Press release, Holley Central School

HOLLEY – Teachers from Holley today will be ducking from flying tins of whipped cream and wiping their brows in a pie-throwing contest, all to help raise money for Camp Good Days and Special Times.

The event is being organized by Holley 8th graders and will feature 15 teachers and administrators who are willing to take a little ‘pie in the eye’ for a good cause. Students will be able to take their turn at throwing a pie for a dollar a try between 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. This event is one of many fun, outdoor activities that are scheduled to take place today as part of the school’s annual, end-of-the-year Academic Field Day celebration.

Hundreds of dollars in donations for the contest have already been collected for the cause and Camp Good Days representatives have been invited to attend.

Last month, the Camp’s Branchport location on Keuka Lake was damaged by heavy flooding and costly repairs threatened to delay its season opening. Around that time, students in Holley English teacher Suzanne Lepkowski’s class (as well as other eighth graders) were reading a book called The Acorn People by Ron Jones. The book tells a story about a camp counselor who becomes inspired by the people at his camp who are facing unimaginable physical hardships.

“The book resonated with students in a meaningful way,” said Lepkowski. “So, when students heard about the flooding at Camp Good Days and Special Times, they wanted to do something to help and teachers were quick to support the effort.”

Hundreds join in parade through community

Provided photos from Holley Central School

HOLLEY – Holley Elementary School students marched from the school to the Holley Depot near the Public Square this morning in the 57th annual Flag Day celebration.

The event included the presentation of citizenship awards and the singing of patriotic songs. About 500 students joined in the event.

HOLLEY – The Holley community will continue a 57-year tradition on Friday morning when students, Scouts, firefighters and other community members parade from the Holley Elementary School to the Holley Depot next to Save-A-Lot.The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. at the elementary school. Students, the Military Support Group, Scouts, Student Council members, Good Citizenship award winners and Holley fire trucks will then head to the Holley Depot for a community ceremony.

Photos by Sue Cook – During a duet, Lexi Seewagen and Kory Puente sing “All of Me” by John Legend to each other.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

HOLLEY – Once the tents and vendors were packed up at the June Fest in Holley, the festivities moved to the soccer field for karaoke performances by students of the community. The event was sponsored by First Niagara.

The judges were Mayor John Kenney, Roxane Gifaldi, Sue Rowcliff and Hannah Bock.

Passenger’s “Let Her Go” was fifth-grader Shashona MacPhee’s song selection. She won in the Elementary Idol category.

Students from grades 1-6 and 7-12 were separated into two categories and were given an opportunity to perform. Duets were separated into a third category.

Senior Emily Kordovich used her guitar to serenade the crowd during her category winning performance of Paramore’s “The Only Exception.”

Eighth-grader Abrianna Kruger sang “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus.

Hanna Waterman and Nina Dilella performed “What is this Feeling?” from the musical “Wicked” while Nina’s father records them with his phone. The pair won in the duet category.

The crowd watches eighth-grader Lindsey Allen as she sings “Automatic” by Miranda Lambert.

Here is a lineup of all the event’s singers. The participants all received medals at the end of the ceremony and the category winners were given awards.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Three sisters from Hamlin race towards the finish line in the annual Jim Ferris Memorial 5-kilometer on Saturday.

Julia Cammilleri, 15, finished in 31:42, a second ahead of her sisters: Lydia, 11, and Nicolea, 9. The sisters all attend the Old Paths Bible Baptist Church in Clarendon where their father Joe is the pastor. He also ran Saturday’s race, as did many Old Paths members.

The race included 101 runners and $1,800 in prize money given to overall winners and the fastest in different age groups.

Mike Nier of Rochester led the men with a time of 17:19, while Sarah Loerch of Rochester was the fastest woman with a time of 18:12.

The race is named in honor of Jim Ferris, a late Holley resident who was one of the top runners in the region.

Jack Richardson, a retired pastor from West Barre, collects a medal as the top runner in the 80 and older category. Richardson, 81, completed the course in 43:07. He is congratulaed by Sandy Heise, the race director.

Holley-Murray celebrate annual June Fest

Photos by Tom Rivers – Holley Boy Scouts toss candy from their float as part of this morning’s parade down East Avenue.

HOLLEY – The village of Holley was alive with the sound of music this morning during the Holley-Murray June Fest Parade.

Several marching bands performed including the combined Holley-Kendall Marching Band, which is now in its second season as a partnership between the two school districts.

Members of the Holley-Kendall Marching Band perform in the parade.

Jonathan Trembley and the drum line of the Albion Marching Band perform down East Avenue in Holley.

Sarah Graham and the Albion Marching Band perform “Heartbeats” in the parade at Holley. The band has won several first place awards in recent band competitions.

A Holley fire truck makes its way down East Avenue.

Members of the Kendall Fire Department march in front of fire trucks from the department.

Kim Corcoran and the Lawn Chair Ladies from Kendall delighted the crowd. The Lawn Chair Ladies will perform again at 7 p.m. tonight as part of a free Drum & Bugle Corp Show at the Woodlands soccer field.

The award winning Holley High School chorus will open the show followed by the Lawn Chair Ladies. The evening’s entertainment continues with the Kendall-Holley marching band, the Hit Men Brass Band, Ghost Riders Mini Corps, Mighty St. Joe’s and finally the Hamburg Kingsmen.

The evening concludes with a fireworks display by Young Explosives Inc.

File photo by Tom Rivers – The Lawn Chair Ladies, shown here last July at the Kendall Firemen’s Carnival, will be part of June Fest in Holley.

Press release, Village of Holley

HOLLEY – The annual festival season will kick off on Saturday with the 6^th Annual Murray-Holley June Fest. The events start in the morning and are capped off with fireworks at dusk.

A committee has worked hard to plan a festival that the young and young at heart will enjoy. The June Fest grows bigger every year and attracts people from all over Orleans and surrounding counties. The festival enriches the community of Holley and all the businesses in town.

As in the past, the day kicks off with the village-wide yard sales at 9 a.m. At 9:30, the Jim Ferris Memorial 5K Race begins. Registration forms can be found on the Village of Holley website (click here).

At 10:30 the grand parade kicks off and will feature the Kendall-Holley Marching Band, Albion High School Purple Eagles marching band, 2014 World Champion Ghost Riders Mini Corps, Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Corps, Sabers Drum & Bugle Corps, Hamburg Kingsmen Drum & Bugle Corps, Mark Time Marchers Band, Kendall Lawn Chair Ladies, many floats, organizations, and fire departments from around the area.

The parade will start at the VFW on 8 Veterans Drive, march to Batavia Street, proceed down Public Square to White Street then to East Avenue and end at the entrance to the canal park. The judges review stand is located between West Albion Street and Perry Street on East Avenue.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Canal Park on East Avenue you will find craft vendors, food, games and entertainment for children, a wine-tasting booth, farmers market, and musical bands.

The Murray-Holley Historical Society will be holding their annual bake food sale at the museum. You can pick a fresh cup of coffee at Sam’s Diner, Jonathan’s Pastry Shoppe & Café or several of the food booths in the park.

The Community Action center at 75 Public Square will be serving “garbage plates” from noon to 3 p.m. St. Mary’s Catholic Church will feature a chicken barbecue from 11 a.m. until sold out.

Back by popular demand, the evening events begin at 5 p.m. at Woodlands Soccer field with our own version of “Holleywood” Idol.  Contestants can sign up at 1^st Niagara Bank, Public Square. See Nancy Manard for details.

The free Drum & Bugle Corp Show begins at 7 p.m. with an all-star line-up this year. The award winning Holley High School chorus will open the show followed by the musically talented Lawn Chair Ladies. The evening’s entertainment continues with the Kendall-Holley marching band, the Hit Men Brass Band, Ghost Riders Mini Corps, Mighty St. Joe’s, and finally the Hamburg Kingsmen.

The evening concludes with the spectacular fireworks display by Young Explosives Inc. Bring your lawn chair and let this evening start off a beautiful summer season.

Photos by Sue Cook – Wreaths were placed by the memorial near the Holley Post Office. Here members of the Sons of the American Legion, including Dan Mawn at right, place the third wreath.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

HOLLEY – The Holley community honored veterans today, first with a ceremony outside of the Jewell Buckman Post 529 and then with a parade through the downtown and services at local cemeteries.

“Out little village has always answered our nation’s call to arms and we have lost many of our young in defense of freedom,” said Chuck Eberhardt of the American Legion.

Major Ryan D’Andrea

Major Ryan D’Andrea told the crowd about the oath that taken by ROTC students at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He explained that this oath has been taken by many and that few likely thought they would have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

“The oath is to the Constitution, the ideals on which this nation was founded, not to any one person, but to the concept. We defend it from all who would see it destroyed. Faith, loyalty, duty, nation. These are the things that those we honor today swore to uphold. Let us reflect on that always,” D’Andrea said to the audience.

The Holley-Kendall Marching Band, led by music teacher Daniel Wakefield, played the national anthem during the ceremony.

Holley Mayor John Kenney addressed the crowd as well. “We are today remembering those soldiers, past and present, who gave their lives so that we, their families, friends and neighbors, may continue to enjoy our precious freedom. May we continue to remember, year after year, that freedom is not free. And may we long continue to thank and honor our United States soldiers.”

Veterans led the community to the VFW. After the parade, veterans went to the cemeteries to lay wreaths.

Holley resident Wendi Pollock was among the crowd with her grandson. “We’re here because I’ve got my two youngest in the military and they’re out protecting our freedom along with all the ones that have in past, present and future.”

The ceremony also included the naming of all those who have passed since Memorial Day last year, a gun salute by veterans and Taps was played on bugle at the closing.

Children’s groups such as Scout Pack 3062 and some of the Little League baseball teams followed the procession.

Provided photo

Press release
Holley Fire Chief Peter Hendrickson

MURRAY – Emergency personnel were dispatched at about 7:45 this morning for a vehicle that crossed over Ridge Road in the Town of Murray.

A male, 30 years old, was traveling northbound on North Main Street Road (Route 237) under heavy fog conditions. When he approached the intersection, unaware of the stop sign due to visibility, he crossed over Ridge Road (Route 104) on to the property on the north side of the road.

The driver was able to maintain control, narrowly missing a vehicle and slightly damaging a barn before his vehicle rolled coming to a rest about 200 feet from the roadway.

The driver was evaluated by Monroe Ambulance at the scene, while members of the Holley Joint Fire District and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray District handled hazards caused from the crash. Stae Police handled the scene investigation.

Several candidates running for Holley Village Board

HOLLEY – Skip Carpenter, a former Holley mayor and current village trustee, is challenging John Kenney, the incumbent, in the June 17 village election.

Carpenter is running under the Independent Party and Kenney is on the ballot under the Family Party.

The race for a two-year term as mayor highlights the election, but there are also five candidates seeking two trustee positions. The incumbents – David Dill under Citizens Party and Don Penna under Justice Party – face challengers Connie Nenni (Peoples Party), Kevin Lynch (Happy Party) and Shawn O’Mara (Taxpayer Party).

The election will be from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Office, 72 Public Square.

Photos courtesy of Jimmie Jo Neary – A pickup truck driven by Lee D. Sietmann is on fire after a collision with a train this morning in Hulberton.

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

HULBERTON – A Brockport man escaped serious injury this morning when the pickup truck he was driving struck a moving train in the town of Murray.

The incident occurred at about 10:15 a.m. in the 3600 block of Hulberton Road at intersection with the Falls Railroad.

Lee D. Sietmann, 24, was the sole occupant of a 1998 Chevrolet S-10 pickup. He was traveling south on Hulberton Road, when the vehicle struck the west bound 3-car freight train, operated by Genesee Valley Transportation Co., Inc., of Batavia.

The train was already on the “at-grade” crossing when the collision occurred.  Upon striking the locomotive, the impact spun the truck into one of the crossing warning-light poles after which the truck struck the train a second time, before coming to rest on the north/west corner of the crossing.

Sietmann was able to escape the vehicle before it burst into flames and was totally consumed by fire. He was transported as a precautionary measure by Holley Volunteer Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

The train travelled approximately 50 yards west of the crossing before stopping.  The engineer is identified as Neal D. Keirn, 56, of Middleport in Niagara County.  The conductor is identified as Lawrence X. Zablonski, 49, of Lackawanna in Erie County.

They were the only individuals on board at the time of collision and neither was injured. The two freight cars each contained about 130 tons of fertilizer. Neither one of the cars/contents was compromised.

The on-scene investigation was conducted by Deputy A.L. Jenks, assisted by Deputy E.N. Fuller, Sergeant D.W. Covis, and Chief Deputy T.L. Drennan.  Deputies were assisted by the Holley and FHM (Fancher-Hulberton-Murray) Fire Departments and Monroe Ambulance.  Representatives of Genesee Valley Transportation and the Falls Railroad were also on-scene.

The investigation will continue in an effort to determine what factors contributed to the crash. Charges against Lee Sietmann are pending.