When Avraham Farzan, an engineer and clothing entrepreneur, heard that the Melton Company shut down, he decided to purchase it in 1998.

Farzan has been operating a successful clothing company in Downtown Los Angeles, but recently has been working to bring the Melton Company back to Batavia.

“I want to start from the seeds and roots that are in Batavia,” Farzan said. “I want to have some kind of memory to be alive in Batavia.”

In October 1918, Joseph Horwitz opened the Melton Company in the city of Batavia, according to a book written by Ruth McEvoy, written in 1993, titled “History of the City of Batavia.” He leased the upper floors of the old post office building located at 10 Jackson St., and began manufacturing shirts under the company name, “Horowitz Shirt Company.” The factory employed 15 girls, and moved to a more permanent location in July of 1920, at 43 Liberty St. in Batavia.

“It was one of the first shirt factories in the United States,” Farzan said.

Horowitz began making shirts for the J.C. Penney Company, Montgomery Ward and Company, and other large firms in 1934. He expanded the building, to accommodate 225 employees as the company grew.

In 1941, Horowitz made 150,000 shirts for the Army. Horowitz died in 1955, and the Horowitz Shirt Factory closed soon after. His sons sold all of the sewing machines, folding machines, cutting tables, desks and stools at auction.

In 1965, Abraham and George Alpert leased the Liberty Street building and hired former Horowitz Shirt Factory employees to make Enfield Shirts. They sold the business to Monroe Davidson, who made woolen shirts and jackets under the name, Melton Shirts.

Davidson needed more space, and soon moved the company to 56 Harvester Ave.

“Melton was in Japan since 1969,” Farzan said. “I’ve tried to bring it back to the U.S.”

Farzan said they sold clothes made in the United States to many countries, such as Japan, Germany and other European nations.

In 1996, The Melton Shirt Company announced that it would not manufacture shirts at its plant due to the high cost of production, and would make the shirts or buy them outside of the United States. The retail operation and outlet stores were expected to expand, but its outlet stores closed less than two years later.

Farzan would also like to open a museum about Melton and retail store at the original site.

“My goal is to open a museum and small shop in Batavia because there are not too many companies like Melton,” Farzan said. “Melton was the first.”

Farzan said once he gets funding for the museum, which he is hoping will come from the owner of the building and the City of Batavia, he hopes to finalize the plans.

Any residents who have any information about the Melton company or memories to share, should contact Judy Stiles, Judy.Stiles@co.genesee.ny.us

Invictra, arguably the best local band right now (they are, after all, (the reigning champs of the only local battle of the bands showcase in the area), will be among the more than dozen local and nationally known acts to take the stage at The Ridge in Le Roy in the first days of June for the annual American Warriors Concert.

The concert honors veterans and raises money to assist them. All veterans and active military can attend for free.

Also on the bill, Madison Rising, James Wesley, JB Aaron, Alyssa Trahan, BC Psychos, Pete Griffith, Jon Dretto, Jack West, Dylan Desmit, Kenny Drury, and Vinyl Orange Ottoman.

The two-day concert event is June 1 and June 2.

Campers, click here.

To purchase tickets, click here.

Here's a press release about the event:

AWC is known for its "Celebration of our Troops, Veterans and American Way of Life." We pride ourselves on offering free admission to veterans and active/reserve military personnel.

This event also donates to a nonprofit veterans' organization of its choice. This year's beneficiary is WNY, Heroes Inc. It's an organization that provides veterans, members of the armed services, and the widows and children of deceased veterans with access to essential services, financial assistance and resources that support their lives and sustain their dignity.

The American Warrior Concert is possible by partnering with The Ridge NY, and sponsorship from by local businesses including Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, TJV Mechanical, CAM Construction, Oliver’s Candies, Livingston Associates, Batavia Legal Printing, Ken Barrett Cadillac Chevrolet, Stan's Harley Davidson, Genesee County SCOPE, Watson Guitars, Leroy Hardware, Orcon Industries and Genesee Valley Penny Saver to name a few.

We will have many bands from many genres of music, many local vendors and other organizations aimed at servicing the needs of our veterans.

We will also be featuring an Honor Wall with local submissions made by people wanting to honor their military friend/family hero.

We hope to make this year's event bigger and better and would love to see more veterans come and enjoy our concert for free.
 

James Wesley

Madison Rising

Alyssa Trahan

Dan Adams was named Firefighter of the Year for the Bethany Volunteer Fire Department at the department's annual awards and installation dinner Saturday night.

Pictured with Adams are Jamie Fluker, Jeff Pietrzykowski and Jeff Fluker.

The 2018 officers are: Jeff Pietrzykowski, chief; Jeff Fluker, first assistant chief; Jamie Fluker, second assistant chief; Kyle Rombaut, captain; Christopher Page, lieutenant; Mel Davis, first aid captain; Jim Duval, first aid lieutenant; and George Larish, fire police captain.  

The board officers are: Christopher Page, president; Kyle Rombaut, VP; Corie Rombaut, secretary; Jeff Wolak, treasurer; with board directors -- Vicki Wolak, Peggy Johnson, Wayne Walker, Todd Mogenhan, Mel Davis, Bill Shea. The chaplain is Rev. Walter Whenhold.

Jamie Fluker received the Chief's Award.

The department responded to 132 calls. Jim Duval responded to 91 of those calls, the most of any member.

Greg Johnson put in 107 training hours, the most of any member.

The dinner featured a ceremony honoring all of the first responders in Bethany. A plaque will be hung in the Fire Hall that reads, "We Are All Heros."

Pictured, Jeff Fluker, Mel Davis and Peggy Johnson.

Jeff Fluker, who just finished a three-year stint as chief, and has been chief for nine of the past 11 years, received a gift from the department.

A driver spotted a German shepherd wearing a bandana walking along the roadway in Bergen and stopped, opened her car down and the dog jumped in.

The dog seemed friendly at first, the caller told a dispatcher, but now it's growled a couple of times.

The caller is parked at the 7-Eleven in Bergen awaiting the arrival of Animal Control.

UPDATE 2:45 p.m.: As Animal Control was showing up at the 7-Eleven, so did the dog's owner. Owner and dog reunited.

A group of veterans being treated at the PTSD clinic in Batavia got a special Valentine this afternoon at the Holland Land Office Museum.

Students participating in a history class there presented each of the veterans with a patriotic Valentine's Day card that they made themselves.

Anne Marie Starowitz also presented a $250 check to the veterans, a donation to the clinic or however they want to use it. She said they could throw a party for themselves if that's what they wanted to do with the money.

The money comes from the sale of her book, “Back in the Day, Snapshots of Local History, the Way I See It!”

Starowitz said she was inspired to make the donation and support the veterans after a group from the PTSD clinic in Batavia visited the museum and she felt so moved to meet them and learn something about them.

Several of their veterans expressed their gratitude, including ones who said the gesture was so meaningful because they are currently separated from their own children while undergoing treatment and they miss their kids.

"One of the symptoms I deal with is kind of numbing everything out, but this really cracked through the ice," said one veteran. "This is special."

Carl, who served two terms in Iraq, said the cards meant a lot to him but wanted to remind the children that the word "hero" has a special meaning.

"To us, hero means the people who didn't come home," Carl said. "That's something that we hold dear to our hearts and I'm sure you do, too, but on the other hand, it's people like you guys who are willing to do this and support us and happy to do it that make it easy for us to go over there and fight."

Batavia-based P.W. Minor -- the nation's second-oldest shoe manufacturer founded here in 1867 -- has been sold to Tidewater+Associates, which has offices in Delaware and California.

P.W. Minor CEO Peter Zeliff will transition to board member and Hundley Elliotte of Tidewater's leadership team will become managing CEO.

"We have made significant progress turning this business around," Zeliff said in a press release about the sale. "I now feel that it is the right time to step away from my day-to-day involvement and I'm extremely confident in Tidewater's ability to guide this business to the next level of success."

That's good to know and no doubt a relief for Zeliff, who saved Genesee County's oldest business from doom when he and then-business partner Andrew Young bought the business in mid-2014. It was set to close due to slumping sales and a frumpy product line, despite having outsourced 100 jobs to China in a bid to keep it going.

Zeliff and Young poured investment into P.W. Minor, located at 3 Treadeasy Ave. in the city, and worked with state and local officials to bring back the  jobs lost to China. Young subsequently left the company; he's a real estate broker, investor and county legislator representing District 4 (towns of Batavia and Stafford).

It was a big task. Production facilities were upgraded and automated. New designers were hired and the product line was revamped. Shoe molds were brought over from Italy, world-renowned for its shoes and leather goods. The price tag to do all this was estimated at $7.5 million.

Empire State Development pledged to provide up to $1.75 million in performance-based tax credits, including a $900,000 state-backed aid package to re-shore the China jobs and add jobs. Though some layoffs were made in the interim.

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce named P.W. Minor its 2015 Business of the Year.

"We are excited to be a part of the resurrection of this American icon," Zeliff told The Batavian in an interview before the 2016 awards ceremony.

He also admitted there was a sizable learning curve for him; he's been in the landfill-gas-to-energy business. And he expressed frustration with the bureaucratic slowness of state government.

Although the company's reputation was built on its orthopedic shoe line, rebuilding the brand and the business in that market has proven to be difficult. It currently operates three key brands -- P.W. Minor; Abram Boot Company; and the Batavia Boot & Shoe Company. A subsidiary -- Minor Brothers Boot and Shoe Manufacturer -- develops and makes products for several leading brands in the United States.

Tidewater's Elliotte says "We believe there are significant opportunities to scale P.W. Minor's social and environmental benefits through its current core brands and to embark on new developments.

"The organization's legacy of craftsmanship and capabilities to deliver product sustainability can be leveraged to expand and grow the brand base."

Tidewater has a history of more than 80 years of focusing on "small cap brands and businesses," to which it applies a unique loyalty business model and operational expertise to accelerate and scale, according to a statement released by the company.

Genesee Sno-Packers held their fourth annual Bikini Rally in Oakfield today. The event brings together people with a passion for snowmobiling and also helps raise money to assist in the fight against breast cancer. 

And for the first time in a couple of years, it was also a good wintery day for the event, with plenty of snow and some cold.

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office will be offering its first annual Teen Academy July 23 – 27 at the Byron-Bergen Central School.

“The Teen Academy is a one-week structured program which consists of instructional classes designed to provide high-school-aged students within our community an introduction to law enforcement training and gain an understanding of law enforcement’s role in their community," said Sheriff William Sheron. "It is our hope that teens will build confidence while learning good decision-making and leadership skills."

Academy instructors are experienced Deputy Sheriffs who will discuss day-to-day operations of the Sheriff’s Office.

Participants will also:

• visit the Jail, 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Dispatch Center, and Sheriff’s Office;
• observe displays of the Emergency Response Team (ERT), Hostage Negotiation, SCUBA Team, K-9 Unit and Evidence Recovery;
• be provided insight into motor-vehicle accident reconstruction;
• participate in daily physical fitness runs, defensive tactics and team-building exercises;
• participate in a classroom setting and learn about the  NYS Penal Laws and Vehicle & Traffic Laws;
• participate in mock traffic stops and DWI procedures.

Qualified candidates will be selected for an interview screening process if they meet the following requirements:

• must be entering grades 10-12;
• must be in good academic standing with little to no disciplinary issues;
• must be able to participate in physical fitness activities;
• must have a positive attitude;
• must have their parent’s permission.

“This is a unique and forward-thinking opportunity offered by Genesee County Sheriff Sheron and the Department; Teens are invited to immerse and be exposed to the real law enforcement experience," said the chair of the Public Service Committee.

"More than imagining, the academy opportunity is live, in-the-minute learning about today’s community policing needs of an exciting career in law enforcement. Students are encouraged to ‘try on’ a law enforcement career role.” 

There is no charge to attend the academy. Application deadline is March 30.

For more information, contact Deputy Matthew Butler at (585) 345-3000, ext. 3252, or (585) 494-1220, ext. 2304, or via e-mail at matthew.butler@co.genesee.ny.us

Visit http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/sheriff/index.php to learn more and download an application.

Press release:

On Tuesday, local youth from Genesee County met with Senator Ranzenhofer and Assemblyman Hawley to get support by investing money in the Youth Bureau System.

The youths asked for help in urging the $1.698 million to be restored for the 2018-2019 Youth Bureau Development Program. The Youth Development Program allows youth bureaus, along with many other community-based organizations to operate after-school prevention programs, which helps young people succeed.

The youths all shared their experiences being involved with the Youth Bureau System and how it has positively impacted their lives.

Blue is missing. Blue is a 2-year-old English pointer who went missing Friday afternoon around Stannard Road, Alexander. He ran off chasing a deer and hasn't been seen by Ben and Christina since. He was last seen wearing an orange collar with an ID and a red collar with a big bell.

If you can help Blue get home to Ben and Christina call either (716) 572-2591 or (910) 382-0341.

A person has severed several fingers in an accident on Bank Street in the city involving a snowblower. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 12:41 p.m.: A 26-year-old male with "finger amputation" is being transported to UMMC. City fire is back in service.

A tractor-trailer is reportedly on its side in the area of 5437 Broadway, Bethany.

Wires are down. Fluids are leaking.

The driver is reported trapped in the cab but uninjured.

Bethany fire responding.

Pavilion and Alexander requested to shut down eastbound and westbound Route 20.

With two buildings, one a solid large 4 bedroom home was a 40-plus yearlong rental home, the other a 5,000+ square foot converted residential consisting of three, move-in ready, apartments and a super spacious office previously used as long-term dental office.

Plenty of parking, driveway access off of Main and Harvester as well as a five-bay garage.

A lot to see and easy to do so! Call Lynn Bezon at Reliant Real Estate today or click here for more information on this listing.

Press release:

With a projected 18 percent growth in job opportunities in the next five years, it is an exciting time to be in or entering the medical profession. To meet the workforce demand, The BEST Center at Genesee Community College is offering three exciting professional training opportunities with tuition scholarships available! With registration deadlines just two weeks away, interested applicants should apply today! 

Patient Access & Registration Professional -- This 90-hour comprehensive program prepares students for patient intake and healthcare experience coordination including patient confidentiality, medical ethics and law, medical terminology, insurance billing and coding basics, appointment scheduling, medical records management and much more! This course costs $1,950 which includes required textbooks. Registration deadline is Feb. 26 and the course runs Mondays and Wednesdays, March 5 through May 14!

Clinical Medical Assistant -- This 140-hour course includes an optional 160-hour clinical externship. During the course, students will train to assist physicians by preparing patients for exams and treatments, routine laboratory procedures and diagnostic testing. Students will review technical aspects of phlebotomy, pharmacology, the proper use and administration of medications, taking and documenting vital signs, cardiology including proper lead placements and the legal aspects of healthcare. This course costs $2,599 which includes required textbooks. The optional externship costs an additional $350 which includes CPR Certification, background check, immunizations, drug screening, uniforms and more. Registration deadline is February 26, 2018, and the course runs March 5 through June 11, 2018!

Phlebotomy Technician -- This 90-hour hands-on program prepares students to collect blood specimens for laboratory analysis. Classroom and lab work includes coverage of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, blood collection procedures, and skills and techniques for performing puncture methods. This course costs $1,799 which includes required textbooks. Registration deadline is Feb. 27 and the course runs Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 6 through May 6!

All of these training programs take place at GCC's Batavia Campus located at One College Road in Batavia. Registration for these programs requires a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.

Additional information on each of these programs is available at www.genesee.edu/cms/best/development/certificate-programs/healthcare-certificate-programs/. All participants can register under "View our classes now" at www.genesee.edu/best. 

Those who are underemployed, unemployed and under skilled may be eligible for tuition scholarships through NY INSPIRE. GCC is part of the statewide program that focuses on training qualified candidates for high demand growing industries in the areas healthcare, advanced manufacturing and information technology.

The $20,000 grant to GCC will help offset tuition costs qualified recipients in this year's healthcare training programs. Scholarships are designated for those who are over 17 years of age and do not exceed the income threshold of $40,000 per year.

Don't delay! Contact The BEST Center at (585) 343-6868 or visit www.genesee.edu/best to find out if you are eligible!

The owner of the Classy Chassy Carwash at 4120 Veterans Memorial Drive (across the street from the Walmart parking lot) says a $200,000 addition to the four-bay facility will give customers a complete array of auto cleaning services, including an ultra-modern tunnel wash on the north side.

“We’re expanding the fourth wash, the Eco-Soft Wash, from 40 feet to 100 feet to allow us to provide a better service, allowing our prep staff to work inside, and create a better environment for everyone,” said Jeff Arnold of Clifton Springs, owner of Clifton Land Company LLC.

Arnold, a retired New York State police officer, owns 25 Classy Chassy car washes throughout Western and Central New York, with two of those in Batavia – the other located on Liberty Street.

His proposal, specifically an area variance request to reduce the building setback where the addition will be placed from 30 feet to 18 ½ feet, went before the Genesee County Planning Board on Thursday night.

The board recommended approval of Arnold’s application, which now will be considered by the Batavia Town Planning Board.

Arnold said he is investing $75,000 into the 21-by-60-foot building and another $125,000 in new equipment to make the Eco-Soft Wash a “state of the art” tunnel wash, featuring enhanced washing components and more dryers.

“It’s called a ‘mini’ now (at 40 feet) but the additional length will make quite a difference in the overall experience,” he said, adding that he hopes to break ground by the end of August and have it up and running next fall.

He said his company previously spent about $300,000 in new equipment on the existing bays – two Touch-Free washes at the south end and a Soft-Touch wash between those and the Eco-Soft Wash.

Arnold added that he will be installing a new vacuum center at the site in mid-March – a service that features dual vacuum cleaner hoses so customers won’t have to drag the hose through the vehicle.

Press release:

Dear STEM educators and friends of STEM,

The Finger Lakes STEM Hub is pleased to announce the application for the 2018 STEM Program Awards is now OPEN! The goal of this recognition event is to honor exemplary STEM programs in our community, and to inspire others to incorporate STEM opportunities in their work with youth.

Who is Eligible? Classrooms, schools, districts, and afterschool programs from the STEM Hub’s nine-county service area: Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties, that incorporate STEM education into their curriculum.

How to Apply? Complete the application on the Finger Lakes STEM Hub website: http://www.empirestem-fl.org/ Award categories are based on the NYS STEM Quality Rubric, also found on our website, and applicants self-select their program’s level of achievement in each of the 9 categories, highlighting what their program does best! Applications must be received by March 1.

When is the STEM Program Awards Event? The awards dinner reception is Wednesday, May 16^th from 5-8 p.m. at the Rochester Museum and Science Center’s Riedman Gallery.

Is There a Cost to Apply or Attend? There is no cost to apply for this recognition event. Applicants receive two complimentary tickets for the dinner reception. Additional tickets can be purchased for $36 each beginning in April.

If you, or someone you know, is inspiring kids through STEM education, please apply! For questions or to learn more, visit the Finger Lakes STEM Hub’s 2018 STEM Program Awards webpage: http://www.empirestem-fl.org/

Nadia Harvieux

STEM Program Award Committee

Finger Lakes STEM Hub

Press release:

Genesee Community College is excited to share the details of the fifth annual Creativity Conference: Creativity in the Entrepreneurial Zone taking place Wednesday, Feb. 28 at the Batavia Campus. Do you have a hobby or passion? Ever consider turning it into your own business? Then you won't want to miss this conference!

"So many people in the world dream of being their own boss. What they don't see is just how realistic that opportunity is!" Lina LaMattina, Ph.D., director of GCC's Business Programs. "This year, every piece of the creativity conference has been carefully aligned to inspire those creative business ideas and show participants just how far their entrepreneurial aspirations can take them."

The Creativity Conference will open for participants to check in at 8:15 a.m. in the Conable Technology Building lobby. The conference cost is $49 per person. For GCC students, faculty or staff, the conference cost is $25 per person. Registration includes a continental breakfast and delicious lunch.

Seating is limited, so register today at www.genesee.edu/best under "View our classes now!"

At 9 a.m. the conference will begin with keynote speaker, Erica Swiatek. She will address the link between creativity and entrepreneurship. Swiatek has made her living doing just that as one of the founders of Innovate Faster, a training, consulting and facilitation company based in Buffalo. Innovate Faster offers training courses on the creative process, enhancing teamwork, managing change, customer service and much more. Details on Innovate Faster are available at www.innovatefaster.com.

Swiatek's own creative thinking and ideas have come to fruition in her business, 3600 Escape, a company located in Buffalo that hosts groups in one of two specially dedicated Escape Rooms. Participants select either the "Conspiracy Theory" or the "Mineshaft" room and then are locked inside!

They have to work as a team to find and put together clues to escape the room -- and they only have 3,600 seconds to do it! Swiatek has now taken this concept on the road allowing her to perform the escape room experience for companies and corporate events on their premises through a package of creative characters, clever clues and utilizing the participant's own spaces.

The escape room experience can be done just for fun, or as a real-life learning tool. Swiatek's post-experience debrief session breaks down the steps and actions taken by individual participants during the exercise to help them understand the personality traits that they draw from while working to solve a problem.

Learning about one's strengths and tendencies is a powerful way to unite a team, helping them to understand each other better and to work together more efficiently. More information is available at www.3600escape.com.

Swiatek earned her master's degree in Creative Studies and is currently an adjunct professor at Buffalo State College. At both Innovate Faster and 3600 Escape, Swiatek blends her expertise in the fields of innovation, learning and development to design activities, courses, programs and experiences to facilitate innovation, professional development, change management and teambuilding.

Certified in Myers-Briggs, DiSC and FourSight assessments, Swiatek draws on these tools to help participants problem solve, communicate and understand each other better.

From 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Swiatek's will host a special escape room experience right here at GCC! Participants will work in small groups to look for clues, propose hypothesis and race against other teams to solve the problem first.

At the end of the session, Swiatek will breakdown the skills and tools used by each personality type to help participants better understand their individual problem solving strengths. Anyone registered for the conference can sign up for this special breakout session which costs an additional $15 per person and is limited to 30 participants, so sign up quick! 

For those not attending Swiatek's escape room experience, there will be nine unique and inspiring breakout sessions featuring entrepreneurial leaders from our region to share stories of their own startups, answer audience questions, and inspire the next generation of great new ideas.

Conference participants will be able to select three of these sessions to attend. Each session will be offered at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon.

Among the breakout sessions will be:

• Rashaad Santiago, special effect/ makeup artist, Face Off-Season 6 Winner (2014)
• Sue Fuller, owner of Della's Chocolates in Medina
• Trace George, owner of VSP Graphic Group in Buffalo, (the official graphic company for the Buffalo Bills) and GCC Alum
• Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoos in Medina
• Maureen Spindler, owner of The Village Photographer in Hilton and GCC's own visual communications specialist/photographer

Additional sessions will be available and session schedules are subject to change.

At 12:45 p.m., everyone will come together for a sit-down lunch, provided by American Creative Dining, served in the centrally located William H. Stuart Forum.

After lunch, the team from Startup Genesee will conduct a powerful wrap-up session for all conference attendees with giveaways and a very exciting announcement sure to help take entrepreneurial ideas to the next level!

The Creativity in the Entrepreneurial Zone conference, presented by GCC, is made possible through partnership with the Startup Genesee Committee and the Ain Center at the University of Rochester's ongoing support for the "Year of Entrepreneurship" series.

Behind every great business is a great idea! Let GCC be a resource for your idea and your path to success! GCC offers both an associate degree and a Certificate program on Entrepreneurship. Check out the options at https://www.genesee.edu/academics/programs/business/entrepreneurship/.