File photo – GCC’s Civil War Re-enactment returns April 24-26 for the final time. This photo shows re-enactors from the Confederate States of America firing on the Union soldiers during last year’s encampment and mock battle.

ALBION – The Genesee Community College Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting at its Albion campus last week, and the college highlighted several efforts in the county. The board also heard from students and staff about the college experience at the campus centers in Albion and Medina.

James J. Simon, Associate Dean of the two campus centers, reported that GCC served 712 Orleans County students over the last year, with 316 of these students participated in courses offered in Albion and Medina.

Each of the two campus centers has been developing informal academic specialties over the last several years, Simon said. Albion has specialized in Art, Business, Criminal Justice, Office Technology, and Spanish courses, while Medina has specialized in Human Services, Biology and Chemistry courses. The Medina Center has a multi-disciplinary science lab, he noted.

Both campus centers emphasize service to the community. Simon cited GCC’s driving courses, OSHA courses, field placements, service learning, GO-ART gallery (located at the Albion Center), Heritage Heroes awards, and Civil War encampments as examples of initiatives that have served numerous area residents.

The third annual Civil War Encampment at the Medina Campus Center is scheduled for April 24 – 26, 2015 featuring demonstrations, exhibits, reenactments, camps, workshops and the Victorian Cotillion with City Fiddle performing. (Visit https://civilwaratgcc.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/encampment-schedule_2015_final.pdf to see the schedule of events.)

Edward J. Grabowski is a GCC alum (class of 1973), GCC adjunct faculty member, former Shelby town justice, and local attorney. He commented on the impact of the Albion and Medina campus centers on area students.

“A lot of our faculty members have experience and knowledge from life, and GCC does a great job bringing real-world experience and the classroom experience together,” he told GCC trustees.

Grabowski also praised GCC’s use of instructional technology, noting that online courses and video-linked courses make higher education available to many students whose schedules prevent them from attending traditional classroom-based courses.

Two students who have completed several courses at the Albion and Medina centers described their experiences.

Christine A. Chennell of Albion, who is planning a career in Veterinary Technology, spoke about dropping out of college at a young age and coming back to GCC as an older student.

“Life happens. I found myself as a single parent, trying to support my child,” she said. “Now, it was 15 years after I dropped out of UB [The University at Buffalo], in my second marriage, out of a job, and I realized I liked helping people. I thought, why not a Human Services degree? But the idea really scared me. I didn’t think I could do it. I passed by the campus center a million times.”

She eventually decided to begin her studies on a part-time basis, and found out that she could excel in the classroom. She praised GCC faculty who, she said, gave her the knowledge and inspiration to excel.

“They are really awesome,” she said.

Keith McKinney also addressed the GCC trustees. After completing 27 ½ years of active duty in the U.S. Army, McKinney moved to Lyndonville with his wife and decided to pursue his dream of becoming a history or political science teacher.

The transition was challenging at first.

“I had spent years in the military and I was a very dedicated soldier, but walking into college I was scared to death,” he said. “I was older than many students and some of the instructors. But I felt welcomed by everyone.”

McKinney also praised the faculty.

“These are the best educators I have ever met in my life,” he said.

David Callard, chairman of the Orleans County Legislature, welcomed the Board of Trustees to the Albion Campus Center.

Callard told trustees that he and the Legislature appreciate GCC’s service to Orleans County residents and hope for even greater collaboration between the college and the county in the years ahead.

“Education is the greatest gift we can give,” he told trustees.

He said he intends to make transportation to and from Batavia via Routes 98 and 63 a priority project in the next year.

Orleans and several other counties in New York have falling sales tax revenues for the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same time in 2014, the New York Association of Counties is reporting.

The sales tax money is a critical source of revenue that pays for services and eases pressure on property taxes.

There are 62 counties in the state and 33 collected less in sales tax in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2014. Of these counties, 12 saw their collections drop by more than 5 percent. Orleans County had a tiny drop. It went from $3,617,157 to $3,614,715 in the first quarter.

Outside of New York City, the average change per county was -0.9 percent, NYSAC reported. New York City had an increase of 1.2 percent in sales tax revenue.

Overall, the state sales tax collections were up from $2.87 billion to $2.95 billion. However, the counties’ share was a much smaller increase, from $1,714,967,327 to $1,718,676,745.

It is not clear what the reason for the sharp drop off for some counties, but there are two major factors that may be contributing to these numbers, said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. He cited the harsh winter and gasoline prices that were 32 percent lower in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2014.

“Sale tax collections are an important economic indicator,” Acquario said. “These taxes have a direct relationship to consumer confidence and the general direction of the economy measured during a certain period of time. As property taxes remain flat across the state, sales taxes are even more important to local governments trying to continue essential governmental services. This quarterly distribution continues to demonstrate volatility and uneven collections across the state.”

ALBION – The Orleans County Job Development Agency is continuing a summer work program for people between the ages of 16 and 24, a program the county has been running the past 40 years.

The initiative places qualified participants in private and government positions for summer work experience. The Job Development Agency is accepting applications for this subsidized employment program. Participants must fall under income and other eligibility guidelines.

More than 30 local businesses and government agencies are partners in the employment program, including The Arc of Orleans, Arnold’s Auto Parts, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, Olde Dogge Inn, Kendall Highway Department, Shelridge Country Club, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, Orleans County Chamber of Commerce, Saint-Gobain ADFORS, Cobblestone Country FCU, and many others.

“Our staff observed (our 2014 youth employee) grow in people- and time-management skills and she was successful in finding a job in her career field of choice after the program,” said Jennifer Wagester, program director for the Cornell Cooperative Extension. “We look forward to hosting another youth employee this year.”

Job Development is proud to assist in the employment of 30 to 40 young men and women, each of whom benefit not only from the job opportunity, but also from the comprehensive experience, which includes career exploration, financial literacy, leadership development and many other complementary program components and supportive services.

“The work program is a good fit for both us as the employer and the participant,” said Daniel DeCarlo of Arnold’s Auto Parts in Albion. “The young man we have now is a good worker and a pleasure to be around. We are able to give him more job duties every week.”

For more information or to request an application, contact Job Development at 585-589-2822 or 589-2823. Applications are available at Orleans County high school guidance offices and at the Job Development office in the County Administration Building, 14016 Route 31 West, Albion (across from DMV).

A downloadable pdf of the application and a list of required documents are available at orleansny.com. Also, Job Development will be on hand for Community Action’s Annual Community Job Fair on Friday, May 8, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hoag Library, 134 South Main St., Albion.