St. John Fisher College with the Bittner School of Business Excellence in Management Award. 

Notre Dame High School owes a deep debt of gratitude to this year’s recipient, his lovely wife, Kris, and the Hermance Family Foundation for their ongoing track record of “paying it forward” by providing financial assistance to countless ND families in need of tuition assistance, in turn, making the ND experience a reality for these families over the last eleven [11] years here at ND. 

Please join me in recognizing the 2015 recipient of the Reverend David J. Scheider Alumni Award for Promoting the Image of ND in the Community. . A 2010 Notre Dame High School Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and a dear friend and member of the ND Class of 1965 . . . Mr. Ronald E. Hermance Jr.! 

Accepting this prestigious award tonight on behalf of Ron and the Hermance Family Foundation will be Ron’s wife and Batavia native, Kris Brown Hermance, and Ron and Kris’ daughter, Emily. . .Congratulations!

Dr. Joseph Scanlan's concluding remarks:

I would  . . . in conclusion . . .  like to thank all of the parents, grandparents and extended family members of this year’s graduating class . . .  as well as the members of the ND faculty and staff and student body, and alumni from the ND Class of 1965. . . who have joined us today, for the support that you have given this year’s graduates – and Notre Dame High School – during their four years as students here.

This year’s class has left its mark on ND – academically, athletically and from a “service to others” perspective. To date, the Class of 2015’s collective membership has earned academic scholarships in excess of $4.5 MILLION DOLLARS for their future collegiate careers!!! 100% of the Class of 2015 will be college bound in the Fall of 2015.

In keeping with our ND Mission statement of “Developing Leaders Who Serve," the Graduating Class of 2015 has volunteered 2,300 community service hours to help others in need.

Members of this class have earned NYS Scholar-Athlete status 57 times over their varsity student-athlete careers, as well as having garnered 21 GR league championships, 12 Section V championships and 2 NYSPHSAA State Championships – One in Softball [2012] and the other in Girls Basketball [2013].

The Class of 2015 has played a key role in the ongoing notoriety that Notre Dame High School has gained in Western New York as a result the annual Buffalo Business First report on Secondary Schools. During their freshmen, sophomore and junior years, this year’s graduates have contributed to the following milestones:

• The # 1 ranked Private Catholic Co-Educational HS for the 7th consecutive year in a row in Western New York [as well as achieving];
• The #1 Academic High School in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans Counties for the 7th consecutive year;
• A “Top 15%” ranking in all 135 secondary schools in WNY – both  for the 7^th consecutive year.

Our prediction is that the Class of 2015 will have had a great deal to do with the continuation of these accolades at ND when Buffalo Business First releases their 2015 rankings on Friday, June 12.

Continue to spread the word – Notre Dame High School is alive and well and here to stay!

To our newest alumni – members of the Class of 2015 – Congratulations on a job well done! Good luck to you in your future. Stay true to Our Lady and the ideals you’ve learned at ND! 

With this word of congratulations, so ends our 61st annual graduation ceremony at ND. Thank you for coming and for your ongoing support of Notre Dame High School!