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.

HOLLEY – A man who was on the loose for nearly six hours was finally arrested after he was discovered hiding in a hollowed out couch in an abandoned house this evening.

David Diaz, 31, of 25 Mechanic St. was the subject of a manhunt from about 12:30 p.m. until he was located at 6:30 p.m. at a house next door at 27 Mechanic St.

Diaz was charged with resisting arrest and escape in the third degree, Holley police officer David Nenni said.

Diaz will be turned over to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department. He is wanted on a probation violation and could face additional charges.

Holley police knocked on Diaz’s door at 10 a.m. when police were investigating a fraud case through the Department of Social Services, Nenni said. Diaz took off through the back door and was caught after a foot chase, Nenni said.

Diaz was taken to the Holley police station but was released. However, the Monroe County Probation Department then called to say Diaz was wanted on the Probation violation.

He was brought back to the station and told Holley police officers he had to go to the bathroom, Nenni said. Diaz claimed the water wasn’t working in the bathroom. While a Holley police officer checked, Diaz then fled the police station at about 12:30 p.m.

Holley police officers, the State Police, Albion Police, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department and Niagara County K-9 were all in the village, trying to locate Diaz. A police helicopter also were brought in, Nenni said.

At about 6:30 p.m. Diaz was located by three Holley police officers – Nenni, Robert Barton and Skip Christ. Diaz was hiding inside a couch.

Photos by Sue Cook – Kay and “Wild” Bill McDonald sing together while “Mild” Bill Pitcher plays guitar in the background during “Sweet Caroline.”

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

HOLLEY – The Holley Canal Park concert series kicked off last night to the country music of The Ghost Riders. They played hit numbers such as “Goodnight, Irene” and “Folsome Prison Blues.”

The band played near the water’s edge along the Erie Canal near the lift bridge. The audience of almost 100 stretched back along the canal bank.

The free concerts will take place every Friday night at 7 p.m. at the park gazebo on East Avenue until Aug. 15. In the event of rain, the event will be moved to Fireman’s Field on North Main Street.

A few people got up to dance during some numbers. The event is hosted by the Village of Holley. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. Concessions will be sold during the event.

The full moon rose in the sky over the concert.

The upcoming schedule includes:

July 18: Don Newcomb Band (classic rock)
July 25: The Who Dats (classic rock)
Aug. 1: Justin Crossett Band (blues)
Aug. 8: Triple Play (various)
Aug. 15: Wayward Wynd (country)

For more information, contact the Village of Holley office at 585-638-6367.

HOLLEY – The seven-member Board of Education in Holley re-elected Brenda Swanger as its president. She first took the reins as president a year ago, the first change in the board’s leadership in a decade after John Heise served as president.

Heise took a year break from the board and was elected to a new term in May. He took office last week, replacing Norm Knight, who didn’t seek re-election.

Swanger has served 10 years on the board. She works as a real estate agent and for the town of Clarendon in accounts payable, water billing and with the budget.

The board also re-elected Kellie Spychalski as vice president.

The board in recent years has been busy working on a $27 million capitol project that revamped the junior-senior high school, athletic fields, the bus garage and made other improvements. The project is now complete.