From the Genesee County Health Department:

Often times, you are poisoned by lead you can’t even see! According to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), children under 6 years old are more likely to be poisoned with lead than any other age group.

Lead is a metal that is harmful to both children and adults when it enters the body.

Most often, children are poisoned from breathing in or swallowing dust from old lead paint that gets on floors and windowsills, hands and toys.

Only a small amount of lead is needed to harm a child’s growth, behavior and ability to learn.

Most children poisoned by lead do not look or feel sick, so the only way to know for sure is to get tested.

New York State (NYS) law requires that every child must be tested for lead at the age one and again at the age two. Providers should also be assessing a child for risks of lead exposure regularly through age 6.

NYS has both the nation’s greatest number (3.3 million) and the highest percentage (43.1 percent) of housing stock built before 1950. Houses of this age are much more likely to contain lead paint, the leading cause of childhood lead poisoning.

Governor Cuomo’s 2019 budget is responding to this public health threat by lowering the acceptable blood lead level from 15 micrograms per deciliter of blood (µg/dl) to 5 µg/dl.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took that step in 2012 and has since been enacted in several states, including, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey and Vermont. These states made their decision to move to the lower CDC guidelines based on the evidence that supports early intervention as the primary way to prevent the serious health effects suffered by victims of lead poisoning.

“Effective Oct. 1^st, a child whose blood lead level is 5 µg/dl or more will be contacted by their local health department who will help families identify sources of lead and create plans to remove it by conducting home inspections,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health director.

“Lowering the blood lead action level will increase home inspections greatly. The Genesee and Orleans County health departments are prepared for this change and have hired a lead coordinator to be dedicated to this workload for both counties.”

If a child's blood lead level is 5µg/dl or more, the health department nurse will report to Environmental Department. There will be an inspection done at the house by the Environmental Department from the local health department to check for lead exposure, and an educational prevention approach by the nurse from the local health department will be done with the family to decrease the lead level in the child’s bloodstream.

There are many sources of exposure according to the NYSOH. Subscribe to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to learn about consumer products recalled for lead violations.

Sources of Lead

• Paint (older homes, old toys, furniture, crafts)
• Air / Dust
• Soil
• Water (leaching of lead solder on plumbing)
• Folk medicines and cosmetics
• Children’s jewelry and toys
• Workplace and hobbies
• Lead-glazed ceramics; china; leaded crystal; and pewter
• Imported candies or foods
• Firearms with lead bullets
• Foreign made mini-blinds
• Car batteries and radiators

Lead can harm a young child’s growth, ability to learn and may be linked with tooth decay/cavities, hearing loss, behavior problems, even to the point that Early Intervention services are needed.

Early Intervention is the term used to describe services and support that are available to babies and young children and their families with developmental delay and disabilities.

Lead can also be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy. Although lead poisoning is preventable, it continues to be a major cause of the problem among children.

For more information about lead, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Early Intervention Services visit:

• https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/

• https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/states.html
• https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/Subscribe

For information about Health Department services contact:

• Genesee County Health Department at: 344-2580, ext. 5555, or visit their website.

Press release:

The public is invited to "Duty 1st with David Bellavia: Serving Country and Community," a talk by the Medal of Honor recipient at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12. The event will kick off with a ceremony as Staff Sgt. Bellavia is honored by the Niagara Falls community with a key to the city.

Following the talk, he will sign copies of his book "House to House: A Soldier's Memoir," which will be for sale onsite during this event at The Rapids Theatre, 1711 Main St., Niagara Falls.

The will serve as a fundraiser for a new nonprofit organization created by Bellavia, called Deuce Deuce Relief Fund Inc. The fund benefits soldiers from Bellavia's prior Task Force in Iraq (Task Force 2-2), supporting soldiers and their families who are experiencing hardship or require other assistance.

"Duty 1st with David Bellavia” is Deuce Deuce's inaugural fundraiser and is generously hosted by The Rapids Theatre. General admission tickets are $22 (Deuce-Deuce). Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available online through EventBrite, with a link at DavidBellavia.com.

Highly in demand, Bellavia has been speaking around the country throughout the summer, and now his community has an opportunity to hear him speak at the Oct. 12 event.

About David Bellavia

David Bellavia is the only living Iraq veteran to receive the Medal of Honor, which is our country’s highest military honor.

For the June 25 Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House, the Western New York community supported Bellavia’s dream of being surrounded by every living member of his Task Force when he received the honor.

More than 750 of his neighbors donated funds to make that dream a reality. Bellavia has said, “The Medal of Honor is for all who served with me in Iraq.”

He served three military campaigns: Kosovo 2003; and Operation Iraqi Freedom I; and Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

Bellavia is a graduate of Lyndonville High School in Orleans County and the University of Buffalo. He resides with his family in Western New York.

Unlike a courtroom jury of your peers, the team of Peer Recovery Advocates at Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse is not there to pass judgment, but to provide much-needed support and encouragement to those struggling with substance use disorders.

For the past 13 months or so, about a dozen Peers at GCASA have bonded into a motivated, close-knit group that has had a positive impact on hundreds of people at various stages of recovery.

All of these professionals have lived through recovery – most of them are in recovery themselves. Knowing what it takes to reach and sustain sobriety, they now are sharing with others in need of what they have experienced and learned.

“Living with substance use disorder – either personally or dealing with a family member – gives Peers the tools to aid in others’ road to recovery,” said Rosalie Mangino-Crandall, director of project innovation and expansion who also serves as director of the recovery programs at GCASA.

Mangino-Crandall explained that specific training requirements must be met to become a Peer.

“There is a required six-day training for CRPA-P (Certified Recovery Peer Advocate-Provisional), then there are 500 field hours and 25 supervision hours that must be completed to become a CRPA,” she said. “GCASA LOCAL Peer onboarding and training program lasts one to two months. In that time, Peers go to trainings and do work that applies toward the credential.”

She added that it takes at least four months at GCASA to have enough hours to be credentialed, however, and can take longer depending on full-time equivalent hours per week, job assignments and other factors.

There also is a test that must be passed to become a CRPA. Re-credentialing is required every three years with 30 more hours of training.

Mangino-Crandall said all but one of the Peers is full time, with funding derived from a variety of grants.

Apparently, GCASA’s program is paying off in big ways as its Peers have reached out to more than 1,200 people in recovery over the past year. The positive results include the following:

-- Improved relationship with treatment providers;
-- Increased treatment retention;
-- Increased satisfaction with the overall treatment experience;
-- Improved access to social supports;
-- Decreased criminal justice involvement;
-- Reduced relapse rates;
-- Reduced substance use and greater housing stability.

“We’re here to support our clients in whatever pathway they are choosing (to reach and maintain recovery), said Charlene Grimm, the Peer supervisor who assumed that role in August 2018 after nearly 10 years as a counselor and Supportive Living coordinator.

Grimm, in recovery for 19 years, said her history made it a “good fit” for her to become a Peer leader.

“I have years of experience with the agency, I’m from this area and I know the community,” she said. “All of us understand that we’re equals in one sense but we have ethical standards that enable us to mentor them and support them.”

According to guidelines from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Peer Recovery coaches walk side by side with individuals seeking recovery from substance use disorders. They help people to create their own recovery plans, and develop their own recovery pathways.

Recovery coaches such as Grimm and Nicole Anderson, a Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Task Force Peer Recovery Advocate, perform the day-to-day tasks necessary to move the recovery process along – things such as linking clients to food and social services’ sources; providing transportation to medical appointments, meetings and church services; attending court sessions, and offering coaching and motivational support.

“The Peer program allows people to know that they don’t need to walk through this alone,” said Anderson, whose stepfather passed away due to a heroin overdose. “We celebrate little victories and continue our support even if they take a step back. We’re friends on a professional level and we’re here to listen.”

Chris Budzinack Sr. is another Peer Recovery advocate who began employment at GCASA after working at City Church.

A married father of three teenage boys, he has been in recovery for 10 years. He said he owes his life to the people that reached out to him and just wants to pay it forward.

“I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for those who helped me and supported me,” he said. “Now, we as a team have made a difference. It’s not 'do we think we have' – I know we’re making a difference.”

With such a highly trained team on hand, GCASA is set up well to move into its recovery recreation center at the former Bohn’s Restaurant on Clinton Street Road later this fall. Several of the Peers will be assigned to the recovery center, with Budzinack serving as the Lead Peer at that location.

“Batavia can become an amazing recovery community,” he said. “Right now there is no place for people to go to socialize without alcohol. There is so much potential (with a place like that).”

Grimm said Peers also support the residential clients of GCASA -- people currently at the Atwater House and those in supportive living -- and can utilize a fleet of vehicles acquired from grants to transport clients as needed.

 “One of the key reasons for its success is that it offers a lot of things needed outside of the clinical setting,” Mangino-Crandall explained. “The Peers offer more flexibility and can provide essential support with other non-clinical elements of recovery.”

She added that the Peer program is expanding.

“Yes, we’re looking for a few more Peers,” she said.

For more information about the Peer program at GCASA, go to the agency’s website – www.gcasa.net.

Disclosure: Story by Mike Pettinella, GCASA publicist.

Photo: The GCASA Peer team – front from left, Chris Budzinack, Charlene Grimm, Gina Schelemanow; back, Cheyenne Richardson, Madeline Rodriguez, Sheila Smith, Nicole Anderson, Amy Kabel, Nick Volpe. Other team members are Trisha Allen, Shawn Kitcho and Marty Taber.

An ATV accident with possible serious injuries is reported on a trail across from 9932 Seward Road, Alexander.

Alexander fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 12:48 a.m.: A landing zone is being set up for Mercy Flight.

UPDATE 2:45 a.m.: The patient was transported to ECMC via Mercy Flight. Her name has not yet been released. An investigator at the scene described her injuries as potentially life-threatening. She is a woman in her 30s who lives in the area but apparently was not familiar with the trail she went down. Deputies have yet to determine if she went down the trail by mistake, thinking it was another trail, or exactly what happened. At this time, investigators believe her ATV hit a chain in the private laneway that was stretched across the trail. The driver was wearing a helmet. She was with another person who was also on an ATV at the time of the accident. The Sheriff's Office will issue a press release with further information sometime this morning.

UPDATE 9:45 a.m.: The operator was Michelle G. Buckenmeyer, 33, of Alexander. She was pronounced dead by the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office at 4:06 a.m. The crash remains under investigation. The investigation is being conducted by Investigator Howard Carlson, Deputy Nicholas Chamoun and Deputy James Stack. Assisting at the scene were members of the Alexander Volunteer Fire Department, Mercy EMS, Mercy Flight and Ron and Newt's Towing Service.

Solid ranch on quiet pretty country road! This 3 bedroom, 1 and a half bath, home has a lot to offer for someone looking for country living. The yard is park-like with small outbuilding that has electric and water run to it and what used to be 4 kennels and large fenced in area for all your animals.

Also small shed and a cute gazebo! Inside features three good size bedrooms, kitchen with slider leading to outside deck and an awesome extra living/den/man cave with wet bar!

Downstairs could be finished and also has pellet stove for supplemental heating if wanted.

Great home and great location! Click here for more information on this listing & call Lynn Bezon. List with us today!

While officials have declined to discuss thus far the specific nature of a threat made on Snapchat overnight that led to the closing of the schools in Le Roy today, Superintendent Merritt Holley did indicate during a press conference this morning that it was more than just the words used in the Snapchat post that caused concern.

"From my end of it right now, I think because we know what the threat was, we know who the person is, I think from that end, this is exactly -- I'm not going to use the word, there's nothing textbook when you get into these, but I think if you have a situation where we have finality to what we know -- I think that's exactly where you want to be, and I think if we could have gotten that, we think about the time frame of where we're trying to get that information and go," Holley said. "I think closing the school today looks very small in the big scheme of things."

A reporter at the press conference suggested that Holley was saying there was more context to the situation than just what was posted on Snapchat and Holley said, "you can interpret that."

Neither Holley nor Le Roy Police Sgt. Emily McNamara would discuss details about the content of the Snapchat post, nor why police and school officials determined the threat should be taken seriously and considered credible.

The school district was alerted at 5 a.m. by a service set up two years ago to field anonymous tips about safety threats at schools, and Holley said he immediately contacted Le Roy PD. By 8 a.m., the Junior-Senior High School student who made the post had been identified.

Holley said both the student and the student's family are cooperating with the police investigation.

The situation is resolved, both Holley and McNamara said, and school activities return to normal on Saturday.

"This was an isolated incident and I really want to emphasize to the community and to the students at the school that we don't believe that there's any cause for any further concerns or alarm," McNamara said.

She said this is still an open investigation and while charges are possible, it's too soon to say what those charges might be.

As a result of the Snapchat posting, both Wolcott School and Le Roy Junior-Senior HS were closed and all school activities, including tonight's football game in Avon, were canceled.

"This is far from a prank," Holley said. "I think with the investigation going on, I don't want to get specifically into what was said and what was put out, but 'credible' is the key term and with any threat in this day and age that we're in right now, any school district, not only here in Le Roy but across the state, across this country, it's our duty and responsibility to look into every possible situation, and we have to do our due diligence and I think we did that in this in this situation."

Press release:

Notre Dame High School is proud to announce that its 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Notre Dame High School.

This fall’s program will begin with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. followed by a dinner at 6:30. The alumni student-athlete, contributor, service awards and 1967-1969 Varsity Wrestling program recognition portion of the program to follow at 7 p.m.

Tickets for this annual event will be $45/person and a table for 10/$400.

Tickets will be available through the Notre Dame Advancement Office [585] 343-2783, ext. 106, or visit the Community Tab on the Notre Dame website.

Notre Dame High School is located at 73 Union St. in the City of Batavia.

Inductees to be honored will include:

• Richard O’Connor -- Class of ‘64
• Robert Beyer -- Class of ‘80 
• Amy Dwyer -- Class of ‘83
• Maureen Del Plato Braunscheidel -- Class of ‘97
• Christopher Sabato -- Class of ‘98
• Jennifer Sutherland Forsyth -- Class of ‘00

Members of the 1967, 1968 and 1969 ND Varsity Wrestling Teams

• Edward Dwyer – Contributor Category
• Dan Coughlin and Kris Coughlin and Patty Panepento Daansen – Service Recognition

Jill Pettigrew puts the finishing touches on a sidewalk mural she painted on the walkway leading into the new musical garden in the side yard between the Seymore Place (GO ART!) and the YMCA on East Main Street.

Installation of the musical instruments in the grant-funded musical garden is nearly complete. No word yet on when it will be open to the public.

This afternoon, Sarah and Casey Stockwell install a display for the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce on East Main Street, Downtown Batavia, as part of the Business Improvement District's annual scarecrow contest.

Sarah is in accounting and HR at the Chamber. Steve Falitico, the chamber's membership development director, helped design the display.

Press release:

The sets are being built, the costumes are being bloodied and now the talent has been cast for next month's production of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" at Genesee Community College!

Brodie McPherson, director of the show and also GCC's instructor of Theater Technology, released the cast list today (Sept. 27) for what promises to be the college's biggest theater production of the season!

GCC's Forum Players Theatre Company will perform Richard O'Brien's “The Rocky Picture Horror Show,” Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17, 18, and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and again Sunday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. in the College's Stuart Steiner Theatre.

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" will feature GCC students representing many majors and four different countries, as well as a GCC alumnus. Audiences will enjoy the talent, style and a little craziness from the following:

• Tiago Marques, of São Paulo, Brazil, as Frank-N-Furter
• Runo Suzuki, of Hokkaido, Japan, as Janet Weiss
• Samuel G. Rigerman, of Batavia, as Brad Majors
• Benjamin Reiner, of Pembroke, as Riff Raff
• Lacey Sloat, of Bergen, as Magenta
• Fu Kikuchi, of Fukuoka, Japan, as Columbia
• Chris Barbis, of Pavilion, as Rocky Horror
• Jack Diskin, of Le Roy, as Eddie and a Phantom
• Grant Calcote, of Le Roy, as Dr. Everett V. Scott and a Phantom
• Josh Pacino, (GCC classes of 2008 and 2009), of Batavia, as The Narrator
• Marissa Carbonell, of Batavia, as Trixie The Usherette and a Phantom

And playing Phantoms throughout the productions will be:

• Marissa Carbonell, of Batavia
• Sam Ciesla, of Hamburg
• Haylea-Ann Nicole Self, of Brockton
• Brittany Mayes, of Medina
• Jessie Pierce, of Batavia
• Tiffany Smith, of Arkport
• Brandon Ribbeck, of Warsaw
• Ai Jitozono, of Nagasaki, Japan
• Ayaka Nakamura, of Osaka, Japan
• Francesca Pieter, of Willemstad, Curaçao
• Alyssa Young, of Brockport
• Andrew DeMeo, of Staten Island

This show will take full advantage of all the high-tech sound and lighting equipment at the College's state-of-the-art theater. The full scene and costume shops provide dynamic sets, clothing and special effects to take this production over the top. In addition, special "Goodie Bags" to be sold for $5 are in development as is some pre-show, intermission and post-show opportunities for the audience to interact with the cast.

"This show promises to be among the most memorable experiences not only for GCC's Forum Players, but also for our audience and supporters. It really is not to be missed," McPherson said. "Everyone should enjoy the perfect prelude to the Halloween season with a performance that is 'out of this world!' "

Tickets for "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," performed by GCC's Forum Players Theatre Company, are: $8 for adults; and $5 for seniors (55+) and students (16+) and GCC faculty/ staff. GCC students with ID are $3, and GCC alumni with ID will receive a $2 discount on an adult ticket.

To reserve seats, contact the GCC box office today at boxoffice@genesee.edu or (585) 345-6814. Seating is limited and advance reservations are strongly advised. The show is designed for mature audiences only.

Photographer Ray Williams shared these photos with us that he took today at the sand wash at DeWitt Recreation Area in Batavia.

Autumn Miles, a survivor of domestic abuse and an advocate for adoption, was the guest speaker Thursday night at the annual All Babies Cherished banquet at Quality Inn & Suites.

She is the founder of Autumn Miles Ministries, an organization based in Dallas devoted to spiritually challenging the way women think.

Miles covered a range of topics, including her Biblically based pro-life message, saying at one point, "God is pro-life."

All Babies Cherished is a pregnancy center on Ellicott Street in Batavia.

Taken yesterday evening.

A car vs. bicyclist accident is reported in front of the Holland Land Office Museum, 131 W. Main St. in the city. City fire, Mercy medics and police are responding.

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.: The bicyclist was evaluated at the scene. No injuries; he was not transported for medical care. A first responder said it appears the bicyclist was at fault and he was given a warning but not cited.

A breakfast held at the Dibble Family Center in Batavia this morning set the stage for the United Way of Genesee County’s Campaign 2020 Kick-off.

This year’s campaign will be under the direction of co-chairs Susie Ott and Jane Scott. Together they chair the United Way’s Day of Caring Committee, are members of the Allocations Committee and have dedicated themselves to the United Way mission for many years.

“Campaign 2020: clear vision for a brighter future” is our tagline this year, says Executive Director Tammy Hathaway. “We want to know the personality of our donor and offer them nothing less from our stewardship of their funds than what they give to their customers and the community.”

The United Way of Genesee County (UWGC) is focused on funding the Community Impact areas of health, education and economic mobility. Within these categories, 21 nonprofits are provided funding for 27 different programs in our county.

Campaign funding grants an insurance toward keeping these essential programs in existence. A listing of agencies and services funded can be found on the UWGC website.

Co-chairs, Ott & Scott (or as UWGC calls them: "Ott & Scott’s Big Adventure") announced this year’s United Way of Genesee County’s campaign goal for 2020 is $350,000.

As the morning began, Paul Ohlson of Care-A-Van Ministries blessed the venture saying "it takes a village." The United Way of Genesee County looks forward to partnering with current and new donors to "be this village" and to another year of being committed to mobilizing resources for community impact.

For questions, or inquiries of how to get involved, please contact the UWGC office at 585-343-8141.

Inset photo of United Way of Genesee County Executive Director Tammy Hathaway, courtesy of Susie Ott.

The Batavia Society of Artists is hosting artist Chris Humel from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8th, at GO ART!, located in historic Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia.

Humel will be doing a hands-on demonstation in cartooning.

Non-members welcome with a $5 fee.

Cartoon images, courtesy of Chris Humel.

Press release from Chief Chris Hayward, Le Roy PD:

The School received a report of a possible threat and we are currently investigating. The School received it early this morning and given the hour, made the decision to close to allow us to try to determine if the threat was credible or not. Given the ongoing investigation, we will not be making anyone available for on-camera interviews.

Via text message this morning, Hayward said there will be a press conference at a time to be determined.

A parent in Le Roy tells The Batavian that her household received a robocall from the school early this morning informing them that both Wolcott School and the Junior-Senior High School were closed for the day and that all after school and extracurricular activities were canceled because of a "credible" threat on SnapChat made last night.  

WBTA received a call from the school's athletic director informing them that tonight's football game in Avon in is canceled.

Press release:

Every day, more than 20 U.S. military veterans take their own lives. The Firing Pin (TFP), Western New York’s finest indoor shooting range, is hosting a community fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 28, with all proceeds going toward efforts to reduce veteran suicide.

The Firing Pin’s “22 to None Fun Run” will support Mission 22, an organization dedicated to assisting veterans in getting treatment when they need it most.

The event includes a 2.2K fun run, raffles, food trucks, live music and a craft beer tent.The event’s title sponsor, Rochester Precision Optics, is looking to hire veterans. They will have a booth at the event with more information.

“I have personally lost seven friends that I was deployed with to veteran suicide,” said Patrick Kimball, TFP Advanced Training director and combat veteran who will be speaking at the event. “Together, we can help our veterans get the help they deserve before it’s too late.”

Who: The Firing Pin, LLC and Mission 22

What: 22 to None Fun Run

• 22 to None Fun Run -- 2.2K run/walk (map on second page)

• Chinese/Silent Auctions

• Craft beer tent by Eli Fish Brewing Company (all proceeds directly to Mission 22)

• Food trucks - Center Street Smokehouse, Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, wood-fired pizza from American Masonry

When: Saturday, Sept. 28

Schedule of Events:

• 9 a.m. -- Shop and range open; raffles begin

• 10 a.m. -- Registration for Fun Run

• 11 a.m. -- 2.2K Fun Run

• 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. -- Beer tent and food trucks

• 1 - 4 p.m. -- Live music from The Fog

Where: The Firing Pin LLC, 8240 Buffalo Road, Bergen

Why: The sad truth is that more veterans die at home on U.S. soil than in combat zones overseas. Mission 22 is a registered 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to healing America’s veterans when they need it most -- right now. The Firing Pin family has been personally affected by veteran suicide and wants to unite the community in raising awareness and support for our veterans. ALL proceeds from the event will go directly to Mission 22.

Below is the route of the 2.2K Fun Run/Walk, coustesy of Firing Pin General Manager Joshua W. Hawkins.

Press release:

The members of the Museum Quilt Guild of Batavia will soon be enjoying the talents of renowned quilter and instructor, Linda M. Poole, of Milford, Pa., when she visits the guild for three days next month. The public is also invited.

Author of "Painted Appliqué: A New Approach," Poole stays busy as a quilt instructor, lecturer, and fabric designer, and her life revolves around photography, writing, painting and sewing.

To see her work, visit her website.

She has a passion for travel, teaching and sharing her experiences with people around the world. She has taught throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey and Italy.

The guild is very lucky to be able to invite instructors of this caliber to the area every other year, opposite their biennial quilt show. In the past, such names as Wendy Butler Berns and Paula Nadelstern have visited.

Most of the members would never get an opportunity to learn from these well-known instructors without traveling to larger venues.

Poole will be teaching classes using her “painted appliqué” technique.

On Thursday, Oct. 17, the class is titled “Acorn Wreath." On Friday, Oct. 18, the class is “Monarch Butterfly.” Classes will be held from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Batavia First United Methodist Church, 8221 Lewiston Road, Batavia.

There are still openings in the classes, and you don’t have to be a guild member to attend. Fee for each class is $60, plus a $35 fee for a kit containing almost everything needed for the class.

Poole will be presenting a lecture titled “A Quilted Journey Around the World” at the guild’s regular meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the VA Medical Center (Building 4, west end, second floor), 222 Richmond Ave., Batavia. The public is welcome to attend. Admission fee is $5.

For more information on the classes or the guild, contact Martha Lorshbaugh: 585-993-0357 or lorshbaughm@gmail.com, or visit the guild website.

Photos of examples of Poole's quilts from her website.