Press Release:

Tobacco Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming (TF-GOW) and Reality Check invite youth ages 13-18 to participate in a contest aimed at shining a spotlight on the tobacco industry’s use of smoking imagery on screen to normalize and glamorize tobacco use. The statewide winning video will be highlighted on the Reality Check and Tobacco-Free New York websites and promoted through social media. 

As reported by The University of California San Francisco’s in its Smoke-Free Media ‘What is Hollywood Hiding from Parents Action Toolkit:

“Big Tobacco secretly bought its way on screen for decades. The U.S. entertainment industry still refuses to give parents and audiences advance warning before exposing kids to tobacco imagery that is proven to recruit millions of new young smokers and kill them as adults. Tobacco on screen is the single biggest media risk to children and teens. Hollywood has known of the danger since at least 2003. Yet movie studios and TV producers have never updated their rating systems to even mention smoking or tobacco. They are concealing toxic content. Ratings, warnings, and TV parental controls all need to be reinforced to stop tobacco addiction from trapping another generation. With the streaming revolution now underway, it’s easier than ever for kids to watch movies and TV shows packed with toxic tobacco content. And, the more young people see smoking on screen, the more likely they are to start smoking."

Contest Details:

Create a 60-second video exposing the tobacco industry’s manipulative tactics within the entertainment industry. Show how tobacco imagery is used to promote and glamorize smoking and e-cigarette use. Judging will be based on quality, creativity and effectiveness, and accuracy of messages. Each video must have the following key facts and a minimum of one key statement from the following:

 

Key Facts:

 

1.    Youth who are exposed to images of smoking in movies are more likely to smoke. (US Surgeon General)

2.    It is projected that on-screen smoking will kill two million U.S. children and teens alive today. (US Center for Disease Control)

3.    R-rating future movies with smoking would reduce the youth smoking rate in the United States by 18%. (US Center for Disease Control)

 

Key Statements:

 

·       One little letter could save a million lives. Rate smoking R. 

·       Protect youth from on-screen exposure to tobacco. 

·       Smoking in movies kills in real life. 

 

Video submissions are due February 9, 2022. One video will be recognized as the statewide winner. This video will live on www.realitycheckofny.com and highlight the issue through the lens of New York State youth. Four regional winning videos will also be awarded and recognized at the regional level. All winners will be announced on March 9, 2022 as part of the New York Tobacco Control Program’s annual Statewide Legislative Education Day. All awards will be recognized at regional press events (dates and locations to be determined) and promoted through local media outlets. All youth participating in the contest will receive a Reality Check Swag Bag. 

For complete contest rules and to submit entries, visit www.realitycheckofny.com. For questions specific to the contest, please email [email protected]

 

Click here for more information!

"A Helping of Hope" is the theme of this year's Genesee, Orleans & Wyoming Suicide Prevention and Awareness Breakfast.

The free event will be held from 8:30 to 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, at Terry Hills Restaurant and Banquet Facility, located at 5122 Clinton Street Road in Batavia.

In recognition of September as National Suicide Prevention Month, the Genesee, Orleans & Wyoming County Suicide Prevention Coalitions will come together to share the work of the local coalitions as well as discuss current/forthcoming initiatives.

Invited presenters include:

• Missy Stolki, area director, WNY, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention;
• Kelly Deneka & Heidi Meides-Judge, Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program;
• Andy Prentice, Rochester Psychiatric Center, Mobil Integration Team;
• Meredith Menier, "A Survivor's Love Story."

Complementary breakfast. Space is limited.

RSVP by Sept. 17.

For more information or to register, in Genesee County contact Sue Gagne:  [email protected]

This event is supported by the NYS Office of Mental Health and the Suicide Prevention Center of New York State.

History is on display for this weekend's Western New York Gas & Steam Engine Rally on Gillate Road in Alexander.

Tens of thousands are expected to visit the 220-acre grounds for antique engines of all types, classic tractors, music, food, a flea market and, if you are not careful, science and engineering excellence. Engines large and small are everywhere at this place.

The show is quite special. Families, farmers, children and gear heads are all in attendance. We believe no one who attended left disappointed. The festivities continue tonight through Sunday. Live music and a tractor tug-o-war are this evening. Sunday will feature a car show, music and a tractor pull.

The Genesee Ice Devils travelled to Rochester Saturday to take on the Gates-Chili Spartans. Genesee defeated the Spartans 5-0 in a dominating performance. 

Photos by Destin Danser. Click here to view more and purchase prints. 

Imagine having a multiple platinum recording rock band performing for you and your closest friends in your back yard. Well that was the feel of the Kansas concert in Le Roy at The Ridge.

Kansas must have felt right at home with Great Plains-style pop-up thunderstorms in the area as they played for a very friendly crowd that was not at all afraid of the rain.  The fans on hand were singing and dancing along with the bands many well known hits. Yes, you should have been here.

There are two more chances this summer to catch The Jam at the Ridge. The next show at the ridge is Blackjack Billy Aug. 27^th. 

You don’t have to travel to The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., to have an experience with American history. We recently visited all of the Genesee County historical locations with the hope of shedding a little light on the history and relevance of each town. See history come alive by visiting these places!
 

The museum itself is a neat place as it was originally an one-room schoolhouse. When you walk into the museum, you can see the big windows and high ceilings and wonder about the children and the education that went on in the building. Through the artifacts you will discover that Alabama used to have three gun manufacturers in its small town. There was a prominent citizen named Dr. Grant Neal, whose buggy is displayed at the museum. Part of the original Bason post office is also on display. Some people might find the museum’s vintage posters of “horse auctions” and old-time carnivals as interesting historical markers and how life was way back then. One small item that is still relevant today is a Christmas party invitation harking back to 1856 in regards to some soiree in Alabama. Gladly open by appointment only. Feel free to call (585) 948-9287.

Alexander Museum, 3350 Church St., Alexander, NY (585) 591-1204

Up on the third story of Alexander’s Town Hall (United States’ only three-story cobblestone town hall) sits the Alexander Museum. The building alone is worth the trip and makes for interesting photographs – bring your camera. A few items on display that are relevant in today’s world, include an old phone, record players and typewriter – which are all now part of our cell phones. Children these days would be baffled in the ways we use to communicate. In a section dedicated to tools, it’s interesting to look at the objects and try to guess their usage. The museum’s large open space is filled with their wide-ranging collection. From farmer’s tools to old record players, there’s a lot to absorb here. Please call to schedule a visit.

Bergen Museum,  7547 S. Lake Road, Bergen, NY (585) 494-0080

The Bergen Museum is a truly unique place. The museum resides in the former 1880 Hartford Hotels Livery Stables in downtown Bergen. It has been converted into a cozy, and well-done museum. Inside the old barn, there are a handful of interesting, life-size tableaus depicting, a blacksmith shop, a general store, school classroom and more. The goal of the exhibits are to have the artifacts tell the story. You really get an excellent sense of what it was like to shop at a store, studying in school or visit the local pharmacy. A local military exhibit includes war time posters, which capture people’s imaginations. The nicely crafted tableaux were created by museum’s volunteers.  Open every Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.

Byron Museum, 6407 Townline Road, Byron, NY  Phone: (585) 548-9008

A cool surprise is that this museum is located in an old church that is right next to an old cemetery. The sanctuary of the former German Lutheran church is packed with countless items, including a lot of clothing and textiles. People who love fashion or clothes will enjoy looking at what people were wearing a hundred years ago. South Byron High School is well-represented with photographs and yearbooks. Behind the church, there is a large annex dedicated to items typical of a farming community. There are even a few local business and community signs spread throughout. The collection is pretty deep. Open Sundays 2 to 4 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day. Other hours are gladly accepted with appointment.

Tuesday evening the Richmond Memorial Library celebrated a new program, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, providing free books to children from birth to up age 5 (but not including age 5). The library hosted a special story time featuring a certain librarian imitating Dolly Parton and guest storytellers.

Leading off story time was Tim Richter (pictured in red below) from the Richter Family Foundation. The foundation is funding the program is assisting with the launch of the Batavia Imagination Library, which is only available to children age 4 and under in the Batavia City School District.

Each participating school district funds and sponsors its own Imagination Library, under the auspices of, and with the assistance of, the Richter Foundation. To date, the foundation has helped launch Dolly Parton's program in Oakfield, Elba, Pavilion and Pembroke.

(Previous Coverage) To sign a child up get free books visit the library or apply on line.