Holley/Murray

Clarendon residents urge Holley to keep Junefest going

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 10 February 2016 at 12:00 am

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grillo honored by Holley for 700 wins as wrestling coach

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 9 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Holley Middle School/High School Principal Susan Cory presents head wrestling coach John Grillo with the February Soaring to New Heights Award.

HOLLEY – John Grillo, Holley’s head wrestling coach, was recognized during Monday evening’s Board of Education meeting for his milestone 700th win, which came Jan. 20 in a Genesee Region League match hosted at Lyndonville High School.

Grillo was presented with the “Soaring to New Heights” award by Holley Middle School/High School Principal Susan Cory. Grillo’s 700 wins are the most of any wrestling coach in New York State.

“This is huge,” Cory said. “John has given a lot of dedication to the wrestling program.”

Grillo has coached wrestling for more than 40 years, 30 of those at Holley. He also coached at Pavilion Central School. His Holley Hawk wrestlers have won 20 Genesee Region League titles and 11 Section V championships. Grillo was named Genesee Region Coach of the Year 15 times and Section V Coach of the Year six times.

Grillo, who also teaches physical education at Holley, coached his three sons over the years – Ashley John, Adam and Andrew – who continue to assist their dad in coaching the Holley wrestling teams. Ashley is now Elementary Assistant Principal at Holley and Andrew is a grade K-12 physical education teacher at Holley.

“We didn’t have a winning season until you joined us,” Board member John Heise said and noted Grillo has also worked over the years to help students who have been struggling academically as well those with discipline issues. “After they talked to you, the behavior stopped.”

“You’ve helped a lot of kids,” Board President Brenda Swanger told Grillo. “We appreciate all you have done for the kids.”

Grillo thanked students, parents and school staff. “Your support is part of it,” he said of his accomplishment.

In other business, Assistant Superintendent for Business Sharon Zacher reported to board members regarding the tax cap for the 2016/2017 budget. Zacher said the state must be notified by March 1 as to whether or not the district thinks it will need to override the tax cap.

With the allowed carryover, Zacher estimated the increase on the 2016/2017 tax levy to be capped at 2.173 percent. Board members agreed that they did not foresee a need to override that figure.

Superintendent Robert D’Angelo said during his report that the governor’s proposal for school districts is “ridiculously low.” However, he noted that Holley is in “pretty good shape.”

“I have a sense of optimism,” D’Angelo said, which stems from assurances he has received from State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Sen. Robert Ortt that there will be “a huge difference between what the governor is proposing (in aid) and what members of the State Senate and Assembly arrive at.”

He said local superintendents have made it clear to state lawmakers that, “the proposed aid to education is unacceptable at this point.”

Although D’Angelo had wanted lawmakers to take real steps to provide relief from unfunded mandates, he said Monday evening that at this point he does not see that coming.

“They are not serious about it,” he said of lawmakers. “It hurts both the districts and the taxpayers.”

Holley Central will continue to monitor the state budget process in relation to its own budget development, D’Angelo said.

Holley library makes kid-friendly space and play stations

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2016 at 12:00 am

HOLLEY – Sandra Shaw, director of the Community Free Library in Holley, holds one of the new puppets at the library’s puppet theatre. The puppets can be borrowed by patrons.

The library has added a puppet theatre, dress-up station, tool bench, veterinary clinic and other stations for children to play that are free of electronics.

Before George Maziarz retired on Dec. 31, 2014, the state senator directed $6,300 to the library in Holley. The library has used those funds for its children’s library, creating a more inviting space with fun things for children, Shaw said.

“Everything now is electronic,” Shaw said at the library in the Public Square. “We’re trying to get the to use their imagination.”

This toy kitchen is part of the new play stations in the Children’s Room at the library. The kitchen has shopping carts, plastic food and dishes.

If children are worried about an sick stuffed animal, they can take it to Doc McStuffin’s Veterinary Clinic.

“Play is the work of children,” Shaw said. “There are lots of studies being published showing the relationship between opportunities for play and the development of reading and learning skills. We have books, so we decided to expand the play opportunities for children. They can play, then find books in the library related to what they were playing.”

The costume closet gives children a chance to transform into different characters and roles.

Shaw thanked the library’s board of trustees and their families who came in on a Sunday in January and put the play centers together.

There is more to come. A new castle entrance way, to be created by artist and retired teacher Larry Dabney, will be added as part of the grant funds from Maziarz.

“No longer will they just be walking from one room to another,” Shaw said. “Now they will be entering a world created just for them.”

When the castle is completed, the library plans to have a ribbon-cutting celebration for the community, complete with a puppet show, face painting, and other events.

Vietnam vet receives overdue medal

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Gerald Harter’s medal was found in filing cabinet at Veterans Service Agency

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Earl Schmidt, director of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency, presents the New York State Medal of Merit to Gerald Harter of Holley this morning.

The medal was approved for Harter in December 2000 but was stashed away in a filing cabinet at the Veterans Service Agency. Schmidt started as the new director in December. He was going through the files when he discovered the medal for Harter.

“My job is making sure the veterans get what they deserve,” Schmidt said.

Harter served two years in the U.S. Army, including a year in Vietnam from 1967-68, which included the Tet Offensive. He missed the birth of his daughter when he was in Vietnam. He met his daughter Buffie when she was 6 months old. She is now Buffie Gleason.

Harter worked for Kodak and retired about two decades ago. For the past 19 years he has worked part-time as a school bus driver for Spencerport.

He also has served as a past American Legion commander for the Holley post, and was a past VFW Post commander in Holley and for Orleans County.

He thanked Schmidt for finding the medal.

“This is wonderful,” he said. “It will go in my Man Cave.”

Groundhogs are stars of story hour

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 3 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Photos by Kristina Gabalski
HOLLEY – Eager listeners at the Community Free Library in Holley enjoy the story of “Gretchen Groundhog: It’s Your Day” during the children’s story hour this morning.

Delia Bush-Greanier, also known as “Miss Dee” read several groundhog-related story books to the children, just a day after Groundhog’s Day.

Punxsutawney Phil, the famous Pennsylvania groundhog, did not see his shadow on Tuesday. According to Groundhog Day lore that means it will be an early spring.

Holley school leaders say district is in good financial condition

Posted 3 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Comptroller cites Holley for ‘moderate fiscal stress’

Photo by Tom Rivers – The sign in front of the Holley Elementary School lists upcoming activities at the district.

By Tom Rivers and Kristina Gabalski

The state comptroller’s office has put out its annual assessment of school district’s fiscal stress and Holley was cited at a “moderate” level.

Other districts in Orleans County didn’t have a designation, but the comptroller’s scoring system gave the districts points for either fiscal or environmental stress, in some cases both.

Holley accumulated 48.3 points for fiscal stress, the most of any one the five districts in Orleans County. Albion had the second most with 20 points.

Both districts moved money out of the general fund, drawing attention of the comptroller’s office. Holley gave money back to the taxpayers, which reduced taxes, and also paid down debt, said Sharon Zacher, the district’s assistant superintendent for business.

Holley Central School District issued a statement on its Facebook page saying, ” from a financial standpoint, the district is and continues to be in good financial condition.”

In an interview, Zacher said the district’s finances and cash flow are in good condition.

“The district chose to pay down additional debt and reduce the tax levy,” she said. “As a result, the district fund balance and reserves were significantly lowered causing the calculation for fiscal stress to rise. A portion of district reserves were moved to account for the capital project that was voter approved in December 2014.”

Albion moved money from the general fund to a capital reserve fund. District voters in May 2015 approved a $14.3 million capital project. The district has to pay a 9 percent local share, $1,286,000, and it has that money in a reserve fund.

“We transferred funds from surplus to a fund that was set up for that purpose,” Shawn Liddle, Albion’s assistant superintendent for business, told the Board of Education on Monday. “We’re well below any designation for fiscal stress.”

The comptroller’s office based its fiscal stress report on five categories for school districts: year-end fund balance, end-fund balance, operating deficits, cash position, and use of short-term debt and fixed costs.

Kendall was given a fiscal score of 6.7 percent (no designation), and Lyndonville and Medina were given a 0 percent fiscal stress score.

The comptroller’s office also scored districts on environmental stress. None of the Orleans County districts were designated, but they were assigned points in the comptroller’s indicators, including property values, enrollment, budget votes, graduation rate and free & reduced priced lunch.

Lyndonville scored the highest at 26.7 percent for environmental stress, followed by Albion at 20 percent, Kendall at 13.3 percent, and Holley and Medina both at 6.7 percent.

For more on the comptroller’s report, click here.

American Legion, Holley church will remember 4 chaplains who died in WWII

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 February 2016 at 12:00 am

Provided photos – Joe Willis (center), pastor of the First Baptist Church, is presented a certificate of appreciation last February by Larry Montello (left), commander of the American Legion in Orleans County, and Steve Goodrich, a past county commander.

HOLLEY – Veterans and church members will gather at the First Baptist Church in Holley on Sunday to remember four chaplains who gave up their lives to save civilian and military personnel as the SS Dorchester sank on Feb. 3, 1943.

The four chaplains gave up their life jackets when they were none left for others on the ship. The chaplains sang hymns and prayed together as the ship sank.

Larry Montello, the commander of the American Legion in Orleans County, wants to keep the story alive and remind the community – 73 years later – of the sacrifice by Methodist minister the Reverend George L. Fox, Reform Rabbi Alexander D. Goode (Ph.D.), Roman Catholic priest the Reverend John P. Washington, and Reformed Church in America minister the Reverend Clark V. Poling. All of the chaplains attained the rank of first lieutenant.

“This is history we shouldn’t forget,” Montello said. “They laid down their life for others.”

The service will include reading the biographies of each of the chaplain, lighting candles, placing wreaths, and playing taps.

The memorial service for the four chaplains will be part of the regular 9:30 a.m. service at church on Geddes Street. The Honor Guard will be there at 9 a.m. The service is open to the community and will include refreshments after the service.

The Legion has been doing the memorial service for the chaplains for about seven years, and tries to have it in a different church in the county every year. However, the Legion is back at First Baptist in Holley because Montello said the church was so welcoming last year with a big turnout.

Holley 1st, 2nd graders learn about healthy choices

Posted 27 January 2016 at 12:00 am

Provided photos – Karen Blank talks healthy eating and fitness with Holley students.

Press Release, Holley Central School

HOLLEY – Karen Blank, owner of The Whole Approach in Holley, last month led Holley first and second graders through a workshop entitled “Healthy Snack Cooking & Games.”

Blank met with 24 students after school twice a week and taught them about nutrition, games to stay active, how to make their own healthy snacks and how to make healthy living choices.

The students were joined by their parents for the final workshop on Dec. 17, when they set the table together and prepared a healthy dinner of homemade ravioli and salad.

Families work on making homemade ravioli together.

Blank’s workshops were offered free to Holley students as part of the three-year Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant the district received last year. The school district regularly offers before- and after-school programs to grades K-12 students as part of its FIT4U! program, made possible by the PEP grant. The FIT4U! program focuses on teaching students about fitness and nutrition through a variety of activities and educational programs.

Students took pre- and post-tests evaluating how much they knew about healthy choices at the start and conclusion of the workshop. Their knowledge of healthy behaviors increased from 61 percent to 99 percent.

Students compete in cursive handwriting contest

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 23 January 2016 at 12:00 am

Historical Society recognizes what is becoming a lost art

Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Winners of the 2016 Clarkson Historical Society Handwriting Contest display their certificates. Seated, from left: Emma Lenhard, Quest School in Hilton; and Carli Kirkwood, Byron-Bergen Central School. Standing, from left: Louie Conte, Kendall Central School; Aubrey Hammill, Erie, Pa. (Aubrey’s grandmother lives in Brockport); Christina Bishop, Oliver Middle School in Brockport; and Madison Marsh, Holley Central School. Not pictured: Jacey Donahue, Byron-Bergen Central School; Kennedy Jones, Holley Central School; Dakota Thompson, Holley Central School.

BROCKPORT – Orleans County students were well represented in a local cursive handwriting contest.

Students from both the Kendall Central and Holley Central School Districts were among winners honored Saturday afternoon at the Clarkson Historical Society’s Second Annual Handwriting Contest. The award ceremony was held at the restored Clarkson Academy on Rt. 104 just east of Clarkson Corners.

January 23 is John Hancock’s birthday (2016 marks his 279th) and Clarkson Historical Society President Mary Edwards explained that the national “Campaign for Cursive” group has chosen his birthday to celebrate cursive handwriting as his signature is, “the boldest on the Declaration of Independence.”

Madison Marsh, a 9th grader at Holley Jr./Sr. High School, accepts her award for second place in the High School division in the Clarkson Historical Society’s 2016 Cursive Handwriting Contest. Clarkson Historical Society President Mary Edwards looks on.

The Clarkson Historical Society holds summer camps and hosts field trips each year for local students and has emphasized teaching cursive handwriting – quickly becoming a lost art – during these events.

Edwards said Campaign for Cursive reached out to Clarkson regarding holding an event on National Handwriting Day and the cursive writing contest was born.

Winners this year include Louie Conte from Kendall Elementary School, who took second place in the 4th and 5th Grade division. Holley Central School took all three places in the High School division – First Place going to Kennedy Jones, second place going to Madison Marsh and third place going to Dakota Thompson.

Thompson and Jones were unable to attend the award ceremony due to a conflict, but will be presented with their prize on Sunday.

Winning entries were displayed at the Clarkson Academy Saturday afternoon. Those taking part had to write out the sentence: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” Students at Kendall Central and Holley Central took four of the nine awards.

Louie Conte, a student at Kendall Elementary School, accepts his cursive handwriting award from Mary Edwards, president of the Clarkson Historical Society during ceremonies at the Clarkson Academy.

Marsh, a 9th grader who lives in Clarendon, says she “loves to write in cursive,” and was inspired by her English teacher, Suzanne Lepkowski, who has a poster about cursive hanging in her classroom.

“It made me want to get into the habit of writing in cursive,” Marsh said.

Louie Conte, who lives in Kendall, said he “just started writing in cursive this year,” and he also enjoys it.

Conte was the only young man among the winners this year and Mary Edwards commended the Kendall School District for their submissions.

“Kendall is doing a really great job,” she said.

The Clarkson Historical Society received 140 entries this year and Edwards encouraged those attending to continue to work on their cursive handwriting skills.

“It’s like your fingerprint,” she said. “No one else can write exactly like you.”

She said learning how to sign your name is part of growing up and being able to sign your name in cursive “will distinguish you in the coming years. It’s a wonderful accomplishment.”

Town of Clarkson Historian Leanna Hale (left) and Clarkson Historical Society President Mary Edwards discuss the importance of cursive handwriting prior to presenting awards Saturday afternoon at the Clarkson Academy on Route 104 in Clarkson.

Holley residents asked to lock cars, be vigilant after 2 vehicles stolen

Posted 15 January 2016 at 12:00 am

Press Release, Holley Police Chief Roland Nenni

HOLLEY – The Holley Police Department is currently investigating the larceny of two vehicles recently from residences on South Main Street in the Village of Holley.

The crimes occurred in the mid to late evening. The vehicles were located at a later time in the City of Rochester in close proximity to each other. The vehicles were located in the area of Lake Avenue and Lyell Avenue in Rochester.

Holley residents are asked to be vigilant and report any suspicious persons or activity immediately. Residents are also asked to make sure their vehicles are locked and not left unattended with the keys in the vehicle or valuable items inside the vehicle. Video footage from the area of the crimes is being reviewed.

Anyone with information related to the crimes is asked to contact the Holley Police by calling 911.