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.

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

Press Release:

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.

• Alexander Central School and Afterschool Activities Canceled
• Pembroke Central School District closed
• Elba Central School 

Please submit cancellations and closures to: news@thebatavian.com.

On Saturday, the Corfu Fire Department gathered for its Annual Awards Dinner and Installation of Officers, celebrating the dedication and service of its members.

The evening began with a remembrance as outgoing Fire Chief Greg Lang led a candle lighting ceremony to honor department members who have passed. The ceremony recognized Sharon Franklemont, Al Platten, and Mildred Murczek.

In his Chief's Report, Lang shared that the department responded to 170 calls over the past year, reflecting the hard work and commitment of all members.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Firefighter of the Year award, which was given to Tyler Lang. His heroic actions earlier in the year were highlighted, particularly his quick response in saving a young girl who was pinned under a car following an accident. In a touching moment, Lang then presented his father, Greg, with the Firefighter of the Year award as well, recognizing his leadership as fire chief over the past five years.

The event also included recognition of Mercy EMS employees for their support and collaboration with the fire department. 

Chief Lang expressed his gratitude, saying, “We want to show our appreciation to Mercy EMS for everything they do to help our community.”

The evening concluded with a heartfelt speech from Brad Lang, who spoke about the strength of the department’s bond and the importance of community. 

Reflecting on the values of family and service, Brad said, "This community doesn’t work without the people you’re surrounded by right now." 

Other top awards included:

Service Awards 

• Paula Trapani
• Matt Lenhard

Most Training Hours

• Wesley Cliff

Most Calls

• Greg Lang - 90
• Bruce Fauth - 80 - top responder
• James Hale - 79
• Matt Lenhard - 79
• Jacob Stiles - 77

Years of Service

• Brian McMartin - 40
• Greg Lang - 35
• Dean Eck - 30
• Jen Eck - 25
• Jim Hale - 10 
• Kelly Hess - 10 
• Brandon Florian  - 5

Photos by Kara Richenberg.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Youth Board is looking for nominations for its annual Youth Recognition Banquet. There are three awards presented at the Youth Recognition Banquet: 

• Youth Recognition Award - this award recognizes young people who have performed exceptional service to the community and/or have assumed extraordinary roles in their families. Typically, the best candidates for this award are high school students, but we also know there are 12-, 13-, and 14-year-olds who exemplify distinctive qualities of service.
• Adult Volunteer - this award recognizes an adult who provides service as a volunteer to youth in Genesee County.
• Adult Youth Worker - this award recognizes a youth service professional whose work surpasses normal expectations.

Recipients will be honored at the Youth Recognition Awards Banquet on Tuesday, April 22. Nominations are due by Friday, February 14.

For more information or to receive nomination forms, please call the Genesee County Youth Bureau at 585-344-3960 or Genesee.youthbureau@dfa.state.ny.us . 

The forms are also on the Youth Bureau page of the Genesee County website, www.geneseeny.gov/Department-Content/Youth-Bureau.

Press Release:

Batavia Downs President and CEO Byron Brown announced today that Batavia Downs will hold several events across Valentine’s Weekend, February 14 – 16, including Valentine’s Day specials inside of Fortunes Restaurant, the Brew Fest on Saturday, and a special Sunday Brunch inside of the Genesee Room.

On February 14 and 15 Fortune’s Italian Steakhouse will feature a Dinner for Two special that includes $80 in Free Play and choice of several Prime Rib and Seafood combos. Drink Specials, A la carte entrees, and appetizers will also be available. Full menu can be found on the Batavia Downs website or Social Media pages. Reservations are highly recommended by calling 585-FORTUNE (367-8863).

Also on Saturday the 15, the 6th annual Batavia Brew Fest, presented by Genesee Brewery and Rohrbach Brewing Company, will run from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. For $30, attendees receive 2 and a half hours of beer sampling from many WNY breweries along with light snacks and $15 in Free Play. Hotel packages that include tickets are available as well. Tickets are available now at BataviaConcerts.com and the Lucky Treasures Gift Shop located in the lobby of the main entrance of Batavia Downs.

Finally, on February 16, Valentine’s Ballads and Brunch at Batavia Downs will be held inside of the Genesee Room with seatings at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Brunch will consist of a live omelet station, Breakfast Buffet and a complimentary Mimosa for those 21+. $5 Bloody Marys will also be available for purchase. Light Music will be provided by Matt and Mandy. Full Menu can be found on the Batavia Downs website or Social Media pages. Cost is $25 per person with each person receiving $15 in Free Play when a reservation is made. Walk-ins will receive $10 in Free Play. Please call (585) 344-6143 to reserve your spot.

Press Release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) released the following statement on her appointment to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI).

Established in 1977, HPSCI is responsible for overseeing the U.S. Intelligence Community, which encompasses the intelligence and related activities of the U.S. Government, including the Military Intelligence Program.

"I am honored to have been named to serve on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for the 119th Congress, and thank Speaker Johnson for this prestigious appointment. At this pivotal moment in our nation's history, I am committed to ensuring that our intelligence community has the resources and support necessary to strengthen our national security capabilities. Facilities such as Fort Drum, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, and Rome Lab in upstate New York are critical to our national security. I am dedicated to advocating on behalf of these premiere defense sites as a part of our critical national security asset base. I look forward to working with President Trump, Speaker Johnson, HPSCI Chairman Crawford, and my colleagues to strengthen our defense capabilities and uphold essential oversight of our nation's intelligence operations," said Congresswoman Tenney.

“In an increasingly dangerous world with hot wars around the globe, multi-faceted threats from China, and terrorists within our borders, the mission of our intelligence community is vitally important. Congress has a responsibility to conduct thorough oversight of these intelligence systems to ensure we are safeguarding the American people and our national interests while also strictly adhering to the Constitution," said Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

260 Ross Street, Batavia-City, New York 14020 *GREAT NEW PRICE WITH AN OWNER WILLING TO LISTEN TO ALL REASONABLE OFFERS!*. Super solid and well taken care of 3 bedroom ranch home ready for your immediate occupancy!! This home is clean, freshly painted thru out and has been well maintained and upgraded thru out the years!! This adorable home has a lot to offer and will surprise you with all that you can’t see by driving by! The home is well laid out starting with large living room with pretty hardwood floors, oversized eat in kitchen and awesome huge pantry! There are three large bedrooms with hardwoods as well as plenty of closet space. One currently has laundry hookups should ups should you need/want first floor laundry capabilities! Downstairs is HUGE and provides a lot of additional living space! Partially finished with full bath it makes a fabulous recreation area. There is also tons of storage space and a place to have small workshop area as well. Not only is this home located in great quiet neighborhood but is located on half acre plus lot-the backyard will surprise you as it is fully fenced and private with large deck that overlooks a beautiful wooded lot not visible from the road! Check this one out for yourself! Call Reliant Real Estate today; call 585-344-HOME (4663)

Press Release:

Join the Genesee County Master Gardeners for their monthly Garden Talk programs starting February 6, at noon.  Master Gardener Denise K. will be our host for “Right Plant, Right Place.”  Did you know that plants have preferences for the types of sites where they prefer to grow?  Denise will discuss how soil influences your garden plants, as well as what other basic environmental factors influence plant growth.  By understanding your site, you will be able to pick the right plants to match your growing conditions.

March 6 – “Adaptive Garden Tools” with Master Gardener Brandie W.  Adaptive garden tools can help make gardening easier and more comfortable for people with physical limitations.  Gardening should and can be a therapeutic and enjoyable activity for people of all abilities.  Whether you have limited mobility, strength, perception, or dexterity, there are tools and methods available to help you be a successful gardener.  Adaptive gardening tools not only enhance accessibility, but also empower individuals to create and maintain beautiful and thriving gardens.  Learn more about which adaptive tools may benefit you and help you overcome barriers and experience the joys of gardening again.

April 3 – “Diagnostic Tips for Gardeners” with Master Gardener Jan B.  What’s wrong with my plant?  The art of plant disease diagnosis is a bit like being your own garden CSI.  We’ll help you hone your Sherlock Holmes skills so that you can use your powers of observation and reasoning to identify plant disease problems.  Is it fungal, bacterial, viral or not a disease at all?  We’ll also cover some basic management techniques.

Future Garden Talks and other Master Gardener events will be posted on the CCE Genesee County website http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/events.

Garden Talk programs start at Noon and can be 30 to 60 minutes long, depending on the topic.  This free series is open to all, but registration is required.  You can attend in person at the CCE office (420 East Main Street, Batavia) or via Zoom. 

Many of our Garden Talk programs are recorded and posted to our CCE Genesee YouTube page at www.youtube.com/channel/UCaXK_W80PkoUBj-HBm8OFMA/videos .

To attend in person please contact Elizabeth at 585-343-3040 x101 or emk268@cornell.edu.  To register for a Zoom link, visit the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County website at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/events.  A Zoom link will be sent to your email with your personal link to the event.

“CCE of Genesee County is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.”

Among the highlights for the South Byron Volunteer Fire Department in 2024 was the purchase of 11 air packs with 22 cylinders using $91,000 in grant funds, according to Chief Brian Hickey.

"In turn, in good fortune, in our brotherhood, the well-maintained air packs (being replaced) were donated to New Hope Volunteer Fire Department in Kentucky," Hickey said.

The department installed officers and presented annual awards at its annual dinner at the South Byron Fire Hall on Saturday evening.

The department has 22 active members and responded to 62 calls in 2024, with no reported injuries or deaths.

The newly installed firematic officers for 2025:

• Brian Hickey, chief
• Scott Blossom, deputy chief
• Vito Muoio, assistant chief
• Chase Cone, captain
• Al Secash, 1st lieutenant
• Mathew Dougherty, 2nd lieutenant
• Haley Rimmer, engineer
• Reggie Macdonald, fire police captain
• Theresa Hammer, fire police sergeant
• Dan Rimmer, fire police corporal

Administrative officers for 2025:

• Reggie Macdonald, president
• Robert Wilson, vice president
• Alfred Klycek, treasurer
• Elizabeth Penkszyk, secretary
• Theresa Hammer, membership chair
• Roseanne Klycek, sunshine chair

Auxiliary Board for 2025

• Theresa Hammer, president
• Haley Rimmer, vice president
• Roseanne Klycek, treasurer
• Melody Stone, secretary
• Theresa Hammer, party chair
• Melody stone, sunshine chair

The first phase of a $16 million apartment complex on Alleghany Road in Pembroke is nearing completion, and reservations for one- and two-bedroom apartments are being accepted.

The anticipated move-in date for new tenants is April 1, said developer Michael Schmidt.

Schmidt owns a parcel at 8900 Alleghany Road that has been approved for four buildings. Each phase, each building, consists of eight one-bedroom units and 16 two-bedroom units for a total of 96 market-rate units at build-out, along with 168 parking spaces and garages.

"We're ready," Schmidt told The Batavian during a tour on Friday of the complex under construction. "We took our first reservation today; somebody who wanted this lower one down here, we just walked past. So we're gonna let people pick (what unit they want)."

The rentals are currently listed on Zillow.

The one-bedroom units are 680 square feet and rent for $1,295 a month. The two-bedroom units are 900 square feet and go for $1,595.

That doesn't include utilities but free wi-fi and basic television service (a QR code on each unit's router allows the tenant to purchase premium services).

When entering the one bedroom, you will be essentially walking into the kitchen, which contains a refrigerator and an island with a stove and dishwasher. The unit will also have a microwave oven.

The bathroom is 3/4 (shower only, no bathtub). 

On entering the two-bedroom, you step into the dining area. Between the kitchen and dining area is a countertop that can seat three or four people.  It will also contain a refrigerator, stove, microwave, and dishwasher.  It will have a full bath.

Both units contain a stacked clothes washer and dryer.

There is central air in all units.

Tenants will have the option to rent a storage closet in the building or a garage.

The floors will be covered with vinyl tile, with carpet in the bedrooms, over a poured gypcrete. The gypcrete provides both fire protection and soundproofing. There are also 12-inch beams between the floors, Schmidt said, providing further soundproofing.  The walls use resilient channels to baffle sounds between units.

"That's going to be really good on sound, super efficient," Schmidt said. "We've got 900 square feet in the two bedrooms and 680 square feet in the one bedroom, so that's a nice size. It's not overly big, but they're super high efficiency, so I think people will be really happy."

Tenants will be allowed to own a small dog or cat.

With cabinets and other fixtures arriving in the next few weeks, it won't be long before the units are finished, and Schmidt said he will furnish two units. For one thing, that will give him demo units for photos and virtual tours, but he also anticipates there will be future tenants who want furnished units, especially to support workers at Darien Lake and WNY STAMP.

Whether Schmidt constructs the other complexes on the parcel will depend on whether the demand he anticipates for apartments on the Route 77 corridor materializes.

The project, on an 8.2-acre lot, which had an initial cost estimate of $15 million, is supported by the Genesee County Economic Development Center with a sales tax exemption on building materials worth $739,200, a property tax abatement of $2 million, and a mortgage tax abatement of $130,000. 

The town has been great to work with, Schmidt said. Stringent but fair.

"I haven't gotten a lot of love from them, and I mean that sincerely," Schmidt said. "I like Jim (James Wolbert, code enforcement officer) but he hasn't been like wink and nod. There's been no 'Hey, we want the project so we're gonna let you slide out of stuff.' He's busted our chops on every single nit."

It isn't that way in other jurisdictions, Schmidt said. For example, even though the garage complexes have no electric and no heat, the walls between fire units must be fire-rated.

"Nobody does that," Schmidt said. "All those units will be fire-rated. There's no electric, no heat, but Jim's in charge. If you want to have a building, the inspector always wins, so what he wants, he gets. He hasn't cut us any breaks but that's okay. You can't be upset with somebody for doing their job."

Previously:

• Town planners give go-ahead to travel center and apartments proposed for Pembroke
• Shadow of Ellicott Station throws shade on apartment plan for Pembroke, developer promises no low-income housing
• Developer explains why he's seeking GCEDC assistance on 96-unit apartment complex in Pembroke
• Pembroke supervisor sees the need for 96-unit apartment complex, but zoning code should be reviewed
• Pembroke supervisor sees need to 'pump the brakes' on apartment development, modify zoning code

Press Release:

GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare is building momentum for its third annual hands-on career exploration event for students to experience healthcare careers.

More than 600 students from Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties will take part in the event, held at Genesee Community College on March 17. Students will learn first-hand about exciting career opportunities in the healthcare sector by meeting representatives and professionals from a variety of healthcare organizations, careers, and training programs.

“The support of our regional sponsors play an integral role in the success of GLOW With Your Hands,” said Angela Grouse, Co-Chair, GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare. “We ask for your help in motivating the future leaders of our community to these impactful careers.”

“Since 2019, GLOW With Your Hands: Manufacturing and Healthcare have welcomed over 5,000 local students, educating them about the abundant local opportunities while providing businesses an interactive event to engage with those interested in pursuing a career in healthcare,” said Karyn Winters, Co-Chair, GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare. “By supporting this year’s event, our sponsors grow real opportunities for our students.”

Sponsorships for the March 17 event are available at the Platinum ($5,000), Gold ($2,500), Silver ($1,000), and Bronze ($500) levels.

For more information about GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare sponsorship, please visit https://www.glowwithyourhands.com/healthcare-sponsors-and-vendors.

Press Release:

Get in-person tax help and e-file for free at Richmond Memorial Library this tax season Richmond Memorial Library is pleased to partner with volunteers from the New York State Department of Tax and Finance to offer income-eligible citizens assistance with filing their taxes online this tax season.

Tax Department employees will walk you through your income tax returns, step-by-step, as you complete and e-file your tax return for free.

• If you earned $84,000 or less in 2024, you qualify. 
• Safe and secure online tax software.
• Use on-site computers, or your own laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
• You only need basic computer skills and an active email account.

Sessions will be offered on Thursdays –February 6, February 13, February 20, February 27, March 6, March 13, March 20, March 27, April 3 and April 10. Appointment slots are 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. 

Those interested must schedule an appointment. For more information or to make an appointment, contact the library at 585-343-9550 x3 or visit the reference desk. 

Richmond Memorial Library is located at 19 Ross Street in the City of Batavia. Find the library online at batavialibrary.org.

When she suggested that the city of Batavia could lower its tax rate by 50 cents earlier this week, City Manager Rachael Tabelski reserved other aspects of her proposed 2026 budget for more formal discussions, including the biggest expenses, utility increases of $300 a year for an average family, and being able to maintain a same level of services.

UPDATE 1/18/25: Tabelski said on Saturday that the 2024 estimated water and sewer total of $600 that she provided was incorrect and did not include meter and capital improvement fees. That number should have been $850, making this year’s increase about $50 for a family of four.

City Council has agreed to a budget workshop schedule that is to begin Jan. 27. However, Tabelski agreed to review the $22.4 million general fund budget Friday, the first time she had done so before council workshops began, she said. 

What are some key takeaways?  
Two drivers of budget expenses are a $628,000 increase in health insurance costs and about $400,000 more in retirement fees, she said. 

The unassigned fund balance is at a healthy 21% level, which is close enough to the ideal percentage of 25%, she said. As a result, Tabelski is suggesting moving $526,000 from that fund balance into the general fund revenue to help balance it out with expenses. 

The property tax levy is expected to be $7.2 million from a total taxable assessed value that increased by $102 million from this last year, she said, and a flat sales tax to be at $7.8 million.

“We typically do not see an increase in value like this in the city of Batavia. Not only have residential property sales and comps and the hot seller's market contributed to this increase but so has the reassessment of commercial properties that have done work and added to their value. So we're seeing the economic development strategies starting to actually add value to the overall assessment,” she said. “And when we add new assessment, especially in our commercial buildings, we're spreading out the tax payments across the community and across the residential properties as well. So the point being, it's always great to add value, especially in commercial buildings to your city.” 

In 2017, the city started tracking all of the projects being managed by the private sector, in addition to what was being tracked in the public sector, “and we've had over 152 million in completed projects, 30 million right now under construction, and another 70 million planned by 2028,” she said. 

“So again, the investment in the private sector projects will equate to increased tax base over time,” she said.

Video lottery terminal revenue is not being used because there is no guarantee from year to year that the city will receive this aid and how much it will get, she said. The recent yearly amount has been $440,000.

Major expenses include $10.5 million for public safety, $5.1 million for public works, $4.9 million for health care, $2.9 million for retirement, $1.2 million for street and sidewalk repair and replacements; $540,000 of capital costs — vehicles, buildings, and parking lots/sport court resurfacing; and $1 million being put away in reserve to pay the first bond payment for a new city police facility when that time comes.

“The goal is to not let our debt payment affect the taxpayers,” she said. 

The city’s debt service, paying off prior purchases, still includes construction of City Hall, a fire truck, water project, and now the $15.5 million police station will get added to the list.

The property tax rate may decrease by 50 cents per $1,000, which would mean a rate of $8.46 per $1,000 assessed value, or a savings of $50 a year on a home assessed at $100,000 if assessments are stable from last year.

Tabelski has proposed water and sewer rate increases. A 1% water increase would add 6 cents per 1,000 gallons, and a 3% sewer rate increase would tack on 9 cents per 1,000 gallons. A family of four can expect its total annual bill to be about $900, she said, including water, sewer, and the meters and capital improvement fee (which are not slated for an increase).

In 2024, she estimated that the family of four’s total would be $149 per quarter, or a total of $600, making this new water and sewer bill $225 a quarter, or $300 more per year.  

In an inflationary world, with rising labor, supplies, and materials costs, “the city will need to continue to prepare for economic unpredictability and continue to invest in infrastructure and safety for our citizens,” Tableksi said in her budget message.

In order to do that, priority must be placed on security, health, and safety of city employees and residents, she said.

Speaking of infrastructure
More than $4 1/2 million has been invested into the water plant to “keep it going for the next, we’d say, 15 years,” she said.

“We’re about 85% done with the projects inside of that. We again partnered with the county with Phase Three moving forward of the water project, we still see the plant being able to continue to produce water with these investments for about the next 15 years. And then, if we need to continue to use the plant, we’ll have to look at more investments,” she said. The wastewater treatment plant, we're planning for multiple projects, including sludge removal, some bypass systems. Our wastewater plant is one of the most unique systems east of the Mississippi. There's no other plant like it in New York. It's a fully biological system, unlike all other wastewater plants in New York, which are chemical systems.”

The new ice rink chiller system will be installed once the season is over this spring, the Bank Street streetscape project will continue this summer, another main Cohocton and Walnut water project bid has just been awarded for a spring construction start, and the Austin Park playground has been delayed due to New York State parks legal easement language that had to be inserted into the documents since grant money is tied to that project, she said. 

Street and sidewalk resurfacing and replacement is scheduled in this budget for Kingsbury, Watson, Morton, Ganson, South Spruce and Union Square, using $900,000 of consolidated highway improvement program (CHIPs) funds and two parking lot mill and repavings near City Centre.

There will be a tree removal and planting project to add 1,000 trees to the city’s urban forest over the next three years, mainly in the Fifth and Sixth wards, with a portion also in the Second Ward, she said.

The first budget session is set for 6 p.m. Jan. 27 at City Hall. 

To view the proposed 2025-26 budget, go HERE.

Plug Power, the green hydrogen manufacturing firm based in Lathan, with a plant under construction in the town of Alabama, has closed on a $1.66 billion loan guarantee with the U.S. Department of Energy.

The loan guarantee has been under negotiations for months and closes just days before President Joe Biden leaves office.

“Finalizing this loan guarantee with the Department of Energy represents a significant step in expanding our domestic manufacturing and hydrogen production capabilities, which create many high-quality jobs throughout the U.S.,” said Plug CEO Andy Marsh in a release. “In addition to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing the resilience of the U.S. energy grid, we believe the hydrogen economy aligns closely with national security interests, ensuring that the U.S. remains at the forefront of energy technology development and deployment on a global scale.”

Based on prior reporting, it's unclear if Plug intends to use a portion of the loan funds to complete its $290 million green hydrogen fuel plant under construction in WNY STAMP.

Chris Suozzi, VP for business and workforce development at the Genesee County Economic Development Center, reportedly told a Washington, D.C.-based commercial real estate firm that Plug Power's STAMP project is on hold.

However,  throughout the negotiations process, Plug Power has publicly maintained that it intends to use the fund to complete six plants, which has previously included the local plant.

In a release on Thursday, Plug stated:

The loan guarantee will help finance the construction of up to six projects to produce and liquify zero- or low-carbon hydrogen at scale throughout the United States. Plug’s Graham, Texas, green hydrogen plant, the first to benefit from this financing, will create hundreds of high-quality jobs. Powered by an adjacent wind farm, Plug’s green hydrogen production plant will utilize the company’s electrolyzer stacks manufactured at its factory in Rochester, N.Y., and its liquefaction and storage systems built at its facility in Houston.

The company already has operational plants in Georgia, Charleston, Tennessee, and Louisiana.

The loan is for $1.55 billion in principal, and Plug is expected to pay $107 million in interest.

The DOE release states:

Advancing clean hydrogen is a key component of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to building a robust clean energy economy that creates healthier communities, strengthens energy security, and delivers new economic opportunities across the nation. Today’s announcement will help unlock the full potential of this versatile fuel and support the growth of a strong, American-led industry that ensures the United States remains at the forefront of the global economy for generations to come. Plug submitted its application to LPO in November 2020. 

The release states the Plug is positioned to build out clean hydrogen facilities in several potential locations and to supply its national customer base with end-to-end clean hydrogen at scale.

This project advances President Biden’s efforts to strengthen domestic clean energy supply chains, which are essential to meeting the nation’s ambitious climate goals and enhancing our national and energy security.

The DOE expects that hydrogen from the plants will fuel cell-electric vehicles in material handling, transportation, and industry, which could result in an 84 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional hydrogen production. 

The clean hydrogen facilities will utilize Plug’s electrolyzer stacks that are manufactured at the company’s state-of-the-art gigafactory in Rochester, NY and will use modular designs to ensure a resilient hydrogen fuel delivery network. Plug is among the leading commercial-scale manufacturers of electrolyzers in the United States and currently operates the largest Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer system in the United States at its Georgia hydrogen plant. 

The DOE explains the process:

Electrolyzers use electricity to split water into its component parts, hydrogen and oxygen. Plug’s PEM technology allows it to operate efficiently even with variable electricity, enabling it to leverage electricity from intermittent renewables. Electrolyzers that use renewables to power their hydrogen production produce emissions-free clean hydrogen. The electrolyzer stacks can be easily configured to produce systems at 1 megawatt (MW), 5 MW, and 10 MW scales. (One MW powers the equivalent of 750 American homes based on their instantaneous demand.)

Wall Street's reaction to the news of the loan? A 7% drop in the stock price, bringing it down to $2.44 a share by the close on Friday. 

The Motley Fool stock news site suggests history is working against Plug in investor's minds. 

In its 28-year history, Plug has never turned a profit. The company has reported reported $1.4 billion in losses. It also has $930 million in debt already on its books.

Press Release:

The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Genesee County and portions of western and north-central New York. An arctic airmass is forecast to move into the region starting Sunday (January 19) and lasting through the middle of next week.

Key Weather Concerns:

• Bitter Cold Temperatures: At times, temperatures may plunge to 10 to 20 degrees below zero in lower elevations and 20 to 30 degrees below zero in higher terrain.
• Lake Effect Snow: Accumulating lake effect snow is likely east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario from Sunday night or Monday through midweek.

Community Safety Guidance:

• Cold Weather Safety: Residents are urged to protect themselves and others during the extreme cold. The National Weather Service offers cold weather safety tips at www.weather.gov/safety/cold-outreach. 
• Vulnerable Populations: Check on vulnerable family, friends, and neighbors, including older adults, young children, and those with medical conditions. 
• Bring Pets Indoors: Keep pets inside during extreme cold weather if possible. 

Warming Resources:

• Public places and large local businesses may serve as temporary warming locations. 
• During business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day), contact the Genesee County Department of Social Services at (585) 344-2580 for assistance.
• For after-hours assistance, call the Genesee County Sheriff's Office at (585) 343-5000. 

Please prepare now to stay safe and warm during the incoming cold weather. Stay tuned to local news for the latest weather updates, and visit www.weather.gov/buf. 

Alexander improved to 9-2 on the season with a 64-61 win over Oakfield-Alabama in Boys Basketball.

The Hornets, after trailing throughout the first three quarters, mounted a charge in the fourth, scoring 23 points to 11 for the Trojans, but still came up short.

Dylan Pohl scored 24 points for Alexander and Kingston Woods scored 18.

For O-A:

• Avery Watterson, 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block
• Gavin Armbrewster, 16 points, 2 assists, 2 steals
• Gabe Smith, 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block

Oakfield-Alabama is now 6-4.

"I’m very proud of the fight the boys had tonight," said Hornets Coach Ryan Stehlar. "It was a great Friday night high-school basketball atmosphere. We need to learn from this loss and move on to the next game."

Local business legend Tony Kutter passed away on Wednesday at his home in Pembroke, surrounded by his family.

He was 91.

Kutter and his brother inherited their father's business, Kutter's Cheese, in the 1950s, when they were in their twenties and turned it into a business with an international reputation.

In 1995, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Kutter traveled to Russia as part of a trade exchange program to help aspiring Russian entrepreneurs learn how to start cheesemaking businesses.

Kutter himself learned the business from his father, Leo, who learned the trade in Germany after fighting for the Kaiser in World War I and, on the advice of a boss, moved to America, settling in the then-thriving city of Buffalo but dreaming of starting his own cheese-making business.

By the time the Kutter sold the family business to Yancy's Fancy in 1998, Kutter's had worldwide retail reach.

"I've always been adamant about promoting wine and cheese," Kutter told The Batavian in 2010 when Kutter's Cheese was named Agriculture Business of the Year. "We also supply a lot of wineries with cheese for wine tasting."

As part of the exchange program, Kutter made 31 to Russia and Ukraine over 13 years.

In 2015, Kutter published a book about his experiences in Russia, "Cheese in the Time of Glasnost and Perestroika."

Anthony William Kutter was born March 4, 1933, in Cowlesville, to Leo and Flora Kottman Kutter.

He graduated from Corfu High School in 1951. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Korea for two years.

For his full obituary, click here.

Mariah Ognibene led all scorers on Thursday with 22 points to help Elba to a dominating 82-42 win over Holley in Girls Basketball.

Sydney Reilly scored 19 points.

Also, Lidia Ross scored 13 points for the Lancers. Brooklyn Jachimowicz scored eight, and Ava Buczek scored seven.

Photos by Debra Reilly