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Press release:

WNY Pediatric Gastroenterology (WNYPG) announces the opening of their Batavia practice focusing on the care of infants, children and adolescents with gastrointestinal, liver and nutritional disorders.

With the escalation of autoimmune disorders in WNY children, including celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease, the physicians and other medical staff at WNYPG want Western New Yorkers to know that they are accepting new patients without long wait times.

The medical practice is located at 166 Washington Ave. Phone is 225-4132. (Web: wnypedgi.com)

They are committed to see patients within 48 hours. Dr. Daniel Gelfond focuses a significant portion of his practice on celiac disease and is a medical advisor to the WNY Gluten Free Diet Support Group.

Gelfond completed his residency at Long Island College Hospital and Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, and completed his fellowship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he worked with world renowned, Dr. Alessio Fasano at the Center for Celiac Research.

A nationally recognized physician scientist, Dr. Gelfond conducts clinical investigations studying gastrointestinal disorders in patients with cystic fibrosis. He is board certified in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, and accredited by the Royal College of Physician Educators. He has contributed to numerous publications, and recently published a textbook titled Pediatric Gastroenterology.

Dr. Humaira Hashmi completed her residency in Pediatrics at Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey, and her fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology at Women & Children’s Hospital in Buffalo. Dr. Hashmi enjoys teaching, and has a special interest in managing children and adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. She also focuses on childhood obesity and helps families educate and manage their children’s nutrition.

Dr. Hashmi is actively involved in local and national clinical studies, is a member of the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, and a member of the Gastroenterology Women’s Coalition. Dr. Hashmi is board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, and accredited by the Royal College of Physician Educators, and contributes to numerous publications.

Both physicians are excited to be working together to help children and families throughout Western New York with gastrointestinal and nutritional issues. Dr. Gelfond lives with his wife and three children in East Amherst. Dr. Hashmi also lives in East Amherst with her husband, and their three children.

Press release:

Eclipse Multi Sport descends upon Darien Lakes State Park to feature a family friendly Father’s Day event -- the QuakerMan Triathlon starting at 8 a.m. on June 15.

Eclipse Multi Sport race management is based in Western New York, and has produced multiple USA Triathlon-sanctioned events for the past 13 years. The popularity of Triathlon as a sport is growing, and realizing Genesee County’s own vast state park was a perfect fit for a new event.

Eclipse Multi Sport is proud to partner with Darien Lakes State Park in featuring a sprint and Olympic caliber distance multi-sport event. There will be multiple opportunities to participate, making it fun for the whole family!

An Olympic, sprint, Aquabike, Duathlon, relay team category and even a kids' tri-event in one day! With a beautiful body of water (swim) and a great trail system (run), as well as suitable road conditions (bike) in and around the park, this makes for a wonderful venue.

Over the past several years we have had a large amount of athletes reach out to us via e-mail to see if our events can extend farther east. Landing in Genesee County is an exciting opportunity for us and the recreational community,” said Dan Horan, founder/race director of Eclipse Multi Sport.

“Knowing this would be a great event setting for athletes of all ages, we researched what it would take to develop an event at the park. Putting many heads together so quickly was a testament to the community.”

The event will be recognized as a USAT sanctioned Triathlon as well as the July 19th, Nickel City Triathlon in Buffalo and, on Aug. 2, the Wilson Wet & Wild Triathlon. These multi-sport events make up Eclipse Multi Sports summer Triathlon series.

For details about each event please visiteclipsemultisport.com <http://eclipsemultisport.com/>

Triathlons are a fairly large undertaking because of the three disciplines involved -- swim, bike and run -- so they require a lot of work to put together. But Eclipse Multi Sport, Darien Lakes State Park, New York State Park Police, Genesee County Sheriff’s Dept.and other Genesee County authorities have come up with a fun and exciting race course.

Eclipse Multi Sport is entering its fifth year producing and managing races of all distances from 5Ks, half marathons, obstacles runs with mud, to Triathlons & Duathlons. All told, Eclipse has almost 25 years within its staff working in the race management industry.

Press release:

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting two trips in 2015.

The first is a 12-day tour of National Parks of America from Aug. 8 - 19, 2015. Some highlights on this tour are Scottsdale,Yellowstone, Old Faithful, Mount Rushmore and lots more!

The second is an 11-day tour of Spain's Costa del Sol & the Portuguese Riviera from Nov. 5 - 17, 2015. Some highlights on this tour are Madrid, Granada, Costa del Sol, Cascais, Lisbon and so much more!

More details on all of the trips the Chamber has to offer can be found on their Web site: www.geneseeny.com/trips. You can also contact Melissa at the Chamber at (585) 343-7440, ext. 27, or e-mail at chamber@geneseeny.com for more information.

Kayla Casper, a Genesee County Youth Court member and a senior at Elba Central School, was one of the 50 Youth Court members who applied for the Association of New York State Youth Courts Scholarship. The ANYSYC awarded three scholarships and Kayla was awarded one of them.

To qualify for the ANYSYC scholarship, the Youth Court member must be a graduating senior and a member of a Youth Court Program that paid membership dues to ANYSYC in 2013. The applicant must enroll in a two- or four-year program at an accredited college/university. The individual must be of good moral character, have demonstrated civic responsibility through volunteerism, and have a good strong desire to make a contribution to his/her community.

The process included an application, an essay including educational goals, career goals, why they are deserving of this scholarship, and what being a member of a Youth Court has done for them, along with two letters of recommendation. On behalf of ANYSYC, Kayla was awarded $500 to put toward her college education where she will be attending Cazenovia College.

Christina E. Baker, of Byron, received a bachelor of science degree in Civil Engineering from Clarkson University on May 10, 2014.

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 health sciences, 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.

The Holland Land Office Museum is offering a Senior Bus Trip on Wednesday, Aug. 27, to the Lockport Locks, with an Erie Canal Cruise, and a visit to Black Bird Cider Works.

Cost is $45 per person, which includes the cruise and lunch. Hard cider tasting costs $3.

The bus will leave the museum at 8:30 a.m. and return no later than 5 p.m.

For reservations and information, call the Holland Land Office Museum 585.343.4727.

Bus provided by the Muriel Marshall Fund for the Aging in Genesee County.

Andrea Stefani, of Batavia, was among the recipients of 48 doctor of physical therapy degrees and 668 master's degrees conferred by The University of Scranton at its post-baccalaureate commencement on May 31 in the Byron Recreation Complex.

Stefani earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree with a major in Physical Therapy from The University of Scranton.

Programs with the most graduates at Scranton were MBA, curriculum and instruction, educational administration, occupational therapy and human resources.

Sister Maryalice Jacquinot, IHM, president and CEO of St. Joseph's Center in Scranton, was the principal speaker at the Jesuit university's graduate school commencement.

"Many times, we find that the most vulnerable, those we seek to assist, bring tremendous meaning and understanding into our lives. They demonstrate courage, trust, fidelity and acceptance in such a positive way that they become the ones providing the greater good and life lessons. They are our inspiration and able to change all of us for the better," Sr. Maryalice said in her address, noting that it is "especially significant to be honored by The University of Scranton in its 125th anniversary year."

University of Scranton President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., also addressed the graduates and their guests. Degrees were conferred by Father Quinn to candidates presented by W. Jeffrey Welsh, Ph.D., dean of the College of Graduate and Continuing Education.

The Holland Land Office Museum has a program called "Have History will Travel." If your school or organization would like a free history presentation, please contact Museum office at 585.343.472.

Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St., Batavia is presenting “Fizz, Boom, READ!,” a Summer Reading Club for Adults from June 23 through Aug. 8. Participants are encouraged to read through the summer, and a small gift is awarded for finishing six books.

In addition, participants receive entry forms for a chance to win some theme-related grand prizes, including laboratory beaker mugs and gift certificates to the library’s café, kitchen science kits, and gift cards.

Other library events related to “Fizz, Boom, READ!” include a “What’s with the Weather?” talk, The Science of Bread demonstration, special movie showings, and an “Upcycle That!” Contest. More information is available at the library, by calling 343-9550, ext. 2, and at www.batavialibrary.org.