Announcements

Press release:

Students interested in a career caring for animals can learn more about the details of Genesee Community College's Veterinary Technology program during information sessions on the Batavia campus next month.

The college will host two meetings to introduce incoming students, as well as those still in high school and the general public, to the exciting possibilities of a career as a veterinary technician. Both sessions will be held Thursday, April 5.

Meetings will take place in the Conable Technology Building, Room T119, from 12:30 to 2 p.m., and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Among topics that will be discussed:

• Careers in veterinary technology
• The application and admissions process
• Academic requirements
• Program prerequisites
• Degree and licensure
• Frequently asked questions

For more information, contact program Director Kathryn Seweryniak at 343-0055, ext. 6187, or via email at keseweryniak@genesee.edu.

Press release:

Genesee Community College is pleased to once again offer an exciting hands-on opportunity for area middle- and high-school students to apply what they know about technology and learn even more. The fifth annual Tech Wars competition will take place this Thursday, March 15 at the Batavia campus.

The competition is open to middle- and high-school students, who will participate in multiple project-based events of skill, chance and ability. Events will include CO2 dragster design; AutoCAD technical drawing and architectural design; logo design; manual drafting; sculpture; web page design; bridge design; catapult; mousetrap cars; robot tractor pull; Rube Goldberg demonstration; king of the hill and the ever-popular sumo robots.

Teams of students aged 9 through 14 will also compete in the NXT/RCX robotic marshmallow catapult launch to try to propel their marshmallows the farthest from various points.

"The interest in this competition continues to grow each year because it's fun, but it also illustrates the how the broad range of careers in technology young people can explore," said Debbie Dunlevy, GCC tech prep program director and co-chair of the Tech Wars competition. "The Tech Wars encourage kids to think beyond the classroom, engage their creativity and strengthen their team-building and problem-solving skills to embrace technology as a fun, yet rewarding, way to make a living."

College Tech Prep helps students explore various career options and make a smooth transition from high school to college and ultimately to professional careers. The Tech Wars is among several dynamic programs giving students the opportunity to learn hands-on, often in business settings and with industry professionals.

For more information, please contact Debbie Dunlevy, Genesee Community College tech prep program director at 343-0055, ext. 6316, or dkdunlevy@genesee.edu or visit the Tech Wars website at http://www.techwarsgcc.org.

On Monday, GO ART! announced gallery exhibits through April. The following information is about the two in Genesee County.

• GO ART! Bank of Castile Main Gallery, Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia – The premier GO ART! "Members Exhibition" featuring more than 60 works by 22 artists. Exhibit dates: Weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, April 27.

***A free Meet-the-Artists Opening Reception takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 16, at the Bank of Castile Main Gallery.

• GO ART! Batavia Satellite Gallery, Genesee County Senior Center, 2 Bank St., Batavia – The inaugural “Digital Art Show.” In the Batavia Satellite Gallery, 24 works by 13 artists are featured. Exhibit dates are weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, April 27.

***A free Meet-the-Artists Opening Reception takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 16, at the senior center.

For more information on these exhibits and other GO ART! programs and services, please visit www.GOart.org <http://www.GOart.org> , email info@GOart.org or call 343-9313.

GO ART! exhibits are supported, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Attention parents, guardians, fourth-grade teachers and art instructors, the Landmark Society of Genesee County is calling for entries to the 22nd Annual Architectural Drawing Contest for fourth-graders.

All Genesee County schools and homeschoolers are invited to participate. Please also note that  the contest has expanded to include artistic photography and mixed media of historic sites and/or architectural details such as friezes, columns, etc.

Last year's winning artwork was also displayed on the sponsor's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Landmark-Society-of-Genesee-County/120196221335371.

Please be creative! Do not feel you have to copy from the Architectural Heritage of Genesee County book. Judges are especially looking for unique pieces -- photographs, images manipulated on the computer, etc.

Please send all entries by Thursday, May 3, to the Richmond Memorial Library circulation desk or to John Kennedy School.

The entries will be hung as soon as they are received on Thursday, May 3. Adults' help to hang the artworks will be most appreciated!

This year's contest and awards ceremony will be held at the Richmond library beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 10.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
 
Laurie L. Oltramari
President, Landmark Society of Genesee County
P.O. Box 342
Batavia, New York 14020
(585) 343-1457
LLB1999@yahoo.com

Submitted by a reader:

Twelve months ago I almost lost my dad. He had a massive stroke on February 22nd, 2011 as a result of high-blood pressure. It was the day after my mom’s 50th birthday party and I was 22 weeks pregnant with his first grandson.

My dad, Doug Hagen, is my Superman. He is the most kind-hearted, hardest working, funniest and by far one of the smartest people I’ve ever known. He has owned and operated his own business for over 20 years which has always kept him close to home and always available to his family.

He lived to work and worked to live. If I ever needed anything I would call him, he seemed to know everybody one way or another and had the answer to any question.

My dad, who is use to spending most of his day outside either working, snowmobiling or at his camp, has since spent the past year of his life in a hospital and in rehab. He’s made more progress than ever expected and is more determined than ever to get his life back.

His family and friends are hosting a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraising Benefit from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 1st at the South Alabama Fire Hall to help assist with this recovery costs. Please take a moment out of your day to help support a prominent member of your community and help me get my Superman back.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Presale tickets are also available. Call 297-4144 for tickets.

The fire hall is located at 2230 Judge Road in the Town of Alabama.

Press release:

The Spring Open House for EnGarde Batavia is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. for Friday, March 16 at the Harvester Avenue fencing studio.

Main Street Pizza will be providing pizza and wings for those who attend this free event. While there is no charge, preregistration is highly recommended.

The open house will allow attendees to learn about competitive Olympic fencing, the skills that are used and to experience firsthand a fencing workout led by one of our coaches. The workout will cover the equipment, practice drills and a “trial” match. Attendees are asked to wear comfortable clothing and athletic footwear.

There is no age limit to attend and participate in the Open House. Fencers as young as 7 and as old as 67 have enjoyed being part of the EnGarde Batavia experience. If you are in good health and able to exercise then fencing is a way to engage in exercise and have fun in our studio setting.

When Tom Clark, artistic advisor to EnGarde to Encore, first observed the fencing classes he was impressed by the physical workout the young fencers under went.

“There were students as young as 10 whom where working on increasing their endurance, improving their eye/hand coordination and their mental agility," Clark said. "These are all skills that will make them physically and mentally better to compete as they go through life.”

Fencing is part of the upcoming summer Olympics that are being held in London. While generally considered a European sport with its roots in France and Italy, many colleges and universities in this country have teams or clubs that compete on an intercollegiate level. Scholarships are available at many institutions for students who exhibit the skill and commitment to competitive fencing. While some students work toward the Olympic Dream many fence as a form of exercise and improving their competitive edge in their chosen field.

For more information on the Open House and to register visit EnGardeBatvia.com or email Colin Dentino at Colin@EnGardeBatavia.com.

Mitzie Collins (on hammered dulcimer) and Roxanne Ziegler (Celtic harp) will perform a free concert at the First Presbyterian Church in Le Roy at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 18.

The concert is part of this year's bicentennial events at the church. The musicians will perform a variety of Irish sacred and secular music.

The choir will participate in three of the songs. If you would like to join the choir for this concert, there will be a special pre-concert practice at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 18 at the church.

The beautiful, historic church is located in the heart of the Village of Le Roy -- at the corner of Main Street (Route 5) and Clay Street (Route 19).

All are welcome!

The Genesee County Youth Bureau will honor its AmeriCorps members during National AmeriCorps Week, March 10 – 18. This year’s theme is AmeriCorps Works.

All AmeriCorps programs are urged to use this opportunity to celebrate all of the great things that our members have accomplished, to encourage participation in national service and to thank our community partners for their support of the program.

AmeriCorps members agree to complete a specific number of service hours over a set time period. Members receive a modest living allowance while serving and upon completion of their commitment qualify for a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. The education award can be used to pay for college or graduate school or to repay qualified student loans.

The Youth Bureau received a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to establish an AmeriCorps program beginning in October 2004. Since that time, 231 members have been placed at more than 60 host site locations performing a combined total of 170,900 hours of service and earning more than $453,000 in education awards.

Members serve at a variety of organizations in the Genesee County area. Sites include schools, community centers, libraries, county government departments and other human services agencies. Assignments fall under the categories of youth development/mentoring, volunteer recruitment and public safety/community outreach.

Members are celebrating AmeriCorps Week by writing articles about their experience, creating displays and coordinating service projects for youth volunteers.

Members have been able to explore career options, learn valuable skills, help finance their education and have the satisfaction of knowing that they have made a positive contribution to their community.

If you would like more information about serving in AmeriCorps or hosting a member at your agency, contact Kathy Frank at 344-3960 or kfrank@co.genesee.ny.us.

Sent in by a reader:

Male dog found on Reed Road in Bergen on Sunday evening, March 11. Taken to the Genesee County Animal Shelter in Batavia. Call 343-6410 if you think this may be your dog. Very nice boy, I hope he goes home.

Press release:

 

The New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute will begin its annual Honorary Membership drive in Genesee County within the next ten days according to Sheriff Gary Maha.

The New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute was established in 1979. It is a not-for-profit corporation, tax exempt organization, and contributions to the Institute are tax deductible.

While the Sheriff’s Office is a unit of county government, many of the concerns of Sheriffs and other law enforcement agencies are best addressed on a statewide level. The Sheriffs’ Institute provides centralized training programs and services for all Sheriffs’ Offices, where those programs and services would be unavailable or impractical on a single county basis.

The flagship program of the Sheriffs’ Institute is the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp for economically challenged children. The Sheriffs’ Camp, in its 35^th year of operation, is located on Keuka Lake and 840 children from across New York State attend each summer. The Sheriffs’ Institute pays the entire cost of the camp stay and transportation.  Most children attending wouldn’t otherwise have an opportunity for vacation travel or a summer camp experience.

The Sheriffs’ Camp program combines summer recreation with activities designed to teach an understanding of, and respect for, our laws and the men and women who enforce them. The strong camper to counselor ratio allows for individual attention with an emphasis on the development of self esteem.

“In these difficult economic times we cannot forget our youth who will not have the opportunity for a summer camp experience or a summer vacation,” Sheriff Gary Maha said. “By becoming an honorary member you are supporting the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp for economically disadvantaged children.”

In addition, the Sheriffs’ Institute operates a scholarship program that provides one scholarship to each of New York State’s Community College’s Criminal Justice Programs. This program is designed to help attract the best and the brightest to the criminal justice vocation.

For more information about the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp and other Sheriffs’ Institute Programs, visit our website, www.sheriffsinstitute.orgor simply google  “Sheriffs’ Institute kids” and it will be your first option.

Financial support for many of the Sheriffs’ Institute programs comes from Honorary Membership dues. Invitations for Honorary Membership are extended on a non-partisan basis, and the invitees are selected at random. Any persons interested in supporting the efforts of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute by becoming an Honorary Member should contact the Sheriff if they do not receive an invitation in the mail, or visit our web site at: www.sheriffsinstitute.orgto download an application.

All donations made to the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute are tax deductible. In addition, Sheriffs’ Institute is registered with the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau.

OAKFIELD-ALABAMA UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Children who reside in the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District and who will be 4 years old by December 1, 2012 are eligible to be registered for our Universal Pre-Kindergarten program for the 2012-2013 school year.  If you need a registration packet, please call the elementary office at 585-948-5211, ext. 3211, to request one or email tbonner@oahornets.org

The elementary school office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located at 7100 Lewiston Road in Oakfield.

OAKFIELD-ALABAMA KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Kindergarten registration is scheduled for Monday, March 26^th through Friday, March 30^th at the elementary school office between the hours of 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM.  Information packets have been sent to families.  If you did not receive a packet or are new to the district, please notify the elementary office at 948-5211, ext. 3211. Please bring the following mandatory documents with you:  your child’s birth certificate, proof of residency and a current immunization record. Only children who have reached their fifth birthday on or before December 1, 2012 may be registered for the 2012-2013 school year.

Press release:

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Membership Committee has developed a NEW and exciting Series of Seminars to help you and your employees stay informed of the hot topics facing your business today! We invite non-members as well as chamber members to attend.

The seminars will cover topics such as accounting, insurance and technology/computers. We have leading experts in each industry to present and share their knowledge with you.  Presenters include Freed, Maxick CPAs, P.C. on accounting issues, Lawley Genesee on insurance topics and Marchese Computer Products discussing technology/computers.

In order to keep these seminars intimate and allow for a more personalized setting they will be limited to 20 people per session. We feel this will create a more casual environment that will allow attendees to feel more comfortable to participate and ask questions.

All seminars will be held at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Office, 210 E. Main St., Downtown Batavia. Networking and light refreshments will begin at 7:45 a.m. with the seminar to start promptly at 8 and end at 9.

All sessions are FREE for Chamber Members and $5 for non-members. Call Kelly Birmingham at 343-7440, ext. 26, to RSVP.

REMEMBER each seminar is limited to 20, RSVP on a first-come basis.

Here's the Spring schedule of FREE seminars:

• Thursday, March 15 -- INSURANCE 

"Employee wellness"

Presented by Julie Ciura with Lawley Genesee Benefits Group and Dr. Lawrence Sherman, medical director at UMMC's Corporate Health Center

• Thursday, March 22 -- ACCOUNTING

"Estate and business succession planning"

Presented by Tim Moag, CPA, Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C.

• Thursday, March 29 -- COMPUTERS /TECHNOLOGY

"Why are you printing in a paperless office? Come learn how to utilize the 75 percent of your computer that didn't even know exisited."

Presented by Paul Marchese, owner of Marchese Computer Products

• Tuesday, April 17 -- INSURANCE

"Insurance 101 -- Everything you wanted to know about business insurance but were afraid to ask."

Presented by Bill Fritts, CIC Lawley Genesee Insurance

• Tuesday, April 24 -- COMPUTERS / TECHNOLOGY

Topic TBA

Presented by Paul Marchese, owner of Marchese Computer Products

• Tuesday, May 1 -- ACCOUNTING

"Business valuation: What's your business worth?"

Presented by Ron Soluri Jr., CPA, CVA Freed Maxick, CPAs, P.C.

Join us for the Geocaching 101 and Advanced Geocaching Courses at The BEST Center at Genesee Community College!  Everyone is welcome!

Today, more than 1.6 million geocaches have been hidden, and found by more than 5 million people worldwide. On this past Leap Day alone, over 79,450 people logged a cache or an event, which is more than double the amount from four years ago!

Want to learn more about geocaching?

Don’t just hear about it - EXPERIENCE it! 

Register NOW and get your cache on!

GPS units will be provided (or bring your own!) and each person will get a free geocaching swag item!

---

Geocaching 101

Saturday, April 14 • 9:00AM - 12:00PM • Batavia Campus

Wednesday, May 23 • 6:00PM - 9:00PM • Batavia Campus

"Family Matters" is the theme for the next three-part segment being offered through the "People's Law Series," a collaborative initiative between the Genesee Community College's BEST Center and the Genesee County Bar Association.

Each of the following three seminars, being offered as part of GCC's Leisure Learning non-credit community workshops, are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday evenings at Genesee Community College, Batavia campus in room T102. Each seminar costs $10 and will be presented by well-known local attorneys who have extensive experience in Family Court proceedings.

For the updated list of courses visit: http://www.genesee.edu/best/development/leisure-learning/ and contact The BEST Center to register by calling 345-6868.

Seminar I -- March 13
"Getting Past Your Breakup -- Custody, Visitation and Child Support"

Presenters: Robert B. McCutcheon, Esq.; Peter M. Casey, Esq.

This session will focus on the definitions of sole versus joint custody and the custodial parent. Attendees will learn about child support payment plans and other financial responsibilities, as well as court orders and attorney representation, mediation, and understanding who makes the decisions regarding a child's health, education, religion, and general welfare.

Seminar 2 -- April 17
"Matrimonial Actions"

Presenters: Deborah L. Burhans, Esq.; Benjamin J. Bonarigo Sr., Esq.

Divorce is a life-changing event and understanding the principals of matrimonial law can only help ease the transition and process. Spousal support, distribution of marital assets and debt, taxation, health insurance and separate property principles are among the topics of this session.

Seminar 3 -- May 15
"Juvenile and Family Offense Matters"

Presenters: Durin B. Rogers, Esq., Deputy County Attorney for Genesee County

When the actions and behavior of children result in Family Court proceedings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members and friends are all concerned and need information. Knowing about the Juvenile Delinquency proceedings, PINS (People in Need of Supervision), and understanding the legal ramifications of truancy, substance abuse, sexting, bullying, fighting, stealing, the destruction of property and the Family Offense proceedings are among the topics covered in this session.
 

"Family matters often involve and are a significant concern to the greater family network including grandparents, aunts, uncles and others. This series is affordable and specifically segmented to target an array of different Family Court issues," Ray Chaya, director of The BEST Center and coordinator of the new Leisure Learning program said.

Durin B. Rogers, Esq., president of the Genesee County Bar Association noted that the series allows for local attorney's to give back to the community. "This segment of the People's Law Series provides an excellent general reference point for domestic situations that impact many families at one time or another." It should be noted that the three-part series is provided as a public service for general reference information and is not intended to be legal advice for specific cases.

Founded in 1912, the Genesee County Bar Association is a voluntary professional association that pools the collective talents and experiences of approximately 100 member judges, lawyers, and legal professionals across the county to improve the practice of law, advance the goals of the justice system, and benefit the community.

As the BEST Center's Leisure Learning division continues to develop and introduce new programs, the public is invited to share ideas and opinions for future topics. A short Leisure Learning online survey is available at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22EGQ7R6K59/ and all survey participants will be entered into the Leisure Learning drawing to win a Kindle Fire electronic reader.

The Batavia High School class of 1982 will be holding a weekend full of events Aug. 3-5 to celebrate our 30th year reunion.

If you are a classmate, a parent of one or just know of one of our classmates who has not been in contact with Darlene Bohn Naparstek or Amy Boland Joslyn, please send an email to Darlene at darnapar@gmail.com or call 561-672-1478 so we can make sure that you are included in all the events.

Two brand-new writing workshops are being offered at Present Tense Books in Batavia.

Each two-hour session costs $17. They are:

• Lessons in Enhancing Your Creative Abilities
• STYLE: How to Develop Your Own Unique Writing Voice

These one-day workshops will be held Saturdays beginning March 31. The workshops are becoming very popular, and will fill up rapidly. Classes are limited to 12 participants, so sign up as soon as you can!

Students MUST register for the seminars by either entering their names on the registration site here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bataviacreativity

Or by writing the instructor, Bob Comenole, directly at:

snowcap2@hotmail.com

Lessons in Enhancing Your Creative Abilities

You want to think further "out of the box," to blow open every pigeon hole you encounter to generate novel and breathtaking ideas worthy of your craft, whatever that may be. This workshop is fueled by the notion that creativity is a skill that certainly can be learned and developed.

We will journey our way through various techniques of lateral thinking and innovation that will increase both your productivity and your sense of self-satisfaction. The tools acquired here can be applied equally to all, whether you are a poet, a potter, a Teamster, a business owner, a carpenter or just a die-hard doodler -- all in an approach that is relaxed and playful.

Style: How to Develop Your Own Unique Writing Voice

How to distinguish yourself from the hordes of other writers, most of them voiceless and indistinct? That is the question. This seminar is the launching point for the answer. We'll analyze techniques of the masters of our language to discover how they created moving and memorable voices. We'll then develop a set of our own tools, using an array of linguistic and rhetorical choices, to create a style that captures that voice within. This seminar fits the needs of writers in every genre.

The seminars offered by Present Tense Books are appropriate for beginners and seasoned professionals alike; there are no prerequisites for any of the workshops.

About the instructor...

For 20 years, Bob Comenole has taught writing, literature and communications at several colleges, including Miami University, Siena College, the State University of New York, and Rensselear Polytechnic Institute.

He is the author of several books and is about to release his newest work "Perplexed by the Egg & Other Stories."

If you have further questions, call 1-315-685-1480 or email to: snowcap2@hotmail.com.

Present Tense Books is located at 101 Washington Ave. Phone is 815-7640 or visit on the web at www.presenttensebooks.com.

Press release:

Genesee Community College is pleased to announce Gail Francis has been named February Employee of the Month. Francis is a key member of the Records Office, responsible for making sure various office procedures, such as interpreting, maintaining and updating student records, are completed accurately and efficiently, each and every day.

She extends a friendly and welcoming face to everyone who enters the Records Office, providing exceptional customer service to students and colleagues alike. She also tackles campus records management, making sure mandated retention schedules are up-to-date to ensure proper maintenance and disposal of records.

Francis has been a valued member of the Genesee Community College for 21 years, launching her career in 1991, and she treasures her friendly and helpful coworkers. She's also familiar with the college from a student's perspective, having earned her AS degree in Human Services from GCC.

She resides in Batavia and is engaged to be married.

Genesee Community College is pleased to announce Lindsay Chatt has been named February Student of the Month. Chatt enrolled in GCC after graduating from Oakfield-Alabama High School in 2010, and is working toward completion of a Liberal Arts degree in Math and Science, with a concentration in Chemistry, which she plans to parlay into a career in dentistry.

An exceptional student, Chatt is a nominee for the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence; has made the President's List for three semesters; and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, which recognizes academic achievement among two-year college students. The 19-year-old native of Oakfield also excels in the ballpark, leading the GCC Women's Softball Team as captain.

Press release:

Genesee Community College's four-part lecture series commemorating the sesquicentennial of the Civil War continues from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6, in room T102 at the Batavia campus.

Kevin Levin, a noted Civil War expert and author, will carefully recount the Battle of Crater, which is the topic of his latest book.

The Battle of the Crater was a botched attempt by the Union Army to punch a hole in the Confederate line outside of Petersburg, Va. After tunneling under the Confederate position, Union soldiers packed the tunnel with TNT and then ignited the fuse. While the explosion was spectacular, the Union attack was poorly orchestrated and resulted in more than 5,000 casualties – many of them African-American soldiers who led the charge.

Levin is an instructor and the chair of the History Department at St. Anne's Belfield School in Charlottesville, Va. His book entitled "Remembering The Battle of the Crater: War as Murder" will be available in June.

GCC's Civil War Lecture Series is free and open to the public. To register for any of the Civil War lectures, contact GCC's BEST Center at 345-6868 or email bestcenter@genesee.edu.

Other upcoming lectures include:

Tuesday, April 3

"From Bondage to Freedom" by Kevin Cottrell, founder of Motherland Connextions, will discuss the Underground Railroad as it pertains to Western New York and Southern Ontario. Motherland Connextions is one of the first multicultural humanitarian efforts helping to spotlight the many effects diversity had in sustaining freedom, and instilling courage and hope in our communities nationwide.

Tuesday, May 1

"The Longstreet Family in War and Peace" by Terrianne Schulte, Ph.D., of D'Youville College. This talk explores the impact of the war and its aftermath with the well-known and controversial southern family, the Longstreets. Schulte will focus on Confederate General James Longstreet, his second wife, Helen Dortch Longstreet, and his uncle, Judge Augustus Baldwin Longstreet, the author of "Georgia Scenes."

Also featured this spring is a Civil War Essay Contest open to all students between grades nine and 12 with the topic, "War Takes a Nasty Turn: The Changing Nature of the War of 1862."

The first-place essay winner will receive a color Nook electronic reader. The essay should be a minimum of three pages formatted in 12-point Times New Roman font and double-spaced. All citations must be in written in Chicago Style (www.chicagomanualofstyle.org). All essays must be received electronically by Friday April 13 to ddmaxfield@genesee.edu. Winners will be announced before the final Civil War lecture at 7 p.m. on May 1.

"It is a real honor to be hosting a lecture by Kevin Levin, who is a well-known authority on the Civil War," Derek Maxfield, GCC's resident Civil War historian and history instructor said. "We are also very excited to share the developing details about GCC's Civil War Encampment that is scheduled in late April at our Lima Campus Center."

Genesee Community College has also developed two blogs -- the GCC GLOW Region History Co-Op Blog – which seeks to help promote partnerships with GLOW region historical organizations -- and the Civil War Blog, which is a part of the Civil War initiative. The war blog promotes upcoming events at the college and will feature posts about history instructor Maxfield's work.

The blogs can be found at www.glowhistory.wordpress.com and www.civilwaratgcc.wordpress.com.

Press release:

Genesee Community College's Sunday courses, second session, start mid-March and are ideal for adults juggling work and family obligations. For some, Sunday is the only day of the week free of work schedules, family commitments and other activities -- allowing time to focus on college courses.

GCC continues its successful Sunday hybrid course schedule through the Spring 2012 semester with a second eight-week session starting March 19. There is still time to register.

Hybrid courses are taught partially online and partially in the classroom and include coursework in the arts and humanities, English, history, science, math and business. The hybrid courses meet regularly in a lab or classroom for instruction, assessments or laboratories, and students also work online each week.

There are three Sunday time slots (9 to 11:45 a.m., 12 to 2:45 p.m., and 3 to 5:45 p.m.) providing an opportunity to complete several courses per semester in the Sunday-hybrid format.

Sunday courses being offered at GCC/Batavia beginning on March 19 include:

•    BUS110: Personal Money Management

•    SPA101: Elementary Spanish 1

•    MAT102: Algebra 2

•    ART 103: Western Art History 1

•    ENG102: Composition in the Natural and Social Sciences

•    HIS102: World Civilizations 2

New students can apply for free online by going to: www.genesee.edu/admissions.

For a comprehensive listing of all GCC's class and scheduling options visit: www.genesee.edu/Options.

For further information about Sunday courses or online learning, please contact Judith Littlejohn at 343-0055, ext. 6158, or JMLittlejohn@genesee.edu.

En Garde Batavia, an Olympic Sport Fencing Center, will begin a new program March 7 for homeschoolers. This class is open to students 6-19* years old.

The Home School Fencing Class will be held at the club on 56 Harvester Ave. in the City of Batavia and classes are available in three sections:

• Mondays, 1-3 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.
• Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.
• Fridays, 1-3 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.

The first hour will be just the older students and the second hour will be the younger and older students. Parent or guardian supervision is required for both hours with students under 10 years old.

The class comes at an introductory rate of $20 per month for the first child, $15 per month for the second child, and $10 for additional children in the same household.

If you would like to register please email owner/instructor Colin Dentino at : Colin@EnGardeBatavia.com.

Classes are capped at 10 students for the best experience and are filled on a first-come-first-serve basis. You register for one day and time slot.
 
Participants should wear workout clothes and bring a water bottle. Legs should be covered with either pants or long socks.

(*To ask about age exceptions contact Colin Dentino.)
 
For questions or more information contact Colin Dentino at 409-3993 or  colin@engardebatavia.com  
 
Visit on the web at http://engardebatavia.com

Check for tournaments this weekend!