The Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual who has put forth extraordinary effort to assist the New York State Association of City and Village Clerks, promote the goals of the Association, and provide support and help to Clerks and those similar positions across New York State.
Daniel Borchert has earned the coveted Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation and the Registered Municipal Clerks (RMC) designation, as well as served on the Executive Committee of the NYSACVC from 2006 until 2012. Mr. Borchert served as NYSACVC President from 2010-2012 and has been the NYSACVC Treasurer from 2018-2024.
Dan has always gone above and beyond to provide support and help to our members, assisting the Association in any way possible, usually without being asked. Over the years Dan has served steadfastly with knowledge, integrity and dedication.
NYSACVC is honored to award the 2024 Distinguished Service Award to City Financial Clerk Daniel Borchert of the City of Batavia.
“Almost 20 years ago, the Genesee County Economic Development Center developed a concept to bring the next generation of emerging businesses to Genesee County. This led to the development of the Science Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) in the town of Alabama.
“Through the years, STAMP has been fortunate to receive significant financial support from our federal, state and local government partners which has been contingent on our commitment to bringing these next generation of businesses and the significant number of good paying jobs and economic impact that come with them. This support has also resulted in hundreds of inquiries from companies and site selectors in the United States and internationally. This strong interest in STAMP continues today.
“As such, the GCEDC Board and staff remain resolute in our vision to bring these jobs and capital investment from companies in the advanced manufacturing, renewable energy and semiconductor sectors. We also need to be mindful of continuing to build out infrastructure at the site, including the electric substation, which is a critical aspect of bringing these companies to STAMP.
“Regarding the latter, two projects not in targeted industry sectors have approached the GCEDC with an interest in coming to STAMP. At this time, the GCEDC Board and staff is considering applications from these applicants, both of which are proposing to construct data centers at STAMP.
“In assessing projects such as data centers, the GCEDC considers several different factors, including assessing the number of good-paying jobs in the local community created, the footprint of this type of project and its electric and water needs with the intent of minimizing its impacts so we can further our continued efforts in bringing to STAMP the types of companies that can create significant job and economic growth that we are targeting for at STAMP. Advanced manufacturing, renewable energy and semiconductor sector projects often require a much larger footprint. They can have significant infrastructure needs that must be considered when evaluating applications for projects such as data centers.
“We are obligated to our government partners and Genesee County residents to carefully vet applications to facilitate local economic growth and development, which fosters investment and job creation to benefit our residents and children.
“In this instance, a decision will ultimately be made on whether the proposed projects fulfill our vision for STAMP. We look forward to working with companies and stakeholders as the GCEDC Board considers these applications.”
Patricia Lawlor has been steeped in the works and study of religion for more than three decades, from her time as religion education coordinator for the Catholic Church and its Diocese, and more recently as spiritual director of the Mercy Spirituality Center in Rochester, though her path was headed in a much different direction early on.
While preparing to become a dentist in a pre-dental program at Nazareth College, Lawlor had to take a religious studies course, and ended up in a world religion class with Sister Joan Margaret Kunz.
“Her teaching, the way she presented the material; it just broadened my sense of who God was, and it changed my life,” Lawlor said during an interview with The Batavian. “I changed my study to religious studies, and the rest is history.”
Lawlor will be facilitating a workshop for “The Experience of Prayer” from 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 2 at Batavia First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main St., Batavia.
She will begin the session by defining prayer and identifying which definitions seem most appealing to people.
“And then we are going to really try to build upon their own prayer experiences,” she said. Lawlor will explore three types of prayer, and participants will actually do some praying so that they can try out the prayer styles for themselves and share how it went within small break-out groups, she said.
There is a style called Gospel contemplation, the prayer of St. Ignatius Loyola, prayer with scripture — “using our imagination as if we were actually present during the story of the scripture” And another one of Lectio Divina, which takes a passage of scripture, and “we have the opportunity to listen and then choose a word or phrase and then just spend time praying with the word or phrase, to explore what it’s saying to us.
“And in between all of these, we’re going to be sharing what the experience was for each person, and I’m hoping to do that, dividing them up into small groups,” she said. “And then the final one, if we have time, we’re going to do a centering prayer experience, and centering prayer is about praying in silence and with the sense of going into our heart and into the deeper part of ourselves and listening to God to speak to us.
“I think it’s going to be fun,” she said. “You can be a complete novice who’s kind of curious about prayer or has some notion about prayer. It can be for people who have experiences of prayer.”
What would you want people to walk away with after this workshop? “I’m hoping this will lead them into an experience of prayer that is beyond rote prayers — the 'Our Father' prayers that we say in worship — beyond the prayers that we say to an opportunity to have a conversation and a deeper relationship with God,” she said. “So the styles of prayer that we’re going to be exploring are styles of prayer that lead us into one-on-one relationships with God. These styles of prayer can be done on a regular basis or they can be done here and there.
“You know, each person is attracted to a variety, to a different style of prayer, gospel, contemplation,” she said. “Some people may be attracted to it, some not. That's why I want to give them different experiences to see if we can find something that they may be attracted to.”
Let’s face it, life is difficult these days — with destruction from wars abroad and more regional natural disasters, the rough and tumble political landscape, and all of the myriad other personal and professional problems that people encounter —but prayer can be about more than seeking to have your requests met, Lawlor said.
“I think this is leading people beyond the style of prayer of telling God what we want God to do. It's leading us more into a style of prayer in which we listen, and in the end, in which will help us to cope with everything that's going on in our world today … there will be people there that will be on both sides of the election; some will be disappointed, some will be thrilled,” she said. “And how do we take all of this to our relationship with God and more of a listening rather than telling God what we think should happen. So it's more of a being present to the situation that we are facing, and through prayer, becoming an instrument to bring compassion and peace into the world.”
The Rev. Roula Alkhouri of Batavia First Presbyterian said that she hadn’t thought about the close timing of a prayer workshop and upcoming election just three days later, but “this workshop will definitely be a help to give participants a sense of peace and a sense of connection to others at a deeper level than the pollical divisions we are experiencing today,” she said.
“There is a lot of anxiety about the election this year and finding ways to stay grounded in love, in peace, and in community is of great help,” Alkhouri said. “My hope for our community is to expand our experiences of prayer. Prayer is often presented as the words we say to God, asking for things we want, but that is only one way of prayer. At its heart, prayer is about union with the divine. It is about connecting to the source of our life and love. The contemplative forms of prayer that Pat will be helping us experience will help people access their inner wisdom, peace, and divine connection.”
Contemplative prayer, which uses silence, the imagination, the scriptures, or gentle movement, is “powerfully transformative and healing,” she said.
“Through contemplative prayer, we can learn to let go of anger, need for control, hate, judgment, guilt, shame and fear and to trust the love that is eternal,” she said. “One of my favorite writers, Thomas Keating, used to teach about the power of contemplative prayer to heal the distressing emotions of our search for happiness through the emotional programs for happiness of control, esteem, and security. For most of his ministry, Keating taught people Centering Prayer, which is a form of meditation. Centering Prayer helps people to find fulfillment through the inner freedom to love, which we all can access.”
Lawlor ended up with a bachelor’s in religious studies and went on to obtain a master’s degree in theology and a certificate in spiritual direction. She lives in East Irondequoit and looks forward to what unfolds during the two hours in November.
Stanley T. Hooker, 32, of Batavia, is charged with menacing 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, and harassment 2nd. Hooker is accused of threatening another person on Sept. 27 with a knife during a fight on Spencer Court. He was arraigned and released.
Lakara D. Johnson, 34, of Dellinger Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Johnson is accused of shoplifting at Walmart at 2:57 p.m. on Oct. 8. Johnson was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.
Ajia R. Hasenauer, 31, of Rochester, was arrested on Sept. 30 on two warrants. The first warrant stems from an incident where Hasenauer allegedly took another person’s vehicle without permission. She was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle 3rd. The second warrant was issued after Hasenauer failed to appear in court, after being issued a misdemeanor traffic ticket. She was arraigned and released.
Peter M. Costantino, 63, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd and endangering the welfare of a child. Costantino is accused of fighting with a neighbor while two children were present on Sept. 28. He was arraigned and released.
Alicia M. Lyons, 44, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Lyons was allegedly on Kwik Fill property on Oct. 1, after previously being barred from the property. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Christopher L. Rebmann, 51, of Attica, was arrested on Sept. 25 on a warrant. The warrant was issued after Rebmann allegedly failed to appear in court on an appearance ticket for criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. He was arraigned in City Court and released.
Vanessa and Lola’s Legacy, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, will host a raffle on Saturday, October 12, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Tractor Supply Company in Batavia during the store's vaccine clinic.
The raffle features donations from local businesses, including a Yeti cooler from Batavia Tractor Supply and a $20 gift card from Stan’s Harley Davidson. Proceeds from the raffle will help cover veterinary bills for Rottweilers and Pitbulls battling cancer.
In addition to the raffle, Vanessa and Lola’s Legacy will collect food donations for cats and dogs to support homeless individuals in collaboration with Independent Living. Donors who bring a bag of pet food will receive five raffle tickets.
Raffle ticket prices are as follows:
2 tickets for $5
5 tickets for $10
12 tickets for $20
Payment can be made via Venmo at @VLLegacy or PayPal at @VanessaLolasLegacy.
Organizers encourage community members to participate in this fundraising event to support local pets in need.
City of Batavia Manager Rachael Tabelski announces the appointment of Tom Phelps, to the position of Director of Public Works for the City of Batavia. Phelps was selected following an extensive search for candidates.
Phelps has served the City of Batavia since 2019 in the roles of Building Maintenance, and Superintendent of Water and Wastewater. Previously he was the General Manager of the Palm Island Indoor Water Park and a special events and entertainment entrepreneur and business owner.
Phelps has a wide background in budgeting, government purchasing, maintenance, building construction, ordinance and employee management.
“I am delighted that Tom will take over the Department of Public Works (DPW) and continue the tradition of operational excellence. He has been a steady and dedicated leader in the City these last four years. His strengths include finding cost saving measures, prioritizing preventative maintenance and overseeing improvement projects at the Water and Sewer Plants,” said Tabelski.
As Director of Public Works, Phelps will jump into many ongoing and new projects in the City including the Police Facility construction, City Centre entrance project, water plant improvement project, wastewater treatment plant (sludge removal, bypass system repair, aeration, etc.) capital improvements, Cohocton/Walnut water line replacement, Pearl Street water line replacement, GIS projects, lead line identification and replacement, ice rink chiller replacement, and HVAC and roof repair projects across City facilities.
In addition, Phelps will oversee the Bureau of Water and Wastewater, the Bureau of Maintenance, the Inspection Bureau, and Engineering Bureau of the City.
The Mission of the Public Works Department is to:
1. Provide adequate, safe and environmentally sound water supply, water distribution, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment processes.
2. Provide safe and efficient vehicular and pedestrian transportation of streets and sidewalks.
3. Provide sufficient, safe parks and facilities for all citizens and visitors to the community.
4. Provide basic building maintenance services to all City owned facilities.
5. Provide for the administration of the New York State Building Code, Zoning Laws, Building Permits, Planning, Zoning, Historic Preservation and Property Maintenance Ordinances.
“I look forward to leading the DPW for the City of Batavia to continue to serve citizens and visitors of the City. This department has many talented and dedicated employees who I am proud to work with. The breadth and depth of the work done by the DPW is sizable from providing clean drinkable water, and eliminating solid waste, to mowing, tree trimming, facility maintenance, and snow removal. The Department is always active,” said Tom Phelps, Director of DPW.
Phelps currently lives in Pavilion with his wife and daughter, as well as having two adult children that are outside the home. In his free time he enjoys camping with family and friends on the family property in Allegany County. Phelps volunteers his services at the Genesee Valley Rotary Camp, Batavia Police Night Out, WoofStock, and Chamber of Commerce Annual Award Ceremony.
File photo. Groundbreaking for Edwards Vacuum earlier with year, with Sen. Charles Scumer in the center of the group. Photo by Howard Owens.
Press release:
After announcing that Edwards Vacuum plans to build a manufacturing facility in Western New York two years ago, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer today announced Edwards Vacuum has reached a $18 million preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) funding agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce under the CHIPS & Science Law he championed. This proposed federal funding will support Edwards Vacuum’s plans to build its new $300+ million dry pump manufacturing facility for the semiconductor industry, the first of its kind in the country, as there is currently no domestic production of semiconductor-grade dry vacuum pumps.
“This investment will ensure an essential part of the semiconductor supply chain – that will be surging in demand – is made right here in Genesee County. I am proud to announce my CHIPS & Science Law is investing $18 million in Edwards Vacuum’s expansion in Western New York, creating the first dry pump vacuum manufacturing facility of its kind in America,” said Senator Schumer. “From Micron to GlobalFoundries, all the major semiconductor companies in New York and across America need vacuum technology for their chip fabs, that only Edwards will make in the USA. A historic $300+ million manufacturing facility like this, with over 600 good-paying jobs, was only a dream a few years ago. But I urged Edwards Vacuum to expand in Western NY because I knew this region had the potential to become the beating heart of America’s semiconductor supply chain.”
Schumer added, “This continued investment by the Biden administration is proof positive the value of our region as a ‘Tech Hub’ and America’s emerging semiconductor superhighway. Today, Edwards Vacuum’s plans to expand in Western NY move forward. And that dream becomes one step closer to becoming a reality thanks to my CHIPS & Science Law.”
Today’s proposed federal funding will support a planned $300+ million investment and 600+ good-paying jobs when the facility reaches full production capacity. Schumer explained all chip fabs need vacuum technology like what Edwards makes to power the sophisticated equipment and state-of-the-art machine tools needed to make microchips. Those tools need and use vacuum pumps, like those that will now be made in Western New York, to manipulate the chip wafers to manufacture the finished microchips. By bringing manufacturing to New York, new chip fabs such as Micron and GlobalFoundries in New York, and Intel in Ohio can have access to critical dry pumps that will now be made in the U.S., offering chip producers shorter wait times, improved responsiveness, and reduced CO2 emissions from an American-made product.
This is the third agreement for a New York company from the CHIPS Incentives Program funded by Schumer’s CHIPS & Science Law. Earlier this year, Schumer announced that Micron, which plans to invest $100 billion over the next two decades – the largest private investment in New York’ s history – reached a $6.1 billion CHIPS PMT funding agreement. In addition, GlobalFoundries in the Capital Region also reached an agreement for $1.5 billion in direct grant funding under his CHIPS & Science Law to support a $12.5 billion public-private investment over the next ten plus years to expand and construct a second, new state-of-the-art computer chip factory in Malta, NY.
Schumer added, “The CHIPS & Science Law keeps delivering for New York. We are seeing more targeted federal investment in this region to bring back manufacturing than ever before, and awards like this show that the I-90 corridor truly is becoming America’s semiconductor superhighway.”
“New York State is a national leader in reshoring advanced manufacturing and research and this could not have been accomplished without the combination of the federal CHIPS and Science Act and New York State's Excelsior Jobs Program,” Governor Hochul said. “As a result, Edwards Vacuum is bringing 600 good jobs to Upstate New York, bolstering our semiconductor ecosystem, and setting the stage for regional success. This is proof that when we work together the sky's the limit, and none of it would be possible without the partnership of the Biden-Harris Administration, Commerce Secretary Raimondo and New York’s congressional delegation."
Schumer has been a relentless champion for expanding the semiconductor supply chain in Western NY. Schumer personally called Geert Follens, President of the Vacuum Technique Business Area for Edwards parent company Atlas Copco Group, to urge the global semiconductor supply chain company to expand in Upstate New York. Later that year Schumer announced with Governor Hochul that Edwards Vacuum had heeded their calls and planned to build their new manufacturing facility in Genesee County. Earlier this year, Schumer celebrated Edwards Vacuum’s groundbreaking ceremony in Genesee County for Phase 1 of their construction which is expected to be completed in 2028.
Schumer last year also helped the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region win the prestigious Tech Hub designation through his CHIPS & Science Law and earlier this year secured a historic $40 million investment to implement the Tech Hub’s work with companies like Edwards. The proposal called the “NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub” has built on the historic investments Schumer delivered that have spurred a boom in semiconductor manufacturing and innovation across Upstate NY. Edwards Vacuum is working with Genesee Community College and Tech Hub partners like Monroe Community College, Erie Community College, and the Northland Workforce Training Center to help them hire and train hundreds of new workers.
Thanks to Schumer’s CHIPS & Science Law, Upstate New York has seen a major revival in tech manufacturing. Micron has announced plans for a historic $100+ billion investment to build a cutting-edge memory fab in Central New York. GlobalFoundries plans to invest over $12 billion to expand and construct a second, new state-of-the-art computer chip factory in the Capital Region. In the Mohawk Valley, Wolfspeed has opened a 200mm silicon carbide fabrication facility, one of the largest, with plans to further expand their operations. TTM Technologies, a printed circuit board manufacturer, plans to invest up to $130 million to expand their facilities in Onondaga County, creating up to 400 good-paying jobs. Menlo Micro will invest $150 million to build their microchip switch manufacturing facility in Tompkins County, creating over 100 new good-paying jobs. In addition, Upstate New York is home to semiconductor supply chain companies like Corning Incorporated, which manufactures glass critical to the microchip industry at its Canton and Fairport, NY plants.
The PMT outlines key terms for Edwards Vacuum’s CHIPS agreement. To finalize the federal CHIPS agreement, the Commerce Department will now begin a comprehensive due diligence process on the proposed project and other information contained in the application. After satisfactory completion of the due diligence phase, the Commerce Department will finalize the PMT.
The Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble (GVWE) will host its Fall Concert on Saturday, November 23, at Elba Junior/Senior High School, located at 57 South Main St., Elba. The concert is set to begin at 4 p.m.
The GVWE aims to provide the Greater Genesee Valley audience with both new and familiar live music while offering its members the opportunity to perform challenging wind ensemble literature. This concert also creates a opportunity for the conductor and musicians to enhance their collective musical talents.
Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (55+) & Veterans, $5 for students (with ID), and children 5 years old & under are Free.
The featured works of art for the evening include:
The Pride of Camillus by William Palange
Scenes from the Louvre by Norman Dello Joio
Some Treasures Are Heavy with Human Tears by John Mackey
Norwegian Rhapsody by Clare Grundman
Dans Bacchanale by Saint-Saëns, arranged by Jay Bocook
Roman Holiday by Alfredo Antonini, arranged by John Cacavas
Marvin Hamlisch Showcase, arranged by Warren Barker
Alan Silvestri: A Night at the Movies, arranged by Michael Brown
Veni, Veni, arranged by Chip Davis, adapted by Robert Longfield
Solid Men to the Front by John Philip Sousa
The concert will conclude with a special holiday encore
The conductor for the evening will be Philip J. Briatico, conductor and founder of the GVWE.
For more information, please contact the Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble at geneseevalleywindensemble@gmail.com or visit their website at www.geneseevalleywindensemble.org. Follow them on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
Grandview Cemetery is holding its 2024 Annual Holiday Wreath Sale. Wreaths are approximately 24 inches and it includes a red bow, berries, and pine cones.
These wreaths can be for your door or for the grave of a loved one. Pick-up dates are Saturday, November 23, and Monday, November 25 at the Cemetery Maintenance Garage from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The Cost of the wreaths is $27 each. To order please call Joyce at (585)343-0877 or the Office at (585)993-1317 by October 31st. All proceeds assist in the maintenance of our beautiful cemetery.
The Rotary Club of Batavia is inviting the Batavia and Genesee County communities to join in a Disaster Relief fund to aid the people devasted by the recent hurricanes and resulting floods in the southeast region of the country.
The local club voted unanimously on Tuesday to match the local community’s total donations up to $5,000.
“Because time is of the essence, we are seeking monetary donations deemed to be the fastest and most effective way to help the thousands of people impacted by these latest storms,” said Batavia Rotary Club President Michael Hodgins.
Persons or groups wishing to make a cash donation are urged to make checks payable to: The Rotary Club of Batavia and bring those checks to Lawley Insurance, 20 Jefferson Ave. in Batavia between 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. weekdays. The deadline for donations is noon on Monday, October 14. All cash raised will directly benefit relief efforts across disaster areas in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
Rotary clubs across the nation play a crucial role in assisting the affected areas. By leveraging their extensive network and resources, Rotary clubs can mobilize quickly to provide immediate aid, including food, clean water, and medical supplies. Additionally, Rotary members can volunteer their skills for rebuilding efforts, help coordinate disaster response activities, and support long-term recovery projects.
However, during the initial phase of any disaster recovery, the most important way to assist an impacted area is through cash donations.
Donations may be tax deductible in accordance with IRS regulations.
Look for this quilt and many others at The Museum Quilt Guild Show on Friday, October 18, and Saturday, October 19, at the Alexander Fireman’s Rec Hall. Submitted photo.
Press Release:
What do Yo-Yos, T-shirts, Hexagons and Cathedrals have in common? They are all types of quilts! You can expect to see these and more at The Museum Quilt Guild’s show on Friday, October 18, and Saturday, October 19 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The display will be at the Alexander Fireman’s Recreation Hall on Route 98 in Alexander.
The quilts are all made by guild members. There will be more than 150 quilts for the public to view. Some are full-size bed quilts- think warm and cozy to sleep under; some are throw quilts to wrap in while watching your favorite TV show or with a book; and some are wall hangings to be used as a beautiful wall décor.
All are made for the love of quilting, as a relaxing activity that has been shown to help reduce stress! It’s a great sense of accomplishment to complete a one-of-a-kind creation! We have members of all abilities, from beginners to seasoned award winners. We provide inspiration and new ideas for each other. We welcome new members to join our guild. We meet at the VA on the 3rd Saturday of the month.
The display quilts are not for sale, but there will be hand-made articles in our boutique that you may purchase. There is also a beautiful bed quilt that we are raffling off, as well as a silent auction and a basket raffle.
Proceeds of the show help to support our community service projects that we do throughout the year. We donate lap quilts to the cancer centers to provide comfort and warmth to cancer patients during treatment. Other quilts are donated to the VA, ARC, Head Start, All Babies Cherished and Crossroads House among others.
Admission to the show is $6 with children 10 and under admitted free. For more information about the show, please visit our website at www.themuseumquiltguild.com or call Elaine at 585-880-0456.
Photo taken this week of the former Odd Fellows Hall, 6177 Main Road, in Stafford. Photo by Howard Owens.
James Pontillo, owner of the former Odd Fellows Hall in Stafford, located at 6177 Main Road, in the middle of the hamlet, is under court order to produce architectural plans drawn up by an engineer for renovations of the building along with proof of the financial means to complete the project.
The court order, signed by Judge Diane Y. Devlin, Genesee County Supreme Court, is similar to multiple demands made by officials in the town of Stafford over the past decade.
James Pontillo, file photo from July. Photo by Howard Owens.
The deadline for Pontillo to produced plans was Oct. 3, but the court appearance scheduled that day was canceled because one of the attorneys in the case couldn't appear. It's unknown if he met that deadline. He has until Oct. 17 to provide proof that he can afford to complete the project.
The Odd Fellows Hall was built in 1890. It is 5,978 square feet. Pontillo acquired it at auction for $40,000 from Terry Platt in December 2010.
Since then, Pontillo has seemingly struggled to remodel and restore the building. He's often pointed to the town of Stafford officials as obstructionists. Town officials have prodded him repeatedly over the past decade to submit remodeling plans in order to obtain building permits and to bring the building up to code. There have also been questions about his financial ability to complete any effort to bring the building up to code.
At times, Pontillo has also complained that the owners of a neighboring property also hinder his ability to complete exterior work requested by the town.
As early as December 2010, town officials noted Pontillo's lack of follow-through on presenting plans to the town, according to public records obtained by The Batavian through a Freedom of Information Law request filed with the town.
On at least four occasions, code enforcement officers have issued notices of code violations with orders to correct those violations. Pontillo's efforts to comply with those orders often seem to be incomplete.
There have been issues with the roof, the exterior covering of the building, electrical boxes, and fire protection measures.
In 2017, code enforcement officers determined the building had numerous deficiencies making the building "clearly unsafe,” that it was "neglected,” that it presented a "threat to life and safety,” and it was unfit for habitation.
That was until at least June 2017, when an inspector from Pathstone informed Pontillo that an apartment did not meet HUD quality standards and would not be eligible for Section 8 assistance if the deficiencies were not cured within 24 hours.
On Aug. 10, 2017, the building was posted with a "not to be occupied" placard.
On at least three occasions, Pontillo was informed by the town that he needed to submit renovation plans completed by a licensed engineer in order to receive a building permit.
At a town board meeting on Sept. 12, 2016, town officials complained that Pontillo was doing work in the building without obtaining the proper permits.
Odd Fellows Hall in July, the day a group of volunteers joined James Pontillo and his wife in clearning up the property. Photo by Howard Owens.
After obtaining the building, Pontillo seemed to have lofty plans for it. In 2016, he told The Batavian he was planning to completely restore the building and open a quality pizza restaurant. To that end, he had already installed large pizza ovens along with other kitchen equipment. He also had ambitious plans to remodel the upstairs apartments.
Those plans have seemed to go nowhere and the building has fallen further into disrepair.
In July, the town filed a lawsuit against Pontillo. The proposed order submitted by attorney David Roach, representing Stafford, was for Pontillo to provide proof he can afford to complete work in the building and provide documents on the scope of the project.
Devlin's order, filed on Sept. 5, is more specific.
By Oct. 3, Pontillo was ordered to "provide to Plaintiff the scope of the project (project objectives; project schedule; and project budget for construction work on the building located at 6177 E. Main Road, Stafford, New York) as prepared by Matthew Hume or another licensed architect or professional engineer."
By Oct. 17, Pontillo was ordered to "provide to Plaintiff documented proof that defendant has the financial resources (e.g line of credit statement; loan approval statement; financial account statement) to complete the scope of the project."
All parties are scheduled for their next court appearance on Oct. 17.
It's unclear what will happen if Pontillo doesn't comply with the court order.
In a memo to the Stafford town board on Aug. 17, then-town attorney Mark Boylan intimated that the town could be on the hook for a significant expense to either bring the building up to code or demolish it. Those costs might not be recovered at auction. Such an auction could only take place if Pontillo fell sufficiently behind in taxes for the county to foreclose on the property or if he deeded the property -- for free -- to the town. The cost of demolition could be significant if any environmental hazards were discovered on the property.
Photo taken this week of the former Odd Fellows Hall, 6177 Main Road, in Stafford. Photo by Howard Owens.
Sid the goat and Rem, his big beautiful best friend, snuggle in what began as survival and ended up as a nightly ritual of family bonding and true warmth at Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary in Byron. Photo courtesy Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary
As founder Jonell Chudyk and volunteers prepare for the annual Fall Festival at Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary this Saturday, they are doing so with eagerness for newcomers to visit the farm and 47 rescued occupants — from ducks and chickens to donkeys, cows and pigs — while also with heavy hearts about loss in the way any animal lover would.
“Mockingbird has suffered the loss of three beloved senior animals this fall; we are devastated,” Chudyk says. “We haven’t had a death all year, and then we had three. We’re really struggling.”
Although they were senior animals, the lives of Sid, Lucy and Ferris were treated with utmost care and respect. They were overseen by a veterinarian and tested, diagnosed and treated with the expertise of Cornell University and thousands of dollars as part of extraordinary measures taken within the guardianship that Mockingbird vows to provide for each and every creature under its roof.
In the end, they died of terminal cancer, an unbeatable foe. But this isn’t about the ending; it’s about how it all began for one of these characters — Sid the goat — who liked to hobnob with his furry friends as his personality and reputation grew ever more endearing on the farm.
How it all began Chudyk was alerted to Sophie, a Holstein cow found in a field all by herself a few years back, and went to get her and bring her back to the farm. While there, Chudyk saw another cow and a goat nearby and asked, “What about these guys?”
“The neighbors were like, well, the woman who lived next door and actually initially rescued these animals, she fell on hard times. Her home was a foreclosure and she was not allowed to come back onto the property. So the neighbors promised that they would do their best to take care of these three," Chudyk said. "But that turned into they had no shelter, no consistent food, no consistent water. So the neighbors really loved Rem and said they had plans of moving them onto their property. So we took Sophie that day in a blizzard. She was the first to get here. That was in 2018."
As time progressed “We stayed in contact with the neighbors and I said, I'd really love to reunite this family if and whenever there comes a time. So if you guys ever get to the point where Rem needs to move, we will always take them. We will always keep space,” she said. “So a couple years later, I think it was 2021, they called, and they said, unfortunately, we have to move. Will you take them? Absolutely. So we brought them home. And when Sophie saw, especially Sid, I sobbed. We all sobbed. It was Sid, at this point he was 15 or 16. He jumped like four feet in the air. I have a picture of it. He was so happy, and they were running around the pasture like, oh my God, my family, we’re back together.”
Sid and Rem in the pasture at Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary in June. Photo courtesy of Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary.
And for the next four years, they’ve been a family on the farm, especially Rem, the doe-eyed Jersey cow and Sid the Goat. Chudyk eventually learned that since those two had no stable shelter, Sid would wear Rem as his winter coat, in a manner of speaking, to keep warm. The two were inseparable buddies with a perceptible bond, she said.
Lessons of survival, sharing “Sid learned to survive by crawling next to Rem and pressing himself up next to Rem for body heat. He would walk right over, and he would press himself up against Rem and tuck his head under his neck and soak up all of his body heat, and then eventually lay down next to him every single night, especially in the winter,” she said. “So I started documenting this, just because it was adorable, and when Sid was (nearly) 18, things were not going well … and we knew it might not be long, so I made one video on TikTok (see video below) that explains this story, this love story, and it blew up.
“The next day I had hundreds of messages from social media influencers and everybody from animal rights organizations who wanted to share this story and they did,” she said. “And then we had this wild Rem and Sid following, and I would go live and would post videos of them snuggling at night with Rem’s or Sid’s coat on. Like every night they would just be, it’s precious. It’s just unbelievable.”
The two were super close, she said, and were never without one another. And that closeness translated through the video and across social media to viewers’ hearts. They had at least 10 million views and counting, from the United States and abroad, including England, Germany and the Netherlands.
Remembering a friend to the end Jonell and volunteers wanted to respect Sid’s life every step of the way, including when he entered palliative care. That meant allowing his best friend to be there with him, to touch noses when Sid was on an IV for his nutrition, and after he laid down for his final nap.
After Sid died, his fellow mates, cows River and Cici, visited him first in his bed, and Cici bellowed a knowing grief, Chudyk said. Rem came in next and sniffed at Sid and began to drool a lot, which, according to behavioral studies, indicates emotional distress, she said.
“Rem was just drooling and was just soaking it in, and he knew he was gone, and then he walked away, and then he came back,” she said.
“Sophie came in, and I’ve never seen that look on her face, and her eyes got huge, and she sniffed him from hoof to head, and then she looked in his little bedroom, like, is he in there? And then she was drooling and drooling and drooling, and she just stood there,” Chudyk, a licensed therapist, said. “The feeling in that barn was so palpable. I mean, you cannot deny the animals don’t feel these things. And we’ve all been worried about how Rem would do. Thank God he’s got the other cows and Sophie because they have not left each other’s side.
“Sid was a goat, he couldn’t be out in the beating sun with the cows laying, he had to take care of himself as an old man, so he would sometimes come into the barn to get some shade. And Rem would always kind of just check on him and make sure he was good. But now Rem lays out in the sunshine with the cows, and they’re all four of them just are together all the time,” Chudyk said. “And there is a very deep heaviness of loss on the farm, especially with all three being gone. But Sid was genuinely larger than life, he was the sweetest goat on the planet. He wouldn’t hurt a fly, he would come up to every single person and rub his head on you and he was so kind and gentle, but also so sassy. He was Houdini, he could break out of anything. But just never wanted to be without Rem.”
As hard as it was to talk about the mighty duo, she wanted to share not only their real life tale of survival and overcoming hardship together despite the obstacles, a separation and unlikely pairing, but also the message that shines through it all.
Grieve, and tell the happy stories “I guess I think that at a time when it feels like we as the human species, we're so polarized, and maybe feel like we have very little in common with one another like this, to this story of unlikely friends, like big and small and two different species have kind of, all on their own, shown the whole world how beautiful compassion for one another can be. And I think we really all need that right now,” she said. “And grief is a natural part of life, but supporting one another through that and reaching out to others and crying and telling happy stories, I mean, I still can't look at pictures of them, but yeah, I think at the end of the day, this is just one of a million stories we have here at the farm like this of these bonds. But this one in particular really hit the world.”
This year’s third annual Fall at the Farm Festival and Fundraiser is from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at 5978 Upper Holley Road, Byron. The farm’s goal is $10,000 to cover medical expenses and winter hay for what has been “the most unimaginable heartbreaking month,” she said, so everyone is pulling together for what they hope to be the biggest festival ever.
Visitors can see Rem and his friends, buy some fresh produce snacks for the animals, get a walking farm tour, and shop at the barnyard sale stocked with some “seriously amazing” items and 26 vendors. There will also be a pumpkin patch, raffle baskets, live music, lots of children’s games and activities, a scavenger hunt, three vegan food vendors and a coffee stand, giveaways, face painting, temporary tattoos and a kids craft table.
Suggested donation of $10 at the door includes 10 raffle tickets.
The Batavia Blue Devil Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is proud to announce the recently selected 20th Hall of Fame class. The 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees will be introduced at halftime of the Batavia vs Vertus Charter homecoming football game on Friday, October 18. Game time is at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, October 19 the committee will host the Hall of Fame Dinner at the Batavia Downs Banquet Facility. A social hour will begin at 5 p.m. with dinner served at 6 p.m. and the ceremony immediately following dinner.
The 2024 Inductees are:
Peter Arras
1957 Football, Basketball, Baseball (Contributor)
Tony Kasmarek
1960 Football, Wrestling, Baseball
George Galliford
1961 Athlete: Cross Country, Wrestling, Track & Field
If community members would like to attend the event, they can purchase Hall of Fame tickets in the Athletic Office at Batavia High School or send a check payable to The Batavia Coaches Association at the address above. The cost of the Hall of Fame tickets is $40 per adult and $20 for children under 10.
Tickets must be purchased by Friday, October 11. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Athletic Director’s office, (585) 343-2480 x: 2003.
David Wagenhauser, candidate for New York's 24th Congressional District, spent an engaging day in Genesee County, connecting with constituents and discussing the issues that matter most to the community.
The day began at the Pub Hub in Batavia, where Wagenhauser held a coffee meeting with residents from across the district, fostering open dialogue about local concerns and priorities, including the local cost of living, jobs and our threatened Medicare and Social Security.
Following the morning gathering, Wagenhauser hit the streets for a door-to-door campaign effort, personally meeting with individuals - where they live - to hear their thoughts on the challenges they face every day.
"It’s important to me to listen to the voices of the people. Their stories and experiences are what drive my commitment to serve this district. I've heard you and I want to make your life a little better. We deserve a break," Wagenhauser remarked.
In the afternoon, Wagenhauser visited the charming Autumn in the Village event in Corfu, beautifully organized by dedicated local volunteers. "It’s good to be back home," Wagenhauser said. "I lived in Batavia - where we also had an office for our family business - and my children attended Holy Family School in Leroy. This community holds a special place in my heart."
As he campaigns for the seat in New York's 24th District, which spans 14 counties from Watertown to Niagara, Wagenhauser remains focused on addressing the needs of his friends and neighbors here in Genesee County.
He is running against incumbent Claudia Tenney. For more information about David Wagenhauser’s campaign or to get involved, please visit DaveforUpstate.com.
HomeCare & Hospice proudly serves Allegany, Cattaraugus, Genesee, and Wyoming counties is offering presentations about the services they provide.
HomeCare & Hospice is a licensed home care program allowing patients with short-term needs or chronic conditions to remain safely in their own homes. Hospice and palliative care programs, also available through HCH, are a multi-disciplinary approach to end-of-life care providing physician oversight, nurses, social work, spiritual care, aides, and volunteers to ensure patients and their caregivers’ needs are met wherever they call home.
“Something we hear often is ‘we wish we would have called you sooner’”, said Nikki Wiseman, Chief Nursing Officer at HomeCare & Hospice in Allegany. “We want the communities we serve to understand and know that they have options when it comes to end-of-life care and we look forward to providing more information to local organizations.”
To schedule a presentation at your organization, please contact Nikki Wiseman, HomeCare & Hospice Chief Nursing Officer, at 716-372-2106 or visit www.homecare-hospice.org for more information.
The City of Batavia Fire Department is sponsoring the 11th annual Fire Prevention Week Coloring Contest. This is a coloring contest open to students from grades Kindergarten- Fifth Grade. “Our hope is to get the children to discuss safety with their teachers, other students and parents/guardians.”
Information has been distributed to City schools, but we wanted to include any home schooled children in the City of Batavia School district as well. Copies of the official coloring page and contest rules are available at City of Batavia Fire Department, 18 Evans Street or by contacting Lieutenant Bob Tedford at rtedford@batavianewyork.com. We encourage all eligible students to participate.
The 2024 Fire Prevention Week (October 6-12) theme is “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!” Additional information can be found at the Fire Prevention Week website www.FPW.org.
Smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a home fire, but they have to be working in order to protect people, “This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign drives home just how important it is to install, test, and maintain smoke alarms to ensure they’re working properly.”
Any posters wishing to be entered need to be at the Fire Station located at 18 Evans Street in Batavia no later than Tuesday, October 15 at 4 p.m.
Judging of the posters will take place October 13-17. The winner of each group will receive a ride to school on a City Fire Engine, and be invited to a special awards luncheon with their family held at the fire station. Second and third place finishers in each group will also be invited to the fire station awards luncheon.
The UR Medicine Mobile Mammography Van will be providing breast screenings at Batavia Downs.
The van will be available on October 23 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot at Batavia Downs.
This service offers advanced 3D mammography screenings targeting women aged 40 and older. It's an easy, quick process that provides the same quality of care as an in-office visit.
To schedule an appointment, call 1-844-870-0002 or email mammovan@urmc.rochester.edu. You can also visit their website at mammovan.urmc.edu for more information.
Marlarie Joanne Smart, 37, of Pembroke, and Melani Lynn Maloney, 43, of Pembroke, are both charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th. Smart and Maloney, sisters, are accused of working together to steal $112.90 in merchandise from Walmart by "skip scanning" while checking out. Both were issued appearance tickets.
Joni Marie Johnson, 49, of Millicent Avenue, Buffalo, is charged with resisting arrest and petit larceny. Johnson is accused of stealing merchandise from Dick's Sporting Goods at 6:20 p.m. on Oct. 4. She was held pending arraignment.
Timothy Dennis Clark, 54, of Charwood Circle, Rochester, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th. Clark is accused of working with another person to steal merchandise from Dollar General on Townline Road, Byron at 9:26 p.m. on Sept. 30. Also charged, Ryan Michael Bobzin, 35, of West Bergen Road, Bergen.
Oliver Thomas, 33, of Elba, is charged with DWI, driving on a restricted license, following too close, and consumption of alcohol in motor vehicle. Thomas was stopped at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 2 on Route 63 in Batavia by Deputy Jeremiah Gechell.
Edward Micahel Gorski, 42, of Genesee Street, Pembroke, is charged with criminal contempt 2nd. Gorski is accused of violating a stay-away order by going to the protected party's residence in Pembroke at 6:21 p.m. on Oct. 3.
John Robert Kormos, 55, of Parma, Ohio, is charged with DWI, drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle, and moving from lane unsafely. Kormos was stopped at 9:24 p.m. on Oct. 5 on Oak Orchard Road, Elba, by Deputy Zachary Hoy.
Morris Marquis Taylor, 34, West Barre Road, Albion, is charged with felony DWI, speeding, and drinking alcohol or using cannabis in a motor vehicle. Taylor was topped at 2:34 a.m. on Oct. 6 on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Jacob Kipler. He was held pending arraignment.
Business Improvement District merchants in downtown Batavia invite families in the community to participate in the Annual Business to Business Trick or Treat this month.
This is a fun and safe way to trick or treat and get to know area businesses and the services they offer, merchants say. This event is from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 26. It is free to the community and is sponsored by the participating BID businesses, which will be identified by a purple sign in their establishments.
Look for a full list of participants at bataviabid.com. Grab your mask and come downtown for a fun-filled day.
Town Court Clerk Below are two lists: one details the myriad responsibilities that fall within the purview of the court clerk; the other summarizes the knowledge and abilities that court clerks possess or acquire through training. These lists are provided so that a judge and municipality can intelligently discuss the benefits that a court clerk can provide. The items below can also form the basis for a list of job duties should a municipality need to fill a vacancy in a court clerk position. Primary Responsibilities A. Maintain confidentiality of records and information when required to do so B. Prepare court calendar C. Collect monies, reconcile daily receipts, deposit receipts, prepare reports for monthly disbursements, reconcile bank accounts, and prepare administrative reports D. Enter convictions on drivers' licenses and prepare conviction reports electronically transmitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles E. Enter criminal conviction on NCIC reports and electronically send same to Division of Criminal Justice Services F. Respond to inquiries-in person, by phone, by e-mail and by mail-and provide assistance to lawyers, litigants, media, and members of the public G. Prepare monthly reports that are electronically sent to the Office of the State Comptroller H. Prepare orders, summonses, warrants and other court forms i. Communicate with outside agencies in order to coordinate the Court's activities and provide services to litigants. Such agencies include: ii. Law enforcement agencies, such as local police departments, New York State Police, Sheriffs office, FBI and CIA, US Armed Forces, and the Office of the District Attorney; I. Other courts, including superior courts and other local town and village courts; and i. Miscellaneous county agencies, such as Community Service, Community Dispute Resolution Center, Pre-trial Release, Probation, Stop DWI program, Victim Impact Panel, and Youth Court. ii. State agencies that require periodic reporting, including the New York State Unified Court System, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Office of the State Comptroller, the Division of Criminal Justice Services, and the Office of Court Record Retention. J. Examine court documents to ensure their accuracy and completeness K. Receive and file summonses, traffic tickets and other documents for court proceedings i. Assist the Justice at the bench during all Court proceedings Knowledge of: 1. The functions and organization of the Unified Court System ii. Basic legal terminology, codes and abbreviations iii. Court forms, practices and procedures, including those set forth in the Uniform Justice Court Act and the Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts (22 NYCRR Part 214) 2. Ability to: i. Prepare judicial orders and decisions ii. Effectively communicate information orally and in writing iii. File and retrieve materials, extract data from various sources for entry onto court form iv. Research and interpret laws outlined in court documents and litigants' motions and other papers v. Perform mathematical tasks in order to compile court activity reports, total receipts, accept payments, and verify bills vi. Refer to appropriate documents, statutes, citations or other sources in order to respond to specific questions from attorneys, litigants and members of the general public vii. Interpret policies, statutes, rules and regulations and apply them in specific contexts viii. Establish work priorities ix. Constructively manage conflict with court users Qualifications: Highschool diploma recognized by the NYS Dept of Education or appropriate equivalent. Along with 4 years of college, specialization in criminal justice, law, business administration or related field. -OR- 2 years college with specialization in Business Administration or related field. Please email your resume to abrownell@townofbatavia.com no later than 12/16/2024. Pay is based on experience.
