Photos by Tom Rivers: The propositions for Tuesday’s vote at Holley Central School are displayed in the foyer of the Holley Junior-Senior High School.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 May 2019 at 10:16 pm
HOLLEY – The proposed school budget of $25,780,000 for 2019-20 passed in a public vote today with 355 yes votes, and 170 no’s.
The budget will increase spending by 2.2 percent or $570,000, and will raise taxes by 2.5 percent or $177,704, from $7,108,141 to $7,285,845.
Other propositions on the ballot include:
• Authorization to spend up to $178,000 for a large (72 seat) school bus and a small (30 seat) bus, passed 331 to 198.
• Authorization to collect $170,197 for the Community Free Library, passed 378 to 151.
• Two people were elected to three-year terms to the Board of Education. John Heise was re-elected with 340 votes. He was the only candidate to submit a petition and get his name on the ballot.
The other spot was filled by write-in votes. Former BOE member Anne Winkley had the most write-in votes with 132, followed by Leanna SanFilippo with 51, Dirk Lammes with 34, and Kerri Neale with 27.
After voting, residents were welcome to have a piece of cake at Holley. The cake was from the senior game for Holley’s unified basketball game. There were some extra pieces that were brought out to the foyer.
HOLLEY — The Top 10 graduates at Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina will be addressed by a Holley graduate who has a medical doctorate degree.
Kaci Schiavone is the keynote speaker at the 33rd annual Top 10 dinner on June 3 at Hickory Ridge Golf Course and Country Club.
After she graduated from Holley in 2009, Schiavone earned a bachelor’s science degree from the University of Rochester in biochemistry with distinction in research. She then spent a year at the University of Pittsburgh as a research lab technician in the field of X-ray crystallography. In 2018, she graduated with her medical doctorate degree from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo.
She is currently a general surgery resident physician at the University of Rochester. Her training requires her to care for critically ill patients while engaging in multi-disciplinary surgical setting. Upon completing the five-year residency program, Schiavone will continue training in a more specialized surgical fellowship.
She is engaged to Michael Pretsch, a 2007 Holley grad.
The Top 10 students from each district include:
• Holley — Emily Bibby, Neila Hand, McKenzie Hill, Abrianna Kruger, Shawna Lusk, Madison Marsh, Gregory Morrill, Lexianne Seewagen, Anastasiya Yaroshchuk and Kristina Yaroshchuk.
• Kendall — Ryan Barrett, Ethan Billings, Jessica Coble, Morgan Davis, Matthew DiNatale, Michael Gardner, Peter Gilman, Hunter Menze, Anna Oakley and John Rath.
• Medina — Emma Baldwin, Alissa Blount, Jessica Granchelli, Margaret Griffin, Kaela Grosslinger, Kody Leno, Raymond Paull, Cora Payne, Jonathan Pietrafesa and Kali Schrader.
(Editor’s note: Albion has a separate honors convocation dinner for students with a GPA at 90 or above. On May 20, 39 students were recognized at the dinner.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2019 at 12:38 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Keeler Construction in Albion is busy today putting new pavement on Route 31 in Holley. This photo is on the west side of the village, looking down from the railroad overpass.
The state Department of Transportation hired Keeler for the job, which started last month and includes milling and repaving Route 31.
A flagman keeps an eye out for motorists on Route 31. The project has slowed down traffic.
The DOT next year will pave Route 237 in the village.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 May 2019 at 8:14 am
MURRAY – The owner of a Murray business has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Murray and its former code enforcement officer.
Anthony Manno, owner of A & M Automotive and Transmissions in Fancher, was in the parking lot at the Fancher Post Office on Route 31 on Feb. 23, 2018. Ron Vendetti, Murray’s code enforcement officer at the time, drove over Manno’s right foot, according to a lawsuit filed April 11 against the town and Vendetti.
“The injury to the plaintiff was caused by the negligence of the defendants,” the lawsuit states. “As a result of the defendants’ negligence, plaintiff suffered serious and permanent injuries, causing him to endure pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and a permanent disability.”
Manno served a notice of claim to the town in March 2018, and town has refused to pay or adjust this claim, according the lawsuit filed by Sheldon W. Boyce Jr. of Brenna Boyce Attorneys At Law in Rochester.
“The actions of defendant Vendetti were so wanton, willful and reckless as to justify an award for punitive damages,” the lawsuit states.
Manno is seeking compensatory and punitive damages plus interest, costs and disbursements.
The Murray Town Board didn’t reappoint Vendetti to code enforcement officer in 2019. Vendetti, however, challenged that decision because he had already received a paycheck to start the year as the code enforcement officer.
The board last month approved a separation agreement with Vendetti for an undisclosed sum.
HOLLEY – Students in Holley’s Middle School/High School Geometry in Construction class on Thursday and Friday will install the barn they have built for Homesteads for Hope, a non-profit community farm that is open to people of all abilities in the Rochester region.
Weather permitting, the students will transport their “work in progress” to H4H on Manitou Road. Students are scheduled to be on site from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day to complete the installation of the barn that will house small animals.
Holley math teacher Russ Albright and technology teacher Tim Rogers co-teach Geometry in Construction, with students rotating between math days and building days each week. There are 12 students in this year’s class, with the majority in 10th grade.
The class helps students learn how math concepts can be applied to real-world problems to create solutions. Students combined their math and construction skills to build a 16’ x 20’ barn for H4H this year.
In the fall, students went on a fieldtrip to the H4H farm so they could better understand how this organization operates and where the barn will be placed on the property. By housing animals like chickens and rabbits in the barn, it will provide new opportunities for young adults to care for the animals on the farm. The barn installation is part of the Phase I plan for H4H.
The barn features a gambrel roof, sliding barn doors, windows and a loft on the second floor. Students constructed stairs to the loft, designed to maximize floor space. A metal skin siding will be added to the barn once it is in place. Students planned for the project by working on a scale model of the barn. The barn was staged on a specially built platform at school before it was dismantled and transported to H4H to be installed permanently.
The skills students learn in this class will be carried with them beyond high school to be used in future jobs or to make home repairs.
“Students enjoy this class because they can see the real-world application of math,” said Rogers. “Many students who don’t traditionally perform well in math class are performing much better in this class.”
The scores from last year’s Regents Exam continue to show that Geometry in Construction students score better than traditional geometry class students. Regardless of how they do on the Geometry Regents exam in June, they leave class feeling proud of completing a community service project that helps others.
Photos by Tom Rivers: A manhole cover, located next to the Salisbury Fountain in Holley, was made by Swett Ironworks in Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 April 2019 at 10:10 am
Sweet Iron Works made the manhole cover by fountain in Public Square
HOLLEY – You don’t have to go to a museum to see cool, historic things in Orleans County. Last week I spotted a manhole cover made in Medina. The manhole cover is still in use. It’s next to the Salisbury Fountain in Holley’s Public Square.
The Medina Historic Society has a Swett Iron Works manhole cover. It was the only one I’d seen before last Thursday, when I was in Holley.
This vintage image shows how massive A.L. Swett Iron Works was in its heyday in Medina.
Swett Iron Works was a significant foundry in Medina, north of the Erie Canal, at 145 Glenwood Ave. In addition to manhole covers, Swett made a lot of heavy-duty items, from barn door hangers to iron ladles. Some buildings still remain from its glory, but it’s a shell of its former self.
Albert L. Swett founded the iron works in 1889. The company ceased operating in 1961, laying off 40 employees.
Albert L. Swett was one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Orleans County’s history. In 1898, he formed the A.L. Swett Electric Light and Power Company, which brought electricity to Medina. He built another reservoir in Carlton to provide more power to Orleans County about a century ago.
He used Lake Alice as part of the hydroelectric project. He named the lake for his daughter, Alice, who was only 11 when she died in 1884.
I mentioned the Swett manhole cover to a few people who I thought might find it interesting. They said some people will occasionally post pictures on Swett manhole covers they see in cities, including Buffalo and New York City. The one in Holley is the only one I know in active service in Orleans County.
I went to Holley last Thursday for an announcement about the village’s efforts to redevelop the former Odd Fellows building in the downtown. The Landmark Society of Western New York is helping with an engineering survey of the building, and the village is seeking proposals to redevelop the building from 1889.
It was an exciting day for Holley officials, who have been worried about the building’s disrepair in recent years. They are optimistic the building will again be a thriving part of the Public Square.
The announcement was made at the Salisbury Fountain in Holley. The fountain was refurbished about five years ago.
Photos by Tom Rivers: A “Five to Revive” banner hangs on the former Odd Fellows Building in Holley’s Public Square. The Landmark Society of Western New York named the building to the “Five to Revive” to draw attention to an important building in need of investment.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 April 2019 at 7:08 pm
Village’s LDC now owns site which is considered an anchor of Public Square
Wayne Goodman (right) is executive director the Landmark Society of WNY. Brian Sorochty, left, is Holley’s mayor. Goodman praised the Holley officials and community for their commitment to redeveloping historic sites in the community, including the former Holley High School.
HOLLEY – The Village of Holley is seeking proposals for a new owner for a historic building in the Public Square. Holley wants assurances the building will be renovated in a way that preserves the character of the 1890 structure on the western end of the downtown.
The village wants to avoid another scenario where the building is bought and then left to sit empty, gradually deteriorating, said Dan Schiavone, chairman of Holley’s Local Development Corporation.
That LDC owns the building, which was given to the LDC by the previous owner who bought it at the county tax foreclosure auction. The owner bid online from Florida. She saw it as an investment, but no tenants or new buyers emerged.
The village stepped in, not wanting to see the building fall in disrepair and have to be torn down.
The LDC is working with the Landmark Society of Western New York to have an engineering study done on the building so a new owner knows of the issues with redeveloping the site.
“We will find the answers of what will be needed,” Schiavone said today during a community announcement about the next steps with the historic building.
The Landmark Society has committed $2,000 to the engineering study. That contribution follows the Landmark Society’s decision in October to name the site as one of the “Five to Revive” in WNY. This is the third time the Landmark Society picked a building in Holley for the list, which started in 2013.
The designation helped bring a developer to the former Holley High School, which is being transformed into senior citizen apartments and also the village offices. The chapel at Hillside Cemetery also made the “Five to Revive” and that helped spur restoration of the chapel and land state funding for the project.
Mayor Brian Sorochty, second from right, is joined at today’s announcement by Village Trustee Michelle Moroz, Deputy Mayor Kevin Lynch, and Dr. Dan Schiavone, chairman of Holley’s Local Development Corporation.
Wayne Goodman, executive director of the Landmark Society, said Holley has an engaged Village Board and community, willing to work through the obstacles to redevelop important buildings in the community.
The Odd Fellows Building at 89 Public Square is critical to the downtown. “It anchors an entire block,” Goodman said.
The Public Square has retained its historic charm, and Goodman said there is strong momentum in the village.
“There are great bones in Holley,” he said about the historic sites. “There are bright days ahead. This is an iconic village. We’ve been impressed with the local leadership and local pride in the village.”
Mayor Brian Sorochty said the Landmark Society has been a welcome and influential partner in helping Holley redevelop the old school. Putting the old school on the “Five to Revive” in 2013 “was the turning point” in a new life for the building, which had been vacant since the mid-1990s.
Holley created the LDC about five years ago so the village could accept eight houses owned by the Environmental Protection Agency, houses that were vacated by residents after a chemical leak at the former Diaz Chemical in January 2002. Those houses were sold in 2017 for $192,600. The EPA received 90 percent of the sales and the Holley LDC got 10 percent.
The Odd Fellows Building has been vacant and deteriorating for a few years. The village had a fence put on the northern side of the building because loose bricks were falling. The fence has since been removed.
The LDC currently has about $15,000 in its bank account. Schiavone said at least $500 will go towards the engineering report. More may be needed if there is asbestos in the building that needs to be abated.
Schiavone also said $10,000 from the LDC will go towards paying the county off for the back taxes with the site. The LDC asked the county to waive those back taxes, but was denied.
Schaivone said the LDC, instead of paying off the back taxes, could have used that $10,000 to make the building more marketable to a potential buyer. He is still hopeful the county will waive the taxes.
Schiavone said the Public Square looks better than it has in the last 50 years. Many building owners have improved their buildings recently. Dan and Monica Seeler last year opened the Holley Falls Bar & Grill, following several years of renovations.
Schiavone did a major renovation of his building about 20 years ago for his dental business.
He said the many projects in the downtown, as well as the old school, will encourage more people to invest in Holley.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 April 2019 at 4:34 pm
HOLLEY — The Village Board on Wednesday approved a $1,211,874 budget for 2019-20 in the general fund that increases spending by 6.9 percent or $78,418 from the $1,133,456 in 2018-19.
The village is adding two full-time employees who work in both the Electric Department and Department of Public Works, and also a full-time employee in the Clerk’s Office. All three fill vacant positions that left those departments understaffed, said Mayor Brian Sorochty.
Village property owners will see taxes increases by 6.6 percent, or by $55,101, as the tax levy goes from $832,898 to $887,999. The tax rate is increasing from $15.65 to $16.41 per $1,000 of assessed property. The board voted to override the tax cap with the new budget.
In addition to filling the three vacancies, the village will begin paying an annual lease with Home Leasing for the village office space. Holley will move the village offices to the former Holley High School in early 2020 at an annual lease of about $23,000, the mayor said.
The village will serve as an anchor tenant in the school building, which is being extensively renovated with most of the building being converted into senior apartments.
The village’s tax base dropped slightly with the new budget, going from $54,166,115 in 2018-19 to $54,098,660 in the new fiscal year, which starts June 1.
Photo courtesy of Dan Dangler and Landmark Society: Village of Holley officials and the Landmark Society of WNY on noon Thursday will hang a “Five to Revive” banner on the former Odd Fellows Building in Holley’s Public Square.
Staff Reports Posted 24 April 2019 at 10:21 am
HOLLEY – The Landmark Society of Western New York will join Village of Holley officials during a noon presentation on Thursday, when a banner is unveiled at the former Odd Fellows Building naming it a “Five to Revive” site.
The Landmark Society and village officials will also discuss future plans for the building. The Landmark Society each year since 2013 has picked five important sites in the Rochester region in need of investment. The Odd Fellows Building in Holley made the list this past October.
The Landmark Society previously listed other sites in Holley, including the old Holley High School in 2013 and the Hillside Cemetery and Chapel in 2014. The designation drew attention to the sites and local officials believe it was helpful in getting investment in the old school and also the cemetery chapel.
Built in 1890, the former Odd Fellows Hall sits at a prominent corner in the village square and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Holley Village Historic District, the Landmark Society said.
The building has been vacant for more than two years. It is at risk due to neglect and masonry deterioration, the Landmark Society said.
Several years ago Orleans County auctioned off the building in a tax foreclosure proceeding to an online bidder. The new owner did nothing but accumulate back taxes and fines for code violations. So, the Village of Holley hired a private investigator to track down the absent owner, as a first step in getting the historic building in the hands of someone who is committed to its revitalization, the Landmark Society said.
The private investigator discovered that the owner had a PO box in Florida. Armed with her name and address, a village code officer paid her a visit on his own time while on vacation. She agreed to turn the building over to the Village of Holley Local Development Corporation (LDC) in exchange for them paying the back taxes.
The village also sought the help of the Landmark Society. The Landmark Society is supporting Holley with a grant to fund a study that will outline what needs to be done to save the building.
Local officials and members of the LDC will join others to hang a “Five to Revive Banner” on the building at noon on Thursday. The banner indicates that the Landmark Society has made revitalizing this building a priority. The public is invited.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 April 2019 at 9:48 pm
Write-in candidate will likely win seat on Board of Education
HOLLEY – The school district is proposing a $25,780,000 budget for 2019-20 that increases spending by 2.2 percent or $570,000.
The budget would increase taxes by 2.5 percent or $177,704, from $7,108,141 to $7,285,845. That is below the district’s tax cap for 2019-20, which is a 2.639 percent increase, said Sharon Zacher, the district’s assistant superintendent for business.
She went over the budget with the Board of Education during its monthly board meeting today. State aid for the district is up $317,460 to $17,309,898.
Zacher and school officials will present the budget in greater detail during a budget hearing and the district’s annual meeting at 6 p.m. on May 7 at the district office.
The budget will go before voters from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 21 at the high school foyer.
Other propositions on the ballot include:
• Authorization to spend up to $178,000 for a large (72 seat) school bus and a small (30 seat) bus.
• Authorization to collect $170,197 for the Community Free Library.
• Election of Board of Education members. The seats for John Heise and current president Brenda Swanger are up for election. Swanger isn’t seeking re-election. Heise has submitted petitions to run again for a three-year term. He was the only candidate to step forward.
The other position will likely be decided by write-in votes. If there are write-ins, the district will check with the person with the most votes to see if he or she wants to serve in the three-year position.
If a person isn’t elected, the board could make an appointment for a one-year term, with the other two years of the term back on the ballot again next May, said Jeff Martin, the school district’s attorney.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 April 2019 at 10:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Evan Valentine returned to Holley Junior-Senior High School today for the first time since being diagnosed with leukemia on Oct. 19.
Evan, 16, completed four rounds of chemotherapy. He is greeted by Susan Cory, the school principal, and about 450 of his classmates in grades 7-12.
Cory gives Evan a hug. “It’s been a long time and we’ve missed him,” she said.
Many of the teachers and students wore orange “Evan Strong” shirts to celebrate Evan’s return.
Four of Evan’s close friends hold a big banner welcoming him back to school. They include, from left: Karl Biedlingmaier, Chuck Turpyn, Nathan Nothnagle and Kohl Morgan.
Sue Cory, the school principal, tells students Evan is about to enter the school gym. This photo was taken a little after 7:30 this morning.
“We are very happy to have him back,” Cory told the student body. “Our family is all back together.”
Evan Valentine received a standing ovation from students and teachers this morning. He endured five months in the hospital for his chemo and recovery.
“I just want to say thank you to the community,” he said.
He was visited by many students and residents during his time at the hospital, and had a wall of get well cards in his hospital room.
About 600 people attended a benefit dinner at the Clarendon Rec Hall on Nov. 18 in his honor. The Kingdollar family also made 800 of the orange “Evan Strong” T-shirts to show support for Evan and raise some money for his family.
A monitor in the hallway displays a welcome back message for Evan Valentine.
“Everybody has been incredible,” said Evan’s father, Neil Valentine. “He is one of those miracle kids.”
Evan, a sophomore, was diagnosed right before a Sectional soccer game. He was moved to varsity this fall. He is eager to join the golf team this spring.
He kept up with his school work at Golisano Children’s Center in Rochester.
“He was ready,” his mother Diane said about his return to Holley. “He was missing all of his friends and the environment.”
The nurses at Golisano were impressed by the many visitors from Holley, who often checked in on Evan.
“The hospital staff was amazed by all of the support from this school and community,” Mrs. Valentine said.
Brian Bartalo, Holley school district superintendent, takes a group photo of the student body with Evan. Bartalo said the school district is a caring community.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 April 2019 at 9:07 am
HOLLEY – A tree limb fell and knocked out a primary feeder line for the Village of Holley’s Electric Department this morning, causing a big power outage in the village. The electric line is owned by National Grid and feeds Holley’s electric system.
The outage briefly knocked out power this morning in Albion but electricity was restored in Albion after about 15 minutes.
It could be several hours to make the repair and restore power to Holley, the Orleans County Emergency Management Office is reporting.
Holley has the only municipal electric department in Orleans County.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2019 at 8:46 am
Photos courtesy of Samantha Zelent
ROCHESTER – Haleigh Falls, left, and Megan Harrington, both members of the Holley Interact Club, sort soap, toiletries and other supplies on Thursday at Sample Soap, an organization in Rochester that collects and distributes the items to people in need in Rochester.
The Holley Interact Club collected the items for a month, with an end result of 313 pounds. On Thursday the items were delivered in Rochester by 46 members of the Interact Club.
Charles Turpyn is pictured with some of the boxes of soap, toothpaste, tooth brushes and toiletries that were delivered to Sample Soap and also the House of Mercy, which assists homeless people.
The Interact Club had bins at school to collect the items, and also sent home letters with students, asking for donations.
“Once again the community came through for us,” said Samanatha Zelent, one of the club’s advisors.
Taylor Black, a Holley graduate, works at Oral-B and secured eight boxes of toothbrushes and tooth paste from the company.
Casey Onisk, right, sorts items with Sabra Wood, director of Sample Soap. Wood started the organization in 1990.
Holley students get a tour of Sample Soap, which distributes the toiletries to homeless shelters and other locations in Rochester.
The Holley Interact Club poses for a photo at the House of Mercy, a homeless shelter in Rochester.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 April 2019 at 9:59 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Three members of Holley’s trap shooting team practice on Thursday evening at the Holley Rod & Gun Club. These three include, from left: Noah St. John, Leah Walker and Evan Press.
This is the fourth season Holley has a team competing in the NYS High School Clay Target League. Kendall started last year, and Albion has a team for the first time this spring.
“This is the fastest growing sport in the state,” said Troy Kingdollar, an assistant coach for the Holley team. His daughter of one of the 20 members of the Holley team.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, met with the team on Thursday. Hawley said he is concerned about legislation in State Legislature that would remove rifle teams from state public schools. Hawley is shown speaking with Butch Moy, president of the Holley Rod & Gun Club.
Assemblywoman Linda Ronsenthal, a Democrat from Manhattan, proposed legislation last year to not allow shooting sports at schools. That bill didn’t get through the State Legislature. But Hawley said the State Senate is no longer in Republican control, and isn’t a road block for legislation that would typically sail through the Democrat-dominated Assembly but then be stymied in the Senate.
Hawley talked with Holley trap shooting members on Thursday, praising them for learning how to safely use guns and for participating in the sport.
In New York City, many people and their representatives see guns as associated with crime. That perception is fueling anti-gun legislation, he said.
“They are so afraid with having knowledge of the term, ‘gun,’” he said.
He also worries about legislation is the Assembly that would ban gun raffles as fundraisers. Those raffles raise lots of money for fire departments and other nonprofit organization.
Hawley said he plans to invite some of the Democratic Assembly members to his district, with a trap shooting team one of the stops. Hawley said building relationships with the downstate legislators is the best way to stave off legislation that he said is an attack on the culture of rural New York.
“We’re going to work hard to make sure some of these whacky ideas don’t become law,” he told the team.
Noah St. John fires at the target. John Waldon, right, is the team’s head coach. The competition for the spring season starts in about two weeks.
MURRAY – A section of Monroe-Orleans County Line Road will be closed beginning April 16 while the contractor begins work to replace the bridge between Route 104 and Gulf Road. The bridge is over Sandy Creek, south of Route 104.
CATCO in Alden is the general contractor on the project, which is expected to take four to five months.
Albert L. Swett founded the iron works in 1889. The company ceased operating in 1961, laying off 40 employees.
