By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2018 at 11:49 am
Provided photo from Corning Museum of Glass: A barge with mobile glassmaking equipment will be in Holley for demonstrations on Tuesday.
HOLLEY – A barge with glassmaking equipment will stop in Holley on Tuesday as part of a summer-long tour along the Erie Canal.
The Corning Museum of Glass has a 2018 GlassBarge tour that is visiting Holley and Medina in Orleans County, as well as other canal towns in New York. The Glass barge will be at Holley’s Canal Park later today and will be open for demonstrations on Tuesday.
The Glass Barge will be in Medina, docking at Medina Canal Basin, on August 11-12.
In celebration of this pivotal journey, the Corning Museum is recreating the voyage with GlassBarge – a 30′ x 80′ canal barge equipped with Corning’s patented all-electric glassmaking equipment. In addition to sharing the story of glassmaking in Corning, the GlassBarge tour emphasizes the continued role of New York’s waterways in shaping the state’s industry, culture, and community.
GlassBarge begins it tour in Brooklyn on May 17 and will travel north on the Hudson River, then westward along the Erie Canal from Albany to Buffalo before making its way to the Finger Lakes. A ceremonial last leg of the trip will take place by land, concluding in Corning with a community-wide celebration on Sept. 22. (Besides stopping in Holley and Medina, GlassBarge will also be in Brockport from Aug. 17-19.)
File photo by Tom Rivers: The Lois McClure passes under the Main Street lift bridge in Albion in August 2013.
The barge will be joined by the Lois McClure, a replica of an 1862 canal barge, and the C.L. Churchill, a 1964 tugboat. They are both part of the permanent collection of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. The museum will share the story of 19th-century canal life and how materials were shipped on New York’s waterways. On the Erie Canal, GlassBarge will be moved by an historic tug from the fleet of the South Street Seaport Museum, connecting upstate and downstate by water.
Holley officials feel very fortunate to be a stop on the GlassBarge tour, Mayor Brian Sorochty said today.
He urged people to visit the GlassBarge, the Lois McClure and the C.L. Churchill tugboat.
The Glass Barge will be available for free glass blowing demonstrations from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those interested in seeing a demonstration (about 30 minutes in duration) are encouraged to register for a timeslot in advance (click here). The 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. demonstrations are already full.
Limited additional seating is available for walk-up registration on the day of the event. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Holley will also be providing musical entertainment from 5 to 7 p.m. by Joe Fiannaca & Wayne Robertson as well as 50-cent hot dogs and free ice cream for children.
“I am very excited about this event and proud to have the opportunity to have it here in our community,” Sorochty said. “Please plan on attending this wonderful event.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2018 at 5:31 pm
There will be Republican primaries on Sept. 13 in Gaines and Murray. Both towns have one-year terms up for election on the Town Board.
In Gaines, Richard DeCarlo resigned from the Town Board. Town Supervisor Joe Grube and the other board members have decided not to appoint someone to fill the position, instead leaving it to voters this fall.
Corey Black and Joseph Gangi, Jr. have both submitted petitions to run for the position. Black has been endorsed by the Gaines Republican Committee.
In Murray, Town Supervisor Bob Miller and the Town Board have been appointed Neal Valentine to fill a vacancy on the board from the recent death of Ed Bower. Valentine will be challenged in a primary by Joe Sidonio to fill the remaining year of the term.
Murray also has many primaries for members of the Murray Republican Committee. Each district will elect two members to the committee.
District 1: Ed Morgan and Michael Mele are endorsed by the committee and are challenged by Cynthia Piedimonte and Gerald Ramsey.
District 2: Mark Porter and Douglas Heath are endorsed by the committee. Anthony Peone forced a primary.
District 3: Kathleen Case and Ron Vendetti are endorsed by the committee. Kerri Neale forced a primary.
District 4: Kimberly DeFrank is endorsed by the committee. Dirk Lammes Jr. and Joe Sidonio both submitted petitions to serve as members of the Republican Committee.
District 5: Cynthia Oliver and Lynn Wood are endorsed by the committee and are challenged by Arthur Knab and Joseph Kellenberger.
District 6: Robert Miller and Glenn DeFrank are endorsed by the committee. Kellie Gregoire forced a primary.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2018 at 4:45 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Holley Falls Bar & Grill is shown in this photo from early April. The business will open in Holley’s Public Square on Aug. 6.
HOLLEY – A project that has been five years in the making, with a major renovation in Holley’s Public Square, will open to the community on Aug. 6.
Dan and Monica Seeler have completed a transformation of the former Tagg’s Tavern in Holley. The Holley Falls Bar & Grill will open with 42 employees.
“We’re excited,” said Mr. Seeler. “We’re going to bring a nice destination to Orleans County.”
Holley Falls will be open for dinners from 4 to 9 p.m., with the bar menu available from 9 p.m. to midnight. Seeler said the bar won’t stay open until 2 a.m.
After a couple months, Mr. Seeler said he expects Holley Falls will open for lunches from Thursdays through Sundays.
In addition to the bar and restaurant, the Seelers renovated the upper levels to create apartments that are all rented.
The building used to have a wooden exterior when it was Tagg’s Tavern. The wood was removed to reveal cast iron columns in front. The Seelers needed to rebuild walls, paint them and make numerous other improvements for one of the most prominent buildings in Holley. They also added an awning.
They named the restaurant and bar for the Holley Falls, a popular spot that is located down Frisbee Terrace, a short walk from the restaurant.
Provided photo: Three members of the Holley Hawks Trap Team competed in the national championships, including, from left: Bradley Kingdollar, Tristan McFadden and Ethan Waldron.
Courtesy of Holley Hawks Trap Team
HOLLEY – Three members of the Holley High School clay target shooting team travelled to Mason, Mich. from July 11-15 to compete in the USA High School Clay Target League National Championships.
Bradley Kingdollar, Tristan McFadden and Ethan Waldron were invited based on their shooting averages throughout the spring season.
The three boys participated in the individual portion of the competition. Brad Kingdollar hit 93 out of 100 birds to rank #459 out of more than 1,200 kids competing. Ethan Waldron hit 92 targets to place #568 and Tristan McFadden hit 82 targets. The score needed to make the finals was 94.
The atmosphere at the event was one of sportsmanship and respect. The competitors handled themselves professionally and enjoyed meeting kids from across the country who share their passion of trapshooting. Trapshooting is the safest and fast growing high school sport. To date, there have been no injuries – no concussions and no broken bones.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 July 2018 at 1:01 pm
HOLLEY – The Village of Holley will go over four upcoming projects during a meeting today from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the American Legion on Wright Street.
The village will be replacing 4 miles of sidewalks and nearly 2 miles of water mains. Home Leasing LLC also will be renovating the old Holley High School and converting it into apartments and the village office building. That is a $17 million project.
In addition, the state Department of Transportation will be resurfacing parts of routes 237 and 31 in Holley.
The waterline project includes 9,050 linear feet and involves replacing 4- to 8-inch water mains with 8- to 12-inch water mains. That project includes portions of South Main, North Main, East Union, Park Place, East Albion and Geddes streets.
The meeting is a chance for residents to speak with project engineers and Village Board members.
Photo by Tom Rivers: David Mitchel and his son Josh are pictured by the Merrill-Grinnell funeral home in Albion at the corner of East State and Ingersoll streets. The property, the former home of Lt. Gov. Sanford Church, is one of Albion’s grandest homes.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 July 2018 at 6:11 pm
Merrill-Grinnell sites will be sold, while Christopher Mitchell will honor legacy of that business
ALBION – Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes has expanded its local presence by acquiring the Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Homes in Albion and Holley and also the Bates, Wallace & Heath Funeral Home in Middleport.
The sale closed Dec. 22 with David Mitchell, Christopher Mitchell’s owner, buying the three sites from Service Corporation International. SCI is based in Houston, Texas and owns about 1,500 funeral homes in 45 states, eight Canadian provinces and Puerto Rico.
Mitchell learned the three local properties were for sale last year and pursued an acquisition. The two Merrill-Grinnell sites will be sold while Bates, Wallace & Heath has already been upgraded. Christopher Mitchell’s four full-time funeral directors are serving the Middleport funeral home as well.
One of the Christopher Mitchell funeral directors, Scott Schmidt, is a Roy-Hart graduate from Middleport.
“Middleport will get to know all of us,” Mitchell said.
Photo courtesy of Bruce Landis: Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes has four full-time funeral directors, from left: Josh Mitchell, Scott Schmidt, Paula Fuller and David Mitchell.
Mitchell has worked 34 years as a funeral director while Paula Fuller has 24 years of experience, Scott Schmidt 21 years, and Mitchell’s son, Josh, six years. The younger Mitchell is the third generation to work as a funeral director. David’s father Rho was the first.
“I’m very blessed with the staff that I have,” Mitchell said. “And I feel very fortunate my son is with me. There aren’t too many third generation businesses.”
Christopher Mitchell and Merrill-Grinnell were long-time competitors in Albion and Holley. Christopher Mitchell has sites on Route 31 in both Albion and Holley. Mitchell said he has great respect for the Merrill-Grinnell history and will include the Merrill-Grinnell name on the Christopher Mitchell sign when the buildings are sold.
“Merrill-Grinnell did a lot of good in the community for many years,” Mitchell said. “We want to honor that longevity and legacy.”
Bates, Wallace & Heath will keep its name in Middleport. Christopher Mitchell has worked to update the site “from the ground up,” Mitchell said. It has completed masonry work, paint, new windows, HVAC, carpet and other upgrades – “a complete overhaul.”
There will be an open house in August for the community to see the improvements.
“Whether it’s for calling hours or a funeral service, you’re welcoming people into your home,” Mitchell said. “It’s service, service, service, the best that we can.”
Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes started in 1957, and has remained a locally owned business, donating many thousands of dollars to numerous local causes each year. Christopher Mitchell was recognized with a national “Pursuit of Excellence Award” from the National Funeral Directors Association in 2016. The association represents about 10,000 funeral homes.
Snell Realtors in Albion has listed the Merrill-Grinnell building in Albion for $219,900. The property is zoned commercial and is 5,511 square feet.
The Holley site at 39 Geddes St. is expected to be listed soon.
Mitchell said it doesn’t make sense for Christopher Mitchell to operate two funeral homes in the same small town. Until they are sold, both sites are available to be used for funerals.
HOLLEY – Braden Ferranti competes in a the heating and plumbing competition as part of the Skills USA state competition in April at the State Fairgrounds.
Ferranti, who just finished his junior year at Holley, attends WeMoCo in Spencerport. He won the state competition and advanced to Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky, from June 25-29, which is also a National Leadership and Skills Conference, a showcase of career and technical education students.
Ferranti placed 7th in the competition with 50-plus students from all over the country
He is enrolled in the HVAC course this coming year at Wemoco and will continue with the co-op job he has. He will be a senior in Holley this year.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2018 at 1:06 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – The 89 students who graduated from Holley on Saturday toss their caps inside the gymnasium after the commencement ceremony. Holley usually holds commencement outside at the Holley Hawks Stadium but the event was moved inside to the auditorium due to rain.
Salvador Solis is hugged by Board of Education member Melissa Ierlan during commencement on Saturday.
Dalton Thurley decorated the top of his graduation with “Game of Loans.” He is shown in the hallway with his classmates before the start of commencement on Saturday at the Jr./Sr. High Auditorium.
“I thought it was a funny take on Game of Thrones,” Thurley said.
He is headed to Alfred State College to study mechanical engineering technology.
Some schools discourage students from decorating their graduating caps, but Holley encourages it, with the art teachers even lending a hand.
Nicholas D’Amura (center), a middle/high school history teacher, was picked by seniors to be the commencement speaker. He is pictured near the front of the procession with Susan Cory (right), middle/high school principal, and Dan Courtney, middle/high school assistant principal.
The graduates head into the auditorium.
As the graduates filed on to the stage, the smartphones came out to record the event.
Madison Papaj (left), class vice president, and Melody Purtell, class secretary, announce the class gift – a $700 donation to the music department.
Nina DiLella, the class salutatorian, said the graduates’ small-town roots are an asset as they begin the next phase of their lives.
Dakota Thompson gives the valedictory address and urges her classmates to “seize the day.” The new graduates shouldn’t be hung up on their faults. “No one is perfect,” she said. “Go out there and make your dreams a reality. No one will do it for you.”
Nicholas D’Amura
Nicholas D’Amura, a middle/high school history teacher, gave the commencement address. D’Amura is a graduate of Lewiston-Porter High School and Geneseo State College. He has taught at Holley for five years. D’Amura said he is very grateful for the welcome he’s received from students, teachers and the community since he started. He told the student they are fortunate for “the tight family bond in the community.”
D’Amura said the Class of 2018 has left a mark on Holley through their thoughtfulness and caring.
“You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more spirited class,” he said.
D’Amura urged the group to thank their family members, teachers and others who helped them have success in school.
The 89 graduates are now headed in many different directions, and they will encounter numerous challenges, D’Amura said.
“Nothing in life is given to you,” he said. “It is earned. I encourage you to meet the challenges head on. Run through them.”
The commencement speaker said the world has a lot of anger, and doesn’t need any more. The graduates can make a difference by treating others with love and kindness, “even if they are unkind to you.”
Holley graduates, including Cory Caccamise (center), look at a personal note that D’Amura wrote for each student. He asked them to look under their chairs to find the message.
“Holley will remember you,” he said. “You will never be forgotten. Now go show the world what love, kindness and grit looks like.”
Holley Class President Matt DeSimone, left, joins the class in moving his tassel to signify graduation from high school. Nina DiLella is at center and Brandon Dillenbeck is at right.
DeSimone gave the welcome message during graduation. He told his classmates they are lucky to have been in a small school where they could do so many activities together with strong community support. DeSimone also noted the students were wearing ribbons in memory of victims at Parkland, Florida and other school shootings in the country this past year.
Glenn Thrower hams it up during a photo with Susan Cory, middle/high school principal.
Kyle Ierlan gets a hug from Brenda Swanger, president of the Board of Education. Kyle’s mom Melissa, right, is also on the Board of Education.
Briana Coluci stands and is recognized as one of the scholarship winners. Holley presented more than $22,000 in scholarships and awards during commencement.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2018 at 11:09 pm
Nenni and Lynch also will be back on Village Board
Brian Sorochty
HOLLEY – Village residents re-elected Brian Sorochty as mayor and two incumbents as trustees during the village election today.
Sorochty received 219 votes to 132 for Shawn O’Mara. Current trustees Connie Nenni, 231 votes, and Kevin Lynch, 202, were also re-elected to two-year terms over Alexa Downey, 135, and Robyn Schubmehl, 113.
There were 351 voters out of 967 eligible – a 36.3 percent turnout. The village used paper ballots. The results weren’t announced until 10:15 p.m., 75 minutes after the polls closed. A crowd of about 40 people waited outside the Village Office on the sidewalk for more than an hour until the results were announced.
Sorochty, who works as Vice President of Engineering for an engineering/construction company, was elected to a second two-year term. He is thankful he can keep working on village projects, including upcoming initiatives for new sidewalks and water infrastructure that are largely covered by grants. Holley also has received a planning grant for redeveloping vacant buildings in the downtown, finding uses for brownfield sites, including the former Diaz Chemical property, and boosting the village’s housing stock.
Sorochty is also excited for the start of construction on the renovation of the old Holley High School. This fall Home Leasing LLC of Rochester will start on the $17 million project, creating 41 senior apartments and the village offices in the building.
“I’m very pleased with the outcome and the turnout,” he said. “It was a very important election with the projects we have going on. I’m also pleased my fellow trustees were re-elected and we can continue our team.”
O’Mara, a Gates police officer, wants to see more progress in paving village streets, fixing sidewalks and upgrading village parks. He also wants to see the village push harder to have a new bank and grocery store come into the community since Holley lost its bank and a former Save-A-Lot store.
The new terms for the mayor and trustees start July 1.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Holley Village Clerk-Treasurer Deborah Schiavone reads off the election results outside the Village Office at about 10:15 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2018 at 8:19 am
HOLLEY – Village residents who are eligible voters, 18 and older, will elect a mayor and two trustees for the Village Board today.
The election is from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Office, 72 Public Square.
There are two candidates running for a two-year term as mayor: incumbent Brian Sorochty and Shawn O’Mara.
Four candidates are running for two trustee positions that are also for two-year terms. Incumbents Kevin Lynch and Connie Nenni are challenged by Robyn Schubmehl and Alexa Downey.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 June 2018 at 9:27 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Six candidates running for the Holley Village Board were part of a candidate forum on Wednesday evening at the Holley Junior-Senior High School Auditorium. Pictured up front include mayoral candidates Shawn O’Mara and Brian Sorochty, and trustee candidates Connie Nenni, Alexa Downey, Robyn Schubmehl and Kevin Lynch. Michael Bonafede served as moderator and Sandy Heise, Krista Wiley, Chris Sartwell and Judith Koehler were question screeners.
A video of Wednesday’s candidate forum for the Holley is now available on the Lake Country Media YouTube channel by clicking here.
The Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub sponsored the forum on Wednesday at the Holley Junior-Senior High School Auditorium.
The video is 1 hour, 32 minutes and shows candidates giving opening and closing statements, and responding to questions submitted by the audience.
The candidates for the election on Tuesday include Shawn O’Mara and incumbent Brian Sorochty for mayor; and Alexa Downey and Robyn Schubmehl for village trustee, challenging incumbents Connie Nenni and Kevin Lynch.
Voting is from noon to 9 p.m. at the village office.
HOLLEY – The Holley Board of Education has selected Brian Bartalo as the next superintendent of the school district pending formal appointment to the position at the next Board of Education meeting on June 18.
He will start as superintendent on July 16. He replaces Robert D’Angelo, who retired.
“Throughout the rigorous search process, Brian demonstrated an ability to connect with students, staff and community members,” said Board President Brenda Swanger. “His long experience and track record of success make him the ideal leader to move our district forward.”
Bartalo is currently the principal and International Baccalaureate Head of School at Hilton High School, a post he has held since 2005. From 1999 until 2005, Bartalo was an assistant principal at Hilton HS. Prior to that, he served for one year as the dean of students at Hilton HS. In 1988, Bartalo began his teaching career as a special education teacher at Merton Williams Middle School in the Hilton Central School District, where he taught and coached until 1998.
“The Holley community has been very welcoming to me through this search process,” said Bartalo. “I look forward to working with the Board to further the district’s mission of instilling a passion for lifelong learning within our students.”
Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES District Superintendent Jo Anne L. Antonacci assisted the Holley Board of Education as search consultant throughout the process.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Six candidates running for the Holley Village Board were part of a candidate forum on Wednesday evening at the Holley Junior-Senior High School Auditorium. Pictured from left include mayoral candidates Shawn O’Mara and Brian Sorochty, and trustee candidates Connie Nenni, Alexa Downey, Robyn Schubmehl and Kevin Lynch.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 June 2018 at 10:24 am
HOLLEY – Village residents have choices on Tuesday when they go to the polls to elect a mayor and two trustees. There are six candidates running for three positions on the Village Board. Those candidates shared their views and goals for the village during a candidate forum on Wednesday evening at the Holley Junior-Senior High School Auditorium. The event was sponsored by the Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub.
Brian Sorochty
The incumbents – Mayor Brian Sorochty and trustees Connie Nenni and Kevin Lynch – see great progress in the village in the past two years with Holley securing grants for new sidewalks and water infrastructure, as well as a planning grant to help redevelop the downtown and bolster the economic, housing and recreational opportunities in the village.
Sorochty sees the $17 million renovation of the old Holley High School into 41 apartments for seniors and the village offices as a major victory for the village. Construction will start in the fall and the project should be complete within two years.
The soon-to-start improvements in the village will show potential developers and businesses that Holley is headed in the right direction, Sorochty said.
“One of the best things we can do is show that we’re a community on the move,” Sorochty told about 75 people at the candidate forum.
Shawn O’Mara
Shawn O’Mara, a candidate for mayor, sees a lot of empty storefronts, as well as the recent closures of Holley’s only bank and grocery store. He said he would push to find another bank and grocery store for the community. He also said the village suffers from deteriorating roads and sidewalks.
“I have determination,” he said. “I can think on my feet and get results.”
Sorochty works as Vice President of Engineering for an engineering/construction company, overseeing 35 employees.
O’Mara is a Gates police officer. He has worked 25 years in law enforcement, including the beginning of his career with the Holley Police Department.
The incumbent trustees – Nenni and Lynch – said the current board has put in the hard work to have Holley positioned for success, with grants for sidewalks and water infrastructure. The old high school redevelopment also was years in the making.
“We’ve definitely made a lot of progress but there is more to do,” Nenni said. “We’ve been working hard to transform this village with multi-million-dollar projects. You’ll see and feel every bit of them when they are done.”
Connie Nenni, left, answers a question during the candidate forum on Wednesday. Other trustee candidates include Alexa Downey, Robyn Schubmehl and Kevin Lynch.
Nenni currently works as secretary to the Holley school district superintendent. She previously was Holley’s village clerk-treasurer. She has written grants for the village concert series, and helped rally the community to support the sidewalk grant, which will replace about a third of sidewalks in Holley.
Kevin Lynch is retired after 36 years from the Canal Corp., including about 20 years in Pittsford as the chief lock operator.
Lynch said the village government can be daunting to understand for a newcomer on the board. He is currently Holley’s deputy mayor and said he is very familiar with the staff and duties of the Electric Department, Department of Public Works and the Clerk’s Office. He said he is proud of Holley’s recent successes, especially with the redevelopment of the old school. He was a member of the last graduating class in the building.
Alexa Downey
Alexa Downey works as a teacher’s assistant in prekindergarten. She is a Brooklyn native who sees lots of potential for Holley as a historic canal town, especially if the storefronts can be filled.
She said she would bring a positive presence to the board and would be active in the community, getting resident feedback. She is currently co-president of the Holley PTSA and a volunteer with the Sports Boosters.
Robyn Schubmehl works as a supervisor and paralegal for a foreclosure firm in Medina. She said the Village Board would benefit from fresh ideas. She said she has the commitment and dedication to be an asset to the board.
“Everyone brings something to the table,” she said. “We need to work together cohesively.”
O’Mara, Schubmehl and Downey are running as a team. They congratulated the current board for the success with grants and projects, but said more work is needed, especially with sidewalks and the deteriorating road conditions.
Sorochty, Nenni and Lynch also cited efforts to maintain services without raising taxes. The village has contracts with the Village of Albion to run Holley’s sewer plant and also for leadership in the police department. Roland Nenni serves as both Holley’s and Albion’s police chief.
Sorochty said the arrangements have resulted in superior service for Holley and at much-reduced cost than hiring full-time personnel for the positions.
O’Mara said more consolidation of village government would keep taxes from rising. But Sorochty and Lynch said Holley is running a “bare bones” staff. The shared services approach is the best way to preserve services with local control, without being too costly for the village, they said.
Michael Bonafede served as moderator of the forum, which was attended by about 75 people.
The candidates were asked many questions during the forum, including whether the police department should be dissolved, how to stabilize taxes, whether the village should have a full-time administrator, how Holley can best capitalize on the canal and other topics.
None of the candidates favored dissolving the village police force and having the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office assume the work.
O’Mara said Holley is start for many in law enforcement and the new officers prove their dedication to the community. Sorochty also said the current board has made keeping a 24-7 police presence a priority.
None of the candidates want to see Holley hire a full-time administrator. They all said Holley is too small and shouldn’t be adding positions that would increase the burden on taxpayers.
Some villages in other counties have full-time administrators. But the candidates said Holley has enough staff to keep the village government working.
Sorochty said a rumor went around the village that an administrator position would be created.
“It’s false,” he said. “It’s absolutely ridiculous. The village is too small.”
Kevin Lynch
The canal park is one of the village’s assets, with a gazebo for concerts, boat tie-ins and camping sites along the canal in Holley. O’Mara said more docking and expanded amenities could draw more boaters and kayakers to Holley.
The candidates were asked if a kayak and boat launch should be pursued near the lift bridge. Sorochty said there could be grant funding available for that. But Lynch, a former Canal Corp. employee, said he doubted the Canal Corp. would support that because there is already a boat launch a mile east of Holley.
Sorochty said clearing out an original canal bed, the only section west of Rochester, could be a tourism draw and a source of pride for the community. Orleans County officials are interested in helping to remove trees and brush from that original canal bed this fall, Sorochty said.
The candidates were also asked about code enforcement, including the possibility of county-wide code enforcement, rather than each town and village doing the service. That might require a uniform code for all the municipalities, or code officers being familiar with varying codes in towns and villages.
Schubmehl and Downey both said the community needs to have fair code enforcement. Right now there is a perception code enforcement picks on some people.
“I want to make sure code enforcement is fair and truly look out for Holley and not have another agenda,” Downey said.
Robyn Schubmehl
Schubmehl said, “Code enforcement needs to be fair across the board.”
The candidates were also asked about the controversial tree clearing along the northern side of the Erie Canal. There is concern trees could be cut down on the south side near Holley’s Canal Park and the waterfalls. Sorochty said Canal Corp. officials have no plans of removing those trees. But if they did in the future, the candidates said Holley should hire a lawyer and pursue an injunction, like Perinton, Brighton and Pittsford did to halt the project.
“If those trees come down you’ll lose the beauty of the canal,” O’Mara said.
The candidates were asked how many village meetings they have attended in the past two years. O’Mara, Downey and Schubmehl all said they haven’t been to a Village Board meeting. Lynch has been to them all, while Sorochty and Nenni have near-perfect attendance.
The election is from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Village Office.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 June 2018 at 8:55 am
HOLLEY – Village residents can hear directly today from the six candidates running for the Village Board.
The forum begins at 6 p.m. at the Holley Junior-Senior High School Auditorium. The event is sponsored by The Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub.
The event is set up as a forum and not a debate. Candidates will give opening and closing statements, and will respond to questions submitted by the audience.
Three incumbents are running in the June 19 election, including Mayor Brian Sorochty and two current village trustees – Connie Nenni and Kevin Lynch, the deputy mayor.
The other candidates include Shawn O’Mara for mayor and Alexa Downey and Robyn Schubmehl for village trustees.
The June 19 election will be from noon to 9 p.m. at the village office.
Photos by Kristina Gabalski: Amelia Sidonio, 15, of Holley led the planting effort on Thursday for a new bee pollinator meadow on Hurd Road near her family’s farm market at Hurd Orchards. Amelia, left, is joined by Joan-Marie Gabalski and Grace Gregoire in scattering seed in the newly tilled pollinator meadow.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 June 2018 at 7:28 am
HOLLEY – A local teen-ager is leading an effort to create a pollinator meadow where bees will be encouraged to flourish.
Amelia Sidonio, 15, and a group of local 4-Hers spread wildflower seed on Thursday for the new meadow which is about a half mile from Hurd Orchards, which is owned by Amelia’s family.
Bayer, which has an agricultural products division, provided a $2,500 grant for the project. Bayer is paying for pollinator meadows in all 50 states, part of an effort to encourage native bee populations.
Amelia Sidonio distributes seeds to Grace Gregoire, Sadie Gregoire and Luke Gregoire prior to planting.
The colony collapse disorder and other diseases have decimated the honey bee population, making the fruit industry vulnerable because bees are needed to pollinate crops for them to grow. The new meadows will provide pollen for native bees and honey bees.
“I’m just really happy to have the opportunity to work with Bayer and start the movement of wildflower plantings,” Amelia said.
She is a sophomore at the Harley School in Rochester. She has been involved with the Orleans County 4-H program since she was 5, starting as a Cloverbud with the rabbit program.
During a 4-H public presentation, she researched the crisis with the declining bee population and presented that report. She wanted to do something to help bees, and learned about the funding opportunity through Bayer.
Her mother, Amy Machamer, was honored in 2016 by Bayer with a farming innovation award. Machamer was recognized by Bayer welcoming the public on their farm to learn about agriculture. Hurd Orchards hosts luncheons and dinners that teach about growing fruit. Machamer also teaches people how to prepare dishes with ingredients grown from the Hurd farm.
A 4-Her holds a handful of seed. Wildflower seed planted included red poppies, yarrow, milkweed, oxeye and painted daisies.
The first pollinator meadow is about a half mile from the market at Hurd Orchards. Machamer and her daughter want to add another meadow closer to the market. That was the plan last year but it was too rainy to get the meadow started.
A group of Orleans County 4-Hers met in a small field on Hurd Road in Murray on Thursday to plant a pollinator meadow. Amelia reached out to her 4-H friends who filled pails with wildflower seeds and scattered the seed in the newly tilled meadow.
“It’s important to get the community involved,” Amelia said. “It’s good to connect to different kinds of agriculture.”
Orleans County 4-Hers are pictured after the planting. They are, from left: Luke Gregoire, John Gabalski, Amelia Sidonio, Grace Gregoire, Joan-Marie Gabalski and Sadie Gregoire.
She wants to raise more public awareness of the issue affecting bees. She said the wildflowers also have the added benefit of beautifying the countryside.
The plants will germinate this year and some may flower. Next year the planting will really take hold and provide blooms for many years to come.
“That field will be absolutely gorgeous,” Machamer said. “It will be really pretty. It will be really beautiful. It will provide beauty and a pollinator meadow, and raise consciousness.”
For more on the Bayer program to help bees, click here.
