By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 October 2026 at 10:40 am
Kimberly Stawicki took these photos this morning of the mist at a bend in the Erie Canal between Medina and Middleport.
The forecast shows lots of sunshine with highs in the 50s and 60s in Orleans County for the next several days.
Today will be sunny with a high of 62 with an overnight low of 38, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
Sunday will be sunny with a high of 66 and overnight low of 47, followed by a high of 62 on Monday with an overnight low of 36.
The forecast for Tuesday is mostly sunny with a high of 50 and overnight low of 33, followed by a partly sunny Wednesday with a high of 59 and overnight low of 46.
Thursday should be mostly sunny with a high of 67 and an overnight low of 47, followed by a high of 62 on Friday, according the National Weather Service.
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week will be October 25-31. This year’s theme, “Keep Kids Safe from Lead,” encourages families to get the facts, get their child tested, and get their home tested.
Lead can harm a child’s growth, behavior and ability to learn. Even low levels of lead can make it harder for children to learn, pay attention, and do well in school. Children under 6 are at greatest risk because their bodies and brains are still growing, and they are more likely to put their hands and objects in their mouths.
“Lead exposure can be hard to detect because many children who have lead in their blood do not look or feel sick,” said Gabrielle Lanich, lead program coordinator for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “A blood lead test is the best way to know if a child has been exposed to lead.”
According to the census, 72.6% of occupied homes in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties were built before 1978, when lead paint was banned for residential use.
“Childhood lead exposure is a significant issue due to the number of older homes that may contain lead-based paint,” said Paul Pettit, public health director of GO Health.
GO Health encourages parents and community members to learn more about preventing lead exposure by exploring the three key themes of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week:
Get the Facts
Lead can be found in and around the home. Common sources include deteriorating lead-based paint and dust, contaminated soil, and some consumer products. Older homes may have water pipes that contain lead.
Children may be exposed when they swallow or breathe in lead dust, put dusty hands or objects in their mouths, eat paint chips or contaminated soil, or drink water containing lead. When old paint chips, peels, cracks, or rubs together, it can create lead dust. Lead dust can settle on windowsills, floors, toys, and other surfaces where young children play. Lead dust can also be created during renovation, repair, or painting projects that disturb lead-based paint.
Get Your Child Tested
There is no safe blood lead level for lead. In New York State, all children should have a blood lead test at age 1 and again at age 2. Parents and caregivers can talk to their child’s healthcare provider about lead testing, especially if their child spends time in an older home or building. Pregnant women who have been around lead should also be tested.
Get Your Home Tested
If your home was built before 1978, you should get it tested for lead paint. If you rent, ask your landlord to have your home or apartment tested. Contact GO Health for more information on getting your home tested.
Families can reduce lead dust by wet-wiping windowsills and other dusty surfaces, wet-mopping floors, and regularly washing children’s hands and toys. Peeling or chipping paint should not be sanded or scraped without using lead-safe practices. Click here for more information.
Childhood lead poisoning is preventable. Knowing where lead may be found, reducing potential exposure in the home, and making sure children receive recommended blood lead testing can help protect their health.
For more information about childhood lead poisoning prevention, home lead inspections and help addressing lead-based paint hazards, or other programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or contact Genesee County at 585-344-2580, ext. 5555, or Orleans County at 585-589-3278.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 October 2026 at 8:00 am
ALBION – Today is the first of nine days of early voting in Orleans County with many positions on the ballot, including a race for governor, Congress and many other offices at the state, county and town levels.
There is one polling location open in the county for early voting. It is at the Orleans County Board of Elections Office, 14016 Route 31 in Albion.
During the general election on Nov. 3, there will be polling locations at each of the 10 towns in Orleans County.
The early voting schedule includes:
Saturday, October 24 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, October 25 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, October 26 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, October 27 – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, October 28 – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday, October 29 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, October 30 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, October 31 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, November 1 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mike Mele and Janice Grabowski are the election commissioners in Orleans County. They issued this statement: “All indications are that turnout for this year’s election will be high, so early voting is just another way for people to cast their ballots. We do want to remind people that whether you choose to vote early or on Election Day, you must be in line before polls close in order to cast your ballot.”
The last day to register to vote for the Nov. 3 election is today. Those with questions about voter registration, early voting, absentee ballots or any other questions can call the Board of Elections at (585) 589-3274 or visit the BOE website (click here).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2026 at 4:36 pm
Raymond Santoro writes more ‘tales of mystery and the unexplained’
Photos by Tom Rivers
CLARENDON – Raymond Santoro, the Holley and Murray historian, had a line of people wanting him to signa copy of his new book, Beyond Haunted Holley – Further Tales of Mystery and the Unexplained. Santoro held a book-signing on Wednesday evening at the Hillside Cemetery chapel.
He will be signing books and reading from the book at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Community Free Library in Holley. He has another book signing and talk at 6 p.m. on Nov. 6 at Gaines Basin Cobblestone Schoolhouse, 3286 Gaines Basin Rd., Albion. This schoolhouse is used by the Orleans County Historical Association.
Ghost-themed cookies were served Wednesday evening at the Clarendon chapel. Santoro has 500 copies of the new book available.
“Beyond Haunted Holley” costs $18 and can be purchased at Author’s Note bookstore in Medina, the Community Free Library in Holley, Murray Town Hall and Cobblestone Museum in Albion.
Santoro’s new book is a follow-up to his book from 2023 on Haunted Holley. That book has been a sellout with two printings. He wrote about paranormal experiences for people in the Holley community.
He included his email at the end of the book. He received 80 emails from people, sharing their own stories and experiences. Others have called him or told him in person that they felt encounters with ghosts or the unexplained. Santoro said Haunted Holley has generated a lot of interest, much more than he expected.
“There are plenty of local stories to fill a dozen books,” he said.
Santoro encourages people to read the stories with an open mind.
“There is so much of the world we don’t comprehend and perhaps aren’t meant to fully understand,” he writes in the introduction of the 174-page book. “I hope that reading this work as whole might shed light on some of these mysteries.”
Raymond Santoro signed a copy of his book for Gerry Rightmyer, the Murray town supervisor. Rightmyer said he found the first book on Haunted Holley to be a page-turner that he couldn’t put down.
“It is extremely interesting,” Rightmyer said. “I’m real excited to get started on reading this one, too.”
Santoro wore a black cape for added effect during a brief book talk on Wednesday evening in the Hillside chapel.
His new book shares stories from communities near Holley – Bergen, Churchville, Hulberton, Kendall and others.
Santoro was joined up front by Peter Turkow, left, the president of the Clarendon Historical Society. Turkow said Santoro has done a commendable job writing stories that have a profound impact on many people in the community.
“Everybody has a scary story to tell,” Turkow said. “He has done a great job. It’s an important and unique contribution to the history of Holley and the surrounding towns.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2026 at 4:04 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Lauren Zwifka, a Barre firefighter and 2026 Albion graduate, helps Sebastian, an Albion fourth-grader, hit a target with water from a fire hose.
A group of volunteer firefighters wrapped up a week-long fire prevention effort at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School this week. After spending four days with classroom activities, firefighters joined students outside to learn about fire trucks and equipment, and test their fire prevention knowledge.
Barre firefighters Lauren Zwikfa and Barry Flansburg helped students aim at the targets.
Albion firefighters Victoria Tabor and Jeremy DiMatteo let these students get a close look at some of the tools and gear in a fire truck.
Ryan Woolston of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company let students hold a 20-pound air bottle that holds oxygen if firefighters go inside to fight a fire.
Students crawl through a smoke simulator inside a fire safety training trailer was outside the school today. That trailer, owned by the Orleans County’s Emergency Management Office, has a fog machine to simulate smoky rooms. Students were urged to “Stay Low and Go.” Students went through the smoke when the door inside the trailer wasn’t hot.
If the door inside the trailer was hot, students were told to instead look for a way out of the room. The electrical door could be heated to simulate a hot door from fire. Thomas Bringenberg climbs out the window and down a ladder. Albion firefighter Cody Newsome was there if any assistance was needed.
The fake flames are knocked down with water sprayed by Barre firefighter Gary Rowley, left, with second-grader Dylan Feitshans and Barry Flansburg with second-grader Danny Klips.
Victims’ names not released, cause of blaze under investigation
Photo by Tom Rivers: Firefighters from multiple departments responded to the fire on Thursday night at 12625 Presbyterian St.
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke
KNWOELSVILLE – On Thursday at 8:28 p.m., the Orleans County Sheriff’s 911 Center received multiple reports of a working house fire with two people trapped at 12625 Presbyterian St. in the Town of Ridgeway.
Upon arrival, Ridgeway Fire found a working house fire, and two victims. One victim, a resident of the house, was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester with injuries.
A second victim, a neighbor from across the street, had become aware of the fire, ran over and entered the burning house in an attempt to rescue the remaining person in the house. Conditions forced the neighbor out of the house due to the heavy fire and smoke and was in fact on fire himself as he exited the house.
This victim had to roll and receive assistance from others in the front yard to have the fire be extinguished. The second victim was transported by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital as well.
The third victim was deceased and located on the first floor of the residence.
Currently, the cause and origin of the fire is under investigation. Further details and names of the victims will be released when appropriate.
Public safety dispatchers sent the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company to the scene with automatic mutual aid from the following: Medina Fire and Ambulance, Albion FD, East Shelby FC, Shelby FC, Orleans County Emergency Management and Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies.
Additional mutual aid was called into the scene or to fill in from the following: Lyndonville FD, Mercy Ambulance, Tri-Town Ambulance Filling in at Medina, Mercy Flight to the O.C. Fairgrounds, Barre FC, Carlton FC, Orleans County Sheriff’s Animal Control, Murray Fire Dist., Batavia to fill in at Albion and Middleport to fill in at Medina.
The Orleans County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene.
Orleans County Emergency Management fire coordinators and fire investigators were on scene with EMO Director Justine Niederhofer.
NYS Fire was on scene with fire investigators, and the Orleans County Sheriff’s investigators and Sheriff’s fire investigators were on scene as well.
The fire shot out of windows, the roof and the front porch and took several hours to get under control.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2026 at 8:15 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in National Prescription Drug Takeback Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Public Safety Building, 13925 Route 31.
The Sheriff’s Office will accept prescription medications, over-the-counter medications and pet medications, but won’t take sharps or illegal drugs.
“We encourage residents to safely dispose of unused or unwanted medications!” the Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook page. “Help prevent prescription drug misuse, protect our families, and keep our community safe!”
For the safety of law enforcement personnel, people bringing in medications should make sure all needles are properly capped and secured. Loose or uncapped needles will not be accepted, the Sheriff’s Office stated.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2026 at 7:53 am
SHELBY – An ambulance crew that was filling in for the Medina Fire Department delivered a healthy baby boy last night in the back of an ambulance while en route to Unity Hospital in Rochester.
With Medina ambulance crews on scene at a fire on Presbyterian Street in Ridgeway, Tri-Town Ambulance was called to fill in for Medina.
Tri-Town, which is based in Gasport, was dispatched to Shelby for a woman who was having contractions eight minutes apart.
Tri-Town arrived and was headed to Unity with the mother. Carl Greene and Lisa Petrillo, both EMTs, were on the call with Greene driving the ambulance and Petrillo in the back, helping the mother deliver the baby.
“Mom and baby boy are comfortable resting at the hospital,” Tri-Town stated on its Facebook page. “We would like to congratulate EMT-Petrillo and Greene on a job well done. Way to make Tri-Town Proud.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2026 at 10:47 pm
2 others injured in blaze that destroyed home on Presbyterian Street
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – An elderly man who is confined to a wheelchair died in a fire tonight on presbyterian Road in Knowlesville.
Firefighters were dispatched to 12625 Presbyterian St. just before 8:30 p.m. They arrived to a fire with flames shooting out windows and the porch.
A neighbor across street tried to rescue the wheel-bound man from the house, but the neighbor, a man in his 60s, ran out of the house with his clothes on fire. He was taken by a Mercy EMS ambulance to a Mercy Flight helicopter zone at the fairgrounds. He has serious burns, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke said.
The son of the man who perished in the fire also was injured and taken by ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital.
Fire investigators from Orleans County and the state will try to determine the cause of the fire.
Firefighters from several departments responded to the scene. This photo shows the Shelby ladder truck. That truck used water pulled from the Erie Canal to keep a steady flow of water pouring on the fire.
The resident of the house was often spotted along the road in a motorized wheelchair, neighbor said. His dog, a husky, got out of the house safely and was located by an Orleans County animal control officer.
Ridgeway firefighters were assisted at the scene by the Medina Fire Department, Albion Joint Fire District, Shelby Volunteer Fire Company, East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company, Lyndonville Fire Department Medina Fire Department ambulance, and Mercy EMS.
Other departments filled in for several of the responding departments. Those filling in included Middleport, Hartland, Oakfield, Alabama, Batavia and Tri-Town Ambulance.
Gary Watts of the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company uses a Shelby pumper to pull water from the Erie Canal and then send it through a 5-inch hose about 1,400 to the Shelby ladder truck, which sprayed the water onto the house.
The fire proved difficult to put out. Firefighters were still battling hot spots two hours after the fire tore through the house. Watts said he expected it would be an all-nighter for many of the firefighters.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2026 at 5:20 pm
State awarded village $1.345 million for project as part of $4.5 million NY Forward grant
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Canal Basin parking lot will redesigned as part of a $1.345 million grant from the state. The Medina Village Board is expected to hire an engineering firm on Monday to work on the design of the project. The new lot will have less asphalt and more green space.
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board expects to hire an engineering firm on Monday to design improvements in the Canal Basin, a project with a goal to become a “waterfront gateway” with more green space, seating areas and boater/cyclist amenities.
Six firms on Wednesday presented proposals to Medina Mayor Debbie Padoleski, Village Trustee Jeff Wagner and members of the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program – Chris Busch, Mary Lewis and Kathy Blackburn.
The redesigned basin was awarded $1.345 million of the $4.5 million from the state to Medina in the NY Forward grant. The state finalized eight projects for the $4.5 million on May 17, 2024.
The transformed parking lot received the largest grant of the eight projects.
The redesign of the basin parking lot also will include two direct-current fast chargers for electric vehicles, each with two charging spots. The state awarded Medina $245,184 in a separate grant for those chargers with National Grid also chipping in $73,000.
Rendering from Empire State Development and Governor’s Office: The Canal Basin parking lot along the Erie Canal will be turned into a “waterfront gateway” complete with green space, seating areas and boater/cyclist amenities as part of the NY Forward grant in Medina. This is not the final design for the parking lot.
The basin will become more pedestrian friendly and also more inviting to boaters. The village is looking to upgrade the entry drive from Main Street; enhance the pedestrian walkway extending from Main Street, across rear building facades, to East Center Street alleyway; add a gazebo for shade and cover; expand flexible greenspace areas for programming with amenities including seating tables, benches, bike racks, shade trees and native plantings; and add pedestrian walkways with decorative, permeable pavers.
Chris Busch, a member of the LWRP committee, said the village created a vision for the basin about a decade ago through a waterfront redevelopment plan. The state funding will give the initiative significant investment and help make the project a reality.
The firm picked by the Village Board will present options for how to spend that grant, and the community will have an opportunity to weigh in during public meetings, Busch said.
The state will also need to approve the projects for the basin. The project is expected to go out to bid to contractors next year.
“This is only the beginning of the process,” Busch said about meeting with the firms on Wednesday.
This area of the Canal Basin lot will be part of the project. The village expects to add more green space and trees to the area, and will take out about 15 to 20 parking spaces, leaving about 70.
POINT BREEZE – The Point Breeze Yacht Club held its annual members meeting on Saturday at the Godfrey’s Pond Clubhouse at which time Commodore Bob Bialkowski recognized Marietta Schuth of Kendall for her many years serving as secretary.
The Point Breeze Yacht Club was founded in 1973 with the idea of encouraging boating, aquatic sports and general social and recreational purposes. The club is based at the Orleans County Marine Park.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2026 at 8:44 am
Provided photo
MEDINA – The Parade of Lights Planning Committee is working on the details for the 18th annual lighted parade in Medina.
This year’s parade will be on Nov. 28 and will cap the Olde Tyme Christmas celebration in the village.
The committee is shown at its meeting on Wednesday night at the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. Pictured left include Kevin DeHollander, Sue DeHollander, Cindy Robinson, Barb Hancock, Jim Hancock, Gail Miller and Reinhard Rogowski. Back row: Kathie Valley, Nicole Bensley, Todd Bensley and Mollie Mark.
The committee urges local businesses, organizations and residents to prepare a float for the parade or consider being a sponsor for the event. Entries forms to be in the parade are due by Nov. 25. Click here to see the Olde Tyme Christmas website for more information.
If you’re interested in volunteering to help with the parade, contact parade chairman Jim Hancock at (585) 798-2118.
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week will be October 25-31. This year’s theme, “Keep Kids Safe from Lead,” encourages families to get the facts, get their child tested, and get their home tested.
