Provided photo: Josmar Hernandez (second from left), is pictured with his teacher Crystal Gurney, Weson, Animal Control Officer Airel Ambrose, and Undersheriff Mike Mele.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

HOLLEY – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Animal shelter received a large donation from a Holley Elementary student.

Josmar Hernandez, a sixth-grader, has been collecting donations for the past three weeks from staff and students in Holley to give to the Orleans County Animal Shelter.

Josmar’s love for animals, especially dogs, prompted him to start collecting items that the shelter could use. Over 300 items including dog and cat food, toys, bedding, and cat litter are just some of the items that were collected.

Josmar wanted to come to the shelter to visit the animals but due to Covid-19 that currently isn’t allowed.

Undersheriff Michael Mele and Animal Control Officer Airel Ambrose along with friendly dog Weson visited Josmar at the school.

All items donated will be used at the shelter to make the animals have a happy stay while they are waiting to be adopted to a loving family.

Many volunteers, community members contribute to friendly environment

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Debbie Rothmund, coordinator of the Eastern Orleans Community Center, and volunteers Rachael Escobar and Hunter Rife get desserts ready for lunch at the Holley Center.

HOLLEY – Whether providing free holiday food boxes or a free lunch, or just offering a place for friendly conversation, the Eastern Orleans Community Center is a vibrant program of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.

The center, led by coordinator Debbie Rothmund, provides a variety of services to the community, including an emergency food pantry, daily meals, free holiday food baskets, free clothing, family development/case management services, public access to computers with internet and more.

With all this, many of the people who visit the center, like a woman named Patti, come every day for the socialization.

“And the food is always good,” she said.

The Eastern Orleans Community Center partners with several local agencies to fight poverty and hunger on the eastern end of the county. These include FEMA Pro, St. Vincent de Paul from Rochester, Food Link and The Salvation Army.

National Honor Society students from Holley High School volunteered to put boxes together last week at the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley. The boxes were packed with food for Thanksgiving dinner for families in the Holley area.

Annette Finch, director of emergency services at Community Action, praised the cooperation from local organizations and people, such as the National Honor Society members at Holley High School. Last week they came to the center to fold boxes and help give out 60 Thanksgiving food boxes.

“We do it every year,” said high school senior Julia Buck.

Senior Kasey DeFrank said she likes to do it to help the community.

Rod Skehan, local treasurer for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, said they have been involved for 40 years. They had always done some drive at Thanksgiving at their church, but with change in the laws, they now partner with the Community Center to provide Thanksgiving dinner to needy families.

“Through donations to our society, we are able to purchase turkeys, milk and bread to distribute to the families,” he said. “We utilize the Honor Society to tie it in with the community.”

Julie Tranello, standing, a volunteer at the Eastern Orleans Community Center, talks with center coordinator Debbie Rothmund in the dining room.

Finch said it is amazing what Rothmund does at the center. They average 750 meals a month, serving daily at 11:30 a.m. They play bingo on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“Through the pandemic shutdown, we never stopped,” Rothmund said. “We did take-outs instead.”

Rothmund, who has been at the Community Center for almost 20 years, also makes regular phone calls to the shut-ins to make sure they are alright.

The food pantry serves 60 families a month and food distributions benefit 600 households annually.

Patty’s Boutique next door provides free clothing, all of which is donated, to anyone. Volunteer Julie Tranello works at the boutique. The Center’s affiliation with The Salvation Army helps people facing eviction, utility shutoffs or needing prescriptions.

Carol Pietrzykowski, seated, new fiscal director at Community Action, enjoys lunch at the Eastern Orleans Community Center. Talking to her, from left, are Community Action’s director of emergency services, Annette Finch, and volunteers Maria Fernandez and Kerri Glover from Maison Albion.

The center is always looking for volunteers, such as Kerri Glover, new owner of Maison Albion (formerly the Pillars) on County House Road in Albion, and her venue coordinator Maria Fernandez. Kerri, her husband Cole and son Benjamin, 12, visited the center last week, where Kerri volunteered to help serve lunch.

After purchasing the Pillars, the Glovers were looking for a non-profit agency to support, and she learned about Community Action. After meeting with Finch, she asked where she could volunteer. Maison Albion is planning a grand opening celebration on Dec. 12 and will be doing a fundraiser for Community Action at that event, which will be in-person and virtual.

The Eastern Orleans Community Center welcomes all residents. Finch’s invitation is to “Stop by, meet our friendly staff, get answers to your questions, have a cup of coffee, play a game of cards or bingo or just have fun.”

The Center is located at 75 Public Square in Holley.

Annette Finch, left, director of emergency services at Community Action, opens a pizza for lunch at the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley. Looking on is center coordinator Debbie Rothmund. Hunter Rife, at right, comes every day to volunteer.

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Photos courtesy of Melissa Ierlan

HOLLEY – This new historical marker was installed today at 35 South Main Street. It notes the site was once a “Safe House” and the home of Chauncey Robinson, who lived from 1792-1866.

Robinson was an Orleans County pioneer and an abolitionist. He sheltered escaped slaves at this site as part of the Underground Railroad.

The sign was funded by Roy Bubb, James Robinson, the Orleans County Historical Association and the Orleans County Historian’s Department under Matt Ballard.

The other side of the marker notes the location is the “Brainerd Home,” which was built by Col. Ezra Brainard, inventor of Brained Truss Bridge. He was a contractor on the Erie Canal who built the Sandy Creek embankment in Holley.

Local historians have long suspected there were houses in Orleans County on the Underground Railroad, which was a secret network of trails and homes. But there wasn’t documentation to back it up, until Clarendon Historian Melissa Ierlan found a letter from Robinson’s grandson.

In the lengthy letter, the grandson details visiting his grandfather, who took him up to the second floor of the back side of the house. The grandfather pulled back a curtain, and there was a group of escaped slaves on beds.

More research showed that Robinson was in fact an outspoken abolitionist,.

This is the second historical marker in Orleans County about African-American history. Medina in April 2015 unveiled a marker on Main Street in recognition of two speeches delivered in the community by Frederick Douglass, a leading abolitionist.

The Holley marker highlights a local resident advocating for escaped slaves.

The Holley marker is two-sided with one side highlighting Robinson and the Underground Railroad, and the other side noting the work of Ezra Brainard, who built Robinson’s home and oversaw construction of the canal embankment over Sandy Creek.

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School now used for 41 apartments, village offices

Photo courtesy of Erin Anheier: The front columns were added this past week to the Holley Gardens, the former Holley High School. Home Leasing of Rochester has transformed the building with a $17 million project.

HOLLEY – One of the last touches on a $17 million transformation of the former Holley High School was completed this week when six new columns were put on the front of the building.

Delivery of the columns was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The columns give the building a final exclamation point.

Home Leasing has turned the building, which was vacant for more than two decades, into 41 apartments and the village offices. The apartments include one studio, 35 one-bedrooms, and five two-bedroom apartments.

The building was last used as a school in 1975.  It was last used by a manufacturing company, Liftec, which went bankrupt in the 1990s.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Here is how the former school looked on December 11, 2018 before the major construction started.

The building was nearly done in August, but Home Leasing was still waiting on delivery of the columns.

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HOLLEY – The school district has informed the community a Holley High School teacher has tested positive for Covid-19.

The positive test follows two students who have tested positive in the Holley Junior-Senior High School.

The teacher was last working at the school on Wednesday and the last day the teacher had contact with students was on Tuesday with the “Red Hawks” cohort, Brian Bartalo, the district superintendent, said in a letter to the community posted on the district website.

Orleans County Health Department officials have told Holley school leaders the teacher’s Covid case does not appear to be related to the two positive student cases.

“Contact tracing has to begin as soon as possible,” Bartalo said. “Just as in the student cases, the district is unable to legally disclose any further details or personal identifiable information about this teacher per the federal privacy laws.”

The district this evening was planning to share class rosters and contact information with the Health Department so that the department can begin the tracing process.

“The only students (parents) who may be called will be those high school students (Red Hawks) who were in school on Tuesday and who may have been in close contact with this particular teacher,” Bartalo said. “At this time, there’s no need for students to quarantine or get tested, unless you are contacted by the Health Department and directed to do so.”

If a student is contacted and put on mandatory quarantine, the district asks that the family call the high school nurse at 638-6316, ext. 5100 or the principal’s office at 638-6318, ext. 5505.  The district will work with the students about being fully remote during the quarantine period.

It is recommended that students and staff members continue daily monitoring for symptoms of Covid-19 which could include fever, loss of taste or smell, headache, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, fatigue, congestion or runny nose, body aches and/or nausea. If these or unusual symptoms occur, please consult your medical provider, Bartalo said in his letter.

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HOLLEY – A Holley student who was last at the middle-high school campus on Wednesday morning has tested positive for Covid-19, the Orleans County Health Department said today.

“The school learned about the positive case before school this morning and ordered precautionary cleaning and disinfection of the area the student was last in,” said Brian Bartalo, superintendent of Holley Central School District. “The student did not report to school today.”

Holley is working with the local Health Department and New York State Covid-19 School Specialists to assist with contact tracing.

The local Health Department will go back 48 hours from the onset of symptoms or the date of the test to determine any order of quarantining of individuals of close contact with the student.

In this case that would start on Monday, October 19th. As a member of the “White Hawk” cohort, the student who tested positive was not in school on Monday or Tuesday this week. Any communication of the need for quarantine will come directly from the Health Department or the NYS School Liaison. If the local Health Department indicates there is anything further that needs to occur at the school building or district level, families will be updated, Bartalo said.

Paul Pettit, Health Department director, said the district and health officials are unable to legally disclose any further details or personal identifiable information about this student per the federal privacy laws.

If a student in the Holley school district receives confirmation of a positive Covid-19 test, Bartalo urged parents and guardians to contact the school’s nurse or principal immediately “so we can help the Orleans County Health Department most efficiently begin the contact tracing process.”

Any student who has Covid-19 symptoms or has been tested should not report to school until cleared by a medical professional and/or have a negative test result.

“In addition to working closely with the Health Department, we will continue to reinforce the best practices of mask wearing, staying physically distant from others, and handwashing,” Bartalo said.

Symptoms of Covid-19 include but are not limited to fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.

For information on school statistics, click here for the New York State Covid-19 Report Card.

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Photo courtesy of the New York Landmarks Conservancy: The First Presbyterian Church of Holley was approved for a $5,000 grant from the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Sacred Sites program.

Press Release, New York Landmarks Conservancy

HOLLEY – The New York Landmarks Conservancy has announced eight Sacred Sites grants totaling $140,000 awarded to historic religious properties throughout New York State, including $5,000 to First Presbyterian Church of Holley to help fund roof repairs.

The First Presbyterian Church of Holley is a tan-brick, Collegiate-Gothic style church completed in 1909 to the designs of architect William C. Walker. A modern concrete-block addition (1958-59) abuts the east side of the original building.

The sanctuary interior contains the original exposed roof trusses, paneled ceiling in dark wood, heavy wood window trim, altar furnishings, and organ installed in a loft behind the altar. The church serves about 400 people a year through activities such as school supply and clothing distribution, a holiday gift drive, scout troops, fellowship groups, and meetings of the local garden club.

“We’re delighted our grants can help maintain these important institutions during this difficult time,” said Peg Breen, President, The New York Landmarks Conservancy. “Throughout the pandemic, they have continued feeding and recovery programs, as well as health and cultural offerings to their communities.”

The Sacred Sites Program provides congregations with matching grants for planning and implementing exterior restoration projects, technical assistance, and workshops. Since 1986, the program has pledged 1,559 grants totaling more than $12 million to 828 religious institutions statewide.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy

The New York Landmarks Conservancy, a private non-profit organization, has led the effort to preserve and protect New York City’s architectural legacy for nearly 50 years. Since its founding, the Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $52 million, which has leveraged more than $1 billion in 1,850 restoration projects throughout New York, revitalizing communities, providing economic stimulus and supporting local jobs.

The Conservancy has also offered countless hours of pro bono technical advice to building owners, both nonprofit organizations and individuals. The Conservancy’s work has saved more than a thousand buildings across the City and State, protecting New York’s distinctive architectural heritage for residents and visitors alike today, and for future generations.

For more information, please visit www.nylandmarks.org.

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Sal DeLuca honored for service in food program during spring closure

Photo courtesy of Holley Central School: Robin Silvis, the president of the Board of Education, presents the “Soaring to New Heights” award to Sal DeLuca last month in appreciation for his service preparing meals for students during the closure last spring.

HOLLEY – The school recognized Sal DeLuca with the “Soaring to New Heights” award for his volunteer service preparing meals for students during the school closure last spring.

The district gives the Soaring to New Heights award each month to deserving students and adults who go above and beyond expectations, and lend their skills and abilities to help others. DeLuca last spring helped regularly with all aspects of the emergency food service.

The school district during its Sept. 21 meeting also recognized five Holley faculty and staff members who recently retired.

The group includes Accounts Payable Clerk Buffie Gleason, MS/HS science teacher Dan Burke, elementary cafeteria aide Janine Kraatz, MS/HS school nurse Donna Lenz and MS/HS special education teacher Lynnette Short.

The Board of Education also recognized four Holley teachers and two administrators for attaining tenure.

Teachers Zachary Busch, Crystal Elliott, Mark Hill and Carrie Rebis completed the four-year process to become tenured teachers for the district.

Assistant Elementary School Principal Tim Artessa and Director of Special Programs Stephanie Sanchez also received tenure.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: This sign promoting Dirk Lammes for highway superintendent on Route 31 was covered up after the code enforcement officer last week said it violated the town ordinance for being out too early before an election. But town officials on Monday evening acknowledged the current ordinance isn’t clear so Lammes’ sign was allowed to be displayed today.

MURRAY – The Town Board said it will look at updating the town ordinance for election signs after one candidate had two signs cited because the code enforcement officer thought they were out too early.

In Murray, town officials have believed the expectation in the town was no campaign signs out 30 days before an election. That was how Fred Case, the code officer, interpreted the code.

Last week, two signs were put up for Dirk Lammes, a candidate for highway superintendent. Case told the land owners the signs were in violation of the Murray code and needed to be removed.

But Case during Monday’s Town Board meeting said he made a mistake. The general election is Nov. 3, but there is now early voting and people can send in absentee ballots. So Case said the question is when does the election officially start?

Case also said the code states no signs should be up within 30 days of a general election campaign. It doesn’t state general election, but “general election campaign.”

The campaign could start many months before the actual election, when candidates are going to party officials, seeking an endorsement and also trying to get residents to sign a petition.

“We need to clarify when the signs can be posted,” Case told the board on Monday.

He also said signs promoting Donald Trump and Joe Biden for U.S. president have been on many lawns for months.

Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio doesn’t want to see restrictions on campaign signs.

“I apologize,” Case said. “I need clarification from the Town Board on how to enforce this or do we take it out of the zoning code altogether?”

Paul Hendel, a town councilman, said the intent from the town has been to not allow campaign signs until 30 days before people go to the polls.

“I don’t believe residents want to see political signs strewn all over town for more than 30 days,” he said.

The town code also states the signs need to be removed within 48 hours after an election.

Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio said he sees political signs as free speech and shouldn’t be constrained with time frames.

He also said the town shouldn’t “spot enforce” the zoning for campaign signs, citing some but not others.

Town Attorney John Sansone said the code should be changed and made more clear.

“The way that this is written it’s impossible,” Sansone said. “For Fred (code officer) to try to enforce this you put him in a situation where he can’t win because there are good arguments on both sides.”

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Highway Department making progress reducing leaks in water system

MURRAY – The Town Board voted on Monday evening to refinance the debt for water districts 2-11 and 13, a move than is expected to save $512,000 over 27 years in reduced debt payments.

The town is working with Jeff Smith of Municipal Solutions to take out a new bond at a lower interest rate. Town Supervisor Joe Sidonio said he has been working with accountant Bob Fox on ideas to reduce costs for water users.

Fox said refinancing the debt, during a time of low interest rates, would bring down the annual debt costs. In Murray, Water District 1 is already paid off and other districts have many years of paying down the debt where it doesn’t make as much sense to refinance right now, Sidonio said.

The Town Board was unanimous in the vote. Sidonio said there is still one more vote needed, once the bond proposals come in. That gives the town a chance to not proceed with the refinancing if Murray officials aren’t happy with the terms of the deal.

Sidonio said Municipal Solutions is pushing to have the refinancing in place before 2021, which should provide some debt relief to the 11 water districts next year.

Sidonio also has been raising concern about water loss in the town’s water districts. He said 40 to 60 percent of water in the town hasn’t been billed since January 2018. That is costing Murray about $100,000 in annual water loss.

The Town Highway Department has had success in recent months reducing that loss by changing water meters. The Highway Department last week also found and fixed a big leak on Ridge Road.

Louise Passarell, acting highway superintendent, said the repair already has reduced some of the water loss. She expects to see significant reductions in water loss in future water meter readings on the Ridge.

“It was a great find, a great repair,” Passarell told the Town Board.

She and Sidonio had a tense exchange, with Passarell telling Sidonio he is hurting department morale by not acknowledging the reductions in water loss made by the department, and by frequently talking about the water loss, including given interviews about it to the media.

She said Sidonio has told some people the water line repair on the Ridge was a “fake.”

“I feel like their reputation is being smeared,” Passarell said at the town meeting.

Sidonio said he heard that the leak repair was a fake and only shared that with a councilman in private. He told Passarell he should have been called to the scene.

He praised the highway workers for the success in reducing the water loss. Sidonio said he wants a better working relationship with Passarell and the highway department.

“You may not like me but you should appreciate the position,” Sidonio said about his role as town supervisor. “I look forward to rectifying this and working together.”

He said he will continue to press for reducing the water loss and unaccounted water, saying the water department is in “dire straits.”

Ron Vendetti, the retired code enforcement officer, attended the meeting on Monday and urged the town to make the water loss and unbilled water “the highest priority.” Vendetti said the losses amount to about $300 a day for taxpayers.

“Do whatever you have to do to get it done,” he said.

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Faces Dirk Lammes in general election on Nov. 3

Jim DeFilipps

MURRAY – Jim DeFilipps, an Orleans County deputy sheriff, is running to be Murray highway superintendent and has two lines in the Nov. 3 election.

DeFilipps, who was named deputy of the year in New York State in 2015, is seeking the highway post under the Independence Party and the independent “Jimmy D for Highway” party.

He faces Dirk Lammes Jr. in the Nov. 3 general election. Lammes has been endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties.

The highway department is currently led by interim superintendent Louise Passarell. She has been handling the administrative duties for the department following the retirement of Ed Morgan on May 31, who served as highway superintendent for 30 years. Dennis Mandigo, the senior highway employee, is in charge of water.

DeFilipps, 43, will reach 20 years in law enforcement in December and could retire. This evening he said he welcomes the chance to stay active in Murray in a second career.

If elected he said he would get a CDL license to drive the highway equipment and also earn the license to oversee the water system. He currently has a CDL permit.

DeFilipps was working the night shift on March 21, 2015 when he was shot twice at about 3 a.m. following a high-speed chase with James Ellis of Wyoming County. DeFilipps was the first police officer on scene when Ellis wrecked his vehicle in Clarendon on Route 31A. Police were pursuing Ellis after a 911 call when he threatened an ex-girlfriend in Shelby with a gun.

After the crash in Clarendon, Ellis fled to a nearby wooded area and opened fire on DeFilipps and other deputies and police to arrive on the scene. DeFilipps, despite getting hit twice by gunfire, shot Ellis, killing him and ending the threat.

DeFilipps, after recovering from his injuries, returned to work full-time. He has managed the Orleans County Marine Patrol. He also has been a fire commissioner with the Holley Joint Fire District and is currently a village trustee in Holley.

He said he has experience in organization and administration, and can keep public funds within a budget.

Lammes currently owns Lammes Construction and works with municipalities with waterline repairs. His company also does snowplowing in the winters.

Lammes, 52, has been doing emergency waterline repairs for municipalities since 2001, mainly in the Town of Irondequoit. He also has a contract in the Town of Henrietta.

Besides the Murray highway superintendent, the other local positions in the general election include:

• County Clerk: Nadine Hanlon (Republican) vs. Diane Shampine (Conservative), 4-year term

• District Attorney: Joe Cardone (R), unopposed for 4-year term

• Coroner (3): Scott Schmidt (R), Charles Smith (R) and Rocco Sidari (R, C), all unopposed for 4-year terms

• Murray Town Justice: Theodore R. Spada, Jr. (R), unopposed for 4-year term

• Murray Town Councilman: Randy Bower (R), unopposed for 3-year term

• Shelby Town Supervisor: Jeff Smith (R), unopposed to fill vacancy, 1-year

• Shelby Town Councilman: Ryan Wilkins (R), unopposed to fill term for 3 years

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7 demonstrators hold signs in Public Square, amidst jeers and cheers

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Heather Rowley of Holley organized a Black Lives Matter demonstration today in Holley from noon to about 2:30 p.m. She is holding the Black Lives Matter sign.

Rowley was joined by her sister and brother, and four of their friends from Holley and Brockport.

Rowley, 30, wanted to publicly support the cause, especially after a big processional a week ago in support of law enforcement. About 300 motorcyclists and 200 other vehicles were in the “Back the Blue” ride and rally that covered 52 miles in Orleans County.

“This is in direct response to the Back the Blue rally,” Rowley said. “We want to show people of color in our community that we support them and we hear them.”

The seven demonstrators stood in the Public Square for about 2 ½ hours. They received some thumbs up and supportive beeps, as well as middle fingers and expletives from passing motorists.

Rowley was bothered by the timing of the Back the Blue ride a week ago, with the protests in Rochester over the death of Daniel Prude, 41. He died on March 30, seven days after being taken into custody by police. Seven police officers involved in his arrest have been suspended and the police chief has been fired.

Prude was suffering from acute mental health problems when police were called. Officers found him running naked in the street on a cold night on March 23. He was restrained with a “spit hood,” designed to protect police from saliva.

Body camera video was released in early September, more than five months after his death. Protestors have been out every day in Rochester since the videos became public.

“That someone died in such a demeaning way and to still have that rally (a week ago) really rubbed me the wrong way,” Rowley said.

A demonstrator holds on a sign in Holley’s Public Square this afternoon.

Rowley, a graduate student for social work at Brockport State College, wanted her hometown to see that some residents support Black Lives Matter and the push for more police accountability.

She said she feels haunted by the image of Prude and his interaction with the RPD.

Her sister, Madeline Rowley, said most of the passing motorists seemed supportive of their presence. A few people stopped to chat and one wanted a group photo. Some people yelled, “All Lives Matter.” Some told them to “Go home” and “Get the f— out of town.”

Ben Rowley, the brother of Heather and Madeline, had never been to a public demonstration until today. He saw many familiar faces driving by. He felt it would be more effective to support Black Lives Matter in Holley, rather than joining a crowd in Rochester.

“We’re trying to change the town I grew up in for the better,” said Rowley, 24.

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