Announcements

From the VA Healthcare System:

In observance of Black History month, VA Western New York Healthcare System will celebrate events in Freedom Hall, room 301. African American Business Day will take place at 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 11. Cultural wares will be available. “Taste of Soul” will take place on Friday, February 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. African American dishes such as collard greens, sweet potatoes, pig’s feet, and much more will be served.

Take the journey of “Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad” with Joy O’Banion and Yvonne Harris, where they will share the struggles of Tubman’s journey to free the slaves scheduled Friday, February 27 at noon. All events are open to the public.

WE HAVE SOME ANIMALS WITH SOME SPECIAL NEEDS BUT DON’T BE SCARED. THEY JUST NEED SOME EXTRA LOVE AND CARE BUT MOST OF ALL THEY NEED A CHANCE. WE MADE SOME VIDEOS SO THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE JUST HOW WONDERFUL THEY ARE - SO TAKE A MOMENT, SIT BACK AND ENJOY. YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO CONNECT TO YouTube FOR A PEEK AT THESE GREAT ANIMALS.

THERE IS A $30 FEE FOR ALL ANIMALS, A $35 REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT FOR ANY ANIMAL NOT SPAYED OR NEUTERED, AND ALL DOGS MUST BE LICENSED BEFORE LEAVING THE SHELTER.

PLEASE CONSIDER ADOPTING A SHELTER ANIMAL TODAY! 

HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU!
Maxine, Bruno & Scooter

TAKE A CHANCE ON ME! Socks the Cat

DUTCH vs THE SANDMAN 

I WANT TO BE LOVED BY YOU...  Missie the Cat

From the VA Medical Center:

Veterans in Lockport and surrounding areas can learn about their VA health care and other veterans benefits at an event being held at the VA clinic in Lockport, 5883 Snyder Drive, Saturday, February 21 from 10am to 1pm. Staff and veterans benefits counselors will assist veterans with eligibility for VA health care, and other state and federal benefits that veterans may have coming to them that often go unused. Benefits have recently been extended for veterans returning from combat that includes five years of free medical care for most conditions from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The five year window is also open to activated Reservists and members of the National Guard, if they served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998 and were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. The five year limit has no effect upon veterans with medical conditions related to their military service. Veterans may apply at any time after their discharge from the military, even decades later for medical care for service-connected health problems.
 
Representatives from the VA Lockport Clinic, NY State Division of Veterans Affairs, Niagara County Veterans Service Office and VA Western New York Healthcare System will be available to answer questions. Bring discharge papers and financial records for accurate benefits counseling. For more information, you may contact the VA clinic in Lockport at 438-3890.

The Batavia Area Jaycees are proud to announce the 56^th Annual Home Garden and Trade Show is going to be held on March 20-22 at the Batavia Downs!

We are still looking for vendors for this event!  All booth prices will be $279!!!! 

Weekend Passes have been slashed to $1

For contract details visit: www.geneseeny.com/bataviajaycees and click on the home show link! 

Show hours are:
March 20 (Friday) from 5-9pm
March 21 (Saturday) from 10am - 7pm 
March 22 (Sunday) from noon - 4pm

If you have any questions, please contact us at 585-343-5775 or email at info@bataviajcs.org

Pavilion is looking for a couple good men or women to fill the vacancies on its Town Board and the Board of Assessment Review. One position is open to take the Town Board seat vacated by Shirley Dills, who recently resigned after 22 years of service.

Interested applicants are urged to send their resume, along with any other pertinent personal information, to the town of Pavilion at the following address:

Attn: Pavilion Town Supervisor
Pavilion Town Hall
P.O. Box #126
Pavilion, N.Y. 14525

From the Cornell Cooperative Extension:

The fourth annual New York State Agriculture Literacy Week (formerly Ag Literacy Day) has been scheduled for March 16-20, 2009, which will coincide with National Agriculture Week.
 
This year the program will highlight the NYS Apple Industry. Volunteers from around the county, many of whom are closely tied to the agriculture industry, will visit elementary school classrooms to read The Empire State Investigator:The Applesauce Bandit. The books will then be donated to each school library courtesy of generous donations by Genesee County Farm Bureau, local agricultural businesses, and individual donors.
 
Barb Sturm, coordinator from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, said “Ag Literacy Day gives schools and industry volunteers a perfect opportunity to focus on agriculture awareness, especially in a region where agriculture provides a livelihood for so many people. We hope that by talking to students about how food gets from the farm to their plates, they’ll grow to appreciate all the people, processes and businesses contributing every single day to the industry that provides us with almost everything we eat, use and wear.”
 
New York Ag Literacy Week is a statewide educational effort organized by New York Agriculture in the Classroom (www.nyaged.org) with help from many agencies and organizations, including Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York Farm Bureau, and the NYS Apple Association.
 
For more information to become a volunteer reader or to sponsor the purchase of books, contact Barb Sturm by February 11, 2009, at Cornell Cooperative Extension at 420 East Main Street, Batavia, 343-3040, ext. 122, e-mail: bbs28@cornell.edu, or visit our website at: http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu.

From Genesee Community College:

Genesee Community College's Albion campus center is pleased to introduce its first exhibit as a GO ART! satellite gallery, "Abundance" by Patricia Greene, from January 16 - February 26. Artist Patricia Greene is currently displaying oil paintings of local farms, markets and produce of Orleans County. A free "Meet the Artist" reception is scheduled for February 12 at 5:00 pm at the Albion campus center.

"Abundance" displays agricultural images Greene created during her year-long grant funded project through the Ripple Grant program administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council. Artists residing in Genesee or Orleans Counties are eligible to apply for a grant for community-based artistic projects. The goal of the grant is to support the creative work of artists in all disciplines, while encouraging interaction between artists and community members to highlight the role of the artist as a community resource.

The oil painting exhibit features area farms' structures, as well as crops with special attention to scenes such as maple farms in the winter, historic farms and regional fruits and vegetables that are grown by these local growers. From cattle grazing to a farmer's market to picking berries, the exhibit accurately depicts the abundance and variety of foods produced in Orleans county.

A Medina native, Greene traveled to farms, roadside produce stands, and farmer's markets to translate the abundance of the local landscape onto canvas. "I was able to interview local farmers about themselves and their customers," Greene said. "The project acknowledges the abundance of our region and presents it in a way that the entire community can share."

The "Meet the Artist" event is free and open to the public. The "Abundance" exhibit is also available for viewing Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm, until February 26. The Albion campus center is located at 456 West Avenue, Albion. For more information about the exhibit, please contact the Albion Campus Center 585-589-4936 or Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council at 1-800-774-7372, or visit www.goart.org.

From the VA Medical Center:

VA Western New York Healthcare System invites the public to participate in open-house activities Feb. 8-14 during the National Salute to Veterans.

"The National Salute to Veterans gives everyone a chance to let those who have given so much to our nation know that they are not forgotten," said David J. West  Interim Medical Center Director "We've invited local celebrities, elected officials, school children and other groups to visit during the week.  We want people of all ages to bring Valentine’s Day cheer to our patients.”  West said he hopes visitors will also learn more about the important roles volunteers play at the medical center throughout the year and perhaps pursue volunteer opportunities.  "Over 600 volunteers are an important part of our health care team in Buffalo and Batavia, and the National Salute program is a great way for people to learn more about helping the Veterans we serve," West said.  “Visitors are often surprised at how varied our volunteer opportunities are.”  Citizens, young and old, are once again sending Valentine’s Day cards and letters to VA medical centers simply addressed “Dear Veteran.” West said they are being distributed to patients throughout the medical center.

VA Western New York Healthcare System’s National Salute Week schedule includes an open house Friday, February 13 at 1:00 p.m. in Freedom Hall, room 301. Additional activities are included below.

Individuals or groups wishing to participate in the medical center program should call the Voluntary Service office, in Buffalo at 716-862-8671 and in Batavia at 585-297-1196.

Please click here to download the complete schedule of events.

From Genesee Community College:

Wind energy continues to be the talk of the town, but who knew that small towns in New York State hold the key to wind energy development? Community wind energy is an alternative model of wind energy development that puts the control of the process in the hands of the local community, rather than a corporate wind developer. Community wind is defined as a wind project that is developed and owned wholly, or partially, by an entity representing the local community. Community wind projects are specifically designed to provide benefits to the local community, including income and jobs. Community wind offers a solution to the wind project location and permit issues that have divided many communities all over New York State.

Genesee Community College is pleased to host a free Community Wind Forum on February 18 from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m. at the Batavia campus in room T102. The forum will be presented by Pace Energy and Climate Center, a program of Pace University. The forum will include a basic introduction to wind energy; a discussion of the Community wind model, including community organizing and project financing and ownership models; and a question and discussion period. The Community Wind Forum is free and community members, especially planners, municipal officials, and students are encouraged to attend.

Featured speakers include Loren Pruskowski, founder and current vice president of finance and director of community wind operations at Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc. (SED), and a principal organizer of the community wind effort in Knox, Albany County; and Todd Olinsky-Paul, energy policy analyst with Pace Energy & Climate Center, who has studied wind energy location issues and the role of communities and municipalities in wind energy development.

Community wind projects are needed in New York State. New York has implemented a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that requires 25% of electricity sold in the state to come from renewable sources by 2013. In addition, New York is a "home rule" state which means each town is empowered by the state to write its own zoning laws. These laws determine how land within the town can be used. Each town decides whether to allow windmills, and how to regulate them. These factors make community wind a promising model for New York.

Participants in the forum will learn what goes into the various phases of community wind development, including resource assessment, project feasibility studies, community organizing, project finance, design and construction, and operations and maintenance. Speakers will also discuss community wind development work that has been performed in other parts of the state, and the economics of community wind, including different financing and ownership models. Anyone interested in developing a wind project in their own community is encouraged to attend and ask questions.

"We are pleased to be able to discuss an alternative model for wind energy development, and a new, local development opportunity for the Genesee Valley region," Todd Olinsky-Paul of Pace Energy & Climate Center said. "As New York State pursues renewable energy solutions, the benefits and opportunities offered by Community Wind Energy are essential. We look forward to the conversation with Genesee Valley residents."

For further information, please contact Donna Rae Sutherland, associate director of Marketing Communications and co-chairman of Genesee Community College Environmental Task Force at 585-343-0055 x 6616.

From Genesee Community College:

David DeLaVergne, senior vice president at The Bank of Castile, leads the Wyoming County Division of Genesee Community College Foundation's annual campaign, Our Best Investment.

"In the past year, I have become more and more acquainted with the College and its Campus Centers in Warsaw and Arcade and they are truly assets within our county borders," DeLaVergne said. "Last year, 1,000 talented and motivated Wyoming County residents enrolled at Genesee Community College. In the community and at The Bank of Castile, where I work, I encounter students struggling with career choices and academic expectations."

The driving force of the campaign is to attract and retain academically talented and deserving students and thereby strengthening the local economic vitality by providing training in high-need workforce skills. This past year 464 scholarships were awarded, totaling $265,488.

"It truly is our best investment in our community and our citizens, and we ask that community members please respond favorably when one of our dedicated volunteers asks for support," DeLaVergne said. "The gratitude of the students is immeasurable!"

Community volunteers and campaign leaders in the Wyoming Division include:

• Andrea Aldinger, executive director, Office for Aging and Youth Bureau, Warsaw
• Jonah Broughton, commercial lender, The Bank of Castile, Warsaw
• Bruce Camp, president, Attica Auto Supply, Inc.
• Jen Clark, office manager, Ed Hulme, Inc., Warsaw
• Paula Edwards, branch manager, The Bank of Castile, Arcade
• Richard Fish, president, Complete Payroll Processing, Perry and Genesee Community College Foundation Board Member
• Norb Fuest, Human Resources manager, Morton Salt, Inc., Silver Springs and Genesee Community College Foundation Board Member
• Mike Hardie, broker, Tompkins Insurance Agency, Attica
• John McClurg, president, McClurg Automotive, Inc., Perry
• Sandy Pirdy, owner, Creekside Fabrics & Quilts, Arcade
• Brianna Stone, branch manager, The Bank of Castile, Castile
• Charlene Strain, branch manager, The Bank of Castile, Warsaw
• John Wheeler, branch manager, The Bank of Castile, Perry

The Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing service and support to Genesee Community College. A thirty member board of directors comprised of business and civic leaders leads it. The Foundation was formed in the mid- eighties to provide philanthropic support to the College. Gifts to the campaign may be sent to the Genesee Community College Foundation, One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020. For further information, please call (585) 345-6809 or foundation@genesee.edu.

My 12 yr old daughter lost her new I pod which was a christmas gift from her mom and I, Needless to say she is devastated and quite frankly so are we. Anyway she lost it at the ice skaking rink in batavia on Friday night 1/23/09 at the open skate. It is hot pink and has a inscription on the back saying Magnum Kibler XOXOXO If anyone has any information Please call -585-343-2649    (Reward)

From chaZam marketing:

“I’m not quite cleaning up, but I’m not losing my shirt either,” jokes Chad Zambito, the new co-owner and operator of Grammy O’s Laundry located in the Valu Plaza in Batavia.  All joking aside, Zambito admits the Laundromat business is difficult, not very glamorous and nothing like his day job.  

Zambito, currently the VP of Marketing and Community Development for the Genesee County Economic Development Center, purchased the facility in March of 2008 after several conversations with his then fiancée Jennifer.  “I’ve always wanted to own my own business,” said Zambito, “And when the opportunity presented its self, Jen and I jumped on it.”  It turned out to be a big year for the couple; they were also married on October 18th. 

The Zambitos purchased the facility from Jeremy Sabatino, a local small businessman, and have been hard at work ever since.   “I really feel more like a janitor than a business owner,” added Zambito.  “Keeping the place clean is important but a bit tedious”.

Zambito, who also served as a Marketing Manager at Batavia Downs Casino, is drawing on his gaming promotions background to give the business an edge.  He has kicked off a promotion in which customers have a chance to win $100 if they can find the “Golden Quarter” at the facility.  “It’s been a big hit and I knew from my experience at The Downs how popular cash giveaways can be, plus I know its something that would bring me in to do my wash.”

The facility is named after Zambito’s mother whom passed away in 2005.  “My son called her Grammy O and we knew that was the perfect name.  Every time I clean I think; would I be ashamed to let my mother see the place like this?  If the answer is yes, I keep cleaning.”  The logo was created by Mrs. Zambito’s cousin, Batavia graduate Aaron Long of Rochester with help from another cousin, Stephanie Borgal of Batavia, an Oakfield-Alabama grad. 

With the economy taking a down turn, the couple has had to be creative to keep business steady.  They are introducing “Bargain Alley”, an area of washers that cost just $1.50 and dryers that cost $1.25. 

Apparently the entrepunerial spirit that Zambito is exposed to everyday at the GCEDC is rubbing off.  He has also launched a line of T-shirts called Father Mucker’s.  Its a funny play on words with slogans like, “My Father RAN AMUCK for a living”, which is almost true for the Elba native.  Zambito’s grandfather, Paul “Zeke” Zambito, was a muck farmer who produced potatoes and onions as part of “Five Brothers Farms”.  Zambito is donating a portion of the sales to muck land preservation.  Muck land is rich farm land that is produced when wetlands are drained and are prevalent in Genesee and Orleans Counties.  Recent media efforts have highlighted the ongoing erosion of the precious farmland.  Zambito hopes to turn the idea into a restaurant that would highlight the local farming industry.  “First I’ve got to raise the cash and then I have to convince my wife,” Zambito said with a laugh.  “I’m not sure which one will be more difficult.”  Father Mucker’s T-shirts are available on ebay or by contacting Zambito directly.

From the United Memorial Medical Center:

United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) is sponsoring a Nurses’ Night Out event for Thursday, February 26, 2009 at Terry Hills Restaurant, 5122 Clinton Street Road, Batavia. This social and educational event is open to all nursing and pharmacy professionals.
 
Michelle Spiotta, BS, RPh, and Pharmacy Clinical Manager for United Memorial will address the 2009 Patient Safety Standard on Anticoagulation during her discussion, “Anticoagulation Management and Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia.”
 
Registration and Social Hour will be at 5:30 pm. Dinner will begin at 7:00 pm. Attendees should reserve a seat by phoning (585)344-7432 by February 23rd.
 
Non-UMMC employees will be charged $20 per person to cover the cost of dinner.

Genesee County's Department of Health has released its 2009 schedule for anti-rabies immunization clinics. Please click here to download the document.

From Genesee Community College:

Genesee Community College is pleased to announce that Patty Hume has been named January's Employee of the Month. Patty has worked at Genesee since January 2006 and is currently the executive secretary to the Office of Development and External Affairs where she manages a wide variety of details, records, reports and schedules. Patty wears many hats and has many responsibilities in her position; she consistently remains calm and maintains a positive attitude, even during the most stressful of times. She always has a smile for everyone she meets and keeps her sense of humor.

Patty also serves as the executive secretary for Genesee's Foundation Board of Directors and Genesee's Foundation Housing Services Board of Directors. Her work involves providing communication, minutes and general support to both organizations and their respective committees, as well as the reporting and regulatory paperwork for both corporations.

In addition, Patty oversees many special events, including Encore - the Foundation's annual fundraiser; the Wolcott J., Humphrey Symposium - a leadership conference held annually at Genesee; and Cruise at the College - a car/truck show held in July at the Batavia campus. She is also a volunteer member of Genesee's United Way Committee. With the wide range of responsibilities, Patty has shown exceptional organizational skills and a keen attention to detail. She always displays the highest level of professionalism in her interactions, representing the College with the utmost integrity.

Patty received A.A.S. degree from Genesee in 1988 in Office Technology and prior to working at Genesee, Patty worked as the Office Manager at VanDerHorst Geotechnical Engineering in Rochester, was the Donor Relations Manager at The Nature Conservancy in Rochester and was the Executive Secretary at Young Audiences of Rochester.

A resident of LeRoy, NY, Patty enjoys spending time with her husband Ted, son Aiden and stepson Adam. She also enjoys reading, hiking and gardening.

"I really enjoy what I do here at Genesee," said Patty. "The friendly, helpful staff and faculty are my favorite aspect of working here."

Photo Caption: Patty Hume (middle) with President Steiner (left) and Richard Ensman, Director of Development and External Affairs (right)

DRAWING WILL BE HELD AT T.F. BROWN'S (Main St., Batavia) at 7 PM on Friday, Feb. 6th. 

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!  One Chance for $20 or two for $30

DESIGN YOUR OWN PARTY!

FIVE-COURSE GOURMET DINNER FOR 10 WITH WINE PAIRINGS

HOSTED BY MICHAEL NAPOLEONE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dinner Prepared by “Chef” Mark Napoleone and Sous Chefs

Limo Service Provided (some distance restrictions)

WHO:  You and Nine of Your Friends

WHEN:  Dinner will be served-Feb. 28, 2009 Beginning at 5:00 p.m.

WHERE:  An Intimate Home Setting in Batavia

For Ticket Information Contact Joanne at 585-343-3631 or Julie at 585-356-2244

Tickets will be available at TF's on the night of the drawing.  Winners Need Not Be Present.

2nd Prize:   T.F. Brown’s/Bowling Alley $100 Gift Certificate

3rd Prize:  T.F. Brown’s/Bowling Alley $50 Gift Certificate

Proceeds benefit the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation, Inc. to "Lend a Hand for Hope".   www.michaelshope.org

From the VA Medical Center:

VA Western New York Healthcare System will hold a service for veterans, employees and the community, Sunday, February 1 at 2 p.m. at the Buffalo site, 3495 Bailey Avenue in Freedom Hall, room 301 in remembrance of the Four Chaplains who lost their lives during an extraordinary act of heroism during World War II. Lt. Colonel Allen Douglas Ferry, New York Air Reserve National Guard (retired), and Bronze Star Recipient for combat service and Legion of Merit will deliver the keynote address. At this special event, the Legion of Honor award presentation will also take place. 

The four Chaplains, a Methodist Minister, Jewish Rabbi, Dutch Reformed Church, and Catholic Priest were on a US Army transport ship hit by a German torpedo off the icy waters of Greenland in February 1943. When it became apparent there were not enough life jackets, the four US Army Chaplains removed theirs and handed them to frightened young soldiers, and chose to go down with the ship. They locked arms together and prayed in the tradition of their own faith. Of the 902 on board, there were only 227 survivors. They demonstrated throughout the voyage and in their last moments, interfaith compassion in their relationship with the men on board and with each other.