Business

A six-figure bonus package approved for staff members of the Genesee County Economic Development Center were earned by a great performance in 2011, said outgoing county Legislator Hollis Upson today after the perks were announced.

He characterized 2011, which saw, according to the GCEDC, 172 jobs created and more than $3 million in strategic investment approved, a great year for the center.

"The year was better than our expectations at the beginning of the year and better than anyone could have anticipated under the circumstances," Upson said.

Upson is finishing up his time on the legislature. It will be up to the legislature in 2012 to determine whether he continues to represent the county on the GCEDC board.

The bonus payments total $120,000 with $72,000 going to the CEO, Steve Hyde. It will be up to Hyde to determine how the remaining pot of money gets divided among the rest of the staff.

Asked if Hyde's bonus is justified in a county where the median annual income is just over $40,000, Upson said that, of course, he would like to get that kind of bonus himself, but he doesn't have a problem with it.

"I feel he deserves it," Upson said. "I know the work he's doing and if you compare it to what he does with the private sector, what he could be getting in the private sector would be much more."

The whole staff, Upson said, deserves credit for a job well done in 2011.

"They exceeded all of the goals we set for them," Upson said.

The GCEDC press release said 172 jobs were created; the goal for capital investment commitments was $13.8 million, and there were $51.3 million in commitments in 2011; and, two, rather than just one, major projects of at least $10 million in investment were signed (Alpina and expansion at O-AT-KA).

The only goal not met was for GCEDC to close a mega project deal worth more than $50 million.However, Upson noted, the Project Wave deal is just a few details away from being finalized.

"It was a pretty significant year for us when you consider that everybody else (in other jurisdictions) is in pretty dire circumstances," Upson said.

Press release:

Batavia Downs Casino is pleased to announce that following a recent approval, a new Tim Horton's will open inside Batavia Downs Casino on Wednesday, Dec. 21, sometime in the afternoon.

“Tim Horton's has proven itself to be an industry leader and partnering ourselves with that brand will strengthen our own,” said Mike Kane, CEO and president of Batavia Downs Casino.

The Tim Horton's will occupy the site formerly knows as “Crumbs” and will serve Tim Horton's brand drinks as well as doughnuts. Other lunch items that “Crumbs” served will also be available. Tim Horton's brand coffee will be served for free to persons playing on the gaming floor.

Batavia Downs in owned and operated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public benefit corporation. The track is also home to Batavia Downs Casino, featuring more than 600 video slot machines. Batavia Downs Casino is located less than one mile from Thruway Exit 48 and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. Admission and parking are always free.

In a way, you can thank Walmart for the new grocery store downtown, which held its ribbon cutting today and will officially open Wednesday.

Co-owner John Hedlund (top photo, right) once owned a grocery store in a small town in Pennsylvania, then Walmart came to town. The giant retailer leveled a hill across the street from his store and within six months had taken away half his business.

After closing the store, he started looking for other opportunities in the grocery business, and with his desire to remain entrepreneurial and independent, the Save-A-Lot model appealed to him.

Hedlund converted his Jubilee store in Salamanca to Save-A-Lot and along with business partner Bill Larson now owns and operates four Save-A-Lot locations in Pennsylvania and New York.

Larson was owner of the former IGA store in Corfu.

"Walmart devastated me, but they also put me on a different track," Hedlund said. "The Save-A-Lot program is a great business to bring to a community."

Save-A-Lot is a mixture of corporate-owned stores and licensed stores, such as the new one in Batavia. The company operates 1,200 stores nationwide.

The Save-A-Lot model is to maintain low prices with a comparatively limited inventory and smaller stores -- Batavia's store is 18,000 square feet, which is large for a Save-A-Lot. The store also sells its own brands, such as Bubba's sodas, Malone's canned meats and Manita's pasta (names taken from actual people who work at corporate headquarters in Earth City, Mo.

"The Save-A-Lot format is to provide quality products at lower prices," Hedlund said.

Larson (top photo, left) said the produce and meat offered at Save-A-Lot are always fresh and of the highest grade available.

Victor Gautieri's family company owns the former Jubilee/Latina's building -- between Jackson and Court streets on Ellicott Street -- where the new store is located. There are still 22,000 square feet available for lease. Gautieri said he hopes it becomes a retail hub for downtown anchored by Save-A-Lot.

"From the word on the street, we're hearing people say this is a godsend for Downtown Batavia, " Gautieri said. "And we're finally getting this white elephant off the shoulders of the city."

Outgoing City Council President Marianne Clattenburg said, "We're very happy in the City of Batavia to finally have another grocery store downtown."

More than a dozen customers were in the store after the ribbon cutting to check out what it has to offer and buy a few items.

"I like it because I used to drive to Save-A-Lot in Le Roy, but that's too far to drive," Carla Laird said. "And it's hard to get to Tops a lot of times."

Billie Jo Laird said, "It's great for people who don't have a car and can't drive."

Hedlund said it's the goal of his company to help the communities they serve to thrive.

"The downtown area was missing a grocery store and it needed a grocery store," Hedlund said. "This is a great opportunity for us."

On my Sunday drive I took a turn down Brookville Road in Alexander and started to drive past a little craft store I've passed many times, but this time, I decided to stop.

It seemed like a good place to maybe find a present for my mother.

Once inside I met Barbara Richmond, the sweet and caring proprietor (she owns the shop with her husband, Hugh).

Barbara told me all about the store, which is stocked with handmade items from artisans and crafters from throughout Western New York.

A lifelong crafter herself, Barbara got to know many other knitters, quilters and seamstresses during her many years of attending craft shows.

Two years ago, a little weary of traveling to craft shows, Barbara decided to open Simply Homespun in a little shop next to her home at 10431 Brookville Road.

"As I got older, I found I wanted to have something closer to home and many of our vendors are also getting older and they find its easier to sell in one outlet rather than travel distances to put something up for sale," Richmond said.

The little shop is stuffed with what Barbara calls "needful things" -- dish towels, pillows, blankets, pot holders, scarves and hats, for example.

"This was the way I was raised," Richmond said. "We learned to make the things we needed and the things we wanted because you couldn't always afford to buy these things."

The shop is seasonal and is currently stocked with Christmas-themed items.

Store hours March through Dec. 31 are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The phone number is 591-0470, which is important to know because if an item you want isn't in stock, perhaps Barbara can find somebody to make it for you.

"If you need a special time or something special made, we have the people and the time for you," Richmond said.

The crafters who supply Simply Homespun are all located in Western New York, from Buffalo to Rochester, and several right in Genesee County.

"The general public needs to know, too, that there are still things out there that are handmade, that are needful things, that are available," Richmond said. "You don’t need to go to another country (to have things made)."

In an era when it seems just about everything is going digital, Jennifer McAuley has taken her business in the opposite direction.

The former Buffalo resident -- she and her family moved to Corfu in August -- has made her living for years selling secondhand items on Ebay.

But as of Friday, McAuley's Bargain Bin is now a "brick and mortar" business. McAuley opened up shop in the Mortellaro building on Jackson Street.

“My Ebay fees were way over what I could pay for a store," McAuley said. "And with a store, I can actually  interact with customers and not worry about postage and ‘hey the post office broke it,’ or whatever.”

When McAuley held a garage sale in Corfu over the summer, the sale went so well, she started to think she needed to open a shop in Genesee County.

"With the economy and everything else going on, this is the best business to open up here,"  McAuley said.

McAuley gets most of her merchandise from storage unit auctions, store return merchandise and overstocks.

She prides herself on keeping prices low, "just like a garage sale."

"A little kid came in yesterday and he told my daugher he only had 50 cents," McAuley said. "I had a pair of Jordon sneakers for 50 cents. He said, ‘I need to get these so I have a new pair of sneakers just like my brother.’ He paid for them with his own money and he was so happy with them. It was absolutely unbelievable. To give somebody a good item at a discounted price is amazing.”

By 4 p.m., Friday, there was a three-hour wait for tattoos and piercings at High Voltage on Main Street, Batavia.

People were lining up for $25 tattoos and $15 piercings with all of the proceeds going to Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.

Owner Mark Fanara posted on Facebook this morning that the event raised more than $2,000 and the crowd didn't clear out until 11 p.m.

Tattoos and piercings were provided by Fanara, Kevin Lockwood, below, and Lisa Vokes.

Cassandra Pierce was among the dozens and dozens of people who showed up at The Laughing Buddha on Friday for half-price tattoos with the donation of a new toy for a family in need.

Owner Jason Lang said toys and gifts were provided to four families, including the Culver family, which recently lost its home in a fire.

In the early evening, Santa showed up at the shop and Lang said people were lining up outside the door waiting to make a donation, get a tattoo, see Santa or just be a part of the event.

Among the donors of food and gift cards were Alex's Place, Center Street Smoke House, Bourbon & Burger and Applebee's.

Pictured with Pierce is tattoo artist Martin Slaymaker.

For the fourth year, Gilmartin Funeral Home has put on display a memorial Christmas tree in remembrance of people who have passed during the year. The tree features a bow and tag for each person remembered and the family is sent a tree ornament with the name of their loved one on it.

"It's a tough time of year because it brings up a lot of memories," T.J. Woodward said. "We hope this eases those memories and brings happier thoughts. It's nice for a family that somebody remembers. It helps with the healing process."

The tree is on display in Gilmartin's newly remodeled entry way.

This sign appeared in a shop window on Ellicott Street in the last day or so.  Nobody was around this morning, so no word on when the new deli might open.

It will be Ellicott Street's third deli. This summer, Molasses Hill moved from Alexander to a location near Harvester Ave., and, of course, on the corner of Liberty and Ellicott is Southside Deli. That location has been a deli or meat market for more than 100 years.

There's been a bit of a boomlet on Ellicott this past year, with four, now five, new shops opening for business.

A couple of readers have wanted to know this morning what's up with the Hess gas station at Oak and Main streets, Batavia, which has its driveways blocked. The station and convenience store are closed for remodeling. The manager said the station should reopen tomorrow.

Friday is your chance to get inked and support a local charity.

High Voltage Tattoo & Piercing, 110 W. Main St., Batavia, will tattoo or pierce anybody who shows up at the door from 10 a.m. until there's nobody left to tattoo or pierce, and donate all of the proceeds to Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.

Tattoos are $25 and piercings are $15, with 100 percent of the fees going to Community Action.

Above, Lisa Vokes, a tattoo artist, and Mark Fanara, tattoo artist and owner, with a examples of the tattoos they will apply Friday for $25 each.

Tattoo artist Kevin Lockwood, not available today for a picture, will also have a series of tats available for people to choose.

All proceeds from jewelry and aftercare product sales will also be donated.

Free refreshments will be provided by Southside Deli, Michelle's Catering Co. & Bakery and High Voltage Tattoo.

Community action helps people from preschoolers to the elderly and those in between with a variety of services.

"Our community has treated us well and we would like to return the favor," Fanara said. "We hope people will stop in to help us raise money to help people and change lives."

Two brothers (Trystan and Max Sandvoss) bought a former horse farm in Bethany a year ago and are now raising goats and making cheese, according to a lengthy article in the Buffalo News.

No one was selling cheese they made from goats who grazed in the green fields of Western New York. "Here, between Buffalo and Rochester there's a bigger market than Seattle," Trystan said.

Spreadable chevre, in double cream, garlic, dill or other flavors? Fresh cheddar curds that squeak between your teeth? For those, First Light Creamery would have first dibs on local cheese fans' wallets.

So the Sandvosses moved to Genesee County in April 2010. They worked on their cheese labels, each bearing the name reflecting their double mission: First Light Farm and Creamery. They retrofitted the stables to house goats, built sanitary rooms for making, storing and packaging cheese. They reached out to nearby farmers to trade byproducts, like their whey (cheese runoff), for a couple of the pigs it would feed.

The Sandvosses aren't quite farmsteaders yet. Their young herd includes 45 goats, with 23 producing milk -- not enough yet to meet demand for their cheese, found at more than 10 farmers' markets this summer and outlets like Premier Gourmet, Farmers and Artisans and the Lexington Co-Op. So for now they blend their herd's milk with high-quality, organic Jersey cow milk from neighbor Brent Tillotson's farm.

So far they've sold pretty much everything they've made, Trystan said. Staffing their farmers' market booth puts them directly in touch with customers, and they appreciate the chance to explain the fine points of their labors.

Richard Wallace has been in a motorcycle accident that led to a near-death experience, had more than 40 bones in his body broken and has been struck by lightning.

But he never takes pain medication.

“I function just fine every day," he said. "That started me to think that if I can do this, other people would benefit, too."

Those experiences led him toward natural healing practices and training in shamanism. After 10 years of training with Native American masters, Wallace said he's been a practicing shaman for 20 years.

This week, Wallace and his partner Antoinette Sidari opened Awakenings Holistic Center at 2995 W. Main St. Road, Batavia.

"We feel people need some options," Wallace said. "We have a holistic cancer program because a lot of people don’t really have other options. They go to a doctor and a doctor tells them this is what we’ve got to do and we’ve got to do it quick, and a lot of people aren’t comfortable with that being the only option.  People often research buying an automobile more than they do their own health care."

Wallace and Sidari met in 2008 and found they had traveled a similar spiritual path. More than a year ago, they began planning a business around holistic healing. After looking at several locations in Western New York, Wallace decided to convert the workshop building behind his house into the center.

"There was just nothing else around," Wallace said, explaining why the couple decided to open the center. He said even similar businesses in Buffalo and Rochester are more limited in what they offer.

Among the services offered by Awakenings are amethyst bio-mat treatment, integrated energy services, holistic cancer treatment, shaman services, meditation and soul coaching.

The store offers a variety of books on holistic healing, crystals and aromatherapy supplies.

"We approach the issues that people have not just as a medical approach, where usually you get five minutes with a doctor and he writes you a prescription," Wallace said. "We approach it with mind body spirit, because it could be an emotional issue, it could be a physical issue, so we take the time with people to see what the problem is."

After Wallace's motorcycle accident in 1985, he said he was sent home from the hospital with an undiagnosed broken neck. That led to a near-death experience, which changed his life. He said at that point, spiritual teachers began to enter his life and he "followed the call of my Native American roots"  into shamanism. He studied with the White Brotherhood for 10 years. He became an ordained minister in 2005, and was ordained again in 2009 as a priest in the Order of Melchizedek.

Sidari's printed bio says she began her spiritual journey a decade ago that "turned ionto a miraculous journey of transformation back to her true self." She's studied healing arts.

She is a certified hypnotherapist.

During her spiritual journey, she has studied the teachings of Buddhist, Hindu, Vedic, Peruvian and Mayan traditions.

Wallace said there is no licensing for what he and Sidari practice.

"A lot of what we do, like what I do, as a practicing shaman, there is no piece of paper that goes with it," Wallace said. "There’s years and years of training and lots of experiences, and practice. I would rather have that than a piece of paper."

John Duyssen says he spent several years studying alternative energy, primarily considering whether to convert his farm to solar or wind.

In the end, the sun won.

"It's more consistant than wind, in my opinion," Duyssen said. "We're putting it in cattle pasture, so there's no wasted space. I don't have a 140-foot tower and cable wires to look at. And it's cool."

In all that study, and all the green agriculture classes and seminars Duyssen attended, he learned a few things about solar power.

With the help of Stein Fabrication in Le Roy, Duyssen installed specially designed platforms for the solar panels that will track the sun both on its daily and seasonal movements. The panels will absorb direct sunlight, which experts told Duyssen will increase the power production of the panels by 30 to 40 percent.

"We'll produce enough power for the farm and the house," Duyssen said. "That's our goal."

The panels and installation are being handled by Liberty Solar out of Buffalo.

The extra, lower-cost power, Duyssen said, should help him increase strawberry and honey production. Honey, he said, takes a lot of electricity for heating and refrigeration.

Asked if he wanted to share how much the solar panels are costing (some of the cost is offset by power company grants), Duyssen said, "Oh, no, because everybody will say I'm out of my mind to do this."

The 10-year break-even point could be accelerated by ongoing increases in fuel cost and/or increased production at the farm.

"Utilities just keep going up and up, gasoline, heating oil, diesel," he said. "Every little bit (of savings) helps. I've jammed the numbers and I think it's going to work."

Previously: Duyssens keep 'the family' in family farming

Join in the fun of Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus this Saturday at Scooter's of Batavia. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be waiting by the fireplace from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. Get one child's meal FREE with each adult food purchase ordered off the menu. Plenty of seating. No reservations necessary.

Enjoy a great meal and the thrill the kids get when they see Santa. Santa and Mrs. Claus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Scooter's of Batavia, 3711 W. Main St. Road. Phone is 343-2101.

Press release:

David Cecere, executive vice president for Tompkins Insurance Agencies, has been selected by Safeco Insurance as one of its 12 “community heroes” from across the country. Based on applications submitted by Safeco agents, Cecere’s selection to this group of heroes has earned his favorite local charity, the United Way of Genesee County, a $5,000 charitable donation from Safeco.

But that’s not all. … and you can help! In a nationwide contest to determine which local hero can get the most votes, two of these 12 will win even more for the charity of their choice. When the voting is over on Dec. 15, the hero with the most votes will receive an additional $10,000 from Safeco Insurance for the nonprofit he or she supports! The charity supported by the runner-up gets $5,000.

Anyone can vote for Cecere as our own local community hero, and support the efforts of the United Way of Genesee County. To read more and cast your vote, go to:
http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/175622  before the Dec. 15 deadline. You can vote once each day.

Why vote? One of the strengths of the United Way is that it assists a wide range of people and groups in local communities. Cecere feels strongly about that the breadth of services the United Way can provide. As an extremely active board member for the United Way of Genesee County (affiliated with the United Way of Greater Rochester) in New York, he’s seen first-hand the benefits such a strong safety net can provide to society.

The list of ways the United gives back to the community is too long to list here, but includes youth advocacy, literacy efforts, support for neglected, abused, disabled, pregnant and addicted individuals. (Read the full story on the voting link.)

Over the years, he has served as the United Way Campaign chair, the board chair, and the New Accounts chair and treasurer — an impressive range of roles for a charity that provides such an impressive range of support.

Help our local hero do more by voting today!

Tompkins Insurance Agencies, Inc., has 15 offices in Western New York and six offices in Central New York. A part of Tompkins Financial Corp., (trading as TMP on the AMEX), the agency is affiliated with The Bank of Castile, Tompkins Trust Company, and Tompkins Financial Advisors. It is an independent insurance agency offering coverage through more than 25 different companies for businesses and consumers. Further information is available at www.tompkinsins.com.

Press release:

Mancuso Business Development Group is proud to announce that Creamy Creation LLC will be the first new business in the Masse Place redevelopment project.

An international leader in the development and production of cream-based beverages, the Creamy Creation team will be growing into over 7,000 square feet of office, laboratory and storage space.  Construction will begin as soon as plans and approvals are finalized to renovate a portion of the empty industrial building for their unique operations.

Creamy Creation entered the North American market in the early '90s with a one-person sales office located in La Crosse, Wis. In 1995, the U.S. operations relocated to Batavia, NY in the heart of New York dairy country.

Partnering with Genesee County's O-AT-KA Milk Products resulted in a steady source of top quality New York milk and cream as well as a competent and dedicated workforce. Creamy Creation opened a new production facility on the grounds of O-AT-KA in 2008 and its staff has since grown to nine people. Plans are in place to add two more people in 2012.

More than 60,000 square feet of flex space for office and commercial uses in a park-like setting was created at Masse Place by the partial demolition and creative revitalization of a portion of the Batavia Industrial Center.

“These buildings that were originally built in 1907 now have new utilities and facades so that we can attract businesses and jobs for the 21st Century to Batavia,” said B. Thomas Mancuso, SIOR, the president of the Mancuso Business Development Group.

The Masse Place redevelopment effort started in 2004 as a result of the City of Batavia’s Central Corridor Redevelopment Plan. Actual demolition did not begin until the summer of 2010 and the initial phase of improvements was just completed this August.

Reminder...

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce's Annual Awards Committee has announced the 2011 Annual Awards Dinner will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Clarion Hotel, Park Road, Batavia. This is the county’s premier event that honors businesses and individuals for their achievements in business, community service and volunteerism.

The chamber has streamlined its nomination forms to make submissions less cumbersome and time consuming. Please note that a brief write-up will qualify your nominee for consideration.

Nominations are now being accepted for Business of the Year, Entrepreneurial Business of the Year, Agricultural Business of the Year, Innovative Enterprise of the Year, Special Service Recognition and Geneseean of the Year. Business Nominees must be a chamber member (If unsure of your nominee, call the chamber to verify).

Nomination forms are available at the Chamber of Commerce office, 210 E. Main St., Batavia and can also be downloaded from the chamber website at www.geneseeny.com.

If you would like more information, feel free to call Kelly J. Bermingham, director of Membership & Special Events at the chamber office, 343-7440, ext. 26.

Deadline for nominations is Jan. 6

• Business of the Year Award

The nominee must have demonstrated significant business stability, commitment to the business community, community service and leadership.

• Entreprenuerial Business of the Year

Leading the way in the development of business through opportunities that created uniqueness of business ideas and initiation of the owner.

• Agricultural Business of the Year

Nominee must be considered an agri-business and have demonstrated steady or increased growth in this industry.

• Innovative Enterprise of the Year

A business that is successfully generating and implementing new or novel ideas and methods.

• Special Service Recognition

Does not have to be a business. Can be an organization, club, government agency, educational institute or health care facility that is recognizing a major event or activity/activities. Must have had lasting benefit to the community at large for that organization.

• Geneseean of the Year

A person who has made an outstanding contribution to the community, contributed or volunteered beyond the call of duty, a true unsung hero of today. Person must be a resident of Genesee County.

(Members of the chamber of commerce board of directors are not eligible for awards.)

The doors to Oatka School of Glass opened on Monday evening, giving visitors -- mostly Chamber of Commerce members -- a chance to see what the school has to offer, most notably its new glassblowing class area.

New instructor Justin McKenney gave a lengthy demonstration and lecture on how glassblowing works and how he teaches his classes.

The Alfred University graduate taught glassblowing in the Boston area before deciding to move back with his wife to her hometown, Buffalo.

McKenney said the new glassblowing school at Oatka is the only one of its kind between Buffalo and Corning.

Classes are structured to give people the ability to just dabble in glassblowing -- close supervision on making, for example, Christmas ornaments -- or new students interested in a long-term hobby can start with glassblowing 101. There are also family classes and one-on-one instruction.

McKenney will provide more glassblowing demonstrations during Holidays at Harvester from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday.

For more information on the school, click here.

Bottom photo, some of the Christmas decorations made Saturday by 75 Girl Scouts who visited Oatka on Saturday.

LPL Financial is growing, and to accommodate the growth has moved into new office space in Downtown Batavia.

The financial services office is now located at 216 E. Main St., #3.

Joining LPL as a financial advisor is Judy Thompson, who has more than 30 years experience in the financial services industry.

“We are very excited to have Judy working along side us at LPL,” said Marc Staley, managing principal. “She brings tremendous experience to our office, along with many wonderful relationships throughout Genesee and Wyoming counties”

Thompson joined the firm Nov. 28.

“I am thrilled about continuing my career as an independent advisor,” Thompson said. “I am very passionate about servicing my clients, and dedicated to the ongoing commitment that it takes to build solid relationships with them.”   

Thompson joins the team that already included Jill Meeder, relationship manager.

Staley said that with Thompson’s addition, LPL needed more private and functional office space, so the firm moved from its former location at Main and Jackson streets.  

“Jill and I knew we wanted to stay downtown and remain in the BID," Staley said. "We loved our old location, but privacy and confidentiality became an issue as we grew. Our new space has four large offices, a conference room and a nice reception area.” 

The space also opens the door for adding another financial advisor to the staff at some point in 2012.

It's a matter of finding the right person, Staley said.

“Judy and I share a very similar approach to managing our clients, and it just happens to fit perfectly with LPL’s model," Staley said.

Judy lives in Attica with her husband Peter. She can be reached in her new office at 345-9797 or by email at judy.thompson@lpl.com.

Photo: Staley, left, Thompson and Meeder.