Oak Orchard Ox to be dedicated at 11 a.m.

Press Release, Friends of Orleans County Marine Parks

POINT BREEZE – The Friends of Orleans County Marine Parks and community partners invite residents and visitors to spend a day along the Oak Orchard River at Pop-Up & Jam, a free community event featuring the “OONA Emporium” flea market, arts & crafts, food vendors, and live music on Saturday, September 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Orleans County Marine Park, 1110 Point Breeze Road, Kent, NY.

Pop-Up & Jam is reminiscent of the former Wooden Boat Festival held annually from 2001 to 2009, combining the fun of an open-air market with an afternoon of live entertainment at one of Orleans County’s most scenic waterfront destinations. Pop-up Coordinator Lynne Menz was one of a handful of event coordinators for the boat festival 20 years ago.

“I often hear how much the neighbors miss the 2-day boat festival that celebrated the character of Point Breeze and the Oak,” said Menz, who is a coordinator for the OONA Summer Concert Series, a board member of Friends of Orleans County Marine Parks and a core team member of Carlton Heart & Soul program. “This is a perfect fit to bring neighbors together for a community yard sale/swap meet and celebrate the end of the Summer in Point Breeze with live music.”

A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. to dedicate the life-sized Oak Orchard Ox, a bicentennial project that was painted by local artist, Carol Culhane and recently installed by Orleans County in the Marine Park between the parkway bridges. The meticulously hand-painted ox traces the story of the Oak Orchard River from Lake Alice to Lake Ontario, celebrating both the history and natural beauty of Orleans County, New York. This project was made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program and administered by GO Art.

Besides browsing the Pop-ups: the OONA Emporium Flea Market and arts and crafts vendors, you can get a tarot card reading, enjoy offerings from food vendors, and stay for an afternoon of live music. Meet members of organizations such as Carlton Community Heart & Soul, the Point Breeze Yacht Club, Orleans County Tourism and OONA/Friends of Orleans County Marine Park.

Vendor space is still available. Registration for a vendor booth is open until Sunday, September 6th. The cost is $25 for a 10×10 vendor space and free for OONA members. Contact lynne@focmp.org or complete the form on our website (click here).

Live Music Schedule (“JAM”)

Live music will be continuous from noon to 6 p.m. utilizing both pavilions in the park as stages. These bands have never performed at the OONA summer concert series and we are excited to welcome them to our neighborhood.

• 12 noon – Tom Keefer & Celtic Cross performing Celtic Rock
• 2 p.m. – The Coupe de Villes performing R&B and Classic Rock
• 4 p.m. – The Eddie Joe Clark Band performing Country hits and originals

The event is presented by the Friends of Orleans County Marine Parks in partnership with Carlton Community Heart & Soul, Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association (OONA) and GO Art! This event is made possible with funds from the 2026 Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State legislature and administered by GO Art!

The Orleans County Marine Park is located along the Oak Orchard River at Point Breeze, just a short distance from Lake Ontario and off the Lake Ontario State Parkway in Point Breeze. Bring a lawn chair and your shopping bags!

Admission is free. This is a rain or shine event.

‘I’m a proud American, and I’ve always believed there’s nothing wrong with a little more American pride. So I figured, why stop at the Gulf? Lake America sounds a whole lot better.’ – Congressman Jimmy Patronis Jr.

File photo: The Lake Ontario shoreline is shown at Point Breeze with a full moon in distance.

A Florida congressman introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to change Lake Ontario’s name to “Lake America.”

Jimmy Patronis Jr., a Republican, represents Florida’s 1^st congressional district in the Western Panhandle. He introduced the bill following President Donald’s Trump executive order on Thursday that changes to lake’s name. Trump made that order unilaterally, without a prior vote by Congress.

Trump’s order directed the federal government to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America, and gives the Interior Department 30 days to update the federal Geographic Names Information System. It also directs federal agencies to use the new name on maps, contracts, documents and other communications.

The president made the executive order amidst a trade dispute with Canada. Mark Carney, the Canadian primes minister, said Canada will always recognize “Lake Ontario” as the officially name.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the name remains “Lake Ontario” in New York State.

However, in Florida, it will be taught as “Lake America,” said Henry Mack, that state’s education commissioner.

Congressman Patronis on Monday introduced the “Lake America Act.” He said that President Trump’s official renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America has been met with strong support across Northwest Florida.

“President Trump put America back on the map. Now we’re putting America on Lake Ontario,” Congressman Patronis stated in a press release. “Canada can call it whatever they want, but here in America, I say we call it Lake America. I’m a proud American, and I’ve always believed there’s nothing wrong with a little more American pride. So I figured, why stop at the Gulf? Lake America sounds a whole lot better.”

The Lake America Act would:

• Rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”
• Replace references to Lake Ontario with “Lake America” across federal laws, maps, regulations, and official records.
• Direct the Secretary of the Interior and U.S. Board on Geographic Names to oversee implementation.
• Require federal agencies to update their maps and documents within 180 days.

“Representing Florida’s First Congressional District, including Destin and Pensacola, I saw firsthand the pride and patriotism that came with the Gulf of America,” Patronis said. “I love that energy, and I think this is another opportunity to build on it. This is another tool in President Trump’s toolbox to put America First and restore pride in our great country.”

Three Democrats in Congress introduced their own legislation on Monday to stop President Trump’s attempt to rename Lake Ontario and protect the historic names of all five Great Lakes.

Congressman Joe Morelle (D, NY-25), Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D, MI-06) and Congressman Tim Kennedy (D, NY-26) introduced the “Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act.”

The legislation would prohibit the President, Secretary of the Interior, or any other federal official acting under presidential authority from changing the official geographic names of Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie or Lake Superior.

Community leaders from 1800s featured on annual tour

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Sue Starkweather Miller, the village of Albion historian,  speaks on Sunday at the grave of Anthony Tripp Sr., a Revolutionary War soldier who enlisted three times. He first served in Rhode Island in 1777 at age 15 as a drummer for three weeks. In 1779, he served in New York for two months and then for three more months in 1780.

He settled in Albion in 1811. Tripp died in 1846 at age 84.

The fence at Mount Albion was purchased by his wife Polly who had saved her widow’s pension funds.

He was one of four Revolutionary War soldiers highlighted on Sunday’s tour of Mount Albion Cemetery. This was the fifth and final of the local cemetery tours organized by the Orleans County Historical Association. There have been annual cemetery tours at Mount Albion since 1994.

Mount Albion was the first site from Orleans County to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Sept. 27, 1976. The 50^th anniversary of that designation is less than a month away.

About 100 people attended the tour which started at the chapel, a building from 1875 which just got a new slate roof to replace the original. The project was funded by donations from the community.

People were able to check the inside of the chapel, which will see major interior restorations beginning this winter.

The drop ceiling was recently removed to reveal a plaster and lathe vaulted ceiling.

The complete chapel restoration is a $225,000 project for the roof, exterior and interior work. Once it’s complete, Starkweather Miller said the chapel could be used for funerals, historical talks and other events.

People walk through the chapel including the area in the back where up to 16 caskets could be stored during the winter.

Upcoming work inside includes replastering of the north wall; electrical upgrades (wiring, outlets, internal and external lighting); heating unit for seasonal use; removal of old floor, repair subfloor and put in a new floor; and refurbish exterior doors and window trim.

Bill Lattin, retired county historian, co-led the tour with Starkweather Miller. He is holding a head board for Joseph White, a Civil War soldier buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Kendall. Lattin acquired the head board in the 1960s. It was in a janitor’s closet at the county courthouse.

Head boards temporarily were used until a headstone could be made and set.

Starkweather Miller shares about Howland Kimball, who entered the militia as private in Rhode Island and served for about six months. He lived to be about 95, dying in 1854. He was married to Hannah and had eight children.

William Butts, another Revolutionary War soldier, lived to be 85, dying in1841. He was originally from Rhode Island, and was a private, corporal and sergeant in Massachusetts. He served in 1775 to 1777, then again in 1779 and 1782. He and his family moved to Albion in 1835. He and his wife Rachel were married for 62 years.

The tour also featured Daniel Thurston, a Revolutionary War soldier who served in the New York militia. He died in 1829 at age 92. He was a farmer and a deacon in the Presbyterian Church for over 50 years.

Bill Lattin speaks by the grave of the Honorable Sanford E. Church, who served as lieutenant governor of New York, state comptroller and chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals. He died on May 14, 1880. His grave includes an elaborate marble canopy supported by red granite pillars.

The hitching post at far left is positioned in a stomping pad for horses. The pad helped to protect the dirt from the horses, Lattin said.

The tour included a stop at the grave for Michael Hanly, the first superintendent of Mount Albion Cemetery from 1862 to 1894. He lived from Sept. 4, 1821 to Sept. 11, 1907. He is buried next to wife Catherine.

Before there was a superintendent, people had to take care of their own plots, and not everyone kept them up, Starkweather Miller said.

The community has been very fortunate to have cemetery superintendents and employees so committed to the upkeep of the cemetery, she said.

“From the very first superintendent until now, I’ve seen nothing but dedication and care for this cemetery,” Starkweather Miller said.

Mount Albion opened in 1843. It was initially 25 acres that were purchased at $40 an acre or $1,000 total.

Daniel Cady, a lawyer and father of famed women’s rights activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, gave the dedicatory address on Sept. 7, 1843 from this park in the cemetery.

The speech began:

“We have met to provide a mansion for the dead! We have come out of our quiet homes and the bright sun light and the crowded streets, and all the garish show of life to this secluded spot, to set apart a last final resting place where the weary pilgrim – the wandered through life’s thorny maze, may come and lay down his burdened form – where families may gather together the forms of those, their loved and lost ones – and whose sire and son, blooming youth and any age, the beautiful and the gifted, may sleep in undisturbed repose till the morning of the Resurrection.”

The tour highlighted Ebenezer Rogers, a shoemaker and tanner who later became a farmer. His brick home on South Main Street, just north of Allen Road, is the oldest house in Albion.

Building began in 1816 and was completed in 1820 for Rogers, who helped start the Barre Center Presbyterian Church as well as the First Presbyterian Church in Albion. The Presbyterian Church in Albion had 16 members when  the society formed in 1826 and grew to 420 by 1853.

Starkweather Miller also highlighted Joseph Hart. She has lived in his house for more than 50 years on South Main Street.

That house  was constructed between 1820-23 in the federal style. It was built to replace a log cabin which Joseph Hart erected in 1811/12 as an early settler. In 1921, the home was moved to its current location at 323 South Main St.

Joseph’s Hart son, Elizur, was a banker and congressman. He left $50,0000 for the First Presbyterian Church of Albion, plus another $5,000 for its Sunday school.

He helped has the money to erect the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, a Civil War memorial for the nearly 500 soldiers from the cunty killed in the war. It was dedicated on the 100^th anniversary of the USA –  July 4, 1876.

Bill Lattin highlights the monument for John Proctor, a key leader among the pioneers. He helped settle the hamlet of Childs in Gaines. Proctor first came to this area in 1810 at the age of 23 after purchasing several large parcels of land from the Holland Land Office.

He built a cabin in what is now Childs and lived modestly for his first few years in the area, surviving on a few acres of corn, wheat, and potatoes.

Perhaps John Proctor’s most famous accomplishment is his role as the “Paul Revere of Ridge Road.” In December of 1813, Proctor’s nearest neighbor woke him in the middle of the night to bring word that the British were invading from Canada and had already burned the village of Lewiston.

Proctor owned the only horse in the area, and so he rode 15 miles from Childs to Clarkson to warn other settlers that the British were coming.

Proctor had a vision for the hamlet and began to sell and rent his land to settlers, businesses, and churches that were starting to spring up in and around what is now Childs. In 1834 he paid for the construction of a cobblestone church for the Universalist Society of Gaines, and later sold a house of worship to the Free Congregationalist Church, an abolitionist congregation. Proctor was such a notable figure that before he named the hamlet Fair Haven, it was colloquially referred to as “Proctor’s Corners.”

Although he was an outstanding member of the community, Proctor’s personal life was marked by tragedy. John was married four times and had to bury three of his wives, and while he had six children, only two of them survived to adulthood.

The Proctor family obelisk memorialize Proctor’s wives and children, several of whom died in a typhoid breakout in 1828.

An Albion girl changed the face of the American presidency. Grace Bedell wrote the letter to Abraham Lincoln urging him to grow a beard to improve his chances for getting electing as president.

Her parents, Norman and Amanda, are buried at Mount Albion.

Grace Bedell grew up in Albion, but briefly lived in Westfield. She mailed the letter to Lincoln, recommending he grow whiskers, when she lived in Westfield.

Grace Bedell’s father Norman attended a country fair in the fall of 1860 and brought home a campaign poster featuring Abraham Lincoln and his vice presidential running mate Hannibal Hamlin. Grace, 11, didn’t see how Lincoln could win, not with that face. He was too homely looking. But Bedell, who lived in a pro-abolitionist home, had an idea that would make Lincoln more appealing to the masses: Grow a beard. On Oct. 15, 1860, she mailed a letter to Lincoln.

The Bedell family had lived in Albion for 40 years before they moved to Westfield in 1859. They stayed two years before returning to Albion.

Press Release

Provided photo: Rylie Fox holds a Rev cuddle buddy. She will be selling lemonade on Wednesday so more Revs will be available at the Strong NICU.

KENDALL – A Kendall student is turning a school leadership opportunity into a chance to give back to some of the region’s youngest patients.

Rylie Fox, an incoming sixth-grade student at Kendall Central School, was selected to participate in the school’s Safety Squad, a program conducted in partnership between the Kendall Central School District and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. The program gives students an opportunity to demonstrate leadership while promoting safety, responsibility and service within their school and community.

Students entering sixth grade must apply and interview for a position on the Safety Squad. Those selected receive an acceptance letter during the summer, along with instructions to complete a community service project.

For her project, Rylie has decided to hold a lemonade stand  on Kendall Road on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. giving the opportunity for people coming home from work to enjoy an ice cold lemonade. The stand will be located on Kendall Road between Ridge Road and Creek Road.

Rylie will donate 100% of the proceeds to Healthy Highway, a nonprofit organization, to help provide “REV” cuddle buddies to children in the NICU at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Each REV costs approximately $25 to produce, and Healthy Highway relies on donations and community support to make the cuddle buddies available to children in need. Rylie is hoping her lemonade stand raises enough money to provide as many REVs as possible to children and families in the NICU.

The cause has a special connection to Rylie and her family. Her father James Fox, a chief with the Kendall Fire Department, began a partnership with Healthy Highway in June to bring REV to the Kendall Fire Department. After learning more about the program, Rylie knew where she wanted the proceeds from her community service project to go.

Rylie’s cousin spent an extended period of time in the NICU at Strong Memorial Hospital after he was born, and the care he received there helped save his life. Remembering what the NICU meant to her own family inspired Rylie to help other children who are going through similar experiences.

Her hope is that children who have spent their first days, weeks or months fighting in the NICU can eventually go home with a REV cuddle buddy of their own.

What began as a Safety Squad community service assignment has become an opportunity for Rylie to demonstrate exactly what the program is designed to encourage—leadership, compassion, safety and service to others.

Community members who would like to support Rylie’s project can stop by her lemonade stand Wednesday, September 2, from 4:30–6:30 p.m. on Kendall Road between Ridge Road and Creek Road. Every dollar raised will go toward helping put more REV cuddle buddies into the hands of children in the Strong Memorial Hospital NICU.

Photo courtesy of Isabella Zasa: Marti’s on Main is located in the former Cornell Cooperative Extension offices at 20 South Main St. in Albion.

Press Release, Marti’s on Main

ALBION – Marti’s on Main Art Studio in Albion will host its first annual Art Auction on Saturday, September 26, featuring original artwork donated by 35 artists.

The auction will provide art lovers and collectors with an opportunity to view and bid on a variety of original works while supporting the nonprofit art gallery and its ongoing programming in the community.

“I’m incredibly grateful to the 35 artists who donated their work and made this first annual Art Auction possible,” said Kim Martillotta-Muscarella, owner and curator of Marti’s on Main. “We’re excited to showcase their artwork and create an evening that celebrates the arts while helping support the future of Marti’s on Main.”

Artwork will be available for preview beginning at 5:30 p.m., with the live auction scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Todd Jantzi, owner of Bontrager Real Estate & Auction Service in Batavia, will serve as auctioneer.

RSVPs are required by September 17, and space is limited. To RSVP, call or text 585-590-9211 or complete the online registration form by clicking here. Businesses and organizations interested in sponsoring the event may email martisonmain@gmail.com for more information.

About Marti’s on Main

Marti’s on Main is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit classified under Section 509(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. The studio provides a space for artists to showcase their work and for people to experience and participate in the arts through exhibitions, workshops and events. Marti’s on Main relies on donations and membership fees to support its operations and continue its mission of supporting artists and making the arts accessible.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Marti’s on Main celebrated its grand opening on July 24, 2021 at the former Cornell Cooperative Extension building at 20 South Main St. About 125 people attended the three-hour open house. Marti’s hosts several art shows and classes each year. The building has been turned into art showcase by Kim and Neal Muscarella.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is announcing this year’s Patriot Trip to Washington, D.C. The trip will run from September 17 to 20 and is open to local veterans and their families.

Participants will get a tour of the memorials dedicated to our nation’s heroes and landmarks that honor those who served. This year’s trip will feature stops at several notable locations in the D.C. area, including the WWII, Korean and Vietnam War memorials and Arlington National Cemetery.

“This trip is an excellent opportunity to honor not only our local veterans but also those who served before them,” said Hawley. “I am incredibly excited to host this event for another year. We owe our veterans a deep level of gratitude for all they have sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy in this country, so being able to take them to our nation’s capital to see these historic landmarks is truly an honor.”

Due to the many generous donations from the community, local businesses and organizations, the expected cost is $450-$500 per person for double occupancy for all three nights at the hotel, with everything included. To register, contact Hawley’s office at 585-589-5780 or email hawleys@nyassembly.gov for more details. The deadline to register for the Patriot Trip is Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 3 p.m.

Those who wish to donate to support this event can make their checks out to Patriot Trip and send them to PO Box 171, Albion, NY 14411.

Photos courtesy of Tim Archer

ALBION – Some Albion eighth-grade students worked on community service projects over the summer.

In the photo at left, Elizabeth Colmenero (right) and Giuliana Liuzzi painted portions of the Town of Albion sign along Clarendon Road.

In the photo at right, Gavin O’Brocta (right) and Kyler Bennett painted the poles for historic markers, including the one by the Orleans County Courthouse.

Photo by Tom Rivers: A giant American flag is displayed high over Main Street from the Murray and Albion ladder trucks on Sept. 11, 2025.

ALBION – Orleans County will again be holding a Sept. 11 remembrance service on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

There has been a remembrance service every year on Sept. 11 since the attacks, but the crowds have been getting smaller. Last year about 75 people attended the service outside the courthouse.

Scott Schmidt is hoping for a much bigger turnout this year. Schmidt is the keynote speaker for the service that starts at 6 p.m.

Schmidt, the Orleans County chief coroner and a funeral director for Mitchell Family Cremations and Funerals, spent three weeks with the federal DMORT team after 9/11 and assisted in collecting and identifying remains, and interviewing family members searching for loved ones.

He left for New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was there for 20 days, including a week at Ground Zero. He noted the death toll continues to grow as more people die each year from their exposure to particulates while working at or near Ground Zero or from when then were fleeing the site where two skyscrapers collapsed.

He would like to see more students and younger people at the remembrance service.

“The new kids in school don’t know what Sept. 11 is or what happened that day,” Schmidt said today. “I want bigger turnout, especially among students. I would love to see the courthouse lawn full like it used to be. It’s something we shouldn’t forget.”

The terrorists attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000 others. Terrorists crashed two planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the other into a field in rural Shanksville, Pa.

During the service, Schmidt and the speakers will remember the nearly 3,000 victims from the attacks, and highlight the bravery of the first responders who fled towards the danger to help others.

The service will include a welcome message from Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature; and opening and closing prayer from David Fish, pastor of the Barre Center Presbyterian Church; a timeline of Sept. 11 by Justin Niederhofer, the Orleans County emergency management director; and a gun salute from the Honor Guard of the American Legion and VFW.

Doug Egling will play “America the Beautiful” and the crowd will join in singing, “God Bless America.”

File photo by Tom Rivers: A woman fishes off the end of the western pier at Point Breeze on March 20, 2021.

Press Release, Congressman Joe Morelle

ROCHESTER – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle (D, NY-25) introduced the “Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act,” legislation to stop President Donald Trump’s attempt to rename Lake Ontario and protect the historic names of all five Great Lakes.

The legislation, co-led by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D, MI-06) and Congressman Tim Kennedy (D, NY-26), comes after President Trump issued an executive order on Aug. 27 attempting to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”

“Lake Ontario is Lake Ontario. No executive order, proclamation, or presidential temper tantrum is going to change that,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “Families are worried about paying their bills. Businesses are looking for certainty. Communities like ours are asking Washington to focus on the challenges that actually affect people’s lives. And Donald Trump is spending his time trying to rename a lake.

“This is ridiculous, it’s embarrassing, and it’s exactly the kind of unserious distraction Americans are tired of. President Trump can play games with a map all he wants, but I’m not going to stand by while he wastes the authority and resources of the federal government doing it.

“Here in Rochester, we’ll keep calling it Lake Ontario. And in Congress, I’m working with my colleagues to make sure it stays that way.”

The Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act would prohibit the President, Secretary of the Interior, or any other federal official acting under presidential authority from changing the official geographic names of Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, or Lake Superior.

The legislation would also specifically nullify Executive Order 14422, issued by President Trump on Aug. 27, and prohibit the federal government from implementing or enforcing the order—or any substantially similar action. It would further prohibit federal funds from being used to carry out the attempted renaming.

“The Great Lakes are a shared treasure that generations of Americans and Canadians have worked together to protect. Canada is not our enemy. It is our neighbor, our ally, and one of Michigan’s most important economic partners. It is a friendship that no stroke of a pen should be able to erase,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “By preventing President Trump from trying to divide us with distracting public relations stunts, maybe then he will turn his attention to his reckless trade war that is raising costs and threatening American workers.”

“Americans are struggling to afford groceries, housing, and everyday essentials, and yet this President chooses to pick petty fights with our closest ally,” said Congressman Tim Kennedy. “This unserious, unacceptable attempt to rename the historic, shared Lake Ontario adds insult to injury as Trump’s tariffs drive up costs, making an already difficult situation worse. Our families, workers, and businesses need an administration focused on lowering costs and strengthening our economy, not distractions. Renaming a lake won’t put food on the table, lower anyone’s bills, or create a single job. It is a pathetic attempt to distract from an affordability crisis that this President has failed to fix.”

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board last week approved opening a new parking lot at 115 Pearl St. This photo was taken last Monday before the traffic cones were removed. The lot was used by the public later in the week.

The lot is at the southwest corner of the intersection of Pearl Street and Proctor Place.  It is rectangular in shape with dimensions of approximately 132 feet frontage on Pearl Street and 100 feet frontage on Proctor Place.

This land was donated to the village by 415 West Avenue LLC, which is owned by Dr. Syed Shah, a cardiologist.

The DPW removed concrete from the site and put down the millings. It will be paved in the future.

Photo from GoFundMe: Darrel Gray and his daughter Nora were killed in a Friday morning car accident in Oneida County while on the way to swimming practice for Nora.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established for the family of an Albion native and his daughter who were both killed in a car accident on Friday in Oneida County. Click here to be directed to the GoFundMe which will help the family with memorial expenses.

Darrel Gray, 52, and his daughter Nora, 17, both died in the collision with a tractor-trailer.

Gray graduated from Albion in 1992 and was a member of the school’s high-powered football teams. He was the modified football coach at Adirondack Central School. His daughter was involved in swimming and gymnastics.

The Gray family lives in West Leyden in Lewis County. The accident occurred in the town of Ava.

Gray is survived by his wife Marion and their son Mitchell.

The organizer of the GoFundMe posted this message:

“We are overwhelmed by the kindness that has surrounded Marion and Mitchell in such a short time. Every donation, every share, every message, every memory, and every gesture of love has been felt so deeply.

“Thank you to each of you who has helped carry this family in whatever way you can. The generosity of this community is incredibly moving, but even more meaningful is the reminder that Marion and Mitchell are surrounded by so many people who care for them.

“Please continue to hold them close in your hearts as they navigate the days ahead. We are so grateful for all of you.”

Cooper Traxler giving hair in memory of friend, Byron Neal

Photos courtesy of Jamie Traxler

BROCKPORT – Cooper Traxler, 12, of Albion is shown on Friday before he got his hair cut at Next Level Barbershop in Brockport.

Cooper had 16 inches taken off with his first haircut in five years. He is donating the hair to Wigs for Kids in memory of Byron Neal, who passed away from cancer at age 8 on April 14, 2023. Byron and his family sat in front of Cooper for church services at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Albion.

Cooper got a major overhaul with the haircut by Jeremy Burris at Next Level Barbershop. Many of Cooper’s friends and football coaches recommended Jeremy for the haircut.

Cooper said he was excited for the change with a new school year starting next week. He will be going into seventh grade.

Cooper’s hair will be given to Wig for Kids out of Ohio. He will be raising $500 to go with his hair which will start the wig production, said his mother, Jamie Traxler.

Many kids with cancer lose their hair while enduring chemo treatments.

“He wanted them to have his hair to make them feel more like themselves until their hair grew back,” Jamie Traxler said. “So that they could focus on feeling better and getting better while not worrying about people staring because of losing their hair and how that made them look.”

Anyone interested in donating towards the new wig can send the money by Venmo to @JamieTraxler82.

File photos by Tom Rivers: Joe Morlino was among many volunteers cooking food at St. Rocco’s Italian Festival in Hulberton on Sept. 1, 2024. The event is a big fundraiser for the ONE Catholic Family of Churches. Morlino has been volunteering at the festival for 20 years. He is shown cooking French fries, ravioli and mozzarella sticks.

Press Release, ONE Catholic Family of Churches

HULBERTON – The St Rocco’s Annual Italian Festival is celebrating its 51st year with a variety of local musicians on Sunday.

Live music will begin at 11 a.m., and it will feature a varied line-up of talent under the tent throughout the afternoon until 4 p.m.

First up, from 11a.m. to noon, will be PSA – Public Service Announcement, a  Holley High School band including lead singer Isla Schultz, Brody Williams on drums, Aidan Kelley on guitar and Kallan Babcock on bass.

From noon to 1 p.m., Roxy’s Accordion Band will take the stage. The legacy of Roxy Caccamise and her Roxy’s Music Store in Batavia has carried on after her passing by her family and a collection of accordion enthusiasts.

Katie Robinson, a pianist and vocalist, will perform from 1 to 2 p.m. Katie performs hits from the 1970s and 1980s including Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Carole King, Seals and Crofts, Cyndi Lauper, James Taylor and more.

Rounding out the live music, from 2 to 4 p.m. will be the Bennetts Corners Band. The band members are Michael Kinsey, Tom Kinsey, Charles Kinsey and Nathaniel Kinsey. They play American Folk, Celtic Folk, American Country, Sea Shanties, and they take occasional comedic breaks.

“We are blessed and excited to be able to host this wonderful community event,” said Jeanne Maxon, chair of the festival committee. “It is especially fun to showcase some amazing local musicians – so please bring a lawn chair and enjoy the free entertainment.”

The St. Rocco Italian Festival is at 3415 Hulberton Rd.  Traditional food favorites are served from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the beer tent will offer Rohrbach Beer & Black Creek Cidery on tap.

There will be a bocce tournament, vendors, raffles and family play areas. The event grounds are a smoke & vape free environment. For their safety, no pets will be allowed. There is plenty of free on-site parking. The festival is a cash-only event with no ATM access.

Members of a band, PSA, from Holley Central School performed on June 24 when the Seneca Chief boat came to town. The band members include lead singer Isla Schultz, Brody Williams on drums, Aidan Kelley on guitar and Kallan Babcock on bass.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Provided photo: Dr. Michael Weyrauch (left), Orleans/Niagara BOCES director of Career & Technical Education and Adult Education, congratulates Todd Eick on his award from the New York Association of Agricultural Educators.

Todd Eick, an Orleans/Niagara BOCES animal science teacher, was announced as the New York State winner of the Ideas Unlimited Award.

Eick, who works at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center, was recognized during the June 2026 New York Association of Agricultural Educators (NYAAE) Conference at the Oswegatchie Education Center for his dedication, leadership, and commitment to agricultural education.

The annual conference celebrates excellence in agricultural education by recognizing teachers whose passion for student success, innovative instruction, and service to their schools and communities exemplify the highest standards of the profession.

The NYAAE says, “Through hard work, dedication to students, and an unwavering commitment to the school district and community, Mr. Eick has demonstrated the qualities of excellence that define outstanding agricultural educators.”

Eick, a former teacher and FFA advisor at Medina Central School, was recognized for the development a project he titles Threads of Agriculture – Weaving Global Agricultural Data into Fiber Art.

The weaving project is an interdisciplinary activity where students design and produce a circular loop scarf that represents and graphs agricultural data. Students collect authentic agricultural data, organize the information for data interpretation and then weave a finished agricultural product that also functions as a linear proportion color graph.

This project can engage students in a global agricultural understanding, fiber and textile production and data analysis – and it is a way to make the hot career skill of data science interesting in a way that can be difficult.  Students report strong engagement because of their own decision making, hands-on production and personal research.  Students of multiple learning styles find a place where their style is engaged and the project is aligned with standards and reinforces academic concepts in science, mathematics and art.

The NYAAE and Orleans/Niagara BOCES congratulate Eick on his well-deserved award and his continued contributions to agricultural education across New York State. This is the third time that he has won this award at the state level and he is also a previous winner at the national level.

His commitment to developing future leaders in agriculture strengthens local communities and inspires the next generation of agricultural professionals.

“I’m honored and humbled to be recognized by my peers in our professional state organization,” Eick said. “The other projects that were nominated were equally (if not more so) demanding of this recognition. I’m proud of this project, what it provides for the students, and is a great way to incorporate the fiber industry into our curriculum. It is also a wonderful introduction for students to global agriculture.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Crosby’s in Gaines was selling regular unleaded gas for $4.41 a gallon on Sunday.

Gas prices jumped 8 cents in the past week in Orleans County from an average of $4.30 a gallon to $4.38, according to AAA.

The national average price for gas is at $4.08 today, which is down 2 cents in the past week. A year ago, the price was $3.19.

The New York State average is $4.21, up 5 cents from last Monday. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.18.

“For the first time ever, the national average gas price in August has been above $4 per gallon every day,” AAA said in a news release today. “This month is poised to set a new record as the most expensive August at the pump, surpassing the previous August record set in 2022. There’s been little movement on the crude oil front. Due to continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, crude oil prices remain elevated. This morning, oil prices range from $85 to $90 per barrel.

“Despite elevated fuel prices, Labor Day travel is expected to be strong with travelers taking advantage of the last long holiday weekend of the summer season.”

The average prices among Western New York counties includes:

• Orleans, $4.303
• Genesee, $4.179
• Monroe, $4.205
• Niagara, $4.201
• Erie, $4.206
• Wyoming, $4.252
• Livingston, $4.271
• Chautauqua, $4.275
• Cattaraugus, $4.073
• Allegany, $4.224

Hamilton County in the Adirondacks is the highest in the state at $4.671 a gallon, while Chemung has the lowest average at $4.073.

The national average for diesel prices is down a penny to $5.60. Last year at this time, the national average price was $3.70. The New York average for diesel fuel is $5.74, up 4 cents from last week, and up from $3.90 last year.