Photo by Tom Rivers: Sgt. Dillon Black of the Albion Police Department presents a proposal to the Albion Village Board on Wednesday for the Albion PD to offer firearm safety courses. Mayor Tim McMurray hears the proposal with Village Trustee William Gabalski at left.

ALBION – The Albion Police Department wants to offer an 18-hour class for people seeking to get a Concealed Carry Pistol Permit from New York State.

Sergeant Dillon Black presented the proposal to the Village Board on Wednesday and board members said they support the plan, but first want to hear for village attorney John Sansone and the village’s insurance carrier.

The APD would charge $300 for the class, with village residents getting a discount, according to the proposal.

Two Albion police officers are already certified to lead the class as firearms instructors and a third officer may become certified, Black told the board. His father, Corey Black, was a long-time instructor of a pistol permit class in Orleans County.

Sgt. Black of the APD proposed a class with 16 hours of classroom learning and 2 hours of live-fire range training.

The Village Board said it would make a decision during its Nov. 18 meeting and expects an approval.

Black would like to start with a smaller class of about 8 students and expand to a maximum of 30 in the future.

He told the board it would cost the village about $100 per student with staff time to run the class, plus ammunition and printing of coursework and certificates.

The police department would like any revenue generated to stay in the police budget and go into the APD reserve funds, Sgt. Black said.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C Batavia) was critical of Gov. Kathy Hochul for signing two new gun-control measures that further restrict ammunition purchases and expand firearm safe-storage requirements, calling the action political grandstanding that imposes real costs on responsible gun owners while doing little to stop criminals.

The bills, signed last week at a New Yorkers Against Gun Violence event, include S.7236/A.7983, which expands ammunition background-check denials, and Francesco’s Law, which extends existing safe storage requirements and criminal liability to gun owners regardless of whether they live with a minor or a person prohibited from possessing a gun. The storage changes take effect in January 2027.

 “This is classic Albany grandstanding,” said Hawley. “Gov. Hochul signs more gun rules at a photo-op and claims she’s keeping New Yorkers safe, but the people who actually pay the price are the law-abiding gun owners, not criminals. This measure expands ammunition restrictions beyond federal law and raises due process concerns.

“Lawful buyers now face more delays, fees and red tape every time they purchase ammunition. These costs in time, money and inconvenience fall almost entirely on people who already follow the law. If the goal was really public safety, Albany would focus on holding repeat offenders accountable instead of making it harder and more expensive for honest citizens to exercise their rights.”

Hawley noted that New York already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, yet the new measures continue to layer compliance burdens on owners and small dealers without meaningfully addressing illegal guns or violent crime.

Dominick Callara

MEDINA – A Medina man has been charged with two felonies following an investigation into the sale and distribution of illicit drugs in the Village of Medina.

The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force reports the arrest of Dominick Callara, 21, of East Oak Orchard Street in Medina.

The Task Force on June 18 executed a search warrant at 211 E. Center St., upper apartment, and seized a quantity of psilocin mushrooms and Buprenorphine strips packaged for sale, drug paraphernalia and $171.

After the substances were tested at the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Laboratory, police on October 13 charged Callara  with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, intent to sell (Class D felony).

He was taken into custody on an arrest warrant and was held for CAP Court arraignment. The task Force said Callara was subsequently released on his own recognizance due to the New York State bail reform laws.

Assisting in the investigation were Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard, the Medina Police Department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Department of Corrections Office of Special Investigations.

Further arrests and charges are pending in this investigation.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The four library directors of the public libraries in Orleans County are shown on Tuesday before their presentation to the Orleans County Legislature, asking for more funding in the county’s 2027 budget. Pictured from left include Elizabeth Haibach, director of Hoag Library in Albion; Melanie Norman, director of Community Free Library in Holley; Heather Rutherford, director of Yates Community Library; and Kristine Mostyn, director of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.

ALBION – The four public libraries in Orleans County are seeking a boost in county funding to reflect the libraries expanded mission beyond loaning out books.

The libraries in Orleans Conty have requested $1 per person in funding from the County Legislature in recent years. That would be $40,343 based on county’s population in the 2020 Census.

That has been the request in recent years, but the Legislature has kept libraries at $10,087 since 2011.

“When you look at everything the library does, I think it changes how we should think about our funding for libraries,” said Elizabeth Haibach, director of Hoag Library in Albion.

The four public libraries in Albion, Holley, Lyndonville and Medina met with county legislators on Tuesday. The library leaders said their facilities host many community events, provide internet access, display county tourism materials, assist residents with technology questions and serve as warming centers during the winter and cooling centers during the hot summer months.

Albion opened Hoag Library in 2012 and that site’s three meeting rooms are very busy, including hosting programs for county departments – Emergency Management, Planning and Development, Office for the Aging, and Department of Social Services.

The library also is used as the polling place for the Town of Albion and for the school district’s annual budget vote and election.

Hoag also brings a services into the community, by hosting blood drives, mobile mammography, mobile lung screening and other programs.

Lee-Whedon Library in Medina recently completed an expansion and has seen a 42 percent increase in library users in the past two months, said Krsitine Mostyn, library director.

Lee-Whedon added meeting rooms which are already in demand and have been used by many community organizations. She listed 15 organizations that are using the meeting rooms for diabetes education, digital literacy, understanding addiction, educational programs, health insurance enrollment, babysitting courses, CPR training, mental health skills, community grant sessions, disaster preparation and planning for events.

Lee-Whedon, like Hoag and the Yates Community Library, also hosts a concerts series. All four of the libraries plan many events for their summer reading programs.

Heather Rutherford, director of the Yates library, said the site doesn’t have a meeting room for the public but there is space that is frequently used for tutoring sessions. She applies for many grants to expand programs and services, including one that resulted in a new Book House by the library that has used books and also outdoor materials that be borrowed to go fishing, birding and to explore nature.

Melanie Norman, director of Holley’s library, noted many agencies use the Community Free Library for programs. She said the libraries have proven to be “essential community spaces” that don’t charge fees to the public to access services.

Henry Smith recognized for 25 years of service to club

Provided photos

ALBION – The Albion Lions Club welcomed two new members this week. The photo shows, from left: Lions Club member June Persia with new members John Bigley and Pam Jenks. They are joined by Melanie Adams, a member of the Clarendon Lions Club and a past district governor. Persia sponsored the new members.

The Albion Lions meet at the Masonic Lodge on Platt Street. The club celebrated its 100^th anniversary in 2024 and continues to do many community service projects in Albion.

The club honored Henry Smith Jr. for his 25 years of service to the Albion Lions. He received a certificate from Club President Ron Albertson, right. Ben Lennox, a member, is shown at left.

Provided photos

ALBION – Mike Donahue was presented a Quilt of Valor on Oct. 17 during a ceremony at the Vets Club. Donahue, a Navy veteran, has been active for many years in the Honor Guard for veterans, and also with the American Legion and VFW.

The Quilts of Valor Foundation was started in 2003 and has presented more than 450,000 quilts to veterans to honor their service.

The quilt for Donahue was presented by Barbara Frost and it was pieced, quilted and bound by Lisa Feor. For more information on Quilts of Valor, click here.

Mike Donahue is shown as the bugler while Taps was played as part of the Honor Guard on Dec. 15, 2024 during a ceremony at Mount Albion Cemetery for Wreaths Across America.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature voted to pay the 10 towns in county 30 percent more in 2027 to plow county roads and do roadside mowing, with 5 percent increases annually in 2028 and 2029.

The 10 towns pushed for the sizable increase citing a dramatic rise in costs for fuel, salt, plow trucks and other equipment. Town officials say they just want to cover their costs for plowing, ice control and roadside mowing for 196.82 miles of county roads. The 30 percent increase will cost the county an additional $471,010 in 2027.

The towns currently get $7,218 a mile for their work on county roads. The new contract starts on Jan. 1 and will give the towns $9,383 per mile for plowing. The county doesn’t have its own fleet of plow trucks and relies on the towns for the snow plowing on roads.

The contract also calls for the towns to be paid $986.52 per mile for roadside mowing in 2027, with 5 percent increases the following two years.

The agreement gives the county and towns an option for another mutually agreed up two-year extension in 2020 and 2031.

The contract states the payments for snow and ice control will be made in June of every year, with the payments for mowing to be paid in three separate payments in June, July and August.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Larissa DeGraw of Medina and her daughter Mirabelle walk in Mount Albion Cemetery this afternoon. They are from Medina and came to the cemetery to climb the 68-foot-high tower, which is a Civil War Memorial. The activity was part of a challenge for Red Ribbon Week to get out and exercise. There are many brilliant colors with the foliage at the cemetery, with a growing percentage of leaves on the ground.

Orleans County and much of the state will be moving past peak in fall foliage, I LOVE NY reported today in its weekly update on foliage conditions.

There will still be peak foliage throughout many parts of the Finger Lakes as well as the central and lower portions of the Hudson Valley and several locations on Long Island, I LOVE NY stated.

This map is provided by the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program and shows much of the state will be past peak in fall foliage for the next week.

Although the area is moving to past peak, there are still many colorful leaves on the trees.

An observer for the weekly report said the leaves are at about 85 percent change at the Cobblestone Museum in Albion “with bright golden amber brown leaves.”

The leaves have changed colors and many have fallen by the tower at Mount Albion Cemetery.

Photo by Tom Rivers: An ofrenda was created by Lionel Rosario and his wife Delores Alvarado, and the display drew many onlookers during the Day of the Dead observance on Oct. 26, 2024 at the YMCA in Medina. An ofrenda is an altar that is typically in homes. The altars welcome returning souls and feature candles, wild marigolds, incense, photographs, mementos and loved ones’ favorite foods like fruit, tortillas, tamales, chocolate and bread.

Press Release, Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council

KNWOLESVILLE – A vibrant celebration of Mexican culture and traditions will come together at the Orleans County Fairgrounds on Sunday, November 1, for a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration presented by GO ART! (Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council).

The free, family-friendly event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Trolley Building at the Orleans County Fairgrounds, located at 12690 Route 31 in Albion.

Día de los Muertos is a traditional Mexican holiday that honors and remembers loved ones who have passed away through colorful altars, family gatherings and other meaningful traditions. GO ART!’s celebration invites visitors of all ages to experience and learn about the holiday through hands-on art activities, live Mexican music, storytelling, traditional foods and cultural presentations broadcast live from Mexico.

“Día de los Muertos is a beautiful tradition that brings families and communities together to celebrate life and remember those who came before us,” said Gregory Hallock, executive director of GO ART! “As a regional arts council, we believe it’s important to celebrate the cultures and traditions that make our communities unique. This event is an opportunity for families to experience something meaningful, learn from one another and come together through art, music, food and remembrance.”

First held in 2018, GO ART!’s Día de los Muertos celebration grew out of the organization’s commitment to recognizing and celebrating the diverse cultures that make up Genesee and Orleans counties. What began as a community cultural celebration has evolved to include expanded educational programming, hands-on experiences and opportunities for families to learn about the holiday’s traditions and significance. That growth is especially evident in the festival’s school field trip program, which is expecting nearly 500 students this year, its largest anticipated participation to date.

Festival highlights include:

• Live Mexican Music: A group of Hispanic and Latino musicians will perform a selection of Mexican music from 2 to 3:30 p.m., bringing live entertainment and another cultural element to the afternoon’s celebration.
• Hands-On Art Activities: Participants can create colorful works inspired by Mexican art and Día de los Muertos traditions, including tissue-paper marigolds, La Catrina dolls, Mexican-inspired tile art, monarch butterfly art, calavera (sugar skull) masks and alebrije-inspired creatures. Face painting featuring designs inspired by the holiday will also be available throughout the celebration.
• Live Presentations from Mexico: Luis Vazquez Estrada will join the celebration live from Mexico to explore the meaning, history and cultural significance of Día de los Muertos, sharing how communities in Mexico prepare for and celebrate the holiday. The 15-minute cultural presentations will take place at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
• Ofrenda and Remembrance Activities: A traditional ofrenda will provide a space for visitors to honor and remember loved ones. Attendees are invited to bring photographs or meaningful objects to contribute to the altar or create written and illustrated tributes at a dedicated remembrance station.
• Día de los Muertos Storytime: Families can enjoy readings of children’s books exploring the holiday’s traditions and meaning, with storytime sessions scheduled at 11:50 a.m., 12:50 p.m., 1:50 p.m. and 3:50 p.m. Books for the readings are generously provided by Hoag Library in Albion.
• Displays and Cultural Videos: Attendees can explore artwork celebrating Día de los Muertos and Mexican culture, along with screenings of previously produced videos highlighting the holiday’s traditions and cultural significance.
• Traditional Foods and Beverages: Visitors can experience a selection of Mexican-inspired foods, including chicken tinga-style tostadas, arroz rojo (Mexican red rice), frijoles de la olla (Mexican-style pinto beans), fresh fruit and pan de muerto, a traditional Mexican sweet bread. Beverages will include agua de jamaica (hibiscus drink) and water.

This event is supported by a Market New York grant awarded through Empire State Development and I LOVE NY, New York State’s Division of Tourism. Additional support is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts, Rochester Area Community Foundation and the Conable Family Foundation.

For more festival information, click here.

Marc Shurtz

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health CEO/CIO Marc Shurtz recently joined rural healthcare leaders from across the country for an invitation-only workshop focused on strengthening the financial and operational sustainability of rural hospital.

Hosted by the National Rural Health Association in Kansas City, Mo., the workshop brought together chief executive officers from eight hospitals participating in NRHA-sponsored strategic, financial and operational assessments. The technical assistance initiative is made possible through a cooperative agreement between NRHA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Facilities Program.

For Orleans Community Health, participation provides access to national rural healthcare experts, peer hospital leaders and resources specifically designed to help rural organizations evaluate their operations and identify opportunities for long-term sustainability.

“Rural healthcare continues to face challenges that require us to constantly evaluate how we operate, how we use our resources and how we prepare for the future,” Shurtz said. “Opportunities like this allow us to learn from experts who work specifically with rural hospitals, while also sitting at the table with other CEOs facing many of the same challenges. We can bring those conversations and ideas back to Orleans Community Health and determine what makes sense for our organization and the communities we serve.”

The workshop was led by Eric Shell, chairman of Stroudwater Associates, and Brian Bertsch, partner at Eide Bally, both of whom have extensive experience in rural healthcare finance, operations and leadership consulting.

Shurtz said the ability to exchange ideas with other rural healthcare executives is particularly valuable as Orleans Community Health continues to focus on maintaining access to healthcare locally.

“Our responsibility is not simply to look at where Orleans Community Health is today, but where we need to be five, 10 and 20 years from now,” Shurtz said. “Keeping rural healthcare sustainable requires difficult conversations, careful financial planning and a willingness to continually evaluate how care is delivered. Having access to organizations like NRHA and leaders from other rural hospitals gives us additional resources and perspectives as we make those decisions.”

Orleans Community Health was the only New York healthcare organization represented among the eight participating hospitals. Other participants represented rural healthcare organizations in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The workshop preceded the 2026 Critical Access Hospital Conference and provided participating organizations with an opportunity to prepare for their upcoming assessments and identify strategies that can be applied within their individual communities.

For Orleans Community Health, the initiative complements ongoing efforts to strengthen services, improve operational efficiency and ensure that residents of Orleans County and the surrounding region continue to have access to healthcare close to home.

“Rural hospitals are different from larger healthcare systems, and the solutions have to reflect those differences,” Shurtz said. “Our goal remains the same – to build an organization that is financially and operationally sustainable while continuing to provide the services our community depends on.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – A new playground opened this morning at Lyndonville Central School and these fourth-graders were delighted to try the We-Go-Round.

The new playground is accessible for children with mobility issues and disabilities. The playground was designed and installed by Parkitects, a  company owned by Lyndonville graduate Ben Frasier.

Kids could be heard shouting, “I Love it” and “This is amazing” as they tried the different playground equipment.

One fourth-grader goes down a double slide.

The new playground includes a We-Go-Round, Sway Fun Glider, We-Saw and other equipment that will be accessible to kids of all abilities and mobilities. The previous playground was over 20 years old and wasn’t handicapped accessible.

Dr. Heather Lyon, Lyndonville superintendent, checks out a new sensory dome in the playground by the elementary school. The sensory dome is an intended spot for children on the autism spectrum to get away from the activity and noise from the other parts of the playground.

Lyon was thrilled to see the children having so much fun on the new playground.

“You cannot have a bad day when you have this much joy,” she said about the happy kids on the playground.

Ben Frasier, a 1988 Lyndonville graduate and owner of Parkitects, gets ready to cut the ribbon and open the gate for kids to try the new playground. Fourth-graders Sophia Kleeh, left, and Ernest Orgar hold the ribbon while Dr. Elissa Smith, principal of grades PreK through 6, leads a countdown.

Ben Frasier gives a victorious gesture after cutting the ribbon. He said it’s phase 1 with plans to expand, adding equipment geared towards older children.

He will be meeting with students next month and wants to hear their vision of a “dream playground.”

Frasier believes with fundraising, grants and in-kind services, Lyndonville can build a great playground for children of all ages.

These kids play on the Wee-Saw.

Frasier and Parkitects donated about $250,000 in equipment and in-kind services to the playground. Parkitects had a team of 18 employees on site on Oct. 6 to install the playground.

The school district also was able to use $160,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for playground equipment.

Donations for the project included Orleans Ready Mix with concrete; Watson Construction Group with removal/demolition of all of the old playground equipment and 14 inches of mulch; Barre Stone Company with 100 tons of crusher run stone; Shelby Crushed Stone with 100 tons of crusher run stone; Town of Yates with hauling the stone to the school; and Medina Lumber & Hardware with pressure treated 2×12’s covering 228 linear feet around the perimeter.

Play Surface Specialties installed the 3 ½-inch rubber surface which includes an outside lane with orange paws prints. Lyndonville’s school mascot is a tiger.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature on Tuesday gave “Special Recognition” certificates to employees in the Department of Social Services who work in Child & Family Services, Foster Care, Adoption and Prevention. This also includes the DSS attorney and Legal Department.

They were honored because Orleans County received the number one ranking in the region for permanency outcomes for children in foster care.

Legislator Don Allport, right, presents certificates to, from right to left: Lianna Sheffer, supervisor in Divisions of Foster Care, Adoption and Prevention; Dana Graber, DSS attorney; Renee Rowley, legal assistant; Cyndi Stumer, deputy commissioner of DSS; and Shirley Mazourek, DSSS commissioner.

Mazourek praised her staff for working towards permanency outcomes in foster care, when children cannot remain safely with their biological parents. The main permanency outcomes can be reunification, where a child returns to their biological family; adoption, where  full parental rights and responsibilities transfer to adoptive parents; legal guardianship, where care responsibilities transfer to a relative or trusted adult; and emancipation/aging out, where youth reach adulthood.

The County Legislature also recognized DSS staff including Elizabeth Boring, Jessica Czechowicz, Allyson Deslatte, Judianne Gearing, Isabella Gibbs, Saul Harrison, Brianna Heffernan, Heather Jackson, Jeannine Larkin, Elizabeth Milazzo, Sharon Nenni, Meghan Reuther, Rebecca Rinker, Julianna Schultz, Tyra Shepherd, Shelley Sherman, Holli Smith, Aaron Strathearn, Maria Strathearn and Miya Troidl.

County Legislator Don Allport presented a proclamation on behalf of the Legislature to the DSS declaring November as National Adoption Awareness Month. He gave the proclamation to Cyndi Stumer, deputy commissioner (center); and Shirley Mazourek, commissioner.

The proclamation states:

“Whereas, November 2026 is National Adoption Awareness Month and is designed to provide us with an opportunity to acknowledge the families and staff who are involved in adoption activities throughout the year; and

“Whereas, adoptive and foster care families open their hearts and homes, demonstrate great compassion and provide hope and love to children. National Adoption Awareness Month helps to raise public awareness of the fact that there are children available who are waiting for caring families; and

“Whereas, in Orleans County there are currently children in foster care awaiting adoption. The valuable contributions of foster care and adoptive parents are recognized as they continually strive to improve the quality of life for the children brought into their lives.”

Rendering from Empire State Development and Governor’s Office: The Canal Basin parking lot along the Erie Canal will be turned into a “waterfront gateway” complete with green space, seating areas and boater/cyclist amenities as part of the NY Forward grant in Medina. This is not the final design for the parking lot. This is not the final design of the project.

MEDINA – The Village Board on Monday hired an engineering and design firm for a new look of Medina’s Canal Basin, a project that will better connect boaters and pedestrians to the basin, and improve the aesthetics of a space that is heavily asphalt.

Village officials last week interviewed six firms that submitted proposals for the project. On Monday, the Village Board hired Fisher Associates in Rochester.

Fisher called its proposal for the project, “Distinctly Medina: A Generational Vision for the Canal Basin.”

Fisher, in its presentation to the village, said the project will create “Medina’s definitive place on the Erie Canal for the next 20 years and beyond.”

The Village Board hired Fisher with the design services of the Canal Basin at $111,615 with an additional $17,955 for engineering and design work for electric car charging stations. It would be another $18,995 if a topographic survey is needed.

The Canal Basin parking lot will redesigned as part of a $1.345 million grant from the state. The new lot will have less asphalt and more green space. The parking lot will lose about 15-20 spaces. There will be about 70 spots remaining.

The project will add green space, seating areas and boater/cyclist amenities.

The redesigned basin was awarded $1.345 million of the $4.5 million from the state to Medina in the NY Forward grant. The state finalized eight projects for the $4.5 million on May 17, 2024. The transformed parking lot received the largest grant of the eight projects.

The village is looking to upgrade the entry drive from Main Street; enhance the pedestrian walkway extending from Main Street, across rear building facades, to East Center Street alleyway; add a gazebo for shade and cover; expand flexible greenspace areas for programming with amenities including seating tables, benches, bike racks, shade trees and native plantings; and add pedestrian walkways with decorative, permeable pavers.

The redesign of the basin parking lot also will include two direct-current fast chargers for electric vehicles, each with two charging spots. The state awarded Medina $245,184 in a separate grant for those chargers with National Grid also chipping in $73,000.