Le Roy

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries has been reported at Main and Clay streets in the Village of Le Roy.

No word on the seriousness of the injuries.

Le Roy Fire Department and law enforcement are on scene. Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 11:41 a.m: Accident has been cleared. Roadway reopened.

Also, Darien Fire Department is working a minor injury accident on Countyline Road.

I've driven down Munson Street in Le Roy a couple of times. Somehow, I never before noticed these falls right by the BOCES campus.

On Cole Road.

Route 5 near Nelesville Nilesville Road, Stafford.

Morganville Road, Stafford.

Lights were dimming for the beginning of dress rehearsal when I took this picture -- it's of the poster for Le Roy Jr./Sr. High School's 2011 musical production, "Little Shop of Horrors."

Based on the Broadway rock musical by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, "Little Shop" is the story of a shy, nervous store clerk who dreams of finding a way out of the lousy job and circumstances he's stuck in, a young girl with low self-worth and an abusive boyfriend, and a plant that talks, sings and eats people.

This is the latest performance in a district known for its high standards for school musicals. Le Roy has been selected as one of the top 100 communities for music education in the country on multiple occasions, according to Bradley Meholick, director of music for the district.

He attributes this honor to the high level of dedication on the part of students, staff, administrators and parents, all working together in support of music in the schools.

Directed by Batavia High School graduate Jackie McLean, who teaches general music and chorus in the Le Roy schools, "Little Shop" stars students in grades nine through 12, with seventh- through 12th-graders in the crew and in the orchestra (aka "the pit").

Meholick, who is also the orchestra director for the show, describes it as witty and having a "soul feel to it (as far as the music goes)."

"The music is '50's style, but in this version it's freshened up a bit," he said. "The general style resembles '50's doo-wop, but there's a little bit of everything -- even some rock and R&B."

Senior Stephen Rudman, who plays Seymour, says this is a "real upbeat, great show."

"It has plenty of fun interaction between the characters that people of all ages will love," he said. "And the plants are just great."

The "plants" he referred to are part of a unique and innovative feature of this performance. Four puppets will be used to portray Seymour's man-eating plant, which grows with each person it eats. Meholick said that the puppets being used are of the same make and type as those used in the original Broadway performance.

The first and smallest of the "plant puppets" is pictured below. In the first picture, Seymour (Rudman) begs it to grow so that he can finally attract customers to the store in which he works; in the next two photos, the plant sprouts up and opens its mouth, in that order.

All four puppets are operated by puppeteer Kaleb Miller, a student at Le Roy Jr./Sr. High whom McLean describes as "very talented."

"We always try to give the audience something big to look forward to," Meholick said. "A couple years ago we did 'Beauty and the Beast' (which had scenes where the characters flew), and we hired a company to come in and fly the actors around the stage. Last year we did 'Curtains,' and we actually had one of the leads from the Broadway performance come and work with the kids."

Not only does "Little Shop" have yet another "something big" to give to its audience, it also presents some unique challenges and opportunities to the actors -- perhaps especially to Jake Bortle, who provides the voice of the plant.

Bortle, a senior, has been in Le Roy Jr./Sr. High musicals since seventh grade, and this is the first time he has done something like this.

"It's a complete change for me as an actor," Bortle said. "It's been a challenge having to act without using my body and to coordinate what I'm saying with what Kaleb is doing. But we work well together." 

In spite of the challenges, these young actors have been able to deliver what Meholick called "the cleanest performance to date."

"The kids have been prepared earlier than ever before, and they've been very motivated. And I think the result is going to be one of our finest productions."

McLean, who has been heavily involved in school and community theater for years, agreed totally with this assessment.

"The kids are awesome," she said. "With two weeks to develop their characters, they've been very professional -- more so than most young people with whom I've worked in the past. It's phenomenal."

"I'm hoping people in the audience forget it's kids putting on this show once it's over," Meholick said.

Senior Brogan O'Halloran, student conductor of the show's orchestra, echoed this sentiment.

"I think the community will be proud of its students and the hard work and talent they show," she said. "We're happy to be part of this musical."

Here are a couple more photos of the actors on stage:

PICS FROM THE PIT

Showtimes for "Little Shop" are tonight at 7:30 p.m., and tomorrow (March 19) at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. All performances are in the high school auditorium, at 9300 South St. Road in Le Roy. Tickets are $10 (flat fee) at the door and $8 presale.

For more information on tickets, click here.

A 26-year-old Le Roy resident is accused of leaving the scene of a fatal accident in Rochester, the Democrat & Chronicle reports.

Matthew Norstrand is facing a felony charge charged of leaving the scene of a fatal accident and falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor.

Norstrand is accused of striking and killing Richard Strapp, 41, of Rochester, at the intersection of Alexander and East Main streets at 10:45 p.m., Saturday.

Strapp, who was walking in a crosswalk, died at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Later that night, Norstrand allegedly flagged down a police officer outside Johnny's Pub on Culver Road and claimed his car was stolen.

The car was later found on Stunz Street.

Norstrand was jailed on $20,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Rochester City Court on March 23.

A patient apparently suffered a cut hand and bump on the head in a car-tractor trailer accident on Route 490 on or near the county line by the Bovee Road overpass.

Le Roy Fire Department is dispatched.

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Charges may be pending following a one-car accident at 10:38 p.m. Saturday, on North Street Road, Le Roy.

The driver has been identified as Philip M. Niccloy, 24, of 75 Summit St., Le Roy.

According to initial reports, the car Niccloy was allegedly driving, was found unoccupied at the accident scene and several law enforcement officers were involved in a search for the driver.

The Sheriff's Office accident report does not include information on how Niccloy was identified as the driver nor how he was found, though on Saturday night, the owner of the vehicle, also a Summit Street resident, said she wanted charges pressed against the driver.

The vehicle involved was a 2010 GMC pickup.

The truck hit a tree at the bend of the road in the area of 8471 North Street Road. The driver-side airbag was deployed.

The accident is being investigated by Deputy Matthew Butler wrote on his report that the investigation is ongoing and there are "charges pending."

A car has gone off the road and hit a tree in the area of 8481 North St. Road, Le Roy.

Le Roy fire and ambulance dispatched.

A first responder says there has been air bag deployment, but she says, "I haven't located the driver yet."

A deputy reports that the driver has apparently left the scene.

UPDATE 11:02 p.m.: The registered owner has been located and wishes to press charges against the driver. Police seem to have some idea who the driver is and are searching for him.

UPDATE 11:16 p.m.: The suspect has not been located yet. He is likely on foot and may be within the village boundaries.

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When I turned onto Britt Road (Le Roy), I spotted two women wading through knee-deep water in a field seemingly herding three geese.

It turns out that Sid, Sally and Sandy had escaped their pen and decided to go for a swim. Shannon Yauchzee and daughter Kari had to go into the cold, swampy field and round up the wayward fowl.

The following indictments were issued by the Genesee County Grand Jury:

Deanna Leach is indicted on 25 counts. Of those, 19 are for forgery, 2nd, a class D felony. Five are for petit larceny, a misdemeanor. And one is for falsifying business records, 1st, a class E felony.

She is accused of illegally using gift/debit cards valued at $50 each at a store in the Village of Le Roy on or about Jan. 6, 15, 21, 26 and on about Feb. 7 and 21, all in 2010.

As for the petit larcenies, she is accused of stealing gift/debit cards from the same store on multiple occasions.

Lastly, she is accused of falsifying business records at the same store by not making "a true entry in the business record" that a gift/debit card had been activated.

David W. Wells is indicted on two counts, both class E felonies. He is accused of driving his Chevy Silverado while intoxicated on or about Sept. 17 on Byron Holley Road in the Town of Byron. He is also accused of aggrevated driving while intoxicated, with a BAC of .18. He was convicted of DWI in August in the Town Court of Bergen.

John T. Reagan is indicted on one count of driving while intoxicated, a class E felony. He is accused of driving his Audi while intoxicated on or about Aug. 27 on Sumner Road in the Town of Darien.

James Kosiorek is indicted for assault, 2nd, a class D felony, stemming from an incident on or about Oct. 13 in the Village of Le Roy. He is accused of intending to cause serious physical injury to another person and then causing serious injury to that person by means of a dangerous instrument (which in this case was his sneakers).

Peter S. Brigzna is indicted for driving while intoxicated, a class E felony. He is accused of driving his Ford Tempo on Bank Street Road in the Town of Byron while intoxicated on or about Nov. 12.

Wade D. Godlove, 47, of 5733 Horseshoe Lake Road, Stafford, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and moving from lane unsafely. Godlove was allegedly observed by Deputy Howard Carlson at 1:44 a.m., Friday, driving through the front yards of houses on Seven Springs Road, knocking down mailboxes, a street sign and a fire hydrant. Godlove's car eventually returned to the roadway, according to Carlson's report, and continued on Seven Springs to Route 5. Godlove was stopped by Carlson on Route 5 near Fargo Road.

Bernard Lee  Evans, 40, of 12 Myrtle St., Le Roy, is charged with grand larceny. Evans is accused of stealing a car from a person he knew. The vehicle was recovered. Evans was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Jodi Mae Coe, 35, of Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 5th. Coe is accused of pawning stolen property at the Pawn King on Veterans Memorial Drive.

Javier Eduardo Ocana-Reyes, 30, no address listed, is charged with illegal entry. Ocana-Reyes was turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Estaban Mata Martinez, 30, no address lsited, is charged with illegal entry. Martinez was turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Theodore P. Boylan, 18, of 32 Elm St. Le Roy, is charged with criminal nuisance, 2nd. Boylan is accused of hosting an underage drinking party Saturday at his residence.

A car slid off the roadway and struck a tree on eastbound Route 490 near milemarker 2.0. There is reportedly a leg injury.

Bergen and Le Roy fire and ambulance are called to the scene. State Police are there now.

If the March 26 Taste of New York is anything like the previous Brew Fest, it should be certainly be a fun time.

“Last year there were people who were having so much fun they didn’t want to leave,” Sue Bobo said.

As part of the planning committee, she expects the night to be as popular as the first wine, beer and local food sampling fundraiser in 2010.

After the Brew Fest provided about 250 guests with an enjoyable evening of mingling with friends and tastings from a few local hot spots, planners at Holy Family School are excited to bring the event back.

“We hope for more this year, a lot of people were really excited to get their tickets," Bobo said. "If they came last year, they’re happy to do it again but there’s a lot of people who heard how much fun it was and would like to give it a try this year."

Tickets cost $20 each or $15 for designated drivers. With the admission ticket, beverage tickets are given to sample wine and beer. Based on sobriety, more beverage tickets will be available for purchase.

The night will start with tasting from 7-10 p.m. and there will be entertainment from 8-11 p.m. by the Le Royan band called Exit 47. Raffles and door prizes will be given throughout the evening.

All funds raised will go to support Holy Family School.

Arna Tygart helped plan the event last year because she has two children enrolled at Holy Family. She spoke highly of the staff at the small school.

“Everyone goes above and beyond for the students,” she said. “The school is wonderful. The principal, secretaries and teachers are all so welcoming. You could go in and eat lunch with your child and celebrate birthday parties and you feel like you’re walking in to family.”

Most businesses which participated will be returning because they liked being able to meet and greet local customers.

"It was a huge success," Tygart said. "We had so many good responses and so much great feedback. Someone even said it could be the best kept secret in Genesee County!"