By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2022 at 2:01 pm
Photos courtesy of Dan Mawn
HOLLEY – This class of Holley second-graders wave tickets after visiting the railroad depot last week. The tickets were designed by the historical society to resemble original tickets from the New York Central Railroad.
Volunteers act as a conductor and ticket agents, punching the tickets for the students.
The depot was constructed in 1907. It was moved in 1988 to Geddes Street Extension and was turned into a museum about local history. Holley second-graders typically would visit the site each year to learn about Holley and Murray artifacts.
Students didn’t come to the museum in 2020 or 2021 due to Covid restrictions, but they are back this year. Four classes of second graders visited the museum.
These students try an old restored telephone inside the museum.
“The kids are amazed by it since all they know are cell phones,” said Dan Mawn, president of Murray-Holley Historical Society. “This one rings when the handle is cranked.”
Mawn and the historical society volunteers also showed the students a working telegraph, which is a precursor to the telephone.
HOLLEY – To celebrate its Diamond Jubilee (aka 75th anniversary of service to the community), the Community Free Library is planning a variety of events to be timed to coincide with the Holley June Fest on June 4.
Ahead of the activities planned during June Fest is a raffle – a floral arrangement sprouting gift cards totaling more than $300. These gift cards are not only for Holley businesses such as Dustin’s and Sam’s, but include Lowes, TJ Max, Sara’s Garden, Red Lobster, Chili’s, the Outback, Wild Flour and more – something for every taste.
Need to fix something around the home? Want to go out to eat? Need flowers for your garden? All of these are possible for the lucky winner. Tickets are currently on sale in the library, and are $2 each or three for $5. The drawing will be held at the end of the day on June 4. Don’t miss your chance to win!
Starting June 27 and running concurrent with June Fest will be an art show presenting the works of three local artists – Tony Barry, Debra Mignano and Ken Claus in the library board room. Many of these art works are also available for sale. An exhibit of children’s art from the classes of Ken Claus – art works that reflect the joy children feel when working in different media – will be on view in the Library Children’s Room.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during June Fest, there will be an “Outrageous Book Sale” where participants can bring a bag from home and fill it to the top with books, DVDs and other items on sale – all for only $1. For those who want to add more to their home library, they can bring a box and fill it to overflowing for $3.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 May 2022 at 9:22 am
Provided photos
HOLLEY – A group of about 75 people volunteered on Saturday to pick up trash along 9 miles of the Erie Canal towpath and many of the village streets and parks.
The Holley Rotary Club and Holley Interact Club met with other community members on Saturday morning to walk the canal the length that spans the school district.
The volunteers picked up litter as part of the annual Canal Clean Sweep.
They covered the stretch of the towpath from the public boat launch on County Line Road at Route 31 to Transit Road.
Teams went from bridge to bridge picking up trash.
Brendan Keiser, Holley’s director of Teaching and Learning, worked with students at this spot overlooking the Holley Waterfalls.
The volunteers tackled trash in many of the village neighborhoods as well.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Nick and Sarah Callahan of Callahan Towing are the new owners of Glenside Sales and Service in Holley. Pictured from left include Nick Callahan, son James Callahan, Sarah’s son Travis Veazey, mechanic Hunter Fiegel, Sarah Callahan, and lead tow operator Gary Williams.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 May 2022 at 1:36 pm
HOLLEY – A husband and wife who run a towing business in Holley have found eastern Orleans County to be a very welcoming place for their operation.
Nick and Sarah Callahan say the doors keep opening for them to grow in the Holley community. For two years they ran Callahan Towing on Geddes Street. In January they shifted to a more prominent location on Route 31 when they acquired Glenside Sales & Service from Eric Smith, who ran the business for 36 years.
“I’m very grateful the community has accepted us as well as they have,” said Mr. Callahan, who started his towing business in 2014 in Genesee County.
The Glenside location at 56 State St. has space for the towing operation and also includes an auto repair business. Smith’s grandson, Hunter Fiegel, has stayed on site as the mechanic for the Callahans. He is a Toyota and GM certified technician.
“Eric is a very big part of the community,” Nick said. “Being connected to him has definitely made it smoother.”
He said the switch to the Route 31 location was good timing. They were renting from Stockham Lumber on Geddes Street and that business is expanding and needed the space that was being used by Callahan.
The Callahans are looking to add another mechanic and tow operator. They are also planning to have Car Cruise-ins at Glenside on Tuesday evenings beginning May 10. They welcome classic cars, custom builds, trucks and jeeps, and motorcycles. They plan to have music and food trucks in the events that could continue until November.
Nick and Sarah Callahan are pictured with Hunter Fiegel, left, their mechanic and grandson of previous Glenside owner Eric Smith, who owned and operated the business for 36 years.
HOLLEY – Organizers of the Holley June Fest on June 4 welcome vendors and sponsors for the community celebration.
The planning committee is holding sponsor and vendor sign up days at the Eastern Orleans Community Center at 75 Public Sq. Holley on May 7 and May 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vendors and sponsors are asked to bring a copy of their business card with contact information and/or logo that they would like to have published.
The cost is $25 cash or check made out to The Village of Holley, with the memo: June Fest.
Vendor paper applications are available onsite. Those interested in submitting an application online beforehand can contact Keith Lutes at 585-354-6467.
To be a sponsor, call or text Rainey Losee at 912-334-6737.
Any information about the Scavenger Hunt: A Walk-Through History in Holley can be addressed to Amber Mesita at ambermesita@gmail.com.
The festival has social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram with updates on the June Fest.
The festival also includes a 75th anniversary celebration for the Community Free Library at 86 Public Square. The party will be from 4 to 6 p.m. People are encouraged to RSVP with library director Sandra Shaw at 585-638-6987.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 April 2022 at 8:32 pm
Sidonio apologizes, says he faces ‘hostile environment’ at Town Hall
MURRAY – The majority of the Murray’s five Town Board members are demanding that Joe Sidonio resign as town supervisor due to his use of racial slurs and “inappropriate language” in how he describes female employees.
Joe Sidonio
Board members Paul Hendel, Randy Bower and Lloyd Christ all called for Sidonio’s resignation at Monday’s board meeting. Hendel, Bower and Christ voted for Sidonio’s resignation with Michael Mele abstaining because as deputy town supervisor he would take over if Sidonio resigned.
Sidonio said this evening he doesn’t plan on resigning and did nothing illegal. He did say he regrets his language in private conversations with a resident that were recorded without Sidonio’s knowledge.
The board went on the record saying he should resign.
“Elected officials should exhibit behaviors that are held to a higher standard than others,” Councilman Hendel said during the meeting, according to draft minutes posted on the town website. “Mr. Sidonio’s behaviors demonstrate a total lack of leadership, lack of morals and lack of ethics, and when taken together prohibits his ability to continue to lead this Town in an effective manner focused on the best interests of the residents of the Town.
The draft minutes on the town website say the resolution calling for Sidonio’s resignation, states:
“The reasons for this motion are as follows:
Mr. Sidonio has consistently fostered a working atmosphere of ridicule and intimidation with the elected and non-elected individuals working for the Town.
Mr. Sidonio has consistently used vulgar and inappropriate language to identify and describe both elected and non-elected individuals working for the Town. For example: In recorded messages that have been obtained by the Town Board, he refers to our town Clerk as a “F—ing C—“; and our court clerk as “a clone of Ron Vendetti and a F—ing C—“! Mr. Sidonio said the full words, Mr. Hendel would not.
Mr. Sidonio has consistently manipulated facts, information and individuals to ensure that he would achieve what is in his best interest with little or no regard to the truth. Direct evidence of this behavior is again revealed in audio recordings.
Mr. Sidonio has multiple accusations of harassment to both elected and non-elected individuals since his tenure began as supervisor.
Mr. Sidonio has consistently violated the confidentiality of Town Board executive sessions by revealing the contents of those discussions with town residents outside of executive sessions. Again, in recorded messages he is revealing specific personal matters; results of personal interviews; and other such matters that must be kept as confidential executive session discussions.
Mr. Sidonio has used the most vile words often used to slander and degrade persons of color when describing work tasks. Again, he is recorded using the “N” word in statements such as: “I’m not going to be doing your N—– work”! Mr. Sidonio said the full word, Mr. Hendel would not.
Sidonio, during the meeting on Monday, said the board’s vote is non-binding and a moot resolution.
He issued this statement this evening:
“Citizens:
I am sorry and embarrassed for the emotionally charged, regrettable language I used in private conversation. That language does not reflect the person I am and has no place in our discourse today.
“While this is not an excuse, I made these remarks in unguarded moments during the course of private conversations with a person whom I thought was a friend. These private conversations were recorded without my knowledge or consent, and then shared with, and used by, members of the Town Board in an attempt to coerce my resignation as Town Supervisor.
“In fact, before the April 18, 2022 Town Board meeting, a member of the Board, Michael Mele, told me that ‘if I resigned, this would all go away.’ I refused to resign, and, sure enough, these recordings were released to the media.
“While I am sorry for the words I used, my unguarded expressions of frustration reflected my discouragement and disillusionment with the business-as-usual corruption and waste I routinely encountered in Town government. In fact, the words I used in frustration are not the real story here. I invite you to get to the truth of how the people of Murray have been betrayed by their elected officials.
“If any story or report of this juncture in our town is printed without full context and clarity one and all are enabling the cruel practices of the Town of Murray Board to continue unimpaired and giving validity to the tactics of conspiracy, bullying, threats, fear mongering and corruption that have overshadowed our community for too long.
“At the outset of the Murray board meeting on Monday April 18th the four other members of the town board hijacked the town meeting in a coup attempt to get me to resign the Supervisorship.
“When the meeting was forced to be quickly adjourned many, many people who believe in good government vocalized their support for the honest, equal, welcoming, fair governance for which I stand. I stand up against bullies and against self-interested mismanagement of town government.
“With respect to all previous allegations made and the opinions proffered about me by the other town board members and employees – both verbally and in print – each has been thoroughly investigated and found to be unsubstantiated, warranting no action.
“Yes, a hostile work environment exists in the Town of Murray. Each day I face board members and long-term employees who work hard to concoct schemes to dislodge me, disgrace me, foil my earnest work, frame me and in addition do not speak to me.
“The most egregious example is the horrific text sent between three women, both elected, appointed and employed, which outlined a conspiracy to falsely accuse someone, potentially me, of a crime. These same individuals then proceeded to investigate me for wrongdoing in objecting to their scheme. Their claims were found to have no merit. I objected then and I object now.
“It is worth noting that we have one board member who allegedly took early retirement from the Sheriff’s Office to avoid embarrassment. We have one town board member who allegedly has no permit to operate a septic business from his property and was found to have been using public water from a fire hydrant allegedly without either a water meter nor a back flow preventer on the hydrant. Another board member championed the unlawful healthcare benefits paid to an employee’s girlfriend.
“I was elected by voters to create an efficient and effective government delivered in an accountable and transparent manner. I had to challenge the status quo step on toes and be tough. I stated from the beginning I am not a politician. I am not perfect. But I try and work hard to learn and move forward.
“I declined the town board’s backroom offer to resign and ‘make all this go away.’
“I will not be coerced, blackmailed, bought or co-opted.
“I began the effort of helping Murray by reaching for a vision of a beautiful community.
In my vision there was no oppression and no persecution. Each citizen was treated with equality and had a voice that was heard. Governance was fair, spending was conservative, and procedures were followed. In this vision the energy of the town was focused on creating a beautiful place to live, a place for everybody, where people want to be, businesses want to be and where people want to be involved without fear of repercussion.
“Sadly, the citizens of the Town of Murray have been robbed of access to this vision, this promised democracy in America.” – Joe Sidonio
The Clarendon Softball Team from 1961 – Back row, from left, Melvin Burch, Leonard Ruggles, Ronald Moore, Wesley Potter, Cecil Moore and Gordon Ferguson; front row, Laverne Webster, Tommy Cook, Larry Wood, Paul Keith, Clifford Moore and William Crawford. Not pictured was Lloyd Tipton. Jimmy Snell was the scorekeeper.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
Illuminating Orleans – Vol. 2, No. 14
HOLLEY – This energetic photo of the Clarendon Championship Softball Team on the front page of the October 26,1961 edition of the Holley Standard caught our attention.
An accompanying article notes that the team was newly organized in the spring of 1961 and was sponsored by Duryea Motors. The league was composed of eight teams.
In the season playoffs, Clarendon defeated Bergen in two games, 17-3 and 6-3 in the semi-finals and won two out of the three in the final round against General Electric and Brockport. Clarendon won the first game of the series, GE won the second and the third game was a tie. Clarendon won the makeup game and thus the series and the championship.
The masthead notes that the Holley Standard had been established in September, 1870.
The Holley Standard building on Thomas Street in the village. The building was constructed in the early 1900s.
According to a history of paper written in 1964, it was started by Cyrus Marsh, publisher of the Brockport Democrat, and his son George F. Marsh. The first issue was dated September 17, 1870.
The newspaper used this promo to solicit local news.
A fire on July 23, 1874 destroyed the entire south side of the Holley Square, including the Standard office and its contents. Remarkably, the paper just missed one issue as it was printed temporarily at the publisher’s Brockport location.
Charles C. Hayden bought the paper in 1882 and was publisher for more than thirty years, until his death in 1914. Another fire in January 1885 destroyed the office and equipment again. This time, the paper was temporarily printed at the Orleans American office in Albion until a Holley location was available, over the State Exchange Bank.
In 1903, Charles Hayden bought the Weller property on Thomas Street, sold part of it to the Village of Holley as a site for a new village building and constructed the one-story building which housed the Standard for many years.
The Bartlett-Turner Company owned the paper from 1914-1936 when it was purchased by long-time employees Gerald McVay and Jessie Cole. It was purchased on October 30, 1945 by W.K. Hovey, a former General Motors engineer who was interested in rural journalism. It was purchased by the Suburban Record in Spencerport in 1971, and in 1974 by Robert Nagel, publisher of the Batavia Daily News, at which point it was combined with the Brockport Republic-Democrat and the Hamlin Herald to form the Erie Canal News which ran until 1979.
The masthead of the 1961 Holley Standard announced that it served: Clarendon – Kendall – Murray – Fancher – Hulberton – Kendall Mills – Kent – W. Kendall – W. Sweden – Morton.
The October 26, 1961 issue included the following items of interest:
A tragic accident in Kendall which claimed the life of one teen and resulted in the injury of four others.
Duffy-Mott reported increased sales.
The Kendall Fire Department acquired a new fire engine.
Fred DePhillips was a candidate for Town Clerk.
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Miller of Morton celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
The Orleans County History Dept. owns some early issues of the paper. From the July 5, 1878 issue we learn that:
Dr. A.G. Henry and Miss Mary F. French were married in Sacramento.
A tramp narrowly escaped lynching for assaulting a young girl.
Mr. and Mrs. Odell of Kendall and their ten intelligent looking children had their photograph taken by Amos Belden.
Mr. M. Hoffman of Kendall Mills was recovering from typhoid fever.
Advertisements from 1878
The eventual demise of the Holley Standard was part of a national trend. As readers gravitated to television news, rural newspapers faced increasing competition for advertising dollars, their main source of income.
Fortunately, access to this wealth of local information is still available. It is on microfilm at the Hoag Library in Albion, at SUNY Brockport, from the Town of Clarendon historian and at the Murray-Holley Museum.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2022 at 9:30 am
HOLLEY – The Board of Education has approved a $26,982,000 proposed budget for 2022-23 that would increase taxes by 1.95 percent.
The budget goes before voters on May 17. The budget is below the district’s allowable tax cap of 2.793 percent, said Sharon Zacher, the district’s assistant superintendent for business.
“We kept this the same as last year with hopes that a moderate increase will not burden our taxpayers while assisting the district with an increase in expenses,” Zacher said.
The budget maintains all current educational programs and represents a 3.18 percent budget-to-budget increase. Zacher said contractual obligations and inflation of supplies and materials are the main reasons for the budget going up.
The vote on May 17 includes a proposition to establish a capital improvements reserve fund at a maximum of $6 million. Zacher said the fund is needed as the district begins to prepare for the next capital improvement project.
Holley currently receives state aid of 92.4 for capital projects. The remaining 7.6 percent is the local share.
“The capital reserve would allow us to pick up that difference without a tax impact on our community,” Zacher said.
Proposition 3 is to authorize purchasing new school buses as a maximum of $334,000.
Proposition 4 would be authorizing the district to collect $194,966 for Community Free Library, which is up from the $189,287 for 2021-22.
There are two candidates for two seats on the Board of Education. The deadline for submitting petitions to be a candidate was Monday, April 18. Tracy Van Ameron and Anne Winkley, current board members, are running unopposed for three-year terms on the BOE.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 16 April 2022 at 7:50 am
Provided photo: Ashley Farrell’s granddaughter Annalaya wears the little blue sweater Farrell passed on to her. The sweater has special meaning for Farrell, who was living in Holley 12 years ago and found it at the Community Center.
HOLLEY – This is a tale of a little blue sweater, a tiny piece of clothing which had the power to lift and encourage one individual.
It’s story began at a very bad time in the life of Ashley Farrell, who decided recently to write about it and post it on Facebook. Nyla Gaylord of Clarendon, event coordinator and fundraiser for United Way of Orleans County, saw the post and forwarded it to Renee Hungerford, director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.
Hungerford asked Farrell to share her story.
Farrell, who now lives in Batavia, was down and out 12 years ago and frequently visited the Holley Community Center for food and donations of clothing.
“I went to the Center two or three times a week for lunch so I didn’t have to use up the little food I had in my house,” Farrell said.
On one of those days, someone had dropped off a box of clothing, and Farrell started to go through it. In it she found a little blue sweater.
“I grabbed it,” Farrell said. “My daughter Riley was 3 and she wore the sweater for two years, until she outgrew it. Then I passed it on to my niece Haidynn, who also wore it for three years. Then it came back to me. I had four daughters by then and the two youngest, Jaidynn and Jetta, wore it.”
The sweater was still in great condition, Farrell said. Through all the play dates, spilled juice, trips and tumbles, the blue sweater remained resilient. Many walks to the park and always the extra layer of clothing at school on those chilly days, the blue sweater became priceless. But its life didn’t end there.
Farrell now has a granddaughter Annalaya, 2, who is going to get the sweater.
It’s only a small piece of clothing, but it’s sentimental value is overwhelming to Farrell.
“I found it when I needed help the most,” Farrell said. “It’s become a big piece of my family’s history. I look back now on the day I was rummaging through that box at the Community Center and I thank God, I thank the universe and all the powers you can’t see, but most importantly I thank myself.”
Hungerford stressed how a simple donation of that box of clothing impacted one family’s live.
“Everyone who donates or volunteers in any way has no idea how it can change somebody’s life,” she said.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Ashley Farrell holds the little blue sweater someone donated to the Holley Community Center 12 years ago. She has passed on from her children to her niece, and now her granddaughter will get to wear it.
“The person who gave it away probably thought they were getting rid of clutter, but had no idea what it would mean to my family,” Farrell said.
Farrell often came to the Community Center for help in the past. She not only was fed there and found clothing for her family, but coordinator Debbie Rothmund used to help her out with money for gas and Annette Finch, recently retired director of Emergency Services, has given Farrell gas cards. When Farrell got a job at the Le Roy Village Green, she got her scrubs at the Community Center’s thrift room.
“Our mission is to help people become self sufficient and Ashley is a shining example,” Hungerford said.
Farrell said it has come full circle.
“I’ve been in homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters, and this little blue sweater reminds me of a time I don’t want to go back to,” Farrell said. “But it also reminds me of how far I’ve come. I’m on my feet now and any way I can help someone, I try to do it. I always try to inspire people and urge them not to give up. Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
She recalls how people would look at her when she was asking for food and clothing.
“Don’t let your situation define you,” Farrell said. “If I can do it, you can do it.”
Rothmund said anyone who needs a support system is welcome at the Holley Community Center.
“I tell people, ‘I promise you in six months you’ll feel differently if you just keep going,’” she said.
Hungerford said Community Action needs volunteers, and she hopes people will take from this story how important it is to volunteer and donate.
From left, Renee Hungerford, director of Community Action; Debbie Rothmund, coordinator of the Holley Community Center; and Katrina Chaffee, director of Community Services and Reporting at Community Action, look at the little blue sweater Ashley Farrell found there 12 years ago. The sweater has become a symbol of hope and inspiration for Farrell’s family.
