Stories from

Press release:

The Janice & Paul Keesler Scholarship Fund is proud to announce that it is now accepting applications from qualified students toward receiving scholarship assistance.

As a living memorial for two people who loved New York State and the outdoors, this fund assists students training in the field of wildlife management.

Paul and Janice were avid sports persons who wrote and lectured about the outdoors and founded and published the nationally recognized and respected "New York Sportsman Magazine."

A great loss to all those who appreciate the wonder of nature, Janice passed away suddenly in 1988 and Paul in July of 2005. They are greatly missed.

According to Scholarship Fund President Dave Hamilton, "These annual scholarship awards are available to any New York State resident who has been accepted into an accredited institution of higher learning and is, or will be, working toward obtaining a degree in some facet of wildlife management."

The 23rd series of Janice & Paul Keesler Scholarship Awards will be distributed in December. To date, the fund has had the honor of distributing more than $29,500 in grants to deserving Wildlife Management students.

Any qualified individual interested in applying for these Scholarships may do so by sending a request for an application form, along with a stamped, self-addressed legal sized (#10) envelope to:

The Janice & Paul Keesler Scholarship Fund
C/o Bridget Keesler (sec/treas)
PO Box 485
Newport, NY 13416

An application may also be obtained by going to www.keeslerscholarshipfund.org and the application can be printed from the Web site. The completed application form must be returned to the committee no later than Sept. 1.

Individuals or clubs wishing to make a contribution to the fund may do so by sending their donation to the same address, with the sincere gratitude of the Scholarship Committee! In December of this year and continuing on an annual basis, a wonderful couple who cared deeply about our state's outdoor sports will be remembered in a meaningful way, thanks to the generosity of those same outdoor sportsmen.

For additional information about the Keesler Scholarship Fund, please visit this Web site:

www.keeslerscholarshipfund.org

Or send inquiries to:
Keeslerbridget@gmail.com

News from Recruiting Sub-station in Batavia:

Private First Class Ethan Burns, a 24-year-old native of Pembroke recently graduated Marine Corps Recruit Training in Parris Island South Carolina. He was promoted to the rank of Private First Class and has earned the title United States Marine.

All Marines from the Northeast pass through a rigorous 13-week training program in Parris Island on their journey to become Marines. Following recruit graduation, the Marine will attend a military occupational specialty school, where he or she will learn the valuable skills needed to succeed in the Marine Corps.

The BEST Center at Genesee Community College is offering a series of "Brush up Your Skills" courses for students who plan to begin their college studies this fall. These non-academic credit classes in Math, Writing and Reading cost no more than $15 and are designed to help students increase their placement test scores and enable registration into higher-level courses. This not only potentially saves students tuition dollars, but also improves the likelihood of timely graduation.

The courses are geared toward incoming freshmen who may not have performed as well as expected on the COMPASS Placement Test, and also for high school graduates of all ages who may be beginning college after being out of school for some time. Current GCC students continuing their studies are also eligible. After completing the Brush Up courses, students retake the placement tests to potentially improve their scores and also eliminate the need to take developmental courses in these subject areas.

The three courses being offered include:

Math Pre-Algebra Placement Test Review, $15, July 21 – Aug. 12, Wednesdays, 6 – 9 p.m.
Brush up on the seven pre-algebra topics assessed by the COMPASS placement test so you can place directly into basic algebra or a credit-bearing college math course. Students may retake the COMPASS exam at the end of the course.

Writing Placement Test Review, $10, Monday – Thursday, Aug.10-13, 9 a.m. – noon
Review basic writing skills so you're prepared for college-level academic writing. The course will cover basic concepts including essay structure, sentence mechanics and test-taking strategies. Students may retake the COMPASS exam at the end of the course.

Reading Placement Test Review, $10, Monday – Thursday, Aug. 10-13, 1 – 4 p.m.
This course is designed to help those students who are close to meeting the college level reading requirement enhance the effective and efficient reading skills they need for academic work on the college level. These students have tested into the developmental class Gaining Power in College Reading (REA 101), but will be able to retest at the end of the course.

"We understand that placement testing is often the hardest and most intimidating part of starting a college program," said Reid Smalley, the executive director of GCC's BEST Center. "In a collaborative effort with our BEST Center, we specifically designed the Brush Up Your Skills Series to help students over this hurdle. For anyone who wants to start college in September, or those who hope to graduate through an associate degree program within two years, this is an excellent investment of their time."

Students interested in these classes may register in the GCC Records office, at The BEST Center in the Conable Technology Building on the Batavia campus, or online at www.bestcenter.org. For more information, contact The BEST Center at (585) 345-6868.

Press release and submitted photos from Pat Lamon:

On Thursday, May 21, at the Byron Fire Hall, 70-plus attendees came together to celebrate the Red White & Blue at the Patriotic Dance.

American flags and stars of red, white and blue adorned the Byron Fire Hall on a beautiful May evening. As usual, folks danced to their favorite songs and enjoyed the usual snacks. Uncle Joe snapped photos between filling in as the evening’s DJ.

A highlight of the evening was when our young Byron Volunteer Firefighters paraded to the dance floor leading the group in the "YMCA" dance. Birthdays were recognized prior to our customary circle dances; the Chicken Dance and the Hokie Pokie.

The last two dances of 2015 are: the Halloween Dance on Thursday, Oct. 15th, followed by the Christmas Dance on Thursday, Nov. 19^th.

All dances are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Byron Fire Hall on Route 262 near the Route 237 intersection. The dances are sponsored by Byron Ladies Auxiliary, and are open to all folks with developmental disabilities ages 13 and up living in Genesee County, family and caregivers are also welcome. Adequate supervision is required. Anyone wanting to volunteer or need more information may call Pat Iamon at 245-2918 or Laura Platt at 548-2245.

Billie Elizabeth Hens, of Le Roy, a graduate of Le Roy Central School, will attend Clarkson University in Potsdam as a member of the Class of 2019. Hens, who will be majoring in Chemical Engineering, will begin studying at Clarkson in the fall.

"We look forward to having Billie join us on campus in August," said Dean of Admissions Brian T. Grant.

High school students can schedule a personalized visit to Clarkson, which includes a campus tour tailored to their interests, the opportunity to sit in on a class, a visit with an admissions counselor, and a one-on-one meeting with a professor. Just contact the Admissions Office at 800-527-6577 or admission@clarkson.edu.

Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world's pressing issues. Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and the health professions, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise.