SUNY Students, Staff and Community Members Occupy Geneseo

GENESEO — Students, faculty members and community members gathered on the SUNY Geneseo College Green today as part of National Student Strike Day, protesting rising college tuition and budget cuts.

The campus’s Occupy Geneseo General Assembly put today’s “Occupy the Green” event into motion in coordination with the national college movement, as well as with the other “occupy” movements happening in cities across the country. Though the event took place on campus, its focus was not just on high tuition and program cuts, but also the unemployment and poverty issues in the Geneseo community.

“It’s not, at all, simply a student movement,” said Nick Marrone, an organizer of the event. “We’ve gone to businesses, we’ve put up fliers in town and we’ve made phone calls to community members. I think that’s the key. A student movement is important, but if you can involve the community, I think that’s even better.”

Several community members from the area heard about the movement and showed up to show their support and get involved. 

“There’s a greatly inequitable society growing and growing and it’s good that people are speaking up and taking a stand,” said Livonia resident Jay Lubert, who came with his wife. “We need to change things, and I think a good place to start is a college campus.”

Springwater resident Gloria Osborne wore a handmade sign around her neck with “Occupy everywhere; Occupy everyone” written on it to show her support.

“When I heard about this, I decided to come and show my support,” she said. “I wanted to be here and say ‘Yeah, we need to do it, we need to grow it. We need this to go everywhere.’”

Occupy Geneseo members set up tables topped with cookies, hot chocolate and informational pamphlets on Occupy Geneseo in general, as well pamphlets on why students should support the movement. 

Activities at the event included sign making, screen printing and teach-ins by SUNY Geneseo professors. Anyone at the event was encouraged to talk about their concerns and opinions on economical, political and environmental issues during the event.

Though many people support Occupy Geneseo, the group has faced some issues with the community about their message and purpose.

“People have criticized us in terms of our target and I think there’s been some confusion,” Marrone said. “We’re not protesting SUNY Geneseo. We think that the government should fund SUNY Geneseo. This is a movement in coordination with the state university system. Basically, we’re trying to encourage legislators to fund public education. We’re really standing in solidarity with SUNY Geneseo.”

The Occupy the Green movement occurs until 5 p.m. and is followed by more teach-ins and presentations starting at 5:30. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit http://occupygeneseo.org.

Downtown Businesses Receive Sign and Façade Grants

LIVINGSTON COUNTY — The Livingston County Development Corporation announced that they will give another round of sign and façade grants to businesses in downtown Geneseo, Mount Morris, Nunda, Dansville and Lima.

The five towns receiving the grant are all part of the Livingston County Villages Downtown Program. Designated downtown districts in these towns will receive $60,000 in new funds for new business signs and façades. 

“When the downtown buildings are improved, the entire community benefits,” wrote Louise Wadsworth, Downtown Coordinator for Livingston County, in an email. “The downtown is the ‘face’ of the community and so when people visit their impression of the town is based quite a bit on what the downtown looks like. An attractive downtown will encourage people to get out of their cars and shop.”

Design guidelines specific to each community have been set, and all projects using these funds must comply with the guidelines. The maximum grant award is $5,000 per building, with at least a 50% match required by the owner. Any size project will be considered.

“The principals detailed in these guidelines are proven to benefit businesses,” wrote Wadsworth. “For example: perpendicular signs are encouraged. These add charm and character to the central business district and encourage pedestrian traffic.  It’s important for people to feel like the Main Street businesses are catering to them.”

In last spring’s first round of funding, 28 applications requesting over $100,000 in funding were received. Funds were given to 19 projects in the five communities for a total of $71,000.   These projects are now in the final stages of completion and are expected to leverage over $268,000 in private investment for improvements to downtown businesses and buildings.

An informational meeting for interested applicants will occur on Nov, 29 at 7p.m. or on Nov. 30 at 8:30 a.m. Application and grant guidelines will be available at that time. Applications are due Jan. 31. Awards will be made in March, in time for the spring construction season.

Applicants must be building owners or business owners.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Louise Wadsworth at 585-243-7124.

LeRoy Man Promoted to Senior Vice President of Bank of Castile

BATAVIA — The Bank of Castile announced that LeRoy’s Thomas Dambra has been promoted to senior vice president of community banking. 

Dambra is responsible for operational and financial performance of the bank’s 15 Western New York branches.

“Tom is really an outstanding asset to The Bank of Castile and both our employees and customers benefit from his talents and contributions,” said James W. Fulmer, bank president and CEO of The Bank of Castile.

Dambra has been with The Bank of Castile for nine years, and most recently served as the Vice President of Branch Administration. He and his wife Molly live in LeRoy with their three daughters, Abby, Ellie, and Maura. Dambra serves on the LeRoy Central School Board, is a board member of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce and is involved in LeRoy Youth Soccer.

Dansville Woman Honored for Commitment to Red Cross

DANSVILLE — Every year, the American Red Cross Clara Barton Chapter #1 recognizes the achievements of an individual who specifically personifies the leadership qualities and tireless energy of Clara Barton.

For 2011, Dansville resident Dorothy Schiavi received the prestigious Founder’s Award. Schiavi was chosen for the award because of her considerable contributions to the American Red Cross and to her community. Schiavi began volunteering regularly at the American Red Cross after serving 38 years teaching in the public and parochial school system and 20 years as a nun with the Order of Our Lady of Mercy. She is also the Clara Barton Chapter #1’s volunteer coordinator and is instrumental in organizing blood drives. Schiavi also serves on the chapter’s board of directors.

“Dorothy is an integral part of this chapter who is always available to help, whether it be assisting at a special event, scheduling a blood drive, or coordinating other volunteers to help us out,” said Sandra Shaw, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Clara Barton Chapter #1. “We are thrilled to honor and thank her with this award.”

A luncheon in Schiavi’s honor will be held on Oct. 29 at the American Legion at 12 p.m. For more information, please contact Erin D. Caldwell at 585-370-1834.

Dansville Hydrofracking Hearing Draws Protesters and Supporters from the Upstate Area

DANSVILLE –— The grass in front of the Dansville Middle School is a strange site. People in yellow hazmat suits carry signs of protest. One of them carries a papier-mâché lizard on a stick. In its hands, the reptile clutches another sign spouting words of discontent. A giant puppet sporting two garish faces lumbers around the lawn at the direction of its three puppet masters. Under its two heads is a banner with “before” and “after” painted on it. The “before” head is peaceful looking; the “after,” woeful and deathlike.

These theatrical displays are part of a protest on hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, in the Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley taking place today alongside the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s public hearing on their revised Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS). The Draft SGEIS addresses the permit conditions required for gas drilling in Marcellus Shale and other areas of New York. People from various upstate New York and Pennsylvania areas came to the hearing and rally to voice their opinions on the subject.

“I’ve seen it [hydrofracking] in other states," said Rochester resident Phil Stukas, one of the people dressed in a hazmat suit. “People have been adversely affected by chemicals in their well water and even air pollution.”

Stukas said the suits represent the toxic waste he believes hydrofracking will create. The suits were brought to the event by Bath’s Dave Walczak for anyone to wear. 

“The suits are symbolic of the danger of all the chemicals that are used in fracking,” said Walczak, who is on the leadership board of the Coalition to Protect New York. “This is a visual metaphor that we’re using. We’re here for justice.”

Jack Ossont, who spoke at the rally, feels hydrofracking should be considered a criminal act.

“I feel that the executive agency, which is the DEC, is not the agency with which we should be addressing this problem of fracking,” he said. “We feel it should be moved out of an executive agency and put in the hands of the courts. This is actually a criminal enterprise and it poisons us, it poisons the earth, it poisons the air and it poisons our water. Every other state in which it’s operated has experienced those kinds of problems, so why would we expect it to be any different when it comes into New York State?”

Though many at the hearing and rally echoed the views of Stukas, Walczak and Ossont, still others believe hydrofracking will benefit the state.

“As long as the DEC does the proper regulations, I feel this could be a real plus for our community,” said Steuben County legislator Robert Nichols. “We need drilling; it’s a good way to bring jobs, it’s a good energy source, a clean energy source. In my opinion, it’d be a real plus for our state and our community.”

Others at the hearing agreed that hydrofracking could help create much-needed jobs in the area.

“Our state needs the drilling to happen and to happen now,” said Karen Ballard. “It will create jobs and bring much needed revenue to us and it will decrease dependence on foreign oil. For those who represent the gas companies, I’d like to say ‘Welcome to New York. We look forward to working with you to help our state and our country get back on its feet.”

The public hearing took place at the Dansville Middle School auditorium today from 1 to 4 p.m. Around 140 people were signed up to speak at the hearing. The DEC will also hold another public hearing in the same place from 6 to 9 tonight. The public is encouraged to voice their comments supporting or opposing hydrofracking in the area. 

For those who could not make the hearings, written comments may be sent to the DEC before Dec. 12. For more information, visit http://www.dec.ny.gov.

Senator Ritchie to Attend Livingston County Agriculture Forum

GENESEO — Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-59th District) plans to host Senator Patty Ritchie (R-48th District), the Chairwoman of the New York State Senate Agriculture Committee, at an agri-business forum in Geneseo. 

The Western New York agricultural community is invited to attend the forum held on Oct. 18 at 1:00 p.m. at the Livingston County Government Center's Board of Supervisors Room in Geneseo. Attendees may voice their concerns, ideas, and expectations of the Western New York agriculture community, and help inform the senators' legislative priorities for next year.  

“This event is a wonderful opportunity for all local farmers, growers, producers, wholesalers, manufacturers, and harvesters to discuss the agricultural industry, its challenges, and its opportunities with the influential Chairwoman of the New York State Senate Agriculture Committee,” said Gallivan.  

Members of the local farming and agriculture community, as well as the public, are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Senator Gallivan’s district office at (716) 656-8544, or visit Senator Gallivan's website at www.gallivan.nysenate.gov.

Hydrofracking Public Hearing and Rally This Wednesday

DANSVILLE — A public hearing on hydraulic fracturing, also known as hydrofracking, will take place at the Dansville Middle School Auditorium Nov. 16 from 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation, or DEC, has offered the two time slots as a way for the public to voice their comments on the subject of hydrofracking.

An educational rally about hydrofracking put on by www.frackfreegenesee.org will occur at the school from 9 a.m.-11 p.m. the same day. The rally features speakers, music and information about hydrofracking.

Lima Fire and Ambulance Volunteers Recognized for Dedicated Service

LIMA — Mayor Carl Luft and Supervisor Pete Yendell presented certificates of recognition to several volunteers of the Lima Fire Department and the Lima Volunteer Ambulance during the Lima Village Board meeting on Sept. 27.

The men and women who were honored each achieved milestone years of service to their community. Honored volunteers included Barb Finucane, ambulance volunteer for 10 years; Phil Griffin, ambulance volunteer for 10 years, Harold Falls, ambulance and fire volunteer for 5 years; Ben Luft, fire department volunteer for 15 years, Tom Vernam, fire department volunteer for 20 years, Pete Yendell, fire department volunteer for 35 years, and Carl Luft, fire department volunteer for 40 years.

Those interested in volunteering for the Lima fire department and ambulance departments may contact Rusty Tailion at 582-1170 or Norm Caccamise at 582-1612.