Roy Bubb bought the quilt during auction to benefit Cobblestone Museum

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Ann Raskopf of Olcott and Roy Bubb of Holley renewed acquaintances after meeting on a bus trip in May to view cobblestone structures in the Rochester area. They first met at the Cobblestone Society’s annual membership dinner and fundraising auction, where Bubb was the successful bidder on a Civil War-era quilt she donated.

HOLLEY – Roy Bubb had long been looking for a suitable coverlet for his bed, which dates back to the Civil War era, when he decided, for the first time, to attend the Cobblestone Society’s third annual membership dinner and fundraising auction last spring.

When Ann Raskopf of Olcott inherited a trunk of heirloom quilts, she was faced with the dilemma of finding a proper home for them – one in particular, a Love Apple quilt dating back to the Civil War era.

The two would meet when Raskopf, a member of the Cobblestone Society Museum at Childs, decided to donate the quilt to the Cobblestone’s membership dinner and fundraising auction on April 30.

Bubb is also a member of the Cobblestone Society and when he attended the auction, the quilt caught his eye.

His bedroom set came from the family of Holley resident Corinne “Kitty” Potter Moore, who had been given the furniture as a wedding gift by her grandparents prior to the Civil War. When the last heir in the family died, the contents of their house were left to Bubb.

For some time, he had been looking for a new quilt for his bedroom.

Raskopf, in the meantime, had shirttail cousins in Jamestown who owned a four-story home. When she helped clear it out, they found a trunk in the attic, which a cousin said hadn’t been opened in years and he didn’t know what was inside.

Inside were four quilts. One was tattered (which Raskopf eventually sold at a garage sale for $15); another was called a Nine-Patch pattern; one was the Love Apple quilt; and one in a Wild Geese pattern, she has decided to keep.

Raskopf contacted quilt appraiser, Linda Hunter of Lockport, who spent several hours talking to her about the quilts, which are all hand-appliqued.

The Love Apple design is a Pennsylvania Dutch influence, while the Nine-Patch has pen and ink prints from 1883 of famous people, such as Alexander Graham Bell, and the names of famous families in the Jamestown and Dunkirk areas. She decided to send the Nine-Patch quilt to a relative out of state.

Provided photo: The Love Apple quilt is shown during April 30 at the Cobblestone Society Museum’s annual membership dinner and fundraising auction.

“Then I wondered, ‘What am I going to do with the other one,’” Raskopf said. “I’d always been interested in the Cobblestone Museum, and I knew director Doug Farley from Newfane for years. Then I read online about their fundraising event.

She contacted Farley and asked if the Cobblestone would like a quilt. He told her they already had several, but they were relatively new ones.

“I told Doug I’d drive to the museum and show it to him,” Raskopf said.

The Love Apple quilt is 76 x 90 inches, in turkey red and green.

“I told Doug I envisioned this quilt in a lovely old house – maybe of cobblestone or brick – on a lovely old bed,” Raskopf said.

While Bubb’s home in Holley isn’t very old, he previously lived in an 1810 Cape Cod in New Hampshire, and then in an 1825 house in Clarendon. But his bed is from the Civil War era.

The quilt he was currently using on his bed had been made by an aunt 40 years ago, and he wanted a change so he could rotate them.

Bubb, 88, attended the Cobblestone’s auction, where Raskopf was seated near the Love Apple quilt.

“I didn’t know if anyone would be interested in something like this,” Raskopf said. “Thank heavens Roy was there.”

“Barb Filipiak of Medina started bidding on the quilt,” Bubb said. “I knew her, but I didn’t care. I wanted that quilt.”

He got it for $120, which Raskopf considers a “steal.”

“I was more thrilled when I met him and discovered he was originally from Williamsport, Pa.,” Raskopf said. “That is Pennsylvania Dutch country and this quilt, considered ‘Country Cottage,’ has a Pennsylvania Dutch influence. I guess ‘What goes around, comes around.’”

Raskopf and Bubb would meet again in May when they both went on a bus trip with the Cobblestone Museum to visit cobblestone structures in the Rochester area.

That’s when they made a date for Raskopf to visit Bubb’s home and see the 1800’s Love Apple quilt on his Civil War-era bed.

They both agree she couldn’t have found a better home for her quilt.

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MURRAY – The New York State Department of Transportation today announced that the bridges carrying Transit Road and Telegraph Road over the Erie Canal in the town of Murray, Orleans County, are scheduled to close to vehicular traffic on Monday as part of a previously announced project to rehabilitate seven Erie Canal bridges throughout Orleans County.

Transit Road over the Erie Canal is expected to close for approximately six months. Telegraph Road over the Erie Canal is expected to close for approximately ten months. Detours will be posted at each location directing motorists to nearby canal bridges.

The state is spending $10.7 million on the seven bridges in the county. The DOT said the work on these bridges will include installing high-strength galvanized steel to replace steel floor systems, low chords, gusset plates, and truss elements.

Bridge railing and guide rail on the bridge approaches also will be improved and each bridge will be repainted. The alignments and profiles of the bridges will not change.

The  seven single-lane truss bridges were constructed between 1909 and 1914.

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Robin Silvis

HOLLEY – The Board of Education has a new president. Robin Silvis on Monday was picked by her colleagues on the board to take over for Brenda Swanger who retired from the position on June 30.

Silvis was previously the board vice president. She has been a member of the BOE the past 10 years. John Heise, a retired Holley school administrator, is the new board vice president.

“I love my community,” Silvis said. “I love the children. I love having the opportunity to be a voice.”

Silvis works as an executive confidential assistant for State Supreme Court Justice Richard Dollinger.

Her children are Holley graduates. Toni, Class of 2010, works as a nurse at Rochester General. Michael, Class of 2013, works for a division of Corning and is a wrestling coach at Holley. Lucas, Class of 2015, just graduated from the University of Buffalo and has started the graduate program at Brockport State College to be a high school counselor.

Silvis said the board of education works well together. She praised the teachers and administrators at Holley for a focus on creating a caring community at the school while pushing for excellence.

“We’ve developed a bond and commitment to improving the district on a whole,” Silvis said. “We are on the upswing. I thank the other board members, teachers and administrators. We’re going to see bigger and better.”

She praised Swanger for her 15 years of service on the board, including six years as board president.

Silvis said she is grateful for the chance to serve in the volunteer position.

“It’s become a part of me and I enjoy it,” she said.

Robin Silvis presents the high school diploma to her son, Lucas, during June 2015. Lucas has since graduated from the University of Buffalo and is now in the graduate program at Brockport State College for high school counseling.

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HOLLEY – The school district will make free breakfasts and lunches available to all students who want them in 2019-20.

Holley has been offering free breakfasts and lunches during part of the summer, from July 8 to Aug. 16 this year, as has in previous summers.

Holley applied for the free breakfast and lunch program throughout the school year, and was approved through the Community Eligibility Provision of the National School Breakfast/Lunch Program.

The CEP program provides the opportunity for schools in high poverty areas to provide two nutritious meals every school day, while eliminating the stigma for those students previously identified as “low income.”

Medina participated in the program this past school year for the first time and will continue next year.

“It’s wonderful,” said Robin Silvis, president of the Holley Board of Education. “We’re thrilled.”

For more information about the program, contact Sharon Zacher, Assistant Superintendent for Business, at (585) 638-6316 Ext. 2001 or szacher@holleycsd.org.

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Provided photos

HOLLEY – More than 200 people attended a 5K run and 1 mile walk on Saturday in Holley in memory of Andie Carpenter.

Andie, 20, passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 31. She was in her last semester at North Country Community College in Saranac Lake. She died after an artery ruptured.

Andie wasn’t diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome until she was 15. That diagnosis followed years of doctor visits when Andie and her family knew something was wrong. She bruised easily. Her skin stretched far more than a typical person’s.

Andie, despite the effects of Ehlers-Danlos, ran cross country for Holley. Saturday’s race went by the Holley waterfalls, which was one of her favorite spots.

Her family and friends have formed the Adventuresinlove4Andie Memorial Fund as an official 501(c)(3) charitable corporation.

Some of the participants make heart shapes with their hands in memory of Andie Carpenter.

Andie enjoyed photography and taking hikes in nature. She wanted to be a 46er, climbing all of the mountain peaks in the Adirondacks. She was partway on that goal.

Andie researched her college major, and picked the rigorous radiological technology program. She did her training at the Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, Canton-Potsdam Hospital and the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.

Brian Bartalo, Holley Central School superintendent, participated in the event, and sprinted to the finish line.

McKenzie Hill was the first recipient of the Andie Mae Carpenter Memorial Award during Holley’s graduation on June 29. McKenzie submitted photos in the scholarship application  which showed what “adventures in love” mean to her.

There will be an “Andie Cup” on Aug. 25 at Genesee Community College in Batavia, featuring GCC against North Country Community College. Andie’s father Josh Carpenter was an assistant soccer coach at GCC. Andie attended North Country Community College. There will be jerseys and bracelets for sale at the event to benefit the Adventuresinlove4Andie Memorial Fund.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – The Rev. Tom Gardner, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Holley, leads a special service on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the church.

The service on Sunday included remarks from previous pastors of the church, including Bob Kaiser and Cheryle McCann.

There were magnets available for the church’s 200^thanniversary. The church is located at 34 West Albion St.

A combined choir from the Albion and Holley Presbyterian churches sings “In One Accord” during the service. The Amadeus Chorale Youth Singers also participated in the service.

The Rev. Deb Swift, pastor of the South Presbyterian Church in Rochester, leads the group in a prayer. She also gave the sermon, “Ride Loose in the Saddle,” during the bicentennial celebration.

Swift leads a church on Mount Hope Avenue in Rochester that decided to sell its building in 2014. That has freed the congregation to have more focus on outreach and serving the community, rather than trying to attract people to a historic building for services. “Go out and be the church,” she said.

Swift said churches should be riding on the back of the Holy Spirit.

“Trust we’re on a ride and we might get jostled around a little bit, but we need to hold on to the reins,” she told about 75 people at the service.

Swift praised the courage and vision of the pioneers who established the congregation for the Holley community 200 years ago, back when the community was known as Saltport and the Erie Canal hadn’t opened yet. The canal was complete in 1825.

Sue Machamer played the organ during the service. The organ is from 1856 and was transported to Holley from Utica along the Erie Canal. Machamer said she has been playing the organ at the church, “for as long as I can remember.”

People stand for one of the hymns sung at the service.

Sue Machamer is pictured up by the organ before the start of the service.

A banner outside the church notes the Holley Presbyterian Church is 200 years old as a congregation this year. This summer the church services start at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Jared Bowen, a member of the Clarendon, Holley, Hulberton Fire Youth Group, was out early this afternoon in a boot drive to raise money for the youth group, which includes 14 teens in the Clarendon, Holley and Hulberton communities.

The youth group started about five years ago. The students learn First Aid and CPR, and practice hose advancement skills, extrication and patient packaging, and also learn about firefighting tools on the trucks.

Mike Snell, a member of the youth group and also a new member of the Holley Fire Department, collects a donation today.

The money will help pay for field trips for the students. In September, they are headed to New York City to see the Sept. 11 memorial. There were 343 firefighters killed in NYC during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack.

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Evan Valentine is playing summer soccer and looking forward to varsity season in fall

Provided photos

HOLLEY – Evan Valentine, 16, of Holley rang the bell last Thursday to celebrate completing his treatments for leukemia and being in remission for the disease.

He is pictured with his parents, Neil and Diane Valentine, at Golisano Children’s Hospital where Evan spent six months after being diagnosed with leukemia on Oct. 19. His parents praised the Golisano doctors and staff for helping Evan to be cured.

“We are just so thankful for the incredible people at Golisano who treated him and to our community for all of the support,” Mrs. Valentine said.

Evan added his handprint to the wall at the CURE office at Golisano.

Evan returned to Holley school on April 22 to a big reception in the gym. He is regaining his strength and is playing summer soccer on Holley’s U17 team. He looks forward to playing on the varsity soccer team this fall.

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MURRAY – Republicans in Murray had the highest turnout for the primary last Tuesday .

Primaries don’t tend to bring out the voters en masse. But Tuesday’s turnout wasn’t too far off a local general election.

The turnout countywide was 32.3 percent or 3,487 voters among the 10,789. That doesn’t include 137 absentees and seven affidavits. When they are included the overall turnout is 33.6 percent or 3,631 voters. That also means more than 7,000 registered Republicans didn’t vote in the primary.

Here is a breakdown of turnout at the 10 towns last Tuesday.

Source: Orleans County Board of Elections; Orleans Hub calculations.

Board of Elections staff had ballots printed for a 50 percent turnout in towns with town elections, as well as a hotly contested sheriff’s election between Chris Bourke and Brett Sobieraski. Elections printed ballots for a 45 percent turnout in towns without town positions on the ballot.

Murray not only had the sheriff’s race, but a battle for town supervisor Robert Miller and Joe Sidonio, as well as three people seeking two spots on the Town Board. The councilman candidates included Neil Valentine, Lloyd Christ and Dirk Lammes.

Murray also had the biggest turnout about two years in the Republican primary at 42.2 percent. Sidonio and Miller again squared off in that primary, which didn’t include a countywide race.

Yates had the lowest turnout at 25.8 percent. That town didn’t have a primary for any town level positions.

Ridgeway had the second lowest turnout on Tuesday, despite a race for town supervisor and two other seats on the Town Board. Ridgeway, at 28.6 percent, and Yates were the only towns below a 30-percent turnout.

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Joe Sidonio

ALBION – Joe Sidonio is the winner of the Republican primary for Murray town supervisor. Sidonio had a 1-vote lead over Bob Miller, the incumbent, after Tuesday’s vote tally.

After the absentees ballots were counted this morning, Sidonio’s lead grew to 14. He had 24 absentee votes to 11 for Miller.

After the votes were counted this morning, Miller shook Sidonio’s hand and congratulated him.

Twice before in the Republican primary in September 2017 and then the general election in November 2017, Sidonio had small leads over Miller. But when the absentees were counted, Miller passed Sidonio.

This time around Sidonio said he was more aware to encourage people to use absentees if they weren’t around on primary day.

“I’ve learned how government works,” Sidonio said after the votes were counted this morning at The Villages of Orleans, the former county nursing home where the Board of Elections has its office.

Sidonio said the recent close elections showed him many in the public wanted change in the town government. But it was a challenge. He wasn’t the endorsed Republican candidate.

“I am going to take a deep breath here,” he said. “I want to thank my wife and daughter. I’ve had their support and encouragement the entire time. I want to thank God for being able to have this opportunity.”

Sidonio also is the likely winner of the Independence primary for town supervisor. Miller had 5 votes and Sidonio had 6 write-in votes. There is a chance more absentees could come in. Tuesday is the count-off date. The final results will be certified later this week, the Board of Elections said.

Sidonio won a seat on the Murray Town Republican Committee in a September 2016 primary. But he was unable to get a seat on the Town Board, not only losing to Miller but last November to Neil Valentine for town councilman.

“I represent change,” Sidonio said this morning. “I’m the first to take on the establishment, the Murray Republican Committee, and win. It takes courage, effort and time to bring change to the entrenched establishment. My change will be inclusiveness rather than exclusiveness.”

He was upset when the Town Board didn’t reappoint him as the town representative on the Orleans County Planning Board about two years ago after he served in that position for 12 years.

He wants to hear from everyone who has ideas and a willingness to make Murray a better community.

“I look forward to working with the board and the town,” he said. “It’s time for the community to come together and work together.”

Miller’s term as town supervisor continues until Dec. 31.

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ALBION – It’s the third close race between Bob Miller and Joe Sidonio in less than two years for Murray town supervisor, and again the absentee ballots are needed to determine the winner.

In Murray, 36 absentee ballots were taken out for last Tuesday’s Republican primary. The absentees will be counted this morning in the Orleans County Board of Elections office.

After the polls closed at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sidonio had a 1-vote lead over Miller, 255 to 254.

Sidonio has been there before, with a slight lead over Miller when the polls closed. In both cases, Miller would overtake him with the absentees.

In September 2017, Miller and Sidonio squared off in the Republican primary for town supervisor. Miller was behind Sidonio by 7 votes after the polls closed. But when the absentee ballots were counted on Sept. 18, 2017, Miller emerged as the victor for the Republican line, getting 19 absentees to 5 for Sidonio.

The two would face each other again on Nov. 7, 2017 in the general election. Sidonio stayed in the race with the Conservative and Independence lines.

Sidonio had a 16-vote lead, 558 to 542, when the polls closed. However, Miller had 26-vote lead in the absentees, 47 to 21 for Sidonio. The final tally was 589 votes for Miller, 579 for Sidonio.

Today’s absentee count will also finalize the primary for Orleans County sheriff. Chris Bourke has a 99-vote lead over Brett Sobieraski with 139 absentees out.

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Rain stayed away for outdoor ceremony at Holley

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – After the graduation ceremony this morning at Holley Hawks Stadium, the 63 members of the Class of 2019 gathered near the scoreboard and tossed their caps high, an annual tradition after commencement.

The rain stayed away the ceremony was able to be outside.

Clarence Moyer, a member of the Class of 2016, was on stage for the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. His brother Dalton is a 2019 Holley graduate. Abrianna Kruger (back left) is the class president who welcomed the crowd for commencement. Michaela Williams, right, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Moyer is shaking hands with Brian Bartalo, the district superintendent, and Susan Cory, the high school principal.

William Lavender crosses the stage to accept his diploma today.

Holley administrators, teachers and Board of Education members (wearing the black robes) lead the Class of 2019 to the Holley Hawks Stadium this morning. The ceremony used to be held at the Woodlands soccer field, but is now at the Holley Hawks Stadium where there is more seating.

The students take their spots at the start of commencement. From left include Emily Bibby, Ethan Bibby, Jocelyn Cervone and Jocelyn Chilton.

Xi Lin stands to be recognized after winning the award for the graduate “who showed the biggest heart, enthusiasm for high school, and brought happiness and laughter to all those around them.”

Matt Skehan and Brian Bartalo, the district superintendent, embrace after Skehan was presented his diploma. Skehan won several awards during graduation including one of the new $512 scholarships in memory of Floyd Hanes, a fiery Holley soccer player who wore No. 12. Haines passed away on May 24 at age 43.

Kory Puente is recognized with one of the awards. Holley presented about $25,000 in awards and scholarships today.

Anastasiya Yaroshchuk smiles after being presented her diploma by Susan Cory, the high school principal. Matt Hennard, middle-high school social studies teacher, is the announcer.

Aaron Strathearn, the class president, announces the class gift of $500 for flowers and trees in memory of Holley students and alumni who recently passed away.

Abrianna Kruger, the class salutatorian, gives her speech. She will be majoring in political science at Geneseo State College.

She congratulated her classmates on their achievement of finishing high school. They are all starting from the same position for the next stage of their lives, she said. They won’t be defined by their grades, or misses or “lates.”

She urged them to go out and gain new perspectives. She quoted from Dr. Seuss in, “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!”

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”

Shawna Lusk gives the valedictory address. She is headed to Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester this fall to major in nursing.

She thanked parents and teachers for helping the graduates attain success in high school.

“We should always embrace our Holley roots and the supportive community we have here,” she said.

Lusk urged her classmates to find contentment, even in difficult situations.

“Find joy in all circumstances,” she said. “If you focus on the positives nothing will get you down.”

Shawna Benzn, a special education teacher, was picked by the Class of 2019 to deliver the commencement address. Others on stage include from left: Suzanne Lepkowski, a high school English teacher, is the class advisor; Brenda Swanger, Board of Education president; Brian Bartalo, district superintendent; and Susan Cory, the high school principal.

Shawna Benzn gives the commencement message, and urges students to face their fears. Benzn said she is honored to give the commencement speech, but it also terrified her. She said she wanted to show the graduates they should put themselves out there, even when they are scared or nervous.

Shawna Benzn said she was honored to give the commencement address, but had to overcome some fears to give the speech.

They could be asking someone on a date, pursuing a promotion, or learning a new skill. That doesn’t mean they will always get what they want, she said.

She offered a four-step plan for overcoming fears:

• Evaluate your fear: “Does that thing you fear really have the power to hurt you?” she asked.

• Find your cheerleader: She said her husband told her she should accept the request to give the speech and that she would do great. The Holley students have supportive friends, staff and teachers they can always reach out to for a pep talk.

• Don’t think “What if?” but instead think, “What will I be missing out on?”: Don’t just imagine bad outcomes with something that makes you fearful, Benzn said. Consider a scary situation instead as an opportunity for personal growth, a chance to make new friends, or perhaps more money.

• Look backward to look forward: Holley students have already conquered many fears, from getting on a school bus when they were 4 or 5 years old, to learning to read and write, perform on stage or on the athletic field.

They came to school in prekindergarten or kindergarten knowing few people and were surrounded by hundreds of strangers. They would go on to make lots of friends.

Some of the students have been on school trips outside of the state and country. Three international students in the Class of 2019 came to Holley after leaving their families and familiar surroundings for nearly a year. Those students include Janne Grasshoff and Teresa Szcepanski of Germany, and Basile Guillo of France.

“Some of you have dealt with trauma and loss and you still got here every day and did what you needed to do,” Benzn said.

These three relax after receiving their diplomas. They include, from left, Damyan Famoly, Garrett Farrow and Braden Ferranti. Ferranti received one of the biggest scholarships today. He and Ethan Bibby each won the $5,000 “Make All The Difference” scholarship.

Cade Aina, left, and Erik Balys move over their tassels after the district superintendent said the class met the standards of graduation.

Matt Hennard, middle-high school social studies teacher, high-fives students as they make their way towards the scoreboard for a group photo.

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Photo by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY — The Holley Board of Education recognized retiring teachers and staff at the board meeting on Monday. Pictured from left include Maureen Christian, an instructional aide in fourth grade for 23 years; Toni Barber, kindergarten aide for 30 years; Dan Orbaker, chemistry and physics teacher for 34 years, as well as varsity boys soccer coach; Jolynda Elsenheimer, second grade teacher for 33 years; and Denise Johnstone, special education teacher for 28.5 years.

The board also recognized Tim Rogers, who is retiring as the technology teacher.

Barber joined the staff as a kindergarten aide when her daughter, Jenna, started kindergarten. Barber decided to work for the school after 18 years as a secretary at a Brockport manufacturing plant.

She is sad about retiring full-time at the school, and expects she will stay on as a substitute next year.

“I just love the kids,” Barber said. “I focus on the kids who need me the most.”

Orbaker joined Holley after a year at Lyons. He was praised by district superintendent Brian Bartalo for helping students to excel in the classroom and on the sports field. Orbaker-led team won two state championships and have had a winning record every season the past 30 years.

“I have no regrets,” Orbaker said. “I never had a day I didn’t enjoy here.”

He said 135 of his Holley players went on to play at the next level in college.

The Board of Education also recognized Brenda Swanger, who is retiring from the board after 15 years, including the past six as president.

She praised the retirees, the other teachers and staff, and her colleagues on the board.

“I’m really proud of everything you’ve done,” she said. “You’ve all been working very hard.”

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HOLLEY – Two incumbent village trustees, Jim DeFilipps and Rochelle Moroz, were re-elected to two-year terms as village trustees today, while three write-in candidates also had a good showing at the polls.

DeFilipps led all candidates with 98 votes, followed by 81 for Moroz.

Shawn O’Mara, who ran for mayor a year ago, had 56 write-in votes, followed by 40 for Alexa Downey, who was on the ballot for village trustee a year ago.

Kerri Neale also received 23 write-in votes for village trustee.

The new terms start on July 1.

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HOLLEY – Village residents will go to the polls today from noon to 9 p.m. to elect two trustees to the Village Board.

Jim DeFilipps and Rochelle Moroz are the incumbents. They are the only names on the ballot, although resident Kerri Neale has been running a write-in campaign.

Candidates don’t run under a major political party. They can pick an independent party. DeFilipps chose the “People Party” and Moroz picked the “Rochelle Moroz Party.”

Voting is at the Village Office at 72 Public Square.

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