Stories from

Alex's Place, 8322 Park Road, Batavia, NY: People come from all over the region for a fine dining experience at Alex's. It's best known for its ribs, of course, but Alex's seafood is also a favorite of the restaurant's diners. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Batavia Downs Grandstands Bar & Grille, 8315 Park Road, Batavia, NY: A full menu, salad bar and drinks in one of the region's most popular entertainment venues. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50. (Must be new or current Players Club member to redeem.)

Bohn's Restaurant, 5256 Clinton St., Batavia, NY: Fine dining in an atmosphere of casual elegance. Lunch and dinner, steak, prime rib and seafood. Ask about Bohn's catering services and banquet facility. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Clor's Meat Market, 4169 W. Main St. Road, Batavia, NY: For the best, most flavorful, juiciest chicken or hamburger in town, hands-down, stop by Clor's. Oh, and the steaks are great, too. And the sausage. Clor's also serves lunch and dinners from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. We have a $10 gift certificate for $5.

Salsa & Curry, 13 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: An authentic Mexican restaurant, offering all of your favorite dishes from enchiladas and burritos to tacos and fajitas, as well as daily Indian food specials. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Greg'ry's Bakery, 13 North Lake Road, Bergen, NY: The bakery offers a variety of the finest cakes, cookies, pies, cupcakes, breads, breakfast and lunch sandwiches and so much more. Each treat is made the same as it has been for decades and baked right here. Come in and sample some for yourself! We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Kravings, Valu Plaza, 4152 W. Main St., Batavia, NY: Kravings offers soups, salads and sandwiches, fresh and flavorful; Monday through Saturday. We have a $10 gift certificate for $5.

Alli's Cones & Dogs, 7063 Lewiston Road, Oakfield, NY: Full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu; all-you-can-eat salad bar; ice cream served year-round; eat-in or take-out. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Jagged Edges Salon, 4140 Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, NY: Jagged Edges Salon is a walk-in and appointment salon for men, women and children. It is a fun, welcoming salon that offers all hair care services including cuts, color, highlights, lowlights, perms, styling/updos, treatments, and facial waxing. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Bourbon & Burger Co., 9 Jackson St., Batavia, NY: Batavia's newest burger joint offers more than two dozen different types of tasty hamburgers. Our menu also includes a variety of sandwiches, appetizers and an extensive beer list, plus a full bar. We have a $20 gift certificate for $10.

Center Street Smoke House, 20 Center St., Batavia, NY: Authentic Southern BBQ, from ribs to brisket with all the fixin's. We have a $20 gift card for $10.

Alabama Hotel, 1353 Lewiston Road, Basom, NY: A historic and legendary tavern and restaurant. The Alabama Hotel is famous for its fish fries, but also serves a variety of top-quality entrees, featuring Certified Angus Beef. Now with expanded hours. We have a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

SOLD OUT

The annual benefit Cabaret is set for 7 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 11 at St. Jame's Episcopal Church. It's located at 405 E. Main St. in the City of Batavia.

The event is for adults. Cost is $20 and includes desserts and hors d' oeuvres. There will be basket raffles and entertainment by Jon Seiger and Bev Miller.

Proceeds benefit the church's restoration fund and Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

Phone 343-7798 for tickets.

The HomeCare & Hospice Guild is accepting pre-sale orders for the 18th Annual Spring Bouquet Sale. Proceeds will benefit the HomeCare & Hospice Foundation.

Pre-sale orders and payment must be placed by Feb. 1. Flowers will be delivered to businesses on March 6 and 7. On-site sales at local businesses will begin March 7. Flowers can also be purchased at HomeCare & Hospice offices and online at www.homecare-hospice.org.

“By purchasing a Traditional Bouquet for $8 or a Bouquet of Hope for $16, you can make a difference," said Linda Cummings, development manager. "Your dollars help support home care and hospice patients in your community."

Volunteers are needed to help sort on the day of delivery and to help deliver flowers to businesses in Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany and Cattaraugus counties. Persons willing to help should contact Cummings at (585) 343-7526.

HomeCare & Hospice, a nonprofit United Way agency, provides specialized medical care and social/emotional support for patients and families coping with life-limiting illness in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Genesee and Wyoming counties. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Press release:

Genesee Community College announced Wednesday that Emily Patrick has been named November Student of the Month.

Patrick is a work study student in the Student Activities office. The nominations received on her behalf were glowing regarding her excellent customer service skills, her willingness to take on a challenge and to go above and beyond what is asked of her. She was noted as a "breath of fresh air" in the classroom, always positive and motivated, and she has acted in a mentor-like manner to the first-semester students in class.

She shows commitment, energy and intelligence, and is able to translate these personal traits into proactive ideas and solutions.

Patrick is involved in numerous activities on campus and is currently one of two student bloggers for the college. Her blog entries can be found at www.GCCCampusBlog.wordpress.com. She has also been featured as a "Face of Genesee" in the television ads for GCC.

"I chose GCC because the Batavia campus is only 20 minutes from my house and provided a good stepping stone for both my parents and I between high school and a four-year college," Patrick said. "I'm lucky I get to work in the Student Activities office and get to meet so many interesting people through the position."

She is 20 years old and is a 2010 graduate of Alexander Central School. She is currently a General Studies major and upon graduating, she hopes to attend the University of Buffalo to major in legal studies. An ambitious student, Emily dreams of one day being the president of the United States.

Emily, a resident of Batavia, is the daughter of Laurie and Christopher Patrick and the sister of David Patrick.

Press release:

Genesee Community College on Wednesday announced that Julie Caswell has been named November Employee of the Month. Caswell joined the staff in the fall of 2008 and has become a great asset to the college.

She has taken on added responsibilities and is always looking for ways to improve the safety of the college community. Particularly, her involvement in implementing the Integrated Campus Security Initiative (ICSI) grant is notable. She has been working closely with the vendor to ultimately complete the installation of the access-control system and surveillance cameras for the Batavia campus and the campus centers.

Caswell routinely conducts numerous safety-related training programs for Buildings and Grounds, Public Safety, and the entire college community. She is knowledgeable, helpful and regularly steps up where and when needed without being asked. Her professionalism and positive attitude serve as a role model for others.

She began working at GCC as an environmental, health and safety technical specialist. Last July, she became the acting director of Safety and Environmental Health. She currently oversees all environmental, health and safety and security-related programs; ensures compliance with all local, state and federal environmental, health and safety regulations; conducts environmental, health and safety, and security-related trainings; and coordinates emergency preparedness and response planning.

Caswell holds a certificate of Environmental Management Science from Rochester Institute of Technology, an associates degree in General Studies from GCC, a bachelor's degree from SUNY Brockport and will soon complete a master's of Public Administration from SUNY Brockport. Prior to working at GCC she worked as an environmental, health and safety consultant in private industry.

"My favorite aspect of working at Genesee Community College is the variety of projects that I get to work on and the team environment," said Caswell, who lives in West Chili with her husband, Kris.

Bobbie Jo Norton, of Corfu, has been awarded a $1,000 per year "Educational Foundation Academic Distinction" scholarship to attend Alfred State College.

She is slated to graduate in 2012 from Pembroke Central School and intends to enroll in the accounting program.

The award, based on scholastic achievement, is from the Educational Foundation of Alfred, Inc., according to Deborah Goodrich, associate vice president for enrollment management at Alfred State.

Fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Alfred State offers some 52 associate degree programs, 19 baccalaureate degree programs, and three certificate programs.

Four local students were named to the Deans' List at Paul Smith's College during the fall 2011 semester. Each earned a semester average of 3.3 or higher to receive this distinction. They are:

Craig Holland, of Bergen

Alison Liedkie, of Le Roy. She was also named an Adirondack Scholar, having achieved a cumulative average of at least 3.8.

Mercedes Mosher, of Le Roy

Benjamin Nicodemus, of Le Roy. He was also named an Adirondack Scholar, having achieved a cumulative average of at least 3.8.

Paul Smith's College is on the shores of Lower St. Regis Lake. It's the only four-year institution of higher education in the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park of New York State.

It offers programs in fields including hospitality, culinary arts, forestry, natural resources, entrepreneurship, the sciences, and several others, and draws on industries and resources available "in our own backyard" while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. On the web: www.paulsmiths.edu.

Hannah Presher, of LeRoy, has been awarded approximately $15,700 per year for the "Excellence in Education Scholarship" to attend Alfred State College.

She is slated to graduate in 2012 from Le Roy Jr. / Sr. High School and intends to enroll in the nursing program.

The "Excellence in Education Scholarship" (free tuition, room [double occupancy] and board) is awarded to students who possess a 93 or better high school grade-point average through their junior year and who have achieved at least a 1,200 combined SAT score or a composite ACT score of 26; students must apply for financial aid. Recipients must maintain a required GPA to continue to receive funding in subsequent semesters.

Fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Alfred State offers some 52 associate degree programs, 19 baccalaureate degree programs, and three certificate programs.

Stephen J. Havlovic, vice president for academic affairs at Alfred State College, has announced the Deans' List of students for the fall 2011 semester.

Students from both the Alfred campus and the School of Applied Technology campus in Wellsville are selected for the Deans' List if they maintain a 3.50 grade-point average (GPA) out of a possible 4.0. The 4.0 GPA or straight "A" students are indicated with an asterisk (*).

The following Genesee County students were among those recognized:

Brandon Richardson, of Basom

*Nicole Binns, of Corfu

Ethan Willard, of Darien Center

*Kailynn Stacy,  of Elba

Nicholas Weibel, of Elba

*John Langdon, of Bergen

Quentin Humphrey, of Le Roy

Morgan Presher, of Le Roy

Edward Cigno, of Le Roy

*Christopher Locke, of Le Roy

*Christian Dermody, of Linwood

Thomas Parmenter, of Pavilion

Alfred State College offers associate degrees in 52 programs in the fields of agriculture, health, business, vocational, and engineering technology, as well as liberal arts and sciences. There are also 19 baccalaureate degree offerings.

Holland Land Office Museum presents its Winter Lecture Series at 10 a.m. on the third Saturday of every month at the Museum.

Saturday, Jan. 21, Max Szemplenski will speak on railroads and the demise of the caboose. There is no charge and everyone is welcome.

The museum is located at 131 W. Main St. in the City of Batavia. Phone is 343-4727.

Bill Greene, BS, LMT, has joined Massage by Diana at 154 Pearl St. in Batavia, which is above the chiropractic offices of Dr. Micheal DeAngelo.

Greene joins two other colleagues -- NIchole Douglas, LMT, with four years experience in assisting people to become healthier, and Diana Anderson Radley, BS, LMT, who has 14 years experience as a massage therapist and certified herbalist.

Greene has a bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology and more than 20 years experience in sports rehab, working with many professional and semi-professional sports teams, and three years as a licensed massage therapist. He also has a background in training people in exercise
programs to improve their health and quality of life.

His new colleagues say he will be a tremendous asset in Batavia -- one of just two male licensed massage therapists in the area.

He maintains a private practice in Rochester and works with Unity HealthCare as a stress management educator for the medical staff.

Call Radley to set up an appointment with Greene at 993-5368.

"My feeling is he's going to book quickly," she said. "Bill is a very talented therapist. Bill is the person I've been looking for over many years, his education, experience, and skills set him way ahead and apart from the rest and will compliment the other licensed massage therapists in the area."