Business

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.

Wednesday, Dec. 7, Center Street Smoke House will celebrate 10 years in business.

To commemorate the occasion, co-owner Cregg Paul is planning a special menu at 1940s era prices -- draft beer for 50 cents and BBQ ribs, for example, at $3.41.

"Not a lot of places that have survived 10 years," Paul noted. "I've seen a number in Batavia come and go, come and go, come and go, so to be around for the 10 year mark is quite an accomplishment."

In 2000, Paul, his brother Scott and friend Tommy Freeman bought at auction a building on Center Street from the City of Batavia that was in a serious state of disrepair.

"It was one of the few free standing buildings that hadn't been torn down by urban renewal or anything else," Paul said, explaining the trio's interest in the location. "It was a great spot, great history, and it needed to be saved. It was about to cave in when we got it."

The renovation to the 1930s-era structure was total.  Workers spent nine months just removing everything from the interior, then contractors installed new wiring, pluming and heating and air, not to mention building a speciality kitchen for southern BBQ.

The group of friends realized their dream of owning and operating a southern BBQ in the heart of Western New York on Dec. 7 when Center Street opened its doors for the first time.

"Ten years ago when we were thinking about it, we realized there wasn’t really any kind of southern food around anywhere," Paul said. "There was nothing here. Rochester was limited. Buffalo was limited.  We always loved going down south and the food was the best part about going down south, so we thought we would bring that back up here."

The celebration started Wednesday at 4 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m.  Besides BBQ beef ribs, the menu will include at $3.41 each, mac & cheese, meat loaf, chicken and biscuit, with hamburgers going for 75 cents and cheeseburgers for 95 cents.

Most readers will probably remember the trip I took to Chicago a couple of months ago – for a conference with other small, local publishers.

One of my longtime friends in the industry was there and she showed off a service she had launched in her local community to deliver really powerful online marketing tools to locally owned businesses.

These were tools that can be really expensive and time-consuming for local businesses to implement on their own, but here was an effective, efficient and affordable solution.

I told my friend I wanted to bring this service to Genesee County. She got me in touch with the developers and a few weeks ago we signed a contract so The Batavian could deliver this powerful platform to local businesses and the local shoppers who will use it.

Today, we are introducing Shop Batavia.

Why will local businesses like Shop Batavia?

First, because never before have merchants in Genesee County been offered such powerful marketing tools at such an affordable rate.

ShopBatavia.com isn't just another "hope they find us" business directory with nothing more than a picture and a few words about your business. With ShopBatavia.com merchants can actually sell online, offer specials, discounts, coupons, daily deals, product information, set up newsletters for direct marketing, integrate with Facebook and Twitter, answer customer questions and do it all in an environment that is professional and backed by same-day phone support.

ShopBatavia.com is bolstered by the marketing power of The Batavian, with its thousands of daily local readers and thousands of Facebook fans.

With powerful reporting tools, you won't have to guess if ShopBatavia.com is working for you. You will know it's working for you.

Why will local shoppers love Shop Batavia?

Because for the first time, they’re going to be able to shop online at dozens of locally owned businesses and either arrange in-store pick up or have the items shipped directly to their homes.

Customers will be able to use Shop Batavia to find local coupons, discounts, special sales, browse restaurant menus and contact local merchants with questions.

And all of this will be available online, from any computer or mobile device 7/24, every day of the year.

I’m excited and pleased to bring Shop Batavia to Genesee County. There is not now, nor has there ever been, anything like Shop Batavia available to Genesee County residents and businesses.

Just in time to meet your Christmas dinner shopping needs, Save-A-Lot is opening in Downtown Batavia.

Planning opening is Dec. 21.

Victor Gautieri, of V.J. Gautieri Constructors, Inc., showed off the space for Save-A-Lot on Friday and said by next week, installation of shelves and cases will begin followed by inventory stocking.

"Save-A-Lot is definately going to fill a need," Gautieri said. "The demographics are perfet for a store like Save-A-Lot. It fits their model perfectly. We’re looking for a very, very successful store."

Gautieri said he expects the customers Save-A-Lot brings to the Ellicott Street location will mean more business for the shops in the immediate area.

"It’s going to be a beehive out in the parking lot," Gautieri said. "There’s going to be a lot of people in the area. We’re anticipating folks that are shopping here at Save-A-Lot, they’re going to go the banks, maybe go to Alberty Drugs, head over to Valle Jewelers, just hit this whole Court Street Plaza area, and hopefully extend out (to the rest of Downtown)."

The Gautieris are also hopeful that Save-A-Lot's success will help attract tenants to the additional 22,000 square feet of retail space available in the former Latina's/Jubilee/Montgomery Ward building.

The family owned construction and real estate company has been buying ads, putting out feelers, doing research and everything they can to find the right tenants for the west side of the building.

"We’re really pushing for retail," Gautieri said. "That’s what downtown Batavia needs is retail."

The 22,000 square feet of space can easily be partitioned into several storefronts, each with windows and doors on the west side of the building.

How the space will be partitioned off depends on what kinds of stores come forward and sign leases.

"We will tailor the space based on the particular tenant," Gautieri said. "It's going to be hard to tell (how the space will be configured). Everybody has their own requirements for their business. We’ll just build it to suit."

Right now the space is filled, both with all of the shelving and cases that will be moved into the Save-A-Lot store, along with leftover fixtures from Latina's. Once all of that is cleared out, Gautieri anticipates they can more effectively show the space to potential tenants.

Volunteers from Habitat for Humanity were at the former Cristina's location on Ellicott Street this morning clearing out junk from the building so that construction can get started on a Restore location for Habitat.

Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County was given the property by former owner Chuck Brumstead, who decided to deed the one building still standing and the land to a local nonprofit group. Habitat was selected from among several applicants.

Brian Bishop, volunteer and communications coordinator for Habitat said the group recently finalized building permits and will now begin work inside the building to create the retail space necessary for Restore. He said no date has been set yet for when the store will open.

After an opening Christmas carol, BID director Don Burkel was given the nod and he flipped the switch, officially lighting Downtown Batavia's Christmas tree. More than 100 people gathered around the tree then joined in singing several more carols to help kick off downtown's Christmas celebration, "Taste of the Holidays."

Press release:

On behalf of city hall, the Batavia Development Corporation (BDC) has distributed a request for proposals to attract developer interest in the former Carr’s warehouse building located on Jackson Square in Batavia. The city has asked for proposals to convert an historic 1880 warehouse into a productive mixed-use, office, commercial or residential building.

“This 6,000-square-foot historic conversion project, considered small to some, could have a real impact in downtown Batavia,” said Jason Molino, city manager. The city acquired the property in 2010 through a delinquent tax foreclosure process.

Consultants have recently indicated a lack of Class A office space availability, a void in certain retail sectors and a gap in modern housing stock for professionals. Each of these uses would be permitted for this project under the city’s C3 zoning law.

Inciting revitalization efforts through public and private partnerships has become the norm for the City of Batavia.

Neighboring to the warehouse, other public-private efforts have resulted in the redeveloped Center Street Smokehouse restaurant and the 19-25 Jackson Street mixed-use redevelopment by the Valle family to house their jewelry store. Habitat for Humanity also acquired a distressed residential property though a unique public-private arrangement with the city.

On a grand scale, the Mancuso Business Development Group wrapped up its multimillion dollar Masse Gateway redevelopment project to improve the product mix, accessibility and infrastructure to the century-old 30-acre industrial site. The city had secured a $1,500,000 RESTORE NY Communities grant that was redistributed to the developer upon satisfactory completion of the project.

“Substantial renovations to more than 100,000 square feet of flex-industrial space would not have been possible without the city’s support,” said Tom Mancuso, president, Mancuso Business Development Group.

Earlier this year, the city submitted a NY Main Street grant request that is expected to leverage a $275,000 private investment to improve 30 downtown commercial and residential properties. And just last month the city applied for a $100,000 grant through the consolidated funding application process to foster job creation at the new Save-A-Lot store prepping to open after considerable renovations to a longtime vacant building. Both of these projects anticipate award announcements this month.

The City of Batavia serves as the regional economic center for Genesee County situated between Buffalo and Rochester at Thruway exit 48. Four State Routes (5, 33, 63 and 98) traverse the city and provide easy access for both consumers and workers. Daily traffic counts top 40,000 vehicles and more than 3,000 people are employed within walking distance of the featured redevelopment site. To request a proposal package, contact the Batavia Development Corporation at 585-345-6380 or jpacatte@BataviaDevelopmentCorp.org.

Mark and Tammy Schmidt figured they needed a little time to hone their coffee making and smooth mixing skills before dealing with a big crowd of customers.

The six weeks they took honing their craft paid off Wednesday when hundreds of people showed up at the Richmond Memorial Library for the grand opening of Best Sellers Cafe.

The coffee shop is the result of a survey of library patrons who made a little coffee shop their number one request.

The Schmidts were able to open their new business after winning the request for proposal process and then working with the library to carve out an appropriate place among the stacks.

"My wife has wanted to run a coffee shop since before Angel's Café was in town many, many years ago, and when this came along she tought we better jump on it," Mark Schmidt said.

With an a cappella choir singing in the background, a crush of customers at the counter and blenders whirring nearby, Schmidt explained that the library's 600 daily patrols provide a good, solid business base, he and Tammy will be looking for ways to attract people to the library, and Best Sellers, who might not otherwise stop in the library.