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Submitted photos and press release:

Employment rates, government benefit program statistics, healthcare costs and starvation statistics are everywhere. While more than 14 percent of the population in New York State is living in poverty, the Global Education Committee (GEC) at Genesee Community College is doing more than facing the facts.

In the College's nearly full William W. Stuart Forum last week, the GEC hosted a very real simulation called "Disrupting Poverty" for students in Christine Belongia's Teacher Education and Adolescent Development classes, Karen Wicka's Criminal Justice classes and Kari Heidemann's and James Myers' Human Services classes.

The simulation was designed by Missouri's Community Action Poverty Simulation and facilitated by Juanita Henry, director of the Genesee Region Teacher Center and Pat Mullikin, director of the Tri-County Teacher Center.

"The simulation is not a game," Belongia, professor of Teacher Education and Humanities at GCC said. "It's an educational experience designed to heighten awareness, foster empathy and challenge assumptions surrounding issues of poverty."

The poverty simulation positions several different family units, being role-played by GCC's students, in the middle of a community typical of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans or Wyoming counties.

During the one-hour simulation, each of the family units must manage expenses, attend meetings and appointments, and struggle to meet the overwhelming needs of their family for one month, played out in a series of four 15-minute weeks. Each family unit is given detailed lists of bills that must be paid, restricted income statements and limited sources with the task of making hard choices to survive living in poverty.

As in any community, there are resources and organizations available to the simulated family units that they can choose to visit -- if they can afford transportation which was represented by having a paper "pass" bus ticket, cab voucher, or gas money for a friend or driver, all making the simulation even more realistic. More than a dozen different resources were represented in the simulation by role-playing GCC students.

At one desk, a bank offering loans and cashing checks; at another, a child care center with daycare expenses; and another with an employer offering jobs with specific shifts available. In addition, as in the real world, other desks held pawn shops, healthcare offices, pay-day advance agencies who charge high interest rates, and or course, homeless shelters and other resources for the severely destitute.

Throughout the simulation, students in the family units had to work together to plan and cover expenses, including food and shelter.

"If we buy these groceries today, how will we pay for daycare next week," one student asked his family unit. "My paycheck plus your Social Security check is only enough to cover rent and electricity this month."

The students in the family unit then researched their family situation and visited various organizations and resources to find ways to make ends meet.

"This simulation is powerful for our students," said Karen Kovach-Allen, Ph.D., dean of Human Communications & Behavior at GCC. "Some of them live in poverty in the real world and this simulation is practice for knowing what resources are available and what choices they have.

"For others, the simulation offers a unique glance into the lives of those living in poverty and perhaps leaves them with a little perspective, and an appreciation for what others might be going through."

This is the first time GCC students, faculty and staff have had a simulation experience on campus. The program is part of this year's Global Education, "Food and Cultural Identity" theme.

Beyond activities such as this, the Adult Educational Opportunity Center (AEOC) at GCC works to address issues of food insecurity on campus every day offering a variety of classes and raising awareness of available resources, including GCC's Food Pantry available to students year round.

Press release:

Join folks from the Genesee County Office for the Aging at 11 a.m. on Tuesday Nov. 27 to learn about volunteer opportunities at the Batavia VA Medical Center, located at 222 Richmond Ave. Information, a tour and light refreshments will be provided.

Enjoy a conversation during recreation activities, escort a patient within the facility, provide clerical support, drive veterans to medical appointments, and more.

Put your skills into purposeful action. Call Courtney Iburi, RSVP coordinator, at (585) 343-1611 with any questions or to RSVP. We will meet at the doors near the parking lot to the west.

Press release:

Northgate Free Methodist Church invites the community to a "Vintage Christmas" event from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8^th.

Enjoy a festive Christmas tractor hayride through our community prayer walk, complete with carols and a retelling of the Christmas story. Come roast marshmallows around our bonfire, eat s’mores, drink hot chocolate, while the children are invited to create ornaments for the tree.

There will be a brief devotional, presented at 6 p.m., to ready our hearts and minds for the Christmas season, accompanied by a spectacular tree lighting. This is a free event, open to all ages, come and go as you please.

Northgate Free Methodist Church is located at 8160 Bank Street Road, Batavia. For more information, contact the Northgate office at (585)343-4011 or email office@northgatefmc.com

Above, Rachel Slobert, Batavia Academy principal, celebrates being first to be successfully pied.

Submitted photos and press release:

Every fall, Batavia Academy students enjoy a special Thanksgiving dinner. This year, students worked together to raise funds for this luncheon by collecting cans and bottles, and offering a pizza sale as well as an in-school snack cart sale. New this year, the students organized a Pie the Face event.  

Students and staff paid to throw a whipped cream pie in the face of Batavia Academy teachers, administrators and campus administrators. This was the first time such an event was held and it was a great success!

Much laughter and many cheers occurred as Batavia Academy teachers and staff, along with Rachel Slobert, Batavia Academy principal; Jon Sanfratello, executive principal of the Batavia Campus; and Chad Cummings, school resource officer of the Batavia Campus, took their turns getting "pied."

“This was a great fundraiser that raised $120 for our Thanksgiving dinner. We hope to make it an annual event,” said Rachel Slobert, as she carefully wiped whipped cream from her face.

About Batavia Academy

The Batavia Academy is an alternative education program that provides a small, nurturing environment, which gives each student the maximum amount of attention necessary to improve academic and social skills.

Programs have been specifically designed to provide an educational option for students from our component school districts in grades 7-12 whose needs are not met by our traditional secondary schools. Teachers assist students in attaining a high school diploma through maintaining the same academic requirements as home schools.

The Batavia Academy is set on the Genesee Valley Education Partnership campus located in Batavia.

The Partnership operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services providing shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York State.

Below: Chad Cummings, Batavia Campus school resource officer, gets a pie in the face. Nice mustache!

Below: It's a direct hit! Jon Sanfratello, Batavia Campus executive principal, gets a pie smash.

On Thursday (Nov. 15) 15 Byron-Bergen High School students joined more than 500 other students from area districts to compete in the 10th annual Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge held at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

Four of the 132 teams competing were comprised of students from Marian Gerhardy’s Economics class. Each team started with an imaginary $1 million and each passing minute represented a trading day. Students bought and sold pretend stocks in an effort to gain the largest profit.

“It is hectic and quite fun,” said Gerhardy, whose students have been participating since 2011 and were the first from Genesee County to compete.

As the final “trading day” closed out, the Byron-Bergen team of Lydia Campbell, Anthony DiQuattro, Jared Fregoe, and MacKenzie Rosse had achieved a 36.18 percent return on investment and a second-place overall finish.

Submitted photos and press release:

CVMA 19-6 Broken Arrow chapter donated $1000 in gift cards to the VA PTSD Residential Programs on Monday (Nov. 19) at the Batavia VA. The gift cards to Walmart, Tops and Target will be used to enhance programming for veterans while at the facility.

It gives us so much joy to able to give back with all the help from the folks that contribute to “Vets helping Vets," an organizer said.

Thanks again to all our supporters!

Press release:

Holiday visits to older loved ones may raise questions about a person’s physical and cognitive health, especially if it’s been a while since the last visit. Although some change in cognitive ability can occur with age, memory problems that impact daily living are not a part of typical aging.

Recognizing the difference between typical aging and potentially more serious problems can help identify when it may be time to see a doctor.

The Alzheimer’s Association® Western New York Chapter is an excellent resource for those with questions about typical age-related memory lapses and indications of more serious cognitive impairment.

The Chapter offers free educational programs that include a discussion of the 10 Warning Signs:

• memory loss that disrupts daily life -- forgetting recently learned information, important dates or events;
• challenges in planning or solving problems, such as trouble following a familiar recipe; 
• difficulty completing familiar tasks, such as a budget or playing a favorite game;
• confusion with time or place, including losing track of the seasons;
• trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships, including trouble reading or recognizing the face in the mirror;
• new problems with words in speaking or writing, including repetitive conversations;
• misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps, or accusing others of stealing items they can’t find;
• decreased or poor judgment, such as giving large amounts of money to telemarketers;
• withdrawal from work or social activities, or lack of interest in sports;
• changes in mood and personality that can include confusion, suspicion, depression, fear or anxiety.

Every year around the 2017 Thanksgiving holiday, the Alzheimer’s Association sees increases in calls to its 24-hour Helpline (800.272.3900), as people visit with friends and family they may not see as frequently during the year. That phone line is always staffed by trained experts, who provide confidential consultations around-the-clock, andthis holiday season will be no different.

Those with questions or concerns about memory lapses or behavioral changes in their loved ones will find compassionate people who can answer questions or listen to concerns at any time of the day or night through the long holiday weekend. Information can also be found online at www.alz.org/wny.

Experts from the WNY Chapter are also available to arrange private, in-person consultations via that same toll-free number: 800.272.3900.

About the Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

About the Western New York Chapter
The local Chapter provides programs, services and other resources for those living with dementia, their care partners, healthcare professionals and the public across eight counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming. You can learn more by calling (716) 626.0600 during traditional business hours or 24/7 at 1.800.272.3900 or visiting online at alz.org/WNY

Jason Eric Jones, 44, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, is charged with introducing dangerous contraband into prison in the first degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Following an investigation at the GC Jail. Jones was arrested on the charges. It is alleged that while being in custody at the jail that he smuggled drugs into the facility with the intent to use them while incarcerated. He was arraigned in City Court, put in jail, and is due back in court at a later date. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy McClellan, assisted by Deputy Matthew Burgett.

Anthony James Demmer, 23, of Towne Place, Alabama, is charged with: DWI; operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 percent or more; unsafe backing; and unlawful possession of marijuana. On Nov. 16 at 6:53  p.m., deputies responded to the 7-Elevent Store in Oakfield for a two-car property damage accident. Following an investigation, Demmer was arrested. He was issued appearance tickets and is due in Oakfield Town Court on Dec. 17. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's deputies Erik Andre and John Baiocco.

Nicholas J. Barr, 36 of Hilton, was arrested at 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 16 by troopers of out the State Police barracks in Batavia and charged with: unlawful possession of marijuana; criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th; aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd; along with other vehicle and traffic infractions. Troopers stopped Barr on East Main Road in the Town of Le Roy for having an uninspected motor vehicle. While interviewing Barr the odor of marijuana was allegedly present. Barr was allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana in addition to several canisters of THC oil. Further investigation also revealed Barr was operating with a suspended New York State driver's license. Barr was arrested and transported to SP Batavia for processing. He was arraigned at the Town of Le Roy Court and put in Genesee County Jail in lieu of $750 cash/$3,000 bond.

Cassandra Joy Barto, 22, of Dodgeson Road, Alexander, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and having an obstructed driver's view. On Nov. 18 at 11:40 a.m., deputies stopped Barto's vehicle on Veterans Memorial Drive for vehicle and traffic law violations. She was arrested and issued appearance tickets for Town of Batavia Court on Dec. 17. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Erik Andre.

File photo of Jim and Connie DiSalvos' property on Fargo Road, Stafford.

In a little more than 48 hours from now, the familiar and fantastic display of Christmas lights at the DiSalvos' property at 9180 Fargo Road in Stafford will blaze on after a year's hiatus.

In 2017, Jim and Connie took a break from the more than 20-year-old family tradition to take their grandkids to Disney World on a well-deserved holiday vacation.

And they vowed then they'd be back in 2018 bigger and better than ever. But thinking about it in the interim, they decided to change things up a bit, and concentrate more characters front and center at Swallowvale.

For the past few weeks, a team of helpers has removed the larger lighted characters altogether from the distant sides of their half mile of frontage road. These will be condensed -- three times the characters in half the space -- closer to the grand main house, built in 1842 with fieldstones and expanded in the 1950s.

"It's easier for us to maintain," Connie said. "We can just walk out front and not have to traipse up and down" on their 140+ acres.

Gone will be the 80-foot-long bleachers in a flat area that served as anchors for the scenic Alps and Village display and also all of the high-maintenance inflatables, which must be regularly "shaken" to keep snow from piling up on them.

Connie said they have given away the larger wooden structures, like the Alps and Village, which were labor-intensive, and found new home for them with neighbors. These also include the fireplace display and the gingerbread boy and girl. One of the display's new homes is on Shepard Road in Stafford.

The traditional of having Santa visit on Kids' Night (which was the second Tuesday night in December) has been passed, the DiSalvos said, to The Original Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, also in Stafford. The restaurant boasts its own stellar two-million-and-counting lights display during the holidays and a number of community give-back initiatives. Santa Claus will visit the Red Osier from 5 to 8 p.m. on two consecutive Mondays, Dec. 3 and 10. (Hot cocoa, Christmas cookies, roast beef sandwiches and more will be available to purchase from the outdoors food cart, and there will be horse and carriage rides.)

As ever at the DiSalvos, there will be the mind-boggling array of lights, with Christmas music piping out of speakers until 9 p.m. each evening, starting at 5-ish on Thanksgiving afternoon through sometime Jan. 2 of the new year.

Then everything is disassembled and the lights tested and boxed and put away for next year.

When it all starts over again, a team of five people will work 40 hours a week from mid-September until the big switch on Thanksgiving Day to make the magic happen.

"It's such a joy -- seeing people enjoy the displays, busloads of scouts, the elderly, children from the School for the Blind, the disabled," Connie said. "We've had many proposals take place here, and a couple of weddings."

One memorable proposal came when a serviceman dropped to bended knee by the wooden arch near the snowy driveway, and simultaneously plugged in an extension cord, which lit a sign that said "Abby will you marry me?" The bride said yes.

Another serviceman and his fiancee, who both visited Swallowvale as children at Christmastime, returned one year and asked permission to get married there.

A wedding was to take place by the stonewall in front when the weather became too inclement and the bride's dress was in danger of becoming muddy, so the DiSalvos invited the nuptial party inside. A roaring fire in the living room took off the chill and bottles of wine were brought up from the wine cellar so all could toast the bride and groom.

The sheer electrical spectacle that has made the DiSalvos' a regional must-see requires 30 boxes of extension cords -- about 500 them -- to plug everything together. Power is provided from five metered areas -- electrical services (each akin to the usage of one household) with about two miles of underground cables; with the efficiency of LED lights, two to three metered services will be used for less money.

Can't be cheap to operate. But as per usual, Jim DiSalvo won't say how much it costs, just looks at you directly and says something about a couple of mice running on a wheel to generate the juice.

"Pancakes for Paws" flapjack fundraiser to benefit the Genesee County Sheriff's Office K9 Fund will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9, at Applebee's Restaurant in Batavia.

This event is sponsored by the Elementary School Council of Elba Central School.

Tickets are $6. For this special fundraiser, tickets WILL BE available at the door. However, Applebee's would like to anticipate the number of people who will attend, so please contact either of the following two people with a head count for your party:

• 1) Elba schoolteacher Mrs. Pietrzykowski at 757-9967, ext. 1480, or email her at:   gpietrzykowski@elbacsd.org
• 2) Carolyn DellaPenna, confidential secretary to the GC Sheriff, at 345-3000, ext. 3510, or email her at:   Carolyn.DellaPenna@co.genesee.ny.us

Applebee's is located at 8322 Lewiston Road.

Deputy Christopher Erion -- a 1993 graduate of Elba Central School -- recently lost his K9 service dog Destro to cancer.

The initial cost to get another police dog is estimated to be nearly $15,000.

Press release:

For the third year in a row, Steven Foster and Timothy Adams, owners of The Red Osier Landmark Restaurant and Adams’ Welding and Fabrication, both located in Stafford, use their businesses as tools to give back to their community in a monthlong event they have named “Lovember.”

All this month, the restaurant has been offering promotions while giving back to the local community. These include “Christmas in November,” “Winter Wonderland of Lights,” “Spirits and Skivvies,” “Thanksgiving Give Back” and “Food for Le Roy Food Pantry.”

Christmas in November

This is a promotion where if you purchase a $50 gift certificate, you receive a complementary $20 gift voucher for January, February and March. Some restrictions do apply. The restaurant has run this promotion for well over 20 years.  

Winter Wonderland of Lights

The “Original” Red Osier Landmark Restaurant is rapidly becoming the largest holiday light display in Genesee County. With well over 2 million lights on display, its official yearly unveiling will be on Friday, Nov.23^rd. Passionate about sharing the joys of the holidays with others, the owners encourage families, friends, and community members to come out and stroll through their property. On Monday Dec. 3^rd and Monday Dec. 10^th, Santa will be stopping from 5 to 8 p.m. This is free event allows families to take their own pictures with Santa, while having horse and carriage rides while taking in the holiday surroundings. The Red Osier Landmark Restaurant’s Lunch Trailer will be on hand for the purchasing of roast beef sandwiches, chili, salt potatoes, hot cocoa, and homemade Christmas cookies. Save the dates!

Thanksgiving Give Back

The Restaurant will once again be open on Thanksgiving starting at noon. A portion of the sales proceeds will be donated to Genesee Cancer Assistance, and the founding of two scholarships in the name of the restaurant and its brother company Adams’ Welding and Fabrication. These scholarships will be given to two high school students attending Genesee Valley BOCES in the Metal Trades Program and Culinary Arts Program. Each student must have a good standing GPA, have a part time job, and have a record of local community involvement. It is our hopes that these scholarships will be the largest offered in these trade programs history and allow these two students to pursue higher education within these fields.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto speak to students at the Greek-American Institute of New York in the Bronx.

Submitted photos and press release:

In his ongoing quest for bipartisanship and cooperation between lawmakers’ interests in varying regions of the state, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) visited the Bronx last week for a community-wide tour with Assemblyman Michael Benedetto.

Hawley has been hosting reciprocal visits with downstate lawmakers for several years, previously visiting Queens with Assemblyman Michael DenDekker, Smithtown, Long Island with Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick and Staten Island with Assemblyman Michael Cusick.

“Unfortunately, politics in our country is deeply divided and although it is difficult to change the national tide, we can do our part to reach across the aisle, be more inclusive and understanding of other lawmakers’ needs and concerns,” Hawley said.

“Opening perspectives is always important in any profession and although we disagree on many policies, we are all colleagues and all New Yorkers at the end of the day. I thoroughly enjoyed touring the Bronx with Assemblyman Benedetto and hope to continue bridging the Upstate-Downstate divide moving forward.”

The two lawmakers read stories to children at the Greek-American School, toured SUNY Maritime, visited Co-Op City, the world’s largest cooperative housing development and visited with business leaders in the Westchester Square Business District.

Assemblyman Hawley and Assemblyman Benedetto tour SUNY Maritime, one of only seven degree-granting maritime institutions in the country 

The two Assemblymen also toured Bartow-Pell Mansion, a historic landmark that dates back to the 17^th century.