492 bottles of beer seized from Kendall Hotel in 1914

Photo from Orleans County Department of History: This photo of the Kendall Hotel is dated 1935. Opened in 1901, the building escaped several destructive village fires. Later known as the Kendall Inn, it is now a restaurant named The Grove 1848.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No. 11

KENDALL – The Kendall Agricultural Club, which assembled at the Kendall Hotel in 1913-1914, played a role in the Temperance campaign leading up to Prohibition.

As early as 1912, six of the ten towns of Orleans County were “dry” or “no-license” to use the parlance of the day, meaning that the sale of alcohol was prohibited in these jurisdictions. The energetic lobbying efforts of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.) had secured these local victories.

However, not all residents were in favor of these restrictions. Taking advantage of a loophole in the 1896 NYS Liquor License Law, Farmers or Agricultural Clubs were organized in dry towns. One such was the Kendall Agricultural Club.

Incorporated in the summer of 1913, it had the stated goal of “the scientific study of agriculture and horticulture, the effect of insectivorous pests” and other farming questions. Club members were allowed access to the two hotel rooms rented at the Kendall Hotel. Members who paid $1 were given a ticket which allowed them 20 bottles of beer. They could also fill out continuous order vouchers directing the Bartholomew Brewing Company to deliver them one case of beer weekly.

Soon there were four other flourishing Farmer’s Agricultural Clubs in the county, three in the town of Gaines and one in Lyndonville.

However, the Temperance League was a force to be reckoned with. An article in the Buffalo Sunday Morning News of Feb. 8, 1914, mentions that the Orleans County Temperance League held their meeting with church temperance organizations to discuss lobbying plans for upcoming local elections at the Court House in Albion.

The article also mentions that several detectives had been employed by temperance leaders of the Town of Kendall to conduct investigations. Shortly after their departure, on January 16, 1914, Constable Louis J. Cady of the Town of Kendall filed a petition with the Supreme Court Justice, Cuthbert W. Pound, alleging that Warren C. Miller, Ida C. Miller, Ray Miller and Garret Rocque had liquor at the Kendall Hotel for the purpose of unlawful sale and distribution.

The following day, Constable William C. Singleton of the Town of Ridgeway seized 492 bottles of beer and one bottle containing whiskey from the Kendall Hotel.

In response, Norman Lindaler, Oscar Lind, William Scheplar, John H. Scheplar, Atley Stevens,  John J. Norton, Ray R. Miller, Thomas Jeffrey, William Scheik, Garret Recqua, Henry Scheik, Otto Greinke, Henry Scheplar, Charles Backus and Cornelius Fenner, each filed a claim that they were part owners of the seized beer.

They said that they were members of the Kendall Agricultural Club, a duly incorporated club, and that they each had their own beer at the hotel lawfully, that it was for their personal consumption, and not for sale or distribution.

Medina Daily Journal headline, Feb. 3, 1914

At a hearing at the Court House in Albion on February 16, 1914, Supreme Court Justice Cuthbert W. Pound of Lockport presided over the case of the State Commissioner of Excise against the 492 seized bottles of beer. An unusual case, it had no precedent in the district. At issue was whether “Agricultural Clubs” were operating as a pretext for the unlawful sale of alcohol and avoiding the excise tax law.

The four members of the club who testified confirmed the social aspects of their activities, though none could remember any occasion on which they actually discussed any aspect of agriculture.

Judge Pound heard the evidence of Raymond Miller, who conducted the Club, and of four members of the club whose testimony confirmed the social aspects of their activities. He then took the case from the jury and directed that “it appears without dispute that this alcohol was kept within the state for unlawful distribution and that the jury is directed to take proper judgement for seizure of the same and its turning over to the State Excise Dept. to be auctioned off according to the new law by that department.”

He also stated that he did not think that there was any evidence to show that Raymond Miller was guilty of unlawful selling of beer. He directed that the Kendall Agricultural Club and similar organizations were “illegal and had been perfected for the purpose of trafficking in liquors and the evasion of liquor tax law” (Buf. Enq., 2-17-14)

New York State Excise Commissioner Farley hailed the verdict as a severe blow to the evasion of the law by these so called “clubs” and in the enforcement of excise laws in dry towns.

Photo by Renee Hemby: Erica Wanecski played the part of the musician Amanda Lynn for Medina Area Partnership’s Murder and Mocktails on Saturday. She serves up a drink at Medina Railroad Museum.

MEDINA – Medina Area Partnership’s annual murder mystery event, Murder and Mocktails, was an apparent hit – with the 13 businesses who participated and the more than 100 participants who tried to guess the guilty villain.

Photos courtesy of Ann Fisher-Bale: Jessica George and Nick Fitzak ham it up in front of a police-themed backdrop at the Medina Senior Center, where all attendees registered for Murder and Mocktails.

“It was a very well-organized event, from registration at the Senior Center and throughout,” said Cora Goyette of Medina, who decided to buy a ticket at the last minute. “There was eager participation among the ‘detectives’ with a sense of fun and community spirit. I was surprised how many non-Medina residents there were. The actors played their roles passionately, especially Georgia (Thomas) and Kathy Blackburn. It was great fun. Kudos to MAP.”

This was MAP’s fourth annual murder mystery event, in which participants checked in at the Medina Senior Center, where they received an investigator’s booklet and a goodie bag containing era-specific treats, said Ann Fisher-Bale, organizer of the event.

“Our 13 participating businesses did a great job embracing their characters and dressing for their ’50s era parts,” Fisher-Bale said. “For the first time, we offered mocktails and they were a big hit with attendees. Many commented they appreciated having the opportunity for a fun, non-alcoholic-related event. For some attendees, this event was an introduction to Medina and they said they had an enjoyable afternoon visiting our shops along the way.”

There was also an opportunity for a 1950s-themed photo at Alexandra Peracciny Photography, which attendees could take home with them.

Jessica George of Albion was among the participants with Nick Fitzak.

“The event provided a great opportunity to spend a day checking out local businesses and interacting with friends in the community,” George said. “We ultimately didn’t solve the crime, but it was so much fun trying to!”

Those who correctly guessed the murderer had their names put in a drawing for a prize pack valued at $200. Winner was Richard Lama of Basom.

And who murdered classmate May O’Ryll Powers? It was none other than the class jock, Jordan Michaels, portrayed by Brian Miller from Dream Vacations.

Brian Miller from Dream Vacations portrayed the class jock at the Medina Theater in Saturday’s murder mystery.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The average price for regular unleaded was up to $4.39 on Saturday at the Kwik Fill in Albion.

Gas prices climbed significantly again in the past week, up 35 cents nationally, 27 cents more in New York State and an average of 14 cents in Orleans County.

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $4.46, up from $4.11 a week earlier. A year ago, the price was $3.17.

The New York State average went from $4.19 to $4.46 since a week ago, according to AAA. A year ago the average was $3.10.

“Gas prices rose sharply with the arrival of May as oil prices increased amid continued tensions in the Middle East,” AAA said in a news release. “Gas prices are the highest they’ve been in four years since 2022. This morning, oil prices range from $103 to $109 per barrel, compared to $97 to $108 per barrel one week ago. Oil is the main ingredient in gasoline, so oil prices have a direct impact on pump prices.”

Diesel prices are also on the rise with the national average at $5.64, up 19 cents from last week, and up from $3.55 a year ago. The New York average for diesel fuel is $5.94, up 3 cents from last week, and up from $3.90 last year, AAA said.

Here are the average prices at counties in Western New York:

• Orleans, $4.354
• Genesee, $4.391
• Monroe, $4.403
• Niagara, $4.381
• Erie, $4.417
• Wyoming, $4.387
• Livingston, $4.421
• Chautauqua, $4.406
• Cattaraugus, $4.344
• Allegany, $4.399

The highest price in the state is in Manhattan at $4.837 in Manhattan. In upstate the highest prices are in northern New York, with Franklin County the most at $4.733 a gallon.

Photos courtesy of Hoag Library: Four candidates will be on the ballot on Monday for trustees for Hoag Library. Voting is from noon to 7 p.m. at the library.

ALBION – Voters in the Hoag Library service area will cast ballots on Monday for candidates for the library’s trustees.

There are four candidates with three positions up for election. The terms are for four years.

Three incumbents – Linda Weller, Mary Witkop and Rachel Hicks – are seeking re-election. Jessica George also is running for trustee.

The election is from noon to 7 p.m. at the library, with the library’s annual meeting to follow at 7 p.m.

Voters must be 18 and older and live in the Hoag Library service area, the same area as the Albion school district.

Mary Covell has been a trustee the last four years, acting as vice president for all four. She also has been chair for the Personnel committee and the Planning committee. She has worked as an accountant the past 19 years.

“My family and I utilize the Hoag Library regularly,” she said in a candidate statement on the Hoag website. “Our experiences with the services provided by the library have been wonderful. In addition to the base level library hard copy book borrowing, the inclusion of Senior Citizen informational courses, Hoopla online services, and the community’s use of the library meeting rooms have been exceptional!”

Jessica George is a lifelong Orleans County resident and a library user since she was young, using the library for research long before the age of Google.

“I attend the library every week with my daughter (who calls the library her ‘favorite place in the whole world’) as a volunteer with the Friends of the Library bookstore every Monday night,” George said.

George has 10 years of experience on a board with the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, including seven years as the board chair. She is a licensed therapist who specializes in working with trauma and providing care and support to victims of crime.

“The library holds a central place in our lives, which has influenced my decision to run for a board position,” George said. “As someone that has utilized library services consistently, I feel it is time for me to give back to the library through assisting as a board member and helping the library to be a central community resource for other individuals and families in the coming years.”

Rachel Hicks, a current trustee, has used the library for many years, including while studying for her bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Economics, I utilized the library, and then when she had a son and would bring him to the children’s library area.

“My family actively participate, as well as deeply appreciate, the efforts behind so many of the fun events that take place at the Hoag Library for children and families,” Hicks said.

She has worked at Albion Agencies Insurance for the last 12 years in insurance sales, agency management and accounting.

Hicks also has been active with the Albion Merchants Association, Orleans County Chamber of Commerce, and Albion Joint Fire District.

“I feel the library provides services and opportunities a lot of local community members haven’t even realized yet,” she said. “The weekly programs for different learning opportunities, provides a wealth of learning opportunity from ages of young to old.”

Linda Weller has been a trustee for the library since 2019, including the past five years as board president.

“During this time, I have been committed to supporting the library’s mission and ensuring it remains a vital resource for our community,” she said.

She also is the board president for the Albion Board of Education and recently joined the board of Community Action.

“I believe strongly in building a stronger, more connected community, and I am passionate about the role our library plays in that effort,” Weller said.

Photos by Tom Rivers: St. John’s Episcopal Church is shown on Oct. 18 when the church was featured in an architectural tour to benefit the Cobblestone Museum. The stained-glass windows, some from the 1800s, are the earliest ones in Orleans County.

MEDINA – The annual “Sacred Sites” tour around the state will feature St. John’s Episcopal Church, one of the oldest churches in the county.

St. John’s also is known as “the church in the middle of the road” and has been featured on Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Provided photo: The church is one of the oldest in the region. Construction started in 1832 and was completed in 1838, with a bell tower added later.

St. John’s church began as St. Luke’s Mission in 1827, a result of a rapidly growing village and a group of men who felt spiritual guidance was needed. The Erie Canal was bringing progress and more people along its path.

Construction was started in 1832 with the Medina sandstone quarried from the banks of the Erie Canal. The building was completed, except for the tower, in 1838.

St. John’s will be part of the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s 16th annual Sacred Sites Open House on May 16 & 17. Visitors are welcome to explore the extraordinary architecture, art and history of diverse houses of worship across New York.

This year’s theme is “Holding Community Memories,” and participating sites will showcase their buildings, histories, and community programs through guided tours, lectures, musical performances, and by opening their archives, the Conservancy stated.

“Open House Weekend is an invitation to explore the architecture, art, and history within religious buildings in your community,” says Peg Breen, President of the New York Landmarks Conservancy.  “It’s an easy and enjoyable way to be a tourist in your own town.”

To date, congregations participating from the Western New York region in Sacred Sites include:

Buffalo

• Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church, 317 Leroy Avenue, Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Corpus Christi Church, 199 Clark Street – Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, May 17, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Niagara Falls

• Niagara Heritage of Hope and Service, Home of Historic Holy Trinity, 1419 Falls Street – Sunday, May 17, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Medina

• St. John’s Episcopal Church, 200 E Center Street – Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information about the New York Landmarks Conservancy Sacred Sites Open House, visit nylandmarks.org.

St. John’s, shown during the Oct. 18 open house, will offer guided tours and music on May 16 as well as games for children.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The chapel at Mount Albion Cemetery, shown last week, will be getting a new Vermont slate roof, as well as other repairs to the building that was constructed in 1875 from Medina Sandstone.

ALBION – The slate has arrived in Albion and work should soon begin on replacing the roof at the Mount Albion chapel.

The building is a focal point of the historic cemetery for people who enter through the main arch off Route 31. The new roof is among several improvements for the structure that was built in 1875.

Local mason Neal Muscarella has already completed some repointing of mortar on the building. A drop ceiling also has been removed that revealed a vaulted ceiling had been covered up.

The new roof will be a comparable Vermont slate. The Albion Village Board in September accepted a bid for $83,985 to remove the existing roof and replace all the Vermont slate. The roofer should be on site this spring to work on the project.

There will be other substantial work to follow including interior replastering of the north wall; electrical upgrades (wiring, outlets, internal and external lighting); heating unit for seasonal use; repair of plaster and vaulted ceiling; removal of old floor, repair subfloor and put in a new floor; and refurbish exterior doors and window trim.

A committee led by Village Historian Sue Starkweather Miller has raised $225,000 for the chapel restoration. That met the initial goal but there are some additional expenses with the vaulted ceiling.

Tax deductible donations for the project can be sent to the Orleans County Historical Association, 3286 Gaines Basin Rd., Albion NY 14411. For more information, click here.

Once the project is complete, Starkweather Miller said the site will again be able to be used by the public for events.

Photo by Marsha Rivers: Two fishermen head back through the Oak Orchard Harbor on Friday evening at Point Breeze.

Another frost advisory is in effect for Orleans County tonight for the third straight day. Temperatures in the low to mid 30s will result in frost formation, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.

The advisory from midnight to 9 a.m. Sunday also includes Niagara, Monroe, Wayne, northern Cayuga, Oswego, northern Erie, Livingston and Ontario counties.

The high temperatures in the coming days include 55 and sunny on Sunday, 66 and sunny on Monday, 66 and mostly cloudy on Tuesday and 54 and mostly cloudy on Wednesday.

Leg leader says state policies play big role on local spending

Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson gives her “state of the county” address on Tuesday at the legislative chambers in the County Office Building.

ALBION – The leader of the Orleans County Legislature said state policies are straining the county budget and local pocketbooks.

Lyne Johnson, the chairwoman of the County Legislature, said the impact of state mandated programs continues to increase as a percentage of the county property tax.

County officials in the past spoke about the “9 for 90” mandated programs, how nine directives from the state would consume about 90 percent of the property tax. Johnson said those days feel nostalgic because the mandated programs now are 115 percent of the property tax. (The county can offset some of that and provide non-mandated programs with the local sales tax revenues).

“Our government must do what working families do every day – live within a tight budget and make tough choices,” Johnson said in a “state of the county” address. “We must continually finds ways to do more with less. We must forgo some things we really need until we are in a better fiscal position, and we have to be creative and aggressive in our search for solutions.”

State policies have driven up costs for housing and energy. Residents also face climbing  expenses for childcare, groceries and filling their gas tank, Johnson said.

“New York has long been recognized as one of the least affordable states in the nation, but it feels like it has gotten much worse,” Johnson said. “The cost of living continues to rise faster than wages, leaving families squeezed from every direction.”

She faulted the state’s climate initiatives, in particular, for being “poorly designed” and ignoring the reality of the harsh Western New York winters. Johnson said the state rushed to close coal power plants, and has turned to thousands of acres of “unreliable solar panels on once pristine farmland.” Solar hasn’t made up for the loss of the coal plants, forcing NY to turn to other states for some power “at a premium cost.”

“This is just one of a hundred policies that simply ignore common sense,” she said.

Johnson said she will remain optimistic about Orleans County, and the resilience of its residents and the local leaders. She noted the County Legislature will continue to stay under the state-imposed property tax cap of about 2 percent.

“It’s no secret that this body will not vote to exceed the property tax cap because that just worsens the cost of the affordability crisis on our taxpayers,” she said.

She highlighted partnerships with neighboring counties, including the shared Genesee and Orleans County Health Department (GO Health) and the Niagara-Orleans Regional Alliance.

“Intermunicipal cooperation and the sharing of resources will always be an important focus for us,” she said.

The Legislature leader said county officials have pursued state and federal funding “at every turn possible, pounding the pavement in Washington and Albany to lobby for our needs.”

That paid off with $2 million from the federal government to help pay for a new Emergency Management Office operations center and $2 million for upgrades to the Public Safety Building.

The county is seeking $1.65 million through Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s office to renovate the former GCC building in Albion, which is currently used by Probation. The county would like to bring the Office for the Aging to the site as well.

Johnson cited other new initiatives to assist residents:

• Department of Social Services launching an AI-powered virtual phone assistant to help residents
• An annual paint recycling program with the next one is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 30 at the GCC campus in Medina.
• Emergency services citizen preparedness training
• Safe Harbor program to keep kids safe from online predators

May 16 event at pioneer cemetery in Hulberton will include unveiling of roadside historic markers

Photo from Albion Central School: Albion eighth-graders Sutton Sanders, left, and Luci Borello are shown late last year with two of the new roadside historic markers that will soon be unveiled, showing local ties to the Revolutionary War.

Photos and information from Albion Central School

HULBERTON – Albion Middle School students will share findings from their Revolutionary War research project and unveil two new roadside markers on Saturday, May 16 at 10:30 a.m. at Pierce-Smith Pioneer Cemetery.

That pioneer cemetery is located at 3960 Hulberton Rd, Holley, NY 14470.

The ceremony is student-organized and they invite the community to join them in celebration of the 250th anniversary of our country and honor those who have served. Both Revolutionary War and Civil War re-enactors will be present.

This service learning project was accomplished in partnership with Orleans County.

Two of the students, Luci Borello and Sutton Sanders, partnered with Orleans County historian Catherine Cooper to spearhead a Revolutionary War soldier research project. With guidance from their teacher, Tim Archer, they worked to obtain cemetery roadside markers, gravestone flag markers and replace a damaged headstone.

In completing these tasks, students were able to expand their knowledge of local history, meet local dignitaries, and familiarize themselves with interconnectivity of county and state-run organizations.

NYS roadside markers indicate areas of historical significance in the county. To be granted these markers, valued at $2,050 each, the students had to submit an application to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, a nonprofit committed to preserving community history. The application process is lengthy, requiring detailed primary source documentation and proofs. This did not intimidate Luci and Sutton.

They began their research in the summer, which entailed collecting data of all Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Orleans County using state, federal, military and census data. Their research was not confined to the library, it also relied heavily on field work.

There were four roadside markers granted; one indicating that Revolutionary War veterans and other notable citizens are buried there, and three indicating a Revolutionary War soldier is buried there. Two of them have a special insignia on them indicating partnership with the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).

The project didn’t stop there. While conducting field research, the students discovered a damaged headstone that belonged to Lott Swift, a Revolutionary War soldier who is buried at the East Barre Cemetery. With support from the Town of Barre, students were able to apply for a new stone through the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C.

While researching, students discovered 14 graves in the county of soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War that were not currently marked. Students presented their findings to the Orleans Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), who then generously provided a donation of 14 new bronze flag markers, one for each soldier’s grave.

In total, they discovered about 65 Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Orleans County. Many headstones are gone or indecipherable, so the findings are approximate. The results will be shared with the county, DAR, SAR, local historians and Hoag Library for their records.

2 of the teams qualify for state competition

Provided photos: The teams in that competed in the Niagara-Orleans Envirothon are shown at the Bond Lake Park Nature Center in Lewiston.

Press Release, Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District

LEWISTON – Eighteen teams of high school students from across Niagara and Orleans counties competed on Thursday at the Niagara-Orleans Envirothon held at Bond Lake Park Nature Center in Lewiston.

Five schools participated along with teams from both Niagara and Orleans Career and Technical Education Centers.  Teams of four to six students in grades 9-12 were tested on wildlife, aquatics, forestry, soils/land use, and the current environmental issue topic.

This year’s current issue is “Non-Point Source Pollution: It Begins at Home!” Students learned about NPS pollution and how to identify its origins in both urban and rural settings.

They learned how to conduct their own NPS survey in their community and watershed. Additionally, they learned NPS mitigation strategies, which encompass actions at both the individual level – such as conservation, recycling, and responsible consumption – and the community level, including watershed planning, best management practices, nature-based solutions, water quality testing, and litter prevention initiatives. Students had to present their plan and also take an exam on the topic.

The overall winner and the top team from Niagara County included students from the Niagara/Orleans Career and Technical Center. The team is in Mr. Kapiewicz’s class and students include Nathan Couturier, David Gurski, Jordyn Kinne, Andre Williams and Adam Yanicki.

Congratulations to the team from Niagara Orleans Career and Technical Center for winning from Niagara County and being the Over-All Envirothon Winners! The team was from Mr. Kapiewicz’s class, students included Nathan Couturier, David Gurski, Jordyn Kinne, Andre Williams, and Adam Yanicki.  This team also was the highest scoring team on the Forestry, Soils and Current Issue exams.

Congratulations to the winners from the Orleans Niagara Career and Technical Center for winning Orleans County from Ms. Kiefer’s class, students included Kennedy Clapp, Mackenzie Diamond, Fawn Elko, Autumn McIntyre, Lauren Nagel and Jill Utley.

Both winners will move on to represent their county at the NYS Envirothon later this month.  Good Luck to both teams!

The top team from Orleans County was a group from Orleans/Niagara Career and Technical Center in Ms. Kiefer’s class. Students include Kennedy Clapp, Mackenzie Diamond, Fawn Elko, Autumn McIntyre, Lauren Nagel and Jill Utley.

The Maple Walnuts from Niagara CTEC included Alexandria Ledger, Carter Kennedy, Bella Muck, Trent Pope and Kayla Terry were awarded first place for their oral presentation on the current issue.

The NCTEC Sigmas won the Wildlife portion of the event. Students included Sophia Brice, Conner Lalewicz, Rowen Patterson, Aaron Willis and Lucas Wiseman.

The Aquatics portion was awarded to a team from Royalton-Hartland. Purple Power students were Jaycie Heck, Gabriella Mastromatte. Emma Micel and Delilah Morris.

A special thank you to this year’s event sponsors NewRoyal Orchards, Poverty Hill Farm, and the Environmental Education Foundation of Soil and Water Conservation for providing breakfast, lunch, goodie bags, awards, and Envirothon shirts for the students.

This year schools were each given a Biltmore stick, a forestry tool used to estimate tree diameters and heights. Exams and proctoring were provided by the Aquarium of Niagara, Mr. Paul Dewey, the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, and both Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Vic DiGiacomo of the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee and Ronny Raindrop of the NYS Conservation District Employees Association came to hand out awards to the winners. Shout out to the Niagara County Parks crew out at Bond Lake who are always wonderful on the setup and tear-down of our Envirothon.

The Niagara-Orleans Envirothon is a yearly event for county high school students presented by Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District and Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District.  Envirothon is an environmental competition on different aspects of natural resources.  It gives students hands-on experience and knowledge of the environment to understand how to protect and manage the natural resources around them.

For more information about Envirothon visit www.envirothon.org or www.nysenvirothon.org.  To participate next year please reach out to our offices by calling 716-434-4949 ext. 4 or emailing Katherine.pfeifer@ny.nacdnet.net or the Orleans SWCD at 585-589-5959 or email Guinevere.dillhoff@ny.nacdnet.net.

Provided photos: (Left) – Elliot Beyrle of Albion took first in the CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer competition while Abigail Kincaid of Albion (right) won the Basic Health Care Skills competition at SkillsUSA.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Orleans/Niagara BOCES would like to congratulate all our SkillsUSA students from the Orleans (OCTEC) and Niagara (NCTEC) Career and Technical Education Centers.

They competed April 22-24 at the 2026 NYS SkillsUSA Leadership Conference and Competition. Dozens of competitions were held at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse and the students brought home 28 medals in total and two ONBOCES students were elected to be New York State SkillsUSA officers.

Congratulations to Brooke Dunkelberger (Barker) who will be an officer and Mia Kujawa (Medina) who will be a Voting Delegate.

Lockport senior Amelia Mussachio, who is in the Cosmetology program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, was chosen to sing the National Anthem at the Competition and blew everyone away with her performance.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student to excel and empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.

Many of the students winning gold medals have the opportunity to move on to the National competition in Atlanta, Georgia June 1-6.  Orleans/Niagara BOCES Director of Career and Technical Education and Adult Education, Dr. Michael Weyrauch, said he is grateful to all staff who volunteer their time to support the SkillsUSA students.

“Thank you for recognizing our students’ potential and accepting the challenge to fight for their individual success, I am deeply appreciative and extremely proud of you,” Dr. Weyrauch said. “Each and every one of us play a significant role in molding our CTE students for what is next in their lives. We celebrate not only our students, but the role our teachers and support staff have in their accomplishments.”

Orleans Career and Tech Education students who placed in the top three include:

• 1st Place in Basic Health Care Skills – Abigail Kincaid of Albion, Allied Health II program
• 1st Place in CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer – Elliot Beyrle of Albion, Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering program
• 1st Place in Health Occupations Professional Portfolio – Emiliana Batista of Medina, Allied Health II program
• 1st Place in Barbering – Lavani Myles of Lockport, Cosmetology II program
• 2nd Place in Advertising Design – Emily Case of Lockport, Graphic Communications II
• 2nd Place in Customer Service – Violette Streckewald of Roy-Hart, Cosmetology II
• 2nd Place in Esthetics – Alexandria Kempton of Newfane, Cosmetology I
• 3rd Place in Cosmetology, Sr. – Savannah Spoth of Lyndonville, Cosmetology II program
• 3rd Place in Computer Programming – Camden VandenBosch of Roy-Hart, Computer Technology II program

Students from East High and Albion High School pose for a group photo on Thursday at Panek Farms in Albion.

Photos and press release, Albion Central School

ALBION – Students from East High School in Rochester recently enjoyed a full day of activities in Albion as part of a student exchange program to help challenge cultural stereotypes and promote understanding and friendships among teens of different backgrounds. Albion Interact Club members visited East High on April 15.

The day began with guest speaker Ayesha Kreutz addressing the over seventy students.

Kreutz is a nationally recognized activist, chaplain, author and organizational leader. She serves as Operations Director and Board Member of the Frederick Douglass Foundation and Frederick Douglass Freedom Alliance.

Kreutz appears on numerous national media platforms and has been invited to the White House many times in recognition of her work and influence.

Following a brief tour of the school, the teens visited community sites to “get a feel” for Orleans County.

Kathy Jurs and Kasey Neal of Poverty Hill Farms give students a tour of the cows at the dairy farm in Albion on Thursday.

Jody Neal and Kathy Jurs from Poverty Hill Farms explained the different aspects of the dairy farm industry. Students enjoyed seeing the life and “smells” of dairy cows and “touching them for the first time.”

From there they traveled down the road to Panek Farms. Jim Panek and his son Phil showed them a variety of large farm equipment and allowed the excited students to sit in the cabs of tractors, combines, and tractor trailers.

Following lunch and games at Dubby’s, the day culminated with a trip to Mt. Albion Cemetery to climb up the 68-foot tower for an aerial view of the community.

“We had a great time with the Albion students,” East High teacher Laura Delehanty said. “Our students have gained a greater respect and appreciation for their Albion peers.”

(Left) Jim Panek shows students some of the farm equipment at Panek Farms. (Right) Students were welcomed to climb inside a combine.

Jody Neal showed East High students around the farm, including a barn for the calves.

Tim Archer, Interact Club advisor for Albion, introduces Ayesha Kreutz, the guest speaker who addressed the group of about 70 students.

(Left) The students were happy to greet a calf at the dairy farm. (Right) Students check out the milking parlor.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A crew from Suit-Kote Corporation mills Ohio Street on Tuesday morning, the street where Medina Memorial Hospital is located.

Suit-Kote also milled parts of Park Avenue and West Avenue this week, and could do paving on the three streets next week if the weather cooperates.

“Whenever we get a stretch of good weather in the next week or so we will be paving those streets back,” said Jason Watts, superintendent of the Village of Medina Department of Public Works.

The village is doing these milling and paving projects now, and could add more since it knows its CHIPS funding in the new state budget. Watts said he expects Keeler Construction of Barre will do more milling and paving in the village after Medina’s road construction funding is known.

This photo shows Park Avenue being blocked to traffic near Pine Street Park on Tuesday after the top layer of asphalt was removed.