Le Roy

CLARIFICATION: Only the Jell-O side is being painted on Saturday.

The iconic Jell-O/Mail Pouch Barn on Asbury Road in Le Roy will get a fresh coat of paint on the old advertising signs on Saturday by John Doemling, who originally painted the signs on the barn in 2013.

The public is invited to stop by to watch Doemling bring back the vibrancy of the signs, which have faded over the years. 

The barn was built in 1820.

Jell-0, as many know, was founded in Le Roy in 1897.

Up until 1992, the Mail Pouch chewing tobacco company of West Virginia maintained signs on 20,000 barns in 22 states around the country, paying a small fee to farmers to advertise their product on the side of barns.  The big benefit for farmers was getting a regular coat of paint on the entire barn for free, which helped maintain and preserve it.

Federal government regulation, the Highway Beatification Act, curtailed barn advertising, but historic landmarks, such as Mail Pouch Barns, were exempt.

Press Release:

The Hive Collective Inc. is hosting its second annual Family Fun Festival located at Our Lady of Mercy Parish Center at 44 Lake Street in Le Roy. The festival will be held on Saturday, August 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

The event boasts carnival-style games, food trucks, live music, superheroes and princesses from the Justice League of WNY, face painting, basket raffles, and more. 

Admission is free with game tickets for purchase. Each game ticket has 10 spots. Every time a game is played, a volunteer will hole punch the card, and once filled, the card can be redeemed for prizes. The hive hopes to meet a donation goal of $500.

“All proceeds from this event go toward our ability to run the program and provide a fun and safe environment for homeschooling families. Some of these things include building rental costs, supplies, insurance, etc.” says Vice President Sydney Harvey.

The hive is a 501c3 homeschool organization based in Le Roy that was formed in 2023 to provide community, enrichment, and fun to the local homeschooling families. We are a membership association that hosts a weekly cooperative program, field trips, fundraising events, mom’s nights, park playdates, and much more. 

Press Release:

Debra Shettler of Leroy was recently granted her wish to visit family and her childhood friend in Michigan. She had not seen her sister since 1989 and her childhood friend since the 6th grade. 

She has been wanting to visit them for many, many years. They thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent together reconnecting and getting to know nieces, nephews and cousins she had never met.

Senior Wishes’ grants wishes to lower income seniors living independently and to those living in care facilities in Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties. Wishes have included attending sporting and cultural events, visiting a loved one not seen in years, and re-engaging a senior in a hobby. Requests for needs are also considered. 

Wish recipients must be 65+ and a resident of Western New York with an annual income under $38,000 for a household of one or under $44,000 for a household of two. Permanent residents of care facilities are exempt from the income qualification.

Founded by the United Church Home Society, Senior Wishes strives to bring special moments to seniors across WNY and allow them to feel seen, important and not forgotten.

Press Release:

The Botts-Fiorito Post #576, American Legion announces the 9th Annual “Flag Disposal Ceremony” to be held at Northwoods Sportsman Club.

This years Flag Disposal day is on Sunday, August 11 at the Northwoods Sportsman Club starting at 1 p.m.

Old flags or flags that are torn or damaged beyond service life may be dropped off at the American Legion, 53 West Main Street, Le Roy or at the Northwoods Sportsman Club, 8402 Gulf Rd. Le Roy the day of the Ceremonial burn.

ALL are invited to attend and participate.

Refreshments and light lunch provided courtesy of the Northwoods Sportsman Club. Our thanks to all involved in making this event possible and for hosting this much anticipated program.

The viaduct on Main Street in Le Roy flooded this afternoon during heavy rain.  The roadway is now clear and reopened.

The viaduct on Ellicott Street near Chapin also reportedly flooded.

Send flood pictures to news@thebatavian.com

Main Street in Le Roy was again crowded with spectators on Saturday for the annual Oatka Festival Parade.

Photos by Nick Serrata.

When Andy Rich was a teenager, he daydreamed of becoming an actor and showing up in television or movie productions, except for one small detail.

A small-town boy from Le Roy getting anywhere in Los Angeles seemed like a foolhardy pursuit.

“I told myself that was like a silly dream and that I should get a real job,” Rich said during an interview with The Batavian. “So I just gave up on it until I turned 25 or 26. And then I started finding commercial work. I’m 37 now and have probably been in 100 commercial films and television productions. The biggest thing I’ve done recently is I produced a film with Alicia Silverstone.”

His portfolio includes “Pretty Thing” as a producer; movies “Halloween Inferno Part 3” and “The Ultimate Playlist of Noise” as an actor; and commercials for Rozwell Park and Independent Health. 

A 2005 Le Roy High School graduate who was involved with Batavia Players and was on the group’s board of directors in 2022, Rich now wants other aspiring actors who may be reticent about working in the field of acting or are making an attempt but with no clear road map to get some tools to help them out.

Supported by a grant through the state Council on the Arts, and locally administered by GO Art!, Rich is offering two workshops of Acting for Large Markets from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 3 and 4 at Main St. 56 Theater, Batavia. Residents of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties may pick one of the sessions to attend for free. 

“The reason I’m doing this is because when I got started, there just weren’t any resources for this type of thing. No classes, no one to explain to you how to get started, you were here to figure it out on your own. It took me the better part of 10 years to figure it out. How can I make this dream something real? So that’s the point of this class, is to essentially give people the tools that they need to get started. It is like a jumping-off point.”

There will be two others from the field providing their expertise: 

• Educator, coach and casting director Amy Gossels will talk about Mastering your Camera Auditions and offer lessons about “innovative on-camera audition techniques that will elevate your auditions and gain coveted industry insight to boost your career.

  Gossels has cast more than 1,500 commercials and has been the casting director and, in many cases, a producer for more than 100 film and television productions during her 25-year career in the industry.

• Andria Schultz is a brand strategist and consultant for entertainment professionals and organizations. She has worked on the production team for a variety of popular television programs, including “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and Disney Channel’s “Bizaardvark.”

Participants will learn more about honing their actor’s brand — for example, do you have that villain look? 

“A lot of casting directors nowadays look for the look first, and then they’ll look at your audition if they’re interested,” he said.

Gossels will also offer tips on how to properly do a casting audition, Rich said, “and she’s not easy to get ahold of,” so making the connection with her is also a plus.

“This is going to give you all the work you need to do to get ready,” he said. “They’re going to get the opportunity to learn a lot of things that they maybe didn’t know as well and they’re gonna be able to make connections with people who have more industry connections than I do.”

He considered not promoting the class and just hoping for the best that people would learn of it and sign up. But then, he thought, “What a waste for it not to be full.” 

He has learned the hard way about what not to do or say on set and in auditions, he said, and this is someone’s opportunity to start off on the right foot. 

People can make innocent mistakes — say by talking too much on set — that gets them banned from future projects, and they may never know why. It’s a tough business, and the more you learn upfront about what’s expected of you, the likelier it is that you’re called back for other gigs because casting directors will remember you as the cooperative actor, not the difficult one.

And the really good news is that you don’t have to live in Los Angeles to get acting jobs, he said. Western New York is a burgeoning region for the field; there are commercials made for insurance and other familiar companies that are always looking for people of various ages. 

New York State makes some eight I Love New York commercials each year, he said, and directors are always looking for people to serve as families in those projects. 

Getting more interested? Registration will close by the end of July. To sign up, email iamandyrich@gmail.com with your preferred date of either Aug. 3 or 4. He hopes to see you there.

“I still have a really soft spot for small-town living, and Le Roy means a lot to me, and I just think that people in the region, the Western New York region, deserve more opportunities," he said. "I think a lot of people grow up thinking that there’s only a certain amount of options that are available to them. And I just want people to think differently, that the world is their oyster if they try hard enough.”

There’s no question that Rachel Blecha knows dance since she practically grew up on her toes, dancing at her mom Jody’s studio in Attica before joining the locally esteemed David DeMarie Dance Studio at age 6, later renting space for her own place in Alden before meeting up with Fusion Dance in Le Roy.

Fusion’s owner, Kristin Alquist, and Blecha joined forces and taught together at yet another well-known studio, Images in Dance, in Batavia, before Blecha, 41, decided it was time for a resurgence of her own. 

“It has been the only life I’ve known since I was 2. It’s my heart, It’s always been my outlet,” Blecha said to The Batavian. “I had a stroke at 30; it’s what got me through. It’s always been an outlet; I’ve had eight years trying to figure it out …With monthly chemo and infusions. I’m now stabilized, and I am now the best I’ve ever felt, dancing and teaching, and my kids are teaching.” 

Enter Resurgence Dance, located at the former Fusion Dance Studio at 110 W. Main St. in Le Roy. Blecha wanted to focus more on training lessons and less on the choreography, she said. So if a student was taking a jazz class, “we do strength training, we do all the stretching techniques,” Blecha said. “They really need to learn more about their bodies, so it prevents injuries and things like that.”

“So we focus more on the training side, and we do fewer routines,” she said. “So in the long run, it saves parents a lot of money because they’re not buying 15 costumes for 15 different dances. We just focus and do what they’re best at and then maybe two and three routines.”

She also offers a pre-professional program, which includes auditions for competitive programs. 

“Pre-professional is geared for the dancer who wants to continue on in the professional world. My older daughter teaches and does choreography and plans to continue in college,” she said of her daughter Macey.

“It’s a difficult world to get into. Dance has spun completely, professionally you may go into dance team … there are thousands and thousands and thousands going for 20 spots. When we go to nationals, there are 200 of the best dancers throughout the country, competing to get in the top 20 overall.”

Auditions are a must for any dancer to be considered for the competition program and nationals. It’s a huge deal to go to nationals, which her troupe of seven students recently did — traveling to Orlando, Fla., for two weeks. The whole purpose was not just about winning as it was to learn choreography and how to compete properly, take a class and teach proper technique, she said.

“A lot of that is what I’ve learned over the years, “ she said. 

Her younger daughter Preslee also dances and teaches little ones, ages 2 to 4, and Macey’s goal is to work professionally in the field and then eventually return to join her mom at Resurgence, Blecha said.

Alquist has remained to teach one night a week, and staff also includes Miranda Spyropoulos and Rachel Bieron. 

Blecha created the Resurgence Dance program two years ago with what she considers to be a unique approach into the dance industry  — focusing on intense dance training.  She now attends various conventions and competitions nationally with her daughters and students. 

It’s not the same studio that it once was — Blecha completely flipped it in 10 days, giving it a New York City vibe, she said. Her landlord, Guy Pellegrino, “has been amazing” in helping out the renovation process with a new floor and all-new electricity, which is “really nice,” she said. 

She’s thankful not only for her good health but also for the support of husband Michael and her father Tim Lutey, the ones that assisted with the physical labor in the studio and day-to-day needs.

“My dad was in this with mom for years, and my husband is learning the ropes, the things that have to get moved, mats, props, things that have to get cleaned,” she said. “It definitely would not have happened if not for their support. I didn’t think my husband thought his world would be surrounded by two girls and dance.

Her classes are for dancers aged 2 to adults, and schedules run through August.

“Dance is truly an art form that we like to share with others,“ she said. “It’s a release, an outlet for a lot of kids and adults, probably the best training you can get yourself in. Overall, this program is a vision I had several years ago. With Kristin approaching me, I thought, this is the right time. My focus is different: to show kids, get them prepared for the dance world, or for them to just have fun.”

She plans to have a couple of open houses in August. Details will be on her website at resurgencedance.com

There will be an audition for any dancer interested in competitive dancing on Monday. Times will be from 6 to 7 p.m. for ages 5 to 10 and from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for ages 11 and older.  

As part of the Le Roy School Central School District's strategic plan, cultural awareness and what it means to be a good citizen will be a greater focus in the coming year.

Superintendent Merritt Holly briefed the Board of Education on the process to define those terms and goals before the district's retreat on Aug. 6.

"I guarantee I'm gonna get seven, I hope I do get seven different definitions from you of what it means to you and how it applies to both of our buildings," Holley said. " I'm going to have you look at it as a district-wide setup of what cultural awareness means to you. ... The other part I'm going to have you define is what it means to be a successful citizen?"

He's asking other district administrators to provide their definitions as well.  

The results will be shared with the instructional team and they will start take a look, he said, at getting some idea of a definition. 

Other stakeholders, he said, will also be asked for input.

"We're trying to alleviate the craziness of the Aug. 6 retreat and really get some things (in place) ahead of time so we can have good dialogue and conversation," Holly said.

Once the initiative is in place, Holly told the board, he will report back during the year on the progress the district is making in these areas.

The questions will be sent to board members in a Google doc, along with other topics of conversation related to the district's mission statement and vision statement.

"We should get in the routine here now and understand what our mission statement and what our vision statement is, what are the goals inside of those mission and vision statements," Holly said. "Then most importantly, what you're going to hear ad nauseam throughout this year, and it's a point of emphasis for us, is our graduation outcomes."

That includes ensuring students are ready for college or careers after receiving a diploma. 

"Things like accountability, responsibility, effective communicators, community minded critical thinkers, able to persevere, able to embrace diversity," Holly said. "So those are the things you're going to hear from us throughout the year."

The key takeaway from Le Roy High School Regents Exams results is that the pass rate is pretty consistent, Principal David Russell reported to the Board of Education on Tuesday.

Recent pass rate:

• 23-24, 88%
• 22-23, 82%
• 21-23, 88%
• 20-21, 79%
• 19-20, no test due to pandemic
• 18-19, 93%

Naturally, Russell said he would like to see better results.

"As a building principal, you're always going to want to strive for 100 over 100," Russell said. "I think if any principal would come in here and say otherwise, you've questioned their motivation, right? I think what I would say is, looking at this, I think it's encouraging to see passing grades staying consistent. I think one thing that we can focus on with this data is working with our department chairs next year to say, 'All right, what can we do? We have some students who scored 63 and 64. How can we support those students getting to passing?"

Russell, of course, would also like to improve the percentage of students achieving mastery grades.

"I would say that the overall goal would be to try and focus on mastery, right?" Russell said. "We can keep pushing our students to get better, and not just being complacent, looking at passing. There's always going to be room that we're striving for the highest bar that we can attain."

• 23-24, 26%
• 22-23, 28%
• 21-23, 32%
• 20-21, 31%
• 19-20, no test due to pandemic
• 18-19, 39%

Not all districts in the county have posted the Regent results yet so Russell said he can't yet offer comparables with other districts.

Jackie Whiting, who has served on the Le Roy Central School District Board of Education since 2011, was elected to another term as president of the board at the board's reorganization meeting on Tuesday.

At the start of the meeting, all school board members, Superintendent Merritt Holley, and Clerk Lori Wrobel took their oaths of office.

The 2024-25 board and their terms of office:

• Jacalyn Whiting, president, 2011-2026
• Denise Duthe, vice president, 2023-2026
• Christine Dowell, trustee, 2019-2024
• Peter Loftus, trustee, 2016-2025
• Rachael Greene, trustee, 2022-2025
• Jason Karcher, trustee, 2022-2024
• William MacKenzie, trustee, 2018-2024

As organizers head into the 34th annual Oatka Festival, this year will bring a heartening measure meant to honor a former longtime parade chairman and add another layer of tradition for festivals to come.

There will be a new banner in memory of Robert “Sully” Sullivan, carried by his family members, as part of the walk from the American Legion to the front of the old high school and Trigon Park. The parade is set to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday in Le Roy.

“Sully made the parade a big deal because it starts off the festival, he really worked hard for people to come together and enjoy it,” Parade Chairman Scott Ripley said to The Batavian about the late Robert Sullivan. “He didn’t take any feedback, it was do it the Sully way … not telling anybody what to do until the day of the parade. When Sully said something, it was done and that’s the way it went.”

While that might sound like a stubborn leader, his system actually worked well, Ripley said, because telling groups where they were stationed ahead of time allowed them time to argue or debate, vying for different spots in the lineup.

Sullivan commanded a type of respect that participants honored throughout his two decades or so of being at the helm of the festival parade.

Sully was also a straight shooter; maybe that came from his days of coaching football. The banner was colored with black and red, “very basic,” event Chair Kate Flint said, as “he wasn’t very frilly, but he was very unique and genuine.”

“He was chairman from the very beginning until 2021,” Flint said. “He always wanted to throw the best and biggest parade ever.”

He was also a tad old-fashioned, eschewing texts for talking to people by phone to communicate. It was all for the greater good, Ripley said.

See Also: Old favorites, new twists and lots of food and fun at 34th annual Oatka Festival

“He started with the parade around 1990; he wanted to help the festival be the best it could be,” Ripley said. “He was with the Mighty St. Joe’s marching band, and he could get more bands.”

Sullivan was a longtime director of both St. Joe’s Drum & Bugle Corps and Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Corps and Drum Corps Associates Hall of Fame. His musical roots also traveled to Batavia, where he was a 1950 Batavia High School graduate and later a 2019 BHS Music Hall of Fame inductee.

Ripley caught Sully’s eye while serving as announcer for Le Roy’s Little League, and he was tapped to help out with the parade in 2018. He continued forward, taking on the chairman position a few years ago.

Sullivan died in May 2022, and Ripley has taken a page or two out of his success manual, adding on to this year’s parade with the Buffalo Bills official drumline DownBeat Percussion, lining up eight Genesee County bands and eight floats from Le Roy class reunions, from 1964 to 2004. 

Even unlikely participants have joined, such as car and gutter cleaning businesses, a roof siding establishment, Five Star Bank, and Geneseo Air Museum will have a replica airplane float.

Old favorites are returning, including the Shriners and their tiny cars, he said.

“I’m trying to make it so Sully would be proud,” Ripley said. 

While some events come and go, others such as the Oatka Festival just keep on returning — and growing — year after year. Spoiler alert: The array of edible treats this year has been significant enough to compete for event Chair Kate Flint’s attention.

“I’m so excited about the food,” Flint said during an interview with The Batavian. “We have 12 food vendors; we only had seven last year.”

Waffles are making a comeback, and there will be hotdogs, hamburgers, taffy, lemonade, cotton candy, french fries, Italian sausage, salt potatoes, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, beef on weck, pizza, bratwurst, funnel cakes, kettle corn, chicken barbecue, ice cream, bubble tea and baked goods.

This year's festival lands in Le Roy Saturday and Sunday.

See Also: Oatka Festival parade to include special banner to remember past chairman 'Sully'

Also new to accommodate this gastronomical bounty, organizers are carving out a food niche all its own so that all food vendors will be in one central area and not separated as in past years, she said. 

There are “a ton of arts and crafts vendors,” or more specifically, a respectable 79 vendors with everything from woodwork and jewelry to traditional crafts that make festival-shopping so much fun. 

The library will be running its annual book sale, and the local churches are collaborating for an ecumenical service at 9:30 a.m. Sunday under the big tent. That typically draws about 25 people, and Flint would “like to see it grow,” she said.

What’s her favorite part, aside from all of the flavorful treats?

“I just like watching it grow and the community come together and support it and it’s a fun weekend,” she said. “And all of the food vendors (mostly nonprofits) use it as a fundraiser, it’s usually their biggest fundraiser of the year.”

Last year was a learning curve for many first-time volunteers, she said, and now “everyone’s grown into their positions.” 

“I think it’s growing in the right direction. We’ve got a lot this year, and I think it can keep getting bigger each year,” she said. “I’m a transplant, from Pavilion, but I used to come to the festival as a kid, it has always been a great festival … I’d like to see it all the way up Main Street one day.”

Other festival activities include:

• The parade is set for 11 a.m. Saturday (see related article), and the car cruise is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday on Wolcott Street.
• Oatka Creek Children’s Fishing Derby is from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday for age groups from under 4, 4 to 6; 7 to 9; 10 to 12 and 13 to 15. Winners of each group and drawings will be announced at 1 p.m.
• Our Space Yoga & Wellness will be offering a yoga class at 9 a.m. Sunday.
• There will be a scavenger hunt — get a worksheet at the table next to the kids entertainment tent and find the nine images on your sheet around the kid’s areas on the festival grounds. Once you find a picture, write the password below the picture on the worksheet and return it to the table where you got it from. Winners will be drawn at 5 p.m. Saturday: two winners of age 8 and under and two 9 and above.

All of the bands are new, Flint said, and will be on the Main Stage and gazebo. 

The lineup for Saturday:

• Noon to 2 p.m. is Remedy Three on the main stage and Lambert-Iten at the gazebo
• 2 to 3 p.m. Funk Yard Brass Band on the Steps
• 3 to 5 p.m. Matt Seidel Band on the main stage and The Pearlz Band at the gazebo

On Sunday:

• 10 to 11 a.m. Knight n Gaels on the main stage and Swinging Knights at the gazebo
• Noon to 2 p.m. Grove Street on the main stage and Mood Swing Duo at the gazebo
• 2 to 3 p.m. Warren Paul on the steps
• 3 to 5 p.m. Batavia Swing Band on the main stage and Side Project at the gazebo

The children’s Free Play area will feature water and sand tables; bubbles and chalk; coloring, boondoggle, and bracelet making; yard games.

Kid events will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days, including an inflatable obstacle course and bounce house, Mr. Scribbles, mini golf and the Free Play area. 

Face painting and hair tinsel will go from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and the scavenger hunt will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

As if that’s not enough, Mega Bubble Man is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m., Emmalee’s Memories Princess Show from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. and the Prehistoric World Reptile Show from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. all on Saturday.

Sunday will serve up The Art of Many from 10 to 11 a.m. for ages 2 to 6 and 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for ages 7 and up (pre-register for these); Cara Weinman is offering a dance/movement class from 1 to 1:30 p.m., Emmalee’s Memories superhero show from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. and a magic show from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The Duck Pluck will return to the water this year, and that’s set for 5 p.m. Sunday.

Good news for all of you walkers and runners, the free Oatka 5K is back. It’s set for 8 a.m. Saturday.

For more information about these events, go to https://www.oatkafestival.org

Judy Schildwaster took these photos of two sandhill cranes in a field off of Le Roy East Bethany Road, Le Roy.

As the first-year manager for Le Roy Farmers Market, Andres Manamon is eager to share the bounty with folks looking to shop for anything from fresh produce and scrumptious cookies to honey, pasture-raised meats, flowers, cider, organic breads, desserts and more every weekend.

The market runs from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays (except during the Oaktka Music Festival) until Oct. 5 at Trigon Park on Main Street, Le Roy.

“On average, 350 to 400 people visit the market,” Manamon said Monday, promoting the addition of four new vendors. “We have live music and food trucks.”

The new vendors are Bubby’s Breads of Attica, with home-baked, assorted organic breads, sweet rolls and “she also makes bear claws and wonderful stuff;" That Little Roadside Stand of Attica, featuring pies made with fresh and local ingredients “that are out of this world;" Wright’s Homestead from Bergen selling eggs and country knickknacks, rice bags and such; and The Painted Pixie from Batavia, serving up a little face-painting entertainment.

He is looking for a fresh produce vendor to fill a spot, so if there are any fruit growers out there thinking it’s too late, good news: Le Roy has space after a vendor pulled out for the Hamburg market. 

Originally from Massachusetts, Manamon has taken some time to get to this point in his life and career. He traveled the world as a merchant marine engineer and lived for ten years in Long Beach, Calif. 

“A long time ago, my great-grandfather had a farm, and when I was a kid, I visited him in Pennsylvania, where he grew up. And I just enjoyed being on the farm with him,” Manamon said. “And then I was working for a small oil company, I was a marine engineer, merchant marine, I sailed for a little bit. And then I just kind of got sick of it, and I just enjoyed being outside working on the land, as opposed to being shoved in an engine room. Or hopping on a barge and tugboats. It was something that I think in the back of my mind was there, but then one day I just decided, and my wife backed me up.”

With the support of his wife, they packed up and moved to Pavilion, where they own and operate Peas and Harmony Farm. Monday meant cleaning garlic and watching their three children, a 5-year-old girl and two 4-year-old boys, which is a nice outdoorsy change of pace, he said. 

He began working at the market four years ago and was given the managerial role when Mary Margaret Ripley stepped away to spend more time with his family after building the market into a successful longtime venue.

Other vendors include Casper’s and Garner’s Farms, which each sell pasture-raised meats; Petals and Flour with home-baked cookies and flower arrangements; Locust Oak Farms Apiaries with honey, honey stix and skin care products; Tree Hugger Hard Cider; Oatka Creek Farm with produce; Carousel Cookies; Yummy’s Ice Cream; Rooted in Joy produce, baked good and cut flowers; Bec’s Bath & Body Boutique; and Manamon’s own farm, with fresh vegetables and fruits. 

To contact him for a spot at the market, email leroyfarmersmarket@yahoo.com or call 562-400-0398.

Statement from Le Roy Superintendent Merritt Holly:

We are excited to announce that LeRoy Central School District has been approved to provide free summer meals to all kids 18 and under in our community.  Attached to the bottom of this email is the flyer that will be posted around town and in the Genesee Valley Pennysaver.  You can use the QR code on the flyer or the google form link https://forms.gle/rAjaSexjfiUUrBxi7 to pre-register for meal pick up.

Here are some important facts about our Summer Food Service Program:

1. Meal pick up will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30-12:30 at the Wolcott Street School Main Office Entrance from July 9 - August 15

       *Tuesday pick up will provide 2 days breakfast and 2 days lunch for each child

       *Thursday pick up will provide 3 days breakfast and 3 days lunch for each child

       *Children attending LeRoy Summer Academy may bring their food home with them at the end of their school day

       *Home delivery is not available

2. All children ages 0-18 are eligible to receive free meals this summer

        *School enrollment is not required

       *Children from surrounding communities are eligible to receive free meals if their town is not providing them

3. Enrollment is appreciated but not necessary

       *To enroll please use the google form link https://forms.gle/rAjaSexjfiUUrBxi7 or email Melissa Saunders at msaunders@leroycsd.org

       *Children may pick up meals for themselves, a parent/guardian may pick up meals for their children, or a parent/guardian designated adult may pick up for a child

       *Please do no pick up for multiple families in your neighborhood.  We are required to keep a roster with designated pick up information

4. Our summer meals will contain your child's school year favorites including fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, 100% fruit juice, and NY state dairy products

       *All meals will require no preparation and will be ready to eat or only need a short time in the microwave

       *Medically documented food allergies will be accommodated

       *Menus are available on Nutrislice.  Please use the menu link on the school website Quick Links or food service page.  https://leroycsd.nutrislice.com/

Please contact Melissa Saunders at 585-768-5509 or email msaunders@leroycsd.org with any questions or concerns.  We hope to see you this summer!

Le Roy's Class of 2024, 94 graduates strong, received words of encouragement and advice from the commencement speakers: life is hard at times, so embrace happiness, look to the future with a positive attitude, and face life with courage.

"I encourage each of you to make choices that will lead you to the experiences that will help you live your life to the absolute fullest," said Principal David Russell in his opening remarks. "Living your life to the fullest will look differently for everyone here. But I hope that each of you can find whatever experiences bring you the most joy and you embrace them."

Board of Education President Jacalyn Whiting advised the graduates that their future hinges on "attitude."   Attitude, she said will determine whether they succeed or fail. It will determine their priorities, their actions, and their values.

"Life is not always easy and presents many challenges," Whiting said. "We can't always control the people, events or circumstances that surround us, but we can control the way we choose to react to them. As you continue your journey, focus on what you can control. Maintain a positive attitude. Encourage and support those around you. Be an optimistic thinker. Lean on your friends and family when you need support, develop and maintain a hopeful outlook for your future."

The class selected Michael Battaglia as the faculty speaker.

Battaglia first noted how fortunate the students are to be part of a community like Le Roy. On Friday night, top-achieving students received more than $125,000 in scholarships to assist with college or trade school.

"That awesome amount of money I just mentioned is because you had the fortunate opportunity to grow up in a community and the school community that cares about you and your success," Battaglia said. "No matter where you go or what you're doing in life, remember that the people in Le Roy are always here for you."

He encouraged the students to seek happiness and embrace happiness when they have it in their grasp.

"While it sounds simple, I hope you find happiness," Battaglia said. "And when you do, whether in your career, your relationships, where you choose to live, hold on to it when you find it. We all fail and make mistakes. Don't be afraid to make a mistake or experience failure. We've all been there. Don't fear them. But embrace the opportunities in your life that make you happy."

Now that Le Roy is on the "laud system," or as Russell referred to it in his remarks, the "Latin system," this is the first graduating class in Le Roy without a valedictorian and salutatorian speakers. Any student could apply for the student speaker roles, with the entire class voting on who the two speakers would be.

The speakers were Aubree Feeley and Owen Williams.

Feeley addressed much of her comments to the graduates who aren't being recognized as top of the class, congratulating them on their contributions to the school by being part of the community, showing up every day and participating.

Getting through high school is hard for everybody, she said. It's a lot of work. A lot of stress.  It's classes and sports and musicals and other activities. 

"All of these moments have brought us to the next step in our lives," Feeley said. "We have already achieved so much. So it's all the graduates, whether you are in the spotlight or not, know that your hard work is recognized that our dedication and perseverance are an inspiration to us all."

Williams said graduation marks the culmination of 13 years in school, making friends, progressing through the grades, the struggles, wins and losses that come along with that progression. Life is going to be very different from this point forward. There won't always be that sense of progression. There will be struggles and disappointments.  He told his classmates to be true to themselves.

"Be true to your passions," Williams said. "Be true to your friends. Be true to your family, and live your life how you want it to be lived. Do what makes you feel fulfilled. Do what makes you happy, not what makes someone else happy. Follow your heart, and you will find purpose."

After all of the diplomas were distributed, Superintendent Merritt Holly delivered some closing remarks. He provided inspirational quotes from fictional characters and expounded on what the lessons the students could learn.

"Courage begins by trusting yourself," Holly said, quoting Yoda.

"To be successful in the military, the workforce or college, you must believe in yourself more than you ever have," Holly said. "When faced with the challenge, and moments that lie ahead for you, believe in and trust in yourself. You will have the courage and strength to face life's challenges."