Major art exhibition continues in village until Sept. 7

Photos by Tom Rivers: Evelyne Leblanc-Roberge created an exhibit “All the Hours” at Medina Memorial Hospital. It is staged entirely in decorative glass appendage that bridges the building and the outside world.

MEDINA – The Medina Triennial is winding down, with only two weekends left.

“People from 32 states have come so far, and so should you,” said Kari Conte, co-artistic director for the Triennial. “This has been an extraordinary summer for Medina, with the inaugural Medina Triennial transforming the village into a destination for contemporary art and welcoming visitors from 32 states.”

The Medina Triennial is heralded as a major success for the community, drawing national attention to Medina’s history, architecture, canal front, parks, public spaces and distinctive character.

Conte called the Medina Triennial a remarkable opportunity for Orleans County residents to experience an ambitious contemporary art exhibition in their own backyard.

Familiar local places seen through a new lens, Main Street, the canal front, Rotary Park, Medina Memorial Hospital, Medina Theater, the YMCA, State Street Park, Medina Railroad Museum, Sacred Heart Church and the historic Medina High School are highlighted with exhibits from 39 artists worldwide.

Special programming is planned from noon to 2 p.m. today of Leblanc Robarge’s hour-long film “As the Hour Turns Blue” at the Medina Triennial Hub, 234 Main St.

The Triennial says of the exhibit: “Like of piece of visual poetry broken into stanzas, the installation plays with the experiences of felt temporarily, becoming a gentle and deeply interior reflection on resilience, mourning and change.”

Also today, an artist-led tour of her newly-commissioned installation “All the Hours” will take place at 4 .p.m. at Medina Memorial Hospital. This is a site-responsive work shaped by the hospital’s rhythms of care and its importance as a place of wailing, resilience, mourning and change – experiences that touch nearly every local family. This will be a rare opportunity to walk through the installation with the artist and hear about the research and creative process behind a work made specifically for Medina.

A full schedule of events is planned for the closing weekend of the Medina Triennial Sept. 5-7 – the final opportunity to experience the full village-wide exhibits of “All That Sustains Us.”

The Cobblestone Museum and Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum are joining forces in a first-time event involving the community.

On Sept. 19, the two museums are sponsoring a Museum Odyssey Scavenger Hunt from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The idea for this collaboration was one of Chris Manaseri’s. He is president of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum board.

“He approached Doug (Farley) and me to propose we try to co-host an event to coincide with International Museum Day on May 18 or Smithsonian Day on Sept. 17,” said Sue Bonafini, vice president of the Cobblestone Museum Society and Museum. “Neither date fell on a Saturday, the best day of the week for both of our museums to attract visitors of all ages. “

They chose Sept. 19 for their joint venture, and keeping with the practice of other events, there will be no admission fee at either museum that day. However, donations of any amount will be gladly received.

Manaseri suggested the event include the name “Odyssey,” because of all the hype associated with the movie released this summer, and because of the definition of the word itself, Bonafini said.

Participants in the Scavenger Hunt tours will need to travel to the two museums to pick up their paperwork of scavenger hunt questions.  They may begin at either location, and participation is by donation only.

After picking up their paperwork, participants will embark on a journey to learn the answers to questions, which must be correct to be eligible for a prize drawing at the end of the event. Four winners will receive prizes – two winners drawn from each museum. All participants will receive a free gift at the Cobblestone Museum, simply by choosing to take part in the special Scavenger Hunt Tour event.

Winners will be contacted by phone if they are not present when the drawings take place, Bonafini said.

All visitors who tour the Cobblestone Museum will receive a free coloring book with illustrations suitable for children or adults. Standard campus tours will be offered at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. as usual. Special tours of the National Historic Landmark cobblestone building will be offered each hour throughout the day.

A docent will be on duty at the Lighthouse Museum for tours throughout the event.

Anyone wishing more information may call (585) 589-9013 or visit the Cobblestone’s event page at CobblestoneMuseum.org.

Provided photos: Melissa Snider is shown with her sister Amanda Snider, on right side of the photos. There will be a benefit today for Amanda from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Clarendon Rec Hall.

CLARENDON – There will be a benefit today at the Clarendon Rec Hall for a young woman battling stage 4 carcinoma sarcoma.

Amanda Snider, 38, of Holley also has Dandy Walker Syndrome which causes some mental disabilities.

Her sister Melissa and their family and friends will have the benefit from 2 to 6 p.m. at 16169 East Lee Rd.

Melissa said she loves her sister very much and the benefit will help pay for Amanda’s medical care and other bills.

Amanda has had surgery to remove a nodule from her lung. Doctors are considering the next steps in her treatment.

“She is recovering very well,” her sister said.

Tickets for the spaghetti dinner are $17 at the door and include meatballs by the Bella Pasta Restaurant in Rochester and sauce by Fazool’s Italian Bistro in Rochester. Dinners will be served from 3 to 5 p.m.

There will also be a basket raffle, 50/50, music and other door prizes.

Darrel Gray played for Albion and coached Adirondack modified football team

Darrel Gray, the modified football coach at Adirondack Central School District, is shown with his daughter Nora. They were both killed in a car accident on Thursday in Oneida County.

A 1992 Albion High School graduate and his daughter were killed in Oneida County on Thursday.

Darrel Gray and his daughter were in a head-on collision at about 7 a.m. with a fully loaded tractor trailer.

The two were on their way to swim practice. They are from West Leyden in Lewis County. The accident occurred in the town of Ava.

Gray was driving an SUV and crossed into the opposite lane, colliding with the tractor-trailer, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office reported.

He and his daughter were both pronounced dead at the scene.

The two have both been very active members of the Adirondack school district, where Gray was the modified football coach and Nora was on the swim team.

Gray stayed connected with many of his Albion classmates and former teammates.

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

Geno Allport, a local football coach, graduated with Gray in 1992 and played with him on the football team. They would see each other each spring at high school coaching conferences.

Gray was a long-time Seattle Seahawks fan and reveled in their recent Super Bowl victory. But Gray brought his family to Orchard park to see the Bills last Nov. 2. Buffalo won, 28-21, against their nemesis, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Gray was a long-time coach at the Adirondack school.

“He was coaching football for the right reasons,” Allport said. “He loved the kids. He was teaching them life. It wasn’t about the wins and losses.”

Allport said the death of Gray and his daughter is devastating for his friends in Albion, and especially for the Adirondack school community.

“He’s always been a great guy with a great family,” Allport said. “It’s just horrible news.”

Geno Allport, in back, reconnected during a Nov. 2 Buffalo Bills game with Darrel Gray, his wife Marion and their children, Mitchell and Nora.

Photos courtesy of Geno Allport: Darrel Gray, no. 48, warms up with the Albion football team during the Sectional final in 1991 when the team was edged 27-26 by Williamsville South at the former Rich Stadium. Gray was a receiver on the team. Geno Allport bought Gray’s old jersey from the school and sent it to Gray who was thrilled to put it on again.

Gray’s wife asks Albion community to share memories of her husband, daughter

In the wake of the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Darrel, and daughter, Nora, Marion Gray is asking the Albion community and anyone whose life was touched by them to share those memories.

Mrs. Gray has created an email for herself and their son Mitchell: CoachandNora@gmail.com.

“With everything being so overwhelming, and the way social media feeds can make messages difficult to find later, Marion is asking anyone who knew Darrel or Nora to please send stories, memories, funny moments, or anything special you remember about them,” said family friend Geno Allport of Albion.

“Her hope is to print these messages and create a book for herself and Mitchell, something they can turn to on the dark days to read about Mitchell’s dad and sister, remember the lives they touched, and hopefully find moments to smile, laugh, or cry together.”

Marion may not be able to respond to the emails, but she asks that you please include who you are and how you knew Darrel or Nora, Allport said.

Provided photos: Medina Mayor Debbie Padoleski and Logan Callara, owner of Logan’s Landscaping, try out two of the new benches at Butts Park that were donated by Logan’s Landscaping.

Press Release

MEDINA – Logan’s Landscaping has donated four new custom benches at the basketball courts at Butts Park.

The custom-made concrete give players, parents and visitors a new place to sit while enjoying the courts.

The benches feature a wood-grain finish and custom Logan’s Landscaping plaques. They were made to provide strong, long-lasting seating that can handle regular use and Western New York weather.

“Medina has supported my business from the beginning, so I wanted to give something back that people in the community could actually use,” said Logan Callara, owner of Logan’s Landscaping. “We’re really happy with how the benches turned out and proud to have them at the park.”

Logan’s Landscaping is a locally owned landscaping and property-maintenance company serving Medina and the surrounding communities.

Logan Callara assembles one of the new benches. He donated four at Butts Park.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Ken DeRoller speaks on April 15, 2025 during the Orleans County Bicentennial celebration in the County Courthouse. DeRoller was a member of the county’s Bicentennial Committee.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature this week recognized for County Legislator Ken DeRoller with a “Special Recognition Award” for his 12 ½ years of service on the GLOW Workforce Development Board.

DeRoller was on the board during his eight years as county legislator. He retired from that position on Dec. 31, 2021. He then continued to represent the county on the GLOW board for another 4 ½ years.

“You were instrumental in keeping Orleans County present and involved in all aspects of the GLOW region activities,” county legislators stated in the award presented on Tuesday. “You were vocal and passionate about the regional Work Force Development efforts, along with foresight into the future needs of our County. Even as a retired legislator, you understand the need to present ‘in the room.’”

DeRoller, a Kendall resident, helped the GLOW Workforce Development Board to establish a non-profit organization to seek out grants. That gives the organization another funding opportunity at a time when federal funds are dwindling for traditional workforce development programs.

Kelly Kiebala, the county’s job development director since 2015, saw DeRoller’s advocacy up close on the GLOW board. DeRoller pushed the board to stay as a collaborative four-county effort, Kiebala said.

She recalled his mantra: “There would not be a GLOW without Orleans as the ‘O’ in GLOW.”

“Right for the start it was clear to me how committed he was – and is – to Orleans and the folks who live and work in our communities,” Kiebala said.

Press Release, Nioga Library System

File photo by Tom Rivers: Tom Bindeman, the director of the Nioga Library System for 21 years, is shown speaking at an Orleans County Legislature meeting in October 2021. Bindeman urged legislators to keep some funding in the county budget for libraries, which he said helped many residents during the Covid pandemic with internet access, including people using the WiFi in parking lots after hours.

LOCKPORT – Nioga Library System is pleased to announce the appointment of Frank Sykes as executive director, effective August 10. His appointment comes after the retirement of Tom Bindeman, who served as executive director for over 21 years.

Frank Sykes joins the Nioga Library System with over 18 years of public library experience, most recently serving as executive director of the Geneva Public Library. He holds a Master of Library Science Degree from University at Buffalo and Bachelor of Science in History from SUNY Brockport.

Sykes was awarded 2024 Youth Advocate of the Year by Geneva 2030 for his commitment to fostering community and advocacy work with families in the Finger Lakes area. As a leader, Sykes is passionate about collaboration and strengthening the roles libraries play in our communities.

“Public libraries are cherished places where people come together, learn something interesting, meet a new friend, and feel a sense of belonging,” Sykes said. “That is what makes this opportunity with the Nioga Library System so meaningful to me. I am honored to begin this new chapter alongside the dedicated people who make each Nioga member library such a vital part of Western New York.”

The Nioga Library System is a non-profit cooperative library system that serves the public libraries in Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties. Chartered in 1959, Nioga seeks to extend and improve library services by assisting local libraries in meeting the information needs of their communities through leadership, education, inspiration, and enhanced resource sharing.

“I’m looking forward to hearing their stories, championing their hard work, and building meaningful connections across our region,” Sykes said. “Together, I believe we can strengthen our libraries and ensure they continue to be places where everyone has the opportunity to learn, connect, and thrive.”

Gretchen Schweigert also joined Nioga as the new Member Library Consultant on July 29 after the retirement of Lisa Erickson. Schweigert worked as a reference librarian at the Niagara Falls Public Library shortly after she graduated from UB with her Master of Library & Information Science.

Schweigert then went on to be the director of the Royalton Hartland Community Library in Middleport for 7 years before being hired as Director at the Newfane Public Library in 2024. That same year she was appointed to the Board of the Western New York Library Resources Council and currently serves as Board Secretary. Schweigert is also active in her community, most notably volunteering with the Niagara Celtic Heritage Festival since its inception.

Provided photos: Marlene Seielstad, a candidate for Orleans County Legislature against Don Allport, speaks during the Democratic Party picnic on Aug. 16 at the Orleans County Marine Park. Seielstad is shown here being greeted by Jeanne Crane, former Democratic Party chairwoman in Orleans County.

Press Release, Orleans County Democratic Committee

CARLTON – The Orleans County Democratic Committee welcomed a big turnout for its annual picnic on Sunday, August 16, at the Cobblestone Pavilion at Orleans County Marine Park.

With 85 tickets sold, the event brought together Democrats from across Orleans County for an afternoon of good food, conversation, and an opportunity to meet candidates seeking local, state and judicial offices.

The pavilion was filled with animated conversations as candidates circulated among the tables, talked individually with residents, answered questions, and later addressed the group.

About 85 people attended the picnic at the cobblestone pavilion at the Marine Park.

Among the candidates attending was Marlene Seielstad, candidate for Orleans County Legislator at Large. Because the position is countywide, every Orleans County voter will have the opportunity to vote in the race.

Seielstad spoke about her concerns regarding equitable distribution of sales tax revenue and the county’s management and disposition of real estate. She said she is seeking a seat at the table to bring residents’ concerns to the Legislature, ask difficult questions, and challenge the idea that something should continue simply because “it’s always been done this way.”

Fred Miller has been the lone Democrat on the seven-member County Legislature. He previously owned the Family Hardware store in downtown Albion.

Fred Miller, incumbent Orleans County District 3 Legislator representing Albion, Gaines and a portion of Murray, also attended. Miller, who is running unopposed, thanked those gathered for their continued support. He discussed county issues, including the relocation of the County Historian and related maintenance concerns, as well as questions surrounding the need for Flock camera technology.

Sarah Wolcott, candidate for the New York State Assembly’s 139th District, spoke about her working-class roots and her commitment to improving access to healthcare, food, and housing. Wolcott also discussed her involvement in opposition to the proposed data center in Genesee County and concerns about its potential effects on regional resources, including water resources affecting Orleans County.

(Left) Sarah Wolcott, a candidate for the State Assembly against Steve Hawley, is shown with a poster from 1984 for the Democratic ticket of Walter Mondale as president and Geraldine Ferraro as his vice-presidential running mate. Ferraro was the first woman nominated for vice president by a major U.S. political party. (Right) Anne Joynt, a Medina graduate, is running for State Supreme Court.

Three candidates for New York State Supreme Court in the 8th Judicial District attended the picnic: Anne Joynt, Michael Amodeo and Craig Bucki.

Joynt, a partner at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, highlighted her deep Orleans County roots. A Medina native and graduate of Medina High School, she spoke about her familiarity with the community and likewise emphasized the importance of being accessible to residents.

Michael Amodeo is seeking to be a State Supreme Court justice. He has been endorsed by both the Democratic and Republican parties.

Amodeo, principal law clerk in the New York State Appellate Division, was unable to remain for the formal candidate remarks but spent time meeting attendees and answering questions. In response to questions at his table, he discussed how the New York Supreme Court handles cases and the role of law clerks within the court system. Amodeo received both Democratic and Republican endorsements at their respective 8th Judicial District conventions and is a longtime member of the Hamburg Democratic Committee.

Craig Bucki is a candidate for State Supreme Court justice.

Bucki, a partner at Phillips Lytle, spoke about his legal career in Western New York and his familiarity with Orleans County, including work that has brought him into the county when legal representation was needed. He emphasized his intention to remain accessible to the people he would serve.

The Orleans County Democratic Committee is also supporting Democratic candidates who were unable to attend the picnic, including Alissa Ellman, candidate for New York’s 24th Congressional District; Tom Arida, candidate for New York State Senate District 62; Kathy Hochul and Adrienne Adams, candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor; and incumbent Thomas DiNapoli for New York State Comptroller.

Throughout the afternoon, candidates and community members had opportunities for informal, one-on-one conversations before and after the candidates addressed the larger gathering.

The record attendance reflected growing interest in local Democratic activities and gave Orleans County residents an opportunity to talk directly with candidates about issues affecting their communities.

About the Orleans County Democratic Committee

The Orleans County Democratic Committee works to engage voters, support Democratic candidates, encourage civic participation, and provide opportunities for residents to become involved in the political process throughout Orleans County.

President signs executive order for new name of lake that touches Orleans County

Map courtesy of White House: The White House this afternoon posted this map that shows the Great Lakes, including Lake Ontario with a new name.

President Donald Trump today signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America.”

Trump on Tuesday posted on social media that the United States was giving serious consideration to changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” because the US doesn’t “expect to doing much business with Ontario any longer.”

Canada pulled out of trade talks with the U.S. after contentious negotiations. Trump announced 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods. Canada then announced retaliatory tariffs.

Trump last year announced an executive order that gave the Gulf of Mexico a new name – the Gulf of America.

Here is today’s executive order 14420 that Trump said honors the American history of the Great Lakes:

EXECUTIVE ORDER 14420

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.  Purpose and Policy.  As I announced in Executive Order 14172 of January 20, 2025 (Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness), it is the policy of my Administration to recognize the extraordinary contributions of the American people and the rich heritage of our history by naming great natural landmarks for our shared achievements.  The United States is the greatest protector of the Great Lakes, including the body of water currently known as Lake Ontario. 

Without the security and investment provided by the United States, this freshwater system would not be open for shipping, recreation, and responsible use to the same extent as it is today.  The United States Coast Guard supplies 9 of the 11 ice breaking vessels on the Great Lakes, securing commercial shipping lanes free of charge.  The United States has invested nearly $4 billion in protecting the Great Lakes freshwater ecosystem in the last decade, while Canada has invested far less in similar initiatives over the same period.

Sec. 2.  Lake America.  (a)  The body of water currently known as Lake Ontario is a tremendous asset to the United States and part of our Nation’s heritage.  With the deepest parts of the Lake’s waters lying within United States territory, the United States claims most of the Lake’s volume.  The Lake has long been an integral asset to American exploration, settlement, commerce, and defense. 

From the colonial period through the early republic, the Lake served as a critical artery for American trade, commerce, and military logistics, including the establishment in Oswego of a historic fort and the first United States port of call from the St. Lawrence Seaway, shipbuilding and naval operations during the War of 1812 at Sackets Harbor and other New York posts, and the movement of goods, settlers, and later industrial cargoes that linked the interior of the United States to eastern markets and the Atlantic. 

Maritime commerce on the broader Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system — of which the Lake is the easternmost and gateway segment — continues to generate substantial economic activity for the United States, supporting hundreds of thousands of American jobs and billions of dollars in annual economic output, cargo value, and related business revenue, with our  ports, carriers, and States deriving a significant share of the system’s benefits in iron ore, limestone, coal, agricultural products, and other bulk commodities.

Water from the Lake is used to supply nuclear, natural gas, and oil-fired power plants and to supply municipal drinking water to nearby communities.  United States domestic and cross-border shipping activity on the Great Lakes system has historically underpinned regional manufacturing, steel production, agriculture, and energy supply chains in several States, reflecting the strategic and economic importance of these waters to the United States that continues to this day.  The Lake will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping America’s future and the global economy.  In recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our Nation’s economy and its people, I am directing that the Lake officially be renamed as Lake America.

(b)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) shall, in coordination with the Board on Geographic Names and consistent with 43 U.S.C. 364 through 364f, take all appropriate actions to rename as “Lake America” the body of water currently named as Lake Ontario, bounded on the south and east by the State of New York, and on the north, west, and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario.  The Secretary, conjointly with the Board on Geographic Names, shall subsequently update the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) to reflect the renaming of the Lake and remove all references to Lake Ontario from the GNIS, consistent with applicable law.  The Board on Geographic Names shall provide guidance to ensure all Federal Government references to Lake Ontario, including on executive department and agency maps, contracts, and other documents and communications, shall reflect its renaming.

Sec. 3.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of the Interior.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

August 27, 2026.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: People move into Main Street to welcome Terry Buchwald as Elvis, as he arrives on his motorcycle for Wednesday’s Super Cruise in Medina. This was the 16th year Buchwald has been performed at the event.

MEDINA – Medina’s Super Cruise on Wednesday night was one for the record books.

Good weather, 325 entries – some first-timers, entertainment by the popular Elvis impersonator Terry Buchwald and a crowd of thousands made for a very successful evening, to end this year’s weekly cruise-ins in Medina.

Summer cruise-ins on Friday nights have been a tradition in Medina for more than 30 years, having been started by the late David Green, Donna Bushover and former Medinan Donna Mruczek. For many years the season has ended with a Super Cruise on Main Street the last Wednesday in August. Buchwald has been an added feature for about 15 years.

Friends Pete Redding and Karen Schultz brought their Thunderbirds to Medina’s Super Cruise Wednesday night. His on the left is a 2010 and hers is a 2002.

In 2024, after Green retired as organizer of the event, local entrepreneur Rollin Hellner stepped in to keep the tradition going. The weekly cruise-ins were moved to the parking lot of the Medina Senior Center, with the final Super Cruise staying on Main Street.

Hellner initiated a few changes in the events this year, such as opening them up to other vehicles besides classical cars.

“Personally, I’d like to see anything that has an engine,” said Hellner, who is an avid collector with more than 40 vehicles.

Wednesday’s Super Cruise included motorcycles, a “really cool” Brockway semi and two exotic Vipers.

Mike and Janice Wagner of Pendleton brought a 1972 Chevy C10, which they’ve owned for nine years. When they got it from Charlotte, N.C. it was in parts, Janice said.

“He did the restoration,” said Janice of husband Mike. “He drives it to breakfast mornings, and one time a guy following him was irate because he was going so slow. When Mike pulled into the restaurant the guy followed him and walked up to the truck and pounded it with his fist, denting the molding.

Mike and Janice Wagner of Pendleton proudly show off their 1972 Chevy C10 at Medina’s cruise-in on Main Street Wednesday night.

When Mike retired from Harrison Radiator at age 56, he started collecting cars, Janice said. At one time he had 13 Corvettes, but then got interested in trucks.

The Wagners regularly go to Hoover’s Dairy in Sanborn to their cruise-ins, but Olcott is their favorite one, Janice said.

“This will be Olcott’s last year, unless somebody steps up to take it over,” she said.

Another cruiser was Bill Wellington of Lyndonville, who showed a 1933 Ford 3-window coupe, which he bought after he saw it at a car dealer’s seven years ago.

“This is my first classic car,” Wellington said. “I redid the motor and probably spend $3,000 a year on it.”

Joe and Kim Colosi of Lockport brought an impressive pair of Vipers to Super Cruise on Wednesday night. The 2010 Snakeskin Green car is No. 28 of 31 built. The one in the trailer is a 2017 final edition Viper GTS.

Joe and Kim Colosi of Lockport raised eyebrows with their display of two Vipers. They occupied a prime spot at the four corners of Main and Center streets with their pickup towing a trailer with elevator carrying their Vipers.

“This is the only show we’ve attended this year,” Kim said. “We like this area. It has turned out nice.”

She said Joe knows everything about every car, but especially likes Vipers.

“He got his first one in 2001, then we got a Lamborghini, before going back to Vipers,” Kim said.

Their 2010 Snakeskin Green Viper is No. 28 of only 31 built. A 2017 Viper GTS is a final edition model.

Hellner said another first-time entry came from Syracuse, the farthest anyone has traveled, he thought.

“I love it that the stores were open late, taking advantage of the thousands of people,” Hellner said. “And the restaurants were packed.”

Vehicles were judged in a number of categories, with the Colosi’s  2017 Viper named Best of Show, and a 1937 Ford Roadster owned by Rich Colonna named Best Custom Car.

“My only hope is Dave Green is looking down and smiling,” Hellner said.

Bill Wellington of Lyndonville stands next to his 1933 Ford 3-window coupe on Medina’s Main Street during Super Cruise Wednesday night.

License plate readers also help solve crimes, Bourke tells local officials

Photos by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke, back left, and Chief Deputy Torry Tooley gave a presentation on Tuesday evening to local officials in the monthly Orleans County Association of Municipalities meeting at the Tavern on the Ridge.

ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke is a believer in the Flock automated license plate reader technology.

The Sheriff’s Office in November started using Flock and the cameras have helped locate missing teens and elderly drivers with dementia, while also steering deputies and investigators in the right direction to solve crimes.

“It is one more tool in our tool box,” Bourke told about 30 local officials on Tuesday during the monthly meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities. “We’ve had very good results so far.”

The County Legislature in 2024 approved a $203,450 contract with Flock over five years to install 13 Flock cameras in the county. The county has made one payment so far at $47,450 and it was covered through a state technology grant, Bourke said.

Twelve of the Flock cameras have gone up since November. One more will be set up soon in Shelby. The cameras are mounted on poles. They read license plates on the back end of vehicles.

They store a snapshot of the vehicle for 30 days. Bourke and Chief Deputy Torry Tooley said the cameras don’t take videos, and don’t identify people by their faces. Flock doesn’t continuously track people or vehicles, and it doesn’t replace investigators or human judgement, Bourke and Tooley said.

Chief Deputy Torry Tooley said the Flock cameras have been helpful pursuing leads in cases.

Flock has been in the news a lot lately with concerns over mass surveillance and an abuse by a few law enforcement officers who used the cameras to try to track ex-girlfriends and other people of interest outside of investigations. The Flock system also can send alerts to administrators if there are irregular searches.

Bourke and Tooley said the Sheriff’s Office has controls in place to make sure there is limited access to only the sheriff, undersheriff, two chief deputies and two supervising deputies. All of the searches are logged.

In the first eight months of the system – from November through July 10 –  there were 542 searches by Orleans County Sheriff’s Office with 200 searches (36.9 percent) for larceny theft investigations, 45 (8.3 percent) for traffic infraction and 38 searches (7.0) for missing person or runaway.

Sheriff’s officials also used Flock to search in cases for stolen property (5.4 percent), motor vehicle theft (5.2 percent), drugs/narcotics (5.2 percent), a wanted person (3.3 percent) and damage/vandalism (3.3 percent).

The searches for missing persons has gone up since July 10 and the Flock cameras were very helpful in locating a missing teen from Albion who was in Niagara Falls, Tooley said.

“This is a great investigative tool for the Sheriff’s Office,” he said. “It’s helped us solve crimes and finding missing people.”

Sheriff Chris Bourke said Flock cameras are “another tool in our tool box.”

The Sheriff’s Office for about 20 years had one license plate reader on a patrol car. The Flock cameras operate the same way except are mounted on a pole instead of a car, Bourke said.

Some of the local officials at Tuesday’s meetings asked if the leaders from each municipality were asked to have a Flock camera mounted in their municipality. Bourke said no municipal permission was asked because the cameras are either on the public right-of-way or private property.

Albion Town Councilman Terry Wilbert said the local officials should be notified at least as a courtesy “because we get the questions from the public.”

Darlene Benton, an Albion councilwoman, asked if the Flock data is shared with ICE. Tooley said the data isn’t shared with federal agencies, but can be with police non-federal agencies.

One of the Flock cameras in Kendall, at Sand Road and Route 18, has been defaced. Bourke said many of the cameras have been targeted by vandals around the country. Those vandals should know they will be prosecuted for damaging government property.

Aric Albright to take over in expanded role as superintendent of streets

File photo by Tom Rivers: Jay Pahura, Albion’s Department of Public Works superintendent, checks on the spray park at Bullard Park in June 2020. Pahura and the DPW did a lot of work on the upgrades at Bullard, in addition to their work maintaining and plowing streets, fixing water leaks, setting up and tearing down for events, and other projects in the village.

ALBION – The village’s superintendent of the Department of Public Works will be retiring on Friday. Jay Pahura has worked for the DPW the past 36 years.

Pahura has been a master problem-solver for the village, keeping the streets maintained, fixing waterlines and other aging infrastructure, village officials said in commending Pahura on Wednesday during his final Village Board as DPW superintendent.

“Over the years, you have helped keep this community moving—often behind the scenes, often without recognition, and always with a commitment to getting the job done right,” Mayor Tim McMurray said in praising Pahura on Wednesday. “From responding to major infrastructure repairs and unexpected emergencies, to preparing for public events and handling all the details that others may have forgotten to ask about, you have been someone the village could count on.”

Pahura brought a deep knowledge of the village and its infrastructure and strong work ethic to the job.

“Your work has made a real difference in the day-to-day lives of our residents,” McMurray said. “The roads, water, facilities, events, and services that people rely on do not happen by accident. They happen because of dedicated public servants like you who take pride in their work and understand that the smallest details often matter the most.”

The Village Board on Wednesday appointed Aric Albright, the chief operator of the village sewer plant (Pollution Control Facility), to an expanded role as superintendent of streets.

Albright will oversee the DPW, sewer plant, water plant and Mount Albion Cemetery. He will take on the added duties without a pay raise at his request, McMurray said.

Jason Zicari, the long-time superintendent at Mount Albion, also is retiring. Scott Bradshaw will serve as the working foreman at the cemetery.

Levi Boyer, chief operator at the water plant, will continue in that role.

McMurray said there will be cost-savings for the village with Albright in the new expanded role, and the mayor said it also makes more sense with the new position supervising all four departments.

“The village will be better off having one manager over everything,” McMurray said.

Albright and the village staff at the sewer plant as will continue to manage the sewer plants for Holley, Elba and Bergen.

The board on Wednesday voted to hire a part-time clerk to help with the paperwork and reports required at the sewer plants, and also Mount Albion. Callie Allport was hired for the job at $19 an hour.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Rich Nolan, lead singer for the Highway 31 band, belts out a song during Wednesday’s concert at Bullard Park.

The band was scheduled for Aug. 12, but a thunderstorm postponed the concert to Wednesday.

The band is shown performing a medley of “Jack & Diane” by John Mellencamp and “Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen.

The band members include Rich Nolan of Gasport as lead singer, and the guitar trio of Aaron Clark of Holley, Clinton LaPorte of Le Roy, and Clinton’s dad Tim LaPorte Sr. of Batavia. Timmy LaPorte of Elba, Tim’s son and Clinton’s brother, is the drummer for the band.

There was a large crowd for the concert, including this group of dancers. Organizers said about 1,000 turned out for the event.

Food vendors were available throughout the concert series which started on June 10.

This group sat a little farther away from the amphitheater.

The concert series was funded with state arts money administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.