Le Roy

Press release:

A new offer to purchase the Wiss Hotel from the Village of Le Roy has been submitted to the village by Le Roy New York, LLC. The new offer eliminates the prior provision that the village loan the group money to purchase the property. The village board will provide the opportunity to residents to appear at the beginning of its meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12, in the Le Roy Village Hall to comment on the proposal.

UPDATE: The backers of the project have established an e-mail address for people who would like information regarding the Wiss Hotel Project and the formation of the LeRoyNY LLC.  It is WissHotelProject@gmail.com.

Trevon L. Armstrong is indicted on counts of burglary, 2nd, criminal possession of stolen property, 4th, two counts of criminal mischief, 4th, falsely reporting an incident, 3rd, six counts of forgery, 2nd, three counts of offering a false instrument for filing and tampering with a witness, 4th. Armstrong is accused of entering a residence on East Avenue on Oct. 9 with the intent to commit a crime inside the residence. Armstrong is accused of possessing stolen property, a 46-inch Hisense LCD TV, a HP laptop computer and two boxes of jewelry. Armstrong is accused of damaging a window at the East Avenue property, as well as a door. Armstrong is accused of falsely reporting a burglary at a neighboring residence. He is accused of falsely implicating another person in possessing the stolen property. He is accused of signing a fake name on a fingerprint card, a witness statement and a deposition, as well as other government documents. Armstrong also allegedly tried to keep another person from testifying before the grand jury.

Earl F. Sprague III, is indicted on a count of criminal solicitation, 2nd. Sprague is accused of trying to engage another person in a Class A felony, murder in the second degree.

Janet M. Brady is indicted on counts of felony DWI, felony DWI with a child under age 15 in the car. Brady is accused of driving drunk Aug. 9 in the parking lot of Darien Lake Theme Park, Darien.

Martin F. Jones is indicted on counts of felony DWI, two counts of aggravated unlicensed operation and criminal mischief, 4th. Jones is accused of driving drunk Oct. 9 in the City of Batavia in the parking lot of Settler's Restaurant and Hess Mart. He is accused of damaging property at Settler's Restaurant with a value that exceeds $250.

Dennis E. Hopkins is indicted on charges of burglary, 3rd, and grand larceny, 4th. Hopkins is accused of entering a residence in February on Lewiston Road, Batavia, with the intention of committing a crime inside. He is accused of stealing $2,000 in cash.

Guillermo Roman Roque is indicted on three counts of incest, 3rd. Roque is accused of having sexual relations with a person he knew to be a family relative.

Elaina J. Mead is indicted on counts of menacing a police officer, assault, 2nd, criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, and obstructing governmental administration, 2nd. Mead is accused of placing a knife to the chest of a deputy while attempting to block the arrest of her son, Michael Mead Sr., on June 17. Mead is accused of intentionally injuring a Le Roy police officer with a knife. She is accused of unlawfully using a knife as a weapon. She is accused of attempting to prevent the arrest of another person.

James Smith Jr.,  is indicted on counts of criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of menacing, 2nd, and assault, 2nd. Smith is accused of using a weapon with the intent to injure another person. He allegedly displayed a knife. He allegedly injured another person using a knife on July 22.

A fire is reported in the basement of 8706 Haven Lane, Le Roy.

Le Roy fire and Bergen's ladder truck are dispatched.

UPDATE 4:31 p.m.: Chief on scene reports a house full of smoke, fire may be out, but undetermined at this time.

UPDATE 4:33 p.m.: "Working fire" reported in the basement. Stafford and Pavilion asked to stand by in quarters.

UPDATE 4:37 p.m.: Fire contained to the furnace. Ventilation needed.

UPDATE 4:44 p.m.: Fire knocked down.

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A fully involved house fire is reported at 5 Myrtle St. in Le Roy. Heavy smoke and flames showing. There are still people inside the house -- entrapment. Le Roy fire is responding along with mutual aid from Caledonia.

UPDATE 2:19 p.m.: It is believed everyone is out of the house. Bergen and Pavilion are also responding. The address is between Clay and Bank streets. Le Roy medics are on scene.

UPDATE 2:25 p.m.: Town of Batavia's Fast Team is called in and National Grid is notified about the fire.

UPDATE 2:26: "It looks like they've got it knocked down."

UPDATE 2:28 p.m.: They are going to bring in fans to clear the smoke. National Grid has no ETA.

UPDATE 2:31 p.m.: Stafford is standing by in Stafford's quarters, in case needed for any other Le Roy incident. Firefighters on Myrtle Street are taking out their tools for overhaul.

UPDATE 2:34 p.m.: "It looks pretty clear on the second floor."

UPDATE 2:37 p.m.: They are asking the Town of Batavia to go back in service. Fire is out. Doing overhaul.

UPDATE 2:43 p.m.: Caledonia is released from the scene.

UPDATE (by Howard): At the time I left the scene, about 3 p.m., the cause of the fire was under investigation. Chief Tom Woods said when he arrived on scene, there were flames showing in the back of the structure and two people were partially out of a window. It's a little unclear, but apparently they had tried to put the fire out and thought the fire was out. Investigators had not yet completed interviews with them. Woods told the people to get out of the building and they did. Crews were quick the scene and interior firefighters made entry and knocked the fire down before it could do serious damage. A neighbor called the fire in, not the residents. Woods said that if the fire had been going five more minutes before fire crews arrived the whole structure would have been lost and it would have been a difficult fire to fight because of how close together units are on Myrtle.

Le Roy held it's annual Winterfest, which is a chance for the children to visit Santa and mom and dad to check out the local merchants. 

Le Roy's Winterfest/Stroll the Village/Holiday Bazaar will be held this Saturday, Dec. 1.

This year's "Stroll Through the Village" will include:

• Full card business BINGO (10 a..m. -2 p.m.), with prizes
• A window display contest
• Children's crafts & activities
• Gift wrapping at the Town of Le Roy Building and the Woodward Memorial Library, including a coloring contest.

A Holiday Bazaar will be held at the Moose (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.) to raise money for the LCCP and Le Roy Food Pantry, with several vendors and homemade crafters. Also, LCCP will offer a bake sale and gift wrapping, and there will be a visit from Santa Claus (1 p.m.).

A Chinese Auction will be offered, too. (Raffle tickets will be given at the Moose in exchange for non-perishable items.)

The Hobby Horse is having 20-percent off all scarves, storewide sales, and a free gift with $20 purchase; Vintage and Vogue Inspirations has 20-percent off all "Department 56" Snowpinions; The Personal Preference Salon & Spa is holding their 13th Annual Holiday Gala; Java's On Main will have $2 Peppermint Lattes or Peppermint Cocoa; Le Roy Hardware has Winterfest specials including stocking stuffers, plus there are several more participating businesses.

There is a Facebook event page with info as well: http://www.facebook.com/events/536564393037516/ <http://www.facebook.com/events/536564393037516/>

The Wiss Hotel building in Le Roy can be saved, village renewal expert Rick Hauser told about 50 people gathered in the village hall last night to hear his presentation.

The foundation is straight. The walls are straight. It needs a new roof and nothing in the interior can be saved, but it's got "good bones," he said.

And the two-floor apartments on the second and third floors would be pretty awesome.

The total cost of the renovation? About $1 million, financed by the formation of a limited liability corporation that would raise $400,000 in equity and borrow another $600,000.

"In my experience, nice apartments are hard to come by, and in my experience, and again, that's all I'm going on, as well as the supply and demand in Le Roy, and that's more anecdotal -- there's a shortage of apartments," Hauser said. "These kind of apartments get good rent and rent for the full amount. They become your anchor tenant. You are going to fill the apartments."

The first floor would consist of four or five retail or business spaces, in the draft plan created by Hauser, CEO of InSite: Architecture. 

Hauser has been consulting with people in communities like Le Roy for a number of years, but the best example of his work can be found in Perry, his hometown, where he has helped community residents rehabilitate several old buildings and turn them into profitable, attractive, productive mixed-use complexes.

The property values of those buildings have gone, in general terms, from the tens of thousands up to $150,000 and even $250,000.

Every building has gone from a deteriorating eyesore to an attractive, money-making venture.

The first part of Hauser's presentation included pictures of the accomplishments of the Perry community in revitalizing their downtown area. He also shared how a Main Street, LLC works.

It involves getting 30 or 40 local residents to invest in the LLC, either making a monetary contribution or in-kind (a plumber doing the plumbing work in the building, an electrician doing electrical, etc).

This isn't charity. The investors can potentially share in profits.

They could also realize any tax benefits.

The biggest tax advantage would be realized if Le Roy could successfully get its downtown designated a National Historic District (Le Roy is totally appropriate for such a designation, Hauser said), then 40 percent of investments in building preservation becomes a tax write-off for investors.

If $400,000 of the $1 million restoration cost came from investors, each one would realize a 100 percent, potentially, write-off on their share of the investment.

The project isn't without difficulties and risks, Hauser said. There will be critics who try to stop it, creditors will want tenants before loaning money, tenants will want improvements before they commit and no improvements can be made until the LLC has some loans in place to help get the project started.

However, Hauser said, the trick to solving this "chicken and egg" problem is to treat it like a flywheel -- get a little momentum going and build on it. If a bank says, "yeah, we can loan you some money if you have a tenant" find a tenant willing to commit if financing is in place, and keep building piece by piece from there.

Part of Hauser's suggestion for the Wiss is for the LLC to borrow $200,000 from the village at no interest.

The estimated demolition cost for the Wiss is $200,000. Rather than spend that money with no possibility of return on investment, Hauser is suggesting that the money be committed to something that will turn the Wiss into an asset that will help spur economic growth and generate more tax revenue for the village.

When a group of people make this kind of investment in their community, Hauser said, they become the champions of the village that help drive economic growth. They shop more in the village and encourage others to support local businesses. They have a greater stake in the economic vitality of the community.

"When you ask people to put their money where their house is, it's self interest, but it's self interest writ large," Hauser said.

Asked if the Wiss was worth saving when it's not really an obvious architectural beauty, Hauser said he never really looked at the building that way. It's a potential asset to the community because of its size, scale and location. It's more valuable where it stands than as a vacant lot.

"Saving an old building is a tool for economic growth," Hauser said. "It creates jobs. It creates business opportunity. It brings nice apartments that attract people who have stable incomes and is a catalyst for other initiatives that make Le Roy a better place to live. I don't really care about the architectural beauty of the building."

A car accident is reported on Route 5, in front of the Save-A-Lot store in Le Roy. The roadway is being closed in both directions by fire police. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding.

Eastbound traffic is closed at Gilbert Street; westbound at Lake Street. The store is at 15 W. Main St. (Route 5).

UPDATE 5:40 p.m.: Two patients are being transported by Le Roy to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 5:43 p.m.: Westbound Route 5 is being opened.

UPDATE 6 p.m.: Eastbound is reopened and traffic police are back in service along with the fire department.

Tovia Poles, 24, of 77 W. Main St., Le Roy, is charged with grand larceny, 4th. Poles is accused of finding a wallet and rather than turn it into police, kept the wallet, destroyed the contents and then used the wallet herself. The person who lost the wallet reportedly left it on top of her car and then drove off from a parking spot on West Main Street, in the Village of Le Roy. The wallet fell to the ground at that location. The wallet contained personal identification, a credit car, a driver's license and a checkbook.

Chad Edward Merle, 31, of Broadway Road, Alexander, is charged with violation of a Family Court act. Merle was picked up on a Family Court warrant.

Twenty-year-old James Russell Kosiorek will have to go to prison, Judge Robert C. Noonan ruled Wednesday afternoon.

The former Le Roy resident had his sentencing delayed last week after Noonan decided he wanted more information on Kosiorek's mental health.

Today, Noonan said he was looking for some information that might explain why Kosiorek felt it was OK to flee to South Carolina after he was arrested on a felony assault charge.

"I was looking for some overriding, unreported psychological issue to help explain to me how you could behave so irresponsibly," Noonan said, "especially after a probationary sentence was placed on the table."

While it seems that no mental health professional who came into contact with Kosiorek ever really dealt with issues related to Kosiorek witnessing his brother's death at age 13, Noonan said that still didn't explain while Kosiorek fled.

He also noted that Kosiorek has found a new lease on life with a baby and plans to get married, but that at least one to three years in state prison was still the appropriate sentence.

Kosiorek was arrested in October 2010 for punching and kicking a victim in the head.

After jumping bail and heading to South Carolina, Kosiorek found a job, fathered a child and was engaged to marry.

At the first phase of his sentencing last week he said his new family meant everything to him and he wanted to lead a better life for his daughter.

Noonan did rule that Kosiorek could be considered a youthful offender, which means when he completes his prison term, he won't have a felony on his record.

"You will have that chance to start somewhat fresh when you are released," Noonan said.

Submitted by Lisa M. Compton:

Most people in Le Roy have some opinion on what should be done with the Wiss Hotel. It sits in a dilapidated state on a highly visible corner of Main Street, and is one of the most prominent buildings people see as they are coming and going about their business. It is an embarrassment, an eyesore and a vivid reminder of the problems that have plagued Main Street over the years.

Like just about everyone I talked to, I want something to be done, but what should that something be? I always liked the building, and after hearing so much conflicting information about its condition, I really wondered how bad things really were and if the building was indeed a lost cause.

Inspired by a “Main Street” talk given at a village meeting by architect Rick Hauser, several of us gathered together a small group of like-minded curious people and hired Mr. Hauser’s firm, In.Site:Architecture, to do an assessment of the building as well as a feasibility study that would show whether any efforts to fix the building up were worth it from a financial perspective.

The study shows the building has high potential to be a viable business entity consisting of five apartments on the second and third floors, and several commercial establishments on the first floor. There is a detailed financial plan with ideas for securing funding.

One goal is to form a community Limited Liability Company (LLC) over the next few months to raise the $400,000 needed to get the project off the ground. We think that a LLC is a good way for local investors who may have either services or finances to invest, to participate in a project like the Wiss, and it also keeps profits within the community.

We will be holding a meeting on Thursday, November 29 at 7 p.m. in the Le Roy Village Hall where Mr. Hauser will be giving the talk “Main Street LLC, Community Entrepreneurism and the Case for Private Sector Rehab." It is open to everyone interested in finding out more about the Le Roy New York LLC and the Wiss project.

I am excited about the potential for transforming the Wiss into an attractive part of our community’s busiest intersection, and for doing it in a way that creates a return for local investors and maintains the character of our downtown.

Dispatchers have received reports of accidents involving at least five cars on Route 19 on the Thruway overpass in Le Roy.

DOT crews have been dispatched to deal with possible slickness on the roadway.

So far, no reports of injuries.

UPDATE 6:52 p.m.: There are at least 10 cars involved. Le Roy fire and Le Roy ambulance dispatched. Possible minor injuries. Responders warned to use caution upon approach, roads are very slippery.

UPDATE 6:55 p.m.: A Le Roy responder asks dispatch to contact DPW. The Clay Street bridge is covered with ice, he says.

UPDATE 6:59 p.m.: Medic on scene reports the northbound lane of Route 19 is blocked.

UPDATE 7:16 p.m.: A second ambulance, a Mercy rig, requested to the scene.

UPDATE 8:33 p.m.: Road salted and Route 19 is reopened.

The Sheriff's Office has announced two arrests in connection with an incident Nov. 10 that led deputies and troopers responding to a house on Asbury Road, Le Roy, with lights and sirens after dispatchers were told a shot had been fired.

Steven A. Myers, 46, of Asbury Road, Le Roy, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd, for allegedly shooting the phone of 17-year-old Brandon N. Benz, of Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

Myers reportedly came home and discovered Benz at the Asbury Road residence. He is accused of shooting a phone belonging to Benz.

Benz has been charged with sexual abuse, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors.

Nobody was injured in the incident.

The case was investigated by Deputy Bradley Mazur, Deputy Brian Thompson, Trooper Paula Caton and Investigator Roger Stone.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance are being dispatched to mile marker 379.9 westbound on the Thruway near Le Roy for a car/deer accident. One subject has minor injuries due to glass in the face. State Police are also on location.

The sentencing has been delayed for a Le Roy man who fled to South Carolina after being charged with assault in the second degree for punching and kicking another person in the head in October, 2010.

James Russell Kosiorek, 20, formerly of Myrtle Street, was scheduled to be sentenced today, but Noonan postponed his decision until a more current mental health report could be produced.

A fugitive for a year, Kosiorek was returned to Genesee County in August after a potential employer's background check turned up a warrant.

Last month, Kosiorek entered a guilty plea to the assault charge with an agreement that his bail jumping charge was also satisfied by the plea. The sentence cap is one to three years, but Noonan could impose a lesser sentence, including probation or local jail time for less than a year.

After a lengthy statement by Kosiorek, which he tried to read, but Public Defender Gary Horton had to complete after he broke down crying a couple of times, Noonan asked to speak to Horton and ADA Kevin Finnell in a sidebar.

After the private discussions, Noonan said the issue was about the apparent incomplete mental health report in the presentence report. There was no information about mental health treatment -- or not -- after 2008. Noonan said he couldn't determine an appropriate sentence without that information.

Kosiorek's statement, he said, was the product of much reflection and a sincere desire to do the right thing for his fiance and baby daughter.

"I've promised her a better life than I've had for myself," Kosiorek said. "I will make it happen for her no matter what it takes and in the proper manner."

Prior to the assault, Kosiorek had never been in trouble with the law. He said the assault was a mistake that he regrets.

According to Kosiorek, his older brother died in his arms when he was 13 and as a result he developed a negative viewpoint.

Running away after he was arrested, he said, was an immature reaction, which he regrets.

While in South Carolina, Kosiorek became a father, got a job, rented an apartment and stayed out of trouble.

"I love them both so much," he said.

He also started attending church regularly, he said, and became very devout.

While it was his ambition once to enter the military and make it a career, if a felony conviction means that's no longer possible, he said he intends to go to college and become a better person.

"I want to be somebody who does something that matters," Kosiorek said. "I know I was wrong."

A male wearing tan coveralls reportedly refused to leave the Calvary Baptist Church in Le Roy and police responded to the scene. They are out with him now in front of the Urgent Care Center. It is believed he may be intoxicated.

UPDATE 5:19 p.m.: The officer at the scene says he's from Rochester and that he told her he came out this way seeking "help with Thanksgiving dinner."

UPDATE 5:25 p.m.: The man will be taken to the bus station and given fare for the ride home.

The Grand Jury of Genesee County has issued the following indictments:

Kevin C. Johnson is indicted on a count of failure to register change of Internet access. Johnson, a convicted sex offender, is accused of not notifying authorities within 10 calendar days of a change in Internet access accounts.

James D. Ferguson is indicated on counts of DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and aggravated unlicensed operation. Ferguson is accused of driving drunk May 28 in Pembroke while having a revoked license due to a prior conviction in Buffalo in 2011 of driving while ability impaired.

Xzavier A. Davis is indicted on felony counts of DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and aggravated unlicensed operation. Davis is accused of driving drunk May 13 in the Town of Darien. Davis has a prior DWI conviction in the Town of Cambria in 2012.

Shawn A. Johnson Jr., is indicted on four counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, 1st. Johnson is accused of possessing forged $20 bills in the Town of Darien.

Robert L. Hizer is indicted on counts of felony DWI, aggravated felony DWI and robbery, 3rd. Hizer is accused of driving drunk June 23 in the Town of Le Roy while children under age 15 were in the vehicle. He is accused of, on that same date, stealing $138 and a pack of cigarettes from the Wilson Farms store at 13 Lake St., Le Roy.

Laszlo Szabo is indicted on counts of felony DWI and driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Szabo is accused of driving drunk Sept. 23 in the Town of Le Roy. Szabo has a prior DWI conviction from 2005 in the Town of Greece.