By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2014 at 12:00 am
Holley, Kendall and Lyndonville budgets pass
Voters approved school budgets in Holley, Kendall and Lyndonville. In the closest vote in Orleans County for a proposition, Holley opposed reducing the size of the Board of Education from seven to five seats. That vote was 290 opposed to 287 in favor.
Holley’s $25,070,000 budget is cutting taxes by $800,000 or 10.6 percent. That budget passed, 443-138.
Voters approved, 403 to 172, a proposition to establish a capital reserve fund for up to $2.5 million.
A proposition to raise $104,705 in taxes for the Community Free Library passed 450 to 131.
Three BOE members were elected with incumbents Robin Silvis, 390, and Salvatore DeLuca Jr., 373, each receiving three-year terms. Former Board President John Heise will return to the board after taking a year off. He received 368 votes and will serve a two-year term.
Kendall
It was smooth sailing in Kendall with the $14,826,116 budget passing, 196-46. The 2014-15 budget will increase taxes by 1.36 percent.
A proposition to spend up to $250,000 from the district’s school replacement reserve fund passed 195-46.
A new member was elected to the Board of Education. Chaley Swift, the lone candidate for a five-year term, received 220 votes. She replaces Lucille Welch who decided against seeking re-election after 10 years on the board.
Lyndonville
The $13,188,750 budget passed and so did a transportation reserve account. Voters also approved creating a new capital reserve account that would have up to $2 million. The money can only be expended with voter approval.
Voters also approved $84,637 for Yates Community Library.
Incumbent Susan Hrovat was re-elected to a three-year term. She was unopposed.
Photos courtesy of Jimmie Jo Neary – A pickup truck driven by Lee D. Sietmann is on fire after a collision with a train this morning in Hulberton.
Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess
HULBERTON – A Brockport man escaped serious injury this morning when the pickup truck he was driving struck a moving train in the town of Murray.
The incident occurred at about 10:15 a.m. in the 3600 block of Hulberton Road at intersection with the Falls Railroad.
Lee D. Sietmann, 24, was the sole occupant of a 1998 Chevrolet S-10 pickup. He was traveling south on Hulberton Road, when the vehicle struck the west bound 3-car freight train, operated by Genesee Valley Transportation Co., Inc., of Batavia.
The train was already on the “at-grade” crossing when the collision occurred. Upon striking the locomotive, the impact spun the truck into one of the crossing warning-light poles after which the truck struck the train a second time, before coming to rest on the north/west corner of the crossing.
Sietmann was able to escape the vehicle before it burst into flames and was totally consumed by fire. He was transported as a precautionary measure by Holley Volunteer Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
The train travelled approximately 50 yards west of the crossing before stopping. The engineer is identified as Neal D. Keirn, 56, of Middleport in Niagara County. The conductor is identified as Lawrence X. Zablonski, 49, of Lackawanna in Erie County.
They were the only individuals on board at the time of collision and neither was injured. The two freight cars each contained about 130 tons of fertilizer. Neither one of the cars/contents was compromised.
The on-scene investigation was conducted by Deputy A.L. Jenks, assisted by Deputy E.N. Fuller, Sergeant D.W. Covis, and Chief Deputy T.L. Drennan. Deputies were assisted by the Holley and FHM (Fancher-Hulberton-Murray) Fire Departments and Monroe Ambulance. Representatives of Genesee Valley Transportation and the Falls Railroad were also on-scene.
The investigation will continue in an effort to determine what factors contributed to the crash. Charges against Lee Sietmann are pending.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
HULBERTON – A train hit a pickup truck at about 10:30 this morning in Hulberton. Nobody was injured in the crash, but the vehicle burst into flames not long after the accident.
The train engine operated by Genesee Valley Transportation sustained superficial damage and was back in service at about noon. GVT officials on the scene said the train will need some repairs.
The photo above shows a service truck from the train company. The damaged vehicle had already been towed from the scene at about noon.
The stanchion on the north side of the railroad tracks, which supports the flashing lights, was knocked down and its base uprooted. That will have to be completely rebuilt, GVT said.
Firefighters were on the scene to put out the truck fire. The Sheriff’s Department is expected to soon put out a press release with the driver’s name.
The crossing on Hulberton Road doesn’t have crossing arms, but one witness said the lights were flashing and the train was blaring its horn when the driver pulled in front of the train.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 May 2014 at 12:00 am
ALBION – The villages of Albion and Holley are working on an agreement where Holley would pay Albion to run Holley’s sewer plant.
The village of Elba also has reached out to Albion about possibly running Elba’s sewer plant. That discussion is just in the “exploratory stage,” said Aric Albright, Albion’s sewer plant chief operator.
The agreement with Holley, however, is close to approval. The Village Boards from both communities are working on the language for a contract to have Albion provide the service.
Albion has three employees that work out of the Albion sewer plant on Densmore Street. The village wouldn’t add staff as part of the added workload with Holley.
“It’s a win-win situation for both Albion and Holley,” Albright told the Albion Village Board last week.
Albion would provide the manpower to run the Holley plant. Holley would still be responsible for any maintenance and equipment costs. Holley currently contracts with the Camden Group for sewer personnel.
Albright said the agreement brings revenue to Albion’s sewer plant, and also provides personnel services to Holley at a reduced cost.
“It’s a real possibility that all of these communities could come together and help each other,” Albright told Albion village officials. “This would be a huge benefit to Albion.”
Provided photo – Stacey Kirby, an Albion native who has created many local murals, talks with Holley students about creating a mural design.
Press release
Holley Central School
HOLLEY – The Holley Central School District recently received the 2014 Arts Education Grant from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council. This grant enables the district to offer a special program called “Seeing as an Artist” to first grade students at the Holley Elementary School this May.
Artist Stacey Kirby is presenting the week-long program to students, leading them through an artistic process that begins with a nature walk to select an object of study.
“The process the artist uses encourages students to use their five senses to observe nature and sharpen their observational skills,” said first grade teacher Katie Trupo. “Studying a single object in this way requires them to develop focus, patience and attention to detail.”
Kirby met with students on Monday and talked to them about what it is like to be a professional artist. She also used this time to prepare them for their upcoming nature walk when they will be on the lookout for an item from nature that has particular colors, shapes and textures.
The students will create a drawing of something from the nature walk. They will then select a single drawing that the artist will use to create a mural for the school.
The finished mural will be unveiled at a ceremony at the Elementary School on Wednesday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
Kirby created several murals about Holley history that are on display near the gazebo by the village’s Canal Park.
Provided photo – Holley junior Madison Pritchard, center, pours coffee for guests at this year’s annual Senior Citizen appreciation breakfast.
Press release
Holley Central School
HOLLEY – About 130 senior citizens from Holley turned out to enjoy the ninth annual Senior Citizen Appreciation Breakfast at the Holley Elementary School on May 1.
The Holley Central School District hosts the event each year as a way to recognize the significant contributions area senior citizens make to the community and in support of Holley schools.
The breakfast menu was prepared and provided by the district’s food service vendor, Personal Touch. High school seniors greeted guests, served coffee and presented each with a long stem rose. For entertainment, kindergarten and high school music students performed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 May 2014 at 12:00 am
Program will highlight Carl Akeley, famed taxidermist, on his 150th birthday
Provided photos – Carl Akeley is pictured with a leopard in Africa that he killed with his bare hands after it attacked him.
CLARENDON – The Clarendon Historical Society is planning one of its biggest events ever in honor of the 150th birthday of the town’s most famous son.
Carl Akeley, a world renown taxidermist and inventor, will be the focus of a May 21 event at the Clarendon Recreation Hall. The event starts at 7 p.m. and will include Jay Kirk, author of a book about Akeley called “Kingdom Under Glass.” Copies of the book will be for sale.
The cover of Kirk’s book: “Kingdom Under Glass.” The Clarendon Historical Society will be selling copies of the book on May 21.
Akeley grew up on Hinds Road. He made many safaris to Africa and became an advocate for preserving Africa’s wildlife.
“He is considered the Father of Taxidermy,” said Historical Society member Erin Anheier. “He made it an artform.”
The Cobblestone Society Museum has a fox stuffed by a young Carl Akeley, which will be displayed as part of the May 21 event.
Jay Kirk, author of the Carl Akeley biography “Kingdom Under Glass,” will be the featured speaker on May 21st during a program about Akeley, a Clarendon native.
Kirk, the author, chronicles Akeley’s life during the golden age of safaris in the early 20th Century. Akeley created the famed African Hall at New York’s Museum of Natural History.
“He was concerned about saving animals, especially the giant gorillas in Africa,” Anheier said. “He collected and stuffed the animals for scientific purposes.”
Akeley’s adventures connected him with Theodore Roosevelt, P.T. Barnum and George Eastman. Akeley died in 1926 and is buried in Africa.
“We were talking about programs for the year at the Historical Society, looking at what’s unique about Clarendon,” Anheier said. “Carl Akeley is the most famous person ever from Clarendon.”
A historical marker on Hinds Road notes that Carl Akeley grew up in Clarendon.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2014 at 12:00 am
HOLLEY – Congressman Chris Collins is asking the federal Environmental Protection Agency to sell eight houses that have been off the tax rolls and vacant for about a decade.
The houses were feared to be contaminated by a chemical leak in January 2002 by the former Diaz Chemical, which has gone bankrupt.
The EPA acquired the sites. It’s testing has shown no harmful on-site contaminants remain at the eight properties, Collins noted in a letter on Tuesday to Gina McCarthy, EPA administrator.
Village officials want them back on the market. The houses are on Jackson, Geddes, Van Buren and North Main streets. The houses could boost the local tax rolls by $700,000 and eliminate vacant properties in the community, Collins said in the letter.
Collins’ staff toured the properties last week with village officials, who were told the sites would be put on the market more than 2 ½ years ago.
“With 2014 upon us, I would like to request the EPA take swift action in addressing the concerns of the Village of Holley and place the suitable properties up for sale,” Collins wrote to McCarthy. “This action is in the best interest of the Village of Holley, the EPA, and the taxpayers.”
Photos by Sue Cook – Michael Fahey stands with his Gary Fisher bicycle. He has had four total bikes since he took up riding. He has also owned a French racer, a Trek 730 Hybrid and a Giant. Fahey estimates he carries about 70 pounds of gear with him on his bike when he going for a long ride.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
HOLLEY – Holley resident Michael Fahey began his journey during hard times. When his wife of 27 years, Ruth, was diagnosed with breast cancer, Fahey took up cycling as a hobby. He also served as her caregiver.
In 1995, Ruth passed away at age 48. Fahey has used cycling since then to raise money for cancer research. He said he has raised “thousands” for the cause.
Fahey started cycling in the early ’90s. He said he was a little overweight at the time.
“My wife was a nurse practitioner. She said ‘You need a physical. You haven’t had one since you left the service.’ So I had one and they thought I had a problem with my heart,” Fahey said. “So the cardiologist said ‘You need to lose weight and exercise. So I started walking, and I got up to 10 miles, but it just took too long. So I bought this cheap road bike from Toys ’R Us and rode that for a while. Then my brother came to visit from Chicago and left his bike, a French racer, and I rode that and that’s how it all got started.”
Ruth supported Fahey’s efforts to exercise through bicycling. “In the last six months before she passed away, that’s where I did my riding.”
Fahey’s rides, in America and foreign countries, were for raising breast cancer research money.
“The fundraising was done in the United States through talks, advertisements, word of mouth,” he said. “When I finished the United States, 3,000 miles in 38 days, I said what the heck, let’s do the rest of the world.” That was in 1996.
“I would just get a map of the countries I wanted to go to and plot out my trip, and I always tried to find a community that I was stopping in that had a youth hostel in it.”
In his worldwide journey, he has met with some misfortunes, including lost bikes and luggage. His Trek bicycle that he took to Ireland and England, didn’t fare so well when it was brought home.
“That lasted for one year and the Canadian airlines crushed it on the way back from England,” Fahey said. “I’ve been very fortunate. All my problems with bicycles and transportation has been on the return. I’ve had my bicycle lost for awhile going over, but not damaged.”
Hi daughter Shari cycled across the United States with him. She got out of bicycling, but then she got back into doing triathlons. His other two daughters, Kathy and Shannon, are not into the sport, but support Fahey.
Fahey has ridden on six out of the seven continents. In 2013, he followed a route known as The Way of St. James, which stretches from Paris, France to Santiago, Spain. It was a well-traveled Christian pilgrimage from medieval times that follows the route of St. James bones to their burial in Spain.
Fahey calls this his ‘bragging jacket.’ There are patches all over it from the countries he has been to and embroidered with the dates of when he was there.
Fahey’s favorite country to travel through was China. The people were more than willing to help a stranger.
“I was in China three times to get across and the Chinese people in the countryside were so good to me. If I broke down, the village would come out to try and help.”
The Chinese gave Fahey fresh water as he rode out along his trip through the country.
“If I ran out of water, all I needed to do was stop some place and say ‘water’ to people,” Fahey said. “I ran out of water on my first day. The first time, I was passing a construction utility truck. They were parked there taking a break. I said ‘water’ and they filled up everything I had with water. The next time, I ran out of water again and a motorcycle club came by and I said something about being short of water. They all go and get their water and they filled my water up.”
Fahey continues to ride and focuses his talks and fundraising locally for now, though he is planning to move out of the area soon.
On Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Geneseo United Methodist Church in Geneseo, he will be giving a free talk put on by Geneseo Young at Heart. It is open to the public and Fahey plans to focus mostly on talking about cycling and his journey. However, he says he will also talk about his wife because she was the inspiration for him to make these trips and perform fundraising efforts.
Fahey has also written a book. The first chapter focuses on his wife. The rest of the book is about his bicycling. The book is titled “Biking to Save My Soul: America, Ireland, and England.” It is $15 and $1 of each purchase will go to the American Cancer Society. To order a book from Amazon, click here. To buy directly from Fahey, e-mail PROSRV95@gmail.com.
HOLLEY – The Holley Central School District has been awarded $441,000 in the first year of a multi-year federal grant called the Carol White Physical Education (PEP) grant. This grant promotes both physical fitness and nutrition.
Monies provided by the grant will enable the district to focus on after-school, Saturday, and summer recreation and nutrition-based activities involving partnerships with the Holley Recreation Program, the Orleans County Cooperative Extension, Orleans County Mental Health and the district’s own food service vendor, Personal Touch.
This is the second time Holley Central has been awarded the PEP grant. The last time was in 2003 when the district received $392,000 for its “Holley Achieves Wellness and Knowledge” initiative which focused on fitness and life-time activities.
“The link between good nutrition, physical fitness and academic performance cannot be denied,” said Holley District Superintendent Robert D’Angelo. “There is no doubt about it – these are the factors that impact student success and that’s why we pursue opportunities like this so aggressively. We operate on a philosophy that requires us to continually find ways to supplement taxpayer’s dollars in meaningful ways and that’s why we do so with special emphasis on fitness and nutrition. These are the things that greatly matter when it comes to academic success.”
Holley recently received a three-year General Mills grant which helped the district fund a new fitness test called the Fitnessgram. This test will help the district fulfill the evaluation phase of the Pep Grant.
“We are moving in the right direction and teaching students about fitness and nutrition in a way that sticks with them and influences their choices so they’re getting the nutrition and fitness they need to succeed,” said Lisa Campbell, Health and Physical Education chairperson at Holley Central. “Without our superintendent’s support and knowledge in nutrition and fitness to improve learning, we would not have succeeded in receiving this grant.”
Once the PEP money is received later this year, the district will begin to implement programs outlined in its application program which was entitled “Fit 4 U”. The “Fit 4 U” program will serve approximately 1,200 students in Pre-K through grade 12 for up to three years. Programs will take place at Holley Elementary School and the Middle School/High School and will focus on increasing students’ daily activity as well as their consumption of fruits and vegetables.
“Our goal is to keep building on past successes, one after the other, so we can continually move forward,” added D’Angelo. “Thanks to dedicated staff like Lisa Campbell who spearheaded this effort, we are making great strides in positively impacting student success.”
