Elba Girl Scout Troop #42222 members are pictured above from left: Alexandra Belluscio, Lindsay Augello, Laci Sewar and Dakota Brinkman.

Submitted photos and press release:

Elba Girl Scout Troop #42222 is proud to announce the completion on Sept. 30 of the requirements for their Cadette Silver Award.

Their project focused on making multiple improvements to the horse barn at the Genesee County Fairgrounds. The horse barn is used by various horse programs throughout the community during the year.

Just a few of the areas the Troop focused on were various structural improvements made to the west entrance way and gate of the barn.

This consisted of: the replacement of the damaged primary entrance way walls; hand digging 4-foot deep holes to replace support beams for the entrance walls; adding a weed barrier prior to placing fresh mulch; installing a wheel on the gate; and organizing the tool supply storage area after making the necessary wall repairs to improve its usability.

The girls spent numerous hours painting donated wood, walls and doors as well as obtaining several supply donations (rakes, shovels, water buckets, etc.) for shared use by those using the horse barn.

The Troop would like to thank the many donors and volunteers who helped to make this project a successful one. The girls will now bridge from a Cadette to a Senior level Girl Scout and can begin thinking about their Gold Award Project!

Statement from Assemblyman Steve Hawley:

"Every October with Breast Cancer Awareness Month we are reminded of the fact that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during her life.

"I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to schedule their preventative screening. In fact, thanks to legislation I supported (A.5677 of 2017) women in New York have more options than ever before to get screened, including a 3-D mammography process known as tomosynthesis that is now covered by insurance companies.

"No matter which screening process you and your doctor decide is best for you, there is nothing more important than early detection. Please make an appointment to get screened today or for more resources, visit www.ny.gov/programs/get-screened-no-excuses.”

Press release:

The OACS Alumni Hall of Fame Committee will be honoring the Alumni Hall of Fame Class of 2018 during an Alumni Hall of Fame weekend scheduled for Oct. 19th-20th.

This year's honorees are: Mark Boyce ('76), David Reed ('97), and Brett Willmott ('91).

On the evening of Saturday, Oct. 20th, there will be a community dinner and ceremony to induct our newest members. The dinner will be held at the OACS High School cafeteria. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event begins at 6 o'clock.

Tickets are on sale only through Oct.13th and are available at the high school check-in main entrance, at Santino's Pizza on Drake Street in Oakfield, or by contacting committee member Brandon Brummert through email at bbpennstate10@aol.com. Tickets are $20 each.

The Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding OACS alumni who have achieved distinction in their lives and chosen field after high school through significant contributions to their career, community or through personal achievements. 

We hope to see you there!

For bios of this year's honorees, click here.

Jacqueline Corbelli

Submitted photos; bios and event information from the Paolo Busti Cultural Foundation:

October is National Italian-American Heritage Month and also the month that Paolo Busti was born, on the 17th actually, in 1749. He established the Batavia office of the Holland Land Company, and was its principal agent starting in 1800 until his death in the summer of 1824.

The native of Milan, Italy, is of course the namesake of the Batavia-based Paolo Busti Cultural Foundation, which holds a fall fundraiser every year honoring two outstanding movers and shakers in the local Italian-American community.

The feast funds one of the deepest scholarship coffers for high school seniors in Genesee County: all proceeds go into it.

This year, the foundation honors Jacqueline Corbelli and Dr. Matthew J. Landfried.

They will be feted at a sit-down Italian dinner, replete with Cannoli cake, at Terry Hills Banquet Facility next Wednesday, Oct. 10. It is located at 5120 Clinton Street Road in Batavia.

Cash bar opens at 6 p.m.; dinner is at 6:30.

Tickets are $30 each. For reservations, tickets or more information, call Michelle Fuller at (585) 768-7016.

Tickets are also available at: Ben’s Appliance, Kitchen and Bath at 634 E. Main St. in Batavia; V.J. Gautieri Constructors Inc. at 45 Liberty St. in Batavia; and from Paolo Busti Cultural Foundation board members.

About Jacqueline Corbelli

Jacqueline is the daughter of the late Octavio ("Tubby") Corbelli and Patricia Panepento. Her stepfather was the late Alfred Panepento. Her paternal grandfather, Carlo Corbelli came from Camarda, Province of L’Aquilla, Italy in 1920, and her grandmother, Dominica, came from Tacca, Assergi, Italy, at age 7. They married in 1921 and had 14 children!

Her maternal grandparents were the late Anthony and Catherine (Pricola) Gringer. Her grandmother’s family came from Rocconova, in the Naples region. As the matriarch of Jacquie’s family, Catherine was not just her maternal grandmother, but a rock of guidance and steady support in her life that Jacquie credits for her steely will and determination to both personally succeed, and for bringing kindness and Italian passion to her family and community.

Jacquie graduated from Batavia High School in 1982. She was named Batavia High School Graduate of Distinction in 2008 and is a proud member of the NYC Italian Gun Club, Tiro a Segmo, in Greenwich Village. She married her husband, Mark Joseph Modzelewski, in 1990. They are the proud parents of Kaitlyn Rose, 19, Kristiana Grace, 17, and Alexandra Maria, 14.

Jacqueline is a transformational leader that drives positive business growth and societal change. She tackles issues that redefine industry verticals, reshape culture and rebuild communities.

As the CEO, founder and chairman of BrightLine, Jacqueline built and continues to lead a technology platform company that ushered in the reinvention of television advertising from 30-second interruptive spots to immersive, interactive units. BrightLine is the cornerstone of advanced TV advertising and interactive content for all of America’s leading broadcasters, including NBCU, ABC/Disney, CBS, and Fox, among others.

What drew her to advanced TV advertising was the sweeping change being ushered in by the Internet and digital technologies. As an astute executive, she saw the prospect that shifting consumer behaviors held for media platforms and brands and the opportunity to put her change management skills to work to help redefine the relationship between the two.

Before BrightLine, Jacqueline served as president of Aston Associates, the leading advisory firm for financial institutions and their investors.

Jacqueline applies her transformational change methodologies outside of business and into the world of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) Jacqueline served as chairman of the board of Millennium Promise, overseeing integrated economic development work in 10 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa from 2005-2015. Millennium Promise was the leading international nonprofit organization solely committed to accelerating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the eradication of extreme poverty, hunger and preventable disease.

Jacqueline serves in leadership roles for both the United Nations and the Vatican. She is extensively involved in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, where she sits on the board of The Sustainable Development Goals Center of Africa and she leads an effort to guide women CEOs in 10 countries and provides strategic oversight on development bank reform in the countries of Rwanda and Uganda.

She is also a Leadership Council member of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and a governor at the New York Academy of Sciences.  Jacqueline also plays a leading role for the Vatican as a founding member of Pope Francis’ Ethics in Action Forum created under the auspices of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences, where she assists the Vatican to identify how technology, media and data can generate justice in society.

Throughout her career Jacqueline has been recognized for her important achievements. In 2017 alone Jacqueline was named as one of Adweek’s Disruptors, a Broadcasting and Cable Digital All-Star, a Cynopsis Top Woman in Digital and New York Business Journal’s Woman of Influence. 

Jacqueline frequently publishes and speaks on her work in business and NGOs. She shared her extensive expertise and learnings as the author of “REVEALED: Thoughts on the Connected Television Ad Revolution,” published in 2014. She followed her first book with a collection of articles she wrote in 2017 titled “TVTOPIA.” Jacqueline provides industry knowledge regularly in articles and on the airwaves of Variety, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Radio, Business Insider and Advertising Age.

Jacqueline sits on numerous boards, including the Atlantic Theater Company, International Radio and Television Society, Second Curve Capital, Luminari Capital, Women’s Voices for Change, and NBCU Women’s Advisory Board.

Jacqueline received her master’s in International Banking, Business, and Finance from Columbia University.

Dr. Matthew J. Landfried

About Dr. Matthew J. Landfried

Dominic and Vincenza Rizzitti Greco immigrated to Pennsylvania from Calabria, Italy, in 1903, beginning Dr. Matthew J. Landfried’s deep connection to his Italian heritage through his great-grandparents. Matt was raised in Greenville, Pa., strongly influenced by his Italian mom with lots of tradition, stemming from his rich ancestry.

Matt has made two recent trips to connect with his Greco family relatives in Calabria, and of course to experience some amazing food and wine! On recent visits there, Matt was excited to spend time with cousins – to whom he bears a strong resemblance.

He graduated from Temple University School of Medicine in 1985; spent the next few years at Hamot Medical Center completing his residency in Orthopedic Surgery; and joined the Batavia community in 1990. Matt is currently the medical director of Surgical Services, and chairman of the Department of Surgery at UMMC as well as serving on multiple committees at UMMC and its partner Rochester Regional Health.

Dr. Landfried is an Adjunct Professor at LECOM Medical School and D’Youville College and mentors PA students, medical students and residents.  Professionally, Matt is well respected in his field and has been published in multiple medical journals. Among other honors, Dr. Landfried has been named a “Top Doctor” by U.S. News & World Report.

He is a member of the HHS (NDMS) Trauma and Critical Care response team. Through this volunteer commitment, Matt has spent significant time in Haiti, Texas, and other disaster sites supporting the critical medical need of communities struck by disaster. He has recently returned from continuous training and was certified in Bio Chemical/Medical Hazmat Preparedness.

Dr. Landfried is the medical lead for several area sports programs including the Batavia City School District and Notre Dame High School, as well as assisting with various sports medicine needs at Genesee Community College. He donates his time, and often medical assistance, outside of the office to athletes in need.

On a larger scale, Matt has served as an orthopedist for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals and Florida Marlins, both at the local Muckdogs level and at the higher professional tier. He and his wife, Kerry, have hosted several baseball players on our Batavia farm team over the years and have maintained long-lasting relationships with those who had the pleasure of being welcomed by the Landfrieds while playing in Batavia.

Personally, Matt and Kerry are the proud parents of two children -- Bekah and Matthew, as well as their “unofficially adopted son” Jermaine. He and Kerry have been married for 36 years and he proudly states that his family is his most valuable treasure.

Family is a theme for Matt and the stories of him helping a family in medical need are endless -- and not simply as a doctor – but as the person who has helped the whole family through the difficult times that often surround older relatives, young ones or just everyday injuries. If there is an athlete, elderly person, or anyone of any age that needs an orthopedic surgeon, Matt turns no one away.

His office staff would tell you that he adds long hours to their days by squeezing in friends, before or after hours. The thing is, with Matt being Italian, everyone he meets is “family” and you treat family well -- always! Home visits, special treatment and donations for whatever is needed, are his daily focus. He is not simply a doctor in business; he is a talented, compassionate man who has made it his business to use his gift to help his community.

Throughout Matt’s 28 years in our area, he and Kerry have financially supported too many causes to mention; he has physically shown up – FOR YEARS -- to support young athletes on hours upon hours of donated time; and stayed in the background of the causes he passionately believes in such as our local hospital, his local church, The Ricky Palermo Foundation (to name a few) – while selflessly donating his time, talent and treasure. Our community is infinitely enriched by the presence of Dr. Matthew J. Landfried.

The good doctor is also an apiarist and viticulturist. In his small amount of free time, he can be seen in his beekeeper suit tending to his hives or picking grapes in his garden for homemade red wine. Winemaking is certainly a passion rooted in his Italian genes, and Matt’s yard mimics that of his great-grandfather’s with grapevines, chestnut and fruit trees. Also, like Grandpa Greco – Matt generously shares his wine with friends and proudly boasts about his Italian heritage!

The dairy industry needs exports to really thrive, according to an Elba dairy farmer who, like a lot of dairy farmers these days, is happy there is a potential new trade agreement between the United States and its largest agricultural trade partners, Canada and Mexico.

"The name of the game in dairy now is exports," Jeff Post said. "Years ago it was all about national consumption, but if we're going to survive as the dairy industry in this country, we need to export as much product as possible and we have to rely on our government to help us with trade deals."

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump knocked the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as "a really bad deal" and promised a better deal if elected. For the most part, local farmers think they got that with the new deal with a new acronym, USMCA.

The deal must be ratified by the legislative bodies of all three countries before going into effect.

For dairy farmers in New York, the big hang-up with NAFTA was its lack of provisions for Class 6 and Class 7 milk, also known as ultrafiltered milk, which has become a big part of cheese production. Those classes didn't exist when NAFTA was approved in 1994 and nearly two years ago, Canada blocked imports of those classes.

Once elected, Trump took up the cause of dairy farmers and used the increased difficulty in exporting U.S. dairy products to Canada to push for a new deal and threatened to withdraw from NAFTA.

Craig Yunker, CEO of CY Farms, approves of the new deal but thought the heated rhetoric from the president, such as accusing Canada of cheating the United States,was unneccessary.

"Generally, it's a positive for dairy and for wheat, specifically, but I'm not sure that it's going to completely undo the hard feelings north of the border," Yunker said. "That's going to take some time, but it's going in the right direction. I think it'll take some time to repair the hard feelings."

Le Roy dairy farmer Dale Stein sides a little more with the president on his view that the United States hasn't been treated well by its trading partners, and while he welcomes the new provisions related to dairy, he thinks overall the new deal will help out the country as a whole.

"Our trading partners have been abusing us and that's been a fact," Stein said. "All the previous presidents have allowed it. There are other things in this trade agreement that I think will help with everything and have nothing to do with farming."

In 2017, the United States had a $63.6 billion trade deficit with Mexico on a total of $615.9 billion in trade. While the United States imported more goods than it exported, it still exported $276.2 billion in goods to Mexico, up from $52 billion in 1993. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that some six million jobs in the United States depend on trade with Canada and Mexico.

Besides agriculture, much of what's new deals with auto production. New provisions require at least 45 percent of an automobile to be built by people earning at least $16 an hour, and that at least 75 percent of the auto's content be made in North America.

Whether these provisions will result in more car production jobs in the United States in unclear, according to economists, but it is likely to make cars more expensive.

Yunker thinks the new deal is much like the old deal with many provisions that had been part of the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement, which Trump scraped as soon as he took office.

"I don't see it as a major accomplishment," Yunker said. "We had NAFTA in place and while it needed some tweaking, this is a big improvement over it throwing Canada out of the deal altogether. Well, I don't see that as a major accomplishment of the Trump Administration. The major accomplishment is that it was negotiated after the rhetoric insulting Canada."

One of the big issues besetting the dairy industry is oversupply and Yunker noted that Cornell ag economist Andy Novakovic doesn't anticipate the new agreement doing much to increase milk prices anytime soon.

"He hasn't really changed his price projects for 2019 based on this," Yunker said. "It is good it opens up the market for ultrafilteration milk; that's a positive. But we still have an oversupply of milk, so I'm not sure that this cures the low price for producers but it's certainly the right direction."

Yunker remains dissapointed that TPP didn't go through.

"A lot of work went into (TPP)," Yunker said. "We lost the initiative to be the lead in Asia trade and then replaced by China taking the lead in that. I'm still disappointed over pulling out of the TPP but I'm a free-trade guy."

Post is less enthused about TPP but believes U.S. dairy farmers need Asian markets and hopes now that the NAFTA makeover is done there's a chance to open up Japan and other Asian nations.

"I look forward to hopefully getting some of these Asian markets opened up, too," Post said. "I wasn't a big fan of the TPP agreement -- only for what it did for ag. Hopefully, he government is negotiating with Japan and negotiationing to South Korea and we're going to get more more access to export to markets there."

Stein is also looking forward to getting past the trade conflicts and open up more export markets.

"We were looking at very high prices this fall or the end of the year until all this (trade conflict) started because of the exports and now we will get the exports back," Stein said. "We should be able to compete against against anybody. We haven't really sold a lot to China to begin with. We've exported dairy to Mexico primarily and a fair amount in Canada. By reopening them up again, hopefully, they will get back trading so we can use up some of our milk supply."

(Submitted photos) The condition of the abused puppy at the time she was found last night in Stafford.

The public is asked to help law enforcement find the owner of this emaciated puppy found last night on Route 33 and Prole Road Extension in Stafford.

The fawn-and-white colored female weighs only 9.2 pounds. The dog is not able to stand on its own. It was covered in urine and feces. It is severely dehydrated and malnourished.

The puppy was picked up by a Good Samaritan and turned over to the Batavia City PD and the case is now being investigated by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.

Due to the nature of the wounds present on the puppy, this is being investigated as animal cruelty.

The puppy was immediately examined and treated by a local veterinarian and was being cared for at the Genesee County Animal Shelter with the assistance of the Volunteers for Animals. They have named her "Opal" and she is now in a foster home until she is well enough to be adopted.

If you any ANY information about the owner of this puppy, please contact Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Forsyth at (585) 345-3000, ext. 3233.

Below, "Opal" today, clean and wrapped snuggly in fleece at the vet's office.

At 10 a.m. today (Oct. 5) Batavia's oldest continuously operating company, shoemaker P.W. Minor, ceased operations. Forty-two workers were laid off last week; 40 people lost their jobs today.

Local businessman Pete Zeliff, who, in partnership with Andrew Young, acquired P.W. Minor in 2014, still owns the company's headquarters and factory building at 3 Treadeasy Ave., as well as the production equipment. He was leasing the building to Tidewater + Associates. Zeliff carried the paper on the loan for Tidewater's purchase of the company earlier this year.

This afternoon, Zeliff said he foreclosed on the company last week.

Last week, P.W. Minor CEO Hundley Elliotte announced the company would eliminate 45 jobs, ending production of its welt boot line, but would continue with orthopedic shoe production.

This morning's decision to shut down the company completely came as a surprise to everybody.

Zeliff said he has no plans to reenter the shoe business, but he said there is some hope that investors can be found to resurrect at least the orthopedic line of shoes, and perhaps the boot line, and he believes Tidewater is working on finding new investors. We were referred to Elliotte for any questions about the future of the company.

We have an email out to Elliotte requesting comment.

This afternoon a customer of P.W. Minor's forwarded an email to The Batavian from Brian Benedict, VP of sales for P.W. Minor, that read, "I regret to inform you that as of 10AM this morning, PW Minor has ceased operation. There will be a formal announcement via email, but since you are drop ship customers who rely on us, I wanted you to know as soon as possible so you can modify your sites accordingly."

UPDATE -- Press release:

P.W. Minor LLC, a Batavia, NY footwear manufacturer, has ceased operations as of today and laid off all employees.

All assets of P.W. Minor LLC, have been transferred to our senior creditor Batavia Shoes LLC, per an agreement signed today. 

“Our focus through this entire process has been on our employees' well-being. We want to thank them for their dedication, loyalty and hard work.” said P.W. Minor CEO Hundley Elliotte. “We would also like to thank the NYS Dept. of Labor, the Genesee County Workforce Development Board and the local business community for their responsiveness and offers to help get our affected employees back to work as soon as possible..”

P.W. Minor, founded in 1867 and located in Batavia, New York, is the second oldest footwear manufacturer in the United States and the maker of orthopedic and diabetic athletic, dress and casual shoes.

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Batavia Police Department wish to advise residents that they have received several complaints over the past week involving the theft of articles from vehicles parked in private driveways.

The larcenies have occurred during the overnight hours.

Residents are reminded to keep their vehicles locked and to report any suspicious activity that they observe to 9-1-1.

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) approved incentives for Amada Tool and Six Flags Darien Lake LLC, and accepted an application for an expanded PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) agreement to support the Ellicott Station development at the agency’s Oct. 4 board meeting.

Amada Tool in the City of Batavia was approved for incentives for an $8.8 million capital investment to increase the company’s manufacturing facility by approximately 19,000 square feet. The project will create 17 new jobs and retain 68 current jobs. The approved investment includes $2.3 million in construction costs and $6.5 million in new equipment. Amada Tool was approved for property and sales tax exemptions of approximately $266,000.

Six Flags Darien Lake LLC was approved for approximately $166,000 in sales tax exemption to build a new $2.15 million ride that is scheduled to open in 2019.  Six Flags Darien Lake LLC is one of the largest sales tax revenue generators in Genesee County.

The PILOT agreement expansion requested by Savarino Companies for the Ellicott Station development was based on increased capital costs, from approximately $17.6 million to $21.75 million, and the development’s footprint, which will expand from 73,100 square feet to 99,111 square feet. The expansion includes the addition of at-grade garages for residents as well as increasing the number of housing units from 51 units to 55 units. 

NOTE: The Batavian will have a follow-up story on Ellicott Station as soon as we have time to write it, which may not be today.

A residential fire is reported at 6612 Warboys, Byron.

Byron fire and South Byron fire dispatched.

UPDATE(S) (By Billie) 8 p.m: This is a working house fire. It has gone to a second alarm. The city's Fast Team is called, along with Mercy medics. Flames are showing.

UPDATE 8:08 p.m.: Bethany's tanker is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 8:09 p.m.: A crew from Town of Batavia is asked to stand by in Town of Batavia's Fire Hall.

UPDATE 8:22 p.m.: A crew from Alexander is asked to stand by in Alexander Fire Hall in case needed as a backup for Bethany, which has its tanker deployed at the Warboys fire.

UPDATE 8:26 p.m.: The property is a total loss. The roof is gone; the house is gutted and the garage is completely destroyed.

UPDATE 8:37 p.m.: Elba Fire Police are requested to the intersection of North Byron Road and Route 237.

UPDATE 8:45 p.m.: No one was home when the fire broke out. It was called in by a passerby. No word yet if any pets lived there, and if so, their fate.

Briggs, Council’s Fifth Ward representative, has served on the board since 2000.

When asked for the reasoning behind the move, Briggs, who has been a registered Democrat for the past 17 years, she said it was a matter of her “philosophy” reflecting a Republican-Conservative tone and had nothing to with any future endorsement.

City Democratic Party chair Erica O’Donnell supported that claim, stating that “up to this point, we haven’t discussed endorsements.”

O’Donnell said she is “sad to see Kathy go.”

“She has been a great councilwoman. She sent me an email over the summer stating that she previously was a Republican … was a registered Republican out of college … and is returning to her roots.”

When asked about future endorsements, O’Donnell said that “anyone who wants to run should be given a chance to run,” she said, mentioning that at least two people – including someone in the Fifth Ward – have indicated their willingness to run for City Council.

David Saleh, chair of the City Republican Party, agreed.

“Kathy is coming back home to her roots, and we’re very happy to see her come back,” Saleh said. “Her viewpoints are much more consistent with those of the Republican Party.”

According to a Genesee County elections’ office employee, any party change would take effect a week after this year’s November election. Briggs is not up for reelection until November 2019.

Currently, four of the six Ward council members are Republicans – Paul Viele (First Ward), Patti Pacino (Second Ward), John Canale (Third Ward) and Al McGinnis (Fourth Ward).

Briggs, for the time being, and Rose Mary Christian (Sixth Ward) are Democrats.

Saleh said he thinks that all of the Republican ward council members will run again.

“It’s a bit early,” he said. “I haven’t heard anything to the contrary.”

A Batavia man is a suspect in the theft of guns from a firing range in Bergen and may face federal charges.

Morgan R. Coles, 20, of Jackson Street, was arrested Wednesday at his residence following the execution of a search warrant and he was charged with criminal possesion of a weapon in the first degree for allegedly possessing 10 or more firearms.

Last week, 14 guns were stolen from The Firing Pin. Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster said all of the guns reported stolen were recovered at Coles' residence.

While additional state charges may be pending, particularly those related to the break in at The Firing Pin, Brewster said investigators at ATF, who assisted in the investigation, are also considering federal charges against Coles.

Brewster believes Coles intended to sell the guns rather than stockpile them for himself.

Whether Coles has the contacts to move such merchandise is unclear. Brewster said he had a minimal criminal record.

Asked how investigators came to make an arrest so quickly, Brewster said, "Good police work."

"The right people," Brewster said. "The right individuals.

"I'd be the first to tell you," he added, "we were lucky, but you can't solve anything if you're not out there doing your job, asking questions; but there was a little bit of luck involved, and, yeah, it was good, concentrated police work."

Investigator Brad Mazur led the investigation. Members of the Local Drug Task Force, which is involved in most major investigations, also assisted.

Coles was jailed without bail.

The Genesee Symphony Orchestra, with S. Shade Zajac music director/conductor, will perform at Genesee Community College on Sunday, Oct. 28.

The program for "Dare to Dream" is as follows:

• "Electric Dream for Acoustic Orchestra" -- World Premiere, by S. Shade Zajac
• "Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra" featuring Guest Artist Marza Wilks, cellist, by Samuel Barber
• "Symphony No. 2 in B Minor" by Alexander Borodin.

Meet the orchestra at 3 p.m., followed by the concert at 4.

Tickets are $15 for adults; $7 for students; $10 for seniors; $35 for a family with parents and children age 12 and under.

Tickets are available at GO ART!, The YNGodess Shop, Vinyl Record Revival, Bank of Castile in Le Roy, and at geneseesymphony.com

This concert is sponsored by WBTA and is also made possible, in part, by the NYS Council on the Arts, with the support of Gov. Cuomo and the NYS Legislature.

The college is located at 1 College Road in the Town of Batavia.

It was Walk to School Day in Oakfield with a group of students, supervised by teachers and administrators, starting out at Triangle Park in the Village of Oakfield, making the walk at 7 a.m. to the school, where they were treated to a free breakfast.

The event is meant to promote walking as a healthy activity for people.

More than 200 local high school students, including students from Elba High School at Graham Manufacturing, toured local businesses yesterday for National Manufacturing Day, sponsored locally by the Genesee County Business/Education Alliance.

At Graham, Elba students learned about what the company does and how it does it during a presentation in the company's cafeteria. The students then toured some of the production buildings.

Other companies participating were U.S. Gypsum, Amanda Tool, Oxbo, Orcon, Liberty Pumps, and Chassix.