Le Roy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

They could also realize any tax benefits.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Submitted by Lisa M. Compton:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So far, no reports of injuries.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nobody was injured in the incident.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Press release:

As we all know, the East Coast was recently struck by Hurricane Sandy and has much devastation. Members of our community have decided to start a donation drive at the Pembroke High School (routes 5 and 77 in Corfu) on Friday, Nov. 16, from 3 to 7 p.m. with the help of students of the high school.

The students are really coming together to all participate in making this happen. We have been in direct contact with the location where we are making our drop and the following are their specific needs.

We will be accepting: bottled water, toiletries, non-perishable food items and bulk food items for the location because they are making daily hot meals for those who continue to have no electricity. Also needed are: blankets, gently used coats, hats and gloves, and new or gently used toys and Home Depot gift cards, but please no money.

But money can be given to the American Red Cross <www.redcross.org> and checks made out to the American Red Cross can be accepted during the charity drive at the high school.

After, we will be joining with Alden Presbyterian Church to move the goods to another church in New Jersey. Thank you for your time and generosity!

Also, an update on the Rotary drive, from Samantha Vagg, who said specific items are needed:

• Heavy duty garbage bags
• New blankets, pillows, bedding, towels and cots
• Cleaning supplies of all types -- mops, brooms, pails, disinfectant, bleach, detergent
• Flash lights and batteries, especially D batteries
• Work gloves
• Disposable diapers for babies of all sizes and Depends for senior citizens
• Non-perishable food items, especially chunky soups, protein items; canned tuna fish or salmon, sardines, peanut butter, bread, stews, canned ravioli, and juices. We need foods that don’t have to be heated. There is a tremendous need for food right now.
• Baby food of all types
• Pet food of all types
• Paper plates and cups

The drop-off location for the Rotary drive is the American Legion post in Le Roy, 53 W. Main St. Donated goods will be accepted until 6 p.m. today.

A working car fire is reported, with flames showing underneath it, on the westbound 490. Le Roy and Bergen fire crews are responding. It's at mile marker 2.

UPDATE 5:15 p.m.: Foam will be used to douse the fire. Bergen is continuing to the scene. Le Roy is put back in service.

UPDATE 5:16 p.m.: The fire is out.

Press release:

The Le Roy Main Street Committee will sponsor a presentation by architect Rick Hauser on a proposal to purchase the Wiss Hotel from the village. The plans include several commercial facilities and five residential apartments at the site.

The presentation will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at the Village Hall. The public is invited. The Village Hall is located at 3 W. Main St.

Press release:

Batavia and Le Roy Rotary Clubs are collecting relief items for the areas of New York and New Jersey devastated by Superstorm Sandy.

The Batavia club is subsidizing transportation of items to the hard-hit areas on Saturday. A team of Le Roy Rotarians led by President Samantha Vagg will take the items to an area established by Rotary clubs in the devastated area.

Donations are being coordinated through the Rotary districts in that region.

In addition, the Batavia club is donating $1,500 for relief efforts. If others wish to donate, they can -- either needed items or money. The check will be given to Samantha to take with her when the relief items are delivered on Saturday, Nov. 17.

Checks may be made out to the following:

The Walter D. Head Foundation of Rotary District 7490

c/o Calisto Bertin

Bertin Engineering

66 Glen Ave., Glen Rock, NJ 07452

This is a 501(c)3 foundation and is coordinating the cash donations to the devastated districts. Our donation will be divided among the six Rotary districts that were hardest hit in New York and New Jersey.

A motor-vehicle accident with injuries is reported at Munson and Wolcott streets in Le Roy. It is blocking traffic. There are two victims. They are going to shut down traffic at Wolcott and Route 19. There was air bag deployment. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding.

UPDATE 4:41 p.m.: There is entrapment.

UPDATE 4:48 p.m.: Everybody is out. Traffic will be shut down at the village green.

UPDATE 4:55 p.m.: There was one sign-off and one patient to be transported to the hospital via ambulance. Route 19 will remain closed by the accident scene until the two vehicles involved are removed. Le Roy is going back in service.

UPDATE 4:57 p.m.: The patient is being taken to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 5:18 p.m.: Route 19 is reopened.

A vehicle was stolen in the Town of Le Roy overnight and there were a series of thefts from several other cars there, too.

The Sheriff's Office is investigating the incidents, which occurred between 11 p.m. Monday and 2 a.m. this morning.

Suspects entered more than 20 vehicles on Linwood Road and along Route 5 in the Linwood Road area. All of the vehicles were apparently unlocked, according to the Sheriff's Office.

While not every entered vehicle had items taken; GPS, Ipods, clothing items and cash were among the items that were taken.

A Mercedes-Benz was stolen from a Route 5 Le Roy residence and was later located in Caledonia with several items missing from it. A KIA minivan was stolen from the Caledonia location where the Mercedes was located. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office is investigation the minivan theft along with several thefts from parked vehicles in the Caledonia area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office at 585-343-5000.

A Le Roy truck driver escaped injury Saturday when the brakes on his semi went out and he lost control of the truck and it overturned on Route 19 near Fox Road.

Nathanael Edmund, 22, of Harris Road, was hauling corn at 1:16 p.m. Saturday down a hill on Route 19 and was unable to negotiate a turn after his brakes stopped working.

The load of corn spilled from the truck.

Responding to the scene was the Wyoming Fire Department, Warsaw Fire Department, Wyoming County Sheriff's Office and State Police.

The accident remains under investigation.

Jason Micheal Kone, 31, of Townline Road, Byron, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, violation of probation, aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, operating with a suspended registration and operating without insurance. Kone was stopped at 1:51 p.m., Sunday, on Townline Road, Byron, by Deputy Chris Parker. At the time of the stop Kone was allegedly found in possession of a pipe containing marijuana. Kone was also arrested on a warrant out of Monroe County for alleged violation of probation and turned over to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Christina J. Larsen, 37, of 6024 Fisher Road, Oakfield, is charged with felony DWI, felony aggravated DWI, improper left turn, uninspected motor vehicle and unregistered motor vehicle. Larson was stopped at 7:21 p.m. Sunday on West Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Jamie Givens.

Nicholas C. Klippel, 28, of 80 Walden Creek Drive, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Klippel is accused of threatening to "murder" another person.

Steven A. Earl, 27, of 8017 Bank Street Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and failure to yield right of way. Earl was stopped at 2:02 a.m. Sunday on South Swan Street, Batavia, by Officer Marc Lawrence.

Richard L Coughlin, 59, of 17 Fisher Park, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, and menacing, 3rd. Coughlin is accused of putting another person in fear of physical injury by yelling and screaming while in close proximity to that person and raising clenched fists. Coughlin is accused of violating an order of protection issued by Family Court.

Michael L. Valle, 31, of 146 Bank St., Batavia, is charged with attempted burglary, 2nd, criminal contempt, 2nd, and criminal mischief, 4th. Valle is accused of attempting to break into the residence of a person protected by a court order causing damage to a window screen and exterior light. Valle was jailed on $20,000 bail or $40,000 bond.

Brian D. Stotts, 35, of East Main Road, Le Roy, is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, unlawful possession of marijuana and running a red light. Stotts was stopped Saturday in Le Roy by a Le Roy police officer.

Bobbie Jo Hudson, 28, of Banks Road, Churchville, is charged with DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation, driving on a suspected registration, consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle, failure to keep right, and uninspected motor vehicle. Hudson was stopped at 2:25 a.m. Friday on Route 19, Bergen, by Deputy Eric Seppala.

Lucas G. Yauchzee, 23, of West Bergen Road, Bergen, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Yauchzee's arrest stems from the investigation of an alleged domestic incident Oct. 20. He was allegedly found in possession of LSD and marijuana. The case was investigated by Deputy Brian Thompson and Trooper J.J. Pitz.

Richard G. Medwid, 27, of Alexander Road, Alexander, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and unreasonable speed. Medwid was reportedly involved in a one-vehicle accident on Route 98, Town of Batavia, at 12:55 a.m., Sept. 15.