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Once a child touches a hot stove, as the cliché goes, he learns his lesson -- stay away from a hot stove. But this doesn't take into account the pain and suffering. Burns should not be part of the learning process.

That’s why the City of Batavia Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for Fire Prevention Week 2009 – Oct. 4 to 10 – to urge residents to “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.”

This year’s campaign focuses on ways to keep homes fire safe and prevent painful burns.

The statistics are staggering. Each year roughly 3,000 people die as a result of home fires and burns, and more than 200,000 individuals are seen in the nation’s emergency rooms for burn injuries.

“The most common types of burn injuries result from fire or flame burns, scalds and contact burns,” said Lt. Jay Steinbrenner. “Burns are painful and can result in serious scarring and even death.

"When we take extra caution in our homes to ensure that the curling iron is out of children’s reach or pot handles are turned away from the edge of the stove, such injuries are entirely preventable. Keeping our homes safe from fire and preventing devastating burn injuries is a healthy change we can make happen.”

By following simple safety rules, you can “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.”

• Keep hot foods and liquids away from tables and counter edges so they cannot be pulled or knocked over.
• Have a 3-foot “kid-free” zone around the stove.
• Never hold a child in your arms while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage.
• Be careful when using things that get hot such as curling irons, oven, irons, lamps, heaters.
• Install tamper-resistant receptacles to prevent a child from sticking an object in the outlet.
• Never leave a child alone in a room with a lit candle, portable heater, lit fireplace or stove, or where a hot appliance might be in use.
• Wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking.
• Set your hot water temperature no higher than 120 degrees.
• Install anti-scald valves on shower heads and faucets.

Earlier this week, the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee announced 150 winners of its 2009 Campaign Grants and Endorsements. Three are from Genesee County.

This information is from a press release:

The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee was designed to build a new generation of pro-choice Democratic women candidates, informed voters and activists in New York State. It was founded in 2001 by former New York State Democratic Committee Chair Judith Hope.

This year, the ERLC awarded Sara Burk-Balbi of Batavia an endorsement in her race for Batavia City Council-at-Large, Alice Burkhardt-Calmes of Darien an endorsement in her race for Town Clerk of Darien and Jennifer Keys of LeRoy an endorsement in her race for LeRoy Town Council.

Genesee County Democratic Chair Lorie Longhany said: "The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee’s endorsement is very important support for their campaigns and demonstrates confidence in their ability to win these offices. All three wonderful women are proud to be a part of Eleanor’s Legacy."

“To receive such an important endorsement is really an honor,” says Sara Burk-Balbi.  “Eleanor Roosevelt was not only an active First Lady of the United States, she was a front runner on the importance of women in our political system. Her support of women’s issues as well as the issues of children and families was astounding and life-long. I am proud to be one of three women in Genesee County to receive this honor.”

Keys stated: “This shows the commitment that the ERLC has in helping to elect women candidates across New York State. I accept their support with gratitude."

Alice Burkhardt-Calmes said: “I am pleased that this organization realizes the importance of women in local races. It shows their support of grassroots campaigns at the local level."

Since its founding, the ERLC has elected over 400 women to state and local office across New York State and equipped over 600 women with the skills they need to run and win. The ERLC endorses progressive women candidates with a demonstrated commitment to upholding a woman’s right to choose and to promoting the values of the Democratic Party. To be eligible, a candidate must be pro-choice, female, and an enrolled Democrat running for state or local office in the state of New York.

The ERLC will celebrate this year’s grantees at their Annual Fall Luncheon with special guests Abby Disney, Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. This year’s luncheon honors Geraldine Ferraro with the Pioneer in Politics – Lifetime Achievement Award.

General Municipal Law requires every Fire Police officer to complete the OFPC approved Fire Police course before performing general duties of maintaining safe conditions at an emergency and traffic direction and control.

Sheriff Deputy Ed Vlack instructed Fire Police students on pre-planning and various laws related to their responsibilities tied to the fire service. He also defined terms and helped students interpret them, which included a review of the oath of office. They learned to understand their role working with the conventional police officer. These skills enable participants to perform their duties more effectively.

Completing the nine-hour course on Sept. 19 were:

Alabama -- Betsy L. Riexinger

Town of Batavia -- Joseph A. Avino, Jr.

Bethany -- George W. Larish, Gregory J. O'Brien

Caledonia -- Larry J. Silvernail

Carlton -- Robert Chevier

Corfu -- Joshua B. McMartin, Robert G. McNally, Louis M. Reeb

East Pembroke -- Christina L. Homer-Roviso, William J. Lampke, Jr.

Elba -- Caitlin E. Zipfel

Marilla -- Sean A. Biggs

Newstead -- Michael A. Mutter

Oakfield -- Ryan T. Cook

Pavilion -- Adam J. Pfendler, Tyler F. Schiski, Doug Wright, David Beehler, Jr.

Stafford -- Brian M. Breemes

NOTE: AS OF 2010, THIS CLASS IS NO LONGER OFFERED.

Free parenting classes are being offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County, focusing on positive child rearing and healthy lifestyles.
 
Parents who participate in these classes learn about key parenting communication skills including setting limits, responsibility, communication and positive discipline strategies. In addition, they gain knowledge about nutrition for healthy growth and development.
 
This six-part series is taught by Nutrition and Parenting Educator Mariellen Woodward-DeFelice. There is no cost for Genesee County residents but there is a nominal fee for residents of surrounding counties.
 
For more information or to register, contact Mariellen by calling 585-343-3040 ext. 105 or stop by the Extension Center at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia.
 
Classes are from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays at the Cornell Cooperative Extension building on E. Main. Street of Genesee County, 420 East Main Street in Batavia.
 
Here's the line-up:

Oct. 13 - Anger in the Family: Learn to diffuse anger, encourage positive behavior at the table and about the basics of family nutrition.
 
Oct. 20 - Responsibility and Your Children: Learn to encourage responsibility, teach kids about kitchen safety and how to cook as a family.
 
Oct. 27 - Disciplining Your Children: Learn parenting styles and techniques and how to encourage good food choices.
 
Nov. 3 - Setting Limits and Expectations: Learn to set effective limits and age-appropriate expectations and to reduce cravings with healthy snacks.
 
Nov. 10 - Winning Ways to Talk with Kids: Learn to improve communication with active listening, to educate children about meal planning and how commercialization affects your budget.
 
Nov. 17 - Family Enrichment: Learn to problem solve, teach cooperation, evaluate routines and develop self-esteem.

NOTE: AS OF 2010, THIS CLASS IS NO LONGER OFFERED.

Here's a letter we received from the Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District, which is seeking participation in creating the Tonawanda Creek Watershed Committee.

It's written by district technician and coordinator Elizabeth Bentley-Huber.

Tonawanda Creek is our county’s priority watershed. Presently there is not a Tonawanda Creek Watershed Committee in Genesee County. My goal is to form a whole watershed effort coordinating a variety of people and organizations to work together to address common interests and concerns.

I would like to reach out beyond the political boundaries. Stakeholder identification is a key component to the formation of a watershed committee, to ensure that all interests in the watershed are represented. These stakeholders can help indentify other stakeholders who may have not been identified yet.

I am contacting you and other departments/agencies/organizations in anticipation that you may be interested or know someone in your field of expertise that would represent your department/agency/organization on a watershed committee for the entire Tonawanda Creek watershed including Erie, Niagara, Wyoming and Genesee counties.

Watershed partnerships are important to effective watershed management. Established watershed partnerships are an invaluable resource for a newly forming group and these existing partnerships can provide answers to many questions a new group may have when forming.

It is important right now to begin with the existing groups within the watershed. Several people have been in contact with me expressing interest in participating in a Tonawanda Creek Watershed Committee, including an environmental program manager and a Tribal representative, both from the Environmental Protection Agency and an engineer with the Department of Environmental Conservation.

I also have been in contact with Erie, Niagara and Wyoming County Soil & Water Conservation districts. Aside from promoting better communication between counties, there is a need for technical advisement to provide general environmental information, make resources available and involve people with more expertise in specific fields in their area.

I would like to have a preliminary meeting with department/agency/organization representatives before conducting a formal meeting opened to the public due to the amount of information existing on the Tonawanda Creek Watershed.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns at (585) 343-2362. I will be happy to speak with you. If possible I would like to have the preliminary meeting in the first week of November. Please let me know as soon as possible. Thank You.

Genesee County Soil & Water Conservation District

Attention: Elizabeth Bentley-Huber
USDA Center, 29 Liberty St., Suite 3, Batavia, NY 14020-3247
Office (585) 343-2362, Fax (585) 345-1815



 

The Down Syndrome Parent Support Group of Genesee County, Inc., is now 20 years old.

It will celebrate the feat at its annual Autumn Leaves Auction at 6 p.m. on Oct. 10 at the Batavia First United Methodist Church on Lewiston Road. The cost is $8 pre-sale and $10 at the door and includes a bidder number, lite meal and a fabulous dessert bar.

Call group President Dawn Fisher 948-9222 for tickets.

All items are new and donated by members, friends, and area businesses. There is a Live Auction with about 100 items that Auctioneer Dennis Bezon auctions off for the group. And there will also be a Silent Auction.

The local DSPSG was started by Kay and Rod Cook, but others were instrumental in helping get things off the ground, including Dana and Bryan Phelps, Ron and Sharon Cummings and Stephen and Mary Northrup. All have a child with Down syndrome.

Kay Cook served as the president for 18 years and the others have served on the board of directors or in an officer position.

The group has given back so much to the community and the families who have children with Down syndrome. Every year the group gives two scholarships to high school seniors who will go to college and major in a field related to developmental disabilities.

In addition, it has given big screen TVs to different ARC homes when they opened. Its family reimbursement program has helped many families with the cost of dance lessons, horse riding lessons, challenger sports programs and attorney fees for families who are setting up a special needs trust for their child with Down syndrome.

The group has had several speakers who helped educate parents about issues pertaining to Down syndrome. It also gives out camping scholarships to members who have Down syndrome.

Members of the group have benefitted from funding to attend the National Down Syndrome conferences throughout the United States and Canada. These gatherings are full of information for parents and the young adults with Down syndrome who simultaneously attend their own conference.

Many children with Down syndrome are great self-advocates and take great pride in their accomplishments. They want people to know that they are a person first and foremost who happens to have Down syndrome. They want to become an intregal part of the community.

Come and be a part of that community Oct. 10. It promises to be a great night of tasty food, great company and great bargins. This year's proceeds will go to Genesee ARC for their capital campaign to remodel the old St. Mary's School now called "The Community Center."

Three students at Batavia High School have been named Commended Students for 2010 by the National Merit Scholarship Corp..

They are Kristen A. Klein, Devon R. Kleinbach and Allison M. Schelemanow.

They are among 34,000 Commended Students nationwide, out of 1.5 million students who competed in the 2008 Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Only students scoring in the top 5 percent received the distinction by demonstrating exceptional academic promise.

The students will receive a Letter of Commendation from Principal Christopher J. Dailey and the National Merit Scholarship Corp..

"Recognition of high-achieving students is essential to advancing educational excellence in our nation," said a spokesperson for National Merit Scholarship in its announcement. "As demonstrated by their outstanding performance in our highly competitive program, the young men and women named Commended Students represent some of the most academically talented students in our country. We sincerely hope this recognition will enhance their educational opportunities and encourage them in their pursuit of academic success."

The Northeast Organic Farming Association is urging farmers to act now to reduce the risk of late blight next season.

NOFA-NY (www.nofany.org <http://www.nofany.org/> ) is a non-profit educational organization committed to promoting a sustainable regional food system.

It maintains that a major outbreak of late blight -- the disease that devastated tomato plantings and reduced potato yields throughout New York State this growing season -- may occur any year when growing conditions (wet, cool weather) favor its development. 

While farmers and gardeners can't control the weather, they can reduce the risk of another widespread outbreak of late blight by following a few key practices starting this fall.

In our region, the organism that causes late blight survives from one season to the next in living host tissue-infected potato tubers. Tomatoes do not carry the disease over winter because their seed is not infected by the disease.

To reduce the chance of the disease organism's survival, this fall growers should thoroughly harvest all potatoes and then till up all land that grew potatoes. The harvested tubers should be carefully inspected and all infected tubers destroyed: by chopping into small pieces and burying deeply (below 2 feet); burning; feeding to livestock; or spreading on the soil surface so that they will freeze over the winter.  Infected tubers thrown into a pile may survive the winter and thus perpetuate the disease.

Growers can continue to reduce the risk of late blight next year by buying and planting certified potato seed tubers. They should also scout last year's potato land for volunteer plants, which should be dug up (including tubers) and immediately destroyed.

Infected tomato seedlings sold through "big box" stores were a major factor in the explosive spread of the disease throughout the state. Gardeners should consider starting their own seedlings or buying them from a local commercial grower.

By following these practices, farmers and gardeners can work together to reduce the chance of a major outbreak of late blight next year and in years to come. More information on the disease and management practices that reduce the risk of its occurrence can be found at the NOFA-NY website (www.nofany.org <http://www.nofany.org/> ), which also has links to other useful sites.

Rape Crisis Services of Planned Parenthood in the Rochester/Syracuse region is currently recruiting volunteers.

There is an urgent need in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties for individuals to assist with this important service, which offers free and confidential assistance to victims of sexual assault and their loved ones. It's the only service of its kind in the area.

Rape Crisis Service (RCS) offers sexual assault victims referrals, short-term counseling, and support during medical exams, police investigations and court proceedings.

Being a RCS volunteer is a very rewarding experience, and without these important individuals who volunteer their time, the 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week service that RCS offers would not be available. 

No prior experience is needed, as RCS provides all volunteers with New York State Department of Health mandated training that educates them on how to provide support to victims and their families, assist in the legal process, and how to work with RCS counselors and other volunteers.

Those interested in volunteering for RCS must be at least 20 years of age and be comfortable working with victims in a crisis situation.

Further information about how to volunteer and become involved in Rape Crisis Service can be found on the internet at www.pprsr.org or by contacting Kathy Pexton, regional volunteer coordinator of Planned Parenthood, at 585-546-2771 ext 338. You can also contact Theresa Asmus, Rape Crisis Service area supervisor at 344-0516 ext. 111.

Here's a press release from Isaac Figueras of the Genesee Regional Red Cross regarding an aspect of disaster preparedness:

September is National Preparedness Month. In recognition of this, the Genesee Regional Red Cross would like to take a moment to talk about the importance of renter’s insurance. As the AmeriCorps VISTA Representative of this chapter, I recently sat down with New York State Assemblyman and insurance salesman Steve Hawley and spoke with him about this topic. 

We talked of the importance of renter’s insurance, its effectiveness and costs.

The Red Cross believes this is important because, as Hawley says about renter’s insurance, “Aside from life insurance, it is the one type of insurance that people do not think about. Because they do not own the building, some people assume that the owner of the building is responsible for any losses that the renter incurs or that they cannot be sued.”

This assumption is wrong. Let’s start with a few basic points about this kind of insurance.

You may be thinking, what exactly does renter’s insurance cover? The policy generally covers damages from fire, lightning, wind, bursting pipes, vandalism and much more. In fact, this policy can even cover the damage from someone else crashing into your house!

Also, the insurance is not expensive. An average premium of $100,000 costs roughly $80 a year. Further, there is a $300,000 liability if someone sues you. Some companies only require a down payment to start it.

Hawley also noted that, with many insurance companies, if you already have a different kind of insurance policy such as car insurance, adding a renter’s insurance policy can give you a discount. In such a case, your renter’s insurance would be even lower than the average $80 yearly premium.

Calling attention to this kind of policy is especially important. In this region, major threats include fire, wind and storms. As noted above, damages caused by these events to a rented building are often covered under a renter’s insurance policy.

“I think that with the changing weather patterns that we’ve observed here in Western New York and the East, that it is even more important, whether you’re a renter or a home-owner, to be sure that you are adequately covered,” Hawley said.

Regardless of your location or circumstances, you and your home can both be affected by bad weather. An awareness of the possible emergencies that can occur in your area is, as always, important. If you rent property, purchasing such insurance is a first step toward being prepared for emergencies.

Finally, considering the average price of this insurance and its coverage, such a purchase is cost effective as well. Remember, preparedness may not seem important now but, in the event of a disaster, each preparation you have made will help!