Press release:

Businesses throughout the GLOW region have a new outlet for safety training for their employees thanks to the innovative efforts of The BEST Center at Genesee Community College.

The BEST Center was recently awarded nearly $100,000 from SUNY's Workforce Development Grants to implement various safety training courses and seminars into their collection of course offerings. The grant allows The BEST Center to provide an all-new opportunity for safety awareness to companies of all sizes throughout the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming) region.

Several local companies have already committed to enrolling their employees in various safety courses over the next year. More than 1,600 participants have been confirmed, earning over 700 hours in training classes. The grant funding is dedicated to the development and delivery of a wide range of safety programs, and to offset the enrollment cost of the courses.

The nearly 40 different courses are being offered both at The Best Center locations, as well as on-site at area businesses. The safety courses are OSHA approved and include many topics such as: general industries outreach, NFPA70E electrical training, material handling, construction industry standards, emergency response and many others. For a comprehensive list please go to: http://www.genesee.edu/gcc/best/safetytraining.cfm.

"There has been a gap in our region for safety training," Lina LaMattina, director of Business Skills Training at The BEST Center said. "External safety consultants can be very costly. With this grant, we are offering local businesses safety training at a very reasonable cost and we can bring it right to the workplace."

Genesee Community College's BEST (Business and Employee Skills Training) Center is a local provider of business consulting, community training and workshops for companies of all sizes and in all industries. The BEST Center offers a variety of tailored programs on-location at businesses across the GLOW region, or at any of Genesee Community College's seven campus locations (Albion, Arcade, Batavia, Dansville, Lima, Medina and Warsaw).

For further information on The BEST Center, please contact Lina LaMattina, director, at 343-0055 ext. 6299 or visit the BEST Center online at www.bestcenter.org.

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Ronald Jacobs, director of the Respiratory Care Program at Genesee Community College, accepted a proclamation for National Respiratory Care Week at the Genesee County Legislature meeting Oct.14.

National Respiratory Care week is Oct. 25-31.

It celebrates the work and accomplishments of the over 135,000 respiratory therapists nationwide. There are over 6,500 licensed respiratory therapists and technicians in New York. It is also used to bring more awareness of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), its causes and treatment.

A few years ago, Congress established a bipartisan COPD Caucus. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death due to chronic illness in the country. It is anticipated that it will become the third leading cause of death within the next 10 years, making it the only chronic disease where the mortality rate is increasing, not decreasing.

GCC began its Respiratory Care Program in 1995 and it is fully accredited by CoARC, the Committee for Accreditation of Respiratory Care. The program occupies its own floor of the Batavia Campus and has a state-of-the-art laboratory modeled after a hospital room, with piped in oxygen and compressed air. The equipment is up-to-date, with educational grants and donations continuing to bring in modern equipment.

Genesee students also have access to over 20 different clinical sites, acquiring almost 900 hours of clinical experience during their education, assuring a comprehensive clinical education in the field.

Genesee Community College has announced that Christopher Caputi, instructor in the Physical Therapist Assistant program, has earned his doctorate in Physical Therapy. It was granted by Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.

Caputi came to Genesee in the fall of 2007 as an adjunct instructor and became a full-time instructor in January 2008. He currently teaches Kinesiology and Physical Therapy Patient Care courses to first-year students. He is also the academic coordinator of Clinical Education for the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program and is the advisor of the PTA Club.

He has been a physical therapist since 1992 when he worked in hospitals, outpatient clinics and sports medicine. He has also worked as an adjunct instructor at D'Youville College's Physical Therapist program.

He holds a bachelor's as well as a master's degree from D'Youville College in Buffalo and is a certified spine-care specialist by the McKenzie Institute International and a certified clinical instructor by the American Physical Therapy Association.

"Chris is a great asset to the Physical Therapist Assistant department here at Genesee," Peggy Kerr, director of the Physical Therapist Assistant program said. "He has a wealth of information to share with his students and empowers students on a daily basis. His doctoral degree truly enhances his abilities as an engaging and well-respected faculty member."

A resident of Tonawanda, Caputi is married to his wife, Melissa, and has a son, Cameron, and a daughter, Nicole. His hobbies include athletics and in his spare time he can be found in the newly renovated gym at Genesee.

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A lot of times, people think of life-science workers as some nerds in white lab coats enthralled with Petri dishes and gaseous vials of God-knows-what simmering on Bunsen burners.

Of course, that's a stereotype and one that regional educators, employers and professionals are actively working to erase. They have a plan as to how to accomplish this and to enlightened people about the plethora of job opportunities available in life sciences.

The cornerstone was announced Tuesday by the Genesee County Economic Development Center. It's dubbed "iSciWNY," a collaborative effort out of the University of New York at Buffalo.

Touted as a "comprehensive life-sciences workforce development program," it's designed to prepare Western New Yorkers -- not just scientists -- for new positions in the region’s growing life-sciences industry.

Genesee Community College is pleased to announce head softball coach and sports information director Kristen Clark will be inducted into the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagle Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Sept. 26. The highly decorated coach and athlete will be inducted for her performances in basketball, softball and for her participation in the 2003 Women's Basketball team.

Clark joined Genesee's athletic department in 2004 as the head coach of the Lady Cougar Softball team. She is a 2003 graduate of SUNY Brockport with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Business Administration, plus 54 credits toward a sports management concentration. She received her Master's degree from California University of Pennsylvania.

While at Brockport, she was a two-sport athlete in basketball and softball, where she was an All-American and broke many school records. These included career records with best Earned Runs Average (1.18), most games pitched, most wins (69), and most strikeouts (639) for the Eagles Softball team. For the basketball program, she holds most points in a season (596), highest scoring average in a season (20.6), second career all time leading scorer (1780), and second career all time rebound leader.

Clark was also nominated for the 2004 College Sportswoman of the Year and was inducted into the J.P. Morgan Chase Basketball Tournament Hall of Fame. She has also earned State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Women's Basketball Player of the Week honors multiple times.

"Personally, I would say that Kristen is incredibly hard-working and a role model not only for the women on the College's softball team, but for all athletes," said Becky Dziekan, Genesee's director of Health and Physical Education. "I think Genesee Community College is very lucky to have her on staff."

Before joining the Cougar team, Kristen was the assistant basketball coach at Brockport where she helped with recruiting, planning and fundraising throughout the season. She is on the SUNY Brockport Alumni Association Board. She was recently married to David Schuth and they reside in Spencerport.

For further information please contact Margaret Sisson, athletic director at Genesee Community College at 585-343-0055 x6239.

Genesee Community College will conduct the annual fall Nursing Job Fair from noon to 3 p.m. on Oct. 1 in the Forum at the Batavia Campus.

This is the first academic year that two nursing classes will be graduating from Genesee, one in December 2009 and the second in May 2010.

More than 20 local and regional health care companies will be available to answer questions, accept resumes and distribute material relating to their company's nursing employment and continued educational opportunities.

Job seeking participants are encouraged to come dressed to impress with resumes in hand. This year's participants include:

Adecco Medical & Science
Catholic Health System
Eastern Niagara Hospital
Erie County Home
Erie County Medical Center Corp. - SNF
Finger Lakes DDSO
Genesee County Nursing Home
Kaleida Health, Buffalo General Hospital Lifetime Care
Medical Staffing Network, Inc.
Med-Scribe, Inc.
NYS Office of Mental Health
Roberts Wesleyan College
Samaritan Medical Center
Sibley Nursing Personnel Services
Strong Memorial Hospital
The College at Brockport (SUNY)
The Village of Orleans
Thompson Health
United Memorial Medical Center University of Rochester School of Nursing
V.A. WNY Healthcare System
WNY Rural Area Health Education Center
Wyoming County Community Health System

Nursing is an area in which jobs are currently growing, unlike other areas of the workforce. On March 6, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the healthcare sector is continuing to grow, despite steep job losses in nearly all major industries. Hospitals, long-term care facilities and other ambulatory care establishments added 27,000 new jobs in February 2009, a month when 681,000 jobs were eliminated nationwide.

"The fall job fair is an opportune time for our December graduates," said Kathy Palumbo, R.N., director of nursing at Genesee. "This is often a desirable group of graduates because hospitals and other institutions may need to fill positions in the spring and most programs graduate in May or June only."

The job fair is free and open to the public. For a full list of participants, directions and additional details, please visit www.genesee.edu/ctc <http://www.genesee.edu/ctc>  or contact John McGowan at 585-343-0055 ext. 6383.

It was found out Saturday evening that the Genesee Cougars Men's Basketball team has a new star player. Sign him up folks, Batavia's own Paul Ohlson, founder of Care-A-Van Ministries! It seemed Pastor Dale Gooch of the Emmanuel Baptist church was negotiating the deal.

I just could not resist sharing this breaking news! Ok, well maybe it is just his dream,, to be a star basketball player  but the reality of it all is that the vision of Care-A-Van Ministries is strong and truly is a key player in bringing hope and encouragement to all.

This fall, Genesee Community College is offering tai chi ch'uan lessons and Mandarin Chinese lessons. Tai chi ch'uan lessons will be on Monday and Thursday evenings and Mandarin Chinese lessons on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Both are at the Batavia campus and open to all.

Tai chi ch'uan, translates literally as "supreme ultimate fist," and is commonly known as tai chi. It is a "soft" or "internal" Chinese martial art, an ancient discipline followed by millions of people all over the world.

The college in conjuction with the Red Dragon School of Martial Arts will offer classes on from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Thursday starting Sept.14 and running through Dec. 17. The cost for this 26-session class is $286 and registration can be made through the Records Office at Genesee.

Tai chi is a system of exercises with both physical and mental benefits that everyone can practice regardless of age and physical abilities. Through these classes, students work according to their ability and within their natural range of movement. The movements are extended, natural, gentle, graceful and relatively simple and easy to learn. Tai chi is also a martial art, where embodied within the slow, gentle movements are powerful vigor and force. Tai chi can also be used to improve health and wellness and has been shown to reduce stress, depression, pain, inflammation and blood pressure. It also has been known to improve flexibility, balance, strength, circulation and mental outlook.

The college will also offer free Mandarin Chinese lessons on from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday starting Sept. 21, in room B360 at the Batavia campus. The lessons will focus on integrating speaking and listening as well as reading and writing skills.

Mandarin Chinese is taught by Genesee student Aiwen Yang. Aiwen was born in China and attended Chinese schools until moving to Spain. While in Spain, she studied Spanish and French and taught Chinese to members of the business community. She is currently a resident assistant at College Village, the on-campus student housing.

"Tai chi and Mandarin lessons are great examples of the multi-cultural learning opportunities Genesee Community College regularly offers to our students and our community," said Karin Kovach-Allen, dean of Human Communications and Behavior at Genesee. "We're especially pleased that one of our own students has offered to share her culture and language with the community."

For further information about Tai Chi and Mandarin lessons, please contact Nina Mortellaro at 585-343-0055 ext. 6228.

Former Batavia baseball standout Chris Page is going to get his shot at pro ball.

The Genesee Community College pitcher/first baseman was drafted in the 50th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Cincinnati Reds. He was the 1499th overall player selected.

"I was supposed to be working but I was watching the draft," said Page, who was picked at about 3 p.m. today. "It was the 49th round and I decided to watch one more. When they called my name, I was speechless."

The Reds have been scouting Page since high school, where the big 6-foot-4 lefty set two Batavia records in his senior season with a .534 batting average and 11 doubles. He also had 31 hits, three triples, two home runs, 19 RBIs and 15 walks in his senior season.

He was also 5-2 on the mound, earning him a chance to play at GCC, where Cincinnati continued to monitor his progress.

The Cougars went 25-13-1 this spring with Page leading the squad at the plate. He had a .456 batting average with 18 doubles, five home runs, 34 RBIs, 52 hits and 33 walks.  He did not pitch due to elbow problems.

He is expected to start his professional career in the Florida Gulf Coast League.

"I am honored to have been followed and drafted by a great organization like the Reds," Page said.

HAWLEY BILL TO SUPPORT EMERGENCY RESPONDERS PASSES ASSEMBLY

Assemblyman’s Legislation Exempts Emergency Responders from CDL Requirements

            Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,I,C-Batavia) to exempt firefighters, police and other emergency responders from commercial drivers’ licensing (CDL) requirements when driving emergency vehicles was passed in the Assembly today.  Hawley supported a similar measure that was contained as part of this year’s enacted State Budget, however, this legislation clarifies that section of law to allow first responders to drive emergency vehicles in situations such as returning from the scene of an emergency or community event without having a CDL.

            “Our emergency first responders put their lives on the line in order to protect us. In light of current fiscal times and budget cuts, we owe it to these everyday heroes to ensure their valuable time and resources are most efficiently spent.  Not only will this legislation help reduce redundancy in state law, but it will save our first responder time and money that could be better spent training them to protect us,” said Hawley, who recently announced the creation of a new local scholarship program for volunteer firefighters and emergency service workers at Genesee Community College.

            As part of this year’s enacted State Budget, emergency responders were made exempt from CDL requirements in emergency situations.  However, a loophole in the law still required first responders to obtain, and pay for, a CDL in order to drive emergency vehicles in other official non-emergency business, such as commercial building inspections, fire hydrant inspections, parades, funerals and other not-for-profit official business.  Assembly Bill 6051-A corrects this.

Keith Wann is a comedian who uses sign language to convey his experiences as a hearing person growing up with deaf parents.  As a Child of Deaf Adults, or CODA, Keith's childhood included many moments where the hearing and deaf worlds collided, providing a rich inspiration for his comedy.

Keith will be returning to perform at Genesee Community College at 8 p.m. on Friday May 1 at the Forum on the Batavia campus. He will bring along the American Sign Language (ASL) Comedy Tour.

Tickets for the show are $20 presale, $25 at the door. Tickets can be purchased from any Dactylology Club member or online at www.aslcomedytour.com <http://www.aslcomedytour.com> .

Keith performs using ASL with interpreters providing a spoken translation for those in the audience who aren't fluent in signing.

He also performs as a storyteller at festivals nationwide, telling his tales using ASL. Wann has appeared in several commercials and has had parts in a few television shows as well, including Law and Order.

One of the performers joining Keith for the Batavia stop of the tour will be Crom Saunders. Crom will be bringing parts of his own one-man show, "Cromania!" which tours nationwide, featuring over 40 different characters, comedy, improvisation, and storytelling, allowing audiences a glimpse into his warped imagination.

In addition to performing, Crom also has interpreted dozens of plays, from children's theatre to musicals, including "Spamalot" and "Mamma Mia" and teaches ASL and theatrical workshops across the nation. He currently teaches ASL at University of Pittsburgh when he is not busy training his eyebrows for the rodeo.

Rounding out the trio at Genesee will be Francisco. For Francisco, learning American Sign Language was not enough; now he travels across the United States with Keith Wann and friends as a CODA-in-Law, entertaining audiences with his unique, if somewhat skewed, view of Deaf Culture.

For further information, visit http://www.keithwann.com/ or http://www.aslcomedytour.com. The event is sponsored by Genesee's Dactylology Club, which studies signed languages.
For more information about the Dactylology Club, call or text message Annette Blanchard at 716-560-3955, or by email: ablanchard@genesee.edu.

Original paintings by Karen Todd will be displayed April 9-29 at Genesee Community College's Albion Campus Center.

An artist's reception is planned from 5 to 6 p.m. April 9.

Titled "Acrylic Perspectives in Color," the works will include landscapes, portraits and abstracts.

Todd is an adjunct art faculty member who teaches Drawing 1 & 2, Painting 1 & 2, Introduction to Visual Art, and 2-Dimensional Design.

Also, beginning April 30 an Albion Campus Student Art Show will take place through May 14, with a reception from 5 to 6 p.m. on April 30.

It will feature a variety of mixed media work by students currently enrolled in Karen Todd's Painting 1 & 2 and Intro to Visual Art Classes.

The art exhibits and receptions are free and open to the public. For further information, please contact Allen Kidder, associate dean of the Albion Campus Center at 585-343-0055 x6548 or at arkidder@genesee.edu.

 

The upcoming major construction project at Genesee Community College received a boost as the Genesee County Legislature authorized borrowing $2.05 million through bonds, in addition to the $4.1 million that was approved last year.

The decision Wednesday will help fund a major overhaul of athletic facilities at the Batavia campus, according to The Buffalo News.

GCC will be installing a synthetic turf soccer field, expanding other fields and refurbishing the gym and locker rooms.

Press release from GCC:

BATAVIA, NY -- The Genesee Center for the Arts at Genesee Community College continues its commitment to introducing the performing arts to children and families throughout the Western New York area by presenting the modern children's fable, The Incredible Jungle Journey of Fenda Maria. Daytime school performances of the show are scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, 2009 through Friday, March 27, 2009, with one final performance for the public on Friday, March 27, 2009 at 7:30PM.

Written by Jack Stokes and produced by special arrangement with Summerwind Productions (www.summerwindproductions.com/fenda), The Incredible Jungle Journey of Fenda Maria is the story of a young girl who, with the help of a village doctor, must travel through the jungle in order to save a prince from an evil witch. With help from the audience, Fenda Maria and her friends ultimately learn what's important - the meaning of being a good person.

Cast members include Jessica Francis (Perry, NY) as Jabo the Narrator, Samara Brown (Bronx, NY) as the Doctor, Robert E. Reiss (Elba, NY) as Chief Man, Edward Wolfe (Arcade, NY) as Takaya the Witch, and Crystal Ray (Bronx, NY) in the title role of Fenda Maria. Additional cast members (in alphabetical order) include Alicia Derefinko (Batavia, NY), Johnny Dow (Rochester, NY), Alex Falu (New York, NY), Heather Hilderbrandt (Lockport, NY), Brianna Kaminskas (Brockport, NY), Stephanie Martinez (New York, NY), Darlene Parsons (New York, NY), Tara Pocock (Batavia, NY), Amanda Ramsey (Attica, NY), Shayna Schultz (Batavia, NY), Maria Seewaldt (Warsaw, NY), Mark J. Sidor (Auburn, NY), Anjelica Sistrunk (Syracuse, NY) and Henry Sistrunk (Syracuse, NY).

The Incredible Jungle Journey of Fenda Maria is being directed by Norm Gayford, professor in the Humanities Department at Genesee Community College, with technical direction by Ed Hallborg, Technical Director and Technical Theatre faculty member at the Genesee Center for the Arts. Scenic design is by Norm Gayford and Ed Hallborg, with lighting design by Genna Wiseman and Massimo Marino, and sound design by Anjelica Sistrunk.

General admission ticket prices for Friday, March 27, 2009 at 7:30PM are $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for senior citizens, students and Genesee faculty, and $2.00 for Genesee students with a valid ID. For more information on the daytime school performances of The Incredible Jungle Journey of Fenda Maria, contact the Genesee Center for the Arts at 585/343-0055 x6814. For ticket information or reservations, contact the Box Office at 585/343-0055 x6814 or by email to BoxOffice@genesee.edu. The Genesee Center for the Arts Box Office accepts cash and checks only, credit cards are not accepted. Genesee Community College is located in Batavia, NY, just 2 minutes from NYS Thruway Exit 48. Visit www.genesee.edu for door-to-door driving directions sent via email.


 

DO NOT DRIVE ON COLLEGE ROAD TODAY!

I cannot stress this enough. I figured I would take the trip and attempt to get a photo of the college from the road. I couldn't go any faster than 5-10 miles per hour and literally couldn't see anything.

When I got close enough to the school, there was nothing but white. So I took a photo of my car in the middle of the road. Or, at least I think it was the middle.

The Batavia Players will be presenting the show "Child's Christmas Quilt", on Friday, December 19 and Saturday, December 20 at Genesee Community College. The shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. on those nights.

The 10th Winter Theatre Celebration is directed by Patrick D. Burke and will feature the All City Children's Choir.

Tickets are just $5 and are sold at Go Art! at 201 East Main St. in Batavia and at the door at the Stuart Steiner Theature at GCC.

You can get more information on the show by calling 585-343-9313 ex. 31.

 I received an e-mail this morning from Donna Rae Sutherland at Genesee Community College. The Cougars have a great winning tradition and do it with a roster that features many local players. Coach Roger Majeski recently won his 800th career match.

If you want proof that Coach Roger Majeski has created a winning tradition at Genesee Community College, just step inside his office. Plaques, awards and medals adorn his office from his 21 years as head women's volleyball coach at Genesee. On September 27, Majeski led the Lady Cougars to score his 800th career win over Howard Community College.

Coach Majeski began his career at Genesee in 1986 as assistant coach and after only a year was named head women's volleyball coach. With 12 showings at the national tournament, he has maintained a powerful presence in the Western New York Athletic Conference. The Lady Cougars have won 17 conference titles, as well as winning 11 consecutive Region III championships.

Over the years, Majeski has not only led his team to numerous victories and titles, but has also been awarded many coaching honors. He received the Region III Coach of the Year nine times and the District Coach of the year 11 times. He has also received the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Coach of the Year three times, an award which was voted on by his coaching peers. Majeski is also ranked first among NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Division II coaches, as well as being ranked second overall among NJCAA Division I, II and III coaches.

Majeski has not only coached successful teams at Genesee, but has assisted his players to move on to Division I schools, be named All American Athletes, and even become professional volleyball players. He coached Marsha Miller '91 who played professional beach volleyball for the United States where she earned a silver medal in the 1999 Pan-American Games.

Stacy Koslosky, a former player for the Lady Cougars in the 2000 and 2001 seasons, believes Majeski isn't just your average coach. "What makes Roger a great coach is that he gets 'it'. Roger is the perfect blend of a technical trainer and a player's coach. He knows everything about volleyball and he easily communicates this to his players. Roger is a very intense leader and it's contagious for his team. He makes his players want to succeed and never settle for anything less than a win. Coach Majeski doesn't just want to win, he wants to win by 15 points."

The women's volleyball program at Genesee has become a well respected athletic program in the North East. Roger has been there for the victories and losses, both on and off the court. From the funny moments of traveling with his teams to various games, to the saddest moments when he lost a player during a home tournament, Majeski has been the solid rock within the program.

As a testament to Coach Majeski's long term concern for his players, 2007 marked the 10th anniversary of the Kaminna Allen Classic Women's Volleyball Tournament. Kaminna Allen was a member of the 1997 Lady Cougars volleyball team when she tragically died from a heart disorder while playing in the Cougar Classic Tournament. The tournament was renamed on her behalf and a scholarship fund was created in her honor. For more than ten years, proceeds from the tournament have supported the scholarship and the efforts of young women to improve their game - both on and off the court.

"The best part of my job is seeing the change in the students who come through my door," said Majeski. "Winning isn't always the greatest part of coaching. It's really satisfying seeing players who might not be the most talented transform into team motivators and leaders. When the light bulb turns on, and my athletes finally understand how I want them to play, that's a great feeling."

As for the future of the Genesee women's volleyball program, Majeski hopes to continue the winning tradition that has been set forth so many years before. He looks forward to maintaining the regional and national power that the Lady Cougars have been in the past, and someday maybe even winning the National Championship.

Majeski resides in West Henrietta, NY with his wife and children. Outside of his coaching job at Genesee, Roger enjoys officiating local volleyball games, as well as playing on an Empire State Master teams in which he has won 6 medals.

 While at Genesee Community College today, I was watching the lacrosse team practice for a little bit.

There are a bunch of good athletes - especially local athletes - playing sports at GCC right now. Here at The Batavian, we would like to give these squads some coverage.

I am working on getting high school coaches involved with posting information on their teams and I would like to do the same for GCC.

I've left a few messages with different people at the college and have not gotten a response yet, so hopefully the new SID will get back to me soon.

In the meantime, any coaches or athletes that are interested in getting coverage on The Batavian are encouraged to contact myself of Philip so that we can give the college and the local athletes the coverage they deserve.