Photos by Kristina Gabalski: The following retiring Holley teachers and staff members were recognized for years of service to the school district, from left: Mimi Reyngoudt (30 years), John Grillo (28 years), Patti Gauer (33 years), Lisa Campbell (40 years), Beth Ann Sanford (27 years) and Lynn Vendetti (18 years).

HOLLEY – The Holley School Board of Education recognized retiring teachers and staff during the board meeting Monday evening.

Board President Brenda Swanger said this is the first time “in a long time” the board as recognized teacher and staff retirements. This year’s retirees have “a total of 176 years working hard helping children,” Swanger said. “Thank you and have a wonderful retirement, you will be missed.”

Each was presented with a gift.

“Some of you, I remember your interviews,” said board member John Heise, a retired Holley principal. “Thank you for your years of service.”

Holley Middle School/High School principal Susan Cory (center) poses with Class of 2017 valedictorian Anna Brasted (left) and Salutatorian Jesse Beach (right) Monday evening. The top two scholars received Soaring to New Heights awards during the regular meeting of the school Board of Education for their academic accomplishments. Graduation ceremonies are 10 a.m. Saturday at the Middle/High School Stadium.

The Holley High School Geometry in Construction class was also recognized by the Board of Education with a Soaring to New Heights Award. Teacher Russ Albright, Leslie Tanner – Monroe 2 – Orleans BOCES STEM coach, and teacher Tim Rogers received the awards. Tanner presented the idea for the class to the Holley School District and it was offered for the first time in the 2016-2017 school year.

Students learned how math concepts can be applied to real-world problems to create solutions and took part in a service project – constructing a small house for Second Wind Cottages in Newfield, NY.  After assembling the house at the school, students, teachers and administrators transported it to the Second Wind site near Ithaca and re-assembled it on site. Second Wind Cottages provides one-man shelters for homeless men as they work to turn their lives around.

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Jim DeFilipps and Rochelle Moroz both elected to 2-year terms

Jim DeFilipps, an Orleans County deputy, pictured in June 2016 at Policemen’s Ball in Rochester.

HOLLEY – Village residents elected two trustees to the Village Board today, with Jim DeFilipps the leading vote-getter with 122. Rochelle Moroz also was elected with 72 votes.

Kurt Wannenwetsch made it a three-way race. He received 52 votes.

DeFillipps, the 2016 New York State Deputy of the Year, started his career with the Holley Police Department. He was named Deputy of the Year after surviving a shootout and critically wounding a gunman.

He has already served about a year on the board. He was appointed to the board last year when Brian Sorochty was elected mayor and gave up his trustee position.

DeFilipps has grown up in Holley. His mother, Marsha DeFilipps, is the long-time Holley and Murray historian.

Moroz moved to the village four years ago to be closer to family.

She has served as a church secretary/treasurer and said she understands the importance of maintaining a balanced budget and spending frugally.

Wannenwetsch, an active local photographer, has lived in the village for close to ten years.

Wannenwetsch said the village government needs to better communicate with residents, work to attract more businesses, and find solutions for the deterioration of historic buildings in the Public Square.

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HOLLEY – The Village of Holley will hold its election Tuesday from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Clerk’s Office, 72 Public Square.

Voters will select two trustees for 2-year terms from a field of three candidates.

Current Trustee James DeFilipps was appointed to the board following the election last year of former trustee Brian Sorochty as mayor.

DeFilipps is an Orleans County Deputy Sheriff and received the New York State Sheriffs Association Deputy of the Year award in 2016. He has lived in Holley for most of his life.

“I worked for the village years ago in the police department,” he said. “I have a lot of family and friends in the village, and the village has always meant a lot to me.  I hope to be able to keep taxes down while we keep services up and get our infrastructure more up to date. Holley is a wonderful small village that I am, and will be, proud to serve as a trustee.”

DeFilipps is running on the Peoples Party line.

Rochelle Moroz moved to the village four years ago to be closer to family. She and her husband have one daughter and two granddaughters.

“We love the quiet, friendly charm of the village and have met many wonderful people since moving here,” she said.  “And, we really enjoy the canal – walking around it and kayaking on it.”

Moroz holds a bachelor’s degree from Saint Leo College in Florida and is a Vietnam Era military veteran. She formerly served as a church secretary/treasurer and said she understands the importance of maintaining a balanced budget and spending frugally.

“I am excited about the revival of the old school and the possibility of brining other businesses and services to this village,” Moroz said. “I was encouraged to run for trustee by a few village residents who think I would be a positive addition to the board. I want to continue the good work already started, with the desire to even better enhance the community experience.”

Moroz is running on the Common Sense Party line.

Kurt Wannenwetsch has lived in the village for close to ten years, “and I grew up just two miles outside the village. As a life-long resident of the area, I have seen first hand the decline of the village,” he said. “I would truly like to see Holley become a better community.”

Wannenwetsch says there are many important issues facing the village including the need for more control over spending; lack of businesses in the village; lack of communication back to residents; more accessible public board meetings and better communication to the residents as to when they take place; the need of a more proactive approach to curbing the known drug use and illegal activities in and around the Holley Hotel; and degradation of the old buildings in the Public Square.

He enjoys living in the village because, “It is a great little historic country town (and), with exception (of) a few specific areas, a quiet town,” Wannenwetsch said.

He is running on the Citizens Voice Party line.

Current Trustee Skip Carpenter decided not to run for re-election due to ongoing health issues in his family.

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Provided photo

HOLLEY – Brooklyn Bartholomew, a senior at Holley Jr./Sr. High School, is pictured with some of the shoes donated in a shoe drive to benefit Soles4Souls.

The Holley Interact Club decided for its Global Community Service project to partner with Soles4Souls, a non-profit organization with a mission to create sustainable jobs and provide relief through the distribution of shoes and clothing around the world.

Bartholomew and the Interact Club set a goal of collecting 100 pairs of shoes. Letters were sent home with all Elementary School students asking for donation of gently used shoes.  Donation boxes were set up in the High School and in the Elementary School.

At the end of the drive, 285 pairs of shoes were donated by the Holley community and Brooklyn delivered them all to Soles4Souls on Friday.

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File photo Tom Rivers: Developers want to convert the old Holley High School, which has been vacant for two decades, into apartments and offices.

HOLLEY – A developer continues to work on securing funding for the renovation of the old Holley High School, Mayor Brian Sorotchy said.

In May, the mayor announced the project was not funded in this year’s competitive Homes and Community Renewal financing round, but that developers were updating the application for the next funding round this fall.

On Tuesday, Sorochty said Edgemere Development, which is partnering with Home Leasing on the old Holley High School project, is currently pursuing a “separate funding source” for the portion of the project which involves the move of the Village of Holley offices to the school.

The process involves the village registering for the NYS Grants Gateway program, Sorochty said.  The Gateway program provides assistance in locating funding opportunities through state agencies.

Village attorney John Sansone will review any necessary paperwork, Sorochty said, to make sure that the village is protected if funding does not end up coming through for the entire school renovation process.

He explained that Edgemere specializes in seeking out funding sources as part of the development process.

Photo by Kristina Gabalski: A large pile of broken-up concrete was recently dumped on a lot located on Jackson Street in the Village of Holley. Neighbor Glenn Hughson says he wants the village to take action to have the material removed.

In other business, Jackson Street resident Glenn Hughson asked for help from the board regarding the dumping of “ten trailer loads of concrete” on property across the street from his home.

The property is located adjacent to and just west of the former Diaz chemical plant. The person believed to be the current owner does not live on the site but Hughson said a contractor working for the owner dumped the concrete.

“I can’t be looking at this,” Hughson said.

Sorochty said the village is aware of the situation, but village code enforcement officer Ron Vendetti said he felt the village was “hand-cuffed” over taking any action.

Hughson told the board he believed the EPA had taken the property and leveled the site.

Sorochty said he was not aware if the property had changed ownership.

Sansone, the attorney, advised that as a first step, the village needs to determine who owns the property.

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HOLLEY – The Village Board is working on a big upgrade to the village’s water infrastructure.

The Village Board on Tuesday unanimously approved resolutions regarding the proposed $2 million Holley Water System Improvement Project. The water grant resolution authorizes Mayor Brian Sorochty to submit an application to the Environmental Facilities Corporation for the NYS Water Infrastructure Improvement Act  Program and to execute all financial and administrative processes relating to the completion of the project.

The village has also passed a bond resolution in the amount of $2.09 million for the total project cost.

The village anticipates receiving a Water Infrastructure Improvement Grant for $1.25 million and will provide $406,000 in in-kind services. The balance of $430,000 will be bonded.

The project includes replacement of approximately 9,050 linear feet of water main within the existing right-of-way throughout various locations within the village. Additionally, the project will replace fire hydrants, valves, water service transfers and a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system for improved operation of the village water storage tank and pumping system.

The location of the water main improvements include portions of South Main Street, North Main Street, East Union Street, Park Place, East Albion Street, Geddes Street, and the water storage tank. The improvements coincide with sidewalk upgrades being completed as part of the Sidewalk Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant the village has received.

A fact sheet provided by the village states the water mains are being considered for replacement due to age, deteriorating conditions, inoperable fire hydrants and valves, and brown water complaints received by the village. Village officials say it is desirous to replace the water mains prior to excavation for new sidewalks.

“This project will address the concerns with the aged system (some piping dates to the 1920’s).  The proposed improvements are modest and economical,” the fact sheet states. “The improvements proposed will help to solve health, safety and maintenance issues associated with the existing system.”

Residents are encouraged to provide the village with letters of support for the project. They can be sent to Mayor Brian Sorochty, Village of Holley, 72 Public Square, Holley, NY, 14470, or by email at bsorochty@ddscompanies.com.

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HOLLEY – Three candidates are running for two open seats on the Holley Village Board.

James DeFilipps, who is currently serving the remainder of Mayor Brian Sorochty’s trustee term, is running on the Peoples Party line;  Rochelle Moroz is running on the Common Sense Party line and Kurt Wannenwetsch is running on the Citizens Voice Party line.

“I wish all the candidates well,” Mayor Brian Sorochty said during Tuesday evening’s regular meeting of the Village Board.

He explained that Trustee Skip Carpenter is not seeking re-election due to health issues in his family.

The election will be held Tuesday, June 20, from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Office, 72 Public Square in Holley.

Both trustee terms are for two years.

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Stella the Hedgehog won the special election that raised funds for the After School Friends program.

HOLLEY – The Holley Elementary Student Council held its second annual “special election” featuring four animals. Stella the Hedgehog emerged as the winner in the contest, which raised $415 for an afterschool program.

Stella’s victory was announced on Wednesday during Holley’s Flag Day celebration.

Stella is owned by Hannah Bock, an elementary instrumental music teacher. She keeps Stella in her classroom, and the animal has proven popular with students.

Stella will now serve as an ambassador for the After School Friends program.

Last year, the election was a fundraiser for the chapel at Hillside Cemetery. Gamma the Dog was the winner.

In her campaign literature, Stella was touted as being energetic and  enjoying fun. She is always excited to meet new people and make new friends. She enjoys running around, digging tunnels and playing with toys. Stella enjoys crafts and building things.

Stella was the top vote-getter against Mabel the Goat, Simon the Alpaca and Bubba the Turtle.

The After School Friends program is held each Wednesday from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Holley.  The program, which is free for students in grades 4-6, is now funded through Fit 4 U, which offers nutritional programming and activities for participants.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Hannah Bock, Holley elementary instrumental music teacher, accepts the award on behalf of Stella, which was resting in her classroom during Wednesday’s Flag Day celebration.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – There were about 500 students from Holley Elementary School waving flags and wearing red, while and blue for the school’s annual Flag Day celebration, which includes a march from the elementary school to the depot museum near the Public Square.

The annual tradition started 60 years ago in 1957 and is one the highlights of the year for the school and community.

These Pre-K students get a ride in a wagon down Route 31.

The crowd makes it way to Public Square, with many of the kids holding the flags high.

This Boy Scout, third grader Dawson Arnold, leads the student body in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Sally Martin, the elementary chorus teacher, holds the microphone.

Sarah Kingdollar, a sixth grader, served as one of the student emcees for the program. Nick Figura, a fifth grader, also helped lead the program from the podium.

The students gathered near the depot museum. Holley Central School brought in bleachers for the program.

The elementary chorus sings, “Every Day in America.”

Each year a fifth grade girl and boy are presented with the prestigious Catherine B. Press Award, in honor of a former school secretary. The award goes to two students who display traits of a good citizen. This year’s winners are Caitlin Dobri and Jaxson Schicker.

Each elementary school classroom also recognizes one student with a “Good Citizen Award.” This group includes Cameron Kelley, a kindergartner with the sunglasses.

The elementary band performed “God Bless America” and “Lone Eagle March.”

John Pera, commander of the American Legion in Holley, hands a shell casing to Grayson Kelley, 3, of Holley, who watched the Flag Day program with his grandmother, Penny Cole. Pera and the Honor Guard did a gun salute as part of the program.

The students selected as “Good Citizens” lead the student body back to the school after the Flag Day celebration.

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