600 buy dinners, 220 donate baskets at fundraiser

Evan Valentine makes a surprise visit to the Clarendon Rec Hall on Sunday for a fundraising dinner.

CLARENDON – There was a big turnout from the Holley community on Sunday for a spaghetti dinner and basket raffle to support Evan Valentine and his family.

Evan, 15, was diagnosed with leukemia on Oct. 19. He has completed his first round of chemotherapy. On Sunday morning, his cell counts were high enough where doctors encouraged him to leave the hospital and attend the fundraiser.

The parking lot at the Clarendon Rec Hall was nearly full before the doors opened for the fundraiser at 1 p.m. Inside there was a sea with people wearing orange T-shirts, many saying “Evan Strong.” There were about 600 dinner tickets sold, 160 pounds of pasta cooked “and trays and trays of meatballs,” said Trina Lorentz-Lang, a family friend.

The community also donated 220 baskets and 10 silent auction items. So far, 800 orange shirts have been printed by B&T Creations with all profits donated to Evan.

Local businesses and organizations that contributed to the dinner include Sam’s Diner, Jimmy Z’s, the Albion Running Club and many other community members, said Lorentz-Lang.

Sue Rowcliffe was instrumental in organizing the dinner and volunteers. Jennifer Morgan and Kerry Lonnen organized the basket raffle, and Troy Kingdollar arranged the use of the Clarendon Rec Hall, secured donated food for the benefit and spent several hours in the kitchen. Clarendon firefighters also cooked food and donated the space for the benefit.

“We literally have an army behind us,” Diane Valentine said in a letter read by family friend and neighbor, Bob Miller. “Without all of you, your kind words of support, your love, your prayers, all of this here tonight, we would be lost.  You have helped us more than you know. The doctors and staff at Golisano are second to none. We are so very fortunate to have such incredible health care so close to where we live.  A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting with Evan and I told him that a lot of people go through their entire lives and never know all the people they have touched. I told him that he has been given a gift because at 15 he definitely knows the people he has touched. You are a gift he will carry with him.”

Heather and Steve Kelley and their children attended the benefit on Sunday. Frank and Sharon Gurzynski are seated next to them.

The Valentine family – Neil, Evan and Diane – are pictured with Breanna Girgangaya, who helped out at the dinner. Many people also signed a board to support Evan.

The Clarendon Rec Hall was a busy place on Sunday for the benefit dinner.

Return to top

Evan Valentine has completed first round of chemo

Evan Valentine is shown on Nov. 4 with some of the get well cards he has received. These cards were from Boy Scouts in Holley and the First Presbyterian Church of Holley.

HOLLEY – Evan Valentine, 15, of Holley has completed his first round of chemotherapy and his blood cell counts are high enough where he should be able to go home soon, before beginning another round of chemo.

Valentine was diagnosed with leukemia on Oct. 19, just a day before he expected to join the Holley soccer team for a Sectional playoff game.

The community will have a benefit for Evan and his family today from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Clarendon Rec Hall, 16169 East Lee Rd. There will be a spaghetti dinner, basket raffles and 50/50 drawings.

Evan is the son of Neil and Diane Valentine. The family appreciates the support from the family, including numerous get well cards, prayers and frequent visitors from Evan’s friends.

“We’re just incredibly grateful for all the support from the community from our friends and family, the school and the church,” Mrs. Valentine said on Saturday night. “It feels like we have an army behind us.”

Evan has completed the first round of 10 chemo treatments. He faces at least three more rounds. A bone marrow biopsy on Monday will help determine how much more chemo is needed.

He has fought through many fevers the first round, and his hair has fallen out. But Evan is staying strong and positive, with his spirits lifted by visits from friends and family.

He also has had several surprise visits, including one from Holley native Freddie Kimmel, who is a cancer survivor at age 32 and a Broadway actor.

“The community has just been phenomenal,” Mrs.Valentine said.

Return to top

ROCHESTER – The Landmark Society of Western New York today announced its 2018 Five to Revive – a list that identifies opportunities for targeted, strategic revitalization.

The list includes a site in downtown Holley, the former Odd Fellows Hall.

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.

“Vacant for the past two years, this 2 ½-story brick building is at-risk due to neglect and masonry deterioration,” the Landmark Society said. “Larger and more imposing than its immediate neighbors, this anchor building is a key element in Holley’s downtown commercial district. A new owner and a plan for reuse are critical to the ongoing revitalization of downtown Holley.”

The Landmark Society began the Five to Revive in 2013 and 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.

The announcement today was made at Warner Castle, 5 Castle Drive, the future home of the Landmark Society headquarters.

Other sites on the Five to Revive for 2018 include: Parrott Hall in Geneva, Ontario County; the Former National Yeast Co. and Iroquois Motor Car Factory in Seneca Falls, Seneca County; Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Campus in Rochester, Monroe County; and Rochester’s Aqueduct Reimagined in Rochester, Monroe County.

“This is the sixth year that The Landmark Society of Western New York is announcing the Five to Revive list to draw attention to key priorities for revitalization in western New York,” said Wayne Goodman, Executive Director. “We are honored to do this today at Warner Castle, the future home of The Landmark Society of Western New York. We are working together with the owner, Monroe County, to repair and restore this historic building, to ensure it stays a vibrant part of this neighborhood.”

The 2018 Five to Revive represents a diverse selection that includes urban, industrial, institutional, and domestic resources. Although their future is uncertain, each has potential to spark positive change and enhance our communities and our lives, the Landmark Society said.

Here are the descriptions from the Landmark Society for why the sites were chosen for Five to Revive:

Parrott Hall – City of Geneva, Ontario County

Built in the 1850s as the home of Nehemiah and Louisa Denton, this Italianate style mansion and farm became the first home of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in 1882. Eventually, the building was named for Percival John Parrott, Director of the Experiment Station from 1938 to 1942. Parrott Hall has sat vacant since ownership was transferred to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in 1975. In recent years, it has experienced significant deterioration.

A non-profit organization, the Friends of Parrot Hall, was formed in 2017 to intervene and advocate for reuse. During the summer of 2018, a coalition formed, including The Landmark Society, the Preservation League of New York State, Friends of Parrott Hall, and the City of Geneva, to save the building from imminent demolition. The Coalition is now working alongside the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to raise funds for stabilization and ultimately to formulate a plan for and raise funds for reuse.

Parrott Hall was the first property in Geneva to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It offers a rich historic, scientific, agricultural, and architectural legacy to the Finger Lakes and New York State. Although the building faces significant repair needs, with an economically viable plan for redevelopment and significant fundraising efforts, Parrott Hall could once again serve as an asset to the Geneva community.

Former National Yeast Co. and Iroquois Motor Car Factory – Town of Seneca Falls, Seneca County

Now vacant, this former industrial building located along Routes 5/20 outside of downtown Seneca Falls, once housed the National Yeast Company and later, a luxury car manufacturer. Most recently, it was occupied by a car dealership that relocated. While proposed plans to construct a gas station and convenience store on the site call for demolition, this prominent brick building would make an excellent candidate for adaptive reuse as housing, artists’ studios, mixed use, and more.

Solidly built and consisting of almost 30,000 square feet of flexible, naturally lit space over three stories, this structure should not be relegated to a landfill. Reuse of the existing building would also help retain the character of this historic corridor in Seneca Falls.

Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Campus – City of Rochester, Monroe County

Located in the Highland Park neighborhood of Rochester, on a prominent 23-acre hilltop site, the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School campus features architecturally and historically significant buildings as well as a historic designed landscape. The Collegiate Gothic style buildings, which include a chapel, dormitories, classroom building, and President’s residence, were designed by noted architect James Gamble Rogers in the 1930s. The landscape was designed by noted Rochester landscape architect, Alling DeForest. The campus is also historically significant for its association with numerous social and cultural figures and events. It has historically been a center of religious and academic inquiry that educated, fostered, and supported many leaders in the Civil Rights movement including Bernice Fisher, Mordecai Wyatt Johnston, Howard Thurman and Malcolm X.

The property is a designated City of Rochester Landmark and is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

After nearly 90 years, the Divinity School is relocating to a new site, leaving the future of the campus uncertain. Prior and current proposals for redevelopment have called for the construction of new buildings on the south lawn, a character defining element of the campus’ original design and essential to its context adjacent to Highland Park. Current proposals do not address the significance of the existing historic buildings or landscape.

A unique property in the city of Rochester, with its scenic views, grounds, high style buildings, and desirable location, the CRCDS campus possesses great potential for redevelopment. These assets, however, could easily be destroyed by insensitive development and an appropriate fit of program and scale is critical to project success. Any new use of the site must be encouraged to make the best use of these resources, complemented by sensitively designed modern infill where needed.

Rochester’s Aqueduct Reimagined – City of Rochester, Monroe County

With the announcement of the ROC the Riverway’s Phase 1 recommended projects, fueled by a $50 million investment from the State of New York, this is an exciting time for downtown Rochester’s Genesee River corridor. The City of Rochester has consolidated over two dozen riverway projects under one bold vision to maximize their impact and to enhance and leverage one of our city’s most unique assets—the Genesee. The ROC the Riverway Program has the potential to transform the River corridor and bolster the ongoing revitalization of downtown Rochester.

The success of this program will require meaningful community input, strategic decision-making, and inventive concepts that still respect their historic content and context. More than most of the projects covered under the program, the success of the Aqueduct Terrace is particularly dependent on how it is executed and the quality of the design.

The re-imagined Broad Street Aqueduct is billed as the “centerpiece of downtown transformation.” The prospect of such a transformative project is alluring and the Landmark Society supports the ideas and principles underlying the City’s proposal to create a dynamic, human-scaled, connective and accessible public space. Such an important and prominent project in such a sensitive location must, however, be executed with the utmost care. A designated City of Rochester Landmark, the Aqueduct itself is a visual icon for Rochester; it is an integral piece of the city fabric. The proposed project incorporates or connects eight separate historic resources, four of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

For these reasons, voices representing the interests of historic preservation must be represented in this design discussion and engaged in the planning process. The goal of such an exchange is not to impede a new vision, but to help ensure the catalytic integration of the past in this new, dynamic transformation.

The Landmark Society said the annual list since 2013 has made a big difference for the sites in need of attention.

“The Five to Revive initiative is proving to be very successful and continues to demonstrate that preservation and adaptive reuse are key strategies for revitalization in western New York,” said Tom Castelein, President of the Landmark Society Board and also chairman of the Five to Revive committee.

“Being part of the list gives these properties more visibility and, as a result, may expand their funding options,” he said. “Some on the list may already be on the road to revitalization but placement on this list draws the focused attention of government officials, developers, and preservation advocates and, in many cases, unlocks more resources to effectively preserve our heritage and promote economic development.”

Return to top

District says candidates had never put signs on school property before

MURRAY – Holley school officials acknowledged the district was wrong last Thursday to take down election signs that had been placed on school property.

The signs were removed from in front of the Holley Junior-Senior High School, which served as Murray’s polling place from noon to 9 p.m.

The district had the signs put back up after a State Supreme Court justice said the signs were allowed. Joe Sidonio and his attorney, Peter Reese, filed an injunction after the signs were taken down. Tracy Bannister, a judge in Erie County, ordered the signs to be put back at about 2 p.m.

Sidonio lost the Primary on Thursday to Neil Valentine, 244-220. Valentine has the Republican line in November for a one-year term on the Murray Town Board.

“This institution influenced the outcome of a free election,” Sidonio said at Monday’s Holley Board of Education meeting. “The effects will never be known.”

Sidonio and eight other candidates also had signs for positions of the Murray Republican Committee. Sidonio and three others in that group – Kerri Neale, Dirk Lammes Jr. and Kellie Gregoire – were elected to the committee.

Five others – Cynthia Piedimonte, Gerald Ramsey, Anthony Peone, Arthur Knab and Joseph Kellenberger – also had campaign signs on school property and weren’t elected.

Removing the signs hurt the candidates’ chances for election, Sidonio told the Holley Board of Education.

“These nine people were injured when this institution violated their Constitutional civil right to free speech,” Sidonio said at the meeting. “Those nine people simply placed their names on small signs for people to see. There was nothing defamatory about them. They simply expressed their desire to do a better job for the community.”

Holley school officials said after the meeting on Monday that they had never seen candidate signs on school property and were caught off guard to see so many not far from the entrance of the school.

Jeff Martin, the school attorney, acknowledged after Monday’s Board of Education meeting the district made a mistake by removing them.

No political signs are allowed within 100 feet of a polling place. Sidonio and the eight other Republican Committee candidates had signs near the school facing Lynch Road, outside the 100-foot limit.

Brian Bartalo, school district superintendent, notified Sidonio at about noon on Thursday during the primary that the signs were removed.

Sidonio asked the Board and school officials to investigate why the signs were removed. Sidonio said he and his election law attorney, Peter Reese of Buffalo, gave the district repeated warnings that the signs were legal. Martin said the district didn’t know the signs were going on the school property until 11 a.m., an hour before the polls opened.

“Determine what happened and fix it,” Sidonio said at the BOE meeting. “Learn something and teach our children. Furthermore, the entire Board of Education should take a course in civics.”

After an executive session with the Board of Education on Monday, Martin said Sidonio’s suggestion is “under advisement” by the board.

Sidonio also acknowledged that political signs haven’t been the norm on school property, but he thinks it is beneficial for students to see active campaigns at the polling location and in the community.

“There is nothing disruptive about hard-fought elections,” he said. “They are a good thing and in the highest traditions of what distinguishes America. No students will be harmed knowing that we have free speech and political contests.”

Sidonio this morning said he and the other candidates who had signs removed could take legal action. He wants to see how the school district responds.

“This is a huge learning experience for the whole community,” he said this morning. “Let’s learn from it and correct it. My campaign for change is bigger than a councilman race. My campaign is for better government and this (political signs on school property) is a big part of that.”

Return to top