Paid for by the Committee to Elect Ben Bonarigo.
Press release:
On a conference call with reporters and in the midst of an industrial hemp explosion across Upstate New York — triggered by a Schumer-championed provision in the recently passed Farm Bill — U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue guidance and allow producers to fully take advantage of the popular cannabidiol (CBD) market and also protect consumers.
Even though CBD products have gained popularity since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the farming, manufacturing, and selling of industrial hemp, Schumer explained that the FDA has yet to set regulations or safety requirements for CBD derived from hemp.
According to Schumer, the lack of federal guidance and clarity is sowing chaos for both consumers and in the rapidly-emerging Upstate New York industrial hemp industry, which saw sales of CBD products surpass $200 million nationally in 2018.
To address this lack of clarity, to protect consumers, and to allow the industrial hemp industry to maximize job creation from this cash crop, Schumer urged the FDA to expediently issue guidance on the classification, labeling, quality, marketing, and sale of CBD products.
“CBD is brimming with potential to be a billion dollar industry across New York State, bringing along countless jobs and truly meaningful economic development with it. But before that can happen, farmers, growers, producers, consumers and vendors need to know exactly what the rules of the road are and right now they’ve got no idea,” Senator Schumer said.
“That’s why I’m calling on the FDA to do its job in a timely manner and issue guidance related to CBD classification, labeling, quality, marketing, and sales. And once the feds spell out these ABC’s of CBD, the industry will seed and grow from one corner of the state to the other, many jobs will be created in the industrial hemp space, and farmers will be able to safely cash in on this cash crop.”
CBD is one of the two main chemical compounds that can be found in the cannabis plant. However, CBD is not psychoactive, meaning that it cannot get a person high—like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the other chemical compound found in many types of cannabis plants, primarily marijuana. CBD products have become exceptionally popular in the marketplace, with estimated sales of CBD-containing products, such as oils, gummies, balms, lotions, and capsules, surpassing $200 million in 2018.
According to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, there are currently just under 500 people, businesses, and organizations spread across New York State licensed to grow and process industrial hemp.
According to news reports, roughly three-quarters of those licenses were approved for the purposes of cultivating and extracting CBD. Currently, there are 18,000 acres of land licensed for industrial hemp growing in New York State, with 14,000 designated for CBD cultivation and extraction.
Furthermore, of New York’s 62 counties, 56 are home to industrial hemp farms and related growing operations. Schumer says these figures show just how much potential CBD products have to boost the economy across New York State, should clear guidance on CBD be issued by the FDA.
Schumer pointed out that the FDA is responsible for protecting public health, and guidance related to CBD is desperately needed to ensure that products on the market are safe. He also said that consumers rely on the FDA to conduct timely and appropriate oversight of new and emerging ingredients, like CBD, and that guidance from the agency would provide crucial direction for manufacturers seeking a pathway to develop safe and credible products for consumers.
Schumer argued that the market for CBD products is rapidly growing and that the agency must expedite its efforts to promote accuracy and transparency within the CBD industry. Specifically, Schumer called on the FDA to provide an outline of its plans for a regulatory framework related to CBD, as well as a timeline for when comprehensive enforcement policies for CBD products will be finalized and implemented.
The Schumer-backed Hemp Farming Act of 2018 was introduced by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). It passed and was signed into law as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. This legislation:
Industrial hemp is a type of cannabis plant that is grown largely for industrial uses, but it can also be used for food, oil, and cosmetic products. Hemp contains a very small amount of THC, typically between 0.2 and 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis, and while from the same species of plant as marijuana, the two plants have varied widely in use.
However, due to the existence of THC in hemp, Schumer explained, both plants were considered “controlled substances” under federal law, meaning the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was the primary regulator for hemp production.
Schumer argued that this narrow view has undermined the crop’s agricultural and economic potential. With the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 passed by Congress and signed into law last year, this unnecessary roadblock has been lifted, and industrial hemp’s significant potential to become a cash crop in Upstate New York’s will be unleashed.
Below is the full text of the letter Schumer sent to Acting Commissioner Norman Sharpless.
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Dear Acting Commissioner Sharpless:
We write today to ask that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urgently clarify and implement regulations for cannabidiol (CBD) derived from hemp. Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill (P.L. 115-334), which paved the way for industrial hemp cultivation and marketing, farmers, processors and retailers across the country are eager to enter this new market and leverage its potential. With new products containing CBD becoming available nearly every day, your agency’s lack of an official stance on this ingredient remains confusing to manufacturers and potentially dangerous to consumers. It is now imperative that the FDA finalize and implement a comprehensive regulatory framework for CBD, including guidance on the classification, labeling, quality, marketing, and sale of CBD-containing products, to ensure each manufacturer is producing safe and effective products for consumers. In accordance with your agency’s July statement regarding CBD oversight, we expect an update on your activities no later than 90 days from today’s date.
The CBD industry has exploded in recent years. Estimated annual sales of CBD-containing products were over $200 million in 2018, and CBD oils, gummies, balms, lotions, capsules, and other products are broadly available and widely advertised in stores and online. However, as the CBD industry expands, the lack of clarity and regulation around CBD use has created significant confusion and uncertainty among stakeholders in every segment of the supply chain. It is crucial that the FDA remain proactive in its duty to safeguard public health, protect consumers from potentially unsafe products, and provide a predictable pathway to market for producers and manufacturers.
Purveyors of CBD-containing products attribute a wide range of health benefits to this ingredient, including relieving pain and anxiety, preventing seizures, treating post-traumatic stress disorder, and easing inflammation. But consumers still lack answers to questions about the potential risks, including adverse side effects and drug interactions, associated with CBD.
Consumers rely on the FDA to conduct timely and appropriate oversight of new and emerging ingredients, and guidance from the FDA would also help manufacturers to develop safer, more effective, and more credible products for consumer use. The market for CBD products is rapidly outpacing the FDA’s current regulatory efforts, and your agency clearly must expedite its efforts to promote accuracy and transparency within the CBD industry. It is imperative that any comprehensive regulatory framework for products containing CBD provide straightforward guidance to manufacturers and retailers who wish to incorporate CBD into new products.
Consumers and manufacturers of this fledgling industry are counting on regulatory oversight and certainty that only the FDA can provide. Your efforts to date have been woefully inadequate. Within 90 days please provide our offices with an outline of your agency’s current plans for a specific regulatory framework related to CBD along with a timeline for when comprehensive enforcement policies for CBD products will be finalized and implemented.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and we look forward to your response.
U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer
Submitted photos and press release:
As tireless advocates, effective trustees, passionate leaders and highly effective facilitators and visionaries, Genesee Community College is delighted to announce that former trustees Robert L. Boyce, of Le Roy, and Peter R. Call, of Batavia, were recently honored by New York Community College Trustees.
The NYCCT is a voluntary nonprofit consortium of community college trustees that strengthens the effectiveness of NY community college trustees for development and implementation of public policy that impacts community colleges.
Boyce (inset photo below right), who served the College for more than 18 years, received the NYCCT Benefactor Vision for Tomorrow Award, and Call, received the Marvin A. Rapp Distinguished Trustee Service Award after seven years of dedicated service. Both former trustees were recognized at NYCCT's fall conference in September.
Once appointed by the Genesee County Legislator as a GCC Trustee in 2014, he actively participated in the Policy, Nominating and Personnel subcommittees and also the critical 2018-2023 Strategic Planning Steering Team that developed the mission-centered, "Framing Our Future" Strategic Plan that guides every aspect of the College.
As a Foundation board member and College trustee, Boyce oversaw the development of quality student housing programs, innovative new safety initiatives, the construction of two new residence halls and the renovation of several others. Under his tutelage, he also supported critical capital improvements on campus such as the Roz Steiner Art Gallery (2011), and the Student Success Center and Richard C. Call Arena (2017).
The Benefactor Vision of Tomorrow Award is given based on level of involvement, how the involvement has improved the quality of education and/or services at the community college, and the benefactor's vision and motivation for being involved.
Boyce's other civic leadership commitments include the United Memorial Medical Center, the Le Roy Emergency Ambulance Service and Le Roy International Rotary Club where he is also a Paul Harris Fellow. Boyce served in the Army and graduated with a Business degree from the University of Buffalo.
Call's extraordinary support has also significantly enhanced the College since his first day as a GCC trustee in 2012. He served two terms as secretary to the Board and one term as vice chair, and he was the liaison to the College's Foundation. Call (lower inset photo right) also chaired the Finance Committee, leading the institution through a period of declining enrollment with clear fiscal responsibility and helping foster a positive relationship with Genesee County, GCC's local sponsor.
He has long been an advocate for two-year postsecondary education especially in relation to the local economy and workforce.
During his tenure, GCC also achieved its largest capital campaign ever, raising more than $5.2 million to build the new Student Success Center and Richard C. Call Arena, fittingly named after Peter's father who had the creative vision and secured the leading gift for a building that would recognize the local agricultural community.
Beyond his work on GCC's Board of Trustees, Call is director of Farm Credit East and serves on the boards of Seneca Foods, Farm Fresh First and United Memorial Medical Center. He was recently elected to the Cornell University Board of Trustees.
The Marvin A. Rapp Award was established in 1986 to recognize longstanding and exemplary trustee service providing significant leadership on boards, participating in state and national activities benefiting community colleges, and demonstrating a commitment to innovation in community college programs.
Rapp was a Finger Lakes Community College trustee and an educator by profession. As a staunch advocate of community colleges, he assisted in the establishment of 13 of the 30 community colleges in New York State.
"We cannot thank Mr. Boyce or Mr. Call enough for their devotion to Genesee Community College," GCC President James M. Sunser, Ed.D., said. "They are stellar examples community members who continuously foster good citizenship and value the impact that the College has had on the community for the past 50-plus years."
Press release:
Genesee Community College is delighted that the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce (GCCC) received the New York Community College Trustees' Business/Industry Partnership Award.
The award recognizes the many shared initiatives that have helped create a prosperous community and a great place to live, work, raise a family, own a business, and also draw in students from around the globe for higher education.
GCC nominated the Chamber of Commerce, citing the following examples of the winning partnership between the two organizations.
The BEST Center, GCC's workforce development division and the Chamber of Commerce have worked closely for decades. Consistently sharing news, information and opportunities have helped develop business leads and important networking events that build strong business relationships, as well as essential workforce training to encourage economic growth.
This past spring, the Chamber was instrumental in planning the College's first opportunity to host the NJCAA Men's Lacrosse National Championship game in the new Richard C. Call Arena, laying the groundwork for many other national events in the future.
The GCC Foundation is pleased and proud to have worked closely with the Chamber for years, including the establishment of the Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund in 1989. In addition, Tom Turnbull, president of the Chamber, has served on the Foundation's Board of Directors since 2006, including his current role as secretary.
The College has also served on Chamber committees to represent education-related topics and concerns.
Whether it's a long-term commitment such as a scholarship or board service, or a shorter-term opportunity such as a symposium, workshop, or fund and fund-raising gala, the partnership between GCC and Genesee County Chamber of Commerce has long been mutually beneficial. The relationship bolsters both organizations, and enables each to better serve our shared community.
The Batavia Police Department will be participating in the DEA’s 2019 National Drug Take-Back initiative on Saturday, Oct. 26.
The event will be held between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the rear parking lot of the Batavia Police Department, located at 10 W. Main St.
Citizens can turn in their unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal. Sharps will also be accepted during the above times.
Citizens can pull up in their vehicle and meet with officers who will be stationed in the parking lot to accept the drugs and sharps.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.
Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety, health and environmental hazards.
The Batavia Police Department would also like to remind citizens of the drug and sharps drop boxes that are available 24/7 in the rear vestibule at BPD HQ.
Press release:
The City of Batavia firefighters are proud to announce the winners of their seventh Annual Fire Prevention Coloring Contest. With hundreds of entries from Batavia Schools, this contest was very difficult to judge.
The 2019 Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 6-12) theme was: “Not every hero wears a cape. Plan and Practice your Escape.”
Congratulations to the following winners:
Grade K-1
First Place: Kylie Lutey -- St. Joseph School, Mrs. Case, Kindergarten
Second Place: Blaire Beachel – St Joseph School, Mrs. Fiannaca, First Grade
Third Place: Lyla McClellan -- St. Paul Lutheran School, Mrs. Porter, First Grade
Honorable Mention: Nolan Rogers – St. Joseph School, Mrs. Fiannaca, First Grade
Grade 2-3
First Place: Harper Ferris -- St. Joseph School, Mrs. Clattenburg, Third Grade
Second Place: Olivia Gillard – John Kennedy School, Mrs. Brown/Mrs. Loney, Third Grade
Third Place: Jose Osio-Taylor – John Kennedy School, Mrs. Dobbertin, Third Grade
Honorable Mention: Madelyn DeMena – John Kennedy School, Miss Tretter, Third Grade
Grade 4-5
First Place: Gretchen Weicher -- St. Paul Lutheran School, Mrs. Porter, Fifth Grade
Second Place: Grace Allen – St. Joseph School, Mrs. Fischer, Fourth Grade
Third Place: Paige Austin – St. Paul Lutheran School, Mrs. Porter, Fifth Grade
Honorable Mention: Harmony Warner – John Kennedy School, Miss Carpenter, Fourth Grade
Honorable Mention: Azaria Burnett – Batavia Middle School, Mrs. Korzelius, Fifth Grade
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The first-place winner of each group will receive a ride to school on a City Fire engine, dates TBA.
An awards luncheon will be held this Saturday, Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Fire Station on Evans Street for all First-, Second- and Third-place winners and and Honorable Mention winners. These students and their families are encouraged to attend.
Thank you to all the teachers and students who participated in this year’s contest and Congratulations to our winners!
Greg Ireland
Captain / Fire Prevention Officer City of Batavia Firefighters
Submitted photo and press release:
In recognizing the National College Transfer Week, officials at Genesee Community College are excited to announce today (Oct. 23) the updated affiliation and articulation agreement with SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.
It paves the way for students to graduate from GCC and easily transfer into one of seven upper-division medical programs.
Specifically, students who meet and maintain eligibility requirements in their respective programs of study at GCC can follow the specific program transfer path to SUNY Upstate Medical University to earn a Bachelor of Science in: Medical Imaging Radiography (X-ray); Medical Imaging Sciences/ Ultrasound; Medical Technology; Medical Biotechnology; Radiation Therapy; Respiratory Therapy; or Nursing.
Upon admission to GCC, specific student success coaches and the transfer coordinator are assigned to work individually with each student intending to transfer under the terms of this agreement and ensure the appropriate course load.
Together, they continue to work with the assigned students to help expedite the successful completion of the customized transfer pathway.
Students maximize every credit and every semester by filling elective slots and other general education requirements with courses that effectively meet the standards of the articulation agreement.
"There are many reasons students choose to start at GCC," said Kristen Hargrave, transfer coordinator at GCC. "Some aren't sure what career path they want and so earning an associate degree in General Studies is a way to explore a variety of options while completing general education requirements at a two-year college price.
"Other students know exactly what they want to do and where they want to go, but also recognize that by starting at GCC, they can get the first two years completed for a portion of the cost! By following SUNY Transfer Paths or taking advantage of articulation agreements between two and four-year schools, which map out very specific courses to maximize the student's tuition dollars and minimize the number of semesters required, they can earn the same four-year degree, usually in the same time, but with way fewer student loans."
In addition to one-on-one planning and consultation, GCC's Transfer Center coordinates numerous information fairs and college visits to help current students find and establish connections with four-year colleges and universities, both within the public SUNY system as well as private institutions.
The Transfer Center also works to establish Articulation, Transfer and Enrollment Agreements that guarantee students' specific transfer credits and program admission from GCC to a participating four-year institution.
Genesee Community College maintains over 200 agreements at any given time. All of these agreements support GCC's continual efforts to help students achieve their academic and career goals with maximum efficiency.
Students looking to take advantage of any of GCC's transfer, articulation or enrollment agreements, including the SUNY Transfer Program, should schedule a meeting or contact Transfer Services located in GCC's Student Success Center at transfer@genesee.edu for one-on-one help customizing their own academic plan.
A rainbow in Pavilion this morning. Photo by Samantha Stryker.
Above: Byron-Bergen Volleyball players each hold one off the potatoes they personally cleaned and prepared at the annual “potato scrub.”
Submitted photos and press release:
Bergen -- One Saturday morning each September, the Byron-Bergen Girls Varsity and JV Volleyball teams meet in the Bergen Evangelical Presbyterian Church parking lot at 9 a.m. There, they join other members of the community to wash, scrub, dry, sort, pack and load approximately 2,000 pounds of potatoes.
While many teams engage in community service fundraising, or awareness-raising, the “potato scrub” requires the team to get their hands dirty -- literally. The annual community service project began three years ago when Hannah Catalino, a then sophomore, approached her volleyball coach with an idea for an unusual community service project.
“There are a lot of ways athletic teams can be charitable and this one is not glamourous,” said Byron-Bergen Athletic Director Rich Hannan. “Every year these players tackle this project with good will and good humor and no fanfare. I am extremely proud of them.”
The "potato gleaning,"(correct, with a g) as it is officially called, is orchestrated by Stewart Freeman. He has worked with area farmers for the last decade to collect extra and post-harvest crops including potatoes, butternut squash, onions and cabbage. He stores the produce and makes deliveries to shelters, food pantries and local families.
“What we’re doing is helping people who can’t afford to buy food get the chance to eat,” said senior VarsityVolleyball player Cynthia Morse. “That makes me feel happy.”
The “scrub,” which the volleyball players take part in, is crucial to this process because as the soil is scrubbed from the potatoes, spoiled spuds are identified and sorted out. If bad potatoes are packed with good ones, they will contaminate the entire box, making the food inedible.
“We all participate, both Varsity and JV players,” Catalino said. “It’s a team bonding activity. We work together and get to know each other better while helping the community.”
Eventually, Freeman will deliver the potatoes that the volleyball players helped prepare to local soup kitchens and food pantries, including the Open Door Mission in Rochester, the Batavia Salvation Army, and local organizations that deliver food to veterans and community members in need.
Below: Byron-Bergen Girls Varsity Volleyball Coach Cindy D’Errico takes part in the annual “potato scrub.”
Press release:
The IRS issued new rules that would undermine a critical tax deduction on which New York homeowners rely. This prompted U.S. Senator Charles Schemer to move forward with an effort to restore New York State’s ability to work-around the part of the federal tax law that takes an unfair aim at the state by eliminating a homeowners’ SALT tax deduction.
(SALT stands for State And Local Taxes.)
Loss of the SALT tax deduction will cost New York homeowners tens-of-thousands of dollars.
For example, in Genesee County in 2016, the average SALT deduction amounted to $9,800 and about 6,700 local homeowners took advantage of it, according to statistics compiled by the National Association of Counties.
Schumer says that just as New York State was tying the bow on its work-around plan by passing a law that circumvented the feds, the IRS swooped in and used regulations to squash everything, adding insult to injury for local homeowners.
Therefore, Schumer today (Oct. 22) announced that he will use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) tool to force a vote on the Senate floor this week, on a resolution to nullify recent IRS rules blocking critical state workarounds to harmful state and local tax (SALT) deduction caps, and that restores New York’s ability to work around the harmful caps, allowing homeowners to again fully retain their SALT deduction.
While the IRS blocked New York’s work-around for families, the Treasury Department in September 2018 issued guidance that allowed businesses to continue to benefit from these same work-arounds. Reversing the IRS’s harmful rule will also preserve the ability of states to maintain their own local charitable deductions for education, childcare and nonprofits serving children, rural hospitals, environmental conservation, and more.
“As if the Trump-Republican tax bill — which has spiked tax payments for countless New York homeowners by eliminating the SALT deduction—wasn’t already bad enough, these new IRS rules add insult to injury. They are rubbing salt in the New York homeowners’ SALT-inflicted wounds,” Schumer said.
“Taking away the SALT deduction was brutally unfair to Upstate homeowners and hit ‘em right between the eyes and that’s why later this week, I plan to take control of the Senate floor and force a vote to nullify the IRS’s horrible rule and put power back in the hands of Upstate New York homeowners to soften the blow of the elimination of SALT deductions.
"New York’s hard-working homeowners shouldn’t be forced to bear the burden of the political games that target and punish specific regions of the nation.”
Schumer explained that he can use the special legislative power, provided for under the Congressional Review Act, in an attempt to nullify the recent IRS decision that blocks New York State from working around the provision in the federal tax law that strips New York homeowners from claiming their full SALT tax deduction.
The disapproval resolution under the CRA gives Congress the power to expeditiously review any new federal regulation, like the recent IRS decision that hurts Upstate New York, so long as the CRA disapproval resolution is filed within 60 legislative days of the regulation being finalized. Schumer said the use of the CRA power is comparable to declaring a policy emergency, and when it comes to the SALT deduction in New York State, the issue is serious.
The CRA legislative review is not held to the 60-vote requirement to pass the Senate, Schumer added, making it an attractive plan in this anti-New York era. Schumer reiterated just how serious the SALT issue is across Upstate New York, pointing out county-by-county the average SALT deduction taken by homeowners.
Under the pre-Trump tax code, taxpayers who itemized deductions on their federal income tax returns could deduct state and local real estate and personal property taxes, as well as either income taxes or general sales taxes.
State and local income and real estate taxes had made up approximately sixty percent of local and state tax deductions while sales tax and personal property taxes made up the remainder. According to the Tax Policy Center, approximately one-third of tax filers had itemized deductions on their federal income tax returns.
Schumer has traveled from one corner of the state to the other to push back against the capping of SALT deductions. In 2018, Schumer urged the IRS to grant New Yorkers who paid their 2018 taxes early the ability to apply those taxes to their 2017 SALT deduction, even if their property taxes were not assessed.
As the administration was seeking to pass its tax plan, which capped New Yorkers' SALT deductions, Schumer campaigned against the destructive legislation...calling on the New York Congressional Delegation to reject the misguided plan.
Press release:
The Genesee County Job Development Bureau would like to announce its Youth Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Program.
Young adults may receive funding for in-demand career training. The program offers opportunities to out-of-school youth ages 16 to 24 years, who face barriers to education, training and employment. The goal is to make it easier for youth to find a job and a career training path.
The program is looking to help youth -- from the young mother or father who wants to return to school, to a recent graduate that is trying to enter the workforce with no experience; to the young man or woman who left high school and now wants to finish said, Teresa Van Son, director of the Genesee County Job Development Bureau.
"Everyone has their own story and things that have gotten in their way," she said. "We want to help remove some of those obstacles. Our program is here to assist by providing support and guidance that will allow them to participate successfully in education and training opportunities to reach their fullest potential."
Young adults have the chance to participate in training for certificate and degree programs, which will assist in obtaining marketable skills for employment in their desired field of study.
Unsure what career you want? You can explore careers through paid work experience or job shadowing with a local employer.
The benefits and services can include: career counseling and support, tuition, employment-readiness training, and paid work experience. We may also help with limited supportive services including course fees and supplies, mileage reimbursement, driver's training, work clothes or uniforms.
Individuals are eligible to participate if they are between 16-24 years old, meet eligibility guidelines and possess one or more of the following barriers to employment: pregnant or parenting (mother or father), a school drop-out, homeless, foster care and/or aged out, ex-offender, or an individual with a disability.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the unemployment rate is much higher than average for 16 – 24 year olds at 9.1 percent. The education a person receives affects their employment status.
In 2018, among youth (ages 16–24) not enrolled in school who did not graduate from high school, only 51 percent were employed, either full- or part-time. The employment rate goes up from there with each educational milestone a person reached according to Child Trends.
"We want to help our local youth reach those milestones," Van Son said.
For more information, please contact the Genesee County Career Center, at (585) 344-2042 and speak with the youth counselor Lisa Smith or by email at lisa.smith@co.genesee.ny.us
Submitted photos and press release:
What happens when you bring brilliant writing and wonderful actors together? This Nov. 8th and 9th at 7:30 p.m., the Batavia Players and the Harvester 56 Theater will be answering that question as they perform "Off Our Rockers," two one-act plays that are both insightful and hilarious in nature.
Starring in "I’m Herbert" is perennial actor and local internationally known artist Kevin Partridge (inset photo left) and longtime Players' actress Dorothy Gerhart (inset photo below, right). Both Gerhart and Partridge are recipients of the Performance of the Year Award at the Harvester 56 Theater and they are two of this area’s premier actors. They have appeared on stage in many memorable roles and are a consistent part of the Batavia Players acting troupe.
Michele Stamp (inset photo below, left) Emily Crawford (inset photo bottom left) and Kathy Johns (inset photo bottom right), who have also been nominated for acting awards and have portrayed many of the theater's most memorable characters, will be bringing to life the one act play "Laundry & Bourbon."
Stamp has been memorable in her award- winning portrayal of Martha in "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolfe," while Johns is best remembered as Joanne in "Come Back to the Five & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean."
Crawford, who also works on many of the technical aspects of the show, played the mother Marmee March in the musical "Little Women." All have appeared on stage many times over the eight-year history of the Harvester 56 Theater.
“This is a very special cast with a tremendous amount of talent and stage presence,” said "Off Our Rockers" Director E. Jane Burk.
Both of these well-written plays have been perennial favorites of the short-play set.
This is the first time they have been presented by the Harvester 56 Theater and the Batavia Players. There are only two performances and tickets are available at the Box Office.
Local Independent Online News Publishers (LION), a trade organization I helped found eight years ago, is holding its annual conference in Nashville this year (first time it's not in Chicago).
I'm leaving town today to attend that conference and hit a few honky-tonks. I will be giving a presentation on photojournalism for local news publishers.
We've got things covered while I'm gone but as we usually do, we like to let readers know things will be a bit different in how we do coverage.
Press release:
The Batavia Players are entering the Holiday Season by presenting a truly wonderful Christmas story, "A Charles Dicken’s Christmas." This musical is a highly original take on "A Christmas Carol" that gives a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the holiday classic.
The theater company will be looking for actors and singers between the ages of 8 to senior. Rehearsals are slated to begin the first full week of November. Auditions will be 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1st and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2nd.
Those interested should check out the Batavia Players website at bataviaplayers.org. Information about auditioning is available on that website.
“This is a great musical for the whole family as well as a wonderful show for someone who may want to try being a part of live theater,” Director Patrick Burk said. “It allows for a wide array of talent, ages and characters as well as some traditional Victorian music and well know Christmas carols.
In the musical, Charles Dickens attempts to provide his publisher with a Christmas story that he promised to write but keeps coming up short. With the aid of his artistic muse, Dickens faces – and comes to terms with – his own troubled youth, learning the true meaning of Christmas and finding the inspiration for his immortal holiday classic.
This humorous and sentimental show is pure family entertainment. Each character in this small cast plays a large part in telling the alternate story of Charles Dickens.
Its rich musical score is sure to put the holiday cheer into every member of the audience. The show will also include a Victorian Christmas chorus as well as some dance and choreography elements. The cast will number approximately 25.
"A Charles Dickens Christmas" is written by Robert Owens Scott with music by Douglas J. Cohen and Tom Toce. It is presented by arrangement through Music Theater International (MTI).
Reader Marcy Ewell wrote us this morning about the adorable black kitten in Bethany and said:
"Found this morning by the side of the road near (Route) 20 and East Road (Suicide Corners). Has collar with bell. Checked with houses and farm near intersection -- no one claimed it was theirs. Very cuddly and was very hungry.
"Please text 585-813-1025 if you know or are the owner."
On Thursday, at 4 p.m., the new Musical Garden at GO ART! officially opens. The Batavian, along with some Girl Scouts, got a preview on Saturday.
For the second time in three weeks, Joseph Scott, a 37-year-old right-hander from Pavilion, recorded a 300 game in the Wednesday Men’s Handicap League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.
Scott's latest effort came on Oct. 16 on lanes 1-2 on his way to a sparkling 751 series.
On Sept. 25th, Scott – who works for Logwell Acres dairy farm in his hometown – rolled a perfect game on lanes 7-8 en route to a 717 series.
At Paris Lanes in Oakifield, three bowlers hit the 700 mark last week – Dean Cadieux Jr. of Oakfield 750, Marty Hein of Batavia 719 – with a 299 game – and Scott Shields of Batavia – 707.
Hein's attempt at a 300 game was thwarted when the 10-pin failed to fall on the final ball.
In other league action around the Genesee Region USBC, Jeremy Vallance of Warsaw opened with a 297 game and finished with 759 in the Le Roy Moose League at Legion Lanes, and Tony Sprague popped a 256 game and 694 series in the Turnbull Heating Junior League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.
Shaqueita L. Irvin, 27, Ellicott Avenue, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child -- acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17 years of age. Irvin was arrested at 3:02 a.m. on Oct. 15 for allegedly failing to provide adequate supervision for her 6-year-old daughter more than 30 times. Her daughter has been dismissed from school and sent home on the bus; upon her arrival at her residence, nobody was there to receive her. The girl has been returned to school for supervision. Irvin was issued an appearance ticket for 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22 in Batavia City Court. The case of handled by Batavia Police Officer Marc Lawrence.
Zachari R. Morgan, 23, of Highland Park, Batavia, is charged with second-degree menacing. At 4:24 p.m. on Oct. 17, Morgan was arrested after allegedly threatening to cause bodily harm to someone with a hammer in his possession. He was arrested at his residence and released on an appearance ticket. He is due in Batavia City Court on Oct. 29. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk, assisted by Officer Miah Stevens.
Casey Daniel Nutting, 44, of Union Street, Batavia, is charged with: driving while intoxicated -- first offense; aggravated DWI -- a BAC of .18 percent or higher; and refusal to take a breath test. Nutting was the driver and sole occupant of a vehicle that law enforcement stopped for a suspicious condition. On Oct. 17 on Main Road in Stafford, Le Roy Police Sgt. Gregory Kellogg was following Nutting's vehicle and allegedly observed numerous traffic and vehicle violations before Nutting pulled into the Department of Transporation building on Route 5 in Stafford. Sgt. Kellogg stopped the vehicle to check Nutting's welfare. Genesee County Sheriff's deputies arrived and took over the investigation. It is alleged that they found Nutting to be intoxicated and he was arrested at 6:56 p.m. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Stafford Town Court on Nov. 5. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Mullen.
Jay Blatchley, 46, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with promoting prison contraband and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Following the investigation of contraband that was found in Genesee County Jail, Blatchley was arrested at 1:15 p.m. on Oct. 19 after allegedly bringing narcotics into the jail without permission. He was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and jailed in lieu of $5,000 bail (cash or bond unspecified). Blatchley is due to be in Batavia City Court on Oct. 23. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Rachel Diehl, assisted by Sgt. Andrew Hale.
John W. Walsh, 36, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with having an open container of alcohol. Walsh was arrested at 7:35 p.m. on Oct. 12 in front of the Speedway gas station and convenience store at 204 W. Main St. in Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on Oct. 22. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Wesley Rissinger, assisted by Sgt. Matthew Lutey.
Press release:
The Genesee County Democratic Committee invites the community to celebrate early voting and meet their local candidates.
On Saturday, Oct. 26th, the Genesee County Democratic Committee invites the community to celebrate early voting and meet their local candidates. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the War of 1812 Bicentennial Peace Garden. It is located at 117-123 W. Main St. in Batavia.
“For the first time in history, voters in New York State have the opportunity to vote early, and it’s a really big deal,” said City of Batavia Democratic Chair, Erica Donnell. “Voting rights activists have been fighting for this for a very long time and now that we have a Democratic majority in Albany, we finally got the job done.
"The first day of early voting is October 26th so we felt that would be a great day for our candidates to get together with voters and celebrate this accomplishment.”
For more information about early voting visit geneseedemocrats.net.
Voters will also have the opportunity to meet some of the endorsed Democratic candidates running for office this year.
Chair of the Genesee County Democrats and Darien Town Board Member Michael Plitt says, “National politics seem to suck all of the oxygen out of the room these days, but if you really want to participate in democracy, the local level is the place to do it.
"When I knock on doors I like talking to voters about the things in their community that matters to them and where their vote can really make a difference.”
Participating candidates include City Court Judge candidate Benjamin Bonarigo, Ward 3 City Council candidate Nick Russo, Ward 5 City Council candidate Sammy DiSalvo, Darien Town Board Member Plitt, and others. Light refreshments will be provided.
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