Staff Reports Posted 12 September 2017 at 10:01 pm
Sean Pogue wins primary for Barre Town Supervisor
MURRAY –It’s too close to call for Town Supervisor in Murray. Joe Sidonio has a 7-vote lead over Robert Miller, the Republican-endorsed candidate.
Sidonio has 262 votes to 255 for Miller. There are 23 absentee ballots out. They will be counted on Sept. 18 at the Orleans County Board of Elections in Albion.
Supporters of Sidonio gathered at Holley Middle School/High School Tuesday evening to hear the results of the vote.
Sidonio said both he and opponent Miller have the best interests of the Murray community in mind.
“We still need to come together as a community and work for the common ground,” Sidonio said. He is hopeful that he will prevail when the final votes are counted.
The campaign has been contentious. Sidonio called it, “heated and nasty.”
Turnout for the primary was impressive with 520 ballots cast. Party officials said there are 1,240 registered Republicans in the Town of Murray.
Sidonio noted that the interest in the race and the closeness of the vote shows that, “change is what is needed…. we need a clean slate change” in the town. He said he is grateful for the support of his family including his wife Amy and daughter Amelia, as well as friends and community members.
“I thank all supporters in the community for their interest in this election,” he said.
In Barre, Sean Pogue won the Republican Primary, getting 141 votes to 87 for Robin Nacca. The two will square off again in November because Nacca has been endorsed by the Conservative Party. (Pogue also won the Independence primary, 10-7, versus Nacca.)
HOLLEY – Firefighters responded to a vehicle that burst into flames just before 1 p.m. today on Bennetts Corners Road near the intersection with Taylor Road.
Holley and Clarendon firefighters worked to put out the fire. The vehicle was being towed to a scrap yard. No one was injured.
Photos by Kristina Gabalski: Holley Elementary School teachers line up in teams by grade level during Tuesday evening's Back to School Night assembly in the intermediate gym.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 5 September 2017 at 11:10 pm
HOLLEY – Parents, students, teachers, staff and administrators gathered Tuesday evening at Holley Central Elementary School and Middle School/High School for Back to School Night.
The evening provided an opportunity for students to drop off their supplies and meet with teachers the evening before the first day of school.
The Elementary School held a special assembly/pep rally at 5:30 pm which included “star teacher” performances by teaching teams from all grade levels.
“We are thrilled to have you back with us, it’s been a long boring summer,” Elementary Principal Karri Schiavone said.
She invited families to get a first-hand look at new windows and playgrounds which were installed over the summer as part of the capital improvement project.
Schiavone told students that the school would be looking for “star students” all year long – students who show exemplary character traits.
Each grade level teaching team performed a short number as part of the “star teacher” search. Here, the 1st Grade teachers get down as the “Dancing Grannies.”
Holley Elementary Assistant Principal Tim Artessa acted as master of ceremonies. Here, he oversees the volunteer student panel of judges for the “star teacher” competition. The students provided a “thumbs-up” or “thumbs-down” for each performance. Artessa said the assembly showed the students were excited to start a new school year. “The students were super respectful, even though there were some technical difficulties,” Artessa said. “They are ready to have the school year start on a positive note.”
4th grade teachers made crowns out of balloons and passed out balloon sculptures to students.
4th grade teacher Karin Richards hands out balloon animal sculptures to students.
6th grade teachers got the gym rockin’ with an air band performance of music by Journey.
The largest group of faculty and staff included music, art, and phys. ed. teachers as well as librarian Julie Bader. They performed to “YMCA” by the Village People.
One-half of the kindergarten teaching team performed as the Lullaby League from the Wizard of Oz.
The other half of the Kindergarten teaching team performed as the Lollypop Guild from the Wizard of Oz.
Families attending the Back to School Night at Holley Elementary School were able to see the latest improvements completed as part of the Capital Improvement Project, including the new bus loop.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 September 2017 at 3:39 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HULBERTON – Angelo Fiorucci of Niagara on the Lake in Canada plays in the bocce tournament at the St. Rocco’s Italian Festival in Hulberton. There were 30 teams signed up to play in the tournament, which includes a grand prize of $600.
One of the teams cancelled due to the rain, but everyone else played, despite the rain in the morning. The sun came out later in the morning and the typical big crowd for the festival descended on the small hamlet by the canal in the Town of Murray.
Fiorucci said he has been playing in the tournament for about 20 years.
“We have a good time over here,” he said. “We have made a lot of friends over the years.”
These women helped organize the basket raffle, which includes a record 54 baskets this year. The ladies include, from left: Ann Dellaquila, Joyce Potote, Ingrid Lestorti, Kathy Clarke and Katie Trupo.
The festival goes until 6 p.m. today with the drawing for the baskets at 5 p.m.
Jacob Bower watches his shot in bocce with his father Randy Bower, who organizes the annual bocce tournament.
Elizabeth Jubenville and Luci Welch get fried dough ready for the crowd. The annual festival is a fund-raiser for the Catholic parish in Holley and Kendall, which includes St. Mary’s Church in Holley and St. Mark’s in Kendall.
Maggie Skehan, 10, spins the raffle tickets, which included 1,400 sold as of about noon today. The prizes ranged from $100 to $300.
Rick Gill of Lockport takes his turn in the bocce tournament. Gill has played in the tourney several times.
“It’s good time and it’s good cause,” he said.
Andy Sweeney of Newline measures to see which of the balls is closest to the small ball. The closest one earns that team a point. The games are played to 16.
Sweeney said he competes in bocce tournaments around the country, and was most recently playing in Cleveland.
“This is a very well-run tournament,” he said. “There is great camaraderie and it’s family-oriented with great people.”
A building that was once used by a quarry company turns into a dining hall with an Italian theme for the festival. Volunteers, including Della Morales and Dorothy Morgan (up front), served spaghetti dinners.
The festival has been an annual event for about 40 years.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 25 August 2017 at 8:36 am
This is one side of a two-sided bookmark created by middle schoolers at Holley. The other side includes a photo of Myron Holley and facts about his life.
HOLLEY – A summer school program for Holley middle schooler help students boost skills that they had struggled to learn during the regular school year, Holley Board of Education members were told this week.
Michelle Roman and Nick D’Amuro, both Holley teachers, shared highlights of the program with the Board of Education.
“For the most part, all showed some growth in skills,” Roman said. “We need to make plans for more support and we will follow-up with students during the school year. We made goals for future summer camps.”
The three-week summer program included a half-dozen 7th and 8th graders who focused on Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies and critical thinking skills.
“I call them self-sufficient skills,” D’Amuro explained. He said students can take the skills they learned during camp and use them to teach themselves new skills in the future.
Roman said summer camp enabled her to uncover reading skills deficiencies in her students. She said the program, “allows us to build relationships and develop a love of learning” with students.
The program also included community service at the Holley Community Free Library, and guest speakers including Clarendon historian Melissa Ierlan and a presentation by GCASA about making better choices.
The students walked to the library from the school campus for their community service work which included devising the most efficient way to clean books in the Children’s section. Students also designed a bookmark which featured information about Myron Holley.
Holley, a Rochester abolitionist who served in the NYS Assembly in 1816, was an Erie Canal Commissioner and founder of the Rochester Freeman, an anti-slavery newspaper which sparked the Underground Railroad in western New York. The Village of Holley is named in Myron Holley’s honor, although he never lived there.
D’Amuro and Roman encouraged Board of Education members to consider requiring students who fail core classes to attend the skill-building summer camps in the future to provide them with an opportunity to receive additional support for academic success.
Board President Brenda Swanger thanked the teachers for their presentation. “The extra caring,” which the summer camp provided, “is what they also need,” she said of students.
Photo by Kristina Gabalski: A new playground at the Holley Elementary School nears completion. It is part of the ongoing Capital Project at the district.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 22 August 2017 at 9:59 am
HOLLEY – The Holley Board of Education was asked on Monday to approve a resolution to allow for PILOT agreements to be established between the district and commercial solar farm energy systems.
Ron Vendetti, the code enforcement officer for the Town of Murray and Village of Holley, attended the Board of Education meeting.
He said the school district earlier decided to opt out of tax exemptions for commercial solar developments. Without a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes), Vendetti said the commercial solar projects won’t move forward.
Vendetti has attended several conferences around the state and has worked with developers to better understand how municipalities and school districts are trying to regulate commercial solar farms. He said many developers are now look to construct 2 megawatt or less solar farms on 10 to 12 acre parcels due to the shorter review process by the state. The Town of Murray isn’t considered “a high priority area” by solar developers, but Vendetti said there could still be interest in Murray by developers.
Vendetti and school district attorney Jeff Martin noted the solar farms could increase property assessments significantly – as much as $5 million – and that PILOT agreements would mean the district would be receiving at least something in tax revenue.
“Forty percent value on a PILOT is better than 100 percent of nothing,” Vendetti said.
The Town of Murray recently adopted Local Law No. 3 of 2017 which requires developers of commercial solar farm energy systems to enter into a PILOT agreement with the town. The Board of Education needs only to approve a resolution, Jeff Martin said.
There are no commercial solar farms currently in Orleans County, but developers are showing an interest, Martin and Vendetti said.
The Village of Holley might enact the legislation because the former Diaz Chemical site potentially could be used for a commercial solar farm, Vendetti said.
School Board members took no action on Monday. Board President Brenda Swanger asked Martin to continue to gather information for the board.
School supplies can be costly for parents
In other business, Swanger told Elementary School Principal Karri Schiavone that a parent had expressed concern over the length and expense of items on the school’s supply list for students for the upcoming school year.
“We have pared it down,” Schiavone said. “Teachers get $200 for supplies for the entire school year,” she said, and noted that is not enough to cover student supplies such as pencils, paper and folders.
“We have made (supply lists) consistent across grade levels,” Schiavone said.
Both the Elementary School and Middle School/High School do have supplies available for students who are in need, Schiavone and MS/HS principal Sue Cory said. During the district’s back to school night Sept. 5, tables will be made available for anyone who wishes to donate unused school supplies. Students in need of supplies will be able to take what they need at the same time.
The Holley Rotary Club has donated funds in the past to the district for the purpose of purchasing school supplies and would be donating $300 to $500 again for the coming school year, said Martin, a member of the Rotary Club.
Contractors working to have capital project done by school opening
In his report, District Superintendent Robert D’Angelo re-assured district administrators, teachers and staff that the on-going capital project work would not prevent school from opening on schedule Sept. 6.
“The project has an aggressive schedule,” D’Angelo said, and explained that it is not unusual for school officials to feel anxious when a project nears completion, but, “School will open on time and we will be in good shape. The campus will be safe for occupation.”
D’Angelo said contractors will continue to be present on campus after the first day of school to complete jobs such as painting tennis courts and replanting grass.
“The end product will be something we can all be proud of,” he said.
This rendering shows how the former Holley High School would look after $17 million in renovations.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 July 2017 at 10:31 am
ALBION – The clock is ticking and developers of the former Holley High School are trying to line up as much support as possible for a proposed $17 million renovation of the school.
Kim Russell, executive vice president of Home Leasing, met with the Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday, seeking the body’s official support for the project.
The Legislature approved a resolution in support of the effort to turn a building that has been vacant for nearly 30 years into residential apartments and offices that would be used for the village government.
Legislature Chairman David Callard said the project would be transformational for Holley – and the whole county.
“We are so favorably impressed with the presentation put forth,” Callard told Russell. “We give you our full support. It’s dynamic and would help improve the entire county.”
Home Leasing is working along with Edgemere Development, Glasow Simmons Architecture L.L.P. and Marathon Engineering – all Rochester-based firms – on the project.
The developers of the project were denied funding in the form of housing tax credits this spring by the New York State Homes and Community Renewal. Home Leasing is again seeking those tax credits to make the project financially feasible.
It also is seeking grants through the state. The applications for the grants are due on Friday.
Russell said the company is seeking $350,000 through Empire State Development, $300,000 through the Environmental Protection Fund, $150,000 through NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research & Development) and $100,000 through the NY Main Street program.
Russell said the project is costly partly due to the environmental contamination that needs to be cleaned up. If the state grants and tax credits don’t come through, Russell said the project may not work financially. Without a redevelopment, she said the building may need to be torn down.
Callard said the project, at the corner of routes 237 and 31, is ideally located near the downtown and the Public Square. The project would revive a historic landmark in the village center, and would bolster local housing stock for residents, including senior citizens.
The Legislature’s resolution notes the Orleans Economic Development Agency already has a PILOT agreement in place for Home Leasing to pay to support local government services. The EDA also has approved mortgage and sales tax exemptions, purchase contract, and its own resolution of support for the project.
Russell has encouraged community members to send letters of support about the project. Those letters should be dropped off at the Village Office, 72 Public Square. The village will then scan and forward them to Russell for Friday’s deadline.
A tractor-trailer truck struck Grace’s Place Agri-Business Child Development today at about 12:30 p.m., damaging the front façade of the building on Maziarz Drive in the Holley Business Park. The trucker then fled the scene. In the above photo, Holley firefighters Ron Meier, left, and Fran Gaylord inspect the damage to the building.
Holley police are attempting to locate the truck driver. Gaylord said tractor-trailers sometimes make a wrong turn at the business park and go past the child care center. A truck has hit the building once before, he said.
Photo by Kristina Gabalski: The Town Park in Clarendon is pictured on a quiet summer evening
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2017 at 7:39 am
CLARENDON – Town Board members have decided to take a “wait and see” approach to a continuing problem of trash being left in the Town Park.
Town Supervisor Dick Moy said he and his wife cleaned-up a recent mess which included toilet paper being strewn about and beer cans being dumped in the toilet.
“It was a disaster,” Moy said.
People who rent the shelter for gatherings are expected to keep the park clean and neat, he said. Town officials noted trash has been left behind both by people renting the shelter and those who have congregated in the park late into the evening.
“There’s always a few that spoil it for someone else,” Town Councilman Paul Nicosia said.
Moy questioned if someone should be appointed to keep an eye on gatherings in the park to help prevent the problems from occurring.
Town Code Enforcement Officer Melissa Ierlan suggested a laminated sign with park rules be placed in a prominent spot where people enter the park.
“Put it where you pull into the parking lot,” Ierlan said.
A fence and gate, which could be closed at night, might be a solution, said Councilman Marc Major.
“People are driving in and using it after hours,” he said.
Following their discussion, board members decided to wait before taking any further action, to see if the problems continue.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 17 July 2017 at 11:07 am
File photo by Tom Rivers: Holley’s Canal Park is a popular spot along the Erie Canal.
HOLLEY – Orleans County Legislator Ken DeRoller has encouraged the Village of Holley to be part of a multi-municipality effort to obtain a planning grant to develop a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP) for communities along the Erie Canal.
“It would provide a future view of how we want to use the canal corridor,” DeRoller said.
In addition to the Village of Holley, DeRoller said the Village of Albion, Town of Albion and Town of Murray should also be involved. He noted the Village of Medina is already pursuing a plan on their own.
DeRoller spoke to members of the Village Board during their regular meeting last week.
According to New York State, Local Waterfront Revitalization Plans follow a step-by-step process by which communities can advance their planning from vision to implementation. The state offers grant funding for plan-related projects, once plans have been approved.
“I think we have a great product,” DeRoller said of the canal front in Orleans County.
The LWRP will help communities to “enhance its use and plan for the future … we can be the new Fairport in Orleans County.”
DeRoller mentioned attractions and recreational activities on the canal which Holley offers, including Holley Falls and the nearby Public Square. He also discussed potential recreational activities on the canal such as kayaking and hydro-kayaking, as well as activities when the canal is de-watered in the winter season.
“It’s very well worth it,” Holley Mayor Brian Sorochty said of creating a plan. He likened it to the village’s application for a Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 2 grant.
“To do this with other communities strengthens the application,” the mayor said. “I think we can put together a strong application. The canal is underutilized in Orleans County.”
Village Board members also heard July 11 from John Pera, the new post commander for the Jewell Buckman American Legion Post in Holley.
Pera told the board, the Legion is hoping to do more for the Holley community.
“We want to be more a part of the community than in the past,” Pera said of the veterans organization. “We are looking for what we can do for our community. We want to enhance our image to more of a family-friendly organization.”
Pera noted the Holley American Legion has the highest recruitment rate in western New York and the Ladies Auxiliary now has nine junior members – part of an effort to encourage the younger generation to become involved. He was joined at the meeting by Ladies Auxiliary President Deb Zicari.
“We want to do what we can to help the younger generation,” she said.
Anyone who served during war-time is eligible for membership, Pera noted. Family members of eligible members may join the Ladies Auxiliary or Sons of the American Legion, he said.
“They just need to show someone in their lineage is/was a member of Post 529 in Holley,” Pera said
“We will make sure we reach out to you,” Sorochty told Pera and Zicari and thanked them for reaching out to the board.
The Jewell Buckman American Legion Post 529 has a new website with information on Post activities and membership: www.al529holleyny.org.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 July 2017 at 9:37 am
ALBION – The Orleans Economic Development Agency called the effort to revive the old Holley High School for apartments and village offices a critical project on Friday.
The developers of the project were denied funding in the form of housing tax credits this spring by the New York State Homes and Community Renewal.
Home Leasing, developer for the project with Edgemere Development, is pursuing the state funding again this year.
The developers are looking for other state funding sources and shows of community support to make the case to the state for the bigger financial piece through Homes and Community Renewal.
The Orleans EDA agreed to pursue a grant on Friday for up to $500,000 for the project through the Environmental Protection Fund grant program for projects in Parks, Preservation and Heritage.
The funding is a matching grant for a property on the National Register of Historic Places. Home Leasing will pay the matching funds. The EDA will be the sponsor of the grant.
Home Leasing and Edgemere also will prepare and file the grant application.
“It certainly helps their project,” EDA attorney Kevin Zanner told the EDA board of directors on Friday.
Jim Whipple, the EDA chief executive officer, said the tax credits are ultimately needed to make the $17 million project a reality. The smaller state grants are also helpful.
“This shows EDA support and makes the story stronger,” Whipple said. “This is an important project.”
Revitalizing the old school, which has been vacant for about two decades, has been identified as a priority project in Holley’s comprehensive plan.
Home Leasing wants to turn the school into 41 residential apartments and offices for the village government. A restored auditorium would be used for meeting space. Developers said they will restore the historic building to its former glory as part of the project.
The school is located in the center of a historic district.
Kim Russell, executive vice president of Home Leasing, met with members of the Holley Village Board and Murray Town Board on Tuesday.
The company welcomes community letters of support as part of the funding applications.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 July 2017 at 5:21 pm
HOLLEY – Eight homes that have been vacant for about 15 years after a leak at the former Diaz Chemical plant have all sold this week.
The houses were recently put on the market and eight purchase offers totaling $192,600 have been accepted for the sites.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency will receive 90 percent of the money after closing costs and real estate service fees are included.
The remaining 10 percent will go to Village of Holley Development Corporation, a village entity tasked with economic and community development.
Dan Schiavone, a local dentist, serves as president of the VHDC. He also was mayor during the chemical leak from Diaz in 2002, which led to the company declaring bankruptcy and go out of business.
Schiavone agreed to lead the VHDC to address blight and vacant properties in Holley. He was concerned the “Diaz homes” would linger on the market.
“I was worried they would be difficult to get rid of,” he said this afternoon. “It was a pleasant surprise.”
The buyers all have to have EPA certified contractors remove lead dust and encapsulate lead paint in the houses. That was a requirement from the EPA before a certificate of occupancy can be issued. The houses were otherwise deemed safe by the EPA.
The homes, which were listed by Jen Passarell of ReMax, were sold at a slight discount from the appraised values from the EPA.
“They were priced to sell,” Schiavone said. “It will be a big plus for the village to have them back on the tax rolls and not be eyesores in the neighborhood.”
The 10 percent that goes to the VHDC may be used for other community cleanup efforts.
“We’re hoping to be able to open a bank account and use this small amount for operating expenses and possibly grant writing related to future projects,” Schiavone said.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 12 July 2017 at 1:00 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: Developers and local officials are pushing for a project to turn the former Holley High School into apartments and offices. The public may be asked to write letters in support of the project.
HOLLEY – Developers and local leaders are working to make sure the proposed restoration/development of the old Holley High School moves forward.
Members of the development team spoke before the Holley Village Board and Murray Town Board during their regular meetings Tuesday evening.
“We have to kick it up a notch,” Kim Russell, executive vice president of Home Leasing, told Holley Village Board members after speaking to the Murray Town Board.
She explained that local leaders, representatives on the state and federal levels, and community stakeholders – including those interested in living in the proposed Holley Gardens Apartments mixed income senior housing planned for the former school – must work to promote the need for the project.
“We need to tell the story from a personal level, bring the heartstring element in,” Russell said.
She and Charlie Oster of Edgemere Development explained that Orleans County is considered part of the Finger Lakes region – the most competitive region in the state for grant funding – and that it is vital for representatives to make it clear that now is Orleans County’s turn for funding.
Developers applied for funding from New York State Homes and Community Renewal last year, but the project was not funded when grants were awarded this spring. Oster said developers are working to re-apply this fall and are strengthening the application.
“We will re-submit,” Oster said. “We believe (in this project) and will get it done. We are in the process of incorporating updates.”
Oster and Village Board members discussed why the project may not have been selected for funding on its initial try.
Oster explained the fact Holley is a rural community is one factor. “The state takes a hard look at the market,” he said. He also noted developers need to accelerate the proposed schedule of the project in order to increase the chances of obtaining funding the second time around.
Mayor Brian Sorochty noted most projects are not funded on the first application. “The project was not denied,” he said. “It wasn’t funded, most are not funded the first time.”
The Village Board approved resolutions endorsing the application of developers, who are also seeking grant funding from additional sources, including NYSERDA, the NY Main Street Grant Program, and the Empire State Economic Development Fund through a NYS Consolidated Funding Application.
Oster said the village’s participation in the application process is necessary as part of the project includes the move of the village offices to the school.
Sorochty, Oster and Russell discussed setting up a meeting in August between developers, local leaders, and state and federal representatives.
“We need to discuss details on how to move forward,” Russell said. She said State Senator Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, U.S. Senator Schumer and local economic development officials should be part of the group, and that a grass roots campaign of letter writing should also be part of the effort.
“We need to do anything from grassroots up to the federal government,” she said.
The proposed Holley Gardens project includes 41 units of senior housing, village office space on the main floor, and restoration of the auditorium for use as meeting space. Developers have said they will restore the historic building to its former glory as part of the project.
The old Holley High School made the first-ever “Five to Revive” list compiled by the Landmark Society of Western New York in 2013. That designation helped attract the interest of the developers.
Photos by Kristina Gabalski: Holley community members were able to speak with contractors and EPA officials who will soon begin the work of extracting chemicals from the soil and groundwater at the former Diaz Chemical site by utilizing thermal treatment technology.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 12 July 2017 at 11:07 am
Purchase offers submitted for 6 of 8 ‘Diaz homes’
HOLLEY – The federal Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward with the next stage of cleanup from the former Diaz Chemical Corp.
The EPA also announced on Tuesday it has received offers on eight houses that were left vacant because residents were worried the sites were contaminated by Diaz.
John DiMartino, Remedial Project Manager for the EPA, told Holley Village Board members Tuesday evening that the Village of Holley Development Corporation (VHDC) has received six offers on the eight former Diaz homes, and that the change in deeds to the VHDC was recorded June 29.
“The offers were reasonable, we will not be a roadblock,” he told the board. “This is great news.”
He credited VHDC President Daniel Schiavone for “working very hard” to make the change in ownership of the abandoned homes to the VHDC – and ultimately their return to the tax rolls – possible.
He said the transfer of the properties to the VHDC, “has been a learning process for us… from time to time (the EPA) acquires property, we rarely buy homes and become landlords.”
DiMartino reviewed the agreement between the VHDC, the village, and the EPA to transfer the deeds of the eight properties located near the former Diaz Chemical site on Jackson Street. Buyers will have to provide documentation in the form of a receipt from a lead abatement contractor, that lead abatement is complete on the homes before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
The EPA provided the VHDC with a packet of information for each home – including appraisals and results of testing done by the EPA.
DiMartino said testing showed that no chemicals related to the Diaz release in 2002 were found in any of the eight homes.
“We spent time and money to try and link these items to Diaz,” DiMartino said of testing, but anything found was typical of what would be found in any home in a rural setting.
EPA officials and contractors were at the American Legion in Holley on Tuesday to answer questions of residents regarding soil and groundwater cleanup at the Diaz Chemical Superfund site.
DiMartino was in Holley Tuesday for a public availability session from 5 to 7 p.m. at the American Legion on Wright Street, regarding the next phase of cleanup at the Diaz Chemical Superfund Site.
The session was sparsely attended, but DiMartino told village leaders the site will now become a busy place as preparation for Phase I of in-situ thermal treatment (ISTT) of soil and groundwater gets underway.
“It’s going well,” DiMartino said of the process of site work. He called the Diaz chemicals that remain in the ground, “unusual and odd-ball…. we need to see how they react (to the thermal process).”
That means Phase I will cover only 10 percent of the overall site.
“It’s pretty aggressive technology,” he explained. “There is tight geology there, you can’t just pump it out.”
Phase I is expected to take about one year. Construction of the thermal treatment system will begin this summer with treatment operations beginning in December.
DiMartino said the ground will be heated to two different temps, “and we will see how the Diaz chemicals respond.”
Phase I is completely funded, he said. Phase II will not begin until after results from Phase I are known. The EPA will then have to design how Phase II will be carried out and complete the process of contracting and funding again.
He estimated the cost of Phase II work to be $30 million – a “ballpark figure.” Because of the cost, he said the EPA envisions “rolling funding” over the work of Phase II. Completing the process of cleaning-up contaminated soils could take several years, DiMartino indicated.
He described the thermal extraction process, which dries the chemicals out. They are then collected in vapor form, distilled, treated and then vented into the atmosphere.
“It is safe for residents,” DiMartino said.
Air monitoring will be done around the perimeter of the site during the process.
“Thermal has been done in many other sites,” he said. “It is a proven technology.”
DiMartino noted above ground cleanup is complete – buildings, drums and pipes with chemicals have been removed and the next phase of cleanup will focus on soil and groundwater. He said the groundwater plume for the site is not very long.
“We don’t anticipate volatilization into groundwater,” he said.
He also told village leaders the Diaz site will be kept mowed.
During the public availability session earlier in the evening, residents questioned how the use of electricity in the thermal process would affect their rates for Village of Holley Municipal Electric. DiMartino told Village Board members National Grid can provide power for the process.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 9 July 2017 at 9:01 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski
HOLLEY – Don Newcomb opened Holley’s summer concert series on Friday by performing many classic country tunes.
The concerts begin at 7 p.m. in the Canal Park and are held each Friday through August 25.
The concerts are funded by a Decentralization Program re-grant administered by GO ART!
A crowd enjoyed the music and peaceful setting at Holley’s canal park.
The Traveling Towpath Troubadours will perform at the park on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. as part of their celebration of the bicentennial of the start of construction of the Erie Canal.
