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Now you can design your own Batavia-made boots.

p.w. minor announced today the launch of their new product line and brand, the Abram Boot Company.

The new boots are the same p.w. minor quality, and made right here in Batavia, but you, the customer, design your own boots at abrambootcompany.com.

You can also visit p.w.'s local outlet store at Main and Jackson to try on boots and sit at an in-store computer to design your custom boots.

Customers can choose leather, sole, eyelets, speed hooks, toe type and laces to fashion the look they find most appealing.

Local customers are invited to use the promo code "Batavia Made" when ordering their boots online for $200 off the purchase price.

The new line is named after Abram Vorhees Minor, the younger brother of Peter Wycoff Minor. The brothers founded p.w. minor in Batavia 149 years ago.

More than a year ago, Pete Zeliff and Andrew Young purchased the company, which was about to be shut down, and saved it, investing substantially to expand production, modernize the plant and bring jobs back to Batava that had been transferred to China.

Top photo: Lisa Paul-Khan.

Full press release after the jump:

Press release:

Town and village officials from Le Roy and Bergen, along with the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC), today announced the submission of a community revitalization plan for consideration as part of the second round of America’s Best Communities (ABC) $10 million prize competition.

Le Roy and Bergen are one of 50 communities that have submitted plans intended to stimulate economic revitalization in small towns and cities across the United States. As a quarter-finalist, the Le Roy and Bergen team was awarded $50,000 in June 2015 to develop a plan aimed at accelerating the revival of the local economies and quality of life in both towns and villages.

With the assistance of Saratoga-based firm Camoin Associates, Le Roy and Bergen developed a plan which includes a proposed budget and long-term vision for economic revitalization, highlighting objectives to expand the commercial and industrial base in both towns and villages while sustaining the continued vitality of the agricultural community.

If awarded funding, the plan budgets for the use of funds to: determine gas pipeline capacity infrastructure at the Le Roy Food & Technology Park and Apple Tree Acres Corporate Park in Bergen; conduct a survey of current broadband capabilities for residents and businesses in both municipalities; and identify opportunities to enhance workforce development initiatives. The plan also recognizes the importance of using incentives and existing programs to enhance residential and commercial mixed-use developments in the downtown areas in both villages.

Only 15 communities will be selected for the competition’s semi-finalist round to win $100,000, in which each semi-finalist will make a presentation to a panel of judges about why its community should receive funds to advance its revitalization plan. In addition, three grand prize winners will be selected to win top prizes of $3 million, $2 million and $1 million.

"Through the ABC challenge process, our communities have rediscovered optimism, volunteer spirit and community assets that are highly valued,” said Shelley Stein, Genesee County legislator. “We demonstrate being America's ‘Best Community’ daily in our rural community pride and livability corridors, and have this unique opportunity to improve our shared livelihood by adding basic gas mains and broadband to support our local businesses.”

Anna Marie Barclay, Village of Bergen mayor, said, "The ‘America’s Best Communities’ competition has given the towns and villages of Le Roy and Bergen the opportunity to do what we are committed to: dedicate our time and passion to value and honor our history; enhance the quality of life and sense of place to all who live and work with us; encourage our young people to join us with their families and businesses in our rural environment; support our agricultural resources; and create and maintain economic development in a way that builds on the quality and hometown essence of small town America."

"It has been a great experience working with the ABC team and Bergen and Genesee County officials on this project,” said Stephen Barbeau, Town of Le Roy supervisor. "Community support has been overwhelming and our town board remains very optimistic that we will be able to establish our commercial park, injecting some new, clean commercial growth to our tax base while not detracting from our residential neighborhoods and rural character."

The Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation (GGLDC), an affiliate of GCEDC, is the entity which administered the grant dollars and oversaw the selection of the consultants used in the development of the revitalization plan.

“The submission of the community revitalization plan serves as a monumental step in moving on to the next stage of this prestigious nationwide competition,” said Thomas Felton, GGLDC chairman. “Every official and community leader involved in this process has played a critical role in making sure this plan comprehensively reflects the business and economic development needs of the Bergen and Le Roy communities.”

Byron-Bergen put themselves in a position to advance in the state tournament Thursday night, up 24-17 in the fifth set, but let the lead slip away, dropping the game 27-25 to Honeoye. The first four sets were 25-19 Byron-Bergen, 17-25 Honeoye, 25-14 Byron-Bergen and 14-25 Honeoye.

The match, played in Le Roy, was a consolidation round for the Class D1 and Class D2 champions in Section V.

Genesee County's other Section V champion, for Class C, was Le Roy, and the Oatkan Knights lost its state qualifier last night at Pioneer in Arcade to Eden, 25-15, 25-11 and 25-15.

Going back to Joseph Ellicott, you would be hard pressed to find anybody has had more of a local impact over a sustained period of time than Catherine Roth.

And she's leaving us.

At age 95, Roth is moving from The Manor House in Batavia to an assisted-living facility near Albany, where she will be closer to her son and grandchildren.

"She really, physically worked hard with the organizations she was involved in," said Lucine Kauffman, a former Town of Elba supervisor and currently president of the  Landmark Society of Genesee County, which Roth helped found. "Some people just want to throw money around, but she actually got her hands dirty. She worked hard and she was passionate. She was definitely one of my mentors and one of the first friends I made when I moved here."

We will need to write out a long list with numerous bullet points to list out all Roth did in her some 70 years of living in Genesee County, but let's do it anyway:

• Founding member of the Landmark Society in 1964;
• Spearheaded publication of "The Architectural Heritage of Genesee County";
• Started a swimming class for children in what is now known as Genesee ARC;
• She spent decades as a Girl Scout troop leader;
• Served on the Batavia City Council in the 1970s and served on the Master Plan Steering Committee;
• Member of the UMMC Hospital League, and baked and donated hundreds of pies to be sold in the snack shop at the hospital, where she also volunteered her time;
• A trustee with the First Presbyterian Church of Batavia, which she helped get listed on the National Register of Historic Places and took a leadership role in getting the tower restored;
• Planted flowers and weeded in numerous public places, including Dwyer Stadium and the Batavia Cemetery;
• Served on the YMCA Board of Directors;
• Served on the Holland Land Purchase Historical Society Board of Directors;
• Founding member of the Sun Catchers Garden Club;
• Board of Directors, Stafford Historical Society;
• Board member of the Batavia Cemetery Association, where she established the James T. Roth Memorial Arboretum, in memory of her son who was killed by an elderly driver in a car accident;
• Helped get the Batavia Cemetery listed on the National Register of Historic Places;
• Recipient of numerous local awards;
• With her sisters, a member of the oldest living triplets in the United States;
• Lobbied for years, after her son was killed, to change NYS law on allowing elderly people to retain driver's licenses and gave hers up when she felt she was too old to drive.

Roth was honored -- one of several such gatherings planned around the county before she departs for Albany on Nov. 17 -- yesterday in the Stafford Town Court by the Stafford Historical Society.

She said she was embarrassed by the attention. She never volunteered for anything to get attention, she said. She volunteered because she could.

"I'm embarrassed to say, but I didn't have to work," Roth said. "My husband (Dr. Lawrence Roth) was an obstetrician-gynecologist and I just never had to work, which is very different from what women have to do now."

Roth was born and raised in Long Island and she and her sisters graduated from William Smith College, which they attended on a scholarship. Each of the young ladies met their future husbands while in college, and all three young men were graduates of Hobart College.

Dr. Roth was a decendent of a family, the Tyler family, that settled in Stafford in 1810. The Tyler's roots in the colonies go back to the early 17th Century (one branch of the Tylers, not the branch that came to Le Roy) produced Ernest Hemingway.

When Dr. Roth returned to Batavia to begin his medical career, he brought his bride with him and she got involved early in the life of the community.

She adopted it as her own and cherished the things that made it unique, which made her a staunch opponent of urban renewal, a turn of events in the city's history that she's still bitter about.

"They really ruined Batavia, as far as I'm concerned," she said yesterday.

Her activism in fighting urban renewal paved the way for the creation of the Landmark Society and launched her local political career, prompting her to run for City Council.

"I was the biggest vote-getter," she said.

Her time on council is among her proudest achievements, as well as teaching developmentally disabled children how to swim, saving the Batavia Cemetery and building the arboretum in honor of her departed son.

Laurie Oltramari, currently director of the Batavia Improvement District, and a former president of the Landmark Society, said at yesterday's gathering that Roth gave her confidence to be a leader, even if that meant ruffling feathers along the way.

"Sometimes I was dubbed 'Little Catherine' because I don't like to take no for an answer and I'm not afraid to burn bridges and lose friendships when it means doing the right thing," Oltramari said. "That's really a hard thing to do, but when you have somebody like Catherine saying it's 'OK, you'll be OK,' it really is a life lesson."

Roth's example -- she's thought of by many as somebody who demonstrated equal rights for women long before equal rights for women really became a movement -- has inspired many women, including Rev. Roula Alkhouri, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Batavia.

"I always felt affirmed because you always told me the truth," Rev. Alkhouri told Roth during Wednesday's gathering. "You would share your opinion, but it was never in the spirit of you don't know what you're doing because you're young. It was in the sense that I felt affirmed as a woman being in ministry and welcomed."

"I felt really affirmed," she added, "and I realized that when I met her sisters. They came up one time and they said 'You know what, we haven't heard anything bad about you.' "

Kauffman said she always found Roth kind and kindhearted, and a lot of people did, but she was also always strong willed and had deeply held beliefs. That sometimes rubbed some men the wrong way.

"A lot of men thought she was a loudmouthed broad and a pushy broad and I've always wondered, as a woman myself, if she was a man, would they say 'He's pushy,' or 'He's a loudmouth'? No, they would just say 'He's a leader and he had a vision.' "

Roth said there was no grand vision to her service. She just did it.

"I didn't want to be bored with life," she said.

The police investigation into a reported assault two weeks ago that left one man with serious injuries has been stymied by a lack of cooperation from one of the victims and the failure of potential witnesses to come forward, said Det. Todd Crossett.

The Batavian reported on the assault Oct. 28, which reportedly involved a group of people attacking a young man returning from 7-Eleven to a Halloween party on Swan Street with pizzas and a friend who went out apparently looking for the attackers. That second man was hospitalized after he was attacked by a group of people.

The victim who was seriously hurt has cooperated with investigators, but the first reported victim, who was the person who contacted The Batavian about the case, has declined all interview requests with police and police have found it repeatedly difficult to get in touch with him.

Several people posted comments online indicating they know who the attackers are, but police attempts to contact those potential witnesses have been unsuccessful and none has voluntarily contacted police.

Crossett is asking that those potential witnesses please come forward and answer questions.

"I'd like to talk to you and find out how you might know who these people might be," Crossett said.

Crossett's direct line is (585) 345-6353.

The information contained in the original story on The Batavian about the attack is consistent with what the police have been able to learn so far, but without further cooperation from victims and witnesses, it will be difficult to successfully close the case, Crossett said.

Veterans were a baffled by this setup when they arrived at the Upton Monument this morning. They aren't sure if this was meant as some sort of message or it's just somebody's litter. The boxes were all empty.

Submitted photo.

Karen Crittenden, owner of Karen's Yarn, Paper and Scissors, was the guest instructor tonight at the regular meeting of the Batavia Society of Artists at GO Art!. Crittenden's class tonight was a new art form known as Zentangle. Zentangle is described as an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns that is fun and relaxing. It was invented by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts.

Kimberly Yasses Argenta has moved Art Ah La Carte from Harvester Avenue to Downtown Batavia, into a storefront on Jackson Street.

She moved the art studio and classroom space because she needed more space, she said, and she thought the location would give her better exposure.

"Already, people have come in off the street, so that's a good thing," Argenta said.

She also thought it would be beneficial to be part of the Business Improvement District and enjoy those promotional opportunities.

This Friday and Saturday she is hosting "Brush Out Cancer," an event to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

Friday is an art show, vendors' auctions and a 50/50 raffle. On Saturday, from noon to 1:30 p.m., there is Kids Paint. The cost is $30 and pre-registration is required (call (585) 245-1655). And in the evening, starting at 6, Monet and Merlot, which costs $45 and includes refreshments, though if you want wine, you need to bring your own bottle. There will be a wine tasting. Saturday evening's event also includes auctions and a 50/50 raffle.

The fundraisers are in memory of Argenta's mother, Mickey Yasses, who passed away in December, 2013.

Jason Andrew Barnhart, 28, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. Barnhart is accused of damaging the structure and contents of a mobile home owned by another person. He was jailed on $15,000 bail.

David J. Gaetan, 43 and Chrissy A. Gaetan, 40, of Ontario, Canada, are charged with trespass. The couple is accused of bypassing no trespassing signs at Rolling Hills Asylum and entering the property without permission. Following arraignment in Town of Bethany Court, each paid a fine of $250 and were released.

Jeffrey Marrero, 21, of Norwood Avenue, Rochester, is charged with trespass. Marrero is accused of being on private property on Kelsey Road, Batavia, at 6:35 p.m. Oct. 28. Also charged was Mitchell J. Louis, 22, of Lincoln Road, Ontario, Canada.

Erica Michelle Raphael, 30, of Walnut Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Raphael is accused of stealing merchandise valued at $44.98 from the Shoe Dept.

Jerry Lee Wagner, 64, of Route 31 Holley, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Wagner was stopped at 6:09 p.m. Sunday on Route 77, Darien, by Deputy Bradley Mazur.

Michael Paul Fitzpatrick Sr., 40, of Howlan Street, Fonda, is charged with possession of more than 400 untaxed cigarettes, unlawful possession of marijuana and dark/tinted side windows. Fitzpatrick was stopped at 11:43 a.m. Nov. 5 on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Lorie Oliver and the Women of the Moose Chapter 370, Le Roy, presented Tammy Arneth, director of All Babies Cherished with a check for $475.00 this weekend. The chapter also presented Jeanne Walton, director of Genesee County YWCA with a check  for $475. The money was raised at their annual Harvest Dinner held in October.  

(Submitted photo and info.)

A Genesee County Sheriff's deputy and his dog helped law enforcement in Monroe County nab four burglary suspects yesterday morning who were thought to have broken into a house in Churchville and stolen two long guns and $5,000. 

Deputy Chris Erion and K-9 "Destro" were patrolling in Bergen along the county line after the report of the burglary in case the suspects came into Genesee County when a caller reported suspicious persons near the 7th hole of a golf course in Churchville.  

Destro pursued the suspects into the woods, Erion said, and tracked them until they exited the woods and surrendered to Monroe County deputies.

According to The Batavian's news partner 13WHAM, a homeowner called 9-1-1 about 11:30 a.m. to report four subjects in a house.

The suspects ransacked the entire home, ripping a U.S. Flag from its case and throwing it to the ground, 13WHAM reported.

Charged with second-degree burglary, third-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree grand larceny were 17-year-old Jordan McLin, 19-year-old Tyler Menke, 19-year-old Carman Stio, and 19-year-old Sean Seaman.

UPDATE: Statement released by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office:

On Monday, Nov. 9, around 11:30 a.m., deputies responded to a house on West Buffalo Street in Churchville for a burglary that had just occurred. The homeowner was returning home when he saw four suspects exit his house and run in a westerly direction.

One of the suspects was observed carrying a red backpack. The suspects ransacked the entire residence, removing a U.S. Flag from its case and throwing it to the ground. The homeowner is a U.S military veteran. Approximately $5,000 in valuable coins and money were stolen along with two long guns. Deputies immediately established a perimeter and Sheriff's K-9 arrived on scene. The suspects were tracked in a westerly direction.

A NY State Police helicopter assisted with the search. Because the search area was in close proximity to Churchville Elementary School, the school was temporarily placed in "locked out" status. After a final sweep of the area, the search was terminated.

Around 1:30 in the afternoon a citizen observed several suspicious individuals hiding in a wooded area near the #7 hole at Churchville Golf Course. Sheriff's deputies established a perimeter with the assistance of the New York State Police. Golf course employees offered golf carts to law enforcement to aid in the search.

The Genesee County Sheriff's K-9 responded to assist.

With a perimeter in place, the three suspects were pushed toward awaiting deputies and troopers and taken into custody. Jordan McLin, 17, Tyler Menke, 19, and 19-year-old Carman Stio, all of Greece, were arrested.

The suspects implicated a fourth individual, 19-year-old Sean Seaman, also of Greece. Seaman was arrested a short time later.

The four suspects were arraigned on charges of second-degree burglary, third-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree grand larceny. All four suspects were put in Monroe County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond. Two back packs, one of them red, containing assorted coins and property were located near a trail by a barn.

The following morning deputies recovered the two long guns that were stolen from the residence. Two pellet pistols were also recovered along the K9 track.

Press release from Assemblyman Steve Hawley:

“We owe the men and women of the armed forces our sincere gratitude. Their courage and bravery have ensured that we remain a free nation and safe from threats, both foreign and domestic. As a veteran of the Ohio Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves, as well as the son of a veteran, I know the sacrifices and determination it takes to serve in our country’s military.

"The U.S. is the greatest military power the world has ever seen, and that honor is owed in large part to the brave servicemen and women who have sustained our freedom over the past 239 years.

“As Ranking Minority Member of the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee, I have strived to give our veterans and active duty military members a voice in Albany. I beseech all my constituents and New Yorkers across the state to join me in celebrating Veterans Day on Wednesday by thanking a veteran and taking a moment to reflect on those who have perished while defending our freedoms.”

Incumbent John Canale retained his Ward 3 City Council Seat and challenger Al McGinnis captured the Ward 4 seat after the last of the absentee ballots were tallied today.

Polling place and absentee ballots gave Canale a total of 123 votes ot 103 for Richard Richmond, and McGinnis had 180 votes compared to 143 for incumbent Pier Cipollone.

Downtown business owners, especially bar owners, want to see a change in the restrictions on overnight parking Downtown, Laurie Oltramari, new executive director of the Business Improvement District, told City Council members during Monday's meeting.

Oltramari spoke during the open public comments portion of the agenda.

She's asking that the city adjusts the parking law, which prohibits on-street parking and parking in public lots from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., during the spring, summer and fall to allow bar patrons to leave their cars overnight if they decide that's the best option.

"The bar owners came to me because they felt their patrons are being penalized for leaving cars after drinking (at the bar)," Oltramari said. "When you have to make that choice between moving your car because you might get a ticket or leaving it when you're intoxicated or a little tipsy, you might make that wrong choice."

City Manager Jason Molino said he became aware of the request for the change for the first time when Oltramarie raised it during the meeting. He said with the city about to embark on a new comprehensive planning process, that process is the appropriate venue for addressing the issue.

"I think there is positives and negatives with it," Molino said. "It does create a maintenance issue at times. I really don't know if the restriction on overnight parking really does or doesn't create a problem. I mean, it's been in existence and I don't think it's prevented anything from happening."

One of the primary reasons for the restriction is to make snow removal easier during the winter, which is why Oltramari is asking for a seasonal adjustment, not a blanket, year-round change.

Oltramari presented a list of other small cities in Upstate New York and their various parking restrictions, many of which have seasonal parking laws, including Fulton, Geneva, Hornell (restricted overnight in the fall for leaf cleanup), North Tonawanda, Norwich, Ogdensburg, Olean (based on snowfall levels) and Rome.

Molino said he's spoken with many of his colleagues throughout the state about the issue and it's not that straightforward.

"They say, 'when you find a solution, let us know,' " Molino said.

As for going through the comprehensive plan process, Oltramari said something should be done sooner rather than later. 

"I think it can be addressed with the comprehensive plan, but that's a long process," Oltramari said. "Why would we want to wait for that when this is the right choice in the meantime?"

A months-long vacancy in the executive director position for the Batavia Housing Authority has been filled, Brooks Hawley announced during Monday's City Council meeting.

Nathan Varland, most recently the housing director for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, has accepted the position.

Hawley said Varland was one of four candidates interviewed for the position and the board of directors were impressed with his qualifications.

Varland steps into the role while the board conducts an internal investigation into the death of a 91-year-old resident of 400 Towers, who apparently wandered onto the roof of the building and died of exposure. Batavia PD is still awaiting results of an autopsy report in the death of the resident, who may have suffered from mild dementia. 

Hawley, president of the City Council, also serves on the BHA Board.

Press release:

Genesee County STOP-DWI Coordinator Matt Landers announced today that the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department, City of Batavia Police Department and the Village of Le Roy Police Department will participate in a special enforcement effort to crackdown on impaired driving.

On the night before Thanksgiving, friends and family reunite, celebrate, and kick off the holiday. However, it's also become known as "Blackout Wednesday," the start to a dangerous weekend, with more drunk drivers out on the road. Law enforcement officers across New York State will take to the roads in an effort to stop impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives.

The statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown efforts start on Nov. 25th and will end on Nov. 29th. New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force.

“Thanksgiving is a time when families travel, sometimes great distances, to be together” said Genesee County Undersheriff William Sheron. “It’s our intention to have extra patrols out to make our roads and highways as safe as possible during this holiday season.”

Research shows that high-visibility enforcement can reduce drunk driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. Sobriety checkpoints play a key part in raising awareness about the problem.

City of Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch wants to remind drivers that, “Thanksgiving is a special time to spend with friends and family, make sure that you have a plan to get home safely. Our officers will be extra vigilant for impaired drivers this Thanksgiving season to ensure your safety.”

The STOP-DWI Thanksgiving Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association with additional funding from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and implemented by the STOP-DWI Foundation. Throughout the remainder of the year the Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign will also target the national Holiday Season in December.

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol- and drug-related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. It is significant to note that in 2012, 416 motorists died in traffic crashes during the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, the highest toll of deaths for any holiday weekend period. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

Press release:

Students at Byron-Bergen Elementary School have focused their efforts on an impressive goal to benefit their school for well over a year. They have been busy planning, organizing, budgeting, working with partners, and raising needed funds. They finally saw all their hard work pay off at an outdoor ceremony at the school’s playground on Nov. 4 when Principal Brian Meister cut the ribbon and opened the new four square playing court.

The project began with the school’s Student Council. Student leaders from grades four through six recognized that a need existed for a safer location for students to play the popular playground game, four square. For years, students had played on a concrete sidewalk next to the parking lot. Errant balls often came much too close to cars and traffic. Student leaders created a proposal to build a new play area with a permanent four square court, partnering up with the community's STEP Boosters, and finding support from the Board of Education and administration leaders.

They planned and organized a number of successful fundraising events and activities. Students researched court building guidelines and rules, designed the court, managed the budget, hired contractors, and directed the work.

“This project came straight from student ideas and has been entirely executed by our students,” Meister said. “It is reality today because our students made it happen.”

The opening ceremony featured a short speech from Student Council President Elli Schelemanow, who thanked the Board of Education, the Byron-Bergen Administration, the Bergen Highway Department, The Pike Company, the Byron-Bergen Maintenance Department, Visual Impact Signs and Graphics, and the elementary school Art teacher Melissa Coniglio. Student Council Vice President Frank Hersom, Treasurer Lexi Vurraro, and Secretary Kendall Phillips were also on hand to assist in the ribbon-cutting, along with BOE President Debra List and Amy Phillips, and STEP Boosters Treasurer Carrie Baubie.

The student court design includes four courts for four square play, with additional areas for shuffleboard and hopscotch. 

If you haven't heard yet, coloring books are now a thing. OK, sure, we all had coloring books as kids, but now that we're all grown up, we're finding coloring books again, but not the "see spot run" type of coloring books, the pirate-on-the-ship coloring book that 3-year-olds scribble on, but books with pages of complex designs, fine lines and thin strips of blanks awaiting our choices of ruby, ginger or burgundy.

Adult coloring books are the hottest item at Karen's Yarn, Paper, Scissors, said owner Karen Crittenden. Her Saturday morning coloring sessions are popular enough that reservations are required and she's added a monthly evening session. This Saturday, more people than anticipated turned out for a coloring group at the Richmond Memorial Library.

"I find it very soothing to take a thing that is just black and white and turn it into something that is beautifully colored," said Lynn Bartlett Taylor during Saturday's event at the library. "Even though I'm not an artist, it makes me feel like I am in my own way."

Read articles or talk to participants and the common themes of why adults color in coloring books are it's meditative and it's a stress reliever.

In a recent article for Parade Magazine, psychologist Alice Domar, Ph.D., executive director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health in Boston, said one reason adults find coloring so relaxing is it engages the entire brain. It's impossible to multitask or worry about kids or money when both sides of your brain are absorbed in coloring between the lines. 

“It’s impossible to worry about dinner or the laundry or anything else when your mind is completely engaged,” Domar explains. “With knitting or other crafts, you can watch TV or multitask, but coloring really requires you to be in the moment. And that makes it meditative.”

She suggests coloring to patients who need stress relief, particularly those who loved the activity as a child.

“Coloring brings you back to a simpler time. It’s pleasurable. It’s a chance to sit and be mindful -- and at the end you get this beautiful result. You have a real sense of accomplishment.”

Taylor said she gets totally absorbed in the pictures she's creating.

"It's very meditative," said Taylor, who started coloring with her grandchildren in 2004, then stopped for awhile, then came back to it after hand surgery as a form of physical therapy.

"I can't make pictures of my own but I can fill in the colors for somebody else and everyone turns out different and I can't see the picture when I start out, but as I add the color, it starts coming alive. It's like each picture has its own personality."

For somebody just getting into adult coloring, Crittenden said they have a lot of options, from whether they want to start with complex designs, what themes to choose (mandalas are popular, but there is a host of other subjects available from birds and flowers to fanciful landscapes and seascapes), the medium to use (pencils, markers, crayons) and whether the colorist has enough skill and experience to handle more artistic expressions such as gradients and shading.

"The biggest thing I don't want them to do is get frustrated," Crittenden said. "They'll look online. They'll look in the stores. They'll look at the picture books and say, 'I want to do that,' and a lot of those techniques out there take some time and practice and some skill."

New colorists can also get started cheaply, if they like, or make a pricier splash, depending on their budget.

"There are $4 coloring books and you can get a set of pencils for $7," Crittenden said. "It's not expensive to get into, but you can go upwards. I mean some of these coloring books, like this one, it's an actual book. That's $25, and you can go on up from there."

Part of the thing of color is it works both as a solo pursuit and as a social activity. Across the country, adults get together in small groups on a regular basis to color together. There are Facebook and Pinterest groups dedicated to adult coloring. Colorists loving sharing their work.

But seeing all of this public activity it would be tempting to think adult coloring is just a woman thing, but that's not the case at all, Crittenden said.

"I'm finding that a lot of men are doing it, too," Crittenden said. "The last time we had a set of insect coloring books in, they went out of here fast. A lot of women were buying them for their men. A lot of men color with their wives. They're like secret colorers. A lot of times on Facebook women will post and say 'this one belongs to my husband,' or 'my husband did this one.' The wives are posting about them. It's probably just that more women are open about coloring."

After all, men have stress, too.

Crittenden herself using coloring to relax her mind.

"I have the skill to draw this, but drawing this takes too much of my concentration," Crittenden said pointing to a design in a book. "If I'm coloring this, I'm coloring it at the end of the day. My coloring books are up by my bed with my pencil tin. When I do this, I'm doing this at bedtime. For me, it gets my brain to stop, because I have a brain that doesn't stop.

"It's going like all the time and if I don't stop it at bedtime, I can't sleep because my brain keeps going and going and going and going and going. Ideas just keep flying into my head. If I don't stop, it just keeps going and this helps my brain stop working enough so I can fall asleep."

I got back to Genesee County from Batavia's game in Rochester yesterday shortly after sunset.