Milestones

Submitted photo. Front row, from left: Kaitlin Laird, Nina Searchfield, Rebecca Reamer, Jaclyne Passage, Victoria Welka, Zoe Falsone, and Kayle MacIntyre. Back row, from left: Samantha Siple, Ashley Brady, Ashley Chapman, Nicholas Lathrop, and Stephen Gass.

Press release:

Batavia Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center students attended the New York State Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Spring Leadership Conference in Liverpool, New York on April 13-15.

Zoë Falsone (Attica) and Jaclyne Passage (Le Roy) completed their 2015-2016 terms as senior vice president, parliamentarian and Region E vice president for New York State HOSA. Zoë participated in two events, Job Seeking Skills and Home Health Aid, and earned a Bronze Medal in Home Health Aid.  

Jaclyne participated in Job Seeking Skills where she earned a Silver Medal. She also presented with Rebecca Reamer (Pavilion) in the Medical Innovations event and was awarded a Silver Medal. Their topic was Human Head Transplant. In preparation for this event, Jaclyne and Rebecca worked with the Batavia CTE Computer Information Systems (CIS) students and Maggie Poray, CIS instructor, to design and create 3-D head models to use during their presentation.

Rebecca Reamer and Ashley Chapman (Caledonia-Mumford) chose Medical Photography Rebecca focused on dentistry pictures and Ashley focused on Emergency Medical Services utilizing friends and family from her local fire department.  Ashley took the Health Issues Exam, and qualified for national competition.

Samantha Siple (Caledonia-Mumford) participated in Home Health Aid and Job Seeking Skills and earned leadership skills.

Nina Searchfield (Caledonia-Mumford) received a silver medal in Nurse Assisting. Nina also presented with her partner Ashley Brady (Attica) in Health Careers Display. Their topic of choice was midwifery. Previous to the competition, these two students spent time at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) on the maternity floor during their clinical rotations through the Health Dimensions program. 

Victoria Welka (Byron-Bergen) and Kaylee McIntyre chose to show their artistic skills in Extemporaneous Health Poster. Kaylee earned a Bronze Medal for her artistic creation. She also created a chapter poster, which earned the New York State HOSA Chapter poster winner for 2016. Kaylee was chosen as the New York State HOSA 2016-2017 Region E vice president.

Kaitlin Laird (Batavia) competed in the Extemporaneous Writing event. She campaigned for a position as a New York HOSA State Officer, was elected and will serve as the senior vice president for the 2016-2017 term.

Stephen Gass (Pembroke) and Nicholas Lathrop (Attica) both performed well in the Personal Care category. Nicholas earned two Gold Medals in both Interviewing Skills and Speaking Skills. His topic was Innovate, Inspire, and Ignite. Nicholas was so stunned that he received two Gold Medals that his classmates needed to repeat that he had won first place again. Stephen looked at Bonny Shelby, his instructor, and said, “This makes me realize I can do anything!”

Three students, Nina Searchfield, Zoë Falsone and Kaitlin Laird, earned achievement awards at the conference. The Batavia CTE Center HOSA Chapter won the T-shirt and trading pin design contest for 2016. The submission was used for T-shirts that were provided to all participants at the Spring Leadership Conference. The design was made into a trading pin that will be distributed in June at the National Leadership Conference.

Zoë Falsone, Ashley Chapman, Jaclyne Passage, Kaylee MacIntyre, Nina Searchfield, Rebecca Reamer, Nicholas Lathrop, Stephen Gass, and Ashley Brady are eligible for participation at the HOSA National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee in June.

Four students from the Batavia CTE Center have been inducted as the New York State HOSA Officers. Rebecca Reamer -- President; Kaitlin Laird -- Senior Vice President; Kaylee Mac Intyre -- Secretary; Victoria Welka -- Region E Vice President. These four young women will attend the officer Summer Leadership Academy in Albany in June.

Four students from the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership Adult Education LPN/CNA Program also attended the conference and participated in the Knowledge Tests. Jessica Newton won a gold medal in Human Growth and Development; Aimee Donohue received a Silver Medal in the Behavioral Health; Leanne King won a Silver Medal in Medical Law and Ethics and a Bronze Medal in Pathophysiology.

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 offering shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York State. 

Kaitlyn Logsdon, of Batavia, received an award at the 2016 James J. Whalen Academic Symposium at Ithaca College.

A total of 420 students participated by giving oral presentations or displaying posters and other creative works. Award winners were selected from a pool of 60 finalists.

Logsdon's presentation was entitled, "The Paradox of Sustainability and the Global Betterment Imperative."

Jacquelyn Carson, of Le Roy, has received the 2015-2016 Susan Sutton Smith Award for academic excellence at SUNY Oneonta. To be eligible for the award, a student must be a freshman, sophomore or junior with a grade-point average of 3.9 or higher.

Carson, a junior majoring in Early Childhood/Childhood Ed (B-6), received a certificate, a gift card to the campus bookstore, and an invitation to attend the annual Susan Sutton Smith Lecture and reception. Susan Bernardin, Ph.D., professor of English at SUNY Oneonta, delivered this year's lecture on April 12 in the Craven Lounge of the college's Morris Conference Center. Bernardin is the 22nd recipient of the Susan Sutton Smith Faculty Prize for Academic Excellence, created to recognize faculty achievement outside the classroom and named in memory of the late SUNY Oneonta professor of English.

The lecture and the Susan Sutton Smith Awards for academic excellence were made possible by the generous gifts of SUNY Oneonta alumni to the 2015-2016 Fund for Oneonta. The Susan Sutton Smith Faculty Prize for Academic Excellence was made possible by an endowment created through the generosity of Dr. Thomas and Mrs. Mary Smith in memory of their daughter, Susan, and in honor of her commitment to academic excellence.

A liberal arts institution with a strong focus on undergraduate research and service learning, SUNY Oneonta consistently gains recognition for delivering excellence and value.

(Submitted photo: Erin Hale, of Oakfield, enjoys the North Carolina scenery during a hike.)

Press release:

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Four homes, four families, countless smiles: that’s the sum of the hard work provided by 25 Lycoming College students, including Erin Hale, of Oakfield, and college staff during the Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge held over spring break last month.

After traveling to Winston-Salem, N.C., the Lycoming group teamed up with the Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County affiliate to lay subflooring and roofing, install vinyl siding, put up patio railing, and clean at four houses.

“Signing up on a whim for my first Habitat for Humanity trip turned out to be one of my best experiences at Lycoming,” said Hale, a senior Biology major who participated in the challenge all four years at Lycoming, and who organized the last two as a leadership development opportunity.

“The trips remind me that a lot of people are struggling with more extreme conditions than a typical college student. The new homeowners are very thankful and the other volunteers, including the construction site leaders and retired people who contribute regularly, have made a big impact on me. These role models have inspired me to continue to give back in the best way that I can."

Press release:

Earlier this month, 23 students from the Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School were inducted as new members of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). They proudly joined the 30 standing members of the school’s NJHS.

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. The 2016 new members are:

7th Grade

8th Grade

Nicholas Baubie

Bianca Brumsted

  (not pictured)

Emily Chaback

Jonah Clare

Richard Denson

Joshua Fleming

Eden Goff

Sara Goodman

Hope Hersom

Kelly Ireland

Colby Leggo

Gavin Lewis

John Mercovich

Bryanne Puma

Alaura Rehwaldt

Joshua Swapceinski

Xavier Thomas

Matthew Zwerka

Elizabeth Donnelly

  (not pictured)

Kyle Foeller

Chad Green

Caleb Sharpe

9th Grade

Sabastian Pawlukewicz

NJHS President Abby Vurraro addressed the audience and told of a recent meeting with her idol Jennie Finch, the University of Arizona NCAA softball champion and Olympic gold medalist. Vurraro shared Finch’s motto of “Dream and Believe.” She challenged her fellow members to “be determined to push the limits even if no one believes you can.”

The induction ceremony featured two additional guest speakers: Byron-Bergen Math teacher Tiffany Luksch; and Social Studies teacher Bryan Kavanaugh.

Luksch shared examples of how individuals with drive and determination are “able to overcome adversity and challenging circumstances with strength and resilience.” She told the stories of several young activists, including education advocate Malala Yousafzai; 14-year-old feminist Julia Bluhm, who challenged "Seventeen" magazine to portray real women; ambitious 13-year-old Neveah Mosher, who challenged herself to read over 300 books a year; and Jack Andraka, a high school sophomore who invented a new method to detect pancreatic cancer. She then shared a personal story of a current student at Byron-Bergen who has also overcome great challenges.

Kavanaugh’s speech continued the empowering message. He shared a quote he had placed on his classroom whiteboard from one of the most powerful businesswomen in the country, NBCUniversal Cable Chairman Bonnie Hammer: “The biggest mistake to me is complacency.” Kavanaugh applauded the students for their accomplishments so far in life, but also challenged them to not become complacent and always strive to improve.

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. Over 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.

(Submitted photo. From left, unidentified, scholarship recipient Justine Reed, of Batavia, Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha, GC Undersheriff William Sheron.)

Annually, the New York State Sheriff's Association Institute awards a $250 scholarship to deserving students enrolled in Criminal Justice, Police Science, or similar program in each of the state's community colleges and at SUNY Canton.

For the year 2015, three students enrolled in Criminal Justice at Genesee Community College received such a scholarship. Students from three GCC campus centers (Batavia, Lima and Dansville) were presented with the New York State Sheriff's Association Institute scholarship by Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha and Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty.

The recipients were nominated by the college's Criminal Justice Faculty and they are:

Batavia Campus -- Justine M. Reed, of Batavia

Lima Campus -- Carrington E. Wells, of Caledonia

Dansville Campus --  Stuart A. Sousa, of Caledonia

Each students was presented with a $250 check to be used to further their Criminal Justice education, along with a scholarship certificate from the New York State Sheriff's Association Institute.

Major General Patrick A. Murphy, the Adjutant General, announces the recent reenlistment of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their continuing commitment to serve community, state and nation as part of the Army National Guard.

Sgt. Scott Higgins, from Batavia, has reenlisted to continue service with the 152nd Engineer Support Company.

Sgt. Ben Olsen, from Batavia, has reenlisted to continue service with the Company A, 2-108th Infantry.

"The New York Army National Guard has sustained our force at or above 100 percent strength for the better part of seven years now," Murphy said. "Keeping those ready forces in our ranks mean that New York is ready to provide forces for state missions here at home, as we saw during the Buffalo Snow Emergency last year, Hurricane Sandy in 2012 or for sustaining our support to federal missions for our nation around the country and around the world."

"Each of our 16,000 men and women serving in the Army and Air National Guard has an important role and I'm pleased that so many continue to reenlist and remain part of our New York National Guard family."

For more information about the New York Army National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov or www.1800goguard.com.

Submitted photo and press release:

Pittsford, New York – After tallying all the figures, Campground Owners of New York (CONY) announces today that Skyline Camping Resort & RV Sales in Darien Center, New York, operated by the Tybor family, raised $5,394 in donations for Camp Good Days and Special Times, as part of CONY’s fourth annual statewide fundraising event for charity held throughout 2015.

According to Suzanne Bixby, CONY’s Marketing and Communications Director, the association raised a total of $91,000 in 2015, bringing CONY’s four-year fundraising total for Camp Good Days to approximately $248,000.

“We are, simply put, grateful to CONY parks like Skyline Camping Resort, as well as their campers and supporters, for helping us raise our largest annual total yet for Camp Good Days and Special Times,” Bixby said. “And I think we’re all a little proud that we’re bringing smiles and camping fun to children and their families braving cancer.”

Throughout the 2015 camping season, Skyline Camping Resort & RV Sales held a 50/50 raffle, a horseshoe tournament, and other raffles and sales.

With fundraising by CONY campgrounds from across New York State, a combined total of $91,000 in checks were presented to by CONY leaders to Camp Good Days and Special Times Founder Gary Mervis at a special ceremony on November 14, 2015, during CONY’s annual exposition held at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York.

Camp Good Days and Special Times is a New York State-based organization providing camping experiences free of charge to children with cancer. Since its inception, Camp Good Days has served more than 45,000 campers from 22 states and 29 foreign countries at its camp, located on the shores of Keuka Lake. More information: www.campgooddays.org.

For more information about Skyline Camping Resort & RV Sales, visit www.skylinervresort.com.

Participating CONY campgrounds all across New York State raised funds in a variety of ways, including selling paper balloons and T-shirts, displaying change collection boxes, and hosting special events including walks, dinners, raffles, auctions, and concerts, to name a few.

CONY member campgrounds are fundraising once again in 2016 for Camp Good Days.

Campground Owners of New York (CONY), headquartered in Pittsford and founded in 1963, is an association dedicated to the promotion, growth, improvement and development of privately owned campgrounds in New York State. More information about the association and its campgrounds – including a free camping directory - is available at www.nycampgrounds.com and www.campcony.com.

Rochester Business Alliance and KPMG, LLP, recently announced the 2015 Rochester Top 100 companies. These companies represent the fastest-growing privately held businesses in our region. Liberty Pumps, placing #24 on the 2015 list, has made the Top 100 list 15 of the last 18 years.

Celebrating our 50^th anniversary in 2015, being named to the Top 100 for another year shows how our commitment to producing a highly innovative and quality product truly pays off.

“Liberty Pumps is a good choice for our customers because the product is innovative, it’s high quality and it’s made right here in the U.S.,” said Randall Waldron, vice president of sales and marketing.

During a brief conversation at the Top 100 luncheon with Charlie Cook, Bob Duffy, president and CEO of the Rochester Business Alliance scheduled a visit to tour the plant in Bergen. After a brief conversation and a viewing of the new corporate video, Duffy was given a personal tour with Cook.

“The most important element is how you service the customer, and there is nobody in the industry that is better at it than we are,” Cook said.

(Photo of Charlie Cook, left, and Bob Duffy, courtesy of Liberty Pumps.)

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) was recently named to the Farm Bureau’s 2015 “Circle of Friends.”

The honor was given to state legislators who display a great deal of support for agricultural initiatives including voting for legislation the Farm Bureau supports and sponsoring bills favorable to the agriculture industry during the 2015 Legislative Session. Hawley has been named to the “Circle of Friends” every year since 2006.

“As the owner of our family-owned farm for many years, I know the importance of the agriculture industry to New York State’s economy,” Hawley said. “I am honored to once again be named to the Farm Bureau’s “Circle of Friends” and take pride in championing its causes in the legislature.

Oftentimes, local farms are family-owned and their hard work ensures that fresh produce, poultry and beef are available to local vendors as well as across the state. In an industry where profits are not guaranteed year to year and flooding and drought are common, our farmers deserve our utmost support and consideration."

Hawley served as president of the Genesee County Farm Bureau while operating his own farm and has served on the Assembly’s Agriculture Committee since 2006.

Today, the law firm of Friedman & Ranzenhofer, PC (WNY-Lawyers.com) announced it is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2015.

Founded in 1955, the general practice law firm has grown from one office in Akron to seven Western New York offices. Their other offices are located in Williamsville/Clarence, West Seneca, Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Batavia and Rochester. Michael H. Ranzenhofer and Robert Friedman are the firm’s partners.