Photos by Tom Rivers: John Fitzak, Orleans County legislator and co-leader of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities, addresses about 20 local officials on Tuesday during the monthly meeting of the association. The meeting was hosted by the Village of Holley and held in the cafeteria of the Holley Elementary School.

HOLLEY – Officials in Orleans County were told the state has funding opportunities to study infrastructure needs and also to consider more efficient ways to providing services.

Andrew Santillo, a local government specialist with the NYS Department of State, was the featured speaker during Tuesday’s monthly meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities. He spoke by phone from Albany.

The state has funded projects in the county, including $52,859 towards a current study looking at EMS and firefighting services throughout the county. A final report is expected soon on that report.

Holley Mayor Mark Bower said the village has worked to update its zoning ordinances and comprehensive plan with assistance from the Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council.

The Department of State also worked with Orleans County on a regional dredging plan.

The state made $8 million available for projects in the 2025-26 budget. About $800,000 goes towards planning grants while $7.3 million is directed at implementing projects, Santillo said.

The funding is open to counties, towns, villages, school districts, fire districts, libraries and BOCES.

Some recent projects have involved courts, a regional fuel facility, code enforcement, assessment, merging a police department, information technology services, municipal planning, clean energy initiatives and waste water.

Santillo highlighted a project in Lewis County in the north country where 17 municipal entities are sharing highway equipment.

The Brockport Fire District also secured nearly $500,000 for a regional bunk-in program that boosts firefighter staffing through SUNY Brockport. Students get free room and board at the Brockport firehouse in exchange for responding to some emergency calls as volunteer firefighters.

“We try to meet the needs of local governments,” Santillo said.

Some recent studies in parts of the state have assisted planning and zoning boards with zoning updates and new comprehensive plans, and fire districts and schools with mergers. Some students have looked at the dissolution of village governments and shifting those services to a town.

Other students have examined how municipal services could better be reorganized.

“We put some money behind projects to see if savings can be had,” Santillo said. “Is there a way to help you guys do things better or more cost effective?”

He noted some current projects in the GLOW region including a water main replacement in Avon, a water-loss study in Wyoming County, and a large sewer project in Darien.

County Legislator John Fitzak also is chairman of the Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, which serves nine counties and the city of Rochester.

He said the organization can assist municipalities with preparing and administering grants.

“The money is there for projects,” Fitzak said.

Pay hikes will get Orleans to average salaries for smaller counties

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has approved a three-year contract with 24 members of the Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, giving the 24 members a boost in pay to bring the group to the average pay for deputies in smaller counties.

The agreement includes deputies, sergeants, criminal investigators and lieutenants. They are currently about $5,400 below the average base salary for their positions among 13 smaller counties. In Orleans, they currently have a base salary of about $75,000.

They will get a 6.6 percent raise in 2027, bring the base pay to about $80,000, and will then receive 2.5 percent increases every six months – Jan. 1, 2028; July 1, 2028; Jan. 1, 2029; and July 1, 2029.

The agreement brings Orleans in line with the salaries among other smaller counties, and still well below the pay offered by larger law enforcement departments in nearby Monroe County, said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer. Some of those departments are offering $100,000 to start, he said. In Orleans, new deputies start at about $60,000 base salary.

The county used 13 comparable counties to compare the pay rates. Legislature Chairwoman thanked Welch, county attorney Kathy Bogan and Sheriff Chris Bourke for their work on the agreement which is in place seven months before the current contract expires.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has authorized the county to use a $6 million bond to pay for a new emergency management office at 14064 West County House Rd.

The Legislature in a unanimous vote on Tuesday authorized the county treasurer to issue a bond. That follows a vote about a month ago when the County Legislature approved about $5 million in construction bids today for a new Emergency Management Office.

The total cost of the EMO facility is expected to be about $5.5 million. The Legislature still needs to approve a bid for electric work on the building.

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 a $2 million federal grant secured by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney towards the project. That puts the local contribution to the building at about $3.5 million. (The county needs to spend the money towards the building and then gets reimbursed the $2 million from the federal government.)

The construction bids approved on April 28 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 about 3,000 square feet. Most of the current EMO building is underground and is prone to flooding after heavy rains. 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.

Legislators approved two other resolutions on Tuesday related to the EMO.

The Legislature approved paying Colliers Engineering & Design in Rochester $110,546 and $20,717 for professional services for the Emergency Management Office facility.

The county also will be renting space from the Fancher, Hulberton and Murray Volunteer Fire Co. at 3353 Hulberton Rd. in Holley from June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2031, using two apparatus bays for equipment and miscellaneous storage needs at no cost for first year then $10,000 each subsequent year.

With the new building being downsized, the EMO has some storage needs. The agreement with FHM will allow the EMO to store a command post, foam trailer for when there are spills, PPE (personal protective equipment) and supplies for the Health Department.

The fire trucks from FHM are now kept at the Holley fire hall. Mercy Flight also is using part of the FHM site to keep ambulances.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County legislator Skip Draper, right, congratulates Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke for receiving the Maureen McCormick Lifetime Achievement award. It was presented April 28 by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, STOP–DWI and The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. Bourke was recognized during the Orleans County legislature meeting on Tuesday and was joined by chief deputies Jim DeFilipps, left, and Torry Tooley.

ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke has received a state-wide award for his efforts over many years to reduce drunk driving and keep the roads safer in Orleans County.

Bourke on April 28 received the Maureen McCormick Lifetime Achievement award, which was created in honor of Suffolk County special assistant district attorney.

Bourke arrested many drunk drivers on the road patrol as a deputy sheriff, including working on the night shift earlier in his 40-year career.

In the past six-plus years as the sheriff, he led the Sheriff’s Office to implement and expand drunk and impaired driving community outreach by obtaining the agency’s first DWI simulator, expanding community outreach into local schools, and increased Sheriff’s Office participation in prom season DWI simulations at schools.

These students from Lyndonville and Medina tried to steer pedal cars while wearing goggles that showed what is what like to have your vision affected by alcohol intoxicated or marijuana. The Sheriff’s Office had the pedal cars and googles available on May 12 as part of a mock DWI crash simulation today at the Ridgeway fire hall parking lot.

Under Bourke’s leadership, all eligible road patrol personnel have obtained training in ARIDE (Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement) to help identify impairment from drugs and alcohol. The training is hosted by the Sheriff’s Office and made available to other agencies within Orleans County.

Bourke also made a commitment to re-establishing the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office Drug Recognition Expert Program. For many years, the Sheriff’s Office didn’t have a certified drug recognition expert, but has added two in the past two years.

Under Sheriff Bourke’s commitment to drunk and impaired driving enforcement, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has experienced a 150% increase in DWI arrests from 2021 to 2025, going from 22 to 55.

Bourke started his career at the Sheriff’s Office as a correction officer, and then a road patrol deputy, lieutenant and K9 officer and undersheriff.

“Throughout his forty plus year career with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Bourke’s rank has changed, his roles have changed, but what has not changed is his commitment to drunk and impaired driving enforcement,” said Lt. James White, who nominated Bourke for the state-wide award.

Orleans County treasurer served as president of state-wide association

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kim DeFrank, the Orleans County treasurer, is congratulated by County Legislator John Fitzak after she was honored as the County Finance Official of the Year.

She received that award on May 21 in Glens Falls. She was honored by the New York State County Treasurers’ and Finance Officers’ Association. DeFrank served as president of the association in 2025.

DeFrank has been the county treasurer since 2018. She has worked in the county treasurer’s office for 32 years.

The association of county treasurers and finance officials meets four times a year, and had its summer conference in Batavia when DeFrank was president.

She said the statewide association provides a network of knowledge from other treasurers and finance officers around the state from counties of all sizes.

The association praised DeFrank for her “service and leadership to the association and for dedication to issues of importance to New York State County Finance Officials.”

Arts initiative expected to bring 50,000 visitors from June 6 to Sept. 7

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Quincey Miracle, co-artistic director of the Triennial, works on a model of the Erie Canal, titled “Diversion”, in the Triennial Hub headquarters, located in the former NAPA building at the foot of Main Street. When complete, it will be filled with filtered water from the canal.

MEDINA – There’s been a buzz in the air around Medina for the past year, and it centers around what is being called “The Medina Triennial,” which the nation’s premier art publications Art in America and ARTnews have featured as one of the best art events to visit in the country this summer.

In the fall of 2025, the Triennial was announced and the former NAPA building on North Main Street was identified as the Medina Triennial Hub. Headquartered there is Federico Rosario, community engagement and program coordinator for the Triennial, and in the back space is a giant project in the works called “Diversion.” It is a replica of the Erie Canal with filtered water from the canal, in which people may walk.

Sculptors Tim Noble and Trevor Gross from the University of Buffalo are collaborating with James Beckett on this exhibit on digital quarrying on the lawn of Mustang City (former Medina High School).

In spite of many articles on the Triennial, many people are still asking, “Just what is this Triennial?”

Basically, it is an initiative of the New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation who was looking for a way to re-imagine the canal by creating a contemporary arts event with a triennial structure which would tie in with the canal’s 200th anniversary, according to Lielle Berman, Sustainability Project Manager at the New York Power Authority.

The inaugural 2026 Triennial is titled “All that Sustains Us,” and features more than 100 artworks across 10 sites in Medina, curated by Kari Conte and Karin Laansoo. Sites include Rotary Park, State Street Park, Mustang City (the old Medina High School), Medina Railroad Museum, Triennial Hub (former NAPA Auto Parts), floating barge in the Erie Canal basin, YMCA, Sacred Heart Church, Medina Memorial Hospital and Medina Theater.

At its core, the Triennial asks, “What essential efforts and commitments are required to sustain life in our fractured world?”

Of course, “triennial” means three, and the Medina Triennial, the first of its kind in the United States in a small town, will return every three years for two more times. Previous triennials in the nation were held in Boston, New Orleans and St. Louis.

One question on everyone’s mind is, “Why was Medina chosen?”

Berman’s answer was, “Medina is the widest part of the canal’s 363 miles. It has the only aqueduct, Medina Falls and the culvert. This is a very rich spot,” she said. “Medina is going through a renaissance, with culinary arts and community events.”

Conte explained the curatorial approach grew from close attention to Medina’s landscape and material culture – its historic sandstone, canal infrastructure and agricultural traditions. She added her experience with the village has been extraordinary.

The event is drawing international interest. Thirty-nine artists from around the world were invited to participate in Medina’s Triennial, and only two declined.

“That is incredible,” Conte said.

While several participating artists are from across the globe, some are from Western New York, Toronto and Detroit. A participating artist from Ireland is showing her work in America for the first time.

Some of the Triennial’s highlights are Mary Mattingly’s “Floating Garden,” a barge-based living artwork in the canal; James Beckett, who is working on “digital quarrying” of Medina sandstone; Selva Aparicio, whose residency is in collaboration with Medina Railroad Museum; and Michael Wang, who is researching maple sap production in the region.

Working at the Railroad Museum is Lina Lapelyte, who recently won the Golden Lion Award, the highest prize given in the Venice Biennale. Her workers are constructing a Medina sandstone walkway and singing while they work. Their performances at 2 p.m. on Saturdays are tentatively scheduled to air on Medina’s downtown speakers.

“So much of this is behind the scenes,” Conte said. “The artists are coming to Medina because they want to show their work here. This is first and foremost about art.”

At Medina High School, Beckett’s project is dominating the front lawn. There, he is collaborating with Tim Noble and Trevor Gross from the University of Buffalo in building a sculptural wall, using limestone slabs sandwiched with a top layer of Medina sandstone. All the material is reclaimed building pieces from across Western New York, Noble said. Its total weight is in excess of 60,000 pounds.

The Triennial officially opens to the public on June 6 and will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Regular hours throughout the summer will be from noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays to Sept. 7. Programs, maps and other information on the Triennial will be available to visitors at the Triennial Hub on North Main Street.

Mary Mattingly walks away from the barge in the canal basin, which she is transforming into a floating garden.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced reforms to bring down costs of auto insurance rates and tackle fraudulent claims across New York State as part of her FY27 Enacted Budget.

The Governor secured common-sense steps to battle fraud, limit damages paid out to bad actors and ensure that consumers, not insurance companies, are prioritized. These reforms build on Governor Hochul’s ongoing efforts to make the state more affordable and put money back into the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers.

“Outdated laws, special interest loopholes and jackpot insurance payouts to bad actors have long forced New Yorkers to pay some of the highest car insurance rates in the nation,” Governor Hochul said. “These hard-fought reforms are a win for every New Yorker who depends on a car to go to work or drop their kids at school. But it’s bigger than that – I’ve heard from farmers who say these reforms will lower the cost of getting their goods to market and from construction supply companies who say this will lower the cost of building. This is how we are delivering on the promise to tackle the affordability crisis head on.”

New Yorkers’ insurance rates total an average of slightly more than $4,000 annually, nearly $1,500 above the national average. Car insurance rates are driven up by a combination of fraud, litigation, legal loopholes and enforcement gaps. Staged crashes and associated insurance fraud inflate premiums up to $300 a year, according to some estimates. New York’s broken insurance system is not just hurting those who rely on a car to get around, but local businesses that rely on trucking to make ends meet.

The FY27 Enacted Budget includes sweeping reforms designed to help drive down New York’s exorbitantly high auto insurance rates, addressing the root causes by targeting fraud and tackling runaway litigation. No other Governor in a generation has taken on tort reform and walked away with a deal that will result in significant savings for New York consumers and businesses. The Budget also includes provisions that enable prosecutors to seek criminal penalties against any individual responsible for organizing a staged accident, not just the particular individual behind the wheel.

The state of Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation has issued an analysis demonstrating how its 2023 tort reform package has resulted in a 5.6 percent decrease in the average auto insurance rates across the majority of its market. For example, in 2025, Florida’s largest carrier returned nearly $1 billion in excess profits to 2.7 million policyholders. Florida’s analysis of its declining rates offers a stark contrast with New York’s experience in the same timeframe. Following the implementation of tort reform, Florida reversed its double-digit growth of auto insurance rates in 2023 into a 7.4 percent reduction in the average rates by 2025, showcasing savings for consumers.

• Limiting Damages for Individuals Engaging in Unlawful Behavior at the Time of an Accident – Caps damages for drivers engaging in criminal behavior at the time of the incident, to ensure drivers flouting the law — including uninsured motorists, drunk drivers, and drivers in the act of committing a felony — don’t walk away with a jackpot payday at the expense of everyone else.
• Tightening the Serious Injury Threshold – Improves statutory definitions to clarify what actually constitutes a ‘serious injury’ so that damages for pain and suffering or emotional distress are reserved for those able to objectively demonstrate that they have suffered a serious injury.
• Limiting Damages for Individuals Who Are “Mostly” At Fault in Causing an Accident –Ensures that if a driver is found to be mostly at fault for causing an accident, they cannot sue their victims for outsized payments for damages. This change will put New York in line with most other states.
• Applying stringent oversight on insurance companies rates, preventing excess profits, and returning savings to consumers – Puts consumers first by preventing insurance companies from exorbitantly raising rates by setting a legal threshold that prevents excess profits and returns savings to consumers. Additionally, the Budget creates new regulatory safeguards to prevent insurance companies from raising rates without seeking express approval from the Department of Financial Services.
• Ensuring Fair Rates for Drivers – Protects consumers by prohibiting insurance companies from setting rates based on extraneous, personal factors like homeownership status, occupation, education level or zip code.

Press Release, Holley Central School

Provided photo: Holley Central School Superintendent Karri Schiavone, left, congratulates Payton Preston as Holley’s “Outstanding Senior.”

HOLLEY – Payton Preston of Holley has been recognized by the Monroe County Council of School Superintendents as a 2026 Outstanding Senior at the annual Dr. Michael C. O’Laughlin Outstanding Senior Recognition Dinner on May 14.

One senior from each high school in the Monroe One and Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES region is selected for this honor based on scholarship, leadership, service and character.

Payton is a dedicated student who has been actively involved in academics and extracurriculars throughout her high school career. She participated in varsity soccer, cheerleading and tennis, demonstrating commitment, teamwork and school spirit across multiple programs.

She serves as president of the National Honor Society and is a member of the National Technical Honor Society through her Career and Technical Education program. Her leadership and academic success reflect a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence.

Payton also served as a SOAR mentor for seventh-grade students during her junior and senior years, providing guidance and support to peers transitioning into middle school. Outside of school, she is active in 4-H, further demonstrating her commitment to community involvement and personal growth.

“Payton exemplifies the heart of Holley,” said Holley CSD Superintendent Karri Schiavone. “She is a well-rounded student whose leadership, academic achievement and commitment to service set her apart. Her dedication and passion make her a positive role model and a deserving recipient of this recognition.”

She will continue her education at SUNY Geneseo this fall, where she plans to major in biochemistry.

Alissa Ellman and Diana Kastenbaum will take questions at Hoag Library

Diana Kastenbaum, left, and Alissa Ellman will face each other in a Democratic Party Primary on June 23 with the winner to go against Claudia Tenney in the general election.

ALBION – Two candidates running for Congress will be at a 7 p.m. forum on June 4 at Hoag Library.

Alissa Ellman and Diana Kastenbaum will be at the forum hosted by the Orleans County Democratic Committee.

The two are in a primary where early voting starts on June 13 with the primary ending June 23. The winner will face Claudia Tenney in the general election for the 24^th Congressional District which stretches from Lake Ontario in Niagara County through the Genesee Valley, encompasses the Finger Lakes region, and extends east to the St. Lawrence Seaway.

“While only registered Democrats can vote in the Primary Election for these candidates, this forum is a chance for our whole community, however affiliated, to hear directly from folks who will be running against Claudia Tenney in November,” said Beth Wood, secretary of the Orleans County Democratic Committee. “Democracy depends upon well informed citizens who learn, register to vote, and then get to the polls to be sure their own choice is counted.”

Diana Kastenbaum was born and raised in Batavia, and was owner and CEO of a tool-and-die casting company, Pinnacle Manufacturing Company. She previously ran for Congress in 2016 when Batavia was in the 27^th Congressional District.

She was married to late actor and comedian Hiram Kasten for 38 years until his passing in 2024. She is the mother of a daughter Millicent who serves as an attorney in public service. She serves as a trustee on the Genesee Community College. She also was on the board for the  Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council and the Landmark Society of Genesee County.

Alissa Ellman is a disabled Army veteran who served in Afghanistan. She was working in Veterans affairs at the Buffalo VA, helping veterans secure their benefits. But her job was suddenly eliminated over a year ago by Elon Musk and DOGE. That prompted her to run for Congress. She grew up in Houghton in Allegany County.

Ellman in 2018 was diagnosed with a type of adrenal cancer associated with toxic burn pit exposure during her time in Afghanistan.

Kastenbaum and Ellman also will have a debate on June 9 at 7 p.m. at Genesee Community College in Batavia. That debate will be moderated by the League of Women Voters of Rochester.

Provided photo: A bench donated to Orleans Community Health and Orleans Community Health Foundation was recently dedicated at the front entrance. Here, chief executive officer Marc Shurtz, left, landscaper Logan Callara, Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson and County Legislator Skip Draper pose with the bench after the ceremony.

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health Foundation and Orleans Community Health are recognizing the donation of a beautiful bench from local entrepreneur Logan Callara, owner of Logan’s Landscaping.

The bench was formally dedicated during a gathering attended by Orleans Community Health chief executive officer Marc Shurtz, Callara, Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson and County Legislator Skip Draper.

A lifelong Orleans County resident, Callara has become known not only for his growing landscaping business, but also for his commitment to supporting the local community through volunteerism and charitable efforts, according to Scott Robinson, director of marketing at Orleans Community Health.

Callara’s donation reflects a continued investment in the health and wellbeing of local residents and visitors, Robinson said.

“We are incredibly grateful to Logan and Logan’s Landscaping for donating such a beautiful bench for our patients, families and visitors to enjoy,” said Megan Johnson, executive director of the Orleans Community Health Foundation. “As we prepare to break ground on the new entrance for the Medina Healthcare Center on the hospital’s south side, we are excited that the bench will have a permanent home in that new welcoming space for our community.”

The bench currently serves as a place of comfort and rest for visitors to the hospital campus and will eventually be relocated to the new south entrance as part of the ongoing Medina Healthcare Center project.

For more information about Orleans Community Health Foundation or ways to support local healthcare initiatives, visit www.orleanscommunityhealth.org/giving or e-mail foundation@medinamemorial.org.

Provided photo

HOLLEY – Nora Lindsay, center is shown presenting a ceremonial check for $2,350 for C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association. She is shown with Neil and Diane Valentine, parents of the late Evan Valentine.

Evan passed away at age 18 on February 21, 2021 after a courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Evan was very active in Holley’s music program and also was a soccer player and Eagle Scout.

Evan was friends with Nora’s older brother, Gabe Lindsay. Nora last year raised $700 for the C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association by selling cookies.

This year she organized a cash raffle. Tickets sold for $10 each with $500 awarded for first prize, $350 for second, and $150 for third.

The raffle raised $1,850 and another donation came in for $500, bringing the total to $2,350. She was joined by Evan’s parents in presenting the donation on Tuesday to the C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association in Rochester.

“My mother always taught me that no one ever really dies until the last time someone says your name,” Nora said. “Evan Valentine meant a lot to my brother, and my family is close, so when my brother went to college I told him I’d make him proud. The first time I really understood what community meant is when the Holley community rallied around Evan and his family,” Nora said. “So, for all those reasons and more, I wanted to honor his memory and all that C.U.R.E. does both seen and unseen.”

Evan Valentine, left, was a very active student at Holley.

Press Release, Orleans Renaissance Group

Dave Viterna Group, Eric Weinholtz Band, The Growlers Blues Band will be performing at State Street Park in Medina as part of the Blue Thursdays concert series.

MEDINA – Blue Thursdays, the highly anticipated summer music series in Medina, is returning in 2026 with a lineup– six of the top blues bands from Buffalo and Western New York, featuring nationally touring musicians.

The free summer blues concerts take place Thursday evenings, June 18 through August 6 at the State Street Park Pavilion in Medina. The event attracts between 600 to 1,000 each week.

The Print Shop of Medina partners with the ORG/Orleans Renaissance Group, Inc./medinaalive.com in producing the series, booking and coordinating top blues talent from the Buffalo/Niagara region.

As before, this year’s slate of bands feature a mix of returning Blue Thursdays favorites along with bands not previously seen at Blue Thursdays.

The artists booked for the event are highly acclaimed, award-winning blues bands from the Buffalo/ Niagara area, many of whom have toured nationally.

“We’re committed to bringing top-tier, exceptional talent that people would otherwise not have had the opportunity to experience locally,” said Chris Busch of ORG/medinaalive.com. “Many of these artists are hall-of-famers, nationally acclaimed, and award-winning musicians, songwriters, and recording artists. They’ve been performing alongside some of the biggest names in the industry for decades, and we’re thrilled to bring such high-caliber bands to Medina.”

June 18: Opening Night – Dave Viterna with the Dave Viterna Group. Performing since 1979, legendary guitarist and recording artist Dave Viterna and DVG have been defining the WNY band scene for decades! DVG brings a high-energy performance, soulful vocals, skilled guitar work, and a mix of originals and classic rock covers! Always drawing one of the biggest crowds of the series, the hometown boys Dave, Scooter and Marty know how to kick it off with a bang!

June 25: Growlers Blues Band – recognized as a top band in Buffalo, awarded “best traditional blues band” and “best cross over band. The Growlers Blues Band are hotter than ever– headlined and opened for several national acts at The Tralf, including contemporary blues masters Brandon Santini and Watermelon Slim. The band has performed at the Red White and Blues Festival, The Crossroads Festival, The Blues and Roots Festival at Riverworks.

Grosh, Miller and The Other Sinners, Pat Harrington Trio will be performing as well in ths year’s concert series.

July 9: Miller and The Other Sinners – nationally touring band from Buffalo and a staple at Buffalo’s Sportsmen’s Tavern, bringing a blend of gut bucket delta grit, Memphis soul, and funky rhythm and blues. David Michael Miller, founder, lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter has shared the stage with artists such as Tedeschi Trucks Band, Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr., Jimmie Vaughan and others.

Miller represented the WNY Blues Society in 2013 and 2014 at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in both the Band and Solo/Duo categories. In 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, he was presented with the best Male Blues Vocalist Award by Buffalo’s Night Life Magazine and in 2015 was presented with the Arts Services Institute award for “Artist of the Year.”

July 16: Pat Harrington Trio – featuring Pat Harrington, lead guitarist with Grammy Nominated and Multi-Blues Music Award winning band Victor Wainwright & The Train as well as several other of the Blues world’s most notable names. Pat blends rock, jazz, and blues with “smoke-soaked solos” with improvisational fluency and high-octane blues. He has performed with artists including Bobby Whitlock and Gary Clark Jr. and has become a part of the national conversation as one of the most inspiring, versatile and distinctive players in the American Roots music genre today. The Trio features Owen Eichensehr (drums) and Paul L. Yates (bass). A BT favorite band!

July 23: Eric Weinholtz Band – Guitarist and recording artist Eric Weinholtz is described as one of the most talented musicians in Western New York. After releasing his first album, Same Old Mistakes, in March 2026, Eric won the prestigious 2025 Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Yellen Songwriter Award for his song “Louisiana.” The band features a stand out lineup of some of WNY’s top musicians – Ed Croft, Nelson Rivera, Jason Moynihan, Tina Williams.

August 6: Grand Finale – Grosh – Back by popular demand– featuring the phenomenal award-winning guitarist, songwriter & recording artist, Grace Lougen. Described as “a force to be reckoned with”, power vocalist Megan Brown, guitarist Grace Lougen, bassist Dylan Hund, and drummer Josh English, bring tight musicianship, powerful vocals, and a “classic rock” sound for an electrifying performance experience.

Voted “Best Original Band 2024” (Grosh) and “Buffalo’s Best Blues Guitarist 2023” by Buffalo Night-Life Music Awards. Recognized by regional media and embraced by fans across the Northeast, GROSH continues to expand their touring reach and strengthen their presence as one of the region’s most compelling original rock acts.

All shows will feature professional sound provided by Curly Pfalzer of Pro Sound and Lighting.

The concerts are free and open to the public. Shows run from 6 to 8 p.m. A variety of food and beverages will be available on site. Food vendors include Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza, Greenlief’s On The Go, Hazel and Honey Bakes, Nana & Papa’s, Big Dan’s Smokin’ Barbeque, and LuGia’s Ice Cream (1 day). Beverage vendors include Northridge Distillery and Schulze Vineyard & Winery.

“We recommend arriving by 5:30 or earlier to secure a good spot on the lawn and enjoy some of the many great food vendors we’ve booked,” said Mike Fuller of The Print Shop. “Kick off your weekend on Thursdays at BT– great food, drinks, chill vibe, family friendly and the best blues music in WNY! BT is the must see event of the summer!”

There are no rain dates. Event updates, any cancellations and venue information will be posted at ‘Blue Thursdays Medina’ Facebook page.

Press Release, Albion Fire Department

ALBION – On Saturday, May 30, the volunteer members of the Albion Fire Department will hold their annual memorial service at the firemen’s monument. It is located on the west side of Mount Albion Cemetery, right by the koi fish pond.

Beginning at 9:45 a.m., the fire trucks will depart from the Albion Joint Fire District headquarters and will proceed in procession to the Mount Albion Cemetery.  Once there, members and guests will gather for a formal memorial service to honor those who have served and those we have lost.

We welcome and encourage the entire community, families, friends and supporters to join us as we pay tribute to our fallen members. Thank you in advance for your participation in this annual event.

Adult smoking rate in Orleans, 25.2%, nearly triple state average

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year. Millions of people also live with smoking-related illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, and lung disease.

Smoking can also harm people who do not smoke. The CDC reports that secondhand smoke causes about 40,000 adult deaths and 400 infant deaths each year in the United States. Breathing in secondhand smoke can increase the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, and breathing problems.

Adult smoking rates in both Genesee and Orleans Counties are higher than the New York State average of 9.9%, at 17.8% in Genesee County and 25.2% in Orleans County. This puts residents at greater risk for serious health problems caused by tobacco use and secondhand smoke.

“The good news is that quitting smoking has both immediate and long-term health benefits,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Quitting can be hard, but support and encouragement can help. We want residents to know they do not have to quit alone.”

The Orleans County Health Department is offering a free Tobacco Cessation Class Series to help community members quit tobacco products. Participants will receive support, resources, and simple strategies to help them quit and stay tobacco-free.

Classes will be held at Hoag Library on Wednesdays from June 3rd through July 8th from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Each session will last approximately one hour.

Benefits of quitting smoking include:

• Healthier heart and lungs
• Lower risk of cancer and other diseases
• Easier breathing and more energy
• Helping protect family members from secondhand smoke
• Saving money that was spent on tobacco products

Residents interested in participating are encouraged to register by filling out the following registration form: Tobacco Cessation Class Inquiry Form.

For more information on GO Health programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org.