By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2014 at 12:00 am
HOLLEY – Congressman Chris Collins is asking the federal Environmental Protection Agency to sell eight houses that have been off the tax rolls and vacant for about a decade.
The houses were feared to be contaminated by a chemical leak in January 2002 by the former Diaz Chemical, which has gone bankrupt.
The EPA acquired the sites. It’s testing has shown no harmful on-site contaminants remain at the eight properties, Collins noted in a letter on Tuesday to Gina McCarthy, EPA administrator.
Village officials want them back on the market. The houses are on Jackson, Geddes, Van Buren and North Main streets. The houses could boost the local tax rolls by $700,000 and eliminate vacant properties in the community, Collins said in the letter.
Collins’ staff toured the properties last week with village officials, who were told the sites would be put on the market more than 2 ½ years ago.
“With 2014 upon us, I would like to request the EPA take swift action in addressing the concerns of the Village of Holley and place the suitable properties up for sale,” Collins wrote to McCarthy. “This action is in the best interest of the Village of Holley, the EPA, and the taxpayers.”
Photos by Sue Cook – Michael Fahey stands with his Gary Fisher bicycle. He has had four total bikes since he took up riding. He has also owned a French racer, a Trek 730 Hybrid and a Giant. Fahey estimates he carries about 70 pounds of gear with him on his bike when he going for a long ride.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
HOLLEY – Holley resident Michael Fahey began his journey during hard times. When his wife of 27 years, Ruth, was diagnosed with breast cancer, Fahey took up cycling as a hobby. He also served as her caregiver.
In 1995, Ruth passed away at age 48. Fahey has used cycling since then to raise money for cancer research. He said he has raised “thousands” for the cause.
Fahey started cycling in the early ’90s. He said he was a little overweight at the time.
“My wife was a nurse practitioner. She said ‘You need a physical. You haven’t had one since you left the service.’ So I had one and they thought I had a problem with my heart,” Fahey said. “So the cardiologist said ‘You need to lose weight and exercise. So I started walking, and I got up to 10 miles, but it just took too long. So I bought this cheap road bike from Toys ’R Us and rode that for a while. Then my brother came to visit from Chicago and left his bike, a French racer, and I rode that and that’s how it all got started.”
Ruth supported Fahey’s efforts to exercise through bicycling. “In the last six months before she passed away, that’s where I did my riding.”
Fahey’s rides, in America and foreign countries, were for raising breast cancer research money.
“The fundraising was done in the United States through talks, advertisements, word of mouth,” he said. “When I finished the United States, 3,000 miles in 38 days, I said what the heck, let’s do the rest of the world.” That was in 1996.
“I would just get a map of the countries I wanted to go to and plot out my trip, and I always tried to find a community that I was stopping in that had a youth hostel in it.”
In his worldwide journey, he has met with some misfortunes, including lost bikes and luggage. His Trek bicycle that he took to Ireland and England, didn’t fare so well when it was brought home.
“That lasted for one year and the Canadian airlines crushed it on the way back from England,” Fahey said. “I’ve been very fortunate. All my problems with bicycles and transportation has been on the return. I’ve had my bicycle lost for awhile going over, but not damaged.”
Hi daughter Shari cycled across the United States with him. She got out of bicycling, but then she got back into doing triathlons. His other two daughters, Kathy and Shannon, are not into the sport, but support Fahey.
Fahey has ridden on six out of the seven continents. In 2013, he followed a route known as The Way of St. James, which stretches from Paris, France to Santiago, Spain. It was a well-traveled Christian pilgrimage from medieval times that follows the route of St. James bones to their burial in Spain.
Fahey calls this his ‘bragging jacket.’ There are patches all over it from the countries he has been to and embroidered with the dates of when he was there.
Fahey’s favorite country to travel through was China. The people were more than willing to help a stranger.
“I was in China three times to get across and the Chinese people in the countryside were so good to me. If I broke down, the village would come out to try and help.”
The Chinese gave Fahey fresh water as he rode out along his trip through the country.
“If I ran out of water, all I needed to do was stop some place and say ‘water’ to people,” Fahey said. “I ran out of water on my first day. The first time, I was passing a construction utility truck. They were parked there taking a break. I said ‘water’ and they filled up everything I had with water. The next time, I ran out of water again and a motorcycle club came by and I said something about being short of water. They all go and get their water and they filled my water up.”
Fahey continues to ride and focuses his talks and fundraising locally for now, though he is planning to move out of the area soon.
On Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Geneseo United Methodist Church in Geneseo, he will be giving a free talk put on by Geneseo Young at Heart. It is open to the public and Fahey plans to focus mostly on talking about cycling and his journey. However, he says he will also talk about his wife because she was the inspiration for him to make these trips and perform fundraising efforts.
Fahey has also written a book. The first chapter focuses on his wife. The rest of the book is about his bicycling. The book is titled “Biking to Save My Soul: America, Ireland, and England.” It is $15 and $1 of each purchase will go to the American Cancer Society. To order a book from Amazon, click here. To buy directly from Fahey, e-mail PROSRV95@gmail.com.
HOLLEY – The Holley Central School District has been awarded $441,000 in the first year of a multi-year federal grant called the Carol White Physical Education (PEP) grant. This grant promotes both physical fitness and nutrition.
Monies provided by the grant will enable the district to focus on after-school, Saturday, and summer recreation and nutrition-based activities involving partnerships with the Holley Recreation Program, the Orleans County Cooperative Extension, Orleans County Mental Health and the district’s own food service vendor, Personal Touch.
This is the second time Holley Central has been awarded the PEP grant. The last time was in 2003 when the district received $392,000 for its “Holley Achieves Wellness and Knowledge” initiative which focused on fitness and life-time activities.
“The link between good nutrition, physical fitness and academic performance cannot be denied,” said Holley District Superintendent Robert D’Angelo. “There is no doubt about it – these are the factors that impact student success and that’s why we pursue opportunities like this so aggressively. We operate on a philosophy that requires us to continually find ways to supplement taxpayer’s dollars in meaningful ways and that’s why we do so with special emphasis on fitness and nutrition. These are the things that greatly matter when it comes to academic success.”
Holley recently received a three-year General Mills grant which helped the district fund a new fitness test called the Fitnessgram. This test will help the district fulfill the evaluation phase of the Pep Grant.
“We are moving in the right direction and teaching students about fitness and nutrition in a way that sticks with them and influences their choices so they’re getting the nutrition and fitness they need to succeed,” said Lisa Campbell, Health and Physical Education chairperson at Holley Central. “Without our superintendent’s support and knowledge in nutrition and fitness to improve learning, we would not have succeeded in receiving this grant.”
Once the PEP money is received later this year, the district will begin to implement programs outlined in its application program which was entitled “Fit 4 U”. The “Fit 4 U” program will serve approximately 1,200 students in Pre-K through grade 12 for up to three years. Programs will take place at Holley Elementary School and the Middle School/High School and will focus on increasing students’ daily activity as well as their consumption of fruits and vegetables.
“Our goal is to keep building on past successes, one after the other, so we can continually move forward,” added D’Angelo. “Thanks to dedicated staff like Lisa Campbell who spearheaded this effort, we are making great strides in positively impacting student success.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 April 2014 at 6:05 pm
Albion man hospitalized after crash near Hulberton Road
Photos by Tom Rivers – A tractor-trailer rolled over and came to a rest in the front lawn of Roy and Marlene Kenyon at 16305 Route 31.
Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess
MURRAY – An Albion man is hospitalized following a two-vehicle crash this morning involving his car and an 18-wheeled tractor-trailer truck.
The incident occurred at about 10:15 a.m. at the intersection of State Route 31 and Hulberton Road in the town of Murray.
Frank Kania IV, 18, was the sole occupant while operating a 1993 Ford Escort travelling south on Hulberton Road. Kania failed to yield right-of-way and entered the intersection into the path of the east bound tractor-trailer truck.
The truck driver took evasive action but was unable to completely avoid striking the car. Following the collision, the truck ran off the north side of the roadway into a ditch, struck a utility pole, and over-turned on its side.
Lyons Collision from Medina is working to get the truck upright and removed from the scene.
Kania was transported by Monroe Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
The driver and sole occupant of the truck is identified as Zdenek Smykal, 43, of Palatine, Ill. Smykal was not injured. The truck is owned by Vodik Transport Inc., of Deerfield, Illinois. The enclosed refrigerated trailer was loaded with blueberries and frozen food. It is not yet known if the load was compromised by the crash.
In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, the incident brought a response from the Holley, Clarendon, and FHM (Fancher-Hulberton-Murray) fire departments.
State Route 31 between Hulberton and Lake roads remained closed at 5:45 p.m.
The incident remains under investigation by Deputy A.L. Jenks, assisted by Deputy K.J. Colonna, Sergeant D.W. Covis, and Investigator D.E. Foeller Jr.
A section of Route 31 between Hulberton and Lake roads has been closed since about 10:30 a.m. Crews were still at the scene at about 5:45 p.m. today.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 April 2014 at 12:00 am
Provided photos – A 1993 Ford Escort was damaged after a crash this morning in Murray. Frank Kania IV, 18, was the driver and escaped serious injury.
MURRAY – A section of Route 31 in Murray that was closed for about 10 hours reopened about 8:30 p.m. today.
Route 31 was closed between Hulberton and Lake roads after a crash about 10:30 a.m.
Frank Kania IV, 18, was the sole occupant while operating a 1993 Ford Escort travelling south on Hulberton Road. Kania failed to yield right-of-way and entered the intersection into the path of the east bound tractor-trailer truck, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Kania was hospitalized following the accident, but firefighters on the scene said he wasn’t seriously injured.
The truck driver tried to avoid Kania, was able to completely avoid striking the car. Following the collision, the truck ran off the north side of the roadway into a ditch, struck a utility pole, and over-turned on its side.
A truck hauling produce lies on its side in the front lawn of Roy and Marlene Kenyon at 16305 Route 31.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 April 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
CLARENDON – The top photo shows the Holley water tank on Route 237. The picture was taken looking through one of the stained glass windows in the chapel at Hillside Cemetery in Holley.
Not too many people get inside the chapel at Hillside Cemetery. I was given a tour recently. The Clarendon Historical Society may soon launch a fund-raising campaign to upgrade the chapel, which was built in 1894.
The Historical Society would like to see the building used for more community events. The bottom photo shows one of the big trees on the lawn by the chapel.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 April 2014 at 12:00 am
Heritage Hero: Erin Anheier
Photo by Tom Rivers – Erin Anheier is pictured at Hillside Cemetery in Clarendon with a chapel from 1894 in the background. Anheier wrote the application to get the site on the National Register of Historic Places. She said a fund-raising campaign may be needed to refurbish the chapel, particularly some of the window panes that are rotting.
CLARENDON – When Erin Anheier retired as personnel director for Delphi in Michigan, she wanted to come back to her roots.
In 2008, she and her husband Russ Bosch bought a cobblestone house on Bennetts Corners Road. It’s not too far from where she grew up on West Sweden Road, just across the Orleans County line.
Anheier’s house was built in 1849 and the masonry includes lake-washed cobblestones.
“They are very carefully sized and arranged,” she said. “You can see the skill in the masonry and it’s spectacular.”
Anheier wanted to recognize that effort and she applied to have the house listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It made the list in 2010.
Anheier was content to live in her old home and be back in the area with her family.
“I’ve always loved it here,” she said. “The area is beautiful. I like the change of seasons and the topography.”
But her experience working on the National Register application, and her heightened awareness of local historical resources, soon came into play.
Courtesy of Erin Anheier – When Anheier moved back to the area in 2008 after a career with Delphi in Michigan, she and her husband picked this cobblestone home on Bennetts Corners Road. They made repairs to the house and got it listed on the National Register.
The Old Stone Store, a mainstay at the corner of routes 31A and 237 since 1836, was going to be demolished. Town officials and many residents saw the building as an eyesore.
But Anheier saw it as an important part of the town’s history and identity. She helped to rally support for the building. The town held off on the wrecking ball, while Anheier and other volunteers cleaned up some of the site.
She connected with the Landmark Society of Western New York, which worked with Anheier to get the building on the National Register. The Landmark Society also teamed with the town to market the property. The Old Stone Store is one of the oldest stone commercial buildings in the region.
Joe and Sue Fertitta bought the Old Stone Store and have been renovating it. They expect to have a tenant living in the upstairs and the first floor available for offices. Besides gutting and renovating the building, the couple plans to put on a front porch to match the building’s original look.
“This shows it can be done,” Anheier, chairwoman of the Old Stone Store Preservation Committee, said in October during a town meeting. “These buildings can be saved.”
File photo by Tom Rivers – The Old Stone Store was nearly demolished in 2011 after residents and town officials complained of its shoddy shape. Erin Anheier and other residents worked to clean it up. The site from 1836 was added to the National Register in 2012 and is currently being renovated with a front porch to be added to match its original look.
Anheier said the building will make Clarendon distinctive, with such a historical building at its main corner. She praised the community for coming together to keep up the site.
Anheier will be presented with a “Heritage Hero” award on Friday at 7 p.m. during a ceremony outside GCC’s Medina campus. Five “Heritage Heroes” will be honored during the Civil War Encampment.
Anheier was picked for leading several preservation projects, and for helping to change the culture in Clarendon, making preservation a priority.
She also sees potential in Hillside Cemetery. That site used to be owned and managed by a not-for-profit cemetery association, but was turned over to the town of Clarendon about a decade ago.
Anheier said Hillside is a great Victorian cemetery, a fitting final resting place for community residents. However, the site needs some upgrades, especially the chapel built in 1894 from local Medina sandstone.
Anheier wrote the application that landed the cemetery on the National Register last year. The designation should help the town secure grants for restoration projects.
“I also knew if we got it on the Register, the town would recognize we have a treasure here,” Anheier said.
File photo by Tom Rivers – The chapel at Hillside Cemetery could use some repairs. The cemetery was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
She is secretary of the Clarendon Historical Society. The group would like to mount a fund-raising campaign to restore rotted window panes, repoint mortar and make roof repairs. Anheier would like to see the chapel used again for services and community events.
Anheier is working on other preservation projects. She wrote the application for the National Register designation for the John and Chauncey White House, the White Farm Bed and Breakfast, on White Road in Brockport. She expects that will be approved soon.
She also is working on the application for the North Star School, Hamlin District No. 11. That will be reviewed for the State Register in June. She is in the early stages of researching the Spencer-Sommerfeldt House, a stone house on the west side of Route 237, just north of New Guinea Road in Clarendon.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 April 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – About 30 people lined up to fire a shot at noon today at the Holley Rod and Gun Club. Gun owners around the country fired a shot at noon as part of the “Shot Heard Around the U.S.” in support of the Second Amendment.
HOLLEY – John Carpenter considered going to his family’s property in Clarendon and firing a shot at noon as part of a nation-wide observance by gun owners today.
But Carpenter, 33, of Holley wanted to join other local gun owners. He was one of about 30 people to fire a shot at noon at the Holley Rod and Gun Club.
“It’s symbolic of our freedom,” Carpenter said about participating in the “Shot Heard Around the U.S.” in support of the Second Amendment.
The event is in honor of the original shot heard around the world during the American Revolution.
“It’s a way to celebrate our independence and to honor those who fell at Lexington,” Carpenter said.
Registration forms to register assault rifles were used as targets during the event at the Holley Rod and Gun Club.
The Holley Rod and Gun Club hosted a ceremonial shot today for the first time. Gun owners feel their rights are under attack since the NY SAFE Act was approved in January 2013. Locally, the New York Revolution has about 50 active members. That group formed soon after the SAFE Act passed the state Legislature 15 months ago.
NYR is pushing gun owners to register to vote and join SCOPE, the Shooters Committee on Political Education. The Holley club raised $121 for SCOPE with the event on Saturday.
Carpenter said the SAFE Act has pushed gun owners to reach out to each other and look for ways to be more involved politically.
Joel Zarpentine gives instructions to the gun owners before they went outside to fire their shot.
“The one positive of the NY SAFE Act is it has brought people together,” he said.
He joined the New York Revolution, which he said “is all about networking. We’re pushing voter registration big time.”
One of the NYR leaders, Gia Arnold, is running for the State Senate in a district represented by George Maziarz. Arnold said she would push hard to repeal the SAFE Act.
New York Revolution is gaining momentum throughout the state, said Mattie Zarpentine, WNY regional director. She was in Hartland last night when 60 people showed up at the fire department looking to start an NYR chapter in Niagara County.
There are about 25 county chapters so far and more are showing an interest, Zarpentine said.
Gun owners get ready to fire the shot at the Holley Rod and Gun Club.
She was pleased with the turnout at the Holley Rod and Gun Club. About 30 fired a shot and another 20 people stood in support.
“Many people have told us they would fire a shot in their backyards,” Zarpentine said.
One SAFE Act deadline passed on April 15. The state set that date for gun owners to register assault weapons. Zarpentine said few gun owners complied with the deadline.
“It was largely ignored,” she said, calling that SAFE Act decree “a dismal failure.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 April 2014 at 12:00 am
HOLLEY – The Holley Rod and Gun Club is welcoming the public to the club on Saturday at noon to fire a “Shot Heard Around the U.S.” in support of the Second Amendment.
The club and participants plan to fire one legal safe shot. Gun clubs around the country will be doing similar events at noon on Saturday.
There will be a $1 charge to participate and that money will go to a legal defense fund for SCOPE (Shooters Committee on Political Education).
The club will open at 11 a.m. It is located at 4189 Pumping Station Rd. Participants are encouraged to be there before 11:30 so everyone can be lined up for the big “shot” at noon, said Gia Arnold of Holley, who is a state-wide coordinator for New York Revolution.
“This is on the anniversary of the original shot heard around the world back during the American Revolution and it signifies our important fight for our 2nd Amendment freedom,” Arnold said. “The whole country will be participating and I thought it was really important to make sure we were participating locally. We are hoping to have new faces.”
The NYR formed soon after Gov. Cuomo and the State Legislature passed the SAFE Act in January 2013. The NY Revolution sees the gun control law as an attack on Second Amendment rights.
Many gun clubs and NYR members fired a “Shot Heard Around NY” in January on the one-year anniversary of the SAFE Act. Locally, the event was held in Arnold’s backyard in January. She is thankful the Holley club is participating in the event on Saturday so there is more public access.
“It’s open to non gun-owners as well if they would like to show up and support the effort,” Arnold said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 April 2014 at 12:00 am
HOLLEY – The Village Board wants to encourage more downtown building owners to be like Bill and Joanne Billotti, who operate a business on the first floor and live upstairs.
But the Billottis say a new village policy, charging a parking fee to use a municipal lot, will discourage people from living in the downtown.
The fee is only $25 for the year. But Mr. Billotti told the Village Board on Tuesday it would be better to exempt building owners who live in the downtown from the fee.
The new policy went into effect on April 1. Village Trustee Brian Sorochty said the parking permit was intended to ensure spots for people who live in the downtown and to make it easy for police to see if the right people – those with permits – are using the municipal lots.
“The fee is minor at best,” he said. “It just covers our administrative cost.”
The Billottis suggested designating spots for downtown residents in owner-occupied buildings, but the board didn’t want to do that.
The village owns two municipal parking lots – one between the library and the old high school, and the other by the fire hall.
Holley used to require two parking spots for any downtown apartment, but did away with that because it seemed a challenge for building owners trying to offer downtown apartments.
Sorochty said the board may consider waiving the $25 fee for downtown residents.
In other action on Tuesday, a village resident objected to a new village policy that doesn’t allow parking by the curb near the Franklin and Ray Street intersection.
The board approved the no parking signs in February for the intersection and also at the West Union and Orchard Street intersection.
Franklin Street resident Tony Carbone said the decision was made without input from residents. He said he believes the move was made as retribution after he complained about snow plowing for his street, that too much snow ended up piled in his driveway.
“This is not fair or equitable,” he said about the no parking policy.
Mayor John Kenney said the board members would discuss the no parking area for Franklin Street.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 April 2014 at 12:00 am
Ted Broekhuizen is retiring from the board after 25 years
Photo by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Ted Broekhuizen says he has lived a charmed life in Holley.
Broekhuizen, 82, has lived in his childhood home on North Main Street his entire adult life. He worked 40 years as an engineer, including 30 years with Bausch and Lomb.
Broekhuizen has stayed involved in his hometown as a member of the Presbyterian Church and also by serving on the Village Planning Board.
He stepped down from that board after 25 years on Dec. 31. He also represented the village on the Orleans County Planning Board.
Mayor John Kenney, left, presented Broekhuizen with an award for his service during Tuesday’s Village Board meeting. Broekhuizen also was presented with a certificate from the New York Conference of Mayors for his long-term commitment on the Planning Board.
He is pictured accepting the award with his with of 58 years, Rhoda. She worked as an elementary teacher in Holley for 30 years.
Broekhuizen said he met many of Holley’s entrepreneurs and other residents through the Planning Board.
“I’ve met a lot of wonderful people and had many great experiences,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 April 2014 at 12:00 am
HOLLEY – The Village of Holley seeks volunteers to help pick up trash along the canal on April 26, about a week before the historic waterway opens for its 190th season.
The village is hosting the “Canal Clean Sweep” from 9 a.m. to noon at the Canal Park on East Avenue. Pawlak’s Save A-Lot is sponsoring the event.
This will be the eighth Canal Sweep state-wide along the canal. The state Canal Corp. is partnering with Parks & Trails New York, and the state Environmental Facilities Corporation for the initiative.
For more information about the cleanup event in Holley, contact Village Clerk Jane Murray at 585-638-6367 x102 or Village Trustee David Dill at 585-943-9188 or dilldavid7@aol.com.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 April 2014 at 12:00 am
However, residents will now pay separate fire tax
Editor’s note: This article was updated to clarify the fire district isn’t part of the village budget.
HOLLEY – Village residents would pay the same $13.94 tax rate in Holley, according to a preliminary 2014-15 budget that will be voted on 7 p.m. Friday at the Village Hall.
However, the budget doesn’t include the Holley Fire Department expenses. The fire department for the first time is part of the Joint Holley Fire District. The fire district added a $1.61 rate to the tax bill for village residents. However, that isn’t part of the village budget. The fire protection bill went out in January and was part of the tax bill for town of Murray residents.
The village budget proposal totals $1,162,680 for the general fund, which is up $36,006 or 3.2 percent from the $1,126,674 in 2013-14.
The village saw its overall assessed value jump by 4.2 percent, a change from $52.25 million to $54.43 million. That helped keep the proposed tax rate a $13.94 despite a growth in the tax levy from $728,339 to $758,473, a 4.1 percent increase or another $30,134 that will be collected in taxes.
The budget sets the salaries for the four village trustees at $4,500 each while Mayor John Kenney is paid $7,900.
The meeting Friday includes a public hearing at 7 p.m. for residents to ask questions or comment about the budget.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 April 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – The First Baptist Church in Holley appears as a silhouette in this photo taken at about 8:15 p.m. tonight. The church is made of Medina sandstone. It has been a landmark building for more than a century on Geddes Street.
Here is how Geddes Street looks near the church, looking west.
I saw the reflection in this marshy area on Route 31 in Murray, just a little past the Murray Town Hall. The picture is a little fuzzy. I didn’t have a tripod, only a monopod to help hold the camera steady. I wished I was out a little sooner while there was still daylight.
There were a lot of nice reflections from all the water in the fields. Hopefully I’ll have a chance on Wednesday for some photos.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 April 2014 at 12:00 am
Local teams see drop off in participants this year
HOLLEY – It’s a rite of passage for many youths: spending the spring making friends on the Little League diamond, swatting mosquitoes in the outfield and chewing sunflower seeds on the bench.
But fewer boys and their families are choosing the sport these days in some local leagues.
Holley typically has 150 players, ages 5 to 17, but only has 60 committed so far. Albion’s Midget League is down from eight to seven teams and many of the teams use to have 15 to 20 players ages 8 to 12. The teams this year typically has 11 or 12 players.
“With electronics kids don’t want to leave the house,” said Heather Colella, director of the Holley Youth Baseball Program.
She said lacrosse seems to be siphoning off some players. Holley’s soccer season also kicks off in late June and Colella said there is some overlap with baseball season. That may be deterring some from playing baseball.
“We’re really down this year for baseball,” she said. “I worry about their socialization. I want these kids to have something to do.”
Colella was director of the league last year and it had a strong year with 150 playing T-ball, coach pitch, Little League and Pony League. There are still two weeks left to sign up for the sport. Players and their parents are welcome to contact her at 585-752-6158 or through the League’s Facebook page by clicking here.
In the Albion Midget League, the numbers seem to be down among the older players, the 11- and 12-year-olds, said Michael Neidert, one of the coaches.
There has been an increase in younger players, which Neidert said bodes well for the future of the league.
“We’re not sure why the numbers are down,” he said about the overall participants. “The kids must be choosing something else.”
The cold spring and the snow and rain haven’t helped get people in a baseball mood. The Albion league has pushed back opening day from May 3 to May 10.
“Normally the kids would be out practicing by now,” Neidert said.
Players are still welcome to sign up for the season in Albion.
