By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 September 2013 at 12:00 am
State funding includes $15K for streetscape
Photo by Tom Rivers – The fountain at Holley’s Public Square, originally erected in 1914, could be upgraded with some of $15,000 targeted for streetscape improvements in Holley.
HOLLEY Contractors will soon be at work at several Public Square sites in Holley, making improvements on buildings from more than a century ago.
The village last December was awarded a $250,000 Main Street grant from the state, which provides matching money for building projects in the downtown.
Dan and Monica Seeler are doing the most extensive project, turning the former Tagg’s Tavern into a steak and seafood restaurant.
Other building owners are tackling projects. Jonathan’s Pastry Shop and Café will have a new façade. Lisa’s Dance Boutique is replacing second-floor windows and repointing some of the roof. VP Supply is working on a vestibule for its Geddes Street building. Nancy Penna may also renovate apartments on Thomas Street.
The projects will give the downtown area a big facelift, and may encourage other building owners to invest and improve their sites, said David Dill, Holley’s deputy mayor.
“It’s going to make that end of the Square look really nice,” he said.
Holley also has $15,000 from the grant for streetscape improvements. Village officials are considering using that money to refurbish the fountain, built in 1914, and add new benches. Dill said the village is open to ideas for spending that money.
Holley also also has been awarded a $30,000 state grant for records retention. The grant will fund scanning many of Holley’s paper documents into digital files. That includes board minutes, payroll records, and birth and death records. The paperwork goes back many decades.
Photo courtesy of Holley Central School – From left, Katrina with her father William standing behind her, school librarian Lisa Osur, Joshua with his mother Marie McAllister to the right and school Principal Sue Cory in back row.
Press release, Holley Central School District
HOLLEY – Two Holley seniors, Katrina Grathouse and Jacob McAllister, were honored recently by the Holley Board of Education with the Soaring to New Heights Award. The students volunteered their time to help school librarian Lisa Osur prepare for the new school year by unpacking, scanning and shelving thousands of books.
CLARENDON – Two Orleans County women are hospitalized this morning following a two-car head-on crash in the Town of Clarendon. The incident occurred shortly before 8 a.m., on East Lee Rd. (State Route 31-A) at intersection with South Manning Rd. Randi Lee Johnson, 28, of Albion, the sole occupant, was operating a 2012 Jeep SUV westbound on East Lee Rd., when her vehicle crossed the center line and collided with an eastbound 2001 Ford Taurus operated by Sherell L. Lindsey, 29, of Medina. Lindsay was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
Johnson was able to escape her vehicle before it burst into flames and was totally consumed by fire. She was transported by Monroe Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
Lindsey was trapped in her vehicle for approximately 45 minutes, before being extricated by Clarendon, Holley and Barre firefighters. She was flown to Strong by MercyFlight helicopter.
The incident remains under investigation by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were assisted at the scene by State Troopers from the Albion barracks.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Holley Deputy Mayor David Dill and Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Mary Ellen Ridley are helping to plan a parade of lights on Dec. 7, as well as a memory bulb lighting for a Christmas tree that will be by the fountain in the Public Square.
HOLLEY – Village officials believe a popular new holiday tradition has begun, and Holley wants to build on the event, which includes a parade of lights and memory bulb lighting in the Public Square.
Holley since 1982 has lighted a Christmas tree in the Public Square not long after Thanksgiving. Residents can pay $5 to have a bulb dedicated in memory of a loved one. That person’s name will be announced during a tree lighting ceremony.
Two years ago Holley decided to expand the event, by having a parade of lights. There were five or six entries, mostly fire trucks, in the first year. Last year word spread about the parade and there were 45 entries.
The village now wants to extend the holiday celebration even more. This year’s event is planned for Dec. 7, beginning with a breakfast with Santa at 10 a.m. at the Eastern Orleans Community Center.
There will be carolers in the Public Square for several hours, with student groups from Holley Central School and the Old Paths Bible Baptist Church. Vendors are also sought to sell refreshments and crafts.
“We want people to come into town to see our businesses,” said Deputy Mayor David Dill, one of the coordinators of the holiday celebration.
Holley started the parade of lights after seeing the success of the event in Medina. That community will host its fifth annual parade of lights on Nov. 30.
Holley urges parade participants to string lights on a flatbed truck, bicycle, car or even people to be part of the fun.
For more information, call the Village Office at (585) 638-6367, ext. 103.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – This picture was taken in April when the Holley school district opened the all-weather track to the community. The Holley football team plays its first game Saturday on the new field.
Press release
Holley Central School
HOLLEY – The Holley Hawks Varsity Football team will play their first game in the district’s newly constructed football stadium on Saturday, with kickoff at 1:30 p.m.
The Hawks take on Byron-Bergen/Elba in a season home-opener. Come support the Hawks and enjoy a crisp fall day in the new football stadium. The Holley Sports Boosters will be selling concessions at the game.
Construction on the stadium was completed earlier this summer. Features include new seating, a new scoreboard, and an all-weather track surrounding the playing field.
Contributed Story Posted 4 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo courtesy of Holley Central School
HOLLEY – Holley Central School officials as well as local and state elected leaders joined for a ribbon-cutting celebration in front of the junior-senior high school on Tuesday evening. The district is nearly done with about $32 million in capitol improvements to the campus.
Pictured, from left, for the ribbon-cutting include: former Board of Education President John Heise, current board members Robin Silvis, Jack Welch, Norman Knight, Holley Mayor John Kenney, BOE Vice President Kellie Spychalski, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, BOE President Brenda Swanger, Town of Clarendon Supervisor Dick Moy, Town of Murray Councilwoman Kathy Case, BOE members Sal DeLuca and Anne Winkley, and former board member Dorothy Morgan. Following the ceremony, residents, parents and students toured the campus to see new features including a new light court, library, dining hall and science labs in the junior-senior high school, plus a new bus garage and other upgrades to the schools.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 September 2013 at 12:00 am
School district celebrates $32 million in upgrades
Photos by Tom Rivers – Holley Central School Superintendent Robert D’Angelo addresses a crowd tonight before a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the refurbished junior-high school. A big crowd attended an open house to see the improvements. The Holley Board of Education is pictured next to D’Angelo. Board President Brenda Swanger is holding the scissors.
HOLLEY – School district residents and students walked into the middle-high school foyer this evening and many couldn’t believe the sweeping changes in the school.
The building has been transformed in the past three years, the result of $32 million in capital improvement projects. The last of the major work was completed over the summer.
“This is a very historic time for the district,” Superintendent Robert D’Angelo told about 200 people this evening during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Other than the exterior walls this is a brand-new junior-senior high school.”
Several hundred more people showed up after the ribbon-cutting to tour the revamped school.
“It looks so much better,” said Nicole Boyle, a junior at Holley. “It’s like a new school.”
Community members, including Village Trustee David Dill, front left, eagerly walk through the foyer and head towards the hallways.
The cafeteria was relocated away from the instructional wing and the new space includes large windows.
The school was built in the early 1970s in the “open classroom” model with most of the classrooms in the center of the school building without access to the windows and natural light on the outer walls.
Students knew the school didn’t meet the standards of buildings at many other nearby districts, Boyle said. But that is no longer the case.
“We’ll definitely be more proud of our school,” she said while passing out maps to the community as they crowded into foyer before dispersing into the hallways. “It will make the students more proud of Holley.”
The community in May 2010 approved the $27.4 million project, which followed a $4.1 million upgrade.
The improvements were spread throughout the district campus. There is a new transportation facility for buses, a new athletic field and all-weather track. The school buildings have new roofs.
The junior-high school received the most attention, with the cafeteria moved out of the instruction portion of the school. That reduces noise and disruption for teachers and students.
The hallways have new lockers and a nice shine.
The district created an inner light corridor some all classrooms now have access to existing light. The corridor includes many plants.
The new cafeteria is in an addition with big windows that let in lots of light. The district also added a “light corridor” in the center of the school to allow natural light for classrooms in the interior.
“It changes the attitude and climate of the building,” said Principal Susan Cory. “Kids will want to be here to learn.”
The changes are more than cosmetic. Classrooms are outfitted with new technology, including new science labs.
“Teachers have more technology resources,” Cory said. “They have to deal with less noise and they have more flexibility in running their classes. The focus is really on instruction.”
The project also relocated the library from a classroom wing to near the foyer in the former nurses area. The library has 10,000 books, a bigger circulation desk and the latest in technology.
“It’s a bigger space, and it’s brighter and cleaner,” said Lisa Osur, the school librarian. “It’s more purposeful.”
The library is close to the guidance counselors. If college representatives are visiting to meet with students, they can use an office in the library.
The new library, created in the former nurses wing, includes 10,000 books and lots of new technology.
John Heise was the Board of Education president while Holley secured two public votes and then all the approvals through state Education Department officials. School officials met numerous times with contractors to get the project started and finished on time without going over budget.
Heise, a former Holley principal, was on the board until June 30. He chose not to seek re-election. He greeted many of the community members today as they walked into the new-look junior-high school.
“We’ve always had a good school,” he said. “But having a building like this tells the kids they are important and valuable. So I want to thank the community for sending that message.”
Press release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department
CLARENDON – A motorcyclist was injured this morning in a one-vehicle crash in Clarendon.
The incident occurred shortly after 9:30 a.m. in the 4600 block of Holley-Byron Road (State Route 237) in the town of Clarendon. James A. Cox, 61, was operating 1996 Harley Davidson and failed to negotiate a curve.
Cox ran off the east side of the roadway and laid the bike down in an open field. He was transported by Clarendon Fire Department Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester with non-life threatening injuries.
The incident was investigated by Sergeant D.W. Covis.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 September 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
Francis Minervino, 91, of Albion does the motions for the YMCA song today at the St. Rocco’s Italian Festival in Hulberton. Tom Mazerbo was the DJ for the event, which draws about 2,500 people to the hamlet along the Erie Canal.
Pasta fagioli, eggplant parmesan and other Italian foods were quick sell-outs during today’s festival.
HULBERTON – Peter Monacelli remembers spending his summers in the 1950s and ’60s with his grandparents in Hulberton.
The neighborhood, set along in the sandstone quarries along the Erie Canal, was full of passionate Italians.
“It was a wonderful place to be for a kid,” said Monacelli, 71, of Rochester. “For such a tiny place it was so full of life.”
Monacelli was back in Hulberton today for the annual St. Rocco’s Italian Festival, bringing his 91-year-old aunt Francis Minervino of Albion. Monacelli never misses the event, which is nearing its 40th year.
“I see all of these people that I see once a year,” he said. “It’s a blast.”
Elizabeth Jubenville of Kendall puts powdered sugar on waffles at the St. Rocco’s Italian Festival in Hulberton today. The event raises about $15,000 for the Catholic parish in Holley and Kendall.
Monacelli loves the Italian food, the bocce tournament, Italian music and gift baskets that are raffled off. The event raises about $15,000 of the Catholic parish in Holley and Kendall.
Eggplant parmesan was once again the top seller with about 800 slices quickly gobbled up. Pasta fagioli was another popular item, as well as the meatball sandwiches.
Joann Smith is chairwoman of the Italian food court. She and the church volunteers were swarmed by a big crowd on a hot, muggy day.
“It’s nice that they enjoy it,” Smith said about the food eaters. “It makes it more worthwhile to see everyone so happy.”
James Logsdon, 90, of Holley competes in today’s bocce tournament in Hulberton. Logsdon played on a team with his son Kevin and grandson Mike Logsdon. The grandfather hand-tapped the playing surface for the seven courts, getting them ready for today’s 24-team tournament that included $1,500 in prizes.
The bocce tournament attracted 24 teams, with competitors from Canada, Lockport, Rochester, Batavia and many teams from Orleans County. Randy Bower chairs the event. The teams may be expanded next year to 32 because there is so much interest.
Bower and many of the other players look forward to the tournament every year.
“It’s a Labor Day tradition,” he said. “We enjoy the camaraderie and everyone playing together.”
Bocce players get out the measuring tape to see who is closest.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 August 2013 at 12:00 am
HOLLEY – A $27 million capitol improvement project, the largest in Holley Central School’s history, will be celebrated with a ribbon-cutting and open house on Tuesday.
Contractors have been working the past two years on the district campus, overhauling the high school side of the middle-high school, replacing roofs on that building plus the elementary school, and tearing down the current bus garage and building a new transportation facility.
The district also built a new football field and all-weather track, and tackled a series of other improvements.
This summer crews worked to create a revamped foyer, and put the finishing touches on a library, dining hall, resource room and new offices. There is also a new light court area and science labs.
School and community leaders will cut a ribbon in front of the middle-high school at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The campus will then be open for tours until 8 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo from Village of Holley – The Village of Holley is trying to draw attention to the old Holley High School and its inclusion on the inaugural “Five to Revive” list by the Landmark Society of Western New York. The Village Department of Public Works – Pete Surowy and Dylon Love – installed a banner on the building today. Deputy Mayor David Dill is standing on the ground at the bottom of the ladder.
HOLLEY – When the debut list of “Five to Revive” came out in May, featuring sites in the Rochester area in desperate need of improvement, the old Holley High School made the list.
Today, the village Department of Public Works put a banner on the old school, noting its place on the Five to Revive.
The Landmark Society of Western New York in May announced the list of five properties in need of investment.
“Whether buildings, landscapes or structures, they are significant historic properties whose rehabilitations can become catalytic projects for the neighborhoods and communities that surround them,” the Landmark Society stated then.
Landmark Society staff picked the five sites, calling them “irreplaceable historic resources.” The Landmark Society offered to work collaboratively with owners, municipal officials and developers to facilitate investment and foster rehabilitation so that these structures can again play an active role in their communities.
In addition to the Holley school, the Landmark Society picked the following as Five to Revive: the Pulaski Library, 1151 Hudson Ave., Rochester; Former Eastman Dental Dispensary, 800 Main St., Rochester; Pedestrian Bridges in Genesee Valley Park, Rochester; Sampson Theatre, 130-136 East Elm St., Penn Yan.
The Holley school is located at the corner of routes 31 and 237. It was last used about three decades ago by Liftec Manufacturing, which went bankrupt. The site was last used as a school in the early 1970s.
The Landmark Society said the former school is a highly visible anchor in a historic Erie Canal village.
“Its notable historic and architectural significance, combined with its prominent location and scale of design, make it an important candidate for rehabilitation and re-use after nearly 30 years of vacancy,” according to the Landmark Society.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 August 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo courtesy of Bruce Landis
HOLLEY – The Class of 1973 at Holley Central School met on Aug. 17 for the group’s 40-year class reunion.
There were 31 members of the class at the reunion, which was held at Hickory Ridge Country Club.
“All who attended agreed that they had a great time reminiscing and catching up,” said Christine Kinsey. “There is already talk of another get-together in five years.”
If any other classes want to share a reunion group photo, send it to news@OrleansHub.com.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 August 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Kristina Martin, 21, competed in today’s 5-kilometer race in Bergen, which drew elite runners from across the state. Martin finished in 18:45, a blistering pace.
BERGEN – Before her final season as a long-distance runner in college, Kristina Martin wanted to see how she fared against some of the fastest women in the state.
Martin didn’t win today, but she ran a fast 5K in Bergen, finishing the course in 18:45.
The 21-year-old is a captain of the cross country team in Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. She is one of the school’s top runners. She wants to see the team reach Nationals this fall.
“I want to give it my best because it’s my senior year,” Martin said today after the Jenny Kuzma Memorial Run today. The race has become one of the premier 5Ks in the state.
Martin’s team has been close to qualifying for Nationals. She believes the team has a good shot this year with a strong returning corps, plus some newcomers.
She played soccer in Holley before switching to cross country her junior and senior years. She emerged as a star and went on to Allegheny, where she was Newcomer of the Year for the Division III North Coast Athletic Conference as a freshman. In college, the course is 6 kilometers and she runs it in about 23 minutes.
Kristina is majoring in history with minors in political science and American studies. Her parents, Jeff and Clara Martin, have both started running in recent years.
“It’s a nice way to spend time by myself and forget about the stresses of school,” she said.
Kristina was picked as Allegheny’s athlete of the week in January. To read that article from the college, click here.
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott D. Hess
Nineteen people between 18 and 20 years of age have an appearance date in Town of Clarendon Court following their arrests early Sun., Aug. 4, 2013. At about 1:15 a.m., Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a Loud Party/Loud Noise complaint on New Guinea Rd., west of Upper Holley Rd.
The party was located in a wooded area south of New Guinea Rd. Deputies found numerous motor vehicles, a camper, several tents, and a large bonfire. They also found approximately 60 to 70 individuals, most of whom were consuming alcoholic beverages.
All of the nineteen arrested were issued appearance tickets for NYS ABC Law Violation – Possession of Alcohol by Person(s) Under 21 Years of Age. All were residents of Genesee, Orleans and Monroe counties. The property owner, who was not present, was notified and declined to prefer any Trespass charge(s).
The incident was investigated by Deputies D.E. Foeller Jr., A.J. Houghton, J.W. Halstead, & J.J. Cole.
