Batavia City Centre's concourse was bustling with sellers and shoppers during a vendor fair fundraiser hosted by and for All Babies Cherished Saturday in Batavia. Dozens of merchants and crafts people put their wares on display for early holiday shopping or to purchase a special treat to take home.
Photos by Howard Owens.
The executive director of the All Babies Cherished Pregnancy Assistance Center said about $4,000 was raised today for the nonprofit, pro-life organization through its second Fall Festival at the Batavia City Centre concourse.
"There are 90 vendors here and they're all doing well," Sue Sherman said during the event that ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. "They're selling their goods and it's a great representation of things that the community has to offer."
Sherman said ABC receives the vendor fees charged to the entrepreneurs, while "the proceeds they (vendors) make here are for the fruits of the their labor."
The procees comes at an opportune time for ABC, Sherman added, as it is setting up a house it has acquired to be used as temporary living quarters for the homeless women the organization serves.
"It will probably be between eight months and a year before we're able to open it for girls to live there. It's a work in progress but we're very thankful that we have one," she said.
The event has become one of the nonprofit organization's major fundraisers, she said, crediting volunteer Lucille DiSanto for her efforts in coordinating the show.
Program Coordinator Mona Doyon said she considered it "a blessing" to see the mall used again and being able meet and greet people.
She also said she is looking forward to ABC's virtual fundraising event this Thursday.
The agency will be hosting a free online fundraiser at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 in commemoration of its 25th year.
Le Roy resident Alexandra Andrews will tell her story as an abortion survivor.
A wife and mother of three, she said her testimony centers upon the ways God revealed His plan for her life, bringing her out of an orphanage in Russia to share a message of mercy, healing and forgiveness.
A registered nurse, Andrews is an active member at her church and serves on the ABC board of directors.
For more information, call 344-5660, go to www.allbabiescherished.com or www.facebook.com/AllBabiesCherishedPregnancyCenter/
All Babies Cherished Program Coordinator Mona Doyon, left, and Executive Director Sue Sherman.
Rochester Regional Health "Baby Cafe" employees Jay Balduf, left, and Linda Lee Stoiber greet Barb Worthington and her grandkids, Fae and Arlo Hoisington.
It's all about unique holiday decor at the Creative Crafts by Lori table. From left are Rochester area residents Donna Erickson, Lori Mariani (owner) and R.J. Kessler.
Delevan area residents Sue McKay (owner) and friend Kristi Cain at Grandma's Love Boutique, which features mittens, bows, stockings, washcloths and scrubbies.
Checking out the selection of items at the basket raffle table. Photos by Mike Pettinella.
More than 35 vendors participated today in a Vendor Blender inside City Centre as a fundraiser for All Babies Cherished.
Autumn Miles, a survivor of domestic abuse and an advocate for adoption, was the guest speaker Thursday night at the annual All Babies Cherished banquet at Quality Inn & Suites.
She is the founder of Autumn Miles Ministries, an organization based in Dallas devoted to spiritually challenging the way women think.
Miles covered a range of topics, including her Biblically based pro-life message, saying at one point, "God is pro-life."
All Babies Cherished is a pregnancy center on Ellicott Street in Batavia.
Pro-life advocates are mobilizing across the nation as many states enact laws expanding abortion rights, even to the point of fetal viability.
And their numbers are increasing, according to a new Marist poll that revealed that more Americans are identifying themselves as pro-life – with the split at 47 percent for pro-life and 47 for pro-choice compared to 38 percent pro-life and 55 percent pro-choice just a few weeks earlier.
The debate intensified in the City of Batavia over the past month following the state government’s passage of the New York Reproductive Health Act.
Numerous Batavia residents and several from out of Genesee County and even from as far as Arizona spoke out on the issue as City Council debated whether to send a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo in opposition of the RHA. In the end, the board decided not to do so (see story below).
The overwhelming majority of speakers, many identifying themselves as pro-life and “followers of Jesus Christ,” urged Council to stand up for the unborn, to obey the Word of God and to send the letter.
Others contended that city officials weren’t elected to weigh in on national and state issues, especially in light that the RHA has already been put into law.
On Monday night, 17 people – a few of them for the second or third time -- addressed City Council during the public comments portion of the Conference meeting.
Following are excerpts of their speeches:
Erica O’Donnell, Batavia – A self-described political activist, she said the most effective way (to get change) is to “coordinate our actions” – getting 20-50 like-minded people to write letters, make phone calls, conduct rallies and demonstrations.
As for Council’s involvement, she said it shouldn’t be.
“This is the third meeting where the topic is taking up the time of City Council. If you send a letter, it opens up a can of worms. Let’s put this issue to bed tonight … stick to city business.”
Jim Russell, Batavia – Stating that abortion is a moral issue, he called out New York, a state that doesn’t allow capital punishment for convicted criminals, for “saying that it’s OK to have capital punishment (against) babies.”
“I believe the majority of people in this community believe in eternal life, will (someday) meet their creator and have to answer for their life.”
Ann Marie Scalia, Batavia – She implored Council to “speak for the babies who have no voice inside the womb … babies (that) are very much alive … and 100 percent they feel pain (when an abortion is performed).”
She talked about other choices – counseling and adoption – and called for Batavia to be the first sanctuary city for the unborn.
She also railed against Albany, saying the state wants to protect un-vetted illegal immigrants and that Cuomo “has done nothing for us but tax us to death.”
Raelene Christian, Batavia – Calling the RHA “disgusting,” she said that once a woman becomes pregnant, it no longer is just her body anymore – “it’s two bodies, hers and her baby’s.”
She spoke about states that have passed a “heartbeat” law to put restrictions on when an abortion can be performed and said that “pro-lifers have been ignited like never before and their voices are being heard.”
Finally, she said the question was simple. “Do not take a stand for pro-life or pro-choice, but do stand for the unborn.”
Beth Cerminara, Lancaster – Contending that Roe v. Wade is “unconstitutional and antiquated,” she said the RHA was passed “under the guise of health care but is neither health nor care … Batavia can be the first to stand against a tyrannical state governor.”
Showing photos of fetuses at 10 weeks and one week, she said they are “beautifully and wonderfully woven together by the hand of God. This is 100-percent human …. Valuable and made in the image of God.”
Then she urged Council to “repent before the Lord who can save you from your sins … no more excuses; stop murder in Batavia.”
Susan Sherman, Batavia – The director of All Babies Cherished on Ellicott Street said her staff supports 300 clients annually with maternal needs, mentoring and other services. “We’re here to help women and girls who are dealing with unwanted pregnancy by offering “life choices.”
She also said that it’s a law that “you can’t touch a feral cat but we can kill an infant through nine months of pregnancy.”
In closing, she asked “how do we deal with these women who go through these procedures? Some had abortions 40 years ago and they’re still hurting (emotionally).”
Mona Doyon, Batavia – An employee at All Babies Cherished, she credited a teacher at Notre Dame High School for her pro-life stance, which gave her the courage to “choose life” when she became pregnant.
“God is calling each of you to take a stance … a chance to make a real difference,” she said to Council.
“When you say the Our Father (prayer before Council meeting), you can’t just say those words. It’s 'His kingdom come' not ours.”
John Speed, Syracuse – “I believe that you guys have the courage to do the right thing … make Batavia a sanctuary city for the unborn,” he said.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and we need to fear God more than we fear men, more than we fear Cuomo, some guy on Facebook or Planned Parenthood. Fear the One who you will stand before in judgment. “
He then quoted Bible passages from Proverbs 28:1 and Rev. 21:8, concluding that “I believe you can stand against this evil.”
His son, Charlie, then spoke briefly, stating “your parents chose life or you wouldn’t be here” and then quoted Romans 3:15 – “Their feet are swift to shed blood.”
Sarah Cleveland, Ohio – As someone who works in emergency room and medical situations, she said that “people across the country are watching what you are doing and praying for you.”
She said she is a foster care parent and abolitionist against abortion.
“This is our duty as Christians – to rescue those who need saving … I never hear the words ‘emergency abortion.’ You can take a baby out without murdering the baby. There is no reason to ever murder a baby to end a pregnancy.”
Marcus Pittman, Mesa, Ariz. – Saying he is a documentary filmmaker, he called upon Council to “stop the madness” and noted that in “Arizona, Washington, D.C., and in Oklahoma people are rising up.”
He asked why people this issue is even being debated because “you guys know that a baby in the womb is a baby.”
He said he was against sending the letter – not because he was pro-choice, but that it would result in being ripped up by Cuomo.
Alex Feig, Medina – Prefacing his remarks with the Biblical view that “we’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” he spoke of the “compassion, hope and help” provided by All Babies Cherished in Batavia and Care Net Center of Orleans County.
“We need to present young mothers with all of the options available (including life options),” he said.
He then said that while U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer takes a pro-choice stance for our nation, the New York representative also aligns himself with the Israeli pro-life, anti-immigration group EFRAT.
EFRAT’s mission, according to its website, is to empower women to make an informed choice about the future of their pregnancy by providing them with personal counseling, prenatal medical consultation and postnatal family support.
Judy Piscitello, Batavia – She said that Batavia has an “advantage” over other communities in becoming a sanctuary city for the unborn because United Memorial Medical Center is “a safe haven for babies and does not do surgical abortions.”
She shared several points about what a sanctuary city of this nature would mean, including:
-- All preborn babies could realize their full citizenship.
-- No doctors (etc.) could perform surgical abortions in Batavia from this day forward.
-- No minor should be taken out of the county for an abortion.
-- Law enforcement would not be compelled to cooperate (with state or federal laws re: abortion).
-- The entire city would get together for education of all ages and work with All Babies Cherished and with adoption agencies.
Chris and Brittany Connelly, Batavia – They said that Council had the “authority to do this” under the Constitution and New York Bill of Rights.
“Being a sanctuary city, the personhood would be returned to that child,” Brittany said. “There are no consequences for our actions any more … the world is going down. We support you in writing this letter … it’s a start.”
She then thanked Rose Mary Christian, the only Council member who voted to move the resolution forward to the next Business meeting, and called her “a true feminist” – sparking a loud round of applause from the crowd.
Kathy Stefani, Batavia – Addressing each Council member by first name, she said she contacted all of them by phone a few weeks ago and said that seven members “shared with me that you’re strong pro-life believers and agreed that this law is abhorrent.”
She then quoted II Timothy 1:7 (God has not given you a spirit of fear … but a spirit of power, love and a sound mind), and added that “this mighty God of the universe is a loving God … is for you, and if God is for you, which he is, who could be against you?”
Diana Kastenbaum, Batavia – Stating that she was born and raised in this city, she said that she “felt as if I am not welcome here (because) my views are different than those people.”
“I am Jewish and I am a religious person but yet I don’t feel this is Council’s place to have this theological discussion,” she said. “I think I’m a very moral person. I don’t think I am an immoral person because I am pro-choice.”
She said “we voted for you to vote on local issues” and that the laws (Roe v. Wade, RHA) are the laws and “we are all expected to uphold it.” She said she thinks that the separation of church and state was being “intermingled” here and it is “our moral imperative to keep the two separate.”
In closing, she said “I don’t think you want this to be a constant gallery to national issues …. Do your job as City of Batavia Council members and do not write this letter.”
Photo at top -- Chris and Brittany Connnelly of Batavia speak out against abortion during Monday night's City Council meeting. Photo by Mike Pettinella.
Lorie Oliver and the Women of the Moose Chapter 370, Le Roy, presented Tammy Arneth, director of All Babies Cherished with a check for $475.00 this weekend. The chapter also presented Jeanne Walton, director of Genesee County YWCA with a check for $475. The money was raised at their annual Harvest Dinner held in October.
(Submitted photo and info.)
The first runner rounds the corner on Bank Street this morning to start a 5K race benefiting All Babies Cherished.
What's missing from this picture? Try, Baby Jesus.
Believe it or not, somebody actually stole Baby Jesus from the nativity on the steps of All Babies Cherished at 445 Ellicott St., Batavia.
Director Tammy Arneth's one wish for Christmas is just to get the Baby Jesus back.
"We survive just on donations," Arneth said. "I need to spend our money on diapers and baby formula. I can't justify buying another Baby Jesus."
All Babies Cherish is a faith-based organization that is supported by local churches. The goal is to assist women who have chosen to give birth to a child rather than get an abortion.
Arneth has been with the agency for 15 years.
She's shocked that somebody would steal their Baby Jesus. While she filed a police report, she said she isn't looking to get anybody in trouble. She would just like to see Baby Jesus returned.
(NOTE: This is among the stories lost to a server glitch. I was able to recover a copy of the story from Google's cache, but the original group of comments are lost.)
All Babies Cherished Pregnancy Assistance Center will host its "Let There be Life" walk beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 5. Walkers will recruit sponsors and walk two miles to raise money for the pro-life cause.
The walk will start at St. Paul Lutheran Church, at 31 Washington Ave., in Batavia. Anyone who would like to get involved but cannot participate on the day of the walk may walk two miles in their own neighborhood and then mail sponsor forms to: All Babies Cherished, 445 Ellicott St., Batavia, NY 14020.
All Babies Cherished Pregnancy Assistance Center will host its "Let There be Life" walk beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 5. Walkers will recruit sponsors and walk two miles to raise money for the pro-life cause.
The walk starts at St. Paul Lutheran Church, at 31 Washington Ave., in Batavia. Anyone who would like to get involved but cannot participate on the day of the walk may walk two miles in their own neighborhood and then mail sponsor forms to: All Babies Cherished, 445 Ellicott St., Batavia, NY 14020.
For more information, contact All Babies Cherished at 344-5660 during its regular hours:
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