Memorial Auxiliary’s Famous Rib & Chicken Dinner to be served Monday at the Bakery Restaurant

May 12, 2016 By Leave a Comment

The Auxiliary of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will host its third annual Famous Rib & Chicken Dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 16 at the Bakery Restaurant, 3004 Niagara St., Niagara Falls.

Tickets are $16 for dine-in or take-out dinners and include a complimentary beverage and reduced drink prices. The evening will feature a 50/50 drawing. Proceeds from the event will support patient programs and services at Memorial Medical Center.

Tickets are available in the hospital gift shop or by calling Mary Norton at 278-4159 or 807-9388, or Patty Berggren at 545-7012.

Famous Rib & Chicken Dinner

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center President & CEO Joseph Ruffolo, left, Bakery Restaurant & Lounge proprietor Dave Young and Medical Center Auxiliary Past President Mary Norton sample the fare to be served from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Auxiliary’s Famous Rib & Chicken Dinner.

Filed Under: Local News, Organization Announcements and Events

Empower’s New Bottle and Can Redemption Center Offers Work Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities

May 9, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Empower, the not-for-profit organization formerly known as Niagara Cerebral Palsy, recently has opened a bottle and can redemption center, called Empties for Empower. The center, located at 4701 Military Rd. (near the Rt. 31 intersection), is available for anyone to use. The public can drop off bottles and cans, opting to receive a full deposit or donate it to Empower. Empower also earns money back on every bottle and can.

Empties for Empower is a job training and employment readiness program for individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities. These individuals sort the bottles and cans, and handle cash returns and donations. Funding for the program is provided through the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. “Bringing bottles and cans to our redemption center is a true win-win,” said Jeff Paterson, chief executive officer of Empower. “Customers will have their sorting done, receive their full deposit back, give individuals with disabilities a chance to participate in paid job training, and provide income for Empower.”

Empties for Empower is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To contact the center directly, please call (716) 545-0023. Soon, customers will also have the option of setting up accounts to be reimbursed for bottles and cans that are dropped off after hours.

With 300 employees and a $14 million budget, Empower is one of Western New York’s 50 largest nonprofit organizations. The administrative offices, preschool, community clinic and service coordination program are located on Lockport Road in the Town of Niagara. The job training and day programs division is based in Niagara Falls, while residential facilities are located throughout Niagara County. Licensed by the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the New York State Education Department, Empower is an affiliate of the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State and is a member agency of the United Way of Greater Niagara.

Filed Under: Local News, Organization Announcements and Events

Katherine Rossi Named Teacher of the Year by New York Association for Career/Continuing Ed

May 6, 2016 By 1 Comment

Katherine Rossi, a Continuing Education teacher with Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ Literacy Zone, has been named the Teacher of the Year by the New York Association for Career/Continuing Education (NYACCE). Katie was recently honored in Albany for her work with adult learners in the community. Her coworker Erica Kopp describes Katie as a dynamic lecturer, a resourceful advisor and a compassionate mentor. “Katie has intelligence, she is cheerful as she tackles new challenges and adapts to new environments and has unrelenting respect for her students.”

Katie teaches the Job Readiness Training Program, a class where public assistance recipients attend school seven hours a day, every day, for four weeks. “It is a challenging class to teach,” says Ms. Kopp. “It is in downtown Niagara Falls, which is the most improvised community our program serves. The class focuses on technology skills, public speaking and job preparedness. There are few jobs available in that area and competition is fierce. In her first year of teaching this class, Katie has helped 119 students find gainful employment. Her class is so successful and popular with students, she has been asked to replicate it in other literacy zones. ”

There is no doubt that Katie goes above and beyond for her students. Most of her class is signed up for customer service training at the local SUNY ATTAIN Lab. Because most of them do not have personal transportation, Katie shuttles the majority of her 30 students to the lab twice a week, every week. She has also stepped in as a case manager and advocates for her students with local service providers. She has established numerous partnerships with local agencies and recruits many speakers for her classroom. Among them are: Cornell Cooperative Extension, which teaches students about nutrition and cooking healthy on a budget, Citizens Bank who gives lessons on financial literacy, building savings and repairing credit and Niagara County Health Department who provides students with in-home screenings for lead paint, carbon monoxide and pest management. She also teaches at the Niagara County Jail, where she encourages those students to recommit to their educational goals by taking and passing the TASC exam to get their diplomas.

Ms. Kopp said Katie deserves the award because, “although her success with her classes is remarkable, it is her devotion to her students that shows how much of a standout she is. Many of them keep in touch with her to share their success and also to still seek her guidance. She never stops teaching. Her commitment to the field of adult education is unmatched.”

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Filed Under: Featured Stories, Local News, Organization Announcements and Events

Community Missions Launches 11th Annual Parents’ Day Campaign

May 6, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Matching Campaign has $35,000 Goal in 2016

Community Missions launches its 11th Annual Parents’ Day Campaign this week, giving Niagara residents a chance to honor their fathers and mothers with a gift to support their neighbors in need.

Once again, long-time supporters of the Mission will match donations to the campaign. Stephen and Sharon Plumeri have pledged to match, dollar-for-dollar, the first $15,000 donated, while Niagara Falls Redevelopment has given the first $1,000 to the campaign.

Generous media sponsors, The NiagaraHub and AllServicesWNY, are providing further support of the campaign.

“We are so appreciative of the way that the community has always embraced the Parents’ Day Campaign,” said Christian Hoffman, Communications & Development Manager at Community Missions. “It is so rewarding for the Mission to be an institution through which the Niagara Community helps their own.”

Donations made to the Mission are vital to its Crisis Services, like the Emergency Housing Shelter, Community Kitchen and Food Pantry, where demand continues to increase. Last year, the pantry distributed 36,342 meals. That total was 7,047 more than 2014, representing a startling 24% increase in just one year. This trend has already continued in 2016, as the first quarter’s 8,793 meals stands as an 8% increase from 2015 and a 50% increase from the 2014 first quarter total.

Donations can be made in person or via check at 1570 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14303. Online donations can also be made by visiting bit.ly/CMIDonate and selecting the “Parents’ Day Campaign” option under the “Apply my Donation to” heading.

In 2015, Community Missions celebrated its 90th anniversary of serving the less fortunate in Niagara County. Last year, the Mission provided more than 87,000 meals and over 10,000 nights of shelter as the county’s largest private provider of basic human needs.

Filed Under: Big News Section, Featured Stories, Organization Announcements and Events

State OKs Niagara Falls Memorial’s plan for new 25-bed Cardiac/Stroke Care facility

April 29, 2016 By Leave a Comment

The New York State Department of Health has approved an application by Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center to build a new inpatient facility for the care of heart and stroke patients.

The 12,950-square-foot unit, which will be built at a cost of $4.3 million, will a replace a 40-year-old telemetry unit on the fourth floor of the hospital’s Schoellkopf Building. The modern 25-bed facility will be built on the now-vacant third floor and feature all private rooms, including six higher acuity step-down rooms for patients who require a more acute level of care and monitoring.

“This is great news for us and for the communities we serve,” said Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sheila K. Kee. “The new unit will be the perfect complement not only to our Heart Center of Niagara but to the new cardiac catheterization laboratory that will open here next year.”

“Cardiac Disease and Strokes are far too prevalent among our community,” said President & CEO Joseph Ruffolo. “Our new modern, patient-centered facility, with the outstanding high quality care our doctors, nurses, and rehab specialists will be providing will undoubtedly make a difference for everyone who walks through our doors.”

“This approval is an excellent step toward making the standard of patient care even better at Memorial,” said Chief of Cardiology Sachin Wadhawan, M.D. “This will create a dedicated modern floor for taking care of cardiac/vascular patients, which will help immensely when the new cardiac catheterization lab opens. Overall, I think this represents another great step in establishing a state-of-the-art cardiac facility at Memorial Hospital to serve the needs of the community.”

In an innovative arrangement approved by the Department of Health earlier this month, a new cardiac catheterization lab will open in The Heart Center of Niagara at Memorial in 2017. It will be jointly operated by Memorial, Kaleida Health, the Catholic Health System and Erie County Medical Center.

Memorial’s new inpatient Cardiac/Stroke Care unit will utilize both centralized and

decentralized nursing stations and “smart” technology to allow nurses to spend more time at patients’ bedsides.

“This will increase staff efficiencies and, in turn, improve clinical outcomes,” said Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer Joanne Krolewski.

A rehabilitation therapy facility will be located within the unit to encourage quicker patient recovery and avoid the need to transport patients to the medical center’s first floor physical therapy department. That facility will feature leading edge visual-motor and neuro-cognitive rehabilitation equipment that employs programmable, customizable testing and rehabilitation routines.

“In addition, a dedicated Patient-Family Resource Center will provide a comfortable space in which nursing staff will provide education on cardiovascular disease and instruct patients and their families on how to successfully transition from the hospital to home and community,” Kee said.

“The new state-of-the-art Cardiac/Stroke Care unit will go a long way in making a significant impact in treatment and prevention of stroke. This unit will surely motivate all the health care providers to provide the best care possible,” said Stroke Center Medical Director Nyathappa Anand, M.D.

A recently awarded Health Care Delivery System Innovators Fund grant will finance $2 million of the project’s cost. Foundation, governmental and individual charitable contributions as well as direct hospital support will fund the balance. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and will take about a year to complete.

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Local News, Organization Announcements and Events

Upcoming Event: The College Simulation Experience

April 26, 2016 By Leave a Comment

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The College Simulation Experience is bringing their unique approach to college preparation to Niagara Falls! Sponsored by Councilman Ezra Scott and the Niagara Falls Housing Authority, the College Seminar Experience will take place on August 13th, 2016 from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm. The Experience aims to equip students with the soft skills necessary to be successful in a college environment. Between 50 and 100 local high school juniors and seniors will participate in the daylong event, which features an interactive college simulation, Q&A with expert panels, a sports challenge, and a college fair. Breakfast and lunch are also provided, along with a guest DJ providing music for an end-of-day celebration! Councilman Scott will also present a scholarship to one winning high school senior! The event promises to be unique and unforgettable for all involved.

Watch our video intro here:

Our aim is to provide this incredible experience free of charge to interested students. In order to do this, we are asking local businesses and organizations to sponsor students at $100 per student. For each sponsorship, we provide the above full-day experience as well as contribute to the scholarship to be awarded by Councilman Scott. You can help us meet our goal of providing valuable life skills and a comprehensive introduction to college for 50-100 students from Niagara Falls! You can provide sponsorships by contacting April Baskin directly at april.nm.baskin@gmail.com. Please also feel free to browse the website and Facebook pages or contact us for more information. You can also help by sharing our information to get the word out. We look forward to working with you to build a better future for our youth!

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Filed Under: Featured Stories, Local News, Organization Announcements and Events

NF Education Foundation honoring Niagara Falls Schools alumni

April 21, 2016 By Leave a Comment

The Niagara Falls Education Foundation announces its Distinguished Alumni & Emerging Leader Alumni honorees for 2016, to be honored at its 6th annual Scholarship & Alumni Recognition Dinner on April 28 at Antonio’s Banquet & Conference Center, 7708 Niagara Falls Blvd.

Recognized as Distinguished Alumni will be Jerry Wolfgang, NFHS Class of 1955; and Joseph “Chubby” Marinello, Sr., NFHS Class of 1960. Earl Bass, NFHS Class of 2006, will be recognized as the Emerging Leader.

Mr. Marinello owns Baldassara Collision, which he purchased in 1980 after working there for ten years, and is the founder of Niagara Towing. A hard-working man who remained in the community his whole life, he has been married to his bride, Christine, for 50 years. The couple has two children and six grandchildren.

Jerald Wolfgang is the Executive Director of the WNY Regional Education Center for Economic Development, serves on the board of the United Way of Niagara, is an adjunct professor at Niagara University, a member of the Board of Niagara County Community College, is active in Niagara Workforce Investment Board, Lewiston Council of the Arts, Porter Cup, Niagara Ballet, and the Lewiston Peach Festival and many others. He served on numerous boards and agencies over the years, including the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency, Schoellkopf Health Center, Niagara University President’s Council, and others.

Mr. Bass is a Niagara Falls Firefighter, host for the Niagara Falls Fire Fighters’ Christmas Toy Fund Telethon and Co-Chairperson of the Annual 5k/10k Run/Walk. He volunteers at various events for the Niagara Falls Housing Authority and presents during their annual Male and “Let’s Talk” Summits.

This program recognizes the strength of the Niagara Falls School District and the outstanding graduates who have made their marks in professional endeavors and affected their community for the better.

Tickets to the event, which begins at 5 p.m. with a cash bar to be followed by dinner at 6 p.m., are $55 each, $25 for students. Checks made out to the Niagara Falls Education Foundation can be sent to: Niagara Falls Education Foundation, PO Box 595, Niagara Falls, NY 14303. Reservations by April 22, please.

For additional event information or sponsorship opportunities, contact jglaserpr@gmail.com or call 425-2966. You can also visit www.nfeducationfoundation.org.

Filed Under: Local News, Organization Announcements and Events

Memorial announces 2016 board appointments

April 5, 2016 By Leave a Comment

The Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Board of Directors confirmed its 2016 slate of officers and re-elected five incumbent board members to three-year terms at its annual meeting on April 4.

 

Reappointed as officers were Chairman James C. Roscetti, an attorney with the Niagara Falls law firm Roscetti & DeCastro, P.C.; Vice Chairperson Cynthia A. Bianco, superintendent of the Niagara Falls City School District; Treasurer Charles G. Rader, Ph.D., retired chief executive officer of IsleChem, LLC.; and Secretary Margaret M. Toohey, Lewiston Insurance Agency, Inc.

 

Re-elected to three-year board terms were:

 

  • Robert L. Bradley Jr., principal, Gaskill Preparatory School
  • Ronald R. Campbell, former chief operating officer, Washington Mills Corp.
  • Stephanie Williams Cowart, executive director, Niagara Falls Housing Authority
  • The Rev. Harvey L. Kelley, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church
  • Don J. King, The Polly King Gallery

 

Continuing on the board will be:

 

  • Daniel J. DiPofi, former executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Buffalo Sabres
  • Matthew Feldman, an attorney at Feldman Kieffer, LLP
  • Robert J. Gadawski, M.D., Memorial’s medical staff president
  • Murray R. Hewitt, general manager, Greenpac Mill, LLC
  • Marnie LaVigne, Ph.D., President & CEO, Launch NY, Inc.
  • Mark D. Perry, M.D., Memorial’s chief of radiology
  • Salvatore “Sam” Santarosa, M.B.A., president of Buffalo Fuel Corp.
  • Joseph A. Ruffolo, Memorial’s president and chief executive officer
  • Timothy J. Waterman, chief executive officer, Seneca Nation Health System

 

Serving ex-officio is Vijay Bojedla, M.D., Memorial vice president and chief medical officer.

Filed Under: Local News, Organization Announcements and Events

Parent Network of WNY Presents Local Workshops

April 2, 2016 By Leave a Comment

The Parent Network of WNY and Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara announced their April and May line-up of workshops to be presented locally in the Town of Niagara. The classes are of interest to parents/guardians of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, professionals, and teachers. Running from April 13 to May 11, the free classes will be held from 6-8 pm, at Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara, 1555 Fashion Outlet Blvd., Town of Niagara, 14304. Sponsors include Parent Network of WNY, Starbridge, the Collaboration for Autism Support & Education, and Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara. To register call (716) 332-4170 or 1-866-277-4762 toll free, email info@parentnetworkwny.org, or on-line at http://parentnetworkwny.org/workshops-and-events/events-calendar/. A minimum of 5 attendees is required to hold the workshop so pre-registering is very important.

The workshops are:

  • April 13 — Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Overview — In this workshop participants will learn about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and will discuss how and why Autism Spectrum Disorders are diagnosed and by whom. The workshop will also cover learning styles, recent research and ways to promote success at home, school and in the community.
  • April 27 — Autism Spectrum Disorders: Improving Social Challenges — Participants will learn about the social challenges for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and will discover strategies to use at home, school and within the community.
  • May 4 — Supporting Siblings of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder — In this workshop, families will learn about challenges that can occur when a member is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants will learn how siblings can work together within the family to promote understanding and encourage social skills.
  • May 11 – Sexuality…Having the Conversation – Participants will understand the importance of early and ongoing discussion about sexuality and appropriate social behaviors for individuals with disabilities. Tips will be provided to encourage a more comfortable conversation.

Parent Network of WNY is a not-for-profit agency that provides education and resources for families of individuals with special needs and professionals. They also provide 1-on-1 support and education through resources, workshops and support groups to assist families of individuals with disabilities to understand their disability and navigate the support service system.

For more than 60 years, Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara, the Niagara County Chapter of NYSARC, Inc. and a United Way Agency, has provided supports to people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities of all ages and their families. We are dedicated to maximizing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities by providing them the resources to reach their greatest potential including training, employment, recreation, service coordination, fine arts, horticulture therapy and residential opportunities. For more information, visit us at www.oppunlimited.org as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

Filed Under: Local News, Organization Announcements and Events

Capstoning Opportunities Give Precision Machine Tool Students a Head Start

March 29, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Students in Bill Rakonczay’s Precision Machine Technology Program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center are getting some real hands-on experience thanks to the mentoring of several local machining companies.  Because of the high demand for skilled workers, the companies line up well in advance to offer the students a chance for a paid internship where they can see what their employees’ workdays look like and see if they would be a good fit for future employment.

“Capstoning is a great process for both my students and employers,” says Mr. Rakonczay.  “It allows my students to have a broader understanding of what it is like to work for a manufacturing company.  If they don’t like the experience they can reassess their career goals before graduation and if they do like it, it allows the company to employ them for several months to see if they are what they are looking for and where they will fit in to their operation.”

Students begin the capstoning process either at the end of their junior year or the beginning of their senior year.  Josh Miller, a student from Lockport, says he is enjoying working at Diversified Manufacturing Inc. in Lockport.  “I like it a lot,” he says.  “It’s a lot different from working on the machines we have here in class where we have to share.  I have my own machine there and it’s pretty cool.”  Connor Heiser, from Royalton Hartland, says his time at Niagara Precision Inc. has been a great experience in preparing him for the future.  “It has definitely helped me to decide to go to college for Mechanical Engineering.”  Classmate Lance Gardner has been working at Plastic Weld Systems, Inc. in Newfane.  “I have learned a lot of the little things you need to know in their trade.  In class we learn the basics, but you definitely pick up a lot more once you start working.”  He says he is glad he enrolled in the Precision Machine Technology Program at Orleans/Niagara BOCES.  “I like this program a lot and I am really happy I chose it.  I have already been offered an opportunity to work fulltime at Plastic Weld after I graduate and I am very excited about that.”

“The need for trained professionals in the machining field is incredible,” says Mr. Rakonczay.  “I have almost 100% placement rate with my students if they want to go right into the working world.  Capstoning is a great experience because it is learning in action.  Part of my teaching process is to provide students with skills in the classroom and an opportunity to get their foot in the door of a local company so that they can learn about the organization and increase their skills in managing their time, conflict management and being part of a team.”

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(LtoR) Front Row: Ryan Winter (Lockport), Josh Klotzbach (Medina), Josh Miller (Lockport), Al Winter (Royalton Hartland).  Back Row: Kyle Cobb (Lockport), Lance Gardner (Lyndonville), Mike Messler (Medina), Connor Heiser (Royalton Hartland) and Kalvin Parker (Medina). 

Filed Under: Local News, Organization Announcements and Events
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