By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 August 2016 at 7:37 pm
This photo which was widely shared on Facebook shows a hose for irrigation connected to a fire hydrant without a backflow prevention device by the hydrant. It shows a hydrant on Fancher Road in Murray.
(Editor’s note: This article was updated from the original to state the towns could face a $100 fine, although that likely would be waived once the towns assure the Health Department they are in compliance.)
ALBION – Two towns in Orleans County were sent violation notices last week for not having backflow prevention devices by a fire hydrant when farmers were using water for irrigation.
Carlton and Murray both allow farmers to use water from hydrants, just like most towns in an agricultural community. However, the Orleans County Health Department saw instances in the two towns where backflow devices were not by the hydrants.
It is the towns’ responsibility to ensure backflow devices are by the first point of connection, in these cases the fire hydrants, said Paul Pettit, public health director in Orleans County.
“It’s not the farmer or any other end user that are in violation,” Pettit said today. “It’s the towns that are responsible for the water districts.”
The towns could face a $100 fine by the Health Department. That fine likely would be dropped if the towns respond by next week and ensure the Health Department they are in compliance by not allowing hook-ups to the system without backflow devices by the hydrant, Pettit said.
Water with bacteria or contaminants from a hose could get in the main water system without a back flow device, he said. In the case of a fire where there could be a big draw or change in pressure in the water system, water from a hose could be pulled into the main waterlines if there isn’t a backflow device, possibly contaminating the public water supply, Pettit said.
The Health Department sent letters to all 10 towns, reminding them to use backflow devices by hydrants for outside users.
“We have a great working relationship with all of the towns,” Pettit said. “But we wanted to make sure they all are doing their due diligence to protect our water supply.”
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 30 August 2016 at 2:00 pm
Photo by Kristina Gabalski: One of the homes affected by a leak from Diaz Chemical sits on the northwest corner of the South Main Street/Jackson Street intersection. During Monday’s meeting of the Village of Holley Development Corporation, President Dan Schiavone said the home is appraised at $62,500 with lead clean-up is expected to cost $3,400.
HOLLEY – Members of the Village of Holley Development Corporation have given approval for VHDC President Dan Schiavone to sign an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency which would transfer ownership of the eight “Diaz homes” in the village from the EPA to the VHDC.
VHDC members met Monday evening at the Village Hall to discuss two significant changes in the agreement. The two parties have been at an impasse for nearly a year over terms regarding lead abatement.
“After months and months of not hearing (from the EPA),” Schiavone said the EPA now has told him they have been looking into situation and the latest agreement offered includes a 90 percent/10 percent split on the sale of the homes. That means 90 percent of the sale price goes to the EPA and only 10 percent goes to the VHDC.
Initially, the VHDC had hoped to receive much more on the home sales. A previous agreement had included a 50/50 split with the EPA.
“The 90/10 percent split is awful,” Schiavone said. “The LDC isn’t going to make any money for future projects.” He noted that fees and closing costs are not subject to the split.
“We thought we would have a nice chunk of change,” he said. “We will be lucky to get ($5,000-$7,000). That will not take us very far.”
He said the EPA explained that the 90/10 split is how the agency handles agreements between the federal and state governments. In the case of the Diaz homes, the VHDC is “acting on behalf of the state,” Schiavone said.
“The best we can get on the sales is 10 percent.”
The federal agency has been caretaker of the former Diaz site since the company declared bankruptcy in June 2003, following a chemical leak in the community on January 2002.
“We will grumble, but we will sign the MOA,” Schiavone said about the agreement. He recounted efforts the committee has made to come to a more favorable agreement including contacting Sen. Charles Schumer who assisted in their efforts.
Schiavone said the EPA is “anxious to get out of paying for the properties. They have been pinned down for code violations and have had about enough.”
But he said he feels the VHDC will not be able to make further progress with negotiations. The local LDC was formed to get the properties sold and back on the tax rolls.
“We need to get the project moving forward again,” Schiavone said.
On the lead abatement issue, the agreement requires lead clean-up completed by a certified contractor. Those who purchase the homes would be responsible for having the clean-up work completed. Documentation of certified clean-up must then be provided to the village code enforcement officer before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
Schiavone said the EPA will disclose its reports on contamination levels in the homes as well as the estimated cost of lead clean-up to prospective buyers. Schiavone said the EPA told him that once the agreement is signed, ownership of the properties would be ready for transfer in six weeks.
“In federal government talk that means three months,” Schiavone mused. The VHDC will also assume responsibility for maintenance of the properties as soon as the agreement is signed by all three parties involved – the VHDC, the Village of Holley and the EPA.
Those in attendance at Monday’s meeting, including Holley Mayor Brian Sorochty, discussed the possibility that the village could provide mowing for the properties. The agreement further stipulates that the EPA must approve of the final sale price of the homes.
VHDC member Krista Wiley expressed concern over the stipulation and requested Schiavone inquire if a time deadline could be placed on the EPA to respond to a written notice of a final sale price. She said she also worries that the VHDC might get stuck with the properties if the EPA “doesn’t agree with the price.”
“I think there is potential in all the properties,” Schiavone said. He agreed to discuss the possibility of setting a time limit for the EPA to respond the the sale price. Schiavone said the committee would meet again once the quit claim deeds are on the way.
“Then we will have to decide how to sell the homes,” he said. The committee has a real estate attorney to provide guidance and has discussed auction, RFPs, listing with a real estate agent, or a mix of methods as possibilities.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2016 at 6:23 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Last month’s golf tournament to benefit wounded veterans and their families raised $23,000, the most in the five years since Hickory Ridge Country Club started the event.
The proceeds go to the NY Warrior Alliance, an all-volunteer organization that provides financial support and basic essentials for wounded warriors and their caregivers.
Amy Tausch (left), president of the NY Warrior Alliance, accepts the check for $23,000 from Mac McNeil and Cindy Diehl of Hickory Ridge this morning.
McNeil served in the Army from 1956 to 1959. He works in the golf course’s pro shop and has been a dedicated tournament volunteer, securing numerous donations from businesses in Orleans and Monroe counties. He and other volunteers also set up outside Wal-Mart stores in Albion, Brockport and Greece, and collect donations from the public that go to the golf tournament total.
“I absolutely believe we should help vets who are wounded,” said McNeil of Hamlin.
Hickory Ridge has now hosted five golf tournaments for wounded warriors, and they have collectively raised $80,000. Diehl, co-owner of the golf course, said her staff willingly volunteer that day and even turn in tips for the cause.
The NY Warrior Alliance started as a ministry at Northfield Church in Pittsford. Tausch said the group supports veterans and their family members. She urged veterans and their family to reach out to the organization.
“Our goal is to continue to serve in New York,” she said.
For more information on the NY Warrior Alliance, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2016 at 4:40 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers A Holley fire truck and firefighter are near the scene of a gas leak on Thursday morning in the Village of Holley. Residents who signed up for the “Orleans Aware” notification system were told to shelter in place with their windows closed.
HOLLEY – On Thursday morning more than 500 people were sent notifications through their phones about a big gas leak in the Village of Holley.
The village residents were told to shelter in place, close their windows and not turn their electricity on or off. This was the first time Orleans County emergency management officials deployed the system while in the field.
Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management director, was in Holley, and called a colleague to post information on street closings and safety instructions for village residents. That was sent through the “Orleans Aware” app.
The county introduced that app on May 25. It includes information about hazardous weather, detours, evacuation routes, emergency shelters and the option for families to create their own disaster ready plan for their home.
Some Holley residents complained on the Orleans Hub Facebook page that there should be a robo-call emergency notification system because many didn’t know about the shelter in place message. Banker said Orleans Aware functions as a real-time notification system.
It just needs more people to sign up. Orleans and Genesee were the first two counties to introduce the mobile app on May 25. The county has used the app to send out notices about the Route 98 construction in Albion and Gaines, railroad crossing improvements, and other road projects.
For more information on Orleans Aware, click here and here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 August 2016 at 3:33 pm
HOLLEY –NYSEG employees work to repair a gas leak on a main at the corner of Van Buren and Jackson streets this morning.
Village residents have been given the all-clear to open windows after the gas leak. A 2-inch main was hit at the corner of Van Buren and Jackson streets after 7 this morning. Keeler Construction has been working to install a water main on Jackson Street near the former Diaz Chemical plant.
Crews from NYSEG arrived about 8:30 and had the gas line shut off around 9:30.
The company dug three holes – on Van Buren, Geddes and Jackson streets – to turn off the gas leading to the leak. This photo shows a closed off gas line on Van Buren Street.
Van Buren Street is closed to traffic while the gas line is repaired.
Firefighters from Holley, Kendall, Clarendon, Hamlin and Brockport took readings around the village. Although there was the smell of gas in the air, gas was only detected on Van Buren Street, said Harris Reed, Holley’s deputy fire chief.
Residents from two homes were evacuated due to high levels of gas detected on Van Buren, Reed said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 August 2016 at 12:26 pm
HOLLEY – Village residents are urged to stay indoors and close their windows due to a big gas leak this morning on Van Buren Street.
NYSEG is on scene trying to make a repair to a 2-inch line after it was hit by a contractor this morning.
Numerous firefighters are also at Holley taking gas readings.
Residents are urged to shelter in place, and to not turn phones or appliances on or off until the leak is repaired and the gas dissipates. Turning the devices on or off can trigger static in the lines, a dispatcher said this morning.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 August 2016 at 2:13 am
This photo has been shared on Facebook and claims to be proof that a farmer was stealing water from the Town of Murray. Murray officials said that isn’t true.
MURRAY – Town Supervisor John Morriss has seen the posts on social media that show a farm field being irrigated with water from a fire hose connected to a hydrant on Fancher Road.
The posts on Facebook ask if a farmer is stealing water.
“There are accusations being made against the Town of Murray,” Morriss said at tonight’s Association of Municipalities, which includes town, county and village officials in Orleans County. “Murray does not let farmers steal water.”
Lloyd Christ, a Murray town councilman, attended the Association of Municipalities meeting today. Christ is the one who connected the fire hose at the hydrant. Christ said the hose had a water meter in it, about 150 feet from the hydrant. The meter isn’t visible in the picture on Facebook because Christ said the meter, with a backflow device, was at the end of the hose.
That hose was then linked with steel piping for Christ’s irrigation equipment. He said he borrowed the fire hose from another farmer.
Murray officials said it is common practice for farmers to use water from hydrants during a drought. The farmers get meters from the Highway Department, and the water usage is measured and then billed.
Christ said he started irrigating about two weeks ago and did for a few days. He needed the water or he likely would have lost his cabbage crop. He was irrigating a field on Fancher Road near East Transit Church Road.
Many farmers will irrigate using water from canal, but Christ said his cabbage field was too far from the canal. Christ said it will cost him about $100 per acre to irrigate the field.
Paul Hendel, a town councilman, said Christ has been unfairly “smeared” with the posts on Facebook. The state police were called to investigate if water had been stolen, and Hendel said troopers found no wrongdoing.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 10 August 2016 at 6:17 pm
MURRAY – Those attending events at Holley Central School may soon see “No Parking” signs along Lynch Road near the entrance to the Middle School/High School.
Murray Town Board members Tuesday evening continued their discussion of on-road parking in the town and charged town attorney Jeff Martin with the task beginning the process of placing “No Parking” signs on the north side of Lynch Road outside the Middle School/High School and also at the Lynch Road/ Rt. 237 intersection.
Residents of Lynch Road have complained to the board regarding dozens of vehicles which typically park along the road during events at the school when the main parking lot off Lynch Road fills up. They expressed concerns over safety and cars which end up parked in their yards.
Murray Supervisor John Morriss reported that he and Councilman Paul Hendel recently met with Holley Village Board members regarding the issue. Most of the south side of Lynch Road is in the village.
Morriss said the Village Board was also expected to discuss the issue at its meeting Tuesday evening.
“Paul and I discussed it,” Morriss said of putting up ‘No Parking’ signs. “We felt that regardless of what the village wants to do, we want to do something to help the people” who live on Lynch Road.
“We need to try to do something,” Hendel said. “We’ve got to take the first step.”
Martin, the town attorney, advised that the town should be the enforcement agency regarding the parking ban and Code Enforcement/Zoning Officer Ron Vendetti said he would be able to enforce the restrictions.
Martin said he would prepare a draft for a workshop meeting planned for Sept. 7 and noted a public hearing would be needed in the process.
Lynch Road resident Doug Piedemonte thanked board members for looking into the situation. He reminded the board that there are 140 additional parking spaces on the Holley School campus near the old bus garage and said he felt people will begin parking there and things should then, “fall into place.”
Town Board members and Vendetti also discussed parking along roadways outside of businesses. Vendetti has asked that “No Parking” signs be placed outside the Murray Superette and Tuesday night added A & M Auto, which he said has had 33 violations since the June workshop meeting on the parking issue.
Vendetti noted that some businesses have “taken extraordinary measures” to direct customers to off-street parking. “If people want no signs, they must take matters into their own hands and police themselves,” he said. “We need to move ahead and fix the problem before somebody gets killed.”
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 2 August 2016 at 6:19 pm
Photos by Kristina Gabalski-Rochester Rhino Sean Totsch reads, Rhinos Who Play Soccer, during a special Summer Reading program Monday evening at the Holley Community Free Library. His teammate Jordan Becker joined him during the program.
HOLLEY – Two members of the 2016 Rochester Rhinos read stories, talked about soccer and ran through some drills with young patrons at the Holley Community Free Library on Monday evening.
The event was part of the “On Your Mark, Get Set…. Read!” Summer Reading Program, which this year stresses fitness, a healthy lifestyle and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Rhinos players Jordan Becker and Sean Totsch also signed team pictures and soccer balls for those attending.
Totsch read an appropriately titled children’s book – Rhinos Who Play Soccer by Julie Mammano. The illustrated book tells the story of rhinos (the animals, not the Rochester team) who play a spirited game as Team Rhino, but lose in the end.
“I’m not too happy that Team Rhino loses, but they were good sports,” Totsch said.
He added that in addition to golf, he enjoys reading in his spare time between soccer games.
Participants line up for a soccer drill with the pros.
Totsch and Becker use their heads to demonstrate some soccer moves.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 July 2016 at 6:13 pm
File Photo by Tom Rivers –The old Holley High School is being eyed by a developer for senior apartments. The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday agreed to forgive back taxes.
HOLLEY – Orleans County legislators on Wednesday forgave $75,421 in back taxes for the old Holley High School, hoping that tax relief can help a prospective developer revive the site and turn it into senior housing and offices.
Home Leasing, LLC, is eyeing the site for senior housing apartments as well as office space for the Village of Holley.
The former school at 1 Wright Street has been vacant for about two decades. The school was built in 1931 at the corner of routes 31 and 237. It is one of the most prominent buildings in Holley.
It was last used by Liftec Manufacturing, which went bankrupt. Liftec’s owner and his wife are both now deceased.
The site hasn’t generated local taxes since 2002. The county will often acquire buildings when taxes aren’t paid after several years, but the county hasn’t taken ownership of the former school because county officials didn’t want that liability on the county.
Local government leaders have been trying to find a solution for the building for many years. The site was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places, making the developer eligible for tax credits for 40 percent of the project’s rehabilitation costs.
“It’s going to be great for the east end of the county,” Legislator Lynne Johnson said in supporting the resolution to forgive the taxes.
Legislature Chairman David Callard said there is still a lot of work to do to make the project a reality.
“It’s still not a done deal,” he said. “It will be a wonderful project if it comes to fruition.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2016 at 6:09 pm
HOLLEY – Hickory Ridge Golf Course hosted its fifth annual “Honoring Heroes” Golf Tournament on Sunday. Cindy Diehl, co-owner of Hickory Ridge, welcomes a big crowd at dinner to the event, which raised money for the New York Warrior Alliance.
The first four golf tournaments events raised $57,000 to assist wounded American soldiers and their families.
The fund-raising totals have increased each year from $10,000 in 2012, $13,000 in 2013, $16,000 in 2014 to $18,000 last year. The total from yesterday isn’t available.
Lyndonville native David Bellavia, an Iraq War veteran with the U.S. Army, was keynote speaker during Sunday’s banquet at at golf tournament. Bellavia was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during the Second Battle of Fallujah. He wrote about his war experiences in House to House: An Epic Memoir of War.
Bellavia has been a leader in advocating for veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars through Vets for Freedom.
Bellavia said he is proud of Orleans County and how the community rallies around veterans, whether at the Hickory Ridge golf tournament, or standing in bitter cold weather to welcome home a fallen soldier. He noted the county has a long record of sacrifice. Nearly 500 people from Orleans died in the Civil War. Holley had the highest per capita death rate for young men who died serving in the Vietnam War.
The county continues to have young men and women sign up to serve in the military, Bellavia said, calling them “the best of their generation.”
Bellavia also praised the New York Warrior Alliance, the beneficiary of the golf tournament, for its work on behalf of injured veterans and their families. The VA is “overburdened,” Bellavia said, and NY Warrior Alliance helps fill some of the gaps.
Amy Tausch, president of the NY Warrior Alliance, shares some of the group’s outreach. NY Warrior Alliance started as a ministry at Northfield Church in Pittsford.
The all-volunteer alliance provides financial support and basic essentials for wounded warriors and their caregivers. Tausch and a group of volunteers each year take a mission trip to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and deliver supplies. Tausch noted that Carol Culhane of Albion is part of the annual trip and presents ornaments with her patriotic artwork to veterans.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 July 2016 at 6:02 pm
MURRAY – Faron Reding Sr. of Lawtons in Erie County competes in the light pro stock class during today’s Murray Tractor Pull. There were about 50 competitors in the tractor pulls, which started on Saturday.
Lloyd Christ developed the track and grounds on Groth Road, which has been hosting the “Fury in Murray” for more than 20 years.
These young fans watch Kirsten Voelpel of Newfane get ready to go in a light super stock tractor she calls “Farmer’s Daughter.” Voelpel, 24, has been pulling for five years. She was second in the light super stock with a pull of 345.9 feet.
The tractors have to pull a 40,000-pound sled along a dirt track.
The Farmer’s Daughter emits dark smoke as it heads down the track.
Stan Farone was among the volunteers in the concession stand. Proceeds from the Murray Tractor Pull are shared with the St. Mary’s Catholic Parish, Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company, and Holley Fire Department.
Skip Bartz cuts open a new bag of French fries at the concession stand.
About 600 fans watched the tractor pulling, including this group with close seats to the track.
Chris Jeffres of Wyoming, NY, competed in the semi division and had the biggest pull of the day at 380.4 feet.
Matt Darling of Strykersville drives “Forever Red,” a super farm tractor, as an exhibition pull this afternoon.
Adam Foss of Clarendon watches the action with his son Cian, 2, who covers his ears due to the noise.
HOLLEY – A vehicle hit a building at 81 State St. in Holley at about 8:30 this morning, causing some structural damage to the building and minor damage to the vehicle. The driver wasn’t injured.
Code enforcement assessed the damage and deemed a section of the building uninhabitable until the damaged area could be stabilized and further assessed.
Holley firefighters, including Fran Gaylord (pictured), responded to the scene as well as Holley police officers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 July 2016 at 3:15 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MURRAY – Firefighters from six local departments were at a brush fire this afternoon on Ridge Road in Murray, preventing the fire from destroying a house and spreading to a nearby wooded area.
This photo shows Joe Morlino of the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company at the front of a hose with Andrew Niederhofer, a Carlton firefighter.
Dave Smith, assistant chief for Fancher-Hulberton-Murray, said the homeowner at 15659 Ridge Rd. was burning debris when the fire spread to the grass and brush.
“It was right up to the back of the house and was close to a thicker field,” Smith said at the scene.
The brush fire scorched this field and was close to getting into a wooded area. Firefighters from FHM, Carlton, Barre, Kendall, Holley and Clarendon all responded to the scene.
Firefighters were able to keep the fire from damaging this house.
Barre firefighters Rich Barnard, left, and Jesse Babcock keep water on hot embers in the field.
The fire feasted on this pile of limbs in the backyard.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 July 2016 at 8:00 am
HOLLEY – The village of Holley has been home to a bank for at least 150 years, but that will change in October when the First Niagara site at 51 Public Square closes.
First Niagara notified some of its customers today by mail that the branch will close on Friday, Oct. 7. The bank steered customers to the closest First Niagara branch at 4707 Lake Rd., Brockport.
“Your accounts will automatically transfer to the Brockport Branch where you’ll be able to take care of your banking needs with the same ease and personal service you’ve come to expect,” said a letter to customers from Mark R. Rendulic, executive vice president for consumer financial services for First Niagara.
First Niagara is being acquired by Key Bank. The news of the Holley closure disappointed many in the community, including former Mayor John Kenney.
“I’m totally caught off guard,” Kenney said today.
He was Holley’s mayor up until June 30. He didn’t seek re-election last month. Kenney said he met with bank officials in Holley last month and they told him they expected the Holley site would remain open.
Kenney said it will leave a big vacant building in the heart of downtown, and also be inconvenient to residents, businesses and the village government officials, who have the added burden of traveling to sites in Brockport or Albion if they stay with First Niagara/Key Bank.
“The staff in Holley they have a rapport with their customers,” Kenney said. “We’re an older community and change like this isn’t easy for people to deal with.”
Dan Schiavone, a Holley dentist, received one of the letters from First Niagara today, notifying him of the bank’s shutdown. He is hopeful another bank will acquire the site so the site is utilized and the community has easy access to banking services.
