Photos by Tom Rivers: Cyclists on last summer’s Cycling the Erie Canal adventure stopped in Holley on July 14. About 600 cyclists traveled over eight days from Buffalo to Albany.

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley has been awarded a grant to enhance its canalway trail with bike racks, a repair and charging station, LED lighting, and an enclosed pavilion to support year-round community use, tourism and safety.

The grant was announced today by the NYS Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Holley is among 41 non-profit organizations and municipalities to receive 2026 NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Event Grants totaling $207,953.

The grants will support 11 tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements and 31 events along canal waterways and the Canalway Trail.

Grants range from $500 to $24,000 and will leverage an estimated $808,104 in additional support. Now in its fifth year, this grants program has invested approximately $1 million in amenity improvements and events to date.

Two events in Orleans County also were approved for funding:

• Semi-quincentennial Building Bricks Event on June 13 in Medina. The Village of Medina Tourism is planning the event to honor the nation’s 250th birthday at a one-day, all-ages event where participants build brick creations that represent America’s founding. Compete for age-based and creativity awards on the eve of Flag Day, where builders may even recreate the American flag in bricks.
• Erie Canal Artisan Festival from Aug. 28-30 in Holley. The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is planning the event as a celebration of heritage, creativity, and community spirit. Artisan vendors, live performances, cultural demonstrations, children’s activities, evening concerts, outdoor movies, and a Saturday 5k/10k canal-side run round out a weekend of fun.

New York State Canal Corporation Director Ben Walsh said, “As we begin our third century of operation, ensuring that New York’s canals can be enjoyed by everyone is a top priority. This grant program represents our commitment to supporting accessibility, as well as the corridor’s communities and nonprofits. This in turn ensures a Canalway that is a vibrant, accessible destination for both residents and visitors alike.”

Events ranging from large festivals to community celebrations to recreational activities invite people with and without disabilities to enjoy the Canalway Corridor all year long. Infrastructure and amenity grants will fund accessibility updates, trail enhancements, restroom renovations and interpretive signage, enhancing the visitor experience for years to come.

Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, said: “We’re proud to support these community events and improvement projects. When we work together, we make the Canalway Corridor a more welcoming place for everyone—offering more ways to enjoy the waterway and strengthening heritage tourism. I encourage everyone to check out the events and mark your calendars for the 2026 canal season.”

To see all the tourism infrastructure and events grants, click here.

The cyclists stopped for some refreshments by the gazebo at Holley’s Canal Park.

Photos courtesy of Orleans County Music Educators Association: The Junior High All-County Band, led by guest conductor Brendon Bardo, performed four selections in the Holley Middle-High School Auditorium on Saturday afternoon.

Press Release, Orleans County Music Educators Association

HOLLEY – This past Friday and Saturday, Holley Middle-High School hosted the first of two All-County Festivals that the Orleans County Music Educators Association will sponsor this winter.

This month’s festival featured the Elementary All-County Chorus, Jr. High All-County Band, and the Sr. High All-County Chorus. To participate, students from the five school districts in Orleans County are recommended by their music teachers, who then set up a meeting to select the ensembles who perform at the two All-County Festivals.

The students spend nearly 8 hours rehearsing on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning before giving a concert on Saturday afternoon. This festival featured three guest conductors, one for each of the performing ensembles.

Ms. Jean-Marie Carroll, 6th grade Choir and General Music Teacher from Bay Trail Middle School in the Penfield School District, was the guest conductor for the Elementary All-County Choir.

Ms. Carroll led students in a diverse selection of works including: I’m Seein’ Things at Night – Gilpin, I Will Dream of You, Doraji – Donnelly & Strid, The Dream Keeper – Dilworth, and We Will – Papoulis. The choir was made up of 91 fifth- and sixth-grade students from Orleans County.

Mr. Brendon Bardo, 7-12 Band Director at the Akron School District, served as the guest conductor for the Jr. High All-County Band. Mr. Bardo and the band worked up four selections: Spania – Shaffer, A Kind and Gentle Soul – Swearingen, High Intensity – Wilson, The Great Locomotive Chase – Smith. The band featured 78 students from grades 7 to 9 from Orleans County.

Mr. James DesJardins, Choral Teacher from Frontier Central Schools and published music composer with Carl Fischer Music and Boosey & Hawkes, was the guest conductor for the Sr. High All-County Chorus.

Mr. DesJardins programmed four selections, including his own work: The Word Was Good – Powell, Eve Novum – Gjielo, The Heavens Are Telling – Haydn, Sawubona – DesJardins. The choir assembled 67 students in grades 10 to 12 from all over Orleans County.

The next OCMEA All-County Festival will be hosted in Medina on March 6th and 7th, featuring the Elementary All-County Band, Jr. High All-County Chorus, and the Sr. High All-County Band.

OCMEA will also be hosting a brand new “Night of Jazz” at Lyndonville Central Schools on Friday, April 24th. The evening will feature performances by Jazz Ensembles from all five Orleans County Schools, a Junior-Senior “All Star” Jazz Band, and an OCMEA Staff Jazz Ensemble. Admission will be free, although a suggested donation for the OCMEA Scholarship Fund will gladly be accepted, and refreshments will be provided in conjunction with Music and Band Boosters from across the County.

The OCMEA Scholarship Fund is available to all student musicians in Orleans County who are pursuing extracurricular music opportunities such as music camps, private lessons, community theatre opportunities, and more.

Chelsea Campbell, 8, is fighting Acute Myeloid Leukemia

26 Shirts of Buffalo unveiled a new shirt design today showing a buffalo in the four seasons on Western New York. The shirt will be for sale the next two weeks and $8 from every sale will go to help Chelsea Campbell and her family.

BUFFALO – A company that makes creative T-shirts about the Buffalo Bills and Western New York has a new design out today with some of the proceeds going to an 8-year-old girl battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Provided photo: Chelsea Campbell, the daughter of Holley native JoAnnah Piedmonte, is in the hospital and being treated for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

26 Shirts has raised more than $2 million to assist families facing a health crisis. 26 Shirts unveils a design that is only available for two weeks. During that time, $8 from each shirt sale goes to a beneficiary.

26 Shirts is backing 8-year-old Chelsea Campbell with the proceeds from the sale of a shirt showing a buffalo during WNY’s four seasons of distinct weather. 26 Shirts also is pulling some merchandise out of its vault to help raise money for Chelsea and her family. Click here for more information.

Chelsea is the daughter of JoAnnah Piedmonte, a 1993 Holley graduate. The family lives in Buffalo. Chelsea, who has Down Syndrome, has two other siblings, carter and Chelsea’s twin, Charlotte.

The fundraiser will help take some financial pressure off Chelsea’s parents, JoAnnah and Twan, who need someone to provide care at home while the parents in the hospital, said Sam Zelent, a Holley school social worker and one of JoAnnah’s best friends.

Zelent also has started a GoFundMe for Chelsea and her family. Click here for more information.

“If you have ever had the privilege of knowing JoAnnah Piedmonte, you know she is the most caring and generous human being. Ever,” Zelent writes in the GoFundMe. “Now she, Twan, and her adorable family could use our help.”

Zelent shares how Chelsea was diagnosed with cancer, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, after going to the emergency room last June 6.

“Truly this is a ‘it takes a village’ moment,” Zelent said. “Every single dollar helps and the family is truly grateful for all the support.”

File photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from March 25, 2023 shows Fran Gaylord, president of the Holley Fire Department, presenting a president’s award to Kevin Dann for all of his assistance, including helping to organize the department’s roster on the computer. Gaylord has retired East Battalion Deputy Fire Coordinator and Dann has been appointed to the part-time position.

HOLLEY – With the retirement of Fran Gaylord as the deputy fire coordinator for the east battalion, a long-time leader of the Holley Fire Department/Murray Joint Fire District will be stepping into the position at the county level.

Kevin Dann, a past Holley fire chief, starts today as the deputy fire coordinator in the position at the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.

Dann of Holley has more than 25 years of experience in the fire service. He is currently the assistant fire chief for the Murray Fire District and works full-time as a firefighter/EMT in the Town of Greece. He also works part-time as a public safety dispatcher for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

“Deputy Coordinator Dann will be a great addition and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team,” the Orleans EMO announced on its Facebook page.

“I would also like to congratulate Fran Gaylord on his well deserved retirement after over 25 years of service and dedication to residents of Orleans County,” Justin Niederhofer, EMO director, said. “You will surely be missed but I’m sure we will still see you running a pump at the next fire.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Santa rides on a fire truck from Murray Joint Fire District on Sunday in annual pre-Christmas tradition from the Holley Volunteer Fire Department.

There were two trucks that gave Santa and Mrs. Claus a ride through the village, with kids having a chance to meet Saint Nick.

Santa was an enthusiastic greeter along the journey through the village.

Provided photos: Santa makes a stop and visits a family in Holley.

Santa and Mrs. Claus met with Kerri Neale to get his wish list.

Provided photo: The Holley Rotary Club organizes Wreaths Across America at Hillside Cemetery. Some of the volunteers are shown at a veterans’ memorial at the cemetery last year. The memorial includes five granite etched stones for the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard. The memorial has a pentagon-shaped concrete base and a 25-foot flagpole.

HOLLEY – There will be a Wreaths Across America ceremony for the third consecutive year on Saturday at Hillside Cemetery.

Volunteers will then place 300 wreaths at the graves of veterans. The effort is organized by the Holley Rotary Club with donations from the community and the Rotary Club. The wreaths are up from 250 last year, and 200 in the first year – 2023.

There will also be Wreaths Across America ceremonies at noon in Orleans County at Boxwood Cemetery in Medina, Mount Albion Cemetery in Albion, and Lynhaven Cemetery in Lyndonville.

MURRAY – Voters in the Murray Joint Fire District elected three fire commissioners on Tuesday: Scott Harrington, Jenna Amering and Shawn O’Mara.

The district also announced the fire operations officers for 2026. They were elected on Dec. 4.

• Fire Chief: Rick Cary
• Deputy Fire Chief: Pete Hendrickson
• Assistant Fire Chief: Kevin Dann
• Captains: Jeff Elsenheimer and Allan Smith
• Lieutenant: Chris Middleton
• Fire Police Captain: John Morriss
• Fire Police Lieutenant: Jerry Wagner

“These dedicated leaders will guide us through another year of service, safety and community commitment,” the fire district announced on Tuesday night.

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley held its annual tree lighting ceremony on Saturday. Diane Rietman sent in this photo she took from her apartment in the Holley Gardens, the former Holley High School.

This tree includes memory bulbs purchased in honor of Holley residents. Village officials wanted to separate this tree from the decorated trees in the Public Square. This year’s tree was donated by Cox Family Farm in Clarendon, which also donated last year’s tree.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Hartland Carriage offered rides through the Public Square and along the canal park trail.

Dale Jenks of Hartland Carriage in Gasport guides a pair of Percheron horses that pulled the carriage in Holley.

The rides were part of Christmas in Holley celebration that included other activities at the Murray-Holley Depot Museum, the Village Office and Community Free Library.

Hartland Carriage takes a group past Sam’s Diner in the Public Square.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – The Community Free Library has a Free Art Library outside the library at 86 Public Square. This is a project led by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Go Art! also has the free art libraries in Albion outside the Hoag Library and in Medina outside the Author’s Note book store.

At the free art library, people are encouraged to take an art book or art kit, leave an art book or art kit, and spread creativity.

The art libraries have been architecturally designed by Jeff Pasnik, and built and donated by members of the Carpenters Local Union 276. They are artistically painted by Jaylah Sherman.

The art library in Holley is done in a Pop Art style by Any Warhol with his famous painting of Marilyn Monroe and his tendency to do repeating prints.

GO Art! established the art library to make art supplies and resources more accessible to the community, fostering creativity and engagement in the arts. GO Art! wants the libraries includes art kits, coloring books and art books that are freely available for anyone to take and enjoy.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from Nov. 11, 2024, shows Sandy Shaw, retired director of the Community Free Library, and retired Holley Mayor John Kenney, who were both writing messages on Christmas cards to be given to veterans.

HOLLEY – The Community Free Library in Holley will again welcome residents on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, to create Christmas cards for veterans.

The library welcomes people to come in from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to write notes, decorate cards and stuff envelopes. There will be light refreshments available for those who stop by.

All the cards will be delivered by volunteers and staff to local veterans the first week in December, said Amanda Anderson, Community Free Library director.