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HCR recognized as top workplace for sixth straight year

By Press Release

Press release:

HCR Home Care has been recognized as a top workplace for the sixth straight year.

The company was awarded a 2023 Top Workplaces honor in the large employer category by the Democrat and Chronicle, according to an independent survey of HCR employees. HCR also was honored with the Diversity Award for prioritizing a welcoming and inclusive culture and with the Leadership Award for inspiring confidence in employees and the company's direction.

“For the sixth straight year, HCR employees have praised our company as a great place to work, and we are delighted to be further recognized for our commitment to diversity and inclusion,” said Suzanne Turchetti, president of HCR Home Care. “This latest recognition is a testament to our leadership for creating an inviting and inclusive culture.”

The awards are based on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by Energage, LLC, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution and connection.

GCEDC announces annual meeting at Batavia Downs on April 28

By Press Release

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) is inviting community partners to join them for the GCEDC’s annual meeting on Friday, April 28 at Batavia Downs.

The theme of the annual meeting is #GrowingGenesee, highlighting the ripple effects of the past 20 years of economic growth and significant milestones with projects at STAMP, expanding workforce development, and economic growth across Genesee County.

“This event really provides us the opportunity to share our accomplishments over the last year and to express our thanks to all of our public and private sector partners,” said Peter Zeliff, Chairman of the GCEDC Board of Directors.

Registration for the event is available here.

The annual meeting’s keynote speaker, and the GCEDC’s partner of the year, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Past partners of the year include National Grid, Genesee Community College, Genesee County, City & Town of Batavia and the Batavia Development Corporation, National Fuel Corporation, the Town of Alabama, Genesee Valley Educational Partnership, and HP Hood.

“With projects like Plug Power and Edwards growing at STAMP, expansions by our manufacturers and a wave of downtown projects and new investment, there’s no better time to reflect on the previous year and the opportunities for future growth,” said GCEDC President and CEO Steve Hyde. “We are excited to share how Genesee County is growing and connect with our partners at the annual meeting.”

GCC grad joins staff of Independent Living

By Press Release

Press release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is pleased that April Fearby has joined their team in the role of program specialist under the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Grant. 

Ms. Fearby brings with her a wealth of experience beyond the two decades she worked in the office of her family’s business.  She held various office positions in the administrations in the Villages of Orleans and Albion, New York; was a Family Support Specialist with Pinnacle Community Services in Niagara Falls, New York; a COVID-19 Screener with Mizkan America, Inc. in Lyndonville; a Clerk at the Orleans County Department of Social Services in Albion; a Licensed Insurance Agent/Customer Service Representative with GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) in Getzville; a Direct Support Professional (DSP) and a Community Living Assistant with ARC of Orleans County in Albion; a Family Case Worker in the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership at Community Action Organization of Erie County, Inc.. in Buffalo, a Family Assistant at Niagara County Head Start, Inc. in Niagara Falls, NY; a School Age Child Care Site Supervisor with GLOW (Genesee Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming) YMCA in Albion, NY; and a Home Care Aide with Hilton East Assisted Living in Hilton, NY. 

April’s education includes her working toward a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo (present); an Associate’s Degree in Science (AS) in General Studies, education, human resources, and human services from Genesee Community College in Batavia (Class of 2014); and an Advanced Regents Diploma in Business and Agriculture from Medina High School in Medina (Class of 2007).

In this new position, working with the Public Health Departments in Genesee and Orleans Counties, Ms. Fearby will connect children, from birth to twenty-one (21) years old, and their families to established support programs, critical pathways providers to help facilitate access to needed home and community- based supports and streamline access to services that empower families.

ILGR is delighted that April Fearby is bringing her vast experience to serve the GOW region in her new position.

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

Second annual food processing boot camp offers area students glimpse of job opportunities

By Press Release

Press release:

Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) hosted its second annual free food processing boot camp for 30 graduating Genesee County high school students, setting them up for high-wage-in-demand careers.

The three-day program featured industry experts educating students about the many job opportunities in the food processing industry. Participants received a “Cornell Food Processing Certificate,” which will give them an advantage when applying for jobs.

The food processing industry is Genesee County’s number-one employment field. Participating organizations included H.P. Hood, O-AT-KA Milk Products, Upstate Niagara, Yancey’s Fancy, and Nortera. After the success of the inaugural program last year, Genesee County has set a great example of what workforce development programs can do for a community.

“Genesee County offers hundreds of immediate job opportunities to well-trained, hard-working individuals, making it a blueprint for future educational programs,” said Dairy Foods Extension Program Director Kimberly Bukowski. “Thanks to the success of this initiative and funding provided by Governor Hochul’s new Office of Strategic Workforce Development, we intend to expand our workforce development program throughout the state.”

This is one of many successful programs Genesee County has hosted to prepare the next generation of workforce candidates for fulfilling careers in advanced manufacturing, agriculture, skilled trades, and more.

GCEDC VP of Business and Workforce Development Chris Suozzi said, “Genesee County has seen its workforce readiness investment pay off for years, as many businesses have relocated here because of our qualified candidates.” He added, “Leaders from local institutions such as the Workforce Development Institute, GCEDC, and Genesee Valley BOCES have been catalysts in preparing graduating seniors with the skills needed for industries in their backyard.”

Chamber of Commerce Award: Business of the Year, Max Pies Furniture

By Joanne Beck

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Squirrels, a dead-end street across from an elementary school, and the four seasons.

Those have been some of the challenges being situated in a fairly remote — and animal-friendly — section of the city in Western New York for Phil and Steve Pies over the years, Steve says.

Yet despite that and the typical ups and downs of retail business, Max Pies Furniture has endured 118 years since its settling into that comfy spot at the end of Jackson Street in 1905. Founder Max Pies and family built not only a small business but also their home, and the place was handed down to now Steve, the fourth generation of the Pies family.

No wonder they have earned the Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award. And there’s no other place they would have continued the tradition that began for furniture and flooring sales.

“As far as this structure and this business from this location, it’s the same location. Obviously, they added on to the store since 1905. But the original location and their house were in the parking lot you pulled into,” Steve Pies said. “They went all over the board from Rochester to Buffalo, and I think even close to Syracuse at one point in the 80s. Rochester Linoleum bought out all of the flooring aspects. But the furniture, even though we do flooring here as well, the original furniture store Max Pies name started right here.”

And they both must have just naturally fallen right in line with the business, yes?

"Well, not really,” Phil said. “I went to college, then I was in the Air Force. And then my uncle was here at the time, and my dad.”

Phil was married with two children, Steve and Natalie, and living in Sacramento, Calif. at the time. After his Uncle Jake died, he ended up returning to Batavia and worked alongside his dad, Sam. Business must have been good for longevity: his grandfather worked until he died at 93, and the same for his father until he was 83. Phil has been the friendly face of Max Pies for the last 53 years.

It was a similar crooked path for Steve, who didn’t immediately return from college to join the family business. He went off to pursue a business degree at Plattsburgh State College, and something drew his attention to working on a cruise ship — he had visions of “Love Boat” — and went aboard to work as a Blackjack dealer and then worked around Nevada in casinos building a career as a card dealer.

He eventually returned and decided to help his dad, who turns 80 in May. They thought back to what has changed over the years, and certainly, costs have been a big one.

“Freight rates have changed, insurance, overhead,” Phil said. “And styles, we sold a lot of colonial, and now we sell a lot more modern styles.”

Steve added that retro comes and goes, but a shift that has added time, labor and unexpected expenses has been how furniture arrives now versus years ago.

“It used to be all assembled,” Steve said. “Now it’s called KD, for knockdown. It's, take them off the truck, unpack them out of the box, set them up with screws and a drill and dispose of the garbage. It's a lot more tedious.”

While costs have shot up on their end, the waste management business is booming. The Pies have a 40-yard roll-off Dumpster that costs $800, and sometimes it gets filled three times a month with styrofoam and boxes, Steve said. For the most part, they depend on sales reps for advice and guidance on what’s trending, what’s hot, and what to buy throughout the year, Steve said.

“My dad has a good relationship with a lot of our reps. The reps know what’s out there,” he said. “But we try to have a variety as well because, you know, you’ve got 20-year-old couples, and you’ve got 70-year-old people and you’ve got in between, and there's such a different dynamic.”

A walk through the downstairs showroom features a painter’s pallet of gray hues — from charcoal and slate to lighter silvers. Grays are definitely in right now, the father-son team agreed, and other hot items include power recliners, sleeper sofas and sectionals. They will cater to people’s tastes, but with a focus on this locale, Steve said.

For example, unlike more eclectic geographical areas such as New York City, this region has a mixed appetite that includes a lot of rural country.

“We have hunters, they want the classic. They want a camouflage recliner, they want a rocking chair, and a certain bedroom set that looks like a plank cabin look,” Steve said, adding that there was a camouflage recliner in stock that day just waiting for an avid hunter.

For the approximately $2.5 million of sales volume they accomplish, the staff is small, Steve said: seven people, including Jimmy, Peggy, Eddie, Reggie and Hunter, plus subcontractors. Hours have been reduced over the years, especially when COVID hit, from a crazy 9 to 9 schedule to 9 to 7 and then 9 to 5 work day, Steve said.

“The biggest challenge for a store like ours in a town like this in a state like this is we deliver furniture winter, spring, summer and fall. We've gone through roofs, we've gone through windows, we take off doors, we go up and down. We unload trucks in blizzards. And we have a building that has, you know, leaky roofs. We have squirrels … so I would say, having an old building and four seasons,” he said. “And I would also say that if you look at our location, you could arguably say this is the worst location on planet Earth for a retail furniture store, dead-end residential neighborhood across from an elementary school. That's my long-winded answer to the challenges.

“ (Turning to his dad) But you’ve been here 53 years. So yeah, there was a time where my dad said, the accountants used to say, ‘you made too much money this year, you got to do something with it.’ And there's been other times where we can't pay our bills,” Steve said. “So it's a very cyclical business in the notion of, you just gotta keep grinding and keep going. It is what it is. So there still are heydays, and there still are lows, and there still are in between.”

Given it is a “cyclical business” that definitely still experiences those good times of Batavia’s yesteryear, what’s the secret? Max Pies motto, Steve said, giving a nod to his dad.

“Where customers send their friends,” he said.

The nomination committee selected Max Pies, partly due to Steve’s “tremendous” contributions for bringing the business “into the 2000s” via online ordering and a website, excellent customer service and marketing the business in many unique ways.

Photo of Steve and Phil Pies at Max Pies Furniture store at 400 S. Jackson St., Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens.

Chamber of Commerce Award: Special Service Recognition, GO ART!

By Joanne Beck

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Sitting in the Batavia GO ART! building next to a white baby grand piano with walls of artwork and embracing a definite quiet, creative vibe, Gregory Hallock shares his journey since arriving seven years ago.

It really couldn’t have gotten much worse.

“Yes, we were in a 'save the organization mode.' We were doing really bad. We were in the red. So we were trying to get ourselves out of it. And I made the decision, with the support of my board, to spend money that we didn't have so that we could be seen in the community and start to do stuff so people would know what we do because people don't like to support a bleeding organization. We needed to show that we were doing more than just bleeding,” said Hallock, who was promoted to executive director two years later. “So we started doing classes and activities and a whole bunch of stuff so that people would start talking about us. And I started applying for a ton of grants. And we received a lot, but not a ton. Like 20 percent of the grants.”

Some of the new initiatives were children’s creative arts camp weekends, a Ramble Explore Art tent, regularly opening the kitchen and bar, and obtaining a liquor license at Tavern 2.0.1, which has worked handily for drawing more customers in and selling more art — nearly two dozen pieces for a record at a recent exhibit, Hallock said.

The nonprofit has also substantially increased grants it disperses to the community — going from $47,000 to $210,000 for artistic endeavors.

“I tell people that honestly, if you go to something artistic in Genesee or Orleans County, there's a really strong chance that we sponsored it, that we gave it funding to happen. We've been really working at letting people know they think of GO ART! as go ART!, as a cheer. And trying to show the GO stands for Genesee Orleans,” he said. “So we don't just do stuff in support. We now create stuff ourselves. Every single one of my employees is an artist, as well. We all have that background and want to be able to enjoy what we do at the same time. You know, we're good at the admin stuff. But we also love art. So we bring that in.”

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GO ART!, the oft-used acronym for Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council, captures the two-county organization. However, Batavia has a bustling site with galleries, exhibits and receptions, a kitchen, bar, comedy shows, kids’ activities, bartender competition fundraisers, music, and other special events on a regular basis.

In the earlier days, upon Hallock’s arrival, there was one gallery and office space, he said. Now, in addition to those offerings above, there are seven galleries, a film studio, a podcast studio, library, stage, makeup studio, a culinary program, classes and demonstrations, and there’s no point in stopping now.

“We’re whole-heartedly looking at adding additional space here in Batavia and in Medina. We're currently working on these two spaces so that we can expand and offer a lot more programming. Because we're also looking into mental health. Where the community, the world, is in a big space for needing mental health stuff. So we're talking like we'd love to have music therapists, art therapists, and are trying to get it, so we have a lot more available,” Hallock said. “A bigger gallery, like on the level of competing with major galleries in Rochester and Buffalo, you know? We're trying to do a bigger coffee shop, artists and shop, little boutique clothing place. I mean, there are so many things that we want to add to it so that it's an immersive experience. And then if you're coming for one thing specific, hopefully, you'll see that there's so many other things happening. We really want to be arts -- we want to be a community arts and cultural center, not just an arts and cultural center. So that's where we're going.”

Except he wouldn’t disclose exactly where they’d be going.

“Everybody keeps saying, ‘well, we're halfway between Rochester and Buffalo.’ So I want this to be the reason that people come from Rochester and Buffalo to Batavia because we do amazing arts and cultural activities,” he said.

GO ART! supports the arts, cultural and wide-ranging diversity programs, he said, such as religious, LGBTQ, Black Lives, Just Kings, and various support group organizations.

“We will work with anybody,” he said. “What we do is for anyone, as long as they will work with anyone.”

He referred to a mural on the building’s backside, dotted with faces representing various ethnicities and cultures. Yet to be completed, he said, it is something he wanted as a way to let the public know “all are welcomed here.”

The organization more recently produced a printed calendar of GO ART! events and is mulling the idea of including additional arts organization events as well for a quarterly edition. The site has gaining speed through word of mouth, Hallock said, as he’s been getting phone calls and emails from folks who have heard about GO ART! and want to visit. The list of members has grown from about 150 to 200, as just the beginning.

“We’re hoping to get a marketing director in March,” he said, adding that one doesn’t need to be a member to participate in events, but it provides discounts on the myriad of year-round activities. New happenings have included a Peruvian dinner fundraiser, an RIT animation program, a murder mystery event with a charcuterie board and desserts.

Established in 1962 and quite active in the last few decades, Hallock finds it difficult to hear people say they’ve never heard of GO ART! Thankfully, many other organizations have stepped up to help out with cleaning the 7,000-square-foot site, including Arc GLOW, BOCES, and the Senior Center’s RSVP program.

“I had a lady just call today asking, ‘how can I help, what can I do?’” he said. “When I started, it was just me and a volunteer at 30 hours a week. We didn’t have funding to pay anyone else. Now we have four full-time staff and two part-time staff, and a full-time marketing director to be hired, and a GLOW folklorist.”

The nomination committee selected GO ART! for the dramatic change in perception and recognition of the organization in the past six years, a nomination form states.

“It has become an active, vital member of the community. For years it was a marginal part of the community, city. The acquisition of the old Batavia Club was a drain on the resources of the council,” it states. “The building has been transformed from an occasional glance by people to a place that is well known. With the organization's dream and vision, the building has grown from only using 30 percent of the space to now utilizing the entire building. While keeping the integrity of the historic structure, each room is now a space for the arts - visual, performing, media and culinary. Every time one visits, there is something new that excites. GO ART! is deserving of recognition for the tireless and "out of the box" vision of the arts and culture in our community.” 

Top Photo: GO ART! Executive Director Gregory Hallock takes a seat in the foyer of the nonprofit at 201 East Main St., Batavia, and the talented staff gathers for a pose from left, Angie Dickson, Gregory Hallock, Jodi Fisher and Mary Jo Whitman. Photos by Howard Owens.

Chamber of Commerce Award: Innovation Enterprise of the Year, Empire Hemp

By Joanne Beck

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Sinus steamers, muscle mousse and scrubby bars may not seem to be your typical hemp and cannabis company products, but they’re exactly a reason why Empire Hemp Co. has become so popular in its field.

“We create a lot of unique products you wouldn’t find in other stores,” Chief Operating Officer Shelly Wolanske said. “In order to keep current, we’re constantly coming up with new ideas for products.”

The company, based on the first floor of 34 Swan St. and expanding into 23,000 square feet that includes the second floor for production and storage, with a retail store at 204 East Main St. in downtown Batavia, has been selected for the Chamber of Commerce Innovative Enterprise of the Year Award. While Chief Executive Officer Chris Van Dusen and Wolanske were surprised, they agree the type of business is all about being innovative.

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“We’re the first cannabis business in Genesee County,” he said. “As far as what we’ve come from and where we’ve gone to, we ordered a lot of equipment and brought on a lot of investors to fund that expansion. We are so we have our whole line of adult-use cannabis products or THC products, and those include pre-rolled ‘cones,’ gummies and vape cartridges and flour. We needed the new equipment to do those products and locked down the gummy recipe. We just took our first orders for gummies to dispensaries in New York.

“As we’ve grown the business, we’ve had to learn each aspect of the business, start off with CBD, and we have to learn not only the regulations and the state compliances, but we also have to learn how does the machinery work? What's the most efficient way for them to work, train employees, and, there's all these different nuances around it, that's part of growing a business,” Van Dusen said.

There has been no blueprint to follow, Shelly added, no trailblazer ahead of them to follow. They’ve been the trailblazers, forging their way through the state regulations, certifications, inspections and protocols to ensure they’re doing things the right way.

“It’s been trial and error; we’ve figured this out; regulations and testing’s been a challenge,” Van Dusen said.

They’ve had to find out through trial and error how to do things as efficiently as possible, when it was time to recruit and hire more staff, and what products were hot or not. Making gummies, for example, might seem like an easy task, and yet it took one and a half years to perfect the recipe, Wolanske said. They worked with different preservatives and flavorings, and it came out either too mushy or too stiff and took a lot of adjustments to get it to the chewy, gummy consistency they wanted.

There have been other challenges, including a lawsuit right now in New York State that’s holding up deliveries from dispensaries.

“That’s a whole other challenge we’re working on,” Van Dusen said. “We’re constantly solving problems. It’s exciting but challenging at the same time.”

They raised “a substantial” amount of money to buy equipment for their production needs and hired five people in the last three months to work at the store. One goal is to educate people about their products while the field has dwindled in certain arenas, Wolanske said.

“It takes a certain attitude. There’s an ebb and flow,” she said. “There’s very few of us left from the CBD days.”

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Despite all of the hurdles, Van Dusen sees that “the opportunity in front of us is really incredible.”

“We’re really excited about where we are going with the expansion. We're quadrupling our footprint. That's our next phase of focus, how we're going to build that out. And then we have to get it okayed by the state, and then we have to get it Good Manufacturing Practices certified before we can start production out there,” Van Dusen said. “So we have to clean it, we have to paint it. And we have to then have a consultant come in and make sure we have everything ready for our audits for both the state and from the third party auditor to make sure that we're in compliance.”

The plan is to fill up that upstairs space with an indoor growth facility and keep rolling together as a cohesive group.

“Any little step is a huge step for us,” Wolanske said. “Everybody we’ve hired so far is part of the team. They’re in.”

And so, too — obviously — have Van Dusen and Wolanske been in since the beginning, which began long before they founded Empire Hemp and planted their first site on Swan Street in 2019 and then opened the store in April 2020 downtown.

Their award nominations included articles about the early days of Wolanske, whose path to the hemp industry brought her by way of being a policy-maker in the alcohol and substance abuse and prevention field, and Van Dusen as an entrepreneur, furniture maker, contractor, bicycle mechanic, tour guide, and father of three, whose history with cannabis dated back to the nineties during his battle with cancer. It was the intense effects of chemotherapy, in particular, that pushed him to explore alternative methods of recovery from the side effects of Hodgkin's Lymphoma treatment. 

"During that time, California had just legalized medical marijuana for cancer and AIDS patients, and I was having a tough time with chemotherapy," he said. "It relieved nausea and the terrible feeling I had from the chemicals being pushed through my veins and allowed me to have a level of normalcy in my life. It was like night and day, and I could go back to work. I knew at that point there was something about this plant that had some serious healing. It was life-changing." 

Fast forward to 2020, when COVID hit, and the couple learned another form of survival during pandemic shutdowns. Nomination forms included yet other articles about the tenacity of Van Dusen and Wolanske to operate a walk-up window, followed by the opening of their store, which was a success. While some places have merely posted a sign, it’s not as easy — or legal — as that, Van Dusen has said, wanting to clarify and educate the truth for consumers to know in further articles, all used as part of the nomination process.

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Top Photo: Chris Van Dusen, founder and Co-founder Shelly Wolanske at their Empire Hemp shop on East Main Street, Batavia, and several of their self-created products. Photos by Howard Owens.

Cedar Street Sales and Rentals remains family run as it enters its fourth decade

By Howard B. Owens

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It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance to make it in business for 30 years, Guy Clark said Friday, following a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Cedar Street Sales and Rentals in Batavia.

"A lot of it is also being a big part of the community," Clark said.

The celebration also makes another significant transition for Clark, who is taking on the role of being semi-retired, reducing his work hours to Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with his sons Adam and Connor taking on more responsibility for the business.

"They have been over the last few years (taking on a bigger role)," Clark said. "They both went to college and came aboard afterward. They got business degrees. We didn't plan on it. It just happened to work out like that. They're so smart and innovative, and you really have to be these days. You can't wing it like I did forever. You have to be very methodical."

He said he has a lot of confidence in his sons, and all three men work together well.

"It's awesome to have someone to throw things around with, to bounce things off," Clark said. "Now we have a quick little powwow -- what do you think about this -- and we just did that with the Home Show. Will we be in the Home Show this year? We talked about not being in it because it's in the middle of April, kind of late for us.  Just as we stood there, said, What do you think? Well, I'll work, and I'll work. Let's go. Let's do it. So it's fun to have those kinds of decisions instantly."

Photo by Howard Owens.

$142 million distribution center complex in Pembroke comes before GCEDC board

By Press Release

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center Board of Directors (GCEDC) will consider a final resolution for a $142 million investment proposed in the town of Pembroke at a board meeting on March 2, 2023.

Horizon Acres Associates, LLC, based in Rockland County, is partnering with Geis Companies, based in Streetsboro, OH, to build six flex commercial/industrial facilities totaling 1.5 million square feet. The project would be located on 115 acres immediately off the 48-A interchange on the New York State Thruway, giving access to transportation networks throughout the region.

“In addition to the direct impact this project will have in Pembroke, these facilities are going to be an integral addition to the recruitment of potential tenants at the Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) and other nearby locations,” said GCEDC President and CEO Steve Hyde. “At full build-out, the campus is estimated to create up to 400 new jobs, we have the workforce candidates and programs to support this ambitious number.”

The company plans to start construction in 2023 with the goal of having one to two buildings totaling 560,000 square feet, being operational in late 2024. The facilities will be suitable for a large single tenant, multiple smaller tenants, or suppliers for advanced manufacturing projects.

Horizon Acres Associates, LLC is requesting a sales tax exemption estimated at $6.2 million, a property tax abatement estimated at $11.9 million, and a mortgage tax exemption estimated at $1.1 million. The project is projected to generate $7.9 million in PILOT revenues to municipalities during the proposed 10-year project agreement, which is estimated at 39.5 times the municipal revenue that would be generated under the property’s current use.

The GCEDC’s economic analysis of the project estimates a $227 million impact, including $218 million in payroll and $9.1 million in revenues to the Town of Pembroke, the Pembroke Central School District and Genesee County.  For every $1 of public benefit requested, the project is projected to generate $16 into the local economy.

A public hearing was held on the proposed project agreements on Jan. 30 in the Town of Pembroke.

Previously: Developers say Pembroke location ideally suited for planned $142 million distribution center

Mama D'eez grows again, into its very own place on the south side

By Joanne Beck

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It worked exactly as it was supposed to, and maybe even quicker than expected.

Dannielle Lumpkin began as a small catering company out of her home, and also sold her soul and Caribbean fare at festivals and special events.

Then she seized an opportunity in October 2022 and moved into the incubator space at Eli Fish on Main Street, Batavia, and set up shop as Mama Dee’z Kitchen. It was a family-run operation, and her food was a hot commodity.

Eli Fish owners Matt Gray and Jon Mager, and staff members guided Lumpkin along the way with business, marketing, and restaurant advice. The premise of an incubator is to allow a small business to learn the ropes and then move out on its own to expand and grow.

Lumpkin lasted four months. No, Mama D’eez didn’t fail — it did so well, Lumpkin signed a lease for two years at the former Fishtales Hideaway at 107 Evans St.

“It’s kind of surreal. I’m going to miss the people at Matty’s. Some of them are family now. I’m thankful for those connections,” she said Sunday. “We will start hiring soon. I want to balance it out, the traffic flow, and see how many I want to hire.”

Her restaurant will expand to a full menu, which she couldn’t do at the smaller space inside Eli Fish, she said. There’s “a lot more space and prep room,” Lumpkin said.

“We’re working on changes now. A lot is going to change,” she said. “The hours, we’ll be open later in the evening, to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday."

She is also planning to have a liquor license eventually.

Mama Dee'z will have a ribbon-cutting in mid-March, and Lumpkin will publicize more details soon, she said.

File photo: the former Fishtales will soon house Mama Dee'z Kitchen at 107 Evans St., Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens.

Eli celebrates five years of success and future expansions

By Joanne Beck

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While most businesses make big splashes out of those hefty decades-old anniversaries, Eli Fish owners and staff are plenty happy with turning five this year, brewmaster Adam Burnett says.

And the brewery and restaurant that’s already become a staple of downtown’s Main Street will be celebrating on March 3 and 4.

“It’s to celebrate the successes I don’t think any of us saw coming,” Burnett said.

It was in March 2018 when owners Matt Gray and Jon Mager opened Eli Fish Brewing Company in the deceptively large building that stretched from Main Street back to Jackson Square. That included an on-site brewery, a kitchen for Eli and one for an incubator to temporarily house a start-up restaurant for training and experience before ideally moving on to a larger space of its own.

There was also plenty of seating and room for cornhole tournaments, special event bookings and trivia nights and occasional live musical groups.

The place has closed every March since opening to upgrade the brewery — with a minimum 20 percent growth each year, Burnett said — for production capacity that “more than doubled from when I got here four years ago,” he said.

The brewery has a distribution spanning across Western New York and just signed a contract with a major name that can’t be disclosed just yet, plus Eli Fish was invited to participate in a Rochester brew expo, which is newer territory for the more western-based brew, he said.

During its shutdown next month, the property will be filled with activity to build a banquet hall for parties up to 100, continue work on the outdoor deck next to Jackson Square, refine an elevated food menu, and expand Matty’s Pizza into the former Mama Dee’z Kitchen area. (See related story.)

As for the outdoor deck? “I would love to see it functioning before the first concert in Jackson Square,” Burnett said.

How’s the food? “We still do more food sales than beer sales,” he said. “It’s all about the full experience. With Matty’s expansion, that can take a load off of our kitchen. People come now expecting new things with an international flair.”

The anniversary celebration will feature “throwback” food specials from the last five years that include shrimp and grits, bahn mi sandwich, potstickers and more. Craft brews should bring on some nostalgia, he said, with the Brewer’s Wife, a blonde ale, Madam Edna, a nod to the infamous Edna Gruber of Batavia’s pre-urban renewal days, and Church Shoes.

Funny thing is, the Edna was created without anyone knowing that she was Burnett’s great-great-grandmother — a madam, for sure, she ran a brothel on Jackson Street and was reportedly rather philanthropic with her proceeds, donating money to those in need.

The celebration is just that, Burnett said: it's a way to acknowledge that Eli Fish has not just survived.

“But we’ve been thriving,” he said.

Eli Fish Brewing Company Chef Sam Hilburger and Master Brewer Adam Burnett prepare for the five-year celebration March 3 and 4 at 109 Main St., Batavia with food specials and nostalgic craft brews from the first year of operation. Photo by Howard Owens.

Previously:

Longtime Kutter's cheese store closing its doors in Corfu

By Joanne Beck

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After more than seven decades of selling their popular dairy products, owners Brian and Heather Bailey made the sad announcement Sunday that it was coming to an end for Kutter's Cheese Factory retail store.

“It’s with a heavy heart that we have to announce that Kutter's  Cheese Factory Retail Store, after 75 years in business, is closing its doors,” the couple posted on its online site. “Conditions (outrageous shipping costs, discontinued cheeses, rising costs on everything, and labor shortages) have made it impractical to continue.

“It’s so difficult to say goodbye to our wonderful, selfless and hard-working employees, and to you, our customers,” they said.  “We’ve had the privilege to meet so many wonderful people and exchange smiles and our love of cheese.  Someday we may find our way back to business somewhere, but in the meantime, we’ll just say so long for now.”

The shop opened in 1947, and during the next 70 years, it continued to expand at 857 Main Road, Corfu, catering to the tastes of cheese lovers near and far.  The Kutter's store was the recipient of an Agricultural Business of the Year Award in 2009.

The owners also wanted to clarify that it is the retail store that’s closing, and not the manufacturing business of Yancey’s Fancy, which is under separate ownership.

“I hope you will have fond memories of our store and we will most certainly have fond memories of you,” they continued.  “God bless you all. Love and Respect, Heather and Brian Bailey, Owners.”

Obviously, the feelings are mutual, with several comments from folks expressing sadness and memories about having shopped at the store or family members going there for favorite items (cheese curd was apparently a popular one), even traveling from out of state -- including North Carolina -- to do so.

The owners announced a sale that will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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File Photos of top, Kutter's Cheese Factory on Main Road in Corfu, the Hot Stuff Yancey's Fancy buffalo mascot during a Kutters' customer appreciation day, and above, an assortment of cheeses at the shop, by Howard Owens.

UPDATE: There was a long line outside of Kutter's this morning. Photo courtesy WBTA.

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HCR Home Care hires new VP of growth and business

By Press Release

Press release:

HCR Home Care has hired Rory Burrill as vice president of growth strategy and business development.

Burrill brings to this role more than 20 years of leadership experience in strategy, sales and business development. Most recently, he served as the head of Health Systems at Healthy.io, where he built and executed the sales strategy for the company’s entry into the U.S. health system and provider market. He also served as vice president of sales and business development at VisualDx, a leading A.I.-enabled decision support technology for dermatology.

Rory Burrill graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and earned his MBA from The Simon Business School at the University of Rochester. He resides in Pittsford, N.Y. 

Details released on GLOW With Your Hands healthcare event

By Press Release

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Press release:

The success of GLOW with Your Hands in workforce recruitment in the manufacturing sector and the urgent workforce need for healthcare providers has once again brought businesses, educational organizations, and economic development agencies from across the region to collaborate to provide an incredible opportunity for GLOW region students to learn about the careers in their own backyard in the healthcare sector.

Approximately 600 students in grades 8-12 from 28 schools will gather at Genesee Community College on March 24 to connect with various healthcare businesses and organizations to learn about the multitude of gratifying jobs in healthcare and science-related fields throughout the GLOW region.

“Our collaboration once again focuses on supplying GLOW region employers with the resources that will facilitate the ongoing development of our future healthcare workforce,” said Karyn Winters, director of the Genesee County Business Education Alliance Director and Co-Chair of GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare. “We are very excited to provide another hands-on career exploration experience for students across the GLOW region.”

Healthcare is an essential component of the regional economy as evidenced by various developments and expansions across the GLOW area. GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare will provide the healthcare sector with the opportunity to meet and recruit its future workforce as these projects are completed and start operations.

“The GLOW region gives United Memorial Medical Center access to an educated, well-trained workforce because of our partners in the private sector, which is why we continue to make significant investments in the area,” said Dan Ireland, President of United Memorial Medical Center. “These investments will create hundreds of new jobs, and we need the next generation of workforce candidates to fill them.”

“We are all aware of the current challenges in the healthcare sector, especially in rural areas such as the GLOW region,” said Angela Grouse, Education to Employment Director at the Livingston County Area Chamber and Co-Chair of GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare.  “Our goal is to showcase local healthcare organizations and businesses to our students as they plan to start their careers so they can be a part of the workforce solution.”

“We are always trying to find new strategies and services that prepare our students to enter the workforce upon graduation,” said Justin Dueppengiesser, Executive Director, of Wyoming County Business Education Council.  “The GLOW region is special because we have so many organizations working together that passionately want to find job and career opportunities for our youth to keep them here.”

Students will also have the opportunity to interact with colleges, universities, and secondary and post-secondary training programs to learn about the career pathways offered through these academic institutions.

“It means so much to our GCC community, as not only do students get to interact with local healthcare organizations to learn about different careers, but this also gives us a chance to expose GLOW region students to affordable options available at our college that can lead to good-paying careers in the healthcare sector,” said Maureen Welch, Director of Respiratory Care at Genesee Community College.

Various healthcare businesses and organizations have demonstrated their appreciation of the value of this event with generous support including: ESL Federal Credit Union, Livingston County Area Chamber Of Commerce: Education to Employment, Wyoming County Community Health Services Skilled Nursing Facility, Rochester Regional Health, M & T Bank, UR Medicine | Noyes Health, Workforce Development Institute, Lifetime Assistance, Blossom Modern Home Care Solutions, Batavia Downs, Episcopal Senior Life Communities, VNA of WNY, and the Iroquois Job Corps.

There are still sponsorship opportunities for the March 24th event at the Platinum ($5,000), Gold ($2,500), Silver ($1,000) and Bronze ($500) levels.

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

Submitted photo.

GCEDC board approves financial agreements with Edwards Vacuum at STAMP

By Press Release

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board approved financial agreements to support Edwards Vacuum, part of the Atlas Copco Group, for the first phase of the company’s $209 million semiconductor dry pump manufacturing facility at the Science Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) in the town of Alabama, NY at its February 2, 2023 meeting. 

Edwards Vacuum’s “factory of the future” will serve the semiconductor industry and advanced manufacturing sectors and create approximately 343 new high-paying jobs. The facility is projected to generate more than $13.4 million in future revenues to the Town of Alabama, Genesee County, Oakfield-Alabama School District, and the Alabama Fire Department over 20 years.

Atlas Copco USA Holdings Inc. & Subsidiaries (Edwards Vacuum) has requested sales tax exemptions of approximately $4.34 million and a 20-year property tax abatement of approximately $12.85 million. The project is estimated to generate $644 million in payroll and projected future municipal revenues, and a $39 benefit to the local economy for every $1 of public investment.

Tenney backs bill aimed at providing assistance to small manufacturers

By Press Release

Press release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), a member of the Ways and Means Committee, reintroduced the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, which would work to provide financial assistance to investment companies that finance small manufacturing businesses.

This bicameral legislation has been introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL).

The AIM Act works to provide additional capital to Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) to leverage private capital to provide more patient and flexible financing to smaller and mid-sized manufacturers.

“By incentivizing and creating manufacturing jobs not only in Upstate and Western New York but across the country, we can work to rebuild and grow our nation’s economy,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Many Americans rely on the essential goods and services from our smaller manufacturers, and the AIM Act will work to stimulate economic growth and opportunities for these businesses. I am honored to lead this bicameral legislation alongside Senator Rubio. Boosting support for our small manufacturing businesses remains a top priority for House Republicans.”

Tompkins Financial Corporation reports increase in fourth quarter 2022 earnings

By Press Release

Press release:

Tompkins Financial Corporation ("Tompkins" or the "Company") reported diluted earnings per share of $1.36 for the fourth quarter of 2022, up 2.3% compared to $1.33 reported in the fourth quarter of 2021.  Net income for the fourth quarter of 2022 was $19.5 million, which was unchanged when compared to the same period in 2021.   

For the year ended December 31, 2022, diluted earnings per share of $5.89 were down 2.6% compared to the year ended December 31, 2021.  Net income for 2022 was $85.0 million, a decrease of $4.2 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2021.  Significant contributors to the negative variance in annual net income included a reduction in net deferred loan fees associated with PPP loans from $11.2 million in 2021 to $3.0 million in 2022, as well as an increase in provision for credit loss expense, which was a credit of $2.2 million in 2021 versus an expense of $2.8 million in 2022.       

During the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company sold its VISA Class B common shares, recognizing a pre-tax gain of $11.4 million.  Also in the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company sold $147.9 million of available-for-sale securities, recognizing a pre-tax loss on the sale of $11.9 million. The available-for-sale securities sold during the quarter had an average yield of 0.41% and remaining life of 2.1 years.  Proceeds from the sale of the VISA Class B shares and the available-for-sale securities were used to pay down overnight borrowings with the FHLB. 

Tompkins President and CEO, Stephen Romaine, commented, "We are pleased to report earnings growth in the fourth quarter of 2022, when compared to the same quarter last year. The quality of our balance sheet remains a strength, as we had net credit recoveries for the year and nonperforming loans remain near historic lows.  Our performance metrics remain strong as we begin a new year facing economic uncertainty and a challenging interest rate environment. We remain focused on growth that is built on quality customer relationships and on improving the overall efficiency of our Company."       

SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE PERIOD: 

  • Total loans at December 31, 2022 were $5.3 billion, up $60.5 million over the immediate prior quarter, reflecting an annualized increase of 4.7% from September 30, 2022, and up $193.4 million or 3.8% from December 31, 2021.  Excluding PPP loans, total loans at December 31, 2022 were up 5.3% over year-end 2021. 
  • Total deposits at December 31, 2022 were $6.6 billion, down $189.1 million or 2.8% from December 31, 2021, while noninterest bearing deposits of $2.2 billion were up $14.4 million or 0.7% over the same time period. 
  • Net interest margin of 3.02% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was down from 3.04% for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, and up from 3.01% for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. 
  • Return on average equity for the year ended December 31, 2022 of 13.25% was higher than any of the previous three years.  

NET INTEREST INCOME 
Net interest margin was 3.02% for the fourth quarter of 2022, down compared to the 3.04% reported for the third quarter of 2022, and up compared to the 3.01% reported for the fourth quarter of 2021.  The decrease in margin from the third quarter of 2022 was due primarily to the increase in interest expense on interest-bearing deposits and short-term borrowings, partially offset by higher yields on loan, securities and cash, reflective of the higher interest rate environment. 

Net interest income was $57.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, down from $58.1 million for the third quarter of 2022 and $57.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2021. Full year net interest income was $230.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, up from $223.8 million reported for the year ended December 31, 2021.  

Comparisons to prior periods are impacted by net fees on PPP loans, which have largely paid down during 2022.  Net interest income in the current quarter included $5,000 of net deferred loan fees associated with PPP loans, down from $88,000 of net deferred PPP loan fees for the third quarter of 2022, and $3.2 million of net deferred PPP loan fees for the fourth quarter of 2021.  Full year net interest income for 2021 included net deferred loan fees associated with PPP loans of $11.2 million and a $1.9 million purchase accounting charge related to the redemption of $15.2 million in trust preferred securities; full year net deferred loan fees on PPP loans in 2022 were $3.0 million. 

Average loans for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 increased $145.7 million, or 2.9%, compared to the same period in 2021, and were in line with average loans for the third quarter of 2022.  The increase in average loans as compared to the same period in the prior year was mainly in commercial and residential real estate loans, which were up 7.9% and 4.9%, respectively.  Commercial and industrial loans were down 14.6%, mainly driven by lower PPP loan balances.  Average loan yields for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 were up 27 basis points from the third quarter of 2022 and up 32 basis points compared to the same period in 2021.   

Average loans for the year ended December 31, 2022 were in line with average loans for the year ended December 31, 2021.  Average loan yields for the year ended December 31, 2022, were up 9 basis points compared to 2021, which reflects the impact of rising market interest rates in 2022.   

Average total deposits for the fourth quarter of 2022 were down $261.8 million, or 3.8%, compared to the same period in 2021 and were down $108.1 million, or 1.6%, compared to average deposits for the third quarter of 2022.  The decrease was largely driven by inflation and higher rate alternatives due to current interest rate environment and tighter monetary policy.  The total cost of interest-bearing liabilities of 0.84% for the fourth quarter of 2022 represented an increase of 39 basis points over the third quarter of 2022, and an increase of 62 basis points over the same period in 2021.

Average total deposits for 2022 were flat compared to 2021.  Average noninterest bearing deposits for 2022 were up $90.2 million, or 4.3%, compared to 2021.  The total cost of interest-bearing liabilities for full year ended December 31, 2022 increased by 8 basis points to 0.43% from the same period in 2021. 

NONINTEREST INCOME 
Noninterest income of $18.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2022 was down 4.2% compared to the same period in 2021.  Negatively impacting noninterest income during the quarter were lower wealth management fees, primarily due to market conditions, as well as a net loss on sale of securities of $455,000. 

For the full year 2022, noninterest income of $78.0 million was down 1.1% from 2021.  Year to date 2022 noninterest income reflected higher revenue from insurance commissions, deposit fees and card services fees, which were offset by lower wealth management fees and net losses of $634,000 on securities transactions.   

NONINTEREST EXPENSE 
Noninterest expense was $50.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, up $2.0 million, or 4.2%, over the fourth quarter of 2021, with the increase largely driven by higher personnel related costs. Increased spending on marketing and technology also contributed to expense growth in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.   

For the full year 2022, noninterest expense was $195.8 million, up $5.5 million, or 2.9%, over 2021.  The growth in noninterest expense for the year-to-date period was primarily driven by increases in salaries, wages and benefits and other noninterest expense. Contributing to the growth in these expense items were nonrecurring expenses of $1.2 million, related to the consolidation and rebranding of the Company's four banking charters   The year-to-date period in 2021 included $2.9 million in penalties related to the prepayment of $135.0 million in FHLB fixed rate advances.   

INCOME TAX EXPENSE 
The Company's effective tax rate was 18.6% for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to 21.7% for the same period in 2021.  The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2022 was 22.4%, compared to 22.0% reported for 2021.   


The Company's banking subsidiary has an investment in a real estate investment trust that provides certain benefits on its New York State tax return for qualifying entities.  A condition to claim these benefits is that the consolidated company has qualified assets of no more than $8.0 billion for the taxable year.   Prior to the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company expected to exceed the asset threshold and its effective tax rate reflected the anticipated loss of these tax benefits.  With the decrease in total assets between September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2022, the Company retained the tax benefits, and as a result, adjusted its tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2022 to reflect the retention of the benefits.  The Company will continue to monitor consolidated average assets to determine future eligibility.   

ASSET QUALITY 
The allowance for credit losses represented 0.87% of total loans and leases at December 31, 2022, up from 0.86% at September 30, 2022 and 0.84% at December 31, 2021. The ratio of the allowance to total nonperforming loans and leases improved to 139.85% at December 31, 2022, up compared to 128.27% at September 30, 2022 and 137.51% at December 31, 2021.  

The provision for credit loss expense for the fourth quarter of 2022 was $1.4 million compared to $3.9 million for the same period in 2021.  Provision expense for the year ended December 31, 2022 was an expense of $2.8 million, compared to a credit of $2.2 million for 2021.  The increase in the provision for credit losses for the year-ended December 31, 2022 is mainly driven by current economic forecasts coupled with loan growth.        

Nonperforming assets represented 0.43% of total assets at December 31, 2022, down from 0.45% at September 30, 2022, and up from 0.40% at December 31, 2021.  At December 31, 2022, nonperforming loans and leases totaled $32.8 million, compared to $34.9 million at September 30, 2022 and $31.2 million at December 31, 2021.   

Special Mention and Substandard loans and leases totaled $98.3 million at December 31, 2022, reflecting improvement from $106.7 million at September 30, 2022, and $137.6 million at December 31, 2021. 

CAPITAL POSITION
Capital ratios at December 31, 2022 remained well above the regulatory minimums for well-capitalized institutions. The ratio of Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets was 14.42% at December 31, 2022, compared to 14.26% at September 30, 2022 and 14.23% at December 31, 2021. The ratio of Tier 1 capital to average assets was 9.34% at December 31, 2022, compared to 9.14% at September 30, 2022 and 8.72% at December 31, 2021. 

Arc GLOW hires new public relations director

By Press Release

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Press release:

Arc GLOW Chief Executive Officer Martin Miskell announces Lisa Bors has been hired as the agency’s new public relations director. “Lisa has a lot of great energy and valuable experience,” the CEO said.  “She’s a wonderful addition to our management team,” he added.

Lisa has an Associate’s Degree in Non-Profit Management and Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from SUNY Empire State College and brings with her over twenty years of experience in public relations and development in higher education. 

The director said, “Arc GLOW is an incredible, family-driven organization empowering people with disabilities of all ages to be valued members of the community. I look forward to sharing our mission and vision and working to increase community awareness and private support.” 

Lisa and her husband, Hans, reside in Orleans County.

Law and Order: Driver from Buffalo accused of fleeing from police

By Howard B. Owens

Name redacted upon request, 41, of Rosemary Avenue, Buffalo, is charged with obstructing governmental administration 2nd, speeding, and failure to obey a police officer. xxx is accused of failing to yield for a patrol vehicle's emergency lights on Jan. 10 at 8:53 p.m. on Bloomingdale Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, and then, when he did stop, running from the vehicle. Once apprehended, he was transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing and then released on an appearance ticket.

Antonio Elmer Sosa-Martinez, 33, of West Academy Street, Albion, is charged with DWI, moving from lane unsafely, drinking alcohol or using cannabis in a motor vehicle on a highway, and unlicensed driver. Sosa-Martinez reportedly crashed his work van on Warsaw Road in Le Roy at 8:14 p.m. on Jan. 7. After an investigation by Deputy Mason Schultz and Deputy Jacob Kipler, Sosa-Martinez was placed in custody. He was transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing and released.

John James Gronowski, 45, of Cayuga Circle Road, Cheektowaga, is charged with criminal trespass 3rd. Gronowski was allegedly at Batavia Downs after previously being told he was not allowed on the property. He was issued an appearance ticket and released.

David Charles Pfenninger, Jr., 44, of Fargo Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, and moving from lane unsafely. Pfenninger was reportedly found in his vehicle stuck in a ditch on Route 77, Pembroke, at 1:10 a.m. Jan. 13 by Deputy James Stack. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Jordan Roger Difilippo, 29, of Pratt Road, Pembroke, is charged with sex offender failing to report change of address/status. Difilippo was arrested on Jan. 12 for allegedly failing to disclose an email address to the Department of Probation. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Paul Crawford, 54, of Old Meadow Lane, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and driving on a suspended registration.  Crawford was arrested on Jan. 12 after being located on Old Meadow Lane at 9:02 p.m. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Timothy Ting Hsia, 33, of Sinclair Street, Mckeesport, Pa., is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, unlicensed driver, and failure to use four-way flashers. Hsia was stopped at 6:05 a.m. on Jan. 14 on Genesee Street, Pembroke, by Deputy Ayrton Blankenship.

Matthew J. Zon, 41, of South Byron, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Zon was arrested on Jan. 12 by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 3:09 p.m. on Oct. 15 in the Town of Byron. According to the statute cited, Zon reportedly has a prior criminal contempt conviction. He was released on his own recognizance. 

Kim M. Sobczak, 60, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Sobczak was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported on Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. in the Town of Batavia. She was released on an appearance ticket. No other information released.

Repairs from flooding closes TVFCU drive-thru until April

By Press Release

Press release:

Over the Christmas Holiday, a water pipe burst in three places flooding the drive-thru and back office operations of Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union. This was discovered after hours on Monday, Dec. 26, and resulted in the immediate closure of our ATM and drive-thru teller services, and a relocation of our back office teams, as the north/west side of the building suffered substantial flooding and water damage.

On Tuesday, Dec. 27, we were able to open our lobby as regularly scheduled for our members. A construction team was brought on-site immediately to remove all wet debris, and as of today, that mitigation is complete. Rebuilding our drive-thru teller service as well as our back office operations is underway. Our ATM is up and running. Other fee-free ATMs are available at 7-11 Convenience Stores in the area as follows:

  • 550 East Main Street, Batavia
  • 25 South Main Street, Oakfield
  • 91 Market Street, Attica
  • 8400 Buffalo Road, Bergen

Our thanks and appreciation to the City of Batavia Fire Department, the City of Batavia Bureau of Maintenance, Issac Heating, Lawley Insurance, Kircher Construction, Rapid Dry, Seibold, ARCA, and all of our business partners who were on site within 12 hours to begin clean-up efforts and to assist our team with the necessary tools to ensure business continuity.

We anticipate we will be under construction for the next few months. We are hopeful for a reopening date in April 2023 for our drive-thru teller services. As this fluid situation continues to unfold, updates will be made available on our website www.tvfcubatavia.com

TVFCU members can continue to utilize our lobby teller services, our branch team, and our electronic services until our drive-thru is rebuilt. If you are a TVFCU member and need assistance conducting your banking transactions, please call our branch team at 585-343- 5627 or visit our website www.tvfcubatavia.com

Thank you for your patience as we rebuild to better serve your banking needs. 

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