An all-day, online conference to assist and educate healthcare professionals and caregivers for older adults living in rural areas across New York will take place on Friday, May 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Let’s Talk About Health: Caring for Older Adults in Rural New York” will feature several speakers discussing the many challenges faced by older adults in rural areas when seeking health care.
“Access to health care and other supportive services are critical to maintaining good health as we age, yet older adults in rural areas face a variety of access barriers,” says Thera Blasio, director of professional education for the Rochester & Finger Lakes Region Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, a co-sponsor of the event. “These challenges are a topic not often covered in health professions education.”
The goal of the conference is to identify and mitigate the challenges of providing health care in rural areas by increasing knowledge of population health data, treatment strategies and supports and services in order to encourage and build resilience in rural caregivers and health care providers.
The following speakers will be featured:
Nora Obrien-Suric, President/CEO, Health Foundation of Western and Central NY
Karen Madden, Director, Center for Health Care Policy and Resource Development, NYS Department of Health
Dale King, Owner, PSKC Crossfit - with discussion of the documentary Small Town Strong
Ann Marie Cook, President/CEO, Lifespan of Greater Rochester
Monica L. Ranaletta, DO, UR Medicine
Colette Phipps, LMSW, CDP, Director, Program Development, Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services
Susan Craine, LMSW, Lifespan of Greater Rochester
Christa Barrows, BSN, MPH, Alzheimer's Association Volunteer
The event is free, but Continuing Education Units (CMEs, CEUs) will be available for a $10 fee. Individuals can register online at bit.ly/RuralHealth25.
The conference is co-sponsored by the Rochester & Finger Lakes Region Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of Rochester, NY, the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center at the University of Rochester, Lifespan of Greater Rochester, NYS Association for Rural Health and the Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center (WNY R‐AHEC), and is funded, in part, through grants from the New York State Department of Health.
To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, call 800.272.3900 or visit alz.org.
As the weather gets warmer, people are more likely to see wild and baby animals in their yards, parks, and wooded areas. The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) want to remind residents to stay alert and cautious around wild, stray, and even baby animals.
Rabies is a deadly disease that can affect both animals and humans, but the good news is, it is preventable.
“Rabies is most often spread through bites from animals that have the disease, like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes,” stated Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director for GO Health. “Baby or young animals might look cute, but they can still have rabies. Don’t touch, feed, or approach wild animals or stray pets. If you see an animal that looks hurt or sick, call animal control instead.”
Rabies is deadly if not treated. If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound right away with soap and water and seek medical attention. All bites should be reported to the Genesee or Orleans County Health Departments.
To stop the spread of rabies, the health department reminds residents of the following:
Make sure your pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations.
Do not go near or touch wild animals, baby animals or stray cats and dogs, even if they seem hurt or lost. Report any unusual animal behavior. If an animal seems aggressive, confused, or unusually friendly, contact animal control right away.
Follow leash laws. Keep pets on a leash so they do not encounter wild animals or strays. If an animal bites your pet, seek veterinary assistance immediately and report it to the health department.
Prevent bats from entering living spaces. If you find a bat in your home, safely capture it and contact the health department. DO NOT release it! For instructions on safely capturing a bat, watch this GO Health Minute.
Residents are encouraged to take advantage of our upcoming drive-thru rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets in Genesee and Orleans Counties, offered at no charge.
Genesee County Rabies Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia)
Thursday, May 15, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 7, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 9, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Orleans County Rabies Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 State Route 31, Albion)
Saturday, April 26, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, June 18, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 20, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 25, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
For more information on GO Health’s programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org. You can also contact your respective health department:
John Steward and Beth Burger. Photo by Howard Owens.
There are no microwaved meals at Kade's Scratch Kitchen, 15 Main St., Le Roy.
All meals are made to order. They're not reheated entrees. They're not made in a commercial kitchen in another state.
There isn't even a microwave in the kitchen. The only microwave is behind the dining counter.
"We use it to heat brownies," said co-owner Beth Burger. "That is the only reason we have it."
Burger's partner, John Steward (also her fiancé) describes the cuisine at Kade's as "classic family fare foods" that have been elevated. Every item fits into the "scratch kitchen" concept.
"We dedicated a whole month before we opened into research and development," Steward said. We went through trial periods for the burger alone. There were days when we would literally open up six or seven different burgers, try each one, compare and contrast, and then do another tasting. And same with the french fries. So, you know, I have a lot of this knowledge I carried over from my previous jobs, but we are trying to have an immersive team effort and a collaborative effort with our management team."
What might you find on the menu? Pizza, chicken French, chicken parm, spaghetti and meatballs, linguini and clams, steak frites, and burgers. And for dessert, cookies, cannoli, fudge brownies, cheesecake, and sundaes.
Burger and Steward discussed several food items, the process for selecting quality ingredients, and the development process.
One item that comes in frozen is the french fries, but even there, the team paid attention to the details, trying five different products before settling on the winning candidate.
"We do get the best on the market," Steward said. Our french fries are actually the same french fries that McDonald's uses, minus the preservatives."
For soft-serve ice cream, the couple did thorough research.
"We went and drove everywhere within a 15-mile radius to try the soft serve ice cream, to see what we liked the best," Burger said. "We found it. We were really happy about that, too. Our soft serve is delicious. It's dangerous. If you have an ounce of it, you're like, 'Okay, I'm done.' It's so rich It's actually custard.
The bread is a milk bread, which Burger describes as unique and special. It's baked in-house.
"Our bread is delicious. It's called milk bread - just so light, airy, and buttery," she said.
When you get a sandwich, it's coming on the milk bread and usually with a sauce developed at the restaurant.
"I'm particularly fond of our wicked smart hot sauce," Steward said. "It's really hot, but it's got a very good depth profile in flavors. So now you get the heat, but you don't get, like, the heat of straight capsaicin."
Burger described it as very layered.
"It’s quite pleasant, actually. So even someone who doesn't like, is afraid of spice, it's still likable. It's so flavorful," she said.
There is also a medium hot sauce and a mild sauce available
"We want families to be able to come in here with their kids, because we have our own children, and we want it to be a nice, a family-friendly place, but it's also a place that you can bring a date," Burger said. "We have some really nice wines. We really care about customer service and going the extra mile for our guests."
If you go to Kade's for dinner, you might want to cap off your meal with the cheesecake (your correspondent was provided with a slice).
The team tried out eight or nine house-made cheesecake recipes before hitting the right notes.
"I'll be honest," Burger said. "I was a little bummed about it, because I wanted the classic cheesecake, and they wanted to do their little thing where they just kind of changed the products around, and I was more annoyed that they were right. It's the best I've ever had. Yeah, it's really good."
Burger and John Steward both have extensive backgrounds in the restaurant business. They met when she was a bartender at Farmers Creekside and he was the sous chef. Burger, a lifelong Le Roy resident, was co-owner of Woody's Deli and a bar manager at Batavia Downs. From Creekside, Steward went to Terry Hills as executive chef, then returned to Creekside. COVID hit, and he worked at Sweet Betty's (the same location now occupied by Kade's). He was cook at the Lake House before helping to own a restaurant in Rochester.
That experience helped convince him it was time to reach for his end goal: to own a restaurant.
"It was always the end game," Steward said. "Throughout my career, I've compiled a lot of numbers in my head, data, and I got to the point, after opening up the steak house in Rochester, I looked at Beth, and I was like, 'I don't want to keep doing what I do for others. I want to do it for ourselves.' And so there was a lot of sacrifice leading up to that point, and a lot of missed times, a lot of missed firsts for me with our kids, and I didn't want that any more. Beth was on board immediately. Immediately after we talked about it -- it was funny -- when we talked it, Sweet Betty's literally dropped the news about closing permanently within 24."
Steward and Burger definitely have a mutual admiration society going.
"People (in Le Roy) know Johnny as a cook extremely well, and they don't even understand how good he is on the admin and in the back end," Burger said. "It's ridiculous how intelligent he is. Very, very smart and extremely talented. People have been waiting for him to do this. And so there's that excitement about it."
Steward said Burger's genius is at running the front of the house.
"She adds the layer with the best expertise in the front, and how she can handle talking with guests and training the staff appropriately," Steward said. "We both come from corporate backgrounds, too. So we also understand the importance of training. The importance of the good and the bad of corporate practices. Training is high emphasis for corporate. But then the other practices of corporate is really bad when it comes to the interpersonal, and so we want the best of both worlds."
It's all about balance, Burger said.
"As I was telling him, we want that nice balance where you have all the rules and regulations, but we want them (employees) to still be themselves, to be likable, approachable, kind, entertaining. That's what we're looking for here."
Submitted Photo of local members of the GLOW Nurses Honor Guard during a ceremony.
"Upon the whitewashed walls, a woman’s shadow falls — a woman walketh o’er the darksome floors. A soft, angelic smile, lighteth her face the while, in passing through the dismal corridors."
That line from a Victorian-era poem by Emma Lazarus may not hold completely true to the bustling hospitals of today, but how many patients can probably relate to seeing that soft smile from a helpful nurse? Lazarus penned the poem about Florence Nightingale, a famous British nurse of the 1800s who offered comfort to soldiers during the Crimean War.
She also serves as inspiration for a traditional ceremony conducted by the GLOW Nurses Honor Guard, a local chapter of the New York State Nurses Association.
“It’s been an organization for a really long time; it recognizes nurses who have passed on. Our purpose is simple: to honor our fellow nurses during their funeral or celebration of life,” member Amy Bontrager said to The Batavian. “We’re trying to get more recognition for it, because of all the funerals that I’ve gone to, everyone said, every single time they’ve said, ‘I didn’t realize this was a thing, this is great that you guys do this.’”
The local chapter is planning to honor nurses during National Nurses Week with a brief ceremony at noon, May 12, in front of United Memorial Medical Center, 127 North St., Batavia. This is the first time the ceremony has been held at the hospital. It includes a reading of a Florence Nightingale poem, some audience participation, and the honor guard in traditional nurses' all-white uniforms with blue and red capes, Bontrager said.
“The purpose is to remember those nurses who have previously passed on without having had a Nurses’ Honor Guard ceremony. Anyone who has previously lost a loved one who once served as a nurse — LPN, RN, NP, or the public in general — is welcome to attend,” she said. “To me, it’s important because I have an emotional connection to being a nurse; they do a lot of things no one ever knows about — a gentle touch, a smile, giving hope, the bigger picture that you’re making a difference. It’s very emotional.”
New York State Honor Guard’s vision is to “make sure that when a New York State nurse is coming to the end of life or has passed away, that nurse is not forgotten. Volunteer nurses from all over New York are committed to remembering the careers and commitment of their colleagues,” with a mission to pay tribute to these nurses, including living tributes to those who are approaching end-of-life care.
The organization has grown from one chapter to 24 that cover 59 of the 62 counties in the state, including Genesee. Many funeral homes are aware of this service, Bontrager said, and members hope to continue spreading the word so that nursing friends and families keep it in mind when planning to honor loved ones.
“We stuff it all down, but it’s in there,” Bontrager said of colleagues’ memories, and her own nursing experiences that began in the 1990s. “It’s very moving, just offering support to fellow nurses.”
And now and then there slips
A word from out her lips,
More sweet and grateful to those listening ears
Than the most plaintive tale
Of the sad nightingale,
Whose name and tenderness this woman bears.
Her presence in the room
Of agony and gloom,
No fretful murmurs, no coarse words profane;
For while she standeth there,
All words are hushed save prayer;
She seems God's angel weeping o'er man's pain.
And some of them arise,
With eager, tearful eyes,
From off their couch to see her passing by.
Some, e'en too weak for this,
Can only stoop and kiss
Her shadow, and fall back content to die.
No monument of stone
Needs this heroic one —
Her name is graven on each noble heart;
And in all after years
Her praise will be the tears
Which at that name from quivering lids will start.
And those who live not now,
To see the sainted brow,
And the angelic smile before it flits for aye,
They in the future age
Will kiss the storied page
Whereon the shadow of her life will lie.
Florence Nightingale By Emma Lazarus
For more information about the honor guard, go HERE.
April 2025, I am sitting at the Florida airport, waiting for my flight. I look around at how things have changed since I first traveled as a young child: the signs about firearms, the bag searches, and the X-ray machine. I remember when you could have someone go to the gate, kiss you goodbye, and watch your plane take off.
Every place I go to recently, I'm taken back to a time when I reflect on a specific time in my life.
When I passed Notre Dame High School, many memories flooded my mind. The first thing is the uniforms. When I went to school, I told my granddaughter that you had to kneel and make sure your skirt touched the floor, as I was folding her very short uniform skirt.
We connected with our friends in high school by walking and talking in the hallway. There was an origami folding puzzle we enjoyed -- sometimes referred to as a Cootie Catcher. I remember writing a note in religion class to one of my friends to have the teacher retrieve it from me, read it to the class, and post it on the bulletin board. That was our texting.
If you wanted to make a phone call, you waited at home for your phone to be free. The phone was attached to the wall with a very long cord. We had a time limit on the phone. On just about every corner, there was a pay phone. When I think about using them, I cringe at how dirty they are now.
I am unsure where the kids hang out today, but we hung out at Critics Ice Cream Parlor or Kustas Soda Fountain. If you were lucky to get a booth at Critics, you had your jukebox attached to the wall to play your favorite songs.
There was no such thing as Amazon. We had beautiful stores lining our Main Street. Anything you needed, you could find on Main Street. As a young girl, you would go to C.L. Carrs, Scott and Bean, and Alexanders to see the latest styles in girls' clothing.
I only remember one person with a car in high school. The vehicle was called Captain America. We were all very fit because we walked to every place we wanted to go. On weekends, you would go to the movies at Mancuso Theater or Dipson Theater to see the latest movie. Now, you can watch hundreds of movies and television shows streaming on your flat-screen TV, phone, tablet, or computer. In my day, TV shows were in black and white, your TV set was in a cabinet, and the first remote I remember had a cord attached to the TV, allowing you to turn the TV on and off and adjust the volume. In our house, that remote was only used by our dad.
The stores were not open on Sundays, and Sundays were for church. It was a family day. One corner store might be open for that emergency loaf of bread or milk.
I try to explain to our grandchildren what it was like back in our day. I'm not sure they're interested, but when they're in their 70s, they'll try to share more about their past. I know our parents did, and I would give anything to hear one of their stories today.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, third from right, smiles for a photo while in El Salvador for a tour of CECOT prison this week with fellow Republican representatives. The cutline was written in Spanish and translated is: Yesterday, #AmbassadorDuncan welcomed the delegation led by Congressman Jason Smith to El Salvador, who is visiting the country to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss initiatives that promote economic development and mutual cooperation. Photo from U.S. Embassy
While nearly 300 people — constituents of Congresswoman Claudia Tenney — attended a town hall this week that featured the New York District 24 representative's cardboard cutout, she was apparently out of the country.
Tenney took part in a Congressional delegation of Republicans to visit the CECOT prison in El Salvador, she said in an online social media post. Congressman Jason Smith led the group to the prison, known as “hell on Earth” for its brutal conditions, according to Axios.
In the article, none of those visiting representatives asked or posted about the condition of any of the men sent from the United States. They did pose for photos, including Tenney, at the prison and posted others of clusters of half-naked inmates standing stone-faced for the camera.
About one day after this group of politicians visited the prison, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen — on a mission to check on the condition of Abrego Garcia, admittedly sent to El Salvador by White House administrative error — was denied entry.
On Thursday, Van Hollen reported that he was able to meet with Garcia. He promised a full report once he returned to the states.
The Batavian has sent Tenney questions regarding her trip, including what she accomplished by going; if she checked on the condition of Garcia and any others sent from the United States; how much the trip cost and who paid for it; if she had any message for the constituents she missed at this week’s town hall; and her response to the many negative reactions to her online post about going to El Salvador.
On her social media post she said, “I visited the CECOT prison in El Salvador, where the worst of these violent gang members are being held,” though it has been reported that some 90% (analysis by Bloomberg News, Los Angeles Times and human rights organizations) of those sent from the U.S. had no criminal records beyond minor traffic or immigration violations, including Garcia. A CBS News 60 Minutes investigation found that 75% of them had no apparent criminal record at all.
During the town hall at Arc Community Center in Batavia this Tuesday, an attendee spoke up for Garcia and received a round of applause from the audience. The Supreme Court has unanimously ordered the Trump Administration to "facilitate the return" of Garcia back to the United States after it admitted to sending him to El Salvador in error. No action has been taken to do so.
In sports and in life, the opportunity to find the “sweet spot” is always worth the effort.
Look at the success of the new torpedo bats in baseball. Putting the weight and power to the sweet spot has everyone from the Yankees to youth players a smart way to play better.
How do we take that same innovation to our community? As an economic developer, it’s by focusing on the “sweet spot” of career discovery and exploration – the middle school and junior high years!
In March, I was fortunate to present at this year’s annual Genesee County Youth Bureau Conference at Genesee Community College. The youth conference gives 7th and 8th grade students another great way to learn about life skills and careers as they continue their educational journeys.
It was an outstanding program, and students left our sessions inspired to start thinking about what they can do in school and after graduation.
These students are right in the sweet spot to start this journey.
There are great opportunities in emerging fields that they weren’t aware of. Companies are urgently looking to fill their workforce pipeline and there are many good paying jobs with the potential for long-term professional and financial growth.
They have time to grow the skills that it will take to be successful in them. They have time to test out what fields interest them, discover what works and what doesn’t, and get into great experiences offered by the Genesee County Business Education Alliance, Genesee Valley BOCES, their school, and new opportunities coming to Genesee County like national career readiness certificates with the ACT.
Parents, I know this is a lot of information to take in. I want to make it simple for you. That’s why it’s okay to start with a conversation with Coach SwazZ. I understand the challenges, and the opportunities, and have pathways to fast track your child through a career exploration journey that combines their personal interests with experiential learning. We aim to create an ideal blend of passion and professionalism in supporting youth to achieve success right here in Genesee County.
Even with these advantages, we have to keep swinging. The torpedo bats have given the Yankees great early results, but every home run starts with a player that’s put in the effort to improve.
And there’s still going to be missed swings and strike outs. The fact is that 21.4% of students who enroll in college dropout their first year.
Unfortunately, for some, their initial plans do not materialize due to various factors such as academic pressures, financial difficulties, or personal circumstances. Sometimes though it’s simply because they are not enjoying what they are learning in the classroom and there is nothing wrong with that!
There is a reason why so many of our partners in the workforce space focus on students at an early. Not every good paying job requires a college diploma and employers aren’t necessarily looking for college graduates because they are willing to train students and provide them the skills for success. The earlier we can connect with younger students the better the opportunity for them to learn about all the opportunities available to them in the workplace.
As a youth baseball coach and as a career coach, my message is the same.
Control the controllables.
Your work ethic, effort, body language, energy, attitude, passion, being coachable, going the extra mile and being prepared are all within your own control and will lead you to sustained success in your educational and professional journeys.
Visit www.gcedc.com/workforceprograms to access our free career checklist, featuring eight essential steps to jumpstart your professional journey.
If you are a student, parent, teacher, or guidance counselor, contact me at csuozzi@gcedc.com to learn how to get involved today!
Chris “Coach SwazZ” Suozzi is the Executive Vice President of Business & Workforce Development at the Genesee County Economic Development Center.
From left, Ray Williams, Connor Hyde-Hamilton and Zach Watts donate their services.
Press release:
“A Haircut Always Helps!”
Cassandra Hirsch, Jamie Torrence, and co-workers at UConnectCare on Saturday afternoon enlisted the support of three barbers from My Cut in Batavia to provide free haircuts.
Hirsch, a data evaluator who also works with the homeless population, looked on in appreciation as My Cut owner Zach Watts and fellow barbers Connor Hyde-Hamilton and Ray Williams donated three hours of their time to the cause.
“Many of the homeless don’t have access to services such as haircuts and can’t afford one so we wanted to make a way for them to get one,” Hirsch said. “We reached out to My Cut and they jumped right in.”
The Recovery Station staff also shuttled participants to the event – running a van back and forth from different locations at three separate times.
Hirsch said Iron Reps Gym, Southside Deli, Eden Café and Cinquino’s Pizza donated door prizes while individuals gave toys and cash. Clothing was donated as well.
“We’re so grateful to all those who helped out,” she said. “The next time we have this, we hope to have some hairdressers for the women.”
Watts said he sees owning a barber shop as something bigger than himself.
“Just being involved in a barber shop, in general, is being part of a community gathering place,” he said. “Sometimes, people can’t make it to you, so it’s important that you go out and make it to them.”
Watts started My Cut about 4 ½ years ago and has seen his customer base increase significantly. It received the Downtown Batavia Business Improvement District “Business of the Year” award in 2024.
He was quick to credit those who work at the shop.
“I’ve always said it’s the guys who have come in and joined me and are on this journey with me,” he said. “They’re the ones that make it work.”
Photos provided by UConnectCare.
Zach Watts, owner of My Cut in Batavia, shapes up Erron Kimble’s hair during UConnectCare’s “A Haircut Always Helps!” event on Saturday afternoon at The Recovery Station on Clinton Street Road. Photos provided by UConnectCare.
“A Haircut Always Helps!” logo on T-shirts provided at the community outreach.
Celebrate Easter at Northgate: You’re invited to Easter Weekend at Northgate as we celebrate the hope and resurrection of Jesus!
Good Friday at Northgate: Join us on Friday, April 18, at 7:00 PM for a special Good Friday service as we reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus and prepare our hearts for the hope of Easter. We'll remember the depth of His love and the power of the cross.
Saturday, April 19 at 6:00pm | Sunday, April 20 9:30am & 11:00am
Whether you prefer the peaceful beauty of a sunrise service outdoors or one of our weekend services, there’s a place for you this Easter at Northgate. 8160 Bank Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020.
Easter Sunrise Service: Join us for a special Sunrise Service on Sunday, April 20, at 6:00 AM as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in the beautiful quiet of the early morning. This outdoor service at the Pavilion will be a time of reflection, worship, and joy as we remember the victory of the empty tomb. 8160 Bank Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020. https://northgatefmc.com
File photo Memorial Day Parade 2022 by Howard Owens
May is right around the corner, and that means organizers are preparing — and seeking participants — for the annual Memorial Day parade down Main Street, Batavia.
The city invites you and your organization to participate in the parade, set for a lineup at 8:30 a.m. on May 26 at the East Town Plaza. The event is to begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at approximately 10:30 a.m. at Alva Place downtown.
Parade Chairman Bob Bialkowski said marshals will be on site to assign participants a place in the parade.
“When turning off of Main Street onto Bank Street, all units are to be silent out of respect for a memorial service at the Veterans Monument on Bank Street,” he said. “Your support is greatly appreciated.”
Bialkowski is asking for RSVPs as soon as possible to schedule you on the parade roster. A certificate of insurance or “hold harmless” needs to be returned with the RSVP, he said.
Some reminders about parade protocol:
Throwing candy from vehicles is strictly prohibited.
There will be no political campaigning, such as “vote for” signs, out of respect for the event.
“Our veterans served our country, not political affiliations,” he said.
Send RSVP to Bob Bialkowski, 16 Union St., Batavia, NY, 14020, or email to bbwski@yahoo.com.
File Photo of Empire Hemp Co. in downtown Batavia by Howard Owens.
Empire Hemp has closed its doors at 204 E. Main St., Batavia, but not for long, the company said through an online post.
The store plans to close this Sunday, Van Dusen said Thursday morning.
After its expansion in 2019 to a larger processing facility and downtown Batavia retail store, the business secured licenses to cultivate and process THC cannabis three years later. However, under New York State’s “strict cannabis regulations, vertical integration is not allowed, meaning a single company cannot hold cultivation, processing and retail licenses,” the post stated.
“This meant our store could not be converted to a dispensary under Empire, so a major decision had to be made. Shelly (Wolanske) made the bold and inspiring choice to step away from Empire Hemp Co. and chart a new path forward, one that will stay to her values while embracing the next evolution of her journey,” it stated. “That path is now unfolding at Mrs. Green’s CANNary, located in the very same beloved space at 204 E. Main St. Proudly Genesee County’s first OCM licensed adult-use dispensary and 100 percent woman-owned, Mrs. Green’s CANNary will continue to reflect Shelly’s dedication to bringing a warm welcoming environment for all those who visit.”
To prepare for the new company, the East Main Street site has been closed since Sunday, and the owners are planning to reopen in early May, according to the post.
“The new dispensary will continue to carry Empire products, along with a diverse selection of cannabis offerings from across New York State,” it stated. “You can still shop all your favorite Empire CBD products online any time at Empire Hemp.”
Meanwhile, Chris Van Dusen continues to lead Empire Hemp Co. and has relocated operations to a new facility in Batavia, better suited to support the company’s growth and focus on cultivation and manufacturing, the post stated.
The Batavian reached out to Van Dusen and he said there would be more information forthcoming next week.
City Councilwoman Kathy Briggs presents a proclamation to Frank Riccobono for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Photo by Joanne Beck
While public safety workers have rolled along doing their jobs to apprehend criminals, suppress fires and treat injured patients, city and county officials have taken pause to recognize the importance of those who serve as a bridge between the people with emergencies and the first responders during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
City Councilwoman Kathy Briggs presented a proclamation to Director of Emergency Communications Frank Riccobono during this week’s City Council meeting.
Emergencies can occur at any time, and they require police, fire or emergency medical services, Briggs said, reading the proclamation, and “whereas, when an emergency occurs, the prompt response of police officers, firefighters and paramedics is critical to the protection of flight and preservation of property, and whereas, public safety telecommunicators are the first and most critical contact our citizens have with emergency services.”
Those public safety personnel are the single connection, monitoring activities by radio and providing police and other first responders with information to ensure that both responders and community members are safe, she said.
“And whereas, each emergency dispatcher has exhibited compassion, understanding, and professionalism during the performance of their job, now therefore be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Batavia recognizes the week of April 13th through the 19th, 2025, to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week,” Briggs said. “And sincerely thank the members of the Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center for their diligence and professionalism to keep our city and citizens safe.”
Riccobono thanked council members on behalf of the men and women of the dispatch center.
“Dispatching is a very tough job, and often they don't receive a lot of recognition,” he said. “I lead a great team; I can't say enough about them, and they do a fabulous job.
“I was just talking to the city manager. I travel around the state, and unfortunately, the working relationship that we have here, which is excellent, is not seen everywhere around the state and country,” he said. “So on behalf of the men and women of the the dispatch center, I do want to extend my appreciation, not just to the city council, but also all the city agencies that we interact with, and it's been a pleasure. Thank you.”
NOW HIRING seasonal agribusiness positions. CDL A & B Drivers to deliver bulk crop nutrients. Potential long-term opportunities. Great for retirees! GENERAL LABOR positions. Daily variety of indoor/outdoor responsibilities. Loader experience a plus. SIGN-ON BONUS and plenty of OT during spring/summer months. Apply in person at: 8610 Route 237, Stafford, NY www.cecrocker.com
