Recent news about the detection of prescription drugs in drinking water has caused concern about the impact on human health. Also, storing expired or unwanted medications in your home increases the risk of accidental poisoning. Help protect our water and your safety by disposing of medicines properly through collection and incineration.

Saturday, September 29, is a National Prescription Drug Drop-Off Day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. More than 40 sites in numerous counties will serve as drop-off locations, including Buffalo State in Lot C. Please bring medications in the original labeled containers (blacken out personal information).

The following will be accepted (no questions asked):

• Controlled substances
• Expired, unusable, or unwanted household prescriptions
• Syringes
• Sharps containers
• Over-the-counter medicines

For a full list of drop-off locations or more information, visit www.nationalprescriptiondrugdropoff.com.

After teaching in the Sociology Department at Buffalo State for more than 35 years, associate professor Virginia Grabiner retired in the spring. To thank her for her service and show our appreciation, a farewell reception (cash bar) will be held on Monday, October 8, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Campus House. Remarks at 5:00 p.m. 

Grabiner, a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, has been a tremendous asset to the department and the university. She served as department chair and on the Women’s Issues Committee, the Women and Gender Studies Interdisciplinary Committee, the President's Council on Equity and Campus Diversity, the Pre-law Committee, and the Judicial Board. She has been described as a wonderful colleague, a great advocate, and a dedicated professor. She will be truly missed. Please stop by and wish her well. Contributions of $10 for food and a gift are being accepted. To R.S.V.P. and with contributions, please contact Amitra A. Wall, associate professor of sociology, ext. 3542.

The School of Education Dean's Office announces the inaugural recipients of the 2011 Barbara Frey Faculty Award in Education: Drew Kahn, professor of theater, and Bhakti Sharma, assistant professor of interior design.

The Barbara Frey Faculty Award in Education is an annual cash award given to any full-time faculty member at Buffalo State who demonstrates commitment and leadership "beyond the classroom." The fund was endowed through a charitable gift annuity established by the late Barbara R. Frey, professor emerita, to recognize faculty leadership that benefits the campus and students. Nominations are made by department chairs, and awardees are chosen by a committee of emeriti faculty convened by the School of Education.

Congratulations, professors Kahn and Sharma!

The Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT) will hold a meet-and-greet session on Tuesday, October 16, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210.

This is an informal get-together for the campus to meet the CERT members, find out more about what CERT does, and have a cup of coffee and network with your campus colleagues. There will be ongoing demonstrations and presentations. Feel free to stop by and stay as long as you would like; there is no registration necessary, and this event is free to the campus community.

For more information, contact Molly Prell, Karen Jurewicz, Mary Beth Wojtaszek, or Paul Reynolds.

Katie Ferguson, 2012 New York State Teacher of the Year, will present "Be the Spark: The Importance of Belief in Education" from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. today, September 27, in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.

How does an inner-city child, the third-oldest of seven children, become the 2012 New York State Teacher of the Year? In this one-hour presentation, Ferguson will describe her life lessons and beliefs that helped her earn this honor. She will also provide insight into her teaching philosophy and how she endeavors to be a model of belief, both in her classroom and in her everyday life.

Download the event flier. This event is sponsored by the School of Education Dean's Office and the Professional Development Schools Consortium. Attendance is free and open to the public. Please e-mail Tamara Horstman-Riphahn with questions.

Katie Ferguson, 2012 New York State Teacher of the Year, will present "Be the Spark: The Importance of Belief in Education" from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 27, in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.

How does an inner-city child, the third-oldest of seven children, become the 2012 New York State Teacher of the Year? In this one-hour presentation, Ferguson will describe her life lessons and beliefs that helped her earn this honor. She will also provide insight into her teaching philosophy and how she endeavors to be a model of belief, both in her classroom and in her everyday life.

Download the event flier. This event is sponsored by the School of Education Dean's Office and the Professional Development Schools Consortium. Attendance is free and open to the public. Please e-mail Tamara Horstman-Riphahn with questions.

Fine Arts Department faculty members are currently exhibiting their work in the Czurles-Nelson Gallery in Upton Hall. Works include the areas of art history, painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. An opening reception will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. today, September 27, in the lobby of Upton Hall and is open to all. Please stop by, have some refreshments, view the many fascinating works of art, and speak with the artists themselves!

The exhibition is on view through Friday, October 5. The Czurles-Nelson Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The gallery is open to the public; admission is always free.

The CSEA Women’s Committee is sponsoring a tour of Fowler's Chocolates, 100 River Rock Drive, Suite 102, in Black Rock on Saturday, October 6. Family, friends, and co-workers are welcome.

Those who purchased tickets in advance will meet at the site at 10:45 a.m. for the 11:00 a.m. tour. Anyone who did not purchase advance tickets may join us by purchasing tickets for $3 at the door. The tour runs each hour, so you may also go on your own time if you are unable to join our group.

If you have any questions, please call one of the committee members:

Mary Codick, ext. 6121
Michelle Downey ext. 5331
Sue Fischer, ext. 4611
Sue McKnight, ext. 6001
Sue Polich, ext. 3333
Jennie Silverman, ext. 5412
Lynn Weldon, ext. 6014

As part of the Year of the City, the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center's annual Fall Community Service Day will include family and friends of the Buffalo State community for a day of service! Bring your children, parents, partners, or friends along to meet your city neighbors beyond the campus while performing meaningful work that meets a community need.

Join us for Family Volunteer Day on Saturday, October 13, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Meet at Campus West (Buckham Campus School). Transportation, guidance, and snacks provided. Age-appropriate projects include planting trees in Forest Lawn Cemetery, creating a haunted house with Making Fishers of Men and Women, constructing a tire playground at Vineyard City Church, planting bulbs at Bennett Park Montessori, and much more!

Register with the VSLC in Cleveland Hall 306 by calling ext. 5811 or e-mailing vslc@buffalostate.edu. You will choose your project on the day of the event.

Join us for our annual Oktoberfest celebration at Campus House from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 27. Traditional German food and refreshments will be served in our pub-style atmosphere. The cost is $20.

Campus House membership is open to all Buffalo State faculty and staff members, emeriti, retirees, alumni, and select friends of the university. Becoming a member is easy; simply complete and return our membership application. Visit the Campus House website or call ext. 3300 to learn more.