Photo: Klaus Kremmin, founder of the Pavilion Gift Company, poses outside the front door of the company’s modern facility, now in Bergen.

BERGEN – Klaus Kremmin knows the meaning of hard work, and at 74, he shows up for work nearly every day.

Kremmin owned an injection-molding company, which he started in Pavilion, and which evolved into the Pavilion Gift Company, now located in Bergen and where he has an office.

Risking All for a Better Life

Kremmin’s story about his family begins in the early 1930s in Nazi Germany. His father worked for the gestapo -- a secret-police organization employing underhanded and terrorist methods against persons suspected of disloyalty.

As years went by, Kremmin’s father didn’t like the direction the gestapo was taking – putting up barbed wire and land mines. He was becoming dissatisfied with their actions, and they were suspicious of him. 

“They were monitoring my father, and if they thought he didn’t agree with them, he would be sent to Moscow or Siberia for 20 years,” Kremmin said.

So his father made the decision to escape.

Kremmin was 7 the day his parents, Rudi and Frieda, each took two of the children and boarded separate trains for a day trip. 

“My father told the Border Patrol we were going for the day,” he said. “They asked where the rest of the family was, and my father said my mother was home with the other two kids, waiting for our return. My mother told them the same thing, that my father was home with the other two kids.”

The family reunited at a predetermined location in West Berlin. They escaped with only the three layers of clothing they were wearing. 

The family lived in a refugee camp for two years, waiting for someone in the United States to sponsor them. During that time, his father worked on the wharf in Bremen. In 1957, a church in Barre, Mass., agreed to sponsor them, and they arrived in the United States with $600 to their name.

Kremmin’s father had served in World War II and was captured in Tunisia while serving under Germany's General Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel. He was held prisoner of war in Kentucky.

“He loved the United States very much,” Kremmin said. 

His father, who is now 97, wanted to move to Rochester, because he had learned a friend who had also escaped from Germany and was living there. So the family moved to Rochester, where he got a job in a day on Brooks Avenue.

Kremmin met and married his wife, Anna, who is Ukranian and with whom he has been married 52 years. They have a son and daughter.

Anna’s family were migrant workers in Germany, and they escaped and went to Brazil, later moving to Rochester.

Kremmin joined the military service here and was stationed in Frankfort, Germany. His daughter, Zina, was born there. His son, Klaus II, was also born in Germany. He got out of the service in 1971 and got a job working for Kodak research. He had gone to college on the G.I. Bill.

Then he took a job with a plastic company near the airport in Rochester.

“The company grew and grew, but the owners were gone all the time,” Kremmin said. “So I decided if I was going to run a company, it might better be my own.”

An Entrepreneurial Family

His first business, injection molding, was started in his father’s garage on Dean Road, off Ridge Road in Rochester.

“There were times when I only had the change in my pocket and I wondered how I was going to feed my kids,” Kremmin said. 

His business grew, and he outgrew the garage.

“In the early 1980s, I bought a building in Pavilion, which used to be DeWitt’s heliport,” Kremmin said. “My brother was working with me, and at one time, we had 20 employees.”

His company, Syntec, was very successful. He said they always tried to hire local people. Their customers included Kodak and medical companies, making very precise parts for blood analyzers and gyroscopes.

Klaus II had graduated from MIT and Zina graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Business Management.

He wondered what Zina was going to do and how he could help her.

Zina had designed a line of collectible figurines called “Zingleberries,” which she promoted at trade shows around the country. It was there she met her husband, Rich Hocker. 

Kremmin and his brother hit on an idea to make a stand on which Zina could display her figurines. Thus, was born the revolving display stand. The stand can be activated by AC batteries or solar power. 

Zina started her business in 1998 in Le Roy, where she rented space for two years. She was selling her merchandise and the display stands at trade shows and business was so good, in 2000, Kremmin sold the business in Pavilion.

They built the new modern facility in Bergen, which he and his brother designed. They added on to the building in 2007.

Today, the Pavilion Gift Company sells wholesale gift items all over the world and the Hockers run the business.

Klaus II started an injection-molding company making plastic gears, and his company is now located in part of Pavilion Gift Company.

Kremmin admits to having often worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

“I love to work, and I love this country,” Kremmin said. “And I count my blessings every day for the opportunities I’ve had here.”

Kremmin officially “retired” in 2000, but comes in to work almost every day. He looks after the building, fixes the faucets and the electrical if something is wrong.

Cheerfulness in Tough Times

“I cheer everybody up if I can,” he said. “I also have a hobby shop here.” 

He said the first months of the coronavirus pandemic shutdown were terrible. Orders were canceled and help was laid off.

“So Zina decided to make masks,” Kremmin said. “Things are starting to pick up.”

With his work ethic, he is disgusted, however, with the employees who refused to come back to work because they were getting government money. Many of them still haven’t come back, he said.

Photos by Virginia Kropf.

Below, this case shows some of the rotary displays invented by Klaus Kremmin, of Bergen.

Below: Klaus Kremmin invented the rotary display shown here. His invention evolved into the Pavilion Gift Company, now located in Bergen where he still has an office.

Monday’s check presentation took place at Stafford Country Club. From right are: Dan Ireland, UMMC president, Dr. Nicholas Loffredo and his wife Annie Loffredo and their two little daughters.

Submitted photo and press release:

The United Memorial Medical Center Foundation Annual Golf, Tennis and Bocce Tournament raised funds for the hospital for more than 20 years. When it was eliminated in 2018, one of UMMC’s own immediately stepped up to fill the void, forming a not-for-profit called North Pole Charity to take its place and resume the event.

“Giving back has always been important to me and my family,” said Nicholas Loffredo, DO, United Memorial Medical Center orthopedic surgeon. “I’m thrilled to carry on this longstanding tradition that will support United Memorial Medical Center and its healthcare workers, helping to ensure local access to great care in this community for decades to come.”

This year’s event raised $4,000 for the hospital and a total of $8,000 since its revival last year.

“As COVID-19 became more prevalent in the community, we were concerned the tournament would be canceled,” Dr. Loffredo said. “It was even more important to carry on with the golf tournament this year to help support the healthcare workers fighting COVID-19 on the frontline.”

North Pole Charity plans to build on this tournament to raise additional funds for the hospital for years to come.

Press release:

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County will hold their Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7:30 a.m. at Terry Hills Restaurant, 5122 Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

CCE of Genesee County cordially invites you to join us for an early morning of reflection and “New Beginnings."

Presenter for the morning will be Chad Klotzbach, owner of Alleghany Farm Services and Genesee County Legislator. Cornell Cooperative Extension friends, volunteers and members of the community are welcome to attend.

Limited in-person and virtual options are available. Please RSVP by Oct. 12 to Yvonne Peck:   ydp3@cornell.edu or call (585) 343-3040, ext. 123.

Leanne Adele Lathrop, 29, of Cowie Road, Wyoming, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. She was arrested after a traffic stop on Lewiston Road in Batavia at 6:21 p.m. Sept. 27. She allegedly had property in the vehicle that had been stolen from Target earlier in the day. Lathrop was issued appearance tickets returnable to Batavia Town Court on Oct. 29. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jacob Gauthier.

Lee Allen Baxter, 36, (no address provided) is charged with resisting arrest and second-degree harassment. Baxter was arrested at 7:34 p.m. Sept. 26 after a domestic altercation that occurred on Sept. 25 on West Main Street Road in Batavia. Baxter was arraigned in Genesee County Court and released on his own recognizance. He is due in Town of Batavia Court on Oct. 19. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Austin Heberlein, assisted by Deputy Kyle Krzemien.

Kamie Marie Sedore, 36, of Culver Road, Rochester, is charged with second-degree forgery and falsifying business records in the first degree. Sedore was arrested following a complaint at the Genesee County Jail on West Main Street in the City of Batavia. She allegedly identified herself as another person and signed paperwork stating that the fingerprints she provided were for the false identity provided. She was issued an appearance ticket for Nov. 10 in Batavia City Court. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Mathew Clor.

Justin Paul Dake, 23, of Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, is charged with third-degree criminal mischief. No other details provided. Dake was arrested at 4:32 a.m. Aug. 29 on Bloomingdale Road in the Town of Alabama and issued an appearance ticket for Oct. 7 in Alabama Town Court. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Meyer.

Submitted photo and press release:

Calling all creative people to dress up a pumpkin in any style they choose to compete for an Amazon Gift Card at the Hollwedel Memorial Library!

Everyone is invited to bring in a festive pumpkin anytime between now and Wednesday Oct. 28 to take part in a Pumpkin Decorating Contest. The library is located at 5 Woodrow Drive in Pavilion.

Library patrons can vote for a winner from the entries on display when they checkout any books, DVDs, or other library materials.

There are two age categories, one for children up to 12 years of age, and the other for folks that are 13 and older. Each winner in their category will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card. 

“We already have some pretty cute entries that are getting votes,” says Library Director Josselyn Borowiec. “We’d love to have more dressed up pumpkins to choose from.”

Enter your decorated -- not carved -- pumpkin from now until Oct. 28. Get in early so people can see and vote for your creation!

Information about this contest, as well as the other programs and services available at the library, can be found on the library’s website at www.HollwedelLibrary.org.

Residents with questions can also contact the library by phone at (585) 584-8843. 

Photo: Library Director Josselyn Borowiec shows off two of the entries in the Hollwedel Memorial Library’s Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Votes can be cast at the library at checkout. 

Although the City of Batavia’s general fund ended with a deficit for the 2019-20 fiscal year, the municipality is in good shape when it comes to fund balances – not only for the general fund, but for the water and sewer funds as well.

That is the assessment of Laura Landers, certified public accountant with Freed Maxick, who conducted an audit of the city’s basic financial statements for the year ending March 31, 2020 along with a management report for the same time period.

On Monday night, Landers gave her final audit report to City Council at the governing body’s Conference Meeting at the City Centre Council Board Room. She will be retiring at the end of this year, with auditing of the city’s finances being turned over to Kathryn Barrett, a CPA in Freed Maxick’s governmental practice unit.

The 2019-20 audit, dated Sept. 16, came on the heels of Landers’ meeting with the City’s Audit Advisory Committee and Interim City Manager Rachael Tabelski in August.

Landers reported revenues of $16,747,439 and expenditures of $17,528,340 for fiscal year 2019-20, leaving a deficit of revenues over expenditures of $780,901. This deficit decreased fund balances in the general fund to a total of $7,893,502.

The city ended the 2019-20 year with an unassigned fund balance of $1,863,699, exclusive of restrictions and assignments, Landers said.

Cash on Hand for Unexpected Expenses

“So, that’s the amount that Council can utilize for whatever purposes they choose to utilize it for (such as utilizing) it to appropriate in next year’s budget process or for any particular unanticipated expenditures that might arise,” she advised, adding that the city’s actual revenues were slightly under budget and expenditures came in under budget by about $1.4 million.

This bodes well for the city, she said, as “management continues to monitor expenditures in particularly this year as the city moves forward through the current environment and is doing analysis regarding cash flows, routinely, to make sure there is sufficient cash for operations for the city to move through this pandemic.”

Landers also provided charts showing revenues and expenditures from 2011-2020 – data that revealed that income exceeded spending in all of those years except 2015, 2017 and 2020.

“During the current year, the city utilized reserves to fund equipment purchases, sidewalk improvements, health care claims and information technology improvements in the amount of approximately $1 million, and funded reserves in the amount of about $114,000,” she said. “The city has continued to fund reserves in an effort to stabilize tax rates, provide for replacement of equipment and infrastructure, thereby reducing reliance on issuing debt and provide for payment of future liabilities.”

She reported that Tabelski did not assign any money to fund reserves from the fund balance for the 2019-20 fiscal year, reasoning that management and the Audit Advisory Committee “thought that it was prudent, given the uncertainty … to just keep that unassigned fund balance there in case the City Council needs to utilize it for whatever purpose,” such as unanticipated expenditures.

Breaking Down the Fund Balances

Landers broke down the city’s fund balances at the end of the fiscal year. The total general fund balance of $7,893,502 showed assigned and unassigned funds in the amount of $2,315,855 and restricted, non-spendable and committed funds in the amount of $5,777,647.

She said restricted funds included $777,000 for insurance, $3.6 million for capital projects, $273,000 for employee benefits and accrued liability, $332,000 for retirement benefits, $36,000 for Dwyer Stadium and $303,000 for third-party restrictions on money that has come into the city.

“There’s a little over $1,000 that is restricted for debt service – money left over from bond proceeds that wasn’t spent for projects that needs to be utilized to pay down the debt service,” she noted.

The committed fund balance at year’s end had $214,000, which are monies committed to the city’s master plan, Habitat for Humanity architect plans, Ellicott Trail, Creek Park and (the discontinued) Vibrant Batavia.

Landers said no money has been assigned to reserves, but $259,000 has been set aside to help balance the 2020-21 budget. She mentioned that the fund balance of $1,863,999 does comply with the city’s internal fund balance policy in place as of March 31, 2020.

'Strong Cash & Cash Equivalents'

As far as the deficit is concerned, Landers said it was a result of the city “recognizing the City Centre as an asset of the city, a disability retirement settlement and several high-value health insurance claims, which increased the amount that is transferred from the general fund to the self-insurance fund of the city.”

“Overall though, the balance sheet in the city represents strong cash and cash equivalents and also strong fund balances, especially in the restricted areas and the unassigned areas,” she reported.

The audit also reviewed the city’s water and sewer funds, which received high marks for “good cash balances and strong net positions in both the restricted and unrestricted net positions,” Landers said.

Her report revealed a $1.3 million operating surplus of the water fund – before subtracting $516,000 in operating and nonoperating revenues and expenses, and the operating subsidy to the general fund. Landers said this indicates that current rates continue at sufficient levels to support operations.

She said the net cash position of the water fund increased by a little over $1 million.

“Part of that increase relates to the bond anticipation note that was issued in the current year, but this resulted in cash at the end of the year a little over $3.8 million, which does not include the cash that’s restricted for capital projects,” she said. “The $3.8 million is unrestricted cash in the water fund at the end of the year.”

Landers said the sewer fund showed an operating surplus of about $74,000 before operating revenue and expenses and an operating subsidy to the general fund which totaled around $141,000.

“The net cash position of the sewer fund decreased about $319,000, however the cash balance at the end of the year – cash restricted for capital projects -- was a little over $5 million," she indicated. “Still, healthy cash position and healthy net position in the sewer fund, and the sewer fund restricted of about $3.9 million and unrestricted of about $6.7 million.”

No 'Falloff' in Water, Sewer Activity

Landers said the city hasn’t seen a falloff in operating revenues for sewer or water or late payments, concerns that Tabelski had in light of COVID-19.

“Rachael said that they haven’t seen any of that so I would expect that the position – the cash position, net position of the water and sewer funds will continue to be strong going into 2021,” she said.

On the city management report, Landers said that no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses were found.

Summarizing, Landers said the city’s major funds “are still in a good position” and credited management for monitoring cash flows, controlling expenditures and utilizing reserves.

She also advised City Council to capitalize on low interest rates being extended by financial institutions.

“If there is something that you could issue debt for, that just gives you another tool in your toolbox as the Council to go to as far as a funding source,” she said.

Face coverings, plastic sheeting between the seating area and social distancing are no match for Medina resident Curtis Foss, the Genesee Region USBC's high average champion (246) for the 2019-20 season.

The 33-year-old right-hander is off to an unbelievable start in this COVID-19-hampered season, rolling a 300 game, two 299 games and three 800 series in league play over the past 10 days at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

Foss rolled 300--813 in the Friday Singles League on Sept. 18, 299--803 in the Thursday Men's Triples League on Sept. 24 and 299--811 in the Sneezy's Monday Night League last night.

Elsewhere around the Genesee Region: Robbie Hanks fired 269--766 in the Sneezy's Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl; Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw rolled 258--751 in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen; Rodney Jopson recorded 269--747 in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League at Rose Garden Bowl; and Darleen Balduf of Byron registered 244--652 in the Wednesday Nite Ladies League at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Click on the Pin Points tab above for a list of early-season high scores.

Thank you #Truckers4Trump! pic.twitter.com/leBrV3wo0J

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 29, 2020

Overnight, President Donald Trump shared with his more than 86 million Twitter followers a video of the five "Trump Trailers" that were painted "Trump 2020" by local residents and paraded more than a week ago on routes 33, 77 and 5 on the west side of Genesee County.

The tweet has been retweeted 19,000 times and liked more than 84,000 times. The video now has more than one million views.

Previously: Photos: Five trailers supporting Trump's reelection put on display in western part of Genesee County

The Batavia City Council is on board with a “bright idea” to convert the community-owned street lighting system to light-emitting diode (LED) technology and potentially cut costs substantially in the process.

At tonight’s Council meeting at the City Centre Council Board Room, Public Works Director Matt Worth presented the plan to contract with the New York Power Authority to purchase new street light fixtures for all 772 city-owned lights on the four arterial routes, emphasizing that the city could realize annual savings of $42,493.77 after paying off a 14-year loan.

The arterial roads are routes 5 (Main Street), 33 (Pearl Street), 63 (Ellicott Street) and 98 (Oak Street).

Noting that he and Water/Wastewater Superintendent Bill Davis have been working on this for almost two years, Worth said it would be best to start with the fixtures that are owned by the city.

“We’ve been looking at ways to be more efficient with the street lighting system,” Worth said, adding that the city owns the lights on the arterials while National Grid owns the lights on residential and side streets.

“We’ve looked at different methods to try to make it more efficient and less costly to the ratepayers, and what we’ve found is the Public Service Commission and some of the regulations you have to go through to try to obtain the utility-owned street lighting system or to depreciate it out so you can replace it with newer, higher efficient fixtures are somewhat – I don’t want to say convoluted, but it can be very difficult. There’s a little bit of lack of confidence in what that cost actually is and whether the city is receiving fair value to go that route.”

So, instead he proposes the city join forces with the NYPA, a nonprofit entity that operates the power grid across the state and also provides “low-cost energy solutions for municipalities along the way.”

He explained that the NYPA will change the fixture heads on the arterials, including decorative ones, to an LED bulbs – “so it won’t be the yellowish color of the high-pressure sodium to a less expensive power usage LED white light.

Worth said the cost of the project is $549,033.33 and would be paid off over 14 years. The city would save $3,277.12 each year over those 14 years, but after the debt is paid off, annual savings would jump to $42,493.77.

He said the city would have all new fixtures, lower operation and maintenance costs, better light quality and reduced energy consumption.

“The attractiveness of this program is NYPA really offers a turnkey program,” he said. “We are staffed so lean right now that is very difficult for us to dedicate time to hire contractors and to engage with the consultants to try to do this on our own. NYPA will engage the design professional and they will design the system. They have already estimated the cost.

“Most of the procurement contracts are already in place, so they know how much these fixtures are going to cost. So, they’re able to estimate this very tightly and have given us a very conservative estimate …”

Worth said he is confident in the project, and said NYPA will either extend or shorten the financing term depending upon the final cost.

“The idea is (the) cost of your street lighting system … remains as is until the financing is paid off and then you’ll receive a large savings,” he said. “But in the interim, you get the benefit of a whole brand-new street lighting system and the city isn’t maintaining older fixtures, replacing lamps, and the LEDs have a much longer life.”

Following his report, Council agreed to move to the Oct. 13 Business Meeting a resolution to execute an agreement with the NYPA in the amount of $549,033.33 for the replacement of the city-owned street lights with LED lighting.

Also moved to the Business Meeting for likely voting:

• A resolution to transfer a foreclosed residence at 50 Oak St., to Habitat for Humanity for rehabilitation. The organization plans to invest between $58,000 and $62,000 to renovate the one-family house, which is assessed at $62,000. Council members Rose Mary Christian, Eugene Jankowski Jr. and Robert Bialkowski praised Habitat for Humanity for its continuing efforts to provide affordable housing in the city.

• A resolution to schedule a public hearing on Oct. 26 to amend the Batavia Municipal Code to include public garages in I-1 industrial zones with a special use permit. This change stems from a January request by Eric Biscaro, owner of Classic Home Improvement, to construct an auto service station on the Ellicott Street property. Worth said Council would be charged with voting it into a local law, with adoption expected to take place in December.

• A resolution to take $5,000 out of the Facilities Reserve Fund to close out the City Centre roof alterations and replacement project that was performed by Grove Roofing Services. Worth said the project has been generally successful with the new roof area being water-tight and structurally improved. He said the cost of the project increased due to finding an additional 3,700 square feet of decking that needed to be replaced. He said that all of the roof has been repaired or replaced except the hallway in front of Dan’s Tire Service.

A four-member screening/search committee has been appointed to execute the initial tasks necessary to find the next permanent manager of the City of Batavia.

City Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. tonight announced that a committee of Council members Patti Pacino and John Canale, Public Works Director Matt Worth and Human Resources Specialist Dawn Fairbanks will convene in the next couple weeks to set the wheels in motion toward filling the position that was left vacant by the departure of Martin Moore in June.

Assistant City Manager Rachael Tabelski has been serving as interim city manager for the last three months.

Speaking at Council’s Conference Meeting at the City Hall Council Board Room, Jankowski said the board has been working on developing a plan to replace Moore for quite some time but “due to private and personal information, (Council) was ethically and legally bound to safeguard that information.”

He said that Pacino, Canale and Worth (a department head who functioned as interim city manager for several months after Jason Molino left in January 2018) will act expeditiously to set a schedule pertaining to screening potential applicants, placing advertisements for the job both locally and nationally, and interviewing candidates.

He said Fairbanks will serve as a coordinator, with her duties to include contacting The Novak Consulting Group of Cincinnati, Ohio, the consulting firm that assisted in the search to hire Moore in August 2018.

The firm’s agreement with the city included a free search should Moore leave within two years of his employment date, but there will still be costs related to advertising and travel, for example.

Following the meeting, Jankowski made it clear that Council was "following the precedent" used in the search that resulted in Moore's hiring.

"We all were of the general consensus that we were at the point to form the screening committee, just like we did the last time," Jankowski said, noting that no vote was conducted during an executive session last week. "We have done our due diligence."

When asked if any Council members suggested hiring Tabelski, he said there has been talk in the public about that but would not disclose any internal discussions.

"Rachael has every right to apply for the job and I think she will," he said. "And she definitely is qualified to apply. She is doing a good job at this point." 

Tabelski has said publicly that she wishes to be considered for the position.

Ultimately, a vote of Council members will determine who is hired. The process is expected to take another four to six months, Jankowski said.

Jankowski also introduced a resolution to supplement Tabelski’s current salary with a $1,000 per month stipend for additional responsibilities in light of the absence of a city manager.

“I am requesting the same as what we gave Matt Worth (when he filled in as city manager),” Jankowski said. “I think it is fair to offer the same stipend.”

Council members Kathleen Briggs and Paul Viele said they supported the measure, and the resolution was moved to the Oct. 13 Business Meeting.

The additional pay would be retroactive from July 20 and continue until the city manager post is filled.

In a social media post, Nate McMurray, candidate for the NY-27 seat in the Nov. 3 General Election, accused his opponent Chris Jacobs of participating in a rally in Hamburg where Gov. Andrew Cuomo was, in McMurray's words, subjected to a "mock trial and lynching."

Except that even the heavily edited video McMurray posted shows the puppet hanging marionette-like from a crossbar, much like a puppeteer would operate. 

Jacobs denied being at the rally at the time the life-sized puppet was brought onto the stage.

A spokesman for Jacobs issued the following statement:

“Rep. Jacobs spoke at the beginning of the event and left immediately after his remarks to attend another event in Monroe County. The puppet was not on display during his remarks.”

A person who was at the rally with Jacobs said Jacobs was at the event only long enough to speak, about five minutes, and left at least an hour before the puppet was brought out.

This afternoon, McMurray issued a press release accusing Jacobs of "hitting a new low."

“This district has a history of political climbers like Bill Paxon, Tom Reynolds, Chris Lee, and Chris Collins who used the communities and families of NY-27 for personal gain,” McMurray said. “But the hatefulness on display Saturday is a disgraceful new low. Chris Jacobs and his comrades have fully embraced the worst of Trumpism in Western New York.”

The rally was sponsored by the 1791 Society, a pro-Second Amendment group, and billed as an Anti-Cuomo event. 

According to the Buffalo News, the marionette was brought to the rally by Melbourne Sann, of Rome, N.Y., who conducted a mock trial of Cuomo.

Sann, wearing a Revolutionary War uniform, asked for verdicts from the crowd on Cuomo's policies, ranging from abortion rights to bail reform. As the crowd yelled "guilty," a spectator struck the suspended figure in the lower back with a folded metal chair.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is pleased to announce the promotion of Kristen Lazarony (inset photo left) to Independent Living Specialist in the RapidRehousing Program, where she will be helping individuals with disabilities in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties to obtain housing in the homes and communities of their choice.

Lazarony previously served as a Facilitated Enroller in ILGR’s Medicaid Application Assistance Program, helping people with disabilities and older adults, obtain medical insurance.

Prior to joining ILGR, she served in varied positions in the medical field with several local companies including United Memorial Medical Center, WellNow Urgent Care, and Pembroke Family Medicine.

Lazarony is a graduate of Batavia High School, Class of 2003.

ILGR is delighted that Lazarony will be serving the disability community in this new position.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of the Western New York Independent Living Inc. family of agencies that offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

Photos and information from Casey Luttrell:

Oakfield-Alabama High School freshman Chase Luttrell (top photo) won three trophies at the Amateur Trapshooting Association's Northeastern Grand Trapshooting Competition, held in Bridgeport Sept. 17 to 19.

The 14-year-old competed in the Sub Junior class (age 14 and under). He is coached by his father, Casey Luttrell, and Elba resident Kevin Rombaut, a teacher in the Elba Central School District.

Chase shoots a Beretta A400 multi-target 12-gauge shotgun as well as a Browning model 725.

He was named Sub Junior Singles* Champion with a high score of 89 on Friday of the competition. 

He was the Sub Junior Handicap** event runner-up with a 67.

"The scores are usually higher than this but it was kind of a rough weather day up there with some nasty wind, so all scores were lower than usual," Casey Luttrell says.

In the contest that Saturday, Singles Championship Day, Chase earned the title of Sub Junior Champion with a 178/200 and again "the weather was dicey with wind affecting the targets pretty good."

Chase shot an 85/100 in the morning and came back with a 93/100 in the afternoon for a combined score of 178/200 to win his Sub Junior class.

"His normal gun, the Beretta, was malfunctioning in the morning so that's when he switched to the Browning over/under that he had never shot before and started shooting the lights out," Casey Luttrell said. "I was very proud of him because that is a difficult thing to do.

"Picking up a gun you have never shot before and shooting it well enough to win is above and beyond my expectations for him as his father and coach."

Both father and son won in their class in Singles Championship Day.

"I thought that was pretty cool," Chase's dad said. "I won AAA class, which is the highest classification you can achieve as a shooter with a 197/200. I also won AAA class on Thursday (Sept. 17) with a 99/100. So we did great as a father and son duo and brought home some hardware to add to the trophy case."

Casey started teaching Chase about a year and a half ago, using the knowledge accumulated in his 29 years of experience as a competitive shooter in the ATA and in local leagues.

"He has improved greatly month after month," says the proud parent.

Chase also plays basketball and is a member of the Oakfield/Elba junior/senior trapshooting team.

*Singles event means shooting from the 16-yard line.

**Handicap event is shooting from a yard line that is farther back. The farther back you get, the more difficult it is.

Below, Chase and Casey Luttrell, each with a trophy they won in their respective classes at the ATA Northeastern Grand Trapshooting Competition, and their trapshooting rifles.

Photo submitted by JoAnne Meiser.

Press release:

Travis Sick has recently joined Tompkins Bank of Castile as Branch Manager in the Arcade office. In his new role, he is responsible for overseeing daily operations of the branch, staff development and customer care. In addition, he also oversees business development for Tompkins, focusing on gaining new customers and retaining existing ones.

Prior to joining Tompkins, Sick worked three years as the Director of Game Day Operations & Special Events for the Rochester Red Wings and nine years as General Manager of the Batavia Muckdogs. In those roles, he was responsible for business development, overseeing operations and outside events, as well as providing a high level of customer service.

“We are pleased to welcome Travis to our growing community banking team,” said Diane Torcello, senior vice president, Community Banking. “He will ensure that we continue to provide the highest level of customer service while creating mutually beneficial financial relationships with small business customers. He will truly be an asset to our team.”

Sick earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management and business management from St. John Fisher College. He currently resides in Corfu.

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.19, up 1 cent from last week. One year ago, the price was $2.65. The New York State average is $2.26 – down a penny since last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.74. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia -- $2.21 (no change since last week)
• Buffalo -- $2.23 (no change since last week)
• Ithaca -- $2.20 (no change since last week)
• Rochester -- $2.25 (no change since last week)
• Rome -- $2.32 (no change since last week)
• Syracuse -- $2.19 (down 2 cents since last week)
• Watertown -- $2.32 (up 1 cent since last week)

In a recent report, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) noted a slight uptick in demand from 8.48 million barrels per day to 8/52, which pushed the national average price up by one penny. Meanwhile, local prices remain flat. With low pump prices and fall colors beginning to show, many travelers will be tempted to take fall getaways to enjoy the foliage.

From GasBuddy:

"Higher oil prices caused most states to see gas prices inch higher, with the national average rising ever so slightly in the last week, breaking its three week streak of declines," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "However, the rise is likely temporary as oil prices that had pushed higher gave up their gains last week and closed near the low-side of the range they've been in for quite some time.

"According to Pay with GasBuddy data, gasoline demand declined again last week, falling nearly 1 percent from the prior week, largely in line with expectations as we head into the first full week of fall. While the Atlantic is finally silent -- likely temporary -- really the only upside we could see over the coming months would be borne out of hurricane season, or if a COVID-19 vaccine proves successful in pushing demand back closer to normal."