batavia

Dave and Robyn Tufts held an open house today in the former WBTA building on East Main Street that they are renovating into apartments and office space.  The restoration preserves and enhances the mid-century modern architecture and when completed will contain four apartments and office space. The exterior and one apartment are completed and a second apartment will be done soon. The downstairs office space is build-to-suit ready for a tenant.

Previously: Local developer announces plans to restore and preserve Mid-century building in city's central corridor

Pete Colantonio, of Empire Tractor, goes over some of the controls of a New Holland Skid Loader with Pete Kingston, of Geneseo, during Empire Tractor's Skid Loader Rodeo.

The most skilled entrants can win prizes.

The rodeo involves driving the skid loader through a timed obstacle course.

Empire Tractor, on East Main Street Road, Batavia, is hosting the event through this afternoon and then again tomorrow starting at 9 a.m.

Lunch is being served both days.

Kayode Ayodeji Animashaun, 30, no address provided, is charged with strangulation, 2nd. Animashaun is a detainee at the Buffalo Federal Detention Center on Federal Drive, Batavia, and was allegedly involved in an altercation with another detainee, which was reported Oct. 12. Animashaun allegedly struck the victim and placed the victim in a choke hold causing injury. Animashaun is scheduled to appear in Town of Batavia Court Nov. 30.

This little feline funny face is "Kitler." He was last seen Oct. 12 around the North Spruce Apartments, his home in the City of Batavia. He is very skittish and spooks easily.

If he's in a captive space, please keep him there and contact his mom. If you see him, try to keep an eye on him and contact his mom. He's a big boy. He weighs just over 20 pounds. Zounds! Please help get him home!

Jeanine Messinger is desperately hoping that someone will recognize him. Please call 585-455-0560 if you can help.

Bill and Nancy Brach clearly love their business, Brach Machine, Inc., which is now in its 30th year in Batavia. Yesterday, the Brachs showed a visitor around their shop with verve and eagerness to share the details of what they do, how they do it and why it's important. 

Going through the stockroom of completed parts, Nancy stops and remarks, "These are parts that most people wouldn't have a clue as to what they are."

"I have no idea," the visitor admits.

"Right, exactly," said Nancy, "but there's someone for whom these are a vital part of their business."

Making vital parts for business is what Bill Brach set out to do when he started his business in 1985. Brach machine makes the tools that make it possible for other manufacturers all over the world to make the parts that make our daily lives a little bit easier.

The ignition on your car, die cast. Your refrigerator handle, probably die cast. The sprinkler head on your hose, die cast.

"You've had your hands on hundreds of die castings," Bill said.

When asked to describe his business, Bill has a ready answer that he enunciates clearly in a voice of good cheer that tells you it's a well-rehearsed line intended to precisely describe the business he's in, as precisely as the tools his employees make.

"We manufacture consumable tooling for the high-pressure die-casting industry."

That's it. That's what Brach Machine does. In a nutshell.

High-pressure die casting involves injecting metal in liquid form -- zinc, aluminum, magnesium, copper, lead, and tin -- into molds to make parts, tools and pieces. Brach Machine makes the parts that make the injection possible.

It's no wonder Bill chooses his words carefully. What he does isn't easy and mistakes are measured in fractions of a millimeter. After showing a visitor a tool that can measure a gap that is a quarter of the width of a human hair, Nancy explains such exacting specifications are necessary for their customers to achieve the quality their customers expect.

A tool that comes out of Brach Machine, cut and crafted from a piece of iron with no do-overs, might be worth $4,500 or more. It needs to be cut and shaved and polished to exact specifications. 

That means the people Bill and Nancy hire need to be able to do quality work and have some level of experience suitable to the task. Such employees are hard to find, especially in a tight job market with the unemployment rate hovering near 4 percent.

Brach Machine is advertising for employees more than they ever have and is hosting a pair of open houses to celebrate both 30 years in business and to commemorate Manufacturing Day.

The open houses are Tuesday Oct. 27 and Thursday Nov. 5 with three times available for tours each date: 8 a.m., 11:30 a.m., or 2:30 p.m. Spots are limited, so the open house will be on a first-come-first-serve basis. RSVP to: Tim Gleba, production supervisor, via e-mail tim@brachmachine.com or phone 343-9134.

Prospective employees are welcome as well as anybody interested in one of Batavia's world-class businesses and manufacturing sites in general.

"The thing we want to share with people is this is a place where you can get a job, and it's a good job and it's a stable job and it's a fair-paying job," Nancy said. "It has benefits and we'll keep you here as long as you will stay."

Brian Doktor

Dave Beedham

Al Bailey

Dozens of members of Zonta Club of Genesee County gathered at the Dibble Family Center on Wednesday to stuff care packages with food and household items to give to victims of domestic violence.

Pictured are members of the committee, Ann Marie Brade, Mary Barnard, Beth Kemp, Heather Parker, Rhiannon Hawley, Patti Pacino, Kristen Elkins, and Karen Crittenden.

The time has come, says Town of Batavia Supervisor Greg Post, for town property owners to start paying the piper.

They've enjoyed the benefit, as well they should, Post said, of a zero-rate property tax for 35 years, and over the last 12 or 15 years, gotten that benefit while the town has spent cash reserves to keep its budget balanced.

With a drop in sales tax, increased costs for employee benefits, greater expenses in the highway department, and loss of income on certificates of deposits, the town needs to institute a property tax, Post said.

With only $2 million left in the fund balance, Post said it's time to slow the rate of deficit budgets.

"I don't want to risk our bond rating and the security and the financial future of my successor, and I don't think it's fair," Post said. "To be quite honest with you, it's possible to stretch it right down to the wire and leave and let somebody else figure it out, but I'm not wired that way."

The proposed property tax rate is $1.42 per thousand of assessed value. That will raise approximately $500,000 to help cover town expenses, but Post still projects spending more than $600,000 from cash reserves, leaving a projected fund balance at the end of 2016 of $1.4 million.

The total anticipated general fund expenditure for the Town of Batavia is $4.64 million, down from $4.92 million in 2015. Even with the $300,000 cut in spending, there isn't enough money to go around, Post said.

For the past several years, town revenue has remained flat and in some years decreased, Post said. A big portion of the sales tax that flows into the county (shared by the county government with the various towns, villages and the city) comes from the sales tax on fuel sales. With gas prices dropping from roughly $4 a gallon to nearly $2 a gallon, and the expectation that gas prices won't increase anytime soon, Post is projecting a drop in sales tax revenue for the town of $150,000.

"It's like running a business without no receipts," Post said. "You put a donation in and have a Santa Claus in the front ringing a bell hoping someone will throw enough money in to make payroll every week. That's kind of what it's been like here. You have to really work hard to leverage as many dollars as you can from every funding agency that allocates funds, make grant applications and sustain a model that supports success."

Building a sustainable local economy has been a big focus of the town board for decades, Post said, and those efforts have led to Gateway II with Ashley Furniture, Milton Caterpillar, Sanitary Sewer, and more recently Med-Tech Park and the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.

But those efforts haven't come cheap. The town invested $1 million in infrastructure to support such projects and has had to forgo revenue on construction sales tax and mortgage tax, given away in the form of incentives for developers and business owners. While Post doesn't begrudge those incentives, he says he has to budget with the reality he faces, which means he can't forecast those revenues on any potential new projects in the town, no matter how big.

"If we're not in that market (of tax incentives), then we don't get those projects," Post said.

Those projects have brought into the town tens of thousands of dollars in permitting and zoning fees, Post said.

Also, those projects have increased the total assessed value of property in the town by $128 million, with some $64 million of that increase already out of PILOT exemptions and taxable with the new property tax.

Without that increase in taxable assessed value, local property owners would likely be looking at a property tax of $1.75 per thousand rather than $1.42 per thousand, Post said.

Post praised town employees for doing a great job of finding ways to cut spending and gave employees credit for saving the town about $600,000 in expenditures in 2015, but there's only so much that can be cut, he said. There's a public hearing on the proposed budget Nov. 4 and he invites residents to make alternate proposals to the proffered spending plan.

If board members approve the Town of Batavia's budget for 2016, property owners there will find themselves paying a municipal tax on assessed value for the first time since the 1970s, Supervisor Greg Post said last night after the board passed a resolution moving the proposed budget forward in the approval process.

There will be a public hearing on the budget Nov. 4.

The tax rate would be $1.42 per thousand, creating a levy of $500,000, which would still leave the town's budget with a spending deficit of $600,000.

That's nothing new in the Town of Batavia.

Post, who has been in office for 12 years, said the town has been using its fund balance to avoid a tax levy for 15 years.

With sales tax lagging, income on investments of the fund balance nonexistent, increased pension and health-care costs, and dwindling reserves, the town has little choice but to institute a property tax, Post said.

Post spoke with reporters at length last night about the proposed budget and we will have a more complete on the budget story later this morning.

We will also have stories on the county's proposed budget and the plan to create a new position in the IT department to manage the county's Web site and social media presence, as well as a story about a local manufacturer who is finding it difficult in this tight job market to find qualified employees.

UPDATE: Here's the town tax story: After years of operating at a deficit, Town of Batavia asking land owners to pony up property tax

Christina Volpe, who scored 23.5 points and 15.8 rebounds per game to help lead the 1999 Lady Irish to a 25-1 season and a state championship in 1999, has died at age 34 at home in South Carolina.

Volpe apparently succombed to cardiac arrest. The cause of her heart attack is unknown.

James Johnson, high school sports reporter for the D&C, has a lengthy and well-done story about Volpe posted this morning.

A female employee at Aldi's is trapped inside a freezer. City fire is responding and, as a precaution, Mercy medics. The grocery store is located in Eastown Plaza, 587 E. Main St., Batavia.

Press release:

The Batavia Police Department is in possession of a Camper Trailer Hitch found near the intersection of Vine Street at North Street. Please contact Officer Davis with the Batavia Police Department at (585) 345-6350 to identify and claim this property. 

Article by Serena Strollo-DiCenso, BHS Junior and member of @ct Genesee.
Photo by Howard Owens of: Anita Strollo, Scott Wilson, Kevin Keenan, Sandy Martin and Jen Zambito.

When Federal Drug Free Communities Support Program funding ended after 10 years, the committed individuals from the Genesee Drug Free Communities Coalition continued to meet on a regular basis to determine the scope of their work. Renamed @ct Genesee Coalition, their vision is simple; they want to keep Genesee County, its youth and its families healthy, safe and substance free. 

Working closely with the WNY Prevention Resource Center, this coalition is basing their coalition development on the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), a proven model that helps coalitions choose data-driven actions that result in sustainable change. @ct Coalition members understand that local problems require local solutions.

“We recently developed a community survey to help understand Genesee County’s needs and concerns regarding substance use and abuse," said @ct Genesee Coalition President Anita Strollo. "Following this framework will not only help our process, but will ensure outcomes, and put us on track for future grant funding.

"The SPF comes down from the federal and state levels and it’s what they look for when assessing which coalitions are doing the right things for their communities. Those are the communities that are considered for money. Money is pretty important."

The coalition meets regularly at Batavia High School at the invitation of Scott Wilson, @ct Genesee vice president and Batavia High School principal. @ct Genesee is seeking new members who are like minded and who will pick up the mantle and join their efforts.

“We are always looking for new members with fresh ideas," Wilson said, "whether you want to attend meetings or run fundraisers, everyone has something to contribute.” 

The community survey will be distributed shortly and the coalition can use the information gained to focus their energies toward what will best suit Genesee County.

“What the community needs to know is that we are here and we care,” says Strollo. 

The next meeting of @ct Genesee Coalition is at noon at Batavia High School on Nov. 17. The meetings usually run one hour. For more information, please contact Anita at (585) 813-5371 or e-mail anitastrollo@yahoo.com.

Brandon C. Smart, 38, of River Street, Batavia, is charged with trespass and harassment, 2nd. Smart allegedly refused to leave a home on Summit Street and threatened to kill the residents. He was jailed on $500 bail.

Brad Michael Prinzi, 34, of Batavia Elba Townline Road, Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speed violation, operating without vehicle inspection certificate, inadequate plate lamp. Prinzi was stopped at 12:27 a.m. Tuesday on Townline Road, Bergen, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Brodes J. Gibson, 54, of Thorpe Street, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful fleeing, 3rd, reckless driving, DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st. Officer Christopher Lindsay attempted to stop Gibson for alleged traffic violations at 7:44 p.m. Oct. 11 on East Main Street, and Gibson allegedly failed to stop and instead engaged police on a short pursuit into the parking lot of Batavia Gardens. He was stopped in the east driveway and taken into custody without further incident. He was jailed without bail.

Katherine L. Urf, 54, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with DWAI/combined influence of drugs. Urf was stopped after complaints of an erratic driver at 4:24 p.m. Oct. 12 on Hutchins Street, Batavia, by Officer Peter Flanagan.

Khadijah A. Davis, 24, of Arnett Boulevard, Rochester, was arrested on a warrant. Davis allegedly failed to appear on a charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Rachel M. Jordan, 19, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Jordan allegedly failed to cooperate during grand jury proceedings.

Tera Michele Williams, 42, no permanent address, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. Williams allegedly failed to appear on a disorderly conduct charge.

Gladys May Patmore, 54, of East Buffalo Street, Churchville, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, and stopping on a public highway. Patmore was allegedly found sleeping in her vehicle at 10:16 p.m. Saturday off of Lake Street Road, Le Roy, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

On Saturday, the Batavia Kiwanis Club hosts one of its most popular events, Pancake Days, this time for the 58th consecutive year.

Pancake Days are from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the ARC Community Center on Woodrow Road, Batavia. The price is $6 for adults, $4 for children 10 and under, and $4 for senior citizens.

Pictured are committee members Theresa Asmus-Roth, Susan Maha, Lawrence Friedman and Jeanne Walton.

Larry Hanley was out on Ellicott Street this morning driving his electric-powered, with a radio, C-Cab three-wheel bike.

He built the C-Cab himself.

"I made the templates with cardboard and I kept cutting them until I got it to where I liked it," Hanley said. "That saved on wasting wood."

He started the project with a "plain old three-wheeler" in May and it didn't take long, he said.

Asked why, Hanley said simply, "It's just something that I've wanted to do for a long time."

Press release from Raymond Tourt, city superintendent of Maintenance:

Citywide leaf collection begins Oct. 26 and continues until Nov. 25.

Residents of the following streets can rake to the parkway but do not place in the street; these streets are: Clinton Street, Oak Street, Main Street (including East and West Main Street), Pearl Street, South Main Street (between Oak Street and Walnut Street),Walnut Street, Richmond Avenue (between Oak Street and Prospect Avenue). 

If your street has a route number (i.e. Route 5, Route 33, Route 63 and Route 98), then please keep leaves out of the roadway.

All other streets are asked to rake leaves to the curb line, taking care not to block storm drainage structures/ catch basins.

Leaf operations typically have one crew on the Southside beginning on River Street moving east in areas south of Main Street and second crew on the Northside will work from Grandview Terrace moving west, north of Main Street. A third crew will work using a vacuum along main roads and numbered routes. It takes about a week and half to go through the entire city.

Any resident with leaves can also bring them to the yard waste station until it closes for the season on Dec. 5. Effective Nov. 2^nd, the hours of the Yard Waste Station operation will be adjusted to 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAF COLLECTION

• Leaf piles must be clear of sticks and other debris.
• Grass clippings, flower pottings, branches, pumpkins cannot be picked up and residents an encouraged to bring those items to the Yard Waste Station on Law Street.
• Leaves should not block traffic.
• Leaves should not be piled near intersection corners. This causes sight issues for motorist/bicyclists/pedestrians.
• Keep leaf piles clear of drainage ways and catch basins. Blocked drainage leads to localized flooding. 
• Leaves should not be piled around mailboxes, power poles, fences, fire hydrants or other obstacles. 
• Do not park on leaf piles. The heat from a vehicle exhaust system could start a fire.
• Do not wait to get your leaves out. We will normally collect leaves twice within the month of leaf collection.
• If it is snowing, we plow first. If it continues to snow, then leaf operations will be suspended.
• There is no leaf pickup in the Spring.

(Submitted photo by Jim Dusen of the local band Red Creek at HLOM holding a paper replica of the museum's facade.)

Press release:

The Holland Land Office Museum in partnership with the Willow Bend Inn present their second annual Fall Festival from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, with live music by the band Red Creek.

The event will be held on location at the one of Genesee County’s oldest buildings, the historic Willow Bend Inn at 3489 W. Main St. Road in Batavia.

Reenactors will be there in full regalia to share the history of building as well as what life was like as a traveler in the 19^th Century. There will be a basket raffle with produce from local farms and activities and games for children. 

The Willow Bend Inn will have food and drink specials all afternoon, and live classic rock and country music by the local band Red Creek. Admission is $5 at the door for adults; FREE for children 12 or younger.

All proceeds benefit the historical and educational programs at the Holland Land Office Museum. For more information, contact Jeffrey M. Fischer, the new director, Holland Land Office Museum by e-mail hollandlandoffice@gmail.com  or phone 343-4727.

Start a business and make it well into your second year and you're doing better than nearly 20 percent of the other people who tried doing the same thing. Make it to five years and you've lasted longer than nearly half of your compatriots. How about 30 years? Well, the Small Business Administration doesn't publish those stats, but does tell us 75 percent of new businesses are closed by year 16.

And in the age of speedy delivery from computer to doorstep, it gets even tougher on retail businesses.

That makes 30 years of owning Neptunes Gardens for Nick and Cathy LaFarnara quite an accomplishment.

Nick said customer service and an ongoing effort to diversify what they offer has helped them survive, especially against growing Internet competition.

Just this past Thursday, as an example of going above and beyond for a customer, Nick said he drove nearly 150 miles to retrieve a saltwater aquarium filter and deliver it to an elderly customer after she tried unsuccessfuly to purchase it at Petco.

"It's stuff like that, you kind of bend over backwards to try to make ends meet," Nick said.

A big part of their business now is live bait, and they do well in the summer with goldfish for fairs and carnivals, and stocking fish for residential and commercial ponds.

Nick's father opened Neptune's Gardens at 33 Liberty St., behind the Pok-A-Dot, in 1967.

Nick and Cathy's daughter, Jamie, works in the store now and will likely run it someday, but Cathy thinks a fourth generation is already eager to take over.

"Our grandkids are already involved," Cathy said. "One time we had a customer looking for a fish and I was, 'I don't think we have it,' and Victor, I think he was 6  years old, said, 'Grandma, we have it.' He took the lady right to it."

Now 9, Victor has a way with reptiles in the store and he thinks nothing of walking around with a snake wrapped around his waist.

"He probably sells more reptiles and snakes than I do," Nick said.