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From 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday, April 30, the City of Batavia will celebrate both Earth Day and Arbor Day. Rain or shine.

The morning will begin at Austin Park on Jefferson Avenue with an Energy Smart Program presentation. There will also be giveaways and several displays including: a seed starting display by the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners; a composting display by GLOW; city recycling Information; a Youth Bureau Craft Booth, National Grid lighting display and handouts, Garbage Art by GoArt!, and a Smoke Free Now Booth by GCASA.

Volunteers will then be assigned a City Park or downtown in the area of Main and Ellicott streets to pick up debris. The volunteers will be asked to regroup at Austin Park at 11:45 a.m. for tree planting ceremonies and a complimentary lunch sponsored by Reality Check.

A challenge has been given to the local fifth-grade classes and the class with the most participants in our Earth Day event will be announced at noon. The winning class will receive a pizza party for their fifth-grade class at their school.

The City of Batavia Youth Bureau has organized this event for the community.

The trees for the planting ceremonies have been donated by Lowes and Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union. ARC is also donating their services and supplies for the event and Tim Horton’s is donating coffee and TimBits for the volunteers.

The city is seeking volunteers to give a few hours of their time to get out and recognize Earth Day & Arbor Day and to help Clean up & Green up Batavia!

If there are any questions, please contact: City of Batavia Youth Bureau, located at One Batavia City Centre. Phone is 345-6420. FAX is 344-0260. E-mail:   funke@batavianewyork.com

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a nine-day familiarization tour of China from Nov. 1 through 9.

Very similar to their successful trips in 2009 and 2010, the chamber is offering the community the unique opportunity to travel to China for the low price of $2,099. Price includes air fare (from JFK), bus to/from JFK, hotel stays, three meals a day, bus tours (with guides), admission to tourist spots, and airport taxes throughout the trip.

Of professional interest, this trip will present opportunities to learn a great deal about how the Chinese business system operates. The group will tour many memorable sites, both ancient and modern, and enjoy a multitude of unforgettable experiences in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou.

In addition, there is the option to visit Xian (Terra Cotta Warriors) or to Guilin (Elephant Trunk Hill) for an additional fee.

The chamber believes this trip to be an exceptional value. For more details call Melissa at the chamber at 343-7440, ext. 27, and sign up to attend an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. on May 17 at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.

Details on the trip can also be found at www.geneseeny.com/china

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce will officially kick off its 2011 Membership Drive at 8 a.m. tommorrow, April 26, its office on Main Street.

Chamber President Lynn Freeman and Director of Membership and Special Events Kelly Bermingham will be joined by board members Lori Stupp and Chad Zambito for the kick-off, which will include an overview presentation for volunteers.

Five years afo, the chamber had nearly 1,000 members. That number has dwindled down to less than 800 today. Freeman believes that the current economic conditions have contributed to the decline.

“In today’s business climate, business owners are looking to trim expenses, he said. "Unfortunately, they sometimes fail to realize that a chamber membership can add to your bottom line in the long run so the campaign is really focused on educating the public on member benefits."

According to Freeman, the most popular benefits include the ability for chamber members to purchase health insurance for themselves and their employees. The chamber also offers “Member 2 Member” discounts which provides a 10 percent discount to chamber members and their employees at local businesses like Turnbull Heating and Air, Oliver’s Candies and Alex’s Place.

Freeman also said the chamber is currently working on an additional savings program that he believes will be very popular with members. Bermingham expects to train more than 20 volunteers who, along with chamber staff, will then visit nearly 200 perspective businesses during a three-day blitz scheduled for May 10-12.

“It’s been a while since we have done a membership drive and we are really excited to get out in front of perspective members and explain our benefits,” Bermingham said.

Along with health insurance and the “Member 2 Member” program, the chamber provides business promotion, consulting and advocacy.  If you are interested in participating in the drive or in joining the chamber, contact them today at 343-7440.

This information comes from Genesee Community College.

In his last year as President of Genesee Community College, Stuart Steiner, Ed.D, -- leader of the school for more than 37 years -- will give students one last farewell before he heads into retirement. At the request of the Student Government Association, Steiner has agreed to serve as commencement speaker at graduation on Sunday, May 22.

Commencement ceremonies begin at 1 p.m. in the Anthony B. Zambito Gymnasium of the Batavia campus.

Since Genesee Community College was founded in the 1960s, Steiner has been a tireless leader ever-focused on the future of the college and student success. Originally, he served as Dean of Students for a short period and then became Dean of Instruction/Executive Dean until 1975. That year, he became president of the college. He is the second-longest serving community college president in the nation.

When announcing his retirement earlier this year, Steiner pointed out that he felt comfortable handing the reins to someone else because in so many measurable ways, Genesee is truly in the best shape it has ever been.

Enrollment has reached an all time high and Genesee finds itself fiscally sound thanks in part to record breaking fundraising efforts over the past year. The School of Nursing is up and running in the new Med-Tech building across from the Batavia Campus building. There is new campus center in Lima, and the sophisticated Rosalie "Roz" Steiner Art Gallery – located next to the Stuart Steiner Theatre – was met with enthusiasm when it opened earlier this month.

Steiner has managed all this recent prosperity and growth without raising tuition for the past two years.

"We've asked Dr. Steiner to speak at graduation, not only because we look up to him as an educational professional, but because we want to thank him for what he's done for us as students here at Genesee," said Ian Dries, president of the Student Government Association. "Without him, our education wouldn't have been the same."

While the event is open to the public, seats in the gymnasium are reserved for family and friends of graduates. The ceremony will be streamed live throughout the campus through a video cast to the Stuart Steiner Theatre, T102 and on every monitor on campus – including the Student Union and cafeteria for those who would like to tune in. Tickets are not necessary to watch the ceremony in these areas.

Immediately following commencement, a reception with punch and light refreshments will be hosted in the Forum for all guests and graduates.

The college is also offering free child-care services during commencement for children 8 weeks to 5 years of age. Please sign your children up in the Student Activities office or call 585-343-0055, ext 6261.

Show you care about the Earth and pitch in for a clean-up day at the Genesee County Park & Forest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30.

Stop at the Nature Center for children's crafts and "orienteering" with the Sea Cadets after clean up. Free tree seedlings. Pizza will be served for lunch.

Call 344-1122 to sign up. The Genesee County Park & Forest Interpretive Nature Center, 11095 Bethany Center Rd., E. Bethany.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,I,C – Batavia) recently announced his fourth annual Patriot Trip for veterans to tour Washington, D.C. It is scheduled for Sept. 22-25.

“The Patriot Trip is an event that I look forward to with great anticipation every year,” Hawley said. “As a veteran, the son of a veteran, and a member of the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, supporting New York’s veterans is a source of both pride and responsibility.

"While I continue to advocate for legislation supporting veterans, the Patriot Trip allows me to share my appreciation for the sacrifices made by the heroes protecting our way of life. Over 375 people have participated in this trip over the years, and I am overjoyed to add another chapter to this story with the veterans of the 139th
Assembly District.”

Patriot Trip IV will include roundtrip private coach transportation from Western New York to Washington, D.C., and accommodations at Quantico Marine Base in Virginia. The trip also includes tours of the WWII, Vietnam, Korean and FDR Memorials as well as Arlington Cemetery and the Udvar Hazy Aerospace Museum.

Most meals are included with the trip. The total cost is approximately $300.

For more information about trip details, pricing, or to sign up, please call Assemblyman Hawley’s District Office at (585) 589-5780.

The YWCA of Genesee County, Inc. and the Bank of Castile are pleased to announce the 2011 Honorees as Fabulous Females.

They are: Elisa Di Pietro, of Batavia, Michelle Fuller, of LeRoy, Jane Scott, of Stafford, and Dorothy Taylor, of Batavia.

The four women will be honored at the YWCA’s 13th annual Fabulous Females Luncheon on May 7 at Genesee Community College.

Tickets are $25 person. Reservations may be made by contacting the YWCA at (585) 343-5808.

Honorees are women selected from a pool of nominations based on their community, professional or personal achievements and association with YWCA. The selection committee was made up of a panel of past Fabulous Females award recipients and chaired by YWCA board member, Esther Leadley.

The following local residents were named to the Dean's List at Ithaca College for the fall 2010 semester.

James Earl, son of Carolyn Stegman, of Batavia, attends the college's Roy H. Park School of Communications.

Allyce Barron, daughter of Bruce and Marie Barron, of Le Roy, attends the college's School of Music.

Coeducational and nonsectarian, Ithaca College is a nationally recognized independent college of some 6,400 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. Located in Ithaca, it offers more than 100 degree programs.

Independent Living of Genesee Region (ILGR) has hired Susan Scutt as its new administrative assistant.

Scutt has previous experience as an office manager with the Genesee Council on Alcoholism in Batavia and has served as a secretary at the Health Association (Main Quest) in Rochester. She received her degree in Secretarial Science from Bryant & Stratton in 1997.

As administrative assistant of ILGR, Scutt will be responsible for assisting visitors to the center. In addition, she will assist the director with reports, bookkeeping, event planning and general office functions. Scutt is available to discuss center operations and share how ILGR can assist individuals with disabilities from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays, at (585) 815-8501, ext. 400.

Independent Living of Genesee Region (ILGR) is part of the WNY Independent Living, Inc., Family of Agencies. It is located at 113 Main St., Suite 5, in Batavia. It provides consumers of Genesee Region with the Four Core Services: Information & Referral; Peer Counseling; Independent Living Skills Training; and Individual and Community Advocacy.

Shayne Herold, of  Le Roy, NY, is a member of the men's baseball team at Ashland University. He is majoring in Sports Management.

He is the son of Tom and Kelly Herold of LeRoy.

The Ashland Eagles are coming off a strong 2010 season in which they finished with a 35-22 record and made it into the Midwest Regionals of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The baseball Eagles are members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

For more information, including individual and team statistics, the game schedule and roster, go to: http://www.ashland.edu/athletics/M-Baseball/.

The team is coached by John Schaly.

Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) is a mid-sized, private institution that values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.

Jamie Bucciferro, daughter of Vincent and Cheryl Bucciferro, of Batavia, has graduated with a Master of Science degree from Ithaca College's School of Health Sciences and Human Performance.

Coeducational and nonsectarian, Ithaca College is a nationally recognized independent college of some 6,400 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. Located in Ithaca.