Le Roy

Dean Gardner, Jr., 45, no street address provided, Pavilion, is charged with menacing 2nd, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, attempted arson 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, and criminal possession of a weapon 4th. Gardner is accused of attacking a victim in a car on Warsaw Road at 3:16 p.m. on Aug. 20. According to Le Roy PD, Gardner is accused of choking the victim until she was no longer able to breathe.  He then allegedly grabbed a gas can from the back of his truck and poured gas on the driver's seat of the vehicle and attempted to light it on fire with the woman still in the passenger seat.  She attempted to call 9-1-1 but was too afraid that Gardner may have heard her talking with dispatchers. She hung up the phone and sent a text message to dispatchers requesting help. Officers John Ceneviva and Jordan Wolcott responded to the call.  Gardner was placed under arrest. He was arraigned in Town of Le Roy Court and released on his own recognizance, set to return to court on Sept. 15.

Kevin J. Weber, 51, of Batavia, is charged with assault 2nd. Weber is accused of beating a housemate during an argument over a beer at 7:31 p.m. Aug. 13. He was arraigned in City Court and ordered held in jail on an unspecified amount of bail.

Nakita N. Shook, 36, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Shook is accused of hitting another person in the face during a disturbance at a rooming house on East Main Street, Batavia, at 6:51 a.m. Aug. 13. Shook was arraigned in City Court and ordered to return Sept. 1.

Kenneth S. Griffin Jr., 24, of Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and aggravated unlicensed operation. Griffin was stopped at 3:30 a.m. Aug. 13, on Jefferson Avenue by a Batavia patrol officer. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Kimberly J. Grover, 56, of Perry, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, DWAI-Drugs, inadequate exhaust system, and broken windshield. Grover was stopped by a Batavia patrol officer at 12:30 a.m., Aug. 9, on East Avenue. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Kimberly A. Fox, 44, of Vine Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Fox was arrested on a warrant. She is accused of physically harassing another tenant in her multi-unit dwelling. She was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance. 

Adam B. Thomas, 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. At 4:35 p.m. on Aug. 14, police responded to a location on West Main Street to investigate a trespass complaint. While on scene, officers were informed that Thomas was suspected of ripping off the toilet seat in the women's bathroom and refused to exit the building. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Alicia M. Lyons, 42, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Lyons is accused of kicking another person in the leg causing a minor injury at 11:38 a.m. Aug. 14. 

Eric P. Doleman, 52, of Corfu, is charged with petit larceny. Doleman is accused of stealing a Reese's snack cake from a gas station on West Main Street, Batavia, at 3:40 a.m. Aug. 13. Doleman was issued an appearance ticket.

Andrew A. Searight, 35, of Niagara Falls, is charged with failure to appear. Searight is accused of failing to appear in City Court as ordered on June 21. Searight was arraigned in City Court and ordered to appear on Sept. 7.

Justin Mark Davis, 31, of Chili Avenue, Rochester, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, insufficient tail lamps, and driving without a court-mandated interlock device. Davis was stopped at 11:45 p.m. Aug. 11 on Clinton Street Road, Bergen, by Deputy Trevor Sherwood. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Jay Michael Blatchley, 49, of Bank Street Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Blatchley is accused of stealing $82.06 in merchandise from a retail store on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, at 7:01 p.m. on Aug. 16. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and ordered to appear in court on Aug. 23.  NOTE: The Sheriff's Office withheld the name and address of the retail store.

Jamie Aaron Dutton, 30, of Buell Street, Batavia, is charged with burglary 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and petit larceny.  Dutton is accused of entering Walmart in Batavia at 7:55 p.m. on Aug. 18 with the intent to commit a crime. He was located at a different location by Deputy Andrew Mullen and K-9 Frankie.  He was arraigned in Genesee County Court and ordered to appear in Town of Batavia Court on Sept. 13. Deputy Zachary Hoy investigated the case.

Jonah Lee Epps, 20, of Elm Street, Batavia, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs. Epps was arrested on Aug. 20 and charged in connection with a property damage accident reported at 9:21 p.m. on June 16 following the return of laboratory results.  The case was investigated by Deputy David Moore and Deputy Nicholas Chamoun. Epps was issued an appearance ticket. 

Danielle Katherine Kellogg, 24, of Pembroke, is charged with harassment 2nd.  Kellogg is accused of hitting another person causing a minor injury at 2:49 a.m. on Aug. 18, at a location in Pembroke. She was arraigned in Pembroke Town Court.  

Rachael Anne Gillespie, 31, of Main Road, Stafford, is charged with felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater.  Gillespie was stopped at 8:14 p.m. on Aug. 19 on Sharrick Road, Darien, by Deputy Alexander Hadsall. She was issued traffic tickets and released.

Sandra Lynn Shifley, 39, of Bird Road, Byron, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and failure to keep right. Shifley was arrested following a report of a property damage accident, a vehicle had struck a road sign, at 7:17 p.m. on Aug. 20 on North Bergen Road, Byron. Shifley was transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing and issued appearance tickets. The accident was investigated by Deputy Jacob Kipler.

Fidel Vargas-Sondoval, 46, of Glenbrook, Rochester, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd. Vargas-Sondoval is accused of slashing tires on Washington Street in Le Roy on Aug. 15.  Vargas-Sondoval was arraigned in Town of Le Roy Court, an order of protection was issued, and he was released pending a future court appearance. 

Austin J. Kettle, 28, of Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Kettle was stopped at 11:58 p.m. on Aug. 19 in the Town of Pembroke by State Police. He was issued an appearance ticket.  No further information released.

Blake R. Johnson, 37, of Canandaigua, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Johnson was stopped at 3:20 a.m. on Aug. 20 in the Town of Batavia by State Police. Johnson was released on an appearance ticket. No further information released.

Attention all chili aficionados: cooks and tasters are invited to participate in the first-ever Smoke-off and Chili Cook-off Saturday at Jam at the Ridge.

Campers at the Le Roy site are organizing the contest, and anyone from the public can join the culinary fun by showing up with your own equipment and ingredients, and cook. Said to be first documented in an 1828 journal, according to allrecipes.com, chili varies from sweet to hot peppers, beans or no beans, rice, pasta, meat or vegetarian style, and assorted types of tomato sauce.

Organizers plan to begin offering samples around 2 p.m. for $1 donation, and judging is set for 4 p.m.

Besides the satisfaction of being named as the best chili chef in the area, participants will also help to raise funds — all proceeds, including the $20 entry fee, are going — for American Legion and local veterans.

There will also be raffle and silent auctions, with sports memorabilia and tickets to local sporting events as some of the items.

It’s free to enter the park and event for spectators, and $20 for anyone outside of the camp who wants to participate in the cook-off. Bring your own coolers and chairs, or visit the full bar and restaurant on site at 8101 Conlon Road, Le Roy. The Jam’s renaissance event will also be happening this weekend.

For more information about events, go to jamattheridge.com or call  (585) 768-4883.

Press release:

The Le Roy American Legion, Botts-Fiorito Post 576 is seeking nominees for selection as the 2022 “LeRoyan of the Year Award”.  This year will mark the 53rd year in which the Award has been presented.

The award is sponsored as part of the four pillars of the American Legion ”Americanism” program and recognizes people who demonstrate the following qualities:

• A man or woman who exemplifies the true spirit of Americanism, its ideals, love of flag and country, regardless of race, color or creed;
• Good citizenship by carrying out these principles, often beyond what is expected;
• Service to the community, signified by excellence in life of purpose and accomplishments;

The deadline for submission of nominations is Saturday, Sept. 3.

Award Banquet will be held Saturday, Oct. 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Submission forms may be picked up at the American Legion 53 West Main Street.  Or you may submit your own version but must include as a minimum:

Individual’s service to the community, church, or volunteer organization(s). In addition, service may include volunteer time in schools, hospitals, church; any position the individual may have or held and length of service

Mail or drop off sealed submissions to:

American Legion, Botts-Fiorito Post 576
Attn: Jerry Diskin, LeRoyan of the Year Award Committee
53 West Main Street
LeRoy, New York 14482-1426

OR e-mail to gdiskin@rochester.rr.com

A 66-year-old man from Warsaw died yesterday as the result of injuries sustained in a crash on Route 19 in Le Roy at 1:20 p.m.

Following the accident, Duane R. Hamill was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to State Police, Hamill was driving a 1994 Ford F-15o pickup truck southbound on Route 19 when the truck swerved into the oncoming lane and struck a 2015 Chevrolet Trax.  The pickup truck exited the roadway and overturned, ejecting Hamill.  

The name of the other driver was not released by State Police. That person was transported to Strong with non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the NYSP Collision Reconstruction Unit and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors approved incentives for a $3.72 million financial investment by Ivy Village Corp. that would create 20 units of market-rate senior housing in the village of Le Roy at its board meeting on Thursday, August 4, 2022.

The GCEDC board also accepted an initial application for a proposed project by Nexgistics to construct a $17.6 million warehouse distribution center and on 30 acres of land on Vision Parkway in the town of Pembroke.  The 140,000 sq. ft. facility also would serve as national headquarters for the company.

Nexgistics is a third-party logistics provider specializing in consumer electronics, sporting and outdoor goods, e-bikes and related products with operations in New York and Nevada.  The project enables Nexgistics to retain 21 full-time positions and create three new jobs.

Nexgistics has requested sales tax exemptions estimated at $812,000, a property tax abatement estimated at $1,116,360, and a mortgage tax exemption estimated at $154,650.  For every $1 of public benefit the company is investing $7 into the local economy.

“Nexgistics provides another example of how Genesee County and the Buffalo-Rochester Tech Corridor provide the ideal location for industries that need shovel-ready sites, a trained workforce and a strong logistics network,” said Steve Hyde, Genesee County Economic Development Center president and CEO.

Ivy Village Corp. plans to build market rate residential units in three phases with each phase calling for the construction of 10 duplex residences.  The development is located on 16 acres off Lake Street with easy access to village amenities and is a twenty-minute drive to downtown Rochester. Ivy Village Corp. has requested approximately $805,000 in mortgage, property and sales tax incentives. The project's fiscal impacts (indirect payroll and tax revenues) are estimated at over $3.5 million over the PILOT's term, with $6 of local benefits from the project for every $1 of public investment.

“Housing at all levels is a critical need across Genesee County,” Hyde continued.  “This project while providing new housing options to our senior population, opens up existing housing stock for the next generation of homeowners.”

A public hearing will be scheduled for Nexgistic’s proposed financial assistance.

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) Board of Directors will consider final approval for a $3.72 million financial investment by Ivy Village Corp. that would create 20 units of market-rate senior housing in the village of Le Roy at its board meeting on Thursday, August 4, 2022.

The GCEDC board also will consider an initial application for a proposed $17.6 million project by Nexgistics to construct a 140,000 sq. ft. warehouse distribution center and national headquarters on 30 acres of land on Vision Parkway in the town of Pembroke.

Nexgistics is a fast-growing third-party logistics provider specializing in consumer electronics, sporting, and outdoor goods, e-bikes, and related products with operations in New York and Nevada.  Nexgistics currently leases buildings at two locations in western New York and is seeking to build a centrally located facility that will enable the company to retain 21 full-time positions and create three new jobs.

Nexgistics has requested sales tax exemptions estimated at $812,000, a property tax abatement estimated at $1,116,360, and a mortgage tax exemption estimated at $154,650.  For every $1 of public benefit, the company invests $7 into the local economy.

Ivy Village Corp. proposes to build market-rate residential units in three phases, each calling for the construction of 10 duplex residences.  The development is located on 16 acres off Lake Street with easy access to village amenities and is a twenty-minute drive to downtown Rochester. 

Ivy Village Corp. has requested approximately $805,000 in mortgage, property, and sales tax incentives. The project's fiscal impacts (indirect payroll and tax revenues) are estimated at over $3.5 million over the PILOT's term, with $6 of local benefits from the project for every $1 of public investment.

The Aug. 4 GCEDC Board meeting will be held at 3 p.m. at the MedTech Center’s Innovation Zone, 99 MedTech Drive across the street from Genesee Community College.  On-demand recording of the meeting also will be available at www.gcedc.com.

"I've got a firecracker feeling," sings Jocelyn Arndt, lead vocalist in the brother and sister duo, Jocelyn & Chris, headliners Saturday night at Jam at the Ridge, and she certainly does.

Jocelyn lit up the stage while Chris laid down some tight groves and slinky guitar riffs during a high-energy set on a clear summer evening.

The Arndts have been writing songs together since they were in middle school in their hometown of Fort Plain, about 30 minutes west of Albany.  Since then, they've built a solid career based on hook-laden pop-rock songs highlighting Jocelyn's high-energy dynamics and her Janice Joplin-like powerful, blues-inflected vocals.  They've appeared on Paste Studio, Jam in the Van, and The Today Show.

Jam at the Ridge co-owner David Luetticke-Archbell is certainly impressed with Jocelyn & Chris, and said he intends to bring them back in future concert seasons to help them build a local following.

Previously: Brother-sister duo from Upstate to headline Jam at the Ridge on Saturday

Photos by Howard Owens.

Le Roy Police Officer Emmalee Stawicki saved a life in the early morning hours of July 22 after responding to a report of a disturbance on Gilbert Street in the village.

Stawicki secured the scene and then observed an adult male with a severe cut on his arm.  His bleeding was uncontrolled, and he had significant blood loss.  Based on her training, she suspected the victim had sustained an arterial cut, which is potentially life-threatening.

Stawicki applied her department-issued tourniquet on the victim's arm, which controlled the bleeding. EMS also arrived to assist at the scene. The victim was transported by medics to the hospital for further treatment.

Based on an investigation, it was determined that the victim put his arm through a window during the disturbance which resulted in the arm laceration, according to a statement issued by Le Roy Police Chief Gregory Kellogg.

Kellogg said, "LeRoy Police Officers are trained to use a variety of life-saving measures such as the application of tourniquets, Automatic External Defibrillators (AED), administration of Narcan for opioid overdoses, First Aid and CPR."

Press release:

Offering a glimpse into the lives of hardworking farmers, American Dairy Association North East released a new episode of “This American Dairy Farmer,” a digital series highlighting family, tradition, and sustainable food production on local dairy farms.

Every gallon has a story, and “This American Dairy Farmer” offers a behind-the-scenes look at dairy farms and the families who operate them while helping viewers make personal connections with those who produce their food.

In "Happiest Person I Know," which debuted July 27 on AmericanDairy.com, viewers meet Natasha Stein Sutherland from Stein Farms in Le Roy. Sutherland is herd manager at the dairy farm that her grandfather started in 1956 with two cows that came with the property.

“The neighbors literally came over and taught my grandfather how to milk those cows, and that’s how Stein Farms got its start,” Sutherland said. “The farm shaped my childhood and now I’m blessed to work with five family members every day.”

Sutherland brings a unique perspective to the New York dairy industry, having spent seven years managing herds in New Zealand, where she met her husband while studying dairy science through Cornell University’s exchange program.

“I am the happiest person I know because I get to care for an amazing group of cows. I love what I get to do,” Sutherland said.

Watch “This American Dairy Farmer” to see how Sutherland tends to her dairy herd while also looking after the pristine blue-ribbon trout stream that runs alongside Stein Farms.

“This series is an opportunity for consumers to meet and learn about the people who produce the milk for everything from their morning coffee to their children’s school meals,” said John Chrisman, CEO of American Dairy Association North East. “You see the passion dairy farmers have for taking care of their animals, protecting the environment and leaving a legacy for the next generation.”

“This American Dairy Farmer” will visit 12 dairy farms in 2022. Previous episodes are available on AmericanDairy.com. Other dairies featured from New York’s GLOW region include farms in Linwood, Pavilion and Attica.

Visit AmericanDairy.com to see all of the dairy farms featured and catch new episodes!

In a do-it-yourself career that goes back about a decade, Jocelyn and Chris Arndt, who front the band Jocelyn & Chris, have never been ones to sit idle for long.

“We’re always racing ahead and looking for the next thing to do,” Jocelyn said in a late-July phone interview.

But a pandemic can stop just about anything. And that’s what happened in March 2020, just as this brother and sister from Fort Plain in upstate New York were finishing a new album planned for release ahead of a summer tour.

The band had seen their career gain momentum in 2019 when Jocelyn & Chris made their national television debut, performing the song “Outta My Head” on the “Today Show,” while the song “Kill in the Cure” charted on AAA radio.  So it wasn’t great timing to see a major tour get canceled, and the new album put on hold.

But the album, “Favorite Ghosts,” benefited from the pause. 

The Arndts, who write all of their songs together, re-examined their new songs and realized some weren’t everything they could be. And now that “Favorite Ghosts” is out, they feel things worked out for the better. 

“Honestly, I’m thankful for the album being the way it is,” said Chris, who joined his sister for the interview. “I’m more proud of it than anything else that we’ve ever made. But it’s a little bit funny to think about the fact that the version that the world almost got (two years ago) is so different from the version that the world ended up getting.”

The Arndt siblings are justifiably proud of “Favorite Ghosts.” They have three impressive previous full-length studio albums to their credit, and the new album is a particularly rich and varied effort. It ranges from the taut and catchy blues-tinged rock of “Sugar and Spice,” “Skeleton Key” and “Break Me Down” to the pop-rock of “Run Away,” the folk-inflected “So Far To Fly” to the downright delicate title track, showcasing Jocelyn’s powerhouse vocals and Chris’ tasteful guitar work along the way.

“Favorite Ghosts” will figure prominently into their July 30 show at Jam at the Ridge. They’re looking forward to their introduction to the venue. 

“We’ve been all over Western New York, around Lake Ontario and stuff,” Chris said. “I don’t think we’ve ever done Jam at the Ridge, though.”

“It seems like a cool thing they’ve got going on,” Jocelyn concurred.

The same could be said for Jocelyn & Chris.

For more information about the concert, go to https://www.jatrny.com/

Photo by Tina Pelech.

Raymond Stanley, Jr., 46, of Trigon Park, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Stanley was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident reported at 10:04 p.m. July 23, at 71 Wolcott St., Le Roy.  Stanley was arrested by Emmalee Stawicki.  He was released on traffic tickets.

Benjamin Rachow, 39, of Gilbert Street, Le Roy, is charged with harassment 2nd. Rachow was arrested by Le Roy PD Officer Emmalee Stawicki at Strong Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for an injury sustained in an alleged incident reported at 1:40 p.m. July 22, on Gilbert Street, Le Roy. He was arraigned in Town of Le Roy Court and released on his own recognizance. A stay-away order of protection was issued.

Jeffrey Ellinwood, 63, of Genesee Street, Le Roy, is charged with harassment 2nd. Ellinwood is accused of continuing to contact a person on July 24 after being told to cease all communications with the individual.  He was arrested by Officer Curtis Miller. He was arraigned in Town of Le Roy Court and released on his own recognizance.  An order of protection was issued.

Name redacted upon request, 29, of Dewey Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. xxxx is accused of shoplifting $76.84 in merchandise from a store on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia. xxxx was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

James Robert Cooper, 39, of Buell Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument 1st. Cooper is accused of passing a fraudulent $20 bill at a location at Harrington's Produce on Clinton Street Road, Batavia, at 12:29 p.m. Dec. 27. He was arrested on July 22. He was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released on his own recognizance.

Shannon Lee Guiste, 51, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with burglary 3rd and petit larceny.  Guiste is accused of skip-scanning items at Walmart at 4:21 p.m. July 21. In 2015, Guiste was reportedly banned from entering Walmart. Guiste was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and released.  

Eric Charles Dockstader, 37, no address provided, is charged with strangulation 2nd. Dockstader was allegedly involved in a disturbance at 4:55 a.m. July 24 at a location on Council House Road, Alabama. He was arraigned in Town of Alabama Court and released under supervision.

Antionette A. Pierre, 24, of Nassau Bahamas, is charged with petit larceny. Piere is accused of stealing in the Town of Batavia at 2:27 p.m., July 23. She was arrested by State Police and released on an appearance ticket. No further information was released.

Joshua D. Quaintance, 33, of Byron, is charged with criminal trespass. Quaintance was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at noon July 17 in the Town of Bergen.  No further details released.

Press release:

Kiss This! returns to the Jam At The Ridge stage in Le Roy on Friday at 4:00 PM.

If you love KISS, you'll love this show!  The Look.  The Feel.  The Sound.  They bring it all.

We're gonna Rock and Roll All Night!

Tickets are available at:

• $10 pre-sale tickets available at:  https://www.simpletix.com/e/kiss-this-wny-a-tribute-to-kiss-tickets-106678
• $15 cash at the door

Kids 17 and under are FREE with a ticketed adult

Easy parking right at the GATE (skip the North Road Parking and come right to the gate).

Special Guests performers: Bad Luck Band and JUDAH

A load that was so large, that when it came through the Village of Le Roy today Department of Transportation crews had to lift the traffic lights from the intersection of Lake Street and Main Street.

Photos by Mary Margaret Ripley.

Johnny Gene Jenison, 51, of Federal Drive, Batavia, is charged with sexual abuse 1st and forcible touching. Jenison is accused of sexual offenses at the Fairbridge Inn on Federal Drive at 2 p.m., Aug. 10, 2021. He was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court on July 12 and ordered held on $5,000 bail. An order of protection was issued.

Benjamin Donald Seekins, 33, of 37 Woodrow Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI and speeding. Seekins was stopped at 1:45 a.m., July 12, on West Main Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Morgan Ewert. He was released on appearance tickets.

Stacy Lynn Patterson, 35, of East Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny. Patterson is accused of stealing groceries from Walmart in Batavia at 8:23 p.m., July 17.  She was issued an appearance ticket.

Andres Artega, 24, of Harvester Avenue, Batavia, is charged with felony DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation. Artega was stopped by Le Roy Patrol Officer Zachary Klafehn at 2:35 a.m., July 17, on Bank Street, Le Roy.  He was issued appearance tickets and released to a third party.

Shopping for a wedding dress should in itself be a happy and memorable experience and that's what Maddie Fox and Stephan Lentine hope to create for their customers in their new shop in Le Roy, the House of Bridal.

At the end of the Oatka Festival Parade on Saturday, the Chamber of Commerce joined Fox, Lentine, along with friends and family for a ribbon cutting out side the store at 19 Main St.

"We are catering really to the bride that's looking for an experience when she comes shopping for her wedding dress," Fox said. "She doesn't want to just be a number. She wants to be treated respectfully and have a moment with her family and receive genuine guidance along the way."

Fox and Lentine have been best friends since third grade and they always dreamed of going into fashion and owning a store together.  The dream started to become a reality when they saw a need for a special kind of bridal shop in Genesee County.

"We love it," Fox said. "It's such a magical moment in people's lives."

They can deliver on the promise of a great bridal experience, Fox said, because they know wedding dresses.

"Like I said, we're not going to just tell a bride like 'oh, here's a dress,'" Fox said. "We're going to explain the dress to them -- the carriage practice, the characteristics of the dress, all the little things that they don't know because it's a learning experience when you're shopping for it."

Fox and Lentine designed a store that is both cozy and romantic to enhance the experience of shopping for a dress, and Fox thinks that what will really make the shopping experience is that Fox and Lentine can guide the brides-to-be in ways bigger stores can't.

"A lot of brides are very confused and they're not really sure which way to go, so I think our knowledge based on our experience is really huge," Fox said.

For more information about the store and store hours, visit the shop's website.  

Top photo: Maddie Fox, left, and Stephanie Lentine. Photos by Howard Owens

The Oatka Festival Parade returned to the Village of Le Roy on Saturday after a two-year hiatus because of pandemic protocols. 

Ed Henry, Le Roy sports super-booster, coach, and photographer, was the grand marshall (second photo).

The Oatka Festival continues tomorrow (Sunday) in Trigon Park and along the east bank of the Oatka Creek.

Photos by Howard Owens.  To view 55 more photos and to purchase prints, click here.

Overlooking the Creekside Inn patio after the parade.

Press release:

On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, the Le Roy Board of Education unanimously approved Matt Davis as the new Jr/Sr High School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director. Mr. Davis will start officially on Monday, August 1, 2022.

Mr. Davis is currently a physical education teacher at Brockport Central School District, a position he has held since 2007. During the 2021 summer, Mr. Davis also gained valuable experience at Monroe 2 BOCES as a Regional Summer School Vice Principal. Since 2018 at Brockport Middle and High School, Mr. Davis has served as a substitute assistant principal and completed his internship with the Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics in 2021.

“Throughout the search process, it was evident that Mr. Davis had a bold vision for both our academic and athletic programs. He values teamwork, and cares above all about the success and development of his students, teachers, and staff,” said Merritt Holly, Superintendent of Schools. “Mr. Davis’ coaching experience in both boys and girls varsity sports (soccer and baseball) at Brockport Central Schools was viewed as a huge plus by our committee. We look forward to Mr. Davis leading our Knights as we continue to provide high-level extra-curricular offerings for all students.”

Mr. Davis earned both a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Master of Science in Athletic Administration from SUNY Brockport. Along with his physical education certification, Mr. Davis also holds New York State certifications as a School Building and School District Leader.

• The district posted the position on May 11, 2022, and 17 candidates applied.
• First-round interviews with six applicants were held on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
• An 11-member committee consisting of teachers, parents, administration, and board members
• narrowed the field to two finalists.
• Second-round interviews took place on Tuesday, June 28, and Tuesday, July 5, 2022.
• A final interview with the superintendent was conducted on Thursday, July 7, 2022.

Mr. Davis will have the opportunity to transition into his new role with Dr. David Russell and Mrs. Lynda Lowe (who will be retiring in November 2022). The district would also like to thank Mrs. Beth Luckey, who has been interim athletic director since October 2022. 

William R. Humphrey, 38, of Le Roy, and Maxwell J. Reigelsperger, 20, of Atlanta, NY, are charged with criminal mischief 2nd, grand larceny 4th, and conspiracy 5th. Humphrey and Reigelsperger are accused of removing a catalytic converter from a vehicle without the owner's permission. They were arraigned in Pavilion Town Court and released on their own recognizance.  Deputy Nicholas Chamoun and Investigator Kevin Forsyth investigated the incident.

Aaron J. Gaylord, 44, of Hart Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Gaylord is accused of switching price tag stickers from C-clamps to two sets of Husky tools and then using self-checkout to scan the items with the incorrect bar codes before leaving the store. Gaylord was arrested by Deputy Blankenbert, processed at the Genesee County Jail, and released on an appearance ticket.

John Mark Stevens, 61, of Lake Street, Le Roy, is charged with disorderly conduct.  Stevens is accused of creating a hazard or offensive condition at 10:58 p.m., July 8, at a location on Lake Street, Le Roy. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Mathew W. Ianiro, 27, of Elm Street, Le Roy, is charged with harassment 2nd and criminal mischief. Ianiro was arrested in connection with an incident reported at 4 p.m., July 8. on Elm Street, Le Roy. Ianiro was arraigned in Town of Le Roy Court and an order of protection was issued.

Jessy Lynn Miller, 35, of Church Street, Le Roy, is charged with menacing 3rd and harassment 2nd.  Miller was arrested in connection with an incident reported at 10 p.m., July 11, at a location Mill Street, Le Roy. Miller was arraigned in Town of Le Roy Court and an order of protection was issued.

More than 50 groups, from high school marching bands and this year’s Little League champs to Shriners in their tiny cars, the Hitmen Brass Band, American Legion colorguard and floats each from three different alumni classes, the 2022 Oatka Festival will remind spectators what they’ve missed during the pandemic.

After two long years of social distancing, this year’s festival promises folks two full days of parade entertainment, assorted yummy food tents, a fishing and a duck derby, the reunion gathering of Class of 1965, ’67’ and ’77, a music tent, children’s activities, a car show, photo contest, and craft and food vendors.

The fun kicks off Friday evening with a dance for LeRoy students that runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for grades one to six and 8 to 10 p.m. for grades seven to 12. The festival runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on the banks of Oatka Creek and in Trigon Park.

“It’s Le Roy’s little state fair, just a little community get-together," said Scott Ripley, chairman of the parade committee.

It’s an understatement to say planning such an event takes time.

“I start calling people for the parade in January; you've got to book them early," Ripley said. "The parade is awesome, I love the parade. It lasts for a good hour.” 

His first year helping out was in 2012, and he recalled how he and his wife Mary Margaret handed out coupons for a free cookie from her prior bakery shop. They handed out 500 of them, he said. The parade typically draws much more than that, as people line both sides of Main Street.

Ripley has also served as parade announcer and has become well-versed in most aspects of the event, from the “fire department’s potatoes” to a surprise at this year’s duck derby.

He was happy to book a return visit from Downbeat Percussion, which was last there about six years ago. The group’s first performance was in 2013, and it has expanded throughout New York State, including for the Buffalo Bills, and in Canada for parades. Downbeat’s website states the group “will energize your parade with our world-class performers and entertainers.”

“So that's gonna be exciting to see the original percussions of the Buffalo Bills,” Ripley said.

The parade is to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, and anyone that walks in unregistered — but is ready to go — will still be accepted, he said.

Other groups include the Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps, a crowd favorite, and The Hitmen Brass Band, a fun and talented group of musicians, who dress the part in colorful pin-stripe zoot suits. Formerly from Attica, they were founded in 2002 by World Drum Corps and Buglers Hall of Fame Member David Martin. 

Ripley just registered two more groups this week, including Limerock Speedway and an auto-detailing company. A first-time float from Le Roy’s Historical Society will pay homage to Ingham University, which once graced the banks of the Oatka in Le Roy, New York and was the first women's college in New York State and the first chartered women's university in the United States.

Back to those potatoes, which the fire department buys whole, slices, and fries into a golden crispy french fry. There’s also Le Roy Rotary’s hotdogs, plus pizza, pulled pork, chicken barbecue and beef on weck.

Kids will have plenty to do, Ripley said, with a mini petting zoo, a child-friendly mechanical bull, a rock wall, Mr. Scribbles, a boot camp challenge and a two-lane balloon slide.

Is your child photogenic and like Jell-O? Snap a picture and enter it for the Toddler’s First Picture Eating Jell-O contest. There will be a public vote of the entries during the festival, and the winner receives a basket full of Jell-O products. Entries must be submitted by Thursday.

Vendors will be selling their wares of glass fixtures, T-shirts, rugs, Farmers Market produce, baby booties, washcloths, meat and more. There will also be a K-9 demonstration, a used book sale and music by various artists, including a Fleetwood Mac tribute band. A 50/50 raffle promises one winner $500 on Saturday and another winner of half the grand total pot on Sunday. Both drawings are set for 5 p.m. each day. That grand bounty is at least $1,000 “for sure,” Ripley said.

For more information about the festival schedule or related events, go to oatkafestival.org.

2018 File photos of Le Roy's Oatka Festival. Photos by Howard Owens.

Here are two videos from 2019, when Le Roy was able to last host the Oatka Festival.