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Le Roy

Car crash with injuries on eastbound Thruway, Le Roy responding

By Billie Owens

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported on the eastbound Thruway at mile marker 382.1. Le Roy Fire and Ambulance Service is responding.

UPDATE 2:59 p.m.: Due to the lack of available ambulances, Bergen's ambulance is requested to the scene. An ambulance from Caledonia is also called. A person at the scene reports three people are injured.

UPDATE 3:02 p.m.: The availability of Mercy Flight is checked. Also, an ambulance from Henrietta is called in.

UPDATE 3:07 p.m.: A responder reports there are six patients. A second ambulance out of Henrietta is requested. Mercy Flight out of Buffalo is available.

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: Apparently Byron was also called, because Byron is requesting Clarendon is asked to stand by in Byron's fire hall.

UPDATE 3:11 p.m.: A Mercy rig has become available and it is asked to stage at the Thruway entrance.

UPDATE 3:17 p.m.: Bergen is taking a patient to Rochester General Hospital. Stafford is asked to stand by in its own quarters.

UPDATE 3:22 p.m.: Bethany's ambulance is requested. A crew from Darien is asked to assemble in quarters.

UPDATE 3:32 p.m.: A patient is being taken to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 3:34 p.m.: A chief on scene reports five patients have been removed from a vehicle. Henrietta is taking a patient to Strong.

UPDATE 3:39 p.m.: Caledonia is taking a victim to Strong.

UPDATE 3:41 p.m.: Stafford is told to stand down from its standby in quarters.

UPDATE 3:48 p.m.: Le Roy fire is packing up and preparing to return to service and the State Troopers are in charge of the scene.

Le Roy PD recovers knife believed used in attack on woman

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Le Roy Police Department is again encouraging all citizens to be alert due to the recent home invasion involving the knife-point sexual assault which occurred on Gilbert Street in the Village of Le Roy during the early morning hours of Thursday 5/9/13.

The Le Roy Police Department is reenforcing this request as the Le Roy Police Department recovered a knife late yesterday afternoon, located in the general area of the crime, which the Police Department believes was used by the unknown perpetrator during the crime.

The Le Roy Police Department is asking the public to report any conditions or persons who they believe to be suspicious by calling the Genesee County Dispatch Office immediately at 345-6350.

Injured driver allegedly left the scene of accident on Oatka Trail, Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

A driver reportedly involved in a single-car accident overnight is facing possible charges after he allegedly left the scene of the accident.

Jeffrey S. Canale, 43, of 2 Orchard Drive, was located at his house following the accident and transported by an ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital.

According to a Sheriff's Office accident report, Canale was driving a 1999 BMW sedan westbound on Oatka Trail, Le Roy, at 2:13 a.m. when his vehicle spun out, went off the roadway and struck a tree, and then spun off the tree.

Canale allegedly left the scene of the accident before law enforcement arrived.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

Le Roy PD reports home invasion sexual assault

By Howard B. Owens

A woman was sexually assaulted in her home in Le Roy overnight and Le Roy PD is looking for the suspect, described as a black male, thin build and 20 to 30 years old.

The perpetrator forced his way into the woman's home on Gilbert Street in the Village, according to Chief Chris Hayward, at approximately 1:30 a.m., and assaulted the woman at knife point.

She suffered a minor cut on the chin from the knife.

A multi-agency search of the area following the report failed to locate the suspect.

Assisting Le Roy PD were the Sheriff's Office, Monroe County Sheriff's K-9 unit and the State Police.

Le Roy House honored as 'vernacular example of mid-nineteenth century Italianate residential architecture'

By Howard B. Owens

Story by David Gann. Photos by Howard Owens

Landmark Society Preservation Awards
Edgar Praus
15 Church St., LeRoy
Exterior Restoration


In this presentation, I’m referencing and borrowing from the nomination prepared by Cynthia Howk of the Western New York Landmark Society for the house to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The house, now owned by our award winner, Edgar Praus, was known as the “Tryon House” and dates to 1867. It was described in its application for placement on the National Register of Historic Places as, “a distinctive vernacular example of mid-nineteenth century Italianate residential architecture...

“The large house was built for Augustus S. Tyron, a businessman and farmer who settled in Le Roy after returning east from his adventures in California during the Gold Rush."

The design of the house was one of many styles promoted in the mid-19th Century by authors such as Andrew Jackson Downing, who were instrumental in setting the tastes and fashions for buildings in communities in the United States. In 1881, Tryon sold the house to Charles Prentice. The house, located on the east side of the Oatka Creek was in close proximity to Prentice’s mill located on the west side of the creek.

Prentice had only a short commute from his new home on the east side the creek to his mill on the west side because a suspension foot bridge which spanned the creek from the area of a barn on the 15 Church St. property to his mill on the west side of the creek. Prentice’s mill produced flour and he later ”…expanded the milling operations to produce feed, meal, buckwheat and then adapted the building to produce electric power."

The mill…”was demolished in 1923 and the U.S. Post Office was built on the property.”  

Prentice, in addition, to his other businesses went on to organize the Le Roy Salt Company, which became one of the largest salt producers in the country. Prentice also served as president of the bank of Le Roy and a trustee of Ingham University. He died in 1917 at age 87. Prentice’s wife lived on in the house until 1928. The house was subsequently sold to the Powers family who resided in the house until 1979. In a 1929-30 renovation, the house was divided into four apartments.

Our award recipient, Edgar Praus, has owned the home since 1993 and in addition to restoring the exterior so wonderfully, he is working on restoring the interior as well, which despite the division into apartments remains “highly intact.” The house was white with green shutters when Mr. Praus bought it. 

The “…house had clapboard and flush board siding over an asymmetrical plan. The main, two and one-half story section had a set-back, southern L-section and a two-story west (rear) wing.  Downing, the author who inspired the design “…believed that porches were important to residences…” The original owner, Mr. Tryon ”…had a porch built across the main block of the façade and Prentice extended it across the entire east elevation. The new, expanded version featured decorative brackets, railings with elaborate turned balusters, and large-scale, square, chamfered columns that are particularly distinctive...”

The front porch and the north porch were extensively restored by our award winner in 2007.  “New cedar porch decks and decorative lattice-work screens below the porch decks were installed on both porches. Many of the original porch balusters had been previously removed and replaced in-kind, based on the surviving fabric. Three new square, chamfered porch columns replaced deteriorated columns during the restoration."

The windows on the house are "...symmetrical and regular. Windows feature six-over-six double-hung wood sash on all four elevations. … The windows include longer, floor-length openings on the façade (east) and south elevations (in the south window bay). The windows on all elevations feature shouldered, decorative trim. The 19th Century window lintels and decorative bracket on the south, east (front) and north windows remain, where originally installed. Nineteenth-century louvered wood shutters remain with the second-story windows on the front (east) elevations. While evidence of window shutters remains with many of the other exterior windows, the original shutters and hardware on these windows were removed by previous owners.” Since the house did not have storm windows, our award winner had wooden storm windows made.

Note the low-pitched overhanging roof with decorative eaves brackets on the house and porch, Note the arched double-wood entry door. Note the “tall, narrow windows with eared moldings on the first-floor façade, projecting lintels with small decorative brackets over six-over- six windows.” Note the original limestone stairs to the porch.

The south side of the house features a projecting three-bay first-floor window with a small second-floor porch above. The first-floor window bay ”features three, floor-length, windows with six-over-six sash on the first story…”  The decorative balcony on the second floor features…”original turned posts, railings, and spindled frieze…The turned balusters on the second story are identical in design to the balusters on the front (east) porch.” The second-floor porch is accessible by opening the window. 

The barn and suspension bridge just north of the house no longer exist.  But just south of the surviving limestone foundation to the barn, there survives a vertical limestone retaining wall with two large iron “I-bolts” and attached iron rings which supported the 19th Century suspension bridge.

While our award is for the exterior, we stole a peak of one of the remarkable fireplaces inside, in the south parlor. “The north and south parlors feature original white marble mantels and marble hearths. Each mantel is decorated by a central, marble bracket or cartouche. The mantels include shallow round-arch fireplace openings with cast iron inserts. The fireplaces appear to have been fueled by gas, rather than wood or coal. The fireplace in the south parlor also includes its original cast iron fender and is still attached to a gas supply pipe...”

Photo: Le Roy's Presbyterian Church without the Wiss

By Howard B. Owens

At one meeting about the future of the Wiss Hotel building, Trustee Jim Bonacquisti said he looked forward to driving south on Route 19 and seeing the Presbyterian Church without the Wiss blocking the view.

After the building was done, Mayor Greg Rogers said, "The other day I had the opportunity after the building was somewhat down to come up Lake Street. My personal opinion is nothing looks more inviting and I'll say more New England than to see a wooden white church with a steeple and and open porch as you drive into a community. It's pretty striking. It really kinds of shows you the place where we all live."

This is a picture taken this morning of the church from behind where the Wiss once stood.

Photos: More springtime in Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens

While out and about late this afternoon, early evening, working on a future story, I took a few pictures.

Above, Oatka Creek, Village of Le Roy.

State Street, Batavia, near the Thruway overpass.

Watson Road, Elba.

Brother of man accused of stealing high voltage wire also charged

By Howard B. Owens

A fourth suspect has been rounded up in the joint-agency investigation into thefts in the Le Roy area of high voltage wire from industrial facilities.

Dustin G. Nicometo, 25, of Bernville, Pa., has been charged with burglary, 3rd, and grand larceny, 2nd.

Nicometo is the brother of Michael A. Nicometo 28, 45 North St., Le Roy.

The older brother was arrested in March. Later, two alleged accomplices were also taken into custody: Jonathan D. Smeak, 22, of State Street Road, Batavia, and Joseph Paul Pratt, 18, of Church Street, Le Roy.

Police allege that Dustin was living with Michael at the time of the thefts and participated in the crimes.

Le Roy PD arrested Dustin in Bernville and returned him to Le Roy for arraignment. Correction: Dustin was arrested locally.

The found men are accused of being part of a ring that stole high voltage wire and copper wire from a warehouse on Lake Street in the Village, from Dolomite's Gulf Road facility and from other locations in the town and Village of Le Roy.

Dustin is accused of participating in the thefts between Nov. 30 and Jan. 2.

According to Le Roy PD, no further arrests are expected in the case.

Bail for Dustin was set at $15,000 cash or $30,000 bond.

Law and Order: Alleged incidents of petty thievery, domestic violence, pot possession, plus warrants

By Billie Owens

Antonio Lester James, 22, of Rochester, was arrested on a bench warrant from Genesee County Court on a charge of grand larceny, 4th. He was arraigned and bail set at $25,000. He was returned to Monroe County Jail where he is being held on unrelated charges.

Kevin J. Weber, 42, of 5 Columbia Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing/blood circulation, coercion in the second degree, and harassment, 2nd. He is jailed on $2,500 bail or $5,000 cash bond. Weber was arrested after a domestic incident wherein it is alleged that he shoved a female into a wall after an argument and grabbed her by the throat.

Justin C. Hofert, 25, of 81 Woodstock Gardens, Batavia, was arrested May 2 by Batavia Police officer Perkins in the UMMC parking lot after it was reported that he allegedly pushed a female while their child in common was present. He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance, charged with harassment, 2nd, criminal contempt, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child,

Lakeisha A. Gibson, 26, of 1353 Lewiston Road, Alabama, was arrested on warrants May 2, and charged with criminal mischief, 4th, harassment, 2nd, and disorderly conduct. She had an arrest warrant for the first two charges, and a bench warrant for the disorderly conduct charge. She was arraigned in city court and released on her own recognizance.

Samantha Brooks, 26, of Myrtle Street, Le Roy, was arrested by a Sheriff's deputy April 30 and and charged with petit larceny. She is accused of shoplifting $21.98 worth of merchandise from Kmart. She was issued an appearance ticket and has to return to Batavia Town Court on May 20.

Stephanie Grace Pelkey, 18, of Snipery Road, Corfu, is accused of stealing $38.87 worth of merchandise from Kmart on May 3. She will be arraigned May 30 in Batavia Town Court on a charge of petit larceny.

Joshua Michael Pierce, 18, of Meadowbrook Terrace, Corfu, is accused of stealing $38.87 worth of merchandise from Kmart on May 3. He will be arraigned May 30 in Batavia Town Court on a charge of petit larceny.

Autumn M. Sierra, 19, of Brooklyn, was arrested by Batavia Police and charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and not wearing a seat belt. The defendant was arrested after a traffic stop by officer Darryl Streeter after he allegedly observed her sitting on the lap of the front middle passenger of a vehicle on East Main Street. She was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Caitlin A. Hanley, 24, of 8080 Batavia Stafford Townline Road, was arrested May 3 by Batavia Police officer Marc Lawrence on a bench warrant out of Bergen County, New Jersey, for failure to appear. She was arraigned and put in Genesee County Jail without bail, awaiting extradition.

Report of a grass fire off Lake Street, Village of Le Roy

By Howard B. Owens

Dispatchers have received a report of a grass fire behind a building in the area of 66 Lake St., Le Roy.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance responding.

UPDATE 12:12 p.m.: A chief on scene reports "a pretty good brush fire going."

UPDATE 12:31 p.m.: Fire is out. Le Roy should be back in service shortly.

UPDATE 12:32 p.m.: Fire is out. They are doing overhaul and expect to go back in service shortly.

Dispatchers informed of three youths at Indian Falls

By Howard B. Owens

A diner at the Log Cabin Restaurant has reported three youths in the Indian Falls gorge.

Also, calls in the past 20 minutes we haven't quite kept up with: Youths were throwing rocks from a train bridge in Le Roy. A woman reports her windshield was damaged. In another location, two white males placed something on a train track, which was struck by a train, and the youths fled in a white pickup truck.

BBQ chicken benefit at Trigon Park for Le Roy Christian Community Project's 15th anniversary

By Billie Owens

The Le Roy Christian Community Project is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year and will hold a chicken BBQ on Saturday May 18 to benefit its many local assistance projects.

It will take place at Trigon Park from noon until 4 p.m. or until sold out.

Cost is $8.

The meal consists of a half chicken, salt potatoes, baked beans, cole slaw and a roll.

Event Date and Time
-

Law and Order: Le Roy resident charged with second-degree assault

By Howard B. Owens

Jesse M. Woods, 18, of Lake St., Le Roy, is charged with assault, 2nd. Woods allegedly fought with a person outside a residence on Myrtle Street, Village of Le Roy, and as a result the other person suffered serious injuries. Woods was jailed on $500 bail.

Matthew Brian Starowitz, 24, of Whitney Mill Road, Elba, is charged with criminally using drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of marijuana, 5th, and parking on a highway. Starowitz was allegedly found parked the wrong way on Whitney Mill Road at 3:06 a.m. by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

Daniel Taylor Manhardt, 20, of Hopkins Road, Corfu, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Manhardt's vehicle was stopped for alleged equipment violations at 2:01 a.m. Thursday on Cleveland Road, Pembroke, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Loud booms, smoke reported at Route 5 and East Bethany-Le Roy Road

By Billie Owens

A series of four explosions were heard, and smoke reported showing after each one, at a residence across the road from S&S limo service in Le Roy. It's at or near the junction of Route 5 and East Bethany - Le Roy Road. Le Roy police at the scene report nothing showing. Le Roy fire responded and called for all equipment to be held in quarters.

UPDATE 1:35 p.m.: This is a farmer's attempt to rid his property of pesky woodchucks. "There will be several more explosions," says a firefighter, "...This is a matter for police, there's nothing we can do here." Le Roy fire is back in service.

UPDATE 1:46 p.m.: The owner of the limo company wants to talk with police about his concerns regarding this "agricultural operation."

Photos: A spring evening in Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens

After the Genesee County Economic Development Center meeting yesterday evening, I had two choices: Go home and write some stories that I gathered information on during the day, or take advantage of a great spring day and drive around and take some pictures.

I chose pictures taking. I would have time, I reasoned, to write later in the evening.

Near the end of my loop through Le Roy, Pavilion, Bethany and Batavia, I stopped by a friend's house for a chat. Near the end of my visit, Billie called and told me about the teen in the gorge at Indian Falls.

So rather, than writing my stories last night and posting these pictures last night, I spent four hours on the Indian Falls story. 

Here's the photos from yesterday evening and those stories I need to write are coming.

The barn above is on Main Road in Stafford. Two more shots of it below.

Route 19, Town of Le Roy.

Cook Road and Route 20, Pavilion.

Transit Road and Ellicott Street Road, Bethany.

Le Roy American Legion honors WW II vets

By Howard B. Owens

Photo and press release submitted by Jerry Diskin:

On Sunday, April 21st, the Botts-Fiorito American Legion Post # 576 hosted a remembrance ceremony honoring all veterans of World War II. The program began at 1 p.m. at the Post's home on West Main Street in the Village of Le Roy with opening remarks by Past Commander Gary Gavenda welcoming all honored guests, family members and friends.

An invocation was delivered by Genesee County Chaplain Don Nagle followed by the POW-MIA Ceremony remembering all POWs (Prisoners of War) and MIAs (Missing in Action) from all wars. This was followed by a welcome address by Botts-Fiorito Commander Donald Schafer.  

An introduction of distinguished guests included representatives from the offices of: Congressman Christopher Collins; Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer (Jay Grasso); Assemblyman Steve Hawley (Greg Torrey); the Genesee County Legislature (Legislator Shelley Stein -- District #6); and Genesee County Veterans Service Officer William Joyce.

The New York State Department and American Legion Commander Timothy S. Van Patten were also on hand along with 8th District Vice Commander John Lang and Genesee County American Legion Commander Dave Henry.

The main portion of the program was opened by remarks and a brief overview by Dick Ladd, whose idea to hold such an event fostered this program. Dick addressed the “Special Guests of Honor” and set the stage for the remainder of the event. 

Post Adjutant Don Vescovi then read off the roll call of the World War II veterans in attendance. We were very pleased and felt fortunate to have 23 WW II veterans in attendance. Veterans from Batavia, Pavilion, Stafford and Bergen along with Le Roy made up this distinguished contingent. 

A short presentation was given by “Honor Flight-Rochester” outlining the details for WW II veterans to travel to Washington, D.C, to visit the WWII memorials and other attractions. This was followed by a social hour.

The group then reconvened for the presentation of acknowledgements including proclamations from the offices of the distinguished guests.

The closing ceremony included a ”Remembrance of those no longer with us…” by Post Chaplain Gary Bassett followed by a very moving playing of “Taps” by Samantha Platek. All joined in to the “Salute to the Colors,” which was followed by the singing of “God Bless America."

Back row: Franklin Smith, Donald I. Miller, Donald Nagle, Jack Fay, New York State Commander Nick Pascucci, Dick Ladd, Albert Strobel, Sherman Booten, Timothy S. VanPatten.

Front row: Richard Doktar, Raymond Mancuso, Oliver Cooper, Pat Palotti, Carl Seaburg, Kermit Arrington, Louis Cinquino.

Law and Order: Driver involved in injury accident accused of being under influence of drugs

By Howard B. Owens

Joshua Joseph Gerber, 19, of Milliner Street, Rochester, is charged with driving while impaired by drugs, unlawful possession of marijuana and failure to yield right of way at stop sign. Gerber was charged following a two-car injury accident at 12:32 p.m., Sunday, at the intersection of Randall Road and Keeney Road, Le Roy. (Initial Report)

Nefetiria L. Turner, 30, of 3 Pringle Ave., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Laqueasha M. Taylor, 19, of 3 Pringle Ave., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Turner and Taylor were allegedly involved in a fight near the intersection of Pringle Avenue and Central Avenue at 6 p.m., Friday.

Le Roy teen faces felony drug charge for allegedly supplying marijuana to another student

By Howard B. Owens

A 17-year-old Le Roy resident is facing a felony drug-dealing charge after allegedly giving a high school student marijuana.

The student was later hospitalized when found "highly impaired" on the grounds of the high school April 15.

Charged with a Class D felony of Criminal Sale of Marijuana is Austin J. Nicometo of 45 North Street, Le Roy.

Under NYS law, giving another person drugs, even if no money changes hands, is considered a sale.

Nicometo is suspected of supplying the other youth with marijuana at a location in the village after school let out that day, and then the teen returned to the school for after-school activities.

Following arraignment, Nicometo was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Le Roy PD needs help to identify dog that bit child

By Howard B. Owens

A 5-year-old child was playing ball in the playground at the end of Stanley Place at 5:15 p.m., Sunday, and got too close to a dog and was bit, according to Le Roy PD.

In the confusion following the incident, the child's mother left and took the 5-year-old to the doctor but did not obtain the name of the dog's owner.

The owner reportedly said the dog was up-to-date with all of its shots, but police would still like to identify the animal and ensure that is the case.

The dog is described as a German shepherd mix and weighs approximately 80 pounds. It is tan with a black snout, with the body of a German shepherd but the head of a chow chow. The people with the dog were a blond woman with braces and in her mid-20s, a 4-year-old boy along with a woman about 5'6" and in her 30s. They were in the park with a red metal wagon.

From the press release:

We are seeking assistance with identification as it is vital to determine proof of rabies immunization with the animal. Without this, it may be necessary to subject the bitten child to a series of injections relative to potential rabies contact. If you know who this is, or recognize yourself, please call either Tom Sacco at the Genesee County Health Department at 344-2550, ext. 5496, or the on-duty Le Roy Police officer at 345-6350 so that we may obtain the necessary information relative to rabies vaccination of the dog.

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