batavia

With the final touches complete, Crossroads Collectibles is nearly ready to welcome the public and provide a comfortable place to shop secondhand items while also supporting a meaningful cause. 

The shop’s grand opening is set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 13 at 12 South Lake Ave., Bergen. Those will also be the regular Wednesday through Sunday store hours. 

This opening marks another avenue of fundraising and shopping for the nonprofit comfort care home of Crossroads House in Batavia and the Bergen community alike.

“We really wanted it to be branded like it was a division of Crossroads House,” Executive Director Tracy Ford said. “This just gives us an opportunity to have a storefront presence year-round, so I’m very excited.”

Crossroads House, an end-of-life care facility on Liberty Street in Batavia, has been preparing to open the shop for sales of donated home goods, décor, trinkets, and antiques to support the nonprofit’s mission of providing high quality comfort care in a residential setting. 

Loaned to Crossroads by owner and former Mayor of Bergen, Ralph Marsocci, the store will serve as a year-round version of its annual tent and church sales, which also feature antique and resold products to raise money for the hospice care center. 

Marsocci, a long-time supporter of Crossroads House through an annual golf tournament, and faced with an empty storefront after his son’s business vacated, said “Why don’t we have crossroads come in? I’d rather have somebody who could really use the money.”

 What started as a generous offer had turned into a soon-to-open store. 

“I talked to them, and they were great; they all wanted to do it,” Marsocci said. “And here it is. It took a lot of time, but they got everything done, and they’re ready to open. It’s nice.” 

Local support helped to bring the store to life, including Scott and Lucy Sackett. Scott Sackett helped to get the store up and running and built most of the shelving for the shop. 

Planning board members in Bergen, according to Ford, were also enthusiastic when they heard the idea for the shop.

“The planning board was very excited when I came and presented on what I wanted,” she said. 

Photos by Camryn Brookhart

Walter B. Hale Jr., 47, of Lockport Road, Oakfield, is charged with felony DWI (with three prior convictions in 15 years), aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st degree, unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, 3rd degree, resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental administration, 2nd degree. Hale was stopped on Route 33 by Deputy Jacob Kipler in Batavia for traffic violations on May 24. He allegedly fled the traffic stop, leading police on a pursuit that began in West Batavia and ended on Transit Road in Orleans County. Hale was transported to Rochester Strong for treatment and later to the Genesee County Jail, where he was remanded without bail following arraignment in CAP Court.

Daquan J. Butler, of Brooklyn, is charged with assault, 2nd degree. Butler is accused of striking another inmate and causing physical injury while incarcerated at the Genesee County Jail on May 25. He was held at the Genesee County Jail.

Michael A. Fanizza, 31, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Fanizza is accused of striking another individual during a fight at the Genesee County Jail on June 4. He is scheduled to appear in Batavia Town Court on June 24.

Lyndsey J. Wilcox, 41, of Washington Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd degree. Wilcox was arrested May 25 following an investigation into an incident at the Genesee County Jail, where she allegedly entered the jail and violated a full stay-away order of protection. She was transported to the Genesee County Jail and held for arraignment.

Caleb M. Binnert, 50, of Main Street, Elba, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18% or higher, speeding, and failure to dim lights. Binnert was stopped on May 26 by Sgt. Mathew Clor on Route 98 in Elba. He was released on traffic tickets.

Benjamin L. Mattiex, 45, of Austin Street, Rochester, is charged with petit larceny, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd degree, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration, and unlicensed operator. Mattiex is accused of shoplifting more than $800 worth of merchandise from Target on Veterans Memorial Drive on May 29 and then operating a vehicle with a revoked license and suspended registration. He was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in Batavia Town Court.

James S. Gibbs, 49, of Colony Run, Attica, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .18% or more. Gibbs was stopped at 1:35 p.m. on April 22 by Deputy Eric Meyer following an investigation into a suspicious condition at Alexander Elementary School. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Bo A. Aquila, 34, of Main Street, Alden, is charged with DWI, driving to the left of pavement markings, moving from lane unsafely, and drinking alcohol or using cannabis in a motor vehicle on a highway. Aquila was stopped at 2:28 a.m. on June 1 by Deputy Jacob Kipler on West Main Street Road in Batavia by Deputy Jacob Kipler for traffic violations. He was arrested, transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing, and held pending arraignment.

Gavin C. Turk, 22, of Ashview Drive, North Chili, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, and speeding. Turk was stopped at 2:39 a.m. on June 3 by Sgt. Mathew Clor on Buffalo Road in Bergen. He was released on traffic tickets.

Press Release:

The Holland Land Office Museum will be hosting a Military Encampment & Timeline event on Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will take place on the museum grounds and inside the museum located at 131 W. Main Street, Batavia.

The event will feature reenactors dressed in military gear from the Revolutionary War to the current era. The encampment will feature real uniformed reenactors, military weapons, gear, and vehicles. The event coincides with the regular exhibits at the museum, including military exhibits and a new featured exhibit, "World War II on the Homefront: Propaganda and Rationing."

The event is included with museum admission, which is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, students, and veterans, $1 for children, and $10 for a family of four. The event will include both outdoor and indoor displays. 

The Batavia Muckdogs fell short in a high-scoring contest at Dwyer Stadium, dropping a 10-8 decision to Niagara Falls America in Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League action Wednesday night.

Down 1-0 entering the third, Niagara Falls broke out for seven runs, highlighted by Nick Paszt’s two-run triple and Ian Huang’s two-run single. Grant Moore and Christopher Guzaldo each added RBI singles in the frame, giving the visitors a 7-1 lead.

Batavia answered with two runs in the bottom of the third on Sean Mindas’s two-run single, then closed the gap to 7-5 in the fourth when Jacob Veczko delivered a two-run single. The Muckdogs pulled within a run in the fifth when Justin Espinal and Mindas advanced scored on separate wild pitches.

Niagara Falls extended its lead in the sixth. Huang singled home Guzaldo, and Moore’s two-run single capped a three-run inning to make it 10-7. Batavia added a run in the eighth on Brian Fry’s fielder’s choice, but could not complete the comeback.

Both teams finished with 12 hits. Cooper Fesh led Niagara Falls with three hits and three runs scored, while Mindas and Fry each had two hits for Batavia.

Carter Hall earned the win in relief for Niagara Falls, tossing two innings and allowing two runs. Bryceton Berry took the loss for Batavia.

The game drew 2,889 fans.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Thirty-three members of Notre-Dame High School’s Class of 2025 received their diplomas during a commencement ceremony held Sunday at Resurrection Parish.

Interim Principal Julia Rogers served as Master of Ceremonies and presented special recognition awards to outstanding students. The senior class gift was presented by Chance King and Gabe Mileham.

Anna Panepento was named valedictorian, while Rocco Sprague earned the title of salutatorian.

Tracy Page presented the candidates for graduation, and Lindsay Warner and Julia Rogers conferred diplomas.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

After pulling a larger $120 million expansion project off the table in September 2024, HP Hood officials are pursuing another, albeit smaller, project at the Batavia Agri-Business Park, per a request made to Genesee County’s Economic Development Center board.

HP Hood LLC has proposed a $25 million facility expansion that includes the construction of a two-bay raw milk silo alcove and silo pads for four silos, a Clean-in-Place (CIP) room for four CIP systems, a remote truck testing lab, and an electrical room. The expansion will enable HP Hood to increase capacity and boost dairy product production, officials said.

The board will consider a related resolution during its meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday at the MedTech Center’s Innovation Zone, 99 MedTech Drive, Batavia. If approved, a future public hearing on the project will be scheduled in the town of Batavia.

Hood had altered course a year ago after being notified that permitting was not approved by the city of Batavia for a 32,500 square-foot addition due to a wastewater disagreement and capacity issue between the city and town of Batavia. 

The plan was said to create 48 new jobs and have a local economic impact of nearly $50 million in wages and tax revenue.

Although an agreement was in place by September, Lynne Bohan, Vice President of Communications & Government Affairs at Hood's group, confirmed that the project was no longer being moved forward at that time, labeling it a “tactical pause on the expansion projects in progress.”

She also said that the company would consider future projects for the 7,722-square-foot facility at the Agri-Business Park.

The current $20 million proposed expansion includes a sales tax exemption request estimated at $1,122,394 and a property tax abatement estimated at $84,097, based on the incremental increase in assessed value via a new traditional 10-year PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes). 

The project is estimated to generate $6.3 million in local fiscal impacts, including payroll and tax revenues, for an estimated $10 local benefit for every $1 of requested incentives.

During Thursday's meeting, the EDC board of directors will also consider a final resolution for Ivy Village Corp.’s proposed $3.5 million construction of 20 units of market-rate patio homes in the Village of LeRoy. The project would add 24,960 sq. ft as part of a planned three-phase, 60-unit development on 16 acres.
 
Ivy Village Corp. is requesting a sales tax exemption estimated at $168,000, a mortgage tax exemption estimated at $28,000, and a property tax abatement estimated at $669,440 based on the incremental increase in assessed value via a 20-year PILOT. The project is estimated to generate $2.7 million in local fiscal impacts, including payroll and tax revenues, for an estimated $4 local benefit for every $1 of requested incentives.
 
Meeting materials and links to a live stream/on-demand recording of the meeting are available at www.gcedc.com.

A soft-spoken Tom Ryan was getting a snack before taking his turn to perform at a new event at GO ART! in Batavia. Added to a slowly growing list of open mics, this one, located at the corner of East Main and Bank streets downtown, takes place every third Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Ryan shared why he enjoys participating in open mics and why they seem to be growing in popularity, just before taking to the stage with his guitar and a song.

“It’s safe, it’s a safe space,” he said. “If I were getting paid to perform, that’s a different deal.”

GO ART! on East Main and Bank streets
Fellow crooner James Pastore set up this open mic session and hopes it will build an audience each month.

"In my experience, open mics help not only to bring people together, but they are a way in which we can support one another to be vulnerable and share a part of ourselves and our journeys. Oftentimes I find that the songs, pieces, or acts that people perform offer a glimpse into a deeper aspect of themself, whether that be one’s truth or perspective, their heart and wisdom, or one’s pain that we can all relate to in one way or another,” Pastore said. “That being said, I believe open mics can be a place for community to gather and be a light towards our greater humanity and connection. And it’s for this reason that I personally enjoy sharing and appreciate the chance to gain inspiration from others.

“GO ART! being the old historic and artistic building that it is, offers much to the local art community already, and I envision it to be another great venue for an open mic. In my opinion, music is an exceptional unifier of people,” he said. “I eagerly anticipate hearing pieces from various genres across different generations. And this open mic is not limited to only music; any poet, comedian, or spoken word artist is equally valued and would contribute to this community’s richness.”

Open mics are open
If you’ve been to an open mic, then you know the routine: musicians are on a first-come, first-served basis of performing in the order of a sign-up sheet, and depending on the venue, there may be an intro band or artist to get things going.

There are no cover charges — at least not locally — and patrons can get a beverage and food at some establishments while listening to locals strum a guitar, sing, tell jokes, or recite poetry as their own unique brand of talent.

VFW on Edward
Lee Moore has been performing in and operating an open mic at the VFW for the last decade. As much as he’s aware of these events, however, he only happened to stumble across one when he and a friend visited GO ART! for a drink one evening. That goes to show how even the most ardent followers can miss these live happenings under the cloak of modest promotion.

Moore doesn’t understand why more Batavia folks don’t attend his open mic at 6 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 25 Edwards St., Batavia. They’ve gotten up to a dozen musicians signed up to perform, he said, and the event used to be just once a month.

“It definitely grew. It was a struggle at first,” Moore said. “A couple of bands started as a result of it. It’s still vibrant, but we have a hard time getting Batavia people to come to ours. The whole band can come play, we have drums, piano, the whole set-up on stage, amplifiers and a PA system. They bring their own guitars.”

He estimated that about 25 to 30 people attend open mic nights, which used to be held in the bar and had become crowded, so the events were moved into the dining room. Musicians play five or six songs each, and are “quite talented,” Moore said.

“This is their chance to let out their talent, and quite a few folks come just to listen,” he said. “It’s a very inexpensive way to have music and bring people in. We don’t take any money, we just do it. It’s a good way to support the veterans — they serve bar food on those nights.”

Dan Dedo of Batavia goes to a lot of open mics, he said, on a Wednesday at VFW. He has also attended them at GO ART! and Iburi Photography at 35 Jackson St., Batavia.

“Those are all very great places to hear open mic. You never know what you’re going to get,” he said. “There’s a lot of great musical talent in town, and everybody has a different approach to their music, and it introduces me to new music as well. I play a little bit; I’m hoping that the open mic phenomenon continues to grow. It does encourage people to develop their musical skills, and it gets people of like interests to enjoy music.

“I think people are missing a great opportunity to hear some very talented musicians,” Dedo said. “It’s great entertainment and very inexpensive to come out and enjoy. We appreciate the musicians.”

His listening partner, Bonnie Dedo, added that “we always have a great time,” echoing Lee Moore’s question about attendance, “and we are wondering why there’s not a ton of people here, because it’s just so wonderful.”

Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, author Kurt Vonnegut says.

“Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can,” the writer said, according to Tom Taylor in Far Out Magazine. “You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”

Taylor further stated that Vonnegut’s perspective “emphasizes the transformative and healing power of engaging with music and the arts, both for individuals and society at large.”

All it takes is a live concert of any musical genre to experience that power. Perhaps that’s why there has been a revival for open mics in the area, from the VFW’s longstanding monthly Wednesday sessions to Iburi Photography's more recent once-a-month Fridays that began 18 months ago, and late bloomer GO ART!, featuring a Saturday morning, self-funded series of local musicians in addition to the third Friday of the month with Pastore, and ongoing karaoke sessions.

Iburi Photography on Jackson
For the last two years, Iburi has even branched out of its in-house jams to sponsor a larger event in Jackson Square. This year's event is scheduled for 6 to 9:30 p.m. this Friday.

"So I think the main focus is having the community come out and perform. It's run like a standard open mic, first come, first served. You come up and sign up. People can play music. We've had some comedians come up. So whether you're a musician, a performer or a poet, we're open to all forms of creative expression," sponsor Akari Lewis-Iburi said, speaking also on behalf of her husband Kevin. “With our personal open mics, my husband’s a singer and songwriter, and I know that music is such an important part of his life to connect with people. And I think the open mics for us are a way to just have a space to build a community of people who are there to support each other.

“We're a very supportive group, and we really just genuinely enjoy spending time with everyone and uplifting people and just being a part of their creative outlet. And I think it's important to have that, to build community around that, and connect, because, I think they're popular because life is just so fast and everything's online now, and I think it's really great to have a space where we physically get together and just spend time together,” she said. 

“And oftentimes at the end of the night … I'd like to think it's a little different than the others, because we're not a bar, we're really just a venue, so I think people approach it a little differently too. They're not there to get a drink, they're there for the music or for the comedy or for the poets that are there," she said. "So I feel like it draws a different kind of people, and we see a lot of the same folks that come through, and it's so great. We look forward to that every month … it's nice to connect physically with people, just face to face.”

Iburi’s last event featured about 15 performers and drew nearly 50 people to listen, she said. Events at Jackson Square bring in more musicians and spectators, and this year’s open mic was moved up into June, away from the busier Fourth of July weekend. There is no fee to participate; however, Lewis-Iburi asks that performers be mindful of the family-oriented audience when making song and prose selections.

The regular Iburi open mics are at 6 p.m. (sign-ups) and music begins at 6:30 p.m. on the first Fridays of the month. 

Brandie, an open mic attendee, wrote online that she has connected with “so many supernova musicians and artisans since learning about this high vibe, open, co-creative space.”

“The local community is rich and diverse with singers, songwriters, poets, and comedians,” she said. “This last visit felt like such an episode. Oh my goodness, lotsa laughter and unexpected tears from a touching song towards the end of the evening … so grateful for the opportunity to connect and share our heart.”

Saturday Morning Coffeehouse Series
Eric Zwieg, an experienced rolling stone in his own right — figuratively, that is, having played at various venues in different states — had memories of an open mic in Georgia with a strict listening policy posted in the venue to emphasize a respectful process for musician and spectator alike; and another one in Allentown, “where I cut my teeth as a writer and player,” Zwieg said.

“The evening started at 7 p.m. with a featured local artist playing a one-hour set, followed by an open mic that often lasted until 4 a.m., followed by breakfast and boozy conversation down the street at The Towne Restaurant. It was an eclectic scene of endless musical genres, poetry, street performances, comedy, dramatic readings, etc.,” he said. “Michael Meldrum mentored thousands of musicians through the years, and it was his concept of having an opening act before the open mic that I suggested to Kevin and Akari at Iburi Photography that they have implemented with Parris (Zwieg) and Holly playing the first one. Parris and Holly went on to host a three-month residency at GO ART! because of the Iburi gig that included a number of their open mic participants.”

Zwieg began a Saturday morning live music series at GO ART!, stemming from his days of being a Rochester singer-songwriter in the 80s and 90s, playing gigs at restaurants for Sunday morning brunches.

“Back then, gigs didn’t start until 10 p.m. and could last until 3 a.m. The morning show provided an opportunity to commune with friends over breakfast and hear great music. So, when GO ART! opened their bakery Audrey’s, I thought it might be a nice pairing,” he said. “Music is a great communicator that needs no introduction. I invite people constantly by word of mouth, a grassroots approach, to try new music, venues, musicians, bands, and performers to listen and share space with something/someone new and different. It’s good for the soul and good for the community.”

The series features two artists on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the main gallery hosted by Henry Grace, Zwieg’s stage persona. Dialogue is encouraged between musicians and audience members via questions, stories, song selections, the writing process. There are three shows left before the next series begins in September.

There is also another open mic for a variety of talents, hosted by Dave Mollahan, every fourth Friday night at GO ART! Sign ups start at 6:30 and show opens at 7 p.m.

Press Release:

All motorists please be aware the following streets listed in the predicted order (subject to change) will experience traffic delays from Monday through Wednesday between the hours of 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. for resurfacing operations:

Monday, June 2nd
Grandview Terrace

Tuesday, June 3rd
Elm Street
Ellsworth Avenue

Wednesday, June 4th
Ellsworth Avenue

While work is being performed in these areas, local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence/property but should plan accordingly for delays.

All residents/businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation. All motorists that regularly use these streets are asked to seek alternate routes while the delays are in place.

These same streets are scheduled for paving operations on Monday, June 16th, Tuesday, June 17th, and Wednesday, June 18th if weather cooperates. This is weather dependent work and will continue on the next business day if necessary.

Contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400, Option 1 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your cooperation.

The Batavia Boys won the Class B Track and Field Sectional Championship on Friday night. 

They scored 226.5 points, with HFL finishing 2nd with 102 points.  

"This was an incredible performance by our Blue Devils team, earning their 9th sectional title, and this is Batavia track's 48th sectional championship, boys and girls for Indoor and Outdoor track," said Coach Nicholas Burk.

Winners for Batavia include:

• Cameron Garofalo - 3000 Steeple (10:38.38),
• 1600m (4:24:24), and the 800m (1:58.83)
• Sheldon Siverling - Shot Put (54-1) Disc (147-6)
• Cooper Konieczny - Pole Vault (13-0)
• Jamari Irvin - Pentathlon (2681 pts.)
• 4x800 Relay -  E'Nhazje Carter, Grant Gahagan, Nate Kinsey, Mason Bellamy (8:32.38)
• 4x100 Relay - Zailen Griffin, Isaac Varland, Keagan Calmes, Ja'Lon Richardson (45.08)

The Batavia Muckdogs (1-1) defeated the Elmira Pioneers 13-1 in their 2025 home opener Saturday night at Dwyer Stadium.

Batavia took the lead with two runs in the second inning and added two more in the third. The Muckdogs broke the game open with a seven-run fourth, then tacked on two in the fifth and one in the sixth. Elmira scored its only run in the top of the fourth.

Sean Mindas tripled and drove in two runs for Batavia. Tyler Castrataro finished with three RBIs. Justin Espinal and Jackson Inman each drove in two runs. Brian Fry, Braedon Reina, Blake Ewing, and Caleb Walker added RBIs. The Muckdogs collected 14 hits, stole three bases, and turned a double play.

Gavin Chandler started and earned the win, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing one run on seven hits. Jay Creighton and Garrett Beaver combined for 1.2 scoreless innings in relief.

A crowd of 2,681 attended the home opener. Fireworks followed the game, marking the first of four fireworks nights this season at Dwyer Stadium.

Batavia continues its homestand Sunday at Dwyer Stadium.

Photos by Nick Serrata.

Press release:

The Batavia Girls scored an incredible 267.5 points to run away with the Class B2 team title.  

The second-place finisher was Honeoye Falls/Lima with 138.5 points, and Wayne placed third with 71 points.

Team results:

• Karizma Wescott won three individual events, the 100m (12.4), 200m (25.6), 400m (57.89)
• Ella Shamp won two individual events, High Jump (5-0) and Long Jump (17-6.25)
• Campbell Riley won two individual events, 2000m steeple (7:04.86), and 800m (2:24.73)
• Mady Smith won the 100 hurdles(14.88s)
• Ava Anderson won the 400 hurdles (66.0s)
• Mallory Boyce won the 1500m (4:58.0)
• Ava Wierda won the discus (111' 3")
• Jaimin MacDonald won the shot put (34'4")
• Anna DiRisio won the pentathlon, scoring 2175 points

Batavia also won the 4x400m relay (4:11.46), consisting of Ava Anderson, Mallory Boyce, Campbell Riley, and Karizma Wescott.

Press Release:

Registration has opened for volunteers to help guide 1,200 students from Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties through an impactful day of hands-on career exploration at the Sept. 30 GLOW With Your Hands: Manufacturing event.

The annual fall manufacturing event and spring healthcare event have reached over 5,000 students since 2019. It’s an accomplishment GLOW With Your Hands organizers credit to the volunteers who take on opportunities before, during, and after the events

“Our students, our businesses, and our communities all benefit from the efforts of our local volunteers,” said Karyn Winters, GLOW With Your Hands Co-Chair. “Volunteers truly give students the best hands-on experience in dozens of modern careers available in the GLOW Region’s manufacturing, agricultural, skilled trades, and food manufacturing businesses.”

Registration is available at glowwithyourhands.com/manufacturingvolunteers.

Opportunities for volunteers include assembly of student hard hats in the weeks leading up to the event, event set-up and clean-up the week of the event, and event-day roles at the Genesee County Fairgrounds as tour guides for school groups. Registration has also opened for sponsors and exhibitors.

“There are so many ways to contribute to GLOW With Your Hands: Manufacturing,” Winters said. “We are excited to work with you to help make this our biggest and most successful GLOW With Your Hands.”

For more information, visit glowwithyourhands.com

Press Release:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is hosting a group for women (18-24 years old) to discuss mental health and self-care options. Meetings will take place every Friday in June from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at 319 W. Main Street, Batavia, at the Independent Living Center. (Look for the left rear door with the green awning, in the Crickler Executive Business Center.)

This is a peer-led group, and discussion topics will include emotional awareness, mental health basics, boundaries, filling your cup with self-care, confidence, connection, and growth. Each participant will receive items for mental health, well-being, and self-care.

Pre-Registration is required, and space is limited. Please contact Emma Pratt, Youth Specialist at 585-815-8501, Ext. 404 or epratt@wnyil.org. Assistance with transportation may be available. This program is available to residents of Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties, thanks to the generous support from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation.

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

A long Memorial Day weekend was abruptly ended by news that every tenant of Harvester Center would soon have to find a new space.

Each tenant was sent a letter from The Harvester Team “to inform you that your existing lease will instead focus onnot be renewed and will be terminated as of June 30, 2025.”

Eric and Sarah Jones had recently made the difficult decision to halt their plans to continue working on a future Game of Throws site at Batavia City Centre and make a go of it at their existing site at 56 Harvester Ave.

Then they received the emailed letter on Tuesday night.

“It is devastating,” Sarah Jones said Thursday evening. “We moved everything out of the mall over a month ago. We told our league people last night, and it is so sad. We are sad and freaking out all at the same time. I don’t even know where to put the stuff that is in the Game of Throws building; we have so much to move out and nowhere to put it.”

Over the course of the last several months, a plan has been formulated to reposition that Harvester building as part of a “larger redevelopment project,” the letter stated.

“To achieve the ultimate repositioning and marketing plan, it is best to facilitate this project without tenants in the building, given the challenges of the project,” it stated. “Management is going to provide transition leasing opportunities into other buildings that are on the Harvester campus. Should you wish to receive more information, please email AP@havesterbatavia.com. Should you require support moving out, there will be services available provided by Harvester at an hourly rate, and including load out services requiring forklift. Inquiries should be directed to AP@havesterbatavia.com.”

Sarah Jones said that “a lot of businesses are moving across the parking lot into the red brick building,” and the coupl, e decided that wouldn’t work for their space needs “as we are too big.” An owner assistant also tried another site.

“They showed us a building that they may try to move us to,” she said. “However, it needs so much work, I don’t know if they are going to do it.”

Penguin Multimedia owners weren’t available to share any definite plans since getting the letter, but they had been in the process of relocating since new property management took over, a spokesperson said.  

The Batavian reached out to the email provided in the letter, and that bounced back as an error. The address seems to misspell harvester, so we have tried again, in addition to leaving a message for John F. Wachter Jr., one of the co-owners of the property through Amerinac Holding Corp.

City Manager Rachael Tabelski initially referred The Batavian’s questions to the city attorney, and when pressed about the NY Restore grant and redevelopment plans, she recommended talking to the owners.

Renovation plans have not been a secret, and the site has received code violations on six buildings, according to city management. In December, City Council agreed to apply for a $1 million NY Restore grant to assist demolition and renovation of the expansive 29-acre property with several dilapidated brick buildings. 

The wall of one buildings collapsed a few weeks ago, giving even more pause to the site’s condition in certain spots.

When she presented a recommendation for council to apply for the grant, Tabelski highlighted the possibilities of another Larkinville, a collection of businesses, new apartment buildings and public spaces along Seneca Street in the southeast section of downtown Buffalo. This area has been promoted as “one of the city’s most impressive transformations.”

“The Harvester Campus project qualifies for Restore NY funding for an extensive demolition project. The owners of the Harvester Campus are looking to strategically demolish six buildings at the campus and commit to redeveloping the remaining buildings into a multi-use campus similar to Larkinville in Buffalo,” she had said. “Some of the buildings slated for demolition have been cited by the city as unsafe, and in need of demolition. Removal of these buildings will offer additional parking, lighting and green space to support the remaining buildings, businesses and future redevelopment on the campus.”

The owners are under court order to submit an action plan for addressing the code violations, and the city’s plan, developed in cooperation with Amerinac Holding Corp., proposes demolishing the severely deteriorated buildings to open space for parking, lighting, and green areas, while supporting redevelopment of the remaining structures.

The main goals are to improve the east side's business and residential climate, revitalize properties in need of rehabilitation, and increase the city’s tax base, Tabelski had said. 

Amerinac Holding Corp., a company based in Ohio led by John F. Wachter III and John F. Wachter Jr., purchased the Harvester property in 2021.

Photos by Kara Richenberg.

Press Release:

The Holland Land Office is proud to announce the next presenter in its Guest Speaker Series on Wednesday, June 11, at 7 p.m. Hofstra Law Professor Stefan Krieger shares the story of his great-grandfather's murder in Batavia in 1915. Yomtov (Jacob) Schoenberg was viciously murdered in his sleep while at home at 138 Liberty Street by an intruder who bludgeoned his head with a piece of scrap iron. Mr. Krieger decided to delve deeper into the case and has written a piece about it. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for our monthly Trivia Night on Thursday, June 12, at 7 p.m. Get your disco balls ready and leisure suits on and test your knowledge of the 1970s. We promise it is more than just disco. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next act in our Concert Series on Friday, June 20, at 7 p.m. Don Dwyer will be returning to play his compilation of songs in honor of the bicentennial of the Erie Canal. Come and listen as Don plays and tells "The Songs and Stories of the Erie Canal." Admission is $5/$4 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for the next presentation in our Java with Joe E. series on Thursday, June 26 at 9 a.m. Local author and former Air Force Sentry Dog Handler, Russ Benzin, will be sharing his recently published book, "The Amazing Skipper." Russ details his life through the dogs he called best friends throughout his life, including with his veterinarian wife Dr. Mary. The main focus though is his time with Skipper, who was his partner during Vietnam while he served as a dog handler in the Air Force. Admission is free with coffee and donuts. Thank you to Tim Horton's of Batavia for sponsoring Java with Joe E. for 2025.

Photos by Kara Richenberg