By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 2 December 2016 at 9:15 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski
HOLLEY – The Holley Middle School Chorus performs “The Christmas Song,” arranged by Carol Strommen, during the Winter Concert Thursday evening in the Middle School/High School auditorium.
The Middle School Chorus is directed by Kelly Marzano. She told the audience the group is always “a lot of fun” to work with. Marzano noted school music programs are about “having a good time, making music and making good memories.”
Harleigh Andrews performs a solo during the Middle School Chorus’ performance of “Believe,” arranged by Roger Emerson.
Thomas Dobri (far right) was also a featured soloist during the performance of “Believe.”
The Holley Middle School Band performs “Holiday Bell Festival,” arranged by Eric Osterling, under the direction of Zachary Busch.
The Middle School Band also performed “Bobsled Run,” by Lloyd Conley, and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” by Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane, arranged by John Edmonston.
The Holley Middle School/High School Winter Concert also featured performances by the Concert Choir, the Women’s Choir and Concert Band.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 28 November 2016 at 10:28 am
Provided photo: Robin Silvis, a member of the Holley Board of Education, is pictured with John Sherman at last week’s BOE meeting in Holley.
HOLLEY – The Holley Central School District Buildings & Grounds Department has been honored by a youth football league for its upkeep of its playing fields.
Holley recently was awarded the Jim Ellegate Memorial Award by the Niagara Orleans Football Association. The award was presented to John Sherman, the district’s director of facilities, during the regular meeting of the Board of Education on Nov. 21.
Robin Silvis, vice president of the Board of Education, presented Sherman with the award. She explained that Jim Ellegate was a football coach for the Roy-Hart Rams Beginner Football Team. He tragically lost his life coming home from a football game.
“He was a man that gave freely of his time, not only volunteering to coach football, but he was involved in coaching baseball and was also a Cub Scout leader,” Silvis said. “With Jim’s passing, the Niagara Orleans Football Association executive board and its commissioners wanted to keep his spirit alive, and this is how the Jim Ellegate Memorial Award was created. This award is given to a person or an organization that shows their passion for the love of the game and for the love of the children.”
The Holley Central School District Buildings & Grounds Department was nominated for the award by the Eastern Orleans Jr. Hawks because of “stellar conditions of not only the youth football field on district grounds, but for our district facility as a whole,” Silvis says. “It is very well maintained, clean, and a very welcoming facility that shows much hard work and dedication by those that take care of it, and demonstrate the ultimate in Holley pride.”
The Buildings & Grounds Department supports our community’s youth by going beyond their job expectations, putting in a lot of extra time.
“Our football fields and the areas surrounding always are top notch,” Silvas said. “They made it possible for our youth to not only play on beautiful grounds, but they made it so that we have a portable scoreboard for each contest, which is absolutely outstanding. This team always had the cheer mats available for our cheerleaders and seamlessly made everything available to these youth.”
Silvis adds that the district is very fortunate to have such hard working and dedicated people caring for its buildings and grounds.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 23 November 2016 at 1:15 pm
Photos by Kristina Gabalski: Holley Middle School/High School Principal Sue Corey presents the monthly Soaring to New Heights Award to Senior Hannah Biedlingmaier.
HOLLEY – Members of the Holley Central School Board of Education recognized senior class member Hannah Biedlingmaier Monday evening during their regular meeting with the monthly Soaring to New Heights Award.
Biedlingmaier stepped up and volunteered to sew new stoles for the National Honor Society. Holley Middle School/High School Principal Sue Cory said students wear the stoles for Honor Society induction ceremonies and for graduation. The school needed to replace their supply, which was becoming warn from age, Cory said.
She said purchasing new stoles would have cost the district hundreds of dollars.
“Hannah said, ‘I can make them,’ and she did a beautiful job,” Cory said. “Sewing is a bit of a lost art, Hannah makes a lot of her own clothes.”
Cory noted the project became a family effort as many of the stoles were needed for the recent Honor Society induction.
Hannah said 25 stoles were made for the induction ceremonies, but she will make more which are needed for graduation next spring.
Another senior class member, Claudia Dreschel, addressed board members regarding her year spent in Europe as a Rotary exchange student.
Dreschel spent the 2015-2016 school year in Austria and she thanked the Holley Rotary for sponsoring her participation. Dreschel described the differences in high school education between Holley and Austria.
Claudia Dreschel holds her Rotary jacket completely covered in mementos from her exchange trip to Austria.
She explained that when students reach high school age in Austria, they can choose to focus their studies at specialized schools, studying tourism, art, or business, for example. The students are then ready to enter the workforce if they choose immediately after graduation.
Some students choose to attend an academically-focused high school, Dreschel said.
“They have strong academics, more rigorous than here,” she said.
Dreschel said the experience helped her to appreciate all that Holley Central offers its students.
“We incorporate extracurriculars, they don’t do sports with schooling (in Austria),” she said. “We have student council and clubs.”
Board members asked Dreschel how she traveled to her school and if she felt safe during her stay.
“Public transportation is more accessible there,” Dreschel said, “but I walked to school every day.” S
he said she felt as safe in Austria as she feels in Holley, and noted incidents of violence can occur anywhere.
In other business, Superintendent Robert D’Angelo and Assistant Superintendent for Business Sharon Zacher gave a preliminary report to board members regarding changes in the minimum wage which will increase annually over the next five years.
“We wanted to give you the heads-up, it’s an eye opener,” Zacher said.
She presented board members with some initial data on how the increases will affect the district.
The changes will affect yearly contract negotiations, Zacher said. She noted the district will have to prepare itself for dealing with the increases as well as how the increases will affect the morale of some staff members.
She noted when the minimum wage reaches a certain level, it will be close to what some district employees who have worked for the school for twelve years are making.
“It’s something we need to get going on,” Zacher said. “We have to get thinking about how to learn to deal with it.”
Board President Brenda Swanger said the minimum wage increases are a growing concern for all area school districts.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 November 2016 at 4:07 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: Developers next year expect to start work on a $17 million transformation of the old Holley High School, turning it into senior housing and offices for the village government.
HOLLEY – The Orleans Economic Development Agency has approved a tax-savings plan for Home Leasing, the Rochester company that is planning a $17 million transformation of the old Holley High School.
Home Leasing wants to turn the landmark building in the center of Holley into 41 apartments for low- to moderate-income senior citizens, and also use part of the building for the village offices. The project will reuse a building at 1 Wright St that has set vacant for 20 years. Home Leasing is calling the project, “Holley Gardens.”
The EDA has approved agreements that would save the company more than $800,000 combined in sales, mortgage and property taxes. There was a public hearing last week in Holley about the incentives. There wasn’t any opposition to the proposals that were approved last Friday by the EDA board.
Home Leasing was approved for an 8 percent sales tax abatement on up to $7.8 million in expenses for equipment, materials, furniture and other taxable purchases. That will save Home Leasing $624,000.
The company was also given a break on the mortgage tax, 0.75 percent on a $3,192,700 mortgage, a savings of $23,945.
The EDA worked with local tax entities on a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) plan for 30 years that will save Home Leasing $197,440 in property taxes over 30 years, an average of $6,581 a year.
The PILOT also sets Home Leasing’s tax commitment to $547,669 over 30 years, an average of
$18,255 a year on a property that currently isn’t generating any tax revenue.
Jim Whipple, the EDA chief executive officer, said the project will fill a housing need for quality, affordable housing. The building is prominent on Route 31, a gateway location on the eastern end of Orleans County.
“Holley Garden’s central location presents a transformative opportunity for the immediate and surrounding community by creating a positive, contributing anchor,” the EDA said.
The project will create 40-50 construction jobs and 2 full-time equivalent positions to manage and maintain the residential space.
The EDA has also set up a holding company, the Orleans Land Holdings, so the title of the property can be transferred from the county to the Orleans Land Holdings and then to Home Leasing.
The county has owned the 52,000-square-foot building for many years after Liftec Manufacturing went bankrupt about two decades ago.
Many local, state and federal officials have been working on the project. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer visited the old school on Monday to state his support for federal and state tax incentives that go to developers who renovate historic buildings.
Orleans County legislators in July voted to forgive $75,421 in back taxes for the old Holley High School, easing some of the financial burden on the project for Home Leasing.
Provided photos: The Holley Elementary Chorus sings a patriotic song during a Veterans Day assembly last Thursday.
Posted 16 November 2016 at 8:55 pm
Press Release, Holley Central School
HOLLEY – The annual Veterans Day assembly at Holley Elementary School on Nov. 10 featured patriotic music.
Students led the assembly, guiding the audience through a history of American music through their presentations and performances.
The Elementary Chorus sang while the Elementary Band played the “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The Chorus also sang “God Bless the USA” and “Thank You, Soldiers.”
Following an introduction by senior Claudia Drechsel, the band played “This is My Country,” along with “America the Beautiful.”
Sixth grader Chris Lyndaker played “Bugle Call” and “Taps” on his trumpet.
A group of local veterans from the American Legion and VFW posted and retired the colors to begin and end the assembly. There were about 50 local veterans were in attendance, representing all four branches of the military.
Local veterans begin the flag ceremony at Holley Elementary.
Fourth grader Zachary Mrzywka gives a presentation during the Veterans Day assembly.
The Holley Elementary Band plays a patriotic song.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 November 2016 at 4:44 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer speaks during the Veterans Day ceremony today at the American Legion in Holley. Chuck Eberhart, the Legion commander, is at left.
There were several Veterans Day observances in Orleans County. The Legion in Holley had several speakers from different branches of the military.
Schemer said he prefers to celebrate Veterans Day in a small town, because the sacrifices of veterans in those communities are often more keenly felt by the community.
“It’s the small towns that have often sent the most veterans,” Schumer told a crowd during a program at the Legion in Holley.
Members of the Honor Guard attended the program in Holley today.
Schumer noted that Holley suffered one of the highest per capita losses during the Vietnam War. He read the names of eight soldiers who graduated from Holley and died in Vietnam: Gary E. Bullock, Howard L. Bowen, David D. Case, John P. Davis, George W. Fischer Jr., Paul S. Mandraccia, Ronald P. Sisson and Gary L. Stymus. David States, another solider from Holley, also died in Vietnam.
“They symbolize the greatness of America,” Schumer said of the Holley soldiers.
He said the country didn’t give soldiers during the Vietnam War the respect they deserved.
“One of the saddest chapters in American history is when our Vietnam veterans came back and were not honored. Some of them were vilified. That was a disgrace,” the senator said. “The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have had many divisions about them, people were for them and people were against them, but praise God when our veterans came back they have been honored.”
Schumer shakes hands with a local veteran and thanks him for his service.
The United States wouldn’t have been possible without veterans stepping forward to defend the country, and continuing to answer the call for more than 200 years.
“We’ve a tradition in this grand land of ours from the days of farmers, ordinary farmers, who put down their plows and took up muskets on Bunker Hill to create our freedom and generation after generation after generation has volunteered and served in our armed services,” Schumer said. “Western New York has had a tradition of volunteering in the armed forces in greater numbers in general than any other place in our country because of the spirit of America and the spirit of volunteering.”
Schumer said he has pushed for better healthcare for veterans through the VA system and the GI Bill that helps to pay for college. He also was instrumental in the new Veterans Cemetery in Pembroke.
Major Ryan D’Andrea speaks during today’s ceremony.
Chuck Eberhardt, the post commander, said the community has shown support for veterans, including Holley students who welcomed veterans in the school for a program on Thursday.
Mark Morreall reads a poem that pays tribute to the sacrifices of veterans.
Ron Ayrault, the post chaplain, shares a prayer to end today’s Veterans Day program in Holley.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Nelson Leenhouts, chairman and CEO of Home Leasing, addresses a crowd this morning outside the former Holley High School. Leenhouts wants to redevelop the site into senior apartments and the village offices.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 11 November 2016 at 1:59 pm
HOLLEY – Calling it the lynch-pin to re-development of the old Holley High School, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer this morning announced that he will work to secure $3.7 million in housing and historic preservation tax credits for developers of the proposed Holley Gardens, a $17 million redevelopment project.
Schumer spoke in front of the school located in the center of the Village of Holley, and called the plan to create 41 mixed-income apartments for seniors, new village office space, and restore the auditorium for public events, “a labor of love,” by developer Nelson Leenhouts, chairman and CEO of Home Leasing.
“He is doing this because he cares,” Schumer said.
Nelson Leenhouts, chairman and CEO of Home Leasing, and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer want to see the old Holley school repurposed for housing and offices. Leenhouts said in his 49 years of real estate development he has never had a community work so hard to make a project a reality as the redevelopment of the old school.
Schumer called the old school, “a beautiful, historic building in a prime location which has needed some real TLC for the last 30 years.”
The school was built in 1931 and closed in 1975. It was used by Liftec Manfacturing until the company went bankrupt about two decades ago.
Schumer said the redevelopment to senior housing and village office space would, “take some elbow grease, but I think we are up to the challenge.”
The senator noted the project now needs a federal investment and is urging the National Park Service and its partner agency, the NYS Office of Historic Preservation, to approve $3 million in federal Historic Tax Credits.
Additionally, Senator Schumer is urging the NYS Department of Homes and Community Renewal to award $700,000 in federal Low Income Tax Credits that the state receives from the U.S. Treasury Department to assist developers.
Developer Nelson Leenhouts said his company is honored to have the opportunity to restore and transform the school. “We have been in business a long time and we have never been so welcomed with such open arms,” he said of the Village of Holley and Orleans County. “We look forward to providing housing for seniors here. The location is spectacular.”
Schumer said the tax credits will leverage $7.1 million in private investment as part of the overall $17 million redevelopment plan. The project is expected to create 64 construction jobs during the 15-month construction period and two full-time jobs after construction.
Local and county officials attended the announcement including Village Trustee Kevin Lynch, Orleans County Legislature Chairman Dave Callard and County Legislator John DeFillipps. Holley Mayor Brian Sorochty introduced the senator and thanked local officials including Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Senator Schumer for their efforts on behalf of the project.
Leenhouts of Home Leasing said he would like assurance on the tax credits in December, so the company can begin preparing for construction to start late next year.
“We are working hard together,” Mayor Sorochty noted. “There is a huge spirit of cooperation. Senator Schumer has been a huge advocate of the project and the Village of Holley.”
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer meets with local officials and people working on the redevelopment of the old Holley High School today on the front lawn and steps of the historic school. Schumer said the tax credits for reviving historic properties can make the projects financially viable, and return important properties as community assets.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 November 2016 at 1:07 pm
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer shakes hands with Chipper Gifaldi, a World War II veteran, today before a Veterans Day program at the American Legion in Holley.
HOLLEY – U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said the country needs to come together and put aside bitter divisions that were so visible in the presidential election.
Schumer was in Holley today to draw attention to federal and state tax credits for renovating historic sites.
Schumer said $3.7 million in tax credits ($3 million from the federal government and $700,000 from the state) would make redeveloping the old Holley High School financially feasible.
After stating his support for those tax credits, Schumer took questions from reporters.
He made the following comments about the election on Tuesday, where Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton. (Schumer was easily re-elected in a race against Wendy Long.)
Here are Schumer’s remarks:
“First I want to thank the voters of New York State for electing me. I got about 70 percent of the vote. So I got a large percentage of the vote, and not just Democrats but Republicans and independents. So I thank you.
“President-elect Trump, he called me Wednesday morning. I congratulated him on his victory. And you know it is a beautiful thing, our democracy, how we peacefully pass the torch. There is a sacred right to vote and the American people made their voices heard, elected Donald Trump to the presidency and Republican majorities in both Houses of Congress. So I talked with Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan.
‘We all know it was a divisive election, and the outcome surprised some people. But that doesn’t matter. It’s time to come together and heal the bitter wounds.’
“I also want to offer my thanks to my dear friend Hillary Clinton for her hard-fight campaign. We worked together for eight years as senators. She was very gracious in her remarks as well. She has done a lot of service, incredible service, to this country. She has served as a beacon to all of us. I know she will serve the country well.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said he congratulated Donald Trump on Wednesday for winning the presidency.
“We all know it was a divisive election, and the outcome surprised some people. But that doesn’t matter. It’s time to come together and heal the bitter wounds.
“As the leader-to-be of the Senate Democrats – God willing, my colleagues all said they would vote for me on Wednesday – I look forward to hearing from the American people and charting a path to achieve our sacred goals and defend our values.
“When the Founding Fathers finished writing the Constitution over in Philadelphia at Constitution Hall, they said they had created God’s Noble Experiment. I believe those three words are every bit as relevant today as they were then.
“We are under God, a nation of faith. We are noble, we believe in democracy and that everybody has equal opportunity. And experiment, that means we keep changing and adapting to the times as we’ve seen in election after election.
“I’m a patriot. I love America and I love our veterans, and we will move forward.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 November 2016 at 11:52 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – There are a lot of people outside today in Orleans County enjoying the sunshine and warm weather, including Tom Dabrowski of Hamlin, shown teeing off on the first hole of the Holley-Brook Golf Course on Countyline Road.
Tom Dabrowski, left, was out golfing with his friend Greg Whitney of Greece. They had the course to themselves at about 11 a.m. today, when the temperature was 57 degrees.
Arlene Peone also was out walking her dog, Hannah, a husky. They are shown near the canal by Bennetts Corners Road.
Arlene Peone rewards Hannah with a treat during their late morning walk.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 9 November 2016 at 10:15 am
MURRAY –Town Board members on Tuesday evening unanimously adopted the 2017 budget that reduces the tax rate.
The rates are down both town-wide and for the town outside the village. The town-wide rate is $3.06 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, down from $3.12 in 2016. In the town outside the village, the tax rate falls to $1.77/$1,000 assessed valuation from $1.80.
Appropriations in the 2017 budget total $2.3 million with $1.42 million to be raised through property taxes. That’s actually up from $1.41 million in 2016, but the tax rate decreases because assessments are up over $3 million, Supervisor John Morriss reported.
Morris thanked members of the citizen advisory committee who participated in the budget creation process.
“A lot of effort goes into it,” said resident Krista Wiley, a member of the advisory committee. “It’s a tough job.”
Wiley said most residents don’t have a sense of what it entails, going through each line item in detail.
“We had the same conversations as we do about our homes and businesses,” Wiley said.
No one spoke during a public hearing on the budget which was held before the vote.
“Lower tax rates should make the community feel happy,” town assessor Lynn Wood said.
He explained that the increase in assessments are the result of home sales. “The sales uptick the last year-and-a-half helps spur that,” he said, as well as construction of new homes.
Sandra Shaw, director of the Holley Community Free Library, addressed the board during the public comment portion of the meeting. She reported to board members regarding how the library has decided to spend $20,000 in bullet aid obtained by State Senator Rob Ortt.
Shaw noted that patrons are requesting more programming and the library has decided to hire a part-time children’s librarian with $14,250 of the aid to be spent for that position and the remainder will be spent on items such as books, DVDs, and children’s, young adult and adult programs.
“We will expand the children’s program with a Duplo wall. At Easter we will have a Lego tutorial,” Shaw said.
She explained the tutorial will teach children how to construct a vehicle with Legos. Adult programming is also planned on a regular basis with a wide range of topics including weaving, tole painting and specifying your final wishes to your family.
Shaw said the funding will help the library to reach out to the town to provide programming.
“We want people to know we are here and to come join us and have fun at the library,” Shaw said.
She noted she has reached out to the University of Buffalo regarding the possibility of taking on a student who has almost finished their studies, and who would come to Holley for a semester and then be hired part-time.
