Announcements

Volunteers at Genesee Community College will provide free income-tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the 2010 tax season.

The Genesee County Department of Social Services is coordinating with volunteers at the college to provide appointment-based services (at DSS) as well as two walk-in service days at the Batavia Campus (T205). Walk-in service days will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 and from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18.

The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $49,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own basic tax returns. Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other convenient locations. Most locations also offer free electronic filing.

Genesee Community College is the newest local community group to provide these tax services. Genesee's volunteers consist of faculty, staff and current students. They have been certified and trained by the IRS to prepare the tax returns. The taxes are prepared by the certified volunteers with the IRS approved "Taxwise" program, an online program that the preparers use. Mark Castiglione from Genesee County DSS is the VITA site coordinator for Genesee County. Both Federal and State returns are filed. The client leaves with a copy of the returns that have been prepared.

Under the leadership of Certified Public Accountant Cheryl Corke, assistant professor of Accounting at Genesee, the student and faculty volunteers have undergone rigorous online training to be able to use the IRS computer software. Three faculty members have been certified to prepare the taxes, Cheryl Corke (accounting), Amy Conley (accounting) and Donna LaMura (chemistry). In addition to the certified faculty members, there are a number of accounting students and college staff who have been active and will assist in the program.

"We have a strong, dedicated group of volunteers who are excited to help our community members prepare their taxes," Corke said. "We've been working hand-in-hand with DSS and the IRS to make the walk-in sessions go as smooth as possible."

The VITA program is a free service for clients with basic returns (no schedule Cs, Ds and no businesses) and with a combined income of $49,000 or less. There will be a welcome table with a checklist of all the materials people need to have prior to preparation services (Social Security cards for all individuals including dependents, all W-2s and 1099s, etc. and proof of identity such as driver's license).

For more information please contact Cheryl Corke at 585-343-0055 x6323 or at cacorke@genesee.edu <http://cacorke@genesee.edu. >.

Stuart Steiner, Ph.D, president of Genesee Community, supports Gov. David Paterson's Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act.

He says it would grant greater autonomy to State University of New York campuses and permit new economic development and partnership initiatives on SUNY campuses. [Gov. Paterson's announcement is described in this release from the Governor's office: http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/press_01151001.html]

Steiner issued this statement on the proposed legislation:

"Last (month), Gov. David Paterson proposed the Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act which, if enacted by the State Legislature, would give state-operated SUNY campuses more autonomy and flexibility and permit many new initiatives on all SUNY campuses.

"The Governor's proposed Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act is a powerful proposal that is being put forth at the right time. Dollars for public higher education are being limited and even severely reduced, so there is a great need to maximize the use of the dollars available to SUNY. For the state-operated campuses, the Act removes much of the tangled bureaucratic process for use of SUNY funds, and shifts many decisions and operational responsibilities to the SUNY Board appointed to provide oversight to SUNY colleges.

"If the dollars allocated to SUNY are going to be limited, then it seems that decisions about how to best use those dollars and how to generate tuition and other revenue should be left to those who have been appointed to be responsible for this multibillion dollar operation.

"The Act does very little for community colleges in terms of direct assistance, but whenever our public four-year institutions and university centers are strengthened, everyone benefits, especially the tens of thousands of students that we transfer to SUNY and CUNY colleges every year. When those colleges have the flexibility to use those resources to support the growing number of students, everyone wins. SUNY suggests that once the Act is fully implemented, state-operated SUNY colleges may be able to take in an additional 20,000 students. Hopefully a designated portion of these seats will be set aside for transfer students who graduate from SUNY community colleges, especially in those programs that are now at capacity.

"While the Governor should be saluted for this bold proposal, which outlines changes that have long been sought and long been needed, it was disappointing to see the Governor's budget proposal making such a large cut in state aid to community colleges. At this time in New York State history, when we are trying to maximize the use of our limited public resources, it seems that the Governor and Legislature should strongly support community colleges since we are, by far, the least expensive of all colleges and we provide the lowest cost-per student in any level of education in the state. As in the past, the community colleges will look to their local legislators to continue the support they have historically given to community colleges, and specifically to help minimize the level of state aid reductions for the coming year.

"Again, the Governor should be commended for The Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act, and I believe that the more our citizens become familiar with the Act, the more they will embrace and support it."

Debra Crossett was named Employee of the Month for January at Genesee Community College. She has held the position of secretary in the office of Student Activities for the past two years.

Since joining the staff, she has been deliberate in her approach to serving others and has exemplified professionalism and personal integrity. She has an innate compassion for others and always provides the best possible customer service she can to those with whom she comes in contact. She brings a high degree of motivation and commitment to the position as well as an ability to work independently. She often takes the initiative when she sees something that needs to be done and she willingly offers assistance to others. Crossett serves as an excellent role model to Genesee students and to her peers.

She began her clerical career at the Batavia Daily News shortly after graduating from high school and the Office Careers program at Genesee-Wyoming BOCES. Several years, later she accepted a position as switchboard operator and ambulance dispatch for St. Jerome Hospital for four years. She also worked in the office at Graham Manufacturing for four years. After her youngest daughter was born, she left the clerical field and began an at-home daycare which she continued for six years while her daughter was young. She also worked as a teacher's aide, which allowed her to be home after school hours. Four years ago, she went back into the office career field again when she was hired part time in the CAP office (Center for Academic Progress) at Genesee.

As secretary in the office of Student Activities, Crossett is the personal secretary to the director and assistant director of Student Activities. She maintains office records and performs clerical procedures, orders supplies for office and student events, prints and maintains student ID cards, oversees 13 work-study students, schedules meeting times and appointments, maintains and assigns student lockers and (most importantly) is available to students who need a listening ear. In other words, she's great at multi-tasking.

"My favorite aspect of working at Genesee is the opportunities that arise to make a difference in students' lives," Crossett said. "I also feel so blessed to work with such supportive and caring co-workers."

Crossett is a Batavia native, married to Ryan Crossett and they have two daughters, Nicole and Carissa. She makes sure to save time for her faith and her family. She also enjoys walking, bike riding, camping, making flower arrangements from her flower garden and assisting her husband with his photography business. Her immediate family, along with several other family members and friends enjoy vacationing together on the oceanfront in Outer Banks, North Carolina.

 

The Stafford Historical Society will hold its annual Taste of Stafford July 8. This year’s theme will be to honor our “HomeTown Veterans."

If you are a veteran and/or a family member is a veteran or someone currently serving our country from the Town of Stafford, we would like to know. In the Museum, will be a master list of veterans from Stafford who served or are serving in our military. Please let us know the name, branch of service, rank and the years served.

Also, if you would like to donate any items, or copies of the items, for loan to the Stafford Museum, we would be interested in displaying the items as well. We need all this by March 15. If interested please contact us by mail to Jim or Helen, C/O Stafford Historical Society, P.O. Box 28 Stafford, NY 14143 or call Jim at 344-3166, or Helen  at 343-6662.

The State of the County Address will be delivered at 7 p.m. Feb. 3 in the Old Courthouse building on Main Street in Batavia.

Genesee County Legislature Chair Mary Pat Hancock will deliver the address.

Jenna Engel has joined the law office of Bonarigo & McCutcheon as a paralegal.

Born and raised in Batavia, New York, Ms. Engel is a 2005 graduate of Batavia High School and a 2009 Graduate of Hilbert College with a degree in Legal Studies.  Her previous employment was as a litigation secretary with Nixon Peabody, LLP in Buffalo, NY. A resident of the City of Batavia, Jenna is a volunteer assistant volleyball coach at her alma mater, Batavia High School as well as for The Batavia Club Volleyball team.  She is an active member of the WNY paralegal Association having received its 2008 scholarship. 

Ms. Engel is assigned to the real estate department at Bonarigo & McCutcheon however, she will be available to assist clients in all aspects of the services provided.  Bonarigo & McCutcheon is a successful law firm, established in the City of Batavia with and has provided legal assistance for over two decades.  The firm’s specialty areas are: business and corporate; criminal; family; matrimonial; municipal; DWI; custody; visitation; civil litigation; real estate; vehicle and traffic; wills and estate planning. 

Bonarigo & McCutcheon is located at 18 Ellicott St., Batavia. Phone is (585) 344-1994.

Is your pet special? Do you think your pal is worthy of the decidedly prestigous designation Pet of the Week? Then let Pachuco know! Winners get ten bucks to spend at Genesee Feeds!

All entrants will be taken into consideration, be they four-legged, fowl or amphibious. They can tell our readers their story or you can tell it for them, your choice. Please send submissions, along with a digital photo, to:  billie at the batavian dot com

She handles correspondence for Pachuco, a 130-pound Rottweiller/Doberman who was found at the pound as a pup. Be assured this handsome, gentle giant makes the actual selections. Being an animal himself, he is discerning about their qualities and qualifications.

The onus of selection is something he takes very seriously. It's not as hard as mastering the preparation of French cuisine, which he doggedly pursues despite his limited ability to make pate without sampling it. But it's not a snap either. 

He had such a hard time recently when considering the goldfish Steve, Phineus the ferret and a burro named Burrito. He almost resorted to pulling names out a Stetson. He managed to get ahold of himself and went for a dog named Althea instead.

But he thinks this is all worthwhile because he likes reading the stories and seeing the pictures and knows you will, too.

Be sure to include your family's name and address (addresses will not be published) so we can send you the gift certificate.

It was a usual morning for Lydia and her siblings. They went outside while it was still dark to roam around and play in their big country yard. Every morning when the English Bull Terrier Lydia, the St. Bernard Beauregard and the Basset Hound Lily hear Dad’s voice they coming running in for their breakfast, except this time Lydia didn’t follow the pack.  

The Presutti family searched their Geneseo property and adjacent farms for several days. It has been five weeks since they last saw their family pet. They are offering a $1,000 reward for their 3-year-old spayed English Bull Terrier in hopes to attract some attention. She is wearing a collar with her identification number along with an invisible fence collar. Owner Sharon Presutti believes there is a chance she was stolen.

“She is not a wanderer at all,” Presutti said. “This is not her normal behavior.”

Presutti said Lydia is so friendly, she would jump up into the UPS driver’s truck.

The family has put up flyers all over Livingston County, where they live, Genesee County and elsewhere. So far, no tips but lots of support from the community.

“We have been overwhelmed by all the phone calls from people with support and offers to help. We have our fingers crossed and are so thankful for all the support.”

If you have any information that may be helpful to the Presutti family, please contact them at 585-243-2846 or 585-752-0300, or 585-764-3004.

Do you think you can dance? The City of Batavia is calling all youth ages 10-16 to come out and show off their moves!

The Youth Connection Saturday’s program will be featuring a FREE Hip Hop workshop led by Erin Martin and Janea Raines, both of Divine Dance Studio in Batavia. Each class will teach a new routine. Previous dance experience helpful, but is not required.

The Hip Hop workshop will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. on Jan. 23, Feb. 6 and Feb. 20 at Batavia Middle School. Youth can drop in for any one class or come out for all three!

Please contact Janea Raines at  HYPERLINK "mailto:jraines@batavianewyork.com" jraines@batavianewyork.com or (585)-345-6314 with any questions and/or to register.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact:

City of Batavia Youth Bureau
ATTN: Toni Funke
One Batavia City Centre
Batavia, New York 14020
Phone:   (585) 345-6420
Fax:        (585) 344-0260
E-mail:  funke@batavianewyork.com 


 

After almost two years of planning, the Genesee Community College Board of Trustees this week approved a new Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in Veterinary Technology. It will now be submitted for final approval by the State University of New York and the New York State Education Department.

The program prepares students to work in partnerships with veterinarians as licensed veterinary technicians. Most veterinary technicians work in animal hospitals and clinics, shelters, research labs and zoos.

In recent years, many prospective Genesee students have asked about veterinary technology programs, said Eunice Bellinger, Ph.D, executive vice president for Academic Affairs. The demand for veterinary technologists is expected to grow by 20 percent in New York State over the next six years, and 41percent nationwide.

"This is a very high-demand profession," she told trustees. "The high concentration of farms in our region is one factor in local demand for the veterinary technology profession, and the overall popularity of pets is another."

The college anticipates beginning the program this fall and at least 15 students will be admitted to the first class. That number will more than double during the second year, Bellinger said. It's likely that Genesee will receive many more applications than it can accept.

"We anticipate that this will be a highly competitive program, much like other health care programs at Genesee," she said.

Genesee Community College Veterinary Technology students will complete courses in Anatomy and Physiology, Veterinary Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Veterinary Nutrition, Techniques in Laboratory Animals and Exotics, Small Animal Pathology and Nursing, Large Animal Pathology and Nursing, Surgical Nursing and Anesthesiology, Veterinary Radiology and Dentistry, Parasitology, as well as general education courses that include communications and mathematics. Students also complete three "externships" – supervised experience working with animals in a clinical setting.

The entire program consists of 72-credit hours, and can be completed by students pursuing full-time study in two years. Nine of the program's courses include extensive lab work, and the college will develop a veterinary lab at the Batavia Campus, Bellinger said.

The program will prepare students to complete the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), which is required for veterinary technician licensure in New York State. Genesee will apply to have the program accredited by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.

Genesee graduates with an A.A.S. degree in veterinary technology will also have the opportunity to deepen their education in the veterinary management field or even become veterinarians, Bellinger told trustees. The college plans to develop transfer agreements with colleges and universities offering baccalaureate and other advanced veterinary programs.

SUNY Canton, which offers a degree in Veterinary Management Services, and SUNY Delhi, which offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Veterinary Technology, have both expressed interest in developing a transfer program for Genesee graduates. Cornell University and Ross University School of Veterinary Science have also both expressed interest in developing transfer programs for students wishing to become veterinarians.

The new Veterinary Technology Program will be a deep source of pride to Genesee, Bellinger said.

"Our health care programs have long been regarded as among the very best in the northeastern United States," she said. "In our heavily agricultural region, an academic program focusing on animal health is a natural outgrowth of our mission and expertise. We look forward to developing a veterinary technology program that will be held in high esteem by students, the entire veterinary profession and the community."

Genesee Community College's Board of Trustees on Monday evening approved a new Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in Polysomnographic Technology -- the evaluation and diagnosis of more than 100 sleep disorders.

The degree is the first of its kind in any college or university in New York State.

With the Board's approval, the program will now be submitted to the State University of New York for approval, and later, to the New York State Education Department. The college expects the program to begin this fall and anticipates 35 students to be enrolled, according to Eunice Bellinger, Ph.D, executive vice president for Academic Affairs.

Full-time students can complete the intensive 66-credit program in four semesters. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the national Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) examination. New York State is expected to soon require licensing of polysomnographic technologists, and Genesee graduates will be eligible for licensure.

Polysomnographic technology is one of the fastest growing fields in medicine. Its technicians work closely with physicians to diagnose sleep-related problems and provide support services to patients. They usually work in "sleep laboratories," where patients with sleep problems spend one or more nights under intensive clinical observation. Technologists monitor patients' breathing, blood oxygen levels, brain waves, eye movements, muscle tone and other clinical variables. They use a variety of highly specialized clinical equipment, such as electroencephalograph, electrooculograph, electromyograph and electrocardiograph machines to assist in diagnosis. Technologists also counsel patients in the use of respiratory and sleep devices that aid in sleep hygiene.

Courses include Anatomy and Physiology, Physiology of Sleep Medicine, Sleep Study Instrumentation, Sleep Disorders, Environmental Chemistry, General Psychology, as well as four courses in Polysomnography and general education courses. The academic program also includes two clinical practice courses giving students the opportunity practice their skills in a sleep lab.

Sleep disorders are getting increased attention throughout the medical community. Bellinger told trustees that "sleep disorders are often associated with other medical conditions, such as obesity. Medical technology has given us a variety of ways to assess and diagnose neurological, cardiac and muscular problems during sleep and, ultimately, help patients lead healthier lives. We are looking forward to adding this Polysomnographic Technology program to our academic offerings, and making valuable new contributions to the health of people in our local communities."

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, I, C - Batavia) has been named to the New York
Farm Bureau's 2009 "Circle of Friends" for the fourth consecutive year.

This award is given to distinguish an individual lawmaker's support of the state's agriculture and Farm Bureau initiatives, as exemplified in the lawmakers' voting record on issues of importance to New York agriculture and other legislative actions, including sponsorship of legislation.

Hawley, who was one of 84 legislators named to the circle for 2009, said: "This honor is very gratifying for me as a former hog and crop farmer who served as the former Genesee County Farm Bureau president, continual Farm Bureau member, and former Farm Bureau host of the radio program 'Tri-County Commentary' on WBTA.

"As a legislator, I have worked very hard to promote and protect the farms and agri-businesses throughout our state, but most especially those in Western New York which are so important to our economy and quality of life."

According to New York Farm Bureau President Dean Norton, in the 2009 legislative session Hawley was one of the most vocal legislators who opposed the Farm Labor Bill, which many dubbed the "Farm Death Bill." Hawley also was active in the fight for farmers by holding a rally to raise awareness for the plight of dairy farmers, testifying at a United States Senate hearing on the subject and calling on the Governor to appropriate some of the remaining federal stimulus dollars toward the cause.

The Assemblyman, who is also a member of the Assembly Agriculture Committee,
said at the time, "Here, in Western New York, agriculture is the backbone of our economy and I firmly believe that our rural economy deserves the same support given to failed Wall Street companies, like AIG."