Stories from

Seven members of Genesee Community College's faculty and staff have been honored with the prestigious State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence, the Board of Trustees learned Monday evening.

The awards recognize extraordinary accomplishment and service to the State University of New York. Chancellor's Awards bestowed on current and former Genesee Community College faculty and staff now numbers 94.

Recognized this year:

• Maryanne C. Arena, Batavia, Director of Fine and Performing Arts, SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service
• Marilyn C. Dickinson, Batavia, Academic Assistant to Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, first-ever SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Classified Service
• Cindy Francis, Batavia, Collection Development Librarian, SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Librarianship
• Barry J. Garigen, LeRoy, Professor of Criminal Justice, SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service
• Kathy L. Palumbo, Corfu, Director of the Nursing Program, SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching
• Barbara A. Shine, Corfu, Assistant Professor of Business, SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities
• Roberta L. Taggart, Batavia, Assistant Professor of Human Services, SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching

Four of the seven awardees are graduates of Genesee Community College: Marilyn Dickinson (1970), Cindy Francis (1976), Barry Garigen (1973), and Barbara Shine (1970).

If parents or grandparents who love the outdoors want to get a long-lasting gift for youngsters, the town clerk in Stafford has an idea.

Why not get them a lifetime state hunting/fishing license, especially since prices are likely to rise come fall?

A lifetime hunting/fishing license costs $300 for children up to 4 years old. It will go to $380 in the fall. Children 5 to 11 get can the license now for $420. In fall, the prise will rise to $420.

The Batavia Area Jaycees celebrated their 75th anniversary on May 9.

In the early days, they were known as the Batavia Junior Chamber of Commerce and meetings were held at the former Hotel Richmond on Main Street.

Current and past members will be involved in several “Diamond Anniversary” events over the next 12 months to commemorate this special achievement. Past members are encouraged to contact the current membership to find out about what's planned.T

The Jaycees have spearheaded numerous community-service projects with positive impact on Batavia and the surrounding area.

The Batavia Area Jaycees hall is located at 56 Harvester Ave. in Batavia. The phone number is 343-5775 and the e-mail address is info@bataviajcs.org.

The New York-Penn League and the Batavia Muckdogs are proud to announce a new scholarship program sponsored by the NY-Penn League Charitable Foundation. It will award a $2,500 scholarship to three deserving individuals (one from each of the league’s three divisions). 
 
The scholarship is based on financial need, academic performance and other criteria. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and also be engaged in extracurricular activities. The applicant should be involved in community service and be able to provide references. The student must include a copy of his or her transcript and a letter of acceptance from the institution they plan to attend.

Applications must be completed and returned to their hometown/local NY-Penn League Club by July 15. Their hometown/local club will choose one application to submit to the NY-Penn League Charitable Foundation selection committee.

Students eligible for this award must be graduating seniors from a public or private high school. Scholarship awards must be applied towards any 2- to 4-year college or university, vocational or technical education institution or program.   
 
Anyone interested in applying for the scholarship can download the application online at www.muckdogs.com or pick up/fill out an application in person at Dwyer Stadium, 299 Bank Street, Batavia, NY 14020. Phone is 343-5454.

Ten local 4-H’ers participated in the annual 4-H Fashion Revue held May 2 at Northgate Free Methodist Church South Campus in Batavia.

Senior members representing Genesee County at State Fair are Molly Long, Laura Lichtenthal, and Jennifer Lichtenthal. Senior members representing Genesee County at the District Fashion Revue at the Chauttauqua Institute are Catherine McAllister, Laurie Scarborough and Sarah Scarborough. Junior members were Melissa Keller, Isabelle Bliss, Reilly Clark and Hannah Scarborough.

Benjamin Kauppi provided the piano music and Andrew Lichtenthal was the models' escort. Taylor Patterson conducted the floral-design workshop. Jean Lichthenthal assisted in the commentary writing, modeling workshop and served as emcee. Judges were Julia Garver, Marcia Palmer, Jennie Starowitz and Sandy Snyder. Members of the Family and Consumer Science Advisory Committee provided refreshments.

Props for the event were provided by Lowe’s Home Improvement in Batavia.

Tickets to Darien Lake and Resort are now available for adults at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, located at 210 E. Main St. in Batavia. Price for chamber members is $23.00. Non-members pay $24.

Children's tickets are not available at the chamber but can be purchesed at the gate for $19.99. Small childrens' tickets are priced by height but the children must be under 48 inches (4 ft.) tall.

Adult tickets can be purchased at the chamber from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, but not weekends.

Sunday Aug. 2 is when this year's Crossroads House Charity Ride takes place. It benefits the comfort home for the dying in Batavia.

The ride will be held in memory of Dennis Bateman, who was South Byron Assistant Fire Chief and Red Knight Member. Stan's Harley-Davidson, Inc., is the sponsoring dealership.

The self-guided ride begins at Stan's, located at 4425 W. Saile Drive in Batavia. It's off Route 98 just north of the Thruway. The ride ends at the South Byron Fire Department at 7389 Route 237 in South Byron.

Registration is from 10 a.m. to noon. Cost is $15 for bike without a passenger, or $20 with a passenger. There will be food, beverages, door prizes and entertainment.

Call 343-9598 or 727-3917 for more information.

Press release:

Summertime art programs for youth at GCC

Genesee Community College and Genesee Center for the Arts in Batavia are offering the 4th annual Performing Arts Experience at Genesee and a new program called Summer Studio Fine Arts Workshop.

The three-week Performing Arts Experience is for children and young adults ages 8-16, and runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 6-25 (Monday through Friday). The program concludes with two live performances of the musical "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," featuring all the participants on stage or behind the scenes in the state-of-the-art Stuart Steiner Theatre.

This program introduces the fundamentals of theater in an engaging way for children and young adults fascinated by the stage and live performance. Highlights include acting, dance, voice, movement, scene study and audition techniques, in addition to the opportunity to work behind the scenes in set construction, lighting and stage crew.

Light snacks and refreshment will be provided, though participants provide their own lunch. Additional child care services will be available each day from 9 to 10 a.m. and at the end of each session from 3 to 4 p.m.. Cost is $250. Early registration in encouraged since the program is limited to 50 participants. The deadline for registration is Saturday, June 6. For more information on attending the workshop, or to have a registration form mailed to you, contact the Genesee Center for the Arts office at (585) 343-0055 x6438, or contact mcarena@genesee.edu.

The new Summer Studio Fine Arts Workshop is a one-week program scheduled 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 3-7. Children ages 9-14 will explore Genesee Community College's ceramics and painting studios and unleash their creative potential. College fine art faculty members, Moi Dugan and Margaret VanArsdale, are offering a dynamic experience that will spark the creativity and engage personal exploration of the visual arts. All art supplies and materials will be provided, along with a light snack. Lunches may be brought from home or purchased in the college cafeteria. Cost is $150. A limited number of openings are available and early registration is encouraged by the June 6 deadline. Call 585-343-0055 x 6287 or email medugan@genesee.edu for information and a registration form.