Kenmore Courier /Friday, February 13, 2015
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Budget team hears proposal for school resource officer By Kimberlee Sabshin NT SUN CORRESPONDENT
At Tuesday’s budget advisory team meeting for the Tonawanda City School District, the board heard from City of Tonawanda Police Chief William Strassburg about the chief’s recommendation that the district pay for a full-time school resource officer to serve the students, as some other area school districts have already begun doing, to help keep students safe. In a letter Strassburg wrote to the budget team, Strassburg recommended the school district pay for half of the school resource officer’s yearly salary, for a total of $33,300,
effective for the 2015-16 year. In September 2013, the police department decided it would be a good idea to have a full-time officer in Tonawanda Middle/High School, so Strassburg assigned one. Officer Jason Balling is currently serving in this capacity, Strassburg said. The police chief stressed the issues he handles are not necessarily major crimes or students having problems, but can also be as simple as having officers helping out in the street during arrival or departure. In addition to helping out with bigger issues, the school resource officer also has a car that patrols before and after school, for all schools including the elementary schools. If attendance is a problem or a
student is late for school, and has a history of truancy, Balling would go to the house, try to locate the student and bring him or her back to the school. Currently, the lowest amount local school districts directly pay to a school resource officer is $28,500, which goes to a school resource officer in East Aurora who is a retired police officer. Tonawanda Middle/High School currently hires retired police officers as security guards, but the police chief expressed concerns that retired officers do not have the ability to arrest anyone, cannot carry weapons and would generally not be able to serve in the same capacity as an onduty, active police officer.
“Unfortunately, with what’s been going on nationwide… I’m not saying that Tonawanda is the next place that anything is going to happen, but you need to build relationships, so a student who maybe is in crisis trusts a person and comes forward with information that may stop something from happening,” added Strassburg. “If there’s not an officer in there building those relationships with the school, the staff and students, it breaks down. That’s the way it was before 2013, when there wasn’t an officer in the school.” A school resource officer also assists with mental health issues concerning students. The officer would also speak
to the students in class about topics like drug and alcohol abuse, bullying and internet safety, and may also help with staff development days, prevent any unauthorized individuals from entering the building during school hours and assist with any employee issues. Strassburg said Balling also attended classes for Drug Abuse Resistance Education [DARE], which will soon begin at Fletcher Elementary School. Strassburg also proposed assigning a detective to serve at each elementary school in a part-time resource officer role, in addition to the full-time officer stationed at the middle and high school. He said this would give principals a “point
person” to call if there is an issue or something is out of the ordinary, and they would have a cell phone number and a new resource to use. It would begin as a year-to-year agreement, and any necessary changes would be made to the officer’s contract as needed. “If [faculty] have a resource and a person they have a relationship with, they will make that call…that’s the relationship we want to build again,” Strassburg said. “If we have someone here who can assist and help stop problems before they escalate, it benefits us, too. I think it’s a great partnership, but I need help, and that’s why I was here tonight.”
Attention Western New York Homeowners: 56 of you are about to make an important financial decision...
“Frustrated Contractor ‘Giving Away’ $2,300 Furnaces for $941 with Off-Season Central Air...” (This is the “Hottest AND Coolest Deal of the Century”... especially if your furnace is over 8 years old)
Dear Friend, I’m about to make you a deal that’s hard to refuse if you’ve got an “older” (and probably less than optimally efficient) furnace. I’ll replace your old furnace AND your air conditioner as a “package deal” for at least $2,300 less than you would pay any other time of the year.
Sound too good to be true? It’s not, and here’s why. I’m making you what may sound like an unbelievable offer because it actually makes good sense for my business. And you come out a winner as well! You see, I know from experience that February, March and April are usually my slowest months when I actually end up losing money.... then I have to spend the next 9 months trying to make up for it. Right now, I have no reason to believe 2015 will be any different. That’s why I’ve decided to give up trying to make a profit during these months and minimize my losses... so I can come out ahead the rest of the year. So here’s how I can make the incredible offer at the top of this letter... Every year, the biggie air conditioning manufacturers guesstimate how many air conditioners to produce. Since there’s no way of knowing what the weather will be like and other factors that affect sales, these guys always have leftover inventory they have to hold onto until the next cooling season. I saw a great business opportunity in this and went to one of these biggie companies (they won’t allow me to use their name in this letter) and contracted for the purchase of 56 of these premium air conditioners that were going to just be sitting around. Plus, I bought 56 furnaces - all in the 4 most popular sizes used in Western New York homes. Because of the number I bought and the time of year I purchased them, I got an unbelievable deal... rock-bottom prices. Don’t get me wrong – these are brand new, top quality 2014 models. Not “seconds.” Not “blems.” Not builder-grade. These are premium air conditioners and furnaces fresh from a name brand factory with a full factory warranty.. How to get your name brand furnace for virtually nothing. By putting together this furnace-plus-air-conditioner package (I call it the “Hottest AND Coolest Deal of the Century”), going through some heavy negotiations with the manufacturer... then committing to buying 56 systems
outright, I got BOTH the furnace AND the air conditioner at a price that would have made Sam Walton proud. This means that when you buy one of these 56 new, premium-quality air conditioners, I will “give” you the furnace and ask you to pay only the $941 in labor it costs to install your furnace. Pick up your phone right now...
Simply call me at 694-8524 at any time so I can come out and measure your home (to see if I’ve got the proper size unit). Remember... I’ve got only 56 matched systems in 4 sizes so you’ll want to let me know VERY SOON that you’re interested. When these 56 systems are gone, they’re gone and this offer is null and void. Call me right now at 694-8524 so we can get the ball rolling! As part of the deal, I’ll show you how much the new air conditioner costs... how much the furnace WOULD have cost... and your savings when you buy your new air conditioner and furnace as part of this special offer. The price that I show you will include all installation, materials and labor. There’s no fine print, nothing left out. Earlier I said that making you this amazing offer is also good business for me...
The way I look at it, by letting YOU win big now, I’ll win at the end of the year. And I won’t have to “make up” for lost sales during February, March and April. I figure if I make you an absolutely irresistible offer, if your furnace or air conditioner is pushing 8 years or more... and if I barely mark up the price I paid, I’ll accomplish 2 major objectives that will allow me to reduce my losses the rest of the year. I’ll be able to... Pay my overhead (rent, utilities, insurance and taxes) during the slow period. Keep my service and installation technicians busy enough to pay them to work instead of sit at home. As you can see, when you take me up on my “Hottest AND Coolest Deal of the Century,” EVERYONE IS A WINNER! And by the way, there’s no obligation when you have me come out to measure your house and explain the installation...
If you decide you don’t want to take advantage of this incredible deal (although I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t want to save this kind of money), it’s no problem. You’re not obligated in any way. In fact, just for taking time to read this letter and having me out to survey your house... I’ll give you a Very Special Free Gift ($50 value). Why? Even if we don’t Paid Advertisement
do business together now, I want you to remember us in the future.
Richard Reimer
Wizard of Comfort If you’re thinking a new furnace (& air conditioner) isn’t in your budget – don’t worry! You don’t have to pay me right now...
Because I’ve tried to think of every reason possible why you WOULDN’T take me up on this spectacular offer, I’ve even made arrangements for a super bank rate financing plan. And I’m not “marking up” the interest rate like so many other companies do. While I can’t promise you this, it’s possible that with this financing plan, your monthly investments in a new system could be more than paid for by the savings you see on your monthly utility bills. My Disappointment-Proof Guarantee Talking about lower utility bills... I’m sure you’ll see at least a 25% cut in your heating and cooling bills (in reality, it may be more like 35%+), if you don’t, I’ll pay you twice the difference for 2 years. Not only are you getting a new first-quality furnace virtually free, plus a first-quality air conditioner at a great price, I guarantee you’ll lower your heating and cooling bills by at least 25%... or I’ll pay you double your savings for 2 years. (This alone should convince you that these systems are some of the very best quality and most efficient available.) But you’ve got to act fast... call me at 694-8524 right now! This offer ends April 30, no matter what... Don’t wait to call me. Here’s why. I have only 14 of each of the 4 sizes. When all of the air conditioners are sold and all the furnaces in a certain size are “given away”, the “Hottest AND Coolest Deal of the Century” is over. And if I still have any of the 56 systems left on April 30th, this offer still ends. The reason is that my business always picks up about April 1st. Since these furnaces cost me so little, if I’ve got any left I’ll sell them next winter at last year’s prices and still come out ahead. So call me right now at 694-8524.
www.WizardGoesGreen.com
Like Us At
Facebook.com/ReimerHVAC
Kenmore Courier /Friday, February 13, 2015
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Local Sports W W W. C P OW N Y. C O M
Kenmore’s Pray calls it a career By Dave Ricci
COURIER CORRESPONDENT
Tears were streaming down Lauren Pray’s face. In this moment, as every other moment Pray spent on the ice, she wore her heart on her sleeve. And, in this instance, her heart was breaking like never before. The Kenmore Devildogs had just fallen to Section X Massena in the title game of the NYS Girls Hockey championship game that was played at the HarborCenter on Feb.7. Pray was one of the last two Devildogs to emerge from their locker room after the 3-0 loss. After seeing their season end in the state semifinals that past two seasons, falling one win shy of the ultimate goal was too much for Pray to take. Less than 24 hours after one of the program’s greatest wins, beating Alexandria Bay 2-1 for their first trip to the finals, Pray had to deal with the heart break of a title lost and a career that was almost over. “It means a lot, it being my senior year,” Pray said as she struggled to compose herself. “I don’t know. It’s sad that it has to come to an end.” It really was coming to an end in more ways than one for Pray, who does not plan on playing in college. One of the quickest, most athletic and fundamentally sound goalies-girl or boy-in the state Pray certainly has the tools to play at the collegiate level. While college hockey might be a tempting dream
Lauren Pray led the Kenmore Devildogs to the NYS Girls Hockey Championship title game. to pursue deep in her heart Lauren Pray knows nothing from this point forward will equal the ride of these four year with the Devildogs. “I don’t know,” Pray said with her trademark perky laugh after the semifinal win. “I don’t think I’ll ever top this.” Deep inside Pray knows she can hold her own in college. But she also knows that the next stage of her life she doesn’t want anything to
distract her from her studies. “Yeah I’ want to focus on school, too. That’s a big aspect of it,” she said. “I kind of what to go into dentistry.” A four-year starter in goal for the merged team of girls from the Ken-Ton district, Pray, who attends Kenmore West, has been the team’s constant during an amazing run that saw Kenmore win four consecutive Section VI titles, the 2013-14 Federation title and make
three straight trips to the state tournament. “Her head is always in the game,” said teammate Taylor Story. “She works really hard and she saves us a lot of the time. Having her back there always makes it a lot easier to play.” Pray will be the first to tell you that she has benefited from great team play and strong defenders like Ana Orzechowski and Grace Simmons-and that
is certainly true. But make no mistake Pray is the kind of keeper that comes along once every 15 or 20 years. The winner of countless individual honors and team awards a quick scan of the mantlepiece in the Pray household is evidence of what Lauren has accomplished on the ice over the past four seasons. But it’s the things you can’t see that makes Lauren Pray special. Her will to win. Her
passion. She made the saves she had to make and the kind of saves you thought nobody could. She was Kenmore girls hockey. “Lauren has been our backbone for the whole program,” said head coach Jeff Orlowski. “She is the best goalie in Western New York. She is dominant. She’s (emotionally) hurt right now. She’s been ‘Kenmore’ I can’t say enough about her.”
Kenmore Courier / Friday, February 13, 2015
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Local Sports W W W. C P OW N Y. C O M
Devildogs fall in state title game By Dave Ricci
COURIER CORRESPONDENT
One day after celebrating one of their most important victories, the Kenmore Devildogs suffered their most heartbreaking loss ever. Section X Massena scored a 3-0 win over the fourtime Section VI champion Devildogs to claim the NYS Girls High School Hockey championship that was played at the HarborCenter on Feb.7. Less than 24 hours before Kenmore had scored a 2-1 victory over Alexandria Bay in Friday’s semifinals.
After stalling in the state semifinal the last two season the win over Alexandria Bay vaulted Kenmore into the state finals for the first time in the program’s short history. “I tell them we’re the second best team in the state,” said Kenmore head coach Jeff Orlowski. “(Sectional champs) four years in a row. You’ve got to hang your hat on that and not worry about losing one game.” Kenmore made full use of their home ice advantage in the semis. They practiced at Lincoln on Thursday, slept in their own beds that night. Went to school Friday then arrived to the HarborCenter about two hours before game time. Alexandria Bay,
meanwhile, had a six hour bus ride through a snow storm and arrived much later than planned. A situation that mirrored what Kenmore went through traveling to last year’s state tournament. Going with the game plan of jumping on Alexandria Bay early the Devildogs scored on two of their first four shots of the night. Ana Orzechowski scored on the opening shot, just 1:30 into the game. “It was unreal. I honestly had no idea I went in,” said Orzechowski. “It was just a shot towards the net and coach Orlowski taught us if you have no lane just shoot, and it was a lucky bounce.” Junior forward Taylor
Story netted what turned out to be the game-winner when she banged home a loose puck that teammate Lina Mirabella wristed at Alexandria Bay goalie Kayla McCabe. “I never really pictured that I would (score the gamewinner) but I’m glad we were able to pull it out,” said Taylor Story. Miranda Kolb got Alexandria Bay’s lone goal with 25.1 seconds left to play in the first period, but that was all the visitors would get as Kenmore goalie Lauren Pray was unbeatable the rest of the night. Pray was also aided by the strong play on defense of Orzechowski, Grace Simmons, Kailyn Burke and Chloe Moore as
they shut down Kolb and Kelsey Bannister the rest of the night. “I’ve got to give all the credit to Ana, Grace, Kailyn, Lauren and Chloe,” said Orlowski. “They were fantastic. They held them off the scoreboard.” But on Saturday it was the opponent that struck first and put Kenmore on its heels early. The Red Raiders got on the board 1:28 into the game when Molly O’Connell fed a pass in the slot to Amber Thomas. Thomas would add another goal with 3:01 left in the game that sealed the win. Playing a physical game, Massena’s exceptionally strong forecheck was able to force Kenmore off the puck.
Still, the Devildogs managed 24 shots on net, but they could not get the puck past Massena sophomore goalie Kyrsten Stone. KC Herne added the empty net goal with 55 seconds to play. After going 6-10 in its first season, Kenmore has built a dynasty of four straight sectional titles, the 2013-14 Federation title and three consecutive trips to the state tournament. As of press time they were still alive in the hunt for this year’s Fed title. “We were second in the state,” Lauren Pray said as she fought back tears, “and that’s pretty good.”
Spataro gets back on the ice for Kenmore East By Dave Ricci
COURIER CORRESPONDENT
In the flash of a moment Joey Spataro wondered if his life would ever be the same and if he would ever step onto the ice again. Spataro, a junior on the Kenmore East hockey team, was with his Bulldog teammates in the first league game of the season against WilliamsvilleEast at Northtowns Center on Dec.4 when he experienced the most frightening moment of his life. Spataro was in the
middle of a scrum for the puck behind the Ken-East net when he appeared to have been checked from behind. Spataro fell hard to the ice and did not get up. Athletic trainers and coaches rushed to Spataro’s aid as he laid on the ice, unsure of what had just happened. “It was really terrifying and kind of eye-opening. Now I’ve got to pay attention to that,” Spataro said prior to the Bulldogs Feb.8 game at the HarborCenter. “I’ve got to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” EMT’s arrived on the scene to also work on Spataro. They stabilized Joey then, as a precaution,
they removed him from the ice on a stretcher as everyone in the rink looked on hoping for the best. For Kenmore East coach Kyle Pray, who is also a hockey day, seeing one of his players wheeled off the ice is among his worst fears. “He was stretchered off as a percussion. They stabilized the neck,” Pray said. “It turned out to be concussion so he was out a couple of weeks. Then he started feeling better, got the clearance to play so he’s been doing better.” In that moment Joey Spararo wondered if he would ever play hockey again. “I was just lost. I was
looking for a familiar face and I couldn’t find one,” said Spataro, who is in his second full season of varsity. “They had me strapped down so I couldn’t move around. I could just tell, I could feel everyone staring. When I was I was down at first I thought this could be the end. But once I got to the hospital they checked me out and I should be back soon.” Spataro was diagnosed with a severe concussion and would miss the next four games. He would return to action in late December when the Bulldogs played in Rome, N.Y. “That rush,” Spataro
said with a smile. “Just to be back on the ice. I love playing hockey.” Pray wore an equally wide grin when he was asked about Spataro’s return to action. That hybrid type blue liner that all teams and coaches would love to have, Spataro has all the traits of a solid, stay at home defender. But he also knows when the right time to join or create an offensive rush. “Joey is a little bit of both,” said Pray. “He does a real good job penalty killing. Positions himself well in that so we use him for that. Offensively, there’s times he loves jumping up in the play and loves being that creative
defenseman that joins the forwards on the rush. So he has all aspects of the game.” Thankful to be healthy and back on the ice Joey Spataro looks at hockey, and life, much more differently then he did before Dec.4. Off the ice, Joey Spataro is just thankful to be healthy and able to still live a normal life. On the ice, well, from this moment forward there is no such thing as a practice going too long. Or a drill being too tough. Every moment on the ice is a blessing. “At least I can be out here and practice and do all the drills,” Spataro said with a smile.
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Kenmore Courier /Friday, February 13, 2015
Kenmore Courier / Friday, February 13, 2015
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Cutting edge science equipment acquired at St. John’s Cutting edge science equipment has been acquired by St. John the Baptist School in Kenmore due to the tremendous success of its inaugural Annual Campaign. This significant infusion of funds from its alums, parishioners, parents, and friends of the school has allowed the school to purchase Probeware and laptops for use in its middle school science lab, in conjunction with its Smartboard technologies. This complements the structural improvements that Science Lab underwent earlier this year that were also underwritten with these funds. Advancement Director Michelle Salemi is charged with securing the necessary funds to underwrite the costs of such forward-thinking initiatives. “Math has long been a strength of our middle school,” states Salemi. “This places an equal emphasis on Science. The acquisition of this Probeware equipment will further develop our students’ abilities to critically reason and decipher information. These skills are crucial for today’s world whether or not they pursue a career in science. Our focus on STEM/STREAM instills a cross-curricular mode of thinking into how they learn to process information and approach problem-solving strategies. My hope is using this equipment will make STEM/STREAM learning, which incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, as well as Religion and the Arts, more effective.” Science chair Katie Cooke explains, “These probes go beyond simply preparing our students for high school. They are teaching them how to do real, authentic
science. They are learning how collect and interpret data, trouble shoot, and communicate their scientific findings.” All middle school students will be getting opportunities to work with the probes. They are capable of measuring temperature, pH, weather, light, sound, force, and more. Cooke continues, “My hope is that students will become comfortable with using this technology, as it is what is currently used in the field of science at universities and in the workplace. This technology provides real world data in real time, allowing students to literally see the data and graphs as it is being collected. This makes it much easier for students to understand correlations with complex activities, to say nothing of the pride it affords students in the work they are producing.” Phase change of icecream was the first use of Probeware by the students. Students used the probes to take temperature readings of multiple substances simultaneously, allowing them to observe in real-time the heat exchange between the milk and ice, as well as the effect of adding compounds such as salt to the substance. Cooke says, “By the end of the class, students had carried out the experiment, synthesized their data, created a graph, and formed a hypothesis that explained their findings. Some even hypothesized the similarity of the effects of adding salt to ice-cream as salting our icy roads, which was dead on! This is the level of critical thinking that’s being done thanks to the support of the Annual Appeal. The monies donated by our parishioners, alums, parents, and so on made a tremendous impact
Pictured left to right are: Sean Tracy, Molly Burd and Augie Bilotta. on the quality of education I am able to deliver to my students.” Students are enjoying using the new equipment. Cooke concludes, “The kids said it’s like Santa came to St. John’s.they think the touch-screen computers are amazing. It’s not easy to impress students these days with technology because it’s so much a part of their life. However, they are genuinely excited about coming to Science class and doing the work. This affords them such a deeper understanding; there is no better way to gain an understanding of a concept than to test it out and actually do it! Science
should be a verb, that is to say, it is an action. It’s not about memorizing facts; it’s about doing the science.” Cooke invites the public to come check out the Probeware in her Science Lab at the school’s upcoming Open House on Sunday, January 25th from 1 to 3 at 1085 Englewood Avenue in Kenmore. She states she will be having students performing experiments, working with Robotics, and other hands-on displays of what goes on in the science lab regularly. All are welcome to attend.
Crossword Answer
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Kenmore Courier /Friday, February 13, 2015
Around Town W W W. C P O W N Y. C O M
WNYRHS Winter Train and Toy Show Feb. 14 and 15 at the Fairgrounds-Event Center and Expo Building, 5600 McKinley Pkwy. in Hamburg. Tickets are $7 and children under 12 are free. No parking fee. Show Hours: Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more info contact trainshow@roadrunner.com. Youth Soccer Camp Children K-2nd grade are invited to participate in a soccer skills camp held in the St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1135 Oliver St. in North Tonawanda. The camp will run every Monday for 4 weeks beginning Mon., Feb. 9 through March 9 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Applications are available, please call St. Mark at 693-3715. Ash Wednesday Fish Fry Wed., Feb. 18, 2015 from 5 to 6:15 p.m. St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1135 Oliver St. in North Tonawanda will be hosting a fish fry provided and cooked by BW followed by worship service at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the church office Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to noon. Tickets are $10 for a 9-10 ounce piece of beer battered haddock, potato salad, coleslaw, rye bread, dessert and beverage. There are no half portions of fish. Children’s portions are $6 for chicken tenders, potato salad, coleslaw, rye bread, dessert and beverage. For more information, please call St. Mark at 6933715. WNY Home & Garden Expo at the FairgroundsEvent Center and Expo Building, 5600 McKinley Pkwy. in Hamburg, from Thurs., Feb. 19 to Sun., Feb. 22. Show Hours: Thurs. 2 to 8 p.m., Fri. noon to 8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $7 and
children under 12 are free. No parking fee. Fish Fry The Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus is hosting a fish fry starting Friday Feb. 20, and every Friday thereafter until Good Friday (April 3). All dinners will be from 4 to 7 p.m. at the K of C Hall 755 Erie Ave., North Tonawanda. Dinner includes a choice of two side dishes, coleslaw, bread and butter. Call 693-5470 for more information. Books and Bordeaux Fundraiser Fri. Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at Brighton Place Library 999 Brighton Rd. in Tonawanda. Tickets are $25 and include wine, beer, live music, basket raffle, chocolate and pastries. Call 332-4375 for more info. Cavalcade of Cars Show at the Hamburg Fairgrounds Event Center and Expo Hall, 5600 McKinley Pkwy, Fri. through Sun., Feb. 27 to March 1. Show hours are: Fri. 5 to 10 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sun. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adults are $12, children 6 to 12 are $3, and children under 6 are free. Parking is free, contact Andy 6569734 for more info or visit showandcruisers.com. Lawyers for the Arts The 4th annual benefit event will take place Sat. Feb. 28, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Sportsmen’annual benefit event will music, and art for sale, all crafted by attorneys. Single tickets are $20, $10 for law students. Presale tickets available Feb. 6 by visiting giveforgreatness.org. For more information call Lauren Rojek at 362-8389 x512 or asiwnydevelopment@ gmail.com. All proceeds benefit Give for Greatness, a program of Arts Services Initiative of WNY. Niagara Frontier Gun Shows are coming to the Hamburg Fairgrounds
Event Center, Expo, Grange and Marketplace Buildings, 5600 McKinley Pkwy., Sat. Feb. 28 and Sun. March 1. Hours are Sat. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sun. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adults are $9, and children under 10 are free. Parking is free, visit nfgshows.com or call Bruce at 542-9929 for more info. The 2015 WNY Sport and Travel Expo at the Hamburg Fairgrounds Event Center, Expo, Grange and Marketplace Buildings, 5600 McKinley Pkwy. Thurs. March 5 to Sun. March 8. Event hours are Thurs. through Fri. noon to 9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults are $10 and children under 10 get in for free. Contact sportandtravelexpo.com or call 814-725-3856 for more info. The Ismailia Shrine Circus at Hamburg Fairgrounds Event Center, 5600 McKinley Pkwy. March 12 to 15. Event hours are Thurs. 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., Fri. 10:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7 :30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m., 2:30, and 7:30 p.m. and Sun. 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Adults are $13, seniors 61 and older are $10 and children under 10 are $8. Call 674-8666 or go to tickets.com to secure seats. M o t h e r t i m e Marketplace Children’s Consignment Sale at Hamburg Fairgrounds Grange and Marketplace Buildings, 5600 McKinley Pkwy., Fri. March 13 to Sun. March 15. Hours and prices are Fri. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for $3, Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $2, and Sun. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for free. Children always free for this event. Visit mothertimemarketplace.com for more info. Plantasia 2015 “Every Garden Tells a Story”
at Hamburg Fairgrounds Event Center and Expo Hall, 5600 McKinley Pkwy., Thurs. March 19 to Sunday March 22. Event hours are Thurs., Fri., and Sat. from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults are $9, seniors 60 and over are $7, and children 12 and under are free. Visit plantasiany.com or call 741-8047 for more info and group rates. Litto’s Legacy Manor Lanes will be hosting Litto’s Legacy 3rd Annual Fundraiser March 22 from 2 to 6 p.m., 150 Grand Island Blvd. Tonawanda. Tickets are $20 presale per person and $100 to reserve a lane for up to 5 people. Admission includes 4 hours of bowling, shoes and ball if needed, and refreshments. $5 per sheet for basket raffle, and $5 plates of food available for walk-ins. For tickets please contact Alicia: 692-6328. Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show at Hamburg Fairgrounds Marketplace and Grange Buildings, 5600 McKinley Pkwy., Sat. March 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun. March 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults are $5, 2 day passes are $7, and scouts in uniform, including leaders, are free, as are children under 12. Visit bgsny.org for more info. 2015 Hamburg Chamber Trade Show at Hamburg Fairgrounds Grange Building, 5600 McKinley Pkwy., Fri. March 27 from 1 to 8 p.m. 40 businesses from caterers to tax preofessionals will be there, come out for this great networking opportunity. Event is free and open to the public, call 649-7917 for more info. Springtime in the Country at Hamburg Fairgrounds Event Center, 5600 McKinley Pkwy., Fri.
March 27 to Sun. March 29. Show hours are Fri. 4 to 9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $7, $5 presale with a 50 cent fee starting March 11, and kids 12 and under free. Visit wnypremierpromotions. com or call 910-799-9424 for more info. The National Parkinson Foundation WNY Support Group Monthly support group meetings for people with PD, family members and caregivers on the third Wednesday of each month at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 3512 Clinton St. in West Seneca. Support group for people with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease meets from 5:30-6:30 p.m. All are welcome from 6:30-8 p.m. Info: 449-3795. Winter Parking Ordinance prohibits parking on all streets in the Town of Tonawanda between the hours of 2 and 6 a.m. through April 1. Parking tickets will be issued. Winter Parking Restriction There is no parking permitted on any street in the City of Tonawanda between the hours of 3 and 6 a.m. through April 15. Drink Specials at Exit 2 Bar & Grille, 3191 Eggert Rd., Tonawanda: Martini Mondays featuring $5 martinis and margaritas; Two for Tuesdays (dinner for two for just $40, including a bottle of wine); Wine Down Wednesdays with $10 bottles of select wines; Prime Rib Thursdays and Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. weekdays. Stop in during football games on Monday and Thursday nights, or for college games on Saturdays, and enjoy 50 cent wings and bar specials. Info: exit2bar.com, 837-2523 or facebook.com/
Exit2grille. Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group The Alzheimer’s Association WNY Chapter meets at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Grove Street Christian Church, 85 Grove St., Tonawanda, providing emotional and social support for caregivers and help participants develop methods and skills to solve problems. Open to all. The groups encourage caregivers to maintain their own personal, physical and emotional health, as well as optimally care for the person with dementia. Info: 1-800-272-3900. Take Off Pounds Sensibly (T.O.P.S.) weight loss support meets at 9:30 a.m. every Tuesday morning at Blessed Sacrament Church, Tonawanda. Info: 835-4944. Teen Gaming Night Teens ages 12-17 can play video games on the Nintendo Wii or challenge their friends to a variety of board and card games from 6-7:30 p.m. the third and fourth Tuesday of every month at the Kenmore Branch Library, 160 Delaware Rd. Info: 8732842. Ideal Weight Shape up with the help of Ideal Weight class, conducted by weight-loss specialist Ida Shapiro, who has over 46 years of experience. Classes begin at 6:15 p.m. every Tuesday at Zion United Church of Christ, Koenig and Parker, Tonawanda; and at 6:15 p.m. every Thursday at St. Gregory the Great School, Maple Road, Williamsville. The classes offer help on achieving weight-loss goals through personal touch, visualization, guest speakers and strong group support. First class free during the month of December. For further information, call 636-3698.
Kenmore Courier / Friday, February 13, 2015
Program to help students, region, toward STEM-focused future Whether in classrooms, laboratories or the Oval Office of the White House, conversation has persisted about the importance of proper training in science, technology, engineering and math (referred to as STEM) for our nation’s current and future generations of students. Erie Community College recognizes this and, starting with its Spring 2015 semester, is now proud to offer the area’s first two-year degree in Nanotechnology and serve as Western New York’s leader in STEM-related training. “ECC prides itself on providing affordable, career-focused education for all of Western New York,” said ECC President Jack Quinn. “But after this education, our students need to transition into sustainable careers. In recent years, STEM-related job opportunities have multiplied not only across the country, but right here in our Buffalo backyard. We want to prep our students for these opportunities, and this program will help us do that.” Instituted with $5.75 million attained in September through NYSUNY’s 2020 Challenge Grant Program and faculty preparation through the Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization at Penn State University, ECC’s Nanotechnology AAS degree program is designed to help prepare students from a broad range of disciplines for careers in fields involving nanotechnology, which is engineering at the atomic-length scale, a size range which, until recently, was only available to nature. Being able to engineer such small structures opens the door to a multitude of new opportunities in the fields of electronic and semiconductor fabrication technology, microtechnology labs, material science labs, chemical technology, biotechnology, biopharmaceutical technology, and environmental science. “ECC is proud to be the first local institution to offer a degree in Nanotechnology,” said Rick Washousky, ECC’s Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, and a driving force in delivering the program and awarded grant funds to the college. “This new AAS program will further reinforce ECC’s efforts in STEM technology.” Students will study electronic device and circuit behavior, basic chemistry and fabrication techniques used to create micron and submicron scale structures.
Techniques covered include reactive ion etching, metallization, thick and thin film deposition and photolithography; and graduates will be able to enter the Western New York job market with the skills necessary for sought-after positions in such fields as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and university research. The program which will also involve Genesee Community College students working in shared space with ECC students was established in response to the various large scale nanotechnologyrelated projects announced across upstate New York. And with only two other semiconductor manufacturing-related AAS programs in New York State (at Hudson Valley Community College and Schenectady County Community College), this degree program will develop a highly skilled homegrown workforce capable in filling the large number of nanotechnology-related jobs being created across the state. Existing aforementioned AAS degree programs offered in the Capital Region primarily supply their local employers, who themselves still are forced to hire 50 percent of employees out of state. This project will train homegrown employees to work in the nanotechnology sector here in New York State. $3.1 of the NYSUNY grant million was spent on renovations to ECC North Campus’s Bretschger Hall, with the remaining allocation dedicated to equipment used to train both ECC and GCC students. The program aims to enroll 50 new students; usher 20 graduates into regional employment on an annual basis; ensure that there is a trained workforce to take advantage of forthcoming opportunities at South Buffalo’s RiverBend campus, on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and within the planned WNY Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park in Genesee County. Additional ventures and growth in the region’s nanotechnology sector will lead to more opportunities for community college students, as well as the eventual creation of a homegrown workforce. “Training for sustainable careers, right here in Western New York,” said Quinn. “That’s our pledge to our students, and their success will help move our community forward.”
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