Skip to main content

Drug take-back day scheduled for April 22

By Press Release

Press release:

On Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., law enforcement agencies across Genesee County and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will provide the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. There will be three locations across the county where citizens can dispose of their medications. Sharps will only be accepted at the Batavia location. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

  • The Batavia Police Department, in conjunction with United Memorial Medical Center, will be accepting prescription drugs and sharps in the Alva Place parking lot across the street from Batavia Showtime (located in the Genesee County Mall), Batavia.
  • The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office will accept prescription drugs only at the Pembroke Town Hall, 1145 Main Road, Corfu.
  • The Le Roy Police Department will be accepting prescription drugs only at their headquarters located at 3 West Main St., Le Roy.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. 

In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, there are many other ways to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs every day, including the 11,000 authorized collectors that are available all year long. The Batavia Police Department Headquarters has one for everyday collection of drugs located in the rear vestibule at 10 West Main St., Batavia, NY. Containers are also located at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office on Park Rd, Batavia, and at the LeRoy Police Department. Sharps are accepted at United Memorial Medical Center, 127 North St., Batavia.

Village of Oakfield asked to allow residents to own up to six egg-laying hens

By Howard B. Owens

samantha_ilacqua_chickens.jpg

Samantha Ilacqua loves fresh eggs and wants to have them available for her children -- like her mother had since she was in first grade -- and since Oakfield is a rural community, she believes that village residents should be allowed to own up to six egg-laying hens.

On Monday, she presented a petition signed by more than 40 other village residents asking the village trustees to change the zoning ordinance to allow hen-raising in the village.

"I feel like we should be able to have them in this rural community," Ilacqua said. "It's a right-to-farm community, and we should be able to have chickens in our own back yards, as long as they're fenced in cages and only six hens."

Here is a portion of the speech she gave to the village trustees at a previous board meeting:

Changing this law benefits both families as well as the Village of Oakfield.  The Village of Oakfield can create income from allowing hens in the Village by charging for permits.

Families should be able to know where their food came from, as well as be able to raise their own food especially in these economic times.  In January an eighteen count of eggs was $8.42.  

Chickens are great for pest control in gardens (they eat ticks), as well as waste reduction as they can eat food that would normally end up in a landfill. 

I know this topic has come up previously, and I could talk to you about statistics and proof of successful ownership in larger villages, but I think I would rather talk about why I am coming to you tonight.

I grew up in Bergen, New York.  In 1999, My first-grade class hatched chickens, and my parents decided to build a coop. We took home those chicks that hatched.  My parents have had chickens ever since.  A Cambridge study even shows the nutritional value of fresh eggs versus commercial is consistently higher.  

When my husband and I moved into our current residence, it wasn’t long before we decided we wanted chickens of our own.  There really is nothing like raising the food that you eat, knowing where it came from and teaching your children the life lessons and responsibilities that come from owning pets.  I was shocked to find out that in the Village of Oakfield, I was not allowed to have chickens at all, but if I lived in the City of Batavia, I would be allowed six hens.  

I can not think of a better time than now to allow village residents the right to grow their own food.  Eggs are a staple in homes.  I personally believe the wording of, “farm animals” is broad.  If you have ever been around chickens, they are quiet, about the same decibels as humans having a conversation.  There is a huge difference between having a goat or cow in your backyard versus having a few chickens.

I am not sure why the board has denied previous requests of allowing chickens in the village.  I have heard that one possible concern is that foxes could make their way into the village looking for the chickens.  Research suggests that well-designed coops could mitigate that risk.  I believe that education on the front end would avoid issues later on, such as a Hen agreement to be signed at the time of receiving a permit or even licensing the chicken coop by maintaining a building/zoning permit versus licensing the hens.  Additionally, this could potentially generate some decent income for the village.  Hunters obtain licenses and permit to hunt.  Fishers obtain licenses to fish.  Residents could obtain a permit to keep six hens.  

Mayor Dave Boyle said the trustees will discuss the proposal at its May meeting and perhaps vote on it that night.

Photo by Howard Owens.

Faith, Family, City: new councilman ready to represent

By Joanne Beck

david_twich.jpg

When he was in high school, David Twichell never intended to have children.

“The good Lord decided differently,” Twichell said during an interview with The Batavian. “Now I have 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.”

And the retired grandpa — most formerly facilities manager for Bank of America’s six states of the Northeast  — spends a lot of time with the little ones. He names it as one of his biggest hobbies. Perhaps no surprise is that Twichell has also served on the city’s Youth Board.

He believes in the JFK adage, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” And so, now that has filtered “down to the city level,” the newly inducted City Councilman said.

Twichell was sworn in Monday as the Second Ward representative, temporarily filling a vacancy left by Patti Pacino until the election in November.

A homegrown Le Royan and 1973 Pavilion High School graduate, Twichell went on to work as a guard at Attica State Correctional Facility in the mid-1970s for two years. He was then picked by Genesee County Sheriff’s Office to become a deputy.

“They were looking for individuals that had training in prison activities because, of course, back in those days, all deputies started out in the jail,” he said.

He left to become a single parent. Finding child care for his various shifts proved difficult, so he did it himself, he said. He adopted his first child from his ex-wife and went on to become a foster parent over the course of 20 years. He is glad he didn’t go with those first his school inclinations.

“Raising those three children was one of the best experiences in my life,” Twichell said.

He was on standby during COVID because “you know, when a child wakes up in the morning with a runny nose, you can’t send them to school. So Grandpa got a call at six o’clock in the morning, and I did a lot of babysitting, and I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Even when The Batavian called for an interview, he couldn’t talk because he was surrounded by grandkids, he said. They range in age from 16 to 18 months. Twichell sees the glass as half full for life, including his personal schedule.

“That’s another blessing. I’m divorced. I’m single. I’m retired. So I couldn’t ask for anything more,” he said. “I get up every morning. My days are wide open. And I generally filled them with grandchildren.

And I do some odd jobs on the side, just to keep myself busy as well.”

Hobbies? The 67-year-old has several motorcycles and likes to take a cross-country trip every summer. The latest one was a roundtrip that took him to Washington State, southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Florida. He has family in many states, “so I’ve got lots of places to stay on my trips.”

A newcomer to the government realm of an elected seat, Twichell has spent the past 15 years petitioning for young people during council meetings, he said, especially during budget sessions.

“Now I’m just looking to take that to the next level instead of representing just youth, now I’m representing the entire Second Ward,” he said. “It’s just become public that I’ve taken over the Second Ward from Patti, so I haven’t had much contact yet, but I’m anticipating a lot of future contact with my constituents.”

What challenges does the city face?
“I think some of the challenges that are gonna be forthcoming with the city are the budget, as the state seems to be giving us more and more mandates and less and less support, the new police station, all the development that's been going on with the Savarino project and Ellicott Street, etc., etc. And I think that's where we're really going to be focused with the increasing costs of personnel and fuel and labor costs,” he said. “And I think the city is facing some real fiscal challenges here in the future. And I'm looking forward to working with City Council and the city manager in addressing those issues.”

How will you get to know your constituents and what they think are city issues?
"What I'm planning on doing is primarily going door-to-door, but also putting out a public invitation for my Second Ward constituents and maybe have a picnic in the park or hot dogs and hamburgers. Something of that along those lines."

A motto you live by?
"I live by my faith, my family and my city," he said. "This is where I live. This is where I plan on spending my retirement until my last days. I'm not going anywhere, and am looking forward to these challenges."

He plans to run for the seat in November. His platform is to “ensure a level or reduced taxation structure while maintaining the same level of city services.”

Second Ward City Councilman David Twichell. Photo by Joanne Beck.

Village of Oakfield resident honored for 50 years of dedicated community service

By Howard B. Owens

oakfieldrondalba2023.jpg

Over the past 50 years, Ron D'Alba never did it for recognition.  He didn't hang Christmas lights or help start the Oakfield Betterment Committee or the Labor Daze celebration, coach Little League or serve on the village board or the zoning board of appeals to get attention.

He didn't do any of that so that someday the community might thank him, but that's exactly what took place at the Village of Oakfield Board of Trustees meeting on Monday.

As D'Alba's term on the ZBA draws to a close, the village recognized his five decades of community service.

"The village board would like to recognize and applaud Ron D'Alba for 50 years of dedication and passion to our community," Board Chairwoman Judy Boyle said. "He loves the village, and over the years, he has shown his commitment by volunteering in many capacities. Ron has lived in Oakfield his entire life raising two sons and settling on Bennett Avenue. Preserving the character of Oakfield has always been a concern of his. It has been a major reason he has continued to volunteer and help keep the village a great place to raise a family."

Ron's son Scott is a current board member, and he listed many of his father's achievements over the years.

  • He was a Little League coach and manager from 1972 to 1984.
  • He was a founding member of the sports boosters.
  • He helped raise funds for the first lights on the OAS football field.
  • He was a member of the Youth Recognition Commission from 1975 to 1983.
  • He and his wife Sue were founding members of the Oakfield Betterment Committee.
  • He installed Christmas lights on Main Street in the village.
  • He Helped organize the first Labor Daze celebration.
  • He helped raise funds to build the Gazebo in Triangle Park.
  • He served as an interim member of the village Board of Trustees in 1988 and 1989.
  • And from 2012 until this year, he served on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

"He was born and raised in the Village of Oakfield," Scott said. "He's always loved this community and shown that love, by the way he supported our local school sports teams and in volunteering and finding ways to make this village a nicer place to live and raise a family."

He added at the end of his speech, "We are all here tonight to acknowledge and thank him for his time and service. I've been fortunate enough to witness all this firsthand along with my brother Joel, and couldn't be prouder to call him Dad. Dad, you have instilled this love for community in Joel (Scott's brother) and me. You've always been a true role model, and we thank you for that."

The ceremony highlighting Ron D'Alba was a surprise for him, and he was quite honored for the recognition, he said.

"It means the world to me," he said. "I've been doing this forever because I love the community.  I never expected to get anything. It's beautiful."

Photos by Howard Owens. Top photo, as a gag gift, Mayor David Boyle presents Ron D'Alba with an old village Christmas banner.

oakfieldrondalba2023-2.jpg

Ron D'Alba.

oakfieldrondalba2023-3.jpg

oakfieldrondalba2023-4.jpg

Mayor Dave Boyle reads a proclamation honoring Ron D'Alba on his 50 years of community service.

oakfieldrondalba2023-5.jpg

Idyllic beach setting on Friday turns into chaos and horrific mass shooting for local residents

By Joanne Beck

isle_of_palms.jpg

What better way to enjoy spring break than lounging on a beach at Isle of Palms in South Carolina, soaking up the sun, cooling off in the ocean from the 80-degree temps and spending quality time with family?

Is the picture firmly in mind? Now look over to the pier and see a throng of people. They must have just gotten off a bus to see the sights. After a beautiful, balmy day, it’s time to go take a shower to wash off all the warm, clingy sand.

Just another typical vacation down south, right? That’s what Melanie Domes thought. She and her 10-year-old daughter had gone there to visit a cousin, and two days in, all was well. They had finished their shower and headed down the street.

After that point, Domes’ vacation paradise changed drastically. During the shower, a nearby restaurant’s music masked the sounds of gunfire. Those throngs of people were kids on a senior skip day, and fights had broken out.

“We casually walked out to the street where there were cop cars coming from all directions, sirens and horns blaring. We moved out of the way for the truck thinking someone must have been hurt on the beach.  We then continued to walk to my vehicle, parked across and down the street. As I looked up, hundreds — 400, 500, plus gangster people, came running in our direction. I became very scared, I had no idea what this mass confusion was going on. I first thought to get to the car quick but the screaming and fighting were between us and the car,” Domes said Tuesday to The Batavian.

“A mass of kids came running at us. I was in complete fear; I thought, ‘Are they running to something, or are they running from something?’ I looked around for shelter, and I saw a Dumpster, and thought do we hide in there? I then saw a cop car a few feet in front of us … I really didn't know what these crowds of angry kids wanted.”

The threesome stood next to a police car as Domes scanned the area for viable shelter. They saw a shop owner locking her doors, and “I begged her to please let us come in,” Domes said.

“The tears of horror, I think, was what allowed us to stay. We had to hide behind boxes and clothing and away from the windows,” Domes, a school teacher from Attica, said. “The lady ‘grandma’ and the girl were so kind to us, she kept us updated on what was going on. Six people were shot, and others injured.  We stayed in lockdown for over an hour, watching through the cracks of them running like crazy and cops chasing them. Some pounding on the door. We did try to get to the car and have to turn back and take cover again because it was chaos.”   

Eventually, the store owner, known as “grandma,” led them safely to their vehicle so that they could leave the island. Meanwhile, they encountered kids screaming threats and cursing as Domes clung to her daughter more tightly. Her cousin drove them back; however, the bridge was shut down, making the trip longer for everyone to get off the island, Domes said.

What she hadn’t known at the time was that many others had been hiding as well, one woman and her baby were behind a bush, and others were in a bathroom or holed up in people’s homes.

“I’m a teacher, and the sad thing is, we’ve been practicing for this stuff. I never thought I’d ever have it happen to me, or to my daughter,” she said, pausing for a few emotional moments. “I just thank the Lord that I was with her. So many times, kids wander off at the beach, and that place is such a safe place, I wouldn’t have thought twice about letting her go get an ice cream. I’m still shocked. I broke down several times today.”

Her daughter is also, obviously, upset about the incident — or, more bluntly put — the mass shooting, yet another. Domes is an advocate for having a gun permit and having the ability to protect oneself in situations like this one. The problem is that not all states allow for that, she said.

Her parents taught her to look for an out when learning to drive. If something blocks the path, look to see where you can move to avoid a crash. She has adapted that to other scenarios and believes she tried to do that during the shooting, to look for shelter instead of just having one plan of going to her vehicle.

Another lesson is to “always be aware of your surroundings,” she said.

Even though there were several police officers present, they were focused on the chaos and fights, she said, and not available to help other citizens. It took three hours to get it all under control, she said.

“This experience was horrifying,” she said. “I never thought I would be put in a situation like this. I was beyond grateful I was with my cousin and the lady of the store let us in.”   

According to USA Today, six victims included people between the ages of 15 and 16, and one woman in her 30s who was not part of the beach party on Friday. One suspect, age 16, was arrested for possessing a stolen firearm, and an 18-year-old was arrested for possessing a firearm in a municipal parking lot, police said.

The incident stemmed from a high school senior skip day in the coastal city of Isle of Palms, about 15 miles east of Charleston, SC, when gunfire erupted at about 5:20 p.m., according to CNN news reports.

Photo of Isle of Palms beach submitted by Melanie Domes.

Sponsored Post: New Listing from Reliant Real Estate; 7 Gateway Drive, Batavia

By Lisa Ace


New Listing - 7 Gateway Drive, Batavia
. Solid home in great location-literally a minute from shopping, dining and thruway entrance for quick commute to wherever you need to go! This 3 bedroom home has a spacious main floor large and bright living room, good size kitchen with plenty of cupboards and sliding glass door which leads to great enclosed three season room perfect for all the great weather coming your way! The basement is partially finished into great rec area and utility room has laundry and room for all your storage need's. Located on great city street, this home has great yard with loads of perennials and pretty back yard with deck and small patio area ready for you to play and entertain! The home has been well maintained and is ready for the next person to move in and make it their own! Call Reliant Real Estate today; call 585-344-HOME (4663).

Tops celebrates Earth Day with ecologically friendly efforts

By Press Release

Press Release:

As we edge closer to celebrating another Earth Day here at Tops we are excited to announce the advances we continue to make not only in our day to day efforts to adopt practices that help protect our environment, but also efforts that will make a lifelong impact.

It’s All in the Bag Tops prides itself on working with partners who share the same commitment to environmental
practices so it was a no brainer when Tops had the opportunity to employ BioFlex™ bags instead of traditional plastic bags for its potatoes.

“BioFlex™ ticked all the boxes for us” said Jeff Cady, director produce and floral for Tops Friendly Markets. “A quality product solution that is engineered to break down in landfills all while diverting greenhouse gas emissions. A win-win.” BioFlex™ is a sustainable technology that increases the natural microbial activity in modern landfills and contributes 19 times more energy than that of regular plastic. The packaging is FDA compliant and safe for food contact. Furthermore, BioFlex™ packaging can be designed to maintain recyclability.

“This new packaging is 100% recyclable and also biodegrades in landfills and converts into renewable methane gas,” said president, David Masser of Sterman Masser, Inc. “Tops was the first retail chain to adopt this technology and has the most distribution to date.”

Kinder Way to Clean

When you think earth day you think about what changes you can make to your daily routine to help mother earth. Recycling your plastic bottles and newspapers, but did you stop and think about the cleaning products you’re using also helping in these efforts?

Tops proudly provides you with products with mother nature in mind year round! Tops Full Circle line of products are non-toxic, plant-based, and free of dyes and fragrances which are not only better for you and your family but the environment. From detergent and ecofriendly paper towels, to all purpose cleaning sprays and bath tissue, a kinder way to clean-is simply that.

Let the Sunshine

In 2022 Tops continued to increase its use of solar energy by partnering with EDP Renewables to provide solar power to even more of our stores. Together with Convergent Power + Energy and now EDP, 82 stores will have energy saving solar power.

Tops originally teamed up with Convergent in 2021, the most dependable provider of energy storage solutions in North America, to deliver more renewable energy to upstate New Yorkers in the form of community solar paired with battery storage. The partnership allows Tops stores to be powered by solar farms, which reduces the stores’ carbon footprint. The solar-plus-storage projects developed by Convergent provide Tops and upstate New Yorkers access to solar energy whether or not the sun is shining and reduce the state’s reliance on power plants during peak demand hours.

“Convergent and EDP are dedicated to mitigating the impact of a warming planet on current and future generations by advancing the clean energy transition, so expanding a partnership of this nature seemed only fitting,” stated Sautter.

Running on Clean

In 2022 Tops further enhanced its fleet of trucks by converting over to 48 new CNG trucks with impressive sustainability benefits. Fueled with clean burning natural gas, opposed to diesel fuel, these new trucks will eliminate 3,246 MT of carbon dioxide equivalent per year by fueling 1,000,000 DGEs of RNG.

To put that into perspective that is equivalent to eliminating 33,389,607 miles driven by a passenger vehicle, 502,034 incandescent lamps switched to LED’s or 563,607 trash bags of waste recycled instead of being placed in a landfill.

“Our ongoing commitment to sustainability is met with enthusiasm and resolve every day, as we work to ensure we leave our communities—and our planet—better for the next generation,” said John Persons, president, Tops Friendly Markets. “We are excited to be working with so many business partners whose values align with our environmental conservation vision."

To learn more about all of Tops sustainability efforts, visit https://www.topsmarkets.com/sustainability

Town of Pembroke named Economic Development Partner of the Year

By Press Release

fancher_groundbreaking.jpg

Press Release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) has announced that the Town of Pembroke will receive the Economic Development Partner of the Year award at the GCEDC’s annual business meeting on April 28, 2023 at Batavia Downs.

The town of Pembroke, located in the western part of Genesee County, continues to facilitate economic and community development with the GCEDC and other partners in the region. With the support of the town, the GCEDC has been able to build both a shovel-ready site, the Buffalo East Tech Park, and infrastructure improvements that enable Yancy’s Fancy to continue to produce good jobs and award-winning artisanal cheese enjoyed across the region. In 2022, construction of Brickhouse Commons is increasing capacity for market-rate apartments and future commercial spaces at the park.

"Through their vision and dedication, Genesee County’s municipalities create and expand our capacity for economic growth and financial investment. The town of Pembroke’s commitment to smart growth and a business-friendly approach has earned it a deserved reputation as an ideal place to invest and grow businesses, housing, and careers," said GCEDC President and CEO Steve Hyde. “This award is a testament to the leadership of the town.”

Since 2022, projects proposing over 1.6 million sq. ft. of facilities in Pembroke have been approved by the GCEDC’s Board of Directors, including the $142 million Horizon Acres Associates project, to service customers in Pembroke and across the Northeast US. The multi-phase project will be the largest economic development investment located outside of a GCEDC
business park in the agency’s history.

“The town of Pembroke continues to be a catalyst of economic development in collaboration with the GCEDC team as we have seen our housing stock grown and businesses invest which in turn has made Pembroke a desirable community to live, work and recreate,” said Town of Pembroke Supervisor Tom Schneider.

Approximately 250 business, government, community and economic developments leaders are expected to attend the annual meeting. To register, for the GCEDC Annual Meeting, contact the GCEDC at gcedc@gcedc.com, call 585-343-4866, or visit the event’s website.

Submitted photo of Fancher groundbreaking.

Accident reported on Thruway in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

A motor vehicle accident with one car over the guard rail is reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 388.5, with unknown injuries.

Town of Batavia Fire and Le Roy Ambulance dispatched.

 

Grass Fire reported in Alexander

By Howard B. Owens

A grass fire is reported at 10724 Alexander Road, near Stroh Road, in Alexander.

The fire is approaching a residence.

Alexander Fire dispatched.

City Fire warns of elevated fire danger this week

By Press Release

Press release:

Today and through the remainder of the week, we will have above-normal temperatures along with gusty winds.

These winds could reach as high as 40 MPH, which along with a dry air mass, relative humidity lowering to 25 percent and dry dead brush, makes a prime situation for potential wildfires.

As a reminder, the annual statewide burn ban is in effect until May 14. City residents are also reminded to follow City code.

Any questions or concerns can be directed to the City of Batavia Fire Department.

 

City Council welcomes new member, votes to pursue funding for new police station

By Joanne Beck

david_twichell.jpg

City Council members agreed to lay the groundwork for a new $15.5 million police station and appoint a new Second Ward representative during Monday’s business meeting at City Hall.

After approving a resolution to bring David Twichell aboard to fill the seat recently vacated by Patti Pacino, council, including Twichell, later voted on resolutions to seek funding from the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Program as a potential funding source for a new police facility.

The city of Batavia has already been awarded a $2.5 million congressional grant, which is to be applied toward the cost of the facility to “address capacity concerns, building limitations, improve handicapped access and ensure quality police protection services now and into the future.”

As for payment of the remaining $13 million, the resolution states that “the process of applying for a loan does not obligate the city of Batavia in any way unless, and until, a specific loan and grant offer has been extended to the city by USDA RD and the city of Batavia’s approval of the offer is attained.”

Council also approved financing the cost of project construction of the police station with bond anticipation notes. The construction expenses in connection with the capital improvements of the police department safety headquarters are authorized at a maximum estimated cost of $15.5 million, according to the resolution.

The station will be located in the parking lot across from the Jerome Medical Center on Bank Street next to Alva Place. 

Councilman Bob Bialkowski said it will be nice to see a new facility after the decades -- estimated to be at least half a century -- of making do with older stations. A new facility "certainly meets the upcoming needs" of the department, he said. Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. agreed.

"It's long overdue," he said. 

Photo: Newly sworn-in member David Twichell, right, sits alongside members Eugene Jankowski Jr., left, and Paul Viele. Photo by Joanne Beck.

Bergen cannery is growing, sells locally and looking to hire

By Joanne Beck

paulygtops2023-2.jpg

There are two things that Gino DeMino knows about tomato sauce: taste and price.

When locally produced Guglielmo’s sauce came onto Batavia Tops shelves, DeMino, the store manager, knew another good one had arrived.

“I’ve had it, it’s fantastic. It has great flavor, and it’s not watered down. It has a more homemade taste,” DeMino said. “His sauce is a premium. They’re starting to do better with inflation.”

Premium equals higher quality and also means a higher price. Since inflation has been driving up prices of most everything, that has helped sales of those more expensive items, he said.

DeMino has the qualifications to know products, he said: he’s been in the business for more than 20 years and “I’m Italian.”

“I tend to eat more pasta than most people,” he said.

Guglielmo’s, a generational sauce made at Craft Cannery in Bergen, is sold at a long list of stores in neighboring counties, including Tops Friendly Markets. The sauce arrived at Batavia Tops about six months ago, but DeMinio had discovered it before then, at a Rochester store.

Several small businesses bring their recipes to Craft, which manufactures their products as a safe, reliable end result. Red Osier of Stafford is another local client that has marinades and sauces in Tops and Wegmans, and more distant places, such as Hotdog Charlie’s from the Albany area, is a hot seller, Tom Riggio said.

The ever-expanding vendor list is just one sign of Craft Cannery’s robust health, said Riggio, Guglielmo’s business partner. They have more than 75 clients.

“We’re growing,” Riggio said. “As far as the size of the expansion, we’re not exactly sure of the exact size at this point in time, but anywhere between 3 and 5,000 square feet. It’ll allow us to build a separate warehouse behind our building for storage purposes and allow us to put in a second kitchen, essentially a second bottling line facility.

“Our sweet spot is the local restauranteur that says they think they've got the best pasta sauce. And it was actually very, very helpful during COVID when these restaurants weren't open,” he said. “They would come to us with their pasta sauce recipe, we would make it food safe and bottle it for them. And then they get it on shelves.”

Craft Cannery is one of six USDA-certified manufacturing canneries in New York State that allows the company to produce meat-based products. It’s a good opportunity to continue to grow the business, he said. Based at 7100 Appletree Ave. in Bergen, the site on the east end of Genesee County continues to update its products and hire new personnel, especially after the expansion is completed by the first half of 2024.

One of its more recent products has been the EZ cap using new technology “which allows people that struggle to open jars to essentially push a button and be able to open a jar with a lot less force,” he said.

“Our business continues to grow, we’re experiencing growth,” Riggio said. “We’re looking to add more people. We’re up to eight, we’re adding one new this Monday. Two more next week. And seven to eight to run the second line.”

With all of the good, there have been a few bumps along the way since purchasing the company in May 2020. Craft lost a client they had been producing six varieties of sauces for, which meant taking a financial hit. They had purchased raw materials, made product and shipped it out before learning that Real Eats out of Geneva had gone out of business. It was a loss of “tens of thousands of dollars,” Riggio said.

“It stings. It’s the cost of doing business for us. Thankfully, you know, we plan for these situations,” he said. “Our business will be fine; it hasn’t impacted our business. Our employees will be able to use some of the raw materials.”

Contrary to how some news articles made it seem, Craft Cannery is alive and well, he said. If anything, he will take a page from that other company’s last chapter and learn to move carefully with Craft Cannery. The site is big enough for options.

“We’ve got land that we could expand even further. But what we don’t want to do is, we don’t want to over-expand. We’re going to take the steps that we need to do to keep up and grow the business,” he said. “I don’t want to overstep it and put the business at risk, which is exactly what happened with Real Eats. I’ve got a background in building businesses and brands. And obviously, Paul is the face of the company. So the two of us make a good one-two punch.”

paulygtops2023.jpg

Top Photo: Paul Guglielmo shows some of his sauce that's locally made at Craft Cannery in Bergen and now available at Batavia Tops on Lewiston Road. Photos by Howard Owens.

GC Master Gardeners invite you to hear about Community Garden history

By Press Release

Press Release:

The Genesee County Master Gardeners invite you to a free presentation on the “History of the Batavia Community Garden,” Monday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. The program will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main St., Batavia, NY.

The Batavia Community Garden opened for its first season in the summer of 2013. Its goal was to provide city residents with space to grow fresh produce in community with other gardeners. Just as the garden’s number of plots has grown, so too has the garden’s service area. In 2022 all residents of Genesee County became eligible to rent a garden bed. It’s been 10 wonderful years of growing our garden and our community! Join us for this free program.

For more information please contact CCE Genesee County, (585) 343-3040, ext. 101, stop by the CCE office at 420 E. Main St. in Batavia or visit the website.

GCC's 5th annual Business Idea Pitch Competition is April 26

By Press Release

Press Release:

Every solid business venture starts with one thing - a pitch! Whether making a sale or convincing an investor, your business idea pitch has to be organized, well-thought out, powerful and convincing! GCC is here to help get you prepared!

If you have a passion you would like to turn into a business but you aren't sure if anyone else will think it's a good idea, consider participating in GCC's 5th Annual Business Idea Pitch Competition on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in room T102 of the Conable Technology Building at Genesee Community College's Batavia Campus.

The competition is free and open to the public and prizes of $100 for first place and $75 for second place will be awarded to the most outstanding competitors in the "most likely to succeed" and "most creative" categories. Pitches will be judged by local business leaders.

According to Dr. Lina LaMattina, director of Business Programs at Genesee Community College, "A solid Business idea pitch is critical for any startup, and this competition will help participants learn how to organize, develop, and deliver a powerful and convincing pitch."

To participate in this event, please register for our Business Idea Pitch Competition by emailing Dr. Lina LaMattina, GCC director of Business Programs at lmlamattina@genesee.edu or Amy Conley, GCC Professor of Accounting at avconley@genesee.edu no later than Thursday, April 20, 2023.

For help developing your Pitch for this competition - SIGN UP for our FREE Workshop on campus to help you prepare: Tuesday, April 18th at 12:30 p.m.

RSVP to Dr. Lina LaMattina at lmlamattina@genesee.edu or Amy Conley at avconley@genesee.edu no later than Friday, April 14, 2023 - to ATTEND this Workshop.

Among the leading causes for startup failure is a lack of basic business experience. In lieu of losing thousands of investment dollars, today's entrepreneurs have found another way to gain that experience before launching their startup - education. Genesee Community College offers degree, certificate and micro-credential programs in Entrepreneurship to prepare emerging business owners and investors for success.

For more information, contact Vice President, Development and External Affairs Justin Johnston at (585) 345-6809, or via email: jmjohnston@genesee.edu.

Steel Band Festival at GO ART! this weekend

By Press Release

steel_alchemy.jpeg

Press Release:

GO ART! is excited to host the Western New York Steel Band Festival on Saturday afternoon, April 15 at the Batavia City Centre. Organized by teaching artist and percussionist, Ted Canning, the event welcomes everyone to come enjoy steel pan bands performing on this instrument developed in Trinidad and Tobago. Admission is a $5 suggested donation, and
ample parking is available at the City Centre.

The event begins at 2 p.m. with a pre-concert presentation, Pan in Trinidad, with longtime Rochester pan player and band leader, Alfred St. John. Alfred was born and raised in Trinidad and experienced the first several decades of the instrument’s growth there in the 1940’s-60’s.  The program continues with a concert at 3:00 pm, featuring the Lancaster High School Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra, Rochester Institute of Technology’s Tiger Steel, and the Steel Alchemy Community Steelband.

The concert will conclude on a high note with joint performance of all the bands together. Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra was started by John Marone in 1974, and is the third oldest established continuing steel drum program in the United States. The group performs numerous concerts and events annually in the greater Buffalo area, has produced several recordings, and has traveled from Philadelphia, Chicago, Disney World and Trinidad. The RIT Tiger Steel band is newly formed over the past year, offered as a class in a campuswide initiative to enhance the experience of arts for all students.

They have represented the university at events off campus and were featured in the 2022 holiday video card for the university. Steel Alchemy was formed in 2001 as a community- based band, open to anyone ages 13 and older. With an emphasis on intergenerational group learning, the band performs at town festivals, concert series and private events throughout the Genesee Valley. Steel Alchemy and Tiger Steel are directed by Ted Canning.

“I’m really excited to bring this festival to Batavia, in what I hope will be an annual event,” says Canning. “It might be surprising for people to learn that our part of the state has a significant Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council WNY Steelband Festival Release 
connection to the Trinidadian steel band tradition and its founders, from the groups featured at the
festival as well as Paul Ferrette’s Caribbean Extravaganza in Buffalo, Al St. John’s Trinidad and Tobago
Steel band in Rochester, and a history of school bands in Rochester, Randolph, Ithaca, Naples, and
Dundee. I have wanted to bring our groups together for a long time, and to share this music with our
community—it will be a great time!”

The Western New York Steel Band Festival is being presented as part of the activities of
GLOW Creatives, a group of 10 artists (including Canning) at GO ART! who received a grant from
the Creatives Rebuild New York Artist Employment Program, supported by the Mellon Foundation.
GO ART! programming is also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the
support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

The event is at Seymour Place, 201 East Main St., Batavia, New York, 14020-2205. For more information, call  585-343-9313. email info@goart.org or go to www.goart.org

Photo submitted from online source.

Top Items on Batavia's List

Tourism Marketing Assistant Position The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, serving as the official tourism promotion agency for Genesee County, NY is seeking an experienced marketing professional to assist in the overall Chamber tourism and marketing initiatives for Genesee County. https://visitgeneseeny.com/about/join-our-team
Tags: Jobs offered
Town of Batavia Court Department is seeking a part time as needed Court Officer. Court Officers are responsible for maintaining order in the court room and court facility during proceedings. Please send resume to Town of Batavia, Attention Hiedi Librock, 3833 West Main Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020. Complete job description is available on the Town web site or at the Town Hall Application deadline is April 15, 2024.
Tags: Jobs offered

Authentically Local