Holley sees return and growth of jazz band, marching band and Music Boosters

Provided and file photos: Medina native Zachary Busch conducts the Jazz Band at Holley High School, where he is director of the Fine Arts Department and the band program.

HOLLEY – The director of Holley High School’s band program brings a lifetime of talent and passion for music to the table.

Zachary Busch grew up with music, son of Chris and Cindy Busch of Medina. His dad played trombone in the Mustang Marching Band and was a former assistant drum major. Zach believes he and his father were the only father/son duos to each serve as drum major in the Mustang Marching Band, until this year’s Ryder Jones, whose father Ric Jones was also drum major in his senior year.

Zach’s earliest memories of band are seeing his sister in the Mustang Color Guard in the 1990s.

Zach began playing trombone in the fourth grade. He continued to play in Medina’s concert, jazz and marching band as he grew up. He was drum major from 2010 to 2011, when the Mustang Band won the 2010 New York Field Band Conference title in their division and Grand Champion at the 2011 Gorham Pageant of Bands.

He graduated from Fredonia State College in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in music and in 2019 with a master’s degree. He studied trombone with the late Carl Mazzio, former principal trombonist of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. He was a member of the Fredonia Trombone Choir; and a member from 2013-16 and director in 2015-16 of the Fredonia Jazz Ensemble.

Pictured from left in May 2019 include Callie Updike, Evan Valentine, Band Director Zach Busch and Thomas Dobri of the Holley HS Concert Band. The band won first place in a music festival at Darien Lake, topping seven other bands.

Busch started teaching at Holley Junior/Senior High School in the fall of 2016.

“Teaching at Holley is my first and only gig,” he said. “Something I think about often is my goal for this to not only be my first job, but for me to be the only teacher to spend his entire career here and retire from here.”

When he accepted the position at Holley, he knew the first thing he wanted to do was revive their marching band. Over the years they had had several versions of a marching band, but when Busch came on board, they had been two years without one.

“I wanted the students to enjoy the same benefits of marching band I enjoyed,” he said. “Marching band was always a highlight of my life.”

Busch said there was a group of about 20 kids who were enthusiastic about marching band, including wind instrumentalists, a drum line and color guard.

“The group was small, but they knew they were important because they were bringing band back,” he said.

The Holley-Kendall Marching Band Color Guard includes students from both Holley and Kendall school districts.

A joint effort with Kendall had previously been established around 2011, and after getting approval from Holley’s principal Sue Cory, he approached the Kendall administration. The schools already shared other activities, such as unified sports, wrestling, basketball and bowling, and were onboard with a combined marching band.

“Holley and Kendall are rival schools, but I love the way they come together to be better as one,” Busch said.

The Holley-Kendall Marching Band’s first performance was Memorial Day 2017. They played an arrangement of theme songs from “The Magnificent Seven.”

Soon after the marching band’s rebirth came the global Covid pandemic.

“To not only maintain our numbers, but to grow though it was pretty indicative of how much the kids wanted to be part of a band program,” Busch said.

From 20 students in 2017, the band has grown to 50 this year.  They have marched in the Holley June Fest Parade, Holley Memorial Day Parade and Albion Strawberry Festival Parade. They competed in Springville’s Pageant of Bands in 2022, winning first place in Class C parade and Best Drum Major. In 2023, they were third in Class B Parade. At Sherburne Pageant of Bands that year they were second in Class B Parade and third in Class B Color Guard.

Members of the Holley-Kendall Marching Band enter the field for a competition.

Several Holley band members shared their passion for the group.

Isabella Emery, 12th-grade trumpet player and drum major of the Holley-Kendall Marching Band, said her favorite part of being in the concert band was seeing the growth during the school year.

“It is fun to look back on our progress and the great music we have made,” she said. “I first knew I wanted to be a part of the marching band when my elementary band director started talking about marching band. I expressed my interest and she invited me to join in fifth grade as a banner carrier. My favorite part of being in the Holley-Kendall Marching Band is the family feeling I get during the course of our session.”

Senior Owen Schultz, trombonist and assistant drum major, isn’t sure what drew him to join the band in seventh grade.

“It was more of a gut feeling this was something I should be part of,” he said. “My favorite part of concert band is contributing to the larger goal of giving great music performances. I knew I wanted to join the marching band because Mr. Busch said it would be a good opportunity to ‘play loud,’ and in my opinion, that is the best way to play the trombone.”

Maggie Keehan is a senior and alto saxophone player. She got to watch all her siblings play in the band and knew she wanted to be part of the fun they had. She didn’t join until her junior year, when her friends told her how much fun it was.

“My favorite part is building new friendships with people I normally wouldn’t see or interact with.”

Sophomore Aidan Kelley signed up for band in fourth grade. A clarinet player, he said he has always loved music and it plays a big role in his life. He joined marching band in sixth grade after the invitation from Busch.

“I’ve enjoyed being part of the growth of the program ever since,” he said. “I have made friends with people I wouldn’t have otherwise met.”

Holley’s band began in 1958 as the Holley Hawks Marching Band under the direction of Raymond Shahin. They enjoyed tremendous success, including State Fair championships and New York State Field Band Conference titles under direction of Jerry Kelsey.

The Kendall Royal Blue Marching Band was formed in 1963 under the direction of Richard Roberson and had many top finishes at the State Fair from 1963 into the 1970s.

Students perform during a performance of the Holley High School Concert Band, under the direction of Zach Busch of Medina.

Busch also revived the Holley Jazz Band in 2019 with 15 members. It was derailed by Covid in 2020 but the jazz band came back in 2021. It has grown to 30 members in grades seven through 12.

Holley Music Boosters was revived in 2022 and is still building up, Busch said. They have helped with travel costs for the Music Department trips, including Philadelphia this year; purchases for the Marching Band, such as new instruments, and registrations for students attending area All-State festivals.

Busch said he still bounces ideas off his dad.

“I know he loves it and has an ear for it,” Zach said. “And I value his perspective, as well.”

Zach’s wife Andrea, originally from Staten Island, is music teacher at Oak Orchard Elementary School and assistant band director for the Mustang Marching Band.

As for Zach, he loves his job and wouldn’t want it any other way. In addition to his duties as band director, he is chair of the Holley Fine Arts Department, Holley golf coach and president of the Orleans County Music Educators Association.

Will make debut with Grease which will hit stage in March

Press Release, Holley Central School

Kayla Thrower, left, will direct Holley’s upcoming school musical of Grease.

HOLLEY – Holley Middle School/High School has announced “Grease” as its 2024-25 musical production.

Teacher and Holley alum Kayla Thrower has been selected as the school’s musical director. She succeeds MS/HS teachers and siblings Dan and Kellie Burke who co-directed Holley’s musicals for over 30 years; both have now retired from the district.

Thrower is a Holley 2017 alum who notably played the role of Ursula in the school’s 2016 production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” She began teaching social studies at Holley MS/HS in 2022. Thrower previously served as musical assistant, vocal coach and head of stage crew for the school’s musical production of “Little Shop of Horrors” in 2024.

“I am incredibly excited and thankful to lead this year’s musical production,” Thrower said. “As a student, the musical was an integral part of my life. The experiences I had on stage brought me out of my shell and taught me valuable life skills. I am immensely grateful to have the opportunity to give that experience back to my students, who continue to impress me with their talent and dedication to the arts.”

Holley MS/HS chorus teacher Kelly Marzano, who has taught at Holley since 2006, will take over the role of vocal director this year.

“The music in ‘Grease’ is not just integral to the storyline, it’s the hallmark,” said Marzano. “I look forward to helping the cast gain confidence in their singing through good vocal technique and applying that to their character portrayals. We’re fortunate to have so many creative and talented students here in Holley. This is sure to be a production for the record books. I am honored to be a part of it.”

Band teacher Zach Busch will support this year’s production as pit director. “Grease” was performed at Holley in 2017, and it was the first musical he was involved in when he began teaching in Holley that year.

“I am very excited to bring this iconic production back to the stage at Holley,” Busch said. “My goal is to provide the best musical accompaniment possible for our students on stage. I also look forward to welcoming student-musicians into the pit to learn from and play alongside our adult musicians.”

Performances will be held at the Holley Middle/High School Auditorium on March 14 at 7 p.m., and March 15 at 2 and 7 p.m. Ticket information will be shared on the HCSD website at a closer date.

“Grease” Synopsis:

Rydell High’s senior class of 1959: duck-tailed, hot-rodding “Burger Palace Boys” and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking “Pink Ladies” in bobby sox and pedal pushers, evoking the look and sound of the 1950s in this rollicking musical.

Head “greaser” Danny Zuko and new (good) girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the high romance of their “Summer Nights” as the rest of the gang sings and dances its way through such songs as “Greased Lightnin’,” “It’s Raining on Prom Night” and “Alone at the Drive-In Movie,” recalling the music of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Elvis Presley that became the soundtrack of a generation.

TSC Information Technology based in Public Square at former Village Office

Photos by Tom Rivers: Brandon Weber and his father Gregg Weber have moved their business, TSC Information Technology, from Gates to 72 Public Square. The former Holley Village Office now is a retail store for computers and the based for the company providing IT, structured cabling, VoIP phone systems, wireless infrastructure, surveillance camera systems and other services. Gregg Weber has owned the business since 1982, and started with TSC in 1977.

HOLLEY – A father and son have moved the base of their information technology business with a retail computer store from Gates to 72 Pubic Square in Holley, the former village office.

The village moved its office to the former Holley High School, which also has apartments for senior citizens.

Brandon Weber and his father Gregg Weber opened TSC Information Technology at the former village office on Aug. 1. The location works well for them. They have a warehouse on Geddes Street for electronics, and for about 25 years they were bouncing back and forth from Holley and Gates.

The Holley site also has resulted in an increase in foot traffic for the retail store, and the business also is connecting with many more customers in Orleans County.

Gregg Weber was a high school student at Kendall taking computer classes at the WeMoCo BOCES when he started an apprenticeship at TSC in 1977. Five years later, he bought the business at age 21.

Weber specializes in electronic repairs and recycling, and custom personal computers.

“It’s always an ongoing learning with computers,” Gregg said. “It changes weekly, even daily.”

Gregg enjoys the challenge of fixing electronics and computers.

“I’ve always been fascinated buying old things and getting them to work again,” he said.

His son Brandon has been part of the business since he was 13, initially helping in the warehouse. He became the warehouse manager at age 18. He is now vice president and runs the managed information technology, VoIP phone systems, structured cabling and other services.

Brandon graduated from Holley in 2003. He said working with information technology makes a big difference for residents, businesses and organizations. TSC can speed up computers, eliminating viruses and spyware. TSC helps the computers to run better, saving time for people and businesses. TSC also has helped some customers streamline and save costs, combining phone lines for example.

He said it is a rewarding career.

“It’s going into these businesses and seeing the technology woes they have and then improving their technology landscape, making it faster and better,” Brandon said.

Brandon and Gregg Weber said the walk-in traffic for has increased since the business moved to 72 Public Square in August. The retail store sells new and refurbished laptops, PCs and tablets, and also does repairs.

The storefront at 72 Pubic Square has a new look. Brandon’s wife Annmarie painted the façade. She also handles the marketing and website for TSC Information Technology.

Gregg’s wife Janice is the business’s bookkeeper.

TSC is busier since the move to Holley, with many local residents and businesses reaching out to the business. Click here for more on TSC Information Technology.

Brandon also is vice president of a board for a non-profit technology organization, TEKnowledge Worldwide, where people in IT and computer services careers share knowledge with a philosophy, “Community over competition.” Brandon co-founded the organization three years ago.

TEKnowledge Worldwide each year also picks an organization to upgrade their technology for free. TEKnowledge last month went to a linigual school in North Carolina and installed new computers, fiber, camera and a WiFi internet system, providing about $25,000 in upgrades.

Click here for more on TEKnowledge.

Speaker urges vets struggling with PTSD to seek help

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – The American Legion in Holley hosted a Veterans Day ceremony today. Scott Galliford, the Legion commander, speaks during the service. Up front with him from left include Kevin Foley, Chuck Eberhardt and Mark James Morreall.

Galliford shared how Veterans Day was originally Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I. It was changed to “Veterans Day” in 1954 to honor all veterans who have honorably served in the military.

Galliford had each veteran stand and be recognized during today’s service and gave them a chance to say when and where they served. Galliford said he was a “submariner” in the military from 1975 to 1979.

“I want to say to all of you guys, welcome home and welcome back,” Galliford said. “I’m impressed to be around this much honor and devotion.”

Dave Cole of Kendall speaks about his service in the military. He attended boot camp with Galliford and another one of their friends from Kendall, Stew Leverenz.

The Legion hall includes a banner, “We Support Our Troops – Come Home Soon!”

About 50 people attended the service.

Ron Boyd, a member Jewell-Buckman American Legion Post #529 in Holley and the Sons of the American Revolution, shares about a table set for prisoners of war and those missing in action.

David Shaffer served in the Army for three years beginning in January 1957. He said he was very lucky as his deployment had him in the German countryside for 30 months where he made many new friends.

Sue Johnson, the keynote speaker, asked for a moment of silence “for everyone who has lost lives to invisible wounds.” Johnson worked as an assistant chaplain in the Army and spent two years in Iraq.

In that role, she learned the importance of asking veterans how they are doing.

“Support each other, no matter what,” Johnson said.

She said political opinions, gender, sexual orientation should not be dividers in offering compassion to people.

The VA reports that an average of 17 veterans each day die by suicide, while America’s Warrior Partnership and Duke University said veteran suicides are underreported and as many as 24 veterans a day die on average from suicide.

PTSD and “the wounds we cannot see,” should be taken very seriously, Johnson said.

“It’s courageous to talk about those things and to get help,” she said.

Kevin Foley, a pilot during the Vietnam War, shared about joining the Army in 1968, and then being deployed to Vietnam. He received a Purple Heart and two Distinguished Flying Cross medals after being shot down and being determined to help his fellow soldiers.

Todd Klatt, a mechanic in the National Guard, is also the VFW post commander for eastern Orleans County. He has been deployed twice – to Bosnia and Qatar. He leaves for a third deployment in January, this time to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Sandy Shaw, recently retired as director of the Community Free Library, and retired Holley Mayor John Kenney write messages in Christmas cards to be given to veterans.

Shaw has organized the annual “Cards for Vets” effort the past five years. She is hoping 500 cards can be written for veterans this holiday season.

Community Free Library is open until 8 p.m. today and welcomes people to come in and write messages in cards.

The cards will be delivered to the NYS Veterans Home in Batavia and the VA Medical Center in Batavia, as well as other local veterans.

Shaw said the cards have all been donated by community members.

Amelia Buchanan of Albion, right, signs cards in the library for veterans. She is joined by her daughters Aubrey and Alexie, and their friend Savannah Gross, left, of Brockport.

“We really wanted to do it,” Buchanan said about writing messages in the cards for veterans. “We hope they will appreciate it and feel joy.”

The library expects to have the cards available for several days for people to stop in and write messages.

Amanda Anderson, the new library director, said she wants to keep the “Cards for Vets” for many years to come. She said Orleans County has a high percentage of people who are veterans.

On June 9 she performed CPR outside Brockport Subway

Photos by Christopher Martin: Pictured from left include Haley Walker, Leigha Walker’s mother; Monroe County Executive Adam Bello; Leigha Walker; Rochester Mayor Malik Evans; Police Chief David Smith and Jack Brennan.

By Christopher Martin, public information office for Brockport Fire District

ROCHESTER – The Rochester Police Department hosted a “Do The Right Thing” Award ceremony on Thursday, and recognized 18 youths who have been nominated for doing just that in the community.

Leigha Walker holds a “Do The Right Thing” award on Thursday after she was honored in Rochester. Leigha is a student at Morrisville State College and a member of the women’s soccer team.

Leigha Walker, 18, was nominated by the Brockport Fire District after performing CPR and contributing to the saving of the life of another on June 9.

She was working at the Brockport Subway that morning. A man was driving a vehicle when he had a heart attack and became unconscious. He crashed into a pole outside the Brockport Subway where Leigha was working.

She heard the crash and immediately called 911 at about 10 a.m. Leigha grabbed a wooden rod so a bystander could break the passenger window of the pickup truck and then unlock the vehicle.

Leigha and co-worker got the man out of the truck and onto the ground. Leigha checked his vital signs. When the Brockport Fire District ambulance pulled up, a medic urged someone to start CPR.

Leigha did more than 30 compressions to keep Brennan’s blood moving. Then the Brockport ambulance personnel used an AED to get the man’s heart restarted. He was then transported by ambulance to a hospital.

The DTRT program collects nominations from across Monroe County to recognize youth that perform above and beyond that of their peers. They recognize students and youngsters through their high school years.

Leigha was accompanied by Jack Brennan, the man she performed CPR on, her mother and was escorted into the ceremony by a representative from the Brockport Fire District.

The ceremony lasted a little over an hour where 18 youngsters were honored by the DTRT program for their service to others. There were tear-filled moments as each one had their story told by guest host Deanna Dewberry of News 10 NBC as they took to the stage. Each of them was greeted by Rochester Mayor Malik Evans, County Executive Adam Bello, and Police Chief David Smith.

The recipients then had a portrait style photo taken for use on roadside billboards to highlight the program and recognize the recipients in a very personal way. They were then invited to a personal interview with staff from News 10 NBC for broadcast at a later date speaking about how they got here.

The Brockport Fire District offers our congratulations to all 18 recipients and especially to our nominee: Leigha Walker.

Leigha Walker was among 18 youths in the Rochester region honored on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Scott Galliford

HOLLEY – A house at 19 East Albion St. in Holley was destroyed by a fire this evening. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene around 5:30 p.m. for a fully involved fire in a van. That blaze spread to a camper and a house that was under renovation.

The house is a total loss and the Holley DPW will be knocking it down.

Provided photo: Sandra Shaw was honored last week during the Holley Village Board meeting with the “Mayor Vaughn Award.” County Legislator John Fitzak, left, and Holley Mayor Mark Bower presented the award. Shaw is the seventh recipient of the award which was started by Holley’s mayor from 1976 to 1982.

HOLLEY – Sandra Shaw will be honored today with a retirement party at the Community Free Library beginning at 5 p.m.

Shaw is retiring after leading the library the past 19 years. During her tenure she led library in acquiring a former video store next door where the library expanded in 2008 and dedicated that space for children’s programs and materials.

She also has led the library in adding two large murals on the back side of the brick building, and steered the library through the Covid pandemic.

Shaw was honored last week by the Holley Village Board with the “Mayor Vaughn Award.”

Mayor Mark Bower said Shaw has expanded programming and improved services at the library.

“Sandy Shaw’s influence on the Village of Holley and the larger community, its residents, the school district and its students is quite significant,” Bower said. “She’s had a strong presence as the library director and has ensured that they remain viable in our community.”

He is pleased she will remain active in the community, including serving on the Mayor’s Advisory Council.

“She has always been a huge advocate for the library, reading, and the children’s library and programming,” Bower said.

Funding includes $405K grant, $2.8 million in financing

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley is among the recipients of $665 million announced today by Gov. Kathy Hochul to finance and help fund clean water projects around the state.

Holley has been approved for $2,061,338 in interest-free and $783,016 market-rate financing from the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, and a $405,646 grant from the Water Infrastructure Improvement program for the planning, design, and construction of wastewater treatment plant upgrades and disinfection improvements.

Hochul today announced the Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors approved $665 million in financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects across New York State.

“No one in New York should ever fear that they don’t have access to clean water,” Governor Hochul stated in a news release. “With this funding, we are safeguarding the health and well-being of New Yorkers, providing critical resources to local economies, creating jobs and protecting our natural resources.”