Le Roy

The Le Roy Parent Teacher Service Organization will host a weeklong Scholastic Book Fair beginning Monday, March 24, at Wolcott Street School.

Hours will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 24-25; from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 26-27; and from 4 to 8 p.m. March 28.

Wolcott Street School is located at 2-6 Trigon Park. Find the Book Fair in Room 103.

Students, faculty and the community are invited to attend the event, which helps inspire children to become lifelong readers. Funds raised will help purchase books for classroom libraries at the school.

The Book Fair offers specially priced books and educational products, including popular series, award-winning titles, new releases, adult bestsellers, and other great reads from more than 100 publishers.

The Book Fair helps celebrate the monthlong Parents As Reading Partners initiative. Parents As Reading Partners — or PARP — is a collaborative effort among parents, staff, and community to build a reading partnership between the home and school. PARP programs encourage parents to read with their children for at least 15 minutes per day. Experts say learning to read is the single most important activity in a child’s education.

Book Fair customers may help the school build classroom libraries by purchasing books through the Classroom Wish List program. In addition, the Book Fair will feature the “All for Books” program, which allows youngsters to share the thrill of reading by donating loose change to purchase books from the Book Fair for students who can’t buy books and for classroom libraries.

Scholastic matches monetary donations with a donation of up to 1 million books, which go to national nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping families in need, such as the Kids in Distressed Situations and Kids In Need Foundation.

I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to serve you the last four years. I have learned a great deal during this time and look forward to public service again in the future. I completed most of what I started out to do and started a few new things too. It has been an amazing time that I am grateful for. Congratulations to my running mate, Bill Kettle; to Bob Taylor on winning re-election; and John Mangefrida for running and putting himself out there. Bill is an amazing candidate with awesome ideas and a great deal of energy. Having him in office is an exciting time for our community. Thank you so much to everyone who helped during the election and to everyone who voted. Thank you to my amazing family for all of your help and sacrifices the last four years. Don't give up on your ideas and vision; anyone who knows me knows I certainly won't.

Envision a Re-Charged Le Roy!

Letter to the Editor: 

Bob Taylor’s and John Mangefrida’s political ad, they placed in the Le Roy Pennsyaver this week, is incorrect and misleading.  Decide for yourselves.  John is not running for re-election for Village Board Trustee, since he is not currently on the Village Board.  Trustee Jennifer Keyes and Trustee Bob Taylor are the only two running for re-election.  This is conspicuous in the title of Bob’s and John’s ad, yet only Bob speaks in this ad, as far as accomplishments, to currently being a Village Board Trustee in Le Roy.  Why?  It isn’t merely expedient to have had this ad go to print with what is an incorrect assertion that both Bob and John should be re-elected.  That is not possible for any voter or for all us to collectively re-elect them both!  It suggests, falsely that they are both currently on the Village Board. 

Also, while I used to deliver the D & C newspaper every morning to Bob Taylor’s house, when I was a teenager in Le Roy, and John Mangefrida and Jim Bonaquisti were in my high school graduating class in Le Roy, NY, these are not reasons one way or another for me to vote for them.  In the 20 years since I returned and have lived in Le Roy, NY, having returned as an adult, I have emphasized with new Le Roy residents, and old ones, that who we elect to represent us in our local Village and Town governments, should always be the most qualified candidate(s).  How long one has lived in Le Roy, NY, should not matter.  Each of our candidates on Tuesday have lived here for a number of years if that is how any of us decide who to vote for.   After 30 days of living in Le Roy, NY, one is qualified to vote here, and that for me is all that’s necessary to determine whether or not one is a Le Royan or not. 

What we need above all else in a candidate is intelligence, integrity, and current and well thought out ideas.  We need to elect people to our local public offices who are not looking for what will only lower our taxes, or make one or a few of us happy who may have clout here, but we need to elect individuals who will consider the impact now and in the future of his/her proposals and decisions.  A Le Roy Village Board Trustee should not do what is only expedient now, but should also consider the future impact of his/her votes. 

Bill Kettle is also running for the Village Board on Tuesday, and he and John Mangefrida are not currently on the Village Board.  But it is Jennifer Keyes and Bob Taylor who are running for re-election Tuesday, two who are currently leading us, and Bill Kettle is Director of the Le Roy Business Council, and the owner of the largest building on Main Street where his gym is located (Main and Mill Streets).  John said at the ‘Meet the Candidates Night,’ last week that he had been a Village Trustee in the past, but when he was or what he accomplished on the Board I don’t know.  
Our two current Village Trustees running for re-election, Jennifer Keyes, and Bob Taylor, are both taking a wait and see approach to the issue of whether our switch from a full-time code enforcement officer between the Village/Town to a part-time one, is enough. 

Jennifer Keyes, however is concerned that it won’t be enough, given that prior to the full-time one’s retirement there were complaints that full-time coverage wasn’t adequate.  Bill Kettle has stated that for the Village a part-time shared code enforcement officer, as we have now, isn’t going to be enough.  At the ‘Meet the Candidates’ Night’ last week, John cited the cost of a full-time one, and the need, we are told by the State is to consolidate and be cost effective with what services are provided by our Village.  John also cited the long length of time that can pass before a code enforcement violation is resolved, no matter how much coverage we have from a code enforcement officer.  He said the codes are written by the State, and they favor the property owner.

But, however long it takes to resolve a complaint or to determine that a code has been violated and then to determine whether or not the violation has been resolved, depends on whether there is enough time in a code-enforcement officers’ week to see that this is all accomplished.  The more code enforcement coverage we have, the more code complaints and violations can be responded to simultaneously, and the quicker, and the more consistently our Village properties will be up to code.  This is common sense. 

Maybe in the Town, that which is not a part of the Village, part-time will work, but consider this.  In the Village there are far more individual parcels and they are more densely situated, with far more structures on them, than in the Town.  I think, as someone who has restored a large home in Le Roy, where I live, 12 - 14 Church Street(s), and who has bought and torn down a four-unit tenement apartment house that was next door to my home (what was on the 14 Church Street property until 2001), I’m in a position to know about structures, 14 Church Street having been an example, that went without much maintenance for years, had obvious code violations, and could not be saved.  For years 14 Church Street was in very poor condition, yet fully rented.  I bought it to eliminate this blight on my neighborhood and on the Village of Le Roy. 

We need a full-time code enforcement officer for the Village.  Our homes, whether we own them, or rent, are our lives often, and whether or not our neighbors (often very close to us in the Village), take care of their properties has a health/safety/financial effect on each of us.  Not only that, but properties kept up are a boon to the Village that can then do more for the public because we have a larger tax base.  Our tax base shrinks the more we have properties not kept up.  And, our tax base has shrunk a lot in the past twenty years that I have been a resident here, having returned as an adult.  The result of a lower tax base is a decrease in services we can have such as full-time code enforcement, as only one of several examples in Le Roy, NY. 

A lower tax base has resulted in taxes being raised over the course of time on our properties even though they are worth less.  If any of us want to sell our properties and relocate, or to downsize and remain in Le Roy, potential buyers will compare our assessed property values and the tax rate here, with other properties and tax rates in other communities.  If Le Roy, NY’s properties, as seen by a potential buyer, will likely continue to lose value, and they have in the past, and if we have a higher tax rate, that buyer may buy elsewhere.  Wouldn’t you? 

Each of us who buys, owns, and then may list property here in Le Roy, wants to have the confidence that owning here is a comparatively good investment to where else we could live.    If we want Le Roy, NY, to remain steady in all respects and to possibly grow, than we have to be concerned with code enforcement.  We need a local Village of Le Roy government that supports our needs as individual property owners to be looked after.  We cannot individually do this on our own, and we need our local government to effectively and consistently provide this function to all of us. 

Please vote and please take the time to find out where the candidates stand on issues important to you.   Voting is on Tuesday, March 18th, at the Village Hall (corner of Main & Clay Streets, Routes 5 & 19), Le Roy, NY. 

Thanks for your time reading my thoughts and concerns for the Village of Le Roy, NY.  
Douglas Hill, Church Street, Le Roy. 

I am up for re-election this year. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for the opportunity to serve you the last four years and to ask for your support in the election on 3/18/2014. I am endorsed by the Democratic, Conservative, and Re-Charge Le Roy Parties. Bill Kettle is running with me and makes an excellent candidate with local ties and a great deal of energy and ideas!

I campaigned on finding a solution to reopen the pool, the value of the comprehensive plan, coming up with a solution to blight, and working together with the Town Council. There have been some successes and some controversy; I’d like to take this opportunity and this excellent forum (thank you, Howard and Billie) to update you.

The pool was a very close call. Prior to my being sworn in the board voted to close it permanently. Fortunately, I was able to keep the dialogue going long enough for a group of citizens to come forward with a plan that called for private resources to fix and reopen it. Between the Town, the Village, and the Pool Committee we have been able to keep it running during the summer for our citizens to utilize. In addition, Jackie Whiting has been able to connect with recreation programs from other communities to open it for their use as well. There is even a scholarship fund to assist people in need with pool memberships. This year was a record breaking year for usage thanks to the concerned citizens who believed it was important enough to use their own resources on. The pool required working with two levels of local government, reaching across parties, and utilizing citizen expertise.

I have attended several government workshops conducted by the NYCOM (New York Conference of Mayors) and Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council to learn more about code, planning, and comprehensive plans. The state places great importance on comprehensive plans, including requiring them for grant applications. We have been working to come up with a cost effective way to update our plan without increasing the burden on tax payers. I continue to advocate for it, to reference it in decision making, and to learn more about it and its uses. According to the state it is worthy of the public effort that went into making it.

Blighted buildings are a big issue for us. As you probably recall even our Town Supervisor, Steve Barbeau, campaigned on that issue. They are unattractive in general, but particularly when they line the corridors to our community for everyone to see. This is an issue that I continue to work on with the Village Board and our Town Supervisor. As a Town we have a new code enforcement officer who has recently completed all of his training. The Town Supervisor works closely with him to address this issue with our input. Some of the solutions out there are costly to tax payers. Recently, though, this has been an issue that the Attorney General has become very interested in and my running mate, Bill Kettle, and I will work with his office to utilize their resources to get the job done. Le Roy is a picturesque community that anyone would be lucky to live in.

Our Village Board has a great working relationship with our Town Board. Supervisor Barbeau is accessible and easy to work with and the lines of communication have opened up a great deal. I have personally worked on code, blight, National Historic Registry, and the website with him. I will continue to work with the Town Board as you deserve seamless government.

I have also worked on a few things that I did not campaign on. I voted to support a letter from our board to our state officials asking them to take another look at the Safe Act. I developed the Main Street Revitalization Committee and am in constant contact with Main Street Businesses and Building owners. We have been working for the last year, at their request, towards an application for National Historic Registry Status for Main Street and a portion of West Main. This is an honorary status that opens up tax credits and other funding streams for building owners to help them maintain their properties and even do updates. There are no restrictions on status, only on public money that may be used by owners. Owners who use their own funds or private funds are free to do as they wish to their buildings.

There has been healthy debate on controversial issues, including the Wiss and Robbins Nest. While people may disagree with my votes on some of these topics please understand that my votes are always based on numerous conversations with constituents and an analysis of the cost versus benefit of each situation. I research every topic in depth and always seek and welcome feedback from everybody.  You elected me to represent you and I take that very seriously.

I am sure we do not always agree on issues, but I believe that we all agree that Le Roy is a beautiful and wonderful community to raise a family. I have worked very hard for you over the last four years and will continue to do so. This is the community we chose and I will continue to try to make it the place where all of our children want to raise their families as well. You will find that my running mate has a similar vision and drive, so please consider supporting both of us on Election Day. With Bill Kettle and Jennifer Keys you get Re-Charged Trustees who look towards the future. When you “Envision Le Roy” what do you see? 

I am always accessible, your voice counts, trusteekeys@rochester.rr.com.

The following local residents made the dean's list for Fall 2013 semester at Rochester Institute of Technology:

Michael Anauo, Elba, is a fourth-year student in the molecular bioscience and biotechnology program in RIT's College of Science.
Joshua Barnard, of Bergen, is a fourth-year student in the industrial design program in RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
Hannah Belliveau, of Oakfield, is a third-year student in the biology program in RIT's College of Science.
Benjamin Bliss, of Pavilion, is a second-year student in the illustration program in RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
Dustin Bordonaro, of Batavia, is a fifth-year student in the mechanical engineering program in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
Kari Branton, of Le Roy, is a fourth-year student in the hospitality and service management program in RIT's College of Applied Science and Technology.
Maura Chmielowiec, of Batavia, is a fifth-year student in the mechanical engineering program in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
Jennifer Crossen, of Basom, is a second-year student in the chemical engineering program in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
Erin Crossen, of Basom, is a fourth-year student in the computational mathematics program in RIT's College of Science.
Sophia Del Plato, of Batavia, is a fourth-year student in the graphic design program in RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
Anna Dorman, of Batavia, is a first-year student in the industrial engineering program in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
Benjamin Ezard, of Byron, is a second-year student in the chemical engineering program in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
Nicholas Flumerfeldt, of Corfu, is a fifth-year student in the mechanical engineering technology program in RIT's College of Applied Science and Technology.
Rachel Henrici, of Batavia, is a first-year student in the chemical engineering program in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
Erica Hickey, of Byron, is a first-year student in the journalism program in RIT's College of Liberal Arts.
Ryan Hochreiter, of Le Roy, is a third-year student in the mechanical engineering program in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
Joshua Horning, of Le Roy, is a fourth-year student in the computer science program in RIT's B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.
Rachel Kobel, of Bergen, is a first-year student in the environmental sustainability, health and safety program in RIT's College of Applied Science and Technology.
Peter Madau, of Le Roy, is a second-year student in the chemical engineering program in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
Samantha Mitchell, of Batavia, is a first-year student in the electrical engineering program in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
Evyn Morgan, of Pavilion, is a fourth-year student in the professional photographic illustration program in RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
Robert Osborn, of Darien Center, is a fourth-year student in the mechanical engineering program in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
Karl Pajak, of Corfu, is a fourth-year student in the film and animation program in RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
Clayton Pitcher, of Batavia, is a first-year student in the information technology program in RIT's B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.
Alycia Sabatino, of Batavia, is a first-year student in the diagnostic medical sonography program in RIT's College of Health Sciences and Technology.
Brittani Scharlau, of Alexander, is a fourth-year student in the diagnostic medical sonography program in RIT's College of Health Sciences and Technology.
Michael Slack, of Bergen, is a fourth-year student in the film and animation program in RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
Christopher Snyder, of Darien Center, is a third-year student in the bioinformatics program in RIT's College of Science.
Joanna Stacy, of Bergen, is a third-year student in the graphic design program in RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
Kristen Stacy, of Le Roy, is a fourth-year student in the professional photographic illustration program in RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
Eric Stella, of Le Roy, is a fourth-year student in the packaging science program in RIT's College of Applied Science and Technology.
Travis Swede, of Pavilion, is a fourth-year student in the packaging science program in RIT's College of Applied Science and Technology.
Traci Turner, of Bergen, is a second-year student in the journalism program in RIT's College of Liberal Arts.
Ryan Warner, of Batavia, is a first-year student in the physics program in RIT's College of Science.

Degree-seeking undergraduate students are eligible for dean's list if their quarterly GPA is greater than or equal to 3.400; they do not have any grades of "Incomplete", "D" or "F"; and they have registered for, and completed, at least 12 credit hours.

Rochester Institute of Technology is internationally recognized for academic leadership in business, computing, engineering, imaging science, liberal arts, sustainability, and fine and applied arts. In addition, the university offers unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. RIT enrolls 18,000 full- and part-time students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, and its cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation.