Stories from

Learn how to make a Christmas ornament using wool felt and decorative stitching at the Richmond Memorial Library.

This class for adults will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14. The library is located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia.

Jen Reardon is the instructor. This session is a repeat of the Nov. 23 class.

Registration is required to attend and $6 is due at the time of registration to cover the cost of materials. Participants also need to bring straight pins, fabric scissors, and a pen or pencil.

Please register in the library. More information is available in the library and at www.batavialibrary.org.

Present Tense Books and Gifts will host a book fair to benefit the St. James Episcopal Church Restoration Fund from Nov. 30 through Dec. 4.

A percentage of purchases made during that period with a voucher will benefit the church. Vouchers may be picked up at the church, located at 405 E. Main St., Batavia, or by calling 343-6802.

They are also available on the bookstore's website: www.presenttensebooks.com.

Present Tense Book and Gift Shop is located at 101 Washington Ave., Batavia.

Hours are: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday; closed on Sunday and Monday.

Genesee Community College will present the third segment in the Wealth and Poverty Around the World cultural series on Thursday, Dec. 9.

Sonja Livingston, award-winning author of "Ghostbread," will discuss her memoir and highlight childhood poverty in Western New York.

The presentation and discussion will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in T102 at the Batavia campus. This event is free and open to the public. After the discussion, Sonja will be available to sign books (outside of T102) and the GCC Barnes and Noble bookstore will have her book available for purchase.

"Ghostbread" uses a poetic approach to chronicle a childhood stricken with poverty in Western New York. Ghostbread has won an AWP Book Award and it was named a book of the year by "ForeWord" magazine.

One of seven children brought up by a single mother, Livingston moved from an old farming town to an Indian reservation to a dead-end urban neighborhood. She and her siblings followed their nonconformist mother from one ramshackle house to another on the perpetual search for something better.

Along the way, the young Sonja observes the harsh realities her family encounters, as well as small moments of transcendent beauty that somehow keep them going. While struggling to make sense of her world, Livingston perceives the stresses and patterns that keep children--girls in particular--trapped in the cycle of poverty. (www.Sonjalivingston.com)

"Ghostbread" is being featured in Human Services Field Experience classes at Genesee, under the instruction of Connie Boyd.

"'Ghostbread' is an excellent memoir that provides Human Services students with a firsthand account of what it is like to grow up in poverty in our area," said Connie Boyd, director of Human Services at Genesee.

"After reading the poetic novel, students will be doing a reflective paper, and having the opportunity to speak with the author will help our students gain knowledge and understanding in the Human Services field."

Livingston has earned a NYFA Fellowship, an Iowa Award, and Pushcart Prize nomination for her nonfiction writing. Her work has appeared in several textbooks on writing, as well as many journals, including "The Iowa Review," "Spoon River Poetry Review," "Alaska Quarterly Review," "AGNI" and others.

She holds a master's degree in education from SUNY Brockport and a master of fine arts degree from the University of New Orleans. She also teaches in UCLA Extension's Creative Writing Program. Livingston is an elementary school counselor in Rochester, where she lives with her husband, artist Jim Mott.

For further information, please contact Nina Mortellaro at Genesee Community College at 343-0055, ext. 6228 or nimortellaro@genesee.edu.

There will be a Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9 at the newly renovated and remodeled Travelodge.

It is located at 8204 Park Road in Batavia.

Come take a tour and see why you will want to stay overnight!

The event is sponsored by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce. Cost is $5 for members and $10 for potential members.

There will be a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, hors d'oeuvres and refreshments.

Come share some holiday cheer! PLEASE RSVP by phoning 343-7440 or via e-mail: chamber@geneseeny.com

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerse will hold its Annual Membership Meeting on Tuesday Nov. 30 at the Batavia Party House, located at 5762 E. Main St. Road, Batavia.

Registration begins at 11:15 a.m. Buffet lunch begins promptly at noon. Cost is $20 per person.

Agenda topics include "Health care reform and how it impacts small business" and a review of 2010 and selection of 2011 board members.

The event is sponsored in part by: Clark Paterson Lee, Freed Maxick & Battaglia; Key Bank; Bank of Castile/Tompkins Insurance Agency.

The guest speaker is Patrick Reilly from Impact Employee Benefit Solutions.

Please call or e-mail the chamber office at 343-7440, ext. 27, or e-mail to chamber@geneseeny.com. The chamber office is at 210 E. Main St. in Downtown Batavia.

RSVP of Genesee County and the Genesee County AmeriCorps program are asking for donations for a service project they will be holding to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We need donations of fleece (1 yard or more) or contributions to help purchase the fleece.

The fleece will be used to make blankets that will be given to the Agri-Business Child Development Center.

Donations can be dropped off to the Genesee County Youth Bureau at County Building Two located at 3837 W. Main St. Road, in Batavia. Office Hours are from 8:30 a.m to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information please call 344-3960.

The Genesee Community College Foundation is seeking nominations for its Alumni Hall of Fame, which recognizes those who have achieved outstanding success and made a lasting impact on the community.

The foundation will induct its fifth group of honorees in a ceremony on March 30 at the Batavia campus.

"We are once again looking for successful Genesee alumni who should be recognized for their accomplishments," said Jackie Christenson, Genesee's alumni coordinator. "There are many alumni who have outstanding careers or have given back to their communities who can be an inspiration to all students at Genesee Community College."

The criteria for nominating an individual to the College Alumni Hall of Fame are based on the individual's contributions to his or her profession, distinguished service to the community and/or service to Genesee Community College.

Nomination forms can be downloaded from Genesee Community College's alumni website (www.genesee.edu/alumni/HallofFame/  <http://www.genesee.edu/alumni/HallofFame/> ) and emailed or sent to the Genesee Community College Alumni Office.

Nominations may be submitted by the nominee or by friends, family, work associates or other colleagues who are familiar with the nominee. All nominations received by Friday, Feb. 4 will be considered by the Selection Committee.

New inductees will be honored at a reception, and their photo and a short biography will be featured on a plaque displayed in the Alumni Hall of Fame, located on the second floor of the Conable Technology Building.

Genesee Community College's Alumni Hall of Fame inductees currently include: Ellen Ryan ('76), early supporter of Genesee Community College and active community member; Wanda Frank ('97), WBTA 1490 Radio Host; Paula Schaefer ('79), Virginia House of Delegates 87th District – Norfolk; George Schaefer ('76) clerk of the Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk's Office in Virginia; Joseph H. Bell ('79), vice president of Global Process and Product Integrity at Moog, Inc., and managing director for Moog operations in Bangalore, India; Monica H. Dawson ('72); co-owner and secretary/treasurer of Shepard, Maxwell and Hale Insurance Agency; Jerry Reinhart ('71), founder of Access Rentals and president of Reinhart Enterprises, Inc.; Paula Savage ('76), director of tourism for the Greater Rochester Visitors Association; Lori Stupp ('89), regional director of United Way and a member of the AAA Speakers Bureau; Peggy Weissend ('99), registered community health nurse with the Genesee County Health Department; Ann M. Bell ('88), retired executive director of the Genesee Region Independent Living Center; Steven G. Hyde ('82), president and CEO of Genesee County Economic Development Center; Gary T. Maha ('76), Sheriff of Genesee County; James Fraser ('73), president of the Population Health Consulting Services, Inc.; Cecilia A. Stearns ('80), nurse practitioner/midwife at the Women's Care Center in Batavia; and Dorothy Wentland ('91), founding member and past director of the Genesee County Mental Health Association.

Here's a news release from the Genesee Community College Foundtion.

Batavia residents Joseph and Mary Beth Teresi have been named chairpersons of Encore 2010, an annual holiday celebration that supports student scholarships at Genesee Community College.

The Teresis would like to invite residents to an "Evening of Traditions" at Encore 2010 on Wednesday, Dec. 15. The festivities begin with a Gala Reception and continue with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) performing in the Stuart Steiner Theatre at the Batavia Campus.

The Teresis are looking forward to this year's BPO concert after having served on the organizing committee for many years.

"Encore ushers in the holiday season, while also serving as GCC's premier community social event and raising awareness to the importance of scholarships for the deserving students as well as raising scholarship funds," said Joe Teresi.

They are proud parents of a current Genesee Community College student and are vested in the local community.

Joe has served on several local boards and committees including GCC Foundation's Encore; Genesee - Wyoming YMCA;  Regional Action Phone; ARC; and The Notre Dame Educational Foundation, as well as both a board member and coach of various sports teams and leagues.

He is currently a vice president of Tompkins Insurance Agency and Mary Beth is the Work Study Program coordinator at Batavia High School. The Teresis have three children including Joe III -- currently serving in the Air Force -- Michael and Paul.

The evening's events will begin with a private Prelude Reception with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra conductor, Paul Ferington. For all guests, a Gala Reception Grandioso with sensational food selections will follow at 6 p.m. in the William W. Stuart Forum.

An Encore Energico Chance drawing to win an opportunity to be a BPO Guest Conductor will be held at 7:30 p.m. Guests will proceed to the Stuart Steiner Theatre for a holiday pops concert at 8 p.m. with the two-time Grammy Award winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and afterward enjoy Delectable Dessert Finale back in the William W. Stuart Forum.

Proceeds from Encore support Genesee Community College Foundation Scholarship Fund. The foundation would like to thank Five Star Bank, the lead corporate benefactor, for its continued support of Encore.

For ticketing and sponsorship information, please contact the foundation office at 345-6809 or foundation@genesee.edu <http://foundation@genesee.edu>.

For reservations please call the Genesee Community College Foundation at 585-345-6809.

Sponsorship support is welcome at the following levels: Conductor's Circle provides six tickets for $1,000; Golden Baton Society provides four tickets for $600; and the Inner Circle provides two tickets for $300. Singular Platinum Patron tickets are $100 each. The evening is black tie optional.