Facebook

Holley/Murray

Holley performing Godspell as spring school musical season gets underway

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 March 2019 at 10:32 pm

Jesus is a Yankees fan, while Judas favors the Red Sox in Holley’s show

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Matt Skehan, a senior at Holley, has the lead role of Jesus in the school’s performance of Godspell. He is shown during a rehearsal today.

Skehan suffered a fractured growth plate in his wrist during a basketball game about a month ago. The injury hasn’t kept him off the stage.

Skehan said the lead roles had to learn long lines, more so than in other shows, and they needed to be in sync with each other on stage to get the comedic timing down.

He has been in the musicals since seventh grade.

“There’s not a day it isn’t joyful,” Skehan said about the musicals. “It’s like one big family. Everybody cares for everyone.”

Holley will perform the show for the community at 7 p.m. Friday, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Middle/High School Auditorium. Tickets can be ordered online by clicking here.

Callie Updike plays Judas, a disciple who betrays Jesus.

“He deals with the emotional turmoil of betraying a trusted friend,” Callie said about her character. “It just rips you apart.”

Dan Burke is the director of the show. Burke, a science teacher at the school, also is the varsity baseball coach and a New York Yankees fan. Burke has Jesus wearing a Yankees shirt, while Judas wears the jersey for the archrival Red Sox.

Burke likes that the show allows the kids to have personalities and express themselves (and gives the director some leeway in the costumes).

There are 50 students in the cast, plus another 20 behind the scenes.

Burke has wanted to do Godspell for many years, and believes he has the right cast for the show this year.

“Godspell is a very difficult show to do,” he said. “There is timing and the actors have to tell stories on stage. It’s a powerful message.”

Mike Stoll plays John the Baptist and sings, “Prepare Ye The Way of the Lord.” Stoll enters the auditorium from the back of the room and walks down one of the aisles, turning to face the crowd. He then baptizes cast members on stage.

There are many high-energy songs and dances in the show. Allyson Skehan, left, and Lexianne Seewagen are among the cast members.

Matt Skehan as Jesus shares one of the parables from the Bible. Jesus urges kindness, tolerance and love.

Burke said the musical brings people from many backgrounds together in the school.

“If you want to get rid of bullying in schools, make them do musicals,” he said.

Adrianna Kruger stars as Robin and sings, “Day by Day.” Many of the cast members get solos in Godspell.

Tickets for the shows can be ordered online by clicking here or by going to the MS/HS main office.

You’re here checking the site, so you know: Orleans Hub is a vital resource for our community. Day in and day out, we share information and insights that matter to those who live and work in the towns, villages and hamlets of our county. Local advertisers help make the Hub possible, and so can you.

Donate today to keep Orleans Hub healthy and accessible to all. Thank you!

Nearly 300 students perform in All-County Music Fest

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 March 2019 at 5:22 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – A group of elementary students sing during today’s All-County Music Festival. There were nearly 300 students who performed in this afternoon’s music festival at Holley. The event was organized by the Orleans County Music Educators’ Association.

Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina all had students performing in the festival, which included 111 students in the elementary chorus, 75 in the middle school band, and 103 in the high school chorus.

Michael Conte, an instrumental music teacher at Williamsville North High School, leads the middle school band.

Sophia Cardone of Medina sings a solo during “How Can I Keep From Singing,” one of four songs performed by the high school chorus during today’s All-County Music Festival.

Zach Busch, a band teacher at Holley, welcomes the crowd to the musical festival and introduces Michael Conte, the guest conductor for the middle school band.

Elementary students were led by Shana Kohler, a choral director and music teacher at Hilton. The students sang four songs, “The Tailor of Gloucester,” “Al Shlosha D’Varium,” “To Music” and “Kokoleoko.”

Shana Kohler, the guest conductor, was high energy in leading the elementary students.

Daniel Reisdorf, a music teacher at Pembroke, leads the high school chorus. The group sang “And the Glory of the Lord,” “How Can I Keep from Singing,” “Indodana” and “Swinging with the Saints.”

The high school chorus performs in the Holley school auditorium. There are two All-County Music Festivals each year in Orleans County. The concert last month included the elementary band, middle school chorus and high school band.

The middle school band performed “Rough Riders,” “Morning Reflection,” “Overture for the Winds” and “Shackelford Banks.”

Return to top

Holley Rotary serves up 225 spaghetti dinners

Staff Reports Posted 24 February 2019 at 3:35 pm

Photos courtesy of Holley Rotary Club

HOLLEY – These members of the Holley Interact Club at the school helped the Holley Rotary Club serve 225 spaghetti dinners on Saturday evening at the VFW.

The proceeds each year are used to support local families in need because of illness, death or disaster. The club gave $1,000 each to two families. One was to help with immediate expenses when a husband/father died suddenly. The other was to a local family with a child fighting cancer.

The VFW was a busy place for the dinner. There were 14 members of the Interact Club helping the Rotary Club with the event. The Interact Club also receives a small percentage of the proceeds.

Holley Rotary Club member Jeff Martin works in the kitchen, ready to serve spaghetti.

Return to top

Holley teen fighting leukemia honored as altar server of the year

Photos courtesy of Emily Kwiatkowski: Evan Valentine, left, is pictured with Bishop Richard Malone and Carter Neumann, another altar server at the St. Mary’s & St. Mark’s Parish. Valentine on Saturday was recognized as altar server of the year for the parish. Neumann won the award the previous year.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 February 2019 at 5:36 pm

Evan Valentine is pictured at St. Joseph’s Cathedral on Franklin Street in Buffalo with his parents, Diane and Neil Valentine.

HOLLEY – Evan Valentine was honored on Saturday as altar server of the year for the St. Mary’s & St. Mark’s Parish.

Evan, 16, has been an altar server since he was 8. He is a role model for the youth and the adults in the parish, said Emily Kwiatkowski, pastoral associate for the parish.

“Evan is such a good kid,” she said today. “He is always smiling, even during his recent challenges.”

Evan was diagnosed with leukemia on Oct. 20. He has completed three rounds of chemotherapy, and soon starts a fourth and final round.

He hasn’t complained about the chemo and has stayed strong in his faith, Kwiatkowski said.

She nominated him for the altar server award last year, before he was diagnosed with leukemia.

He was recognized by the Buffalo Catholic Diocese during an awards program on Saturday at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

Evan helps train younger altar servers. He also shows up early and stays late getting the vessels and candles ready for Mass and then picking up after the service. He is looking forward to resuming the role once his chemotherapy is over.

“He is always willing to help serve wherever needed,” Kwiatkowski said.

Return to top

Cory returns as Holley principal on Monday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 February 2019 at 12:29 pm

Dan Monacelli praised for serving in interim role at school last 3 months

Photo from Holley Central School: Dan Monacelli is shown on Friday with a cake on his last day as interim principal for the Holley Junior-Senior High School.

HOLLEY – Dan Monacelli’s interim role as principal for the Holley Junior-Senior High School ended on Friday after nearly three months.

Monacelli, a retired Albion principal, filled for Holley while Susan Cory was on a personal leave of absence. She will be back at the school on Monday.

“The kids loved him,” said Brenda Swanger, the Board of Education principal. “He did a great job. He’s a great guy who is so full of life.”

Monacelli, an Albion native, retired from Albion in June 2017. He started his teaching career in Elba, and returned to Albion as a Correction Room specialist. Then he taught health before getting into administration at Pembroke and the Niagara Academy. He was hired as high school principal at Albion in 2007 and then moved over to lead the middle school.

“We’re very thankful he was willing to fill in for us,” Swanger said.

Return to top

Competing at Westminster, ‘dream come true’ for Holley senior, 17

Photos by Annette Mrzywka: Nicole Mrzywka and Hughie, her English Springer Spaniel, are pictured after competing at the Westminster Dog Show. Mrzywka made it to the final eight in the junior showmanship competition.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 February 2019 at 10:01 am

Nicole Mrzywka advanced to final 8 out of 102 in junior showmanship competition

NEW YORK – A Holley High School senior who competed at the Westminster Dog Show is calling the experience, “a dream come true.”

Nicole Mrzywka, 17, has been showing dogs since she was 9, starting with the Orleans County 4-H program. On Tuesday she was on the biggest stage for dog shows, the prestigious Westminster event that is broadcast on television.

Nicole qualified to be one of 102 youths in the junior showmanship competition. She needed to win seven American Kennel Club sanctioned events to qualify.

The 102 youths in the competition were separated into groups of four with about 25 in each group. The top two from each group advanced to the finals.

Nicole was picked for that exclusive group – the final eight. She and Hughie, her English Springer Spaniel, were able to compete in the main ring at Madison Square Garden. She received a $500 scholarship for making it to the finals.

Nicole Mrzywka and Hughie compete at the Westminster Kennel Club’s Dog Show on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

She was judged on how well she presented her dog in confirmation how Hughie meets the standards of the breed.

“It’s all about smoothness and how you react with your dog and how you handle it if he acts up,” Nicole said by phone this morning.

She has competed at big dog shows before in Philadelphia and in Florida at the national championship for the American Kennel Club. The Westminster show is considered the Super Bowl of dog shows, she said.

She expects to be back next year in her final year as a junior. She has already won six events this year and only needs one more to qualify for Westminster in 2020.

Nicole said she is grateful for the friendships she has made at the dog shows, from the local 4-H club to the bigger national events.

“Getting into the dog show world, you meet so many people who really become a second family,” she said.

The Holley senior wants to be an elementary school teacher. She is planning to major in early childhood education in college.

Two benefits of being a teacher: “I’d get weekends and summers off for dog shows,” Nicole said.

Return to top

Holley senior, 17, competing at prestigious Westminster Dog Show

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2019 at 5:20 pm

Photo by Annette Mrzywka: Nicole Mrzywka rides the subway with her English Springer Spaniel this afternoon. They will be in the showring at 7 p.m. at the Westminster Dog Show.

NEW YORK – A Holley High School senior is competing with her dog at one of the most prestigious dog shows.

Nicole Mrzywka, 17, advanced this morning to the finals of the junior showmanship competition at the Westminster Kennel Club. She will be back in the show ring 7 p.m. today at Madison Square Garden. She is wearing arm band No. 63.

Nicole is showing Hughie, an English Springer Spaniel. The competition can be viewed on the Westminster Kennel Club app.

“It’s always a big thing when someone from Orleans County competes on the national stage, and not only competes but excels,” said Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County.

He has known Nicole for about a decade. She is a member of the Orleans County 4-H Heelers Dog Cub.

Batt said Nicole is well regarded for her skills in showing dogs.

“It’s her dedication and her practice,” he said, explaining why she is so successful.

Nicole last July was named queen of the Orleans County 4-H Fair. She shows more than dogs. The past four years she has been the reserve champion in the grand master showman competition, which features the top showman in several breeds of livestock.

At Holley, she plays on the volleyball team and was a Genesee-Region league all-star this past season.

Return to top

Holley, Kendall plan to take the Polar Plunge on Sunday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 February 2019 at 12:06 pm

Photo from Holley Central School: A polar bear mascot tries to rally support for a team from Holley, including students, staff and superintendent Brian Bartalo. Holley has raised $1,295 so far towards its goal of $2,000.

Holley and Kendall schools are both sending groups to the Polar Plunge this Sunday in Lake Ontario. They will be at Ontario Beach Park in Charlotte at noon to jump into the cold water.

Holley and Kendall have participated in the Plunge for several years. The event typically raises more than $200,000 for the Special Olympics.

Holley and Kendall are both trying to raise $2,000 for the Special Olympics. Kendall has raised $550 so far towards its goal. (Click here for more on Kendall’s fundraising page.) Holley is up to $1,295. (Click here for more on Holley’s fundraising page.)

Last year Holley students and their teacher and Student Council Advisor Jim Di Sessa raised just under $1,100. That passed the group’s fundraising goal of $1,000. Holley has doubled its goal this year.

Last year Kendall raised $1,875 at the Polar Plunge.

File photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from Feb. 12, 2017 shows a group of people jumping into Lake Ontario for the Polar Plunge in Charlotte at Ontario Beach Park.

Return to top

Veterans, Holley church remember 4 chaplains who sacrificed lives in WWII

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Veterans from Orleans County fill the front pews of the First Baptist Church of Holley on Sunday, where they participated in a memorial service honoring four chaplains who died at sea during World War II. The chaplains are remembered for giving up their life vests, locking arms and praying together as their ship sank.

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 4 February 2019 at 10:19 am

Chuck Eberhardt tells the story of Rabbi Alexander D. Goode during the Four Chaplains service Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Holley.

HOLLEY – The legend of the Four Chaplains, while tragic, is one which has gone down in history.

Each year on Feb. 3, it has become customary in churches throughout the country, including the First Baptist Church of Holley, to present a service honoring the four chaplains of four different faiths who gave their lives to save four other sailors during World War II.

The service in Orleans County was started by Larry Montello of Albion, who learned about it in 2007 from a lady he met after moving here from the Adirondacks. He has organized a service, with help from the American Legion, VFW and Legion Auxiliary ever since.

The first service was at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion, and Montello moved it to various other churches, but for the last four years, it has taken place at the First Baptist Church of Holley.

The four chaplains were Clark V. Poling, a Baptist minister; John P. Washington, a Catholic priest; George L. Fox, a Methodist minister; and Alexander D. Goode, a Rabbi.

During World War II, they were all assigned to the USAT Dorchester.

In the early morning of Feb. 3, 1943 while sailing through the icy waters of the North Atlantic from Boston to Greenland, their ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat.

The chaplains got on deck and started handing out life vests. When all were handed out and there were still many men without any, the chaplains took theirs off and gave them to four sailors.

Larry Montello, right, reads a certificate of appreciation before he, Cathy Fox, president of the Orleans County American Legion Auxiliary; and Steve Johnson, County Legion commander (in cap), present it to Elder Todd Thomas (next to Fox) and pastor Joe Willis with the First Baptist Church.

Ron Ayrault of Holley plays Taps at the conclusion of the Four Chaplains service.

As the ship sank, the chaplains locked arms and prayed and sang in their own religions. Each was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross.

Participating in Sunday’s service were members of the American Legion in Medina, Albion and Lyndonville; VFW in Medina and Holley; Orleans County Legion Auxiliary; and Orleans County Pfc. Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer program, which provided refreshments.

Also in attendance was American Legion vice commander of Gasport, Dan Fuller and his wife Susan.

Veterans formed an honor guard, while several others read the life histories of each chaplain, followed by laying a rose by each chaplain’s picture and lighting a candle in his memory.

Readings were given by Steve Goodrich, Clark V. Poling; Earl Schmidt, John. P. Washington; Ron Ayrault, George L. Fox; and Chuck Eberhardt, Alexander D. Goode.

Steve Johnson with the American Legion in Medina explained the service, saying an act of Congress in 1988 proclaimed Feb. 3 annually as Four Chaplains Day.

There were 902 men aboard the USAT Dorchester; only 230 survived.

Todd Thomas, an elder at the First Baptist Church, spoke on the sacrifice made by the four chaplains and how they willingly gave their lives.

Larry Montello, left, gives instructions to Legion and VFW members who formed the honor guard for Sunday’s Four Chaplains service at the First Baptist Church of Holley. Lined up are Glenn Whitmore, American Legion commander in Medina; Dave Kusmierczak, a member of Medina VFW; John Pera, commander of Holley American Legion; and Fred Heschke of Medina, member of the VFW.

Ron Ayrault salutes the American flag after lighting a candle in honor of George L. Fox during the Four Chaplains service.

Earl Schmidt, director of Orleans County Veterans’ Services, shares the story of John P. Washington, a Catholic priest and one of four chaplains who died in World War II when their ship was sunk by the Germans.

Return to top

Holley school superintendent gives rationale for keeping school open today

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 January 2019 at 12:50 pm

HOLLEY – Many school districts closed today in Western New York, including Albion, Medina and Lyndonville in Orleans County. Holley and Kendall both stayed open. (Kendall has cancelled all afternoon and evening activities at the school today.)

(UPDATED at 2:36 p.m.: Holley has also cancelled after-school activities today and school on Thursday.)

Brian Bartalo, Holley’s Superintendent of Schools, posted on the district website his rationale for keeping school open today. Here is his explanation:

“I want to assure you that the decision to close school is taken very seriously and with the safety of all in mind. If any one reason, or combination of them, suggests that we should close school, I will do so.

“Here are some of the factors I consider when deciding to keep the district open or closed based on weather conditions: visibility, road conditions, temperatures (including wind chill), and the pending forecast. I consult with a number of people inside and outside of our district and monitor these factors continuously. I also make sure the heat in all our buildings is functioning and busses are able to run. Once I’ve been assured we are within a safe range to open, school remains open.

“Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower issued a ‘travel advisory’ for today (Jan. 30), not a ‘ban,’ based on the weather conditions in the western parts of Orleans County. If there had been a travel ban declared, we would be closed.

“Some area districts elected to close today, due to a high number of students who walk to school. All our students have the opportunity to be transported to school. While we have some that chose to walk to school, they can all board a district bus to get to and from school. Most of our students are picked up at their home (driveway). At dismissal time, no students are “out waiting” for a bus. They are picked up right near our buildings and then let out to go directly into their homes.

“School is an important place for our students to be. I want them to know and understand that. Some students are warmer and have more nutritious meals in school. Some parents can’t provide adequate supervision at home when we close and they have to go to work. Some parents have to choose to miss work and forfeit pay if they have to stay home to provide care for their children on emergency closing days.

“In the end, my decision is to do what’s best for our students, staff and community.

“If weather conditions worsen, I will get the message out ASAP if we need to cancel any activities or close school.”