The Alzheimer’s Association of Western New York announced award recipients at the organization’s 28th annual meeting Nov. 19 in Hearthstone Manor, Depew. The Helen R. Wright Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Kay Newell. For the past five years Newell has been a member of the Memory Walk committee and volunteered both for Blue Moon Galas and in the chapter office as an accounting assistant. The Community Awareness award was presented to Maggie Irwin for her commitment to promoting the chapter’s mission, programs and services throughout Chautauqua County for the past six years. She also has been a community ambassador on the Memory Walk committee.

A University at Buffalo physiologist is one of nine recipients from a field of 66 applicants to receive an Autism Research Program grant through the U. S. Department of Defense. Michael E. Duffey, Ph. D., professor of physiology and biophysics and medicine in the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has received an $118,620 concept award. He is a specialist in molecular mechanisms of the gastrointestinal tract, and the grant will support an investigation into cellular mechanisms that may be related to gastrointestinal problems diagnosed in persons with autism.

The New York State Magistrates Association has designated Amherst Town Justice Mark G. Farrell as the recipient of the annual Eugene W. Salisbury Magistrate of the Year award. The award was presented during the organization’s meeting held in Lake Placid Oct. 18-21. Farrell was cited for outstanding contributions and dedication to the local courts system and outstanding professional achievements as a member of the judiciary.

Samuel J. Yanello of Buffalo has been elected grand commander of Cordova Caravan No. 26 of the Order of Alhambra, a fraternal organization of Catholic men dedicated to assisting developmentally disabled persons. Also elected to the Grand Divan for the 2009-10 year are: vice grand commander, Robert C. Robinson; grand scribe, Dr. William M. Smith; scribe of the exchequer, Victor F. Turchiarelli; grand chamberlain, Charles T. Esposito; master of the oasis, Carl Lombard; historiographer, Biaggio Gullo; master of the wardrobe, Aaron Lewis; captain of the bodyguard, Frank P. Vitello; sentinel of the tower, Christopher J. Hull; sentinel of the desert, Ronald J. Gaglione; and grand advocate, Jerome

E. Deinzer.

The Bowmansville Volunteer Exempt Firemen’s Benevolent Association has announced elected officers for 2010: president, Richard L. Reese Jr., (20th consecutive term); vice president, Walter Konsek; treasurer, Mark J. Lanniczak Sr.; financial secretary, Wayne Stewart; recording secretary, James Gaskin; trustees, Thomas T. Trzepacz, William J. MacPeek, Carl Meyers and Daniel Magrum; sergeant- at-arms, Anthony Suchyna; and chaplain, Jacqueline Stahrr.

Sadoo Enterprises, which raises funds to build primary schools in Ghana, West Africa, and Kliptown, South Africa, held its final fundraising event on Nov. 15 in Hearthstone Manor, Depew. Seven Buffalo and Western New York citizens were honored for the many contributions they have made in the community and beyond. The honorees are: William Covington, health education organizer; the Rev. Robert L. Graham, senior pastor at St. Like AME Zion; Dr. Ellen E. Grant, Ph. D.; Joyce Cameron Mathis, music director of Our Saviour Lutheran Church; Roy A. Mathis, director of the Royal Serenaders Male Chorus; Jacqueline L. Morana, retired Buffalo Public Schools educator; and Dr. Emmekunla Nylander, MD in obstetrics.

The Williamsville Central School District 2009 Wall of Fame honored 13 distinguished graduates from its three high schools for outstanding achievements in life, service and career on Nov. 13 in Westwood County Club.

Williamsville South — Mark Danni, 1984; Christopher J. Lucas, Ph. D., 1958, Sherry Margolis 1973, Dan

H. Sanes, Ph. D., 1974; and Joshua Sane, Ph. D., 1966.

Williamsville East — Curan Bonham, 1997; Anthony J. Casuccio, 1987; Michael Rossetti, 1977; and Nirav R. Shah, MD, 1990.

Williamsville North — Daniel Terry Mank, 1981, Daniel Mittleman, Ph. D., 1976; Deborah A. Roess, Ph. D., 1969; and Eric L. Stewart, 1983.

Steven Fliesler of Buffalo, professor and vice chairman in the University at Buffalo Department of Ophthalmology, has been elected president of the International Society for Eye Research (ISER).

As ISER president, Fliesler is responsible for guiding the general direction of the organization’s business and overseeing its biennial meetings, with the next to be held in Montreal in July 2010.

ISER was founded in 1968 to establish an international organization to support eye and vision research. The organization is made up of vision research scientists from more than 34 countries and has national chapters in China, Japan, Israel and Russia. For more information on the society, visit its Web site, http://

www.iser.org

.