Holley/Murray

Holley Rotary honors Elaine Berg with club’s top award

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 March 2024 at 11:26 am

Provided photo

HOLLEY – Holley Rotary Club President Shannon Brett, right, presents a Paul Harris Fellow award to Elaine Berg during the club’s meeting on Monday.

Berg has been an active member of the club for six years. She also is involved in many community organizations, including as a member of the Murray Town Board.

A Paul Harris Fellow is Rotary’s top award and is named for the founder of the organization.

Holley Village Board honors girls soccer team for historic season

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2024 at 8:48 am

Provided photos courtesy of Rainey Losee

HOLLEY – The Holley Village Board on Tuesday presented certificates to the Holley girls varsity soccer team which went 19-4 this fall and advanced to the state tournament.

The Holley team had an outstanding season as Genesee Region Division 1 Champions, Class C Sectional Champions, Class C Regional Champions and advanced to the NYS Section V Semi-Finals.

Mayor Mark Bower was joined by village trustees Jessica MacClaren, John Morriss and Rochelle Moroz in presenting certificates to the team at the village offices in the former Holley High School.

Holley recognizes exceptional HS seniors with banners on Dustin’s Pizzeria

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 March 2024 at 6:23 pm

Provided photos

HOLLEY – The Holley school district is partnering with the Town of Murray, Village of Holley and property owners Lisa and Kevin Logsdon to display banners recognizing outstanding high school seniors in the classroom, the arts and on the athletic fields.

The top photo shows three banners in the inaugural honorees. The banners are displayed on a brick wall of Dustin’s Pizzeria on Geddes Street.

At the end of each marking period, Holley will recognize a Scholar Athlete, Scholar/Fine Arts and Scholar/Service. The criteria is fairly straightforward: an 85 and above average for the marking period and outstanding accomplishments during that time in athletics, fine arts and service.

“High school leaders and staff choose the recipients and our village and town will place banners of each selected student for all to see,” said Holley mayor Mark Bower. “Our future rests in our youth and it is a community’s role to acknowledge our students.”

Holley brings Little Shop of Horrors to stage in latest musical

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 March 2024 at 10:01 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Gabe Lindsay stars in the role of Seymour in Holley’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. He holds a plant he named Audrey II. Seymour was a disheveled flower shop worker who becomes more hip and famous due to Audrey II’s rise in stardom.

Holley has about 70 students in the cast and crew of Little Shop of Horrors. Show times are Friday at 7 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Lindsay is Seymour in the 7 p.m. shows both days, while Aidan Kelley plays the part during the 2 p.m. show.

For information about tickets, click here.

Kohle Pachla plays the role of Mr. Mushnik, owner of a struggling and rundown flower shop. Audrey II brings many customers and sales to the shop, changing its fortunes. Jax Richards-Dyson plays Mushnik in the Saturday afternoon show.

The show is directed by Dan and Kellie Burke. Mr. Burke directed his last show in 2020 and then retired a year later. He returned to lead the show this time, teaming with his sister Kellie Burke. He is thankful to be back directing the cast.

During his last musical four years ago, the students had the show cancelled just before opening night due to Covid restrictions in March 2020. Holley did High School Musical that year.

Burke has been subbing almost every day this school year at Holley, responding due to a shortage of substitute teachers.

He said being in the Holley district is his retirement dream come true. He worked as a biology teacher at Holley and a baseball coach, while directing the musicals for three decades.

Burke said there is a magic with musical productions, taking students from many backgrounds and comfort levels on stage and having them work together and perform a show.

“You see the kids build an energy and do things they didn’t think they could do,” he said during intermission at today’s rehearsal. “You see them transformed.”

Some kids push their limits with a solo on stage. Others stretch themselves by being in the cast, singing and dancing. Others contribute through set design and being part of the stage crew.

Jayda Shampine plays the role of Audrey and sings, “Somewhere That’s Green.” She who works in the flower with Seymour, who admires Audrey and names the mysterious in her honor.

Abigail Merkley plays Audrey during the Saturday afternoon show.

Burke, as director, has long had multiple casts. His belief is to give every kid a chance to have the biggest role they can.

Mushnik and cast members are excited to listen to Seymour being interviewed on the radio about the famous plant in the flower shop.

Audrey II’s success leads to a major upgrade and renovation at the flower shop.

Orin Scrivello (played by Owen Schultz) is Aubrey’s abusive boyfriend and a sadistic dentist.

Seymour reacts in horror as Audrey II eats Orin Scrivello. Seymour was angry at how Scrivello treated Audrey so poorly.

Feeding the plant the dentist satisfied Audrey II’s thrist for blood, momentarily. Seymour discovered the plant’s appetite for blood when he pricked a finger on a rose thorn. Audrey II thirstily opened its pod at the smell of blood.

Gabe Lindsay, who plays Seymour, said the plant gets meaner as it gets bigger, and its appetite more demanding.

“When you take a risk, be prepared to accept the good and the bad,” Lindsay said about  the message in the show.

He plans to major in musical theater when he heads to Geneseo State College next year. Lindsay said he is grateful for the chance to be in the Holley musicals since he was in junior high.

Audrey II grows to an immense size as it feeds its appetite. Jose-Angel Valentin is the voice of the plant during the evening performances and Nico Unterborn is in the role on Saturday afternoon.

Stabilization starts for Sam’s Diner after back wall collapse

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 March 2024 at 10:28 am

Provided photos

HOLLEY – Contractors are on site at Sam’s Diner this morning helping to stabilize the building in the Public Square after the back wall collapsed on Friday morning.

Joe Penna of Holley is doing an emergency shoring of the back of the building. Steve Morgan is removing stone debris.

The scene shut down traffic in the Public Square until 8 p.m. Friday due to concern vibrations from the passing vehicles could cause more of the building to cave in.

Sam’s Diner owner George Gitsis thanked the community for the outpouring of concern and support for a much-loved restaurant in Holley. George’s father, the late Sam Gitisis, opened the diner in 1978.

While Route 31 is back open to traffic, the east one-lane strip in the Square from Red, White and Moo to Sam’s, and past Dr. Dan Schiavone’s dental office and the community center remains closed to vehicles.

Rick Cary, the Murray fire chief, said the immediate area by Sam’s also is currently off limits to pedestrians in case there is any shifting in the diner.

He said Schiavone and the Eastern Orleans Community Center should be able to reopen to the public on Monday.

Murray firefighters have been on the scene since shortly after the wall collapsed at about 9:30 a.m. on Friday. They provided an overnight presence. Cary said he expects they will be on scene until this afternoon.

He was inside the diner this morning, and he said it is in good condition despite the back wall collapsing.

The Murray Joint Fire District was assisted on the scene by Village of Holley employees, NYS Special Operations and Monroe County Special Operations, and firefighters from Kendall, Clarendon and Brockport.

Sam’s Diner posted the following message on its Facebook page:

“We are extremely thankful that nobody was hurt. We cannot express how we appreciate everyone who has reached out offering your love and support. We are humbled by all of the local fire departments, village workers, Monroe County Special Operations Unit, code enforcement officers, community members, Mayor Mark Bower, Dustin’s Pizzeria, and countless others that have been working hard to help us salvage the building and to give us their support. It really does take a village as the saying goes and we are beyond grateful! We will keep you updated with the progress.”

Back of Sam’s Diner in Holley collapses

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 March 2024 at 12:12 pm

Fate uncertain for beloved restaurant in Public Square

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – The back wall of Sam’s Diner lies in a pile of rubble today. The wall gave out at about 9:30 a.m. The diner wasn’t open yet and no one was injured.

The situation has closed traffic in the Public Square while the building and the those near it are checked to make sure they are stable.

“It’s heart-breaking,” said Holley Mayor Mark Bower.

The Gitisis family has owned the diner for nearly 50 years. Sam Gitsis opened it in 1978. It is one of Holley’s most popular gathering places.

George Gitsis, the son of Sam Gitsis, is the current owner. He tried in recent months to get an engineer and masons to work on the back of the building but could not get people to commit to the job, Bower said.

“From day one, George and his father, mother and sister have done wonderful work in Holley,” Bower said. “I’m just wanting this business to survive. It’s such an asset to Holley.”

A special operations team from Monroe County is at the scene to check the stability of Sam’s. There are also many local firefighters, code enforcement and the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.

A drone was sent up to give officials a close view of the building to see if there was any additional movement in the walls, said Rick Cary, the Murray fire chief.

The local officials will continue to assess the stability of the building, and that will determine if it can be shored up and reopened eventually, Cary said. A construction company may need to come in and help with the evaluation.

“I expect the restaurant will be closed for a significant amount of time,” Cary said.

Dr. Dan Schiavone has his dental office next door to Sam’s. He is closed today and hopes he can see patients on Monday.

Schiavone, a former Holley mayor, worries about many of the Public Square buildings from the late 1800s.

“These are historic buildings and we do our darndest to save them,” Schiavone said. “But we’re losing the integrity of the Public Square.”

2 Holley Rotarians receive club’s highest honor

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 February 2024 at 1:45 pm

Provided photo

HOLLEY – The Holley Rotary Club on Monday evening honored two members as Paul Harris Fellows, the club’s highest honor. The club is making $1,000 donations to the Rotary Foundation in the name of Craig Lane and Josh Mitchell.

Pictured from left include Craig Lane, a Paul Harris Fellow; club member Brain McKeon; and Josh Mitchell, a Paul Harris Fellow.

Holley students take the Polar Plunge and raise $2,300 for Special Olympics

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 February 2024 at 11:42 am

Photos courtesy of Holley Central School

HOLLEY – A group of Holley students and staff took the Polar Plunge on Sunday, going into the cold water of Lake Ontario.

The Holley group raised $2,327 for the Special Olympics. The 15 Holley students are in the Student Council and the Interact Club.

Jim DiSessa, the High School Student Council advisor, has led the Holley group for about a decade in the Plunge. The group was also joined on Sunday by Principal Matt Feldman and six faculty members.

“It makes a difference when you have staff members who are encouraging students to give back to the community, getting involved with them and showing up for them,” DiSessa said.

There were 1,800 people who took the plunge at Ontario Beach Park and set a new record raising $360,000.

DiSessa said the plunge has become an annual tradition for Holley.

“Our students enjoy doing the Polar Plunge because it raises money for and helps bring awareness to a great cause, the Special Olympics,” he said. “I think students enjoy the event because it is different, which makes it fun.”

New business opens in Holley selling retro toys, vintage collectibles

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 January 2024 at 4:28 pm

Star Wars characters, G.I. Joes, Atari games and more

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jason Royce, owner of Retro World Toys, stands in his store at 32 Public Store with Slimer, one of the characters from the Ghostbusters movies.

HOLLEY – Step in Retro World Toys, and it’s a step back in time, from Star Wars figures from the 1970s and ’80s, Elvis cards, Atari video games, a Rocky III movie poster, Fisher-Price toys, and a lineup of G.I. Joes and Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos.

Jason Royce has been selling retro toys for several years, mostly online. He had a store in West Seneca but shut it down during the height of the Covid pandemic.

He wanted to open in a storefront again, and preferred a small town. The Barker resident looked at Medina and Albion. He picked Holley after going to an estate sale. When he rounded Route 31 and saw the Public Square, he felt like it would be the perfect fit for his business.

“I fell in love with it,” he said about Holley’s business district. “Seeing Holley, it felt like Hallmark.”

These wresting figures include one of Gene Okerlund, center, who was a long-time interviewer, announcer and television host for the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.

Royce also said the business is close to Brockport, Rochester and Batavia, and can draw people from those communities.

Royce retired as a professional wrestler about two years ago after 25 years wrestling nationally and in more regional syndicates. He generally wrestled as a cowboy character.

With retro toys, he said the sense of nostalgia is a strong among collectors. He expects people will travel to come to the store to check out the merchandise.

The store opened at noon today for the first time and there was a ribbon cutting with leaders from the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce, Village of Holley officials and a representative from Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

There was a ribbon cutting today at noon for the new businesses in Holley. From left include Holley Mayor Mark Bower, Village Trustee John Morriss, Orleans County Chamber of Commerce President Dave Gagne, Retro World Toys owner Jason Royce, Vintage Me This owner Marla Harmon, Assemblyman Steve Hawley chief of staff Eileen Banker, and Darlene Hartway, Chamber of Commerce executive director.

Mayor Mark Bower said Retro World Toys and a companion business, Vintage Me This, are assets to the community.

“It’s great to have another storefront occupied in the village,” Bower said. “It’s unique.”

Royce’s partner Marla Harmon has opened Vintage Me This in the back part of the building. She sells dishes, glasses, zipper pouches, Pyrex stickers, key chains, tote bags and other “fun retro items.”

The businesses are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Marla Harmon also started her own business in the back of the store at 32 Public Square. She touts Vintage Me This as “Not your grandma’s antique store.”

Holley district honors girls soccer team, sports boosters after big season

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 January 2024 at 11:27 am

Photos courtesy of Holley Central School

HOLLEY – The Holley Board of Education last week presented a “Soaring to New Heights” award to members of the Holley’s varsity girls soccer team that won a Sectional title, Far West Regionals and advanced to the state tournament. It was an historic, record-setting season for the team which made its first trip to the state tournament for Holley girls soccer.

The district also thanked the Holley-Murray Joint Fire District for providing special fire truck escorts for the team bus in and out of town for the sectional and regional victories, and when the Hawks headed to states.

The Holley Transportation Department also commended for making many last-minute adjustments in order to provide spectator busses and get the team to their games.

The Holley Sports Boosters received a “Soaring To New Heights Award” for going above and beyond supporting the district athletic program, the student fans and especially the girls varsity team during the fall season.

“Sports Boosters paid for the majority of student ticket fees throughout girls soccer sectionals/regionals which lifted a huge burden for students,” district officials said in presenting the award last week. “Having a student spectator section supporting them at these games made all the difference for the team. This was on top of keeping the concession stands staffed at football and soccer games throughout the season.”

Bartalo to retire June 30 after 6 years as Holley district superintendent

Photo by Tom Rivers: Brian Bartalo, Holley school district superintendent, speaks during the June 24, 2023 graduation ceremony.

Posted 18 January 2024 at 10:00 am

Press Release, Holley Central School

HOLLEY – At the Jan. 8 Holley Board of Education meeting, Brian Bartalo announced his plan to retire at the end of the 2023-24 school year as Holley’s district superintendent.

His last day with the district will be June 30, 2024. Bartalo began his role at Holley in July 2018.

“It has been my distinct honor and privilege to serve as Holley’s superintendent,” Bartalo said. “The staff, families, and especially the students, have been tremendous to work with and have made all the difference for me finishing my career here. I am thankful to have been a part of this wonderful learning community and contribute to creating the best district possible for the students we serve. I look forward to seeing all the great things that will be accomplished here in Holley.”

Bartalo’s retirement comes after a 36-year long career in public education. In 1988, he began his career as a special education teacher at Merton Williams Middle School in the Hilton Central School District, where he taught and coached until 1998. For the next 19 years he worked at Hilton High School. He served for one year as the dean of students, then as assistant principal from 1999 until 2005. From 2005 to 2018, he served as principal and International Baccalaureate head of school.

“The leadership Brian has shown these past six years has steadied our district and put it on a path to success,” said Holley Board of Education President Anne Winkley. “His passion for education and building a welcoming environment in which our students and staff can flourish has been evident from day one. We feel fortunate Holley is where Brian chose to end his career and wish him the best in his retirement.”

The Holley Board of Education will begin the process of hiring a new superintendent by working with Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES District Superintendent Jo Anne Antonacci as search consultant. The Board will formally appoint Antonacci at the next board meeting on Monday, Feb. 12.

Murray puts new pumper-tanker, refurbished rescue truck into service

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 January 2024 at 3:58 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Murray Joint Fire District Chief Rick Cary, left, and Mark Porter, the fire district chairman, are shown with the district’s new fire engine. The pumper-tanker carries 1,000 gallons of water and also has a capacity to pump 1,500 gallons a minute.

It replaces a pumper-tanker from 1992. The new truck was manufactured by Spartan in South Dakota. The fire district picked a white color for the truck, instead of red as part of an rebranding effort for the joint district, which includes the former Holley and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray districts.

Murray also has a refurbished rescue truck in service that functions as a mini-pumper. It holds 300 gallons and has a capacity to pump 1,500 gallons a minute.

Voters in the Murray Joint Fire District on Feb. 21, 2023 approved spending up to $900,000 for the new pumper-tanker fire truck and a refurbished rescue truck that will serve as a mini-pumper – with $680,000 for the new pumper-tanker and $220,000 to convert the rescue truck into a mini-pumper.

Mark Porter, the district chairman, said the joint fire district had $200,000 in reserves towards the trucks, and will borrow about $700,000 through a bond.

New owner at Transit Tire in Murray

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Transit Tire Sales site on Ridge Road in Murray will reopen on Friday as Joe’s Tires. The business will be owned by Joe and Heather Tomasino of Kendall. Pictured from left include employee Matt Eden, Joe’s dad Ron Tomasino, Heather Tomasino, and employee Curtis Russell.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 December 2023 at 6:22 pm

MURRAY – A business that was a mainstay in Murray for about 45 years will reopen on Friday with a new owner.

Joe and Heather Tomasino are taking over the Transit Tires Sales business. They will rename it Joe’s Tires.

Phil and Lenora Portnoy opened the business in 1978. It first operated on Transit Road in Albion before going to 15753 Ridge Road about 30 years ago. They retired from the business and closed in June.

“The Portnoys put their blood, sweat and tears in this business,” said Heather Tomasino, who is a special education teacher at Kendall. “They provided a service to the community. It’s been a staple.”

Joe Tomasino is eager to open Joe’s Tires at the Transit Tire site at 15753 Ridge Road. He will soon have a new inventory of tires.

The Tomasinos said the locally owned tire business has been missed in the community the past six months. Joe was a long-time customer at Transit Tire, especially since he opened his used car business about 2 ½ years ago on Route 104 in Spencerport. He will continue to operate Joe’s Cars in Spencerport while upgrading the Transit Tire site.

“We got a lot coming,” he said today. “We have high hopes.”

Tomasino, 44, has been fixing cars since he was 13. He was a corrections officer for 10 years while working for different dealerships. The Kendall native and resident said he is grateful to have his own business close to home.

Some familiar faces will be part of Joe’s Tires. Curtis Russell worked for Transit Tire for 29 years. He is back at the site working for Tomasino. So is Matt Eden.

Russell said the business has an easy recipe for repeat customers and success: “provide a really great service at an affordable price.”

He said the Portnoys were always upfront on prices “with no hidden costs.”

Tomasino said the business will be open Monday through Saturday. For more information, contact Joe’s Tires at (585) 283-4028.

Holley author featured twice in Christmas Chicken Soup for the Soul book

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 December 2023 at 11:56 am

David Hull has now written stories for 28 different books in the series

(Left) This is the cover of the latest Chicken Soup for the Soul book, featuring 101 tales about the Christmas holiday, including two written by David Hull of Holley. (Right) File photo from 2018 shows David Hull holding two of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books that include a story he wrote.

HOLLEY – David Hull is a prolific contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. He has written stories that are featured in 28 of the books.

The latest book with a Christmas theme include two of his stories. “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Time for Christmas! 101 Tales of Holiday Joy, Love and Gratitude” totals 339 pages. There are now more than 300 Chicken Soup for the Soul tiles that combined have sold more than 110 million copies and been translated into nearly 50 languages.

Hull, 64, is a retired preschool teacher. He has a story in the Christmas book in a section about Holiday Hijinks. In “The Separation,” he writes about his mother not being happy that Hull and sister weren’t visiting for the holidays. She tricked them into thinking she and her husband were getting a separation, which prompted her children to make an emergency trip home – for the holidays.

In a section about Gratitude and Grace, Hull has a story, “Gramma’s Good China.” Hull shares how his father tried to reconnect with him after leaving the family for 16 years. Hull wasn’t happy about seeing his dad and refused to shake his hand or converse with him in that first meeting.

Hull’s grandmother urged him to let go of the bitterness and anger. Hull reached out to his father, invited him for Thanksgiving and they ate on Grandma’s good China, dishes that were only used on special occasions. Hull said the dinner and reconnection with his father helped to soothe his hard feelings.

Hull grew up in Brockport. He did a reading at the Lift Bridge Book Shop in Brockport on Dec. 9, sharing some of his stories from the Chicken Soup series.

Hull said he checks the Chicken Soup website for future book themes and also gets emails from them about topics. He sends in submissions and said he is accepted about 50 percent of the time.

“If you get rejected you have to try again,” he said.

The most popular Chicken Soup books tend to be humorous ones, and books about pets, Hull said.

“At heart I’m really a writer,” he said. “I write quite a bit. I really enjoy seeing my stories get in print.”

Hull studied English in college and earned a degree in education. He worked 28 years as a teacher at the Brockport Child Development Center at Brockport State College. He retired about a decade ago.

The latest Chicken Soup book is one of several in the series earmarked to raise funds for nonprofits. Royalties from this book go to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.