Assemblyman Hawley will present ‘Historic Business Preservation Registry’ citations to Stockham Lumber and Holley Cold Storage

HOLLEY – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley will be presenting “Historic Business Preservation Registry” citations to two long-time Holley businesses on Friday.

The registry recognizes businesses that have been in operation for at least 50 years and have contributed to their community’s history.

Hawley will be at the Holley Cold Storage on 16677 State Route 31 to present the citation at 1:30 p.m.

Founded in 1902 by Marcus Balcom and Almond Boyce, Holley Cold Storage has become an essential link among regional farmers, food processors and distant markets allowing perishable goods to be preserved safely for extended periods of time, Hawley said.

The facility has provided cold storage services to regional customers and is committed to preserving the legacy of the business while maintaining its role as a steady employer within the Holley community and the region.

Then at 2:15 p.m., Hawley will be at 88 Geddes St. to present Stockham Lumber with its citation.

Founded in 1880 by Nerv L. Cole, Stockham Lumber has over a century of history with its original business focusing on coal and lumber. Stockham Lumber continues its legacy as a lumber company known for its reliability and service with its principles of quality, integrity and customer service remaining in place, Hawley said.

Stockham Lumber has recently expanded and continues to grow the business serving customers across the region ensuring exemplary standards, Hawley noted.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Holli Nenni accepts a “Special Recognition” award on Tuesday from the Orleans County Legislature in appreciation for a 38 ½ year career with the Department of Social Services.

ALBION – When Mary Grace “Holli” Nenni started as a caseworker for Orleans County 38 ½ years ago, the Department of Social Services didn’t have cell phones or the internet.

Nenni used a Dictaphone to record notes from client visits.

When she started her career, she never imagined she would be ending it as the commissioner of the DSS, overseeing 70 employees.

Nenni will be retiring on May 22. She started in 1987 as a caseworker and then was promoted to a senior position in 1992. She became coordinator of Child Enforcement Unit in 2000, then director of temporary assistance in 2006. She was promoted to deputy commissioner of social services in 2010 with a final appointment as DSS commissioner in 2021.

“Your dedication and expertise have benefitted our county tremendously,” the County Legislature declared in an award presented to Nenni on Tuesday.

Legislators praised Nenni for her “commendable service and dedication to the Orleans County Department of Social Services.”

Nenni worked with three DSS commissioners before becoming one herself.

“Each step of my journey came with its own challenges, but also a lot of growth,” Nenni said during the Legislature meeting. “While I’m looking forward to forgetting a lot of the past 38 years, one thing I won’t forget is the co-workers who show up every day ready to help others. Each of them helped me along in my journey.”

The DSS divisions include temporary assistance, child & family services, domestic violence services, and the child support and enforcement unit.

DSS partners with many local agencies and county departments – UConnectCare, Mental Health, Job Development and others – to help people overcome barriers and become self sufficient, Nenni said.

In recent years, DSS has faced a rising caseload of people without housing. Before the Covid pandemic in 2020, DSS usually was working with less than 20 people to find housing.

“We were in the teens, and now we’re in the low 70s,” Nenni said. “We have been over 100.”

A former youth that Nenni assisted as a caseworker spoke at Tuesday’s Legislature meeting and thanked Nenni for helping guide him through a rough period of his childhood. Tim McMurray is now the Albion mayor. He said Nenni was able to connect him with a supportive family, and that made a huge difference in his life.

The Legislature named Nenni’s successor during the Tuesday meeting. Shirley Mazourek, a licensed clinical social worker and mental health professional, will be the next commissioner.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Joe Blake, left, is new owner of the Coffee Pot Café, which he runs with help from son Colby.

MEDINA – A popular gathering spot in Medina is now open under new management and a new name.

The Coffee Pot Café at 114 East Center St. was recently sold to Joe Blake of North Tonawanda and is now known as Cuppa Joe.

The business was started by Hans and Dan Rosentrater, who have since branched off into other interests. Hans runs Hans Bakery on Main Street, and Dan plans to open a bicycle rental business in the basement of the bakery.

Blake is very familiar with Medina, having worked with COVA, he said. He met his wife Ann Pritchard, a teacher, here.

The decision to buy the Coffee Pot Café was a quick and confident one, Blake said.

“I saw the post Dan put on Facebook a month ago,” Blake said. “I talked to my wife and she said to go for it. I love my other job, but I want to be able to relax and enjoy life. This is a lot of work and responsibility now, but at the end of the day when you see your accomplishments, it’s worth it.”

Blake came out and watched the flow, and talked to Dan, he said.

“Hardly a month later, we closed the deal,” Blake said.

Son Colby runs the café when his father is at his regular job. On weekends and in the summer, Ann will help with the business.

“This has the laid-back atmosphere I like,” Blake said.

Joe also shared his wife’s father used to own Western Auto in Middleport with Hans’ grandfather.

“When I introduced my wife to Hans, she realized the connection,” Blake said. “The thing I like about Medina is the family atmosphere here. I love the music on Main Street, the Parade of Lights and the waterfall. The waterfall has been my ‘happy place’ for 25 years.”

He said his past experience has been in running a business and serving the public, and he’s looking forward to continuing that at his new venture.

He is working on a new menu and expanding it to include a kids’ menu.

“Medina has a big home-schooled community and I want to do something special for them one day a week,” Blake said.

He has introduced parfaits, which are going over very big, he said. He is also planning to add salads and wraps.

New hours will be 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and next month he will be open until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

All the former employees who wanted to stay with the new ownership are there, and Blake has brought on one or two more.

“We are coming into the busy season, with nicer weather, and I want to capitalize on that,” he said.

He’s looking to add music and has a friend who sings Americana and canal songs.

“We are very thankful to the community for their support,” Blake said. “It has been overwhelming.”

He said he doesn’t plan to make any drastic changes – just little things along the way.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Don Sloper, center, president of the Orleans County chapter of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) accepted a proclamation from County legislator Don Allport on Tuesday that declared May as “Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month in Orleans County.” Sloper was joined in legislative chambers by Steve Rosenberg, vice president of ABATE.

The organization usually has a motorcycle safety and awareness rally at the Orleans County Courthouse the first Sunday in May, and then heads out on a 50-mile ride in the county, ending at the VFW in Medina.

ABATE will instead be starting its ride at the VFW in Medina on Sunday with riders to assemble at 1 p.m. and speakers at 2 p.m. The motorcyclists will then embark on a 50-mile ride around the county.

The county is requiring proof of insurance by organizations to hold events at the courthouse property. Sloper said ABATE didn’t want to spend the money for the insurance and instead will start at the VFW.

ABATE has about 80 members in Orleans County. Motorcyclists want the public to know they are back on the roadways. The motorcyclists urge drivers to “look twice” and use extra caution when making a left turn or pulling out onto the roadway.

Stanley Jenks

ALBION – A Lyndonville man pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court today to first-degree attempted sex abuse involving a child under age 11.

Stanley Jenks, 55, could face a maximum sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison when he is sentenced on July 1.

He was arrested on March 10 for sex abuse in the first degree. As part of a plea agreement, he admitted to attempted sex abuse in the first degree, by trying to have a child under age 11 touch his penis. Jenks said he did that for his own sexual gratification.

Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church told Jenks the maximum sentence could be up to 4 years in state prison. Jenks also could face 3 to 10 years of post-release supervision and will be on the sex offender registry.

Jenks has been in the Orleans County jail since his arrest on March 10 with bail at $2,500 cash, $25,000 bond.

Public defender Joanne Best asked that Jenks be released on his own recognizance. District attorney Susan Howard asked the judge that bail continue.

Judge Church set bail at $5,000 cash and $10,000 bond.

Ryan Woolston

ALBION – The Orleans County legislature appointed Ryan Woolston on Tuesday to be the new director of information technology services for the county government.

Woolston, a Carlton resident, has worked in the IT department for 20 years, starting as a computer specialist. He has been the deputy director the past four months.

Woolston oversees a department of nine employees. IT supports every county department with a focus on keeping their computers and technology running smoothly so employees can focus on serving the public.

When Woolston started, Information Technology was based at Central Hall, the former’s treasurer’s building, on East Park Street. The department moved to the county administration building on Route 31 as part of a $10 million addition in June 2019.

The Legislature on Tuesday also approved spending $191,812 to purchase 125 new computers from Dell marketing in Pittsburgh, Pa. Woolston said the county tries to replace computers every five years. The 125 is part of about 500 used by county employees.

File photo by Tom Rivers: The current emergency management office was built as an early 1960s bomb shelter. It has a leaking roof and a shortage of space.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature approved about $5 million in construction bids today for a new Emergency Management Office.

The new building will be one-story and 7,700 square feet. It was downsized from a proposal for a 17,000-square-foot building. Initially county officials sought a new building that was 11,000 square feet for offices and classrooms, and another 5,600 square feet for equipment storage. That complex would have topped $12 million.

The county has been awarded a $2 million federal grant secured by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. The county may be able to pay off the remaining amount from its existing funds, or it may need to borrow some money to complete the project, said County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch.

The construction bids approved today include $3,931,000 for general construction by the Watson Construction Group Inc. of Albion; $360,000 for plumbing/fire protection by McGrain Mechanical of Rochester; and $547,500 to McGrain Mechanical of Rochester for HVAC.

The new building will be west of the current structure that is 8,000 square feet – 80 by 100 feet. Most of the current EMO building is underground. It isn’t handicapped accessible and is tight on space.

County officials eventually want to have that building demolished but that isn’t part of the construction bids approved today.

The new building will include offices for the EMO’s three full-time staff, a classroom for training for firefighters and other first responders, and space to have the backup 911 dispatch system.

The county also is looking to take down two radio towers – one is 485 feet tall and the other is 225 feet – and replace them with one tower. Welch said it will be County cost to remove the towers and but there should be state funding to help put up the new tower in a project separate from the new building.

Construction is anticipated to start on the new building in July.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Nathan Pace and his wife Margaret will be closing the Medina law office of Mack & Pace on May 31 for a three-year sabbatical while they lead a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guatemala City.

MEDINA – Nathan and Margaret Pace are following a higher calling beginning this summer when they take a break from the Mack & Pace law firm for three years to lead a Mormon mission based in Guatemala City.

They will lead the mission’s 180 to 200 full-time missionaries, young adults who are often on their first extended time away from their families.

Over the three years, the couple expects to work with 400 to 500 missionaries, with a new group coming in every year as others head back home.

“We are so excited,” Mrs. Pace said. “We have loved young people our whole lives. I cannot wait to get there.”

The law firm will close for three years. Mr. Pace said he expects the office will reopen on July 1, 2029.

While they are gone, Tom Seaman, a Lockport attorney, will maintain documents – wills, trusts, powers of attorney.

“We have a solid plan that our clients will be taken care,” Pace said. “I love my clients. We have thousands of people that we have worked with and helped through the most difficult times in their lives.”

He hasn’t taken on new criminal cases, but the office will continue to do estate planning, power of attorney and health proxy until May 31. He and his wife fly out to Guatemala on June 14. The Paces will have about a two week-transition with the current leaders before they take over.

Provided photo: Nathan and Margaret Pace have raised their six children in Medina. Beginning on July 1, they will lead 180 to 200 young adults over three years in Guatemala.

Nathan Pace, 60, said he is grateful for the chance to serve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in such a big role. He has learned Spanish and has been studying the Guatemalan culture.

“Guatemalans are the most humble people,” he said. “And they have the best food.”

Nathan will stand out in the crowd. He is 6 foot, 7 inches. That towers over the average man at 5’ 3’’.

“I will be a giant,” he said.

He knows the two-year mission assignments can be critical for young Mormons to embrace their faith and also to serve others. The missionaries in his charge will work in an urban environment and also out in the jungle areas. Guatemala City has 3.3 million people – and more than 30 volcanoes.

Pace was born in Wyoming, but moved to Medina when he was a boy after his father, James Pace, was transferred to the FMC plant in Middleport.

Nathan said he loved growing up in Medina. He went to Brigham Young University and met his wife, who from North Carolina. Nathan served his mission commitment in Spain for two years, and he said the president of the mission had a tremendous positive influence on him.

Nathan and Margaret spent the first 12 years of their marriage in Salt Lake City where he was an attorney, a city councilman and a judge pro tem.

Their goal was to raise their children in Medina. Their six children graduated from Medina. The Paces have 14 grandchildren.

Nathan for the past 21 years has teamed with Tom Mack to run the law practice at 534 Main Street, Suite 6. Margaret Pace is a paralegal and office manager of the law practice.

Nathan also has been active in his church, first as a leader of a congregation in Lockport and then as president of nine congregations in Western New York.

He then was picked as part of the Area 70 leadership in the Northeast from North Carolina to Canada. Nearly every weekend he was gone, doing leadership trainings and working with Mormon members. He was often away Friday morning to Sunday night or Monday morning.

Pace’s tenure as an Area 70 leader ended last Aug. 1 and he thought life would slow down a little. He and Margaret became certified scuba divers and went on vacations.

But a new opportunity would be presented in January: to live in Guatemala City and lead the mission for an area of 4.5 million people including the city and more remote areas.

Nathan and Margaret welcomed the opportunity to serve in the volunteer role for the next three years.

“It may seem crazy but every adult should do something crazy,” Mrs. Pace said. “It’s everything we love all wrapped into one. It’s the most amazing thing.”

Pace said he will bring his skills as a planner to the assignment as well as one who enjoys working with other people.

“Fundamentally, it’s sharing the love of Jesus Christ and the willingness to love the people,” he said.

He is grateful his wife will be with him as the lead the mission.

They will strive to monitor the physical, mental and spiritual health of the young missionaries.

The Paces said they will be doing frequent Zoom video conferencing with the parents of the Mormon missionaries, letting them know how their children are doing. They know the anxiety when a young adult goes away as a missionary for two years.

Their son Levi served in Uruguay in southeastern South America bordering Argentina; Nate was in inner city Chicago; Lincoln served in Ecuador; and Isaac recently finished a two-year commitment in Peru.

Mr. Pace said he and his wife have been studying the photos and bios of the 180 missionaries who will be in Guatemala City when they start as the leaders.

“We pray for them every day,” Nathan said. “And not only for them, but that we’ll be sensitive to their needs. We are so enthusiastic and optimistic and looking forward to these relationships.”

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

Marco Altieri

BROCKPORT – Oak Orchard Health, a leading healthcare provider in rural upstate New York, has introduced Marco Altieri as its Chief Executive Officer.

On Wednesday night, the Oak Orchard Health Board of Directors voted unanimously to remove the interim status from Altieri’s title. This vote followed a rigorous interview session conducted by the board on Monday, April 20th, and due deliberation thereafter.

Altieri comes to Oak Orchard with over 20 years of experience in healthcare, 16 of which was spent as a CEO. In his role as interim CEO, he spearheaded efforts to inspire and motivate Oak Orchard’s providers and staff through open and transparent communication, equipping them with the tools to improve patient care across our communities.

Altieri has set ambitious goals as CEO: stabilize operations; develop a 3–5-year strategic plan; improve overall organizational efficiency; reduce the potential for risks and liabilities; continue efforts at strengthening organizational culture; focus on Oak Orchard’s financial well-being and provide for controlled growth. The Board of Directors believe these goals align with their priorities as well as the overall needs for the organization.

“We are pleased to announce that Marco Altieri has accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer at Oak Orchard Health,” said John Slenker, chairman of the Board of Directors. “He brings a wealth of experience, proven leadership, and a dynamic vision for the future of our organization.”

In his new role, Altieri will be responsible for directing all operational activities while balancing present-day stability with a clear vision for the organization’s future.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Nicholas Goluses performs on Saturday in the Hoag Library concert series. Goluses, a professor of guitar at the Eastman School of Music, opened the concert on Saturday with “Fantasis our guitare seul, Op. 58” by Fernando Sor.

Goluses followed that “The Five Preludes” by Heitor Villa-lobos.

Goluses performed for about 50 people in Saturday’s concert. He has played around the world as a soloist, with an orchestra and as a chamber musician. He has a new album, “Across the Horizon,” which was released in the fall by Parna/Albany Records.

Goluses praised the acoustics at Hoag Library during Saturday’s concert.

“I love the sound in this room,” he said. “It’s very nice. Sometimes you play in places and it’s as dead as a doornail. Here, it’s very alive.”

He performed as part of the third concert series at Hoag. The concerts are at noon on Saturdays. The series started on March 28 with Medusa Quartet.

The remainder of the schedule includes:

• Striking Strings Ensemble – May 23 at 12 p.m.
• The White Hots Jazz Trio – May 30 at 12 p.m.
• Matthew Ardizzone – June 27 at 12 p.m.
• Lynn McGrath – July 25 at 12 p.m.
• Adrianna Noone – August 22 at 12 p.m.
• Muriel Anderson & Kinloch Nelson – Sept. 12 at 12 p.m.
• Evie Ladin & Keith Terry –October 10 at 12 p.m.
• O’s Pipa & Fiddle Witch Duet – Nov. 7 at 12 p.m.
• Rochester Ukulele Orchestra – Dec. 5 at 12 p.m.

All performances are free and open to the public. The Hoag Music Series is aimed at bringing unique music experiences to Albion from artists who do not frequently perform in Orleans County.

The events are possible with funding from the New York State Council on the Arts that is administered by GO Art!

Budget includes $300K profit from sale of ladder truck

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina Village Board approved the village’s new budget on Monday for 2026-27. From left includes trustees Jeff Wagner and Jess Marciano, clerk/treasurer Jada Burgess, mayor Debbie Padoleski, and trustees Mark Prawel and Scott Bieliski.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board on Monday approved the village’s budget for 2026-27 that shrunk a tax increase from 22 percent in the tentative budget on April 13 to a final figure of 1.3 percent.

The budget is boosted by $300,000 in profit from the sale of a new ladder truck. Medina also will be spared about $130,000 from making the first bond payment for the truck.

To net a $300,000 profit, the village would need to sell the truck for $2.1 million. The village already has received offers for $2 million for the truck without any advertisement, said trustee Scott Bieliski. The board said on Monday it will reaching out to three different brokers to try to maximize the price for the new truck. The broker would get 1 percent of the sale, or about $20,000 and that fee may be paid by the buyer, Bieliski said.

Medina is looking to sell the truck, which will spare it from the $130,000 annual payments over 20 years and also save the village from taking on the expense of an addition to the fire hall to house the truck. The truck is too big for the existing fire hall.

The village budget was adopted unanimously by the board on Monday. It preserves all existing village positions. The budget a year ago eliminated four firefighter positions and also didn’t fill a vacancy in the DPW. The board also cut the K9 program and withdrew from having the Medina PD as the school resource officer.

The budget for 2026-27 increases spending in the general fund by 2.0 percent from $7,723,296 to $7,877,764. The tax levy is up by 1.29 percent or $50,418 from $3,910,344 to $3,960,762.

The tax rate will increase by 21.5 cents from $13.995 to $14.21 per $1,000 of assessed property.

The village’s tax base decreased by $690,258 from $279,406,911 to $278,716,653. New townwide reassessments won’t take effect in the village until the 2027-28 budget.

The new budget was the first one for Steve Cooley as fire chief and Christian Navas as the police chief. They both thanked the board and Jada Burgess, the clerk/treasurer, for their assistance with the budget.

Mayor Debbie Padoleski said the department heads all attended extra meetings and worked hard with the board to reach the final spending plan.

The board also approved the water fund budget, which is up 1.1 percent or by $23,395 – from $2,210,778 to $2,234,173.

Medina also adopted the sewer fund budget, which increased by 8.7 percent or by $118,133 – from $1,360,558 to $1,478,691.

The village’s new fiscal year starts on June 1.

Provided photo and press release, Orleans County Legislature

BUFFALO – Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson and Niagara County Legislator Dave Godfrey took part last week in the Great Lakes Shallow Harbor Draft Stakeholders meeting led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The legislators continue to advocate for dredging of our recreational harbors along the shore of Lake Ontario to ensure they remain open to boaters. These recreational harbors are a significant economic driver for the communities along the lake.

Editor’s Note: The Oak Orchard Harbor was dredged in 2025, 2021 and 2014.

A total of approximately 15,000 cubic yards of material from Oak Orchard was dredged last year.

Dredging of the harbors ensures accessible depths for vessels traveling the Great Lakes and enables recreational boating which supports business revenue and labor income to the transportation sector combined.

Oak Orchard Harbor is a shallow-draft harbor. Recreational boating facilitated by the harbor supports $6.8 million in business revenue, 94 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, and $6 million in labor income to the nation, the Army Corps of Engineers stated in a press release last year.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of multiple individuals following a series of investigations conducted in conjunction with the Department of Social Services into alleged public assistance fraud.

As a result of these investigations, several subjects were charged with offenses including Welfare Fraud, Petit Larceny, Grand Larceny, Forgery and Offering a False Instrument for Filing.

It is alleged that the individuals collectively received $27,255 in public assistance benefits to which they were not entitled.

The following were charged: Olivia Schultz, Stacey Wright, Salina Sunday, Sara Ward, Kelly Gibson, Amber Walls, Greggory Steinmetz and Larneice Hall.

All eight were issued appearance tickets and are scheduled to appear in the Town of Albion Court at a later date.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work closely with the Department of Social Services to investigate and prosecute fraud-related offenses.

MEDINA – Murder and mystery will return to Medina on May 2, when the Medina Area Partnership sponsors Murder and Mocktails at the Mayflower.

This is the fourth annual murder/mystery event MAP has held in downtown Medina.

“Each year we change the era and theme,” said Ann Fisher-Bale, who chairs the event for MAP.

This year’s event also has the added feature of mocktails.

Murder and Mocktails embraces the rock ‘n roll era and jiving to the sounds of the 1950s, Bale said. It’s class reunion time and class adviser May O’Ryll Powers has decided she is the only one capable of organizing the big event. She schedules a meeting at the Mayflower Diner to get started. She only invited her favorite classmates to help her out. However, one of them holds a grudge from school days. This is revealed when the waitress comes screaming from the bathroom announcing May no longer has powers.

It is up to ticket holders to decide who did the dastardly deed.

Fisher-Bale explained the fictional 1950s-themed murder mystery gives a historic nod to the Mayflower Restaurant which once occupied a storefront on Main Street where Avanti’s is now located. Old classmates have gathered together there to help plan their long-awaited reunion, but not everyone is there to reminisce.

Attendees will visit 10 characters stationed withing participating businesses to obtain clues to solve the mystery. Sleuths (attendees) will have to determine who they can trust and who has the most to hide. Those who solve the mystery will be entered in a drawing to win a prize pack valued at more than $200.

New this year, attendees will have the opportunity to sample a variety of mocktails at participating businesses.

Dressing up isn’t required, but it is encouraged.

“So grease your hair, grab your pearls and don your favorite poodle skirt for a fun fifties afternoon,” Fisher-Bale said. “Be sure to don your dapper duds for our themed photo-ops.”

Tickets are available for $20 each. Click here for more information ad to get a ticket.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and check-in will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Senior Center, 615 West Ave., where participants will receive their investigator’s booklet to compile notes/clues and a goodie bag, which will include store coupons.

“This year’s mystery is a perfect mix of nostalgia, suspense and fun,” Fisher-Bale said. “We invite you to dress up, visit our local shops and help us catch a killer.”

As an added perk, “dapper day” specials and activities will be offered at local businesses.

The event also happens to be the same day as the Kentucky Derby, so MAP is encouraging participating businesses to offer specials relating to derby day. For bars and restaurants, that could be 1950s or Derby-themed drinks or foods. For other businesses, MAP suggests they offer murder/mystery books or games, hats, gift items, etc.

MAP anticipates the event will bring up to 250 people to downtown Medina to enjoy a spring day and visit local businesses.