Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Medina firefighters Brian Bates (left), a paramedic/firefighter, and Lt. Jake Crooks hand out plastic firefighter helmets to kids at the National Night Out on Tuesday outside the Clifford Wise Intermediate School. Medina firefighters also gave bags with fire prevention tips for kids.

Medina hosted the National Night Out for the fifth time on Tuesday, and drew several hundred people. First responders and agencies from throughout the county were there to run activities and answer questions from residents.

Paul Urquart, a Medina firefighter, helps Jace Boyle, 10, of Medina aim a fire hose at a target.

Mila McAdoo, 4, of Medina throws a ball at the dunk tank target. She was able to get Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoo Company, to plunge into the water.

Christy Gross, who works at a salon at the Walmart in Albion, gives Blair, age 5, a haircut. Gross offered free haircuts during National Night Out.

Orleans County Sheriff’s deputy Jeff Cole and Odin, the department’s K9, did demonstrations during NNO. Odin has been trained and is certified for drug detection, tracking and searches.

Sherrie Bensley, public health educator for GO Health, serves pizza that was donated by Mark’s Pizzeria. Mark’s donated 20 sheet pizzas for the event.

Bensley was co-chair of the NNO Committee with Diana Fulcomer of UConnectCare. Other committee members include Alishia Foss and Taryn Moyle of Community Action, Jess Marciano of the Village of Medina, and Danielle Figura of the Orleans County Mental Health Department.

Bensley said National Night Out builds connections in the community.

“I think it’s very important for our youth to see our first responders in action and form a relationship,” she said. “They see they are the good guys.”

Taryn Moyle, Alishia Foss and Danielle Figura were busy serving pizza donated by Mark’s. The pizza was a change from previous years when hot dogs were given out for free.

This kid fires a fastball at the dunk tank target, trying to get Shawn Ramsey wet.

Fire departments and law enforcement agencies gave people a chance to see equipment up close.

UB professors to turn former concrete plant into site with focus on state’s history, biodiversity and agriculture

Photos by Douglas Levere/University at Buffalo – The public greenspace initiative in Medina will be located along the Erie Canal, north of the Glenwood Avenue bridge and the Big Apple sculpture.

By Laurie Kaiser, News Content Director at University at Buffalo

MEDINA – Two University at Buffalo professors are leading a public ecological project in Medina, which will honor the agricultural, cultural and economic history of Western New York.

Joyce Hwang, FAIA, professor of architecture in the School of Architecture and Planning, and Mishuana Goeman, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Indigenous Studies, have received a $195,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to plan a public space on land owned by New York State.

It will involve a cultural and biological history of the site, particularly connected to apples and other native fruits, and will feature public art in the form of hybrid trees, created by renowned artist Sam Van Aken, MFA, associate professor of art at Syracuse University.

“The project aims to create a public landscape and living archive that focuses on the crucial role that apples have played in New York’s transformation through a long engagement in Haudenosaunee history, colonization, immigration and commerce,” Hwang says. “As one of the most diverse fruit-growing states, New York has historically become the home to hundreds of apple varieties, many of which have been lost due to industrialization, monoculture farming and changing market demands.”

The project highlights the state’s agricultural history, notes Hwang, who has been developing a series of projects that incorporate wildlife habitats into constructed environments over the past two decades.

“When we began our initial discussion,” Hwang says, “I was thinking that if we’re going to be talking about the state’s agricultural history, we have to include the Department of Indigenous Studies.”

The public landscape will be built on two acres located along the Erie Canal that is close to the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Nation. Once home to a concrete plant, the space is adjacent to a larger capital project that the New York Power Authority (NYPA) is undertaking to renovate the Empire State Trail, adding accessible walkways and bike paths along the canal.

This summer Goeman and Hwang are meeting with community shareholders in Medina, as well as NYPA and the New York State Canal Corporation (NYSCC). Other UB collaborators include Christopher Romano, AIA, assistant professor of architecture, Alissa Ujie Diamond, PhD, assistant professor of urban and regional planning, and Jason Corwin, PhD, clinical assistant professor of indigenous studies.

Goeman, who has connections through patrilineal descent with Tonawanda Band of Seneca, says this location has so much potential as an important intersection between Medina, which is the widest spot on the Erie Canal, and the reservation.

“I really believe in a project of land solidarity and creating more solidarity practices within Medina by incorporating local Indigenous voices and histories that often are not told in this particular area,” Goeman explains.

In 1779, a military campaign led by Gen. John Sullivan during the American Revolutionary War, burned down all the orchards and corn fields that were attached to the villages of the Haudenosaunee (also known as Iroquois).

As European agricultural practice took root in the following decades, apples became a cornerstone of New York’s economy, with hundreds of apple varieties available by the early 20th century. Industrial practices in more recent years have reduced the number of commercially available varieties to only a few dozen.

The project seeks to address these challenges by serving as a living archive of the state’s rich apple heritage, reintroducing heirloom and antique varieties that once flourished across the region and tracing patterns of migration, settlement, colonialism and  biodiversity. One of the project’s goals is to use multigrafting techniques explored by Van Aken, who created the Tree of 40 Fruits. This is a horticultural technique where multiple varieties of fruit are grafted onto a single root system.

“Through conversations and archival research, we aim to compile a historical narrative for the site that can serve as a guiding document for the design of the park’s interpretive elements, such as signage, and selection of plantings and tree species going forward,” Hwang says.

For additional information, the UB team is meeting with representatives from the Buffalo History Museum, the Erie Canal Museum, the Medina Historical Society, the village of Medina and the Tonawanda Reservation Historical Society and preparing an archival narrative to present during a meeting with all the shareholders in the fall.

An enormous part of the work this summer, Hwang says, is analyzing the site itself. When the time comes, the team intends to co-design the space in collaboration with the shareholders in Medina.

“Ultimately, we’re interested in creating a place where everyone can feel welcome,”  Hwang says. “I think it’s important that it reflect not just the history of the Erie Canal that most of us know, but also the hidden histories that need to be included.”

Press Release,  Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced increased grants through New York’s Clean Vessel Assistance Program. This additional funding will help marinas and municipalities affordably install and upgrade boat sewage pump-outs that reduce pollution and protect the water quality that supports recreation, tourism, fisheries and coastal ecosystems.

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) has awarded $14 million to projects across New York since the program’s inception, supporting one of the nation’s most extensive recreational boating pump-out networks. Boaters can locate facilities using EFC’s online map, making it easy to find nearby services and responsibly dispose of onboard waste.

The map lists three pump-out stations in Orleans County: Medina Canal Basin, Holley at East Avenue along the canal, and the Bald Eagle Marina in Kendall at Lakeland Beach Road.

“New York’s waterways are among some of our greatest assets, and protecting them requires investment and partnerships,” Governor Hochul said. “This funding will help marinas strengthen the waterfront infrastructure that keeps sewage out of our bays, protects marine habitats, and preserves the clean water that communities depend on.”

Available funding has increased to as much as $80,000 for pump-out boats and $40,000 for stationary facilities and upgrades, along with continued support for facility operations, maintenance and public education. The increased funding reflects Governor Hochul’s goal of making clean water infrastructure improvements more affordable.

Pump-out stations may be small pieces of infrastructure, but they have an outsized impact on water quality by giving boaters a simple, convenient way to dispose of onboard sewage. Most of New York State’s coastal waters and connecting waterways are No Discharge Zones, where it is illegal to discharge treated or untreated sewage from boats.

Increased awards will help marinas continue to install new pump-out stations, modernize aging equipment, purchase pump-out boats and maintain existing facilities.

Marina owners, municipalities and eligible nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply for grants. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Go to EFC’s website for eligibility requirements, application materials and the Statewide facility map.

The Clean Vessel Assistance Program is funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which is supported by purchases of fishing equipment and motorboat fuels.

Press Release, Village of Albion

ALBION – The Village of Albion is inviting residents to participate in an upcoming Comprehensive Planning Workshop on August 19th from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Hoag Library (Kirby Room), 134 S. Main St.

Representatives from the village will be there from 5 to 8 p.m. to answer questions before and after the meeting.

This workshop is an important opportunity for Albion’s residents to share ideas, concerns, and priorities that will help shape the Village’s Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive

Plan serves as a long-term roadmap guiding decisions about economic development, infrastructure, land use, and community growth.

Village officials are specifically seeking feedback from residents about:

• Public safety
• Parks and recreation
• Opportunities for revitalization and economic development
• Public infrastructure and code/zoning
• Ideas to strengthen Albion’s downtown and commercial areas

Input gathered during this session will directly inform the goals and strategies included in the Comprehensive Plan. The Village encourages all residents, including homeowners and renters, to attend and help shape Albion’s future.

“This is a valuable chance for residents to have a voice in planning for the future of Albion,” said Jay Grasso, president of G & G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, which is assisting Albion with the updated plan. “Your insight is critical to creating a plan that supports the needs of village residents.”

No registration is required. For more information, contact Jay Grasso at contact@ggprocess.com.

Assemblyman says Orleans ‘has played a vital role in shaping the economic, agricultural, and civic life of New York State and the nation’

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley last week presented a formal proclamation to the Orleans County legislature in honor of the 250^th anniversary of the United States of America. Pictured form left include Assemblyman Hawley, County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch, County Historian Catherine Cooper and Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson.

Orleans County was established in 1825 and is situated along the historic corridor of the Erie Canal and the shores of Lake Ontario, the proclamation notes.

The county “has played a vital role in agricultural and civic life in New York State and the nation,” Hawley states in the proclamation. “Generations of residents of Orleans County have answered the call of service, contributing to the defense of our freedoms in every major conflict in American history and continuing to uphold the values of patriotism, sacrifice, and duty that define our nation.”

He also praises the Orleans County’s “rich agricultural heritage that has helped feed New York State and beyond, strengthening local economies while preserving the traditions of hard work, stewardship of the land, and community resilience that remain central to the American identity.”

Orleans County’s towns and villages also have long embodied the spirit of American self-government through strong local leadership, civic engagement, volunteerism, and a commitment to preserving history while preparing future generations for success, Hawley said.

“As the nation reflects on 250 years of progress, challenges, and shared achievement, Orleans County stands as a testament to the strength of small communities in shaping the broader story of New York State and the United States of America,” Hawley states in the proclamation.

He also presented a 250^th anniversary proclamation to the Genesee County Legislature and will be presenting one to Monroe County officials on Aug. 14 at the Town of Clarkson’s Good Neighbor Day.

Press Release, Albion Police Department

ALBION – The Albion Police Department is pleased to report that 17-year-old Alexandria M. Ledger, who had previously been reported missing, has been located safely in Niagara Falls, New York.

The successful outcome of this investigation was made possible through a collaborative effort involving law enforcement, technology, and investigative resources. Officers were able to utilize information provided through Snapchat, which helped establish Alexandria’s last known location.

In addition, officers obtained an image from Walmart in Lockport of the vehicle Alexandria was observed entering. That information, combined with the Flock Safety camera system, enabled officers to identify and track the vehicle, ultimately leading to Alexandria’s safe location in Niagara Falls.

Officer Daniel Baase, who is currently serving in an investigator role on a trial basis, was the lead investigator assigned to the case. Throughout the investigation, Officer Baase conducted extensive investigative work, coordinating with numerous law enforcement partners, including the Niagara Intelligence & Crime Analysis Center (NICAC). By leveraging available technology, intelligence resources, and interagency cooperation, Officer Baase was able to develop critical investigative leads that ultimately resulted in Alexandria being located safely.

The Albion Police Department would like to thank the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Niagara Falls Police Department, the Niagara Intelligence & Crime Analysis Center, our law enforcement partners, the media, and the members of the public who shared information and assisted throughout the investigation. We also appreciate Snapchat and Walmart’s cooperation in providing information that proved valuable to the investigation.

At this time, no further information will be released out of respect for Alexandria’s privacy.

The Albion Police Department is grateful for the community’s support and asks that everyone continue to respect the privacy of Alexandria and her family as they move forward.

POINT BREEZE – The previous owner of the Black North Inn said she will honor gift certificates from the eight years she owned the restaurant.

Kristin Rowell closed the business in Jan. 11, 2026. She will cover the remaining balance on the Black North VIP, Gold with a Bow, and Beach Scene gift certificates. (The Black North has recently reopened under a new owner.)

If you have one of the gift cards listed above, please mail the original gift card to:

P.O. Box 4, Hamlin, NY 14464

Please include your name, mailing address, phone number, and, if possible, a brief note indicating the remaining balance on the gift card.

“Please allow approximately 8 to 12 weeks for processing after we receive your gift card,” Rowell said. “Payment will be issued in the form of a certified check and mailed to the address you provide. We sincerely appreciate your patience, understanding, and cooperation during this difficult situation.”

Some residents say tower fall zone at water treatment plant includes private access road

Photo by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – Rick Stacey on Monday tells the Carlton Planning Board his shares his concerns about a new 150-foot-high tower that is planned on land by the Village of Albion Water Treatment Plant on Wilson Road in Carlton.  From left include Planning Board members Valerie Beam, Robert VanWuyckhuyse, Chairman Bill Quaranto, secretary Brenda Mufford and member David Warren.

Stacey said neighbors weren’t notified of the project, and the fall zone for the tower cuts across a private access road for Oak Orchard on the Lake.

Contractors are already on site working on the project, and have used private land without permission to access the site, Stacey said.

The Town of Carlton Planning Board on Monday approved a revised site plan that now uses the driveway for the Village of Albion Water Treatment Plant as the access road. The board approved a special use permit, too. The rest of the project hasn’t been changed from the site plan approved on April 1 by the Carlton Planning Board.

The tower is part of a $11,216,500 contract from North Shore Networks LLC in Medina to implement the faster internet service. The county in November 2024 was awarded a $11,562,698 state grant to upgrade wireless internet service throughout the county.

The funding came through the Empire State Development’s ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program. This will allow the county to increase wireless internet speeds from the current 25 Mega Bit Per Seconds (Mbps) to 100 (Mbps).

There are currently 19 towers for the high-speed internet system. There are new towers planned for Carlton and Ridgeway, as well as equipment to go on a grain silo in Clarendon.

Stacey, however, said the Carlton site is on a village-owned property that doesn’t allow a fall zone without going onto neighboring private property. He addressed the board on Monday, sharing concerns from four other property owners as well – David Coleman, Gary and Ruth Smith, Steve Nesbitt, and Brett and Arora Browning.

He asked the Carlton Planning Board to order an immediate stop work order on the construction, saying it’s a clear violation of the 1 ½ times fall zone violation.

Stacey said there is a 34-foot survey boundary discrepancy that puts the fall zone on private property. He asked for the town attorney to initiate an independent review of the survey discrepancy. He also said the town faces legal exposure because code enforcement officer Kevin Sheehan lacked the certification to approve the project. Sheehan also has a conflict of interest as a trustee for the Village of Albion, which owns the land and the water treatment plant, Stacey said.

He requested the full public record for all Carlton building permits, environmental reviews for the project and the precise grant application layout that was submitted to the state.

Planning Board Chairman Bill Quaranto said Monday’s meeting wasn’t a public hearing. He gave Stacey five minutes to present his comments, but stopped him after five minutes.

When the board went through a lengthy resolution to approve the project with a revised plan for the access road, Stacey interjected there were legitimate safety concerns for residents. If the tower falls, it could block the access road for Oak Orchard on the Lake, Stacey said.

Town Attorney Bridget O’Toole warned him more than once to refrain from making further comments because it wasn’t a public hearing.

Stacey, after the meeting, said he intends to file an injunction and seek to have the project stopped at the current location. He said there other spots in Carlton where the tower could meet the network needs, including by co-locating on a tower on McCutcheon Road near Kendrick Road.

The Planning Board in its resolution on Monday said the location by the water treatment plant is within “the technically feasible area necessary to provide the intended broadband service and line-of-sight microwave backhaul.”

The county evaluated other suitable structures and existing towers or co-location but with the Carlton site there was no existing structure to provide both the required wireless coverage and line-of-sight connectivity to adjacent wireless hub sites, according to the Carlton Planning Board resolution.

“The municipal utility site is the most appropriate reasonably available location based upon the network design, existing public infrastructure, municipal ownership, surrounding land uses and available space for the facility and required fall zone,” according to the resolution passed by the Carlton Planning Board.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Skip Draper, right, presents a proclamation last week to Eddie Eagle, a gun safety mascot, that designates August 2026 as “Firearm Safety Awareness Month.” They are joined by Justin Niederhofer, the county’s emergency management director.

The Eddie Eagle mascot was developed by the National Rifle Association to teach children about gun safety.

The proclamation from the County legislature states that firearm safety is a “shared responsibility” among firearm owners, families, educators, healthcare providers, law enforcement, sportsmen, firearm instructors, retailers and community organizations.

 Responsible firearm ownership includes safe handling, secure firearm storage and child access prevention, the proclamation states.

“Orleans County supports educational efforts that encourage lawful firearm ownership, promote responsible firearm ownership and handling, responsible hunting traditions, recreational shooting safety, suicide prevention awareness, secure firearm storage, and the protection of children and vulnerable individuals,” the proclamation states.

County legislators said Firearm Safety Awareness Month provides an opportunity to increase public awareness, promote voluntary safe storage practices, encourage community education, and strengthen partnerships dedicated to preventing firearm-related injuries and deaths through education and responsible ownership.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Don Allport, right, presents a proclamation to the team at Medina Memorial Hospital’s Wound Care Center, which recently earned the designation of “Wound Care Center of Distinction” by Healogics.

The Wond Care team includes program director Lisa Albanese, medical director Dr. Joseph Canzoneri, clinical nurse manager Teresa Clark, nurse practitioner Amanda McDonald, RN Kristen Warriner, LPN Melissa Neuman and office manager Budena Hess.

This is the second time, the Wound Care Center has been designated a “Center of Distinction” by Healogics, the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care. The honor was earned for having achieved 82% wound mix adjusted CHR with a patient satisfaction rating of 96%.

The Wound Care Center has grown from a small program operating just two days a week into a four-day-a-week center. Patients who once had to travel out of county to get this kind of care can now receive it at Medina Memorial.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature and District Attorney Susan Howard, second from right, last week presented “Commendations of Excellency” to first responders and investigators in a Medina arson case.

Zachary Natale, 32, of Medina pleaded guilty to the crime and on April 1 was sentenced to 13 years in state prison by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church. Natale also was ordered to pay $270,000 in restitution.

Natale admitted to setting a fire on Dec. 17, 2024 at 207 Bates Rd. That fire forced a mother and her 9-year-old son to evacuate.

Howard during the April 1 sentencing said Natale caused a “terrifying, horrifying ordeal” for the victims where they could have been killed, and also put local firefighters in danger.

Howard and County Legislator Skip Draper, right, praised the first responders for preventing a loss of life from the blaze. Howard and Draper also commended law enforcement and fire investigators for their work which led to a conviction in the case.

Pictured from left include: officer Dustin Meredith – Medina Police Department, Sargeant Jonathon McManus – Medina Police Department, Investigator Chris Seefeldt – Medina Fire Department, Investigator  Jacob Crooks – Medina Fire Department, Chief Steven Cooley – Medina Fire Department, Investigator Scott Kuhlmey – Erie County Sheriff’s Department with K-9 Clipper, Investigator Dave Clary – Orleans County Emergency Management, Investigator Brian Marsceill – Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney Susan Howard, and Legislator Skip Draper.

File photo by Natalie Baron: Caspian Villegas of Medina high-fives the Safety Pup during National Night Out in Medina on Aug. 5, 2025.

MEDINA – National Night Out is back for the fifth year in Medina on Tuesday with free pizza, and lots of activities to connect with local first responders and agencies that serve the community.

The event runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. outside the Clifford Wise Intermediate School at 1016 Gwinn St.

National Night Out often draws about 500 to 800 people. Albion hosted NNO for five years from 2015 to 2019. It was then cancelled due to the Covid pandemic and restrictions in 2020 and 2021. Medina has hosted it annually since 2022.

There are many activities including the Battle of the Belts competition which will be emceed by Assemblyman Steve Hawley. The battle of the Belts feature four-person teams alternating as fast as they can to put on seat belts in four different seats in a car. Many community members also will be in the dunk tank and there will again be a bike rodeo.

A committee planning the event has been co-chaired by Diana Fulcomer of UConnectCare and Sherrie Bensley of GO Health. Other committee members include Alishia Foss and Taryn Moyle of Community Action, Jess Marciano of the Village of Medina, and Danielle Figura of the Orleans County Mental Health Department.

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

BATAVIA – The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) will be holding their Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council (LEICC) Quarterly Meeting on Thursday, August 13, from 2:30- 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Genesee County Health Department, 3837 West Main Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020.

The LEICC is a supportive group made up of county officials, Early Intervention providers, childcare providers, parents of children with disabilities, and other community members. Members are encouraged to collaborate, share their perspectives, and raise concerns to help strengthen the Early Intervention program and, ultimately, improve outcomes for children and families.

For zoom connection information or for more information on the meeting, please contact Deborah Krenzer-Lewter, Director of Children with Special Needs, at 585-344-2580 ext. 5572 or 585-589-2777.

Press Release, Albion Police Chief David Mogle

Marquis Harrell

ALBION – During the early morning hours on Saturday, the Albion Police Department arrested a Newfane man following a domestic violence investigation that resulted in the discovery of an incendiary device at a village residence.

At approximately 3 a.m., Albion police officers were dispatched to make a phone call to a village resident after they reported receiving multiple threatening text messages and emails from her ex-boyfriend. The messages included threats to harm the victim and set her residence on fire by way of Molotov cocktail.

During the investigation, officers confirmed that a valid full stay away order of protection was in effect, prohibiting the suspect from having any contact with the victim.

At approximately 4 a.m., an Albion Police K-9 Officer responded to the victim’s residence to continue the investigation and check the area for suspicious activity. Upon arrival, the officer observed a suspicious vehicle parked outside the apartment complex and requested additional officers to investigate the vehicle while he continued toward the residence.

As the K-9 Officer approached the apartment complex, he observed a male exiting from the rear of the property who immediately fled on foot. After a brief pursuit through the area, the suspect was apprehended without incident at a neighboring apartment complex. The suspicious vehicle was later determined to be the suspect’s Uber transportation to the scene.

Officers subsequently discovered a suspected Molotov cocktail at the rear of the victim’s residence that had been ignited and thrown at the building. Although the device had burned itself out prior to officers’ arrival, officers observed fire damage to the residence.

The suspect was identified as Marquis J. Harrell, 22, of Newfane, New York. A search of the suspect resulted in the recovery of additional evidence related to the investigation.

Harrell was charged with:

• Arson in the First Degree (A1 Felony)
• Criminal Mischief in the First Degree (B Felony)
• Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (4 counts) (D Felony)
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child (2 counts) (A Misdemeanor)
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (D Felony)
• Criminal Contempt (2 counts) (E Felony)

Following processing by the Albion Police Department, Harrell was arraigned in CAP Court and remanded to the Orleans County Jail without bail due to the seriousness of the charges.

A new order of protection was issued protecting the victim and her two young children, who were inside the residence at the time of the incident.

The Albion Police Department would like to thank the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol and Dispatch Divisions for their assistance during the investigation, as well as Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard for her support throughout the case.

Criminal charges are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.