Photos by Tom Rivers

HULBERTON – Jeff Gifaldi of Holley throws the bocce ball during today’s tournament in Hulberton. Gifaldi, 35, formed a team for the tournament for the first time and they won their first three games.

“It’s a blast,” Gifaldi said. “It’s a good bunch of people here.”

The Holley community embraced its Italian heritage with the annual St. Rocco’s Festival today. The festival features lots of Italian food, a bocce tournament, produce sales and other events to raise money for the St. Mary’s and St. Mark’s Parish for Holley and Kendall.

Rosemary Bower gets some Italian sausage ready for a customer. Popular Italian foods such as eggplant parmesan, meatball sandwiches, pasta fagioli, pizza and shells were served.

Dan Mawn works on some fried waffles that would then be covered in confectionary sugar.

Emilio Monti of Rochester reacts after rolling the bocce ball during a game today. Monti’s team won its first four matches. The team won the tournament last year. They practice twice a week at the Italian American Community Center in Rochester.

The festival included several games for children. Joey Camacho, 5, of Brockport tosses a ping pong ball towards a table of jars. His mother, Dana Swanger, cheers him on. If the ball made it in a jar, the child would win a goldfish.

Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – In the top photo, Mary DiBattisto races with her horse at the Orleans County Boots and Saddle Club arena at the corner of Hulberton and Powerline roads. DiBattisto, 13, of Greece has been a member of the club the past three years.

There were about a dozen participants in four barrel races this summer. The club wants to add members, including adults. In the past it has had 50 to 60 riders.

Faith Woody of Albion dodges the poles in a barrel race on Tuesday at Boots and Saddle.

The riders and their horses weaved between obstacles in the final barrel race of the season at the club. For many riders the race on Tuesday evening was a final tune-up for competition at the State Fair.

Riders at the club have been getting together since the late 1940s or early 1950s – no one is quite sure when it started. The club had four barrel races this year but would like to have more next year. The public is welcome to attend the events.

Shelly Daggs, vice president of the club, also sold slices of pizza on Tuesday. A dedicated group of volunteers keeps the club and the arena running. Besides events at the arena, the club also goes on trail rides.

For more information on Boots and Saddle, click here.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Genesee Valley Transportation parked a train on the tracks in Holley next to the Holley Cold Storage this evening as part of a training with about 50 firefighters, mostly from the eastern end of the county – the departments in Clarendon, Holley, Fancher-Hulberton-Murray and Kendall.

Firefighters and GVT partnered in the training after a May 19 accident in Hulberton when a pickup truck pulled in front of a train despite the flashing lights going off at the crossing.

Firefighters toured the train engine and its cars – a covered hopper, an open hopper, a tank car and a refrigerated box cars.

GVT operates the Falls Road Railroad, which runs 42 miles from Lockport to Brockport. The company typically runs trains on Tuesdays and Fridays. The only hazardous material it currently carries is ammonia nitrate for a fertilizer company in Middleport.

GVT shared phone numbers for company employees and detailed how the company keeps records for labels, positions of cars and other facts about the cargo.

Pete Hendrickson, the Holley fire chief, said incidents with trains are rare, but he pushed for firefighters to increase their understanding of the trains and improve their preparedness in case of an emergency.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – A resident is out with his dog for a walk on Thursday at the Holley’s Canal Park.

The village created the park in the late 1990s with some funds from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Canal Corridor Initiative. Gov. Andrew Cuomo was HUD secretary at the time and Holley decided to name the canalway trail in his honor in 2000.

Today’s weather is forecast for a high of 78 degrees with a slight chance of showers. On Saturday, it will reach 75 with a slight chance of a thunderstorm. It will be mostly sunny on Sunday with a high of 78, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

HOLLEY – With school tax bills soon to go out, Holley district residents can expect to see smaller tax bills. The Board of Education approved a tax levy on Monday that cuts taxes by 10.6 percent.

The school district in 2013-14 set a tax levy for $7,541,779. That will drop by $800,000 to $6,741,780 for the new school year.

“We are very happy to provide our residents with some tax relief and we are grateful for the support that our community has provided and continues to provide the district,” said Robert D’Angelo, the district superintendent.

Holley moved to cut taxes after a state comptroller’s report said the district had too much money in its reserves.

Mason Requa is charged with falsely reporting an incident

Mason Requa

HAMLIN – A Holley resident had law enforcement officers searching for several hours last night for perpetrators of a homicide in Hamlin, until Mason Requa admitted it was a hoax.

He told police he made up the story after he was late delivering a pizza and didn’t want to get fired.

Requa, 18, of Holley called 911 to report he witnessed a homicide at about 9 p.m. Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies, the U.S. Border Patrol and State Police searched the area for about four hours until Requa admitted the incident did not occur, Cpl. John Helfer of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office told reporters today.

Requa has been charged with falsely reporting an incident. He was arraigned in Hamlin Town Court and jailed in lieu of $1,000 cash or $2,500 bond.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MURRAY – Crews from Crane Hogan Structural Systems in Spencerport have ripped out the old bridge and are laying the groundwork for a new bridge over Sandy Creek on Hulberton Road. The total project will be $1,338,900, with the federal government paying 80 percent, the state 15 percent and the county 5 percent. The bridge is just south of Ridge Road in the Town of Murray.

Correction:

HOLLEY – Thursday’s article about Sen. Charles Schumer seeking more Superfund dollars to cleanup up contaminated sites, such as the former Diaz Chemical, included comments from Mayor John Kenney.

He said the village has been seeking more power allocations from National Grid. The additional power would help the village attract industry and also provide the electricity for a cleanup project at Diaz, he said. The EPA wants to heat contaminated soil to get rid of contaminants. But that could take 3 to 5 megawatts of power.

New York Power Authority determines the power allocations and so far hasn’t approved the added electricity for Holley.

“We don’t allocate power to municipal utilities,” said National Grid spokesman Steve Brady. “We are simply the delivery mechanism that gets them their power, but the power itself would have to come from either NYPA or the wholesale market.”

Photos by Tom Rivers – U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer met with local officials and the media today at the former Diaz Chemical site on Jackson Street in Holley. The EPA is planning a $14.5 million project to finish the clean up of the site, but the money isn’t available.

Editor’s note: This story was updated to say the village is seeking additional power from the New York Power Authority, and not National Grid.

HOLLEY – A $14.5 million project that would knock down the remaining buildings at the former Diaz Chemical site and also remove the soil of contaminants has been stalled.

The federal Superfund program doesn’t have the money to move the project forward. So the Holley community must continue to bear the burden of having the ruins of Diaz Chemical along a residential neighborhood.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is trying to direct money to the Superfund through a “Polluter’s Tax.” That tax expired, depriving the Environmental Protection Agency of money to get contaminated sites cleaned up.

Sen. Charles Schumer speaks in front of the former Diaz Chemical today. He is joined by from left: Holley Mayor John Kenney, Village Trustee Kevin Lynch, Village Trustee Skip Carpenter, and county legislators John DeFillipps and Ken DeRoller.

“The taxpayers can’t afford this in a small village,” Schumer said today in Holley while standing in front of the office building at the former Diaz. “It would bankrupt the village. That’s why the federal government has to step in.”

Diaz declared bankruptcy in 2003. The EPA has been the caretaker of the property since then and spent $12 million taking down some of the buildings and removing barrels, pipes and some contaminants.

But some buildings remain, as well as contaminated soil.

“A lot of work has been done but we haven’t crossed home plate,” Schumer said. “To have this site just sitting here adds salt to the wound.”

The remains of the plant are mostly fenced off from the public.

Diaz was the village’s largest private employer with about 60 workers before the company shut down. The company was a major taxpayer and user of water and sewer services.

The company had an accidental release in January 2002, and some chemicals landed on residential homes and yards. Eight homeowners moved out and didn’t come back.

The EPA took possession of those houses and had them cleaned, but they’ve sat empty and off the market for a decade. Holley Mayor John Kenney has pressed the EPA to put the houses up for sale.

The contaminated Diaz site has hurt the community of 1,800 residents, Kenney said.

“When you’re 1 square mile it doesn’t take much to create a blight,” he said.

Holley Mayor John Kenney wants to see the Diaz site cleaned up. He also wants eight houses feared contaminated by the former chemical plant to be put on the market.

Schumer said he would contact the EPA, trying to get the houses for sale soon. That would boost the village’s tax base and could bring more residents into the community.

Kenney said the town of Murray, Holley Central School and Orleans County also have taken tax hits because of the Diaz bankruptcy.

Reinstating the polluter’s tax would direct more than $1 billion annually into the Superfund and return contaminated sites to contributing properties, Schumer said.

“There may be no better example of a stalled cleanup than right here at Diaz in Holley,” he said.

The Diaz site could again be an asset for the community. The property is next to Holley Business Park and a railroad. It has access to water, sewer and the village’s low-cost municipal electric.

Kenney said he wants to see another company operating at the site someday soon.
But Schumer said that can only happen if the EPA has the funds to get the buildings down and the soil cleaned up.

“No one will come here because this site is contaminated,” he said.

The EPA’s first cleanup took out the more pressing concerns for the community – processing buildings and barrels of chemicals. But Schumer said the site is still dragging down Holley.

“This is not a health emergency but it’s an economic crisis,” he said.

Signs warn people to stay away from the former chemical plant, which was operated for about three decades in the village of Holley.

Part of the EPA’s proposed cleanup plan involves heating the soil to break down contaminants. The EPA could need 3 megawatts or more of electricity for the work, Kenney said.

Holley has the capacity on its system for the added power, but the New York Power Authority hasn’t approved the additional power allotment for the project. Schumer said he would get involved, insisting on the power allocation for the project, which Kenney said would stretch over 443 days.

He would like NYPA to make that power available after the cleanup is done so Holley could woo more companies. Schumer sees Holley as a draw given the low-cost power and close proximity to Rochester.

“Residents of Holley have waited far too long for this site to become viable again, and I will do everything in my power to get the funding the program needs so clean-up projects like the one at Diaz Chemical can get underway,” Schumer said.

Diaz operated out of a site that for 60 years was used by Duffy Motts.

Press release, Hospice of Orleans

HOLLEY – Rain can call off a game of golf, but not the spirit of generosity.

The 128 participants in Hospice of Orleans’ 18th Annual Golf Scramble got about halfway through their event on July 30 when lightning and heavy rain compelled organizers to call off the contest at Hickory Ridge Country Club.

Golfers made the most of the soggy situation by gathering at the party house, enjoying drinks, camaraderie, and bidding on baskets and other prizes. By the time dinner was served (a half-hour early) and awards were distributed (based on eight holes, not 18), the group had netted over $14,000 to help Hospice continue serving seriously and terminally ill residents of Orleans County.

Winning golfers were (pictured from left):

Men’s team and overall winners, score of 26: Matt Stawicki, Darryl Wenner, T.J. Sarratori and Alexx Christie.

Mixed team, score of 29: Gary and Mary Ann Liese, Kim and Stephen Gifaldi.

Women’s team, score of 30: Barb Budde, Sandy Renouf and Mary Guzik.

Major sponsors of the tournament were Christopher-Mitchell Funeral Homes, Dr. Thomas Madejski, Sanzo and Sons, and Don Davis Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Albion. Additional sponsors included Kast Farms, Wells Fargo Advisors-James Barrett, Western New York Energy, and 135 more.

“What impresses me most about this event and Hospice in general is the sheer number of people willing to say ‘yes’ to supporting what we do,” said Marsha Rivers, Development Director. “Our services are local, they are crucial, and they are deeply personal. Hospice of Orleans is truly about neighbors helping neighbors, and the golf tournament demonstrates that every year.”

Hospice has two upcoming events which are open for public and support and participation: The 2nd Annual Car Show hosted by Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Homes of Albion will take place on Sept. 13. And the Annual 5k Memory Run/Walk will be at Brown’s Berry Patch on Oct. 11.

Photos by Tom Rivers

CLARENDON – Orleans Hub likes to capture some of the local rural ambiance, including the stretches of dirt roads out in the country.

There is an unpaved road in Clarendon that runs from Upper Holley Road to Route 237. Brown Schoolhouse Road is a seasonal road like many of the dirt roads in Orleans. This one is also hilly.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MURRAY – The state Department of Transportation had crews out today working on Route 31 for several miles in Murray. The pavement has been removed and a new layer will be put down.

Provided photo

HOLLEY – The Holley Rotary Club was recently recognized by Rotary International and Rotary District 7090 for having the highest retention rate in D7090, which includes Rotary clubs in Western New York and Southern Ontario.

The Holley club lost no members during the 2013-2014 Rotary year. The club has held this distinction for two straight years. Pictured above (left to right) with the citations are Past President Robert Miller and current club President John Pedley.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MURRAY – Brad Fisher drives ‘Back N Black’ in the Heavy Super Stock class, juiced-up tractors with multiple engines. About 50 competitors vied in today’s Murray Tractor Pull on Groth Road, pulling a 40,000-pound sled along a dirt track. About 1,000 people attended the event, which is sanctioned by Empire State Pullers.

One of the spectators plugs his ears during the modified class, which had very loud tractors.

Lloyd Christ drives his Heavy Super Stock tractor, ‘It’s Only Money,’ into a trailer after competing today. Christ built the course for the tractor pulling event on Groth Road about 15 years ago.

His son Scott and grandson Travis both compete in tractor pulling.

Roy Metz and ‘Mid-Life Crisis’ roar down the track in Murray. This picture was taken through the window in the announcer’s stand.

John Duggan competes with ‘Road Runner’ in the modified class. He won the class on Sunday.

A spectator gets close to action to get a picture of the modified tractor.

Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company members Terry Miller, left, and Fire Chief Joe Morlino work in the concessions stand. Proceeds from the event are shared with FHM, the Holley Ambulance Squad and the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Holley.

Henry Everman of Avon helps his wife Sharon line up a modified tractor in today’s competition. Mrs. Everman finished second in the class. Her husband won the Heavy Super Stock class.

Dave Witkowski and ‘Smokin’ Joe’ get ready to race down the track, while leaving a trail of dark smoke.