Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Holley Jr./Sr. High School will be performing the musical Grease this evening at 7, and then two shows on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Click here for ticket information.

The top photo shows four of the Pink Ladies at a pajama party. Isla Schultz is Marty and she shows a new ring to her friends, from left: Jayda Shampine as Frenchy, Hanna Ostrom as Jan, and Mallory Davis as Rizzo.

Marty sings, “Freddy, My Love.” She is in a long-distance relationship with a Marine. He sends her gifts while he’s stationed in Japan.

Aidan Kelley is Danny Zuko, the leader of the Rydell High T-Birds. His falls in love with Sandy. He is singing, “Summer Nights.”

Bailey Bibbins plays the lead role of Sandy. She also sings “Summer Nights” about her summertime love affair with Danny. Sandy later transforms from schoolgirl sweetheart into a biker beauty.

Khole Pachla is Doody and sings “Those Magic Changes.” Doody is a member of the T-Birds and Frenchy’s boyfriend.

Holley has 62 students in the cast and crew. Kayla Thrower is making her directorial debut for Holley. Thrower, 25, was in the musicals when she was a Holley student.

She is a social studies teacher for seventh- and eighth-graders. She said the musicals helped build her confidence when she was a student.

“I loved it when I was in school,” Thrower said during a rehearsal this week. “It brought me out of my shell.”

She said the musicals are a supportive environment for students.

“It’s fun because you can take on a different persona,” Thrower said. (She was Ursula in Holley’s production of Little Mermaid.) “Every year it’s a chance to build a family.”

It’s a busy weekend for local school musicals. Besides Holley the shows includes Kendall with Willy Wonka, Medina with Momma Mia, and the Albion Middle School with Little Mermaid.

Lyndonville will be performing Newsies from March 21-23, with Albion High School is doing Cinderella on March 28-29.

Photo by Tom Rivers

MURRAY – Firefighters pulled some of the siding off a house at 3388 Groth Road so they could get water directly on an electrical fire that was smoldering just after noon today.

The electrical fire started at the service entrance cable, firefighters said at the scene.

They were able to keep the electrical fire from turning into flames and causing more damage. National Grid also happened to be in the area and one of the Grid workers was able to shut off the electric from the meter, helping to keep the fire from spreading, said Bob Freida, the Clarendon fire chief.

Murray firefighters were assisted in mutual aid by Clarendon, Kendall and Hamlin.

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley has been awarded a $75,000 state grant for an inclusive playground that will ADA-accessible.

“Nestled beside the Erie Canal, this addition reflects the Canal’s role in enhancing quality of life and creating welcoming spaces for all,” the Canal Corp. said in announcing the funding on Monday.

Holley has the matching funds for a project that will total about $150,000, Mayor Mark Bower said.

The village has $35,000 set aside for the playground and the Town of Murray has committed $25,000 towards the project. The Holley Department of Public Works also will provide in-kind services with excavating and site work, Bower said.

Community volunteers will also be asked to help construct the playground which will allow Holley to maximize the funding towards the equipment for children.

The village will soon seek bids from playground companies for the equipment. Bower is hopeful construction will start in April.

The playground will go where there was one previously along the canal path. That playground wasn’t accessible to people with disabilities, had fallen into disrepair and was removed in 2022, Bower said.

The mayor thanked the Orleans County Health Department for helping to secure the grant for the village.

Holley also recently was awarded a grant to put in a kayak launch and new decking and stairs at its canal park.

Press Release, Holley Central School

HOLLEY – Holley Central School District’s Pre-K and kindergarten registration for the 2025-26 school year will be held on March 12 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Holley Elementary School Foyer, 3800 North Main St.

To be eligible to register for Pre-K, children must be 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2025. To be eligible to register for Kindergarten, children must be 5 years old by Dec. 1, 2025.

Pre-K and kindergarten health physicals are required to be completed by Sept. 1, 2025. If your child currently attends Holley CSD Pre-K, you do not need to register for kindergarten, your Pre-K child will be automatically enrolled.

Please bring the following original documents to register your child: completed registration packet, birth certificate, immunization record and proof of residency. Copies will be made during your visit. You will not be able to register without these documents.

To request a registration packet be mailed to you, please fill out the form on the district’s website (Click here).

If you need assistance completing the registration packet, bring it in on March 12, and assistance will be provided. If you have any questions, please call 585-638-6316 extension 2580. HCSD looks forward to welcoming you!

The NYS Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor announced $255,000 towards projects and events on the Erie Canal this year, which is the bicentennial of the canal’s completion.

Some of the money will go to initiatives in Orleans County, including a new kayak launch in Holley, as well as new decking and stairs, which will provide visitors with better access to launching areas and rest points, according to the Heritage Corridor.

Other grants in Orleans County include:

• The Erie Canal Family Concert on June 23 at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina. Discover a treasure trove of songs and stories that washed ashore with the travelers of “Clinton’s Ditch.” The concert is designed to entertain and engage, and features a variety of stringed and other musical instruments from canal days.
• Erie Canal Bicentennial Building Bricks Event organized by the Village of Medina Tourism Committee. The event will be Sept. 20-21 at the Sacred Heart Club in Medina. Participants will create canal-themed boats, bridges, and landmarks using LEGO bricks, while competing for awards based on age and creativity. Open to all ages and abilities.
• Erie Canal Arts & Craft Festival led by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council from Sept. 26-28 at Medina, Albion and Holley. The event will be a vibrant celebration of heritage, creativity, and community spirit along the canal. It will feature over 400 artisan vendors, a theatre & car showcase, a headline concert with The Voice’s Ddendyl Hoyt, and festive boat parade.

In nearby Brockport, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra will perform as part of a bicentennial celebration on July 8 at the SUNY Brockport Special Events Recreation Center. The RPO will perform folk music celebrating the village’s unique sense of place and rich canal heritage.

Also in Brockport, the Town of Clarkson was awarded funding for Sans Souci Park Improvements. Clarkson will replace portions of the boat launch with a new ADA-accessible boat dock and install bike racks and a universally accessible park playground.

The grants announced today include 11 tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements and 36 events along canal waterways and the Canalway Trail.

The grants range from $500 to $24,000 and will leverage an estimated $979,087 in additional support, according to the Heritage Corridor.

“After 200 years of continuous operation, the Canalway wouldn’t be what it is without the communities and organizations along its 500-plus miles,” said New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “This program offers us an opportunity to give back by supporting public events and needed infrastructure improvements that together make the Canal corridor an even more exciting place to live in and visit.”

Events ranging from large festivals to community celebrations and tours. Infrastructure and amenity grants will fund public park improvements, kayak rental kiosks, educational exhibits, and signage that will enhance the visitor experience for years to come, the Heritage Corridor said.

“We are thrilled to support so many municipalities and community organizations working to improve the NYS Canal System for visitors and residents,” said Bob Radliff, executive director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “Events generate millions of dollars annually in economic impact for canal communities.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – The Holley Waterfalls were nearly frozen in ice on Wednesday when then the temperatures were near 0 in the morning and peaked at about 12 degrees.

The falls remained an attraction with several people stopping by on Wednesday afternoon.

Despite the ice some water kept flowing. There was still a roar from the waterfalls.

After four days in a deep freeze with temperatures typically in the teens or less, the temp will “warm up” to a high near 24 today. The highs in the following days include 22 on Friday, 29 on Saturday and 29 on Sunday.

The Holley Waterfalls are about 35 feet high and carry water from the east branch of Sandy Creek.

This bird stopped by the frozen falls on Wednesday afternoon.

Holley has a pedestrian bridge near the falls.

MURRAY – Joe Fuller, an Albion town justice, is filling in as a judge for Murray.

Ted Spada’s term expired on Dec. 31 and Gary Passarell recently stepped down.

Fuller has changed the court schedule in Murray to the second and fourth Wednesdays at 5 p.m.

The court was meeting each Monday evening with district attorney nights on Wednesdays. With Fuller presiding, the sessions will include DA nights. All court cases are adjourned until Jan. 22. Anyone scheduled before Jan. 22 will receive a letter from the Murray Town Court advising them of their next court date.

Anyone with questions can call the Town Court at (585) 638-6570, ext. 7.

District to receive $500K grant for turnout gear, air packs

MURRAY – The Murray Joint Fire District swore in its commissioners and officers on Thursday during an organizational meeting.

The Board of Commissioners will be led by Frank Balys, Jr. as chairman and Scott Harrington as vice chairman.

Balys’s term as commissioner runs to Dec. 31, 2027, while Harrington’s term goes to Dec. 31, 2025. Other commissioners sworn in include David Knapp with 5-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2029; Chris Middleton, term expiring Dec. 31, 2028; and Robert Beisang, term expiring Dec. 31, 2026.

The district officers include Richard Cary – Fire Chief; Peter Hendrickson, Jr. – Deputy Chief; Kevin Dann – Assistant Chief; Jeffrey Elsenheimer – Captain; Christopher Chilson – Captain; Christopher Middleton – Lieutenant; Allan Smith – Lieutenant; and Mark Porter – EMS Lieutenant.

Fire Police officers will be sworn in later and include John Morriss as captain and Jerry Wagner as lieutenant.

The fire district was awarded a $500,000 grant on Oct. 25 in an announcement by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Murray was one of 88 entities across the state to receive funding for equipment.

Murray will work to obtain the equipment this year which includes new turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatus air packs.

MURRAY – The Murray Joint Fire District elected three fire commissioners on Tuesday, with current chairman Mark Porter defeated by Dave Knapp who was a write-in candidate.

Knapp and Dave Nenni were both elected to 5-year terms, and Scott Harrington was elected to a 1-year term.

In Barre, William Basinait was re-elected as commissioner with 11 votes, and Barry Flansburg was re-elected treasurer with 11 votes. There were 11 voters in the annual election.

In Kendall, Patrick Seaman, an incumbent, was re-elected as fire commissioner.

Lantern parade added to the festivities

Photo by Tom Rivers: Corey Fults, a lineman with the Village of Holley Electric Department, puts lights on a tree in Holley’s Public Square on Thursday.

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley will have its annual tree-lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday when the names of people honored with memory bulbs are read aloud.

Sal DeLuca, recently recognized by the Village Board as Holley’s Citizen of the Year, will be part of the ceremony as well.

The village is trying a new lantern parade, too. People are welcome to bring paper lanterns or other more sturdy ones for a parade. If there are enough lanterns, the parade will start at 6 p.m. and go from the pharmacy to the Public Square.

If there are only a few, people are welcome to just have them at the tree lighting. The Community Free Library has hosted lantern-making workshops to help people make the lanterns. They have been designed and decorated with a theme from The 12 Days of Christmas.

After the tree-lighting, the community is welcome to go the fire hall to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus.

There will also be horse-drawn carriage rides for free from 1 to 4:30 p.m., with pick up and drop off at the Murray-Holley Historical Society Museum.

The American Legion also will be hosting a craft show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The big Santa statue in the Public Square was blasted with snow during an intense snow squall on Thursday morning.

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.