Le Roy

Press Release:

Botts-Fiorito Post #576, American Legion, Le Roy, would like to announce with great pride and pleasure John E Johnson II as its selection for the 2024 “Le Royan of the Year Award”.

The “Le Royan of the Year” is to recognize people who demonstrate the following qualifications and attributes:

• The man, woman, or child who exemplifies the true spirit of Americanism, its ideals, and love of the flag and country, regardless of race, creed, or color. 
• Good citizenship – by carrying out these principles, often beyond that expected of him or her.
• Service to community – signified by excellence in life of purpose and accomplishment.

John, a dedicated lifelong resident of Le Roy, has shared 39 years of marriage with Wendy and raised two children, Jennifer (Scott) Pellett and Craig (Lindsey) Johnson, and is proud grandfather to Ellison and Josie Pellett. 

As a Le Roy Jr. Sr High School alumnus, John has demonstrated unwavering commitment to LeRoy United Methodist Church, serving as Church Council President and past Trustee, and currently assisting in the church's pursuit of National Registry Status. 

He is currently in his second term on the Le Roy Town Board and has assumed leadership roles in numerous community organizations, includes acting as Commissioner Le Roy Fire District, Le Roy Fire Police, Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company, Le Roy Volunteer Ambulance, Le Roy Moose Family Center, Oatka Fish and Game, Son of the American Legion, and Northwoods Sportsmans Club.

To honor John, the 55th annual Le Royan of the Year Award Dinner will be held on October 19. Social hour is at 6 p.m. with dinner served at 6:45 p.m., at the American Legion at 53 West Main St Le Roy. A limited number of tickets will be available starting on September 20 at the American Legion Tuesday - Saturday from 5 p.m. - 11 p.m., or by calling Joan Fernaays 585-721-7801. Cost is $35 per ticket (check or cash).

A serious injury accident is reported in the area of 8715 Lake Street Road, Le Roy.

Two Mercy Flight helicopters are responding to the scene.

Traffic is shut down in the area.

Le Roy Fire and Mercy EMS are on scene.

UPDATE 11:25 a.m.: Le Roy Fire remains on scene for traffic control. The rest of the assignment is back in service. Two patients sustained serious injuries and a third had a hand injury.

UPDATE, Press release from Le Roy PD:

On Sept. 15 at 9:36 a.m., the LeRoy Police Department responded to a two-car motor vehicle accident with injuries on State Route 19 in the Village of Le Roy.

An initial investigation determined that Isamanda Johnson, age 31, was operating a 2023 Ford pickup truck and collided head-on with a 2024 Chevrolet Suburban, operated by Gary L. Deibler, age 78, of North Chili. The Ford pickup truck operator left her lane of travel in an attempt to pass an uninvolved vehicle and collided head-on in the northbound lane with the Chevrolet SUV heading northbound.

Gary L. Deibler was transported from the scene to Strong Memorial Hospital via Mercy Flight and is in critical condition.

Isamanda Johnson, the operator of the Ford pickup truck, was transported from the scene by Mercy EMS to Strong Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A passenger in the Ford pickup truck was transported from the scene via Mercy Flight and is in critical condition.

The Le Roy Police Department is handling the investigation in conjunction with members of the New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit.

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or has any additional info is urged to contact the LeRoy Police Department at 585-345-6350 or info@leroypolice.org

Once Michele Westfall-Owens was teaching yoga, she was always looking for her own perfect space to carve out a studio and set up shop. When that finally happened, an impromptu conversation helped to put the perfect name on it, she said.

“I feel like atmosphere is important,” Westfall-Owens said during an interview with The Batavian. “This opportunity happened, and I was talking to a yoga friend, and she’s a good friend and a student, and she said ‘you finally have your own space,’ and I said, yes, but it’s not my space, it’s our space. And that is how the name happened. It’s something I want to share; it’s not mine. So that was kind of a cool way to come up with the name, it just kind of happened like that.”

Our Space Yoga & Wellness is an inclusive yoga studio at 58 Main St., Le Roy, that offers a variety of weekly yoga classes for all levels and ages, from beginner to advanced. 

Westfall-Owens retired in September 2020 after 30 years in public service. She began practicing yoga and then took teacher training, which some people do to learn more about the practice. For Westfall-Owens, her passion prompted her to do more with that additional knowledge than keep it to herself.

“I actually started practicing yoga probably five years prior to taking my training. And I just fell in love with the practice. It was me; it just suited me. And the more I looked into it, the more I kind of knew that's what I wanted to do,” she said. “I wasn't sure I wanted to teach. But then the opportunities kind of came along. When I took the training, I wasn't sure if I was actually going to end up teaching or if I was just, you know, because some people take the yoga teacher training just to learn more about yoga. And then, once I completed my training and retired, I did find that I really enjoyed teaching.”

She became a working teacher and expanded her offerings to include chair yoga, vinyasa and hatha yoga, kids' yoga, and restorative yoga. 

She had her own transformational experiences with the age-old exercise (it has been traced to Northern India 5,000 years ago), having been one to sit at a desk for three decades with her job as chief clerk of Genesee County Surrogate’s Court. 

After all of that sitting, there was definite stress that radiated throughout her body with discomfort, she said. And she wasn't into the more traditional methods of exercise.

“I don’t enjoy going to a gym and working out, so I was looking for an alternative to getting my body moving in a healthy way,” she said. “We go through life and we have our aches and pains, and having a desk job for 30 years, just being in that sedentary position, sitting at a desk, I did have the aches and pains, backaches, the shoulder aches, neck pains, and all the stress. And so what one major thing that yoga did for me was I physically feel better right now, I turned 60 this year. I physically feel better now than I did in my 20s and 30s. True story, because I move and I stretch.” 

She has also noted a marked difference when there’s been a lapse in doing her yoga moves, she said: the pain and stiffness return. 

Our Space has one main room that accommodates a class of about 12 people, a meditation room and a bathroom. In addition to her, there are four other teachers: Tracy Martorana, Tammy Reding, Carin Caruso, and Ken Plossl, plus Reiki practitioners Tracy Flansburg and Danielle Maloy.

In order to be a certified yoga teacher, she had to obtain 200 hours of yoga teacher training, and is a member of Yoga Alliance, she said. 

She also offers special offerings throughout the year, and in the fall, a four-week Yoga for Back Pain series, a Herbal Tea-Blending workshop and a monthly Journaling Club will be offered. 

"Whether you enjoy a calming restorative or yin session, an invigorating vinyasa practice, or something in between, there’s a class for you,” she said. “Our Space Yoga teachers are certified and trained according to Yoga Alliance standards. Our caring teachers approach each class as an opportunity to offer an enjoyable, safe and meaningful yoga experience.”

She invites visitors to “come as you are” and remember that Our Space is your space. 

Vinyasa yoga connects breath with movement and builds heat with sun salutations, flowing sequences and balancing poses, then cools down for a final resting pose. 

Gentle Vinyasa is a slower-paced practice that she says is perfect for all levels. This class builds strength, flexibility and focus.

Slow Flow moves smoothly through transitions and keeps longer holds in postures, emphasizing awareness of body, mind and breath.

Yin yoga is a slow-paced, passive style of yoga that involves holding poses for an extended time to access deep connective tissues.

Chair yoga is a gentle practice that includes modified postures while seated or using a chair for support. It improves strength, flexibility and balance without overstressing the joints.

Kids' yoga for grades one through four includes games, stories, and activities to build confidence and strength and practice ways to feel happier and more peaceful inside.

Yoga for Beginners & Beyond moves through basic yoga postures while allowing time for demonstration, inquiry and playful practice. 

Restorative yoga uses props to fully support the body in poses for an extended time. It also includes calming meditation, soothing music, aromatherapy and gentle touch to help heal the body and mind.

What is Reiki? Introduces folks to the gentle, non-intrusive technique that uses energy to encourage healing of the body, mind and spirit. A reiki practitioner uses hand positions over the body to move and clear energy that may be “stuck” or out of balance. 

How Do I Meditate? Meditation trains your awareness to tune out the noise and allows you to tune in to your own being. A regular meditation practice lowers stress, calms anxiety and builds self-acceptance.

For more offerings and information, go HERE

Christine R. Brien, 53, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, and Johnathan B. White, 32, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, are charged with false written statement.  AT 4:11 p.m. on Aug. 23, Deputy Alexander Hadsall was dispatched to a report of a disturbance where a male had a firearm. When Hadsall arrived on scene, he was advised the male had left the scene on foot in an unknown direction. The male returned and was placed into custody. After further investigation, Hadsall determined both subjects had signed sworn statements that were not true. They were both arrested and processed at the Genesee County and released. 

Chupco Harjo, 33, Council Hosue Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is charged with assault 2nd and criminal mischief 3rd, and Rhonda Nancy Harjo, 68,  of Council Hosue Road, Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is charged with assault 3rd and criminal mischief 3rd. The suspects are accused of assaulting another person at 5:50 a.m. on Aug. 22 at a location on Council House Road, causing physical injury and of damaging the victim's mobile phone. Both were jailed pending arraignment.

Willie Albert Sabb, Jr., 50, unknown address, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, false personation, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, failure to stop at stop sign, speeding. Sabb was stopped at 4:54 p.m. on Aug. 24 on South Lake Road, Le Roy, by Deputy Nicholas Jennings. Sabb was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia. He was also wanted on a Family Court warrant. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Ashley Jordan Gallagher, 35, no permanent residence, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and tampering with physical evidence. Gallagher was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine during a traffic stop at 4:54 p.m. on Aug. 24 on South Lake Road, Le Roy, by Deputy Nicholas Jennings. She also allegedly had suspected drug contraband concealed on her person. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Cain Alexander Catino, 53, of Valley View Drive, Batavia, is charged with falsifying business records 1st. Catino is accused of signing a Pawn King bill of sale stating that he was the sole owner of property that was allegedly stolen. He was held pending arraignment.

Summer Rose Prentice, 31, of Drake Street, Oakfield, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Prentice is accused of intentionally damaging the property of another person at a location on Drake Street, Oakfield, at 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 22. There is no release information available.

Jonathan Mathew Toledo, 32, of Victory Avenue, Hamburg, is charged with harassment 2nd. Toledo is accused of fighting at Darien Lake on Aug. 20 at 10:07 p.m.  He was held for arraignment.

Jorden Elizabeth Prescott, 30, of no address listed, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th and harassment 2nd. Prescott is accused of kicking and punching a victim multiple times during a fight at a location on Oak Orchard Road, Elba, at 11:48 a.m. on Aug. 24. She is also accused of breaking the victim's property. She was held pending arraignment.

Aldrin Josue Solorzano, 23, of Clifton Avenue, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Solorzano is accused of stealing merchandise from Walmart at 9:52 p.m. on Aug. 23. Solorzano was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released. Also charged was Yanela Karen Molina, 23, of Clifton Avenue, Batavia.

Jennifer Jean McCarty, 52, of Macomber Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. McCarty is accused of shoplifting at Walmart on Aug. 26 at 4:32 p.m. She was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

Brett Nelson Mogoffin, 49, of River Road, Pavilion, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and criminal obstruction of breathing.  Mogoffin was arrested on Aug. 29 in connection with an incident reported at 8:18 p.m. on Aug. 22 at a location on River Road, Pavilion. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Eric Nshimirimana, 28, of Churchlea Place, Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and speeding. Nshimirimana was topped at 2:41 a.m. on Aug. 30 on Clinton Street Road, Stafford, by Sgt. Mathew Clor. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Kathleen Melissa Pritchard, 45, Main Road, Stafford, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd and harassment 2nd.  Pritchard is accused of breaking a TV by knocking it off its stand and hitting a person multiple times in the face during a disturbance on Main Road, Stafford at 10:55 a.m. on Aug. 29.

Holly Lynn Fearby, 34, of Edwards Street, Batavia, is charged with welfare fraud 3rd and offering a false instrument for filing. Fearby is accused of failing to list sales income enabling her to received $3,505 in SNAP benefits. She was arrested on Sept. 2 and held pending arraignment.

Charles William Piehl, 56, no address given, Cohocton, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th, driving on a suspended registration, and driving without insurance. Piehl was stopped at 3:04 a.m. on Aug. 3 on Clinton Street Road, Bergen, by Deputy Soren Calderon.  He was allegedly found in possession of drug paraphernalia with narcotics residue. He was released. Also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance was Christina Maria Semmel, 21, no address given, Rochester.

Gustavo Segundo Diaz-Carvajal, 29, of Federal Drive, Batavia, is charged with assault 2nd.  Diaz-Carvajal is accused of assaulting another detainee at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility at 7:35 p.m. on June 23 with the intent to cause serious physical injury. He was arrested on Sept. 4.

Louis Steven Szabo, 24, of Hutchins Street, Batavia, and Brandon Marshall Weig, 36, of Vine Street, Batavia, are charged with petit larceny and conspiracy 6th. Szabo and Weig are accused of working together to shoplift from Walmart at 5:59 p.m. on Sept. 3. They were processed at the Genesee County Jail and released.

It was a historic night at Hartwood Park in Le Roy. The newly merged Le Roy and Cal-Mum football programs took the field as one team, the Rivals, to play against the Batavia Blue Devils.

It's been at least 15 years since Batavia played a regular season game in Le Roy.

In a game shorted by weather, the Blue Devils came out on top 32-0.

There were no stats released for the game.

Also on Friday, Alexander traveled to Bath-Haverling and returned home with a 13-12 win. 

In a season opener for Boys Soccer, Byron-Bergen/Elba battled to a 1-1 tie with Le Roy/Cal-Mum.

Jacob Wiley, for the Rivals, scored first with an assist from Jack Curran. 

Colin Rea scored for the Bees.

The game went into a brief OT period but lightning cut the game short.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro

Press Release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors advanced an initial resolution for a project by 9 Lent Avenue, LLC in the village of LeRoy at their meeting on Thursday, September 5.

The proposed $3.8 million project would renovate an existing 32,500 square-foot structure at 9 Lent Avenue and create 4 new jobs.

9 Lent Avenue, LLC has requested assistance valued at $267,725 in property tax abatements and $77,600 in sales tax exemptions, with the project estimated to generate $3,382,738 in fiscal returns based on new employment and new municipal revenue.

A public hearing for the proposed project agreement will be scheduled in the village of Le Roy.

The GCEDC Board also approved final resolutions for two community solar farm projects in the town of Le Roy.

FFP NY Le Roy Project1, LLC and FFP NY Le Roy Project2, LLC represent a total $20 million investment and will generate up to 7 megawatts of power through the installation of ground-mounted solar panels.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors will consider an initial resolution for a project by 9 Lent Avenue, LLC in the village of Le Roy.

The estimated $3.8 million project would renovate an existing 32,500 square-foot structure at 9 Lent Avenue and create 4 new jobs.

9 Lent Avenue, LLC has requested assistance valued at $267,725 in property tax abatements and $77,600 in sales tax exemptions, with the project estimated to generate $3,382,738 in fiscal returns based on new employment and new municipal revenue.

The GCEDC Board also will consider final resolutions for two community solar farm projects in the town of Le Roy.

FFP NY Le Roy Project1, LLC and FFP NY Le Roy Project2, LLC represent a total $20 million investment and will generate up to 7 megawatts of power through the installation of ground-mounted solar panels.

The GCEDC board meeting will be Thursday, September 5 at 4 p.m. at the MedTech Center’s Innovation Zone, 99 MedTech Drive, Batavia.

Meeting materials and links to a live stream/on-demand recording of the meeting is available at www.gcedc.com.

Businesses often experience setbacks, and the ones that survive are those that find ways to adjust. Lori Steinbrenner took that approach when, after a couple of years of trying, she couldn't find a qualified nail technician.

Steinbrenner, who has owned Personal Preference Salon and Spa in Le Roy for 34 years, partnered with three other experienced businesswomen to open the front of her shop as a specialty boutique.

"I relocated the waiting area to the back of the shop (previously set up for pedicures and manicures) and put the boutique in the front of the salon," Steinbrenner said. "It's a unique little gift store."

The store is called New 2 Main the Boutique at Personal Preference.

Steinbrenner's partners are Becky Kelly, owner of Flowers by Becky, Heather Hunt, owner of Pastique, and Liz Broussard, owner of Indigo Lux.

She said the products are decorative pieces mixed with modern, BoHo-style handbags and accessories, along with fresh-cut flowers.

Personal Preference is located at 34 Main St., Le Roy.

Press Release:

Genesee County Interagency Council presented a $1000 educational scholarship to Le Roy High School graduate Kenna MacKenzie. Kenna plans to study Psychology at SUNY Geneseo this fall.

Scholarship applications were accepted from all Genesee County High Schools. Applicants were required to be in good academic standing, and majoring in the fields of Human Services, Social Work, Sociology, or Psychology.

The mission of Genesee County Interagency Council is to create fellowship and understanding among community human service agencies. The council helps to identify community issues and encourages development of resolutions. 

For more information about Genesee County Interagency Council please contact President Lisa Smith at (585) 344-2042 ext. 4237 or email Lisa at Lisa.Smith@ geneseeny.gov

After two months of presentations to local companies and organizations about the changes being made to RTS Genesee’s bus route, those changes took effect this week based out of Batavia City Centre, Regional Manager Ricardo Santiago says.

The company expanded two former bus routes that were from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and lengthened them for a full day of 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with more frequent stops, Santiago said. 

“Routes start at 6:30 a.m. and they go all the way to the last set of buses leave out of City Centre at 5:30 p.m. servicing one last hour of bus rides throughout the county, between Batavia and Le Roy. We have four new routes that provide more service, more frequent stops, and for longer times during the day,” Santiago said to The Batavian. “Not only did we expand the hours of service we are now, we basically have a help center at City Centre where we all buses meet at the bottom of the hour, and they all leave at the same time. 

"They go out and they do their run, and all buses come back within the hour," he said. "They're back at City Centre so people can transfer from one location to another and proceed to the next location.”

The bus stop is to the left of the former J.C. Penney building, though that will move after the new police facility is completed, he said. A more permanent bus stop with shelter for patrons will be set up on Alva Place next April, he said.

A misnomer is that the dial-a-ride has been eliminated, which isn’t true, he said. That service is on a first come, first served basis, and is urged for riders going to areas not serviced by the regular bus routes. 

The company has attempted to educate the public via a public hearing and information sessions to get the word out about the change. 

“One of the things we’ve done is we’ve been going out for the last eight weeks and making presentations to Office for the Aging, ACE Employment, DSS (and others)," he said.

A few readers have contacted The Batavian with questions about this change, so here's a reminder about the routes and where to get more information.

The expanded courses are to improve the frequency of routes in Batavia and Le Roy, simplify the route structure and provide RTS enhanced ability to improve service through reliability and new destinations,  a company press release states.

New RTS Genesee Service includes four routes:

• Route 210, Batavia West, which serves Big Tree Glen, the VA, Tops, Walmart and Target.
• Route 211, Batavia South, serving Birchwood Place, the VA, Tops, Walmart and Target.
• Route 212, Batavia East, which goes to 400 Towers, Washington Towers, United Memorial Medical Center and the Department of Social Services.
• Route 214, Le Roy/Stafford, which serves Royal Apartments, Tops, Save-a-Lot, Le Roy Meadows and DSS. The bus also provides service within Le Roy and a connection to Batavia.

All routes will meet at a common transfer point at Batavia City Centre. Dial-a-Ride service will remain as an option. Schedules and holiday observances are available on the RTS website. 

For more information, call RTS Genesee at 585-343-3079 or visit www.myRTS.com.

When flags start to fade in color or, especially, when they become torn and tattered, they are no longer serviceable and should be replaced, said Jerry Diskin, post adjutant for the American Legion Botts-Fiorito Post #576 in Le Roy.

The proper way to retire a flag that is no longer serviceable, he said, is to burn it.

"Some people have a little concern about, 'why are you burning a flag? That's sacrilegious.' But it's the only proper way to dispose of an American flag, in a ceremonial burn.

The Legion, along with participating veterans organizations, held a ceremonial flag burning on Sunday afternoon at the Northwoods Sportsman's Club on Gulf Road in Le Roy.

Congress approved ceremonial flag burning as the proper way to dispose of old flags in 1949.

"No one wants to see a flag in a landfill or a garbage truck or anything like that," Diskin said. "Unfortunately, you do see that sometimes. We will try to advertise (the flag disposal), and we'll start gathering again right now for next year."

Diskin estimates that more than 3,000 flags, from small cemetery flags to giant flags that flew outside of corporate offices in Le Roy, were piled on the pyre at the sportsman's club.

Diskin encourages businesses and residents to regularly replace flags that have lost their glory.

"Look at the cost of a new flag -- $20, $30 for a three-by-five flag," he said. "It's not a huge investment, and you can get a very decent flag for that price."

Photos by Howard Owens.

Press Release:

The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation and the Preservation League of New York State are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Preserve New York grant. The Preservation League’s independent panel selected 21 applicants in 17 New York counties to receive support totaling $262,041.

Each grant supports important arts and cultural initiatives, as well as economic development related to New York State arts and cultural heritage. This year’s grant recipients are:

• Albany County: The Pine Hollow Arboretum
• Chautauqua County: Jamestown Renaissance Corporation
• Columbia County: Stuyvesant Landing Historic District Subcommittee, Town of Stuyvesant
• Dutchess County: Innisfree Foundation
• Erie County: Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission
• Erie County: Black Rock Historical Society
• Essex County: Town of Jay
• Genesee County: Le Roy Historical Society
• Herkimer County: Village of West Winfield
• Kings County: Prospect Lefferts Gardens Heritage Council Inc.
• Nassau County: Roslyn Landmark Society
• Nassau County: Old Westbury Gardens Inc.
• New York County: South East Area Coalition
• Ontario County: Town of Phelps
• Ontario County: Village of Victor
• Otsego County: The Butternut Valley Arts & Crafts Center, Inc.
• Rensselaer County: Rensselaer County Historical Society
• Suffolk County: East Hampton Historical Farm Museum
• Suffolk County: East Hampton Historical Society
• Warren County: Historical Society of the Town of Chester
• Wyoming County: Silver Lake Institute

“The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation is delighted to have partnered once again with the Preservation League of New York State to support preservation projects on Long Island. These awards prepare our stewards to professionally assess the needs of future renovation and restoration of their historic sites, thus saving them as educational tools for future generations,” said Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.

Preserve New York is a regrant partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League of NYS, made possible with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has generously provided additional funds to support nonprofit projects in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

“This year’s Preserve New York grant cycle was one of the most competitive in the program’s history,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of NYS. “The 19 projects funded truly rose to the top and represent a great cross-section of historic resources found across the state.”

“The breadth of these projects across our state will safeguard the rich and diverse history of New York for generations to come,” said Mara Manus, Executive Director of NYSCA. “We applaud the Preservation League of New York State for this critical preservation program. From all of us at NYSCA, a hearty congratulations to the grantees and our gratitude for the essential work you do.”

 Press Release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors has approved final resolutions for Graham Corporation’s $17.6 million expansion in the city of Batavia and GE Bergen Owner, LLC’s $43.6 million project in the town of Bergen at its board meeting on Thursday, August 1, 2024.

Graham Corporation proposes to build a 28,867 square-foot commercial production facility. The $17.6 million project will create 24 new full-time equivalent (FTE) positions while retaining 367 FTEs.

Graham Corporation requested sales tax exemptions estimated at $383,546 and a property tax abatement estimated at $298,427 based on an incremental increase in assessed value. 

The proposed incentives are estimated to generate $19.5 million in wages/benefits and revenues for local governments generated by the developer over 10 years. The project would generate a $42 return on investment for every $1 of proposed incentives.

GE Bergen Owner, LLC proposes to build a 196,000 square-foot manufacturing facility at Apple Tree Acres. The $43.6 million project will be leased to an end user and will create 60 new FTEs and retain 140 FTEs. 

GE Bergen Owner, LLC requested sales tax exemptions estimated at approximately $1.75 million, a property tax abatement of approximately $2.15 million via payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), and a mortgage tax exemption of $366,000.

"The GCEDC is pleased to continue to support the growth of our home-grown companies," said GCEDC President and CEO Mark Masse. "These projects strengthen the diversity and vitality of our manufacturing industry and generate more rewarding careers for our community." 

The proposed incentives are estimated to generate $41 million in wages/ benefits and revenues for local governments generated by the development over 10 years. The project would generate a $13 return on investment for every $1 of proposed incentives.

The project is pending, subject to receiving incentives from Empire State Development Corporation.

The GCEDC Board also advanced initial resolutions for two community solar farm projects in LeRoy.

FFP NY LeRoy Project1, LLC and FFP NY LeRoy Project2, LLC represent a total $20 million investment and will generate up to 7 megawatts of power through the installation of ground-mounted solar panels.

FFP NY LeRoy Project1, LLC’s proposed $13.5 million project would generate $4,000/megawatts (AC) + a 2% annual escalator of revenues with the Town of LeRoy, Genesee County and LeRoy School District. The project also includes a host agreement with the Town of LeRoy and is estimated to generate a $566,261 increase in property-tax type revenues to the host municipalities.

FFP NY LeRoy Project2, LLC’s proposed $6.5 million project also would generate $4,000 per megawatt (AC) + a 2% annual escalator of revenues with the Town of LeRoy, Genesee County and LeRoy School District. The project also includes a host agreement with the Town of LeRoy and is estimated to generate a $229,119 increase in property-tax type revenues to host municipalities.

 A public hearing for the proposed project agreements will be scheduled in the town of LeRoy.

In an ever-changing business climate in the medical system, Patrick Privatera has rolled with the times since first establishing Village Physical Therapy in 1998 in Le Roy, opening an office in Wayne County in 2003, acquiring Sports Plus in 2009, moving into a third location in Batavia in 2014, and now, a decade later, making yet another move.

Privatera has partnered with Cypress Health MVPT, which became official this past week. Cypress has acquired his practice, while Privatera focuses more on his primary role as director of injury prevention services. 

“That’s been full-time, and then I’ve also been managing three offices and running a business. So basically, two-thirds of my burden has been lifted off my shoulders because I have an organization in Cypress that’s helped us; it’s gonna help us do that. But then I get to focus on something that I’m more interested in clinically. So it’s kind of a win-win in that regard,” he said Wednesday to The Batavian. “In terms of selecting another organization to partner with and succeed us, I really feel like we couldn't have asked for a better fit than MVPT. I feel like we are very much aligned in our values and what we care about, which is just great patient care and being great community partners. I think that there are a lot of places, especially in physical therapy, that are just trying to do more of the same thing. And I think MVPT is really trying to, in every way, get better at doing what we're doing and not just do more of the same, but try and grow and develop as an organization and as individuals. 

“I feel like we're very fortunate to create this partnership with an organization like that,” he said. I’m really excited—for our staff, for our patients and for myself.”

Most of his 28-member staff and hours at the Le Roy, Batavia and Wayne County sites have remained the same, except that Le Roy also included a fitness center that is no longer part of the new collaboration. Physical therapy is the primary focus, so Privatera worked with a local company,  Ladies First Fitness, to take on many of his senior clients to avoid having any gap in services, he said. 

His role will continue as director of injury prevention services, which means that he will examine company employees with a fresh perspective and evaluate their work situations to reduce or eliminate job-related injuries.

Doing that job while operating the business, with all of the pressures that come with it, has made being in business “a lot less fun,” he said, while handing off those detailed responsibilities makes it “a lot more rewarding.”

Cypress Health Partners launched a major expansion in New York State at the beginning of this year, extending its physical therapy services from throughout New England into Upstate New York. 

Cypress Health partnered with Sports PT of New York and joined the MVPT Physical Therapy brand. Founder Lynn Steenberg, who was praised for continually demonstrating a commitment to delivering great access to care, fantastic patient experience and incredible clinical outcomes, is the regional director for the network of more than 120 physical therapist-owned and locally operated clinics.

Privatera had leased an office in Webster during the pandemic, and after he decided to let that go, Sports PT took it over, and he met up with Cypress Health Partners. They kept talking for about the next two years, and when it came down to it, “I had an awful lot on my plate,” Privatera said, including the realization of how many practitioners had put much thought into how to open a practice but then didn’t have a great exit, or retirement plan at the other end.

“I’m 51 now, so I'm not at retirement age, but I've watched a lot of people — there are a lot of physical therapists in this area that are probably 10 or 20 years older than me — and I've watched an awful lot of them never contemplate the possibility they wouldn't be doing what they're doing forever, you know. Everybody's got a plan to get into business, but they, a lot of times, people don't have a plan to get out of business and retire and all that kind of thing. And particularly when you're the owner of a practice, that can become difficult. So, I didn't want that to be my story, I didn't want to be in a position where I had to sell or I couldn't carry on,” he said. “And so … I had been trying to create a succession plan, basically what would happen when we were ready to step back. And, you know, I wanted to make sure I had given some thought and planned that so that we could do it on our terms when we were ready. And I think in Cypress, we found an organization that really shares our values, they're very community centered, they're patient care centered.”

Other factors included the cost of doing business, with labor prices going up, competition from larger healthcare systems getting swifter and hungrier—“gobbling up” the available workforce—and revenue from services about half what it used to be 20 years ago when you adjust for inflation, he said.

“The trend is payments are going down, down down, and labor is going up, up, up,” he said. “The payments for PT services in New York State is probably 30% below the the national average across the country. We should, by rights, have no difficulty hiring graduates (with the nearby colleges and universities) … but what’s happening is, as soon as these kids graduate, they get out of New York, they’re leaving because they can go and make, in some cases, twice as much money elsewhere. So it’s really, really hard to attract and retain good, young physical therapists for this area, even though there’s a plethora of academic programs churning them out.”

The upside is being able to still provide three sites — two local sites in Genesee County — with quality, trained staff and similar hours, he said. Not much has changed for the clients, other than a new logo and the removal of the fitness component to the Le Roy facility. That is “a loss for the community,” Privatera said, which is why he worked with the nearby Ladies First to accommodate his clients. 

“That was important to us. And I’m trying to hire another therapist at the Batavia site, we’ve gotten really busy, and we’re looking to expand our staff there,” he said, giving a nod to his  partner’s core beliefs. “Their mantra here is to basically say, hey, what do we need to do a really great job, and they want to support that. So, all the people behind the scenes that are based in Boston are really trying to help support us do a really great job with with our patients. I'm really excited about the resources that they will bring to our organization and our team. I'm just really excited about what we'll be able to accomplish together. 

“I think there's a lot of upsides for this. I can certainly understand, especially in a small community like Le Roy and Batavia, where people would be understandably skeptical of a larger organization coming in,” he said. “But I think that this is a larger organization with a small-town focus. And I don't think people should be concerned in any way. In fact, I think they're really lucky to be able to have a resource like this in their back yard.”

MVPT Physical Therapy has locations at 5 Alva Place, Batavia, 3 West Ave., Le Roy, and 1218 Mayberry Place, Macedon.

Press Release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors will consider initial resolutions for two community solar farm projects in Le Roy at the board’s August 1 meeting.

FFP NY Le Roy Project1, LLC and FFP NY Le Roy Project2, LLC represent a total $20 million investment and will generate up to 7 megawatts of power through the installation of ground-mounted solar panels.

FFP NY Le Roy Project1, LLC’s proposed $13.5 million project would generate $4,000/megawatts (AC) + a 2% annual escalator of revenues with the Town of Le Roy, Genesee County and Le Roy School District. The project also includes a host agreement with the Town of Le Roy and is estimated to generate a $566,261 increase in property-tax type revenues to the host municipalities.

FFP NY Le Roy Project2, LLC’s proposed $6.5 million project also would generate $4,000 per megawatt (AC) + a 2% annual escalator of revenues with the Town of Le Roy, Genesee County and Le Roy School District. The project also includes a host agreement with the Town of Le Roy and is estimated to generate a $229,119 increase in property-tax type revenues to host municipalities.

If the proposed project applications are accepted, public hearings will be scheduled in the town of Le Roy.

The August 1 GCEDC board meeting will be held at 3 p.m. at the MedTech Center’s Innovation Zone, 99 MedTech Drive, Batavia. Meeting materials and links to a live stream/on-demand recording of the meeting is available at www.gcedc.com.

Press Release:

The Le Roy American Legion, Botts-Fiorito Post 576 is seeking nominees for selection as the 2024 “LeRoyan of the Year Award”.  This year will mark the 55th year in which the Award has been presented.

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

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

The deadline for submission of nominations is Friday, August 23. Award Banquet will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Submission forms may be picked up at the American Legion 53 West Main Street. You may also submit your own version but must include as a minimum the individual’s service to the community, church, or volunteer organization(s). In addition, service may include volunteer time in schools, hospitals, church; any position the individual may have or held and length of service. 

Mail or drop off sealed submissions to American Legion, Botts-Fiorito Post 576 Attn: Jerry Diskin, LeRoyan of the Year Award Committee 53 West Main Street LeRoy OR e-mail to gdiskin@rochester.rr.com

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.