Announcements

The New York Farm Bureau Foundation for Agricultural Education is now collecting short personal stories to assemble in a collection called, "A Day in the Life of a Farmer."
 
"The most influential way for farmers to educate the non-farming public about agriculture is by telling their unique stories," said foundation Director Sandra Prokop. "There are few things more compelling and engaging than the story of what farmers do and why they do it."

The foundation invites all farmers and farm families to participate in this project. Stories should focus on a personal experience connected to agriculture and/or a story that tells about a day in the life of an active agriculturist.

Stories can portray any sector of agriculture and should be able to carry the message of family farming, regardless of the size of the operation.

This project will be part of an education process to engage the public and raise awareness about the different roles within the agricultural community, what agriculture really is, what an average day might include, and form an impression of good stewardship, family strength and commitment to a strong work ethic.

The first round of submissions is requested by Aug. 15. Stories should be from New York residents (past or present) or based on New York agriculture.

They should be a maximum of one page in length (with at least a 10-point font) and a signed release must accompany all submissions and high-resolution photos. The use of "family" in submissions is strongly encouraged to communicate the true value of family in New York farming.
 
Complete guidelines for submissions and a copy of the release can be found at <www.nyfbfoundation.org/storiesofagpage.htm> or call the Foundation at 1-800-342-4143.

Stories may be submitted to Sandra Prokop at <sprokop@nyfb.org> or by mailing to NYFB Foundation, P.O. Box 5330, Albany, NY  12205, or faxed to her attention at 518-431-5656.

The Genesee Community College Math Club will celebrate Math Awareness Month throughout the month of April with a poster contest for all sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students in schools within Genesee County.

This year's theme is "Math and You" and encourages students to ponder and illustrate how math affects each student in their everyday lives.

Cash prizes will be awarded to First ($50), Second ($25), and Third Place ($15) winners overall. Certificates may be awarded for honorable mention as well. A brief awards ceremony will be held on the evening of Wednesday, April 28 to honor all participants.

"We're hoping to have even more entries this year!" said Mary Knappen, mathematics professor and advisor of Genesee's Math Club. "As always, our goal is to help foster a more positive attitude towards mathematics at the middle school level.

"It is our hope that students will recognize that doing well in math provides many benefits in terms of a career path, but also that mathematics is fun in and of itself."

Members of the Genesee Math Club as well as Genesee math faculty will judge the posters for: accuracy of all mathematics included on the poster; overall visual impact of the display for eye-catching appeal and attractiveness; clarity of the poster's message "Math and You"; appropriateness of the graphics; and creativity of the message used to illustrate the theme.

All entries must be received by April 20. Mail entries to:

Math Poster Competition, Math/Science Division (Attn: Mary Knappen), Genesee Community College, One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020

Entries may also be delivered in person to the Math/Science suite (D 359).

For more information about Genesee's Math Club, contact advisors: Mary Knappen at 343-0055, ext. 6382 or <http://mcknappen@genesee.edu> or Michelle Abdella at 343-0055, ext. 6396 or <http://mdabdella@genesee.edu>.
 

The Genesee County high schools' "Change for Change" fundraiser has come to an end. The money raised will benefit United Way charities in Genesee County.

Nancy Harding of the Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union reported the following totals after final deposits were made on Friday:

Batavia High: $3,384.27

New York State School for the Blind: $701.73

Oakfield: $459.06

Pavilion: $32.95

 The John Gardner Society and Genesee Community College invite you to attend The 13th John Gardner Conference. The conference will provide scholars, teachers, writers, fans and other interested parties an opportunity to gather and exchange ideas about Gardner, his works, and approaches to teaching his works.

We are also seeking one-page abstracts of proposals.  Topics concerning his fiction, non-fiction, operas, drama, poetry, or teaching will be considered.  Sessions on teaching his fiction, his methods of teaching, or using his work for creative writing are encouraged.    Presentation length may vary between fifteen and twenty minutes.  Abstracts will be published on the John Gardner Society webpage.

Registration:

Find a link to the form at http://www.genesee.suny.edu/Gardner/.  Send your $30 check along with the form.  The registration fee includes lunch. For further information or to submit abstract, email:

 Charley Boyd: caboyd@genesee.edu  or

Tracy Ford: taford@genesee.edu,

or call (585) 343-0055, ext. 6270.

Conference Time:              9:30 -3:30                                Room: T102   

Rochester's Eastman Wind Ensemble will perform in the Stuart Steiner Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 1. Only one performance is scheduled for this highly anticipated, world-renowned musical ensemble.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, seniors (55+) and GCC faculty/students. Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended, by contacting the Genesee Center for the Arts Box Office, (585) 343-0055 x6814, or boxoffice@genesee.edu. <http://boxoffice@genesee.edu>.

The Box Office accepts cash or checks only; credit cards are not accepted. For directions, see http://www.genesee.edu. <http://www.genesee.edu>

Since the May 1 performance dovetails with a regional high school Jazz Festival hosted by Batavia High School, area high school musicians will have the opportunity to dine with Eastman Wind Ensemble musicians before the 7:30 concert. Interested students should contact their high school band directors, or Jane Haggett at BHS, jhaggett@bataviacsd.org <http://jhaggett@bataviacsd.org> before April 23.

For more information about the Eastman Wind Ensemble, including listening to representative recordings, visit http://www.esm.rochester.edu/ewe/. For more information about this concert, contact boxoffice@genesee.edu <http://boxoffice@genesee.edu>  or rgknipe@genesee.edu <http://rgknipe@genesee.edu>.

The college sent along this background information:

In the early 1950s, Frederic Fennell was a young faculty member at Rochester's Eastman School of Music, brainchild of Kodak founder George Eastman. Fennell loved concert band music, and so founded the Eastman Wind Ensemble, which became one of the world's leading wind ensembles. An entire repertoire of wind ensemble music has grown out of, been commissioned for, premiered and performed by the group, including works known by most professional and amateur musicians who have ever played in a quality concert band.

The ensemble celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2002 with a conference of international scope, including the premiere of a new work, the gathering of composers and performers from around the world, and the release of a multi-CD set of recordings compiled from sessions in Japan, Rochester and elsewhere.

The ensemble's current director, Mark Davis Scatterday, was also introduced in 2002 as conductor of the group. Scatterday is professor of Conducting and chair of the Conducting and Ensembles Department at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music. As only the fourth conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Scatterday joined a prestigious line of conductors in the past 50-plus years of the famed ensemble – Fennell, Clyde Roller, and Donald Hunsberger. The ensemble's current core of 50-plus musicians includes undergraduate and graduate students of the Eastman School of Music, currently celebrating a triumphal December 2009 Midwest tour and release of a new CD, "Man! hattan Music."

"Bringing EWE to Genesee Center for the Arts continues the College's long tradition of hosting some of the world's leading musicians," said Bob Knipe,dean of Learning Technologies, member of the Genesee Fine Arts Committee, Batavia Concert Band and Genesee Symphony Orchestra. "Genesee's Stuart Steiner Theatre is a perfect venue offering exceptional acoustics, as well as an intimate setting. We are in for a real treat. This will musically knock your socks off."

Knipe remembers an early affinity with wind ensemble music, which is characterized by complex arrangements for wind, brass and percussion instruments, usually with one musician (only) on a part. "I bought my first Eastman Wind Ensemble record about 1963, with Fennell conducting" Knipe recalled. "I was enraptured – and still am."

In October 2004, Fennell, then aged 90, did a brief guest conducting appearance with the ensemble he founded 52 years earlier.

"I had the singular honor of shaking his hand, getting his autograph, and as an aside, talking with him about his brief stint in the late 1950s as conductor of the then-new Genesee Symphony" Knipe said.

"That 2004 performance with the wind ensemble, in the Eastman Theater, was Fennell's last," explained Scatterday. "He passed away just a few months later, but is fondly remembered by scores of Eastman graduates and music lovers worldwide. His legacy lives on, stronger than ever."

A free car-care clinic for women will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 28 at Dan’s Tire and Auto, 48 Batavia City Centre in Batavia. The class is designed to better acquaint women with their vehicles’ and prepare them for emergency situations.

There will be hands-on demonstrations, including examples of broken and worn-out parts. The class will include explanations of warning lights, how to check the fluids under the hood, how to change a tire and what to do if an accident occurs.

A speaker from the YWCA Domestic Violence program will also be attending to help raise awareness in our community about this growing problem. Donations are welcomed and will go directly to the domestic violence prevention program.

“We found that many women have the same questions and concerns about their
vehicles,” said Dan DiLaura, owner of Dan’s Tire and Auto. “Our goal is to demystify automotive care while supporting a valuable community organization.”

Although the clinic is free, participants must register before April 26 by calling Dan’s Tire and Auto at 343-7210 or visiting the company’s Web site at www.danstire.com.

Genesee Community College is introducing new summer programs for area youth. All of the summer camps take place at the Batavia Campus.

The first is the Genesee Sport and Wellness Experience geared toward middle-school students. The second one focuses on physical education and fitness for high-school students. It is a three-week, one credit-college course (Accelerated College Enrollment - ACE).

The Sport and Wellness Experience includes instruction and skill development in the areas of golf, tennis, soccer, and volleyball for two weeks to local middle-school students. Education on a variety of wellness topics such as nutrition, fitness, stress management, peer pressure, and drug and substance abuse issues will also be presented and discussed.

Students in grades six, seven and eight are invited to attend the program weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 12 through 23. The cost is $100 and includes lunch every day and a T-shirt. A scholarship to attend the camp at no charge will be offered to one student in sixth- through eighth-grades from each GLOW area school.

Students must be nominated by a faculty, staff member or coach from their school. For the general flyer and registration form go to: http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/Sport_WellnessFlyer.pdf

For a Wellness Experience Scholarship Nomination Form go to:  <http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/Sport_WellnessScholarshipNominationForm.pdf>

For further details, please contact Becky Dziekan, director of Health and Physical Education at 585-343-0055 x6424 or rldziekan@genesee.edu  <http://rldziekan@genesee.edu>.

The ACE Program course is PED171 Body Conditioning. It's aimed at high-school students interested in the areas of physical education and fitness who are looking to earn college credit. Genesee Community College's Health and Physical Education Department will provide an opportunity for students to use state-of-the-art equipment, a Human Performance Lab, and learn the latest in exercise and fitness techniques and trends.

Participants will also benefit from instruction by a certified Strength and Conditioning Coach. The course is scheduled from 9 to 11:15 a.m., Monday through Thursday, July 6 through 22. For further information or for tuition rates, please contact Ed Levinstein, associate dean of ACE programs at 585-343-0055, ext. 6300 or ejlevinstein@genesee.edu <http://ejlevinstein@genesee.edu>.

Please note: Genesee's Performing Arts and Fine Arts Experience summer programs will not be in session this summer due to the anticipated construction of the new art gallery at Genesee Center for the Arts at the Batavia Campus.

Genesee Community College's Criminal Justice Club is pleased to welcome New York State Court of Appeals Associate Judge Eugene Pigott Jr., to the Batavia Campus on Thursday, April 15.

Judge Pigott will present an overview of the Criminal Justice Court process and lead a discussion regarding issues facing today's courtrooms. The presentation will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Conable Technology Building, room T102. This event is free and open to the public.

For further information please contact Karen Wicka, instructor of Criminal Justice at 585-343-0055, ext. 6217.

He was born in Rochester in 1946 and graduated from LeMoyne College in 1968. He served on active duty in the Army from 1968 to 1970. While in the service, he was stationed in Vietnam, serving as a Vietnamese interpreter. He graduated from SUNY at Buffalo School of Law in 1973 and was admitted to the Bar of the State of New York in 1974.

Judge Pigott practiced law in Buffalo, with the firm of Offermann, Fallon, Mahoney & Adner from 1974 to 1982. In 1982 he was appointed Erie County Attorney and served in that position until 1986. Then he became chief trial counsel for the firm of Offermann, Cassano, Pigott & Greco.

In 1997, he was appointed to the New York State Supreme Court by Governor George E. Pataki and thereafter was elected to a full 14-year term. In 1998 he was designated to the Appellate Division, Fourth Department and was appointed Presiding Justice in 2000. In 2006, he was nominated by Governor Pataki to the Court of Appeals and confirmed by the State Senate.

He and his wife Peggy have two children and live on Grand Island.

"It is quite an honor to have Judge Pigott visit the college community," said Instructor Wicka. "This is a wonderful opportunity for our Criminal Justice students to learn about the current court system and discover the possibilities of careers within the legal system."

Have you wondered why your vegetables just don’t seem to grow? Do you want to start a vegetable garden but have no idea where to start? Then this class is for you!
 
The “Successful Vegetable Gardening” workshop will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. on April 7 as part of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Coffee and Dessert Series.

It will be taught by Bill Stedman, master gardener, and will cover the ins and outs of successful vegetable gardening. Whether you are a beginner or have been growing your own vegetables for years, Stedman has great tips for creating a bountiful garden. Attendees will also enjoy coffee, tea and desserts as part of the program.
 
The workshop will be held at the Cooperative Extension building at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia. Cost is $10 per person. Pre-registration is required by April 5, so reserve your seat now by contacting Amy at 585-343-3040, ext. 106, or stopping by the extension office.

Other upcoming sessions in the Coffee and Dessert Series include: “Planning Your Landscape” on April 15; “Hostas” on May 5; “The Edible Landscape” on May 12; and the always popular “Container Gardening Workshop” on May 25.

Hans Hunz will offer a free session on "Bluebird Beauty" on April 21.

Visit the website www.genesee.shutterfly.com <http://www.genesee.shutterfly.com> for more details or call Amy at 343-3040, ext. 106, to register.

After "wowing" adult audiences around the world, from Mexico City to Moscow, Sao Paulo to South Africa, "Chicago" comes to Genesee Community College.

A true theatrical institution, Chicago has everything that makes musical theater great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all-that-jazz, one show-stopping song after another and astonishing choreography.

Performance dates are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thurs., April 8 through Sat., April 10 and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sun., April 11. General admission ticket prices are $8 for adults, $5 for students, seniors (55+) and GCC faculty, and $3 for GCC students with a valid ID.

The Women's Auxiliary of the Salvation Army will be holding its annual Spring Treasure Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 24 at the Citadel Gym, 529 East Main St., in Batavia. 

This year there will be a LARGE quantity of craft suppolies as well as kitchen utinsils, household items, clothes, books and toys.

Lunch is available and a bake sale will be run by the Senior Salvation members.

For more information call the office at 343-6284.

On April 1, the Friends of the Library will hold their monthly book sale -- which is on the first Thursday of every month -- at the Richmond Library, 19 Ross St., in Batavia.

Adult, teen and children's books will be for sale. Book prices will range from $0.25 to $5, depending on how recently the book was published.

The book sale begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m.

Nick Burk and Chris Weicher (right) of Batavia High School bask in the light of their glory -- actually, their bald heads just amplify the sunlight to a ridiculous degree -- as they stand on the school's roof to raise money for the United Way. They spent hours on the rooftop on Friday.

Last week was the second week of Change for Change, the Genesee County high schools' fundraising project for the United Way.

Nancy Harding of the Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union reported a tally of $1,327.92 for Batavia High and a tally of $148.45 for Oakfield. No activity from the other schools has been reported.

Stay posted for another update in the next week.

Genesee County Chamber of Commerce renewed its partnership with the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP) last month and is looking for businesses in the area who need help!

If your small business is faced with a technical challenge, SATOP wants to help. It can provide up to 40 hours of FREE technical assistance for qualified requests, using the vast engineering expertise of NASA and participating Alliance Partners. SATOP is designed to speed the transfer of U.S. Space Program knowledge and technology to the private sector, to provide economic benefits to the community, and to raise public awareness of the Space Program.

Areas of expertise of SATOP include, but are not limited to: mechanical, manufacturing, industrial, materials, structural, facilities, chemical, electrical, electronics, and environmental engineering.

If you're unsure about being able to use this FREE program, visit:<http://www.geneseeny.com/template3>.

You will be able to read all about Orcon Industries, a local success story on how SATOP was able to help them, along with other stories throughout the nation in which SATOP has been helpful. You will also find more than 20 frequently asked questions. If you still have questions or want more information, contact Melissa or Lynn at 343-7440.

Genesee Community College will hold a Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13 in the William Stuart Forum. More than 35 companies are expected to participate.

Genesee's Career and Transfer Center continues to solicit businesses from all types of industries to join the popular, three-hour event that introduces potential new employees to employers, and also provides businesses an opportunity to present their trade and services to the local community.

Any company interested in attending the Job Fair should call 345-6888 to register immediately.  The following employers are scheduled to attend:

Byrncliff Resort & Conference Center; New York State Police; Army and Army Reserve; Camp Wyomoco; Pier 45 at the Port U.S. Marine Corps; Combined Insurance; Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc.; Navy; Darien Lake; Professional Driver Institute; WCJW; Department of Homeland Security – ICE – DRO; Rochester AmeriCorps; Western New York D.D.S.O.; ESL Federal Credit Union; Rochester City Police Department; Five Star Bank; Rochester Psychiatric Center; Genesee Area Family YMCA (Camp Hough); Rochester Riverside Convention Center; Genesee County AmeriCorps; Social Security Administration; Genesee County Career Center; Stepping Stones Learning Center;  
Genesee County Sheriff's Department; SUNY Brockport; Army ROTC, Genesee Region Independent Living Center, Inc.; TAP Personnel Heritage Centers; The Bank of Castile; Hyatt Regency Rochester; U.S. Department of Agriculture – NRCS; New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets; and the Air Force.  

"We expect the job fair this spring to be very successful," John McGowan, Career Center coordinator said. "There are a lot of students and local community members that are looking for jobs. Whether it's from layoffs or more simply, people need a change of employment, we are providing an excellent opportunity for job seekers to meet with potential employers."

The college is also hosting the annual spring 4-Year College Transfer Fair, which will allow students interested in transferring to a baccalaureate college to explore options to further their education, on 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 31 in the Forum at the Batavia Campus.

In addition to these events, Genesee Community College's Career and Transfer Center sponsors several preparatory job search workshops, such as Resume & Cover Letter Writing and Credential File & Interviewing Skills. The workshops are FREE and open to the public.

A complete list of upcoming workshop dates and times can be found at www.genesee.edu/ctc <http://at www.genesee.edu/ctc>. To attend the workshops students and community members MUST register in advance by calling the Student Activities Office at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6261.

 

RSVP (Volunteer Placement Program) of Genesee County has been named the 2010 Richmond Library Friend of the Year.

The program will be honored at a public reception held in the Gallery Room of the Richmond Library on Friday, April 16. The reception will begin at 3:30 p.m., with the award presentation at 4.

The annual award, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Richmond Memorial
Library, recognizes an individual or group whose interest and support of the library has been exceptional. Consideration is given to people who generously give of their time and talent to help with library-sponsored programs, or who have worked toward promoting the mission of the library within the community.

Friends' President Dianne Boeheim said:

“The Board of Directors of the Friends of the Library recognizes that the work done by volunteers is invaluable to an organization and, according to library staff, RSVP volunteers are among the best and most reliable. 

"The director of the program, Dorian Ely, has excelled at finding the right people for the
different jobs. RSVP volunteers work with the library’s Interloan Department, finding requested materials for Richmond Library patrons as well as for the NIOGA system.

"They sign in students after school, helping ensure the safety of those students; and they are working as shelvers, assisting with the return of borrowed materials to the shelves in a timely and accurate fashion.”

Friends of the Richmond Memorial Library is a non-profit organization that assists the library with programs, public relations and fund-raising through its monthly book sales and membership drive. Information about membership in the organization may be obtained by calling the library at 343-9550 or by visiting the library’s Web site,  <www.batavialibrary.org>.

Family Primetime Story Hour is for all ages and is held from 6:30 to 7 p.m. every Thursday at the Richmond Memorial Library.

This event includes stories, music and finger plays. Children are welcome to wear pajamas if they wish.

Please contact the library at 343-9550 for further details.

St. James Episcopal Church has a fish fry are every Friday during Lent. The cost is $7.50 for dinner and $2.50 for a la carte dessert. All proceeds benefit the Restoration Fund of St. James Church.

Take-outs will be available starting at 4:30 p.m., and the dining room will be open for a sit-down dinner at 5.

Free delivery for the elderly and shut-ins of Batavia is available.

The remaining fish fry dates are March 19, March 26 and April 2.

Please contact St. James Church at 343-6802 for more information.