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.

Return to top

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.

Return to top

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.

Return to top

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.

Return to top

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.

Return to top

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.

Return to top

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.

Return to top

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.

Return to top

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.

Return to top

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.

Return to top

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.”

Return to top

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.

Return to top

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.

Return to top

HOLLEY – State officials have approved about $540,000 in the first phase of Holley’s technology upgrades through the Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014.

Holley has $1,311,463 in state funds through Smart Schools. The district was notified today that the state approved Holley’s plan to offer touch-screen laptop computers to about 225 students in grades 1, 5 and 9.

Holley also will replace SMART boards with 33 touch-screen flat panels that are “Smart TVs.”

The district will also upgrade existing security cameras and add more of them, as well as updating software for the cameras.

The district is working on its plans for phase 2 and 3 of Smart Schools, and wants to eventually make laptops available for students in grade 1 through 12. For now, Holley is focusing on grade 1, 5 and 9. Those computers will be available in 2019-20. The students will be assigned computers for four school years.

The plan is to offer laptops to students in grades 1, 5, and 9 each of the following three years. That way, after four years, all students in grades 1 to 12 will be covered, said Karri Schiavone, the elementary school principal.

The schedule could go faster if the state approves the Smart Schools plans in a timely manner or if other funding becomes available. Holley had to wait more than a year for phase 1 to be approved.

The district will provide training for teachers in grades 1, 5, and 9 over the summer, and the district will develop a plan and policy for student use of the laptops.

Schiavone said she would like to see the laptops stay at school for the elementary students, while Susan Cory, the high school principal, backs 9th-graders having the option of bringing the laptops home.

One issue for some students is a lack of high-speed internet access at home, Schiavone said.

The district will likely try to determine how many students don’t have internet access at home, and see how that issue can be addressed.

Return to top

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Maizy Ehrhardt, a Holley fifth-grader, is all decked out in red, white and blue during the elementary school’s Flag Day celebration this morning.

More than 500 elementary students walked from the elementary school to the Historical Society depot past the Public Square. Students sang patriotic songs and the elementary school band also performed the “Star Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” and “My Country ’Tis of Thee.”

Lindsay Cooper, a kindergarten teacher, joined her students in wearing red, white and blue on the patriotic day.

Holley has been celebrating Flag Day with a parade through the community for 62 years. It is one the highlights of the year for the school and community.

Ryker Knight, a fifth-grader and a Boy Scout, served as one of the student emcees for the program today.

The program included the presentation of the Catherine B. Press awards, which went to fifth graders, Grant Smith and Caydence Merkley. This is the highest good citizen award at the school district. It was started by Catherine Press, a school secretary. The award goes to students who display character, respect, citizenship, kindness and responsibility.

A student in each classroom was recognized with a “Good Citizen” award. Those students include:

• Pre-kindergarten – Keyana Vicens, Nora Restivo and Emma Marquez.

• Kindergarten – Noah Heller, Isabella Roselli, Alivia Dorland and Aryanna Mogle.

• First grade – Yliazit Cortes, Lauren Fredendall and Savanna Antram.

• Second grade – Jayden Miller, Angel Vazquez-Mendoza, Carsyn Mogle, Cayden Vangelder and Zakkerya Jenks.

• Third grade – Brianna Pellegrino, Max Milazzo and Kailyn Robinson.

• Fourth grade – Haidynn Mullins, Oliver Fox and Isla Schultz.

• Fifth grade – Landen Goodrich, Ryker Knight and Grant Smith.

• Sixth grade – Chris Mosier, Frances Caraballo-Vazquez, Cora Hudzinski and Donovan Hendrick-Hayes.

These students make their way down Route 31 during the parade.

Albion and Holley Police Chief Roland Nenni, left, and Albion Lt. David Mogle helped direct traffic during the parade that passed through the intersection of routes 31 and 237.

These students wave flags while walking through the Public Square.

Return to top