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The journey is complete: We live in Batavia now

By Howard B. Owens

Here's how I found Batavia:

My first week on the job with my previous employer was September 2006. I was living in a hotel in Fairport. Billie was in Bakersfield getting our household ready for packing and shipping 3,000 miles north east. As a Californian, I grew roses. One of my biggest worries when we decided to move to the Rochester area was whether I could grow roses in a much colder climate.

Somehow, I found out about a master gardener event and plant sale at the Cornell Extension in Batavia. I had no idea, really, how far Batavia was from Fairport, but I thought I would drive out so I could talk with a few gardeners in the region, and maybe find a rosarian or two.

I faithfully followed the GPS-provided route down the Thruway onto Oak Street and left onto Main.

As soon as I hit downtown, I was charmed by the city. It would be hard to explain why.  I'd lived most of my life in metropolitian areas, but was always most attracted to their smaller communities.  I once published a weekly newspaper in San Diego's Ocean Beach, and loved the small town vibe of those few dozen city blocks.  I like towns with a sense of place

To me, Batavia seemed like a town with a real community behind it. Batavia wasn't overrun by chains (I didn't make it out to the Veteran's Memorial Drive that day). There were plenty of small businesses downtown and the old buildings, especially the churches and Masonic Temple, told me there was some history to Batavia.

Of course, I didn't know all about the Mall (to the degree I noticed it, I remember thinking, 'that's unfortunate'), I hadn't read Bill Kauffman's Dispatches from the Muckdog Gazette, I didn't know about the Holland Land Office, or John Gardner, or the Muckdogs or Mancuso's business incubator. I just liked the town.

I headed back to Fairport after my visit at the extension -- where I learned it would be a bit more work to grow roses in WNY, though not impossible -- but I didn't forget Batavia.

On the long drive back, I thought, too bad it's so far from our office. I would like to live there.

When we started discussions at my company about 18 months later about incubating an online-only community news site, the first place that came to mind was Batavia.  It was about the right size of town, had a strong local business base and was close enough that I could be directly involved in the Web site.

So, I put the plan together and got approval to launch The Batavian.

The more time I spent here, the more I learned about the community, the more I got to know people, the more I wanted to live here.

I kept trying to think through scenarios where my job could evolve into something that would allow me to live in Batavia and run The Batavian full time, but none of the options seemed particularly realistic.

Then, one day, in late February, quite unexpectedly, it all fell in my lap.  The Batavian was mine, if I wanted it. Billie and I talked it over, and we decided to take the leap.

So, here we are. We have our furniture and our clothes as well as our dog and three cats in a small townhouse on Maple Street.

It's a quite morning. We can hear the birds and quiet ruffle of the wind through the trees. And Billie and I are both struck by what we can't hear: the persistent hum of freeway traffic. It's been at least 20 years since either of us lived out of ear shot of a major highway.

We think we will like it here.

Fred GUNDELL

Welcome Aboard !!

I don't live in Batavia,(Pavilion) but commute there daily.(Target) Many of the topics discussed here on this site concern Genesee County, and not just Batavia. Although Batavia seems to be the center of most of the comments. I can understand and try to offer intelligent solutions and comments where I can. Again welcome to our community.

May 31, 2009, 7:55am Permalink
Bea McManis

I lugged my virtual bundt cake and urn of coffee from FB over here to share the welcome with your readers. Lori, it's okay to have a THIRD piece.
It is so good to have you both part of our mortar and brick community as well as our on-line community.
I hope your roses become an annual show stopper at the county fair.
Welcome, friends, so glad you are here.
PS: Don't move again, soon. This cake and coffee thing is too heavy to move too many times.

May 31, 2009, 7:57am Permalink
Mardell Lamb

Glad the move went well, Howard! It's nice getting to know your history of how you found Batavia. Good luck with the Batavian AND growing roses. Keep up the good work. I bet it'll be nice not having to commute anymore!

May 31, 2009, 8:31am Permalink
Janine Cain

Welcome Howard and Billie, and keep up the great work. I grew up here and moved elsewhere, then came back by choice. Thanks for stepping up and doing this for the community. Good luck with everything.

May 31, 2009, 8:55am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Thanks ... the bunt cake was wonderful, no more commute is good, too, and Fred, any time there anything of interest in Pavilion, please let us know about it.

May 31, 2009, 8:55am Permalink
bud prevost

Welcome to you and your wife Howard. I, too, love the history and buildings in this part of the world. I'm a Leroyan who moved west for 10 or so years, mostly Phoenix, and decided to come home. That is the beauty of this area. I could stand on the bridge on Rt 19 over Oatka creek all day long, looking at the library, schools, gazebo. I hope you have found a new home and I look forward to more of your site!

May 31, 2009, 10:05am Permalink
Bob Price

Welcome Howard-most people think people are nuts for wanting to move TO NY-with all the taxes and fees,but every place has a gotchya-they will get their money somehow.I don't think you can beat our location-Rochester and Buffalo only a 1/2 hr drive either way on Thruway,and the weather here is rather enjoyable here for most of the year-we don't have to put up w/ hurricanes or tornadoes(very rare).Pretty much any business you think of is in our community.I have grown up here all my life and wouldn't want to move.You will enjoy it here-Have a great day!

May 31, 2009, 10:08am Permalink
Karen Miconi

Good morning Howard, and welcome to our small,and for the most part, quiet town. It is a quaint little place, with lots of history. I hope you enjoy!!

Ps: Mike wants you to be our new city manager LOL you wont need a waiver,
Mike and Karen Miconi

May 31, 2009, 10:18am Permalink
Lorie Longhany

It's going to be a good year for roses. The 10 rose bushes in my yard are loaded with buds. No sign of the #1 enemy that we do battle with yet (Japanese Beetle) but that's probably because they haven't emerged from their pupa stage yet.

Welcome Howard and Billie!

May 31, 2009, 10:18am Permalink
George Richardson

Yeah Howard , the weather in Batavia is rather enjoyable for most of the year, provided you wear a snowmobile suit for eight months. Is it Spring up there yet?

May 31, 2009, 10:18am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Lorie, my roses in Pittsford are doing rather well. No blooms yet, but lots of buds, lots of green leaves. I'll try transplanting them to our new place weekend after next. Bad time of the year for that, but not much choice if I want to try and keep the plants.

May 31, 2009, 10:25am Permalink
DOUGLAS MCCLURG

Tear in my eye -lump in my throat-Glad you're living something you want-Welcome Howard
"roses are red and violets are blue"-"In WNY theres always something to do"!!!
We have the "4 season,reason here!!

May 31, 2009, 10:45am Permalink
Timothy Paine

Howard: Diane, Daphne, Max and myself are very happy to now call you fellow Batavians. I know we'll run into you and Billie at local events and at many Muckdog games. Welcome to our city!!!

May 31, 2009, 1:29pm Permalink

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