community

Genesee County CASA for Children is having a Chicken BBQ on August 13th from 12pm-6pm in the parking lot of the CourtHouse at 1 West Main St. Batavia, NY.  All proceeds to benefit the abused and neglected children in Genesee County that are served by dedicated volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

Tickets are $8.00 pre-sale and $8.50 at the event.  Dinners include chicken, salt potatoes, coleslaw, baked beans, and rolls.  This event is being catered by Tom Roviso Catering of E. Pembroke.  Tickets can be purchased by stopping in to CASA at the Courthouse (inside Family Court waiting area), by calling Tara Pariso at 344-2550 ext. 2331, or from any CASA board member or volunteer.

Please show your support for the hard work that CASA does to ensure that all children find safe, permanent homes.

The mission statement of the Genesee County ARC is "Genesee ARC exists to support people with disabilities in partnership with their families and the community.  We embrace the individuals and nurture their social, spiritual, physical and emotional growth."

The ARC employs many people with different types of disabilities to make products, and that gives the people feelings of pride and accomplishment.  The ARC has several different product lines including: boxes for filters, jewelry boxes, boxes for Yancy's Fancy cheese, and now they have expanded to include pet products.

"We just celebrated our 1 year anniversary at the end of May."

Paul Saskowski, the Marketing Manager, for the ARC came up with the idea for pet products when he noticed that even during a recession people spend money on their pets.  Pets are members of the family and have their own special needs. Saskowski did extensive research on the types of materials used in making pet products such as the dog beds and the prices stores charged.  He wanted a high quality product that was durable and would last while keeping the prices competitive.  

"We sell the following pet products: pet beds, cat nappers, dog bandanas, dog jackets, and hope to bring back their bark bones."

The pet beds are very durable and will take even the most destructive pet a while to take one apart.  The cat nappers are made from fleece and have a touch of catnip sewed into them and are $10.  They come in a verity of colors to choose from.  The dog bandanas are also made from fleece with many prints to choose from including holiday ones for the change in the season.  The price ranges from $2-4.

The dog jackets also come in different colors and the sizes range from x-small, small, and medium. The prices start from $10-15.  Each item can be personalized with your pets name for only $5 more. The bark bones are an all-natural dog treat that are baked in an oven.  Currently the kitchen is undergoing renovations and as soon as they are, completed production will start once again.  These treats are tasty and have been a big hit.

"We are nearing our 100th bed sold."

In the last year, the ARC has sold almost 100 beds.  All of the beds are custom ordered and can be personalized to include the name of the pet.  The beds come in three sizes: small, medium, and large.  There is also the option of fiberfill or the pillow top orthopedic depending on how soft you want the bedding.  Prices range from $25-75.

"We only use high quality durable materials."

A heavy water resistant canvas is used for the bottom of the pet beds.  The bed can easily be wiped down if it gets wet.  There are four colors to choose from brown, khaki, black, and tan. The top is made from a soft fleece and there are six colors to choose from camel, rifle green, dog bones, white paws, red paws, and bow-wow.

The stuffing is made from a cotton blend.  In addition to help with recycling and cut down on unused material, the excess padding from the jewelry boxes, is included in the stuffing.  This produces little waste and makes the beds softer.  The beds are machine washable, just throw the bed in the washing machine and follow the care instructions.

"We have flyers in the State St. Animal Hospital and in Mount Morris."

Currently the pet product line gets all of its business through the flyers in various animal hospitals and shelters and by word of mouth.  Saskowski is anticipating on getting a website created soon.  This way the products will become easier to order and more people will have access to the products.  Saskowski has several organizations already lined up waiting for him to have the website available because they will post a link to his site and more people will be aware of the products.  He has also attended fairs and the Batavia Market in an effort to get his product out to the people.

"All orders are custom made."

Each order is filled as Saskowski receives it.  This way the custom can choose which pattern and even add the name of the pet. One person sews the pet products and she can make 2-3 beds per day.  Once the order is ready, either the person will pick up the product or Saskowski will drop it off.  On the rare occasions, an order comes in from out of state the product is packaged and mailed.  Most of the orders come from within the area; the farthest one they shipped is Florida.

"All money stays with the Genesee County ARC."

All the proceeds go directly to the ARC, helps support the people, and the programs involved in creating a better living for people with disabilities.  By buying products from the ARC, you are helping to support a local business, and because the workers are members of the community, you help support the community as well.

To submit an order you can email Paul Saskowski at pasaskowski@rochester.rr.com.

 

Tomorrow will be an important day for our county.  Nearly 20 agencies have worked together to bring information to the hands of individuals that may have not known where to turn when help was needed.  The Forgotten Children Event will include a display in front of the Courthouse of cut-outs representing children in foster care in Genesee County, a processional walk starting at 12:15pm from City Hall to the Courthouse, a Batavia Area Jaycees $1 Hot Dog Stand, free healthy snacks to the public, and information bags filled with brochures & program information.  This event is to raise awareness of all the children in Genesee County that live in foster care, services that are available to men, women, and children, and a chance to show support of all the wonderful people that our county has working to make this a better place to live.  A sample of agencies include Genesee County Dept. of Social Services, YWCA, Girl Scouts, RAP, Inc., Genesee Justice, GCASA, WIC, Community Action, All Babies Cherished, and Cornell Cooperative Extension.  This event is open to the public and is FREE!

Here is a fun and easy way to show your support of Genesee County CASA for Children.  On May 12th starting at 11am, with every voucher turned in at check-out, Applebee's will donate 10% of the check amount to CASA for Children.  These funds will assist CASA in advocating for abused and neglected children in Genesee County.  By being a positive, constant role model for children of abuse, CASA volunteers are able to advocate for safe, permanent homes for children, increasing their chances at future life success.

To show your support, come out and enjoy great food at Applebee's in Batavia on May 12th.  A voucher is needed in order for funds to be donated to CASA.  The voucher can be located and printed at :  www.co.genesee.ny.us. Click on the CASA link and scroll to the bottom where you'll see Abblebee's Voucher link.  For more info or to learn how you can become a CASA volunteer, contact Tara Pariso at (585) 344-2550 ext. 2331 or tpariso@co.genesee.ny.us.

 Tomorrow 4/26/10 6-7pm there will be an information session at 430 E Main St. Batavia (GCASA) for anyone interested in learning more about CASA for Children and how to become a volunteer CASA.  If you are interested and can't make the information session please call Tara Pariso at (585) 344-2550 ext. 2331 or email at tpariso@co.genesee.ny.us

I wrote about Batavia, NY woes at the ends of 2009. Three months into 2010 the status quo seems to be unfazed.  I being a loyal, democrat and resident of Batavia, now heading into my tenth year can't believe how disappointing this city has turned out.

The City Manager and the City Council plus the Genesee County Legislature seem to be content with their jobs. These people and their familys are finacially stable.  They don't care about anyone or thing except themselves.  They will say they care, they may pose like they care, but look at the results. The City and the County believe handing out welfare checks, Social Security checks and unemployment checks is the staus quo, here in Batavia, NY, rather than creating jobs. Look at how many people who recieve these checks,  have no self asteem or pride, knowing they can do absolutely nothing, and recieve this type of income.  While on the other side, using my own status.  Have been working parttime for ten years, ask for help from the City, County and State and Feds  "We can't help you." Disgraceful, but not surprised.  Batavia, like all other current American flag  Communities, are divided by the haves and have nots. But yet, support the troops, pay your taxes, do the right thing.  Why? Especially if your a have not. Our current State Federal Politicians are flat out clowns. They help out third world nations with my tax money, but yet, I ask for their help and support they say no.  I call them traitors. You may have even Fought for America, you may have been elected into office, you may call yourself a patriot,  you are, in your own megar minds.  That includes all of you current, Fedreal, State, County and Local Politicians, your a bunch of disgraceful yellow back traitors.  You have sold out the United States, to fill your pockets from  Special Interest, and  Foreign goverenments.  Thats not even mentioning,  the corrupt acts you hear and see every day.  The Pharmecutical companies, have doped out the United States so bad, people just sit and let the status quo run Willy Nilly.  Guess what special interest group gets mega dollars from the US Goverenment? Pharmacuticals.  Thinks these Ceo's and others are poor like me, not even close. In a way i'm glad i have nothing to do with giving away the United States, like the Feds are doing today. We'll help Hati, Well help Chile, says the United States goverenment. When are you going to start helping United States Citizens whom need and deserve help, from the goverenment were paying takes to?  This is a reflection of Batavia, New York. The politicians in Batavia, NY are just followers, of their traitors Counterparts.

The Leadership-In-Action Class at Oakfield-Alabama will be hosting a Going Bald for Bucks event for the Roswell Cancer Institute. You will have to collect donations from sponsors, and in return for these donations you will have the choice to have your head shaved to a clipper setting of one inch or you can have ten inches of non-chemically damaged hair which will be donated to Locks of Love. The shaving of the head is to honor cancer patients who lose their hair due to radiation or chemotherapy.

If you are interested, the application/pledge form can be found at the Oakfield-Alabama High School location and on the Hornets website; www.oahornets.org.  There will be a link called Bald for Bucks which will take you to the forms.

The forms and money are due to the Oakfield-Alabama High School office by March 12, 2010. Make sure the pledge form is signed, and has sponsors listed for you.

The date of the event will be March 26th, 2010 from 1:15pm-2:30pm.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Tracy Schlagenhauf or Cindy Kowalik at 948-5211.

Oakfield-Alabama School Address:

7001Lewiston Road

Oakfield, NY 14125

The Leadership-In-Action Class at Oakfield-Alabama will be hosting a Going Bald for Bucks event for the Roswell Cancer Institute. You will have to collect donations from sponsors, and in return for these donations you will have the choice to have your head shaved to a clipper setting of one inch or you can have ten inches of non-chemically damaged hair which will be donated to Locks of Love. The shaving of the head is to honor cancer patients who lose their hair due to radiation or chemotherapy.

If you are interested, the application/pledge form can be found at the Oakfield-Alabama High School location and on the Hornets website; www.oahornets.org.  There will be a link called Bald for Bucks which will take you to the forms.

The forms and money are due to the Oakfield-Alabama High School office by March 12, 2010. Make sure the pledge form is signed, and has sponsors listed for you.

The date of the event will be March 26th, 2010 from 1:15pm-2:30pm.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Tracy Schlagenhauf or Cindy Kowalik at 948-5211.

Oakfield-Alabama School Address:

7001Lewiston Road

Oakfield, NY 14125

The Leadership-In-Action Class at Oakfield-Alabama will be hosting a Going Bald for Bucks event for the Roswell Cancer Institute. You will have to collect donations from sponsors, and in return for these donations you will have the choice to have your head shaved to a clipper setting of one inch or you can have ten inches of non-chemically damaged hair which will be donated to Locks of Love. The shaving of the head is to honor cancer patients who lose their hair due to radiation or chemotherapy.

If you are interested, the application/pledge form can be found at the Oakfield-Alabama High School location and on the Hornets website; www.oahornets.org.  There will be a link called Bald for Bucks which will take you to the forms.

The forms and money are due to the Oakfield-Alabama High School office by March 12, 2010. Make sure the pledge form is signed, and has sponsors listed for you.

The date of the event will be March 26th, 2010 from 1:15pm-2:30pm.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Tracy Schlagenhauf or Cindy Kowalik at 948-5211.

Oakfield-Alabama School Address:

7001Lewiston Road

Oakfield, NY 14125

 


(Columbus Circle Statues)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Ready for another week?
JOE: I am.
CALLIOPE: What have you been up to over the weekend?
JOE: I started reading Oliver Sacks' book Musicolophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain.
CALLIOPE: What did you discover?
JOE: A provocative line toward the beginning raising a question about what use music is and why does it exist and enchant us. Then I spent Saturday evening enchanted by the Dady Brothers, Roxanne Ziegler and Irish Dancers.
CALLIOPE: To what end?
JOE: I reached the conclusion that sometimes words fail us and we must think and communicate in other ways.
CALLIOPE: As a champion of epic poetry, I must remind you that the arts were originally ways of relating our heritage, ideas and culture.
JOE: No doubt. But there is something else too. Even writing does not just convey information. It touches our souls and hearts and brings us together.
CALLIOPE: So you see the arts, including literature as a way for our minds and souls to communicate?
JOE: I do. I'm not sure I can explain it any further. Maybe it is something to contemplate without words.
CALLIOPE: Perhaps so. Let's both meditate on it.
JOE: Agreed. Talk with you tomorrow.

I bought an old steamer trunk from the Batavia Flea Market down at the county fair grounds back in June. I've started to clean it up, and I've found a baby picture. Does anyone know the Tyler family that used to live on Morton street? I don't rememer the name of the baby, but it's a picture of a 3-week-old, I don't want to throw it away, but I'm not sure where/who to send/give it to. Your help is greatly appreciated :)

On another note, while I've started to clean it up with Murphy's Oil Soap, and it's looking fantastic. Once I try to get some of the other marks and scuffs off of it, I'll post some pictures. It was built by a trunk company in Rochester and has shipping stickers on it from Ann Arbor. It's a pretty cool buy for $10!

(Family)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Have you finally returned to your regular schedule?
JOE: We'll see. The answer is yes for the moment.
CALLIOPE: Did your weekend adventures provide all you expected?
JOE: They did. A couple from Spiritus Christi invited my brother and me for dinner Saturday.
CALLIOPE: How did that go?
JOE: Quite well. We learned more about the history of the community which has been in existence for about ten years now and is going strong.
CALLIOPE: Any revelations?
JOE: I was concerned that they might have some confining dogmas which might give me second thoughts. I thought I might want to just stay with the experience and not try to make too much sense of it.
CALLIOPE: And?
JOE: Discussing it did not provide any such difficulties. It is a community which offers support for acting in a Christian way without the onerous burdens I formerly carried as a Roman Catholic and which eventually drove me from their fold.
CALLIOPE: And then?
JOE: My brother and I and our girlfriends attended the Spiritus Christi service Sunday morning and felt totally immersed in their fellowship and community.
CALLIOPE: It sounds like you have found a new spiritual home.
JOE: I think so. We are trying to let it develop naturally without forcing anything. Talk with you tomorrow.

From Genesee Community College:

Genesee Community College and the American Red Cross have partnered together to provide Family Care Giving Classes at the Lakeville campus center located at 5999 Big Tree Road. The classes will provide instruction to families caring for loved ones of any age. Four classes will be offered on various Saturday mornings, starting Saturday March 14, from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. The cost for all four classes is $25.

The first class, scheduled for March 14, will focus on Home Safety and Healthy Eating. The second class, on March 28, will focus on General Care. The April 4 class will concentrate on Personal Care, and the last class in the series will take place on April 25 and will discuss Caring for the Caregiver, Legal and Financial Issues and Alzheimer's.

"These classes are an excellent way to serve our community members who may be caring for a loved one and have many questions," Serena Cooke, Campus Associate at the Lakeville campus center said. "With the growing number of elderly parents being cared for by their children, due to personal choice or economic reasons, training and support needs to be available for these families."

The Lakeville campus center is located at 5999 Big Tree Road (Route 20A) in Lakeville. Class sizes are limited, and registration is required. Please call the Lakeville Campus Center for further information or to register at 585-346-5070.