Le Roy

Crews from Latham Tree Service were busy this afternoon getting the giant Christmas tree the company erects every year in the Village of Le Roy ready for Winterfest this Saturday.

John Jakubowski, workforce development consultant for the Genesee County Economic Development Center, and Chris Suozzi, VP of business development for GCEDC, visited Le Roy High School today as guests of the Business Education Alliance's Career Lunch-N-Learn Series.

Jakubowski and Suozzi talked about career opportunities in STEM (Science, Tehcnology, Engineering and Math) fields, advanced manufacturing and nanotechnologies, and what it takes for a student to enter those career paths.

"The BEA Career Lunch-N-Learn Series is a tremendous opportunity for our students to interact with professionals in different fields, and we can't thank Karyn Winters enough for her organizing efforts and partnering with us," said Principal Tim McArdle. "It is these experiences that allow our students to focus on their future and learn about the many options they have.

"Today's speakers from GCEDC gave our students a chance to learn about amazing opportunities right here in our backyard so that we can retain the talent we are developing. I really commend Mr. Suozzi and Mr. Jakubowski for their efforts in promoting the WNY STAMP and also educating our students on career advice."

The purpose of the series, McArdle said, is to expand beyond the traditional career day and expose students to information about various careers throughout the year.

"We have taken the traditional one day 'career day' and infused it in and throughout the school year," McArdle said. "Each of our teachers are tasked to host one professional to speak to their classes in an experience we call Career Chats.

"Each Career Chat speaker also stays for an after-school session in the library open to all students. Our students also participate in off-campus field trip opportunities visiting local business/industries through our Student Success Center and staff initiated opportunities."

Another resource available to students and parents is Naviance, in which counselors work with students on career and self-exploration throughout the school year both at school and at home. 

To prepare the local workforce for jobs like what is anticipated at WNY STAMP -- Western New York Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park -- the district has partnered with Byron-Bergen Central School in a Soft Skills Training program.

The program is being funded through a grant from an America’s Best Communities Award that the Towns of Le Roy and Bergen won in 2015 and is coordinated with Jakubowski and Loren Penman. Seniors in both districts are exposed to four different lessons from local professionals this spring.  

"Our goal is to not have one week go by without our students having a chance to hear from a professional in the field. It is vital we maintain this important commitment for the development of our graduates."

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at 8667 Gulf Road, Le Roy.

Le Roy fire with mutual aid from Pavilion dispatched.

Le Roy ambulance dispatched.

The accident may be in Monroe County.

UPDATE 2:16 p.m.: Le Roy chief on scene. It's in Mumford's district, Monroe County. Apparently minor injuries. Responding units "can back it down."

Timothy O. "Cricket"  Lee, 37, of Erie Street, Le Roy, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possession of marijuana, 4th, criminally using drug paraphernalia, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Lee was arrested as a result of a Local Drug Task Force investigation into the possession, transportation and sale of cocaine in and around the Village of Le Roy. The task force executed a search warrant on his residence and allegedly found cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and cash. He was jailed on $15,000 bail, $30,000 bond.

Andrew Kevin Wright, 27, of Prune Street, Batavia, is charged with attempted assault, 3rd, six counts of endangering the welfare of a child, criminal obstruction of breathing, and obstructing governmental administration. Wright allegedly struck a female and choked a juvenile male in the presence of five other juveniles during an altercation reported at 11:03 p.m. Sunday on Prune Street, Batavia. Wright was jailed on $2,500 bail or $5,000 bond.

Michelle L. Misiak, 52, of Fisher Parkway, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear on a petit larceny charge.

A 16-year-old resident of Oak Street is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment, 2nd. The youth was arrested after Batavia PD responded at 8:10 p.m. Tuesday to a report of a large group of people fighting on Highland Park, Batavia.

Elizabeth Ann Finnin, 48, of South Swan Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Finnin allegedly punched another woman in the face. Also charged, Michelle Misiak, 52, of Fisher Parkway. Misiak is accused of fighting with another woman. The incident was reported at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Katelyn C. Kubala, 28, of Meadow Lane, Attica, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to pay a fine.

Stephen P. Durham, 20, of Chestnut Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Durham was charged following a traffic stop at 8:55 p.m. Monday on Cone Street, Batavia, by Officer Christopher Lindsay.

It's a decade since the national home mortgage meltdown but there are still communities plagued by vacant and abandoned properties, including in Western New York, including the Town and Village of Le Roy.

There are about 20 properties in the town and village, Town Supervisor Steve Barbeau (top photo) said last night, that are at a minimum unsightly, but they also present a health and safety issue.

In many cases, if not all, the properties are banked owned and the financial institutions show little interest in dealing with the properties.

"Almost all of these properties are uninhabitable," Barbeau said. "They haven’t been inhabited for years. We’re not talking about 30 days, or 90 days, or 365 days. There are a few in here, as I eyeball it, where it’s been three or four years, most of all the rest of them have been vacant for a decade."

To help deal with the issue, the town and village of teamed up to write a new ordinance that would define vacant and abandoned properties and put some pressure on the title holders to sell the parcels, including a fee that could cost a property owner as much as $1,500 a year if the building continues to sit vacant.

Village and Town officials held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance at the Town Hall last night.

A few of the residents who turned out to speak were either skeptical about the ordinance as written or downright hostile to the idea.

The way Jason Shu has read the ordinance is that if he went on vacation for six weeks, the code enforcement officer could declare his property vacant and abandoned and he would either have to sign a waiver to allow the code enforcement officer to enter the property or pay a fine. He called the law overly broad, subject to selective enforcement, and a potential violation of his Fourth Amendment rights.

"I agree with the whole problem of abandoned property but there’s a different approach to it," Shu said. "It doesn’t seem right. It doesn’t seem fair. The selective enforcement is only going to lead to problems."

Both Barbeau and the town's attorney Reid Whiting said that isn't how the ordinance works.

First, Barbeau said, the ordinance defines temporary vacancy and seasonal use, which would cover a six-week vacation, and the 30-day clock for registering the house wouldn't begin until after a code enforcement officer determined the property appeared to be abandoned.

There are a number of criteria the officer would weigh to make that determination, such as that nobody is living in the house, it's devoid of contents, lacks utility services, is or has been subject to foreclosure, and code violations.

Properties determined "temporarily vacant" would not be required to register as vacant and abandoned.

Whiting said there is no violation of the Fourth Amendment because either the property owner voluntarily signs a waiver or the code enforcement officer would be required to get a warrant to enter the property from a judge.

Leonard Dries attacked the law as a violation of private property rights, yet another high New York tax, and accused Le Roy's elected officials of not listening to his concerns.

Because of the law, he said, which he says is a violation of property rights, the town or the village will end up getting sued.

"You're going to start doing all this stuff on these properties and you’re going to bite the wrong hand and the lawsuit is going to overwhelm you," Dries said.

At times he interrupted other speakers or tried to shout them down.

One of the properties of concern discussed during the meeting is the boarded-up residence next to the Le Roy House. Historian Lynn Belluscio said she fields constant complaints from visitors about the unsightly building.

"They come to us and want to know why Le Roy can’t deal with that property next door," she said.

Dries responded, "Then don’t look at it. Tell them not to look at it."

" I’m going to tell 10,000 people -- " Belluscio said.

"-- you don’t get 10,000 people, you don’t 100 people a day coming through. Le Roy is a dead town," Dries said.

Barbeau rose from his chair and said Dries was out of order.

"That’s what we get to live with twice a month," he said. 

"Oh listen, Stevie Bo-Bo, sit down and shut up," Dries said. "You are paid by my tax dollars. I don’t want to hear your mouth."

Barbeau managed to restore order and the meeting continued.

Belluscio said the Jell-O Museum has made four attempts to buy the abandoned property, but that bank, based in Hong Kong, won't budge on its $119,000 asking price. Belluscio said she couldn't be irresponsible with how she spends the nonprofit's money and the house isn't worth $119,000 with all of the damage. The bank doesn't want to take the loss, though, of selling it for less.

"They really don't have an incentive to sell," Belluscio said. "They sit back and wait as long as they possibly can. They don't care that the house has deteriorated."

Dealing with bank-owned properties is exactly why the new law is needed, said Mayor Greg Rogers (bottom photo), who is also a real estate agent.

"We felt some of our neighborhoods need to have some of these properties picked up and cleaned up," Rogers said. "Or at least give the owners, and a lot of times it’s banks, further incentive to try to get these back on the market and be viable properties.

"If you live in one o those neighborhoods next to an abandoned house, that becomes an issue and it becomes an issue for the street," Rogers added.

Barbeau added later, "if anybody argues that it doesn’t depress the values of properties around it, they don’t have a clue."

Press release:

This fall, Le Roy Jr-Sr. High School, in conjunction with our Le Roy PRIDE Character Education program, ran our 5th annual Thanksgiving Feast Drive. This seventh-through-12th-grade effort supported 45 of our own families, equaling close to 200 people. Staff participated in four Turkey Tuesday Dress Down days by making a weekly monetary donation. Close to $1,000 was raised and used to purchase the turkeys, milk, eggs, bread and ingredients for pumpkin pies made by our FACS teacher and students! 

Students participated in our Stuff The Turkey Food Drive where grades partner up and compete against each other bringing in food under different theme days - Day 1: Macaroni Madness, Day 2: Can Jam, Day 3: Baking Bonanza, Day 4: Starch Fest, and Day 5: Kitchen Sink. The competition was fierce this year with the ninth- and 10th-graders making a huge final day push to win with 706 donated items. Grades 8 and 11 brought in 702 items and grades 7 and 12 had 675 items for a grand total, and new Stuff The Turkey Food Drive record, of 2,083. 

Last week, our counseling staff, school resource officer, principal, and assistant principal made the deliveries to our families. We would like to thank ALDI in Batavia and Tops and Save-A-Lot in Le Roy for their donations and contributions as well! 

From Principal Tim McArdle:
"We cannot thank our school community enough for their ongoing support of this effort. Five years ago we started by supporting 12 families and each year the need continues to grow in our community, and our students and staff step up and meet this need head on. Our staff continues to go above and beyond when students are in need, and we are so appreciative of their ongoing support of ALL students!"

"This effort is a great lesson for our students about giving back and the importance of helping others in their community. This focus is a common theme in our school and a character trait that is so important."

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported on the Thruway in the westbound lane in the area of mile marker 382.5.

Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance initially dispatched.

A Le Roy chief on scene reports three patients, all still in the vehicle.

Bergen dispatched mutual aid with extrication equipment.

UPDATE 11:14 a.m.: Mercy Flight requested to the scene.

UPDATE 11:16 a.m.: Mercy Flight out of Batavia is unavailable. Mercy Flight out of Buffalo is 20 minutes away. A chief says, "too far away." Mercy Flight is canceled.

UPDATE 11:18 a.m.: Patients have been extricated.

UPDATE 11:29 a.m.: A third ambulance requested to the scene, emergency mode.

A two-vehicle accident is reported in front of 47 Lake St., Le Roy, with injuries.

One vehicle may have been a parked car.

Traffic is not blocked.

Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance dispatched.

Arsenio Youngs, 27, of Medina, is charged with criminal sex act, 2nd. Youngs is accused of a sex act with a disabled person in the City of Batavia. The complaint was made to State Police at 4:31 p.m., Nov. 1. Youngs was also charged with the same crime in the Town of Perry based on a complaint to State Police at 10:01 a.m., Nov. 1. Youngs was released on his own recognizance. No further details released.

Erika L. Gilson, 37, of West Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with felony DWI, three counts of felony aggravated DWI, and felony driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Gilson was stopped at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday on West Main Street, Village of Le Roy, by Le Roy PD. Gilson was accused of driving while intoxicated with three children in the car under age 16. She was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Shane M. Nugent, 32, of West Middlebury Road, Wyoming, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, and failure to keep right. Nugent was stopped at 2:19 a.m. Saturday on Warsaw Road, by Le Roy PD.

Daun Elizabeth Monachino, 58, Bank Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, improper left turn, improper right turn, and no left side mirror. Manachino was stopped at 4:34 p.m. Sunday on Richmond Avenue, Batavia, by Deputy Richard Schildwaster, following a citizen traffic offense complaint.

Tyler Lee Walls, 21, of Viking Way, Brockport, is charged with menacing. Walls allegedly threatened another motorist during a road rage incident reported at 1:36 p.m. Sunday on Warboys Road, Bergen.

Anson Torpe Arenas, 43, of Lexington Parkway, Rochester, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, driving left of pavement, driving a vehicle without a valid inspection, insufficient tail lamps, and driving with alcohol in a motor vehicle. Arenas was stopped at 6:16 p.m. Saturday on Townline Road, Bergen, by Deputy Ryan DeLong.

Shawn William Cross, 46, of Craigie Street, Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Cross was arrested following a report of a car vs. deer accident at 9:18 p.m. Friday on Perry Road, Pavilion, by Deputy Travis DeMuth.

Jenna Leann Hernandez, 21, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speeding, driving left of pavement marking, and driver's view obstructed. Hernandez was stopped at 2:16 a.m. Saturday on Wortendyke Road, by Deputy Howard Wilson.

Jeremy Sheehan, 35, of West Bergen Road, Le Roy, is charged with menacing, 2nd. Sheehan allegedly displayed a handgun to a resident in a nearby apartment at 1:18 a.m. Thursday at a location on West Bergen Road, Le Roy. He was jailed on $1,000 bail or $3,000 bond. 

David Michael Bratt, 38, of Carolina Avenue, Lockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, moving from lane unsafely, and driving left of pavement markings. Bratt was stopped at 12:54 a.m. Wednesday on Lewiston Road, Alabama, by Deputy Ryan Young. 

Kari Ann Marble, 26, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Marble is accused of shoplifting from Kohl's Department Store on Veterans Memorial Drive in Batavia at 11:58 a.m. on Nov. 9.

Sarah A. Cheek, 33, of Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Arrested as part of the same incident was a 16-year-old on an execution of a bench warrant. The incident was reported at 10:48 a.m. Sunday on Route 237, Byron, by State Police. No other details released.

Christina M. Sarratori, of North Chili, is charged with criminal trespass, 3rd. Sarratori is accused of entering an enclosed area at 8315 Park Road, Batavia. The incident was reported to State Police at 12:52 a.m. Saturday.

Amanda M. Volkman, 32, of Byron, is charged with assault, 3rd, obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest. Volkman is accused of attacking a person with intent to cause serious physical injury. The complaint was reported to State Police at 11:45 p.m. Thursday at a location on Caswell Road, Byron. Volkman was held in jail. No further details released.

Mary B. Thompson, 34, of Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Thompson was charged by State Police based on an incident reported at 4:31 p.m. Nov. 15 on Pearl Street Road, Batavia.

A three-year legal battle for the owners of The Ridge (aka Frost Ridge Campground) appears to have come to a close with a state appeals court upholding prior court decisions allowing the campground to host live music concerts, rent campsites and run a restaurant.

The ruling was handed down today by the Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department.

David and Greg Luetticke-Archbell haven't missed a concert season since 2010, even though the legal challenges to their concert series -- Jam at the Ridge -- started in 2014 when the Town of Le Roy, and David and Mary Cleere, and Scott and Besty Collins, first brought legal action to stop live music at the campground.

They were able to continue after winning motions in 2014 to allow an already-booked season to go forward, and as they continued to win court decisions -- including a Sept. 2016 decision by Judge Emilio Colaiacovo, presiding at the time over Genesee County Supreme Court, that ruled in favor of the owners.

The Town of Le Roy had dropped out of the lawsuits after losing a prior decision.

At the heart of the defense of Luetticke-Archbell's use of the property is that Frost Ridge -- going back to the ownership of David Frost, father of Mary Cleere and Betsy Collins --and its campground long hosted live music, rented campsites and served food, and that these uses fit within the meaning of a recreational area. The property was used in this fashion, they argued, before the Town of Le Roy changed the area's zoning to residential-agriculture in the 1990s.

In ruling in favor of Luetticke-Archbell, the appellate division concluded that contrary to the plaintiffs' contention, the Zoning Board of Appeals did not reach an arbitrary and capricious decision when the board ruled that the owners' use of Frost Ridge was a prior, non-conforming use. The plaintiffs contended that the ZBA failed to follow its own precedent and did not explain their reasoning. 

"We reject that contention," the court ruled. "In 1998, the ZBA interpreted the Code to provide that a preexisting nonconforming use of land as a campsite runs with the land pursuant to section 165-13, notwithstanding section 165-39 (B), which requires that an existing campsite of record be brought into compliance with the Code upon being sold. Contrary to petitioners’ contention, the ZBA’s determination is consistent with that precedent."

The court ruled that there was substantial evidence for the prior, non-conforming use.

"That evidence included the affidavit of a former employee of Frost Ridge’s predecessor, who averred that the Property had been used for skiing and other recreational purposes since the 1950s," the court wrote. "He averred that he began working there in the 1960s and observed numerous recreational activities on the Property, including winter sports, live music, and campsite rentals."

It's common sense, the court concluded that the term "campsite" includes recreational activities, which might include live music, and this definition complies with the Town's own codes.

"The ordinance does, however, require that any large campsite “provide a common open area suitable for recreation and play purposes” (§ 165-39 [C] [8]), and thus expressly contemplates that a campsite is a place for recreation," the court ruled.

"Although the kind of recreation is open to interpretation, it is rational in our view to conclude that live music, along with swimming and other outdoor activities, is the kind of recreation to be enjoyed at a campsite."

The court also cited evidence of witnesses who said live, amplified bands played every summer at the campground in the 1970s and 1980s, and the plaintiffs failed to prove that use ever stopped for an extended period of time to constitute a break in the prior, non-conforming use.

"Here, it is undisputed that the Property functioned continuously as a recreational facility and campsite since the 1950s," the judges wrote. "To the extent that petitioners contend that use of the Property to host live music was abandoned in 2008 and 2009, we note that there is evidence in the record that live concerts were hosted on the Property during those years."

Photo: File photo of David and Greg Luetticke-Archbell

A natural gas leak is reported at Le Roy High School, 9300 South Street Road in Le Roy. Le Roy Fire Department is dispatched.

UPDATE 12:42 p.m.: RG&E has an ETA of 15 minutes.

UPDATE 12:47 p.m.: The leak is thought to be in a gas line by the sports field, access off Summit Street.

Michael Alan Shetler, 27, of Judge Road, Oakfield, is charged with two counts of second-degree strangulation, five counts of criminal obstruction of breathing, two counts of third-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment, 2nd, and two counts of criminal mischief, 4th. Shetler was arrested following an investigation by Deputy Kevin Forsyth and Deputy Richard Schildwaster into several complaints of domestic violence at a location on Main Street, Oakfield. Shetler was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child. He was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Nicole Leanne Williams, 25, of Kings Street, Albion, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and driving left of pavement markings. Williams was stopped at 2:45 a.m. Sunday on Quaker Hill Road, Elba, by Deputy Howard Wilson.

Amy R. Sellhorst, 31, of Beaufort Street, Rochester, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Sellhorst is accused of hitting another person at a location on York Road, Le Roy, at 10:37 p.m. on Saturday.

Jason William Wolf, 41, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, driving a vehicle without an interlock device, and improper left turn. Wolf was stopped at 8:23 p.m. Thursday on West Main Street Road, Batavia, by Deputy Richard Schildwaster.

Jaclyn Kathryn Blackmer, 32, of Cabot Road, Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, open container, driving left of pavement markings, and moved from lane unsafely. Blackmer was stopped at 2:33 a.m. Saturday on Main Road, Pembroke by Deputy Mathew Clor.

Joseph M. Smith, 41, of State Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant. Smith posted bail and was released.

Alaysia L. Henderson, 18, of Gardiner Avenue, Rochester, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear. Henderson was released on $500 bail.

Christina R. Aaron, 21, of Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and speeding. Aaron was stopped by State Police at 11:51 p.m. Friday on Route 33, Bergen.

Heather M. Captain, 31, of Basom, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Captain was arrested by State Police in relation to an incident reported at 8:35 p.m. Aug. 27 in the Town of Alabama. No further details released.

Crystal D. Cardona, 27, of Bergen, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Cardona was stopped by State Police at 1:55 p.m. Nov. 7 on Route 33, Bergen.

Press release:

"Jinglin' All the Way Festive 5K Run/Walk" will be held in Le Roy beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2. Check-in/registration is at the Masonic Temple, located at 21 Bank St.

Proceeds from the event benefit a Le Roy charity; this year's recipient is the Le Roy Pantry & Help Fund Inc.

Cost to register is $20 per adult, plus a toy donation for the Le Roy Pantry. Cost on race day is $25. Students pay $10 to preregister, plus a toy.

There will be a Jinglin' Post-race Party, graciously hosted by Farmer's Creekside Tavern & Inn, which will provide food, drink specials and music. The race is held in conjunction with the Le Roy Winterfest, which culminates with Santa lighting the Christmas tree in the center of the Village.

There will be a raffle for a basket valued at $75. Every nonperishable food item donated gets you one ticket for this basket raffle.

Go to TRItheOatka.com to register and see details.

The event is sponsored by the Tri the Oatka Committee.

About the committee:

About seven years ago, a group of friends got into a fitness regime. They participated in 5K run events in local areas. They made a day of the occasion because they enjoyed the sense of achievement they felt when they crossed the finish line. They always ran for charities or causes: breast cancer, leukemia, hemophilia, melanoma or some type of memorial run.

This made race day a win-win for all. The 5K runs quickly turned into 10K runs. Shortly after, they were purchasing road bikes and then swimsuits, goggles and wetsuits. They were transformed into Triathletes.

In 2011, they agreed that Le Roy was a great place to host such an event. They decided to take advantage of the beautiful Oatka Creek with a canoe / kayak event to replace the swim. And so….the “TritheOatka” was born; 5K run, 13-mile bike, 1.6-mile canoe or kayak. Thirty-eight teams competed that first year, doubling in year two.

The event continues to grow and the Jinglin' all the Way Festive 5K is now added.

Proceeds from the committee's events are always given back to the Le Roy community. The Le Roy Community Pool, LCCP, Sunshine Nursery School, Love Bugs Pre-K Program, the Le Roy Pantry & Help Fund Inc., Grace’s Kitchen, and Le Roy Nursery School have all benefitted. 

More so, though, it is the school that has benefitted. Since 2014, $4,000 has been awarded to Le Roy seniors for the Tri the Oatka Scholarship fund.

The committee has given to the Back-Pack program and again donated $1,000 for this school year.

Working with Joanne Hyde, they have purchased headsets for the grade school for all the computers in both labs, and purchased 100 pair of ear buds for kids who couldn’t afford their own. In 2015 they donated funds to the Ecology Club for their trip to Yellowstone. They will also be funding Mrs. Horgan’s CPR class this year and plan to continue helping with the expense of this program as long as funds allow.

Hoping for Your Support

"We are hoping we can have your support with encouraging students and staff to participate in our December 2^nd 5K either by running, walking or volunteering. ... The Le Roy Pantry receives the donated toys and nonperishables from this event and it is a great and affordable way for our kids to help make a difference to many people in our own community.

"We hope we can count on you to continue helping our students and our community."

Sincerely,

Gabrielle & Scott Keister                                                                        Karen & Steve Samis

Tami & Pete Loftus                                                                                 Amy & Dan Vanderhoof

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, the day the war to end all wars ended, Nov. 11, 1918. After more wars, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, the day we honor all of those who served to defend freedom.

Today's ceremony in Le Roy included guest speaker Ret. USN Commander Robert “Bob” Kettle, who now lives in Seattle with his wife and 2-year-old daughter.

The 1984 Le Roy High School graduate spoke about the sacrifices Le Roy residents made during The Great War.

The honor roll includes:

• George K Botts, Private, Co G, 7th Infantry, 3rd Division. Killed in action near Fossoy, France, July 15, 1918. Age 23.
• Cecelia J Cochran, Nurse volunteer, U.S. Public Health Service. Died of influenza and pneumonia in a military camp hospital, Huntsville, Ala., Oct. 15, 1918. Age 24.
• Errol D Crittenden, Private, HQ Co, 312th Engineers, 87th Division. Died of pneumonia at Camp Grange-Neuve, Bordeaux, France, Oct. 15, 1918. Age 31.
• Thomas C Illes, Private, Co G, 74th NY Infantry. Killed when struck by a trolley in Buffalo, Sept. 8, 1917. Age 22.
• Edward L Kaine, Private, Co B, 59th Infantry, 4th Division. Died of pneumonia in a hospital at Aix-les-Bains, France, Nov. 9, 1918. Age 28.
• Patrick Molyneaux, Private, Co A, 59th Infantry, 4th Division. Killed in action near the Bois de Brieulles, France, Sept. 30, 1918. Age 29.
• Edgar R Murrell, Private, Btry D, 307th Field Artillery, 78th Division. Died of pneumonia and diphtheria in a military hospital near Winchester, England, March 29, 1918. Age 27.
• George F Ripton, Private, Co C, 3rd Provisional Battalion, Engineers. Died of influenza and pneumonia at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, Oct. 10, 1918. Age 28.
• Alvin A Smith, Private, Co A, 108th Infantry, 27th Division. Killed in action near Hindenburg Line east of Ronssoy, France, Sept. 29, 1918. Age 17.
• John R Wilder, Sergeant, 50th Aero Squadron, U.S. Signal Corps. Died of pneumonia in an Army hospital at Baltimore, Md., Jan. 11, 1918. Age 27.

Source: The County and the Kaiser: Genesee County in World War I.

A minor injury accident involving a motorcyclist and pickup truck is reported on Harris Road in Le Roy.

A pickup truck attempted to make a left-hand turn into a driveway on Harris Road, west of Asbury Road, when an oncoming motorcyclist struck it head on.

Le Roy fire, Mercy medics and Sheriff's deputies are on scene. The driver of the pickup was uninjured; the motorcyclist is being evaluated.

The following is a schedule of Veterans Day ceremonies in Genesee County:

Friday, Nov. 10:

• Noon -- Genesee Community College; Located at 1 College Road, Town of Batavia

Saturday, Nov. 11:

• 9 a.m.-- Genesee County Park & Forest (Vietnam Veterans of America); Located at 11095 Bethany Center Road, East Bethany
• 10 a.m. -- Batavia VA Medical Center; Located at 222 Richmond Ave., Batavia
• 10:15 a.m. -- NYS Vets’ Home; Also located at 222 Richmond Ave., Batavia
• 11 a.m. -- Emory Upton Monument; Located at the junction of Main Street and Ellicott Street (the fork in the road) in Downtown Batavia
• 11 a.m. -- Trigon Park, Le Roy; Hosted by Le Roy American Legion, will include remarks by Ret. USN Commander Robert “Bob” Kettle
• 11:30 a.m. -- Jerome Center (UMMC); Located at 16 Bank St., Batavia

Organizations Participating

Genesee County American Legion

Veterans of Foreign Wars of Genesee County

Marine Corps League – Hansen Brothers Detachment

Disabled American Veterans – Chapter #166

Vietnam Veterans of America – Chapter #193

American Legion Botts Fioritto Post #576

Genesee Community College

"Honor, respect and guard your freedom for it comes from the BLOOD of those who gave their life for it."