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Eligible families can apply for child care that is free or for a minimal charge through the state's Agribusiness Child Development Program.

Children 6 weeks old to 5 years old receive bilingual, culturally appropriate care, including specialized care for children with disabilities.

Eligible Families:

-Have child(ren) from 6 weeks to 5 years old
-Work in Food Service
-Work in Agriculture
-Collect Social Services (DSS)
-Meet income and employment eligibility guidelines

The program employs a knowledgeable teaching staff who promote a creative curriculum

-Meals provided -- breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack
-Diapers and formula provided
-Full-time nurse health screenings
-Large indoor gymnasium
-Free transportation

How to apply?
Call Batavia ABCD (585)-343 -8160 or go online to <http://www.abcdny.org>

Western Regional Off-Track Betting and Batavia Downs Casino are pleased to announce they will be hosting a World Harness Handicapping Championship qualifier at the historic harness track on Friday night, March 22.

Entry fee is $10 and two entries are permitted. The initial entry fee includes $5 returned in Casino slot play. The contest is limited to 150 entries.

The qualifier will consist of races 1 – 10 at Buffalo Raceway and races 1 – 8 at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Contestants are required to make a total of nine mythical win-place wagers on the 18 designated contest races of which at least five contest wagers must be made on Buffalo Raceway. The remaining four wagers can be made on either Buffalo Raceway or the Meadowlands. Only one mythical wager is allowed per designated contest race.

Each contest wager will consist of a mythical $10 win-place wager. No best bet selection is required.

The “Win” mutuel will be capped at $40. The “Place” mutuel will be capped at $20 Therefore, the most a contestant can win in any given contest race is $300.

The Grand prize is a trip to compete in the $100,000 World Harness Handicapping Championship to be held on April 13 at the Meadowlands Racetrack. The winner will also receive hotel accommodations for two nights and $500 in expense money. The package is valued at $1,750. The top 10 finishers receive prize money.

Advance payments are being accepted by mailing a check or mail order to Batavia Downs Casino, 8315 Park Road, Batavia NY 14020, Attn: Todd H.

Walk-ups the night of the contest can also enter with the amount of open seats available determined by the number of advance entries.

Press release:

For the fourth consecutive year, volunteers at Genesee Community College are once again providing free income tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the 2012 tax season. Those interested may access walk-in sessions at GCC's Batavia Campus or appointment-based services at Genesee County Department of Social Services (GCDSS).

These are the next walk-in sessions scheduled at the GCC Batavia campus, all in room T204:

•    Thursday, March 21 from 4 to 7 p.m.

•    Thursday, April 4 from 4 to 7 p.m.

The appointment-based services are available through April 9th at the Genesee County DSS at 5130 E. Main St., Batavia. To make an appointment, call 344-2580, ext. 6552.

Through VITA, IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation to community members with household income up to $51,000. Business tax returns or complicated capital gains transactions cannot be completed through the VITA program. VITA offers free electronic filing of returns, but each client also receives a copy of his or her return that has been prepared.

"Genesee Community College is once again pleased to offer this service to our local residents. Our certified volunteers consist of faculty and staff, as well as current and former students," Cheryl Corke, GCC associate professor of accounting and business and VITA program director said. "Last year we prepared 176 Federal and NYS income tax returns. Through this effort, our clients received $214,000 in Federal Income Tax Refunds, including $48,000 in earned income tax credits, $15,000 in child tax credits and $17,500 in education tax credits."

Corke advises participants to bring all necessary documents including W-2 (wage and earning statement(s) from employer(s), W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-Misc (interest and dividend statements from banks) forms and 1098-T (tuition statement) forms; social security cards for all persons listed on the tax return.

A copy of last year's Federal and State returns, if available, is suggested. In addition, bank account routing numbers and account numbers are also needed for direct deposit. Photo identification is required this year. Other information participants may need to provide includes total annual payment for daycare providers plus the daycare provider's tax identifying numbers and address. Lastly, for married-filing joint tax returns both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.

Elmira College has released its dean's list for Academic Acievement for the Fall 2012 term. The dean's list recognizes students that have a grade-point average of 3.6 or higher.

Alicia Hough ('13) of Elba, is majoring in Business Administration.

Megan Lowe ('13), of Le Roy, is majoring in Adolescence Education: Mathematics.

Jessica Pcionek ('15), of Oakfield, is majoring in Childhood Education and Foreign Languages French.

Amy Schmidt ('15), of Batavia, is majoring in International Studies.

Brittany Schmidt ('15), of Corfu, is majoring in History and Classical Studies.

Elmira College, located in the Finger Lakes Region of beautiful, historic Upstate New York, is one of the great small colleges of the nation. To learn more about what Elmira College has to offer, navigate to www.elmira.edu or call 800-935-6472 to schedule your visit to Elmira College.
 

The Elba Central School Junior Class is sponsoring the premiere Elba Central School Square Dance. This will take place from 7 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9.

It's open to the public. Cost is $4 per student and $7 per adult. There will be basket raffles, 50/50 raffles and food available.

This will be at Elba Central School in the Sherwood Gym at 57 Main St., in Elba. There will also be line dancing. Please come and have some old-fashioned fun and support the class of 2014!

The Second Annual Members Exhibition is now on display at the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) Bank of Castile Main Gallery, Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., Batavia.

The exhibit coincides with March as Arts Awareness Month and it runs through April 26.

An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 15.

Press release:

Genesee Community College invites visual artists to submit their work for possible exhibition at GCC's Rosalie "Roz" Steiner Art Gallery located in the Genesee Center for the Arts on GCC's Batavia campus. This call for work is open to individual artists and group exhibitions in all media interested for the 2013-2014 academic year.

The Steiner Gallery's mission is to foster community involvement in the arts while enhancing the learning experience for all GCC students, faculty and staff. Proposals are selected by the GCC Gallery Committee, which seeks out exhibitions rich in content and quality craftsmanship.

According to Gallery Manager Shirley Verrico, "Our gallery attracts both artists and visitors from throughout Western New York. We are currently averaging about 300 visitors each month. Our committee is always looking for artists that can contribute meaningfully to the education of our students while participating in the larger discourse of the contemporary art world."

The Roz Steiner Gallery opened in Spring 2011 and offers 1,700 square feet of outstanding exhibit space featuring 25-foot walls, moveable island walls, bamboo flooring, and multimedia capabilities. See more at the Gallery's facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/gccgallery.

Artists interested in submitting their work can do so via the submission process available on the Gallery Web site at http://www.genesee.edu/campuslife/arts/gallery/submissions.cfm. The deadline for consideration for the coming academic year is May 1.

Press release:

Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) is encouraging local high school students to participate in this year's Congressional Art Competition. The winning artist from New York's 27th Congressional District will travel to Washington, D.C., and have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

"Each day, members of Congress and hundreds of visitors to the Capitol walk by the award winning artwork submitted by high school students from around the country," Collins said. "I look forward to great participation from NY-27 schools this year and the opportunity to welcome our wining artist to Washington this summer."

Now in its 31st year, the Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in New York's 27th Congressional District. Local submissions are due by April 19 and will be judged by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Collins' office has notified local high schools regarding contest rules and submission guidelines. Interested students should see their art teacher for details or contact Emily Knight from Congressman Collins' office at (585) 519-4002.

Press release:

Genesee Community College will host a Job Fair dedicated to careers in the health career industry from noon to 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, at the College's centrally located William Stuart Forum.

The event is designed to introduce potential new employees to employers, and also provides health care businesses an opportunity to present their trade and services to the local community. More than 25 local and regional health care companies and four-year colleges will be available to answer questions, accept resumes and distribute material relating to their company / college. Nursing, Physical Therapy Assistants and Respiratory Care, Polysomnographic Technology, Veterinary Technician, and Fitness and Recreation Management businesses will all be represented.

As of Feb. 26, the following employer representatives will be available to distribute career information and other printed materials, answer questions, and receive resumes (this list is subject to change):

Catholic Health System, Buffalo
Companion Care of Rochester
Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo
Fidelis Care, Getzville
Finger Lakes DDSO – Nursing, Rochester
Finger Lakes DDSO – Phys. Therapy, Rochester
Genesee County Health Department, Batavia
HCR Home Care, Rochester
Highland Hospital, Rochester
HomeCare & Hospice, Olean
Lifetime Assistance, Rochester
Lifetime Care, Rochester
Monroe Community Hospital, Rochester
NYS Veterans Home at Batavia
Olean General Hospital / Bradford Regional Medical Center
Orleans Community Health, Medina
Precision Scribes, Las Cruces, NM
Rehab Resources & Little Lukes, Oswego
Rochester General Hospital, Rochester
Unity Health System, Rochester
University of Rochester Medical Center, Strong Memorial Hospital - Physical Therapy Dept
WNY DDSO at West Seneca, Hamburg

The following four-year colleges will be available to discuss their RN to BSN programs (this list is subject to change):

Daemen College, Amherst
Grand Canyon University, Phoenix
Keuka College – Accelerated Studies for Adults Program, Keuka
Niagara University – Department of Nursing, Niagara University
Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester
St. John Fisher College – Wegmans, School of Nursing, Rochester
SUNY Delhi School of Nursing, Delhi
The College at Brockport – Army ROTC, Brockport
The College Network, Indianapolis
Trocaire College, Buffalo
University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester

"With the increasing need for qualified health care professionals, this Health Careers Job Fair gives students and employers a great opportunity to connect," said John McGowan, Career Services Center coordinator.

The job fair is FREE and open to the general public. For a current listing of registered employers / schools, please visit the Career Services Web page at www.genesee.edu.career/events. Employers interested in attending the fair should contact the Career Services office at 585-345-6888 to register for this event.

Erin O'Connor, of Stafford, has been placed on the Gettysburg College dean's honor list for outstanding academic achievement in the Fall 2012 semester.

Students with a quality point average of 3.60 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for a semester's work are placed on the College's dean's honor list.

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition that includes Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate and other distinguished scholars among its alumni. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Roberts Wesleyan College is pleased to announce the following local students were named to the dean's list for outstanding performance for the Fall 2012 semester:

Anna Dominick, of Corfu, received High Honors.

Karissa Guiste, of Batavia, received Honors.

Kelsey Hill, of Bergen, received Highest Honors.

Katherine Kovatch, of Le Roy, received High Honors.

Angela Larmon, of Oakfield, received High Honors.

Alicia Maniace, of Batavia, received Honors.

Emily Maniace, of Batavia, received Highest Honors.

Bethany Miller, of Le Roy, received High Honors.

Kimberly Mills, of Basom, received Highest Honors.

James Nichols, of Pavilion, received Honors.

Tyler Pratt, of Bergen, received Honors.

Lisa Redband, of Batavia, received Highest Honors.

Bethany Roth, of Le Roy, received Honors.

Katherine Schrenker, of Bergen, received High Honors.

Mark Zoccali, of Le Roy, received Honors.

Honors require a grade-point average ranging from 3.5 to 3.69. Higher honors require a grade-point average ranging from 3.7 to 3.89. Highest honors require a grade-point average ranging from 3.9 to 4.0.

About Roberts Wesleyan College

With an enrollment of nearly 1,800 students and a tradition of excellence since 1866, Roberts Wesleyan College is a leader among liberal arts and professional studies colleges with a Christian worldview. Striving for higher learning with a higher purpose, the College offers more than 50 undergraduate programs for taught by high-quality, caring faculty and graduate programs in business, education, health administration, healthcare informatics administration, marketing, nursing, school counseling and school psychology, and social work.

Major General Patrick A. Murphy, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

Devonte Rolle, of Batavia, serving with the 152nd Engineer Support Company, is promoted to the rank of Private First Class. Army National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability and development potential.

These promotions additionally recognize the best qualified soldiers and attract and retain the highest caliber citizen soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard. For more information about the New York Army National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov or www.1800goguard.com.