batavia

If you’re a Genesee County resident in need of a winter coat, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee may be able to help.

The nonprofit has winter coats for people of all ages and sizes, Case Manager David Dodge says. They are free for low income families, and only require some simple paperwork to be completed, he said.

People may select their coats through 4 p.m. Monday or from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday this week, he said. 

As for donations, “we are always in need of gently used or new clothing and coats,” he said. 

Community Action is at 5073 Clinton Street Road, Batavia. 

Work is progressing Monday on the Jackson Street waterline replacement project between Ellicott and Chestnut streets in the City of Batavia. Crews from Blue Heron Construction of Jordan are replacing approximately 2,250 linear feet of 4- and 6-inch water mains with 8-inch mains during the pre-winter project.

Blue Heron was the successful candidate for the job out of several bids. City Council awarded the company its bid of $1,353,000 during the city's Aug. 14 business meeting.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Since 2018 I have been writing nostalgic stories for The Batavian about growing up in Batavia, New York, in the 1950s and 1960s. In some of those stories, I made mention of some of the businesses that were located in what we always called “Downtown.” 

Due to “urban renewal” in the 1970s, most of these establishments and their buildings no longer exist. 

Recently a reprint in The Batavian of the last chapter of Anne Marie Starowitz's book “Back In the Day” made mention of a lot of these places, and it got me thinking about my experiences in some of them. As a young boy and a teen, I had no reason to go into a hat shop, a paint store or a furrier. But I certainly patronized the two movie theaters that we had. As a teenager, I did a lot of hanging out at Kustas Kandies and, to a lesser extent, Critic's Restaurant, and I got a lot of my clothes at McAlpine-Barton Clothiers (the owners were next-door neighbors of my grandparents on North Lyon Street).

Time-Honored Theaters
Our two movie theaters were The Dipson Batavia on the northwest side of Main Street between the Post Office and State Street and The Mancuso Theater on the southeast side of Main between Center and Liberty Streets. I would say that despite the two theaters being in competition, both were well attended, depending on what movies were being shown. Prices were certainly reasonable with a lot of movies (we called it “going to the show”) being $1 and even less for kids.

It's odd how memory works, but I really can't recall exact details about either theater. Mancuso's seemed to be a little fancier and, later on in the 70s split into twin theaters so they could show two movies instead of one. 

My younger brother (by 11 years) Jim's first job was as an usher at Mancuso's and he certainly has some stories to tell. I do remember a young usher at Dipson's named Lester who took his job very seriously. Unfortunately, we kids weren't very nice to him and often gave him a hard time.

I know that I must have seen the big blockbusters of that time like “Ben Hur” and “The Longest Day,” but I cannot remember specifics (of course, I have watched them on TV since), like who I was with or what theater I saw them at. I do recall that most movies, especially the kid ones were preceded by cartoons. I assume we got popcorn, but I think oftentimes we brought our own candy in our pockets. We'd stop at Corrigan's or some other mom-and-pop grocery first and stock up. 

I don't remember if we bought drinks, but I'm sure they didn't cost $5 or $6 like they do now. 

My brother still works in the theater business and he will certify that way more money is made on concessions than tickets. I don't know if that was the case 50 or 60 years ago, but we didn't contribute much to the concession intake at all.

I'm pretty sure that it was not the norm for 10-year-olds to go to the movies alone, but I distinctly recall being dropped off at Mancuso's in 1957 for a movie called “Heaven Knows Mr. Allison.” War movies were my favorites then (I never did serve in the military, though) and that's probably what attracted me to it. It starred Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr as a “salty” Marine and a nun who were randomly stranded on a Pacific island during World War II. When the Japanese came and set up an outpost, the two of them had to hide out in a cave. Mr. Allison, as the Sister called him, fell in love with the nun, but of course, she told him that her life was committed to God and a relationship with the Marine could never be. Corporal Allison eventually disabled some Japanese artillery to enable an American landing on the island, and the two were rescued and went their separate ways. Deborah Kerr was nominated for an Oscar for her performance. 

Why do I so vividly recall going to this movie and not other bigger, splashier ones? That's the conundrum of memory, I guess.

One thing for sure about going to the movies back then was that if you really wanted to watch the movie, you should not sit toward the rear, Those rows were populated by teenagers who were there only to take advantage of the warm, dry theater to “make out” or “neck” (those are some funny descriptive terms aren't they? ). I was certainly no ladies' man, but I can remember coming out of some movies and having no idea what film I had even attended. I specifically recall one time when I told my parents I was at a friend's house when I was at Mancuso's with a girl instead. When I didn't come home on time, my mom called the friend's mom, and of course, I was in trouble for lying. It was surely embarrassing (and still is if I think about it) to try to explain to my mom why my lips were swollen. 

Teenagers.

Both theaters were occasionally used for music, but Batavia was certainly no usual stop on entertainers' tour agendas. Much to my delight, though, in June 1964 just before I graduated from Notre Dame, Mancuso's hosted a pretty big-time show -- my first rock and roll concert. 

Like most teens at that time, I was all in on the “British Invasion.” The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, Gerry and The Pacemakers (did Gerry have a heart condition? ) and more were all over Top 40 radio. WKBW from Buffalo was the local station of choice with DJs Joey Reynolds, Tommy Shannon, and Danny Neaverth. So when I heard that The Searchers, with their big hits “Needles and Pins and “Love Potion Number #9,” were going to headline a show in our little town, I was ecstatic.

It was almost 60 years ago, so I don't remember too many details of the show. Danny Nevearth was the emcee. There were five bands on the bill and two shows at 6:30 and 9:15 ( I don't recall which one I went to) so the opening acts must have only been able to play a few songs. I can't recall anything about the first two acts: Ronnie Cochran and Ronnie Dio and the Prophets. Ronnie Dio was 21 at the time of the Mancuso show and grew up in Cortland. He later went on to be the lead singer of Black Sabbath, taking Ozzie Osborn's place. Many consider him to be the best “Heavy Metal” singer of all time.

The third band was The Dovells, a dance band from Philadelphia. Their lead singer was Len Barry who went on to later have a big hit with”1-2-3”. They performed their choreographed song “Bristol Stomp,” and another dance tune called “Do The Continental,” which many years later showed up in the John Waters movie “Hairspray." They were followed by Dick and Dee Dee, whose popular hit was “Mountain High”. The only thing I recall about them was that I was shocked to find out that Dick was the one with the high falsetto voice and Dee Dee sang the lower range.

The Searchers did not disappoint, playing their two hits I mentioned earlier along with a set of other tunes that were hard to hear over the screaming teenage Batavia girls. My first big rock and roll show started me on the road to many, many more as I went on to college and through life. Going to see live music is still my favorite thing to do. 

Thanks Mancuso's.

Teen Hangouts
A big venue in the lives of most teens in the '50s and '60s was the local “soda shoppe.” For my friends and me (and many others of our age) it was Kustas Kandies on the north side of Main Street. Mrs. Kustas, who held down the counter and table area, was well-liked by all the kids and hired a number of them to work there, too, including a couple of my classmates, Mike Palloni and Madonna Mooney. She was pretty tolerant of teens hanging out there as long as you bought something and didn't get too rowdy. Most of my meager funds were spent on Cherry Cokes and French Fries, but if I happened to have a little extra cash, Kustas had delicious cheeseburgers in the style of McDonald's Big Mac or Carroll's Club burger. Like many restaurants of the time, there was a jukebox at every table, and we fed them coins to play all our favorite tunes. I'd bet The Rolling Stones' “Satisfaction” was #1 in the rotation. Hey, hey, hey, that's what I say.

Across Main Street and slightly to the west was Critics, formerly The Sugar Bowl. Critics was more of a pre- or post-date restaurant, though. Mr. Critic (real name Ernest Criticos who, after urban renewal, relocated his restaurant to Greece Town Mall outside Rochester) did not brook any nonsense from teens. He wanted to appeal to a more adult crowd, and if teens hung around longer than 30 or 40 minutes, especially without buying a meal, out you went. It was just a little fancier than Kustas, though, so if you wanted to impress a girl before or after a date ( a movie, let's say), you would take her there. It wasn't a soda shop, but into the 60s, another date spot was Your Host Restaurant in the East End Plaza, but not downtown. You probably needed a car to get your girl to Your Host.

Classy Clothiers
It's hard to believe, but in a small city of about 18,000 people, there were three men's clothing stores (not counting JCPenney) in downtown Batavia. There was Beardsley's, Charles Men's Shop, and McAlpine Barton's. 

I really don't recall ever buying anything at Beardsley's, and I have no idea why not. I'm pretty sure that when I was a student at St. Mary's Elementary School from first to eighth grade, we bought our school uniforms from Charles Men's Shop. For the boys, they consisted of light blue shirts, dark blue pants, and a dark blue clip-on bow tie. Probably Charles had a deal with the school. 

My mom would buy two pairs of pants for the year, and they would take a beating, so multiple sewing repairs were required. I wouldn't even want to guess how many bow ties I probably lost in 8 years. At Notre Dame High, those of us who earned them got our letter sweaters at Charles, too, again probably a deal between the school and the store. Other than those things, I don't recall frequenting that haberdashery very often.

When my grandparents, Anna and Henry (Henrik) Newhouse, moved to Batavia from Brooklyn (after emigrating from Denmark) in the 1920s, they bought a house at 25 North Lyon Street. There they raised my mother and three other children. Grampa was a tool and die maker at Doehler-Jarvis, which is why they moved here. My two uncles, Walter and Robert (who is the last family member of his generation at age 93) followed their dad's career path and became tool and die makers also. Their neighbors at 23 North Lyon were the Bartons of McAlpine – Barton Clothing store. It was originally McAlpine-Brumsted, but the Bartons bought out Brumsted and the business carried on. So, the reason why we patronized that store is because the Bartons were neighbors and friends of my mother's family.

The store was located on the south side of Main Street on the corner of Center Street (ironically, Charles Men's Shop, McAlpine's competitor for many years, is still in business and now occupies that building). LaRay Barton and his son Charlie ran the business, and LaRay's wife Eva took care of the office. My mom, Anna Newhouse Reilly, worked in the office for a number of years, too before going on to become the office manager for William Dipson of the aforementioned Dipson Theaters. Another long-time salesperson that I recall was Fred Darch.

McAlpine-Barton's had two floors for clothes shopping, the main floor and the basement. The offices were on the second floor. The main floor had two parts: the main room, which was for suits, sport coats, and slacks, as they referred to dress pants. Then there was a side room for what they called “leisure wear”. This would be sweaters, dressier polo shirts, and so on. The basement, where I got most of my clothes, was more for teenage or younger people's clothes like t-shirts and jeans, which they called “dungarees”. It wasn't like most of the places you go to get clothes now, though, where you pretty much wait on yourself unless you ask for help. There was always a salesman with you and assisting you.

I do have fond memories of McAlpine–Barton's, mostly because all the salesmen were friendly and willing to help you find what you were looking for and ensure a good fit. (note: I honestly do not recall any female salespeople at Barton's. It was probably a combination of it being a men's store and the chauvinism of that era. Also, later on, the family opened The Pendleton Store for women's clothes, managed by Charlie, and they had all female salespeople). Of course, my brothers and I got extra good treatment at McAlpine-Barton since LaRay and Charlie knew our family.

I moved to the Rochester area after graduating from St. John Fisher College there in 1969, so I wasn't living in Batavia for the Urban Renewal, which took place in the 1970s resulting in the demolishing of most of the downtown buildings. Dipson Theater, Kustas Kandies and Critics are long gone. Mancuso Theater still stands but is now a church. Finally, as I mentioned previously, the building that housed McAlpine-Barton is now home to the still-in-business Charles Men's Shop.

From following a couple of Facebook pages devoted to remembering the Batavia of old I realize that there are a substantial number of people who lived through the tearing down of a majority of downtown buildings who are still grieving and angry about it. Their feelings are that Batavia as they knew it was ruined forever. Nonetheless, even though the population of the seat of Genesee County has declined by about 5,000 since the '50s and '60s, it is still a city, and a number of its citizens are still trying to make it a viable and valued place to live.

For those of us who grew up in Batavia, New York, back then and are still living, we have our photographs, paintings and especially our memories that can remind us of the way things used to be.

Dipson Theater Painting by Pat Burr.
All other images courtesy of Genesee County History Department.

Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Spiderman stopped in at Foxprowl Collectables on Ellicott Street in Batavia as part of "Shop Small Saturday," a day to support locally-owned businesses.

Submitted photos.

When faced with the decision whether to sleep in on the Thanksgiving holiday or get up early and spend some time at the McCarthy ice arena Thursday morning, Patrick Suozzi didn’t have to think twice, he says.

The Batavia High School senior threw on some warm clothes and headed to the Evans Street rink, along with several high school students, for a first-time gathering of the Batavia Key Club.

“It’s awesome,” the 17-year-old said. “It’s a good way to give back to the community and help the kids. I’ve been helping kids color and will help them skate.”

A yearly tradition since 2007, Batavia’s Kiwanis Club has hosted a Community Skate at the ice rink every Thanksgiving. It draws many kids and families to kick off the day with some skating, mingling and hot cocoa, with this year being no exception, said Pete Guppenberger, one of the longtime Kiwanis hosts of the event. 

Suozzi knows Guppenberger, he said and has become more familiar with the club and how it does activities in the community. That has made him want to become more involved, especially now that teacher Allison Chua has taken on the role of adviser for the Key Club.

“The reason I started it was because, years ago, we had talked about it, and we were gonna have a Kiwanis Key Club, and then it kind of fizzled out. And I do a whole bunch of other things for the school, and I do the newsletter … and I'm the freshman class adviser, and I'm involved in a bunch of other activities and clubs, but Mr. Smith, when he joined the Kiwanis Club, came to ask me about running a Key Club, and I thought, yeah, I think we need that at the school because in this time of COVID, and all these things that had happened, I think we all realized how important it was to help in the community and help each other,” Chua said. “And this club is all about reaching out to the community and helping, so I'm all about that.”

Key Club International is the high school branch of the Kiwanis International family, classified as a Service Leadership Program and, more specifically, as a Kiwanis Youth Program. Many Key Clubs are sponsored by a local Kiwanis club. Chua will help to organize the students, and then they will lead their own school club, which is to provide opportunities to provide service, build character and develop leadership, according to Kiwanis Key Club International.

There were 67 students that showed up to the initial meeting at BHS — Chua jokes that they were drawn to the pizza being served — and that has settled down to about 45 that will remain in the club. 

On Thursday, 17 students came to the ice rink for this first service-based activity. Students sat and colored pictures with kids near the concession stand while others helped anyone who needed assistance with skating around the rink.

Drew Stevens has grown up in a “hockey family,” she said, and likes to skate. The 10th-grader came with a few of her friends.

“It’s a good way to be helpful with kids and families while doing something I like to do,” she said.

Lila Callan, a junior, agreed.

“It’s a good way to get involved with the community, and on Thanksgiving,” she said.

A third friend also thought that it was “a good way to get volunteer hours,” while doing things such as arts and crafts, she said.

There will be plenty of opportunities for them to rack up hours while getting out into Batavia, Chua said, since local nonprofits have expressed a need for more volunteers and the ideas keep building — doing garden work, cleaning cars of snow in winter, shoveling, to name a few. 

They want to help in the community. And they're glad that there's something they can do. And, of course, it does help them because service organizations are always good for the building of their resume, and for being part of a community of helpers and learning, and I think colleges are looking for that now,” she said. “They're looking more for a well-rounded student. It's not just about how high your grades are. It's more about who you are as a person, what you do for people, and how you work collaboratively with others. And I'd be glad to give recommendations to these kids that are working hard, and that'll be a pleasure for me to be part of that.”

SHOP SMALL - SHOP LOCAL - Adam Miller Toys and Bicycles. Valle Jewelers. Charles Men's Shop.

Good music was part of the Thanksgiving celebration at Ri-Dans in Batavia on Wednesday night with the Rusty Fisher Band and the Growlers Blues Band both taking the stage.

Photos by Howard Owens.

A bicyclist has reportedly been hit by a car on West Main Street, Batavia, between Bogue and Woodrow.

City Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 2:09 p.m. by Joanne Beck: The patient was initially unconscious, but came to and is being examined by Mercy EMS and is likely going to be transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

A Town of Batavia resident and business owner reiterated his objections Tuesday night to a proposed Genesee Biogas plant earmarked for the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park but, once again, project developers attempted to alleviate his concerns over the smell of its emissions.

Speaking at the Batavia Town Planning Board meeting at the Town Hall on West Main Street Road, Eric Biscaro questioned Lauren Toretta, president of CH4 Biogas, and Sara Gilbert of Pinewood Engineering, about the extent of the odor from the facility, which is set to be constructed on Ag Park Drive, not far away from Ellicott Street Road.

“If you go by O-AT-KA (Milk Products Cooperative) on lots of given days, the odor there is enough to … it’s bad,” Biscaro said. “So, it’s seems that it would be more intense at your place if you’re going to bring it over from O-AT-KA and (HP) Hood and Upstate (Niagara Cooperative). If you’re going to be worse than O-AT-KA, then I’m going to tell you that I’m going 100 percent against this.”

Biscaro mentioned his neighbors on Ellicott Street Road and also those on Shepard Road when he added, “We really don’t want you to do that to us.”

The scene mirrored what played out six months ago when Biscaro, as a member of the Genesee County Planning Board, voiced his opposition to the digester based on the potential odor.

Last night, as was the case in May, Gilbert and Toretta, responded by stating that measures are in place to mitigate the smell as the digester handles sanitary waste primarily from the three Ag Park enterprises.

Gilbert said the digester storage tanks feature a process that is “entirely enclosed,” unlike the system at O-AT-KA that has open air containers where “odors can get into the air and get wind dispersed.”

“It is an enclosed process, it has odor filtration, and we also have an odor mitigation plan that we’ve started to prepare if there’s a breakdown in the process; a way to identify it and rectify it,” she said.

Toretta called the digester, which was first proposed about nine years ago, a “next level” project and a “landmark facility” that comes with numerous technological advances.

Biscaro then brought up the placement of the facility and wondered why it couldn’t be shifted further north on Ag Park Drive, closer to HP Hood and Upstate and farther away from people’s homes.

“This is the parcel that the Ag Park asked us to be on,” Toretta replied, noting that Hood is planning an expansion and has use for more of its property. “We also oriented the site as far from the road as possible, up against the tree line …”

Prior to Biscaro’s comments, Gilbert updated planners on the project, emphasizing that waste from the food processing plants will be shipped to lagoons approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and not to the City of Batavia wastewater treatment plant.

She said the waste is deemed by the DEC as “good material for fertilizer.”

Gilbert addressed other key points such as making sure the project aligns with federal requirements concerning environmental impact, stormwater treatment, water usage, truck traffic and wildlife protection.

She noted that county planners have recommended approval of a height variance for the storage tanks, and that the next step is to return to the Town Planning Board to take on the State Environmental Quality Review process.

A head-on collision is reported on West Main Street Road just west of Lewiston Road in the Town of Batavia.

Town of Batavia Fire and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 11:55 a.m.: It appears to be minor injuries. Only one ambulance is required.

UPDATE: One occupant in each car, minor injuries.

413 East Main Street, Batavia. 1144 Square feet of office space for lease is located in an ideal location, close to downtown. The office space is ready for immediate occupancy. Call Michelle Dills today for more information!

Press Release:

It is with immense joy and pride that we announce GCC Professor of ESL and English Kathleen Klaiber as the recipient of this year's New York State TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) College ESOL Professor of the Year Award.

Kathleen Klaiber has been honored as the College ESOL Professor of the Year. She has had a distinguished career marked by excellence along the way. Professor Klaiber is a two-time recipient of the SUNY Chancellor Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities.

In response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, Professor Klaiber exhibited exceptional resilience and innovation. Recognizing the diverse needs of students scattered across the globe in six different time zones, she devised the FLEXESOL Approach to Teaching in the High Flex Modality. This groundbreaking initiative showcased her dedication to ensuring a seamless educational experience for students worldwide.

Beyond her individual accomplishments, Professor Klaiber stands out as an active and motivating professional within the NYSTESOL and academic communities. Her unwavering support has significantly enhanced communication and interactions among NYSTESOL members and practitioners.

The New York State TESOL (NYSTESOL) organization proudly advocates, advances, and enriches TESOL education and professionalism throughout the state. Comprising professionals committed to the education of English language learners at all levels, NYSTESOL focuses on classroom practices, research, program and curriculum development, employment, funding, and legislation.

Kathleen Kleiber's recognition as the State TESOL College ESOL Professor of the Year reaffirms her commitment to excellence and innovation in TESOL education. Her impact extends beyond the classroom, shaping the future of language education in New York State and beyond.

For more information contact Vice President, Development and External Affairs Justin Johnston at (585) 345-6809, or via email: jmjohnston@genesee.edu.

Both Genesee County Manager Matt Landers and Legislature Chairwoman Shelley Stein were happy that a contract was approved with the Civil Service Employees Association Monday, both said during the Legislature’s meeting at the Old County Courthouse.

Negotiations ended with legislators approving increases of $1 plus 5 percent for 2024, 4 percent for 2025 and 3 percent for 2026 for the CSEA general unit, Local 819 Union. 

“I’m really proud of not getting ourselves into a long, protracted, drawn-out battle,” Landers said. 

The county legislators agreed to a three-year contract to begin Jan. 1, 2024, and run through Dec. 31, 2026. It will have an approximate cumulative budget impact of $1.23 million, with a FICA cost of $99,000, and retirement of $203,000, for a total of $1.56 million for 2024.

“We are grateful for the staff that provides the public service here,” Stein said. 

Just in time for Thanksgiving, she was thankful to “put this contract to bed and move forward,” Stein said. 

In other salary-related action, the Legislature set a hearing for a proposed local law regarding the salaries and increases of elected county officials, as listed below. 

Landers said each salary has been increased based on a 2.5 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) and other varied reasons. The original salary and reason for the increase are listed next to the proposed new salary.

Commissioner of Elections - $52,966, combined with COLA, longevity pay of $800 and a step increase, would be - $55,741 ($2,775 more)

Human Resources Director - $101,565, combined with COLA, longevity pay of $1,000 and a grade adjustment, would be - $113,980 ($12,415 more)

Commissioner of Social Services - $94,325, also with COLA, an increase in longevity pay of $800, and a multiple-step increase, would be $108,624 ($14,299 more)

Treasurer - $110,639, combined with COLA, and an increase in longevity pay of $1,400, would be - $114,780 ($4,141 more)

Sheriff - $116,121, combined with COLA, and an increase in longevity pay of $1,400, would be - $120,399 ($4,278 more)

Highway Superintendent - $127,922, with COLA, an increase in longevity pay of $1,400, would be - $132,495 ($4,573 more).

The public hearing will be at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Old County Courthouse, 7 Main St., Batavia. 

Press Release:

Members of the Anna Ingalsbe Lovell DAR Chapter have continued their holiday tradition of honoring residents of the Batavia VA. Cindy M. Baker, Center for Development and Civic Engagement Specialist, met with Robin Laney Ettinger and Pam Ware to accept this year’s gifts of TOPS gift cards, flatware, and snacks.

Twelve families in Batavia will likely have a more filling and flavorful Thanksgiving than might otherwise have been possible, thanks to the students at John Kennedy Intermediate School, City Fire, and Batavia PD.

The students packed Thanksgiving dinner prep kits to be delivered by Batavia PD to the selected families.

Firefighters delivered turkeys and all the fixings for a complete holiday dinner.

Photos via Batavia City Schools