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.

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.

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 40^th 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.

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.

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.

For more on the Five to Revive, click here.

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.

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.

Concert series draws a crowd to village park

Photos by Michael Karcz

HOLLEY – The Canal Park was rocking tonight when country band Julie Dunlap and High Maintenance performed by the historic Erie Canal.

Residents watched the high-energy show from lawn chairs by the gazebo.

Press release, NYS DOT

MURRAY – The state Department of Transportation is closing the Groth Road canal bridge on Thursday and Friday so crews can replace deteriorated steel elements underneath the structure.

The work follows a recent bridge inspection that revealed a need for the unplanned repair work.

A detour will not be posted. Drivers can cross the Erie Canal on Telegraph or Hulberton roads.

Provided photos – The mixed winning team includes Matt Bush, Dave Cook, Cindy Perry and Pete Jones.

Press release, Orleans Community Health Foundation

HOLLEY – A hundred golfers played 18 rounds on a hot July 19 and raised $36,000 for the Orleans Community Health Foundation’s 27^th annual golf tournament.

The tournament was postponed from its original date of June 14, due  to extreme rain and flooding.

The $36,000 will go towards finishing up Phase 2 of the renovations in the Residential Long Term Care Facility, known as the “North Wing” at Medina Memorial Hospital. This is a 30-bed nursing care facility in the hospital located on the first floor.

The renovations to date have remodeled each of the 30 resident rooms from top to bottom. Residents are enjoying new cabinetry, windows, ceilings and flooring.

The hospital is working to finish a solarium and sun porch for the residents to use, along with new furniture in the dining area and a nurses’ station.

The winning men’s team includes Wayne Barry, Paul Burgess, Gary Hill and Dan Krisher.

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department

MURRAY – A Brockport man is hospitalized this morning following a one-car crash in the Town of Murray.

The incident occurred at about 7:25 a.m. in the 16300 block of Ridge Road (State Route 104). A 1999 Toyota sedan, operated by Richard F. Graziano, 73, was travelling west on Ridge Rd., when witnesses say the car began to drift into the eastbound traffic lane. Upon realizing this, Graziano apparently over-corrected and lost control of the vehicle, which then rolled over several times before running off the north side of the roadway and slamming into a tree.

Graziano, the sole occupant, was trapped in the wreckage for approximately 40 minutes before being extricated by Fancher-Hulberton-Murray and Holley firefighters.  He was then flown to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester by MercyFlight helicopter.

Neither alcohol nor excessive speed appear to have been contributing factors.  Deputies will try to determine if some medical issue precipitated the crash.

The incident was investigated by Deputies T.N. Tooley and M.C. Mele.

HOLLEY – After nearly a decade of leadership from John Heise as Holley Board of Education president, the district has a new leader.

Brenda Swanger was unanimously picked by her fellow board members to lead the district on Monday. Heise opted against seeking re-election in May. He continues as Holley’s representative on the Monroe II-Orleans BOCES board.

Swanger has served nine years on the board. She works as a real estate agent and for the town of Clarendon in accounts payable, water billing and with the budget.

“I have a passion for the school and I think we have a great community,” Swanger said this morning.

The Holley district is on an upswing, she said, citing the near-completion of a $27 million capitol project that is revamping the junior-senior high school, athletic fields, the bus garage and making other improvements.

Crews this summer are giving a makeover to the junior-senior high school foyer, library, some classrooms, and the chorus and band rooms. Swanger also said the district is committed to raising the educational performance of students.

The board is in its first year of shrinking from nine to seven members. That reduction was approved in a referendum about a year ago. Kellie Spychalski, the executive director of The Arc of Orleans County, was picked by the board as vice president.

“I like working with people and so does Kellie,” Swanger said. “We’re both proud of where we live and want to keep the district moving forward.”

Cemetery in Clarendon is third in Orleans to make list

Photos by Tom Rivers – The cemetery includes a sandstone chapel that is considered an excellent example of Gothic Revival architecture.

HOLLEY – The National Park Service has put Hillside Cemetery on the National Register of Historic Places, calling the burial grounds a distinctive example of cemetery design in the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

The cemetery, now owned and managed by the town of Clarendon, was established in 1866 and contains 3,500 graves. The older section on the eastern side is characterized by its park-like appearance and terraced landscaping that was carved in the side of a hill.

The NPS officially added Hillside to the national list on June 25. In its report, the NPS says the cemetery monuments display symbolism common to the mid- and late-nineteenth century that emphasized the emotional and sentimental Victorian attitude toward death and commemoration.

This section of the cemetery includes a monument in memory of two Holley men who died on The Titanic in April 1912. William Doughton and Peter MCKain were quarrymen from Britain who settled in Holley. They spent the previous winter visiting relatives back home before the doomed voyage on The Titanic.

Hillside Cemetery includes a marker in memory of William Doughton and Peter McKain, two Holley quarrymen from Britain. They went home during the winter of 1912 and perished on The Titanic in April 1912.

The western portion of the cemetery, on the opposite side of South Holley Road, embodies the characteristics of the later lawn-park cemetery style, which was more open and park-like than the picturesque rural cemetery, reflecting a movement toward a more efficient use of space and improved management, according to NPS.

A centerpiece of the cemetery is a chapel in the Gothic Revival architecture style. The chapel, built in 1894, includes locally quarried Medina sandstone.

“From the chapel, both sections of the cemetery are visible, providing a sense of how attitudes toward death and burial were influenced by national trends for the people in Holley and Clarendon,” according to the statement of significance in the application to NPS.

The cemetery was named to state list of historic sites in March. The state and federal listings not only carry prestige, but could help the town secure grants to help pay for roof and window repairs at the chapel.

Two other cemeteries in Orleans County are on the National Register: Mount Albion Cemetery in Albion and Millville Cemetery in Shelby.