Holley/Murray

Two rollover accidents – one a DWI, the other due to sleepy driver

Posted 14 June 2013 at 12:00 am

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department

ALBION – Two rollover crashes on opposite ends of the county kept Orleans County deputies busy Thursday afternoon, the Sheriff’s Department reported.

The first incident occurred at approximately 5:20 p.m., in the 3600 block of Horan Rd., in the town of Ridgeway. A 2012 Ford Taurus, operated by Zoltan M. Koleszar, 48, of Medina, was travelling north at a high rate of speed on Horan Road, when the operator lost control of the vehicle.

The car ran across the roadway and off the west side before striking a utility pole and a tree. The car then over-turned several times before coming to rest on its side.

Koleszar, the sole occupant, refused medical treatment at the scene but later complained of back and neck pain during the arrest process and was transported to Medina Memorial Hospital. He faces driving while intoxicated and other traffic charges and will appear in Town of Ridgeway court at a later date.

The incident was investigated by Deputies K.J. Colonna and J.J. Cole. Ridgeway firefighters and the Medina FD ambulance personnel also responded to the scene.

The second incident occurred at approximately 5:45 p.m., in the 16700 block of Fourth Section Rd. (Route 31A) in the town of Clarendon.

Emily A. Benson, 20, of Medina, was travelling west on 31A in a 2005 Ford Suburban, when she failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle ran off the north side of the roadway, struck a mailbox, and went down an embankment, causing it to overturn several times before coming to rest upside down.

Benson, the sole occupant, was transported by Monroe Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Her injuries were non-life threatening. Benson made an admission to falling asleep at the wheel. There were no other contributing factors in the crash.

The incident was investigated by Deputy T.N. Tooley and Inv. C.L. Black. Clarendon firefighters and ambulance personnel also responded to the scene.

Long-time Holley public servant calls it a career

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2013 at 12:00 am

Ross Gaylord is pulling back from some village duties

Photo by Tom Rivers – Village Trustee Ross Gaylord attended his final meeting as a village trustee tonight. He was praised by his fellow board members for a half century of service to the community. Trustee David Dill is at right.

HOLLEY – He has been a volunteer in the Holley Fire Department for 52 years. He has served on the Village Planning Board for nine years and logged 13 years on the Village Board.

Ross Gaylord has been a committed community member. Tonight he attended his last meeting as a village trustee. Gaylord isn’t seeking re-election. (Four candidates are running for two positions during the June 18 election.)

“It’s been fun over the years, but it’s time to relax,” Gaylord told his fellow board members just before the meeting was adjourned.

Mayor John Kenney made a point of thanking Gaylord for a long record of community service. The mayor said Gaylord has been a mentor and a resource, with lots of knowledge about the village.

Gaylord would also attend county and state meetings “on his own dime,” to be a more effective trustee, Kenney said.

Gaylord, 76, is a retired printer. The former Holley fire chief said he is most pleased the Village Board was able to convince Jerome Pawlak to open the Save-A-Lot grocery store last year. That filled a void in the community. Jubilee closed in 2006, leaving Holley without a grocery store.

“That was major,” Gaylord said about Save-A-Lot coming to town.

Gaylord said he won’t entirely stay away from the Village Office.

“I’ll probably stop in once in a while,” he told the board.

Holley students create plaques for Woodlands pavilion

Posted 9 June 2013 at 12:00 am

Courtesy of Holley Central School – The Holley Sports Booster Club accepted plaques from art students for the Woodlands Soccer Field. Pictured, from left: Bob Brice, Sports Booster Club president; students Corinne Lamorie and Gionni Kowalski; and art teacher Brandi Zavits.

Press release
Holley Central School

HOLLEY – Two high school students, junior Corinne Lamorie and freshman Gionni Kowalski put their artistic abilities to work on a Sports Booster Club project that will enhance the pavilion at the Woodlands Soccer Field.

Working with art teacher Brandi Zavitz and Sports Booster Club President Bob Brice, the students designed and created eight oval-shaped plaques, one for each of the sports played at Holley.

The plaques will be hung inside the pavilion at Woodlands as a finishing touch to Booster Club upgrades occurring there this summer.

“The work Corinne and Gionni did is absolutely beautiful and will enhance the pavilion in a meaningful way,” Zavitz said.

Brice, who is coordinating the pavilion upgrades added, “We’re not only thrilled to replace what’s there now but we are especially excited to be able to showcase wonderful artwork for many years to come. Our thanks to Corinne and Gionni!”

Parade rolls through Public Square

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2013 at 12:00 am

HOLLEY – In my scramble to get to Holley’s parade on Saturday, I arrived only to have a camera without a memory card.

I snapped a few photos with my iPhone, which I’m still getting used to. Here are a few pictures with the camera phone. (I needed some help from my wife to get them off the phone.)

It was a great parade featuring fire trucks, marching bands, Little League players, Scouts and local dignitaries.

I think the Public Square setup in Holley makes it one of the best laid-out downtowns in the area, an ideal setting for a small-town celebration.

New ‘old’ treasures added to museum

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 June 2013 at 12:00 am

Former church bell, quarrymen tools donated to Murray-Holley Historical Society

Photos by Tom Rivers – Dan Mawn, president of the Murray-Holley Historical Society, holds a century-old hammer that belonged to Italian immigrant Jack Nenni, who settled in Holley and worked in the local quarries.

The hammer and two boxes of Nenni’s tools were donated to the museum last week.

HOLLEY – A week ago a Holley resident handed Dan Mawn two heavy boxes full of old tools.

They weren’t ordinary tools. They were hammers, chisels and edges from a century ago. They belonged to Jack Nenni, an Italian immigrant who settled in Holley and worked in the local quarries. Many of the tools bear his name or initials.

Mawn, president of the Murray-Holley Historical Society, feels like the tools are like gold, tangible reminders of the trade that built Holley and drew many immigrants to the community.

The tools were sold at a garage sale for $3. Mawn praised resident Steve Gergely for buying the tools at a sale a year ago, for keeping them in the community and ultimately deciding to donate them to the historical society.

Mawn has been cleaning some of the tools. He is eager to give tours of the museum and let people, especially children, hold the hammers and chisels.

The museum has another new addition that members are excited about. The church bell from the United Methodist Church in the Public Square is now owned by the museum. The church closed when the congregation moved to Route 237 in Clarendon.

The Disciples United Methodist Church took the bell with them, but decided to give it to the museum.

This bell used to ring in the Public Square at the United Methodist Church. It was donated to the Murray-Holley Historical Society by the Disciples United Methodist Church on Route 237 in Clarendon.

“It’s a treasure,” said Marsha DeFillipps, the Murray-Holley historian. “It’s an important piece of our history.”

The bell was made by the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, and cast on Oct. 31, 1894.

Now museum members want to mount the bell outside the railroad depot on Geddes Street Extension, where the local history collection is kept. It will take donations to set up the bell securely, DeFillipps said.

To help with the project, call DeFillipps at 638-8188 or Mawn at 465-3723.

Music, horses and much more

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 June 2013 at 12:00 am

June Fest is in full swing in Holley

Photos by Tom Rivers – Rick Nicholson, center, and the group “Woody and Friends” perform during the Murray/Holley June Fest today at the village’s canal park. Musicians will be performing up until the fireworks show this evening.

Harrison Flanagan, 3, of Holley tries to pet “Princess” after he rode the horse at the Murray/Holley June Fest today.

HOLLEY – The fifth annul Murray-Holley June Fest is in full swing today.

The events began with a 5-kilometer race this morning. Community-wide garage sales are also today. After a parade through the Public Square, the festival action shifted to the canal park.

The festival for the first time includes wine-tasting from noon to 5 p.m. at the park. Tickets are $7.

Organizers have a “Holleywood Idol” talent show planned for 5 p.m. at the Woodlands Soccer Field. A free Drum Corps Show is set for 7 p.m. at Woodlands and will feature the Drum Corps from the parade, plus the Hitmen Drum Corps, the Kendall-Holley Marching Band and Color Guard, and the Holley High School chorus.

Shuttle buses will run all day from the high school and elementary school parking lot and the Holley firemen’s field. Fireworks will be at dusk from the soccer field.

Bigger June Fest planned for Holley community on Saturday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 May 2013 at 12:00 am

Fifth annual event adds wine tasting, ‘Holleywood Idol’

HOLLEY – The fifth annual Murray/Holley June Fest is only two days away. The event starts with a 5-kilometer race in the morning and ends with fireworks at night.

In between there will be plenty of live music, food and games for children. Adults are also welcome to try a wine-tasting event, which is new to the festival. That runs from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $7 each and are available at the wine tent, or in advance at the Village Office or First Niagara Bank.

Organizers also have a “Holleywood Idol” talent show planned for 5 p.m. at the Woodlands Soccer Field.

The day kicks off with the Jim Ferris Memorial 5k, beginning at the elementary school. Village-wide yard sales also start at 9 and go until 4 p.m.

A parade starts at 10:30 a.m. and features the White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps, the Ghost Riders Drum and Bugle Corps, the Prime Time Brass Drum and Bugle Corps and the Mark Time Marchers Marching Band. The parade route starts on Veteran’s Drive, then to Batavia Street, to the Public Square, to White Street to East Avenue, and ends at the park entrance.The reviewing stand will be on East Avenue just past East Albion Street.

Arts, craft, food vendors, a bounce house, pony rides, and live entertainment will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the park. St. Mary’s will host a chicken barbecue starting at 11 a.m.

“We tried to find something for everybody,” said Mary Ridley, the village’s deputy clerk/treasurer and a member of the planning committee. “We want to get people involved and come out to see their neighbors.”

A free Drum Corps Show is set for 7 p.m. at Woodlands Field and will feature the Drum Corps from the parade, plus the Hitmen Drum Corps, the Kendall-Holley Marching Band and Color Guard, and the Holley High School chorus.

Shuttle buses will run all day from the high school and elementary school parking lot and the Holley firemen’s field.

4 candidates running for Holley trustees

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 May 2013 at 12:00 am

HOLLEY – Four candidates, all with experience on the Village Board, are running for two trustee positions in the June 18 village election.

The group of candidates includes former mayor Stanley “Skip” Carpenter, who is running under the Independent Party. Former village trustees Nancy Penna, People’s Party, and William Quaranto, Family Party, also are vying for trustee. Incumbent Brian Sorochty, Taxpayer Party, is seeking a term. He was appointed to the board in March after Lewis Passarell resigned.

Incumbent Ross Gaylord has decided against re-election.

The trustee terms are for two years. The election will be at the village office with polls open from noon to 9 p.m.

Holley residents OK budget, propositions

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 May 2013 at 12:00 am

Board of Education won’t be reduced to five members

HOLLEY – School district residents approved a $22,976,429 budget with a 371 to 229 vote. The spending plan increases taxes by 2 percent.

The budget brings back the marching band, elementary student council, ski club, golf and boys and girls basketball for grades 4 to 6. The budget also will add an athletic trainer, a high school social studies teacher and an elementary teacher.

Last year residents approved a proposition to reduce the board in a phase-in from nine to five members. A new proposition, to halt the reduction at seven members and not five, passed on Tuesday, 350 to 257. Residents also re-elected Brenda Swanger with 507 votes. She was unopposed.

A bus proposition to spend $372,136 passed, 353 to 255, and voters approved $102,652 for Community Free Library, 430 to 180.

Holley village budget raises tax rate

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2013 at 12:00 am

HOLLEY – Village property owners will pay 3.2 percent more in village taxes this fiscal year, and the tax rate will climb from 60 cents to $13.94 per $1,000 of assessed property.

The village will collect $728,339 in taxes to support the general fund – the village office, department of public works, fire department and police. That’s up from the $705,656 in 2012-13. The village fiscal year begins June 1.

The tax rate will increase 4.5 percent from $13.34 to $13.94. The rate exceeded the tax levy growth because Holley, like the villages of Albion and Medina, is seeing its assessed value decrease. Holley’s overall value dropped nearly $700,000 from $52,904,663 to $52,251,478. The shrinking assessments mean there is less assessed value to spread out the tax levy, which puts more strain on property owners.

Mayor John Kenney is optimistic the situation will improve in Holley. The village has received a $250,000 Main Street grant from the state to provide matching funds for building improvements in the Public Square.

Holley also has a grant to identify ways to improve brownfield sites, underutilized properties that are either contaminated or suffer from that stigma. The Brownfield Opportunity Area steering committee will meet 7 p.m. June 6 at the Community Free Library.

“These grants will have a positive impact on our village,” Kenney said.