The Elba Betterment Committee will be presenting our fifth and final concert of our summer series in a setting that only Elba can create. August 8, The Elba Village Park, Genesee Ted and our annual kids bash with Torrey Farms and Good Tymes Party rentals.
The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. with music at 6:30 p.m. There will be bounce houses and games, and whatever fun the Torreys are planning – we know it will be delicious!
The 50/50 that night will be to benefit the Jordyn Torrey Augello Foundation, providing monies towards Strong Hospital and the new gym floor at the YMCA.
The music will be all of our favorites from our local boys, and the food will be outstanding with The Original Red Osier and Islands Hawaiian, the fun foods from Good Tymes, Ice Cream and Chill and Circle B Winery.
And if that’s not enough, we will be drawing the winner of our giant 50/50 raffle that night. You will not want to miss this one!
All concerts are made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the NYS Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the NYS Legislature and administered by GoArt.
The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation and the Preservation League of New York State are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Preserve New York grant. The Preservation League’s independent panel selected 21 applicants in 17 New York counties to receive support totaling $262,041.
Each grant supports important arts and cultural initiatives, as well as economic development related to New York State arts and cultural heritage. This year’s grant recipients are:
Columbia County: Stuyvesant Landing Historic District Subcommittee, Town of Stuyvesant
Dutchess County: Innisfree Foundation
Erie County: Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission
Erie County: Black Rock Historical Society
Essex County: Town of Jay
Genesee County: Le Roy Historical Society
Herkimer County: Village of West Winfield
Kings County: Prospect Lefferts Gardens Heritage Council Inc.
Nassau County: Roslyn Landmark Society
Nassau County: Old Westbury Gardens Inc.
New York County: South East Area Coalition
Ontario County: Town of Phelps
Ontario County: Village of Victor
Otsego County: The Butternut Valley Arts & Crafts Center, Inc.
Rensselaer County: Rensselaer County Historical Society
Suffolk County: East Hampton Historical Farm Museum
Suffolk County: East Hampton Historical Society
Warren County: Historical Society of the Town of Chester
Wyoming County: Silver Lake Institute
“The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation is delighted to have partnered once again with the Preservation League of New York State to support preservation projects on Long Island. These awards prepare our stewards to professionally assess the needs of future renovation and restoration of their historic sites, thus saving them as educational tools for future generations,” said Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.
Preserve New York is a regrant partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League of NYS, made possible with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has generously provided additional funds to support nonprofit projects in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
“This year’s Preserve New York grant cycle was one of the most competitive in the program’s history,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of NYS. “The 19 projects funded truly rose to the top and represent a great cross-section of historic resources found across the state.”
“The breadth of these projects across our state will safeguard the rich and diverse history of New York for generations to come,” said Mara Manus, Executive Director of NYSCA. “We applaud the Preservation League of New York State for this critical preservation program. From all of us at NYSCA, a hearty congratulations to the grantees and our gratitude for the essential work you do.”
Each year, Jesse Coots, his family, and scores of volunteer staff members put on a party like no other in Genesee County at his home and place of business on Linwood Road in Le Roy.
At least 3,000 people come together, as they did Saturday for the Hardcore Happening, to enjoy an afternoon of roaring engines, billowing smoke, squealing rubber, and the site of some marvelously restored classic cars.
A big reason it seems to work year after year, with a minimum of conflicts and bad behavior, is Coots' no-nonsense rules he posts on social media each year.
For example, "No scumbags, No drama, No bullshit. It’s pretty easy to sort out who the dipshits are, and they get shamed and banned every year. Come be a beacon of goodness, not a shit stain of a waste. We have a great turnout of great people, and it’s because we aren’t afraid to throw scumbags the (eff) out; your feelings and privileges are not safe here; you’ll get treated how you act. Don't (eff) this up."
Drivers must be licensed and sober. No drugs. No pets. Children must be well-behaved. Come, meet people, make friends. Be a good human.
Oh, and "Everyone’s car is special; if yours is so special you need special parking, park it in your special garage and sit your special ass on your special couch and stay home."
"I wish we could run our country like that," said Coots during an interview in his garage while cars roared and crowds cheered outside. "This is what we expect out of you. Do it, otherwise you gotta go so and it works great. We have thousands of people here. There are no fights. I've never had anything stolen. Everybody watches guard. The entire place. This place is amazingly immaculate in the mornings because nobody wants to lose the privilege. It really makes me feel good about humanity when sometimes I'm wondering how humanity is going. It's a good group of people."
The party started 20 years ago as a small group of people, and largely by word of mouth, it has grown every year, now drawing car enthusiasts from 20 states. This year, the Coots family and volunteers served more than 2,000 pounds of chicken (there is a $30 entry fee, even if don't plan to stay until 5 p.m. for the dinner).
Coots restores classic cars and specializes in hot rods in his Old Soul Hot Rod Shop on Linwood Road.
The unique thing about the Hardcore Happening is it isn't just another car show.
There's no shortage of classic car gatherings where people can ogle each other's gems, but few opportunities for hot rod owners to fire up their chariots and let people see and hear what they can do simply but burning a little rubber on the pavement -- and at the Coots home, it's a driveway special built some years ago specifically for this event.
The popularity of the event helps keep it going, Coots said.
"I gotta do it. Plus, I love it. It's a lifestyle," Coots said. We really need this type of camaraderie and community event. You know what I mean? Everybody gets together, and if you notice, they're all constantly cheering and just happy for each other. It's hard to walk away from that."
He said the energy of such a wide range of people coming together and finding commonality is what keeps him going.
"What's amazing is it's hard for men, I found in life, to recognize other men. I can't tell you how many tattooed, wild-looking men come up here, like, 'Dude, you're the man. I appreciate you. Thank you for doing this for us.' And the cool thing is, they introduce their children, and they're teaching their kids like, 'This is how you act when you respect someone. This is how you treat them.' So I'm always blown away with this crowd and this circle. They're always classy, they always care, and they're really genuine. That's what this whole crowd is: genuine. There are multiple millionaires here, and there are people who literally are scratching by, and they all have the same thread. They're all birds of a feather. They all get along."
Jason Aldean packed a sold-out performance at Darien Lake Performance Arts Center on Thursday evening. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Jason Aldean performed Thursday evening at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, starting out with one of his smash hits, "Burning It Down," and continuing with more of his hits throughout the evening.
All the performances were amazing, including openers Austin Snell, Chase Mathew, and Lauren Alaina, who all put on great shows. Each one played their top songs at a sold-out show enjoyed by all ages who attended.
Welcome home to 4 Vernon! On the market for the first time in 54 years, this 2-story Colonial home offers 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom across 1,470 sqft. The home features natural preserved hardwoods throughout, a screened-in front porch, a concrete driveway, a brand new garage door, and a full tear-off roof. A unique opportunity for ownership instead of renting.
After just leading the United States Senate to confirm Meredith Vacca, who will be the first Asian American to serve on the Western District bench, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced Senate passage of the bipartisan Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved(JUDGES) Act, to address nationwide shortages and case backlogs by increasing the number of federal district judges across America.
“Our federal courts in New York and across America simply can’t keep up with the immense workload. As our country has kept growing and growing, our federal courts sadly have not kept pace, with no significant increase in judges since 1991. Western New York’s federal courts have long had one of the largest and worst case backlogs in the nation, leading to months long wait times and adding a long sought after 5th full time district judge will help tackle that challenge head on. I am proud to have led the bipartisan JUDGES Act to passage which will add the more judges needed to hear cases and address backlogs, including Western NY’s, ” said Senator Schumer. “I urge the House to quickly take up this important legislation. ‘Equal Justice Under Law’ can’t always be counted on if our federal bench is stretched beyond capacity or if you have to wait years and years to get a verdict. Justice delayed is justice denied and we must make sure our federal courts are given the additional judges they need to handle their current caseload.”
Schumer said that courts in New York and across the country are often overburdened due to a shortage of federal judges. Schumer explained that Congress is responsible for establishing the number of judgeships in the district courts of the United States, but has not passed legislation to significantly address this number since 1991. Back then, the courts had approximately 280,000 pending cases across the country for the current established number of judges. Yet, as of March 2023, there were nearly 690,000 pending cases in federal district courts across the country, averaging 491 filings per judgeship per year. Schumer said this judicial shortage has been felt especially hard in Western NY whose federal courts have routinely ranked in the top tenworst backlogs in the nation, with median wait time at nearly 17 months during the 12-month period ending in March 2023. At the end of 2023, WDNY had 3,565 pending cases for its four judges. During 2023, 2,885 cases were filed for WDNY’s four judgeships, far exceeding the national average of 491 filings per judgeship.
The JUDGES Act would directly tackle this crisis by adding more judges in line with the nonpartisan recommendations of the Judicial Conference. In total, Schumer said the bill will create 66 new, federal district court judgeships across the country, in addition to the Western District of NY receiving an additional judicial slot, the Eastern District of NY and Southern District of NY are also slated to receive two additional judges each.
Throughout his time serving as Senate Majority Leader, Schumer has made it a priority to strengthen the federal judiciary, including recommending a number of historic picks to the federal bench in NY. Just this past week, the Senate confirmed Monroe County judge Meredith Anne Vacca, a Korean-American, and also the first woman of color to serve as judge on the Western District of New York bench.
When Schumer first started recommending judges as a senator, there were no women on the WDNY bench. Schumer changed that when he recommended Rochester attorney Elizabeth Wolford as the first woman to serve on the WDNY bench. Judge Wolford was confirmed in 2014 and currently serves as the Chief Judge for the WDNY. In 2021 Schumer made another historic pick in recommending Trini Ross as the WDNY U.S. Attorney, the first Black woman ever to lead the Western District of New York U.S. Attorney’s office.
Now, Ms. Vacca will sit on one of the few 50 percent female benches in the country, as Schumer has focused on elevating women to these critical positions. In New York as a whole, including the federal benches in WDNY and NDNY, as well as EDNY and SDNY, 27 out of 51 active federal district court judges are women, thanks in large part to Schumer’s efforts.
Participants in 2024's Camp Hard Hat in Genesee County Park celebrated the completion of a new foot trail bridge in the park with a ribbon cutting. Photo by Howard Owens.
A group of 25 6th through 10th graders from throughout Genesee County celebrated on Friday the completion of a trail bridge in Genesee County Park & Forest.
It's the 10th project members of Camp Hardhat have completed in the park in the past eight years.
"This is part of bringing this park into the community," said instructor Rich Monroe. "These kids are part of this community as if they were CCC workers way back in the 30s. This is your park kids. It's your park forever."
The names of the participants, along with business sponsors, are enshrined on a metal sign attached to the bridge.
The program introduces the students to the building trades, combining math, process thinking skills, the use of power tools, safety, and the advantages of teamwork.
They also learn the principles of design and construction from area industry leaders such as Bill Hayes from Turnbull HVAC, Keith Berlinski from Hot Wired Electrical, Joma Akana of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (NASRCC), Dustin Beardsley from Rochester Davis-Fetch Corporation, Lindsie Cook from Livingston Associates, and Taylor McCabe from McCabe Enterprises Electrical Contractor.
Photo by Howard Owens.
Karyn Winters, Business Education Alliance director, and Rich Monroe, a Camp Hard Hat instructor. Photo by Howard Owens.
Rich Monroe introduces Claudia, part of that Camp Hard Hat team, complimenting her positive energy and noting that even at her small size, she's a fierce rugby player. Photo by Howard Owens.
Rich Monroe noted that Fernando Cacho is as good a person and hard worker as he is happy, handsome and charming. Photo by Howard Owens.
Classic rock fans certainly got an earful at Batavia Downs on Friday night with what essentially a double headline of a Tom Petty tribute band and a Fleetwood Mac tribute band entertained an estimated 4,500 concertgoers.
Practically Petty took the stage at 6:30 p.m. with a near-note-perfect performance of classics from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, including a few deep tracks.
Then, Rumors ALT took the stage and delivered a satisfying dose of Fleetwood Mac hits.
2023 File Photo of Genesee County Agricultural Society Treasurer Norm Pimm and President Amanda Gallo. Photo by Joanne Beck
After a flurry of eight days that accommodated 1,800 animals big and small, more than 120 draft horses and another record-breaking crowd, Genesee County Agricultural Society members are pretty satisfied -- and relieved -- with another job well done, Treasurer Norm Pimm says.
This year’s county fair meant hundreds of volunteer hours and much literal sweat due to hot and humid weather throughout the fourth week of July, and the payoff was huge as the event drew more than 72,000 people — more than the largest number from two years ago, Pimm said.
“It was good throughout our last Saturday of the fair; that’s what put us over the edge. And we by far had our busiest closing day of the fair,” he told The Batavian on Friday. “So two years ago, we had just hit 70,000. I think a lot of things (influenced attendance); we spent a lot of time and money advertising the fair, obviously, with all the mobile advertising, like (The Batavian); you guys are awesome, huge supporters of us. And then we did a lot with (social media) and all that.
“And then you guys went live a lot from our fair, which again, that creates buzz, right? So I think just sort of targeting the advertisement. And then we also brought a couple different acts in, like the closing band, Nerds Gone Wild; that might have been our biggest band we’ve ever had, at least in several years. They absolutely packed the entertainment tent. And then all of the other bands that we had throughout the week, BB Dang, the Eaglez, Knight Patrol, all put big crowds under the tent as well. We had the normal demolition derby, but that was absolutely packed in there; we figured about 2,500 people. And then on Wednesday, we did the Enduro race.”
Organizers worked hard to make the fair family-friendly for the types of entertainment and costs, he said, so that Enduro was a $5 entry fee, which pulled in 500 to 600 people.
They had a screaming diesel truck event and were hoping that “if we could get 1,000 people in there, we’d be very happy,” he said. “But we had about 1,500 people in the grandstands for that, so we exceeded our expectations as well.”
“That’s the first time we’ve had that. And then I think there’s all the events that have been over the last couple of years continue to get bigger," he said. "The draft horse show on opening weekend, that’s huge, the stockyard classic, which is a livestock show that we had the first weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, that continues to grow as the second year we’ve done it. And then all our 4-H youth programs. I mean, they continue to grow as well.”
The market animal auction had nearly 230 lots up for auction, for a total intake of $325,000. Business sponsorships continue to grow, including both financial help and loaning out employees to volunteer at the fair, such as when Liberty Pumps sent out nine staff members to pitch in at the food stand, ticket booth and other areas where core volunteers needed a break, Pimm said.
Cornell Cooperative Extension board members, parents, community members and kids also stepped up to volunteer, he said. Genesee County legislators manned the Chuck Wagon again after walking the parade. East Bethany brought an ambulance on standby, and the South Byron Volunteer Fire Department came to help out. Scofield Transfer & Recycling was there every day, and others helped out with services and hands-on labor periodically, he said.
“That gives us a little bit of a break because, you know, that's one of the things people might forget is that we're 100 percent volunteers, right? We have volunteers putting in well over 100 hours that week just to keep the fire going. (Many of those people) show up and they’d be like, ‘hey, what do you want me to do?’ And that's awesome when you get that kind of support because they're gonna get some of us a little bit of a break,” he said. “And this year, more than ever, I saw a lot more than a couple of local businesses that sent employees to volunteer on their dime, but they basically, they paid them for the day, and then they had them come volunteer.”
Is it time to sit down and relax? Hardly. Pimm is already on the phone about next year. Organizers liked all of the entertainment, but they also want to mix things up, so they’re looking at different bands and “probably will change up a couple” for fair 2025.
They don’t have a big pool of midway companies to choose from since there are only a few in circulation, and those get locked in early. Hammerl Amusements has been a popular one, he said, which is what is used at Genesee County Fair. The only glitch has been that they book from Tuesday to Saturday, which leaves out one weekend of the fair, but organizers filled the gap this year with several bounce houses offered for free. That seemed to be a popular attraction — “it was absolutely packed” — and will be repeated with possibly more features next year, Pimm said.
Power Wheels was another keeper that will return, and organizers are looking to add a utility task vehicle (UTV) side-by-side event, an I Got It! and/or corn hole tournaments to the lineup.
“We’re looking to offer lower-priced entertainment at the grandstand area all week so families can come and enjoy the fair,” he said. We know it's a tough time financially for families, but we want to make sure that they can have a good time without spending a lot of money.”
The other part of using all of the amenities on the fairgrounds is maintaining them, and the Ag Society has invested “a couple hundred thousand dollars” on electrical upgrades, with about another $150,000 to $200,000 to go for those improvements, and then rebuilding the food stand, originally constructed in the 1960s and known as the Chuck Wagon, sometime in the near future, he said.
Other work is needed at the horse barns and related facilities, and all of it is an investment into the future, he said.
Many people don’t know that the fairgrounds are certainly alive during more than those eight days of the fair, as events happen in spring, summer and fall, with food truck rodeos being an ever-growing fundraiser on Friday evenings. There are some dozen food trucks at the fairgrounds, 5056 E. Main Road, Batavia, from 4 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 23 and Sept. 13 for this season.
Pimm said everything they do is reinvested to keep the grounds and facilities as well maintained as possible for community events. He’s happy that Mother Nature cooperated for this year’s fair and looks forward to an even bigger event in 2025.
"Overall, it was an absolute, big success. We continue to find ways to grow it and make it even better,” he said. “And we couldn't have done any of this without a local community coming out, to check out all the exhibits and all the animals and vendors and everything like that, and supporting them, and then all of our volunteers. No way we’d have done it without a ton of volunteers.
"And then overall, I’ve gotta go back to the local businesses that help support us, whether it's financially or selling advertising, and all the advertisements and all that. It was just unbelievable.”
Wedding gowns have changed over the decades, reflecting the times from the Victorian Era, Industrial Revolution, WW I, The Depression, WWII, the 50s, the 60s, and the 70s. The decade of the 70s is what I will focus on since that was the decade I was married in Batavia, NY.
There are so many events that go into a wedding. Everyone has a memory of their engagement, wedding day, and honeymoon. I became engaged in my in-laws' living room, surrounded by my future in-laws and my two younger sisters. I wouldn't change a thing. My engagement ring now has two more diamond bands, one for 25 years and one for 40 years.
I cherish the memory of picking out my wedding gown with my mom. It had to be at C. L. Carr's Department Store. I went in with a picture of the gown I wanted from Brides Magazine. I was so surprised to see my gown on the rack. I tried it on, ordered my size, and was lucky to have benefitted from one of C.L. Carr's discount days.
After purchasing my gown, veil, and headpiece for $135, my mom and I went to lunch at another favorite restaurant, The Dagwood.
The description of my gown from the local newspaper stated, "The bride chose a gown of Marcaine Jersey styled with a fitted bodice, bell-shaped skirt, and long full sleeves. Venice lace and pearls accented the V neckline, and matching lace highlighted the empire bodice. The skirt fell in an A-length train. The bride chose a Camelot cap, a cathedral-length veil, and blusher for her headpiece."
I just wanted something plain, and the gown was perfect. I borrowed a wedding slip from my best friend, bought my shoes at Thomas and Dwyer, and flowers from Noack's Nursery on Bank Street.
Bridesmaid gowns were plain but timeless for the 70s, halter gowns with a short jacket and a hood. I applied my makeup. Like many brides of the 70s, my hair was long and straight, as was the fashion. It was styled at North Vine Beauty Salon. My father and brothers organized the bachelor get-together at St. Nick's Club. I don't think we gathered for a bachelorette.
The gifts I bought my girls were spoon rings and bracelets, another reflection of the times from Herb Brenner on Main Street.
I carried the wedding missel, a prayer book that my mom had held for her wedding. My brother read the poem Desiderata, and my wedding Mass ended with a favorite song of mine, "Let There Be Peace on Earth."
The Polish-Italian reception was held at the Moose Lodge Club. We had a Polish band that played in the early morning hours.
Our honeymoon was in St. Martins, and we booked our honeymoon at a kiosk in C L Carrs.
We were married at St. Joseph Church. Today weddings are so different and so expensive!
The material from my gown could probably make three wedding gowns. What I loved about our wedding was that after the three-course dinner, I cut the cake, danced, and enjoyed pizza from Pontillo's, delivered for a late snack.
On July 27, 2024, we renewed our vows at what we will always call Sacred Heart Church, surrounded by our children, grandchildren, family, and friends. The Mass ended with the same song that ended our wedding Mass in 1974, "Let There Be Peace on Earth." A reception at Roman's restaurant followed, and KMC Custom Cakes served a wedding cake. Fifty years of living with the man who stole my heart at Gentner's Bar in 1972! It has been an incredible ride.
The Holland Land Office has a wedding exhibit called "Heavenly Traditions and Holy Matrimony Through Time." It is an exhibit you don't want to miss. You might even see my wedding veil on display.
29 N Main Street, Elba, New York 14058. This home just begs you to come relax and enjoy! Solid and lovingly cared for this home will surprise you as soon as you step in-from the cozy livingroom with wood burning fireplace encased by pretty wooden built ins, gorgeous hardwood floors and beamed ceiling all give you that timeless feeling of days gone by! Stepping further in there is dinette area leading to updated open step saver kitchen with plenty of cupboards and island opening up to large bright family/dining/entertaining space-you decide! This room is lined with all windows and sliding glass doors showing off prettiest of views! There are two first floor bedrooms first floor laundry and beautifully remodeled first floor bath. There is also cozy bedroom upstairs as well. Hidden from road the backyard is something special! Beautiful plantings and greenery encase this backyard as well as double pond with wooden bridge and beautiful field backdrop. Yard also has cute red shed and your very own greenhouse! From enjoying the oversized covered front porch, enjoying the park like yard and being within walking distance to park school dining and ice cream this Village home is the epitome of classic rural living! Call Reliant today 585-344HOME (4663)
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) recently announced his mobile office hours for August 2024.
As a public servant, being accessible to the public is one of Hawley’s highest priorities. The assemblyman’s staff members will attend the office hours, and they will be ready to help any constituent with their needs.
“I want to encourage everyone to visit whenever they wish to. My office is ready to take your calls and help address your needs,” Hawley said.
The office hours are as follows:
Genesee County at GCC 1 College Road Technology Building, Room T124 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024
Registration is now open for the 2024-25 Faith Formation Program at Resurrection and Ascension Roman Catholic Parishes in Batavia. The parish families are excited about this continued joint venture to share our Catholic faith with our families and children.
All sacramental preparation classes (Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation) will be offered as well as enriching faith programs for the entire family.
Classes will begin on Sunday, September 8 at 10:30 a.m. Mass at Ascension Parish in Batavia, followed by lunch and teacher/family meetings. Come and join us and grow your faith as a family!
The Genesee County Highway Department would like to inform the public about an upcoming road closure on Upton Road in the Town of Batavia.
Beginning Monday, August 12, the road will be closed to all traffic for approximately 8 weeks. The existing culvert will be replaced to improve water flow under the road and ensure its long-term sustainability.
The project will take place on the north end of Upton Road, between Pearl Street Road(Route 33) and Rose Road.
During this time, this portion of Upton Road will be closed entirely to traffic, including public and emergency vehicles.
The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors has approved final resolutions for Graham Corporation’s $17.6 million expansion in the city of Batavia and GE Bergen Owner, LLC’s $43.6 million project in the town of Bergen at its board meeting on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
Graham Corporation proposes to build a 28,867 square-foot commercial production facility. The $17.6 million project will create 24 new full-time equivalent (FTE) positions while retaining 367 FTEs.
Graham Corporation requested sales tax exemptions estimated at $383,546 and a property tax abatement estimated at $298,427 based on an incremental increase in assessed value.
The proposed incentives are estimated to generate $19.5 million in wages/benefits and revenues for local governments generated by the developer over 10 years. The project would generate a $42 return on investment for every $1 of proposed incentives.
GE Bergen Owner, LLC proposes to build a 196,000 square-foot manufacturing facility at Apple Tree Acres. The $43.6 million project will be leased to an end user and will create 60 new FTEs and retain 140 FTEs.
GE Bergen Owner, LLC requested sales tax exemptions estimated at approximately $1.75 million, a property tax abatement of approximately $2.15 million via payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), and a mortgage tax exemption of $366,000.
"The GCEDC is pleased to continue to support the growth of our home-grown companies," said GCEDC President and CEO Mark Masse. "These projects strengthen the diversity and vitality of our manufacturing industry and generate more rewarding careers for our community."
The proposed incentives are estimated to generate $41 million in wages/ benefits and revenues for local governments generated by the development over 10 years. The project would generate a $13 return on investment for every $1 of proposed incentives.
The project is pending, subject to receiving incentives from Empire State Development Corporation.
The GCEDC Board also advanced initial resolutions for two community solar farm projects in LeRoy.
FFP NY LeRoy Project1, LLC and FFP NY LeRoy Project2, LLC represent a total $20 million investment and will generate up to 7 megawatts of power through the installation of ground-mounted solar panels.
FFP NY LeRoy Project1, LLC’s proposed $13.5 million project would generate $4,000/megawatts (AC) + a 2% annual escalator of revenues with the Town of LeRoy, Genesee County and LeRoy School District. The project also includes a host agreement with the Town of LeRoy and is estimated to generate a $566,261 increase in property-tax type revenues to the host municipalities.
FFP NY LeRoy Project2, LLC’s proposed $6.5 million project also would generate $4,000 per megawatt (AC) + a 2% annual escalator of revenues with the Town of LeRoy, Genesee County and LeRoy School District. The project also includes a host agreement with the Town of LeRoy and is estimated to generate a $229,119 increase in property-tax type revenues to host municipalities.
A public hearing for the proposed project agreements will be scheduled in the town of LeRoy.
Contrary to an assertion by Dennis Bassett, chairman of the board for Western Regional OTB, Erie County officials believe a request to add an Erie County representative to the CEO search committee is timely.
On Wednesday, The Batavian received a copy of a letter sent by Erie County Executive Marc Poloncarz to Bassett asking that Timothy Callan, currently representing Erie County on the OTB board, be appointed to the board.
A spokesman for Poloncarz, Peter Anderson, claimed Erie County wasn't informed a search committee was formed until this past week.
"This request is not late," Anderson said in response to a set of email questions from The Batavian. "Dr. Callan was only informed of the hiring process at last week’s OTB meetings, and he briefed the County Executive earlier this week. The process has been opaque to many of the corporation’s directors, including Dr. Callan."
The Batavian recorded the motion's reading at the June meeting, which was read by Elliott Winter, Niagara County's representative on the board. The motion states, "Dennis Bassett is authorized to execute the renegotiation contracts for the corporation and to immediately assemble a search committee."
Callan's "no" vote is also recorded, confirming his presence at the meeting.
Anderson did not respond on Thursday for clarification of his response, given the contradiction in timelines.
The letter from Poloncraz touted Callan's high-level government experience as a qualification for inclusion on the committee but did not specify any private-sector business experience.
Anderson said there is no need for business experience to hire a chief executive.
"Erie County is a nearly $2 billion annual operation, which Dr. Callan has overseen both as deputy budget director and deputy comptroller," Anderson said. "Western Region OTB is not a private business and is, in fact, an NYS-regulated public entity. It is ludicrous to insinuate that a lack of private-sector business experience precludes Dr. Callan from the search process."
More than $1 billion passes through Batavia Downs annually, generating more than $86 million in revenue and leading to a profit of more than $10 million paid to municipalities.
Bassett has repeatedly promised, as board chair, to run Batavia Downs as a business, given the importance of its remaining competitive in the marketplace, so it can continue to generate profits to the benefit of its shareholders (the municipalities).
In early July, Bassett told The Batavian, "There are a number of municipalities that need Batavia Downs to be successful," Bassett said. "I mean, their budgets need for us to continue to generate revenues for them so we can help them do things that they would like to do in their own municipalities. They are not interested in us playing politics. They need for us to make good business decisions. As long as I'm the board chair and I will be chair for the next three and a half years, we are going to look at the right business decisions and how we can move this organization forward. And that's not going to be politically motivated."
Bassett, a Democrat representing Monroe County on the board, has a solid business background. In 2021, he retired as the director of Customer Operations at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics in Rochester. He's held various executive-level positions at Bausch and Lomb and Eastman Kodak Company.
The Batavian suggested that Poloncarz’s letter could be read to express a lack of confidence in Bassett and that he wasn't qualified to run the search committee. We asked what defect with the current committee Erie County is trying to cure with its request.
"The current committee lacks representation from the corporation’s largest member, Erie County," Anderson said. "As noted above, Western Region OTB is public, quasi-governmental entity, and Dr. Callan is a known subject matter expert in governmental management and financial procedures."
On Wednesday, Bassett said Callan will participate in the hiring process when he votes on a candidate to fill the CEO role.
Bassett has pledged not to let politics enter into the CEO hiring process, even promising not to inquire about the party affiliation of candidates. The Batavian asked Anderson if Poloncarz/Callan/Erie County was willing to make the same pledge.
Anderson did not make such an explicit pledge, and he did not respond to a follow-up email requesting a more explicit pledge.
He said in his first response, "Erie County’s objective is to find the most qualified candidate possible to lead Western Region OTB for the purposes of maximizing returns to the taxpayers of Erie County. Period."
After the June meeting, The Batavian emailed Callan to ask him why he voted against the buyout/search committee resolution, and he did not respond. So we asked Anderson why Callan voted against it.
"There continue to be outstanding legal and ethical questions regarding the golden parachutes authorized for Henry Wojtaszek and other senior Western Region OTB officials," Anderson said. "Such buyouts are not considered a best practice and, in fact, are illegal for NYS ABO-regulated entities."
Bassett, under the advice of the OTB legal council, has publicly stated that Western Regional OTB is not an NYS ABO-regulated entity.
Anderson is apparently referring to NYS Public Authority Law Section 43-A, which deals with severance packages for at-will employees of public authorities and limits the payout of any severance to three months of salary.
Bassett said Western OTB is a public benefit corporation organized under the NYS Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law and, therefore, not subject to the Authority Law.
"The severance pay limits only apply to employees under Chapter 43-a," Bassett said. "The same is true of Henry Wojtaszek. As such, the New York State Severance Pay Limitations Act does not apply to Mr. White Miss Leach or to Mr. Henry Wojtaszek."
Anderson said the payouts are not a "best practice" in the business world. Bassett, with 51 years of corporate experience, says they are. (This reporter has received two contract buyouts as an executive with corporations during his career, and in both cases, when adjusted for inflation and relative executive positions, they were comparable to the buyouts offered to the OTB executives.)
In New York, all authorities, not just OTBs, similar to private businesses, are authorized, if not expected, to operate as businesses and follow standard business practices based on a ruling in a 1958 lawsuit, Civil Service Forum vs. New York City Transit Authority.
Authorities have the power to do all things "necessary or convenient to carry out its purposes," and "unlike other agencies performing governmental functions, (the authority) is required to run the transit system like a business, in that its facilities must be operated on a self-sustaining basis. Recognized business practices should be permitted."
In 1976, the Office of the Comptroller issued an opinion regarding the Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation and came to the same conclusion.
The establishing statute for OTBs gives the board the power to "appoint officers, agents, employees ... and to fix their compensation ... and to "make contracts ... and execute all instruments necessary or convenient to accomplish its corporate purposes."
In a follow-up email, The Batavian asked Anderson to address contradictions between his statement and the evidence of standard business practices, as previously reported, but he has not responded.
Zak and Abby Jantzi, the first married couple to combine for wins in both the male and female divisions in the GLOW Corporate Cup. Photo by Howard Owens.
Zak and Abby Jantzi, representing Bontrager Auction and Real Estate, on Thursday, became the first married couple in GLOW Corporate Cup history to combine for wins in the male and female divisions.
Zak, who also won in 2023 and placed second in 2022, finished in first place with a time of 16:15. Abby topped all female competitors with a time of 20:41.
"We love this race," Zak said. This is, I think, our third year. Bontrager has been really competitive with it. I feel like it's sort of like the main event on our calendar. We're both post-collegiate runners, so just doing community events is really great for us. It's something that, as a couple, we really enjoy to run and train, so it's really just a great event to enjoy."
The first GLOW Corporate Cup was in 2014. It is a fundraiser for the YMCA. Besides the race, the event features a picnic in Centennial Park, called After GLOW, with each participating company setting up a tent and sharing in a meal.
More than 800 runners and walkers signed up for the event this year, said key organizer Steve Tufts, a broker with a primary corporate sponsor, Merrill Lynch.
"I'm really thrilled that we're practically back to where we were (before the pandemic)," Tufts said. "We didn't have a race in 2020. Most races across the country took about 40% hit on participation. We only took 20% in 2021. ... We're looking for it to be another record again next year."
There is no accurate count on how many people were present for the After GLOW, which includes company employees who didn't run and family members, but this year's music entertainment, the Fleetwood Mac tribute band Songbirds drew an unprecedented crowd—at least 100 people not affiliated with any of the participating businesses. No previous bands have anywhere near that draw.
"Our first responsibility is to raise funds for the YMCA," Tufts said. "They're the beneficiary of all our efforts. So, our goal is to make sure we raise adequate funds (for the Y). The secondary goal might be, as you said, benefit to the general community, whether it's a free concert or whatnot. There is no Picnic in the Park any more. Maybe that'll come back some day. I think people miss that. And maybe live music. Maybe there's another company out there in the Batavia/GLOW region that would like to take on another project. We certainly encourage other companies to do something."
With Abby Jantzi's win, an interesting streak among female winners was broken. It's the first time since at least 2015 that a woman with a name other than Kimberly won the female division.
Kimberly Mills has won the race seven times, including in 2023 (Abby finished second in 2023 and 2022). Kimberly Vona, with Batavia Downs, won in 2018 and 2017. Mills did not run this year nor in 2018. She came in second in 2017. Records for the 2014 race are not available online and The Batavian, in its coverage of 2014, did not include the name of the female winner.
In the male division, Zak joins two other men who have won in consecutive years. Collen Mulcahy won in 2016, 2017, and 2018. John Schnitter also recorded consecutive wins in 2019 and 2021 (there was no race in 2020).
YWCA of Genesee County Executive Director Jamie Rada, left, and volunteer Judy Fuller. Photo by Howard Owens.
There have been a few homes for My Sister’s Closet at YWCA of Genesee County over the years, and a new leadership not only celebrated the latest venue that accommodates more clothing but also frees up space for additional staff and offerings, Executive Director Jamie Rada says.
Rada was hired in September 2023 with a personal and professional goal to support and improve the lives of the most vulnerable populations, a goal she has begun to manifest through a community food pantry, an expanded clothing and accessories closet and additional prevention educators for the Batavia agency.
“So the purpose of this move was that Pathstone used to be down here, and when they moved out, it was double the space of the closet that we used to have. So that gave us the ability to increase the amount of clothing we have, and help more women in the community. The great thing with this closet is none of the money that supports domestic violence went to the renovations. Jagged Edges, who is here today, donated the money for us to redo this closet,” Rada said Thursday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the North Street site. “And also what this does by being down here, it gives us the opportunity to use the old closet for crisis counseling services and prevention education. So we'll be able to help more people in the community.
“We've been told by a lot of people that crisis counseling is something that's really needed in this community. So we just got a grant for that. We're very excited,” she said. “And we just got a grant for prevention educators. So we'll have a couple of new staff that will be going in the old closet (space). And then where My Sister's Closet clothing was, where we would do the drop-offs, is now a Community Food Pantry. So that is opening August 16.”
The agency will work with Foodlink to supply the food pantry and, in turn, the community. Rada estimates that this will assist 200 to 250 families a month.
As for My Sister’s Closet, Rada describes it as “a consignment store,” but one that doesn’t look or smell like you’re walking into a secondhand shop.
“It looks like a boutique,” she said. “Because a lot of the people who come here may have a lot of other stuff going on in their lives, we want them to feel dignified, we want them to feel like this is a nice place to come. So anybody from the community is welcome to come. And we do have many people who come into the community to shop here.
“But also any women that are in our program for domestic violence, they shop for free. We help them with outfits for interviews. If they're going to try to get a job, we help them because a lot of times, women will come here with nothing but the clothes on their back if they're trying to get out of a situation,” she said. “So we always help them with new clothes as well. So that's why this closet is so important to us.”
Amanda Lowe and her team at Jagged Edges Salon in Batavia donated the funds for a closet makeover, and salon staff was on hand to help with the grand reopening.
Judy Fuller, one of YWCA’s 2024 Women of Inspiration award recipients honored for volunteering many hours coordinating and managing My Sister’s Closet, lovingly calls the place “my baby.”
“It helps the community, it helps women get back on their feet, and it helps DV women. It’s here for them, and they come in and get very slightly used or brand new clothing for free or at a good price.”
She enjoys the direct customer interactions and helping out women who stop by to shop, Fuller said.
“It makes me feel good that they can come in, and it gives them some feeling of pride like they’re not being charities to them, that they’re actually getting something at My Sister’s Closet,” she said.
For hours and more information, go to ywcagenesee.org.
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City of Batavia, NY Position: Full-time Building Maintenance Worker. Salary: $20.60 - $24.45/hour. The City of Batavia is accepting applications for one full-time Building Maintenance Worker. The work involves a variety of mechanical and other building maintenance tasks. Applicant must have a minimum of two years of full-time paid experience in general building construction or maintenance work, or an equivalent combination of training and experience indicating ability to perform the duties of the job. Civil Service applications may be obtained at City Hall in the Human Resource Department. Please send completed applications to Teri Dean, Employee Payroll/Insurance Clerk, One Batavia City Centre, Batavia, NY, or via email to tdean@batavianewyork.com by September 20, 2024. Background check, psychological assessment, and physical/drug testing required. Candidate must become a resident of the County of Genesee or any adjacent town to the County of Genesee within 6 months of the date of conclusion of the probationary period for the City of Batavia. EEO
