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Holley/Murray

“Biggest Winner” contest motivates Holley residents to exercise, eat right

Posted 16 December 2015 at 12:00 am

Provided photos – Participants in Holley’s “Biggest Winner” weight reduction contest use hand weights during the December meeting of the program.

Press Release
Holley Central School

HOLLEY – The Holley Biggest Winner Weight Reduction Contest was in full swing at a Dec. 1 monthly meeting in the Holley Elementary School Cafeteria.

After weighing in, the participants stayed to listen to the owners of S & S Fitness and Martial Arts Center, Scott and Sandy Haug, talk about interval training and participate in a workout session led by the Haugs.

The contest is in its fourth year at the school, with anyone age 10 or older who lives in Holley or works for the school district eligible to participate. In the past three years, 152 participants have lost a grand total of 901 pounds in the contest.

The contest kicked off in November with a presentation on nutrition by the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension. The 48 participants weigh in at the school on the first Tuesday of each month, and then stay for a presentation on a different aspect of exercise or nutrition.

Plans for this year’s presentations include a session on meal choices led by the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, another exercise session using fitness equipment led by the Haugs, and a fitness demonstration on proper exercise form and equipment use by Agapé. Anyone from the community is invited to attend the informational presentations, even if they are not participating in the Biggest Winner program.

Participants perform lunges, led by Scott Haug (wearing hat), owner of S & S Fitness and Martial Arts Center, during the December meeting of the Holley’s Biggest Winner Weight Reduction Contest.

At the December meeting, participants worked out their upper and lower bodies by doing two sets each of bicep curls, triceps extensions, skier jumps, squats and lunges with the Haugs. The two sets, or intervals, work off more calories than a constant level of effort in the same exercise because they increase the level of cardiovascular effort.

At each meeting, participants have a chance to win prizes in the monthly drawing. Current prizes being offered are restaurant deals and tickets to sporting events, museums, art galleries, state parks and amusement parks. Grand prizes will be awarded to those who lose the most percentage of weight by the final meeting in June. Grand prizes so far include a Wegmans gift card, an overnight at the Rochester Airport Marriott Hotel, and cash prizes from Heath & Martin and Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, Inc.

The next meeting of the Biggest Winner Contest is on Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m., where Robert Batt from Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension will present information about meal choices and food additives, using a Star Wars theme.

Scouts help at soup kitchen in Holley

Staff Reports Posted 16 December 2015 at 12:00 am

Provided photo

HOLLEY – Holley Cub Scout Pack 3062 volunteered at the Loaf and Ladle Soup kitchen held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Saturday. The boys helped set up, serve, and clean up.

Pictured include, front row, from left: Ben Dale, Dylan Murphy-Bell, Kayden Schutz, Hunter Sommerfeldt and David Arnold.

Back row: Hunter Pachla, Kohle Pachla, Brody Schutz, Ronald Thorn, Zachary Mrzywka and Dawson Arnold.

State grant shows appreciation for historic Hillside chapel

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 December 2015 at 12:00 am

File photos by Tom Rivers – The chapel at Hillside Cemetery was open for tours on Sept.21, 2014, when the Clarendon Historical Society unveiled a new historical marker for the cemetery.

HOLLEY – The announcement last Thursday that New York State would provide a $126,210 grant for work on the chapel at Hillside Cemetery should show the community that the state values historic sites in Orleans County, including the old cemetery chapels.

“I hope this opens people’s eyes that other buildings are worth saving,” said Erin Anheier, a member of the Clarendon Historical Society. “I hope it inspires people.”

Anheier wrote the grant for the state application. It was a painstaking effort. Most municipalities and organizations will hire a professional grantwriter to put together the application for state funds.

“It’s exciting because it’s such a competitive grant,” she said. “It validates what we’ve said all along that this is a valuable, important building worth preserving.”

Anheier and the Clarendon Historical Society have worked hard the past five years to raise public awareness and support for restoring the site.

The state approved a matching grant for the chapel, and the Historical Society already has about $65,000 towards the local match with $20,000 from the Rochester Community Foundation, $14,500 from the Curtis Foundation, $10,000 from an anonymous donor, and $20,000 in other local contributions.

In-kind work from the Town of Clarendon can also count towards the local share.

“We are very confident we can raise the local match,” Anheier said.

The Historical Society has identified about $250,000 in restoration work for the chapel, a Gothic Revival chapel built of Medina sandstone in 1894. (It might be the only site in Orleans County with a flying buttress.)

Amy Harris plays her flute during a reception on Sept. 21, 2014 inside the chapel at Hillside Cemetery.

The chapel is the focal point of a cemetery owned by the Town of Clarendon. The town and Historical Society want to restore the non-denominational chapel and repurpose it for new public uses. Anticipated use includes concerts, historical and art exhibits, and lectures.

Anheier said the slate roof will be replaced with slate, and some of the stained-glass windows will be repaired. The project includes painting the inside, adding lighting, refinishing the floor and adding a handrail to the outside steps.

Anheier also thinks the chapel would make sense as the eastern end of a Medina Sandstone Trail in Orleans County if municipalities can get on board with that project.

Hillside Cemetery opened in 1866 and was designed in the 19th century “Rural Cemetery Movement.” That is on the eastern side of the cemetery where the gravesides are dug into the side of the hill.

The 20th century “Lawn Style” approach is seen in the western portion. The cemetery has many beautiful gravestones that are works of art, Anheier said.

She also was instrumental in the cemetery being recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

Anheier said the Historical Society welcomes more donations and support for the chapel and cemetery. Donations can be sent to Clarendon Historical Society, “Chapel Fund” at P.O. Box 124, Clarendon NY 14429.

This picture was taken looking up from the mortuary chambers to the stairs leading to the main chapel room.

Holley church celebrates Christmas season with music

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 14 December 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Kristina Gabalski

HOLLEY – The holiness of the Christmas season was celebrated Sunday afternoon at the First Presbyterian Church of Holley with the performance of “St. Luke’s Christmas Story,” a musical mélange performed by the Holley Presbyterian Church Choir and special musical friends.

The first-time event included a Christmas Carole sing-a-long and refreshments.


Rhoda Broekhuizen served as narrator for the performance which included the Christmas story as related in the Gospel of St. Luke with some excerpts from Matthew.

The Rev. Darla Bair directed the performance. Sally Martin accompanied the choir on piano and Amy Harris played flute.


The Rev. Darla Bair directs the Holley Presbyterian Church Choir during the performance of “Luke’s Christmas Story” at the First Presbyterian Church of Holley.

Sunday’s performance included musical selections telling the Christmas Story including the Annunciation by the Angel Gabriel to Mary, Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth, the birth of the Christ Child, the visit of the shepherds and the visit of the Wise Men.

Developer looking at old Holley High School for apartments

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 10 December 2015 at 12:00 am

File photo by Tom Rivers – This photo from October 2014 shows the side of the old Holley High School facing Route 31. The Landmark Society of Western New York named the school to its annual list of “Five to Revive.”

HOLLEY – Leaders in Holley say it is very preliminary at this point, but Village Board members have been meeting with a developer who has an interest in the old Holley High School building located at the prominent intersection of routes 31 and 237.

Deputy Mayor Brian Sorochty says Rochester-based developer Home Leasing, LLC, specializes in the development, construction and management of apartment-style communities.

“It’s early in the process,” Sorochty said. “There are many hurdles to get over.”

Those hurdles include issues regarding the title and back taxes, he said. Stakeholders met Tuesday afternoon to hear from the developer regarding, “what they are thinking and what are the next steps,” Sorochty said.

The former Holley High School was constructed in 1931 and was placed on the Landmark Society of Western New York’s “Five to Revive” list in 2013.

The building has been vacant for about 20 years. The Landmark Society is trying to get the site on the National Register of Historic Places, which would make a rehab project eligible for tax credits.

Home Leasing is currently a co-developer in the Eastman Gardens Complex in Rochester, which involves converting another historic building on the 2013 “Five To Revive” list – the Eastman Dental Dispensary – into apartments for seniors 55 years and older, Sorochty noted.

Village leaders plan to meet with Home Leasing again in January.

Regarding the regular meeting of the Village Board Tuesday evening, Sorochty said that board members approved the hiring of two new part-time police officers, pending background checks.

Holley celebrates with parade, lighting of tree in Public Square

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 6 December 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Kristina Gabalski

HOLLEY – A Holley fire truck is decorated with lights and a glowing Santa as part of a parade on Saturday night, just before the community tree lighting in the Public Square.

All decked out for the holidays, a Holley electric truck rounds out the parade on Route 31.

Village of Holley leaders and residents gathered Saturday evening in the Public Square for the lighting of the community tree. Mayor John Kenney, Jr. read the names of those remembered with “Memory Bulbs” prior to the lighting of the tree.

The mayor read a list of 73 memories.

Holley residents admire the just-lit 23-foot-high community tree in the Public Square.

The Public Square in Holley is now festively lit and decorated for the holiday season.

Following the tree lighting outside, Holley residents were invited inside the Fire Hall for refreshments including pizza, cocoa and cookies. Here, members of the Village Board including Mayor John Kenney and Trustees Kevin Lynch and Connie Nennie (partially hidden) help serve up food and beverages.

Holley officer on administrative leave following arrest

Staff Reports Posted 2 December 2015 at 12:00 am

HOLLEY – A Holley police officer who was charged with official misconduct, stalking and aggravated harassment has been placed on administrative leave.

Lloyd Christ III, 54, of Hamlin was charged by State Police on Monday. Christ has worked as a part-time police officer in Holley since 2000.

Police Chief Roland Nenni III issued this statement this morning:

“The Holley Police Department aided and assisted with the Investigation. The internal investigation is protected from public release because it is deemed a personnel matter.”

“I want to insure the public that the Holley Police Department holds its officers to the highest standards and that public integrity and transparency is paramount within the operations of the Police Department. Misconduct of any kind by police officers will not be tolerated and will be dealt with quickly and appropriately.”

Holley police officer charged with stalking, official misconduct

Staff Reports Posted 1 December 2015 at 12:00 am

Lloyd Christ III

HOLLEY – A part-time Holley police officer has been charged with official misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly harassing and stalking two victims, the State Police reported today.

Lloyd Christ III, 54, of Hamlin also faces misdemeanor charges for fourth-degree stalking and aggravated harassment in the second degree.

Christ was charged today. He was arraigned before Murray Town Justice Gary Passarell and released on his own recognizance.

State Police reported that Joe Cardone, the Orleans County district attorney, was notified of the case against Christ and recommended the charges.

Holley recognizes 3 students and teacher

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 26 November 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Ruthie Miller, Mikayla Auch, Holley Middle School/High School Principal Susan Cory, and Makenzie Ferranti are shown during a recent Board of Education meeting.

HOLLEY – Three students have been recognized by the Holley Central School Board of Education with this month’s Soaring to New Heights Award.

Eighth-graders Mikayla Auch and Ruthie Miller and 11th-grader Makenzie Ferranti received their certificates at the Nov. 16 meeting of the Board.

Mikayla runs with Ruthie, who is visually impaired, for practice, facilitating Ruthie’s participation on the school’s cross country team. Makenzie runs with Ruthie during competitions allowing Mikayla to compete.

“Ruthie doesn’t let anything slow her down,” Holley Middle School/High School Principal Susan Cory said.

The awards recognize the students for going above and beyond expectations and for lending their skills and abilities to help others. Ruthie was recognized especially for her “great spirit,” Cory said.

Board member Melissa Ierlan said she frequently sees the girls out running as part of their training. “Way to go Ruthie,” Ierlan said.

Mike Crissman and Susan Cory during the award presentation on Nov. 16.

Social Studies teacher Mike Crissman also received a Soaring to New Heights Award

for his dedication to his students and his exceptional efforts in preparing them for college and life beyond high school.

“Mr. Crissman works really hard with his students and let’s them know he believes they can do anything they set their mind to,” Cory said in presenting the award.

Board President Brenda Swanger said Mr. Crissman started his career at Holley when Swanger’s daughter was in school. “We are so proud you are here at Holley,” she said.

“You make them work hard,” Board member John Heise said of Crissman’s students, “but they also notice that you work hard.”

Holley school eyes basketball program that would be open to players with disabilities

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 24 November 2015 at 12:00 am

HOLLEY – The Holley Central School District is in the process of forming a unified basketball team that would include students with disabilities.

Athletic Director Dan Courtney discussed progress with members of the Board of Education during a meeting last week.

Special Olympics unified sports is a national program that pairs people with and without intellectual disabilities on a team to compete. Individuals have to play at least six minutes in every game.

“It’s a state recognized sport,” Courtney said, and added that he recently attended a meeting at Gates-Chili to learn more about the program. He also said Brockport Central School has been very helpful.

“It creates an opportunity for kids who normally would not be part of a team,” he said. “The community gets to see their kids compete and do things against other schools … and it’s an opportunity to have fun.”

Courtney said the program can be funded through grants.

He explained that on a typical team, three athletes with intellectual disabilities are combined with two partners without disabilities. There were six unified teams in Section V last year, Courtney said.

He has worked with the school’s special education department to compile a list of students who could take part.

“I think we would have enough,” Courtney said. “Partners are usually easier to find. They cannot be varsity or JV basketball players. They could run track or play baseball.”

Unified Basketball is considered a boys sport, but Courtney said that’s because it’s easier for girls to join a boys sport than vice-versa.

“I think it’s fantastic,” Board member John Heise said.