batavia

Next Monday looks to be a busy one for Batavia City School District, with  three meetings and a public hearing about spending more than $200,000 for repairs have been scheduled for the Board of Education.

The Audit Committee is set to meet at 4:30 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Conference Room, followed by the Policy Committee at 5:15 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office, and a regular board meeting at 6 p.m. will also meet in the conference room on Monday at Batavia High School, 260 State St., Batavia.

The hearing is related to the proposed spending of $244,000 from the Repair Reserve Fund to pay for the replacement and repair of the public address/clock system and entry and classroom door hardware at the high school. Awarding contracts for such work is also part of the resolution that will go to the board for vote.

For in-person attendance, people are asked to arrive at least five minutes early and sign in legibly. This is an opportunity for qualified voters of the district to participate in a discussion about the repairs.

For anyone wanting to view from home, the meeting is on YouTube.

A full agenda for the meeting is not yet available.

Of all the pictures associated with Van Gogh, a one-eared boxer-pitbull mix, perhaps the neatest one will be of him with his new family at Christmastime.

“We all have matching PJs, red and black plaid,” said his new mom, Batavia native Jessica Starowitz. “I’m a foster fail. As soon as I met him I thought, he’s staying here. His smile, and when he first came in he was prancing, looking for butt scratches, and playing. It was literally love at first sight.”

That happy ending had a very ugly beginning, one of Van Gogh being used as a bait dog by a dog fighting outfit in North Carolina. 

Meanwhile, Starowitz, daughter of local resident Anne Marie, was grappling with the loss of her rescue poodle Mulan since May 2021, and finally reached the point that she wanted to do something with animals. She volunteered to foster at Happily Furever After Rescue, a no-kill and foster-based shelter in Connecticut and brought home a cat named Blue.

Sometime later, she was asked if she’d foster a dog named Van Gogh. He had been adopted from a North Carolina shelter and somehow ended up homeless. While living on the streets of Raleigh, NC, he was known as the neighborhood stray and was also super friendly, she said. But then the pooch got picked up by someone who used him for dog fighting. He ended up being dumped and was discovered in a drain pipe with injuries, including a missing ear. He was brought back to the shelter he was originally in.

Enter Jaclyn Gartner, who operates Happily Furever After Rescue. She saw the sad one-eared dog online and decided that he needed to come to her shelter in Connecticut. Gartner’s heart has been drawn to those seemingly unadoptable dogs that get returned for one reason or another.

Van Gogh arrived in June by a private jet used for animal transports.

As it happens, Starowitz, who lives in Norwalk, Conn., had volunteered to foster animals from that shelter. After Blue the cat, she was asked to foster Van Gogh in October. By this time, he was becoming famous for his masterpieces. Gartner had decided to put his one-eared characteristic to good use and let him try out his artistic talents after his namesake. She put a canvas with paint blobs inside a plastic bag covered with splotches of peanut butter. As he licked the nutty treat, Van Gogh created canvas pieces of swirled shapes and colored mergings. It turned out to be a great distraction for a dog that had nervous issues, and in turn raised some money for the shelter and gave him Internet fame.

“You can't bring them certain places, right, like with other dogs, because it stresses him out and stresses out other people. So it's just a little harder to give them exposure. That's how the painting started, to do fundraising and get him some exposure,” Starowitz said. “And then from there, it's exploded. It's been overwhelming and so much fun. But also, it's just, it's wow.”

Van Gogh has done about 75 commissioned works, and the proceeds go to Happily Furever. He has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CBS, and Inside Edition, to name a few. His celebrity status has helped to raise money for the shelter, but for Starowitz, her new four-legged companion has another purpose.

“I’m just here to love the dog, she said. “It’s just a gift that keeps on giving. It’s just a feeling you can’t describe. Sometimes you just have to have patience … the love you get back is exponential.”

She’s had to spend some money for a trainer, but feels it was money well spent “for his own good and my own good.” Before Van Gogh, there were rescue poodles and cats, and pets of some type for 22 years, she said. Her job as an information risk and cyber security consultant was keeping her plenty busy, and there came a point -- after the loss of Mulan -- when she said no more animals.

At least for a while. A friend sent her a post of Van Gogh at Happily Furever Rescue, which drew her back in as a foster. She admits to being a foster fail because she wanted to keep Van Gogh as soon as they met.

Her two boys, Jack, 16, and Charlie, 12, are also animal lovers, which makes for a happy pet family. Van Gogh’s injuries have finally healed, and he enjoys a good round of tug of war, and two-mile walks every morning.

Gartner comes to visit for painting sessions, and “he’s like, oh, peanut butter is coming out; he’s all excited,” Starowitz said.

“I’ve gone from a 12-pound poodle to a 70-pound boxer,” she said. “Sure they’re different, but they all have the same love.”

Further Reading: 

• Washington Post: Nobody wanted to adopt the dog with one ear — until he started painting​
• Today: Van Gogh, a one-eared rescue dog, paints his way into adoption​

Top Photo: Batavia native Jessica Starowitz snuggles with Van Gogh at their home in Connecticut; the pooch enjoys playing outdoors and indulging his new mom's penchant for dressing him in holiday attire. Photos by Joanne Beck. Photo of Van Gogh with his artwork as part of a Happily Furever After fundraiser posted online. 

A cardboard box fire was reported at Koolatron, 4330 Commerce Drive, Batavia, shortly after 7 p.m.

Town of Batavia Fire was dispatched.

Multiple employees reported boxes on fire and a dispatcher could hear the building's alarm sounding in the background.

The building was evacuated. The sprinklers were activated.

Elba Fire dispatched mutual aid.

City Fire asked to cover Town of Batavia calls, if any.

UPDATE 8:20 p.m.: Stafford and East Pembroke asked to have crews standby in quarters.

Eric R. Motquin, 40, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, tampering with physical evidence, and obstruction of governmental administration. Motquin was arrested following a traffic stop on Dec. 3 at 3:55 p.m. on Ellicott Street, Batavia. Motquin is accused of struggling with officers and attempting to destroy narcotics. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held on $1 bail. Motquin was also arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear on an unrelated matter.

Tyshon L. Taylor, 25, is charged with attempted assault 3rd. Taylor is accused of an attempted assault on Oct. 13 at 11:39 on Oak Street, Batavia. Taylor, who is being held without bail on an attempted murder charge, was ordered held on minimum bail on this charge.

Jarrod K. Fotiathis, 27, no permanent address, is charged with grand larceny 4th, petit larceny, and conspiracy. Fotiathis and another person, unidentified in by police, are accused of stealing property on Nov. 16 at 4:09 a.m. at a location on Oak Street, Batavia. Fotiathis was issued an appearance ticket.

Alicia M Lyons, 43, of Batavia, is charged with trespass. Lyons is accused of trespassing at a location on Jackson Street, Batavia on Dec. 6 at 4:22 p.m. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Harry R. Silliman, 58, no permanent address, is charged with trespass. Silliman was charged following a report of a disturbance on Maple Street, Batavia, on Dec. 6 at 11:42 p.m.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Robyn D. Scott, 65, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Scott was charged following a complaint on Dec. 6 at 7:46 a.m. of 'unreasonable noise' in the form of alarms causing an ongoing annoyance at a location on Walnut Street, Batavia. Scott was issued an appearance ticket.

Jean N. Pettit, 58, Batavia, is charged with DWI and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Pettit reportedly drove her vehicle on Dec. 5 at 6:01 p.m. and stopped at a residence on Vine Street, Batavia, and asked for assistance. A Batavia patrol officer responded and conducted a field sobriety test. Pettit was processed at Batavia PD headquarters and released on appearance tickets.

Parker Reid Davis, 29, of East Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Davis is accused of possession of a controlled substance during a probation home visit. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Andrew Anthony Crimes, 50, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal contempt 1st. On Dec. 8 at 10:49 p.m., Crimes reportedly entered Batavia Downs in violation of an order of protection. He is also accused of sending 111 text messages from Jan. 24 to Nov. 19 to a person in violation of an order of protection. He was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released.

Benito Anthony Gay, 34, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny, falsifying business records 2nd, criminal use of an access device 2nd, and unlawful possession of personal identification 3rd. Gay is accused of using another inmate's personal ID number to make phone calls.

Willie Albert Sabb, Jr., 48, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Sabb was allegedly found in possession of cocaine during a traffic stop on Dec. 9 at 10:26 p.m. on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, by Deputy Zachary Hoy.

Michael David McCracken, 42, of Aberdeen Street, Rochester, is charged with felony DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation 1st, and failure to signal. McCracken was stopped on Dec. 10 at 1:26 a.m. on Telephone Road, Pavilion, by Sgt. Mathew Clor.

Jeanna M. Hattaway, 35, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Hattaway is accused of stealing in the Town of Batavia on Dec. 6 at 4:19 p.m.. She was arrested by State Police and released on an appearance ticket.  No further information released.

Carl E. Webber, 42, of Rochester, is charged with grand larceny 3rd. Webber was arrested by State Police in connection with a theft reported on July 14 at 5:37 p.m. in the Town of Batavia. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Our Main Street in Batavia was decorated with festive lights, and shoppers lined the street. Walking down the street on a Friday night, you could visit with your friends and neighbors as you listened to Christmas music from CL Carr's outdoor speakers. Everything you needed for Christmas shopping you could buy on Main Street.  CL Carr's Department Store, JJ Newberry, WT Grant, Scott and Bean, and Alexander were some of my favorite stores.

After a day of shopping, you would go home where your house might smell of a freshly cut Christmas tree, or in our case, our living room had an aluminum tree. It was lit by a motorized magic color wheel that played Silent Night. The gifts were all nestled under the tree, waiting for Christmas morning. The homemade felt stockings mom had made hung from the fireplace mantle.  

We always had our manger set up, and we remember having our picture taken kneeling next to the figures. Then, we all gathered in the living room on Christmas morning to take turns opening our one special gift. 

Our next event was attending Christmas Mass and listening to the Christmas hymns from the organ loft. As we entered the pew, I remember my father separating me from my brother Tony for obvious reasons.  

After Mass, we would go home and wait for Grandma to arrive from Le Roy with our  25-pound turkey and her homemade pies. It was such a simple time.  At night we went for a ride in the family station wagon to look at the Christmas lights and always stopped at, as we called it, the Blind School to see the miniature Christmas Village. During Christmas vacation, we went sledding down state street hill, hoping to miss the one tree at the foot of the hill.

We would go skating at Macarthur Park on the tennis courts. We had snow from Thanksgiving until St. Patrick's Day, and we never saw grass until then.

Over the years, our Christmases have changed.  We all were blessed with children, and our parent's living room was filled with grandchildren. The grandchildren are grown up, some have moved away, and there are definite changes in our Christmases. We have lost the matriarch and patriarch of our family. Christmases will never be the same, but we will always have those cherished memories of sitting in our parent's living room with our aluminum tree, the manger, and mom and dad smiling at their six children and grandchildren.

As a footnote
Besides the memories of the 60s, the reality of living in the 60s can be seen in many ways. In 1960 you could buy a new house for $12,675. The average income was $5,199 rent was $98.   You could buy a gallon of gas for $.25. Back then, we never knew there would be the technology of texting a message; in the 60s, you mailed a letter, and a postage stamp cost four cents. And if you were lucky enough to have a Ford Mustang, it would've cost you $2,368. And you can't forget that $.25 burger!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year 2022-2023

Press release:

Resurrection and Ascension Roman Catholic Parishes had a joint Confirmation Commitment Mass today at 11:30 at St Joseph’s Church for our shared Confirmation candidates, to be confirmed this spring.  Parents and sponsors attended and participated as well.

Prior to Mass, families and students gathered as part of our joint Faith Formation program.

Submitted photos.

Batavia opened up the basketball season on the road against Greece Odyssey and doubled their opponent's score 76-38.

Sawyer Siverling scored 19 points, hitting five three-point shots. Ja'vin McFollins scored 17 points and three a tres of threes. Aiden Bellavia scored 11 points, Carter McFollins, 9 points and Justin Smith, 8 points.

Batavia held Odyssey to 12 points in the first half and maintained a 20-plus point lead from the second quarter to the final buzzer.

Batavia plays Eastridge at home, next Friday at 7:15 p.m.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Armani, with Batavia police officer Connor Borchert and his mother Ashley Ayala, was among 30 children selected this year to "Shop with a Cop" at Walmart for Christmas.

The children each had $150 to spend on presents for themselves or for others.  The toy aisles were the most popular part of the store.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Armani and Ashley.

Ivy with Investigator Eric Hill.

Angelique with Batavia PD Assistant Chief Chris Camp

Deputy Jeremy McClellan with a nine-month-old on his first Christmas shopping trip to Walmart (mother asked that we not identify the child).

Deputy Jeremiah Gechell shops with Keaghen and his father, Chad Broskin of Brockport.

Deputy Kyle Tower joins Gechell, Chad, and Keaghen.

Press release:

This week, the Cannabis Association of New York (CANY) attended a special, behind-the-scenes tour of Empire Hemp Co.’s manufacturing facility with Chris Vandusen, CEO, and Shelly Wolanske, COO. 

CANY is the largest cannabis association in NY – with hundreds of members stretched across the supply chain from seed-to-sale and in every region of the state. They work to engage with the various communities of interest within the NY cannabis economy. Since their founding in 2019, they’ve helped draft multiple laws and countless regulations to build a cannabis industry that benefits small and midscale NYS businesses first.

As one of the first licensed cultivators and processors in the state, the team at Empire was thrilled to showcase their Adult-use THC line and all that goes into manufacturing and packaging these products with a strong focus on safety, compliance, and sustainability. One member noted, “The facility held much-advanced equipment, and we were very impressed with the cleanliness and documentation taken.”

Empire Hemp Co., located in Batavia been the go-to source for hemp-derived products for several years. With a strong devotion to all New York State-grown, pesticide-free hemp, their retail location on Main Street in Batavia quickly became the trusted source for Cannabidiol (CBD) tinctures, gummies, and their best-seller, “The Balm.” Luxury lotions and bath products - all infused with the therapeutic plant - line the walls of the boutique shop. 

Branching out into the THC world was a natural move for the company. Countless hours of research, paperwork, and manpower have gone into ensuring the entire process is handled in a legal and ethical manner. Flowers, pre-rolls, vape carts, and edibles will all be available to customers through legal, licensed dispensaries as they begin to open throughout the state. 

To learn more about Empire Hemp Co., visit EmpireHempCo.com or stop into their retail location at 204 East Main St. in Batavia.

Santa and Mrs. Claus dropped in at 150 State St., Batavia, on Friday evening to hear from all the good boys and girls hoping for the best presents ever under their Christmas trees this year.

Angelina Pellegrino will host Santa again on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m.

She said there are 60 Christmas trees on her property this year.

Photo by Howard Owens.  With Santa, Prince and YeeYee Viera.

Country music recording artist Claudia Hoyser, pictured left above with WBTA's Nici "Noir" Johnson, was at Mr. Wine & Liquor in Batavia on Friday evening to promote her coffee-whiskey blend, Drunken Bean Whiskey, during a special event at the store that included tastings of a variety of wine and spirits.

WBTA was on site for a live broadcast during the event.

Hoyser released a music video three months ago that was partially filmed at farms in Genesee County.

Photos by Howard Owens

City Fire, WBTA, Ken Barrett Chevrolet and Cadillac, along with the Salvation Army, teamed up again for their annual toy drive to benefit families in Genesee County who may not have the financial means to meet all of their kids' Christmas dreams.

Photo: Ryan Whitcombe, Nathan Kinne, Nici Johnson, Ken Barrett, and Todd Rapp. Photo by Howard Owens

Richard Ellingham won the "People's Choice Award" at the opening reception on Thusday for the Batavia Society of Artists annual Winter Show at the Richmond Memorial Library.

The show runs through Dec. 28.

Photos by Howard Owens

The big advantage of the new location of Licata Chiropractic at 542 East Main St. in Batavia, said owner Sandra Licata, is that she owns the real estate.

After years of renting, Licata was able to purchase the property in early 2020, just before the pandemic started. She was able to do business but held off on a grand opening until this week when she hosted the Chamber of Commerce for a Business After Hours and a ribbon-cutting.

With ownership comes her own parking lot.

"Where I was renting (off Court Street), we had the city parking lot," Licata said. "You didn't always know what space you're gonna get and here we have15 parking spaces. There's enough for staff, for clients, for Mike Grasso, and for my patients."

Mike Grasso is the massage therapist Licata has been working with for 21 years, a unique partnership in the chiropractic practice.

"Usually, I hear from colleagues that those relationships don't last that long," Licata said. "Usually, there's kind of a rotating door."

Licata said she's excited to have her own place where she has more control over the building and the grounds.

"We've updated the landscaping this year," Licata said. "We've updated the parking lot to add more lighting. It's nice to have my own place to do those things."

Photo by Howard Owens

In the summer of 2018, retired school teacher David Reilly got inspired to write a story about growing up in Batavia, about going to the circus, and he sent it off to Billie Owens, then the editor of The Batavian, and asked if the online news site would be interested in publishing his little piece.

Captivated by the nostalgia, Owens thought it was just the sort of thing readers of The Batavian would enjoy, and she was right.

Reilly went on to write two dozen stories in his humous style about growing up in Batavia in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.  He's collected them in a book for friends and family but has also made the book available for $10 (his cost) at the Holland Land Office Museum.

"I want to compliment your wife, Billie, who read one of my articles and inspired me to keep writing," Reilly said during a visit with The Batavian on Thursday. "My mom always tried to convince me I was a good writer, and I didn't really believe it. But once I started publishing the stories, which you did for me, and with Billie's help with editing and encouraging, it just made all these memories from when I was a kid come out, and it was enjoyable for me to go back and remember all the fun and crazy and wild things I did when I was a kid in Batavia."

Reilly said he is planning a couple of more stories about his life in Batavia in the coming months that will be published in The Batavian.

Photo by Howard Owens.

Batavia city management is seeking approval to spend $5,400 for an appraiser to determine the value of several vacant properties within the City Centre.

As part of the 2017 agreement between the city and the Mall Merchants Association, the city has responsibility for the 46,000-square-foot mall concourse and related expenses and has foreclosed on several defunct properties, namely parcels 11, 11A, 17, 18, 19 and 20.

City Manager Rachael Tabelski, in response to an “influx of business owners looking to purchase or lease” these properties, wants to know the value for each in order to proceed with negotiations to sell or lease them, she said.

“To prepare these properties for lease or sale, I recommend that the city engages in the appraisal services of Rynne Murphy to determine the market value of the property," Tabelski said in a memo to the council. “I recommend that the City Council approve a budget amendment of $5,400 to use (video lottery terminal) funds for appraisal costs of city-owned parcels (2, 11, 17-20 Batavia City Centre).”

The request will be up for discussion during the council’s conference session set for 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

A total amount of $440,789 in VLT money was received by the city, and the $5,400 would come out of that, Tabelski said, and be put into a Community Development fund. Performing these appraisals and proceeding with potential sales and/or leases of vacant properties is part of a mall redevelopment strategy to “bring vibrancy to the mall,” she said.

According to Genesee County's online assessment records, parcel 2 is a hallway with an assessed value of $5,000; parcel 11, formerly Valle Jewelers several years ago, has a total assessed value of $124,000; and 17-20, known in the heyday of the mall as Gentleman Jim's, is assessed at $55,300.

Parcels 2, 35 and 39 have recently been rented by Batavia Players during the group's theater construction.

Other agenda items include a presentation from the Batavia Development Corporation and a request from the police department to spend $125,000 of reserves to purchase police vehicles by the end of this year.

City Chief Shawn Heubusch has asked, via a memo to Tabelski, to head off ongoing supply chain issues by securing the vehicle purchase in December 2022. Otherwise, the arrival of such needed police cars may not happen until early 2024 or later, he said.

“This obviously puts stress on the already aging fleet, escalates repair costs to those vehicles ordered after the city’s fiscal year begins in April 2023, he said.

Both items are expected to be moved for a vote during a business meeting to follow. Other matters up for vote are to schedule a public hearing for a Round 7 Restore NY grant application, to authorize engineering services for a Bank Street water system improvement project, and to appoint members to various city committees or boards.

There is time allotted for public comments during the conference session. Speakers may sign up prior to the meeting.

File Photo of a portion of the concourse in Batavia City Centre. The property on the left was formerly Gentleman Jim's, a diner that sat alongside the Palace of Sweets. Photo by Joanne Beck.

Press Release:

Dr. Tom Mazurkiewicz is sponsoring the Annual Toy Drive at his office, 184 Washington Ave. 

Patients are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to receive a complimentary adjustment during their next scheduled visit. This offer applies to new patients, as well. We are accepting donations through December 16, 2022. Limit of one complimentary visit per patient.

All donations will benefit the local families of the Genesee County region who may otherwise not be able to receive a gift this Holiday due to economic hardship.

Your generosity will provide a happier holiday for the families of these deserving children.

Toys will be distributed by pastors Marty and Ryan from City Church at the St Anthony’s campus on Dec. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Photo: Tom Mazurkiewicz and Ryan Macdonald. Photo by Howard Owens.

Press Release:

Every year GO ART! holds its Annual Members’ Exhibit which features artwork of its members. This year, alongside the members’ exhibit, the organization will also host exhibitions which showcase the work of staff members. Opening receptions for the member and staff exhibits will be held Thursday, Dec. 15, from 5 to 8 p.m. at GO ART! located at 201 East Main St., Batavia.

“The Annual Members’ Exhibit is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the talent of our members. I look forward to the exhibit and seeing our members’ work every year,” says Mary Jo Whitman, who coordinates GO ART!’s art exhibits. “I am very excited about the addition of the staff exhibits this year. I think that everyone who knows us, or at least has heard of GO ART!, knows we are passionate about the arts. We invest a lot of time and energy into providing programming, events, opportunities, and resources for artists and the community.

"Most people do not realize that we are all artists ourselves, however, as our artistic practices often take a back seat to the work that we do," Whitman said. "It is exciting to give the community a chance to see us in a different role. Pairing staff exhibits with the Annual Member’s Exhibits provides a great opportunity to showcase the talents of the organization as a whole.”

The Annual Members’ Exhibit will be on display in the Tompkins Bank of Castile Main Gallery December 14 - January 28. Pictures and Prose by Jodi Fisher, Program Coordinator, will be on display Dec. 1 - Feb. 18 in The Batavia Club Gallery.

Executive Director Gregory Hallock’s installation, My Journey, will be on display in The Batavia Rotary Club Gallery December 7 - December 23. Deconstructed and Raw, the works of Education and SCR Director, Mary Jo Whitman, will be on display in the Oliver’s Gallery December 1 - February 18.

For more information on GO ART!’s exhibits, contact Mary Jo Whitman at mjwhitman@goart.org.

Top Photo: Sugar Maple Canopy by Jodi Fisher; and above, The Disillusioned by Mary Jo Whitman. Submitted photos.