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JESSICA FINCH Associate Editor

+ BIRTHDAY RECAP - I was very touched by the many birthday wishes on Monday from town residents, co-workers and my family and friends.

I had a wonderful pre-birthday celebration while in Saratoga Springs with West Seneca editor Breann Howell for the New York Press Association Conference. We took in the many restaurants, bars, coffee shops and other places that the quaint town has to offer, when we weren't attending seminars and award ceremonies. The Bee Newspapers' awards are listed on page seven this week.

I was also surprised with many "gifts" when I arrived to work on Monday morning. Clarence editor Kimberly Karcher and interim East Aurora editor Jill Schmelzer had wrapped many of my office supplies in gift paper. They chose a very bright "happy holidays" paper with Christmas trees and stockings. I had an extra laugh about it because on the drive home Sunday with Breann we were searching through radio stations and came across a popular Christmas carol. We had to stop on the station to hear the promo and sure enough, 102.7 in Rochester is all Christmas music, all the time.

My birthday had a downside as from 7 p.m. to midnight I sat in town hall as the Town Board once again proved that members have some major changes to make in their meeting process. After the first hour, when the high school students left, I was clearly the youngest person in the meeting, but many others, in the audience and at the front of the room, proved that maturity is not related to age. With just a few minutes to spare, the board adjourned and I approached the town officials with post-meeting questions, looking at the clock as my birthday came to an end. I went home exhausted, and found my roommate, Tammy, had left a present on the kitchen table. It's funny how a day can come full circle. Thanks again everyone, for what was a memorable birthday.

+ TWENTY YEARS - In March, the Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service celebrated its 20th anniversary. For two decades, Western New York's blind and print-handicapped people have benefited from the service, an award winning nonprofit radio station where volunteers broadcast daily readings of newspapers, including The Amherst Bee, as well as magazines and books.

On March 19, 1987 the NFRRS began broadcasting its readings. Today, a staff of 300 volunteers broadcasts 24 hours a day from the studio at 1199 Harlem Road, Cheektowaga. In all, more than 160,000 hours of readings have been aired.

For information, call 821-5555. Contributions can be sent to P.O. Box, Buffalo, N.Y. 14225.

+ CHANCE TO WIN - How charming is your mom? This Mother's Day, Rembrandt Charms wants you to answer that question by telling the story of your mother's life - using up to 10 Rembrandt charms to illustrate your account.

One winner will receive the complete bracelet of his or her design in sterling silver. Runners-up receive a sterling silver bracelet with one charm from their story. The winning entry will be posted on the Rembrandt Charms Web site after Mother's Day. The contest runs through May 11. For more information, a complete list of rules and to enter, visit www. rembrandtcharms. com/ mom.