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As a kid growing up in the Fifth Ward on South Jackson Street, F. Robert “Bob” Bialkowski didn’t move far for the last 53 years of his life on Union Street, where he lives with his wife, Madeline and four-legged companion Hershey, their chocolate poodle.

Point being that he is “very familiar with the district and its needs,” Bialkowski says. 

And, as current City Councilman-at-large, he therefore believes that he is the better candidate for the District 9 seat on the Genesee County Legislature. He is running against fellow council member Kathy Briggs of Ward Five in the June 24 Primary.

“In all the 13 years, I've only missed two meetings, and I've served on many city committees, such as the Audit Committee. I've served on hiring committees, so I've contributed in that way. I also do a lot of research on issues, and I like to get all the background and all the data,” he said during an interview with The Batavian. “And I'm a firm believer, and I think Batavia is a great place, but the work is never done. It's that simple. Two meetings in 13 years when I was out of town is a good record, I think, better than most council members.”

How do you think your time on council has equipped you to be a good legislator for city wards 4 and 5?

“To be perfectly honest, I've followed the county legislature for many years, and I'm very familiar with the district's urban and rural agriculture, and I'm also very familiar with the challenges, like the rural face versus a city,” he said. “I know several state representatives, and I communicate with them often, like George Borrello and Steve Hawley, and I think that would be a great asset. And at the county level, I know all the individual legislators. I've worked with many of them, and I've worked with the county manager, Matt Landers. I have a lot of respect for Matt.”

His bid for a county seat was one of opportunity, since Legislator Gary Maha has decided not to run for reelection, Bialkowski said, and his ongoing interest in county government. His background includes serving in the U.S. Army and National Guard for 30 years, retiring as a chief warrant officer 4, master aviator.

He has also served on committees for solid waste removal and neighborhood improvement, Zoning Board of Appeals, has been on the county’s Republican Committee for 40 years, and is on the West Wing Committee of the Holland Land Office Museum, and has been chairman of the annual Batavia Memorial Day Parade since 2010.

Bialkowski has been accused of asking too many questions during meetings, but he does that because “you, the taxpayers, deserve the answers,” he said. And it’s a trait not likely to go away, as he promises to continue to “work hard to represent you,” while studying the issues and not fearing intimidation to ask questions or vote no when it’s “in your best interest,” he said in his campaign brochure.

What will make you the more effective candidate to represent the two city districts as a legislator?

“Not to sound nasty, but to start with, it's a Republican Primary right now that we're faced with, and I received the majority of the votes from wards four and five for the seat, the majority of the endorsements from the two wards, from the ward members on the Republican Committee. I've always been a Republican, and I don't believe in changing parties. My opponent ran as a Republican, and after a few years, she became a Democrat, and then, when that wasn't fun anymore, she became a Republican again,” he said. “I respect people from whatever party they're in, but they have to stick to their guns and stick to what their party stands for. That's my belief, and regardless of their internal disagreements, they should have stayed loyal.”

Briggs had been a registered Democrat for 17 years before filing to switch to the Republican Party in 2018, claiming it was a matter of returning to her “roots” from having been a Republican in college. 

What challenges do you see ahead for the county if elected?

“First, I'd like to say I'm really frugal when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars, and I act like all the expenditures are coming from my own pocket. And, as you know, Batavia has quite a few seniors living here right now. Here's the challenge: We're facing uncertainty regarding taxes, cutbacks, grants, Medicaid funding, health care," he said. "And in our county, we face some serious water and sewer issues. People don't think about it, they just think the water keeps coming and the sewer is available and it isn’t.

And this is something that I really find irritating: the electric grid is about to reach the limit, and we need to preserve our home rule. The state took away our home rule when it comes to energy. And to me, that is just totally wrong," he said. "And the other big issue I see, we have a great Sheriff's Department, great law enforcement, and it's become very challenging and difficult, and the state Legislature is taking away many of the tools our police department has, and we need to really work to restore them.”

He and Madeline just celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary in January and have a son, Robert, who is a vice president in the finance world.

The Batavian had contacted Briggs, along with Bialkowski, Thursday, and Briggs again on Friday, for a brief Primary preview, and she did not respond.

A parade at noon is one of the highlights for the 35th annual Bergen Park Fest Saturday at 19 Hickory Park, Bergen.

The parade is to be followed by a Flag Day ceremony and celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, and the day is filled with activities from 8 a.m. to live music until 10 p.m.

The line-up includes:

• Steele the Court basketball tournament, registration at 8 a.m.
• Car show 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Bounce houses and games
• Craft vendors and book sales 11 a.m. to 4 p .m.
• Food vendors and mobile bars 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Magic show at 2 p.m.
• Local celebrity dunk tank begins at 2 p.m.
• Chicken Barbecue 4 to 5:30 p.m.
• Fireworks at dusk

Live music:

• Music Maker Band 3 to 5 p.m.
• Rebel’s Posse 6 to 10 p.m.

Go HERE for Bergen Park Fest site.

In February 2024, Jim Morasco was halfway there to fulfill a goal of memorializing his long-lost relatives, Giovanna and Nicholas Morasco, with a stone at Batavia Cemetery.

The third-generation Batavia resident, pastor and author of “Dreaming A Spiritual Journey” traced his family members, who died in the 1930s, to Potter’s Field in the cemetery and vowed to give them something to mark their lives, and their importance to his.

That moment will come at 11 a.m. Saturday at the cemetery on Harvester Avenue, Batavia.

“The Morasco family and the Batavia Cemetery Association would like to invite you to the dedication of the stone for Giovanna and Nicholas Morasco, their ancestors who are buried in the Potter's Field at Batavia Cemetery,” cemetery President Sharon Burkel said.

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of his book was going towards the purchase of the monument for the Paupers' grave, used for those who had no designated grave site due to their social or financial status at the time of death. 

His genealogy project morphed into a project involving well-known Batavian Catherine Roth, a staunch supporter of city and cemetery history. She had helped Morasco with research to track the whereabouts of his long-lost family members: his grandmother had died at the age of 40 with heart issues, and Nicholas was just 6 years old when he died of scarlet fever. 

“When I called Catherine Roth the second time, she said ‘they’re here’; that was the a-ha moment; that’s how I found them,” Morasco said during a previous interview with The Batavian in 2024 at The Pub Hub just across from the cemetery. “When I was in Italy … I went to a church and touched the baptismal. All those people I never knew contributed to who I am.”

The dedication will also acknowledge the importance of recognizing all those who are buried there, Morasco said. Musician Bart Dentino will sing a song during the program.

Morasco is semi–retired, having worked in the field of human services, and is an ordained minister, dually certified through the American Baptist and United Church of Christ denominations. He currently serves as a part-time pastor at Morganville United Church of Christ. 

“We are very grateful that last fall Jim also donated $1,000 from the sale of his book for the restoration and care of the cemetery,” Burkel said. 

During that 2024 interview, Burkel had said that “every soul in the cemetery has a story,” promising that “We’ll pick a nice spot in that area for the marker.” 

Rochelle “Shelley” Stein’s opponent for the District 5 Genesee County legislator seat has said there is a disconnect between Stein and her Le Roy constituents, and The Batavian asked if she knew why or how she would address it.

The way Stein sees it, there was a tie at the Le Roy Republican Committee, resulting in a non-endorsement, and another non-endorsement at the county level, which means a Primary, she said. She is running against newcomer Laurie Mancuso for the District 5 seat on the Genesee County Legislature.

“And this is the democratic process, and I welcome the opportunity to confirm for folks that I'm doing the work that I was elected to do as the county legislator from Le Roy,” she said. “Some of the things that I can absolutely point to are the direct county investments in Le Roy, and that being a multi-year subsidy contract with Le Roy Ambulance so that we can lessen response time and maintain a robust EMS system here in Le Roy that also can respond in the county. We purchased equipment for Le Roy Ambulance for $185,000, and that puts life-saving equipment on those ambulances.

“We also have invested in the high-speed broadband available to all address points, and those investments improve the quality of life in Le Roy,” she said. “And just today, I know that Spectrum has been calling on folks on Thwing Road and North Road, and Griswold Road is on its way. These direct investments are incredibly important to people here in Le Roy.”

Stein said that she is a positive force working for Le Roy, and however other candidates want to campaign, “I am going to stick by what I have done, what I've brought forward of my work and my responsibilities at the county,” she said.

One bone of contention appears to be the sales tax agreement, which was discussed beginning in 2018 and approved on August 25, 2021. The deal capped sales tax distribution at $10 million for the city of Batavia, towns and villages within the county. Ever since, there have apparently been concerns and complaints by town board officials — a few of whom have spoken during county budget talks — and it was shared with Stein as “the crux” of issues with her reelection, she said.

“I’m very proud of the fact that this Legislature takes a long view on capital investments that have to be made, such as the jail and the change to the sales tax agreement that was done. The jail belongs to everybody here in the community, and this is what the county needed to do. It was a difficult decision to come to. It was difficult for legislators. It was difficult for our communities,” she said. “The county Legislature took the stance that when we could share extra, we would, as far as additional revenue distribution, and we actually did that twice. So we did what we said we were going to do.”

The deal was a way to pay off the state-mandated and unfunded $70 million new county jail, Stein said. By capping sales tax distribution, the county was able to reserve $4 million a year for the jail’s debt service.

“I don’t know how that was misconstrued, let me put it that way,” she said. “I’m the only candidate who has any sort of county experience or municipal experience, and I will continue to represent Le Roy in a positive manner.”

The sales tax agreement is for 40 years to match the jail’s debt service, she said. And it didn’t just happen.

“Conversations were had for three years ahead of this. There was a lot of conversation and explanation from the county, including the county manager and the county treasurer. However, this jail did not have any funding stream available from the state. There are no grants,” she said. “It is a requirement by the state of New York to replace this 100-plus-year-old jail, which, quite frankly, other legislatures had kicked down the road. We didn’t have any options left. So you stand up and you do the difficult tasks at hand, and you take the criticisms at the same time.”

As for Stein being elected as the county Legislature’s chairwoman, a two-year term she has consecutively served since 2020, she believes that has only bolstered her position both as a legislator and representative of Le Roy. 

Although her opponent has openly questioned whether it’s a distraction from her District 5 duties, Stein said she thinks “a strength the community would want to have in their elected leader is that other legislators have tapped me to be chair … that shows that there is a trust and a value that other legislators put in me.”

She also shared how her position as chair connects her to opportunities that she in turn communicates to her district officials.

“Just this week … I have shared with both our mayor and supervisor, village clerk and town clerk about the Rochester Area Community Foundation. They are targeting grants for rural communities this year, and I have been in touch with (a key official), asking that I can host a conversation in the county, I would prefer that it would be in Le Roy, of course, or somewhere close to Le Roy, where we can have them come in and talk to us specifically about how these grants are going to work, what the application deadline is, understand the mission of the Rochester Area Foundation, why they are targeting rural towns and villages in Genesee and Orleans County, And what the grant would look like on the front end and the reporting process on the back end.

“Gov. Hochul just announced $100 million available for municipal and not-for-profit community centers. So I again sent this off to both the town clerk, village clerk, the village mayor and the town supervisor because I know that there is an interest in revamping the community pool,” she said. “Then this same week, the consolidated funding application workshop was noted and, again, sent that off, and the GCEDC hosted a meeting for a workshop … so these communications I continue to share these opportunities with both the town and village because when I get these opportunities, sharing them is the best way to keep communication going, and the opportunity for our communities to apply to these grants.”

She added that for the past two years, the county has budgeted for each town and village to obtain up to $5,000  for grant-writing services — a way to bring back our taxpayers’ dollars in the state government to work in their communities, she said, and “all very positive.”

If you were reelected, what do you feel are the needs of Le Roy, and what would be your priorities?

Completion of the 2050 Comprehensive Plan
“That is really going to help us determine how we address challenges in our 10 focus areas,” she said, including the latest one of community wellness to address a lack of beds for end-of-life care; how to get communication out to seniors and sufficiently connect them to services and common tools they can use when not familiar with email and websites.

Obtain the total funding for the $150 million Phase 3 water capacity project
“The impetus of that focus for myself was the fact that we lost out in Le Roy on the Great Lakes Cheese plant, which would have brought hundreds of jobs to our community, and would have been able to help grow our community,” she said. “And that was in 2022 when we lost that opportunity for that economic development project, that really kick-started the focus on getting Phase 3 water capacity, and I have been diligent, committed, laser focused. 

"I have been the one who has the networks with our state and federal funding entities, our engineering folks, our water engineering folks," she said. "Tim Hens said it best: ‘this was the first time that they felt support from the Legislature to really buckle down and knuckle in on this water capacity.’ So that all started from a project that Le Roy lost.”

Initiate a land bank
To help renovate dilapidated homes, get them out of bank holdings and bring them back onto the tax rolls, put those homes back into homeowners’ hands.

The role of the Legislature chair is elected by the other legislators. Stein said that she would serve again if asked to do so by the other members, adding that “there is a lot of work that is unseen.”

For example, she is or has been involved in the Genesee Regional Transportation Council, which funds some bridge projects; the Genesee Regional Finger Lakes Planning Council that works on the comprehensive plan for the village of Le Roy; and three different committees that cover environment, agriculture and resources, and intergovernmental issues. 

She is on the National Association of Counties board, Ag Committee, the Rural Action Caucus, a liaison for Workforce Investment Board, Office For the Aging Advisory Board, Inter-county of Western New York, Genesee 2050 Comprehensive Plan, and GLOW Works Inc.

On a more personal note, Stein also volunteers and serves at Our Lady of Mercy as an Eucharistic Minister and Lector, has been a trustee of the Le Roy parish for 12 years, and has taught catechism doctrine classes for seven years. She was a 30-year volunteer at the Oatka Festival and was part of the Bergen and Le Roy America’s Best Communities grant program, which earned those municipalities a $25,000 economic development plan.

Her 70-year family farm has grown and raised a second generation of ownership, she said, with now its third generation “being interested, being active in agriculture, growing a farm and continuing on with farming,” Stein said. The current owners are her two children, Jerrod and Natasha, and her nephew, Nathaniel, while Stein remains involved as an employee. There have been some accusations of the relationship between her official position and Stein Farms having received grant money in the past.

“I don’t have ownership in the farm. Any grant awarded to the farm is competitive,” she said. “There is no connection to the county; nobody has that amount of reach.”

She stated that her voting record can be verified, and the only potential conflict of interest she recalled was related to a conservation easement. She left the meeting while the remaining legislators discussed the matter and took any related votes. The Batavian did not have time to review her prior voting records before publication.

Why do you believe you deserve the vote for District 5 legislator?
“Because I am steadfast here in Le Roy. I have experience in local government,” Stein said. “I learned what it was like as a town supervisor for eight years and now in the Legislature, that foundation of municipal experience has brought me to a place where I am knowledgeable, I am tested, proven, and I'm trustworthy. That's why I deserve people's votes.”

Early voting for this year's Primary begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Arc Community Center, 38 Woodrow Road, Batavia.

Editor's Note: An interview with Shelley Stein will run on Friday. 

As a newcomer to politics, Laurie Mancuso feels confident with endorsements from the Le Roy Town Board and the Conservative Party. She is supported by former candidate George Vito, who recently dropped out of the race for Genesee County legislator.

Mancuso is running for the town of Le Roy District 5 seat against incumbent Shelley Stein.

As a longtime “transplant” from Ohio who moved to this area while in high school, Mancuso's extensive years in manufacturing leadership have included parlaying 30 years into multiple careers at Eastman Kodak and helping to develop thread sutures of all sizes at Johnson & Johnson — all of which have equipped her to be responsible for meeting the needs of customers and taxpayers alike, she says.

“So, it was really an organization that I was responsible for that included the operations, staff, supervision, engineering, maintenance, etc.,” she said during an interview with The Batavian. “So I was responsible for making sure that we satisfied the needs of the customers that we were filling orders for.

“I’m very pragmatic. I like data to guide some decisions, most decisions, at least when I’m in the capacity of leadership that I’ve been in. Data speaks my language, so to speak,” she said. “But there’s also the people side of things: there’s also that empathetic side of me that relates to people, and how decisions that I make, that we make, affect people and organizations. Any type of leadership role that I was in always had to consider that aspect of things, which was different from some of my peers, but that’s what makes work interesting.”

She obtained her bachelor’s degree in math and sociology — combining data and people — and went on to earn her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Rochester while working at Kodak. There was work and family — her husband, Andrew Kalish, and a now-grown son and daughter — until she retired in 2021.

“I came into politics here locally just recently because I believe that’s where you start to make a difference in your community if you want to move things ahead and make things better in your community,” she said. “I’ve been on the sidelines my whole life. I've been working, raising a family and letting things within the community happen, and now, as I'm retired and can step back and really consider what part I can play to help make things better in our community, I saw an opportunity here where I think I can make a difference.”

Mancuso has been involved in the village’s Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, the village board and Le Roy Republican Committee. She attended both the Le Roy and Genesee County Republican meetings when the current District 5 incumbent, Shelley Stein, did not get an endorsement.

“That was a big signal: there’s something wrong, there’s some discontent, not only locally, but also at a broader county level,” Mancuso said. “I don't know what those things are, but as I've been going around talking with people, as I've petitioned for signatures to get on the ballot, and now as I'm doing more campaigning, there's just a very, very clear disconnection with her and the community. I don't think they're feeling supported by her, and I realize that she's the chair of the committees.

“So her responsibilities would be different than mine going into a legislator role, because I obviously would not be the chair, and I'll be able to really focus on the needs of Le Roy District 5, perhaps more than she's been able to in the capacity that she's in now as a chair,” Mancuso said.  “I don't want to speak for Shelley. I just know that, if I were in her shoes, I can see where that that could be difficult to kind of balance the needs of all those responsibilities, but the bottom line is that the community is feeling that, and I'm directly hearing that and experiencing that, as I mentioned, at the committee meetings.”

If you were elected, what do you feel are the needs of Le Roy, and what would be your priorities?

• “I guess immediately, we need to close the gap with regard to communication and making sure that they in the community know me well, know what work I'm doing for them, what work the legislature’s doing overall, for the county. I just think there's a just a real need to make sure there's that connection. So that would be a big primary focus of mine.
• "The water project is one that is of interest to me as I'm learning more about Phase Three that we're just entering into now, and the timing of everything and considerations, perhaps to include more of the needs that we have within Le Roy for water on the south western side of this district," she said. "As I've been campaigning, I get an earful because they don't have water. And people have considered moving because they don't, and the issues that that brings, and the farmers also, as you can imagine, some challenges there. I will definitely want to understand more about what's happening and make sure the community knows what's happening around that.
• "The land bank is very interesting. I know that's one of Shelley's things that she wants to get done. I'm still learning about that. And my big thing is, I don't want to add more government to the current government, if it would mean adding a whole staff to do that. If the Economic Development Center can take it on, that might be the best place for it," she said. "If it's something that could fit into that type of organization, that would be something I would definitely support."
• "There's still some of the sales tax issue that happened five years ago. I think we're five years into a 40-year agreement now, yeah, the sales tax sharing, we don't want to repeat anything like that again," she said. "So I just want to be very clear that any decisions that we make as a legislature really gets back to our communities and that we understand what those implications are when we make those decisions." 

The sales tax agreement was signed in 2021 as a way for the county to pay its debt service for the new jail. A distribution to the city of Batavia and towns and villages in the county is capped at $10 million a year from the revenue of sales tax, and that is to allow for a debt service of $4 million to be paid off each year.

Why do you believe you're the right choice for legislator?
“I want to make sure that Le Roy District 5 is represented and that I understand the challenges that we have as a county. There’s a lot of things that come from Albany that we have no control over as a county,” she said. “We have to question and utilize the people that we have connected to us, like our assemblymen and state senators, to work with us to make sure that they’re fighting for us and helping make things better and easier for us at the county level.”

Early voting for this year's Primary begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Arc Community Center, 38 Woodrow Road, Batavia.

After Erik Fix became assistant city manager in July 2022, his kids asked him all the time when he would get his next job, he had said. 

After all, he had only been president of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce for 15 months, and was at the United Way a few years before that. 

After landing the city of Batavia job, he said to The Batavian he had no plans to leave any time soon, however, his time has now come.

Fix will be leaving to become chief executive officer for GLOW YMCA, a role left vacant by Rob Walker earlier this year.

City Manager Rachael Tabelski announced his impending departure during Monday’s City Council meeting, after realizing that he will have one more meeting to go before leaving.

 "I just want to wish you all the best … so I’m a little premature, but I anticipate we’ll continue to work together frequently in these capacities,” she said. “You’ve led with integrity, compassion and vision, qualities that have not only strengthened our operations but also inspired the staff.”

YMCA facilities are familiar stomping grounds for Fix, a resident of Le Roy. He previously held several positions with the Genesee Family YMCA, including serving as Genesee YMCA branch manager and director of camping services at Camp Hough in Perry. 

He began his employment with the YMCA after graduating from Roberts Wesleyan College with a bachelor of science degree in organization management.

When Rochester Regional Health officials launched a new site in September 2023, the Batavia Medical Campus on the north side of the Thruway entrance, they were aware of some residents’ disappointment in having a facility that much farther out of reach for a pedestrian.

At the time, Dan Ireland, the newly promoted Chief Nursing Executive and Patient Care Officer, recognized the fears expressed by some people that this new place is out of bounds for someone with no dependable means of transportation and too far for one to walk. 

Rochester Regional Health had been coordinating a solution with Regional Transit Service in Genesee County to provide an on-demand service for rides to the medical center. That has now been expanded effective June 16.

RTS Genesee announced Monday that it will offer  a new free express service that will travel from Batavia City Centre to University of Rochester and Rochester Regional Health medical centers in Batavia from morning to afternoon throughout the week.

The express route will run in a loop four times per day, departing from City Centre for transfer and/or continuation on to URMC and RRH. This service is subsidized by URMC and RRH, which means it is free to any and all customers who use it.

Providing this “free, reliable service” will help ensure that people can access the care they need, United Memorial Medical Center Associate COO Sonja Gonyea said.

“Rochester Regional Health is proud to support the new RTS Genesee Express Service, connecting riders to key medical destinations in Batavia, including our Batavia Medical Campus. Transportation is a common barrier to care, especially in rural areas,” Gonyea said.  “This partnership reflects RRH’s ongoing commitment to improving access and supporting community health.”

Likewise, the transportation service is “happy to partner” with URMC and RRH, RTS Chief Executive Officer Miguel Velázquez said.
 
“Medical Centers like these are among the most important destinations we connect our customers to, and it is our hope that this partnership and new service meets that need for many years to come,” Velázquez said. “I thank the teams at URMC and RRH for their partnership and support, and the RTS team for bringing this important service to life.”
 
The express service schedule, which includes specific departure and arrival times, is available on the RTS website. Customers are encouraged to contact RTS Genesee with questions at 585-343-3079.

For all other information, visit www.myRTS.com.

Although two important people were missing from the list of board and staff leaders, the architect and construction team, volunteers, friends and neighbors present for a celebratory ribbon-cutting of the newly completed back deck at Crossroads House Friday, they were well represented.

Emmett and Antoinette Clancy, 1970 Batavia Notre Dame High graduates who met in school and married at St. Joseph’s Church four years later, are the ones that got the ball rolling for the new deck even though they no longer live here.

Antoinette’s father, Sam Marchese, died in 2000 of cancer — spending his final days at Crossroads House. The care he received left that indelible embrace on the couple’s hearts and when they wanted to give back for their golden wedding anniversary, Crossroads became one of the beneficiaries.

“He was loved deeply by Antoinette, and therefore by me,” Emmett said during a phone interview from Lake Arrow, California. “Batavia is our beginning, no matter where we live. Crossroads provided him with hospice care in the last months of his life.”

When they decided to donate for their 50 years together, he called Crossroads and founder Kathy Panepento answered, and “I said we wanted to help them with the side deck in his memory,” Emmett said.

The total project was a $170,000 investment, which required additional fundraising. There is a new roof that covers the garage, the deck and connects to the house sunroom addition, Executive Director Tracy Ford said.

“So we had permits that we had to get from the city, there was some cost to having the drawings done, because there had to be specific schematics for the builders that needed to be done. And the project build itself, then the materials. So it was a very large addition, a really large project, because of the weight of this roof and the fact that it ties into three other structures,” Ford said. “There was a lot of work that was required, foundation wise, for this project to come to fruition. So we are just so grateful that everybody was so supportive of it.”

Staff and volunteers were limited by the previous deck with the ability to bring residents outside safely, she said.

“And by that, I mean quite often it was too windy back here. You can feel this breeze right now that we’re standing in. There’s no breeze up on that deck.We were limited on our abilities to bring people out on a windy day. We were limited on days when it might be a little too warm, but now we have shade, and we have a fan,” she said. “We just have this massive amount of shade and it’s just quieter up there. And it really does give you more space to be able to enjoy the gardens. So it’s just a grander, serene space.”

The Clancy couple reached out a year ago and offered to make a gift of $50,000 for the project. Ford contracted with Ciurzynski Consulting LLC, which donated all of its time, and owner David Ciurzynski brought in Thompson Builds and Ed Smart of SmartDesign Architecture for renderings and the construction. Total costs came in well beyond the donation, and the Clancy couple agreed that Ford could reach out for additional funding.

That’s when longtime volunteers and retired Batavia City School teachers Janet and June Lee stepped up and offered to help in yet another way. They provided financial assistance to support the project.

“We heard rumors that they were thinking of changing the porch, and the garage team eats our lunch on the porch, and we knew how bad it needed to be replaced. And then Tracy showed us pictures, and we fell in love with it, and we thought we could help out,” June said. “So we did. It's wonderful. We enjoyed watching it being built.”

Just prior to the big moment when June and Janet took a big pair of shears to cut the ribbon,  Ford said it was a joyous occasion to unveil “our beautiful covered deck overlooking our memorial garden, a sacred space that will offer our residents and their families a place of reflection, comfort and connection, a place where nature and quiet moments can provide healing during some of life’s most tender times.”

“This space did not come to be on its own,” she said. “It was built board by board through the incredible generosity and hearts of a few very special people.”

She thanked Emmett and Antoinette, longtime supporters of Crossroads House “who have continually walked alongside us in our mission” with unwavering commitment that has made a lasting impact; June and Janet Lee, two extraordinary women who deserved her deepest sense of gratitude and admiration for their “steady, compassionate presence;” the consulting, architect and construction team, First Presbyterian Church and Rev. Roula Alkhouri, founder Kathy Panepento, and the dedicated volunteers working the garden, garage sale, in the house or other functions.

There was a large billboard with photos of the Clancy’s and a brief bio about them. It didn’t speak of their passion for a hometown that seemed to embrace them in a mutual fondness.

There’s a plaque on the back deck wall “in loving memory” of Antoinette’s dad, Samuel Marchese, who owned Marchese’s grocery store on the east end of Batavia many years ago. 

Emmett, a native of Caledonia, recalled their wedding reception being at the former Moose Club on Main Street in downtown Batavia, as Antoinette added that it featured an Italian buffet.

“Batavia is our roots,” he said, reminiscing about the original Genesee Community College, where Antoinette attended.

“The beginning of life, the end of life, and the middle of life, they are all very special to us. The acceptance of Batavia and going there, and meeting my future wife, and Notre Dame, and GCC when it started. Our affection for our past and for all those who played a part there — their souls and the memories — God has blessed us and we had wanted to help Crossroads,” he said, describing the photos he has seen of the deck. "It looks wonderful. The residents, and the ability for them to converse and enjoy the sunrise or sunset and enjoy a lemonade with family, gives us great joy.”

Photos by Joanne Beck

Lauren Berger has been juggling a lot of emails and inquiries during the planning process of this year’s Pride parade and festival in Batavia, as she wears the new hat of GLOW OUT! director for the seventh annual LGBTQ+ event.

Berger has also experienced the bittersweet success of having to close registration to vendors due to the large response — with more than 20 confirmed to participate — and she and fellow organizers are encouraging parade participants to sign up by Wednesday so they can be placed ahead of time.

It would seem as though this year’s event, set for 3 to 10 p.m. June 14 at Jackson Square, will be chock full of activities, items to purchase, eat and drink, and entertainment.  

“There have been some logistical changes, but folks will be able to come out, have nice weather and have a nice time, feel welcomed, be part of this community, and see how many of us are out here and how many of us care about teach other,” she said. “It’s a real serotonin boost. And straight allies will be there and they support this; it’s so heartening.”

Berger, who lives in Mount Morris, has been helping GLOW OUT! as a volunteer since 2022 and has served as secretary since summer of 2024. She has been involved in other similar alliance organizations in college and with the LGBTQ “movement” ever since being a teen and identifying as nonbinary, meaning “that doesn’t really ascribe to wholly male or wholly female," she said, "and another nonbinary person might describe that differently, but that’s where I’ve landed.”

“So I was involved with the movement long before I came to that understanding myself, but since I have, the organization has been there for me in that kind of personal validation and camaraderie and finding vocal, like-minded individuals,” Berger said. “So there's been that value, and I've been a community organizer and an activist in the movement for LGBTQ+, equality and justice, for a really long time.”

Her first goal as leader of the nonprofit is “to fill the enormous shoes” that outgoing Director Sarah Vacin left behind when she took a job with the SUNY system, Berger said.

Not only is Vacin not forgotten, she’s not even gone — still a part of the organization and elected to serve as grand marshal for the upcoming parade as participants recognize national Pride Month and remember the catalyst for the LGBTQ rights movement: the Stonewall riots in New York City, Berger said.

There’s a lot of entertainment planned before the parade: Drag Queen Story Hour at 3 p.m., followed by each the Buffalo and Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus from 4 to 4:30 p.m. at Jackson Square, and then the parade is to begin at 5 p.m. in front of First Presbyterian Church at the corner of East Main and Liberty streets. The route will flow down Summit Street, left onto Washington Avenue, left onto Bank Street and into Jackson Square.

“Pride is important every year, but especially now,” she said. “It’s our history, it’s a celebration of survival and how much we have gained, and a moment to recognize who we are still fighting for.”

Those recognized include community members that are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning from Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties, plus the “many allies” of straight and/or cisgender people that support and advocate for loved ones during the Pride event, she said.

Having fun events like Pride are empowering, especially for youth,
GLOW OUT! President John Couri said. 

“It’s important for people to connect and celebrate one another," he said. "Especially for a young person who might go to a small school and feel isolated.”

Vendors will be set up in the parking lot along School Street across from O’Lacy’s, and are to include crafts, T-shirts, a variety of foods and food trucks, including House of Munch (online description is the latest and greatest snack emporium), Sun Roll (Burmese, Japanese and Asian-inspired dishes), and Ice Cream and Chill, plus a GLOW OUT! basket raffle.

Those who are 21 and older are welcome to attend a Happy Hour hosted at GO Art! from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. June 13 as a prelude to the next day’s festivities, organizers said. And they will be cross-promoting Pride with organizers of Juneteenth, which will be happening from noon to 8 p.m. June 14 over at Williams Park on Pearl Street.

Berger intends to continue building current programs and an events calendar that now features a youth and 55+ support group, called Golden Glows, and a stipend program that will pay youth leaders to serve as co-facilitators, take responsibility for tasks and to help identify at-risk youths, she said. Instead of having strictly older leaders work with younger kids — the drop-in group is for ages 12 to 18 — “it can be really helpful to have youth leaders there,” she said.

Membership rises and falls in small increments, as attendance is from one to two dozen at a time, she said, and be dependent on a sunny day or other outside happenings.

Eden Cafe & Bake Shop owner Judy Hysek has also hosted a twice monthly support group at her place on Elliott Street, which, along with being “so welcoming and providing a space,” and for having “such an affirming presence and making such yummy treats,” have been attributed for earning her a special nod for the HERO Business Award during a kickoff gathering earlier this month, Berger said. A HERO Individual Award was given to Sheri Kreher.

For more information, go to GLOW OUT! or the June events link. 

It’s safe to say that Jeff Post is no fan of Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, who represents District 67 in the Upper West Side and part of Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan.

Rosenthal was the primary sponsor, with fellow New York City co-sponsors, for legislation that attempts to regulate the number of cows on a dairy farm. Although still in the early phases of the bill process, this measure -- which would limit the number of cows to 700 on a farm -- has been gaining more widespread attention.

“I think it’s just something being done by an uninformed person trying to glom onto the ‘cows are bad for the environment,' which can be proven to be wrong, obviously,” said Post, who owns Post Dairy Farms with his dad and uncle in Elba. “It’s irrational to think that dairy farmers are going to be capped at any size. It stifles growth and it stifles your ability to bring in the next generation.”

He also said that if local dairy farms had to reduce or cap their size, New York and the region would have to rely on imported milk products to meet the demand. That doesn’t make sense to spend money elsewhere when there are “dairy farms that could supply all the milk here, and are willing to,” he said.

Upstate United issued a statement, explaining that this very bill is an example of why the organization was created in the first place.

“To speak out against poorly crafted policies driven by downstate legislators that impact the viability and success of Upstate families, industries and communities. They don’t have dairy farms in their districts, and legislation like this suggests that either they don't care or are unaware of the industries that support Upstate’s economy,” the organization stated. “More than 95% of New York’s farms are family owned. At a time when New York State is making significant investments in major processors like Fairlife, Chobani and Cayuga Milk Ingredients, it makes absolutely no sense to restrict or limit the number of cows those farms can have when the milk they’re producing is needed for those companies to be successful.”

Another description is that “it’s just stupid,” Post said. And a valid reason for why droves of people are leaving the state each year, he said. “It’s all of that same kind of thinking that affects the whole government of New York,” he said.

One of Rosenthal’s concerns is apparently the environmental repercussions of runoff from manure in the fields, and Jack Klapper, co-owner of Noblehurst Farm, said that’s just a misnomer.

“There's nobody that cares more about this land or these animals that we take care of than farmers themselves, because this is what provides us our livelihood. We are environmental stewards. We try to do the best we can. We want to see this land prosper for the next generation to come, and we take the utmost care and respect for it," Klapper said of the farm situated in Genesee and Livingston counties. 

His family farm, he said, is "doing very cool things" when it comes to the environment.

"On my family's farm, we have a methane digester where we take in the cow's manure, and we also take in food scraps from the area -- food scraps that would otherwise end up in landfills -- and we take that food waste, and we take that cow's manure and we mix it together and put  into our anaerobic digester, and we're able to create electricity off of it, which helps us power the farm, and we could also power between 300 to 500 homes with it, if we wanted to."

When he first heard about the NYC legislators pushing for this bill, he cited former President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s words, “farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.”  

“My mind went there, because it is classic New York City politicians trying to muck up waters in upstate, where they know little to nothing about, obviously. It would have a humongous impact on the New York dairy industry if it were to happen. I do not foresee it gaining a whole lot of traction. I think it's more of a headline reaching thing,” he said. “But if it were to happen, it would have huge consequences on the dairy industry here in New York State, from a growth perspective. 

The industry has invested billions in processing facilities in upstate, he said, including Great Lakes cheese in Franklinville, Fairlife in Webster, and the new Chobani plant that will be located in central eastern New York.

"And I think, at the state level, we should be promoting agriculture. We should be promoting business, not limiting business."

The dairy industry competes globally, he said.

"We're competing with countries like China and European countries, so we have to have access to these global markets and be able to compete on a global scale," he said. "And we're also competing in the States against other states as well. So if this legislation were to pass, New York farmers would be slapped with a huge disadvantage compared to Ohio farmers or Pennsylvania dairy farmers, we would just be at a huge disadvantage compared to our neighboring states and neighboring countries and things like that.”

He spoke as a farmer and as president of the Livingston County Farm Bureau. Klapper is planning a trip to Washington, D.C. this Sunday. While not a federal issue, the bill in question is important enough for him to “get ahold of some representatives to rattle the cage of some upstate reps to really squash this.”

He wanted to clarify that it's not about just defending large farms, as they all have a place.

“It’s not a small farm versus big farm thing; all farms are good. We need all farms,” he said. “The amount of money that these farms pass through these local rural communities is astonishing. Just in pass-through dollars (to local companies) … that's a lot of dollars passed through local hardware stores, lots of jobs created because of these farms in the area. And without these farms, all that business goes away, those jobs go away. So it's very important.”

There are upstate representatives on the dairy farmers' side, including Genesee County representatives Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Senator George Borrello, the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, each of whom has spoken against the preliminary bill, along with others from various parts of the state.

“This outrageous proposal is a slap in the face to every hardworking dairy farmer in New York. It’s yet another example of radical New York City lawmakers trying to control an industry they know nothing about,” Borrello said during a recent press conference. “These farms aren’t factory operations, they’re family businesses built over generations. And instead of helping them grow, Albany is threatening to regulate them out of existence.

“The same extreme ideology that gave us the Farm Labor Act—a law that’s already done lasting damage to agriculture in this state—is now back to finish the job,” he said. “If the goal is to drive dairy production out of New York and into other states, this bill will get it done—at the expense of rural communities, local economies and our state’s food security.”

With a poster theme of “Save our cattle from downstate rattle” affixed to the podium, during this week's press conference, Hawley also discussed how New York has experienced a drastic decline in the number of dairy farms over the last 25 years, dropping from 9,300 to approximately 3,000. 

This decline has accelerated substantially in recent years as the dairy industry has struggled to turn a profit and keep up with operating costs, Hawley said, strongly opposing the proposal that “will only accelerate this trend” and push more dairy farmers out of business.

“While small-scale dairy farms are struggling to make ends meet, members of the Majority who have never stepped foot on a farming operation are trying to regulate them out of business,” Hawley said in a press release. “As a former farmer myself, the assertion that our local farms are destroying our environment is completely ridiculous. Working families across our state rely on our dairy farms for their basic necessities, and this proposal will only bring up costs and reduce availability. We cannot allow this out-of-touch proposal to hurt our rural communities, and I will continue to stand with my colleagues in the state Assembly to ensure this initiative is shut down once and for all.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GOW CARES Alliance is hosting its quarterly meeting at 9 a.m., registration at 8:30 a.m., and a workshop that runs 9:30 a.m. to noon, on July 9 at Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia.

This workshop will define the Safer Choices Spectrum of Care with a
focus on how to help and support individuals with substance use and
mental health challenges to make safer choices in the fields of prevention, treatment and community care settings.

You will learn how to:

• Define the Safer Choices Spectrum of Care.
• Evaluate and access safer choices and safer choices supports and services that are a good fit for both individuals and the communities in which they live.
• Build Coalitions of Care that can support safer choices in prevention, treatment, and community care settings.

Presenter: Dr. Delores Blackwell, LCSW, is a multi-jurisdictional licensed clinical social worker, master addiction counselor, certified trauma professional, certified compassion fatigue professional, and holds multiple certifications.

RSVP by July 3 to: gowcaresquarterly.eventbrite.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Genesee County, and more specifically its eligible youth, are expected to receive $140,702 of the $3.8 million designated for the Finger Lakes region out of a total $56.5 million pot being distributed to New York State, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office says.

The funding is part of a New York State Summer Youth Employment program announced by Hochul this week as part of the 2026 state budget. This program is to connect thousands of young people from low-income homes to jobs this summer.

The state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is distributing the funding to all 57 of the state counties and New York City to implement the seasonal program to introduce at-risk youth to New York’s workforce -- where “they will gain professional training and develop useful skills that will help them improve educational performance and explore possible career paths,” Hochul said.

“Investing in our young people’s future and providing them with the resources and tools they need to succeed is a top priority of my administration,” Hochul said in a news release. “The Summer Youth Employment Program helps young New Yorkers across the state find good summer jobs that provide valuable experiences and skills that will help them pursue their educational and career goals and prepare them for success in the workforce as adults.”

The Summer Youth Employment Program is to support businesses and communities across the state in providing summer jobs for youth from low-income families, she said. 

Participants will work in entry-level jobs at places such as parks, summer camps, child care organizations, cultural centers, educational facilities, and community-based organizations, among others.

To be eligible for the program, youth must be between the ages of 14 and 20 and have a household income below 200% of the federal poverty level, which varies by household size. As an example, that would be $53,300 for a family of three.

The FY 2026 state budget included an increase of $1.5 million for the program from last year to address minimum wage increases, and the program served more than 21,000 young people last summer, the release stated.

“The Summer Youth Employment Program provides young people from lower-income households good summer jobs in a range of occupations that provide participants a paycheck and the important opportunity to gain valuable work experience that will support their future success in school and in the job market,” state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said. 

State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon added that summer jobs are “a gateway to the world of work for young New Yorkers.”

“The skills and experience they will gain through Summer Youth Employment Program will continue to serve them long into their chosen career fields,” she said. “This initiative is a win-win-win for young New Yorkers in underserved populations, their communities, and the New York State economy.”

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

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

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

Then they received the emailed letter on Tuesday night.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cameron, a student from Greece attending the New York State School for the Blind, was happy to be exercising early Thursday morning — an activity he’s actually been preparing for twice a week the last several months, he says.

“Every Monday and Wednesday at the gym we’ve been practicing,” the young athlete said during this area’s inaugural Special Olympics at Van Detta Stadium in Batavia. “This Olympics is so much fun, probably just watching everyone do these special events. Next I’m in the running long jump.”

He was eager to point out his mom, Cristina Vergne, and 8-year-old brother Killian watching from the stadium seats. It could have been better weather, mom said, as the sun was just beginning to peek out from heavy clouds a few hours into the event, but she enjoyed watching the action.

After all, the Special Olympics have been on Cameron’s mind for quite some time now, she said.

“We’ve been talking about it for months. He’s very excited,” she said. “I think it’s awesome. I think seeing all the kids be here and able to participate is a great thing.”

Fellow School for the Blind student Susanna, from Franklinville, had cheerleaders in the audience as well, she said.

“My mom and dad are over there,” she said, pointing to the group of spectators. “I had a 100-meter dash and a relay race. I would like to do it again.”

The School for the Blind, Genesee Valley BOCES and Batavia City School District joined forces to put on this first-time event.

“We currently have about 100 athletes that are participating today in various field events from our school. So we have parents in the stands, and we have all our staff here ready to provide support where needed,” School for the Blind Superintendent Jackie Simpson said. “We also have the Batavia City School District National Honor Society students who are here helping with awards and helping with many of the events, they helped us set up this morning, and we will see health careers academy class, we called our hike team, so they're here to cheer kids out, and they're also participating in some of the races with the students. 

"It is the first time that the School for the Blind has participated in these Special Olympics since the mid 80s. So it was about 40 years in coming. I started with the school district about four years ago, in July 2021 and said, I think we need to have a Special Olympics team here."

Why was it important to you to see this come to fruition?
mid-80s"It's funny, a staff member who used to work for the school actually reminded me this morning, when I met him four years ago, that one of the things I said to him is that if it's something kids can do, we're going to make sure they do it," she said. "And it just seemed important to me and for our school to have students experience something that is just so out of the norm of their typical day, to have that feeling of competition and being cheered on for and really working and practicing. 

"They've been doing time trials since January, February, and practicing the events to get ready for this day," she said. "So we just felt it was a great opportunity, not only for our school, but to bring the community together, to have everyone here on this day.”

From a city police escort in the morning and a Special Olympics Planning Committee comprising staff from all three schools, to food service, maintenance, and nurses with a tent set up just in case there’s a need, “it just ended up being all hands on deck through our different departments,” she said. Organizers plan to include more schools in future years.

Not only did Batavia Middle School sixth-grader Logan run his own events — the 100-meter dash, relay race and long jump — he also helped cheer on a friend with his 50-meter run from the sidelines, he said.

Logan’s favorite part of the day so far was the relay, he said, explaining why.

“I handed the purple thing to my friend Chase, and running,” he said.

He liked being able to work as a team, he said, which seemed to be a theme for students and staff alike. This event was a “huge collaborative effort” between the School for the Blind, BOCES and city schools, Director of Special Education Kellie Marciano said.

“We had regular meetings throughout the year to really prep and prepare for it. The Special Olympics has been a huge part of helping us. Unfortunately, they're not here today, because we have another one happening in the southern region, which is fine, but the kids have been so hyped up for the last couple of months,” Marciano said. “For it, the teachers have been prepping them, getting them ready to practice. And then, I mean, today's going amazing. The kids are doing really, really well for our first time. I think it's really going well for everybody.”

Chase, a Batavia middle school seventh-grader, experienced the thrill of perseverance, albeit a bit of embarrassment at first, he admitted, followed by victory in the 100-meter dash.

“I was trying to see, because my shoe slipped off before I started. So it was when I was running, I had my shoe missing, I was like, that’s strange. And then I finished over there, over here. I finished everywhere,” he said, sharing how he felt afterward. “Good. Yeah, definitely I do (want to do it again).”

Moana, a "very friendly" and sweet dog went missing from Main Road on Tuesday and ran toward Angling Road in Corfu. She was last seen at 9 p.m. Wednesday crossing Route 5 near Crosby's.

If you see her, please contact her owner, Katie, at 716-548-0559. She may be skittish.

UPDATE 7:30 p.m. Thursday: Moana is actively running around East Pembroke, between Indian Falls-Slusher roads and Route 5. She was being chased and ran into a treeline.

With the majority of five speakers being in favor of expanding the city’s downtown open container law, business owner Dr. Marlin Salmon stood alone, discouraging City Council’s future yes vote, as the proposed amendment brought out downtown merchants on both sides of the issue during a pubic hearing Tuesday evening.

Matt Gray, representing his downtown Eli Fish Brewing Company and fellow merchant Center Street Smokehouse, said he has never had a bad report from prior special events that involved open container privileges, while Salmon said he doesn’t think it sets “a good example for the youth in our community.”

To be fair, Salmon, who owns an orthodontics business in Batavia City Centre, said he knows that certain businesses are going to probably benefit and has heard that other municipalities have enacted similar open container laws, but he is not clear about all of the benefits and adverse effects.

“As a business owner, I have concerns in that I have a lot of young people coming in and out of my business on a weekly basis, and there have been some issues around my business. In the past, we used to have the benches out in front of our businesses in that area in the past, and we used to have people kind of in that area, and there were some issues with the drinking and we had that little bus stop there,” he said during the hearing at City Hall. “So that area of the mall just seems to get a lot of traffic, and I'm concerned how my patients and how my parents are going to perceive this, and then also I have concerns as far as how that's going to impact inside the mall itself. I know there's been some issues there, as far as the enforceability of the concourse.”

He’s not against having open containers during special events, such as the annual beer and wine walks — “I think there certainly is a time and place for it” — but overall on a day-to-day basis, he is “not if favor of it,” he said.

Gray reminded everyone that Jackson Square became “open container friendly” last year.

“And as Eli Fish, along with Center Street Smokehouse, we are the direct beneficiaries of that, but we're also the ones who have been able to see how it's gone. I'm happy to report that we have had no issues, reported no issues on our end, and what we had seen last year was a great season where we had a great Friday night concert series. We were able to add a Saturday night concert series with the help of Center Street, BID and GO ART!, and all of those went very well with the open container,” Gray said. “And while you know, to be honest, open container isn't the thing that makes that evening, it’s about great music and friends. And while you may not be thinking of it at the time, it does add to the evening, as far as opening up the container law for the entire downtown mid area.

“This summer, we should see the reopening of a great Italian steakhouse down here. We'll see our first tequila bar. We're going to see Carr’s Reborn finally become a reality … we're really excited for the momentum that we're seeing, and I think that the open container, ability to have festivals and have a downtown dining district only adds to that,” he said. “And when you start adding population that actually lives there too, you really do become the center of the county, and your destination for all to live, work and play.”

An initiative brought forth by the Business Improvement District to allow for open containers from noon to 10 p.m. on a daily basis in that downtown area, except for Court Street where government buildings are, and in Austin Park, expanding this local law is “a really good step forward for our downtown as part of the long-term revitalization towards encouraging more businesses downtown,” BID President Zach Korzelius said.

“There's a lot of communities in our local area and all over New York State moving forward with similar plans, and in a lot of these smaller towns, it really does help out with the downtown atmosphere, and that's the biggest thing. This focus isn't just about open container; it’s really about revitalizing our downtown atmosphere and culture. It makes us get that more modern look that a lot of small towns and villages are going for,” Korzelius said. “And as (Executive Director) Shannon said, in some of these small towns, Lancaster, for example, has done similar things in their downtown has really seen a good push, and especially with housing situations, it encourages a lot more younger people that have that most vibrant feel that they want to be able to be in that kind of, what we like to call social/downtown district.

“So I really appreciate the council taking this into consideration. Since I've been on the BID now as president going into my second year, this was one of my two big initiatives that I wanted to help accomplish,” he said. “This vote isn't just about the ordinance, but it's about the culture of our downtown, making people feel less regulated and feel more open to doing business downtown.”

City residents Sammy DiSalvo and John Roach also spoke up for the proposal. Roach believes it will alleviate excessive drinking by allowing people to take a drink with them rather than having to “chug it down if you want to leave,” he said. It just makes sense, he said.

“It’s always amazing that other areas can do things and people that say, well, geez, it won’t work here. Why not? What makes you think we’re different?” he said. “If it works at other places, why can it not work here? I think it’s a very good idea that the whole council votes up for it unanimously.”

Councilman Bob Bialkowski asked devil’s advocate questions about the city’s liability: what if you walk into City Hall, go into the clerk’s office to ask some questions, have a couple of beers and fall down the stairs.

“So now I’m going to sue the city. Whether they win or not, it’s immaterial at this point; it’s illegal. Costs are going up, and all the taxpayers have to pay,” he said. “So the risk is of the entire city for any litigations brought up. The city could be implicit for any of that versus the gain will only be for smaller (portions of the city), and these are one of the questions I had."

There are limited instances in which any municipal entity can be found liable for a public space, City Attorney George Van Nest said, and the addition of open containers in that public space is “not necessarily going to change that dynamic.”

“There are prerequisites to finding a municipal entity liable, notice of defects, negligence, things of that sort. So, without getting into the weeds in terms of hypotheticals, that doesn't necessarily create liability on behalf of the city, the point of being subject to a lawsuit. Anybody can be subject to a lawsuit in the U.S.,” he said. “That's the nature of our society. It doesn't mean there's a liability. It doesn't mean there's an actual exposure associated with a defendant being found liable. It just simply means we live in a litigious society.”

Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. raised a different concern about the mall, or Batavia City Centre. He asked if it would be included in the amended local law, and city management said yes, it would be. Just because it’s in a separate building does not make it exclusive to BID laws, or open container, just because the businesses are inside.

“I’d like a little more information on the mall component. I mean, you've explained it as far as the public space is concerned, but it might be something that I could foresee a problem, especially in the winter months. Someone might decide to come in and have mini parties in one section of the mall. I don't know if that's appropriate, but if it's allowed, then it could be a potential risk,” Jankowski said. “So I just think stuff like that should be kind of considered, maybe, because it's a separate group of individual businesses within a separate building. It's not the same as the downtown area. So there is that component to it. So I'd like a little more information on that, not necessarily against it. I just wanted some more clarity to make amendments.”

If any further amendments are made to the law, another public hearing would be required, City Manager Rachael Tabelski said. Council agreed to move the measure, as is, to a future business meeting for a vote.

• 1st Place: Rob Krajewski & Nick Palladino - 49
• 2nd Place: Anthony Schiro & Chris Kulinski - 43
• 3rd Place: Josh Wojtasczczyk & Steve Latimer - 40

• 1st Place: Mike D'Agostino & Bob King - $5,880
• 2nd Place: Eric Haile & Sam Haile - $4,421
• 3rd Place: Holly Hubert & Steve Coulton - $2,813

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro 

City Council President and retired City Police Lieutenant Eugene Jankowski Jr. read a proclamation during Tuesday’s council meeting as a preview to Wednesday’s memorial police ceremony at who Cemetery on Clinton Street Road (Route 33).

The public is invited to attend the event at 1 p.m., at which time Batavia Police Department officers will place flags on the graves of officers who have died, and to remember those officers in other cemeteries in the area, Jankowski said.

City of Batavia proclamation, WHEREAS the officers of the city of Batavia Police Department are committed to the preservation of life and property, risking their lives to provide protection law and order in serving the cause of justice, and

WHEREAS the officers of the city of Batavia Police Department accept the profound responsibility and work to uphold our laws, safeguard our rights and freedoms and serve on the front lines in the fight against crime in an effort to keep our neighborhoods safe, and

WHEREAS many of the officers dedicated several years serving the residents of the city of Batavia, most serving longer than 20 years their service to the city meant time away from their families and loved ones in order to protect the community that they took an oath to safeguard.

And WHEREAS each year, the city of Batavia will recognize the dedicated and brave police officers who have been laid to rest since retiring from the police department by placing Memorial flags at each officer's grave site in remembrance of their service to the city.

Now therefore be it RESOLVED that I, City Council president and retired police lieutenant, Eugene Jankowski Jr., on behalf of the City Council of the City of Batavia, do hereby make this proclamation to honor our departed police officers who have retired from the city of Batavia Police Department, who, by their loyal and selfless devotion to their duties, have rendered dedicated service to our community and to declare May 28, 2025 as the city of Batavia Police Department Flag Commemoration Day.

“And I thank the community for their service to the officers, and to the officers for their service to our community,” Jankowski said, to applause from the audience.