Le Roy

A Le Roy resident has a fledgling tech startup he thinks has a chance to get big.

Billion dollar big,* he doesn't know, but he sees an opportunity and he's going for it. (*In the venture-capital investing world. a "unicorn" is a company with a billion-dollar valuation, and a "rocket ship" is a company that is growing fast.)

A couple of months ago, after much planning Antonio Calabrese launched Boonle, a site where aspiring graphic artists and other creative types can find entry-level projects and start building a resume. 

The concept is aimed at college students and new graduates, but anybody entering the workforce as a freelancer might find the site helpful, Calabrese said.

Small businesses without Madison-Avenue-type promotional budgets, as well as other startups, might also gravitate to the site for the chance to tap into some talent at little or no cost.

According to his research, the freelance market, also called the "gig economy" in today's digital parlance, is expected to become 40 percent of the nation's workforce in coming years. 

That's just a huge opportunity for a business like Boonle.

"I think we can harness a lot of that market because that's the newbie market, when things are starting out, and we plan on being that first stepping-stone for those entering the freelance market," Calabrese said. "I think we can own a big chunk of that."

So far, Calabrese, the company's sole owner and founder, has raised $100,000 in seed funding and is starting the search for another round of early-stage investors with a goal of raising from $500,000 to $1.5 million.

There's a lot of marketing needed to help get the word out about Boonle, especially on college campuses. He's hoping to complete a partnership deal soon with RIT, where he graduated from, and other colleges. He recently received applications from 25 students at universities around the nation willing to sign on as brand ambassadors to help sign up would-be freelancers. 

Calabrese came up with the idea for the business when he realized how hard it is for graduates who have yet to establish a professional portfolio to find work, and that there are a lot of smaller businesses that can't afford the rates experienced freelancers and agencies charge.

He acknowledges he's gotten a little criticism from those who think a site like Boonle lowers the fees digital designers and developers can charge, but he counters that the businesses that would pay more, and the designers who would charge more, aren't part of Boonle's target market.

"There is plenty of work to be done on projects that pay more," Calabrese said. "Those are the jobs that are still going to go to those with the skills to get higher-paying jobs."

Creative categories on the site range from logos and brochures to writing and photography and even music production. Basically, if you're a creator, you should be able to find a market for your work on Boonle.

"We're a platform to help people build a platform so they can eventually launch a career," Calabrese said.

Those looking for work set the price for the job, from free to something a bit more pricey, and then freelancers look at the job, decide if it's within their skill level, if the price is right for them at that stage, and then accept the assignment.

The potential employer has the option to reject the freelancer and the job goes back into the marketplace.

"The business can set the job for free if they don't have the budget for it, but the chances of it getting worked on go down if you set it for free," Calabrese said. 

If a business hires a particular freelancer, or several of them, they can present future projects to their pool of trusted freelancers, but the job goes out to the whole site if it isn't picked up within 48 hours.

On jobs that are paid, Boonle handles the transactions through PayPal, taking about a 30-percent cut, with a third of that covering PayPal's transaction fees.

In a future update, freelancers will be able to upgrade their accounts, once they've proven themselves, and get exclusive access to higher-paying jobs and avoid the fee being taken out for a small monthly subscription.

It's Calabrese's intention to keep his business based in Western New York. He's from Rochester with a lot of strong ties there, including ties to the tech-startup investing community, but he thinks as the business grows, wherever it's based in WNY, he won't have a hard time recruiting employees.

He said that while he was at RIT, a lot of students expressed an interest in staying in the area, even those not from here originally, but the kind of jobs they've been trained for are just in short supply in the area.

"When you're getting job offers from Google, Apple, LinkedIn and Facebook, who wants to stay in Rochester then?" he said. "But if there's a cool company here, and the cost of living is a lot less and we can still pay them somewhat competitive rates, then I think they would stay here."

Eric Almeter sent in this photo of a fox he spotted trotting through Le Roy at Route 19 and Union at about 8:30 this morning.

A goat was seen running loose on and near the Thruway and was last viewed hoofing it down Vallance Road in the Town of Le Roy, which parallels Route 90. When a dispatcher asked if anyone knows the owner, the reply was "That's a negatory on the goat owner."

Leslie R. Parris III, 33, of Lewis Place, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt in the second degree, criminal contempt in the first degree with physical contact, and an arrest warrant and probation warrant were executed. At 10:12 a.m. on April 1, Parris was arrested on multiple charges following a probation check at 9 Lewis Place in the City of Batavia. He was located hiding in an upstairs bedroom closet contrary to a complete stay away order of protection barring him from the residence. For this he was charged with second-degree criminal contempt. He also had a bench warrant issued by Batavia City Court for failing to appear in court after being charged with first-degree criminal contempt, second-degree criminal contempt, and second-degree harassment stemming from a reported physical domestic incident at the same residence on Aug. 2. Parris was also arrested on a Batavia City Court arrest warrant charging criminal contempt, 1st, stemming from a reported physical domestic incident at the same residence on Oct. 21. Finally, Parris was arrested on a probation warrant for allegedly violating the terms of his probation. He is in Genesee County Jail without bail and is to be in City Court at 11 a.m. on Thursday. The case was investigated by Batavia Police Officer Jason Ivison, assisted by Officer Marc Lawrence.

Emily D. Schramm, 29, of Holland Avenue, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. She was arrested April 4 at 8 a.m. after several neighbors complained to Batavia PD. She was allegedly yelling obscenities for an extended period of time, which disturbed the neighborhood. She was issued an appearance ticket to appear in Batavia City Court on April 12. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jason Davis, assisted by Officer Jason Ivison.

William B. McCarrick, 86, of Gateway Drive, Batavia, was arrested for harassment in the second degree following a domestic distrubance on Gateway Drive at 11:30 p.m. on April 1. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to be in Batavia City Court on April 4. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk, assisted by Officer Felicia DeGroot.

Jammie L. Brown, 24, of East Main Street, Le Roy, is charged with second-degree harassment. He was arrested on April 5 after allegedly making threats of bodily harm to a female who was watching his child while at the GC Courts Facility at 9:40 a.m. on March 31. He was to appear in City Court on April 5. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Jason Davis, assisted by Officer Matthew Lutey.

Nathaniel D. Wilson Jr., 28, of Ellicott Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd. He was arrested on a warrant issued out of Batavia City Court for criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, on Oct. 11. He was jailed without bail and was to be in City Court this morning. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins, assisted by Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk.

Cory N. Smeltzer, 24, of Oak Orchard Estates, Albion, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon -- metal knuckles. He was allegedly found to be in possession of metal knuckles at 12:32 a.m. on March 26 when police investigated a distrubance on Liberty Street in Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket and is to appear in City Court on April 12. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Matthew Wojtaszczyk, assisted by Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Christopher M. Smith, 21, of School Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. He was arrested at 12:36 a.m. on March 31 as the result of an investigation into an incident which occurred on Masse Place a short time earlier. He was issued an appearance ticket and is to be in City Court on April 12. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Eric Foels, assisted by Officer Peter Flanagan.

Daniel S. Gangi, 34, of Alexander Road, Batavia, was arrested on March 31 after turning himself in at Batavia PD Headquarters on a bench warrant stemming from an incident on July 24. He posted $100 bail, was released, and is to return to City Court Thursday. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Kevin DeFelice.

Passiona C. Culver, 38, of Willow Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant issued out of Batavia City Court following her alleged failure to appear to answer traffic tickets that she had been issued on March 1 following a traffic stop. She was released after posting bail and is to appear in City Copurt on April 13. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Kenneth Michael Gray, 24, of Lake Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property. He was arrested on April 5 following a traffic stop in the City of Batavia. He had a warrant for his arrest out of the Town of Batavia Court. He was put in jail on $1,000 bail and is to be in Town of Batavia Court on May 10. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Rachel Diehl.

Press release from Le Roy Police Department:

An investigation of a daytime residential burglary which occurred on March 17 on Lake Street in the Village of Le Roy resulted in the arrest of 23-year-old James R. Kosiorek, who has no reported permanent address.

The investigation started when the homeowner returned home interrupting the burglary and finding a male subject inside of the residence. The burglar had damaged a gun case and was attempting to steal guns and cash from the residence. The burglar fled and the homeowner called 9-1-1.

The burglar was not initially located but a subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Kosiorek on April 4. It is alleged that Kosiorek unlawfully entered the residence with the intent to commit a crime therein, and in doing so damaged the gun safe and removed three guns, attempting to steal them and also stole about $30 in coins and a pellet rifle.

Kosiorek was arrested by the Le Roy Police Department and charged with one count of the Class C felony of burglary in the 2nd degree, three counts of the A-misdemeanor of attempted grand larceny in the 4^th degree, one count of the A-misdemeanor of criminal mischief in the 4^th degree, one count of the A-misdemeanor of petit larceny and one count of the A-misdemeanor of criminal possession of stolen property in the 5^th degree.

Kosiorek was arraigned before the Hon. Michael Welsh of the Le Roy Town Court and committed to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

Larry Brandon Ferrell, 31, of 10 Lathrop Ave., Le Roy was arrested by the Le Roy Police Department after a complaint of an alleged domestic incident which occurred on March 29. It is alleged that Ferrell restrained and choked a female in the presence of two small children and then allegedly took the phone away when the female attempted to call the police. Ferrell was charged with the misdemeanors of second-degree unlawful imprisonment, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, criminal mischief in the fourth degree, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Ferrell was arraigned before the Hon. Michael Welsh of the Le Roy Town Court and released under the Supervision of Genesee Justice.

Joshua B. Maternowski, 22, of Tonawanda, is charged with possessing one small plastic baggie containing approximately three grams of marijuana, and Joshua T. Reinhart, 21, of North Tonawanda, is charged with possessing one small plastic baggie containing approximately five grams of marijuana and a multicolored glass smoking pipe containing marijuana residue. At 11:38 a.m. on March 3, Corfu Police Officer Michael Petritz stopped a driver for speeding (going 57 in a 35-mph zone) and having no brake lamp on Route 77. Upon interview of the operator and passengers, Officer Petritz detected a strong odor of burnt marihuana emanating from the vehicle. Officer Petritz requested assistance from Sheriff's Deputy Lonnie Nati and a search of the vehicle allegedly yielded marijuana.

Cody Alan Glogowski, 28, of Grandview Drive, North Java, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. At 7:48 p.m. on March 31, Glogowski was arrested for allegedly endangering the welfare of a child less that 17 while at Dick's Sporting Goods in the Town of Batavia. No details provided. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia Town Court on May 12. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Michael Lute.

Mikayla Radecki, 17, of Holland, speaks with Living Waters Church member Denise Parmenter during the “Girls Helping Girls” prom dress giveaway Saturday at the Le Roy church.

Some dreams came true this weekend at Le Roy’s Living Waters Church.

The occasion was “Girls Helping Girls,” a prom dress giveaway that marked its sixth year on Saturday. A steady stream of girls and parents browsed among racks of dresses displayed in the church sanctuary.

It had a department-store feel. But the beat of Christian rock music was a reminder that the program is a church ministry born out of compassion.

“Girls Helping Girls” was originally suggested by church member Valerie Moore. She saw it as a way to help families who may not be able to afford a new prom dress, which can cost as much as $400 on average and is usually worn only once.

“God just dropped it on my heart one day, to reach out to those who may be in need,” Moore said. “I know how important it is for a girl to be able to attend her prom.”

In the first year, there were about 75 prom dresses available.

On Saturday the number topped 600 — more dresses, organizers pointed out, than at Kohl’s, JCPenney and Macy’s combined.

Most of the dresses were donated, while others were bought on sale by Moore at the end of last year’s prom season.

Although dresses were free, some families have asked to make financial contributions. This year, the church will forward any donations to the House of Hope being built in Moshi, Tanzania, as a refuge for girls who would otherwise be exploited.

“Girls Helping Girls” draws families from across the region. One visitor was Mikayla Radecki, 17, of Holland, Erie County, who both made a donation and chose a dress for her upcoming junior-senior prom.

“This is very helpful,” said Mikayla, who was holding a purple sequined dress in the church lobby. “You can make a donation and find a dress — it makes things a lot easier.”

Moore has received similar feedback from many girls and families over the years.

“A lot of them are very grateful, and very thankful that we do this,” she said.

“Last year, one of the girls left a comment that said, ‘Now my dream can come true.’ If that was the only dress that we gave away last year, it made the entire event worth it.”

Valerie and her husband Henry Moore have been members of Living Waters Church for 12 years, and help oversee its ministry programs.

One of them is Operation Drumstick, which sends church members to New York City. There, they help serve Thanksgiving Dinners to more than 5,000 people as part of an outreach program of the New York School of Urban Ministry. Living Waters is also preparing to send a team to Tanzania to support House of Hope.

Closer to home, Living Waters offers dinners and picnics for residents of local apartment complexes.

“Our biggest goal is outreach ministry,” Henry Moore said. “People think about missions as, ‘I have to go to another country,’ but ‘missions’ is in our own communities; it’s in our own back streets.

“Yes, we want to be able to send people to Tanzania, Africa, and Mexico — and that’s great,” he said. “But where we can connect the best is right here at home.”

“Girls Helping Girls” was originally suggested by Living Waters Church member Valerie Moore, right, who helps oversee mission programs with her husband Henry Moore.

Press release:

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation has designated Le Roy Central School District as one of the 2016 Best Communities for Music Education.

This designation is awarded to district and school music education programs "for outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education par of the core curriculum."

Le Roy has been awarded this honor 10 times in the last 11 years. The Le Roy music program supports over 360 students in chorus and over 210 students in band district-wide.

According to Mary Luehrsen, NAMM Foundation executive director, the Best Communities designation brings "hard-won visibility to music classes, programs and departments that are keeping music education alive in our schools.

The school district congratulates the Le Roy Music Department -- Lindsay Buckel, Jessa Dechant, Dan DeLuca, Jackie McLean, Brad Meholick, Matt Nordhausen -- students, parents and school community on their hard work and dedication to music in Le Roy!

Nicholas Robert Fairfield, 24, of Lake Street, Le Roy, is charged with driving while intoxicated, driving with a BAC of over .18 percent, speed not reasonable and prudent, failure to keep right, failure to stop at the stop sign. In the early afternoon on March 26 on Warsaw Road in Le Roy, Fairfield was involved in a one-car accident, no injuries, at the Intersection of Warsaw Road (Route 19) and Perry Road. The vehicle came to rest in a ditch on the west shoulder of Route 19. Further investigation revealed that Fairfield was allegedly operating his vehicle while intoxicated. The incident was investigated by Sheriff's Deputy Gregory Walker.

Press release:

Living Waters Church in Le Roy has more than 400 beautiful prom dresses (more than Kohl's, JC Penneys, and Macy's combined!) on hand for this Saturday's free prom dress giveaway called "Girls Helping Girls."

The dresses are either brand new or gently used, but all beautiful, with a terrific assortment of sizes.

Doors open at 10 a.m. and it runs until 1 p.m., at 30 Main St. in Downtown Le Roy (the former Movie Theater). Anyone with questions can call the church office at 768-7570 or check the Web site at www.livingwatersleroy.org

This idea was birthed out of compassion a number of years ago and suggested by Valerie Moore who thought about the families whose finances are tight and would rather not spend money on a dress that will be worn only once, and the event has grown each year. The first year there were about 75 dresses.

In the last few years, some families have insisted on making donations, so the church decided to keep "paying it forward" by sending any donations received to the House of Hope being built in Moshi, Tanzania, as a refuge for girls there who would be otherwise destined for a life of sex slavery or child marriage. We want to emphasize, however, that these dresses are available completely free -- no expectations attached!

Press release:

The School Library System (SLS), a program of the Le Roy-based Genesee Valley Educational Partnership (the Partnership) was awarded a three-year, $150,000 New York State learning technologies grant. The first year of the grant will be implemented at Batavia Middle School.

The GAME Tech Project (Genesee Advancing Mathematics and English Language Arts with Technology) will increase student academic achievement as measured by New York State assessments in Mathematics and English Language Arts by providing opportunities for students to engage in learning content through technology in a way that is meaningful and authentic, enabling students to solve problems and be creative.

SLS staff will focus on the underlying skills of computational thinking to prepare students and teachers for success in computer programming and other STEM work. SLS staff will provide professional development opportunities to improve student performance through integration of learning technologies in classrooms and school library media centers. In subsequent years, the grant will be expanded to include all Partnership component school districts.

Over the next three years, the SLS staff will work with member librarians and teachers in elementary and middle schools to implement a program of technology professional development and classroom implementation built around analog play for digital success. These kits will include LightUp and Little Bits sets for circuit design and electronics problem solving; games and other resources for computer programming, LEGO WeDo and Mindstorms kits for robotics development; and audio and video kits for media production. By starting with analog resources like games and toys, SLS staff will help teachers build confidence and comfort within STEM fields. 

“The Partnership is excited to be able to expand offerings to our component schools districts through the Game Tech Grant. The focus will be on preparing students to be creative and possess analytical, problem solving and communication skills. Game design, engineering, manufacturing, electronics and design tech are career fields aligned with the scope of the work,” said Julie Donlon, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and School Improvement.

The Partnership SLS is uniquely suited to implement the GAME Tech project given their long history of working with games as curriculum aligned instructional resources. The SLS Game Library, launched in 2007, is the largest K-12 aligned library of games in the country. Christopher Harris, director of the Partnership SLS, will be the principal investigator working alongside Library/Technology specialists Brian Mayer from the Game Library and Liesl Toates, who coordinates technology professional development and the Media Library. 

###

The School Library System and Distance Learning Service are programs of the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership. The Partnership operates as a Board of Cooperative Educational Services offering shared programs and services to 22 component school districts located in Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston and Steuben counties in New York State.

Several hundred youngsters participated in the annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday morning at Le Roy's Hartwood Park. In additiion to the candy-filled eggs — about 6,600 of them — the event featured free hot dogs, raffle prizes and a visit from the Easter Bunny.

The event is supported by volunteers and local organizations, and coordinated by the Le Roy Business Council.

Business Council President Bob Bennett calls out winning raffle numbers. A ticket was given to each youngster who participated in the Easter Egg Hunt.

Le Roy police officers chased a speeding vehicle northbound, then eastbound, winding up off Route 383 at an apartment complex on Robert Quigley Drive in Scottsville, Monroe County. 

The scofflaw driver drove through the complex and exited at a driveway off North Road. After talking with Monroe County Sheriff's deputies, Le Roy officers are turning to the Village of Le Roy.

The driver remains at large. "Monroe County is going to fish around" for the suspect. Authorities have the license plate number of the four-door silver Saturn SUV sedan and the name of the registered owner, a white male who lives in Batavia.

The officer told a dispatcher the car windows are tinted and it was difficult to see the operator, but it was possibly a black male.

Speeds reached nearly 90 mph at one point. Traffic was reportedly light on the pursuit route. The driver was said to have ran at least one red light during the pursuit.

UPDATE 5:25 p.m.: They thought the suspect vehicle was located at the registered owner's residence on Bank Street. But an officer says: "There's no way they had time to get back to Batavia. I'm wondering if they took a plate off?" Reply: "Both plates (on vehicle); cold to the touch." They are running plates in the system on a couple of vehicles. Investigation continues.

UPDATE 5:33 p.m.: A registered owner they had been seeking to question just pulled up at the residence. No mention made of the vehicle he is in.

A kitchen fire is reported at 14 Gate St., Bergen.

Le Roy fire and Bergen fire are dispatched.

CORRECTION: The story originally had the address, incorrectly, in Le Roy. Howard heard the call and I put up what he told me. Sorry for the confusion.

(Photos by Jim Burns.)

A house fire with flames and smoke showing is reported at 30 Clay St., Village of Le Roy. Le Roy fire and ambulance repsonding along with a ladder, mutual aid, from Bergen.

UPDATE 5:50 p.m.: The city's FAST team is called to the scene along with aid from Pavilion and Stafford. Fire police are asked to shut down traffic at Clay and Wolcott streets.

UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: Le Roy commands advises caution by responders upon approach because live power lines are down in the roadway near the scene. National Grid is notified and has a 30-minute ETA.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: The fire is knocked down. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

James Daniel Kavanagh, 26, of Stenwick Drive, Churchville-Chili, is charged with operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 or more, driving while intoxicated -- first offense, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, 1st, and stopping/parking on a highway. Kavanagh was arrested at 2:56 p.m. March 20 following an investigation of a report of a person passed out in a vehicle at a stop sign on Route 19 (Lake Road) in the Town of Le Roy. He allegedly had a BAC of .08 or more at the time. He was processed at Genesee County Jail, then released on appearance tickets for a later date in Town of Le Roy Court. The case was handled by Sheriff's Deputy Chad Cummings, assisted by Le Roy Police.

Thomas Alan Alexander, 53, of Lake Street Road, Le Roy, is charged with second-degree harassment. He was arrested on March 13 following the investigation of a harassment complaint on Lake Street Road in the Town of Le Roy. He allegedly slammed a female into a wall causing physical injury. He is to appear in Le Roy Town Court on March 28.

Nolan Robert Powless, 18, of East Center Street, Medina, is charged with: second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation; being an unlicensed operator; and having a plate lamp violation. He was arrested on a bench warrant out of Town of Batavia Court for allegedly failing to appear for court. The charges stem from a traffic stop on Jan. 12. He is scheduled to be in Town of Batavia Court on April 6.

Even the Easter Bunny needs helpers.

About two dozen of them gathered at the Le Roy Moose Family Center on Saturday morning, to prepare for the upcoming community Easter Egg Hunt.

The free event draws hundreds of children every year. But before the hunting, comes the stuffing.

And so about 6,600 multicolored plastic eggs were filled with candy on Saturday.

The roster of helpers once again included Marlene McMahon — who has participated every Easter season for 20 years — as well as representatives of the Moose, Le Roy Business Council, Knights of Columbus, American Legion and Rotary Club of Le Roy; and students from Le Roy and Notre Dame high schools.

Oatka Fish and Game Club and Northwoods Sportsman Club helped pay for candy. Nearly 20,000 pieces were placed in the eggs.

The Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for 1 p.m. March 26 and will include an appearance by the Easter Bunny, hot dogs, prizes and more. The event is for children 12 and under, who are divided by age group.

There is no charge. Everything — from eggs and candy, to food and labor — is provided by volunteers.

“They make it happen,” said Bob Bennett, president of the Business Council, which coordinates the event.

Marlene McMahon has helped prepare for Le Roy's Easter Egg Hunt ever year for 20 years.

Le Roy Police officers have detained two white males estimated to be about 18 years old in connection with a criminal mischief complaint about a half hour ago. A caller reported that two teenaged boys on BMX-style bikes rode by a business on Myrtle Main Street and threw rocks, which broke a window. The suspects were apprehended on Main Street within minutes and are said to be well known to local law enforcement. Authorities have contacted a representative of Municipal Solutions, a management consulting service in the Village, to make the person aware of damages. One of the youths is wanted by Attica PD, which has been contacted and a meeting is being arranged for them to pick up that person.

UPDATE AND CLARIFICATION: The two teens were juveniles and will not be charged criminally.  The incident occurred on Main Street, not Myrtle. There was no warrant and there was no meet up with Attica PD.