File photos by Tom Rivers: Vendors will line the path of Holley’s canal park on Saturday for June Fest. This photo is from last year’s festival.

HOLLEY – The village will be abuzz with activities on Saturday for the annual June Fest celebration.

The events begin with a 5K near the elementary school. The Holley Rotary Club is planning the annual Jim Ferris Memorial 5K. Click here for more information about the race.

Jim Ferris was one of the top runners in the Rochester region in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He died at age 53 from a sudden heart attack on May 7, 1994.

Mayor Mark Bower said the weather looks good for “a full day of fun” in Holley.

“Enjoy live entertainment, local vendors, food, music and activities for all ages,” he said today in a social media post to the community. “Events will take place throughout the village, including the Holley Public Square, Holley Canal Park along the historic Erie Canal, and the beautiful Holley Falls Park.”

The lineup of activities includes:

• Jim Ferris 5K at 8 a.m.
• Vendors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Children’s Athletic Parade led by Sal DeLuca, Holley’s Citizen of the Year, starts at 9:30 a.m. with line up beginning at 9 a.m. by Red, White and Moo
• Cardboard Regatta at 10 a.m. in Canal by gazebo
• St. Mary’s Chicken Barbecue starts at 11 a.m. until gone
• Orly the Bicentennial Ox doing meet and greet at village booth from 11:30 a.m. to noon
• Concert by Celtic Spirit at playground pavilion at 12:30 p.m.
• Community Free Library doing book sale and scavenger hunt
• Concert by Beggars Will Ride from 6 to 8 p.m. at Public Square. (The Who Dats kicked off the fest this evening, Friday, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Square.)

The runners line up at the starting line for last year’s Jim Ferris 5K which was organized by the Holley Rotary Club. The race returns on Saturday at 8 a.m. with the sign in outside the elementary school.

DeFillipps served in role for Holley and Murray for 46 years

File photo by Tom Rivers: Raymond Santoro is shown in October 2023 with a copy of his book, “Haunted Holley – Tales of Ghosts, Miracles and Unexplained Mysteries.”

HOLLEY – Marsha DeFilipps has retired after 46 years as Holley’s official historian. DeFilipps also served in the role for the Town of Murray.

DeFilipps has been very active in the Holley-Murray Historical Society. She was influential in establishing the Murray-Holley Historical Society Museum in the old train depot and has led multiple talks and workshops and helped many residents trace their own familial roots.

The depot was constructed in 1907. It was moved in 1988 to Geddes Street Extension and was turned into a museum about local history.

One of the signature accomplishments during her term as historian was her creation of an Index of personal names in Landmarks of Orleans County. To do this, DeFilipps spent many months combing through and extracting every name mentioned in Isaac Signor’s 1894 publication, developing a permanent record of history.

The Holley Village Board accepted DeFilipps’ resignation on May 13 and appointed Raymond Santoro to the role.

“What can I possibly say to acknowledge the many contributions Marsha has made to this village over the course of 46 years of service?” Holley Mayor Mark Bower posted on the village website. “At every turn, with any and every request, or question, she was there to provide any of us the information we were seeking. To say Marsha was a ‘wealth of knowledge’ is simply an understatement.”

Bower during his five years as a village officials said he often turned to DeFilipps for historical photos or information, or for help with some of the village events. .such as research of Myron Holley family when his descendants were welcomed to Holley in 2023.

“Marsha was the driving force in establishing our village’s historical society, now the joint Murray-Holley Historical Society,” Bower said. “On behalf of the deputy mayor and trustees, I thank Marsha DeFilipps for her distinguished service. I thank her for how she advocated for our village and how, as historian, she represented Holley in the best of ways.”

Santoro, the new historian, has been active in the Historical Society since it was founded in 1985. In 2023 he wrote a book, “Haunted Holley – Tales of Ghosts, Miracles and Unexplained Mysteries.” The 144-page book shares some of the supernatural experiences Santoro has experienced or heard about in the Holley area.

Press Release, Holley Central School

MacKenzie Fiorito

HOLLEY –MacKenzie Fiorito of Holley has been recognized by the Monroe County Council of Superintendents as a 2025 Outstanding Senior at the 30th Annual Dr. Michael C. O’Laughlin Outstanding Senior Recognition Dinner on May 7.  One senior from each high school in the Monroe One and Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES region is selected for this honor based on their scholarship, leadership, service and character.

MacKenzie served as co-president of Interact Club, the largest club in the school, where she focused on leading community service projects year-round. She was president of the High School Student Council where she organized homecoming events, seasonal pep assemblies and more.

She was a SOAR Leader where she served as a peer mentor to 7th grade students, a member of the Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team, and a member of the Holley-Kendall Unified Basketball Team which empowered students of all abilities to come together to compete.

“MacKenzie embodies all that Holley stands for,” said Holley Central School Superintendent Karri Schiavone. “She is a champion for students of every ability and represents Holley with her leadership, positivity and compassion. She exudes kindness and strength, making her a true a role model to her peers and perfect candidate for this award.”

Information courtesy of Holley Central School

HOLLEY – The Holley Board of Education approved tenure to the following staff members during Monday’s board meeting:

• Wil Prince, elementary physical education teacher
• Riley Graham, 1st grade teacher
• Kimberly Ellis, districtwide art teacher
• Nicole Laure, MS/HS counselor
• Matthew Feldman, MS/HS principal
• Scott Wheeler, elementary band teacher
• Samantha Claffey, MS/HS Spanish teacher

Voters will elect 4 members to Board of Education

HOLLEY – Voters in the Holley school district today will vote on a proposed $30,774,000 budget, as well as other propositions and will also elect four members to the Board of Education.

The budget increases spending by 3.91 percent or $1,159,000 from the $29,615,000 in 2024-25.

The tax levy will increase 1.49 percent from $7,952,214 to $8,070,702. That is $212,931 under the district’s allowable tax cap, Holley school officials said.

Voting is today from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Holley Middle/High School Foyer.

The budget continues all existing school day academic programs and courses. State aid covers 70.3 percent of the budget and Holley is budgeting an increase in state funds from $20,725,520 to $21,620,241.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to elevate the educational experience in Holley, we’ve approached this year’s planning with a renewed focus on innovation, growth and excellence,” district superintendent Karri Schiavone and BOE President Anne Winkley wrote in a message to the community. “Our goal is not only to sustain high-quality learning, but to elevate it – providing new opportunities that inspire students, support educators, and engage our community.”

The positions include:

Proposition One – Budget at $30,774,000

Proposition Two – Authorization to purchase school buses and similar vehicles at an estimated maximum cost of $250,200.

Proposition Three –  Authorization to collect $212,394 for Community Free Library, which is up $5,554 or by 2.7 percent.

Board of Education – There are four seats up for election for the Board of Education. Three names are on the ballot. A write-in will determine at least one of the seats. The two candidates with the highest number of votes will each serve a three-year term. The candidate with the third highest votes will serve a two-year term and the fourth-highest vote-getter will serve a one-year term.

Candidates on the ballot include:

Tracy Van Ameron – A senior scientist in Software Engineering at L3Harris, Van Ameron is currently on the BOE. She and her husband Jeremy have three children.

“As a parent of three very different children, I have found myself invested in many aspects of education including general education, accelerated programs, special education, Career and Technical Education, arts and music and sports,” Van Ameron stated in the school’s newsletter. “I have learned a tremendous amount through my children by being involved in their education.”

Jessica L. Sniatecki – The Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Healthcare Studies at SUNY Brockport, Sniatecki also is a current member of the Holley Board of Education. She and her husband Anthony have a daughter who is a second-grader at Holley.

“I believe that the top priority of the district should be preparing its students for successful futures,” Sniatecki stated in the newsletter. “This requires that schools are accessible and welcoming to all students, flexible in their educational approaches to both challenge high-achieving students and provide support for those who need it, able to hire and retain quality school staff, and work in partnership with parents and community members to facilitate student success.”

Stephanie Merkley – An employee at Liberty Pumps in Bergen, Merkley is married with two daughters. She is currently on the Board of Education.

“I have worked as a substitute for the school in years past,” she stated in the newsletter. “I had two children, and several nieces and nephews attend the school, and I’m looking to assist the town in any way possible in ensuring all children are given the benefit of an education they deserve. I have seen different sides of the school environment, and I think this opportunity will allow me to bring that experience forward in a way that will benefit all students.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Holley students and community volunteers spent about four hours today working on the Vietnam War memorial outside the VFW. The group reset about 500 bricks, removed weeds and put down a perimeter of mulch. They also painted the shells by the Vietnam War era tank.

Some of the volunteers also worked on the site for a few hours the previous week.

The Holley Interact Club and EarlyAct sent a group of about 100 students in the community to pick up litter, clean headstones at Hillside Cemetery and for the first time work on the memorial by the tank.

Gage Campbell goes underneath the tank to pick up broken glass and debris.

Jack Breuilly, center, removes bricks while Gage Campbell climbs them before they were reset. Gage’s dad Matt Campbell was able to get the lights working at the site.

The memorial initially was installed in 2009 as part of an Eagle Scout project led by Dylan Lotzow.

The volunteers wanted to get the site looking good in time for Memorial Day on May 26.

Provided photos: This group picked up trash along the canal trail and at the Holley Waterfalls.

Students also cleaned headstones at Hillside Cemetery.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Ryker Knight gets the site along the tank ready for mulch.

Logan Lane, right, and Jack Breuilly paint the top of the shells for the tank.

These Holley students yank out weeds and reset bricks along the tank.

Karri Schiavone, the Holley district superintendent, thanks the students and other volunteers for their efforts to help the community. Holley Mayor Mark Bower also said he appreciates the efforts for the group for the annual clean sweep.

Interact, EarlyAct clubs also will be cleaning headstones at Hillside Cemetery

Press Release, Holley Central School

HOLLEY – The Holley Interact and EarlyAct Clubs are gearing up to host their fifth community Clean Sweep on Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon.

Historically, over 100 students, staff and community members have participated where they sweep the canal park, walking paths and village sidewalks collecting trash to both better the environment and restore beauty to the community.

Due to the annual fall Cemetery Clean Up being postponed earlier this school year, participants will also be cleaning headstones at the Hillside Cemetery as part of this year’s Clean Sweep.

The Clean Sweep event is planned in alignment with the Parks & Trails New York annual state-wide Earth Day Canal Clean Sweep. The Cemetery Clean Up is organized in partnership with Clarendon Town Historian Melissa Ierlan. This marks the seventh year for Cemetery Clean Up where students give back to the community and honor the generations of local residents who have been buried in the cemetery since 1866.

Volunteers will meet at the Holley Elementary School parking lot. They will then be split up within the Village of Holley, Holley Canal Park and path, and Hillside Cemetery. Some will travel by foot and some will be shuttled by bus.

About Interact and EarlyAct Clubs:

Holley MS/HS implemented Interact Club in 2017. It is offered to students in grades 7-12 interested in volunteering their service to their community and school. Interact is the largest club in the school with over 70 active members. They participate in multiple service projects throughout the year, including Parks & Trails New York Adopt-a-Trail program, assembling bagged lunches for Open Door Mission, preparing and serving meals at Orleans Koinonia Kirchen and more.

Inspired by Interact, the Elementary School launched EarlyAct Club in 2023 where fifth and sixth graders can gain an increased awareness of knowledge of their community and participate in service projects, including assembling homeless necessity bags, goody bags for active military members, and for Golisano Children’s Hospital. Both clubs are sponsored by the Holley Rotary Club.

Provided photos

HOLLEY – Nora Lindsay (center), a junior at Holley Junior-Senior High School, is shown with Neil and Diane Valentine, parents of Evan Valentine.

Lindsay sold cookies in April in memory of Evan, who passed away at age 18 on February 21, 2021 after a courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Evan was very active in Holley’s music program and also was a soccer player and Eagle Scout.

Lindsay was able to donate $700 for the C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association in memory of Evan Valentine.

“This community will not and can not forget everything Evan meant to us,” Lindsay said in a message to promote the cookie sale for the C.U.R.E.

Photos courtesy of Isabella Zasa

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley this morning planted an Acer tree in the Public Square in honor of the 200^th anniversary of Orleans County and the Erie Canal.

Pictured from left include Holley Mayor Mark Bower, County Legislator John Fitzak, Erie Canal Recreationway Commission member Ken DeRoller and County Historian Catherine Cooper. Bower, Cooper and DeRoller are all members of the county’s bicentennial committee.