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The many years that Frank Babcock took his family camping resulted in a hobby that will help area veterans be a little more stable in their walk through life.

"We used to camp a lot. I had a big motor home," said Frank Babcock, an 89-year-old Albion resident. "We camped, and it (Frank's hobby) was something to pass the time. You always were near or in the woods. It was something just to pass the time."

Babock passed the time by walking through the woods looking for interesting saplings, ideally, a young tree that nature (perhaps because of the placement of a rock) had grown with an L-shaped root. The L-shaped root makes for the perfect cane handle.

The prize sapling grew up with a vine wrapped around the trunk, giving it a corkscrew shape.

Babock hasn't kept track of how many years he's been making canes.  

He's often given them away while out camping, but the idea to donate 21 of them to area veterans came to him during a trip to Walmart.  He saw a man walking with a wooden cane, and he asked where he got it, the man said he was a veteran, and Assemblyman Steve Hawley gave it to him.

Babcock told his son Jimmy, and Jimmy called Hawley's office.

The canes are being distributed to the three counties that Hawley serves in the 139th Assembly District.  They are being distributed according to the population in each area Steve serves -- five to Orleans County, three to Monroe County, and seven to Genesee County.

On Friday, Babcock, with the help of his son Stephen, delivered the seven canes to William Joyce, veterans services officer for Genesee County.

"It just so happened this started just before Christmas," Hawley said. "The timing was absolutely unbelievable. Those psychological and heartfelt gifts from one veteran to another. Fellow veterans are going to use Frank's canes to get around. And that's what it's all about: fellow comrades helping one another, regardless of the branch of service, regardless of how old we are, regardless of whether we served in combat or not. We want veterans who served to have these canes."

Joyce said he was grateful for the generous donation.

"I have a couple of veterans in mind right now that as so I had these available, I was going to give them a call, because they can use one," Joyce said. "They get one issued by the VA and they're not really happy with them. I think they are going to feel more comfortable walking with one of these."

 At 21, Leah Wroten was diagnosed with cancer, and life as she knew it changed for the foreseeable future, special education teacher Natalie Keller says.

“She had life-changing surgery," Keller said to The Batavian about her fellow Batavia City Schools colleague. "She had not been working for six months.” 

Wroten, a BHS 2020 graduate, had major surgery, chemotherapy and related treatments since her diagnosis in 2024. School staff members have had football square and Dress Down Day fundraisers, and one coming up in February is expected to be the biggest so far, Keller said. It will be a 26 Shirts for Leah.

As a special ed teacher’s aide, Wroten was not paid during her time off, and it hurt her financially during those six months off. Keller has been aware of 26 Shirts, a Buffalo company that does popular one-of-a-kind shirt designs for worthy causes, and staff added their friend to the waiting list last April.

Wroten’s shirt design will be sold online for two weeks beginning Feb. 24, with $8 from each purchase going to her. Designs usually involve sports themes, such as with Buffalo Bills, and Keller is hoping that the Bills win the Super Bowl and the design can incorporate that. She has heard good things about the 26 Shirts company.

“They’ve been doing this for six or seven years. They said they make about $6,000 to $8,000 for each shirt design,” she said. "Some of this will be getting her back on her feet.”

Given that Wroten began in October 2023 and hadn’t been at the district very long when she got sick, she has rather quickly made a difference at the school, with adults and students alike. 

Special education teacher Chris Gorton works in the same room with Keller and Wroten, and has enjoyed the experience of this teacher’s aide. 

“Leah is amazing,” he said. 

Keller also shared how she works with people.

“She’s very patient, she’s a good balance to me. She’s very patient with the kids at school and with my daughter, Sara. I think this group of kids that she works with a high school, she kind of found her people,” Keller said. “I don’t know that she was interested in doing that kind of work, but once she started, it’s just very natural for her to be caring and patient but to challenge the kids too.”

Sara, 16, has Down Syndrome, and Wroten has been taking her to youth group while working three jobs and preparing to continue her own education to become a special education teacher or study library science, Keller said. Her plans were temporarily shifted when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 21, and had to take time off from work for surgery and treatments. 

She is in remission but still has to get scans and have follow-up appointments, “which means every time she takes off, she’s still not getting paid for those days; it’s hard to amass any time when you’re off,” Keller said.

“I’d like her to be in the position that if she has to go to a doctor’s appointment, she doesn’t have to worry about food and rent,” Keller said. “We’re hoping to get her back in a good place.”

About 26 Shirts
According to the website, 26 Shirts sells different limited edition Buffalo-themed t-shirts that give back. After a shirt's respective fundraising campaign is over, the design is retired and (usually) never sold again.

For every shirt sold, a donation is made to a specific family in need or charitable organization. 

“Our primary focus is needs associated with health/medical concerns or unexpected family emergencies,” the site states. “Our goal is to provide customers with the highest quality, softest fabric shirts. So not only will they be designs you love, they'll be on shirts you love wearing.”

Wroten’s shirt will be released on Feb. 24 on the website and be available for purchase online for two weeks. 

Press Release:

The Genesee County Office for the Aging (OFA) is inviting dedicated individuals to join its Advisory Council and play a role in shaping programs and services for older adults in the community.

The OFA is seeking representation from both community members and service providers.

• Community Members: Residents of Genesee County aged 60 and older, including minorities and individuals with economic or social needs, are encouraged to participate.
• Service Providers: Professionals from agencies such as Social Security, healthcare, and other related organizations are also welcome to apply.

By joining the Advisory Council, members will have the opportunity to share their voice, advocate for older adults, and help improve services across the county.

The OFA is particularly seeking members from different municipalities to ensure countywide representation.

For more information or to apply, please contact the Genesee County Office for the Aging at 585-343-1611 or visit this link to apply.

Press Release:

Do you know an artist or organization from Genesee or Orleans County that deserves recognition for their accomplishments in 2024? GO ART! is inviting community members to submit nominations for the Annual Genean Awards.

“Why “Genean” you ask?” says Executive Director, Gregory Hallock, “Well, simply put, we decided that we needed to have our own unique awards (like the Oscars or Tony awards) for GENesee and OrlEANs counties, to recognize a few of the amazing people and organizations we have within our counties.”

The categories for nomination are as follows: 

Organization of the Year - This award honors a not-for-profit or for-profit organization for its outstanding achievements in 2024

Individual Artist of the Year - This award honors an individual artist in any discipline for their achievements in 2024 or career-long body of work

Arts and Culture Supporter of the Year - This award honors an individual or an organization outside of the arts and cultural sector for their work directly aiding in the arts and/or cultural sector during 2024.

To submit a nomination visit www.goart.org/genean. All nominations are due by March 1.

While surrounded by a group of onlookers, Madeline Wilson dramatically pumped a male’s chest with crossed hands repeatedly Thursday while watching a nearby heart monitor to see whether her actions were effective enough to resuscitate him.

Not only was she under pressure with the cardio maneuver, but she had an audience for her first attempts.

“So, especially in this, we can apply this knowledge to the community when we go into clinical and work,” the nursing student said during the demonstration at Genesee Community College’s Med-Tech building. “So if this did happen to our patient, we would be totally prepared and know what to do.”

Unlike old-school upper torso mannequins that don’t really resemble human persons besides crude physical mechanics, this male was a full-body specimen with working features. GCC purchased the $28,000 mannequin, an accompanying defibrillator and other equipment with 2024 state funding of $8 million to expand community college healthcare workforce training and mental health programs. 

This investment will allow students opportunities for hands-on learning with the most up-to-date technology, officials said during a tour of the nursing, child care center and HVAC wings with SUNY Chancellor John King and Senator George Borrello.

Nursing faculty member Rebecca Herlan gave a close-up view of a mannequin, encouraging King and Borrello, who noted that the patient was even blinking, to touch the skin and feel the pulse from hands to toes.

“One of the things that we love about nursing simulation is mannequins is we can use them throughout the program. So one of the nicer things for these particular mannequins is you can see the chest, right? So some of our older model mannequins, you can't necessarily see that, and that is actually how we teach students to check, like a respiratory rate. So this is a more realistic mannequin for the students to work on,” Herlan said. “Other things you'll notice, if you actually touch the mannequin, it's more realistic skin. You can actually feel the pulses. So our old mannequins did not have great pulses. You have radial pulses, also pedal pulses, which our old mannequins definitely did not have.”

Herlan said that “we have IV access for this patient,” pointing out an adjacent IV monitor atop a pole.

“Actually, just now, Rochester hospitals are thinking of expanding what they allow students to do in terms of IV medication. So having this in the lab lets them practice sufficiently so that when they're in the clinical space, they can sort of confidently do this, but obviously, you want to have that instructor with them at all times,” she said. “But we really utilize our mannequins throughout the program, and these mannequins, as opposed to our previous mannequins, sort of have better functionality and more true to what students are actually going to see.”

The models in that room ranged from $5,000 for lower fidelity to $60,000 for a full functionality mannequin, she said. Another much more compact cut useful piece of equipment, she said, is an arm sleeve used to practice inserting an IV — “you can kind of see some of the veins” — that gets hooked up to fluid that flows through the needle to simulate when drawing blood.

King thanked Borrello for his help in getting a bill passed that increased the amount of time training nurses could spend in these simulation type exercises.

“I want to appreciate you because two years ago, we had the bill to allow the simulation to count for a third of the clinical hours. So if not for the support of the legislature, we wouldn't be able to leverage the simulation experience as effectively,” King said. “And then last year, with the $8 million in operating aid, we were able to dedicate $5 million across the system, at community colleges to healthcare workforce, and that made these purchases.”

The tour continued into the next room, which included a CPR simulation by students. The monitor has a feedback feature that shows if the compression is deep enough, are the hands in the right position, and gives “feedback in real-time,” Harlan said. Instruction also includes logistics, such as whether a student is tall enough to perform the maneuver or if a stool is needed, or if there’s no stool, “we’re climbing on the bed,” she said. 

“This particular mannequin can give us that feedback on whether we're doing it appropriately. There's a lot of moving parts. So it's not a great idea to do CPR on any mannequin, but this one is specially designed, and it's really great,” she said. Like I said, we are showing the students some of the heart rhythm, help them kind of see what we were talking about in class.”

Some stats about the nursing program: there are 214 students and about 100% of them will walk away and right into a job. An amount of $310,000 was earmarked for GCC’s new Health Care Programs recruitment specialist, four new adjunct professors for the Physical Therapist Assistant and Respiratory Care programs, and to purchase equipment for respiratory care simulation education. Part of the program upgrade also includes enhanced student mentorship.

King asked what the limiting factor was for there not to be 300 students. Faculty and space, Herlan said. 

Most of the students are adult learners, some come from the military, and another limitation for students living in New York City is transportation, she said. They often don’t have their own vehicle, and there’s no regular public transportation to and from GCC. After some quick head math calculating how many miles would be traveled in the program with clinicals, King nodded.

“This seems solvable,” he said, adding later that it’s a topic he will carry back with him for further discussion. 

From nursing to puppies
King and his entourage, which also included GCC President Craig Lamb, stopped by the Child Care Center across the road at the main campus. Kids were excitedly chatting and playing, hitting upon a favorite subject of puppies. Lamb pulled out his phone and showed a photo of the one he has at home while King talked to a youngster at the child’s play station. 

Center Director Kayleen McEwan talked about the services, facility and the fifth classroom that opened in August 2024 with funding the college received last year. No sooner had the additional room opened, and it was full, she said. When asked by King what she could she do with more resources — a question he asked of every department — McEwan didn’t take long with her answer.

“We could open eight rooms,” she said, with the caveat that staffing is a challenge. 

King is aware and said so is Gov. Kathy Hochul, that childcare needs are great in New York, and SUNY’s growing population of adult learners is ripe for that service. 

Keeping cool under pressure
Heating and cooling was also part of the tour, and instructor Bill Hayes exuded the enthusiasm that perhaps only a veteran HVAC business owner could display. He shared the importance of imparting his 30-year experience to students, especially when it comes to proper maintenance of appliances.

“I have a lot of people that really talk about this class. It's really a groundbreaking opportunity here for people that just walk out of here, be able to look at a furnace, look at an air conditioner, put the gauges on there, change the maintenance, oh my gosh. Maintenance is probably 50% of the problem with any type of service call; stuff's not being maintained,” Hayes said. “The college is invested here, has invested into their staff, their maintenance staff, to take this course so they can do a lot more of the HVAC work here and not have to bring in outside contractors. 

"That's a huge investment for people, not only here, but also when that word gets out, there's going to be other facilities out there," he said. "They're going to want to send their people here so they can save some money. That's the game plan.”

Closing in at nearly two hours, the group ended with a talk about mental health issues and counseling challenges that most believed have been exacerbated since COVID. 

Worrying about mental health
Certainly, the use of social media can be a cause of stress, and counselors also see “suicidal ideation, anxiety and panic disorders, personality disorders, autism and ADHD and major depressive disorders,” said Macy Reyngoudt, assistant director for counseling services.

“There’s lots more, but those are the biggest patterns that we see almost daily,” she said. 

Remedies have included quiet meditation spaces, counseling, lots of talk and communication to let students and faculty know the counseling center is available, yoga, Mindful Mondays, and focused health talks, Assistant Dean for Student Services Monica Romeo said.

One population that hasn’t needed as much assistance is the older adult learner, Reyngoudt said, because “they’re ready” when they come to college and don’t seem to have the same problems or distractions as younger students do. That’s good news, given that Hochul’s proposed 2025 budget includes $28 million for free tuition, books, supplies and fees for adult learners to obtain an associate’s degree or certificate at community colleges in the state.

“We're very excited about the governor's proposal for free community college for folks 25 to 55 in high-demand career areas like nursing, like advanced manufacturing, like cyber security, renewable energy and green jobs. And so we're pleased that she's put real resources behind that," King said. "I think that will make a big difference as we think about what our community colleges need as we grow those high-demand workforce programs. We also need to continue to invest in equipment. We need to continue to invest in faculty, one of the big challenges for nursing. We’re looking at ways we can partner with healthcare providers to have job shares so that we have the faculty that we need. 

"We need more child care in New York. You know, they have a long wait list, particularly as we try to attract more adult students to community college campuses, child care is going to be a significant factor. So that's something I'll be thinking about," he said. "It's great that they were able to use the additional resources from the governor and legislature last year to support more counseling, more services around meeting mental health needs, but more is needed, and you heard that so clearly that there is a lot of pain that folks are carrying and experiencing, some of it carrying over from COVID, and we've got to make sure that we help our campuses support student mental health needs."

Alabama-Basom Methodist Church, 1392 Lewiston Road, Alabama. Join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. This week, January 26th, 2025, our sermon title is "Love Is Here Today," led by Eric Phelps (CLM).  Scripture readings will be from Nehemiah 8:1-4a,5-6,8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21. Come join us!

Ascension Parish - Roman Catholic Church, 135 Swan St., Batavia. We are open for Mass in the Church on Sundays at noon. We hope to see you there! 

Assemblies of God-New Covenant Chapel, 6690 Oak Orchard Rd., Elba.14058. We welcome all seeking a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ through His finished work on The Cross with The Power of The Holy Spirit. John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If you want a small, close-knit church family and a place to make a difference, please join us. Worship Service is Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Bible Study Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and Thursday at 7 p.m. Contact us at (585)-757-6651 (585)-969-1528 or visit us on Youtube.

Batavia Assembly of God, 24 North Spruce St, Batavia. Join us for coffee in our café before our Sunday morning service that begins at 10:30 a.m. We offer "Movement Kids" (age 4 - grade 5) at 10:30 a.m. and "MVMT YTH" (grades 6-12) meet on Sunday nights at 7 p.m.

Batavia First Baptist Church, 306 E. Main St., Pastor David Weidman, where "Christ the Center, Love for All" is very evident to all who enter. We invite you to our Full Gospel Sunday services at 10 a.m.; The Thrift Shoppe is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., come and browse in our beautifully renovated space. Donations are accepted during business hours. You can also enjoy a light lunch at Lydia's Kitchen while you shop. Questions? Email: firstbaptist2002@yahoo.com. Call us at (585)343-9002.

Batavia First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main St., Batavia, invites you to join us for in-person worship on Sundays at 9 a.m. (Arise-relaxed with band music) or 10:45 a.m. (Sanctuary -liturgical and organ) or on Livestream via Facebook Live for both times at: https://fpcbatavia.org/  or https://www.facebook.com/fpcbatavia/videos/.

Batavia First United Methodist Church, 8221 Lewiston Road, Batavia. Our mission & vision statement:  “To be disciples, we must listen, learn, lead, and love our way to God.” Reverend Wayne Mort leads our worship service every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in the church sanctuary. Childcare is offered for children birth-3 years old and Sunday school is offered for children ages 4-14 years old. You can also find the service on Facebook. We invite you to learn more about Batavia First UMC by visiting our website at www.BataviaFirstumc.com.

Byron Presbyterian Church, 6293 W. Main St., Byron. Pastor: Rev. Michael Fry. Musical Director: Laurence Tallman. Worship and Sunday School are at 9:45 a.m. Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a. Message: “Body of Christ.” Please plan to stay and attend the Annual Meeting of the Congregation & Corporation immediately following the service. We will have a quick break so people can grab coffee and some breakfast treats in the back hall and then gather in the sanctuary for our meeting. All are welcome!   

Calvary Baptist Church of Le Roy, 8703 Lake Street Road, Le Roy.  If you do not already have a church that you attend regularly, we would like to invite you to give Calvary Baptist Church a try.  It would be a pleasure to have you join us for worship and fellowship on a Sunday morning or at one of our other mid-week events. As a multi-generational congregation that enjoys our time together, our Sunday worship service typically includes singing a mix of both traditional and contemporary songs and hymns, a children’s message, and a sermon from the Word of God. Our Sunday worship service begins at 10:15 a.m.

City Church, 210 E. Main St., Batavia, invites you for our Sunday morning services at 8:30 and 10 a.m. with Kids ministry at 10 a.m. and Thursday evenings at 7 p.m.  Everyone is welcome to join us for worship and a message. We believe in doing life together and would love to do life with YOU!  You can also connect with us online at www.thecitychurch.com, through our Facebook page, The City Church, or our YouTube channel.  We do life together.

Corfu United Presbyterian Church 63 Alleghany Road, Corfu. Corfu United Presbyterian Church (CUPC) welcomes all visitors to come worship with us on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. in person or via our Facebook live stream led by our pastor, the Rev. Evan Wildhack. Our mission at CUPC is to connect with Christ, connect with others, and connect others with Christ. We offer children's Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings and weekly Bible study on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The church also hosts the Corfu Food Pantry which is open on the third Saturday of the month from 9 - 10 a.m. For the Christmas season this year, we are offering two special worship services. On Wednesday, December 18 at 6 p.m., we are holding a Blue Christmas service. This is a service that is geared towards those where this season may not feel as joyful, as well as those who are dealing with grief towards endings and anxiety towards new beginnings. On Tuesday, December 24 at 7 p.m., we are holding our Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship. This service will include communion and will be centered around the theme Love Knows Your Name. We'd love to see you at both of these special services. For more information, feel free to contact the church office by phone at (585) 599-6414 or via email at office@corfuchurch.org. You can also visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/corfuchurch.

Cornerstone Church of East Pembroke, part of American Baptist Churches USA, 2583 Main Road, East Pembroke. Our Sunday service is at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Glenn Bloom preaching. Bible Study is every Wednesday at 10 a.m. We are a small church and welcome new members. (585) 762-8721

Darien Disciples Church, 1951 Broadway (Route 20), Our worship service begins at 9 am. Sunday January 19, this Sunday we celebrate  Jesus' first miracle. Scripture readings are Isaiah 62:1-5 and John 2:1-11 . Celinda McQuistion CLM. will lead the worship service. All are welcome to attend.

Discovery Chapel, 315 West Main Street, Batavia. Pastor Ingrim Green's services are on Sundays at 10 a.m. "Let's Talk Real Talk the Gospel For Real Life." Visit our website letstalkrealtalk.org for more information.

East Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5735 Ellicott Street Road, East Bethany. Our Sunday morning worship service is held at 10:30 a.m. and is led by Rev. Dr. Shiela McCullough. Visitors are always welcome. You can find out more information on our Facebook page or by emailing us at ebpresbyterian@gmail.com.

Elba First Baptist Church, 31 S. Main St., Elba, is open for the main service in person at 10:45 a.m. on Sundays. For more information about our church go to www.fbcelba.net. The pastor is Michael Davis. Email: office@fbcelba.net / Phone (585) 757-2722

Emmanuel Baptist Church, 190 Oak St., Batavia. Join us for our Sunday service at 11am or come earlier for bible study at 9:45am.  Free coffee and fellowship!  Pastor Tom is continuing his preaching through the book of Acts.  Debbie Prosser is leading the choir in lifting up a joyful noise to the Lord every Sunday with practice on Thursdays.  We would love to hear your voice as well!  Particularly we need ladies who love to sing to join the choir!  Can't wait to meet you!

EverPresent Church, 4 Batavia City Centre, Batavia(off of Bank Street). Pastor Jason and Pastor Michelle Norton Welcome you! Our hours are Wednesdays 6 p.m. midweek service. Sundays 10:30 a.m. doors open 9:45 a.m. Children's church starts directly following worship. Children's church ages are 5 to 11. Counseling and other appointments are scheduled through the church via Office Scheduling. You can view some of our messages through Facebook or YouTube -EverPresent Church. Our phone number is 585-297-3155. Visit our Website for more information for up and upcoming events. Our beliefs, our vision and mission. www.everpresentchurch.com

Grace Baptist Church, 238 Vine St., Batavia. We offer two Sunday Morning Worship Services. Both services are live-streamed on our Facebook page, Grace Baptist or view it on the web at: www.gracebatavia.org. The first service is at 8:45 a.m. (children's classes available for Nursery - 1st grade). The second service is at 10:30 a.m. (children's classes available Nursery - 5th grade). KidZone for ages 4-5th grade and Grace Student Ministries (Grades 6-12) meet on Sunday Evenings at 6 - 7:30 p.m. 

Indian Falls Methodist Church, 7908 Alleghany Road, Corfu. We have our worship service at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings, led by Rev. Karen L. McCaffery.  This week's message is "Why Pray? Trust". To view our services online please go to our website https://indianfallsgmc.com/ for a link for Live Streaming. Our Youth Group (grades 6-12) meets  from 6:30 - 8 p.m. on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month. 

Morganville United Church of Christ, 8466 Morganville Rd, Stafford. Your invited to join with our friendly and welcoming members this Sunday where God is still speaking. Reverend James Morasco will share his sermon, “I Am,” at 10 am. Coffee hour with fellowship will follow our service after which our quarterly meeting will be conducted. Friend us on Facebook! or better yet, visit us Sunday.

North Darien Bible Church, 9768 Simonds Road, Corfu. We are open! Sunday worship service begins at 10 a.m. Children's Church classes are available for children ages birth through sixth grade, including a classroom for children with special needs. For more information, visit our website. You can also watch LIVE on our Facebook or YouTube channel. Join us from 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of every month for our free community closet, full of clothing, coats, and shoes for all. (585) 547-9646.

Northgate Free Methodist Church, 8160 Bank Street Road (North Campus), Batavia. Have you ever heard a Bible verse quoted and wondered, “Wait, is that really what it means?” In our new series, Twisted Scripture, we’ll dive into some of the most well-known and often misused passages of scripture, uncovering their true meaning and how they apply to our lives today. Join us as we untangle misconceptions and discover the richness of God’s Word when it's understood in context. Don't miss this journey as we seek to deepen our faith and sharpen our understanding of scripture!

Oakfield-Alabama Baptist Church, 2210 Judge Road., Oakfield. Join us for Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m., followed by our worship service at 11 a.m. every Sunday! Visit our website (www.oabchurch.com) for additional information about our church, our beliefs, upcoming activities, and past messages. Men’s and Ladies’ Bible studies also meet on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. on the church grounds. We look forward to worshiping and fellowshipping with you! Questions? Email Pastor Matt Ervin at mervin@tyndale.edu.

Oakfield Community Bible Church, 82 North Main St. Oakfield. This Weeks “Oakfield Community Bible Church”, Weekend Worship Service is at 10:30 a.m. With Praise & Worship Music by Keith Burroughs. The morning message  by Pastor, Timothy Young; entitled: “For Those Left Behind”.  Scripture: “1 Thessalonians 4:13-18” (NKJV). Our Adult Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m., along with “Sunday School through Age-16”.  There will be a Time of “Fellowship” following our Worship Service!Come out and Join Us. ALL ARE WELCOME!

Our Lady of Mercy (44 Lake St. LeRoy) & St. Brigid (18 Gibson St. Bergen) parishes; Parish Office - 44 Lake Street, Le Roy. Our Lady of Mercy Mass times: Daily Mass, Monday -Friday at 7:30am, Saturday 9:00am. Weekend Masses: Saturday Vigil Mass 4:30pm, Sunday, 7:30am, 9:30am and 5:30pm. St. Brigid Mass times- Daily Mass Thursday at 8:30am & Saturday Vigil, 5:00pm. View on YouTube and Facebook. Please visit the parish website (https://www.ourladyofmercyleroy.org/).

Resurrection Parish (St. Joseph church in Batavia). St. Joseph’s Church masses are on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at noon. Confessions are held at St. Joe's on Saturdays from 3 - 3:30 p.m. Vigil & Holy Days to be announced. Holy Name of Mary Site (East Pembroke) 8656 Church St., East Pembroke. Mass on Sundays 11 a.m. and Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m.

St. James Episcopal Church, 405 E. Main St., Batavia. Join us on Sundays at 9 a.m. on zoom, 10 a.m. in the church building, and on Facebook Live. Links and the bulletin can be found on our website: https://www.sjecbataviany.org/

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1 E. Main St., Le Roy, is open for in-person services at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. Communion will be offered to people in their seats and will only include bread. We welcome you to join us -- either in person or online. For more information, visit our website.

St. Padre Pio Parish, St. Cecilia, 56 Maple Ave., Oakfield Mass is celebrated on Sundays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. 

St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 6188 Main Road, Stafford. In-person service, including Holy Communion, is at 9 a.m. Sunday mornings. All  Are Welcome. 

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Batavia, 31 Washington Ave, Batavia.  This coming Sunday (January 26) we will celebrate The Third Sunday after The Epiphany. Our Sunday service begins at 10:15am or can be viewed 'live' on Facebook. Our Adult Bible Study and Children's Sunday School is every Sunday, 9 - 9:45 a.m. Communion is part of every service. Our Youth Group will not meet this Sunday but will resume on February 2, 5 - 7 p.m. Our Men's Bible Study is on the 1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm. Our Quilters group meets Tuesday's, 9 - 11 a.m.

The Church In Alexander, 10540 Main St., Alexander. Join us for Sunday Worship at 10 a.m. weekly. For more information please visit our website at www.thechurchinalexander.com. We offer a Free Food Pantry for people in our community, please call ahead if you need items from our pantry. For more information on Programs and services please contact us at (585)591-1765 or by email at thechurchinalexander@gmail.com. Church office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:15 - 11:15 a.m.

Trinity United Methodist Church, 75 Main St. in Attica, worships together at 10:45 a.m. on Sundays. All are welcome! Contact Frank White at uncleferter@msn.com for a ZOOM link or for prayer requests.

West Middlebury Baptist Church, 4950 West Middlebury Rd. East Bethany, Sunday service is at 9 a.m. Kids Club meets on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Youth Group (grades 7-12) meets on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. For more information visit us online at westmiddlebury.org.

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"Spiritual Connections" -- The Batavian will post updates to connect people with their places of worship, religious services, fellowship opportunities, and/or spiritual advisors, etc. There is no charge for this service.

If you have information to announce, please email: news@thebatavian.com

Press Release:

A Statement from Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia):

“Another year, another out-of-touch budget proposal from Gov. Hochul. It’s no wonder our state has one of the highest out-migration rates in the country when we continue to spend money we don’t have on programs we don’t need. Increasing spending by nearly $10 billion is not in our best interest, and New Yorkers aren’t buying it this time around. This is a $252 billion disaster that we cannot afford to implement. Our state needs a balanced budget that helps bring down costs for working families rather than taking more money out of their pockets.

Press Release:

The Public Hearing for the Planning Board of the Town of Stafford is adjourned at the request of the applicant.

This will be rescheduled for the next monthly meeting on Wednesday, February 26.

Press Release:

The Batavia High School (BHS) Rock Band has been honored with the 2025 Excellence in Student Services Award by the Genesee Valley School Boards Association. 

The award, presented on Saturday, January 18, recognized the Rock Band program for its outstanding contribution to student development and music education.

Now in its 11th year, the BHS Rock Band program offers students the opportunity to explore and perform various styles of rock music, focusing on the four primary rock instruments; drums, bass guitar, guitar, and keyboard. 

The program is performance-focused, with several concerts each year that allow students to showcase their skills and growth as musicians.

Originally launched as a single class in 2014, the Rock Band program has expanded significantly over the years. It now includes three classes and an after-school advanced ensemble.

Congrats to the BCSD Music Department for this impressive achievement!

Press Release:

The Batavia Winterguard is thrilled to announce its 25th Annual Fantastic Visions Competition, taking place on Saturday, February 1, at Batavia High School. 

This exciting event will showcase the talents of 28 Winterguard teams from across Western New York and Canada, and we invite you to join us for an afternoon of incredible performances.

The competition begins at 2:50 p.m., with Batavia’s own Cadet and IA Winterguards taking the stage at 3:56 p.m. and 7:13 p.m., respectively.

Tickets are $10 for spectators ages 8 and older, with children 7 and under admitted for free. This is a fantastic opportunity to support local and regional talent while enjoying a thrilling day of Winterguard competition.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Press Release: 

The Town of Elba has announced its 2025 schedule for upcoming board and commission meetings. All meetings will be held at 7133 Oak Orchard Road, Elba, unless otherwise noted.

Town Board Meetings

The Town Board will meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., with the following exceptions:

• January 2
• February 6

Regular meetings will resume on March 13 and continue on the following schedule:

• April 10
• May 8
• June 12
• July 10
• August 14
• September 11
• October 9
• November 13
• December 11

Zoning Board Meetings

The Zoning Board will meet on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. An exception will be made for September, where the meeting will take place on September 8 due to the holiday. 

Planning Board Meetings

The Planning Board will meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.

Other Meetings of Interest:

Fire Commissioners – Elba Joint Fire District: 

• Meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Elba Joint Fire District Station.

Village of Elba:

• Meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m., located at 4 South Main Street, Elba.

For more information, please contact the Town of Elba Clerk’s office at 585-757-2762.

Press Release:

The Board of Directors for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County will hold its Annual Organizational Meeting on January 28, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at 420 E. Main St., Batavia. 

Election of officers, annual authorizations, and appointment of committees/chairs will be decided on at this meeting.

For more information, please contact Yvonne Peck at ydp3@cornell.edu or 585-343-3040 x123.

Batavia PD is investigating a personal injury accident involving two juvenile pedestrians that occurred Saturday at 6:15 at West Main Street and Oak Street.

The youths had serious but non-life threatening injuries and both were transport by Mercy EMS to Strong Memorial Hospital.

The driver of the vehicle is cooperating with police, the department said in a statement. 

They're asking anyone with information about the incident or video footage to contact Sgt. Arick Perkins at 585-345-6350.

Although the city’s Planning & Development Committee recommended Tuesday that Christian Brunelle return in February with details and a site plan for a Byrne Dairy & Deli at 606 E. Main St., Batavia, committee members walked away pleased with his 35-minute presentation at City Hall.

Brunelle, senior executive vice president of Sonbyrne Sales, Inc., reviewed loose plans for a gated store that would be moved back from houses, include landscaping and trees, a Dumpster enclosure, two unrestricted curb cuts, one each a canopied gas and diesel station, sidewalks leading to the store porch, three signs, including a digital reading board, and outdoor lights designed to minimize unwanted light pollution.

“We use 100% Dark Sky, which is the most stringent light … why do I do that? It’s so expensive but well worth it. We go above and beyond the idea of this every meeting, because usually I’m used to much tighter residences,” Brunelle said. “We give you kind of a funnel image from an engineer. I’m gonna send this to the lighting engineer down south. He will send something back.” 

He ran through his talk well rehearsed and knowledgable, quickly answering questions without a waver. Six-foot tall evergreens, per city code, would meet the code requirement as a sufficient buffer, and they are also considering replacing some trees and adding red maples, he said. The set-up doesn’t require pedestrians to cross the gas station area, so that “no one has to cross the driveway,” he said. 

The applicant has requested a variance because there is less than 500 feet between the store and Whole Life Fitness, a gym at 624 E. Main St. Committee Chairman Duane Preston asked about options.

“Would you be opposed to a fence?” he said, surmising that maybe the neighbors would appreciate some visual separation.

Brunelle had no problem with that, or a row of trees, he said. “You guys tell me what you want,” he said. 

Code Enforcement Officer Douglas Randall suggested that either a row of trees or bushes would be a good idea for catching debris from the dairy to the gym.

Preston also asked if there’s a plan to install electric vehicle pumps. There is no such plan now, Brunelle said, however, when and if there’s a need in the future, those could be added.

“If there’s a need for those in three or four years, we have enough room,” he said. 

What about a generator on site?

While there wouldn’t be one at the store permanently, there are two — a 125 KW and 100 KW — in a warehouse not far away, he said.

“It can be brought here in one and a half hours,” he said.

Committee member Jim Krencik asked how much of the property would not be paved. Six feet that then goes back 15 to 20 feet would remain unpaved, Brunelle said.

Brunelle said the company has already conducted a survey and is ready for the next steps with a targeted spring construction, likely to begin in April if the approval process goes well. 

Since the property is along state Route 5, he has already sent plans to the New York State Department of Transportation for review, he said.

“It’s a very nice proposal, very amenable,” Committee member John Ognibene said.

The plan was impressive, Preston said. Brunelle may not need to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals if he addresses variance issues for the size of signs and space between properties in the final site plan, Preston said.

“I’m very pleased with it; definitely very happy. It's a quality-driven product. I’m very glad the east end of the town, the city, got a nice plan. We've got a nice gas station,” he said after the meeting. “It’s looking like there are a lot of bright things for this year. We’ve got Burger King finishing up. We’ve got the new Byrne Dairy. It just seems like more opportunities are opening up, which is good.”

As for that town project that was put on hold by concerns from the county Planning Board, it won’t matter any more. Brunelle said he’s pulling a potential Byrne Dairy on Lewiston Road in the town of Batavia off the table. 

He is looking forward to pursuing this venture on East Main Street to add to the 77 stores he manages, he said.

“We've opened a bunch of stores in Monroe County. We have one in Brockport for this to the west and we want to go further west, and originally, the other site over there came up, and we've been looking to Batavia for several years now, and we noticed this site right away,” he said. “It was vacant for several years, and we've been working on getting under contract for a while. It's under contract contingent upon approvals. If we get approval from the city in February, from both boards, we'll close on our property within 30 days, and we'll start construction probably within 30 days after.”

The site plan will also have to go to the county Planning Board for review. Brunelle said there will be 25 full-time equivalent employees at the store, with 35 to 40 combined part- and full-time people. 

“It’s a several million dollar project,” he said. 

He is to return to city planners Feb. 18.

Go HERE for previous story.

Press Release:

The Pavilion Alumni Hall of Fame Committee invites the community to participate in nominating outstanding PCS graduates who have distinguished themselves through significant achievements in their careers, contributions to their communities, or personal accomplishments. 

These remarkable individuals will be considered for induction into the Annual Hall of Fame, a prestigious honor decided by the PCS Alumni Hall of Fame Selection Committee. This committee is a voluntary group made up of alumni, current and retired faculty, community members, and district administrators. 

Since its inception in 2014, the PCS Hall of Fame has celebrated more than two dozen exceptional alumni whose stories inspire current and future Pavilion students to reach for excellence. 

“The Hall of Fame Assembly is a unique opportunity for our students to witness the diverse possibilities that life after PCS offers,” says Pavilion Superintendent Mary Kate Hoffman. “What I find especially meaningful about the ceremony is that students hear from alumni from all walks of life—people who have made remarkable contributions to both their fields and their communities. Many of our speakers were not necessarily top academic achievers in school, yet they went on to do great things. This reinforces the idea that success is not solely determined by grades.”

Ken Weaver, Deputy Director with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and a 2018 inductee, reflects on the honor of joining the Hall of Fame: “Being inducted was a tremendous privilege. What made it particularly meaningful was the chance to connect with students and talk about their aspirations. One of the most rewarding moments for me was when a student expressed gratitude for my speech. Knowing that my words resonated with them and possibly inspired them is a powerful reminder of how shared experiences can impact future generations.”

Several inductees, such as Diane Davis Torcello, President of WNY Tompkins Community Bank, have continued to support the Hall of Fame by joining the Selection Committee to recognize even more inspiring graduates. 

“I joined the Hall of Fame Committee because I believe in its mission,” says Torcello. “Honoring leaders from diverse professions is vital in sending the message to PCS students that they can achieve anything if they put in the effort. Attending a small school is not a limitation—it’s an advantage.” 

Nominations are currently being accepted online at www.PCSHallofFame.com, and printed applications can be found at the following Pavilion locations: Kemp-Rudgers Service Station, Pavilion Public Library, The Lost Sock, Jazzy Creations, Blessings Café, Dorothy B. Bunce Elementary School, and the Pavilion Junior/Senior High School main office. 

All nominations must be submitted by March 1. The PCS Alumni Hall of Fame Assembly will take place on May 30, 2025, at the Pavilion Junior/Senior High School Auditorium.

Press Release:

Organizers with GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare unveiled plans for the third annual career exploration event for students interested in career pathways and opportunities in the healthcare sector. Approximately 600 students from grades 8-12 from 28 schools will gather at Genesee Community College on March 17, 2025, to connect with various healthcare businesses and organizations to learn about careers in the healthcare sector across the GLOW region.

“GLOW With Your Hands and the GLOW region workforce development ecosystem are providing opportunities for students to learn about career opportunities right in their own backyard,” said GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare Co-Chair, Karyn Winters. “Whether it is manufacturing or healthcare our goal is to educate our local students about the many alternative pathways available for them after high school.”

Representatives from hospitals and health systems and professionals in nursing, mental health, social services, and emergency responders will be on hand to interact with students to discuss their careers and pathways into their respective fields. While some careers might begin immediately after high school, attendees will also be able to explore educational pathways in the healthcare sector through BOCES and degrees available at local colleges and universities.

“Our facility has been serving the community for 100 years and we are proud to participate in this event because we want to ensure we have the best possible talent from the next generation of our workforce to provide a high level of care,” said Marc Shurtz, CEO, Medina Memorial Health. “The healthcare sector is in dire need of workers, especially in rural communities, and we want to convey to the students that they can have a successful and rewarding career in healthcare without having to leave the area because they think these opportunities don’t exist here.”

“The support and participation of so many healthcare organizations in this annual event have generated significant interest among hundreds of students about careers in healthcare of which they simply are not aware,” said Kelly Kiebala, Director, Orleans County Job Development Agency. “The interaction between students and healthcare professionals allows for meaningful conversations where students learn what skills, credentials and training are required for a career in the healthcare sector.”

Among the businesses and organizations supporting the 3rd annual event are the M&T Charitable Foundation, Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center, Goodwill Vision Enterprises, and the New York State Department of Labor.

“Like our partners in the manufacturing sector, the healthcare entities associated with this flourishing event are excited to have this opportunity to meet so many students and perhaps get them started on a pathway in the healthcare field,” said Angela Grouse, Co-Chair of GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare. “The support of these businesses and organizations as well as the hundreds of volunteers make this such a worthwhile event for students across the region and in turn is building the foundation for the next generation of the healthcare workforce.” 

There are still sponsorship opportunities for the March 17 event at the Platinum ($5,000), Gold ($2,500), Silver ($1,000) and Bronze ($500) levels. 

For more information about GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare visit www.GLOWWithYourHands.com/healthcare or contact Chris Suozzi at csuozzi@gcedc.com.

Press Release:

HomeCare & Hospice Foundation is calling on local businesses, schools, and organizations to join in the mission of supporting compassionate care by becoming pre-sale coordinating sites for its 31st Annual Spring Bouquet Sale. This cherished fundraiser helps terminally ill patients and their families in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Genesee, and Wyoming counties.

By serving as a pre-sale site, organizations can help make a meaningful impact while giving their employees an opportunity to brighten their homes with a stunning 18-stem bouquet for just $25. Each bouquet sold contributes directly to providing vital hospice care services and bringing comfort to those in need.

“Becoming a pre-sale coordinator is a simple yet impactful way to support our Hospice Bouquet Sale,” said Melissa Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer at HomeCare & Hospice. “This program not only raises critical funds for patient care but also spreads joy throughout the communities we serve.”

Pre-sale coordinators will receive all necessary materials, including order forms and promotional materials, to make participation seamless. Organizations can coordinate orders internally, making it easy for employees to support this meaningful cause.

“We’re proud to partner with over 25 organizations across our four-county service area as pre-sale coordinators, including Lawley Insurance in Batavia, Liberty Pumps, Napoleon Engineering, Cutco and Wellsville Central School. We’re always looking to grow this network and would love to have more coordinators join us in making this year’s fundraiser our most successful yet,” added Sarah Negron, Agency Relations Coordinator.

Orders should be submitted no later than February 7, with bouquet pick up/delivery the week of March 3. If your organization is interested in becoming a pre-sale coordinating site, please contact HomeCare & Hospice at 716-372-2106 or visit our website at https://BouquetSale.givesmart.com.

Help us bring beauty, joy, and care to those who need it most. Together, we can make a difference!

• Batavia City School District will be canceled on Wednesday, January 22. Because this cancellation is for the morning cold advisory, a decision on evening events (games, practices, etc) will made by 2 p.m. as the forecast is monitored.
• Richmond Memorial Library will open at 11 am on Wednesday, January 22. 
• Pembroke Central School District
• Oakfield-Alabama Central School

Please submit cancellations and closures to: news@thebatavian.com.

Press Release:

Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer serving New York, northern Pennsylvania, and western Vermont, is proud to launch this year’s Check Out Hunger campaign. The initiative will take place in all Tops stores from Sunday, January 19, through Saturday, February 8.

Since its inception in 2004, Tops’ annual Check Out Hunger campaign has raised nearly $6.5 million dollars for participating food banks, making a significant impact in the fight against food insecurity. 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, among households with children, 17.9% (6.5 million households) experienced food insecurity in 2023. Additionally, 5.1% of all U.S. households (6.8 million households) faced exceptionally low food security, where normal eating patterns were disrupted due to limited resources. These statistics highlight a concerning trend in food insecurity across the nation.

By participating in the Check Out Hunger campaign, community members can help make a difference. Simply tell your cashier at Tops that you’d like to support the campaign, and you can contribute $2, $3, or $5 to help provide food for local food banks. 

“Eradicating hunger and supporting our neighbors in need is central to Tops’ mission,” said Ron Ferri, President, Tops Friendly Markets. “We are proud to stand behind this effort year after year.” 

The following food banks will benefit from this year’s Check Out Hunger campaign: 

• FeedMore WNY
• Food Bank of Central NY
• Foodlink of Rochester
• Food Bank of the Southern Tier
• Food Bank of the Hudson Valley
• Food Bank of NW PA
• Food Bank of Central PA
• Food Bank of NE NY
• Food Bank of Vermont

For more information about Tops Friendly Markets and its charitable initiatives, visit www.topsmarkets.com/Community/Living_Here_Giving_Here.

Monday was an important day, not just because the holiday gave people an extra long weekend and it was in honor of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., but it provided opportunities for Jasper Thomas to bring his research on the fallen hero to life.

A sixth-grader at Batavia Middle School, Jasper prepared a presentation about King, and he and two fellow Brother’s Keepers members read it to a group of women preparing to roll up their sleeves for King as well. 

“I thought that he fought for civil rights for everybody, and he had a dream for black and white people to come together,” the student said after his talk early Monday afternoon at First Presbyterian Church in Batavia. “I wanted to do this to share with these people here that skin color does not matter, and I wanted to share my presentation.”

The church hall happened to be a good venue and practice session for Jasper and the two other presenters before they headed off to 400 Towers to conduct a sharing circle and a repeat performance, the group agreed. 

There were a dozen of My Brother’s Keeper participants, led by Kristen Gomez and co-group leaders Tom Bringenberg and Daniel Rhodes, dispersed throughout the group of about 30 women at a lunch provided by Batavia’s Original to kick off the next few hours of community service by all. 

That effort originated years ago with eight women — seven from Batavia and one in Oakfield — looking for a project, organizer Loren Penman said. After a slow start, they eventually landed on an idea to gather interested volunteers together for some hands-on service to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and demonstrate that adults can spend a day off providing assistance to nonprofits that need it. 

“We didn't want to start something brand new. Didn't want a new nonprofit. There's lots of great nonprofits, but we wanted to support all the good that's in, especially Batavia, but Genesee County. And we floundered for a bit, but then found a couple of random small things that we hoped were impactful in very small ways,” Penman said. “And then when we knew that MLK Day was coming up, and heard about what the kids were doing at My Brother's Keeper, that they were kind of a group in search of a project, as we were. So we put together this concept of, let's have an MLK Day of Service.

“And I think it went great. People have enjoyed the camaraderie. We were up at 7:30 making phone calls, ‘What do you think about the weather? Is it too cold? Is it too snowy?”

The deciding factor was when Batavia City Schools’ Extended Day Director Kristen Gomez told Penman that the kids would be heartbroken if they couldn’t attend and participate in the planned activities. It was a go from then on, Penman said. 

After all, how can it be too cold for an event when that group — a dozen youth, plus three adults — were willing to walk from the middle school to First Presbyterian, and then over to 400 Towers and back again to the school. 

Penman worked with the small group, which includes the Rev. Roula Alkhouri, who offered the church as a home base for lunch and a location for volunteers to work, to build a list of volunteers for the day.

They were separated into small teams to divide and conquer: there were fundraising tasks of affixing name labels and star decorations at Crossroads House; cleaning out rooms of items for the keep, donate or trash bin at the church; sorting through mounds of clothing donations at My Sister’s Closet; and other varied projects at GO Art!

Jo-Ann Bestine said that often, adults look to kids for providing a day of service.

 “And I think this was a good switch here that no, it's a day of service for everyone, not just the kids who have the day off from school. What about us mature people to give back to the day,” she said, seated at a card table making table placards at Crossroads House. “There’s also a big mix of people. I volunteer at a lot of different places, but I'm connected with St. James Church, and this gave me an opportunity to see people who are involved in community service in different churches or different organizations.”

Bev Hoy was also at the table, sticking on tiny numbers to star pins for the nonprofit’s upcoming fundraiser auction. She had been a nurse and is a volunteer at Crossroads, and a member of First Presbyterian, so she had a foot in both camps. 

“We formed this group, a bunch of friends got together, and we decided in the end, after talking a lot about where we should, what we should do with this group, we decided to just help the community, just kind of get out there and just help different nonprofit groups,” Hoy said. “And then Loren, I think it was, thought, let's do this on Martin Luther King Day, because … it’s a day of service to honor Martin Luther King. And so that's what we did.”

As someone who does the gardening at the nonprofit comfort home during warmer summer months, Sue Chiddy liked the idea of doing something in January, she said.

“It’s a nice opportunity to do something during the winter months when there are not so many opportunities for volunteering as there are in summer,” she said. 

By mid-afternoon, FoodLink and clothing donations had been organized; there were boxes full of completed table and auction accessories and piles of boxes and debris waiting to get tossed into the trash at the church doors. 

It was a fortunate collaboration that tied to My Brother’s Keeper, a federally grant-funded program with the objective of building young men with a purpose, co-leader Tom Bringenberg said. He doesn’t want the adults to serve as mentors as much as to have the kids be peer mentors to one another, he said. 

How have they been successful in getting young students to give up their free time to participate?

“These kids are always wanting to do something with us. We've been doing this with them. We started last January, and we started with a small group, and it's really expanded. Loren had reached out to me about coming as just a woman to volunteer, and I said, hey, I have this group of young men of purpose, that's what we call them, who would be more than willing to come and volunteer on Martin Luther King Day,” Gomez said. “We're going to go over to 400 towers, and we're going to perform a community building circle with the residents over there. And that's usually how we start our meetings with circles, which allows the kids to open up about feelings and get to know each other, make connections.

“And we want them to make connections in the community as well, which, for the long term, we want them to be invested here in Batavia, be successful and contribute positively, and steer them away from the negative that is so easily a road for these kids to go down,” she said. “So it's been very successful there. The sky’s the limit with this group, and I’m so proud of them.”

Likewise, the eight women who initially floundered have also found success, Penman said. 

“We were eight women in search of a project, and we found it today,” she said.