Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Craft Cannery owner Paul Guglielmo Thursday in Bergen. Photo by Howard Owens.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley loves learning about successful entrepreneurs who set up shop in his district, and on Thursday, Hawley met Paul Guglielmo, owner of Craft Cannery in Bergen, for the first time.
"This is what we all read about and hear about from yesteryear, in a lot of ways, an individual who has an idea -- he missed his Grandpa's Italian sauce, that Sunday tradition -- and he missed that so much that in his heart and his mind and his wallet, he said, 'Maybe I can do this and make Grandpa's sauce,'" Hawley said during a tour of the plant. "Here we are today. A great, great example of what you can do if you put your mind, hard work and long hours into an idea."
He said his company's manufacturing capacity in 2019 was about 200 gallons of sauce and related products a day, and now the plant produces 1,000 gallons a day. That includes Guglielmo's branded sauces as well as sauces and similar products for other brands.
"We're doing about 10 times what we were doing in 2019 in terms of gross revenue. Employee-wise, this was a three-employee operation on May 1, 2020, which is the day we actually took over the plant," Guglielmo said. "It was three employees. And today, we're at 19. The square footage went from the back of that old pizzeria, which was 5,000 square feet to today, it's 11,600 square feet."
Hawley said he hadn't spoken with Guglielmo specifically about possible trials and tribulations of starting a business in the challenging regulatory environment of New York, but the fact that Guglielmo has succeeded here is a testament to his hard work.
"If you put your mind on anything, no matter where you are, and you you give it your all, there never is a guarantee in life, but oft times, you're rewarded because of that hard work, that investment, and the belief in yourself and your product," Hawley said. "So it's New York, but we hope more people come, and we hope more people stay."
Three new art shows opened at GO ART! in Batavia on Thursday evening, with Lorie Longhany drawing the spotlight with a collection of work she calls, "happy paintings."
She paints small works in her living room to tap into themes of solitude, contentment, and nostalgia.
Also in the opening were works by Bryan Wright (who was unable to attend the opening), drawing inspiration from his enjoyment of oceans. The coastal-themed exhibition featured ocean creatures sculpted with basic metal fabrication.
On the third floor is a showcase called African Heritage through Arts and Crafts. The exhibition has a special focus on Jamaican arts and crafts alongside select pieces from Africa. This multi-artist show highlights African and Jamaican artists' rich cultural heritage and artistic vibrancy. It also contributes to the celebration of Black History Month at GO ART!
Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR), serving Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties, is excited to announce the recent awarding of a $371,176 grant by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation and the Rochester Area Community Foundation. This essential funding will establish The Independent Living Youth Project (ILYP), a two-year pilot program aimed at providing enhanced services for disabled youth and their caregivers.
The grant will fund two Independent Living Youth Specialists who will offer direct services and support to children and youth under 25 years old with disabilities, as well as their families and caregivers, helping them navigate this complex system.
Connecting to Our Existing Aims
As a peer-directed, regional advocacy, service, and program provider for people of all ages with mental, physical, intellectual, sensory, or developmental disabilities, ILGR is dedicated to ensuring that these individuals can live their lives as they choose, free from institutional care and restrictive environments.
While our Independent Living Specialists serve all ages, we recognize that disabled children and youth, along with their caregivers, often require specialized services and support. Their families report higher out-of-pocket medical expenses, spend more time coordinating their child's healthcare, and sometimes reduce or stop working due to their child's health.
Many families seek assistance with applying for public benefits and need direct support to navigate the process. Additionally, parents face challenges in developing the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for their child's school support.
Adolescents with disabilities often struggle to transition to adult services, self-advocate, find employment, and live independently.
Youths with disabilities and their families deserve a comprehensive, community-based, family-centered, and coordinated system of care.
"We're thrilled to launch this pilot project, which will enable us to provide focused assistance to youth under 25 years old and their families," said Rae Frank, Director of Independent Living of the Genesee Region. "Navigating a complex system can be challenging for this population, and additional support will assist them to succeed."
“The Greater Rochester Health Foundation is thrilled to be able to support the Independent Youth Living Project, a program that empowers youth with disabilities and their families,” stated Rachel Betts, Responsive Grant Program Officer at the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, “The challenges these families face are significant, but with specialized advocacy, direct support, and a focus on independence, Western NY Independent Living can make a meaningful impact. By providing resources like educational advocacy, assistance with benefits, and youth leadership opportunities, this initiative will equip these young individuals with the skills and services they need to thrive in their communities. The Independent Living Center’s commitment to improving the quality of life for these youth is both inspiring and necessary, and we are excited to fund this program that will bring about real, lasting change for so many families in our community.”
For more information or support contact 585-815-8501.
On Saturday and Sunday, February 22 and 23, the Legends and Stars Sports Collectors Expo will have several former Buffalo Football, Hockey and Basketball Players, Hall of Fame Hockey Athletes and Buffalo born actor, Chad Michael Murray, present inside of the Park Place Events Center at Batavia Downs located at 8315 Park Road, Batavia.
The Memorabilia Show with vendors will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 22 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 23. Kids 12 and under are FREE. Admission for all others is $10. Paid admission receives $10 in Free Play on the Gaming Floor. Full details including autograph prices available on Legendsandstars.net.
Certified Guaranty Company and James Spence Authentication will be at the show offering authentication and grading services. Autographed cards may be submitted for CGC x JSA Authentic Autograph certification, and autographed memorabilia may be submitted for JSA-only services. CGC will also be accepting submissions of unsigned TCGs, sports cards, and non-sports cards for grading.
Athletes, Career Highlights/Teams Played for and Autograph Times are as follows:
Saturday, February 22:
Bryan Trottier - NHL HOF 1997, 6X Stanley Cup Champion - 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Chris Chelios - NHL HOF 2013, 3X Stanley Cup Champion - 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Doug Gilmour - NHL HOF 2011, Stanley Cup Champion, Former Sabre - 12 to 1 p.m.
Frank Reich - Former Buffalo QB, led “the Comeback” - 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Kyle Williams - Former Buffalo DT, 6X Pro Bowler - 1 to 2 p.m.
London Fletcher - Super Bowl Champion, 4X Pro Bowl, Former Buffalo LB - 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Steve Christie - Former Buffalo Kicker, All -Pro - 2 to 3 p.m.
Drew Pearson - NFL HOF 2021 Super Bowl Champion, Former Cowboy - 2 to 3 p.m.
Billy Smith - NHL HOF 1993, 4X Stanley Cup Champion - 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Chad Michael Murray* - Actor on One Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls & Various Films - 12 to 3 p.m.
*Mr. Murray will be in the Autograph Area for the entire 3 hour window for autographs and table selfies
Sunday, February 23:
Ernie DiGregorio - 1974 NBA Rookie of the Year, Former Buffalo Brave - 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Brad Park - NHL HOF 1988, 7X All-Star, NHL’s 100 Greatest Players - 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Gilbert Perreault - NHL HOF 1990, 8X All-Star, Former Buffalo Sabre - 12 to 1 p.m.
Adam Oates - NHL HOF 2012, 5X All-Star, NHL’s 100 Greatest Players - 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Thurman Thomas - NFL HOF 2007, 1991 NFL MVP, 5x Pro Bowl, Former Buffalo RB - 1 to 2 p.m.
After 27 years with Genesee County — for most of those years as highway superintendent — first managing the roads, bridges, and fleet, and later adding on water, parks, airport, environmental health review and facilities duties, Tim Hens will be retiring later this year with the more all-encompassing title of Public Works commissioner and a need for a change of venue, he says.
As Hens is confident about who he leaves behind — county legislators have appointed his assistant engineer to fill the role — he also looks forward to being able to step away from challenging and stressful projects. He plans to retire May 30.
“It's weird to walk away after so many years. I have always been a big believer in being where your feet are, doing your best to leave the community in a better place, and handing things off to someone else when you know it's the time. Well, it's time,” he said to The Batavian Wednesday. “I have put an amazing DPW staff together that does so many good things, and we have such good relationships with all of the town highway superintendents, but the job is stressful, and you're always in the public eye. The regulatory environment, especially within New York State, isn't getting any easier--this is certainly one of my biggest reasons to leave.
“I’m in a good place with my decision. A change in scenery/perspective will be good for me, and new leadership will be great for the County. In terms of champion projects, it’s a duel between the rebuild/success of the County Airport versus Countywide Water, but I think Countywide Water will have a longer/more significant impact on our community than any other project the County has ever accomplished,” he said. “It certainly hasn’t been the easiest or smoothest process (nor is it done yet), but getting reliable, safe drinking water for Genesee County makes a difference to the economy but, more importantly, for people's health and well-being.”
2024 File Photo of Laura Wadhams, assistant engineer for Genesee County's Public Works Department, showing progress at the new county jail during a county meeting. Photo by Joanne Beck
He has recommended the department’s assistant engineer, Laura Wadhams, who has become an increasingly visible staff member for major projects, such as the $70 million county jail that opened in late 2024.
“Laura is being considered by the Legislature as my replacement. I hired Laura in 2018 and knew right away that she was a perfect candidate to replace me in the future,” Hens said. “She has done an amazing job in so many different areas, from award-winning bridge projects to airport work, facilities projects and managing the construction of the new county jail. She is an excellent communicator and has the demeanor to work with all different types of agencies, contractors, community leaders, and people.”
Wadhams has worked as a civil, staff, and transportation engineer and transportation construction inspector for the New York State Department of Transportation. The new county jail was her largest county project since being hired as assistant engineer in September 2018, she said during a March 2024 meeting about the jail’s near completion.
The commissioner’s role oversees seven divisions, 57 full-time and 11 seasonal or part-time employees within the department, including highways and bridges; fleet management; engineering; facility management; parks and forestry; Genesee County Airport; countywide water; and environmental health, which means engineering reviews for water, septic, campgrounds and pools.
The Genesee County Legislature has interviewed and selected a candidate to fill this future vacancy, and based upon qualifications and the recommendation of County Manager Matt Landers, the Ways and Means Committee recommended Wadhams for the position during its meeting Wednesday.
Wadhams has shadowed the Commissioner of Public Works and “has demonstrated commitment to safe, reliable, professional and cost-effective planning and maintenance of county resources, facilities and infrastructure,” a related county resolution states. The group appointed Wadhams as commissioner of Public Works at a Grade of 124, Step 15 on the Management Salary Schedule, for a four-year term, effective June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2029. The full Legislature is expected to vote on the resolution during a future meeting.
High school students can be generally divided into three groups: about 10% are the “movers and shakers.” These are the student body presidents, sports stars, honor society members, cheerleaders, etc; Another 10% are on the bottom, the skippers, the disciplinary problems, strugglers. The biggest group is the kids who are just trying the best they can to navigate their way through their challenging teenage years of life and school. They have small groups of friends, get by academically, and might participate in some activities but don't really stand out.
That group would be exactly where I fell at Notre Dame between 1960 and 1964.
As I look back on my high school years, the things that stand out are how shy and immature I was. I did not turn 17 until the end of January of my senior year. So, I spent over half my graduating year at 16.
In retrospect, my parents should have held me out of kindergarten for one more year, but there were no preschool programs as there are now. So, spending over half of my first year in school at 4 years old was not a recipe for success. I recall almost nothing about my year in kindergarten at Washington School and no wonder – I was not far removed from being a toddler.
By the time I arrived at Notre Dame in September of 1960, after 8 years at St. Mary's Elementary, I could be described as being scared and unready. I had not developed any appreciable study habits and had a pretty low self-esteem. I would guess that same description would fit a lot of other freshman, both then and now.
I did manage to make it through my 4 years at Notre Dame and graduate on time.
As I think back, the memories I have are mostly not of the classes and subjects, although I should recall geometry and chemistry as I took them twice and three times, respectively. I was a mediocre student at best. I didn't get a Regents Diploma and had to attend a summer school class in math at St. John Fisher College in Rochester just to get accepted.
My recollections are mostly just random events that took place during my 4 years, some poignant and others “sophomoric,” although they didn't all happen in the sophomore term.
Lasting Impressions A few things took place while I was at Notre Dame, and they have stayed with me to this day. The first happened in Freshman Religion class, but it had nothing to do with religion. The teacher was Father Dave Scheider, who was also at times the Athletic Director, coach of various sports, and eventually the Principal. He was a good guy and allowed students to speak their minds in class.
I don't know how it came up, but a young lady of Polish ancestry named Dolores complained that she and other Polish and Italian students felt marginalized because they came from “the south side of the tracks.” (By way of explanation, Batavia was a railroad town, and the tracks of 4 different rail lines split Batavia in half. South of the tracks, the neighborhoods were predominantly folks of Polish and Italian ancestry who settled around their churches, which were Sacred Heart and St. Anthony's. There were bakeries, delis, restaurants, etc., related to their cultures. In the late 1950s, the New York Central tracks were moved south of the city to solve traffic problems, but there was and still is a “South Side”).
I certainly knew about the railroads (my grandfather was a railroad man, and until the tracks were moved, the New York Central main lines ran right next to the house where my father grew up on Cedar Street). I also was aware that many Polish and Italian people lived on the south side of town. But, just like I was unaware that those people were not allowed at Godfrey's Pond, a recreation area where my family was members, I was also ignorant of any discrimination or bad feelings. The innocence of childhood, I guess you could call it.
But Dolores bringing this up in school led to a lively discussion ( I don't recall specifics), and it was certainly a wake-up call for me going forward. It was brave of her to call attention to it, and I have never forgotten it.
The second lasting impression was, unfortunately, a negative one for me.
At some point (I don't recall which year), we had a day off from classes for a “retreat.” This was supposed to be a day of reflection and introspection about faith. The guest speaker was a priest who was brought in from outside our community. During his lecture, he brought up the notion of “hell.” He tried to impress upon us how long eternity would be if we ended up there for whatever sins we might commit. He told us to imagine a little bird coming and pecking on the side of our school once every 1,000 years. According to him, by the time the school was pecked into nothingness, it would be one second in eternity. What? That scared the hell out of me. I actually think I spent some restless nights (what horrible “mortal sins” had I committed? I was 14 or 15, probably). As I grew older and more thoughtful, the idea that a priest would try to frighten an auditorium full of teenagers like that made me angry. It still does.
In my senior year, an event happened on November 22, 1963, that anyone who was over the age of 10 will remember forever where they were when they heard about it – the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
I was in study hall, and the football coach, Lou Lodestro, came in and got some of the boys who he knew to help clean up the locker room. As we were cleaning, he was in his office doing paperwork and had the radio on. All of a sudden, he came out looking as pale as a ghost. “ Boys”, he said. “I've got something really bad to tell you. President Kennedy has been shot in Dallas, Texas”.
I can't really remember much after that. I don't know if we said anything, or just sat there, or went back to study hall and told others. At some point, an announcement was made over the loudspeaker. I'm sure people were crying, but I can't recall specifics.
I do recollect going to downtown Batavia on the next day, Saturday, and most of the stores were closed, and the street was virtually empty. Like many others, I was watching TV on Sunday morning when Jack Ruby shot and killed Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, before our very eyes. Monday was a National Day Of Mourning, and Tuesday was the President's funeral, so I assume we had both days off from school. Teenagers are fairly resilient, but I'm pretty sure that whole event affected me and my classmates for the rest of our senior year.
Teens Will Be Teens Notre Dame was no different than any other high school when it came to teen shenanigans. Once in a while, things would get a bit out of control in the cafeteria, and I remember a couple of epic food fights. What I recall the most about those, though, is how when the Principal, Father Eugene Kolb, entered the scene. Everything stopped dead. You could hear a pin drop. He wasn't a very big guy, kind of short and portly, but some people just have that aura of instilling fear about them. As a teacher for 33 years, I saw it many times, and often it was a diminutive woman. It was just their presence and the way they carried themselves. By the way, I never had “it”. The kids always knew I was a big (6' 3'') softy.
Our school, like most Catholic Schools, had a dress code. But being teenagers, it was our daily quest to try to get around it somehow. Boys had to wear a sports coat and tie, and sneakers were not allowed. A certain number (probably in that previously mentioned top 10%) saw themselves as stylish and were always sharply dressed. But most of us wore the same sports jacket every day, and at home, it was casually tossed on a chair or bed until the next day, so it became pretty raggedy looking. Who wanted to retie a tie continuously? So those were just loosened, taken off and redonned the next day.
When the Beatles and other English rock groups became popular, a fad among the boys was “pegged” pants. These were tight and very narrow at the bottom (no cuff). Of course, you had to be skinny, which most of us were at that age. It was a constant battle with the Dean of Boys over those trousers. I think parents were even called on occasion to bring roomier pants to school. You can imagine that they were pretty annoyed about that.
The girls wore a blouse and skirt with a vest called a bolero. They were allowed to wear sneakers, though, unlike the boys. The girls' biggest rebellion seemed to be rolling their skirt up at the waist to make it shorter. The Dean of Women, a nun apparently known as “The Barracuda,” would have them kneel down, and if their skirt didn't touch the floor, they got detention (there was a lot of kneeling in Catholic schools). I'm going to reserve comment on what girls wear to school now, but it always amazes me to see boys constantly wearing shorts, even in the winter.
Finally, you would think I remembered something important but recalled something ridiculous instead. Notre Dame has three floors. The basement has the cafeteria, locker rooms, and some classrooms. The main floor contained the offices, the chapel, the gymnasium, and classrooms. The 2nd floor was the site of the school library. There were two staircases to it, one on each end. The librarian's desk was in the middle.
As a perfect example of teenagers' convoluted thinking, my friend Ray and I decided to prank the librarian, an elderly nun. For a period of time, about once a week, always on a different day, to avoid being predictable, we would leave the cafeteria on the pretext of using the restroom. Ray would go up one stairway, and I would go up the other, so we would each be stationed at opposite doorways. We would peek in to see if the nun was seated at her desk. If she was, one of us would bounce a tennis ball in front of her to the opposite door. The other guy would catch the ball at the doorway, and we would sprint back down the stairs and hide in the men's room, doubled over with laughter.
We thought we were so clever, and we never got caught, but thinking back now, did the nun even notice the ball? Or did she even care? She might have actually gotten a chuckle out of it herself. You can see why we weren't in the honor society.
Like most of the faceless masses, I made it through high school, but knowing what I know now, I wish I had the chance to do it again at a year older and with more confidence and maturity. But, despite my struggles, I graduated from St. John Fisher I had to scramble my first couple years there also) and had a 33-year career teaching elementary school before retiring and have written 30 published stories. I wasn't a “mover and shaker,” but I did pretty well in life, nonetheless.
The William Morgan Affair: Masonic Mystery in Upstate New York, by Ann Webster Bunch, was released this month by The History Press. Dr. Bunch uses her background as a forensic anthropologist to analyze the extreme cold case of what happened to William Morgan after he was last seen in Batavia in 1826.
She takes particular care to comb over the evidence, or lack thereof, surrounding the mysterious circumstances of Morgan’s last days, and the many legends that surround what became of him. The author’s focus is to delve deeply into the scientific and investigative methods that were employed during the various investigations conducted following Morgan’s vanishing in September 1826.
The story of William Morgan is one steeped in so much speculation and hearsay that very little is known about the man himself.This has led to many theories on what happened to him, and has left many heroes and villains surrounding the ordeal.
Dr. Bunch focuses on the case as a cold case, not necessarily a murder case. This flies in the face of the inscription of the Morgan Monument located in the Historic Batavia Cemetery, put in place by the National Christian Association in 1882, which paints him as a martyr and makes it confusing as to whether he is actually buried in the plot, which he is not.
In looking at Morgan’s case from an evidential perspective, there are so many unknowns when it comes to Morgan; even the life of William Morgan is steeped in a lack of solid evidence. It is not even clear what Morgan really looks like or when he was born. The same can be said for the events surrounding his disappearance, which are only clear to his holding at Fort Niagara, and then the sure evidence dries up. Bunch also notes the political atmosphere, factors that came to surround the case, and the severe influence that played a part in it.
Dr. Bunch focused on the inconsistencies of the early 19th century when it came to evidence and investigation by taking each coroner’s inquests relating to Morgan into deep analysis.
The three inquests in question all revolved around a seminal moment in the Morgan saga, when a body washed up on the Lake Ontario shoreline in Orleans County on October 7, 1827, more than a year after Morgan’s disappearance. The first, Slater, inquest follows the standard procedures for the day but does not lead to an identity of the victim, though it being Morgan is not a consideration. The second, Brown, inquest is just the opposite, as Thurlow Weed, a newspaperman and local politician from Rochester, inserts himself to gain traction that the body is that of Morgan’s. Bunch points out that this attempt to make a “good enough Morgan” flew in the face of the evidence based on Morgan’s last known appearance on top of substantial decay. It signified how the evidence can be influenced to a great deal by outside political forces, especially when one wishes it to be the evidence they seek. The third, Hurlburt, inquest reverses the second’s findings when new evidence comes to light in the form of the family of a fisherman in lower Canada, Timothy Munro, who had gone missing in a storm.
Dr. Bunch then goes a step further in looking into the second inquest led by Weed and what factors at the time can make people look past distinct evidence to come to another conclusion. The most obvious is political pressures and orientations. Weed and his followers were against the Freemasons and were looking for anything to help put more public opinion against the Brotherhood. This went all the way to Albany, as the opponents of the Erie Canal and its supporter, Governor DeWitt Clinton, sought to work against anyone associated with the Masonic Order. This would eventually lead to the first third party in the United States, the Anti-Masonic Party. The age-old contest between the “haves” and “have-nots” also played its role.
The author then turns to other important pieces of evidence, the several confessions by individuals who claim to know the outcome of Morgan’s ordeal with the Freemasons. She focuses on seven confessions that came about from the 1830s through the 1860s. Each is analyzed in comparison to the evidence available to determine some level of validity, though many are lacking in key areas.
The confessions range from the 1830s to the 1860s, with varying degrees of involvement. In some cases, confessing to be the killer, in others to be an accomplice, and in others to be there at the time of his disappearance. In her analysis, Dr. Bunch concludes that most of the confessions lack much in corroborating evidence, with Whitney’s having the most merit but not without its questions. The point was that confessions were taken with more facts than what evidence could support them, at least for a time, and in some cases, the confessor's background or character was a severe influence.
The next chapter of the Morgan mystery is the issue of the Pembroke Skeleton found in a quarry in 1881. This discovery brought William Morgan back to the forefront of everyone’s thoughts.
This again brought up the issue of integral evidence. There were items recovered with the skeletal remains that led the discoverers to unofficially connect it to Morgan, but the remains were never compared to Morgan. This discovery very well has led to the National Christian Association taking advantage of the newfound public sentiment and building the monument to Morgan monument being built the following year.
Therefore, the question is “What became of William Morgan?”
There are 17 hypotheses that are explored and have been put forward since 1826. They are gathered from two sources, particularly from H.V. Voorhis in 1946 and Robert Morris in 1884. They range across the spectrum and place Morgan all around the world if he survived at all. They are grouped into five categories by the author: “Morgan Becomes a Hermit,” “Morgan Returns to Life at Sea,” “Morgan Reinvents Himself,” “Morgan is Murdered,” and a more specific tale, “Morgan Returns to Sea and Reinvents Himself, Dies in 1864.” The author then associates any corroborating evidence through the confessions or other information available to each hypothesis. Some even connect to modern-day descendants of Morgan. Everyone has their holes, some with more than others do.
In summation, Dr. Bunch focuses on the need to implement the scientific method even in this very old cold case, though it is always important to remember the human and those outside aspects that can influence it. She lays out five steps of an empirical-skeptical approach to any case, using Morgan as an example. In simple terms, collect background information; compile the scientific data and evidence; understand the political context and prior work; factor counter-information to the evidence; use all of the factors together to form a conclusion. Each of the chapters within the book focuses upon one or more of these steps.
The purpose is to take all of the evidence available and to expose others that have less merit. Dr. Bunch does not intend to solve the mystery, so if looking for the final answer, the reader will be disappointed in that regard. However, the strong historical and scientific research will show just how murky the whole event his, from Morgan himself to the various investigations. The work does lay out all of the possibilities with the supporting evidence or lack thereof. It is a very interesting read, especially for those who may be of a more skeptical nature and those who like the mystery-solving procedure.
Ryan Duffy is the executive director of the Holland Land Office Museum.
The Music at St. Mark's concert (at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in LeRoy) for Thursday, February 20 with The Rochester Bagpiper is cancelled due to illness. This concert will be re-scheduled later in the year.
St. Paul Lutheran Elementary School students collected food for the Batavia community on Valentine’s Day. The ‘Love Your Neighbor Food Drive’ took its theme from Mark 12:31, where Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Christian Brunelle shows a revised rendering of his site plan for Byrne Dairy Tuesday during the city's Planning & Development Committee meeting at City Hall. Photo by Joanne Beck
After a silent public hearing Tuesday evening of no one speaking for or against the proposed Byrne Dairy project at 606 E. Main St. in Batavia and slightly revised plans with additional landscaping, the city’s Planning & Development Committee approved the site plan and special use permit.
Senior Executive Vice President Christian Brunelle of Sonbyrne Sales, Inc. will have to return on Feb. 27 to the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals for approval of a variance and is looking forward to getting shovels in the ground soon after.
"So now we just have to get variances on February 27 … for the signage and the 500 feet; the gym kicks it into a public assembly, which is kind of weird, but a gym is considered a public assembly because of the amount of occupants,” Brunelle said after the meeting. “Basically, all we did was incorporate a new landscaping plan for the board members. They wanted some more shrubbery along the eastern property line to protect any sort of trash or whatnot to the neighbors to the east, the gym, basically. So I added those, added some storm water details that I had to do.”
The committee gave the project a negative environmental declaration, meaning that no harm was perceived to be caused by the construction and operation of the dairy and gas station on the city's east side.
Group members John Roach, Jim Krencik, Zeke Lynn, John Ognibene and Liz Thompson voted 5-0 for the project and then pushed it to the ZBA because the dairy would be within 500 feet of Whole Life Fitness, a gym at 624 E. Main St., and his request for more signage is more than what’s typically allowed. Genesee County’s Planning Board approved the project Feb. 13.
The site plan is for a gated store that would be moved back from houses, include additional 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 LED lights designed to minimize unwanted light pollution. There are 42 parking spaces allotted.
Serviceberry trees would fit in with low utility lines to match existing trees in the area, plus he recommended three- to four-foot trees and “nice little shrubs.”
“These were the major approvals,” Brunelle said, sharing a work outline. Break ground immediately in March, closing our property, February 27 get approval, close on our property a week later and start the demolition in mid-March. I'm probably guessing the end of July or August 1 would be a goal (for completion). We should have no problem.”
He looks forward to opening up for business, and has been pleased with city Code Enforcement Officer Doug Randall and his staff's responsiveness, Brunelle said.
“The city’s been great to work with,” he said. “Doug and those guys have been phenomenal. It’s nice to have a pro-business municipality to work with.”
Brunelle previously said that once his site plans were officially approved by both boards, he would close on the property within 30 days from owner Ken Mistler. He also said there will be 25 full-time equivalent employees at the store, with 35 to 40 combined part- and full-time people for the “several million dollar project.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) continued his annual Valentines for Veterans program this Valentine's Day, connecting local students with veteran residents at The New York State Veterans Home at Batavia. Hawley collected handmade valentines from students at Jackson Primary School and personally delivered them to the veterans.
"This event is a great opportunity every year to show my appreciation for our veterans and all of the sacrifices they have made to keep us free,” said Hawley. “As a veteran myself, I know the hard work and dedication these brave men and women have given over the years, and I hope events like this can serve as a way to give back.”
Hawley's day began at Jackson Primary School, where he visited Mrs. Vaccarella’s Kindergarten class, discussing veterans and the six branches of the military before thanking the students for their heartfelt cards. He then visited a joint classroom for Mrs. Wolff and Mrs. Conroy, where students also created valentines and performed a special Valentine's Day song for the veterans. Finally, Hawley delivered the valentines to the residents of the NYS Veterans Home at Batavia, personally thanking veterans for their service.
“This program connects students with our veterans, and in turn, our veterans receive messages of gratitude, such as ‘Thank you for your service,’” Hawley added. “It’s a truly rewarding experience for everyone involved.”
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) introduced the Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day Holiday Establishment Act to officially designate June 14 as a federal holiday to commemorate President Donald J. Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day.
Born on June 14, 1946, President Donald J. Trump’s birthday coincided with Flag Day, which is observed annually and recognizes the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official US flag in 1777. This legislation would permanently codify a new federal holiday called “Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day” on June 14 to honor this historic day.
“No modern president has been more pivotal for our country than Donald J. Trump. As both our 45th and 47th President, he is the most consequential President in modern American history, leading our country at a time of great international and domestic turmoil. From brokering the historic Abraham Accords to championing the largest tax relief package in American history, his impact on the nation is undeniable. Just as George Washington’s Birthday is codified as a federal holiday, this bill will add Trump’s Birthday to this list, recognizing him as the founder of America’s Golden Age. Additionally, as our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we should create a new federal holiday honoring the American Flag and all that it represents. By designating Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day as a federal holiday, we can ensure President Trump’s contributions to American greatness and the importance of the American Flag are forever enshrined into law,” said Congresswoman Tenney.
The Genesee Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) is thrilled to announce the opening of three new art exhibitions on Thursday, February 20. The community is warmly invited to join us at the opening reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to experience the diverse artistic expressions of Lorie Longhany and Bryan Wright and an engaging multi-artist show featuring artists of African heritage in honor of Black History Month.
Dive into the creativity of two remarkable local artists: multimedia artist Bryan Wright and painter Lorie Longhany.
Bryan Wright, drawing inspiration from his deep connection with the ocean and waters, presents another coastal-themed exhibition. His works, crafted with skills honed in graphic design and basic metal fabricating, encapsulate the mystery and intrigue of coastal elements found through his explorations.
Lorie Longhany, a self-taught artist with a versatile palette of pen, acrylic, and watercolor, showcases a collection of artworks that resonates with the themes of solitude, contentment, and nostalgia. Lori's pieces range from medium and small paintings to bookmarks, but her very small pieces are affectionately referred to as her "happy paintings."
A Showcase of African Heritage through Arts and Crafts is the third exhibition that adds a vibrant layer to the evening, with a special focus on Jamaican arts and crafts alongside select pieces from Africa. This multi-artist show not only highlights the rich cultural heritage and artistic vibrancy of African and Jamaican artists but also contributes to the celebration of Black History Month at GO ART!
This is an Invitation to Experience Artistic Diversity at GO ART! We are pleased to bring these three distinct exhibitions under one roof, offering the public an opportunity to embark on this unique artistic engagement. From the reflective and personal works of Lorie Longhany and the coastal-themed creations by Bryan Wright to the rich tapestry of African heritage presented in the multi-artist exhibition, there's an abundance of beauty and creativity to consume.
We look forward to welcoming art lovers and the community to the opening reception of these three exhibitions.
Come share an evening of art, inspiration, and cultural exploration with us at GO ART!
This event is free, but the experience will be invaluable! For more information, please contact GO ART! at 585-343-9313.
With every season that doesn't end in a championship, you can look back to missed opportunities and questionable calls. I’m confident that the Buffalo Bills are already looking past that and getting ready for more success.
That’s because in the NFL, now is the time to evaluate what the best team-building investments will be for the future.
Some of our favorite players will be leaving for other teams and new ones will come on board. Coaches and front office professionals are getting promoted, hired away by other teams, or retiring. It’s a relief we have our No. 1 asset in place - MVP Josh Allen.
The same is true in our workforce team-building activities. The future is here. It's time to move forward and find a way to win.
Parents, teachers and leaders have done an outstanding job encouraging our students to explore careers and training programs.
If you are a business, you can do the same – and directly benefit from this momentum! By building your bench, you have the talent to succeed.
In the NFL, dynasties are built after years of player development and success in the draft. The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program (FLYAP) is that opportunity.
In January, FLYAP celebrated 40 first-round draft picks selected by local companies to complete a job shadow or a paid co-op. These students will embark on a professional career entering the ranks as a top prospect, with hands-on experience achieved before graduation!
Our businesses don’t have it as easy as teams in the NFL, where there’s only 31 other teams to compete with. You compete for talent across industries and regions.
File photo of Chris Suozzi.
Participating in youth apprenticeships and the summer pre-apprenticeship programs is a great path to stand out to students with many options available to them.
And those options are growing! Major projects under construction in Genesee County by Edwards Vacuum and Oxbo will soon be adding 350+ new jobs.
Thankfully, we continue to make investments to broaden and improve our talent base.
In partnership with local organizations, the Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation is investing in training equipment. Together, we are creating a lasting foundation that strengthens our communities and boosts the economy.
At the high school level, the GGLDC has invested in a brand-new CNC router for the Batavia Technology Department at Batavia High School.
At Genesee Valley BOCES, the GGLDC provided another piece of training equipment that will expand students’ capabilities in refrigeration technologies.
At The BEST Center at Genesee Community College, the GGLDC is supporting the installation of a CNC router for students to explore another pathway into careers.
These programs and investments will accelerate our students' journey to well-paid, rewarding careers. Our local, robust food processing, skilled trades, and manufacturing sectors can easily recruit students who are prepared from day one to diagnose and solve problems.
If you can’t wait for the next draft day to find your workforce talent, I’m here to help.
Contact me at csuozzi@gcedc.com, 585-409-1301, or linkedin.com/in/chrissuozzi.
Chris “Coach SwazZ” Suozzi is the Executive Vice President of Business & Workforce Development at the Genesee County Economic Development Center.
Despite the frigid temp and ongoing icy snow that blanketed Batavia this weekend, more than a dozen folks wanted to offer a visible signal of their outrage and sadness about the torture and murder of Sam Nordquist, a young man found dead near Canandaigua Thursday.
When the group, from GLOW OUT!, which has a biweekly meeting for older LGBTQ individuals, learned about Nordquist’s death after an apparent lengthy period of torture by five suspects arrested and charged this week, “many were very upset … and wanted to have a vigil immediately,” Executive Director Sara Vacin said.
About 15 people gathered Saturday outside of Batavia’s First Presbyterian Church in memory of this 24-year-old-year old from Minnesota.
“They didn’t mind standing in the snow, they felt like the message and our ability to do something mattered more. As a group and as individuals, we are terrified at the open transphobia we see and experience,” Vacin said. “The thought that this beautiful young man came to New York, following his heart, possibly expecting better protections and resources, and ended up being tortured is unfathomable and disgusting. This shows how truly targeted trans people are today and how people need to stand up to the normalization of hate speech, bullying, and discrimination.”
Motorists driving by beeped in positive response to the gesture, Vacin said, and the group is planning to join upcoming vigils in Rochester and Canandaigua. It doesn’t matter that none of them knew this young man, as “Sam was someone’s child and will be forever missed and remembered by many by the way he left this earth,” she said.
More than 20% of Gen Z are part of the LGBTQ population, and he could be any number of “our children,” she said.
“GLOW OUT! wanted to call attention to the situation and ask — regardless of political beliefs — for allies not to remain silent and complicit but to step up and disrupt hate speech and discrimination,” Vacin said. “So that we can be the safe New York that Sam Nordquist and all of us deserve to live in.”
For more information about GLOW OUT! services provided, visit www.glowout.org.
In a recent update by ABC News, State Police issued a joint statement that -- although this was one of the most horrific crimes ever investigated -- "At this time we have no indication that Sam's murder was a hate crime."
"To help alleviate the understandable concern his murder could be a hate crime, we are disclosing that Sam and his assailants were known to each other, identified as LGBTQ+, and at least one of the defendants lived with Sam in the time period leading up to the instant offense."
The State Police report that a 54-year-old woman from Batavia died in a head-on collision on Route 98 in Alexander on Sunday.
Anya R. Rambuski was pronounced dead at the scene.
The accident was reported at about noon on Sunday.
According to troopers, Rambuski lost control of her 2016 Buick Encore, which was traveling northeast, and struck a 2021 Jeep Cherokee that was traveling southwest on Alexander Road.
The driver of the Jeep, whose name was not released, sustained minor injuries.
The NYSP Collision Reconstruction Unit and Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted in this investigation.
After what’s approaching a two-year lag in the Ellicott Station apartment project in downtown Batavia, there is apparently an interested sponsor in the process of working with the state Office of Homes and Community Renewal and Ellicott Station LLC, property owner Sam Savarino says.
Savarino confirmed Friday that the LLC “has been actively working with another entity to sponsor the project.” Two sources who asked not to be identified, including one close to the project, have disclosed that the sponsor is PathStone Development Corporation.
When asked for comment about this apparent development, Batavia Development Corp. Executive Director Tammy Hathaway said “Personally, PathStone has been my first choice from the initial notice that the current owner could no longer continue the project’s development.”
“Knowing the property will continue to be restricted to affordable housing guidelines, PathStone is the operative organization as they come well-equipped with decades of experience in housing development and management,” Hathaway said Saturday.
City Manager Rachael Tabelski could not confirm that PathStone is taking on the Ellicott Street complex left uncompleted in summer 2023, but she said she would “welcome a professional housing organization like PathStone’s to take over the project, finish building and rent to quality tenants,” she said.
“Supposedly it was discussed at a county housing meeting, I was not in attendance, but had some city staff there,” Tabelski said. “I haven’t been contacted by PathStone’s CEO or HCR lately.”
The Batavian also called and emailed PathStone President Jason Sackett for comment, with no reply by publication.
Ellicott Station was on its way to completion with four floors up, tenants selected by lottery, and grant funds, PILOTS, tax credits and exemptions in place by the state, Genesee County Economic Development Center and HCR.
Later in 2023 Savarino Companies closed for business due to a financial battle with the state Dormitory Authority and stopped work at Ellicott Station, and GCEDC performed a clawback of exemptions and tax credits, claiming that the company didn’t abide by its contract obligations.
Genesee Community College's (GCC's) Fashion Business Program is proud to unveil the theme for its highly anticipated 44th Annual Fashion Show: "Masterpiece Unfolding." The show will take place on Saturday, May 3, at 5 p.m. in the Richard C. Call Arena, promising an unforgettable evening where fashion and fine art converge.
Throughout history, art has been a driving force of inspiration, shaping culture, design, and personal expression. "Masterpiece Unfolding" will bring these artistic influences to life on the runway, showcasing designs that pay homage to artistic movements throughout history.
"Fashion, like art, tells a story," said Laura Taylor, Associate Professor of Fashion Business and Merchandising. "This year, our students will translate the essence of legendary artistic styles into wearable masterpieces, celebrating the creative evolution that continues to inspire designers today."
Attendees can expect an immersive experience where fashion becomes a canvas, and each design serves as a tribute to the artists of the past and present. Through fabric, texture, and design, "Masterpiece Unfolding" will transform the runway into a gallery of living art.
Join us on Saturday, May 3 at 5 p.m. at the Richard C. Call Arena for a night where fashion meets fine art in a breathtaking celebration of creativity.
For ticket information and sponsorship opportunities, please email fashionshow@genesee.edu or visit gccfashionshow.com.
For more information, contact Vice President of Development, Admissions and External Affairs, Justin Johnston, at 585-345-6809 or via email at jmjohnston@genesee.edu.
Malachi J Nix, 20, of Tonawanda, is charged with burglary 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon 2nd, grand larceny 3rd, criminal mischief 3rd, and conspiracy 4th. Nix and another person allegedly broke into Barrett's Batavia Marine on May 27 and stole firearms. He was arrested on Jan. 21, arraigned in City Court and was remanded to the Genesee County Jail.
Clint J. Towne, 44, of Phelps Road, Batavia, and Steven M. Morales, 49, of Lewiston Road, Batavia, are charged with four counts each of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd, tampering with physical evidence, criminally using drug paraphernalia 2nd, and aggravated unlicensed operation (Morales). Towne and Morales were arrested on Feb. 13. The was the result of an investigation into the location of a wanted suspect. During a traffic stop, Towne and Morales were allegedly found in possession of 50 grams of cocaine, an ounce of fentanyl, alprazolam tables, 46 sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone strips, and mannitol. Towne is suspected of attempting to destroy evidence. Both were held pending arraignment. The investigation was conducted by Sgt. Andrew Hale, deputies Nicholas Chamoun, Alexander Hasdall, Mason Schultz, Jon Dimming, Zachary Hoy, and Nicholas Jennings.
Marc Christopher James Cook, Jr., no age provided, of Lockport Road, Alabama, was arrested on Feb. 6 on eight separate warrants by members of the Batavia Emergency Response Team (consisting of members of the Sheriff's Office and Batavia PD). The warrants were related to charges of criminal possession of a weapon 3rd and 4th, bail jumping 2nd, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, bail jumping 3rd, criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd, and violation of a family court act. Cook was arraigned and held without bail.
Robert Maynard Smith, 73, of North Street, Blasdell, is charged with menacing 2nd. Smith is accused of wielding a box cutter knife, threatening a worker at Eagle Star Housing, 2620 West Main St., Batavia, at 6:06 p.m. on Feb. 14. Smith was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.
Nathan Lee Dunn, 20, of Prospect Avenue, Medina, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .108 or greater, aggravated unlicensed opeatertion 1st, unregistered motor vehicle, driving without financial security. At 12:15 a.m. on Feb. 2, Deputy Zachary Hoy responded to the parking lot at Batavia Downs to investigate a motor vehicle accident, as a result, Dunn was taken into custody. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Chad Matthew Winkelman, 32, of Fullington Road, Attica, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, moving from lane unafely, and drinking alcohol or using cannabis in a motor vehicle. Winkelman was arrested by Deputy Jacob Kipler following a report of a motor vehicle accident at 11:42 p.m. on Feb. 2 on Sandpit Road, Alexander. He was processed at the Genesee Jail and released.
Kenneth G. Muckle, 56, of Franklin Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th. Muckle is accused of stealing merchandise from a store (the Sheriff's Office withheld the name of the store) on Veterans Memorial Drive on Feb. 5. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.
Charles Phillip Stevens, 38, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Stevens was allegedly found in possession of buprenorphine/naloxone and cocaine during a traffic stop on Feb. 10 by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun.
Christopher Earl Merrell, 62, of Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, and moving from lane unsafely. Merrell was arrested by Deputy James Stack following an investigation into a motor vehicle accident reported at 6:37 a.m. on Feb. 15 on Batavia Elba Townline Road, Batavia. He was released on an appearance ticket.
Lakeisha A Gibson, 38, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Gibson is accused of hitting another person multiple times during a fight on Bank Street on Jan. 21. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Christina M. Corde, 39, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Dordes is accused of shoplifting from Dollar General on Jan. 15. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Jennifer C. Moscicki, 48, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Moscicki is accused of stealing property from another person on Central Avenue in January 2022. She was arraigned in City Court and released.
Julie L. Dutton, 29, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Dutton is accused of using a counterfeit $100 bill to receive change at a local business on Jan. 20. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Donovan I. Reese, 18, of Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing. Reese is accused of grabbing another person and applying pressure around the person's neck during a fight on Sumner Street on Jan. 16. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Thomas J. Mitchell, 35, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Mitchell was allegedly found in possession of cocaine on Nov. 8 while being arrested on an unrelated matter. He was arrested on Jan. 16 on the drug charge and issued an appearance ticket.
Hailee N. Callicutt, 24, of Batavia, was arrested on Jan. 12 on three warrants. Two warrants were related to traffic stops. She was also charged with bail jumping 3rd. She was arraigned and released.
Jacob J. Frayne, 27, of Darien, was arrested on Jan. 17 on a warrant. He allegedly failed to appear on a prior DWI arrest. He was arraigned and released.
Dr. George Robert Vito In a lab coat from the Foot & Leg Center of Georgia. The photo appears on the website for the Foot and Ankles Center of WNY.
Dr. George Robert Vito, of Le Roy, is apparently considering his options after the Genesee County Conservative Party withdrew its endorsement of him for the County Legislature District #5 seat, citing "legal issues."
The Batavian has located multiple court documents in Georgia, New York, and at the federal level that detail a number of "legal issues."
These are issues he reportedly neglected to mention to Conservative Party members before they voted to endorse him.
He was also sued by Jay Otero in Macon, Ga., for a leg-lengthening surgery that left Otero confined to a wheelchair for three years before he was able to walk with crutches, according to a court document.
Vito has also been involved in other lawsuits, as a defendant and plaintiff, in both Georgia and New York.
The Batavian learned Vito shared some details of his history in Georgia during this week’s county GOP committee meeting.
The Batavian attempted to talk with Vito about his professional history on Thursday, but he declined to answer questions until after meeting with Le Roy's Republican leadership.
After learning from Committee Chairman Andrew Lathan later Thursday that they hadn’t talked yet and had no meeting set up, The Batavian tried again. Vito said, “At this point, Andrew Lathan and I are in discussions.”
“We’re not discussing it with anybody how we’re going to handle the situation, so everything is still up in the air,” he said. “That’s just our comment at the present time. You know, what happened the other night was unexpected, and we’re just seeing how we’re going to play the cards. That’s all.”
The Batavian asked if he would respond to what he revealed at the county Republican meeting. “No,” he said.
On Friday morning, The Batavian again contacted Vito and informed him The Batavian had prepared a story about his legal issues. He said he would only respond to our request for comment if we agreed to publish a statement from him in full.
Here is his statement:
Any legal issues I have had are personal in nature and clearly posted on the internet. I have no doubt they will be used on your website to create a salacious article to remove any support I have for the legislative spot. I was upfront and truthful when I spoke to the county Republicans prior to the vote. I openly stated that I had a bankruptcy-related felony charge and that I served my punishment. Even after the committee was informed by me of my past legal issues, (Shelley) Stein could not get the endorsement and was losing votes every time they took a new vote.
I will have a sit-down interview with the Video News Service early next week. Interested voters in Le Roy can look for that story and decide for themselves.
I am moving forward and will not announce any decisions or changes until late March or early April.
Vito is a podiatrist who is originally from Rochester. According to his social media page, he attended Corning Community College, SUNY Cortland, Des Moines University, University of Phoenix, Utica College and Purdue Global Law School.
His medical training includes a degree from the Des Moines University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences and a surgical residency at Emory Northlake Regional Medical Center Residency in Tucker, Ga.
Vito has a long list of professional credentials and accolades, according to his resume. It also indicates some connections to Georgia, though he doesn't list his time in practice in that state.
He has operated practices in Buffalo, Georgia, North Carolina, Hewlett, Amherst, Batavia, and elsewhere, and currently lives and has an office in Le Roy.
Jay Otero filed his action against Vito on July 7, 2004. He alleged negligence, unlawful practice of medicine, fraud and misrepresentation, and professional malpractice.
Otero, according to court documents, underwent cosmetic leg-lengthening surgery in August 2002. Otero signed consent forms and paid Dr. Vito approximately $53,000 to perform the surgery. The procedure was estimated to increase Otero’s height (5ʹ1ʺ) by one to three inches.
Following the surgery by Vito, Otero sought a second opinion from Dr. DrorPaley, who began treating Otero for "bilateral nonunions of the proximal tibiae with severe greater than 45-degree valgus procurvatum deformities of both tibiae," according to court documents.
In simpler terms, this describes a condition where both legs have unhealed breaks near the knees, causing the lower legs to bend outward and forward at a severe angle (more than 45 degrees).
Dr. Paley planned a course of treatment to correct Otero’s deformities.
In November 2006, while under Dr. Paley’s care, Otero suffered an excruciatingly painful stress fracture that resulted in a complete fracture through his right femur.
According to the 2007 court document (Order on Motion for Default Judgement), Otero’s condition "improved somewhat since his August 2002 surgery. He remains under Dr. Paley’s care and supervision."
The default judgment order states, "Dr. Vito’s liability for his negligence and unauthorized practice of medicine has already been established by the Court’s prior rulings, and the Defendants’ Georgia RICO and punitive damages liability was well-pleaded in the Second Amended Complaint, and thereafter established by the entry of default against them.”
The court ordered:
Special damages in the amount of $721,989.24;
Treble actual damages in the amount of $1.5 million ($ 500,000 base award);
Punitive damages in the amount of $150,000; and
Attorneys’ expenses in the amount of $155,000.
As part of the same case, in an Order on Motion for Summary Judgment (Sept. 9, 2009), the court also found that Vito undertook a strategy to create various corporate and business entities, which are listed in the document "as part of an elaborate scheme to evade liabilities to judgment creditors such as the Plaintiff in this case."
The court stated that Vito admitted that "he created and controlled the various entities so that he could protect his assets from collection while maintaining control over and access to those assets."
According to the court, Vito included his brothers, Richard C. Vito and John A. Vito, and his father, George A. Vito, all three also from Rochester, as official owners, shareholders, and officers of all the entities.
Richard Vito and John Vito both testified that they had no knowledge of or involvement in the affairs of these entities but that they agreed to participate as owners or officers of the various entities at the direction of their brother.
The order states:
The court found that Vito's transfers to these various entities was fraudulent, with the intent to hide assets from creditors, including Otero. By weaving a complex web of trusts, corporations, and limited liability companies, by channeling his income through numerous accounts in numerous names, by transferring his property to alter egos, by encumbering his property and income stream with various obligations, and by refusing to cooperate in the discovery of his assets, Dr. Vito fashioned a daunting challenge for his creditors. Overcoming that challenge has required more than two years of arduous, expensive litigation by a very determined Plaintiff, the appointment of a special master and a receiver, the incarceration of Dr. Vito, and considerable time and effort on the part of this Court and its staff. To this day, it cannot be said that the web is completely untangled or that the hurdles have all been removed. Enough is known, however, to warrant summary judgment in the case.
As a result, the court ordered that funds currently held by the receiver in the bankruptcy on behalf of the Vito entities be considered assets of the Vito estate.
Georgia court records also indicate that Vito was sued by Sabih Kalidy, who alleged medical malpractice by Vito when he experienced complications after Vito had performed leg lengthening surgery. The case was apparently settled, but the actual case documents are not online. The Batavian only knows about it because Vito subsequently sued Dror Paley, alleging defamation via an affidavit Paley made in the case. That case was dismissed.
Also stemming from Kalidy's case, Vito sued attorney Mark Inman. Inman then took on another client who underwent the same procedure and began making phone calls to gather more information to support the case. He left phone messages for the person he called and Vito learned of those messages. He sued Inman and Inman's law firm alleging slander, tortious interference with business relations, and misappropriation of trade secrets. An appeals court decided in Inman's favor.
Closer to home, Legacy Medical Consultants, based in Fort Worth, filed a complaint against Vito and Ankle and Foot Centers of Western New York on June 28. The case is still pending, with the most recent action in the case, notice of discovery, on Jan. 31.
Legacy alleges that Vito failed to pay more than $13.5 million for products received by his practice beginning in July 7, 2022.
"Despite the plain language of the Agreement, Dr. Vito has failed to make numerous payments owed to Legacy for Products he received," the complaint alleges.
It alleges Vito has failed to make at least 151 payments.
In the complaint, Legacy describes its business:
Legacy is an integrated marketer of proprietary regenerative biomaterial products processed from human amniotic membrane and other birth tissues. Among other things, Legacy markets amniotic tissue grafts, which are intended to assist in the treatment of external, chronic or non-healing wounds by providing coverage and protection. Legacy markets its products to doctors all over the country.
Legacy alleges Vito entered into an agreement with Legacy in November 2021 to purchase "human cell and tissue products for Dr. Vito to administer to patients as medically necessary” and that he subsequently placed orders with Legacy.
In an answer filed on Aug. 7, 2024, Vito denies all the allegations raised in the suit.
As for Vito’s next political step, “it is up to him,” Le Roy Republican Committee Chairman Andrew Lathan said.
It was too late for Vito to appear before the committee by the time he notified Lathan of his interest, and the endorsement window is now closed, the chairman said.
“He will need to get the required signatures for an upcoming primary. He has made no indication to me of his decision,” Lathan said Thursday evening. “It is important to note that the political process is alive and well for the 5th Legislative District; the door is now open for any Republican in Le Roy to get signatures and get on the ballot.
“I plead home rule to the GCRC, where the voters of Le Roy truly get to pick their representation at the county level, not to get force-fed an incumbent candidate, and my fellow Republicans of the GCRC delivered,” he said. “This is going to be a long process; nothing is going to be settled on social media. Keyboard warriors should stay stretched and well-hydrated. I hope it is an honest and fair process.”
