Clarendon residents urge Holley to keep Junefest going

File photo Tom Rivers – The Hamburg Kingsmen Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps march down Route 31 in the Public Square during a parade in Holley last June 6.

HOLLEY – Two Clarendon residents are hoping to keep the Village of Holley’s Junefest alive. Marge and John Krizan presented a proposal to members of the Holley Village Board during Tuesday’s regular meeting.

“People have enjoyed it,” John Krizan said of the annual festival which was cancelled in recent months due the Town of Murray deciding not to fund its portion of the 2016 celebration and members of the organizing committee saying they could not find enough people to try to keep Junefest going.

“The village has taken a lot of pride in it and all of that meant one wonderful day,” Krizan said. “I would hate to see that go bye-bye.”

He added that he and his wife have talked with many people who have been surprised and shocked to learn that this year’s Junefest had been cancelled.

The Krizans told trustees they are willing to spearhead a movement to form a committee and organize a scaled-back event for this year. They hope to be able to stage a parade, have a band for musical entertainment and locate the celebration “up on the knoll” in the park around the gazebo.

Trustee/Deputy Mayor Brian Sorochty said he was in favor of giving it a try and noted the village should be able to gather information regarding festival organization from former committee members.

“If we walk away (fail to hold Junefest this year) it’s gone,” Sorochty said. “I appreciate your energy. I think it’s great.”

Mayor John Kenney thanked the Krizans for coming to the Village Board and said he will be getting back in touch with them.

“It comes down to manpower,” he advised them. “That is the issue at the forefront.”

In past years the Town of Murray and the Village of Holley have each contributed $5,000 to the Junefest, and Mayor Kenney said the event was also supported by many donations.

Marge Krizan said she hopes groups like the Rotary Club might become involved as well as students from Holley Central School. The Krizans suggested more Clarendon residents might also be interested in helping to organize the event.

“If you think positive, positive things can happen,” she said.