More than 950 local residents received free Thanksgiving meals on Thursday, prepared and delivered by dozens of City Church volunteers working out of the kitchen at the St. Anthony's campus.
Most of the meals were delivered but tables were set for any people who wished to dine at St. Anthony's.
Judy Shedlock, volunteering at Tops on Wednesday evening for the Salvation Army's annual Red Kettle Campaign. Photo by Howard Owens.
When you walk near a red Salvation Army kettle outside a local store and hear the ting-a-ling of a volunteer's silver bell, Capt. Bradley Moore thinks, perhaps, the notes you hear is a reminder of hope.
Hope for the families who will be fed or clothed by your donation, hope for those who don't know where else to turn during the Christmas season, and a hope that helps you remember there are people in your community who depend on the Salvation Army and your support of its ministry.
The Salvation Army has been in Genesee County for 138 years, helping spread hope to those in need 365 days a year. The volunteer -- or seasonal worker -- ringing the bell is often most visible reminder of the Salvation Army but Army serves the community's poor and those in crisis everyday.
The Red Kettle Campaign is a big reason the Salvation Army can meet the needs of your friends, family members, and neighbors in Genesee County.
This year, the fundraising goal is a big one -- $100,000.
"We served over 11,000 people food in the last year," said Moore, who, along with his wife Rachel, manages the Salvation Army in Batavia. "So, as you hear that bell, know that it's helping all year round. It is just a reminder that the Salvation Army is a source of hope for a lot of people. As you see the shield and hear the bells, know that raising that money is essential for us to be able to continue the good work."
The services available at the Salvation Army at 529 E. Main St., Batavia, include a food pantry and clothing, as well as community meals, Friday family nights, and Sunday church services, but the staff at the Salvation Army are committed to finding assistance for anybody who comes in with an unmet need.
"If somebody comes to us with a need, we'll do whatever we can to either meet that need here or partner with somebody to help meet that need," Moore said. "Obviously, food is huge right now. Our food pantry serves roughly 35 to 45 families every day that we're open, which is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We partner a lot with neighborhood legal services if somebody's having issues with landlords. For domestic violence, we help through the YWCA. We do whatever we can for whoever walks in the door."
Moore said the Salvation Army's operations manager, Tood Rapp, is particularly adept at discovering the needs of people who drop in and assuring them the Salvation Army can, in fact, help.
"I often say, I gotta get him a mug or something that says, 'Hi, I'm Todd. How can I help?' That's what he says all the time. He is just willing to hear people's stories and figure out how we can help on an individual basis," Moore said. "There's a lot of needs."
Rapp said it's amazing to hear somebody tell their story and see them realize that there is somebody listening who cares about their needs.
"If you can actually help make a difference, that's even better," Rapp said. "People just want to be heard. They want to know that they matter. And I can't tell you how many times I sit here and I look at somebody and they say, 'Why are you doing this?' And I'm able to look them in the eye and say, 'Because you matter. You're worth it.' And, you know, there's a lot of people out there that have never been told that."
This level of caring fits with the historical mission of the Salvation Army.
In 1852, William Booth stepped away from the pulpit at a church in London. He took seriously his belief in Jesus' call to serve the poor, the oppressed, and those caught in sin and bring them the Gospel. Between 1881 and 1885, more than 250,000 were converted to followers of Christ in the British Isles.
In 1886, the Salvation Army started to form in Batavia.
Early in the Army's local history, it established a church on Jackson Street, moved to another location, and then built a citadel on Jackson Street, which fell to the wrecking ball of urban renewal, according to Ruth McEvoy's history of Batavia.
In 1967, the Army purchased its current location, the former East School, from the Batavia City School District for $15,500. Louis Viele built the new citadel at that location, and the Army sold its Jackson Street location to the city for $90,000.
The mission and ministry have never changed, and just like in the late 1960s, based on McEvoy's account, the Army in Batavia still holds regular religious services, serves as a recreation place for older citizens, has entertainment for the children of the neighborhood, and operates a food bank.
Moore said the Salvation Army is still inspired by the words of William Booth:
While women weep, as they do now, I will fight. While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I will fight. While there is a drunkard left, where there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, where there remains one dark and without the light of God, I’ll fight. I’ll fight to the very end.
It's a call to service that Moore thinks is still relevant to today's Christians.
"Jesus calls us to love the unlovable, care for the widows and orphans, and feed those who are hungry," Moore said. "Yes, the poor will always be among us, but it doesn't give us a right to just cast them down. We're called to put others before ourselves. The Salvation Army's mission is that we're out -- to summarize -- we want to serve without discrimination and do all things. We do what we do because of our beliefs and who we are. I think that's a reminder that we need to keep our eyes outwardly focused, focus on Jesus and focus on others before we look at ourselves."
Moore was called to ministry as a youth. His parents were Salvation Army officers, and Moore was interested in becoming a youth pastor. However, while serving in that role in Canton, Ohio, he saw the need was greater than just serving the community's youth.
"I quickly realized that God put that desire in my heart to be more than that," Moore said.
He said serving the community's young people is still a passion for both him and Rachel (they have three children), but it's important to meet the needs of everybody.
Rapp started volunteering with the Salvation Army in Batavia 12 years ago. As he saw how holistic the assistance was for the community's people, he was drawn to a deeper commitment to the mission.
"When somebody comes in for food they don't just get food, but we have a conversation, and in that conversation, we find out other things, how else can we help other than just giving them a box of groceries and sending them out the door," Rapp said.
You can ring a bell outside of Tops in Le Roy or Batavia or the Walmart in Batavia, helping to collect donations. To sign up for a time slot, click here.
You can also donate. Moore notes that most of us never carry much cash these days. We don't necessarily have the spare change -- or spare folding money -- to slip into the kettle. You can be intentional, ensuring you have cash in hand when you head to Tops or Walmart, or you can donate online. If you provide a Genesee County zip code, 100 percent of your donation will go to the Salvation Army in Batavia.
You can also drop off food donations at the East Main location. The pantry always needs food, especially pasta, pasta sauce, cereal, soup, tuna, canned fruit, and canned pasta meals like Spaghetti-Os and noodles.
Several local churches collect donations for the Salvation Army.
Regardless of how you donate, all donations stay local, Moore confirmed.
"I love that we can look at our community here and say the Salvation Army is still doing those things," Moore said. "We're still helping. We're giving clothing vouchers to those who are in and out of prison. We're still helping to give food to those who are hungry. We're still helping those who are in domestic violence. We haven't changed. Our mission has remained the same."
Capt. Rachel Moore, Capt. Bradley Moore, and Operations Officer Todd Rapp, Batavia Salvation Army. Photo by Howard Owens.
Volunteers preparing meals for free community Thanksgiving dinner at the Salvation Army on Monday. Photo by Howard Owens.
The patrons of the Recovery Station at 5256 Clinton Street Road in Batavia have formed tight bonds as they work on sobriety together, said Melissa Vineyard, station coordinator, during a "Friendsgiving" meal on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Thanksgiving, she said, the people in recovery will be with their blood family but Friendsgiving is about sharing a meal with people who have a different, special bond with each other.
"When we come into recovery, we make a whole new family," Vineyard said. "These are the people who are in the trenches. These are the people we celebrate. We're proud. They keep going. They don't give up. These are the faces we see every day. So I wanted to have a special time with all these people. Bring them together and just say thank you, perfect."
UConnectCare operates the Recovery Station, a substance and alcohol-free environment where people in recovery can socialize and hang out.
Also on Wednesday, UConnect hosted another "Friendsgiving" event at the agency's child care center on Havester Avenue. There was music by Bart Dentino as well as kids coloring Thanksgiving placemats to take home for Thanksgiving.
The child care center provides a safe place for parents who are going through recovery to drop off their kids to be cared for while they take care of recovery obligations or just get their shopping done.
A first-floor fire was reported at 15 East Ave., Batavia, shortly before 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, with flames and smoke showing when police officers arrived on scene.
The initial call came from a passerby who reported flames showing through a first-floor window.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
A single occupant was out of the house safely when City Fire arrived on scene. There was concern about a second occupant still inside but a search by firefighters determined the house was unoccupied at that point. The first resident said he may have left before the fire.
The fire was knocked down by City Fire crews within minutes of the first city crews arriving on scene.
Heavy fire damage was visible on the first the first floor.
The property is owned by Michael and Patricia McDonald. The house was built in 1880 and is 1,474 square feet, according to property tax records. The assessed value is $99,000.
The fire went to a second alarm with Town of Batavia's FAST Team responding along with Le Roy Fire.
The Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Genesee County Board of Directors meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on December 3. The meeting will be held at the Association at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia and is open to the public.
For more information, please contact Yvonne Peck at ydp3@cornell.edu or 585-343-3040 x123.
The Genesee Community College Foundation will welcome all guests to an evening of fine dining and holiday music at its annual Encore holiday gala on Saturday, December 14 at 5 p.m. This year's event theme, "Twelve Days of Christmas," celebrates the traditions of the holiday season and features a special holiday concert program choreographed by the Genesee Symphony Orchestra.
For over 30 years, Encore has provided crucial funding for student scholarships at Genesee Community College. The Foundation is pleased to announce the continued support of our Presenting Sponsor, Tompkins Financial Corporation, for Encore 2024.
"Tompkins banking, insurance and wealth teams are proud to continue our partnership with GCC, in support of our friends, neighbors and all those we serve here in western New York," said David Boyce, President & CEO, Tompkins Insurance Agencies.
There are several opportunities remaining to sponsor the Encore event. These sponsorships are critically important to the scholarships GCC provides its students and are available at several levels this year:
Conductor's Circle: $1,000
Golden Baton Society: $600
Inner Circle: $300
Individual Platinum Patron Ticket: $100
Help make a difference and make your reservations today at www.gccfoundationinc.org/encore or contact the Foundation Office at 585-345-6809. Tickets are limited so reserve yours today!
For more information contact Justin Johnston, Vice President, Development, Admissions and External Affairs at 585-345-6809, or via email: foundation@genesee.edu.
Photo of Rebecca McGee, courtesy of Tompkins Community Bank.
An expansion of its internal workforce, Tompkins Financial Corporation has welcomed Rebecca McGee as an employee experience team lead in its human resources department. McGee, who brings 16 years of experience to her new role, will support the financial institutions’ existing teams within Tompkins Financial Advisors and Tompkins Insurance Agencies.
“Rebecca has established herself as a dedicated professional, demonstrating her commitment to quality, efficiency and symbiotic employee relationships throughout her career,” said Stacie Mastin, senior vice president, director of human resources. “Her extensive experience and the values she holds are paramount and will undoubtedly make her an asset to our organization.”
A graduate of Plattsburgh State University, McGee holds a Professional Human Resources (PHR) Certification, Society of Human Relations Management Professional Certification (SHRM-PC) and a LEGO Serious Play Facilitator, in addition to her bachelor’s degree.
Before joining Tompkins, McGee was the director of human resources for the City of Batavia, New York. An active member of her community, McGee serves as a board member for Rochester Regional Health United Memorial Medical Center and the Business Education Alliance (BEA) and volunteers with Leadership Genesee and the Genesee Area Personnel Association.
Currently, McGee resides in Batavia with her husband, Patrick.
GLOW YMCA Project Co-Chairman John Riter, left, and Chief Executive Officer Rob Walker show off the new facility that's "98% complete" and ready for a Jan. 2 opening in downtown Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens
One obvious difference between the old YMCA and the new one, besides the larger size and newness of everything, are the windows, sunlight and open-air mark the feel of the place that’s ready to open on Jan. 2 of the New Year.
Certainly, freshly carpeted floors and painted walls make an instant impression. However, for anyone who’s been in the former downstairs YM workout room, this experience lifts you out of the basement into a contemporary, upscale version of an exercise, childcare and wellness facility in downtown Batavia.
Because he’s had to make routine check-in calls for updates to meet some funding obligations, GLOW YMCA Chief Executive Officer Rob Walker has kept pretty precise tabs on construction progress and keeping to the $23.5 million budget even though costs have only continued to increase with time.
“It's very true, and we've been very diligent. We put in healthy contingencies in our budget, both design and construction, and we've used most of that up, but like I said, we're 98% complete. We have the ability to cover anything beyond that as well, but we hope not to have to be in that position. And I will add, we didn't cut anything. We stayed the course on spaces from the beginning. You know, there was talk of different things, cut this, cut that, and we didn't do that. This is only the one shot at this,” Walker said Tuesday during an exclusive tour with The Batavian. “The meat and bones of the building are done. Construction started two and a half to three years ago. It’s the community’s YMCA, and the community got behind it by raising $18 million, and I want to thank project co-chairs John Riter, and his wife Liz, and Paul Battaglia and his wife Mary, and all of the community volunteers.”
Riter added that, not only did they not cut anything but “we even enhanced some of the equipment,” including an EGYM, a customized strength training circuit.
“I don’t know if that was originally part of the plan. After visiting some of the others, particularly in Canandaigua, they were like, you really need to do this, this is the state-of-the-art technology, and their members love it,” Riter said. So Rob and (Executive Director of the Genesee County branch) Josh Bender decided they were going to up the game and buy this.”
They also expanded the swimming pool from five lanes in the original design to six, which would have saved the total bill about $200,000, “but to go from six to a building that’s gonna serve three times more members and participants at least down to five made no sense,” Walker said.
Speaking of no sense, there’s been online chatter about all those windows along Main Street and concern about snowplows casting stones and debris. Riter said the building is no closer to the street than those on the other side of Main Street, and the windows aren’t getting broken. The city’s Planning & Development Committee reviewed and approved the plan, so everyone seemed good about the building setup, he and Walker said.
The entrance level has a large youth development wing for preschool, school-age childcare and day camp summer programs, which accommodate up to 60 kids. Specially built split-door bathrooms and an interactive central floor to encourage activities, plus cubby holes and an adjacent outdoor playground, are just down the hall from the Adventure Room, which will feature a treehouse-themed play area with wall-to-wall windows so that parents can easily sneak a peek at their child while using the facility from the first or second floor as well.
In addition to the collegiate-sized basketball court, members will see the memorial dedication to Jordyn Augello, who died Jan. 9, 2017, and enjoyed playing the sport on the floor at the gym entrance. There will also be three courts for the fast-growing game of pickleball.
A six-lane, $2 million pool glistens in the sunshine of large clear windows on top of frosted windows to provide privacy for swimmers. There’s a wheelchair ramp that goes right into the pool, a bench to offer a place to sit and rest toward the children’s and senior’s area, and a colorful splash pad with flowers and other water accessories.
Walker said a men’s and women’s locker room each is supplemented with a universal, shared locker room for family use. There will also be an intergenerational room, designed for seniors to socialize during the day and teens in the evening or after school.
"There's one in that box right now that'll get mounted to the wall,” Walker said, pointing to a large packed cardboard box in an open room. “So the idea is that we have kids moving and not just playing like this. They have to move to play the game. And we'll have another game over there. These are very expensive toys, but they're pretty cool. So we'll be able to flip it again: seniors during the day, teens at night, and seniors can do that too, if they want to.”
He then walked across the hall to “Batavia’s Living Room,” which featured a television, small fireplace, space for using devices, and space for members to hang out with one another and relax. He said, “Members love to socialize.”
The stairs were roped off due to last-minute touches, so a quick elevator ride up to the second floor opened up to the walking track that winds around the upper floor for 1/10th of a mile per trip. The track passes an extensive cardio and weight room, filled with brand new “state-of-the-art” treadmills, spin bikes, ellipticals, steppers, free weights, kettlebells and balls. The view is Main Street, and once the old YM is torn down this coming spring, members can see a westward sunset.
“When the Y comes down, the view west is going to be beautiful,” Riter said.
One of two exercise studios displays polished blond wood floors and floor-to-ceiling mirrors; a teaching kitchen (to be shared with Healthy Living) can be divided into three sections and used to help families, including YM’s campers and preschoolers, learn how to cook healthy meals and eat better. It also serves as a multi-purpose room for training, meetings, Zumba and other events.
On the other side of a wall is a station of 11 EGYM machines, considered to be on the cutting edge of fitness technology, Walker said. The brand's website states that the machines provide a personalized, motivational and interactive strength workout. There’s also a set of Precor selectorized machines. Those are considered gold, while EGYM is the Cadillac of machines, he said.
“Seniors and women love these things,” he said. “It’s nice to be state-of-the-art for once.”
Unlike the current configuration for parking, which relegates most members to across the street, this new facility has allotted 250 spaces right behind the new building, Walker said. He and Riter credited contractor R.P. Oak Hill of Buffalo for “very thoughtful planning” and having no unnecessary delays, which allowed for keeping the project on schedule.
Still, the contractor had to deal with a few “unforeseen conditions,” including oil tanks discovered in the ground from a 1900s auto dealership, a powerline found underground that had to be moved, and a tunnel connecting the former Cary Hall to St. Jerome Hospital to provide a route for nurses in training to walk back and forth.
A larger facility—58,000 square feet—will mean more staff, and Walker said this YM is looking to add at least 50 additional positions. The positions are listed on the website, along with member rates and additional information.
Walker emphasized that no one is turned away from the YMCA due to the inability to pay. So if the fee is not within someone’s budget, the YMCA has financial aid to help offset those costs, “which makes us a charity, which is why we work here,” he said. From starting out as “a young camp counselor” to now, 38 years later, Walker is still passionate about this organization.
“It's been a rewarding experience building this facility, serving the community in so many different and new ways, and it happened with a tremendous amount of volunteer support and thoughtful processes,” Walker said. “The YMCA is very grateful for the partnership with Rochester Regional Health UMMC. We look forward to collaborating on a lot of programs together, moving healthy programs forward.”
He also wants to thank Senior Director of Associate Advancement Rachel Hillman, Genesee County branch Executive Director Josh Bender, Greg Watson, chief financial officer for GLOW YMCA, Tina Curtis, Finance/HR consultant, Dave Ciurzynski, owners rep, and Five Star Bank.
Photos by Howard Owens.
The Adventure Room
Intergenerational Room
Batavia's Living Room
Teaching Kitchen/Multi-purpose Room
Meeting, classroom and conference space, part of the teaching kitchen.
The GLOW YMCA in collaboration with Rochester Regional Health (RRH) is excited to announce the grand opening dates for Batavia’s new Healthy Living Campus. The new 78,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility will offer everything from primary care and exercise studios, to cancer screening, nutrition education services, recreation and multi-use spaces for all ages under one roof.
Rochester Regional Health’s new Batavia Primary Care will be open on December 9, 2024. RRH providers will use this space to offer primary care and telemedicine appointments, behavioral health and crisis intervention support, cancer prevention outreach, chronic illness, and community education services.
The Genesee County YMCA will open its doors on January 2, 2025. This new state-of-the-art facility is here to serve the community, offering top-of-the-line fitness equipment, a beautiful aquatic center, an indoor walking track and a variety of family-friendly spaces and activities.
Be sure to invite your family and friends to join in the celebration and become part of the Y community.
Open house dates for patients, YMCA members and community members will be announced soon!
Food Network star Anne Burrell captivated a live audience with a cooking demonstration at Batavia Downs this past Sunday. Guests watched Burrell prepare one of her signature dishes while asking questions and receiving culinary tips.
One memorable moment came when an audience member asked Burrell about the best type of white wine to use in recipes. With a smile, Burrell quickly responded, "the cheapest," creating laughter from the crowd.
A Cazenovia native, Burrell’s culinary journey began at Canisius College and continued at the Culinary Institute of America. She then honed her skills internationally, which helped propel her successful career as a chef, television personality, and cookbook author.
Following the demonstration, Burrell hosted a VIP meet-and-greet, where she signed books and engaged with fans, sharing more insights into her cooking knowledge.
A $13,000 Open Handicap for both gaits topped the bill at Batavia Downs on Saturday (November 23) night and each event was won with opposing race strategies.
The pacing feature went to Melanion N who went gait to wire in impressive fashion.
Drew Monti sent Melanion N forward off the gate and got the lead on the outside at the :27.3 quarter. Melanion N then crossed over and backed off the half to a tepid :58 before turning on the jets during the second circuit. Mirragon A (Shawn McDonough) made a first-over move from fifth and pushed the third quarter in 1:26 while getting to within a length of the leader. But that leader, Melanion N, turned the other cheek and simply paced away. Melanion N opened up a 1-½ length margin at the top of the lane and then stretched that out to 3-½ at the line as he bolted home in a snappy :27.3 to win in 1:53.3.
It was the fourth win of the year for Melanion N ($3.20) who is owned by Vogel and Wags Nags, Team Rice Racing and Dr. Michael Miller. Maria Rice trains the winner.
Melanion N was one of three winners for Drew Monti on Saturday.
Later, the top trot went to Dougadougadew, who came from way off the pace to score in a thrilling finish.
Kyle Cummings took Dougadougadew off the gate to seventh and trailed by 8-¾ lengths as Power And Grace (Drew Monti), El Toro Loco (Kevin Cummings) and Biscoe (Jim McNeight Jr.) battled three-deep to the quarter in :28 flat. Biscoe finally cleared, but El Toro Loco was hung out to dry and trotted in the breeze next to the leader to the half in :57 and three-quarters in 1:27. It was at that station that Cummings tipped Dougadougadew four wide, which was a position he would remain in throughout the final turn. When they entered the stretch, Dougadougadew was trotting up a storm, made up ground on Biscoe with every stride and eventually went right by him in deep stretch to win by 1-¾ lengths in 1:58.
It was the 11th win of the year for Dougadougadew ($16.20) who is owned by Doug and Tyra Ackley and trained by Tammy Cummings.
Dougadougadew was also one of three winners for Kyle Cummings and one of two winners for Tammy Cummings during the night.
One of Kyle Cumming’s other wins came in the fourth race with the 7-year-old trotter Discus Hanover, who brushed late and won by a head in 1:58.4 to claim his 50th career victory. Owned by Phil Hale and his trainer Dave Dewhurst, Discus Hanover now shows earnings of $296,238 as a result of his milestone and boasts a lifetime best clocking of 1:53.4 at Vernon Downs two years ago.
The top dash driver on Saturday was Joe Chindano Jr. who got a grand slam with wins behind Prairie Panther (1:56.2, $3.30), American Trademark (1:57.1, $6.70), Vel Mr Nice Guy (1:54.4, $9.20) and Lyons Johnnyjnr (1:55.1, $6.90).
Trainer Mike Deters also had two wins on Saturday.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (November 27) with post time at 6 p.m. and there will also be a carryover of $2,812 in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 15th race.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
Photo of Dougadougadew courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
The cost of doing business has doubled since the pandemic, said Tim Call, former owner of Empire Tractor, while explaining why he decided to sell the company to Champlain Valley Equipment, a family-owned group of farm equipment retailers based in Vermont.
"He (Brian Carpenter, owner of Champlain) is a great businessman, a great person, and has been great to work with, so I knew that he would take care of our employees and our customers the way that I wanted them taken care of," Call said.
Call started in the industry working for his father's store in Batavia, but when International Harvester was acquired by Case, Call's father sold the business to Case, so Tim Call took a job with Monroe Tractor.
One day, he needed a new belt for his Troy-built rototiller and that required him to visit Tri-County Tractor, owned at the time by Carl Colantino.
Tim had heard the business had been sold so he asked about it and Colantino said the deal fell through.
"Why? You interested?" Colantino asked.
They talked and Call decided Colantino was asking too much for the business.
"Two weeks later, my mom passed away from cancer. That made me start thinking, what am I going to do? Am I always going to work for somebody else here?" Call said. "I got a chance to own one of the four major farm equipment dealers in United States, and a Ford New Holland dealership at the time. It took a while, but the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in 1994 we actually closed the deal."
In 2000, Tri-County merged with Finger Lakes Tractor and RMC Equipment, forming Empire Tractor.
About eight years ago, Call bought out his seven other partners, and a year later, he brought in Phil Doty as a partner.
Both Call and Doty remain with Champlain. Call is managing the Batavia store and Doty manages Watertown and Canton.
Since the pandemic, supply chain issues, new tariffs, especially steel tariffs, higher insurance costs, higher wages, and other rising costs have increased business expenses. Since no Call family member is in line to take over the business, and Call turns 65 next month, it seemed like a propitious time to sell.
"It was to the point where, if I were going to stay in business, I'd have to invest a couple million more," Call said. "Where am I going at my age, with nobody coming on? So I just felt it was best, especially when we're putting up against private equity companies like Land Pro, Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners, United Turf and Ag, and all these other people. So, it seemed like the time was right, but I could still work. I still like what I do, and I'll still be here to make sure that our employees and customers around here are taken care of."
As for market conditions, Call said, "The price of the equipment is 50 to 75% higher than it was, and the freight to get it here is twice as much. The setup to put (equipment) together is twice as much. You know, all our costs are up, like everybody else's. All the employees have to get more money. Insurance is going through the roof. It's just the investment to run the business is a lot more than what it was."
He added, "Everybody raised their prices when steel went up. Everybody raised their prices with freight when fuel prices went up. Nobody's dropped. Their prices go up. They don't come back down."
There are bright sides to the industry, though. Locally, for example, dairy farms are doing well, Call said.
"Right now everybody's saying ag is down. Farming is down," Call said. "Well, they're talking about corn and soybean, and that's mostly the midwest, and any cash grain farmers around here are down, but the dairy farmers are doing pretty well right now, so we're a little more immune to the swings up and down."
Call has known Carpenter, a second-generation owner of Champlain, since Call took over Tri-County. They were part of the same Dealer 20 group (a group of dealers from all over the U.S. and Canada who share best practices and business tips).
Except for Dixie Chopper, a more residential-oriented product, the Champlain product line is much like Empire's -- New Holland, Oxbo, Great Plains, and Woods Equipment. (A full list of lines carried by Champlain can be found by clicking here).
"We've got Kioti, and they've done a great job and got a zero-turn mower. They've got gas and diesel," Call said. "We handle the commercial zero-turn mowers. We don't handle really residential.
Call is confident customers won't notice much difference with the new owner. Most of the Empire employees remain, the equipment lines and service centers remain the same. Other than new cards and new computer systems, not much has changed, Call said.
"They're very customer-focused, like we were. They want to take care of the customers," he said.
Area law enforcement agencies rolled up to Batavia Towne Center on Saturday morning to conduct their annual drive to gather gifts for area families who make lack all the resources needed to celebrate Christmas.
The Sheriff's Office, Batavia PD, Probation, Genesee Justice, and State Police all participated in the collection of donated gifts, from warm jackets to fun toys, to assist families in need.
The gifts will be distributed by the Department of Social Services.
H.E. Turner & Co., Bohm-Calarco-Smith, and Burdett & Sanford Funeral Homes proudly present their 29th Annual Service of Prayer & Remembrance at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4, at the Northgate Free Methodist Church, 8160 Bank Street Road in Batavia.
For those who wish to participate from home, we will live stream the service as well.
“We hear from families how the service helps them through their grief, especially during this time of year," said Joshua Smith, of H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home. "For some of these families, it will be their first year participating in the service, which means it is their first Christmas without their loved one, and for others, they come back year after year.”
A candle in memory of your loved one will be lit prior to the start of the service and remain that way throughout.
One candle will be provided per deceased loved one and will be given to participants at the service. If you choose not to attend but would still like a candle to participate from home, please call our office to arrange a pick-up.
Call 585-344-4295 to reserve your candle by Sunday, December 1. There is no cost for a candle, and all who experienced the pain of loss are welcome to participate regardless of which funeral home arranged services for their loved one.
The ecumenical service will combine music, prayer, scripture reading, reading of the names of loved ones, the tolling of the bell in remembrance, and a message of hope by Reverend John Keller.
To register the name or names for your candle, please visit www.bataviafuneralhomes.com or call H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home at 585-344-4295 by December 1.
The Lady Irish Basketball Program is hosting its 3rd Annual Golisano Toy Drive to benefit the children who are in the hospital and cannot be home for the holidays.
The toy drive will conclude with the Notre Dame vs. Oakfield game at ND on December 12. At this game, there will be basket raffles, 50/50s as well as toy donations to contribute to the children in need.
Anyone from the community who would like to donate can do so at the ND Main Office during regular school hours.
Melissa Vinyard and Kevin Green, employees at The Recovery Station, invite the recovery community to holiday events over the next two weeks.
Press release:
UConnectCare is looking to make the holiday season – starting with two “Friendsgiving” activities in Batavia next week – a special one for the recovery community in Genesee and Orleans counties.
The Recovery Station at 5256 Clinton St. Rd. and the agency’s childcare center at 14 Harvester Ave. will be hosting events from 2 to 5 p.m. on November 27 to give adults and children the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving a day ahead of the actual holiday.
“Both of these events are designed to build a whole family of support by offering those in recovery the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends in a relaxed atmosphere,” said Melissa Vinyard, TRS coordinator. “Anyone who wants to attend is welcome.”
Vinyard said free food and refreshments will be available, with the menu featuring chicken wing dip, meatballs, taco dip, spinach dip, banana pudding, and an assortment of pies.
Jessica Budzinack, UConnectCare’s coordinator of Outreach and Family Support Program, said adults with children can drop off the kids at the childcare house on Harvester Avenue if they wish to attend the adult gathering at TRS.
“We’re calling it ‘Friendsgiving for Kiddos’ at the childcare center and it is open to all children of our clients in Genesee and Orleans, even if parents will not be attending at The Recovery Station,” she said.
Budzinack said children attending will make placemats for their Thanksgiving dinner, be treated to “candy salad and real food, too” and sing and dance along with singer/musician Bart Dentino, a UConnectCare employee.
“Each child will receive a school vacation care package containing snacks, drinks and a surprise to enjoy with their parents,” she added.
The childcare session will be supervised by Elizabeth Wilson, Parent & Family Relationship peer coach, along with staffers Kallie Totten and Tonya Arnold.
A NIGHT WITH SANTA & MRS. CLAUS
On December 4, TRS will be hosting “A Night with Santa & Mrs. Claus” from 5 to 8 p.m.
Attendees can choose to have their picture taken with the Christmas “royal couple” at no charge and will be offered the chance to craft a unique frame for the picture. Cookies and cocoa will be served and all children will receive a Christmas storybook as a gift.
Both the “Friendsgiving” at the childcare house and “A Night with Santa & Mrs. Claus” are partially funded by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, Budzinack said.
“We are grateful to the foundation for helping us to support parents and their children in recovery,” she said. “Throughout the year, we schedule different events where parents in recovery can get together with other parents in recovery and their children to do things that normally they wouldn’t be able to do on their own. This builds the recovery community for parents and the children.”
She said that UConnectCare staff helps participants build parenting skills and provides the resources that they need to parent effectively and to navigate through any legal issues.
“We also supply care packages to parents with food insecurities while their kids are in school and offer fun things they can do together as a family to strengthen family bonds,” she said.
Elizabeth Wilson, Parent & Family Relationship peer coach, holds a gift bag that will be given to all children attending the “Friendsgiving for Kiddos” gathering on Nov. 27 at UConnectCare’s childcare center.
Olin Davila, 2, and Ayla Davila, 4, were among the dozens of children who made their Christmas wishes known to Santa and Mrs. Claus on Saturday at Oliver's Candies in BAtavia. Photo by Howard Owens.
The Holland Land Office Museum hosted its annual Wonderland of Trees Gala on Friday evening, giving guest an opportunity to view all the trees decorated by local businesses and organizations, as well as participate in a basket raffle, and enjoy the holiday backing track provided by the DSP Jazz Trio.
After scoring an upset win from an outside post last week at Batavia Downs, Mucho Macho moved up in class and did the exact same thing at The Downs in the $9,500 featured trot on a wet and chilly Friday (Nov. 22) night over a track rated sloppy.
John Cummings Jr. left from post seven and shot right to the front with Mucho Macho, who got to the half in 1:00.2 while BJ’s Smitty sat smartly in the pocket. Entering turn three, Jacked (Joe Chindano Jr.) came first-over from third and made his way alongside the leader under a highly animated drive. When they passed three-quarters, Cummings popped the plugs on Mucho Macho and the trotter began to pull away from the field. Coming off the final turn, Jacked faded and BJ’s Mitty dropped into the passing lane at the top of the stretch, trying to make up ground. But Mucho Macho refused to give way and trotted home the best to win in 1:59.
It was the eighth win of the year for Mucho Macho ($14.40) who is owned and trained by Julie Wagonblott.
Joe Chindano Jr. led all drivers on Friday with three victories during the card while Sam Smith was top trainer, winning two.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Nov. 23) with post time at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a carryover of $2,386 in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 14th race.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
