Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Holley’s Parade of Lights passes through the Public Square tonight. Several local fire companies and other community organizations and businesses joined for the parade that started at the elementary school.

Santa stands at the back of a golf cart and greets people lined along the parade route, including people in front of the Community Free Library.

The crowd braves the bitter cold to watch the Parade of Lights pass through the Public Square.

Bentley Brothers in Albion and Brockport was among the local businesses that joined in the parade.

Holley’s Department of Public Works decorated its trucks for the parade.

Several nearby fire companies, including Clarendon, participated in the Parade of Lights.

Before the parade, Mayor John Kenney read names of people honored with memorial bulbs on a Christmas tree at Public Square.

Holley lighted the tree, a tradition that dates back about three decades.

Photo by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand received a warm welcome inside the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley on Monday.

She was there to serve food and pack Thanksgiving food boxes for local needy families.

But not everyone at the event was a Gillibrand well-wisher. A small group of protestors, holding signs about the SAFE Act, also tried to send the senator a message. They stood outside the community center near the Salisbury Fountain in the Public Square.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the State Legislature passed the gun control measure in January. That law prompted the formation of the grass-roots New York Revolution, a group determined to protect Second Amendment rights.

Before heading to a Head Start center in Wellsville, Gillibrand spoke with Gia Arnold, one of the local leaders of NY Revolution.

“I’m very grateful that we have so many public servants and volunteers that do this work. I wanted to come help them do this work that they do everyday.”  – U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

Photos by Tom Rivers – U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, was in Holley today to help serve lunches and then to pack boxes of food for Thanksgiving. She dished out a macaroni and cheese lunch with peas, salad, a biscuit and fruit cocktail.

HOLLEY – U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand stopped by a community center in Holley today and later in Wellsville, serving food and helping to fill boxes with food to be given to needy families.

Gillibrand said she wanted to highlight soup kitchens and community centers, especially during the holiday season. The senator also wanted to pitch in and help with the tasks.

“I’m very grateful that we have so many public servants and volunteers that do this work,” she said after serving food and packing boxes in Holley. “I wanted to come help them do this work that they do everyday.”

The Eastern Orleans Community Center is run by Community Action. The site in the Public Square serves 9,400 hot meals a year from Monday through Friday. The site initially was only available to senior citizens but that changed less than a decade ago.

It is now open to the entire community, and it serves many young families, especially during the summer, said Ed Fancher, Community Action director.

“There are people who come here for lunch and it’s the only hot meal they get all day,” said Murray resident Leon Randall. “This is a very important site.”

Randall serves as the Murray representative on the Office for the Aging board. He stops at the Community Center once or twice a week for a meal and “to talk with folks.”

Gillibrand packed several boxes today, making sure to include canned fruits and vegetables.

Meals are served on one side of the building, and the other side serves as a youth center. About 50 kids a year stop by to do homework, play Fooseball and use the computers.

The center also is the base for the Thanksgiving outreach effort. Community Action is filling 135 boxes with turkeys, milk, and other food for Holley area families.

She talked with some of the residents, including a young mother. Gillibrand urged the woman to pursue a degree at Genesee Community College, perhaps in early childhood education.

Gillibrand said families need good-paying jobs to break out of poverty. She is pushing for manufacturing tax credits for companies that make products in the United States.

She also is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. A new Farm Bill, now more than a year overdue, is important for farmers. She also wants to keep food stamps in the Farm Bill. That helps farmers have more demand for their goods and increases access to fresh fruits and vegetables to needy residents, she said.

On the way out of the center today she stopped and shook hands with many Community Action staff.

“Thanks for your hard work and God bless,” she said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – The red kettles came out in Holley today, and two members of the American Legion stood in the freezing cold, seeking donations.

Legion Commander Chuck Eberhardt, left, and Al Pulcino (top photo) were outside the Eastern Orleans Community Center in the Public Square on the first day of the fund-raising drive in Holley.

The money raised stays in Orleans County and goes to local agencies, including Community Action, which sets the schedule for the volunteers.

Community Action needs more volunteers for red kettle sites in Holley, Albion and Medina. The agency has set a $23,000 fund-raising goal for this holiday season.

To volunteer, call 589-5605 and ask for Annette Finch.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand steps outside the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley this afternoon after serving lunch and packing Thanksgiving food baskets. Gillibrand spotted the volunteers at the red kettle and made a donation.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

Press release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s office

HOLLEY – As Thanksgiving approaches, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will volunteer at the Eastern Orleans Community Center on Monday at 1 p.m. She will serve lunch and help sort, pack and assemble holiday gift baskets.

Each day, more than 60 lunches are prepared and served to Holley residents, well over 9,400 this year.During the holiday season, the Eastern Orleans Community Center also distributes hundreds of holiday gift baskets to families in need.

The Eastern Orleans Community Center is part of the larger Community Action of Orleans and Genesee. Community Action is a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide services, with dignity and respect that help people become self-sufficient. For more than 40 years, the agency has served low-income and disadvantaged families across Orleans and Genesee counties with programs designed to empower as well as provide opportunity in a variety of areas like education, housing and nutrition.

The community center is located at 75 Public Square.

After spending time in Holley, Gillibrand is scheduled to be in Wellsville later in the afternoon at a Head Start site. She will work with a Teen Advisory Board to package Book, Blanket and Buddy care packages for children in need.

Press release

MURRAY – A Brockport man remains hospitalized today after crashing his car Sunday morning in the town of Murray.

The incident occurred at about 10:50 a.m. Erich R. Baase, 34, was operating a 2001 Jeep SUV westbound on State Route 31, when he failed to negotiate a curve in the hamlet of Fancher.

The vehicle ran off the north side of the roadway and overturned before coming to rest upside down in a drainage ditch. Baase fled from the wreckage before the arrival of Sheriff’s deputies and emergency responders. A search that included a State Police helicopter ensued and lasted approximatey 45 minutes before Baase surrendered.

He had sustained a head injury in the crash and was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester by Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance. He remains in satisfactory condition.

Pending his recovery, he faces charges including Unsafe Speed, Operating a Vehicle without an Ignition Interlock Device, and Leaving the Scene of an Incident without Reporting.  Additional charges are pending blood test results.

The incident was investigated by Deputy A.L. Jenks, assisted by Lieutenant C.M. Bourke.

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

HOLLEY – A power outage affecting parts of eastern Orleans County and the Village of Holley is likely the result of a traffic crash in the Town of Murray.

The incident occurred at about 8 a.m., in the 3500 block of Fancher Road.  Richard J. Breslawski, 23, of Hamlin was operating an 18-wheel tractor-trailer truck and was exiting westbound Route 31 onto northbound Fancher Rd., when he lost control of the vehicle. The truck jack-knifed, striking several parked cars at A&M Transmission Service at 3581 Fancher Rd., before shearing off a National Grid utility pole.

Breslawski, the sole occupant, was not injured. The truck is owned by Charles Breslawski Farms, also located in Hamlin.  There was no cargo on-board at the time of the incident.

Unsafe speed is a probable factor in the crash, investigated by Deputies A.L. Jenks & M.C. Mele. Also assisting at the scene are firefighters from the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray and the Holley Fire Departments.  That section of Fancher Road remains closed to traffic.

HOLLEY – Holley schools closed early today and sent students home due to a power outage in the community. All after-school activities were also cancelled.

The entire Holley Central School campus did not have electricity after a tractor trailer hit a pole on Route 31 and Fancher Road, taking out a National Grid power line.

“We have been in communication with National Grid and this situation will not be rectified within a short period of time,” the district stated on its Web site. “Consequently, students in both schools will be dismissed early.”

Holley sent home Middle School/High School students at 10:33 a.m. Morning Pre-K students were dismissed at the regular time.

Elementary School students, including Kindergarten, were dismissed at 11:33 a.m. The afternoon Pre-K is cancelled and all after school and evening activities are cancelled.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Joe and Sue Fertitta have begun the process of turning the old stone store building, currently an eyesore at the corner of routes 31A and 237 in Clarendon, into an attractive asset for the town.

CLARENDON About two years ago the Town Board nearly unleashed the wrecking ball on a prominent building at the corner of routes 237 and 31A.

The building, a former store that dates back to 1836, had fallen into disrepair. Neighbors complained about rodents from the structure as well as its dilapidated appearance.

During a July 2011 meeting, some residents asked the structure to be torn down. The town owned it because a previous owner stopped paying taxes on the property.

But a small group of residents saw potential at the site. They asked the board for time to clean up the property and work to find a buyer.

A new owner, with a track record of reviving worn-out structures, is now working on the Clarendon Stone Store. Joe and Sue Fertitta expect to have the project done next summer, with 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.

“A lot of people have helped to make this happen,” Town Supervisor Richard Moy said Friday during a celebration at Town Hall.

Town Supervisor Richard Moy, right, presented the keys of the Clarendon Stone Stone to Sue and Joe Fertitta on Friday. The couple also was presented a souvenir T-Shirt from the town’s bicentennial. An image of the store is on the back of the shirt. Mrs. Fertitta is holding the couple’s granddaughter, Jazlyn.

He presented the keys to the building to the Fertittas. He also gave them a shirt from the town’s bicentennial, which has an image of the stone store on the back.

“This shows it can be done,” said Erin Anheier, chairwoman of the Old Stone Store Preservation Committee. “These buildings can be saved.”

The town established the Old Stone Store Preservation Committee to work on the project. Anheier connected with the Landmark Society of Western New York, which hired a firm to do an engineering report on the structure. Community donations helped pay for the study that showed the structure was still solid.

Anheier and the committee were also successful in getting the building, one of the oldest stone commercial buildings in the area, on the state and national registers of historic places.

“To see a stone store building from the 1830s is extremely rare,” said Caitlin Mieves, a preservation planner with the Landmark Society.

A historic photo shows the Clarendon Stone Store back in its heyday.

The building was last used as a store in 1975. It not only served as a hub for commerce for nearly 150 years, but was the center of the community from a social aspect, Mieves said.

She praised the town for giving the building a chance for a new life, and for the group of volunteers for spearheading the project.

The local committee and Landmark Society worked with the town to find an owner for the building. The property is being transferred to the new owners for only $1. But the new owner needed to submit a plan so the building would resemble its original splendor.

This rendering shows how the former Stone Store building in Clarendon should look after renovations and upgrades, including a new porch. (Bryant Design Studios)

The Fertittas of Parma have revived many structures that were in a state of ruin, including a condemned house on Bennetts Corners Road in Clarendon. Melissa Ierlan, the town code enforcement officer, reached out to the Fertittas.

“This is a walk in the park compared to what we’ve done before,” said Mrs. Fertitta.

She and her husband have already hauled out two dumpster loads of garbage and debris from the building.

They have made a few exciting historical finds as well, she said. They took out the drop ceiling in the first floor, which exposed the original wooden beams in the building. They have found a black-and-white photo from a previous owner, Wes Potter.

They also discovered his daughter Stephanie’s school identification card, from the 1955-56 school year at St. Mary’s Catholic School. Three old buttons have also turned up. Mrs. Fertitta showed off the relics to town officials on Friday.

“We love doing this,” she said about rehabbing buildings.

Sue Fertitta shows three buttons and a school identification card from 1955-56 for Stephanie Potter, daughter of the building’s previous owner.

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

CLARENDON – An Albion man was sent to Orleans County Jail this afternoon following the investigation of an over-night crash in which the vehicle he was operating struck a building.

The incident was reported at about 6 this morning in the town of Clarendon at 15670 Mansfield Rd. Sometime during the night, a 2010 Hummer was travelling south on Hindsburg Road, towards the T-intersection with Mansfield Road.

Brandon D. Kirby, 26, was driving the vehicle. He crossed Mansfield Road, onto private property and struck the building owned by Acme Powerwashing Inc., of Holley. The operator fled the scene on foot at that time. The incident was reported after being discovered by an employee of the business.

Kirby, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was subsequently located approximately four hours later. He was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 2^nd Degree, Operating a Vehicle Without an Ignition Inter-Lock Device, Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Incident, and Failure to Stop for a Stop Sign.

Kirby appeared before Town of Clarendon Justice Richard Kemp and was committed to the county jail in lieu of $500 cash bail. A Parole Detainer was also placed against him.

The incident was investigated by Deputy J.A. DeFilipps and the arrest was handled by Deputy M.C. Mele. Investigator K.M. Strickland Jr. also assisted with the investigation, as did the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

HOLLEY – A crusader about the dangers of driving while talking on a cell phone will address Holley students today. Jacy Good was nearly killed in a car accident while riding home with her parents on her college graduation day in 2008.

Good’s parents were both killed in the accident, caused by an 18-year-old who ran a red light because he was distracted while talking on his cell phone. Good sustained serious injuries in the Pennsylvania crash.

She will speak with Holley students today at 1 p.m. in the middle/high school auditorium.

“Jacy’s story is powerful and moves both students and faculty,” said Robert D’Angelo, Holley school superintendent. “It is especially important for teens to hear Jacy’s message. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and using cell phones increases crash risk. Jacy’s story helps students understand that they will be safer if they disconnect while driving.”

Good has appeared on Oprah and in People Magazine. After the loss of her parents, Good joined FocusDriven – Advocates for Cell-Free Driving.

FocusDriven is a survivor advocate network that supports cell phone distracted driving victims and their families. Individuals and families educate the public by sharing their personal stories.

The New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee works with FocusDriven to provide Good’s presentations in schools across the state.

“My college graduation day should have been a time to celebrate,” Good said. “Instead, my entire world was shattered because of an unnecessary cell phone call. People need to understand the dangers of using a cell phone – handheld or hands-free – while driving. Lives are at risk and poor decisions can have life-long consequences.”

Press release, Orleans County Undersheriff Steve Smith

MURRAY – Two motorists escaped injury this afternoon when their vehicles collided and then one of them struck a house.

The incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m., in the 17000 block of Ridge Road (State Route 104) in the town of Murray.

Ashlee Rae Putnam, 20, of Brockport was operating a 2000 Chrysler sedan west on Ridge Road, when her vehicle drifted into the eastbound lane and collided with a 1998 Buick sedan operated by Joanne T. Meyers, 75, of Holley.

After the two cars collided, Meyers’ vehicle ran off the south side of the roadway, travelled across a residential lawn and struck the attached garage of a house at 17054 Ridge Rd.

Both drivers, who were each alone in their vehicles, refused medical treatment at the scene.

Putnam indicated that a problem with the steering mechanism caused her to lose control. The incident was investigated by Deputy T.N. Tooley.

Artist Stacey Kirby created this palette, which was on display in Bindings Bookstore in Albion.

HOLLEY – A public art project that has promoted businesses and local artists will wrap up on Sunday during a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at Hickory Ridge Country Club.

The public is welcome to meet many of the artists who created paintings of local scenes and other subjects. Final bids will also be accepted for the artwork.

Some of the proceeds from the project will be used for art scholarships at the five school districts in Orleans County.

Artist James Cooper painted this palette for the a lily and a sparrow store in Medina.

Artists created 73 palettes that have been on display in businesses throughout the county. The project is organized by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber put a poster in each business window to indicate a palette on display. Shoppers have submitted bids to buy the artwork and they have voted on their favorite artwork. The project kicked off in May.

Carol Culhane painted this palette of the Charles Howard Santa Claus School in Albion. The palette was displayed at Five Star Bank in Albion.

Waterfalls, canal park are missed by many

Photos by Tom Rivers – Holley’s Canal Park has become a popular spot for boaters, campers and others out for a stroll.

HOLLEY – David Dill, Holley’s deputy mayor, knows many people, including residents of Holley and Orleans County, drive through the village on Route 31 and don’t realize the village is home to a waterfalls, a canal park and trail linking the sites.

“You don’t know how many people live here and tell me they don’t know it’s here,” Dill said.

The attractions are widely praised once they are discovered.

The village is working to put up “wayfinding” signs on Route 31 so people are directed to the sites that are only a few blocks off Holley’s main road.

The canal park is on East Avenue, right next to Holley lift bridge on the Erie Canal.

The waterfalls are on Frisbee Terrace. Drive past Save-A-Lot, the village sewer plant and head to the end of the street to discover the waterfalls.

The Holley Waterfalls is an asset for the Holley community. The village has recently added a pavilion, grills and other amenities near the waterfalls.

The signage will be paid for through $67,500 Brownfield Opportunity Area Program grant from the state. Most of that money helped Holley complete Phase 1 of a plan to identify brownfields in the community and begin developing action steps for reusing the property.

The old Holley High School and the former Diaz Chemical sites are the most prominent locations that need attention. Dill said the plan looks at other underutilized sites in Holley or properties that may be contaminated. Holley is seeking additional funding for Phase 2 of the plan.

The first phase paid for a parking study of the business district. That report showed there are 203 parking spaces within two blocks of the Public Square, which is plenty of parking for businesses, Dill said. Those spaces include a lot next to the old school.

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department

MURRAY – An 18-year-old Murray man was sent to jail on $15,000 bail after being charged with endangering the welfare of a child, use of a child in a sexual performance and disseminating indecent material to a minor.

Damien Jost of 16699 Ridge Rd., Lot 29 was arrested on Monday. An investigation showed he was allegedly sending and receiving photos of a victim less than 15 years old that he was messaging on-line.

Investigator Ken Strickland assisted by Deputy Jeff Cole in the investigation. An order of protection was issued for the victim.