Big Guys wants to create new RV campground with up to 300 sites

MURRAY – The Orleans County Planning Board is recommending the Town of Murray approve the site plan and issue a permit for Big Guys Camping LLC to operate a campground.

Big Guys wants to convert the former Brockport Country Club into the campground at 3739 Monroe-Orleans County Line Rd.

The project would be developed in three phases with the first phase to include 125 hook-up sites, 90 tent sites, renovations of structures on site, construction of new supporting structures for the campground and infrastructure.

The second phase would include 97 more full hook-up sites and expanded infrastructure. The third phase would add 72 more hook-up sites and infrastructure as needed.

The former golf course has 94.2 acres, with 6.16 acres delineated wetlands. That leaves 88.04 acres for the campground. However, 10 percent of that space, per the Murray town code, must be set aside for recreational purposes.

Big Guys is planning for the campground sites to be developed along the existing fairways with the plan to keep many of the existing mature tree lines, and to minimize the need for earthwork, county planners said.

The town ordinance requires a maximum of 10 camp sites per acre. With 79.24 acres available, Big Guys could have up to 792 camp sites. However, there are 300 sites proposed in the three phases, which is well under the zoning ordinance requirement.

There was also a traffic completed for the proposed project, with the determination that no further study would be needed by the Department of Transportation, county planners said.

There are area variances needed for the project and county planners said it was unclear if the variances had already been approved by the Town of Murray Zoning Board of Appeals. The county Planning Board should review the variance requests before the town takes action. If Murray already approved those variances, the ZBA should rescind that vote and send a referral to the County Planning Board for its recommendation, the board said.

Joe Sidonio

MURRAY – Joe Sidonio has won the Republican primary for Murray town supervisor.

The final count this morning, which included 46 absentees ballots, gives Sidonio and 11-vote victory over Randy Bower, a retired Orleans County sheriff who is currently a Murray town councilman.

There were 513 in-person votes through nine days of early voting and on the June 22 primary. Sidonio had a 13-vote lead, 263 to 250.

But Bower still had a chance to win with 46 absentees ballot turned in. Bower received 24 votes through the absentees, compared to 22 for Sidonio.

That means Sidonio, the current town supervisor, will be on the November ballot with the Republican line. He also is endorsed by the Conservative Party.

Bower last November was elected to a three-year term as Murray town councilman. He will remain on the five-person board.

The final unofficial results from the other five towns with primaries – in-person and absentee votes – include:

Barre Town Councilman (2 positions)

• George McKenna, 162 in-person votes and 6 absentees for 168 total

• David Waters, 163 in-person and 4 absentees for 167 total

Tom McCabe, 146 in-person and 7 absentees for 153 total

Lynn Hill, 145 in-person and 8 absentee for 153 total

Carlton Town Clerk

• Karen Narburgh, 101 in-person and 14 absentee for 115 total

Dori Goetze, 66 in-person and 3 absentee for 69 total

Gaines Town Justice

• Charles Prentice Jr., 146 in-person and 16 absentees for 162 total

Henry Smith Jr., 48 in-person and 8 absentees for 56 total

Ridgeway Town Clerk

• Hannah Hill, 228 in-person and 10 absentees for 238 total votes

Laurie Kilburn, 75 in-person and 7 absentees for 82 total

E.J. Cox, 16 in-person and 2 absentees for 18 total

Ridgeway Town Councilman (2 positions)

• Cliff Barber, 249 in-person and 18 absentees for 267 total

• Jeff Toussaint, 255 in-person and 12 absentees for 267 total

David Stalker, 72 in-person and 9 absentees for 81 total

Shelby Town Councilman (2 positions)

• Stephen Seitz Sr., 172 in-person and 7 absentees for 179 total votes

• Edward Zelazny, 166 in-person and 10 absentees for 176 total

William Bacon, 143 in-person and 5 absentees for 148 total

Evan Valentine, a member of the Class of 2021, remembered during ceremony, parents presented with his diploma

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – The Class of 2021 tosses their caps inside the gym after commencement today. The ceremony was moved from outdoors to inside at the school auditorium due to the threatening weather conditions with rain and wind.

After the ceremony the class headed to the gym to throw their graduation caps.

Susan Cory, the school principal, takes a photo of the class in the gym for the cap toss. Cory said it has been a school year unlike any other, with most of the year on a hybrid schedule of two days in-person a week with students split up as Red Hawks and White Hawks. There was frequent Zoom video conferencing on Wednesdays. Later in the school year, students moved to four days of in-person learning.

A goal for the district was to end the school year as traditionally as possible and today’s ceremony was very much in Holley’s commencement tradition.

“Today is a day to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates, but it is also a day to acknowledge the support and strength that all of you have given to these students to make their journey successful,” Cory said from the podium near the beginning of the program.

There are 60 members in the class, and that includes the late Evan Valentine. He passed away from leukemia at age 18 on Feb. 21. The display of carnation flowers on the stage included an orange flower among the red and white to represent Evan and his 2 ½ fight with leukemia.

There were six Evan Valentine Memorial Scholarships presented during commencement. They were presented to Andrew Drechsel, Brianna Heffernan, Allison Trowbridge, Brandi Heffernan, Jared Strathearn and Callie Updike.

The district also presented for the first time the John P. Heise Memorial Scholarship, in honor of a man who spent 40 years at the district as a school administrator and then in his retirement on the Board of Education. The first winners of the Heise scholarship include Kayleigh Neale and Callie Updike.

Penny Cole, a high school secretary, pins an orange ribbon on the graduation gown of David Farruggia III. All of the grads wore the ribbons in honor of Evan. His graduation gown was draped over a chair between the seats for Callie Updike and Garrett VanLogten.

Before the graduates on stage received their diplomas, Principal Susan Cory and Suzanne Lepkowski, Class of 2021 advisor, presented Evan Valentine’s parents, Diane and Neil, with Evan’s diploma.

Evan was an Eagle Scout who was also heavily involved in the school’s music program including the jazz band. He also played soccer and golf for the Hawks.

Diane Valentine thanked the class and the community for all of the support.

“You literally wrapped our family in loving kindness,” she said.

She urged the class to continue making a difference.

Many of the graduates and audience members wiped tears from their eyes after the comments from Evan’s mother.

Karl “KJ” Biedlingmaier, the class vice president, announced the class gift would be to use the remaining funds in the class account and donate them to the music department in memory of Evan Valentine.

“He was a dear member of the Class of 2021 and we wish he was still here with us,” Biedlingmaier said.

Callie Updike delivers the salutatorian speech. She also led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and in singing the National Anthem.

Updike said she is proud of Holley’s Class of 2021, for enduring amidst the uncertainty and challenges of a global pandemic. They cracked and crumbled, and were forced to discover new, difficult emotions with the loss of their classmate, Updike said.

Callie Updike speaks to her classmates.

She praised Holley’s teachers, administrators, counselors, custodial staff, mentors, teacher’s aides and community members for all of their extra work during the pandemic on behalf of students and their safety. The community showed its resiliency through the pandemic, helping to advance students’ growth despite the challenges and restrictions of the Covid-19 era.

Holley’s newest graduates were deprived of some of the usual senior traditions. “But as you look upon the graduates, sitting proudly before you in their seats, you don’t see the pain and the pity of a year forgotten,” Updike said. “You see brilliant individuals, your future nurses, psychologists, politicians, athletes, soldiers, firefighters, welders, farmers and teachers. You see leaders, each carrying purpose and rigor.”

Updike said she feels fortunate to grow up in Holley, and to have such a supportive family and community, as well as access to clean drinking water, vaccines and a free education.

“We all have beautifully different paths that lie ahead, but we come from the same place and have discovered that we can overcome more than we ever thought we could – together,” Updike said. “We can all speak to the influence our teachers, friends and community have had on us, but I feel it is vital to give credit to the individual power that this class holds. With the help of our loved ones, we have gotten through. Without our own passion, ambition and drive, we wouldn’t be sitting here in front of you. We haven’t coasted through and let others handle all of it for us – we fought, we pushed, and I think that is so beautiful.”

Allyson Skehan gave the valedictory address. She said it has been a very difficult senior year with mask mandates, a hybrid schedule where students saw less than half of their classmates most of the year, and some treasured traditions cancelled or modified.

The past year has shown the students to “live in the moment” and not take things for granted, Skehan said.

She cited the impact made from her friend, Evan Valentine – “the kindest, brightest soul I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. He showed us all what it truly meant to live, despite the circumstances he was in.”

Don McCall, a Holley substitute teacher, was picked by the class to give the commencement address. McCall is a retired science teacher from the Geneva City school district. He moved to Holley and started as a sub four years ago. He figured it would be a way to get to know the community and give back for a rewarding career in education.

“I invested in Holley High but you invested in me and I appreciate that,” McCall said.

He focused his message on “removing labels.” Holley grads have already shown they can look past labels by picking a substitute teacher as their speaker. McCall said he Googled commencement addresses by substitute teachers and there were no matches. He thinks he made history today giving the speech as a substitute teacher.

Removing labels shows commonalities, how people are far more alike than different.

McCall recalled being given a tour of the school campus, which has recently been upgraded through capital projects.

“You could feel his pride in the school,” he said.

And Evan Valentine was a true pleasure to have in class, McCall said.

“Continue to honor him by being kind to all you meet,” he said.

He urged the grads to embrace kindness for others and for themselves.

Zacharie Dann shakes hands with Brian Bartalo, the district superintendent. Dann has enlisted with the Marine Corps and leaves Monday for training.

Alexander Marie Mendoza stands and is recognized as the recipient of a $500 scholarship in memory of Carmelo Rivera. About $30,000 in scholarships were presented to graduates.

Jacob Affronti is presented with his diploma by Principal Susan Cory.

Michael Snell is hugged by Suzanne Lepkowski, the class advisor and a high school English teacher. Kathy Monks, left, reads off the names of the grads. Snell is headed for the Marine Corps.

Michael Stoll gives Kelly Marzano, a music teacher, a surprise embrace when he went to get his diploma. She was taking a turn reading the graduates’ names.

More than 150 students are registered for ‘Camp Rising Hawk’

HOLLEY – For the first time in many years Holley Central School will be running its own summer school program.

There are 155 students registered for “Camp Rising Hawk,” a four-week program for students entering grades 1 to 9.

The district will be offering transportation, as well as breakfast and lunch for students in the program.

The camp runs for four weeks, and is four days each week, from Monday through Thursday. It starts July 19 and ends Aug. 12. The camp is from 9 a.m. to noon each day and students will work on English Language Arts, math and social and emotional learning. (Registration has closed.)

Holley has designed a program with many activities mixed in with learning, said Brendan Keiser, director of teaching and learning for the school district.

“It’s going to be fun,” he said. “I’m excited and thrilled.”

Camp Rising Hawk will be “low-tech” without laptops and other devices. Keiser acknowledged many students need the extra work with classes disrupted from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“There is a lot of unfinished learning,” he said.

The district will need to continue working on that transition back to full in-person learning when the new school year starts in September, in particular with the social and emotional growth of students, Keiser said.

The camp is open to all students, but the district made extra efforts to reach out to families of students who had fallen behind academically. Many students who have been remote only for the past 15 months also will be part of the camp to help them get used to be back in an in-person school setting.

Brian Bartalo, the district superintendent, praised Holley teachers and other staff for stepping up and agreeing to be part of the summer program. Other districts have struggled to get staff for the summer schools, Bartalo said.

Holley has about 15 teachers for the program and other staff for Camp Rising Hawk.

“I feel extremely fortunate with our Holley staff members,” Bartalo told the Board of Education on Monday. “In other districts it’s been hard to find staff.”

The classes for the program won’t have more than 15 students. Students won’t have to wear masks at all times because they can be socially distanced.

The program will be held at the elementary school and will be in classrooms with air-conditioning.

Sidonio with slight lead over Bower in Murray; McKenna and Waters apparent winners in Barre

The Republican primary for Murray town supervisor is too close to call after polls closed tonight. The results will determined on Monday when absentee ballots are counted.

In Murray – the only race for town supervisor in Orleans County – Joe Sidonio is leading by 13 votes over Randy Bower, 263-250. Sidonio is the current supervisor and Bower, the retired Orleans County sheriff, is currently a town councilman.

There are 44 absentees turned in so far in Murray and 64 were sent out. There may be more than 44 to count if they are received by next Tuesday and are postmarked by today. The Orleans County Board of Elections plans to count the absentees on Monday, and will include any received more if they arrive on Tuesday, as long as the ballots are postmarked by today.

• In Barre, two candidates – George McKenna and David Waters – have stated opposition to the wind turbine project. They are the apparent winners with 163 for Waters and 162 for McKenna, over incumbents Tom McCabe, 146, and Lynn Hill, 145. McCabe and Hill both voted to change the town ordinance to allow for turbines up to 700 feet in height.

Barre has 13 absentees turned in so far out of 20 that were requested.

• In Carlton, Karen Narburgh received 101 votes for town clerk, compared to 66 for Dori Goetze. Narburgh has been the town clerk the past seven years.

• In Gaines in the primary for town justice, Charles Prentice Jr. received 146 votes to Henry Smith Jr.’s 48. Bruce Schmidt, the incumbent, isn’t seeking re-election.

• In Ridgeway, in a three-candidate race for town clerk, Hannah Hill is the overwhelming winner with 228 votes, followed by Laurie Kilburn with 75 and E.J. Cox with 16. Karen Kaiser, the current town clerk, isn’t seeking re-election.

Also in Ridgeway, there were three candidates for two open seats on the Town Board. Jeff Toussaint leads with 255 votes, followed by 249 for Cliff Barber. David Stalker, an incumbent, received 72 votes.

• In Shelby, three candidates were seeking two positions. Edward Zelazny has likely defeated one of the incumbents, William Bacon. The vote totals include 172 for incumbent Stephen Seitz Sr., 166 for Zelazny and 143 for Bacon.

There are 13 out of 38 absentees turned in so far.

‘You have reminded us of our purpose, which is to love and care for children. That is why we exist.’ – Brian Bartalo, Holley district superintendent

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – The school district on Monday evening honored six retiring teachers and staff who have a combined 182 years of service to students.

The top photo shows Sue Cory (left), junior-senior high school principal, with Kathy Monks, who is retiring after 30 years as a Spanish teacher. Monks also was the Spanish club advisor, a yearbook advisor and put on elaborate Day of the Dead celebrations. The latter is a Mexican holiday on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2.

Cory praised Monks for her dedication to students and an engaging teaching style.

“I loved the kids, and I loved my co-workers and the school district,” Monks said. “At Holley there is a sense of family.”

Sue Morreall retired after 25 years in the elementary school office. She was praised for her organizational skills, a welcoming personality and a deep institutional knowledge of the school.

“I loved it,” Morreall said about the job. “I loved seeing the students’ smiling faces in the morning.”

Roxanne Wagner is retiring after 33 years with Holley as an administrative assistant and a stint as athletic director. She showed an eagerness to help the district and connect with students, including chaperoning many school events.

“These are two great people and workers,” Brian Bartalo, the district superintendent, said about Morreall and Wagner.

He said the two employees and other administrative assistants are critical to the school operations.

“We all know who really runs the district,” he said about the staff.

Karri Schiavone, elementary school principal (left) congratulates Wanda Farrell on her retirement. Farrell has served as a school counselor at Holley, working in both the middle-senior high school and then in the elementary school.

She was compassionate with many Holley families, and helped connect the district with agencies that provided additional services.

“I just like the kids,” Farrell said about her career. “I had a great staff to work with.”

Sheri Viscardi, a fourth grade teacher, is congratulated by Karri Schiavone, the school principal. Viscardi was a very popular teacher who made her classroom fun while pushing students to excel, Schiavone said.

“Sheri loves her children clearly,” Schiavone said. “She puts everything she has into her class.”

Holley also recognized Brandi Zavitz, who is retiring as the middle and high school art teacher. She was unable to attend Monday’s Board of Education meeting.

Bartalo, the district superintendent, congratulated the retirees.

“You have reminded us of our purpose, which is to love and care for children,” Bartalo said. “That is why we exist.”

The six retirees worked 182 years combined for the district.

“I can’t even imagine how many students and lives have been positively impacted by these remarkable individuals,” Bartalo said.

The Board of Education also recognized two BOE members who are leaving after completing their terms. Robin Silvis, the BOE president, presents a gift to Mark Porter. He will continue in an official Holley capacity, representing the district on the board for the Monroe II-Orleans BOCES.

Melissa Ierlan also was commended by Silvis for her volunteer efforts on the BOE. Ierlan seemed to know nearly all of the families and was very student-focused, Silvis said.

“She reads everything and she knows everybody,” Silvis said. “She cares for every student.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: John Heise gives Holley’s commencement address on June 28, 2014. He was heavily involved with the school district the past 40 years.

HOLLEY — The school district on Monday will dedicate the Holley Jr./Sr. High School Library in memory of John Heise, who dedicated 40 years to serving the district as a school administrator and then as a volunteer on the Board of Education..

The district is planning a 5:30 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 21 to dedicate the John P. Heise Memorial Library. This will be by invitation only.

Heise, 73, passed away on December 23, 2020. He started working at Holley in 1981 as the elementary school principal. He was later the high school principal and then director of special programs, overseeing special education. About a year after he retired, he joined the Board of Education.

In addition to serving on the Holley BOE, Heise was president of the Holley Rotary Club and a former district governor for Rotary. He also was previously a member of the Holley Village Board and a trustee for the Community Free Library.

He attended numerous school and community events, and loved to chaperone foreign exchange students on excursions to Niagara Falls and other sites in the region.

Heise was active on social media, often bragging about Holley students, especially with their community service projects.

“John was a consistent champion for the students of Holley,” Brian Bartalo, district superintendent, said after Heise’s death. “He was a fixture at all school events from concerts and plays to athletic events and award ceremonies. Through John’s work with the Holley Rotary, he helped many students over the years with scholarships and assistance with whatever was needed, many times, right out of his own pocket.

“Mr. Heise always wanted the best for the district. He loved and worked on many committees to improve the school system. He also was also Holley’s representative on the Monroe2-Orleans BOCES Board of Education, where he served for well over a decade. John’s generosity and dedication to the students of Holley left a legacy that will never be forgotten.”

HOLLEY – A man has been charged with attempted murder in the first degree after he allegedly lunged at a Holley police officer, attempting to stab him.

A Holley police officer was dispatched to the Holley waterfalls on Frisbee Terrace at 6:11 p.m. on Tuesday for report of a suspicious male walking around with a knife antagonizing people, said Robert Barton, Holley’s police chief.

Upon arrival, the officer approached David J. Simoni, 32, who was sitting on a park bench who did not respond to any of the officer’s questions. The officer then spoke with other individuals in the park to investigate the incident, Barton said.

When the officer returned to Simoni, who was still sitting on the bench, a physical altercation ensued as Simoni lunged at the officer, Barton said. During the altercation, the man attempted to stab the officer with a knife, Barton said.

With the assistance of nearby citizens, the officer was able to disarm Simoni and then the officer utilized his taser to cause the male to disengage. The male was taken into custody without further incident.

Simoni has been charged with attempted murder 1^st degree, criminal obstruction breathing, attempted aggravated assault, menacing, resisting arrest and criminal possession of a weapon. He was transported to the Orleans County Jail.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Holley Village Board met for its monthly meeting on Tuesday evening in the auditorium of the former Holley High School. That building is now used for the village offices and also 40 senior apartments. Pictured from left include village trustees Rochelle Moroz and Connie Nenni, Mayor Kevin Lynch, attorney John Sansone, and trustees Mark Bower and James DeFilipps.

HOLLEY – The village will hold its election next Tuesday, June 15, and the two candidates are unopposed.

Current village trustees Rochelle Moroz and Jim DeFilipps are seeking re-election to two-year terms on the board. Voting will be from noon to 9 p.m. in the downstairs lobby of the village office, which is now in the former Holley High School at 1 Wright Street.

Moroz has been on the board for four years. She and her husband moved from Texas to Holley to be close to their daughter and her family in Brockport.

Moroz is a retired church secretary and treasurer. She is running under the “Common Sense” party.

She wants to see the village continue making progress with infrastructure projects, including sidewalk replacements.

DeFilipps has been a village trustee for five years. He is an Orleans County deputy sheriff and is running under “The People’s Party.”

DeFilipps is pleased with recent successes in the village, including a $17 million transformation of the old Holley High School and the start of water and sidewalk upgrades. He expects the village will tackle more projects, especially with federal funding through the American Rescue Plan. The village is awaiting to see how much funding it will receive through that federal program and the guidelines for how the money can be used.

DeFilipps, son of long-time Holley-Murray Historian Marsha DeFilipps, said Holley is headed in the right direction.

“It’s community involvement and betterment of the village that I want to be a part of,” he said.

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Public Square is was a busy place on Tuesday evening. The Village Board agreed to extend the 2-hour parking limit in the Square from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

HOLLEY – The Village Board is extending the 2-hour parking limit in the Public Square. Motorists were limited to no more than two consecutive hours in the Public Square from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Board members held a public hearing on Tuesday evening on the change. No one spoke against allowing people to park up to two hours in the Public Square until 9 p.m.

Mayor Kevin Lynch said Holley village officials were asked by businesses to extend the 2-hour parking.

Village Attorney John Sansone will send the local law to the Secretary of State to be certified. Once the village receives notice from the notice, the law will go into effect.

The Village DPW also will put up new signs with the later hours for the 2-hour parking. The new law doesn’t include Sundays and holidays.

In other action, the Village Board also accepted the construction bid of $80,915 from Watson Enterprises to install new sidewalks, curbs and aprons on East Albion Street. This street wasn’t included in the recent sidewalk improvement project in the village.

People will soon be able to legally park longer in the Public Square for up to 2 hours. The Village Board said the later times were in response to a request from businesses in the Square.

Scout organized crew for the project, earned final merit badge while he was hospitalized with leukemia

Photos by Tom Rivers: Penny Cole, a secretary at Holley Junior-Senior High School, speaks during the dedication today for Evan Valentine’s Eagle Scout project, which is the stone wall around the veterans’ monument. “You all know he was a special boy,” Cole told the crowd. “I know how happy and proud he is right now.”

HOLLEY – While Evan Valentine’s body was being ravaged by leukemia this past winter, he pushed to complete the final requirements for his Eagle Scout rank.

Valentine in December finished the last of the 21 badges he needed for the Eagle. He also had Scouts and volunteers lined up to build a veterans’ wall around the monument in Holley by the Post Office and Jewell Buckman Post for the American Legion.

He was presented the Eagle Scout badge while in the hospital in February.

Today, the Holley and Boy Scout community dedicated Valentine’s Eagle Scout project. Valentine passed away from leukemia at age 18 on Feb. 21. Speakers commented that his presence was felt at the ceremony this afternoon, with bright sunshine and frequent gusts of wind.

The stone wall around the monument includes a sitting area in front with an inscription, “Forever Remembered – Forever Missed.” Dale Smalley of Smalley Monuments donated that marble stone with the inscription.

The Holley Garden Club planted the flowers just before Memorial Day.

Andrew Drechsel speaks at the dedication. He and Evan joined scouts together in first grade as Tiger Cubs. The members of Troop 62 in Holley were the only ones in their cohort to earn the Eagle.

Andrew said Evan enjoyed being a Scout and going on camping trips. When Evan completed his first chemotherapy treatment and the leukemia was in remission, he spent many hours back in Scouts at camp, troop meetings and getting approvals for the veterans’ wall.

Evan approached former Legion Commander John Pera about the project back in 2018. Evan and his father Neil researched the stones and dimensions to build the veterans’ wall.

“The main part of an Eagle project is the planning and providing direction to the volunteers to make the project a success,” Drechsel said. “Evan completed all of this. He facilitated this project from the beginning and wanted to be a part of each step. As much as he wanted to be there, the volunteers knew it might not be possible and they worked to get the project completed on Evan’s behalf.”

Andrew Drechsel speaks to the crowd at times pausing due to the gusts. Andrew and Evan completed the last merit badge together, which was about personal management.

“Evan continued to persevere through so much and I just want to say how proud I am that Evan was able to complete his Eagle project for the American Legion and earn the rank of Eagle Scout,” Drechsel said.

Bob Miller, a member of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 529, lives next to the Valentine family. Miller said Evan was deeply loved by the community.

Miller thanked several key supporters for the project, including Smalley Monuments, Millspaugh Construction Company for assisting with the excavation, Preston’s Landscaping for setting the stone and getting the stone blocks at a discount, the Village of Holley DPW for assistance with the electricity and for clearing the site in February when there was ice and snow.

The Holley Village Board also helped secure approvals for the project. The Holley Fire Police closed down a section of Route 31 for the dedication ceremony today. The Kingdollar family, Western New York Energy and Holley Rotary Club donated to the project.

Erik Volk of the Boy Scouts of America assisted Evan with the paperwork to meet the standards to be an Eagle Scout. Major Craig Lane, retired from the Air Force, helped with the construction.

Neil and Diane Valentine (left), Evan’s parents, were praised “for the gift of their amazing son.”

Diane Valentine thanks the community for rallying to make the Eagle Scout project a reality.

“He would have been so grateful for the people who brought this to fruition,” she said.

Mrs. Valentine said her son loved being in Scouts and made it a goal soon after he joined to become an Eagle Scout.

Scott Galliford (left), commander of the Jewell Buckman Post, joined Penny Cole and Bob Miller in announcing Evan Valentine won the Post’s “Good Citizen” award.

Tom Gardner, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Holley, leads the group in a prayer.

The reception after the dedication included some of Evan’s favorite snacks – Cheez-Its and Reese’s milk chocolate peanut butter cups.

Evan’s Eagle Scout uniform was on display, as well as the shovel used for the ground-breaking in February.

The wall includes a plaque noting the project was the result of Evan Valentine’s community service requirement to be an Eagle Scout.

Jim McMullen, the Scout executive for the Iroquois Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America, said he was inspired by Evan’s determination to obtain Scouting’s highest rank, and to take on an important project for the Holley community.

“I think it’s very profound that he wanted this last piece for the community,” McMullen said. “He is an Eagle Scout and he earned it. He provided the leadership to get the project done.”

Provided photos

HOLLEY – Members of the Holley senior class on Friday morning witnessed a simulation of a deadly crash due to a driver impaired by alcohol and drugs.

Firefighters, law enforcement, Monroe Ambulance personnel and County Coroner Scott Schmidt were part of the simulation, as well as several Holley students who wore makeup to appear bloodied.

One of the students was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner in the simulation.

The first responders and school district wanted to send a message about the seriousness of not being impaired while driving a vehicle.

Holley had its senior prom on Friday night at the Plantation Party House in Spencerport. Last year there wasn’t a formal prom due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

The next few months there will also be many graduation parties and other events for the students.

Holley student Zach Dann was the driver and is led through field sobriety tests. He was charged with drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter in the mock event.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Zach Dann was arraigned in the mock court appearance in front of Gaines Town Justice Bruce Schmidt. District Attorney Joe Cardone is at right. Dann was represented by Robert Zickl from the Public Defender’s Office.

Schmidt determined Dann to a flight risk and set bail at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond.

Cardone said he would seek state prison for Dann in the upcoming court proceedings. The charges against Dann derailed his plans to enter the Marine Corps. Cardone also requested an order of protection for the victim’s family, with no contact from Dann, including texts or phone calls. Schmidt approved the order of protection.

Cardone addressed to students in the auditorium, telling them they should celebrate the completion of their high school careers, but do it responsibly and not put themselves and others in danger.

If they are under the influence or if the driver of a vehicle is impaired, Cardone urged them to call for help to get a safe driver.

“You’ve worked very hard to get to this point in your lives,” Cardone told the students. “I would just say to you we want you to be careful, especially these next few days.”

He also told them it is still illegal for people under 21 to use marijuana. The state recently legalized recreational use of marijuana, allowing people up to 3 ounces of marijuana if they 21 and older.

“If you are under 21 you can still be charged,” Cardone said.

MURRAY – The Town of Murray is planning a 12-month moratorium on any applications for solar, wind, biomass or alternative sources of renewable energy.

Town officials want to look at Murray’s current ordinance for renewable energy and see if any updates are needed. The town may not take the full 12 months for a review of its ordinance for alternative energy, said Paul Hendel, a town councilman and Orleans County Planning Board member.

He spoke during last week’s Planning Board meeting, when the county recommended Murray approve the moratorium. No applications for renewable energy projects will be accepted or reviewed while the town has the moratorium.

This doesn’t apply to projects where the power is used for a homeowner. It only includes energy that is marketed or sold.

Alternative energy, especially solar, increasingly is being sought in Orleans County. Last week the County Planning Board reviewed four solar projects, with two in Albion, and one in Carlton and another in Kendall.

“As you can see renewable energy is active in many towns in the county,” Hendel said. “We want to take a pause and look at other towns’ laws to see if a rewrite is necessary.”

The Erie Canal will reopen the section from Holley to Spencerport this morning beginning at 7. That area had its guard gates down and water levels lowered on May 16 so engineers and contractors could work to mitigate localized seepage occurring west of the Smith Street Bridge in the Village of Brockport.

The canal opened for its 197^th navigational season on May 21 but the section of eastern Orleans and western Monroe counties was closed to traffic. That changes beginning this morning with guard gates raised and the lift bridges operational, the Canal Corp. posted in a notice to mariners.

“Boaters should expect some delays in lift bridge operations as lift bridge operators will be roving between lift bridge locations to operate the lift bridges on Saturday, May 29,” the Canal Corp. said.