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Person trapped in car after rollover accident in Alabama

By Howard B. Owens

A person is trapped in a car but is apparently not injured, after a one-vehicle rollover accident at 1636 Judge Road, Alabama.

Alabama fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 7:04 p.m.: A chief reports, vehicle on its side.

UPDATE 7:06 p.m.: A chief confirms, no injury. The subject needs assistance getting out of the car.

Man in custody after domestic incident on Washington Avenue, suspected of setting house fire

By Billie Owens

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A Washington Avenue resident with a criminal history and wanted on a warrant was taken into custody this morning after police were called to a domestic incident where he allegedly threatened to shoot police and later set fire to his own apartment.

Eddie Miles eventually came down a ladder from the back of the apartment on his own, which allowed firefighters to begin attacking the fire in the second floor and attic of 207 Washington Ave., Batavia.

He was taken to the hospital for evaluation of injuries sustained in the domestic incident and the subsequent blaze.

Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence said the dispatch center received a call about a domestic incident at the upper apartment at 8:55 this morning. Two officers quickly responded and Miles allegedly smashed a window and threatened to use a firearm against them.

At that point, a perimeter was established in the neighborhood with the aid of the Sheriff's Office and State Troopers. There was a reverse 9-1-1 call placed to neighbors near the scene, telling them to lockdown, shelter in place. 

Police grabbed a ladder from neighbors at the scene, though the woman jump from the stoop roof into the arms of police officers. She was taken to the hospital for the evaluation of injuries sustained in the domestic incident, Lawrence said.

A fire, believed to have been intentionally set by Miles, broke out in the rear of the upper apartment. Miles refused to leave and kept calling 9-1-1, demanding to speak with the female, who had by then been transported to the hospital.

As smoke poured from the house, police were concerned for the safety of firefighters with a potentially armed suspect still at large. The firefighters could not approach the house. An unarmed Miles came out on the roof. Between the very cold weather and the house fire, Lawrence said the bare-footed Miles had some incentive to climb down the ladder unaided. 

He was taken into custody.

Fire scene commander Lt. Greg Ireland said it goes against a firefighter's nature to sit back and watch a house burn but until the suspect was in custody that was all city crews could do. They were initially called to the scene to assist with rescuing the woman from the house, which was not yet on fire when they were called. Once they were cleared to attack the fire, firefighters made quick work of it and contained the fire to the second floor and attack.

Lawrence said police are not certain Miles actually had a firearm; none was found.

At about 1 p.m., City Fire cleared the scene, but police and code enforcement remain on Washington Avenue and the duty sergeant has informed dispatch, this incident will tie up the officers who responded for much of the rest of the day. Additional patrols are on duty.

In addition to other arrests over the past few years, Miles was a suspect in a choking incident and the injection of a purple liquid into a dog in August.

UPDATE 7 p.m.: In response to rumors being spread on social media, we asked if the police used tear gas. Chief Shawn Heubusch said there was no tear gas used. Further, police believe evidence points to Miles starting the fire, not the police.

Photos by Howard Owens. Howard Owens contributed to the reporting of this story.

Video submitted by Jim Horncastle.

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UPDATE: Photo submitted by Jim Horncastle.

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Forum for artists with disabilities opens in Batavia Jan. 19

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The third ARTiculations Ability Exhibition -- a forum for artists with disabilities in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties to display their work publicly -- will open at Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) in Batavia on Jan. 19.

Titled "8 X 10," it features the work of Chris Humel, who uses intensely hued acrylics, to depict postage stamps and other mail-related themes. Twenty years ago, he cofounded the still-active band BC Psychos; he will be teaching a five-week course, “Cartoons by Kids” for young people 10 to 15, at GO ART! (Genesee-Orleans Regional Art Council) in Batavia.

A product of a partnership between ILGR and the University Heights Arts Association (UHAA), the exhibit will be on display through March 29th. The opening reception, featuring Humel on his guitar, is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan.19th at ILGR’s office, 113 Main St., Suite 5, in Batavia. 

In Humel's own words, "I am a person with disabilities. I am 55 years old. I have been battling schizophrenia and related depressing problems for most of my life. My work is about breaking out of isolation and 'going postal' in a good way, by making contact with artists, writers and through the Post Office."

Other artists with disabilities residing in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties are encouraged to submit their work to this juried competition, as there will be additional ARTiculations planned quarterly exhibits in the future.

For over a year, ILGR has been “art partnering” for people with disabilities with the UHAA, a group of artists in North Buffalo with a commitment to community that places art in businesses and nonprofits through an established ARTpartnering program.

The organizers are pleased to note that the ARTiculations Ability Exhibitions has “mapped” into UHAA’s system by placing a plaque with a Quick Response (QR) code scatter bar graph that can bring up information about it when scanned by your smartphone.

For questions on the event, please call Patricia AbdusSalaam at (585) 815-8501, ext. 400

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of the Western New York Independent Living Inc. family of agencies that offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

Police barricade on Washington Avenue

By Howard B. Owens

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A reader provided these photos of a police barricade on Washington Avenue that is apparently in progress now.

For the past 30 minutes or so there has been a lot of encrypted/scrambled communication on the scanner. 

We have no further information at this time on the incident.

UPDATE(S) (By Billie) 9:50 a.m.: There's a structure fire here. Black smoke is billowing from the attic of a house. City fire and Mercy medics are responding, The location is between Tracy Avenue and Bank Street.

UPDATE 9:56 a.m.: One person is in custody. There are no life-threatening injuries. The address is 207 Washington Ave. Elba Fire Department is called to provide city firefighters with mutual aid. Sgt. Dan Coffey said this started as a domestic incident and that the subject in custody is suspected of starting the house fire.

UPDATE 10:13 a.m.: Officer Marc Lawrence said a female was rescued from the house fire; she did not have life-threatening injuries.

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During visit to Batavia, Hochul pushed idea of full-time Legislature, which Hawley and Ranzenhofer oppose

By Howard B. Owens

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pursuing ethics reform that would bar state legislators from holding jobs or owning businesses and would establish the expectation -- though not necessarily the pay -- that they are full-time elected officials.

It's the kind of reform that could potentially force Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer to either quit the Legislature or give up their outside business interests.

During her visit to Batavia yesterday, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said the proposal isn't specifically directed at any current elected officials, including Hawley and Ranzenhofer, but she supports the reform.

When elected officials earn income from sources other than their government jobs, it creates an inherent conflict of interest, she said.

"If you want to serve the people of your state, and this is the highest privilege there is no matter what your level of elective office, you need to respect it and not try to serve two masters," Hochul said. 

"We want legislators focused on them (their constituents) and not their outside income," Hochul added.

These proposals have come along before, Hawley said, and he thinks the idea of a full-time legislature misses the advantages of elected officials living a life outside of politics.

He said one of the problems in this country is we've gotten away from the idea of citizen legislators.

"When a representative's only source of income is being an elected official they lose touch with the reality of everyday life and what real people go through," Hawley said. "No outside income diminishes their grasp on reality.

"When being an elected official is your only source of income, you look at it as an occupation and not an avocation," Hawley said. "That means more conflicts of interest and you need to keep your jobs no matter the legislation and the conflict is greater 100 times over because when that's all you do and it's your only source of income, you will say or do anything to keep that job."

Ranzenhofer, an attorney, agreed with Hawley's main objection to the proposed reform.

"Having outside business interests, whether it's insurance, or being an attorney, or a doctor, or whatever, brings a much more diverse Legislature," Ranzenhofer said. "It means people with real-world experience are serving. I cannot imagine a world where every single member of the legislature is a professional legislator, where that's all they did is legislation and politics."

Hochul said the reform isn't aimed specifically at Hawley or Ranzenhofer, and perhaps for existing members of the Legislature, there could be some sort of grandfather clause that would allow current members to continue to serve.

"I'm not talking about them individually," Hochul said. "I'm talking about the system as a whole. The people of the state deserve to have full-time (legislators)."

Ranzenhofer served on the Senate's judiciary committee and he said his up-to-date, real-work experience working in courts helps inform the debates.

"It's helpful to have people who are engaged in these issues in the real world so we can advise people on how legislation could affect people," Ranzenhofer said.

Hawley has been both an elected official and an insurance company owner, going back to his days on the County Legislature, for 39 years. He said he has consistently handled potential conflicts this way for four decades: he seeks the advice of legal counsel for the elected body.

"There have been a number of occasions where I've asked legal counsel about something we were voting on, whether there was an issue," Hawley said. "There has never been any finding of a conflict that has come to the fore."

If the insurance industry has ever thought they had it in the bag with Hawley, that simply hasn't been the case, he said. He has on several occasions, he said, voted against the lobbying requests of the insurance industry. One example he raised was legislation that would have required agents to disclose to new clients that they were earning a commission from the sale of a policy. The agents' association opposed the legislation and Hawley voted in favor of the reform.

"I think probably 99 percent of the people understand that, but even if just 1 percent don't understand it, then I don't have a problem (with the disclosure)," Hawley said.

Though he keeps busy with attending public events and meeting with constituents, Hawley said he isn't convinced there is enough work in Albany to sustain a full-time Legislature.

Batavia PD reminds citizens not to divulge personal credentials or bank information to callers

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department has received multiple complaints of a robo-call scam from Apple saying your iCloud account has been corrupted. Apple has been contacted and confirmed they do not make robo- calls to notify customers of corrupted accounts.

The Batavia Police Department would just like to remind the citizens not to provide any personal or bank information over the phone.

If you feel you have been part of this scam or a similar scam, you are encouraged to contact the Batavia Police Department and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). www.ic3.gov

Barn on Transit Road with both doors open prompts welfare check of animals inside

By Billie Owens

A barn with both doors open on Transit Road, potentially endangering the lives of animals corraled inside, prompted a call to dispatch. "This caller is concerned about the welfare of the animals due to the cold weather."

The location is reportedly a half mile north of Route 262, which is on the border between Elba and Byron. An animal control officer is heading there now to check their welfare. 

Free class on basics of memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer's disease offered Wednesday, RSVP

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. It is a progressive and fatal brain disease that is the most common form of dementia.

“The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease” is a free class presented by the Alzheimer’s Association Western New York Chapter for anyone who would like to know more about the disease and related dementias.

The program will be offered at The Manor House (427 E. Main St.) in Batavia at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

Attendees will learn:  

  • Symptoms and effects of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia
  • How Alzheimer’s affects the brain
  • Causes and risk factors
  • How to find out if it’s Alzheimer’s disease 
  • The benefits of early detection
  • Treatment
  • Resources in your community, including the Alzheimer’s Association WNY Chapter  

There is no cost to attend this public presentation, but registration is encouraged by calling 1.800.272.3900.

Widespread power outage reported in Darien

By Howard B. Owens

More than 700 National Grid customers in Darien are without power this morning.

The outage began about an hour ago and National Grid estimates that power will be restored about 7:15 a.m.

The area of the outage is from the county line on the west to Bowen Road, and from the county line on the south to just south of Darien Lake Theme Park.

We have no information on the cause of the outage.

Shed fire reported in Pembroke

By Howard B. Owens

A shed fire is reported at 8449 North Lake Road, Pembroke.

A chief on scene reports that it looks like the only thing in the shed is a motorcycle.

Pembroke fire, Indian Falls fire, and the City's Fast team dispatched.

UPDATE 5:56 a.m.: Indian Falls engine returning; in service. 

UPDATE 6:46 a.m.: All units back in service. Fire coordinators and deputies remaining in scene. 

Hochul reviews the State of the State during visit to GCC

By Howard B. Owens

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Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul was in Batavia at Genesee Community College today to review Gov. Andrew Cuomo's State of the State speech.

After cheering the Buffalo Bills and talking a bit about how well Batavia and Genesee County are doing, Hochul highlighted key elements of the speech, which outlines some of the issues the governor's office will take on in 2018.

These issues include: stepping in and filling the gap, like many other states, left by the Trump Administration's announced withdrawal from the Paris Accord on Climate Change; expanding high-speed broadband in rural parts of the state; continuing to address the opiate addiction crisis; improving the lives of children through improved access to nutritious meals, through addressing lead exposure, and expanding after-school programs; ending the state's practice of suspending professional licenses for people who default on student loans; addressing workplace sexual harassment, including among elected officials; bail reform; improving ballot access; and ethics reform for the Legislature.

Hochul also praised the efforts of Cuomo to improve the business climate in New York.

She said under Cuomo's leadership, the state has controlled spending and lowered taxes. The corporate tax rate is the lowest it's been since 1968, she said, and the middle-class rate is the lowest it's been since 1947.

"Keep these numbers in your head," Hochul said. "When you walk around and here people say taxes are too high, they’ve come down dramatically under this governor."

She pointed to the state's investment in infrastructure as another factor in the state's improved economic outlook, noting, too that there are now 8.1 million jobs in the state and the unemployment rate has dropped dramatically during Cuomo's tenure.

The Cuomo Administration has also pushed for paid family leave, tuition-free college for qualifying students, and Raise the Age, a reform that will allow 16- and 17-year-olds accused of some crimes who would have been prosecuted as adults in the past to be moved to Family Court.

Hochul said that while she represents all of New York, Batavia is always a special place to visit. This was her 31st trip to Batavia since becoming lieutenant governor. 

She is excited by the progress she's seeing, from the Downtown Revitalization award to the entry of HP Hood into the former Muller Quaker plant, and the promise of high-tech jobs in Alabama.

"Just talk about the STAMP project," Hochul said. "Yes, it's taking a little longer than we want, I understand that, but there has been $50 million from the State for Ludlow Construction for the infrastructure they've put in at the site during the summertime. That's going to be transformative. That's going to be a magnet."

Speaking with the press after the event, Hochul attacked the GOP tax plan passed in December by the House and the Senate and signed by President Trump just before Christmas. She said it was bad for the working people of New York.

"This one came down to calling on our entire congressional delegation to stand with New Yorkers and four did not, which is appalling to me," Hochul said. "Four individuals broke from their colleagues in the same party in New York and said, 'we don't care.' Now we've got a fight on our hands."

That fight could include dropping the state's income tax and switching to a payroll tax. Such a change, in theory, would not change the take-home pay for workers. Their employers would pay the same amount of tax they currently deduct from paychecks, but it would be pre-tax (federal tax) money. Workers would then not be double taxed (which is the case if they can't deduct the money they pay in taxes to the state on their federal returns).

"Everything is on the table," Hochul said. "We're looking at what other states have done. We're looking at what we can do legally. We believe it is unconstitutional to have double taxation. It's something our Founding Fathers discussed. It's talking about states rights and how not to trample on them. It's amazing to me how people in Washington will pick and choose which states rights they want to protect."

Training facility in Batavia can help you stay calm and carry on when faced with a threat

By Howard B. Owens

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If you found an intruder in your house, would you know what to do?

Even if you were armed, would you know what to do?

Or would you panic?

Training in advance of stressful situations is key to surviving potentially hazardous conflicts and defusing them safely for yourself, your family members and even the intruder.

M&S Tactical Solutions in Batavia has set up an Active Home Invasion System at its facility in the Harvester Center in Batavia.

It's designed to provide training for the company's primary clients, local residents who want to improve security in their home, especially if they keep a firearm.

Yesterday, Sheriff William Sheron and members of his command staff -- Greg Walker, Jerry Brewster, Bill Zipfel, and Joe Graff -- toured the new facility (along with Mercy medic Wade Schwab) and Zipfel and Graff both went through simulated home invasion scenarios to experience how the training works.

"I like it because it’s realistic," Zipfel said. "It's not like our tower. There’s actual furniture. It’s really nice."

While the AHIS is set up to train civilians, it's also used by local police officers to get extra training and practice in detecting and reacting to threats in real-life scenarios.

Participants, if armed, are armed with realistic-looking airsoft pistols and wear face masks.

When it's civilians going through, they are given a basic firearm safety course, even if previously trained, just to make sure everybody is on the same page, said M&S owner Jeff McIntire. Then they're put in a scenario to see how they handle it. McIntire and his staff monitor the home invasion scenario thorugh closed circuit video so they can review how things played out with the participants.

"We don’t give them anything at first," McIntire said. "We put them over there because we want to see what your natural reaction is. I want to see what you naturally do. Then we come back here and debrief. Now we can start actually talking about what to do."

One recent participant fired first and asked questions later. That's a measure, McIntire said, of how realistic and stressful the scenarios can be. The adrenaline pumps and your autonomic systems take over and pushes your mind into "fight or flight" mode.

Getting past those automatic responses is what training is about. Repetition helps build up a kind of muscle memory that helps you stay calm and make better decisions.

To help teach the importance of good decision making, not all of the "intruders" are hostile. They might be an Alzheimer patient who is convinced he's in his own home, or a neighbor just knocking on your door. The intruder might even be your wife home early from work. In other words, not every scenario is hostile but could end in tragedy without proper training.

And not every intruder deserves to be shot. A TV, McIntire noted, is not worth a person's life. Participants are taught to better recognize which intruders pose a real life or limb threat to themselves or a family member.

The scenario yesterday for Graff involved the chief deputy just returning home from work. There is an intruder going through his belongings in his bedroom. At some point, the intruder comes out of the room and Graff became aware he was there. In this case, Graff drew his pistol and shouted for the intruder to put his hands where he could see them and get on the ground. As the intruder went down, he was instructed to reach for his mobile phone in his pocket. Graff yelled for him to put his hands back up and the intruder fumbled with his phone and drop it. Graff did not fire.

In the other scenario, Zipfel came home, grabbed a beer and went in the bedroom to ly down. Then two intruders entered. They began searching the living room for items and Zipfel heard the noise. He crouched down, entered the room, spotted the intruder and ordered him to the ground. As he approached the intruder, the second intruder started to enter the room from the kitchen, gun pointed at Zipfel. Zipfel shot him.

In both cases, with their boss Sheriff Sheron watching, they made the right decision.

While officers who use the facility for training aren't earning any sort of certification, McIntire said he recognizes the need for officers to get numerous repetitions of potentially dangerous situations to help improve their decision making.

Whether civilian or officer, repetition and review are key training tools for improved performance.

Without training, McIntire, people often revert to what they've seen on TV or in a movie, and that's not a good place to be.

McIntire said, "We stress getting people to that point with muscle memory where they say, 'I don't have think. I just know what to do.' "

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Top photo: The tour in the living room apartment. Next two photos, Graff during his scenario. Fourth photo, monitors showing Zipfel's scenario. Bottom, McIntire and Walker in the facility's firing range (where airsoft guns are used). 

GCC will host Recruitment Open House for Nursing Program faculty on Jan. 24

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Genesee Community College will host a Recruitment Open House for the Nursing Program from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at GCC's Medical Technology Building in Batavia.

GCC invites anyone interested in joining the GCC Nursing Program faculty to come to the open house and meet Director of Nursing, Laurel Sanger, Human Resources Recruiters and members of the Nursing Program Faculty team.

At this time, GCC is recruiting for full-time positions in the fields of obstetrics, pediatrics, mental-health and medical-surgical. In addition to these, GCC is continuously recruiting for adjunct clinical instructors.

Details on these career opportunities are available here.

GCC's Nursing Program Faculty members work in an innovative and supportive environment using state-of-the-art nursing laboratories and are able to participate in clinical placements in Buffalo, Batavia and Rochester. Our faculty members enjoy a superior benefits package and a culture that encourages personal and professional growth and development.

If this sounds like the environment for you, RSVP via email to hr@genesee.edu or by calling (585) 345-6808 today and come check out the facility on Jan. 24. Walk-ins are also welcome. Qualified applicants must have or obtain a master's degree in Nursing by Aug. 31, 2019. Concentrations in Nursing Education are preferred but not required.

Free NYS Snowmobile Safety Course offered at Darien Fire Hall next week

By Billie Owens

Press release:

NYS Snowmobile Safety course will be taught at Darien Fire Hall, from 7 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday Jan. 10 (Part 1), and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 13 (Part 2).

The fire hall is located 10537 Alleghany Road (Route 77) in Darien.

The course is free to children from 10 to 18 years of age. New York State’s Snowmobile Law requires that youngsters ages 10-18 acquire a safety certificate before they may lawfully operate a snowmobile. Youngsters may qualify for their safety certificates by taking an eight-hour safety course and passing the examination given at the end of the course.

The course and all materials are furnished free. The course is also open to adults.

The instructors for snowmobile Safety Course are certified by NYS.

You must sign up for the course and attend both classes where you register. Those who pass the written exam will be issued a patch, certificate, and a license.

If your child is interested in taking the course and would like to lawfully drive a snowmobile, preregister by calling 585-599-6431 after 5:30 p.m.

The class is sponsored by the Millgrove Sportsmen Club, Darien Fire Hall, Genesee Sno-Packers Snowmobile Club.

Cornell extension offers free workshop for adults on healthy living and weight loss Feb. 14

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Cornell Cooperative Extension Genesee County will host a program titled “Overfed and Undernourished” at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at the Extension Center at 420 E. Main St., Batavia. This workshop for adults is free to attend, but space is limited.

The program will be presented by Ian Cramer (MS, ATC), who has been living a plant-based lifestyle for eight years and earned a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell in 2016. He is an educator, podcaster and endurance cyclist living in Rochester.

Come and discover information on weight loss, cravings, common nutrition myths, and ways to live a healthy, disease-free lifestyle. For more information about Cramer, visit https://www.plant-basedcyclist.com/

We will also discuss chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, and how they start, progress, and can be prevented or even reversed using diet and lifestyle changes.

Please register for the workshop by contacting Samantha at 585-343-3040, ext. 123.

Pembroke Fire District Board meeting schedule is set

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Here is the 2018 Board Meeting schedule for the Pembroke Fire District provided by Hiedi Librock, the district's secretary/treasurer. All meetings will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursdays at the Pembroke Fire Hall, located at 630 Main Road, Corfu, except the last meeting, on Dec. 13, which will be held at Pembroke Town Hall, 31145 Main Road, Corfu.

  • Jan. 11
  • Feb. 8
  • March 8
  • April 12
  • May 10
  • June 14
  • July 12
  • Aug. 9
  • Sept. 13
  • Oct. 11
  • Nov. 8
  • Dec. 13*

(*Dec. 13 meeting is at Pembroke Town Hall.)

Genesee Chorale invites new singers to join, rehearsals start Jan. 15 at St. James church, Batavia

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Genesee Chorale is a non-profit organization drawing singers from Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Erie and Monroe counties. It is our joy to offer the community fine choral music.

Come sing with us!

Genesee Chorale resumes Monday night rehearsals at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at St. James Episcopal Church, 405 E. Main St., Batavia.

Director Ric Jones has planned an exciting new season, which includes a March 4 concert, “Memory Lane,” with audience-friendly songs that appeal to all ages – songs that are recognizable across generations, fun to sing.

The season continues with May 4 and 6 concerts, “The Call of Humanity,” with a new composition written especially for Genesee Chorale.

Singers of all voices and levels are welcome – there is help if you need it to learn the music.

More information is available at www.geneseechorale.com, or at (716) 531-8986, or by e-mailing info@geneseechorale.com.

GCC History Club announces spring lecture series lineup

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Genesee Community College History Club is excited to release its spring Historical Horizons Lecture Series lineup! The series provides the community with access to renowned authors and historians as they take a deep look at the events and movements that have shaped our nation's history.

"The spring series line up will provide very unique perspectives on bloody battles and war, the Trail of Tears, and immigration," says GCC's Associate Professor Derek Maxfield. "This series is sure to inform and even entertain."

All lectures in this series begin at 7 p.m. in room T102 of the Conable Technology Building. All lectures are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, Feb. 6  /  Medina Campus  /  Maple Ridge Road, Medina

Author Kevin R. Pawlak will discuss his book "Shepherdstown in the Civil War: One Vast Confederate Hospital." During the Civil War the small town of Shepherdstown, W.Va., was suddenly flooded with Confederate soldiers wounded in battle. Homes and churches transformed into triage centers and in all, the town, into "one vast hospital."

Wednesday, Feb. 7  /  Batavia Campus  /  Room T102

Kevin R. Pawlak will join us again to present "The Jewels of War: Robert E. Lee, George B. McClellan, and the Battle of Antietam." Pawlak is also the director of education for the Mosby Heritage Area Association in Virginia. The Battle of Antietam is America's bloodiest single day. In totality, 12 hours of fighting on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 1862 left approximately 23,000 casualties. During this lecture, Pawlak will assess the dramatic events of the battle from the unique perspective of the commanders on the field.

Wednesday, April 4  /  Batavia Campus  /  Room T102

GCC adjunct professor Danny Hamner will present "The Removal Crisis of 1832: How Nationalism, Political Ambition and the Electoral College Shaped the Trail of Tears." Often, the "Trail of Tears" is remembered as the inevitable tragedy of an indigenous people swept aside by the rising forces of modern America. While there certainly were large historical forces transforming America in the early 19th century, the removal crises of the period were ultimately shaped by the personalities, politics and needs of the movement. The mix of personal ambitions and zealous nationalism linked the destiny of the Cherokee Nation to Henry Clay's presidential aspirations with catastrophic but not inevitable results.

Wednesday, May 2  /  Batavia Campus  /  Room T102 (Rescheduled from 12/6/17)

Orleans County Historian Matthew R. Ballard, MLS will present "Fear of the Unknown: Creating the Illegal Immigrant in 19th Century America." Immigration to the United States is a relative topic in current events; however, the establishment of the "illegal immigrant" only dates back to the turn of the 20th century. In the earliest years of immigration, Europeans were accepted without restriction, but an influx of new immigrants during the latter half of the 19th century raised concerns about political impacts on American society. Uncertainty and unfounded fears created excessive restrictions focused on limiting access to specific ethnic/ racial groups, religious groups, the disabled, the infirmed and those likely to become a "public charge."

GCC to host free monthly sessions at Batavia campus to help people with their plans for college

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Adult Educational Opportunity Center (AEOC) has announced a yearlong schedule of open monthly sessions designed to get anyone started on their way to a college degree!

These sessions will be held at Genesee Community College's Batavia Campus at One College Road, Batavia.

As with all AEOC Services, these sessions are FREE and available both by appointment and walk-in! During these sessions, the AEOC's Outreach Specialists will help potential college applicants with a variety of services, including:

Financial Aid Counseling: help completing the FAFSA, understanding various financial aid options including student loans and Pell grants, retrieving transcripts, and assistance with special circumstance applications.

Enrollment Assistance: completing college applications or enrollment forms, ACT Test registration and completing Entrance Exam Prep through Accuplacer. 

Veterans Services: AEOC outreach specialists are trained to assist any veteran in navigating services available for higher education.

Appointments and walk-in sessions will be held in the Conable Technology Building at GCC's Batavia Campus. Both appointment and walk-in sessions will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each of the following days:

Wednesday, Jan. 24, in T122

Wednesday, Feb. 21, in T121

Wednesday, March 21, in T121

Wednesday, April 25, in T122

Wednesday, May 16, in T122

Wednesday, June 27, in T122

Wednesday, July 25, in T122

Wednesday, Aug. 22, in T122

Wednesday, Sept. 26, in T122

Wednesday, Oct. 24, in T122

Wednesday, Nov. 28, in T122

Wednesday, Dec. 19, in T121

Appointments are available on additional dates by request. To schedule any appointment, please email AEOC@genesee.edu or contact Adult Education Director Kate Trombley, M.S., at (585) 343-0055, ext. 6285.

It is important to note that these College Entry Point Sessions are not limited to students attending or planning to attend GCC. Anyone interested in attending any college or in need of assistance in getting started can participate. Information regarding GCC and all other area colleges will be available at these sessions.

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