Top Photo, from left: Miller, Camp, Dibble, Harmon.

Four local cops were honored Thursday night by the Genesee County Bar Association and the Batavia Kiwanis Club for their dedication and good work during the past year.

Recognized in the annual awards ceremony at Bohn's Restaurant were:

• Officer Eric Miller, Village of Le Roy Police Department;
• Patrolman Christopher Camp, the Batavia Police Department;
• Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble, Genesee County Sherriff's Office;
• Sgt. Cory Harmon, New York State Police.

Also honored during the annual Law Day celebration was Daniel A. Rybak, who was named Attorney of the Year.

The mock trial team of Batavia High School received the Charles L. Mancuso Award. The team won the 2010 GLOW region Mock Trial Tournament.

William J. Hochul Jr., United States Attorney for the Western District of New York, served as the keynote speaker. 

The WNY native was promoted to his current post about a month ago. Previously, he served as a counter-terrorism attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office. Hochul spoke about the role that all members of the legal community -- law enforcement, prosecutors and defense attorneys -- play in helping the United States fight terrorism, especially within our borders.

"Each of us in this room – men, women, children, high school students -- have a critical role to ensure that the American legal system remains as a tool to us to fight terrorism," Hochul said.

Hochul said local law enforcement plays is the first-line of defense against domestic terrorism.

"The federal government can’t be everywhere domestic terrorists might be living," Hochul said. "Nationwide, worldwide, really, there’s only 10,000 or so FBI agents."

Without local law enforcement, he said, "we wouldn’t be able to even see the domestic terrorism threat, much less address it.”

Because maintaining the rule of law is vital to keeping our justice system working, Hochul said, defense attorneys who challenge prosecutions' theories and assertions help keep the necessary balance to the system.

"My message to you all is let’s follow the rule of law," Hochul said. "Let’s use the system we have, and where appropriate, my office, the Western New York Office of United States Attorney, stands ready to help."

Inset, Hochul. Above, members of the Batavia High mock trial team.

After the jump are pictures and information on each of the award winners:

Kiwanis Club of Batavia's 51st Annual Pancake Days

Saturday, October 24th, 2009   --   7:00 am - 2:00 pm

First Presbyterian Church Service Building--Corner of Main Street & Liberty Street

Adult - $5.00   Child (10 and under) - $3.00   Senior Citizens ( 62 and over) - $3.00

Pancakes, sausage, fresh cider and a wonderful fully served, sit-down breakfast.  Giveaways, music and more...

For more information or to purchase tickets contact Anita @ 585-813-5371

Or see a Batavia Kiwanian!

Batavia Kiwanis is rolling together a bowling fundraising event to benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). The first annual event, called the No-Tap Fun Tournament, will begin at 12 p.m. Saturday, May 23 at Mancuso’s Bowling Center at 214 East Main St. in Batavia. The tournament has a no-tap rule, which means if a bowler gets nine pins down, it counts as a strike.

“Many people in Batavia don’t realize how much of an impact Golisano has on local families here,” said Patrick Weissend, the chair of the first annual No-Tap Fun Tournament and member of the Batavia Kiwanis Club. "In 2008, the hospital served more than 1,600 children from Genesee County," continued Weissend.

Patients at Golisano Children’s Hospital at URMC come from as many as 63 New York counties seeking specialty care in a range of areas. All seriously ill or injured children from the 17-county Finger Lakes region are referred to Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Last year’s Miracle Kid Anders Swanson was from Batavia. Anders had a rare, aggressive brain tumor near the center of his brain. Doctors at Golisano Children’s Hospital at URMC tended to and treated Anders and in mid-September 2007, Anders was declared cancer-free. He is still being monitored closely, but Anders is undoubtedly a miracle, and his care is a testament to how valuable Golisano Children’s Hospital is to kids in the Batavia community, explained Weissend, a close friend to the Swansons.

The tournament is $20 per bowler or $90 per team. Those not interested in bowling are welcome to sponsor a lane for $25. To reserve a spot as an individual or for a team, request a form by e-mailing lgpat@BataviaKiwanis.com or calling (585) 993-1634 or (585) 343-4727.

Tonight from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. the Kiwanis Club of Batavia will be hosting a spaghetti dinner at the YWCA, 301 North Street in Batavia.

Tickets will be available at the door and are $8 for adults and $4 for children (12 and under.) People attending dinner or take out dinners will receive one door prize ticket.

Proceeds are used to support various youth organizations in the community.

For more information: www.BataviaKiwanis.com

Tonight from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. the Kiwanis Club of Batavia will be hosting a spaghetti dinner at the YWCA, 301 North Street in Batavia.

Tickets will be available at the door and are $8 for adults and $4 for children (12 and under.) People attending dinner or take out dinners will receive one door prize ticket.

Proceeds are used to support various youth organizations in the community.

For more information: www.BataviaKiwanis.com

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia and the Kiwanis K-Kids at St. Joe's School will be hosting a free Easter Egg Hunt for Kids on Saturday, April 11, 2009.

The annual event is for children up to age 10.

The event takes place at Centennial Park (Park Avenue and State Street) in Batavia.

The whistle blows to begin the hunt at 9:00 a.m.

Find the golden egg and win a prize!

This year, more than 5,000 eggs have been stuffed with candy and special prizes. Be sure to be there on time. Within 10 minutes all the eggs will be found!

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Since 1923, the Kiwanis Club of Bataiva has been working in our community. For more information on the club's activities and how to join check out www.bataviakiwanis.com

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia will be hosting its annual Pancake Day on Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. It will be held at the First Presbyterian Church Service Building on the corner on East Main Street and Liberty Street in Batavia. 

The tickets are $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children (Under 10) and $3.00 for senior citizens (62 and over). Tickets will be available at the door or from any Kiwanian.

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia has been dedicated to service in our community since 1923. The money raised through this fund raiser and others our reinvested into many community service programs. For more information on Kiwanis and their activities, go to www.bataviakiwanis.com

The Kiwanis Club of LeRoy Pavilion Stafford will host its 4th Annual Election Night Pancake Supper on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at the Stafford Fire Hall, Rte 5, Stafford from 4:00-7:00 PM.  The cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children.  Proceeds will go toward support of the club's community service projects.

The Kiwanis Club of Batavia is proud to be the sponsor of Sunday’s Muckdog game against the Jamestown Jammers. Game time is at 1:05 p.m.

Kiwanis will be giving a bicycle to one lucky boy and one lucky girl. Every child (14 and under) will be given a free raffle ticket before the game, and sometime during the game, the lucky winners will be drawn! The lucky winner must be present to win! Free tickets are available from any Kiwanian!

This game will be one of the most important of the season, so come to the game early and visit the Kiwanis table to get the raffle ticket for your child and find out more about the Kiwanis Club of Batavia!

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. The Kiwanis Club of Batavia has been serving the community since 1923. Every year the club serves 1000s of people through its sponsorships, scholarships and other community service activities. For more information on the Kiwanis Club of Batavia visit: www.bataviakiwanis.com