Announcements

Three Pembroke High School seniors from the Genesee Valley BOCES Information
Technology Academy won top awards at the Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference last month in California.

Christopher Archer, Dillon Hale and Shane Hale all made the difficult decision to attend the national FBLA conference even though it meant missing their high school graduation ceremony.

The three students had qualified for the national competition by winning their events at the state level. The top 10 students in each national event were recognized at an awards ceremony on June 28.

IT Academy Instructor Lorrie Mazza and Counselor Jason Fitzsimmons chaperoned the trip.

"In my 11 years as an FBLA advisor, this is the first time any of our students has placed in the top 10 nationally," Mazza said. "To have three students in the top five this year alone is truly amazing. I am very proud."

Shane Hale competed in Desktop Application Programming and brought home the third-place trophy. Participants in this event had to design and demonstrate a program aimed at keeping club membership data current.

Dillon Hale competed in Internet Application Programming and won fourth place. This event focuses on systems used over the Internet or Intranet. Competitors had to create and demonstrate a Web application that would allow people to RSVP to a planned event.

Chris Archer competed in Computer Problem Solving and placed fifth.

Participants took an objective test based on competencies in core hardware and operating system technologies including installation, configuration, diagnostics, preventative maintenance and basic networking.

The students also attended leadership seminars and met students from all across the country. More than 7,800 students attended the conference.

The Genesee County Volunteer Firemen’s Golf Outing sponsored
by the Genesee County Mutual Aid Fire Advisory Board relies solely on the
support of area businesses and community members for its success.

More than $3,000 was donated to the mission of Batavia Mercy Flight from the proceeds of the 2009 golf outing held last month at the Batavia Country Club. Area businesses which donated include:

• Arrow Mart
• C.H. Wright Distributing Corp.
• Churchville Fire Equipment
• Darien Lake Theme Park Resort
• First Due Fire Equipment
  
• First Out Rescue Equipment
  
• Five Star Bank
  
• LeRoy Discount Liquor & Wine
  
• Main Street Pizza Company
  
• Mary Kay Cosmetics
  
• Paulie's Pizzeria
  
• Pepsi Bottling Co.
  
• Ralph & Rosie's Deli & Pizzeria
  
• S & S Limousines
  
• Stan's Harley Davidson
  
• Terry Hills Golf Course
  
• United Uniform
  
• Viking Valhalla Restaurant
  

Supporting businesses of the event included platinum sponsors:

• Duval Safety,
  
• Manning, Squires & Henning
• Sheet Metal Workers International Association
  
• Law Offices of Mark C. Butler, PLLC

Gold sponsors were:

• Tri-County Emergency Training & Service
• West Herr Chevrolet of Orchard Park

Silver sponsors were:

• Select Collision
• Bergen Fire Department
  
• Bergmann Associates
  
• Gui's Lumber
• Potter Lumber
  
• Kelley Construction
  
• R & D Electronics
  
• Shepard, Maxwell & Hale
  
• Thompson and Dilcher, LLC
  

A total of 72 players participated in this year’s outing supporting quality emergency medical care and the emergency medical and transport services which Mercy Flight provides to all of Western New York during situations when every minute matters.

As part of this year's Genesee Community College annual scholarship campaign - "Our Best Investment" -- M&T Bank gave $21,000 to support the college's growing Honors Program.

"The recognition of our Honors Program by M&T Bank is greatly appreciated," said College President Stuart Steiner, PhD.. "The program encourages academic work of depth, originality and quality by students who demonstrate superior potential.

"Under the guidance of faculty advisors, students enrolled in the program select and develop independent themes to study, and they work on special, interdisciplinary projects focused on these themes throughout the academic year. Their contribution is valued both inside their classrooms, as well as across the campus."

M&T Bank representatives Joseph Brennan, Vice President, WNY Commercial Banking, and also a GCC graduate, Class of 1999, and Joshua Heim, Assistant Vice President, Government Banking presented a $21,000 gift on June 26, 2009 to Steiner, Richard Ensman, Executive Director of Genesee Community College Foundation and Roger Hungerford, GCC Foundation Board Member and President of SIGMA International General Medical Apparatus LLC, who was instrumental in securing the gift.

"The Honors Program reinforces the foundation goal of excellence," Ensman said. "Students successfully participating in it are eligible for a financial stipend to cover additional expense incurred during their independent study and additional academic endeavors."

The mission of the Genesee Community College Foundation is to enrich the programs and initiatives of Genesee Community College by providing human and financial resources. The foundation, which was formed in the mid-1980s to provide philanthropic support to the college, is a not-for-profit organization led by a 30-member board of directors comprised of business and civic leaders. It provides academic scholarships and need-based grants for students, and President's Innovation Awards to stimulate student, faculty and community involvement in the life of the college. Last year, the foundation awarded 464 scholarships and grants to Genesee students totaling $265,488. Gifts may be sent to the Genesee Community College Foundation, One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020. For further information, call (585) 345-6809, or email foundation@genesee.edu.

Muckdogs return home Friday for a three-game series with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Game time is 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6 p.m.

The Friday Night fireworks are back for another spectacular show, along with Launch-a-Ball presented by Hillside Family of Agencies.GCASA will also be hosting their annual “Drug Free Communities Night.” Fans will have the opportunity to win various prizes throughout the evening, including the chance to win a Nintendo Wii.
 
Round two of the series with the Scrappers is Saturday, July 11 at 7:05 p.m., gates opening at 6:00 p.m. That night will feature the first installment of the “Rock the Ballpark” pre-game concert series with Papa and Mama Root. This free concert features all your jukebox favorites from the '60s and '70s and is presented by Tim Horton’s of Batavia and New Buffalo Impact. There will also be a Knot Hole Kid’s Club Game presented by Turnbull Heating and Air.
 
The Muckdogs finish up their 3 game series with the Scrappers on Sunday, July 12 at 5:05 p.m., with gates opening at 4 p.m. Couples will have the chance to have their vows renewed by Pastor Sick on the field pre-game. Any couple interested in this very special opportunity should contact the Muckdogs office at 343-5454 to reserve your spot. Sunday is also another Knot Hole game, presented by Turnbull Heating and Air, and kids will have the opportunity to run the bases after the game with Homer.
 
For tickets, call the Muckdogs Box Office at 343-5454, extension 1005.

BATAVIA, NY – Author Naseem Rakha will be at Present Tense on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at 5:30 pm to sign copies of her debut novel, The Crying Tree.

The book, which reaches into the heart of a family nearly torn apart by a mother’s act of forgiveness, has received considerable advance praise including being featured at the Emerging Voices series at BookExpo America and has been selected for the Barnes & Noble autumn Discover Great New Writers program.

In The Crying Tree, Nate and Irene Stanley’s 15-year-old son is murdered and they wait for the day his killer will face execution to bring closure. After years of waiting, Irene is faced with a growing sense that Robbin’s death won’t stop her pain, and she takes the extraordinary step of reaching out to her son’s killer. The two forge an unlikely connection that remains a secret from her family and friends.

Then Irene receives the notice that Daniel Robbin has stopped his appeals and will be executed within a month. This announcement shakes the very core of the Stanley family and as the execution date nears, the Stanleys must face difficult truths and find a way to come to terms with the past. Dramatic, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting, The Crying Tree is an unforgettable book about the unbreakable bonds of family and the transformative power of forgiveness.

Naseem Rakha is an award-winning journalist whose stories have been heard on NPR’s All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Marketplace Radio, Christian Science Monitor, and Living on Earth. Prior to journalism Naseem taught Holistic Resource Management to farmers, ranchers and tribes throughout the US and Canada. Naseem is a graduate of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale where she received her degree in Geology. She now lives in Oregon with her husband and son. 

The book signing on July 29 is free and open to the public. Present Tense, a locally-owned, independent bookstore, is located at 101 Washington Avenue, Batavia, NY. For more information call (585) 815-7640, or visit www.presenttensebooks.com.

http://www.mayhemriders.com
 


 

Summit Physical Therapy & Sportscare Centers’ Co-Directors, Wayne Younge, P.T. and Jim Turcer, P.T. are proud to announce the opening of a second clinic on the Bank Street campus. On July 1st, 2009 Summit Physical Therapy will begin operating the UMMC Physical Therapy Department at Bank Street, formerly known as W.N.Y. Physical & Occupational Therapy.

Under the continued guidance of Jackie Davis, P.T., UMMC Physical Therapy at Bank Street will continue to offer all of the services this community has  grown to rely on and trust in, including aquatic and occupational therapy. Summit Physical Therapy & Sportscare Center will continue to be the provider of choice for all inpatient care at UMMC.

For over 22 years Summit Physical Therapy & Sportscare Center has provided unparalleled commitment to the Batavia community, setting the standard in the treatment of:

We thank you for your support in the past and look forward to the opportunity to care for you and your family in the future as we continue to grow and meet the ever changing needs of our community. Summit Physical Therapy & Sportscare Center…The Clear Choice… Close to Home

The New York State Police, the Trooper Foundation and Allstate Insurance will sponsor the 2nd Annual “G.O. Ride - Girls Only Motorcycle Event” on Saturday, July 11.

The event is designed for women riders or women who want to learn more about motorcycle riding and motorcycle safety. It's free and will include a motorcycle instruction presentation given by a New York state police motorcycle safety officer.

Local motorcycle vendors will be on site with motorcycles and equipment specifically designed for women. The event will also include an escorted motorcycle ride through the Niagara wine country followed by a picnic with music by a local band. 

It takes place at 9 a.m. at the Oppenheim Park 2713 Niagara Falls Blvd. in the Town of Wheatfield. Bring your friends and come and enjoy a great day of riding.

The New York State Police has planned an Independence Day Traffic Safety Initiative to heighten the public’s awareness of the dangers posed by speeding, impaired driving and failure to properly use safety restraints.  Starting today and running through Monday, July 6, patrols will pay close attention to motorists who may be violating any of these traffic laws.

“We have a commitment to protect all who are traveling on the highways this holiday weekend," said Major Christopher L. Cummings, Troop “A” commander. “If you are caught drinking and driving you will be arrested. We will not tolerate irresponsible driving behavior that puts others in danger."

Throughout the holiday weekend motorists should expect sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols committed to DWI enforcement. 

“We are asking the public to use common sense, if you will be drinking plan on having a designated driver or use public transportation,” Cummings said.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, during the Fourth of July holiday in 2007, there were a total of 200 traffic related fatalities. Of that number, 44 percent involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC of .08 or higher.

In addition, troopers want people to be sensible and not use illegal fireworks in celebrating the Fourth of July. Their use often results in injury and disfigurement to the user, some of whom are children. 

The State Police encourage everyone to leave the fireworks to the professionals and attend a fireworks display instead.

New York State’s Fireworks Law Section 270 of the penal code governs the possession, sale and use of illegal fireworks. Here's some key information to keep in mind:

• “Fireworks” include “any blank cartridge; blank cartridge pistol or toy cannon in which explosives are used, firecrackers, sparklers, or other combustible or explosive of like construction.”
• “Dangerous Fireworks” include “any fireworks capable of causing serious physical injury and which are: firecrackers containing more than 50 milligrams of any explosive substance, torpedoes, skyrockets and rockets such as Roman candles, bombs, sparklers more than ten inches in length or one-fourth of an inch in diameter, or chasers including all devices which dart or travel about the surface of the ground during discharge.”
• By law, fireworks do NOT include railroad or marine flares, or toy devices that use paper caps containing .25 grains or less of explosive compound. Such devices must be designed so that the hand cannot come in contact with the cap when in place for use.
• A person who possesses, uses or explodes any fireworks or dangerous fireworks is guilty of a violation.
• A person who offers, exposes for sale, sells or furnishes fireworks or dangerous fireworks to another person is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor; when the value of the fireworks is more than $500, the provider is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
• A person who offers, exposes for sale, sells or furnishes fireworks or dangerous fireworks to a person under age 18 is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
• A person who has been convicted of a fireworks violation during the previous five years and who offers, sells or furnishes fireworks to a person under age 18 is guilty of a Class E felony.
• Possession of fireworks or dangerous fireworks valued at $50 or more shall be a presumption that such fireworks were intended to be offered or exposed for sale.

GeneseExcel Sports is proud to present its first-ever Cheerleading Boot Camp, designed specifically for cheerleaders aged 13 through 18. Scheduled to begin July 20 and continue through July 29, the camp will be held at the Community Fields Complex located on Bank Street Road (at the E. Saile Dr. intersection) in Batavia on Mondays & Wednesdays from 1 – 3 p.m.

Cheerleading Boot Camp is designed for the cheerleader who wishes to prepare for high-school try-outs this fall. Participants will take part in intense stretching and conditioning, jump & sequence, tumbling and basic stunting with a superior coaching staff that includes Krista Shamp, two-time sectional winning coach from Batavia High School. Shamp, a former Buffalo Jill, cheered for Buffalo State College and Batavia High School. She took coached at BHS from 2002 – 2007 where she led two teams to championship titles; the first-ever wins in Section V history for Batavia Cheerleading. She also is a five-time Section V Coach of the Year. “My staff and I are devoted to inspiring young athletes to understand and enjoy the sport of cheerleading.  We have many years of experience collectively ranging from high school cheerleading to college national teams, All-Star performances to professional cheerleading. My hope is that we can bring a new level of expertise and spirit to local cheerleading.”

Cost of the camp is $125; sign-up by July 9 and receive a free t-shirt. For more information call Patty Hawley at 585.343.3329 or email info@geneseeexcelsports.

Basket donations are being sought for the Andrew McLaughlin Benefit, a fundraising event to benefit Andrew McLaughlin, who is currently undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Andrew is scheduled to undergo a bone marrow transplant in August. The benefit will be held at Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, 76 Pearl St., Buffalo, NY on August 20 from 6 p.m. – 9p.m. $20 donation includes a Chinese auction, music, & snacks. Andrew is the son-in-law of Jeff and Carol Boshart, owners of Boshart Enterprises & Aircraft Services, Inc. located in the town of Batavia.  To donate an item, or for more information about this event, contact Carol Boshart at 585 344-1749 or carol@boshartaviation.com  or Susie Boyce sboyce@lawleyinsurance.com

Genesee Community College's Board of Trustees accepted $2,223,950 in bids to upgrade the outdoor athletic fields, the Anthony T. Zambito Gymnasium and locker rooms.

The project also includes construction of a new artificial turf field for soccer and lacrosse. Joy, McCoola and Zilch of Glens Falls is the project architect.

The board awarded four of the five recommended bids, subject to the acceptance of post-bid information by the architect and college. They are:

• Facilities Equipment and Service, Inc., of Liverpool, $146,950, for gymnasium bleachers;
• Kaplan-Schmidt Electric, Inc., of Rochester, $19,000, for electrical services;
• Pooler Enterprises, Inc., of Fishers, $1,734,000, for site work;
• Concord Electric Corporation, of Rochester, $324,000, for site work electrical services.

Bids came in well within the project budget, said Kevin Hamilton, Vice President for Finance and Operations. Work should be underway in early July, Mr. Hamilton told trustees, and targeted to be completed by mid-fall.

V.J. Gautieri Contractors, LLC, had the recommended low bid of $394,450 for general construction work in the gymnasium. However, two of the six trustees present abstained from voting because of possible conflict of interest. Six yes votes were necessary to approve these actions. The board will take action on this part of the bid package on or before the Board's next scheduled meeting in July when additional members are present.

The last part of the project, the renovation of the locker room areas, will be put out to bid within the next month.

The state has already approved funding for half of the $4.1 million project cost.

A new, free, digital version of the Genesee County Housing Assistance & Information Directory is now available online.

Download it at www.co.genesee.ny.us/community.html

The Genesee Region Housing Initiatives Committee says the directory is intended to provide information to Genesee County residents desiring to improve their current housing situation.

It consists of a comprehensive list of agencies that provide housing assistance as well as apartment complexes, subsidized housing options for seniors and families, student housing, mobile home parks, utility providers, and much more.

The document lists contact information, location, number of units and rent prices.

In addition, for the first time, web addresses and email contact information is included where available. The information has been provided by the named agencies, landlords, and municipalities and assembled by the Genesee Region Housing Initiatives Committee with the help of the Genesee County Department of Planning.

Since going digital in 2005, the directory has regularly been listed in the top 10 most visited/downloaded pages of the Genesee County website.