Announcements

Magician Ted Burzynski had some tricks up his sleeve -- and in a balloon -- when he came to perform for summer readers at Batavia's Richmond Memorial Library on Friday.

"It's Magic of Course" was the first in a series of weekly Summer Reading Program presentations for young children, which will continue through Aug. 20. The RML staff has fun events like this scheduled for every Friday afternoon at 2:30 this summer.

There is still time to sign up for the Summer Reading Program, and the library staff invites all adults, teens and children who enjoy reading, participating in cool activities and winning prizes to come on board. 

Visit the library, at 19 Ross St. in Batavia, or call 343-9550 for more information or to register.

A new DVD of interviews of Elba citizens telling about their connection to the history of Elba is available at the Historical Society of Elba Museum for $10. 

The museum is open 2 to 4 p.m. on Sundays, or by appointment by calling June C. at 344-2707.

This DVD was put together by James Earl as a project to obtain his Eagle Scout Badge. He graduated as Valedictorian of the Elba Class of 2010.

Other books on the history of Elba are available at the Museum as well as T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps and Elba throws.

The Elba Historical Society welcomes new members. Here are some of the upcoming activities:

• We are planning a float for the Elba Onion Festival in August;
• Helen Batchellor will present a program in September on a local "Lady of Questionable Occupation." All are welcome to attend;
• On Thursday, Oct.7, we will have our Roast Beef Supper and Chinese Auction at the Elba Fireman's Recreation Hall;
• Also, a Barn Dance is being planned for Oct. 16 with Kelly's Old Timers.

Suzanne’s School of Dance, in Batavia, will be hosting two dance workshops with Kent State University dance education major, Lindsay Chmielowiec.

She just returned from Seattle where she participated in the International Dance Festival, "Beyond the Threshold." She has worked with numerous choreographers as a member of the Kent Dance Ensemble and her choreography was presented at the 2010 American College Dance Festival at Ohio University.

Chmielowiec says she's thrilled to share her experience and expertise to assist dancers in comprehension of technique and body awareness.

Classes will be taught in ballet, modern, contemporary and jazz. The first workshop is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, July 17 for ages 8 to 11.

The second workshop will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, July 24 for ages 12 and up.

For more information or to register please call 344-4060.

The GLOW Region's 14th household hazardous waste collection event, which was held in May, was successful in getting tons of stuff disposed of properly -- that's healthy and good for the environment.

In addition to the array of household chemicals, cleaning products, vehicle batteries, tires and electronics that have been collected in the past, pharmaceuticals (outdated, unwanted and unused prescription and over-the-counter drugs), were accepted for the first time.

The event is overseen by the GLOW Region's Solid Waste Management Committee.

AAA of Western and Central NY was on hand to check residents' vehicles for mercury trunk and hood light switches and replaced them with mercury-free switches as necessary.

The system of appointments was continued. This system allows GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties) to control costs and get residents through the unloading process in as little as 15 minutes.

Because disposal costs have been stable over the past few years, 505 appointments were scheduled -- a record number -- and 470 people attended.

The following are some statistics provided by Peggy Grayson, recycling administrator.

One hundred and ninety four people brought pharmaceuticals, including 168 lbs. of solids (pills, etc.), seven gallons of liquids and 104 lbs. of packaging.

Examples of other materials collected were:

• 1,852 lbs. of resins and adhesives
• 2,229 lbs. of pesticides
• 10,604 lbs. of paint
• 341 TVs
• 258 monitors
• 238 computers
• 233 tires
• and 92 vehicle batteries

GLOW uses licensed, permitted vendors and obtains permits from the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation and the NYS Dept. of Health for these events.

The pharmaceutical portion of the collection required that police be on site to take possession of the drugs, secure them and deliver them to Covanta Niagara in Niagara Falls for incineration. This service was generously provided by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department.

Many of the other items collected get recycled. Others are incinerated or go to a hazardous waste landfill.

These collections offer residents an environmentally sound way to dispose of materials that have the potential to pollute the environment and harm human health.

Regarding the collection of pharmaceuticals Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha stated: “This is a vital program that assists law enforcement in keeping prescription drugs off the street. Without such a program, these prescription drugs may have ended up in our schools, communities or environment.”

Total costs for the program are estimated to be slightly more than $27,000. Funding comes from GLOW’s county contributions and a NYS Household Hazardous Waste Assistance Grant.

Additional assistance was provided by the Genesee County Highway Department, Ed Arnold Recycling and a host of dedicated volunteers.

The next collection is tentatively scheduled for September of 2011.

Residents wishing to be notified by mail when appointments are being accepted for that collection, can contact the GLOW office at (585) 344-2580, ext. 5463, or at 1-800-836-1154 or via e-mail at: <pgrayson@co.genesee.ny.us> or <glow@co.genesee.ny.us.>.

Downtown Batavia's 6th annual “Summer in the City” festival will be held from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21.

There will be more than food and craft vendors, a great lineup of entertainment by Terry Buchwald “Elvis," Ghost Riders, Nik & Nice Guys, a KidsZone, plus a Super Car Cruise with more than 400 cars and motorcycles.

This year, there are some exciting new changes.

The main stage will be on Main Street in front of County Building #1. Food vendors and kids activities will be on Main Street as well (from Jackson to Court and Jefferson). All crafts and non-profit booths will be on Court and Jefferson (near the main stage area).

The Super Car Cruise will occupy Main Street from Jackson to Liberty Street, along with sections of Bank and Center Streets.

For more information and applications for the “Summer In the City” festival call 585-344-0900 or visit the B.I.D. website at <www.downtownbataviany.com>.

This event is sponsored by the Batavia Business Improvement District.

Area corn and soybean growers will have an opportunity to see and hear about the latest in seed trait and crop protection technologies as they perform in the field at local Answer Plot® Knowledge Events sponsored by CROPLAN GENETICS® seeds and AgriSolutions™ crop protection products.

The next Answer Plot® Knowledge Event will be held on Aug. 20 in Perry. It begins at 9 a.m. and lasts approximately three hours.

The WNY Answer Plot is located at 7543 Route 20A in Perry.

Attendees will be entered into a national contest to win a $5,000 gift card to Cabelas, a speciality outdoor goods retailer. Winners will be drawn at the end of the Sweepstakes term, which goes through Sept. 31.

Answer Plot® Experts in agronomy will be available to meet with attendees to answer questions about the technology on display, as well as to address each grower’s unique field challenges. Upon request, they will also set up on-farm visits to work one-on-one with growers to develop customized crop production programs.

To find out more about this Answer Plot® and other Answer Plot® Knowledge Events in the area, or to arrange to have an Answer Plot® Expert call you, log on to www.AnswerPlot.com, or call 1-888-295-3011.

The website also features agronomic and product information.

Growers can also contact Perry Denton at pwdenton@landolakes.com or
585-259-9170 for more information.

Genesee Community College's new Polysomnographic Technology program -- the study of sleep disorders -- has received final approval by the State University of New York and the State Education Department.

With the recent hiring of the new director of Polysomnographic Technology, Genesee's newest academic program will be ready for enrollment this fall.

The Polysomnographic Program was approved by Genesee's Board of Trustees back in January. Since then, the program has had a rigorous review by SUNY to ensure the program meets its high learning standards and those of the State Education Department.  It is the first associate degree program for Polysomnographic Technology in the state.

The Polysomnographic Technology, or sleep disorder, study program prepares students to become technologists who work closely with physicians to diagnose sleep-related problems and provide support services to patients.

They usually work in "sleep laboratories," where patients with sleep problems spend one or more nights under intensive clinical observation. As modern medicine takes a closer look at the important role sleep plays in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, there is an increasing demand for technologists to monitor patients' breathing, blood oxygen levels, brain waves, eye movements, muscle tone, and other clinical variables to assist in diagnosis. Technologists also counsel patients in the use of respiratory and sleep devices that aid in sleep hygiene.

Full-time students can complete the intensive 66-credit program in four semesters. The college expects to enroll 35 students in the program. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the national Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) examination. New York State is expected to soon require licensing of polysomnographic technologists, and Genesee graduates will be eligible for licensure.

After an extensive search for the new director of Polysomnographic Technology, Marshann Y. Thomas of Rochester has been selected to lead the new program. She is a registered polysomnographic technologist and registered respiratory therapist at Unity Health System in Rochester. She has also served Monroe Community Hospital in Rochester and Gadsden Community Hospital in Florida.

Genesee Community College announced today that Marshann Thomas has been named director of the new Polysomnographic Technology program. Polysomnographic Technology, also known as the study of sleep disorders is one of Genesee's two new academic programs slated to start this fall.

Thomas is both a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) and Registered Respiratory Care Practitioner at Unity Health System, with more than three years as a RPSGT and more than 20 years experience in many areas of respiratory care. She has also served Monroe Community Hospital in Rochester and Gadsden Community Hospital in Florida.

Her academic career began at Erie Community College where she was employed as a tenured assistant professor for seven years in the Respiratory Care Program. While there, her assignment and responsibility included didactic and laboratory teaching along with academic advisement.

Additionally, she was awarded two mini-grants, received various awards and participated in many community-outreach programs. She has also been employed at Florida A & M University in Tallahassee, Fla., where she was coordinator of Clinical Education/assistant professor in Respiratory Care, coordinator of students in the College of Pharmacy and adjunct faculty in Health Care Management.

She holds an A.A.S. degree from Erie Community College, a B.S. degree from SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse, and a M.E. degree from the University at Buffalo. She is nearing completion of a Ph.D. at Florida State University (FSU).

As part of her doctoral study at FSU in Tallahassee, she was given various supervised teaching, research and curriculum development responsibilities for undergraduate level courses in Rehabilitation/Vocational Counseling, along with providing technical assistance for the various distance-learning programs at FSU.

Michael Stoll, associate vice president for Academic Affairs/Dean of Math, Science and Career Education at Genesee said: "Ms. Thomas has an extensive clinical background and previous higher education teaching experience which makes her the ideal person to lead this new program and have it become the standard for future programs within the state."

Thomas starts her new position Aug. 1.

On July 10 and 17 there will be overnight camping after each Muckdog game for City of Batavia residents.

All campers need to be accompanied by an adult family member and everyone needs to purchase a ticket to the game.

Advance tickets can be purchased at $1 saving per ticket from the game day price. When buying your ticket, all you have to do is to say you will be camping and you will be given a voucher. which will give you entrance to the outfield to set up your tent.

Tent stakes can not be longer that 10 inches. No pets allowed and everyone needs to be off the field by 8 a.m. the next day.

Any questions call the Muckdogs at 343-5454.

Genesee ARC will be holding a "Ginormous Garage Sale" at its Community Center site, at 38 Woodrow Road in Batavia. This will take place from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31.

Those who wish to help can donate items to the sale or purchase an outdoor 9' by 18' space for their own sales.

ARC's proceeds will go toward the People Realizing Potential Capital Campaign and toward art and recreation programs for children with disabilities.

Call Darla at 343-1123, ext. 250, for further details.

Kurt Calman has been selected as the chief information officer (CIO) for United Memorial Medical Center. He will be responsible for the leadership and the implementation of information technology, management and service initiatives at United Memorial.

This position was previously held by Daniel O’Connor, RN, BSN, MBA, who accepted another position in Florida.

Calman is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology with Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Technology and he received a Master's of Business Administration from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business.

For the past two years, he has served as a lead project manager/systems engineer at the University of Rochester and was previously a systems administrator for Unity Health System in Rochester. He is a resident of Pittsford, expected to begin his new job July 19.

On Wednesday, July 14, a member of Congressman Chris Lee’s staff will be available for one-on-one meetings with Genesee County residents from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Old Court House in Batavia. It's at 7 Main St. downtown.
 
 “These office hours provide Genesee County residents with a unique opportunity to meet with a member of my staff one-on-one, whether it be to troubleshoot interactions with federal agencies or discuss the issues of the day,” Congressman Lee said in a news release.
 
This is the eighth session Congressman Lee has held for Genesee County residents in 2010.

United Memorial Medical Center Emergency Department has decreased the average wait time for patients to be triaged, according to a news release today.

Triage is a method of categorizing patients based on the severity of the injury or illness. Patients whose conditions require the most immediate attention are placed at the top of the list, to be seen before those with less severe illnesses.

The national average triage wait time is 15 minutes. In January, UMMC was well below that with an average time of 9.98 minutes. But the hospital has reduced that even further, ending May with a 2010 record average of 5.79 minutes, less than half the national average.

According to the American College of Physicians, “a federal report last year found that patients who need to be seen in one to 14 minutes are being seen in twice that time frame (37 minutes).”

This extended wait time may be due to several reasons, including a lengthy triage time.

The Emergency Department staff at United Memorial works diligently to achieve greater efficiency and reduce triage time. As a result, patients are evaluated faster and treated more quickly.

Last year, the Emergency Department at United Memorial cared for 23,375 patients. All Emergency Room physicians are board certified in Emergency Medicine. Many of its ER nurses have worked with, or are currently involved with, Mercy Flight.

UMMC also operates a SANE program (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) to elevate the care provided to victims of sexual assault and improve the conviction rate of sexual offenders through the use of forensic evidence.

This month Encore! Theatre Arts will hold auditions for its Fall 2010 show selection and 2010-11 season opener, "Les Misérables" (School Edition).

Auditions will be held at Holy Family School, 44 Lake Road in Le Roy at 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 21 and at 7 p.m. Thursday, and at noon, Saturday, July 24.

Callbacks to follow at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 24.

All rehearsals will be in Le Roy beginning at the end of July. Rehearsals will be
from 12 to 3 p.m. during the summer.

"Les Miserables" is an epic story recounting the struggle against adversity in 19th Century France. Imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread, petty thief Jean Valjean is released from his 19-year term and not only becomes an honest man, but the mayor of a prosperous town and a loving adoptive father - violating his parole in the process.

The relentless Inspector Javert, who makes a decent life for Valjean impossible, consequently pursues him. Only years later, after Valjean proves his mettle during a bloody student uprising and saves the life of a young man hopelessly in love with Valjean’s adopted daughter, does the ex-convict finally feel fully redeemed.

For this unique production, Encore! Theatre Arts seeks actors/singers from ages 10 to 19, no older than recent high school graduates. Please prepare 32 bars of a classical musical theatre song (no pop/rock musicals, please). Bring a copy of the music for the accompanist. There will be no a cappella auditions allowed.

The show will be directed by Lynda Hodgins with vocal direction by Eric Traugott. Encore! Theatre Arts is planning Oct. 29, 30 and 31 performance dates at Wolcott Street Auditorium in Le Roy. For more information, audition pieces and show dates, visit
<http://encoretheatrearts.com>.

Summer is here and that means enjoying the weather and outdoor fun. The Fresh Air Fund is in need of host families this season. Here's information sent from the fund.

Host families are volunteers who open their hearts and home to a child from the inner city to give them a Fresh Air experience that can change lives. The fund was established in 1877 and now each year nearly 5,000 New York City kids get to experience two weeks at no cost in the country, suburbs or Fresh Air camps.

Host families in the "Friendly Town" program have no financial requirement. They are paid to host a child, age 6 to 18, in their homes for up to two weeks. More than 65 percent of children are re-invited year after year. Families are sought of every size, ethnicity and background. You can request an age group and/or gender.

The majority of the children come from low-income homes without the resources to pay for a vacation or camp. The children benefitting from the Fresh Air Fund get to spend time away from towering apartment buildings, often without large outdoor open spaces to play in. They get to do things people elsewhere often take for granted.

Things like running barefoot in the grass, catching fireflies, riding bikes down country roads, playing in the backyard, learning to swim, gazing at the stars in a clear, moonlit sky, building sandcastles, laughing in the sun, goofing off, making friends, breathing some fresh air.

One child said "We made S'mores and hot dogs over the fire. I've never cooked outside before."

If you'd like to learn more or sign up, please call 1-800-367-0003 or visit: <http://freshairfundhost.com>.

The City of Batavia will be undertaking a sewer and waterline improvement project this summer on Bank Street between Main and North streets. This project will also include partial sidewalk replacement and road resurfacing throughout the construction area and should take approximately four to five months to complete. 

Conestoga Rovers & Associates (CRA) designed the infrastructure project for the city and will be performing contract administration and inspection services throughout the duration of the project. The contractor is B. Beardsley Management & Enterprises.

The waterline improvement project is funded by a grant which the city received from The New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation Office of Community Renewal.

If there are any questions or concerns, please contact:

Department of Public Works
One Batavia City Centre
Batavia, New York 14020
Phone: (585) 345-6325
Fax: (585) 345-1385

The second annual Genesee Community College ACE program Teacher and Counselor Appreciation Night was held June 29 at Dwyer Stadium. More than 100 local teachers, counselors and their families enjoyed a night out with the Muckdogs as they competed against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

The college's ACE program or Accelerated College Enrollment is a partnership between Genesee Community College and Western New York high schools to provide college courses to secondary students during the school day.

These programs offer accelerated high school students the opportunity to enroll in college level courses and to earn college credits while still in high school, at a fraction of the cost of standard tuition.

The ACE Teacher and Counselor Appreciation Night is the college's way of thanking the dedicated teachers and school counselors who spend countless hours instructing and advising students in the ACE programs.

"The night out with the Muckdogs is just a small way we can say thanks to our local teachers and guidance counselors for all that they do for the ACE program," said Karen Wilk, program specialist for ACE programs at Genesee. "Without their support, our ACE program would not be as successful as it is."

For more information about the ACE program at Genesee Community College, call 345-6801 or go to <http://www.genesee.edu/ACE>.

The Alexander Fire Department is happy to announce that the RIDES ARE BACK for the this year's annual carnival/tractor pull on July 9 and 10!

After the absence of rides for the past couple of years, a ride contract with Amusements of Utica (same ride company as Stafford and Warsaw Carnivals) has been secured for the event.

The midway will be open from 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday, July 9 and Noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday.

To coincide with the midway, the fire department has also brought back the Kiddie and Grand parades. Both parades will take place on Saturday. The Kiddie Parade will begin at Noon and the Grand Parade at 3:30 p.m.

Also new this year, will be a Teen Tent for the under 21 crowd. Music will be provided by a DJ in the Teen Tent. The Teen Tent will open on Friday and Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m.

The “Who Dats” will perform in the Beer Tent on Friday at 9:30 p.m. and local band “Red Creek” will provide music on Saturday at 9:30 p.m.

On Friday, the Alexander Fire Department Auxiliary will serve a Chicken Barbeque beginning at 4:30 p.m. and the popular Alexander Fireman’s Band will perform a concert on the grounds at 6 p.m.

The Tractor Pull will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday.

The drawing of the prizes on this year’s raffle will take place at 10 p.m. on Saturday. Here's a list of the prizes:

1.    A $350 Gift Certificate Package – provided by Mooch’s Auto Glass
2.    $500 Cash
3.    Says Small Engine Repair Gift Certificate – value $300
4.    Upstate Automotive Group Fluid Maintenance Package – value $499.00
5.    First Choice Travel – Weekend at Splash Lagoon – value $630.00
6.    $750 Cash
7.    Geer Farm Service – Alaska Channing III Coal Stove  - value $2,150.00
8.    Clarks Appliance – 42” HD Flat Screen Panasonic TV with 5 speaker surround sound – value $1,099.00
9.    Clarks Appliance – Frigidaire Washer and Dryer – value $1,600.00
10.    $950 Cash
11.    Alexander Equipment – Storm Package – includes 16” Dolmar Chain Saw, Simplicity Sno Thrower, 7.25 KW 13.0 HP Generator, 16” 22.6cc String Trimmer, Mantis 4 Cycle Tiller – value $3,577.00
12.    GRAND PRIZE – Z & M  - John Deere Lawncare Package – includes X300, 42” Deck Lawn Mower with canopy wagon, trimmer, bagger, and blower – value $4,550.00

For more information on the Alexander Fire Department Carnival/Tractor Pull or to obtain raffle tickets, please call (585) 591-4102.

Two students in Genesee Community College's Nursing Program went to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in April and returned in mid-May as confident professionals. Today, GCC announced that the inaugural six-week exchange program with the Southbank Institute of Technology played a key roll in completing the women's nursing education.

Natalie Wedge, of Le Roy, and Crystal Fial, of Darien, were second-year nursing students. They finished their degree this spring by doing their required Nursing Preceptorship in Australia at Princess Alexandra Hospital. It is a "magnet" hospital that provides a high level of health care service similar to Strong Memorial Hospital. GCC Nursing instructor Deborah Carrasquillo, RN, MS, also took part in the exchange program.

Both graduates landed positions at Rochester-based hospitals upon their graduation. Wedge took a nursing position at Rochester General on the "4800 floor" and Fial will be working at Strong Memorial Hospital in an orthopedic unit.

"I was pleasantly surprised that there really was no difference in bedside manner," Wedge said. "And I really enjoyed working in 'pods' with other nurses. The 'pods' were made up of three nurses who communicated during the shift as they took care of three to eight patients."

Carrasquillo acted as the U.S. nurse educator and program liaison. This was her first time traveling to a foreign country beyond Canada and she said she was "very empowered" by the entire experience.

"Overall, I found myself in a leadership and mentoring role," Carrasquillo said. "I not only could lead and mentor Natalie and Crystal but I also worked with Southbank staff to show them how we structured our programming back in the U.S."

Wedge and Fial worked at the hospital Monday through Thursday and also completed course work equivalent to two independent study courses. Wedge worked on a medical/surgical floor with dementia and end-of-life rooms, while Fial worked in a unit that was dedicated to patients with needing eye care.

In their scarce spare time, they experienced the city of Brisbane and the surrounding areas throughout the state of Queensland. They enjoyed trips to the Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin's zoo), Tambourine Mountain, the beaches of the Gold Coast and participated in Anzac Day activities on April 25, the equivalent to the United States' Memorial Day.

"It was just an amazing experience," Wedge said. "We enjoyed the people and the Notcountry and the Australian people were very welcoming."

Not only the exchange participants learn about Aussies and vice-versa, they said it made them stronger and more independent. Plus, they learned something about their chosen profession.

"Nursing is not the same everywhere you go," Wedge said. "It was so beneficial to see the differences. When I left home I was a student, but when I returned home I truly felt like a nurse."