Officials at the Genesee County Economic Development Center do anticipate that Plug Power will complete construction, at some point, of its clean hydrogen fuel plant at WNY STAMP.
"We continue to check in with them periodically," said CEO Mark Masse. "They've said the project is on pause, but it's still a very important part of their overall strategic goal of green hydrogen production, and they're still intending to construct the facility at STAMP."
The Lathan-based hydrogen company received word a week ago that the Department of Energy finalized a $1.66 billion loan guarantee with the company, which the company said would be used to complete construction on six plants, without specifically naming the $290 million project in Genesee County as one of the plants it will continue work on.
There's been some doubt about the future of the plant since HeatMap reported in October that the WNY STAMP project was not included in the DOE loan application. The DOE has not responded to The Batavian's request to obtain a copy of the document.
Chris Suozzi, VP for business and workforce development at the GCEDC, reportedly told a Washington, D.C.-based commercial real estate firm that Plug Power's STAMP project is on hold.
According to Heatmap, Suozzi spoke to PRP Real Estate Management. The firm recorded the phone call.
“They’re not ready to go," Suozzi reportedly said. "They’re on pause. We don’t know what’s going to happen with them at this point.”
Masse said Plug Power was in a "holding pattern" while awaiting news of the DOE loan.
"I have not followed up with them since the announcement," Masse said. "I don't think the announcement stated where the loan guarantee was going to go, but I'm sure we'll be reaching out to them at some point here soon, just to get another update from them and find out what their plans are for that funding."
The new potential barrier for Plug Power, however, may be an executive order signed by Donald Trump on his first day in office freezing disbursement of funds under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act targeted to clean energy projects.
The order explicitly targets grants, which have mostly been distributed already, but it's unclear how it affects the DOE's Loan Program Office.
The loan closed a week ago, but it is unclear whether the funds were transferred to Plug by Monday. A public relations representative did not respond to The Batavian's request for comment on the project.
The office of Sen. Charles Schumer did not respond to The Batavian's request for a comment on the status of the project and the loan.
The stock market has not reacted favorably to news of the loan closing. Since Thursday, the price per share of Plug's stock has dropped from an open of $2.75 to a close on Wednesday of $2.05.
The company reportedly already carries $930 million in debt, and at no point in its 28-year history has it turned a profit.
Plug Power also faces a class-action lawsuit filed in May claiming that the company's stock price was artificially inflated between May 9, 2023, and January 16, 2024.
The plaintiffs claim that the company and a pair of senior officers misled investors by lying and withholding information about delays in the build-out plans of its production facilities in SEC filings.
Plug Power is currently the nation's largest producer of green hydrogen. Its Georgia plant produces 15 tons of liquid hydrogen per day. Its Tennessee plant produces 10 tons per day. It also has an operational plant in St. Gabriel, Lousiana.
If the WNY STAMP plant ever comes online, it is expected to produce 74 tons daily. The company is also constructing additional plants in New York and Texas.
The company seeks to become the nation's first vertically integrated green hydrogen producer, providing customers with fuel, products, and support. Plug aims to provide customers fuel cells, electrolyzers (splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen), and liquid hydrogen fuel. They currently provide companies like Walmart and Amazon with hydrogen-powered forklifts. The company sees a future in hydrogen powering long-haul trucking.
A Statement from Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia):
“Another year, another out-of-touch budget proposal from Gov. Hochul. It’s no wonder our state has one of the highest out-migration rates in the country when we continue to spend money we don’t have on programs we don’t need. Increasing spending by nearly $10 billion is not in our best interest, and New Yorkers aren’t buying it this time around. This is a $252 billion disaster that we cannot afford to implement. Our state needs a balanced budget that helps bring down costs for working families rather than taking more money out of their pockets.
The Batavia High School (BHS) Rock Band has been honored with the 2025 Excellence in Student Services Award by the Genesee Valley School Boards Association.
The award, presented on Saturday, January 18, recognized the Rock Band program for its outstanding contribution to student development and music education.
Now in its 11th year, the BHS Rock Band program offers students the opportunity to explore and perform various styles of rock music, focusing on the four primary rock instruments; drums, bass guitar, guitar, and keyboard.
The program is performance-focused, with several concerts each year that allow students to showcase their skills and growth as musicians.
Originally launched as a single class in 2014, the Rock Band program has expanded significantly over the years. It now includes three classes and an after-school advanced ensemble.
Congrats to the BCSD Music Department for this impressive achievement!
The Batavia Winterguard is thrilled to announce its 25th Annual Fantastic Visions Competition, taking place on Saturday, February 1, at Batavia High School.
This exciting event will showcase the talents of 28 Winterguard teams from across Western New York and Canada, and we invite you to join us for an afternoon of incredible performances.
The competition begins at 2:50 p.m., with Batavia’s own Cadet and IA Winterguards taking the stage at 3:56 p.m. and 7:13 p.m., respectively.
Tickets are $10 for spectators ages 8 and older, with children 7 and under admitted for free. This is a fantastic opportunity to support local and regional talent while enjoying a thrilling day of Winterguard competition.
The Town of Elba has announced its 2025 schedule for upcoming board and commission meetings. All meetings will be held at 7133 Oak Orchard Road, Elba, unless otherwise noted.
Town Board Meetings
The Town Board will meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., with the following exceptions:
January 2
February 6
Regular meetings will resume on March 13 and continue on the following schedule:
April 10
May 8
June 12
July 10
August 14
September 11
October 9
November 13
December 11
Zoning Board Meetings
The Zoning Board will meet on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. An exception will be made for September, where the meeting will take place on September 8 due to the holiday.
Planning Board Meetings
The Planning Board will meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
Other Meetings of Interest:
Fire Commissioners – Elba Joint Fire District:
Meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Elba Joint Fire District Station.
Village of Elba:
Meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m., located at 4 South Main Street, Elba.
For more information, please contact the Town of Elba Clerk’s office at 585-757-2762.
The Board of Directors for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County will hold its Annual Organizational Meeting on January 28, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at 420 E. Main St., Batavia.
Election of officers, annual authorizations, and appointment of committees/chairs will be decided on at this meeting.
For more information, please contact Yvonne Peck at ydp3@cornell.edu or 585-343-3040 x123.
Batavia PD is investigating a personal injury accident involving two juvenile pedestrians that occurred Saturday at 6:15 at West Main Street and Oak Street.
The youths had serious but non-life threatening injuries and both were transport by Mercy EMS to Strong Memorial Hospital.
The driver of the vehicle is cooperating with police, the department said in a statement.
They're asking anyone with information about the incident or video footage to contact Sgt. Arick Perkins at 585-345-6350.
Genesee County girls basketball teams face one another at Batavia High School Tuesday night. Batavia picks up it's first win at home on the season. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Batavia's young team often struggles in the fourth quarter, said Head Coach John McCulley, but on Tuesday against Oakfield-Alabama, the Lady Devils battled through to help them secure a 54-50 victory.
"Our lack of experience and age has shown," McCulley said. "Tonight was a different story. The girls fought through a late run by O-A in the fourth quarter and held tough; they literally grew up in front of me."
Batavia held on despite being outscored in the fourth 17-14.
"Tonight was a very tough game from tip to horn," McCulley said. "I always enjoy playing Jeff (Schlagenhauf, O-A head coach) and his girls because I know it will be a battle. We had to keep mixing up defenses to keep the pressure up. We were successful at times but gave up a few too many three-pointers."
"I want to give a big shout-out to the JV girls that had to come up to varsity due to a lack of numbers," McCulley said. "This was the first week we were all together, and the way they pushed us in practice was a big reason we won our first game of the season."
Christian Brunelle of Sonbyrne Sales, Inc., presents his plan for a Byrne Dairy at 606 E. Main St., Batavia during Tuesday's city Planning & Development meeting. East side city resident Mary Ellen Zickl sits in the audience waiting her turn to share how happy she is that such a project is being considered for the east side of Batavia. Photo by Joanne Beck
Although the city’s Planning & Development Committee recommended Tuesday that Christian Brunelle return in February with details and a site plan for a Byrne Dairy & Deli at 606 E. Main St., Batavia, committee members walked away pleased with his 35-minute presentation at City Hall.
Brunelle, senior executive vice president of Sonbyrne Sales, Inc., reviewed loose plans for a gated store that would be moved back from houses, include landscaping and trees, a Dumpster enclosure, two unrestricted curb cuts, one each a canopied gas and diesel station, sidewalks leading to the store porch, three signs, including a digital reading board, and outdoor lights designed to minimize unwanted light pollution.
“We use 100% Dark Sky, which is the most stringent light … why do I do that? It’s so expensive but well worth it. We go above and beyond the idea of this every meeting, because usually I’m used to much tighter residences,” Brunelle said. “We give you kind of a funnel image from an engineer. I’m gonna send this to the lighting engineer down south. He will send something back.”
He ran through his talk well rehearsed and knowledgable, quickly answering questions without a waver. Six-foot tall evergreens, per city code, would meet the code requirement as a sufficient buffer, and they are also considering replacing some trees and adding red maples, he said. The set-up doesn’t require pedestrians to cross the gas station area, so that “no one has to cross the driveway,” he said.
The applicant has requested a variance because there is less than 500 feet between the store and Whole Life Fitness, a gym at 624 E. Main St. Committee Chairman Duane Preston asked about options.
“Would you be opposed to a fence?” he said, surmising that maybe the neighbors would appreciate some visual separation.
Brunelle had no problem with that, or a row of trees, he said. “You guys tell me what you want,” he said.
Code Enforcement Officer Douglas Randall suggested that either a row of trees or bushes would be a good idea for catching debris from the dairy to the gym.
Preston also asked if there’s a plan to install electric vehicle pumps. There is no such plan now, Brunelle said, however, when and if there’s a need in the future, those could be added.
“If there’s a need for those in three or four years, we have enough room,” he said.
What about a generator on site?
While there wouldn’t be one at the store permanently, there are two — a 125 KW and 100 KW — in a warehouse not far away, he said.
“It can be brought here in one and a half hours,” he said.
Committee member Jim Krencik asked how much of the property would not be paved. Six feet that then goes back 15 to 20 feet would remain unpaved, Brunelle said.
Brunelle said the company has already conducted a survey and is ready for the next steps with a targeted spring construction, likely to begin in April if the approval process goes well.
Since the property is along state Route 5, he has already sent plans to the New York State Department of Transportation for review, he said.
“It’s a very nice proposal, very amenable,” Committee member John Ognibene said.
The plan was impressive, Preston said. Brunelle may not need to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals if he addresses variance issues for the size of signs and space between properties in the final site plan, Preston said.
“I’m very pleased with it; definitely very happy. It's a quality-driven product. I’m very glad the east end of the town, the city, got a nice plan. We've got a nice gas station,” he said after the meeting. “It’s looking like there are a lot of bright things for this year. We’ve got Burger King finishing up. We’ve got the new Byrne Dairy. It just seems like more opportunities are opening up, which is good.”
As for that town project that was put on hold by concerns from the county Planning Board, it won’t matter any more. Brunelle said he’s pulling a potential Byrne Dairy on Lewiston Road in the town of Batavia off the table.
He is looking forward to pursuing this venture on East Main Street to add to the 77 stores he manages, he said.
“We've opened a bunch of stores in Monroe County. We have one in Brockport for this to the west and we want to go further west, and originally, the other site over there came up, and we've been looking to Batavia for several years now, and we noticed this site right away,” he said. “It was vacant for several years, and we've been working on getting under contract for a while. It's under contract contingent upon approvals. If we get approval from the city in February, from both boards, we'll close on our property within 30 days, and we'll start construction probably within 30 days after.”
The site plan will also have to go to the county Planning Board for review. Brunelle said there will be 25 full-time equivalent employees at the store, with 35 to 40 combined part- and full-time people.
The Pavilion Alumni Hall of Fame Committee invites the community to participate in nominating outstanding PCS graduates who have distinguished themselves through significant achievements in their careers, contributions to their communities, or personal accomplishments.
These remarkable individuals will be considered for induction into the Annual Hall of Fame, a prestigious honor decided by the PCS Alumni Hall of Fame Selection Committee. This committee is a voluntary group made up of alumni, current and retired faculty, community members, and district administrators.
Since its inception in 2014, the PCS Hall of Fame has celebrated more than two dozen exceptional alumni whose stories inspire current and future Pavilion students to reach for excellence.
“The Hall of Fame Assembly is a unique opportunity for our students to witness the diverse possibilities that life after PCS offers,” says Pavilion Superintendent Mary Kate Hoffman. “What I find especially meaningful about the ceremony is that students hear from alumni from all walks of life—people who have made remarkable contributions to both their fields and their communities. Many of our speakers were not necessarily top academic achievers in school, yet they went on to do great things. This reinforces the idea that success is not solely determined by grades.”
Ken Weaver, Deputy Director with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and a 2018 inductee, reflects on the honor of joining the Hall of Fame: “Being inducted was a tremendous privilege. What made it particularly meaningful was the chance to connect with students and talk about their aspirations. One of the most rewarding moments for me was when a student expressed gratitude for my speech. Knowing that my words resonated with them and possibly inspired them is a powerful reminder of how shared experiences can impact future generations.”
Several inductees, such as Diane Davis Torcello, President of WNY Tompkins Community Bank, have continued to support the Hall of Fame by joining the Selection Committee to recognize even more inspiring graduates.
“I joined the Hall of Fame Committee because I believe in its mission,” says Torcello. “Honoring leaders from diverse professions is vital in sending the message to PCS students that they can achieve anything if they put in the effort. Attending a small school is not a limitation—it’s an advantage.”
Nominations are currently being accepted online at www.PCSHallofFame.com, and printed applications can be found at the following Pavilion locations: Kemp-Rudgers Service Station, Pavilion Public Library, The Lost Sock, Jazzy Creations, Blessings Café, Dorothy B. Bunce Elementary School, and the Pavilion Junior/Senior High School main office.
All nominations must be submitted by March 1. The PCS Alumni Hall of Fame Assembly will take place on May 30, 2025, at the Pavilion Junior/Senior High School Auditorium.
Organizers with GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare unveiled plans for the third annual career exploration event for students interested in career pathways and opportunities in the healthcare sector. Approximately 600 students from grades 8-12 from 28 schools will gather at Genesee Community College on March 17, 2025, to connect with various healthcare businesses and organizations to learn about careers in the healthcare sector across the GLOW region.
“GLOW With Your Hands and the GLOW region workforce development ecosystem are providing opportunities for students to learn about career opportunities right in their own backyard,” said GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare Co-Chair, Karyn Winters. “Whether it is manufacturing or healthcare our goal is to educate our local students about the many alternative pathways available for them after high school.”
Representatives from hospitals and health systems and professionals in nursing, mental health, social services, and emergency responders will be on hand to interact with students to discuss their careers and pathways into their respective fields. While some careers might begin immediately after high school, attendees will also be able to explore educational pathways in the healthcare sector through BOCES and degrees available at local colleges and universities.
“Our facility has been serving the community for 100 years and we are proud to participate in this event because we want to ensure we have the best possible talent from the next generation of our workforce to provide a high level of care,” said Marc Shurtz, CEO, Medina Memorial Health. “The healthcare sector is in dire need of workers, especially in rural communities, and we want to convey to the students that they can have a successful and rewarding career in healthcare without having to leave the area because they think these opportunities don’t exist here.”
“The support and participation of so many healthcare organizations in this annual event have generated significant interest among hundreds of students about careers in healthcare of which they simply are not aware,” said Kelly Kiebala, Director, Orleans County Job Development Agency. “The interaction between students and healthcare professionals allows for meaningful conversations where students learn what skills, credentials and training are required for a career in the healthcare sector.”
Among the businesses and organizations supporting the 3rd annual event are the M&T Charitable Foundation, Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center, Goodwill Vision Enterprises, and the New York State Department of Labor.
“Like our partners in the manufacturing sector, the healthcare entities associated with this flourishing event are excited to have this opportunity to meet so many students and perhaps get them started on a pathway in the healthcare field,” said Angela Grouse, Co-Chair of GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare. “The support of these businesses and organizations as well as the hundreds of volunteers make this such a worthwhile event for students across the region and in turn is building the foundation for the next generation of the healthcare workforce.”
There are still sponsorship opportunities for the March 17 event at the Platinum ($5,000), Gold ($2,500), Silver ($1,000) and Bronze ($500) levels.
For more information about GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare visit www.GLOWWithYourHands.com/healthcare or contact Chris Suozzi at csuozzi@gcedc.com.
HomeCare & Hospice Foundation is calling on local businesses, schools, and organizations to join in the mission of supporting compassionate care by becoming pre-sale coordinating sites for its 31st Annual Spring Bouquet Sale. This cherished fundraiser helps terminally ill patients and their families in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Genesee, and Wyoming counties.
By serving as a pre-sale site, organizations can help make a meaningful impact while giving their employees an opportunity to brighten their homes with a stunning 18-stem bouquet for just $25. Each bouquet sold contributes directly to providing vital hospice care services and bringing comfort to those in need.
“Becoming a pre-sale coordinator is a simple yet impactful way to support our Hospice Bouquet Sale,” said Melissa Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer at HomeCare & Hospice. “This program not only raises critical funds for patient care but also spreads joy throughout the communities we serve.”
Pre-sale coordinators will receive all necessary materials, including order forms and promotional materials, to make participation seamless. Organizations can coordinate orders internally, making it easy for employees to support this meaningful cause.
“We’re proud to partner with over 25 organizations across our four-county service area as pre-sale coordinators, including Lawley Insurance in Batavia, Liberty Pumps, Napoleon Engineering, Cutco and Wellsville Central School. We’re always looking to grow this network and would love to have more coordinators join us in making this year’s fundraiser our most successful yet,” added Sarah Negron, Agency Relations Coordinator.
Orders should be submitted no later than February 7, with bouquet pick up/delivery the week of March 3. If your organization is interested in becoming a pre-sale coordinating site, please contact HomeCare & Hospice at 716-372-2106 or visit our website at https://BouquetSale.givesmart.com.
Help us bring beauty, joy, and care to those who need it most. Together, we can make a difference!
Batavia City School District will be canceled on Wednesday, January 22. Because this cancellation is for the morning cold advisory, a decision on evening events (games, practices, etc) will made by 2 p.m. as the forecast is monitored.
Richmond Memorial Library will open at 11 am on Wednesday, January 22.
Pembroke Central School District
Oakfield-Alabama Central School
Please submit cancellations and closures to: news@thebatavian.com.
Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer serving New York, northern Pennsylvania, and western Vermont, is proud to launch this year’s Check Out Hunger campaign. The initiative will take place in all Tops stores from Sunday, January 19, through Saturday, February 8.
Since its inception in 2004, Tops’ annual Check Out Hunger campaign has raised nearly $6.5 million dollars for participating food banks, making a significant impact in the fight against food insecurity.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, among households with children, 17.9% (6.5 million households) experienced food insecurity in 2023. Additionally, 5.1% of all U.S. households (6.8 million households) faced exceptionally low food security, where normal eating patterns were disrupted due to limited resources. These statistics highlight a concerning trend in food insecurity across the nation.
By participating in the Check Out Hunger campaign, community members can help make a difference. Simply tell your cashier at Tops that you’d like to support the campaign, and you can contribute $2, $3, or $5 to help provide food for local food banks.
“Eradicating hunger and supporting our neighbors in need is central to Tops’ mission,” said Ron Ferri, President, Tops Friendly Markets. “We are proud to stand behind this effort year after year.”
The following food banks will benefit from this year’s Check Out Hunger campaign:
FeedMore WNY
Food Bank of Central NY
Foodlink of Rochester
Food Bank of the Southern Tier
Food Bank of the Hudson Valley
Food Bank of NW PA
Food Bank of Central PA
Food Bank of NE NY
Food Bank of Vermont
For more information about Tops Friendly Markets and its charitable initiatives, visit www.topsmarkets.com/Community/Living_Here_Giving_Here.
Louis Pfenninger, sixth grade, left, Xavier Williams, eighth grade, and Jasper Thomas, sixth grade, all of Batavia Middle School, talk about Martin Luther King Jr. Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Batavia. Photo by Joanne Beck
Monday was an important day, not just because the holiday gave people an extra long weekend and it was in honor of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., but it provided opportunities for Jasper Thomas to bring his research on the fallen hero to life.
A sixth-grader at Batavia Middle School, Jasper prepared a presentation about King, and he and two fellow Brother’s Keepers members read it to a group of women preparing to roll up their sleeves for King as well.
“I thought that he fought for civil rights for everybody, and he had a dream for black and white people to come together,” the student said after his talk early Monday afternoon at First Presbyterian Church in Batavia. “I wanted to do this to share with these people here that skin color does not matter, and I wanted to share my presentation.”
The church hall happened to be a good venue and practice session for Jasper and the two other presenters before they headed off to 400 Towers to conduct a sharing circle and a repeat performance, the group agreed.
There were a dozen of My Brother’s Keeper participants, led by Kristen Gomez and co-group leaders Tom Bringenberg and Daniel Rhodes, dispersed throughout the group of about 30 women at a lunch provided by Batavia’s Original to kick off the next few hours of community service by all.
That effort originated years ago with eight women — seven from Batavia and one in Oakfield — looking for a project, organizer Loren Penman said. After a slow start, they eventually landed on an idea to gather interested volunteers together for some hands-on service to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and demonstrate that adults can spend a day off providing assistance to nonprofits that need it.
“We didn't want to start something brand new. Didn't want a new nonprofit. There's lots of great nonprofits, but we wanted to support all the good that's in, especially Batavia, but Genesee County. And we floundered for a bit, but then found a couple of random small things that we hoped were impactful in very small ways,” Penman said. “And then when we knew that MLK Day was coming up, and heard about what the kids were doing at My Brother's Keeper, that they were kind of a group in search of a project, as we were. So we put together this concept of, let's have an MLK Day of Service.
“And I think it went great. People have enjoyed the camaraderie. We were up at 7:30 making phone calls, ‘What do you think about the weather? Is it too cold? Is it too snowy?”
The deciding factor was when Batavia City Schools’ Extended Day Director Kristen Gomez told Penman that the kids would be heartbroken if they couldn’t attend and participate in the planned activities. It was a go from then on, Penman said.
After all, how can it be too cold for an event when that group — a dozen youth, plus three adults — were willing to walk from the middle school to First Presbyterian, and then over to 400 Towers and back again to the school.
Penman worked with the small group, which includes the Rev. Roula Alkhouri, who offered the church as a home base for lunch and a location for volunteers to work, to build a list of volunteers for the day.
They were separated into small teams to divide and conquer: there were fundraising tasks of affixing name labels and star decorations at Crossroads House; cleaning out rooms of items for the keep, donate or trash bin at the church; sorting through mounds of clothing donations at My Sister’s Closet; and other varied projects at GO Art!
Jo-Ann Bestine said that often, adults look to kids for providing a day of service.
“And I think this was a good switch here that no, it's a day of service for everyone, not just the kids who have the day off from school. What about us mature people to give back to the day,” she said, seated at a card table making table placards at Crossroads House. “There’s also a big mix of people. I volunteer at a lot of different places, but I'm connected with St. James Church, and this gave me an opportunity to see people who are involved in community service in different churches or different organizations.”
Bev Hoy was also at the table, sticking on tiny numbers to star pins for the nonprofit’s upcoming fundraiser auction. She had been a nurse and is a volunteer at Crossroads, and a member of First Presbyterian, so she had a foot in both camps.
“We formed this group, a bunch of friends got together, and we decided in the end, after talking a lot about where we should, what we should do with this group, we decided to just help the community, just kind of get out there and just help different nonprofit groups,” Hoy said. “And then Loren, I think it was, thought, let's do this on Martin Luther King Day, because … it’s a day of service to honor Martin Luther King. And so that's what we did.”
As someone who does the gardening at the nonprofit comfort home during warmer summer months, Sue Chiddy liked the idea of doing something in January, she said.
“It’s a nice opportunity to do something during the winter months when there are not so many opportunities for volunteering as there are in summer,” she said.
By mid-afternoon, FoodLink and clothing donations had been organized; there were boxes full of completed table and auction accessories and piles of boxes and debris waiting to get tossed into the trash at the church doors.
It was a fortunate collaboration that tied to My Brother’s Keeper, a federally grant-funded program with the objective of building young men with a purpose, co-leader Tom Bringenberg said. He doesn’t want the adults to serve as mentors as much as to have the kids be peer mentors to one another, he said.
How have they been successful in getting young students to give up their free time to participate?
“These kids are always wanting to do something with us. We've been doing this with them. We started last January, and we started with a small group, and it's really expanded. Loren had reached out to me about coming as just a woman to volunteer, and I said, hey, I have this group of young men of purpose, that's what we call them, who would be more than willing to come and volunteer on Martin Luther King Day,” Gomez said. “We're going to go over to 400 towers, and we're going to perform a community building circle with the residents over there. And that's usually how we start our meetings with circles, which allows the kids to open up about feelings and get to know each other, make connections.
“And we want them to make connections in the community as well, which, for the long term, we want them to be invested here in Batavia, be successful and contribute positively, and steer them away from the negative that is so easily a road for these kids to go down,” she said. “So it's been very successful there. The sky’s the limit with this group, and I’m so proud of them.”
Likewise, the eight women who initially floundered have also found success, Penman said.
“We were eight women in search of a project, and we found it today,” she said.
Volunteers for the day and members of My Brother's Keeper watch a presentation for Martin Luther King Jr. Day at First Presbyterian Church in Batavia. Photo by Joanne Beck
Volunteers help with fundraiser items needed for an upcoming Crossroads House event. Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Weeding out treasures from trash, volunteers go through storage rooms at First Presbyterian Church as part of a Martin Luther King community service Day. Photo by Howard Owens.
Volunteers keep busy Monday at YWCA in Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens.
Led by Extended Day Director Kristen Gomez, center, and co-leaders Daniel Rhodes, back row left, and Tom Bringenberg, back row second from right, members of My Brother's Keepers spend their day off Monday interacting with community members at First Presbyterian Church and later at 400 Towers in Batavia as part of a new Martin Luther King Jr. community service day. Photo by Joanne Beck
Chris Suozzi of Genesee County Economic Development Center, left, and teacher Charlie Voorhees watch student Gunner Pietrzykowski operate a CNC machine at Batavia High School. Photo by Howard Owens
Gunner Pietrzykowski, a Batavia High School sophomore, has an easygoing way of working with a CNC machine that’s new to the State Street engineering class as of fall 2024.
The 15-year-old was demonstrating the steps involved with the computer numerical control router, which takes a computer-generated design and cuts or chisels out the shape.
“This is the first design we’ve made on this machine,” Gunner said Friday at the school. “It’s a sumo robot for Tech Wars.”
He and fellow 10th-grader Lawrence Chen were working on getting the machine’s blade at the right depth to completely cut through the piece of wood. It first made a perfect circle and then cut an arc out of the other half of the wood.
“I’ve always liked working with my hands and learning visually, and always liked computers and working with machines and tools,” Gunner said, sharing what he first learned in fourth grade Innovator’s Club. “We were doing Lego robots, small and simple. It was a start.”
Six years later, he has more recently been interested in aerospace engineering, with an eye toward designing airplanes or airships, he said. Since Charlie Voorhees’ class received this machine, funded by the district and Genesee County Economic Development Center, it has made a difference in executing projects, the teen said.
“It makes life a whole lot easier with cutting; it’s easier to get it right on the machine by doing it on a computer without wasting materials,” Gunner said. “Before, it took three or four designs, with all the angles and shapes.”
Using the machines is Lawrence’s favorite part of class, he said. He has especially enjoyed the sumo project.
“It’s really cool, we’re going to make robots and going to compete,” he said.
EDC Executive Vice President of Business and Workforce Development Chris Suozzi likes the fact that Gunner’s early start in the field has aligned with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies, up through high school and into his newfound aerospace interests, he said.
Offering this opportunity for hands-on learning with this machine opens another door for jobs and a career, he said. He visited the classroom last year and Voorhees told him of a need for the CNC equipment, which.
“I said, it's beautiful because I have opportunities from our agency that helps, and I'm trying to do a lot more in K through 12 to inspire kids about opportunities like this and tying that into local careers,” Suozzi said. “So we have legacy companies here, Graham Manufacturing, Liberty Pumps and Oxbo expanding and brand new Edwards Vacuum at STAMP is going to be coming online at the end of this year with over 280 jobs to start and ramp into 600 jobs, and their number one criteria for a job is CNC technicians. So there's an abundance of opportunities for kids to get into this track, into this career pathway.”
Why is this an important topic for the general community? “Well, I think the important part of it is, this machine, in particular, is really close to what students would find out in the industry. So it's exposure to equipment that they could, right out of high school, they could go out and find a job, and already have had experience on this type of equipment in here,” Voorhees said. “It helps us do all kinds of different projects that normally we accomplish, but we use a lot of different hand tools, and there's a fair amount of error when you're dealing with hand tools and human error. So this really eliminates it. They draw it in a program called V carve Pro, and then they just send the program over to the CNC, and then it does all of the work exactly how they drew it.
“I think this is an opportunity to really prepare students for opportunities out in the workforce. It also provides our students in this class … principles of engineering,” he said. “So these are students that are interested in pursuing fields for further education and engineering, so that they could go to college to be an engineer and have real hands-on experience, and not just classroom experience.”
Suozzi added that students are coming out of high school if they’ve attended a BOCES trades program, making more than $60,000 a year, and after a company’s apprenticeship, can be making $80,000 in their fourth year, plus having skills for jobs that are in demand. Amada Tools is another of those local companies, and it helped to set up the CNC machine and often has jobs available, he said.
“I always say workforce development is a team sport,” he said. “So we all are in it to win it but we all help each other to see these kids flourish and have great careers here locally in Genesee County.”
Photos by Howard Owens
Tools of the trade.
BHS sophomores Gunner Pietrzykowski and Lawrence Chen watch as the CNC machine slowly cuts out a design that they created by computer and then input to the machine. Photo by Howard Owens
The students show a final sumo robot that they designed and crafted with the help of the CNC machine. Photo by Howard Owens
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she has declared a State of Emergency in the counties of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, Oneida and contiguous counties, that will allow the State to coordinate and share resources with local governments affected by the current Lake Effect snowstorm. This includes the State Department of Transportation, which will provide assistance to municipalities impacted by the State of Emergency in excess of existing shared service agreements.
“As lake effect snow falls across several areas of our state, I’m declaring a State of Emergency for these areas to ensure state resources are available to assist local communities as we work together to keep New Yorkers safe throughout the duration of the storm,” Governor Hochul said. “We also continue to deal with extreme cold which poses an extraordinary risk to anyone who is exposed to the elements or is unable to adequately heat their home, and I encourage all New Yorkers to monitor their local forecast and take precautions to keep themselves and their families safe.”
Today through Wednesday, significant Lake Effect snow will fall in areas east of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. In the Western New York Region, one to two feet of snow are expected off Lake Erie in South Buffalo and areas farther south, while Downtown Buffalo may see up to a foot. Two to three feet expected off Lake Ontario in the Watertown area.
Travel will become very difficult with very poor visibility and deep snow cover on roads off both lakes through Wednesday night. Snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour in the heaviest bands combined with wind gusts up to 30 mph will reduce visibility.
The lowest temperatures of the winter season so far are expected tonight through Wednesday. Dangerously cold “feels like” temperatures between 0 and negative 25 degrees are possible across most of the State today through Wednesday, with the most extreme temperatures expected in Western New York and the North Country.
For a complete listing of weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service’s website. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts by subscribing to NY Alert — a free service providing critical emergency information to your cell phone or computer.
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