UPDATE 1:54 p.m.: The officer successfully removed the fawn from the play area.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) has invited individuals from a number of local businesses and agencies to a “Lunch in the Dark” at the New York State School for the Blind (NYSSB) to experience lunch in a darkened environment in order to better understand eating and socializing with vision loss.

Taking place from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 26th, at the School Gymnasium, 2A Richmond Ave., west of State Street, in Batavia, the event challenges the participants to dine using blindfolds as the only way to have a “total experience.” As a group, participants will discuss the best practices of making events with food more accessible, as well as strategies for eating with vision loss.

To encourage participation, Dibble Family Catering will offer a big spread: pasta with traditional red sauce, roast beef, honey-roasted turkey breast, chef salad, fresh rolls, coffee, tea, and dessert. The ticket price of $15 includes the meal, and some materials participants can take home.

After the meal, with the assistance of an ILGR staff person, they will have the chance to try out activities when blindfolded, such as using adapted devices.  Services of ILGR that may be useful to citizens who are visually impaired, such as the Medicaid Application Assistance Program, will be explored.

Members of the public who have not been formally invited are welcome to attend, if they preregister. For questions, or to RSVP, please call Donna Becker at 815-8501, ext. 411.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of the Western New York Independent Living Inc. family of agencies that offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

State Troopers hosted an ice cream social this afternoon at the New York State School for the Blind.

This is the second year troopers have brought their K-9s, patrol cars and tubs of ice cream to the school for a little hang out time with the students.

This year included an Easter Egg hunt using beeping eggs. It was a fun hunt, one trooper said, until the students hear the ice cream was ready to serve. That ended the hunt pretty quickly.

Students were able to pet the dogs and handle some police equipment and ask questions about what troopers do.

Students at the New York State School for the Blind in Batavia were paid a special visit today by members of the State Police out of the Batavia Barracks, Troop A.

The troopers hosted an ice cream social (ice cream donated by Perry's) and interacted with the students, letting them touch their holsters, pet the K-9, sit in a patrol vehicle and blast the siren themselves.

This past winter Troop A hosted a fundraiser and donated the proceeds to the School for the Blind. They dropped off the donation around Christmas and had so much fun, they decided they wanted to find a reason to come back

"We received a donation and so we thought we would come out and give it to them," Sgt. David Martek said. "It's just something for the kids. We had a good time with them last year and we just thought we'd come back and do something fun for them."

Other uniformed personnel participating today were Trooper Nicole Berostko, Trooper James Jackson, Trooper Michael Swarthout and Sgt. Mike Dembrow.

Martek said, however, it was really the Batavia Barrack's civil staff who put the event together, arranged the donations and were on hand to serve the ice cream.