Stories from

Press release from the Automobile Association of America:

Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.85, down 5 cents from one week ago. One year ago, the price was $3.15. The New York State average is $4.14, down 11 cents since last Monday. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.23. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia - $4.27 (down 7 cents from last week)
• Buffalo - $4.19 (down 11 cents from last week)
• Elmira - $4.09 (down 12 cents from last week)
• Ithaca - $4.27 (down 16 cents from last week)
• Rochester - $4.26 (down 10 cents from last week)
• Rome - $4.40 (down 7 cents from last week)
• Syracuse - $4.23 (down 10 cents from last week)
• Watertown - $4.40 (down 10 cents from last week)

Stable global oil prices and modest domestic demand for gasoline has resulted in lower pump prices. Drivers are now benefiting from gas prices that are more than one dollar less than their peak in mid-June. But now we need to keep an eye on the weather as hurricane season arrives. Storms can affect prices by disrupting oil production in the Gulf of Mexico and impacting large coastal refineries.

This morning oil prices range from $94 to $101 per barrel. With Labor Day travel kicking off this week, travelers will benefit from lower gas prices.

From Gas Buddy:

“The national average has declined for another week, extending the slide for the eleventh straight week. Gas prices are now $1.20 per gallon lower than mid-June with Americans spending $450 million less on gasoline every day as a result," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "Some issues have developed that we're keeping a close eye on, including the shut down of the largest refinery in the Midwest. While that refinery may get back online sooner rather than later, it's not impossible that down the road the situation could impact prices in the region. For the rest of the country, however, we'll continue to see prices moderate. This is of course subject to hurricane season, and it does appear that the tropics are starting to see some activity, so there's no guarantee the decline will continue."

Press Release

All motorists please be aware that Bank Street, Chandler Avenue and Ross Street will experience traffic delays on Tuesday, August 30th and Wednesday, August 31stfrom 7AM to 3PM for a resurfacing operation. 

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

All residents/businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation.

This is weather dependent work; if work is postponed it shall progress the next workday.

Please contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400 Option 1 if there are any questions.

Press Release

“Today, the New York State Office of the Comptroller, Division of Local Government and School Accountability, released an audit report addressing the Batavia City School District’s Information Technology (IT) Equipment Inventory based on findings from July 1, 2018, through February 8, 2022. 

The report found that during this time period, the district did not adopt a comprehensive policy for establishing and maintaining IT inventory, did not maintain an accurate IT inventory, and could not locate 229 computers, 62 tablets, and paid approximately $17,000 in annual service fees in the 2021-22 fiscal year for the missing devices. 

Since arriving in the district in early 2022, I have been brought up to speed with our current issues, and I take the findings in this report very seriously. The administration and I take full responsibility for the errors outlined in this audit and are taking appropriate corrective action steps to mitigate the problem and ensure a comprehensive policy is followed going forward. These steps include:

• We have engaged a third-party company specializing in IT services to conduct an assessment of our entire IT department, including our inventory and staff. 
• Our internal team has taken the results from the audit and gone above and beyond to reduce our BOCES service charges by purging and returning unused inventory. 
• We are working closely with the Board of Education to adopt a comprehensive written policy for establishing and maintaining controls to track and inventory our IT equipment. 

While there is no excuse for the results found during this audit, we do recognize that the turnover in BCSD administration and our IT department since 2019 contributed to and compounded our IT management issues. Once we have completed the assessment from the third-party company, we will plan to implement their recommendations across the district. 

As a result of this audit, one of my top priorities is to return our IT department to good standing and set our team up with a process to ensure these mistakes don’t occur in the future. 

I understand there may be further questions surrounding this report. Please feel free to reach out to me directly at jasonsmith@bataviacsd.org. 

Thank you for your understanding. We can and will do better going forward.”  

Jason A. Smith                                                                                                                                                            Superintendent, Batavia City Schools

Press release:

I want to start by saying thank you to God, my family, and everybody who volunteered, donated, and just gave us support along the way. I wanted to give the people a chance to elect someone that wasn't part of the DC swamp or just another career politician.

I am honored that the people in Wayne County, Ontario County and Seneca County chose me to be their representative and for the incredible showing in Genesee County. We were told by the polls that we were going to lose 52% to 6% and that we were being outspent 40 to 1. They spent millions of dollars against us on personal attacks, TV ads, and radio, and even had to phone in President Trump the night before the election. Before we even made the ballot they tried to have us kicked off. They did all of this to stop a guy who has never run for anything, and who is just a "forklift driver" according to one party boss. The establishment did this because they feared our message of traditional values, common sense, and America First policies.

In just 90 days we put together a grassroots campaign made up of carpenters, homeschool moms, small business owners, cooks, and so many blue-collar people who just wanted something better for themselves and their families.

I don't think that a candidate who has never run for any political office and got outspent the way we did against an incumbent, has ever had such a strong showing. If Claudia Tenney lives in Ontario County now, then we also beat an incumbent in their home county. This is a testament to how HARD our campaign worked. We ran an entire campaign with nothing but yard signs, mail, and people knocking on doors. If less than 7% of the votes shifted our way we would have won.

I am forever grateful to everybody we have met along the way who has offered their support and given up their time by putting their lives and families on hold because they believed in something. I did it with you and I wouldn't change a thing. We started a movement that we should be proud of. I love you all. Now I am going to take some time with my family and enjoy the little moments with my wife and son that I have been missing. God bless, and stay tuned! 

Press release:

Genesee County 4-H members Bing Zuber, Tate Zuber and Annalise Sybertz competed at the 4-H Dairy Judging Contest at the New York State Fair on Aug. 26.  Their team placed third in the Junior Division of the contest.  Individually, Annalise also placed in the top ten juniors.

Dairy Judging contests teach youth to critically evaluate dairy animals based on breed standards and gain an understanding of how form affects function. Youth participating in these competitions learn the anatomy and physiology of the dairy animal and gain the capability to choose the proper animal to take in the show ring or keep for breeding on the farm. They also learn confidence and public speaking skills while defending the reasoning for their placements to the judges.

The Genesee County 4-H Program is a youth development program for youth ages 5-18.  New 4-H youth members, adult volunteers and clubs are always welcome to join.  For information about how to join the Genesee County 4-H Program, please contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040 ext. 131.  Enrollment information is also available on our website at http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/4-h-youth-development/how-to-join-4-h

Submitted photo.  Tate Zuber, Bing Zuber, Annalise Sybertz.

On Monday, Aug. 22, the Byron-Bergen Board of Education approved the appointment of Carol Stehm as Interim Elementary School Principal. Stehm will serve as Interim Principal from August 23rd to December 22nd during which time the District will conduct a thorough search for a permanent replacement.

“I am excited to welcome Mrs. Stehm to Byron-Bergen,” said Superintendent Pat McGee. “She brings decades of experience as a leader and an educator. I am fully confident that she will guide the Elementary School smoothly through this time of transition.”

Stehm retired from the Gates Chili Central School District in July of 2021 where she was the Associate Superintendent for Instruction. She served as Interim Principal of Northwood Elementary School in the Hilton School District during the 2021-22 academic year. In her 36-year career, she has served as an Interim Superintendent, Middle School Principal, and High School Assistant Principal. She has taught elementary and gifted education and currently teaches for SUNY Brockport as an Adjunct Professor in the Educational Leadership Department.

“I began my career in an elementary building so it will be fun to back with the younger students again,” said Stehm. “I have heard great things about the District and am excited to get started.” 

Press release:

GO ART!, on 201 E. Main St. Batavia, is soon to host two new art exhibitions. In the ground floor's Tompkins Bank of Castile Main Gallery, witness Rebecca Graham's “Traditional Mixed Media in a Digital World,” a series of subject-driven works that evoke warm nostalgia for analog experience. This show will run from Sept. 7 through Oct. 29, with a reception from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept 17.

The second floor's Rotary Room gallery will feature works of various media by the GLOW Creatives, a group of artists that are collaborating (with each other, with GO ART!, and two other area arts councils) on a two-year grant-funded series of art projects intended to engage four rural Western NY counties. Sculpture by Susan Ferrari Rowley, photography by Keith Walters, painting by Dan Butler, and digital artwork by GO ART! marketing coordinator Austin Retzlaff will be featured. To learn more about the collaboration, please visit goart.org/glowcreatives. With an opening reception on September 15th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the show runs from Sept. 7 to Oct. 29.

Please visit https://www.goart.org/upcoming-exhibitions for more information on these and other anticipated gallery exhibitions at GO ART!

Press release:

The 2022 Fall series of Books Sandwiched In will take place on Wednesdays in September at Richmond Memorial Library. Join guest speakers for reviews of best-selling non-fiction books from 12:10 p.m. to 1 p.m. Coffee, tea and refreshments will be served at each session and participants do not need to read the book in order to attend! This program is built around the lunch hour, so attendees are also invited to bring their lunch. There will be a door prize at each session.

Wednesday, September 7 at 12:10 p.m. – Richmond Memorial Library Teen Librarian Felicia Cecere will review Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner.

Currently in week 56 on the New York Times bestseller list, Japanese Breakfast indie pop star Zauner “presents a full-length account of her viral New Yorker essay to share poignant reflections on her experiences of growing up Korean-American, becoming a professional musician and caring for her terminally ill mother.” (from NoveList summary)

Wednesday, September 14 at 12:10 p.m. - Retired professor and community volunteer Barb Shine will review The Doctors Blackwell: How Two Pioneering Sisters Brought Medicine to Women and Women to Medicine by Janice P. Nimura.

“Elizabeth Blackwell believed from an early age that she was destined for a mission beyond the scope of ‘ordinary’ womanhood. Though the world at first recoiled at the notion of a woman studying medicine, her intelligence and intensity ultimately won her the acceptance of the male medical establishment. In 1849, she became the first woman in America to receive an M.D. She was soon joined in her iconic achievement by her younger sister, Emily, who was actually the more brilliant physician.” (from publisher summary)

Wednesday, September 21 at 12:10 p.m. - Office for the Aging Director Diana Fox will review The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson.
 Bryson “turns his attention inwards to explore the human body, how it functions and its remarkable ability to heal itself. Full of extraordinary facts and astonishing stories, The Body: A Guide for Occupants is a brilliant, often very funny attempt to understand the miracle of our physical and neurological make up.” (from publisher summary)

Wednesday, September 28 at 12:10 p.m. - Jason Smith, Superintendent of Batavia City Schools, will review His Truth is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope by Jon Meacham.

“John Lewis, who at age twenty-five marched in Selma, Alabama, and was beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, was a visionary and a man of faith. Drawing on decades of wide-ranging interviews with Lewis, Jon Meacham writes of how this great-grandson of a slave and son of an Alabama tenant farmer was inspired by the Bible and his teachers in nonviolence, Reverend James Lawson and Martin Luther King, Jr., to put his life on the line in the service of what Abraham Lincoln called ‘the better angels of our nature.’ Integral to Lewis's commitment to bettering the nation was his faith in humanity and in God - and an unshakable belief in the power of hope.” (from NoveList summary)

Books Sandwiched In is free to attend and all are welcome, no registration is required. Sessions will be recorded and available to view on the library’s YouTube page at youtube.com/richmondmemlibrary. Richmond Memorial Library is located at 19 Ross Street in the City of Batavia. Books Sandwiched In is sponsored by The Friends of Richmond Memorial Library.

Press release:

Corn silage harvest is approaching. The way corn silage is harvested and stored is a single event that affects your operation for the entire next year. Are you prepared to set your operation up for success? Plan to attend one of the following free on-farm Corn Silage Pre-Harvest workshops to hear the latest research-backed strategies you can implement on your dairy this corn silage season. No registration is necessary.

Speakers and topics include:

• Joe Lawrence Dairy Forage Systems Specialist; PRO-DAIRY: Success of harvesting quality forage out of the field; best practices for monitoring corn dry down and kernel processing.
• Kirsten Workman Nutrient Management and Environmental Sustainability Specialist; PRO-DAIRY: Why collect field (or more precisely) yield data?
• Manuel P. Marcaida III Crop and Soil Data Specialist; Nutrient Management Spear Program (NMSP); How to collect accurate yield data?
• Jodi Letham Field Crops, Forages, Nutrient Management and Soils Specialist; NWNY CCE Team: What can we do with accurate yield data? 

Friday, Aug. 26, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Noblehurst Farms, 2795 Stewart Road (CR-58), Linwood

Friday, Aug 26, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Lamb Farms, 6880 Albion Road, Oakfield

Press release:

Capture a summer day with a visit to the butterfly meadow and a journey into the world of Monarch Butterflies with the Watching Monarchs program at the Genesee County Park & Forest Interpretive Nature Center on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. 

See how butterflies are tagged and released as part of a nationwide Monarch Butterfly conservation project.

This program is recommended for ages 4 and up. Kids explore the meadow with nets and bug catchers!

The cost is $5 per person or $10 per family. Pre-registration is required; call 585-344-1122 to reserve your spot.

Press release:

GLOW With Your Hands is partnering with AQS Redemption Inc. to collect bottles and cans to help fund career exploration programs. The returns will go into a workforce development fund at GLOW Works, Inc. and be available for use toward future workforce programming in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

“GLOW Works, Inc. was created to help fund programs for workforce training and development for the future workforce in the GLOW region, including the annual GLOW With Your Hands event (to be held next on September 27^th at the Genesee County Fairgrounds),” said Jay Lazarony, GLOW With Your Hands Co-Chair. “On behalf of the GLOW With Your Hands committee, we appreciate AQS Redemption Inc. for its participation and support of this initiative and encourage the community to consider supporting this effort to benefit our youth.”

AQS Redemption Inc., is a NYS Bottle and Can Redemption Company that will be coordinating the collections. Residents can schedule complimentary pick-ups or drop off their redeemable bottles and cans at the company’s location at 1 North Main Street in Elba, NY.  Businesses can also host a bottle and can drive at their workplace.  Residents and businesses can call at 585-250-0870 or email aqsredemption@gmail.com to find out more information.

“This is all about investing and participating in the success of our area youth and their future career aspirations,” said Quinn Schrader, CEO, AQS Redemption Inc.  “It’s a great way for our company to support the future workforce needs of businesses across our region.”

To kickoff Cans for Careers, a special donation station will be setup at the Batavia Downtown Business Improvement District's First Annual Box Car Derby on August 27^th starting at 9:30 AM. Local youth ages 7-13 years old built their own box cars and will race them down Ellicott Avenue.

“What better way to kick off this program than at the first annual box car derby where area youth will display their ingenuity and skills in designing and racing their own custom-made box cars,” said Chris Suozzi, GLOW With Your Hands co-chair.  “That’s what GLOW With Your Hands is all about and more importantly matching the skills of our youth with the needs of companies and businesses looking for the next generation of their workforce.”

For more information on how to be a part of Cans for Careers, please visit glowwithyourhands.com/cans-for-careers.

Press Release

With the start of a new school year right around the corner, Catholic Charities is hosting a Socks and Undergarment Drive to benefit school age kids and teenagers in grades Pre-K through 12th in need throughout Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. 

Donations of new, unopened packages of socks and underwear are being accepted now through Sept. 11 in Genesee County at: Ascension Church, 19 Summer St., Batavia; Immaculate Conception (Mary Immaculate), 5865 Ellicott Street Rd., East Bethany; Maurice’s, 8351 Lewiston Rd., Batavia; Old Navy, 4222 Veterans Memorial Dr., Batavia; and Resurrection Church, 303 E. Main St., Batavia.

“With many families throughout our community struggling to make ends meet, we know that back to school time can be a burden,” said Kelly Grimaldi, Tri-County district director, Catholic Charities. “While some may think of new pencils and notebooks, items such as socks and underwear are also needed, especially for younger children who are still growing. If you can, please consider donating to our Socks and Undergarment Drive to help our youngest neighbors in need.” 

After the drive concludes, the donated items will be distributed as needed to community members through Catholic Charities’ offices, including by referral from our collaborating partners and churches.  

Catholic Charities programs and services available in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties include basic needs and emergency financial assistance, Our Kids Parent Education and Awareness program for divorced/separating parents, In-School Social Work, the court-ordered Domestic Violence Program for Men, and Home Visitation Program/Friendly Phones.  

Collections are also being taken in Orleans County at Holy Family Parish, 106 S. Main St., Albion; and in Wyoming County at Community Bank, 2490 N. Main St., Warsaw; the Perry Market Place, 121 N. Center St., Perry; St. Michael Church, 171 N. Main St., Warsaw; St. Joseph (St. Isidore), 8 Park St., Perry; St. Isadore Parish, 39 Church St., Silver Springs; and St. Mary (Mary Immaculate), 11095 St. Marys St., Pavilion.  

All colors and sizes from children to adult are needed.  

Press release:

Babies up to 2 years of age are invited to a morning of rhymes, singing songs and stories! While this describes a perfect morning for any tot, to make it even more fun, Baby Storytime ends with playtime!

The Haxton Library’s talented Mrs. J. is hosting a special Baby Storytime on Saturday, August 27 from 10 am to 11 am at the Goose, 33 South Main Street in Oakfield. While the program is designed for babies ages birth to 2 years, older siblings are also invited to attend. Beginning September 10, Mrs. J., the Children’s Library Clerk, will hold Baby Storytime at the library itself from 10 am to 11 am.

In addition to Baby Storytime, the Haxton Memorial Library also has a fun-filled Preschool Storytime on Mondays from 10:30 am to 11:30 am that begins September 12. Preschoolers enjoy activities, crafts, songs, and stories in the Children’s Department at the library.

“Our Storytimes are great favorites with our very young children because they are educational and Mrs. J. knows how to keep the kids engaged,” says Kim Gibson, Director at the Haxton Library. “We love to have the kids come and discover the fabulous collection of children’s books that we offer at the Haxton.”

For more information about Baby Storytime, Preschool Storytime, or any of the programs at the Haxton Memorial Library, please call 585-948-9900.

The Haxton Memorial Library located at 3 North Pearl Street in Oakfield provides residents a variety of programs, events and materials that are listed on the library’s website at www.HaxtonLibrary.org.

Press release:

As students across the region prepare to return to school in September, parents are encouraged to make sure their children’s immunizations are up to date. In New York state, several immunizations are required within 14 days of the first day of school or child care.

For school attendance, child care and pre-K, students need:

• Diphtheria and Tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine and Pertussis vaccine (DTaP or Tdap)
• Hepatitis B vaccine
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine
• Polio vaccine
• Chickenpox vaccine

Additional vaccines are required for middle school and high school students:

• Tdap vaccine for grades 6-12
• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) for grades 7-12 (students in grade 12 need an additional booster dose of MenACWY on or after their 16th birthday)

Public health officials also urge parents to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19, as the vaccines are the best protection against severe illness or hospitalization from the disease. Children from six months to young adults up to age 18 are now eligible to receive the shots. Talk to your pediatrician if you have questions about the COVID vaccine or kids’ booster doses, or visit www.getyouranswers.org.

Dr. Linda Clark, chief medical officer at Common Ground Health, said, “Going back to school is an exciting time for many students. To make sure they can return to the classroom, parents need to ensure that their children’s immunizations are current. If not, they should schedule appointments with their physician as soon as possible. If they aren’t sure, they should check with their pediatrician or primary care doctor.”

Children attending daycare and pre-K through 12th grade in New York state must receive all required doses of vaccines on the recommended schedule in order to attend or remain in school. Parents need to show proof of their child's up-to-date vaccinations or provide a valid medical exemption from vaccination.

Press release:

Behind St. James Episcopal Church there is a small shop that offers so much for very little. The shop opened in 2000 and was started by Jenett Dadlani. Twenty-two years later it is still going strong because of some dedicated volunteers.

The shop is open on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is divided into 4 rooms. The main room has housewares, home goods, furniture, clothing, jewelry and sports accessories. There is a room dedicated to everything Christmas, a room for books, and a room that will outfit all your needs for babies and children.

The shop accepts donations, however, not electronics (TVs, computers, printers, etc.). Profits are used for many of St. James Church’s missions that provide help for the needy; including the “Blessings Box” located in front of the church on Main Street.

There will be some special sales in September. On Thursday, September 1st all items in the Christmas room are half price, then on Thursday, September 15th everything in the shop will be half price. There is something for everyone and it is well worth a look!

St. James is located at 405 East Main St., Batavia.

Submitted photos

Press Release

Batavia, NY – Now is a great time to become a volunteer or start a 4-H Club with the Genesee County 4-H Program. 4-H is a youth development program for youth ages 5-18. Volunteers are essential to our program and allow you to share your hobbies with interested youth. 

Projects can be as varied as sewing, arts and crafts, cooking, animal science and more.  4-H volunteer opportunities range from coordinating monthly club meetings to leading a one-time craft project. Whatever you have to offer, 4-H has a place for you!

The new 4-H year begins October 1. New youth members and adult volunteers are always welcome to join. For more information on how to join or start a 4-H club, please contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040 ext. 131.

Enrollment forms are also available on our website 

Press release:

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a national organization that advocates for the needs of small and independently-owned businesses, has announced that Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, C, I-Batavia) has received their perfect rating of 100%. This perfect pro-business rating reflects Assemblyman Hawley’s unwavering support of small business owners, both through his advocacy efforts and his legislative voting history.

“As a small business owner myself, I can tell you that especially in New York state, building and sustaining a successful business can be as difficult as it is rewarding,” said Hawley. “We are incredibly fortunate to have organizations such as the NFIB to stand up for and support our small business owners, so I am honored to have earned their perfect rating.”

Press Release

Arc GLOW, a chapter of Arc, NY, that provides innovative supports and services to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties announced that it has sold its trash collection and transfer station to Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (Casella) a regional vertically integrated solid waste, recycling and resource management company headquartered in Rutland, Vermont.

More than 20 years ago, the Arc of Genesee opened its trash center to fill a need for theCity of Batavia, help create jobs, and produce a positive revenue stream for the organization. Now, to position itself better for the future and focus on its core mission, Arc GLOW has decided to move away from the waste and recycling industry.

“We’ve truly appreciated having the citizens of Batavia as our customers. They have been amazing advocates for our organization and the people we support, and we believe that this new partnership with Casella will help Arc GLOW focus on its core values and allow our organization to meet the needs of the people we serve in a financially sustainable way,” said Martin Miskell, Arc GLOW CEO. Casella will  continue operations utilizing the existing Arc GLOW property and staff on West Main Street in Batavia, including the Transfer Station which will be operated by an Arc GLOW work enclave with the same familiar faces that customers have been accustomed to.

Casella, which has successfully implemented similar innovative employment programs through partnerships with other organizations such as Goodwill Northern New England, has a strong presence in Batavia, providing sustainability services including trash and recycling collection to area residents and businesses.

“We’re proud to be a strong community partner in Batavia and believe that the work that has been done by Arc GLOW over the years is inspirational and aligns well with our core values,” said Casella Chairman and CEO, John W. Casella. “Casella was established nearly 50 years ago, and we believe that growing and supporting our people so that they can provide outstanding service to our customers and their communities is central to everything we do.”

Arc GLOW intends to use the funding from the acquisition to invest in its programs and services to help meet the needs of the people and families they support. According to Miskell, this has become a challenge in recent years.

“In a field where our funding is consistently being squeezed, this injection of capital will position our organization for the future. We are evaluating every program and service we provide to ensure we are meeting the needs of the people in our community. I encourage every parent, family member, or community member to reach out if there is a specific need that we need to reach.”

Current Arc GLOW customers will be contacted directly with more information on what the acquisition means for them, and both organizations feel that customers will experience very little, if any change in their current service.

As first reported by The Batavian in May, prior coverage can be found HERE

UPDATE: Statement from Martin Miskell, chief executive officer, Arc Glow

I am excited to tell you that we have sold our trash and recycling business along with the West Main Street property to Casella.

For many of you, this has been the worst-kept secret in Batavia.

We could not acknowledge anything until the deal was finalized as Casella is a publicly traded company and has to abide by the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

I know change can be hard and many citizens of Batavia and the surrounding area have been great supporters of the Agency but, this will help the Agency move forward into the future.
 

Why did we sell?

• The number of jobs provided to individuals we support has shrunk dramatically over the years.
• Our fleet was very old and would have been very costly to replace.
• We have been losing money for quite some time.
• The competition has increased dramatically in the last 10 years. The larger companies have greater economies of scale and can charge less than we can for the same service.
• We were able to sell the business when it was still valuable.
• We will be able to use this money to reinvest in our fleet, facilities, and our IT. This in turn will help us provide a higher quality of service to those we support.
• Casella has agreed to hire all staff who want to stay on with them.
• Casella has agreed to keep the transfer station open to the public and has signed a contract with us to have an Arc GLOW work enclave along with a job coach run the transfer station.
• Casella has given us the last three and a half years of their lease on Apollo Drive in Batavia as part of the deal.
• Casella has become a valuable corporate partner and will continue to help us with our annual membership drive and be a financial supporter of the Agency.

What’s happening next?

• We have six months to move out of the West Main Street location.
• Transportation will be moving to Apollo Drive, which is a great facility.
• Genesee Data Management (GDM) is also moving to Apollo Drive.
• Facility Maintenance will be moving to Walnut Street.