The City of Batavia is working with the Batavia Development Corporation (BDC) to apply to New York State for a second Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant.
Governor Hochul and State Legislative leaders have ensured that New York Cities can continue to grow their tax base and business by championing the DRI grant program. The City was a recipient of a DRI in 2018 and have completed seven (7) out of eight (8) transformational projects in the core of downtown Batavia.
“Without the Governor, the Department of State, and Empire State Development the City of Batavia would not have seen such a dramatic transformation from a fledgling downtown into a flurry of investment; sparking retail, commercial, and residential progress.
The DOS Brownfield Opportunity Area program gave Batavia the blueprint to focus investment on contaminated and underutilized sites. The DRI added the funding to move these projects from the planning stage to construction and completion. The City is ready to extend this winning combination and apply for another DRI grant with a new project boundary,” said Rachael J. Tabelski, City Manager, Batavia.
Over $75 Million of investment by the private sector was matched to the $10M grant funds to make major improvements in the City.
DRI 1.0 Grant Projects
City View Residences
Healthy Living Campus/YMCA
Carr’s Department Store
Main Street Theater 56
Building Improvement Fund
Jackson Square
City Centre Improvement Project
Savarino
One of the primary goals of the DRI was to identify projects that are catalytic, leverage additional private and public funding, and are ready to move from planning to construction.
Batavia’s first DRI Steering Committee recommended 16 final projects ready for investment and New York State choose the top 8 projects for funding.
“The DRI program was a tremendous success in the City of Batavia providing our citizens with new opportunities for recreation, arts, culture, entertainment and housing. I’m thrilled to work on new opportunities for investment in the City,” said Eugene Jankowski Jr., City Council President.
The City and the BDC continue to assist and incentivize many new projects across the City, however, there are many more projects that are ready to spur more economic development, building revitalization, and housing construction with grant assistance that a DRI award could provide.
“The BDC continually pairs properties and building owners with grants and incentives to drive investment and business development in the City. Since the first successful execution of the DRI program there has been an increase in developer interest within the City. New projects that qualify for the DRI 2.0 will continue to boost the quality of life in our City,” said Tammy Hathaway, Executive Director of the BDC.
If you are interested in learning more and have a project in the City please send a letter to Tammy Hathaway, BDC Executive Director expressing your interest. Please include the following:
Name of Project
Address
Proposed Project or Idea
Potential Investment
After you submit your letter of interest you will be contacted by a member of the DRI Steering Committee to assist you with preparing a full project application and due diligence.
An initial map of the project area is attached, however if you have a project outside the boundary please send a letter of interest to the BDC Executive Director Tammy Hathaway at director@bataviadevelopmentcorp.org.
Photo of the Bennington Concrete Collective Exhibit, courtesy of GCC.
Press Release:
The Rosalie "Roz" Steiner Art Gallery is kicking off 2025 with an exciting new sculptural exhibit! The Bennington Concrete Collective features artwork by Ed Hallborg and J. Brian Pfeiffer. Hallborg and Pfeiffer both use concrete/cement as the foundation of their pieces.
Hallborg creates relief sculptures by spreading layers of cements onto wood, and then carving into it. Recently, he has been experimenting with color in his artwork by layering chalk pastels onto the dried cement for added dimension. Take note of the colorful strokes used in Collaboration Piece, which consists of many interlocking sculptures on display together for the first time.
Pfeiffer creates stone blocks out of concrete and marble dust, which he then carves into to create his free-standing sculptures. In contrast to his smaller pieces on display, Pfeiffer also creates large scale sculptures, some of which you'll find permanently displayed around Western NY. This requires him to weld metal armatures to create a stable base, which he then covers in concrete.
Pfeiffer says most of his sculptures are built for interaction, and he encourages viewers to get up close to his artwork. Feel free to take a seat on Sitting Man when you visit the Rosalie "Roz" Steiner Art Gallery. Texture and shadow take center stage in The Bennington Concrete Collective. There is a playful mix of abstract artwork on display next to figurative pieces, from both of these talented artists.
Ed Hallborg is a Western New York based studio artist, theatre designer, educator and musician. He first began working with wood forms and concrete while studying as a Carpenter's Apprentice in the Southwest United States. Graduating SUNY with a BS of Design in 2002, he currently serves as Professor of Practice and Resident Designer/Technical Director for the Theatre Department of Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
In June 2024, he was selected as one of the four Roycroft Emerging Artists:Cohort 2024, sponsored by the Roycroft at Large Association, a Craftsman community in East Aurora, NY. In October of the same year, he was juried in as an exhibiting member of the Buffalo Society of Artists. Ed just finished up a delightfully collaborative NYSCA Independent Artist Grant working with elementary aged artists in the fall of 2024 which he'd be happy to tell you about. He has shown at gallerys throughout the Western and Central NY region.
J. Brian Pfeiffer is a self-taught sculptor, born in 1964. He has been creating sculptures using concrete or stone (alabaster) since 1984. Pfeiffer is the owner of A Sculptor's Soul Studio, which is located in the rolling hills of Bennington, a small town in Western New York. He has abstract and figurative sculptures of all sizes scattered around his property, as well as commissioned pieces in private collections and public installations peppered throughout Western New York. The largest being a 6-ton concrete sculpture, which is called UNITY, a 911 Memorial donated to the Fireman's Home/Museum in the Hudson Valley. He is a recipient of the New York State Council on the Arts Community Arts Grant in 2024, and has won numerous awards for his sculptures at the Allentown Arts Festival.
Two receptions will be held on January 30 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and at 5 to 7 p.m. Meet our artists and enjoy some refreshments while viewing this exciting new sculptural exhibit.
The Rosalie "Roz" Steiner Art Gallery hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Wednesdays 5 - 7 p.m. The gallery is also open on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Any changes to the gallery hours will be posted on the gallery social media pages.
For more information please contact: Jessica Skehan at the Rosalie "Roz" Steiner Art Gallery via email jeskehan@genesee.edu or gccgallery@genesee.edu or telephone 585-343-0055 ext. 6490.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) reintroduced the Pregnancy Resource Center Defense Act to protect pro-life pregnancy centers from attacks by radical activists and ensure attackers are held accountable for their violent actions.
Following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson 's decision in 2022, pro-life pregnancy centers across the nation have faced an increase in violent attacks from radical pro-abortion extremist groups. In Upstate New York, CompassCare Pregnancy Services, a pro-life center in Amherst, New York, was firebombed in 2022 and was criminally vandalized again in 2023.
The Pregnancy Resource Center Defense Act aims to strengthen protections for abortion-alternative providers and places of worship by:
Elevating first-time offenses from misdemeanors to felonies and increasing fines from $10,000 to $25,000;
Ensuring that successful lawsuits by pregnancy resource centers and religious facilities result in compensation of no less than $20,000, up from the current $10,000 minimum; and
Raising the mandatory minimum sentence for arson-related attacks from 5 years to 7 years.
"Radical pro-abortion extremists have targeted pro-life pregnancy centers nationwide by attacking workers and volunteers, vandalizing facilities, and even firebombing buildings like CompassCare in Amherst, New York. The Pregnancy Resource Center Defense Act is a critical measure to protect women and families who depend on pro-life health centers like CompassCare for compassionate care. This legislation also strengthens penalties to ensure violent perpetrators are held accountable for their attacks on pregnancy resource centers. I remain steadfast in my commitment to defending the sanctity of life and supporting these essential pro-life care centers,” said Congresswoman Tenney.
“A recent study revealed that nearly 70% of women who had an abortion were coerced. Pro-life Pregnancy Resource Centers like CompassCare provide a third of a billion dollars of free medical care and support to women facing unplanned pregnancy every year. Pro-life Pregnancy Resource Centers provide a woman with true choice: the ability to say ‘no’ to abortion. And yet, pro-abortion domestic terrorists have attacked hundreds of pro-life Pregnancy Resource Centers—firebombing CompassCare in 2022, vandalizing us in 2023, and engaging in cyber terror acts in 2025. Added to that, Big Tech censored us, preventing women from finding our free, ethical services in their time of need; pro-abortion politicians like NY Gov. Hochul weaponized legislation against us; NY Attorney General Letitia James engaged in lawfare, seeking specifically to prevent women from receiving life- saving emergency abortion pill reversal at our medical offices; all while a politicized federal law enforcement turned a blind eye. From the terrorists to pro-abortion politicians, the goal of their attacks is the same: shut down all competition to the abortion industry. What Congresswoman Tenney understands is the need to shut down the unjust attacks and abuse of peaceful pro-life citizens, sacrificially investing in their neighbor in crisis. Rep. Tenney’s bill is a strong step in that direction,” said Reverand Jim Harden, CEO of CompassCare.
"Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal represents a staggering and deeply troubling escalation of spending at a time when New York cannot afford it. With a record $252 billion price tag, this budget is $19 billion higher than last year’s Executive Budget proposal. The unchecked growth in spending is not only reckless, but it is the driver of the high cost of living that is pushing out residents and jobs.
The state is staring down major multi-billion-dollar budget gaps in future years, underscoring the structural fiscal issues we are failing to address. At the heart of this problem is Medicaid, where spending continues to skyrocket with no meaningful plan from the Governor to rein it in—even as she herself has called the current trajectory ‘unsustainable.’ New York’s Medicaid program has long been known as the ‘Cadillac’ of state Medicaid programs because it is the most expansive and costly, outpacing even California’s. It’s long past time for the state to align its benefits with those of other states and take stronger measures to root out the waste, fraud and abuse. Without reform, we are simply ignoring reality and setting the stage for painful tax increases and cuts in other areas of the budget in the near future.
While the Governor has included so-called ‘affordability’ measures such as middle-class tax cuts and rebate checks, against the backdrop of skyrocketing spending and looming deficits, the net effect for taxpayers will be more financial pain in the form of higher taxes, fees, or other burdens to fund this irresponsible budget.
Adding to the chaos is the unaddressed $33 billion gap in the MTA’s capital plan. While this massive shortfall is conspicuously absent from the budget, it will need to be addressed in the final budget—likely through new taxes or fees that will once again hit hardworking New Yorkers.
Traditionally, it has been the Governor’s responsibility to serve as the ‘adult in the room’ during budget negotiations, balancing ambitious priorities with fiscal discipline. Unfortunately, this proposal suggests that Governor Hochul is content to pass the buck instead of passing meaningful reforms. New Yorkers deserve better. It’s time to stop treating taxpayers like an endless ATM and start making the tough choices necessary to secure our state’s financial future."
Batavia High School special education teacher's aide Leah Wroten gets and gives a hug to student Kassandra. Submitted Photo
At 21, Leah Wroten was diagnosed with cancer, and life as she knew it changed for the foreseeable future, special education teacher Natalie Keller says.
“She had life-changing surgery," Keller said to The Batavian about her fellow Batavia City Schools colleague. "She had not been working for six months.”
Wroten, a BHS 2020 graduate, had major surgery, chemotherapy and related treatments since her diagnosis in 2024. School staff members have had football square and Dress Down Day fundraisers, and one coming up in February is expected to be the biggest so far, Keller said. It will be a 26 Shirts for Leah.
As a special ed teacher’s aide, Wroten was not paid during her time off, and it hurt her financially during those six months off. Keller has been aware of 26 Shirts, a Buffalo company that does popular one-of-a-kind shirt designs for worthy causes, and staff added their friend to the waiting list last April.
Wroten’s shirt design will be sold online for two weeks beginning Feb. 24, with $8 from each purchase going to her. Designs usually involve sports themes, such as with Buffalo Bills, and Keller is hoping that the Bills win the Super Bowl and the design can incorporate that. She has heard good things about the 26 Shirts company.
“They’ve been doing this for six or seven years. They said they make about $6,000 to $8,000 for each shirt design,” she said. "Some of this will be getting her back on her feet.”
Given that Wroten began in October 2023 and hadn’t been at the district very long when she got sick, she has rather quickly made a difference at the school, with adults and students alike.
Special education teacher Chris Gorton works in the same room with Keller and Wroten, and has enjoyed the experience of this teacher’s aide.
“Leah is amazing,” he said.
Keller also shared how she works with people.
“She’s very patient, she’s a good balance to me. She’s very patient with the kids at school and with my daughter, Sara. I think this group of kids that she works with a high school, she kind of found her people,” Keller said. “I don’t know that she was interested in doing that kind of work, but once she started, it’s just very natural for her to be caring and patient but to challenge the kids too.”
Sara, 16, has Down Syndrome, and Wroten has been taking her to youth group while working three jobs and preparing to continue her own education to become a special education teacher or study library science, Keller said. Her plans were temporarily shifted when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 21, and had to take time off from work for surgery and treatments.
She is in remission but still has to get scans and have follow-up appointments, “which means every time she takes off, she’s still not getting paid for those days; it’s hard to amass any time when you’re off,” Keller said.
“I’d like her to be in the position that if she has to go to a doctor’s appointment, she doesn’t have to worry about food and rent,” Keller said. “We’re hoping to get her back in a good place.”
About 26 Shirts According to the website, 26 Shirts sells different limited edition Buffalo-themed t-shirts that give back. After a shirt's respective fundraising campaign is over, the design is retired and (usually) never sold again.
For every shirt sold, a donation is made to a specific family in need or charitable organization.
“Our primary focus is needs associated with health/medical concerns or unexpected family emergencies,” the site states. “Our goal is to provide customers with the highest quality, softest fabric shirts. So not only will they be designs you love, they'll be on shirts you love wearing.”
Wroten’s shirt will be released on Feb. 24 on the website and be available for purchase online for two weeks.
BHS special education teacher's aide Leah Wroten, third from right, with her team. Submitted Photo
Stephen Babcock, Frank Babcock, Bill Joyce, Steve Hawley. Photo by Howard Owens.
The many years that Frank Babcock took his family camping resulted in a hobby that will help area veterans be a little more stable in their walk through life.
"We used to camp a lot. I had a big motor home," said Frank Babcock, an 89-year-old Albion resident. "We camped, and it (Frank's hobby) was something to pass the time. You always were near or in the woods. It was something just to pass the time."
Babock passed the time by walking through the woods looking for interesting saplings, ideally, a young tree that nature (perhaps because of the placement of a rock) had grown with an L-shaped root. The L-shaped root makes for the perfect cane handle.
The prize sapling grew up with a vine wrapped around the trunk, giving it a corkscrew shape.
Babock hasn't kept track of how many years he's been making canes.
He's often given them away while out camping, but the idea to donate 21 of them to area veterans came to him during a trip to Walmart. He saw a man walking with a wooden cane, and he asked where he got it, the man said he was a veteran, and Assemblyman Steve Hawley gave it to him.
Babcock told his son Jimmy, and Jimmy called Hawley's office.
The canes are being distributed to the three counties that Hawley serves in the 139th Assembly District. They are being distributed according to the population in each area Steve serves -- five to Orleans County, three to Monroe County, and seven to Genesee County.
On Friday, Babcock, with the help of his son Stephen, delivered the seven canes to William Joyce, veterans services officer for Genesee County.
"It just so happened this started just before Christmas," Hawley said. "The timing was absolutely unbelievable. Those psychological and heartfelt gifts from one veteran to another. Fellow veterans are going to use Frank's canes to get around. And that's what it's all about: fellow comrades helping one another, regardless of the branch of service, regardless of how old we are, regardless of whether we served in combat or not. We want veterans who served to have these canes."
Joyce said he was grateful for the generous donation.
"I have a couple of veterans in mind right now that as so I had these available, I was going to give them a call, because they can use one," Joyce said. "They get one issued by the VA and they're not really happy with them. I think they are going to feel more comfortable walking with one of these."
Frank Babcock shows Steve Hawley his favorite cane, one he's keeping for himself, with its corkscrew shape and a handle that looks like a snake head. Photo by Howard Owens.
Frank Babcock holds his "whittling" knife. Photo by Howard Owens.
The Genesee County Office for the Aging (OFA) is inviting dedicated individuals to join its Advisory Council and play a role in shaping programs and services for older adults in the community.
The OFA is seeking representation from both community members and service providers.
Community Members: Residents of Genesee County aged 60 and older, including minorities and individuals with economic or social needs, are encouraged to participate.
Service Providers: Professionals from agencies such as Social Security, healthcare, and other related organizations are also welcome to apply.
By joining the Advisory Council, members will have the opportunity to share their voice, advocate for older adults, and help improve services across the county.
The OFA is particularly seeking members from different municipalities to ensure countywide representation.
For more information or to apply, please contact the Genesee County Office for the Aging at 585-343-1611 or visit this link to apply.
Do you know an artist or organization from Genesee or Orleans County that deserves recognition for their accomplishments in 2024? GO ART! is inviting community members to submit nominations for the Annual Genean Awards.
“Why “Genean” you ask?” says Executive Director, Gregory Hallock, “Well, simply put, we decided that we needed to have our own unique awards (like the Oscars or Tony awards) for GENesee and OrlEANs counties, to recognize a few of the amazing people and organizations we have within our counties.”
The categories for nomination are as follows:
Organization of the Year - This award honors a not-for-profit or for-profit organization for its outstanding achievements in 2024
Individual Artist of the Year - This award honors an individual artist in any discipline for their achievements in 2024 or career-long body of work
Arts and Culture Supporter of the Year - This award honors an individual or an organization outside of the arts and cultural sector for their work directly aiding in the arts and/or cultural sector during 2024.
To submit a nomination visit www.goart.org/genean. All nominations are due by March 1.
Nursing faculty member Rebecca Herlan demonstrates the working pulse on a mannequin during a visit Thursday from SUNY Chancellor John King and Senator George Borrello at Genesee Community College in Batavia. Photo by Joanne Beck
While surrounded by a group of onlookers, Madeline Wilson dramatically pumped a male’s chest with crossed hands repeatedly Thursday while watching a nearby heart monitor to see whether her actions were effective enough to resuscitate him.
Not only was she under pressure with the cardio maneuver, but she had an audience for her first attempts.
“So, especially in this, we can apply this knowledge to the community when we go into clinical and work,” the nursing student said during the demonstration at Genesee Community College’s Med-Tech building. “So if this did happen to our patient, we would be totally prepared and know what to do.”
Unlike old-school upper torso mannequins that don’t really resemble human persons besides crude physical mechanics, this male was a full-body specimen with working features. GCC purchased the $28,000 mannequin, an accompanying defibrillator and other equipment with 2024 state funding of $8 million to expand community college healthcare workforce training and mental health programs.
This investment will allow students opportunities for hands-on learning with the most up-to-date technology, officials said during a tour of the nursing, child care center and HVAC wings with SUNY Chancellor John King and Senator George Borrello.
Nursing faculty member Rebecca Herlan gave a close-up view of a mannequin, encouraging King and Borrello, who noted that the patient was even blinking, to touch the skin and feel the pulse from hands to toes.
“One of the things that we love about nursing simulation is mannequins is we can use them throughout the program. So one of the nicer things for these particular mannequins is you can see the chest, right? So some of our older model mannequins, you can't necessarily see that, and that is actually how we teach students to check, like a respiratory rate. So this is a more realistic mannequin for the students to work on,” Herlan said. “Other things you'll notice, if you actually touch the mannequin, it's more realistic skin. You can actually feel the pulses. So our old mannequins did not have great pulses. You have radial pulses, also pedal pulses, which our old mannequins definitely did not have.”
Herlan said that “we have IV access for this patient,” pointing out an adjacent IV monitor atop a pole.
“Actually, just now, Rochester hospitals are thinking of expanding what they allow students to do in terms of IV medication. So having this in the lab lets them practice sufficiently so that when they're in the clinical space, they can sort of confidently do this, but obviously, you want to have that instructor with them at all times,” she said. “But we really utilize our mannequins throughout the program, and these mannequins, as opposed to our previous mannequins, sort of have better functionality and more true to what students are actually going to see.”
The models in that room ranged from $5,000 for lower fidelity to $60,000 for a full functionality mannequin, she said. Another much more compact cut useful piece of equipment, she said, is an arm sleeve used to practice inserting an IV — “you can kind of see some of the veins” — that gets hooked up to fluid that flows through the needle to simulate when drawing blood.
King thanked Borrello for his help in getting a bill passed that increased the amount of time training nurses could spend in these simulation type exercises.
“I want to appreciate you because two years ago, we had the bill to allow the simulation to count for a third of the clinical hours. So if not for the support of the legislature, we wouldn't be able to leverage the simulation experience as effectively,” King said. “And then last year, with the $8 million in operating aid, we were able to dedicate $5 million across the system, at community colleges to healthcare workforce, and that made these purchases.”
The tour continued into the next room, which included a CPR simulation by students. The monitor has a feedback feature that shows if the compression is deep enough, are the hands in the right position, and gives “feedback in real-time,” Harlan said. Instruction also includes logistics, such as whether a student is tall enough to perform the maneuver or if a stool is needed, or if there’s no stool, “we’re climbing on the bed,” she said.
“This particular mannequin can give us that feedback on whether we're doing it appropriately. There's a lot of moving parts. So it's not a great idea to do CPR on any mannequin, but this one is specially designed, and it's really great,” she said. Like I said, we are showing the students some of the heart rhythm, help them kind of see what we were talking about in class.”
Some stats about the nursing program: there are 214 students and about 100% of them will walk away and right into a job. An amount of $310,000 was earmarked for GCC’s new Health Care Programs recruitment specialist, four new adjunct professors for the Physical Therapist Assistant and Respiratory Care programs, and to purchase equipment for respiratory care simulation education. Part of the program upgrade also includes enhanced student mentorship.
King asked what the limiting factor was for there not to be 300 students. Faculty and space, Herlan said.
Most of the students are adult learners, some come from the military, and another limitation for students living in New York City is transportation, she said. They often don’t have their own vehicle, and there’s no regular public transportation to and from GCC. After some quick head math calculating how many miles would be traveled in the program with clinicals, King nodded.
“This seems solvable,” he said, adding later that it’s a topic he will carry back with him for further discussion.
From nursing to puppies King and his entourage, which also included GCC President Craig Lamb, stopped by the Child Care Center across the road at the main campus. Kids were excitedly chatting and playing, hitting upon a favorite subject of puppies. Lamb pulled out his phone and showed a photo of the one he has at home while King talked to a youngster at the child’s play station.
Center Director Kayleen McEwan talked about the services, facility and the fifth classroom that opened in August 2024 with funding the college received last year. No sooner had the additional room opened, and it was full, she said. When asked by King what she could she do with more resources — a question he asked of every department — McEwan didn’t take long with her answer.
“We could open eight rooms,” she said, with the caveat that staffing is a challenge.
King is aware and said so is Gov. Kathy Hochul, that childcare needs are great in New York, and SUNY’s growing population of adult learners is ripe for that service.
Keeping cool under pressure Heating and cooling was also part of the tour, and instructor Bill Hayes exuded the enthusiasm that perhaps only a veteran HVAC business owner could display. He shared the importance of imparting his 30-year experience to students, especially when it comes to proper maintenance of appliances.
“I have a lot of people that really talk about this class. It's really a groundbreaking opportunity here for people that just walk out of here, be able to look at a furnace, look at an air conditioner, put the gauges on there, change the maintenance, oh my gosh. Maintenance is probably 50% of the problem with any type of service call; stuff's not being maintained,” Hayes said. “The college is invested here, has invested into their staff, their maintenance staff, to take this course so they can do a lot more of the HVAC work here and not have to bring in outside contractors.
"That's a huge investment for people, not only here, but also when that word gets out, there's going to be other facilities out there," he said. "They're going to want to send their people here so they can save some money. That's the game plan.”
Closing in at nearly two hours, the group ended with a talk about mental health issues and counseling challenges that most believed have been exacerbated since COVID.
Worrying about mental health Certainly, the use of social media can be a cause of stress, and counselors also see “suicidal ideation, anxiety and panic disorders, personality disorders, autism and ADHD and major depressive disorders,” said Macy Reyngoudt, assistant director for counseling services.
“There’s lots more, but those are the biggest patterns that we see almost daily,” she said.
Remedies have included quiet meditation spaces, counseling, lots of talk and communication to let students and faculty know the counseling center is available, yoga, Mindful Mondays, and focused health talks, Assistant Dean for Student Services Monica Romeo said.
One population that hasn’t needed as much assistance is the older adult learner, Reyngoudt said, because “they’re ready” when they come to college and don’t seem to have the same problems or distractions as younger students do. That’s good news, given that Hochul’s proposed 2025 budget includes $28 million for free tuition, books, supplies and fees for adult learners to obtain an associate’s degree or certificate at community colleges in the state.
“We're very excited about the governor's proposal for free community college for folks 25 to 55 in high-demand career areas like nursing, like advanced manufacturing, like cyber security, renewable energy and green jobs. And so we're pleased that she's put real resources behind that," King said. "I think that will make a big difference as we think about what our community colleges need as we grow those high-demand workforce programs. We also need to continue to invest in equipment. We need to continue to invest in faculty, one of the big challenges for nursing. We’re looking at ways we can partner with healthcare providers to have job shares so that we have the faculty that we need.
"We need more child care in New York. You know, they have a long wait list, particularly as we try to attract more adult students to community college campuses, child care is going to be a significant factor. So that's something I'll be thinking about," he said. "It's great that they were able to use the additional resources from the governor and legislature last year to support more counseling, more services around meeting mental health needs, but more is needed, and you heard that so clearly that there is a lot of pain that folks are carrying and experiencing, some of it carrying over from COVID, and we've got to make sure that we help our campuses support student mental health needs."
Nursing student Madeline Wilson performs compressions on a functional mannequin while reading a monitor. Photo by Joanne Beck
SUNY Chancellor John King, left, and Senator George Borrello get a two-hour tour of GCC's nursing, child care, HVAC and mental health counseling programs Thursday. Photo by Howard Owens
Nursing student Doug Johns talks about his experience at GCC with SUNY Chancellor John King, center, and Senator George Borrello. Photo by Howard Owens
Arthur Tasber, 3, chats up SUNY Chancellor John King in the Child Care Center at GCC in Batavia. Photo by Howard Owens
Student Government President and Trustee Joshua Jones, left, of Brooklyn, talks about his plans after GCC with liaison Gregg Torrey, left, GCC President Craig Lamb, SUNY Chancellor John King and Senator George Borrello. Photo by Howard Owens
HVAC Instructor Bill Hayes reviews his background and class talking points during a tour of officials Thursday at the GCC Batavia campus. Photo by Joanne Beck
A Statement from Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia):
“Another year, another out-of-touch budget proposal from Gov. Hochul. It’s no wonder our state has one of the highest out-migration rates in the country when we continue to spend money we don’t have on programs we don’t need. Increasing spending by nearly $10 billion is not in our best interest, and New Yorkers aren’t buying it this time around. This is a $252 billion disaster that we cannot afford to implement. Our state needs a balanced budget that helps bring down costs for working families rather than taking more money out of their pockets.
The Batavia High School (BHS) Rock Band has been honored with the 2025 Excellence in Student Services Award by the Genesee Valley School Boards Association.
The award, presented on Saturday, January 18, recognized the Rock Band program for its outstanding contribution to student development and music education.
Now in its 11th year, the BHS Rock Band program offers students the opportunity to explore and perform various styles of rock music, focusing on the four primary rock instruments; drums, bass guitar, guitar, and keyboard.
The program is performance-focused, with several concerts each year that allow students to showcase their skills and growth as musicians.
Originally launched as a single class in 2014, the Rock Band program has expanded significantly over the years. It now includes three classes and an after-school advanced ensemble.
Congrats to the BCSD Music Department for this impressive achievement!
The Batavia Winterguard is thrilled to announce its 25th Annual Fantastic Visions Competition, taking place on Saturday, February 1, at Batavia High School.
This exciting event will showcase the talents of 28 Winterguard teams from across Western New York and Canada, and we invite you to join us for an afternoon of incredible performances.
The competition begins at 2:50 p.m., with Batavia’s own Cadet and IA Winterguards taking the stage at 3:56 p.m. and 7:13 p.m., respectively.
Tickets are $10 for spectators ages 8 and older, with children 7 and under admitted for free. This is a fantastic opportunity to support local and regional talent while enjoying a thrilling day of Winterguard competition.
The Town of Elba has announced its 2025 schedule for upcoming board and commission meetings. All meetings will be held at 7133 Oak Orchard Road, Elba, unless otherwise noted.
Town Board Meetings
The Town Board will meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., with the following exceptions:
January 2
February 6
Regular meetings will resume on March 13 and continue on the following schedule:
April 10
May 8
June 12
July 10
August 14
September 11
October 9
November 13
December 11
Zoning Board Meetings
The Zoning Board will meet on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. An exception will be made for September, where the meeting will take place on September 8 due to the holiday.
Planning Board Meetings
The Planning Board will meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
Other Meetings of Interest:
Fire Commissioners – Elba Joint Fire District:
Meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Elba Joint Fire District Station.
Village of Elba:
Meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m., located at 4 South Main Street, Elba.
For more information, please contact the Town of Elba Clerk’s office at 585-757-2762.
The Board of Directors for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County will hold its Annual Organizational Meeting on January 28, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at 420 E. Main St., Batavia.
Election of officers, annual authorizations, and appointment of committees/chairs will be decided on at this meeting.
For more information, please contact Yvonne Peck at ydp3@cornell.edu or 585-343-3040 x123.
Batavia PD is investigating a personal injury accident involving two juvenile pedestrians that occurred Saturday at 6:15 at West Main Street and Oak Street.
The youths had serious but non-life threatening injuries and both were transport by Mercy EMS to Strong Memorial Hospital.
The driver of the vehicle is cooperating with police, the department said in a statement.
They're asking anyone with information about the incident or video footage to contact Sgt. Arick Perkins at 585-345-6350.
Christian Brunelle of Sonbyrne Sales, Inc., presents his plan for a Byrne Dairy at 606 E. Main St., Batavia during Tuesday's city Planning & Development meeting. East side city resident Mary Ellen Zickl sits in the audience waiting her turn to share how happy she is that such a project is being considered for the east side of Batavia. Photo by Joanne Beck
Although the city’s Planning & Development Committee recommended Tuesday that Christian Brunelle return in February with details and a site plan for a Byrne Dairy & Deli at 606 E. Main St., Batavia, committee members walked away pleased with his 35-minute presentation at City Hall.
Brunelle, senior executive vice president of Sonbyrne Sales, Inc., reviewed loose plans for a gated store that would be moved back from houses, include landscaping and trees, a Dumpster enclosure, two unrestricted curb cuts, one each a canopied gas and diesel station, sidewalks leading to the store porch, three signs, including a digital reading board, and outdoor lights designed to minimize unwanted light pollution.
“We use 100% Dark Sky, which is the most stringent light … why do I do that? It’s so expensive but well worth it. We go above and beyond the idea of this every meeting, because usually I’m used to much tighter residences,” Brunelle said. “We give you kind of a funnel image from an engineer. I’m gonna send this to the lighting engineer down south. He will send something back.”
He ran through his talk well rehearsed and knowledgable, quickly answering questions without a waver. Six-foot tall evergreens, per city code, would meet the code requirement as a sufficient buffer, and they are also considering replacing some trees and adding red maples, he said. The set-up doesn’t require pedestrians to cross the gas station area, so that “no one has to cross the driveway,” he said.
The applicant has requested a variance because there is less than 500 feet between the store and Whole Life Fitness, a gym at 624 E. Main St. Committee Chairman Duane Preston asked about options.
“Would you be opposed to a fence?” he said, surmising that maybe the neighbors would appreciate some visual separation.
Brunelle had no problem with that, or a row of trees, he said. “You guys tell me what you want,” he said.
Code Enforcement Officer Douglas Randall suggested that either a row of trees or bushes would be a good idea for catching debris from the dairy to the gym.
Preston also asked if there’s a plan to install electric vehicle pumps. There is no such plan now, Brunelle said, however, when and if there’s a need in the future, those could be added.
“If there’s a need for those in three or four years, we have enough room,” he said.
What about a generator on site?
While there wouldn’t be one at the store permanently, there are two — a 125 KW and 100 KW — in a warehouse not far away, he said.
“It can be brought here in one and a half hours,” he said.
Committee member Jim Krencik asked how much of the property would not be paved. Six feet that then goes back 15 to 20 feet would remain unpaved, Brunelle said.
Brunelle said the company has already conducted a survey and is ready for the next steps with a targeted spring construction, likely to begin in April if the approval process goes well.
Since the property is along state Route 5, he has already sent plans to the New York State Department of Transportation for review, he said.
“It’s a very nice proposal, very amenable,” Committee member John Ognibene said.
The plan was impressive, Preston said. Brunelle may not need to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals if he addresses variance issues for the size of signs and space between properties in the final site plan, Preston said.
“I’m very pleased with it; definitely very happy. It's a quality-driven product. I’m very glad the east end of the town, the city, got a nice plan. We've got a nice gas station,” he said after the meeting. “It’s looking like there are a lot of bright things for this year. We’ve got Burger King finishing up. We’ve got the new Byrne Dairy. It just seems like more opportunities are opening up, which is good.”
As for that town project that was put on hold by concerns from the county Planning Board, it won’t matter any more. Brunelle said he’s pulling a potential Byrne Dairy on Lewiston Road in the town of Batavia off the table.
He is looking forward to pursuing this venture on East Main Street to add to the 77 stores he manages, he said.
“We've opened a bunch of stores in Monroe County. We have one in Brockport for this to the west and we want to go further west, and originally, the other site over there came up, and we've been looking to Batavia for several years now, and we noticed this site right away,” he said. “It was vacant for several years, and we've been working on getting under contract for a while. It's under contract contingent upon approvals. If we get approval from the city in February, from both boards, we'll close on our property within 30 days, and we'll start construction probably within 30 days after.”
The site plan will also have to go to the county Planning Board for review. Brunelle said there will be 25 full-time equivalent employees at the store, with 35 to 40 combined part- and full-time people.
The Pavilion Alumni Hall of Fame Committee invites the community to participate in nominating outstanding PCS graduates who have distinguished themselves through significant achievements in their careers, contributions to their communities, or personal accomplishments.
These remarkable individuals will be considered for induction into the Annual Hall of Fame, a prestigious honor decided by the PCS Alumni Hall of Fame Selection Committee. This committee is a voluntary group made up of alumni, current and retired faculty, community members, and district administrators.
Since its inception in 2014, the PCS Hall of Fame has celebrated more than two dozen exceptional alumni whose stories inspire current and future Pavilion students to reach for excellence.
“The Hall of Fame Assembly is a unique opportunity for our students to witness the diverse possibilities that life after PCS offers,” says Pavilion Superintendent Mary Kate Hoffman. “What I find especially meaningful about the ceremony is that students hear from alumni from all walks of life—people who have made remarkable contributions to both their fields and their communities. Many of our speakers were not necessarily top academic achievers in school, yet they went on to do great things. This reinforces the idea that success is not solely determined by grades.”
Ken Weaver, Deputy Director with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and a 2018 inductee, reflects on the honor of joining the Hall of Fame: “Being inducted was a tremendous privilege. What made it particularly meaningful was the chance to connect with students and talk about their aspirations. One of the most rewarding moments for me was when a student expressed gratitude for my speech. Knowing that my words resonated with them and possibly inspired them is a powerful reminder of how shared experiences can impact future generations.”
Several inductees, such as Diane Davis Torcello, President of WNY Tompkins Community Bank, have continued to support the Hall of Fame by joining the Selection Committee to recognize even more inspiring graduates.
“I joined the Hall of Fame Committee because I believe in its mission,” says Torcello. “Honoring leaders from diverse professions is vital in sending the message to PCS students that they can achieve anything if they put in the effort. Attending a small school is not a limitation—it’s an advantage.”
Nominations are currently being accepted online at www.PCSHallofFame.com, and printed applications can be found at the following Pavilion locations: Kemp-Rudgers Service Station, Pavilion Public Library, The Lost Sock, Jazzy Creations, Blessings Café, Dorothy B. Bunce Elementary School, and the Pavilion Junior/Senior High School main office.
All nominations must be submitted by March 1. The PCS Alumni Hall of Fame Assembly will take place on May 30, 2025, at the Pavilion Junior/Senior High School Auditorium.
Organizers with GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare unveiled plans for the third annual career exploration event for students interested in career pathways and opportunities in the healthcare sector. Approximately 600 students from grades 8-12 from 28 schools will gather at Genesee Community College on March 17, 2025, to connect with various healthcare businesses and organizations to learn about careers in the healthcare sector across the GLOW region.
“GLOW With Your Hands and the GLOW region workforce development ecosystem are providing opportunities for students to learn about career opportunities right in their own backyard,” said GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare Co-Chair, Karyn Winters. “Whether it is manufacturing or healthcare our goal is to educate our local students about the many alternative pathways available for them after high school.”
Representatives from hospitals and health systems and professionals in nursing, mental health, social services, and emergency responders will be on hand to interact with students to discuss their careers and pathways into their respective fields. While some careers might begin immediately after high school, attendees will also be able to explore educational pathways in the healthcare sector through BOCES and degrees available at local colleges and universities.
“Our facility has been serving the community for 100 years and we are proud to participate in this event because we want to ensure we have the best possible talent from the next generation of our workforce to provide a high level of care,” said Marc Shurtz, CEO, Medina Memorial Health. “The healthcare sector is in dire need of workers, especially in rural communities, and we want to convey to the students that they can have a successful and rewarding career in healthcare without having to leave the area because they think these opportunities don’t exist here.”
“The support and participation of so many healthcare organizations in this annual event have generated significant interest among hundreds of students about careers in healthcare of which they simply are not aware,” said Kelly Kiebala, Director, Orleans County Job Development Agency. “The interaction between students and healthcare professionals allows for meaningful conversations where students learn what skills, credentials and training are required for a career in the healthcare sector.”
Among the businesses and organizations supporting the 3rd annual event are the M&T Charitable Foundation, Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center, Goodwill Vision Enterprises, and the New York State Department of Labor.
“Like our partners in the manufacturing sector, the healthcare entities associated with this flourishing event are excited to have this opportunity to meet so many students and perhaps get them started on a pathway in the healthcare field,” said Angela Grouse, Co-Chair of GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare. “The support of these businesses and organizations as well as the hundreds of volunteers make this such a worthwhile event for students across the region and in turn is building the foundation for the next generation of the healthcare workforce.”
There are still sponsorship opportunities for the March 17 event at the Platinum ($5,000), Gold ($2,500), Silver ($1,000) and Bronze ($500) levels.
For more information about GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare visit www.GLOWWithYourHands.com/healthcare or contact Chris Suozzi at csuozzi@gcedc.com.
HomeCare & Hospice Foundation is calling on local businesses, schools, and organizations to join in the mission of supporting compassionate care by becoming pre-sale coordinating sites for its 31st Annual Spring Bouquet Sale. This cherished fundraiser helps terminally ill patients and their families in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Genesee, and Wyoming counties.
By serving as a pre-sale site, organizations can help make a meaningful impact while giving their employees an opportunity to brighten their homes with a stunning 18-stem bouquet for just $25. Each bouquet sold contributes directly to providing vital hospice care services and bringing comfort to those in need.
“Becoming a pre-sale coordinator is a simple yet impactful way to support our Hospice Bouquet Sale,” said Melissa Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer at HomeCare & Hospice. “This program not only raises critical funds for patient care but also spreads joy throughout the communities we serve.”
Pre-sale coordinators will receive all necessary materials, including order forms and promotional materials, to make participation seamless. Organizations can coordinate orders internally, making it easy for employees to support this meaningful cause.
“We’re proud to partner with over 25 organizations across our four-county service area as pre-sale coordinators, including Lawley Insurance in Batavia, Liberty Pumps, Napoleon Engineering, Cutco and Wellsville Central School. We’re always looking to grow this network and would love to have more coordinators join us in making this year’s fundraiser our most successful yet,” added Sarah Negron, Agency Relations Coordinator.
Orders should be submitted no later than February 7, with bouquet pick up/delivery the week of March 3. If your organization is interested in becoming a pre-sale coordinating site, please contact HomeCare & Hospice at 716-372-2106 or visit our website at https://BouquetSale.givesmart.com.
Help us bring beauty, joy, and care to those who need it most. Together, we can make a difference!
