Provided photos

HOLLEY – Zach Busch, the Holley High Band and Jazz director, joins some of his students in holding a trophy Holley won at Music in the Parks competition at Hershey Park.

There were 60 Holley High School Concert Band and Mixed Choir students who traveled to Hershey this past weekend.

The Holley Band earned 1st Place in High School Concert Band Class A, with a “Superior” rating from their score average of 91.75 (of 100). They performed two selections: “The Witch and the Saint” by Steven Reineke and “Americans We” by Henry Fillmore.

The Choir earned 2nd Place in High School Mixed Choir Class A, with an “Excellent” rating from their score average of 86.75 (of 100). They performed two selections: “O Love” by Elaine Hagenberg and “Let Everything That Hath Breath” by Jeffery Ames.

The trip was also highlighted by sight-seeing in Philadelphia, including: the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rocky Statue, a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park, the Liberty Bell, and Reading Terminal Market.

The Holley HS Band and Choir will close out their yearly concerts with their Spring Concert on Thursday, May 30 at 7 p.m. in the Holley MSHS Auditorium.

Photos courtesy of Jessica Greean, Troop Leader for Girl Scout Troop 60916

HOLLEY – There were about 20 young scouts out Saturday morning picking up litter along the Erie Canal in Holley. The Girl Scouts from Troop 60916, and Lion, Tiger, Wolf and Bear Scouts in Cub Pack 62 as well as Webelos braved the windy and chilly temperatures to help clean up the area.

The top photo shows them by murals created by artist Stacey Kirby Steward near the canal gazebo.

Gabriella Greean, a Brownie Scout, was among the scouts on cleanup duty.

These “Scout Dads” include, from left: Zach Reed, Jason Greean, Sam Hackenberg, John Schneider, Adam Wallenhorst and Michael Restivo.

From left include Kelsie Reed, Katie Applegate, Katie Wallenhorst and Parker Wallenhorst.

The group gathers at the canal gazebo in Holley. The effort was part of the annual “Canal Clean Sweep” along the canal system in New York State. There were more than 150 cleanup events along the canal system, including several in Orleans County.

Press Release, Holley Central School

HOLLEY – The Holley school district’s annual senior citizen appreciation breakfast will be on Thursday, May 9, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Holley Elementary Café.

The district would like to thank the senior citizens in the community for all they’ve done and continue to do to support the students and schools. You must be age 55 or older and a resident of the district to attend.

RSVP by Wednesday, May 1, to Connie Nenni in the District Office at 638-6316, ext. 2003. Transportation is available by request.

HOLLEY – The Board of Education on Monday approved a $29,615,000 budget for 2024-25 that would increase the tax levy by 1.49 percent.

The board a month ago was looking at a budget with a 1.99 percent tax increase, but decided to shave off another half percent.

The budget goes to a public vote on May 21 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the foyer of the junior-senior high school.

The board approved the budget with some uncertainty in its state aid because the state budget remains unresolved. The budget deadline was April 1 but the governor and Legislature have approved extenders to fund the government for the short-term.

While some school districts are slated for a decrease in state aid in the governor’s executive budget, Holley’s total state aid would increase by about $600,000, from $20,095,541 to $20,665,520. If the aid in the final budget is more than the amount in the governor’s budget, Zacher said any extra would go in the district’s fund balance.

State aid covers about 70 percent of the school budget. The tax levy accounts for $7,952,214, which is up $116,748 from the 2023-24 budget. Holley is well below is allowable increase under the state-imposed tax cap. Holley could increase taxes by 3.972 percent and still be below the cap, Zacher said. The district can carry over the difference to the 2025-26 budget.

There will be a public hearing about the budget at 6 p.m. on May 7 in the elementary school cafeteria.

Besides the budget, Holley will have propositions for $363,000 to buy one large bus and two small buses; and $206,840 for the Community Free Library.

There will be four seats up for election on the Board of Election including the three-year terms currently filled by Sal DeLuca, Brian McKeon and Anne Smith. There is also the final two years of a term originally for Robin Silvis. Jennifer Reisman was appointed to fill the spot until the election on May 21.

Press Release, First Presbyterian Church of Holley

Philip Benier

HOLLEY – The First Presbyterian Church of Holley is pleased to announce they have called Rev. S. Philip Benier to serve as our pastor beginning April 7.

Rev. Benier has led numerous worship services at the church during the past year and a half as a Pulpit Supply from the Presbytery of Genesee Valley so he is not “new” to Holley.  Rev. Benier is a graduate of Brite Divinity School, Ft. Worth, Texas and worked as the assistant to the Director of the Presbyterian Night Shelter, handling all grant information as well as filing and providing presentations on homelessness in that Texas community.

He served a congregation in Toledo, Ohio prior to coming to the Rochester area where he was associated with Twelve Corners Presbyterian Church in Brighton. His previous background is in banking for 17 years and then he worked in healthcare, assisting individuals with special needs to provide them with the best of care.

The Holley church looks forward to our partnership with Rev. S. Philip Benier and invite everyone to join us on any Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.  We’re the brick church at the traffic light.  The address is 34 E. Albion Street, Holley.

Come get to know us as we strive to achieve our mission statement: “We are a God-loving, deeply rooted, compassionate, inclusive, charitable church, a symbol of hope, growing in service to our Holley community and beyond.”

Andrea Newman selling posters of painting as fundraiser for Holley festivals

HOLLEY – Andrea Newman, an artist from Holley, created a painting celebrating the upcoming solar eclipse. Holley is in the path of totality and very close to the center line of the eclipse. (The center line will pass over neighboring Brockport.)

Andrea Newman

Newman’s acrylic painting on canvas shows Holley’s lift bridge over a shallow Erie Canal. At about 3:20 p.m. on April 8, Holley will be in darkness as the sun is blocked by the moon. Totality will last for almost four minutes.

It is a rare event. Orleans County was last in a total eclipse in 1925.

“I’m excited,” Newman said today. “It’s going to be a great day.”

Newman was asked by Holley Mayor Mark Bower to create a painting commemorating the eclipse. Bower saw an eclipse poster featuring the Erie Canal with many of the canal towns listed on the border of the poster. He was disappointed Holley wasn’t included.

He reached out to Newman, a former Holley Board of Education member who works as an artist. She also is an adjunct communications professor at SUNY Brockport.

She is happy to help the Holley community celebrate the eclipse. She is selling posters of the painting as well as digital downloads through her Etsy site (click here). Proceeds will be donated to the village to go towards community festivals.

Newman experimented for a few days on creating a silhouette for the painting. She settled on the lift bridge for the scene in Holley, because she said the lift bridge is such an iconic landmark.

“It’s going to be a monumental day,” she said about April 8. “It’s so cool it’s coming right this way.”

HOLLEY – School officials are putting together the budget for the 2024-25 school year, and the spending plan is expected to be well under the district’s authorized tax cap.

Sharon Zacher, the assistant superintendent, said the budget is currently projected at a 1.99 percent tax increase. Holley’s tax cap cushion allows for up to a 3.972 percent tax increase, with the district’s carrying over some tax cap room from prior years, Zacher told the Board of Education on Monday.

While some school districts are slated for a decrease in state aid in the governor’s executive budget, Holley’s total state aid would increase by about $600,000, from $20,095,541 to $20,665,520.

However, Zacher said an on-time state budget seems unlikely by April 1, with some disagreements to be resolved among the State Legislature and governor.

Zacher feels comfortable forecasting a budget at $29,115,000, which represents a 2.4 percent spending increase, or up $695,000 from $28,420,000 in 2023-24.

Holley’s preliminary budget would maintain its existing programs and add one full-time elementary teacher, a 0.4 part-time Spanish teacher, and 0.2 part-time science teacher.

The budget with a 1.99 percent tax increase would raise the tax levy by $155,926 – from $7,835,466 to $7,991,392.

Zacher said the budget will be finalized next month by the board of education and then go for a public vote on May 21.

Local schools, county discussing how to offer services for preschoolers with disabilities

HOLLEY – It’s been nearly four years since Rainbow Preschool closed, ending a program that served children ages 2 ½ to 5 with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Rainbow Preschool shut down sites in Albion and Batavia, leaving no similar programs in Orleans or Genesee counties.

Officials at Holley Central School said children with disabilities now are either not getting early intervention services before age 5, on waiting lists or have to travel much farther away.

“There is no center-based program in Orleans County serving children with special needs,” Brian Bartalo, Holley school superintendent, told the Board of Education on Monday. “We’re worried about kids coming to our PreK and kindergarten who are struggling and not as prepared.”

It is county government’s responsibility to provide services for young children with disabilities before they enroll in a public school.

Rainbow Preschool for about 50 years used to provide special education, physical therapy, occupational therapy, assistive technology, counseling, parent training, music therapy, and speech/language therapy for students to prepare them for kindergarten.

The school was run by the Arc of Genesee Orleans. At its peak, the school served 300 children. The enrollment for 2020-21 was at 26 students.

The school in Albion was located at the Arnold Gregory Complex at 243 S. Main St. In Batavia, Rainbow Preschool was at the former Robert Morris school on Union Street.

Bartalo said county officials will have a meeting later this month with representatives from the five school districts in Orleans County to brainstorm how the services could be provided locally.

“They are leaning into the school districts about how to solve this,” Bartalo said.

In a related issue, Stephanie Sanchez, director of special programs for Holley Central School, said the district recently received surveys from 145 parents of students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plan). The district has a 98.6 percent positive response rate from parents of students with disabilities, well above the state target of 94 percent.

“I’m glad our parents feel supported,” Sanchez told the Board of Education.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.”