A group of area residents came together Saturday night to hold a vigil in Le Roy in memory of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away Friday at age 87.
Ginsburg was appointed to the court in 1993 following an already distinguished legal career as an advocate for equal rights for women.
Photos by Philip Casper.
Photo: Miss Anne Marie Peca's third-grade class at Wolcott Street School in 1972.
It was September 1972 and I was about to begin my first year of teaching at Wolcott Street School in LeRoy. My whole life I had wanted to be a teacher but to be able to teach where my mother grew up and where my grandmother still lived made it all the more exciting and memorable.
I have so many memories from that first year. My first week at Wolcott Street School I was in the workroom making dittos (mimeograph copies) by hand when a teacher who I think taught my mother came in and yelled at me and said students are not allowed to use the machine and ordered me back into the high school building.
I will always remember my very first class, of third-graders, and the many rules I broke. I didn’t realize you needed permission to take your class for a walk or you shouldn’t adjust the thermostat in your classroom to 90 degrees to teach the children about what it’s like to live in a desert. My thermostat regulated the heat for the entire second floor.
That year we did the play "Mary Poppins" on the big stage (above is a "ditto" of the program).
I do have so many treasured memories of being a teacher in LeRoy but I also have so many memories living in LeRoy.
One highlight was visiting my grandmother who lived at 25 South St. I loved going to mass with her at Saint Joseph’s Church and visiting Saint Francis Cemetery. We would water all the flowers on the graves of our relatives and it seemed like it was half the cemetery.
Later on, when I was a teacher in LeRoy I learned to appreciate the beauty of the village.
In 1974 I was married and we moved to LeRoy and lived at 15 Lake St. in Mr. Miceli’s upstairs apartment. It was a beautiful two-bedroom apartment with a living room, kitchen and a storage room. The rent was $100 a month and that included utilities.
I always enjoyed walking to school to teach because walking down Main Street was so beautiful, plus we only had one car. I would walk past the village hall and I would wave to Mrs. Fernaays, who I always thought was the mayor of LeRoy.
After school on my way home I would stop at the LeRoy Drugstore to pick up a prescription or a card. My next stop was Peck’s Meat Market to buy two pork chops or a half pound of ground beef. On Saturday, our date night we would walk to the LeRoy Theater and watch a 50-cent movie and then stroll home.
I do remember one thing that took getting used to was a very loud siren that would go off if there was a fire. We lived very close to the village hall and the first time we heard the siren go off, we jumped out of bed and thought we were being attacked.
I will always treasure my time in LeRoy, not just the beautiful village, but the wonderful friends I made, and the outstanding teachers I had the privilege to work with. I was also able to create treasured memories with my beautiful grandmother, Jennie Bellow.
Now when I visit St. Francis’s Cemetery it is to visit my grandparents, aunt, uncle and baby sister’s gravestones. As I sit there I remember that little girl running all around the cemetery watering flowers with her grandmother.
The Village of LeRoy is as beautiful today as it was when we lived there in the '70s.
My memories can’t compare to someone who is a true LeRoyan but I want to thank all of you for letting me be one for a few years!
Images courtesy of Anne Marie Starowitz.
From Anna Sorensen:
I am organizing a Ruth Bader Ginsburg candlelight vigil tonight at 8 o'clock at Le Roy Village Hall, located at 3 W. Main St. We will be meeting by the women's suffrage post.
Wear black, wear a mask, and bring a candle. Parking may be an issue. Please consider walking if possible!
Photos taken this evening in Le Roy.
The Botts-Fiorito American Legion Post #576 this evening honored those who were captured and never returned or lost in war as part of POW/MIA Recognition Day with an empty chair ceremony at their post in Le Roy.
Jennifer D. Abrams, 29, of Locust Street, Rochester, and Tarus O. Fluitt, 47, of Rochester (address not provided), are both charged with: third-degree burglary, a felony; second-degree criminal mischief, a felony; third-degree attempted burglary, a felony; third-degree criminal mischief, a felony; and two counts each of fifth-degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor. In addition, Fluitt only is also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a misdemeanor. At 2:12 a.m. on Sept. 16, two suspected allegedly attempted to gain entry to the Kwik Fill gas station at 7010 W. Main Street Road, Le Roy, by throwing large rocks through the glass front door. The suspects then fled the scene after not being able to make entry. At 2:27 p.m., the same two suspects allegedly made entry to the Crosby's gas station at 5267 Clinton Street Road, Batavia, by throwing a large paver stone through the front glass door. The suspects entered the store and were allegedly in the process of stealing about $3,500 worth of cigarettes, when a Genesee County Sheriff's Office patrol arrived to check on the business, and they confronted the two suspects inside the store. The suspects fled out an alternate entrance, and went into a wooded area behind the store. They were apprehended a short time later. It is alleged they caused more than $1,500 in damage while inside the store. They were arraigned in Genesee County Court and jailed in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond. Fluitt remains in custody and is awaiting arraignment. The Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate this incident as well as similar incidents that have occurred in recents weeks. The case was investigated by Deputy Nicholas Chamoun, Deputy David Moore, Deputy Ryan Young, Deputy Jordan Alejandro, Investigator Christopher Parker, and Chief Deputy Joseph Graff. They were assisted by members of the NYS Polive Department, Batavia Police Department, Le Roy Police Department, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and other members of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.
Kyle Allen Hawley, 30, of Chili Riga Road, Churchville, is charged with: second-degree burglary; criminal mischief -- intentionally damaging property; and criminal tampering in the third degree. On Sept. 15, members of the Genesee County Probation Department took Hawley into custody on an active, outstanding bench warrant out of Genesee County Court. It stems from an incident reported at 9 p.m. April 20 on South Lake Avenue in Bergen. Hawley was arraigned in county court at 3:05 p.m. and put in jail without bail. Hawley also had an arrest warrant out of Bergen Town Court and he was arrested on that warrant and released on his own recognizance. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Mullen.
Press release:
LE ROY -- Established in 1992, the Student Support Services Center (SSSC) has a broad scope of programming that is aimed at supporting schools in the Western New York region.
The SSSC has a wealth of experience supporting schools and communities at the state, regional and local levels to enhance and refine school policies, practices and curricula to meet emerging needs based on data and school strengths.
“It is our goal to support school communities with building their capacity to enhance and sustainsupportive learning environments that impact student achievement as well as overall student growth and development," said Joan Vitkus, director of the SSSC. "The overall objective is to assist schools in creating an environment for students that is conducive to learning."
Technical assistance and professional development are two of the main areas of support that the SSSC provides. Programs and services include workshops and guidance on topics such as: supportive learning environments that include the implementation of New York State Education Department (NYSED) regulations related to School Counseling Program/Plans; comprehensive Health Education and the Dignity for All Students Act with social and emotional learning embedded; and NYSED Office of Teaching Initiatives required courses for certification. The latter includes child abuse identification, SAVE (Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act).
The SSSC is a NYSED approved provider of the mandatory Dignity Act Harassment, Bully, Cyberbullying and Discrimination in Schools -- Prevention and Intervention training. Beside these trainings, SSSC staff assist districts with their School Wellness Policy processes as another strategy for enhancing and sustaining supportive learning environments to help students be successful.
“Our facilitative work that supports schools is grounded in collectively developing collaborative strategies by meaningfully engaging students, families, staff and community members in partnerships,” Vitkus said.
“Schools are the community gems and resources that serve the students and families of those communities. At the same time, gems and resources within the community may work in tandem with schools to serve the community’s students, families and larger community.”
Vitkus explained how the SSSC works to explore possible supports within a community.
“The exploration often begins to lessen schools being overburden with being the end-all solution," she said. "And most importantly, we facilitate engaging multiple voices and perspectives to help the school and community identify their strengths, what they hope to collaboratively accomplish and how they would like to grow and develop to serve the community’s students and families in alignment with the district’s mission, vision, beliefs and goals."
The SSSC has a far-reaching territory that encompasses the following BOCES, Genesee Valley, Monroe 2-Orleans, Monroe 1, Wayne-Finger Lakes and the Greater Southern Tier along with other regions throughout the state.
The Center also partners with local and regional community organizations and county health departments including Wayne, Seneca counties; the Elmira, Campbell-Savona, Waverly areas, along with the Buffalo area.
The SSS Center is funded by federal, state and local contractsand its offices are located in Le Roy, New York at the Genesee Valley BOCES’ Le Roy Services Center.
“We describe this as a giant triangle for our service area and we have the expertise and capacity to do so," Vitkus said. "We’ve created a tapestry of facilitative supports and services that meets districts and communities where they are to help members move forward based on their needs and readiness for this very important collaborative work."
This summer, the SSSC has undergone some staff changes. Kim McLaughlin, director, has semiretired and she has changed roles with Vitkus, coordinator, who has assumed the position of director. This transition will be seamless as these dedicated staff members have worked together for over a decade.
Desiree Voorhies, coordinator, semiretired in 2019 and will assist with any programming and/or training needs in the coming school year.
Beth Burdick, and Heather Bachman, School, and Community Policy coordinators, will continue to serve in their respective roles with Leanne Cornell supporting the SSS Center as program assistant.
From Jerry Diskin:
Commander David Rumsey announces that at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18th, there will be a brief ceremony for POW/MIA Recognition Day at the memorial park outside the Botts-Fiorito American Legion Post #576, located at 53 W. Main St. Village of Le Roy.
What is National POW/MIA Recognition Day?
The United States’ National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed across the nation on the third Friday of September each year. Many Americans take the time to remember those who were prisoners of war (POW) and those who are missing in action (MIA), as well as their families.
The event will begin at 6 o'clock sharp! with a brief ceremony, presenting the “POW/MIA” Missing Man table ceremony, followed by a salute from the Color Guard and Firing Squad.
All are welcome to attend. "For God and Country..."
Le Roy Principal Tim McArdle produced this video.
The Farmer Family released the following statement yesterday about their decision to close the L.B. Grand Restaurant in Le Roy.
To our patrons and community members,
After significant and careful consideration, it is with a heavy heart that we share with you we have made the decision to permanently close the L.B. Grand Steak and Spaghetti House restaurant.
This determination was not made lightly, and only after considerable review of all options. Despite our best efforts to succeed, over the past few months it has become increasingly apparent that keeping our doors open is no longer possible.
The factors that led to this decision are primarily a consequence of the pandemic including the resulting required closure and subsequent restrictions on indoor dining. With no available outdoor seating, a current mandated capacity of only 50% indoors, and the rising cost of food due to supply chain interruption, it is not feasible for us to continue operations.
We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our wonderful staff for their years of service. A special thanks is in order for their truly exceptional resilience and patience over the last few months in handling continually changing regulations and procedures due to the pandemic. We sincerely appreciate their hard work and dedication.
In addition, we would like to thank the Piazza Family for the opportunity to be a part of the L.B. Grand family and to serve our community. We remain fully committed to the town of Le Roy and are proud that we are able to continue to provide service in other capacities.
Sincerely,
The Farmer Family
Here is the response received from Jacalyn Whiting, school board president for Le Roy for the questions we sent each individual board member of the school district. Whiting said this served as a group response. A group response was not an option given to the school board members.
The school board members who failed to provide their own responses:
The Le Roy Central Schools Board of Education would like to reply to your questions about our district's reopening plan and policy concerning COVID 19 as a group. We have discussed our district's reopening plans as a group with the administrative team many times over these last few months and thank you for this opportunity to share our excitement in welcoming our students and staff back to our schools next week
Jacalyn Whiting, LCS Board of Education President
Denise Duthe, LCS Board of Education Vice President
Do you support the district's policy and reopening plan? Why or why not?
We fully support our district's reopening plans. Our Superintendent, Merritt Holly and our administrative team have spent countless hours surveying, meeting and speaking with parents, staff, and students for their valuable input and to fully understand the needs, concerns and wishes of our community. Our administrators also spoke to neighboring school districts to compare and brainstorm different ideas and plans. Then carefully following all of the mandates from the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Education Department our administrators crafted a plan for the reopening of our schools. Our families were given a choice depending on their situations, needs and concerns to follow a hybrid plan and return to school in person for 2 days a week with one day remote learning or to be a fully remote student. Our students and staff are also fully prepared to go to completely remote learning if the need arises. Our district is ready to welcome our students next week with protocols and plans in place for a safe and exciting year!
What feedback have you received from the parents in your district?
The parents in our district have been extremely supportive and appreciative of the amount of thought and time that has gone into the creation of our plan and the way the reopening choices have been clearly communicated to them. 89% of our families have selected the hybrid in person model for this year. Their trust and support of our district administration and staff is appreciated and not taken lightly.
Rochester and Southern Railroad is in the process of replacing a bridge abutment on Mill Street in Le Roy that was heavily damaged July 15 when a Waste Management garbage truck struck the bridge.
The truck was powered by compressed natural gas with the tanks on top of the truck. With the tanks, the truck stood 13' 6" tall. Unfortunately, the bridge clearance was only 12' 6". The gas tanks exploded on impact, causing a large crack in the foundation of the bridge.
A spokesman for R&S said crews still take at least another three weeks to replace the abutment but with the work, the bridge will be ready to "meet the next century."
Rail service is not affected by the repair. there are temporary structural supports under the bridge during the project.
Mill Street is closed to thru traffic during the repairs.
For 34 years, Myrtle Burrell dedicated herself to keeping the children of Le Roy safe as they crossed Main Street at Wolcott. In honor of the crossing guard, who passed away in July at 92 years of age, a bench was dedicated to her today at the intersection.
Along with community members and local leaders, Burrell's family was on hand for the dedication.
Pictured above, from left, are Jim Burrell, Brendan Burrell, Michael Burrell, Danielle Grzymala, Gregg Burrell, Evan Grzymala, Greg Grzymala, Matt Burrell and Corlin Burrell.
On Saturday, Sept. 12, members of the City of Batavia Fire Department, volunteer Corfu Rescue Hook and Ladder Company #1, and the Le Roy Fire Department will be participating in a mask and hand-sanitizer distribution for residents of Genesee County in response to New York State Department of Health Guidelines.
The FREE distribution of washable, cloth masks and hand sanitizer will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. at:
Genesee County Office of Emergency Management reminds everyone to WEAR A MASK. Protect your community. Stop the spread of coronavirus. Be respectful.
Photo by Philip Mangefrida of the Le Roy Volunteer Fire Training conducting a training exercise Monday night at the Oatka Creek.
The train overpass on Route 5 in Le Roy is flooded. A fire chief requests a traffic detail.
Traffic is being stopped at Gilbert Street and Route 5.
UPDATE 3:53 p.m.: The roadway will reopen shortly.
Pat Crowe, an English teacher at Le Roy High School has retired after 49 years of lecturing kids on Shakespeare and grading their essays on To Kill a Mockingbird.
Photo submitted by Principal Tim McArdle.
When it came time for the Toronto Blue Jays to build a new nest for the 2020 season, a local company was called on to make Sahlen Field in Buffalo look like home.
Unitech Applications opened in Le Roy in 1989 and owner Guy Laesser focused on the bigging on landing big-business clients. The company specializing in large-scale vinyl design applications, like car wraps but on large vehicles -- trucks, buses -- and buildings.
The effort paid off in a big way in 1996 when he was hired to wrap all buses for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Since then, Unitech has been Laesser's full-time occupation.
He calls himself a perfectionist and that has helped the company grow. Other clients include the Bush-Cheney presidential campaign, Dick's Sporting Goods, Old Navy, Ice Road Truckers, the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, and Scooby-Doo's "The Mystery Machine" movie tour.
It's no wonder, then, when the Blue Jays called 3M looking for a company to work within the Buffalo region to get Sahlen MLB-ready, 3M recommended Unitech.
"Our job is to provide whatever the client needs," Laesser said.
When the Blue Jays wanted a wrap on the scoreboard, Laesser, who doesn't like getting up higher than 12 feet himself, had a friend who did just that kind of work, so he called him to complete that part of the project all in the name of taking care of the client.
For the Blue Jays, Unitech provided signage and wraps for the concourse, the dugouts, the stands, and the outfield walls. The company even used vinyl to tint the windows on the tents being used as the visiting team's locker room.
That wasn't as big of a frosted vinyl project as Unitech did for a company in NYC, which involved wrapping a 40,000-square-foot building.
Not every project Laesser and his lone full-time employee Fred Crimes take on is all that big. The company also wraps the covers of medical equipment used to treat children going through cancer treatment.
Unitech also supports the charity Special Spaces, which provides unique and specially designed bedrooms for children going through cancer treatment.
"That (the vinyl wall covering) was the biggest bill they had, it cost the most, so when we got involved, we volunteered all of the time and material so it didn't cost them anything and they could put their money elsewhere," Laesser said.
Not to be outdone by anyone in Batavia, proud grandmother Mayja Andrews, of Le Roy, sent us this photo Tuesday of her granddaughter, Eva Goff, and her 12-foot-high sunflowers.
Eva, a student at Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School, has been "staying busy" this summer by tending garden and getting her sunflowers to flourish, according to her grandma.
Submitted photos and press release:
Seven members of the Genesee Community College team have been recognized by the State University of New York for outstanding contributions to their profession, the campus and the community.
The SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence is given in recognition of consistently superior professional achievement and encourages the ongoing pursuit of excellence.
The following faculty and staff members earned SUNY Chancellor's Awards for 2019-2020.
GCC is proud to announce Carolyn Caccamise and Kari Heidemann have received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, which recognizes consistently superior teaching at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level of the highest quality. To say that Caccamise has been an integral part of GCC's veterinary program would be an understatement. Director and Associate Professor of the College's Veterinary Technology program, Caccamise played an integral role in building the program to what it is since she started as an adjunct instructor in 2011.
Armed with a bachelor's from Eisenhower College and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine and extensive ongoing learning, Caccamise maintains veterinary practices which helps ensure her students are at the cutting edge of practical learning and application. Caccamise resides in Alexander.
Heidemann has been an instructor of Human Services at GCC since 2006 and began teaching full-time in 2016 when she also began coordinating the program's internships, advisory board, scholarship opportunities and advising the Human Services Student Club. Heidemann graduated Summa Cum Laude from Niagara University with a bachelor's degree, earned a master's from SUNY Brockport and received a NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development for community and technical colleges) Award. Heidemann resides in Barker.
The SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching recognizes consistently superior teaching at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level of the highest quality. This honor was earned by Adjunct Instructor Ruth Rigerman. Rigerman has taught math courses at GCC for nearly 40 years. She received the NISOD Award for Excellence in Teaching to Adjunct Faculty in 1993, 1998 and 2017. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Education, Mathematics from SUNY Brockport and later earned her MS in Education there as well. Today, Rigerman resides in Batavia.
For Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, Director of Fine and Performing Arts Maryanne Arena received a SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence. An award-winning educator, director, entertainer, public speaker, and police officer, Arena was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary Club and received three Medals of Valor -- including one for capturing one of the New York Police Department's "Ten Most Wanted" criminals.
Since she joined GCC in 2004, Arena established GCC's Children's Theatre tour, Black History Month/ Social Justice productions and produced numerous performances. Arena also received a YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Racial Justice in 2015, a citation from Mental Health Association of Genesee and Orleans Counties for producing, directing, and acting in " 'Night, Mother" in 2012, and SUNY Chancellor's Award recipient for Excellence in Professional Service in 2009.
Arena became a Licensed Police Officer in NYC, a PD Officer Certified in East Stroudsburg, earned a bachelor's degree from East Stroudsburg University and then a master's degree in Acting & Theatre from Brooklyn College. She currently resides in Le Roy.
The SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service, which recognizes consistently superior service contributions of teaching faculty over multiple years, was awarded to Professor of Business Lauren Paisley. Paisley first began her relationship with GCC in 2002 as an adjunct faculty member and a part-time trainer in The BEST (Business & Employee Skills Training) Center -- a role she still plays.
However, in 2006, Paisley added full-time professor of Business at GCC to her resume. Since then, Paisley has served on the College's Global Education Committee, International Student Organization (advisor), Academic Senate, accreditation work groups and committees for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, multiple scholarship committees and numerous search committees to fill vacant positions within GCC.
Her work with student organizations has resulted in thousands of dollars to local animal shelters, food pantries, and programming designed to encourage humanity and kindness. Paisley earned her bachelor's degree from D'Youville College and a master's degree from SUNY Buffalo in Business Administration. Paisley resides in Middleport.
Human Communications and Behavior Department Secretary Michelle Forster received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Classified Service. This award is a system-level award established to give recognition for superior performance and extraordinary achievement by employees in the Classified Service. These awards demonstrate SUNY's commitment to individuals who provide superior service to its students and the community at large.
Forster has served as a secretary in GCC's Human Communications and Behavior department for 11 years. She has trained other secretaries on many operational processes, covered for other staff positions during absences, and provided superior customer service to students, faculty and staff in all circumstances. She regularly volunteers to participate on College committees and fully embraces GCC's passion to go "beyond expectations." Forster resides in Oakfield.
Recognizing consistently superior professional achievement, the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service was awarded to Kathryn Meloon. Meloon joined the Business Office at GCC in 2000 as a staff accountant, became assistant director of Finance in 2002 and in June of 2007 she was promoted to her current role of bursar where her primary focus is leading the Student Accounts Office.
However, Meloon consistently goes above and "beyond expectations" for GCC and its students. For the past three years (2016-2019) she wrote and was awarded the President's Innovation Award which allowed GCC to create its New York City Extended Student Visit initiative. The NYC Extended Student Visit brings approximately 20 already accepted NYC residents with limited financial means, on an overnight visit to experience GCC and Batavia firsthand. The visit allows these NYC students to envision themselves at GCC in an attempt to positively influence their decision to enroll.
Meloon earned a bachelor's degree at Houghton College and a master's degree at Keuka College. She currently resides in Batavia.
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