Press Release, Roy-Hart Central School

Roy-Hart Superintendent Jill Heck: Photo by Rich Leader

MIDDLEPORT – Jill Heck, superintendent of the Royalton-Hartland Central School District, has been nominated for the 2026 Excellence in Leadership Award by the New York State Council of School Superintendents.

The nomination spotlights her leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to the children and families of Western New York.

The NYS Council of School Superintendents is a statewide professional organization representing public school superintendents.

With nearly 700 superintendents across New York State, the award process is highly competitive. This year, 20 nominations were received, with just four individuals ultimately selected. The selection committee emphasized that Heck’s nomination stood out and made a lasting impression.

Now serving her fourth year as district superintendent, Heck has demonstrated bold, systems-level leadership that has expanded educational opportunities throughout the district.

Under her leadership, Royalton-Hartland has strengthened agricultural education programming across all grade levels in the district and supported the development of a state-of-the-art Agriculture Land Lab, where students can engage in applied STEM learning, environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and community engagement.

The program has earned statewide recognition as an Outstanding Agricultural Secondary Education Program, with students achieving success at the National FFA Convention, including first-place national honors and multiple American FFA Degrees.

Heck’s leadership extends beyond academics. In response to a regional childcare shortage, she fostered partnerships with community stakeholders in an effort to support working families by increasing access to much needed early childcare service. Additionally, she helped to secure nearly $236,000 in federal funding to enhance district-wide safety infrastructure and emergency preparedness.

Regionally, Heck plays a key role in advancing professional development through the Erie-Niagara School Superintendents Association, uplifting superintendents across multiple counties and strengthening executive leadership practice.

Mrs. Heck’s leadership is comprehensive, measurable, and transformative, resulting in the advancement of workforce-aligned programming, expanding family support, securing critical funding, and elevating leadership across Western New York. She represents the very best of innovative educational leadership in New York State.

Photo by Tom Rivers: A transformer is moved on a large trailer last Wednesday. This photo was taken when the oversize load was on Allen Road before turning onto Route 98. The transformer was taken to Byron for a solar power project.

ALBION – Another oversize load will be moved from Albion to Byron on Wednesday, a week after State Police provided an escort for a transformer for a solar project.

The load will be moved from 9 a.m. to approximately 2 p.m., starting again by the railroad tracks on Hamilton Street in Albion. The load heads south to Allen Road, then east to Route 98.

It will then go south through Albion, Barre and to Lockport Road in Elba. It then goes east on North Byron Road to Searls Road to Tower Hill Road and then Byron Road in Byron.

“The width of this load will obstruct oncoming traffic,” State Police said in a media advisory. “The height of this load will necessitate the lifting of most overhead wires and traffic control devices. The load will move into oncoming traffic to avoid overhead obstructions.”

The weight of the load will keep speeds to around 5 to 10 miles per hour with many stoppages.

Route 98 will be closed for an undisclosed amount of time to all traffic from Old Orchard Road to Lockport Road, State Police said.

“It is recommended that if you encounter this load, move to the shoulder of the roadway, into a driveway or parking lot or seek an alternate route of travel to your destination,” State Police said. “Lower your window and follow directions from State Police or escort vehicles.”

Press Release, Orleans County Department of Mental Health

ALBION – The month of May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month and the Orleans County Department of Mental Health is taking the opportunity to work with their local, regional and national partners to promote the many mental services available to residents.

“It is important that we are always talking about mental health and the services and supports available, as it is an effort to reduce stigma and reinforce the importance of reaching out for help for anyone who is experiencing a mental health challenge or are in emotional distress,” said Danielle Figura, Director of Orleans County Mental Health & Community Services.

Figura said drawing attention to mental health awareness begins with promoting the county’s Care and Crisis Helpline (585) 283-5200 and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988. Both the local and National helpline are  available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

“The Care & Crisis Helpline and 988 are just a phone call away when we find ourselves, a family member, neighbor, or friend experiencing emotional distress whether its depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma or any other need that may be interfering with emotional wellbeing,” said Figura.  “We want the people to know they are not alone.”

Figura said locally in Orleans County, there are many mental health supports and resources available to the residents of Orleans County.  “These programs and services exist to support individuals and their families so if you feel you or someone you know may need assistance, please reach out to these resources for information and support.”

In collaboration with the Genesee/Orleans Health Department, Orleans County launched the Credible Mind Online Platform in 2026. This online self-directed learning and resource platform allows individuals to explore opportunities to improve their overall wellbeing, but specifically provides online education, support, and resource referrals to promote someone’s mental health wellness. Orleans County residents can access this resource at https://genesee-orleansny.crediblemind.com/

Orleans County Mental Health Department (click here)

• New York State Office of Mental Health Licensed Article 31 Outpatient Clinic Treatment Programs offering individual therapy, family therapy, couples therapy and psychiatric services (to include psychiatric evaluation, psychiatric monitoring, and pharmacology). Open Access Hours for New Clients are Monday – Friday at 12:30 p.m.
• New York State Office of Mental Health Licensed Article 31 Outpatient Clinic Satellite Sites at UConnect Care and Orleans County School Districts offering individual therapy at those host locations.
• Health Home Care Management Programs serving both youths and adults. A program under New York State Department of Health, which looks to connect individuals to additional supports and resources to promote overall physical and emotional health wellness.

Crisis Supports & Resources 

• The Care & Crisis Helpline (585) 283-5200 serving Orleans County residents for any immediate mental health crisis needs 24 hrs/day, 7 days/wk, 365 days/year.
• 988” National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or Text 988, Connect via chat at 988Lifeline.org or visit 988Lifeline.org for more resources.
• Rochester Psychiatric Center MIT Team (mobile integration team) – Serves Adults only and is available Monday – Friday during business hours. Providing in home, community-based assessments, outreach and engagement efforts. Requests for the RPC MIT Team can be made through the Care & Crisis Helpline at (585) 283-5200.

Additional Programs & Resources

• Mental Health Association of Genesee & Orleans Counties. Serving adults in Orleans County, through programs to include the Warm Line, Transportation, and Drop-In-Center https://mhago.org/
• Oak Orchard Health https://oakorchardhealth.org/

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No. 13

RIDGEWAY – Our photo at top shows Fred Grey’s white horse and surrey standing south of the Universalist Church, at 3064 North Gravel Rd. in Ridgeway.

Mr. Grey was the husband of Mary Pells, a granddaughter of Seymour Murdock, an early settler and one of the founding members of this church. A sandstone stepping-stone was conveniently placed by the corner at the front of the church. Drive barns, which would have provided shelter for horses and buggies, can be seen at the rear of the church.

“We, the inhabitants of the towns of Ridgeway and Yates, at a meeting at the house of Jasper Murdock on the 14th day of December 1833, organized as the First Universalist Society of the Towns of Ridgeway and Yates.”

Seymour B. Murdock, Philo Elmer, Daniel Hunt, Samuel Bidleman and Nathan Sawyer were the trustees of this newly incorporated church. At this first organizational meeting they also voted to raise $1,000 to build a church by January 1, 1835.

Julia Perry, wife of the entrepreneurial Joseph Perry who was a postmaster, shipping agent, and owner of the hotel and tavern at Ridgeway Corners, donated the site for the new church. The site was on the west side of what is now North Gravel Road, just south of the intersection with Route 104.

Contributions were solicited and pews were auctioned to raise money for the construction. Pew prices ranged from $10 to $65, while contributions ranged from $5 to $100.

The Universalist Church at Ridgeway was dedicated in June 1835 by Rev. L.L. Sadler. Rev. Charles Hammond was the first Universalist preacher at Ridgeway. He divided his time between Ridgeway and the Universalist Church in Middleport.

Ridgeway Universalist Church in the early 1950s

This small but active congregation celebrated its centennial on December 14, 1933. But as time went by it became more difficult to find pastors. Services were discontinued in 1961 following a period of decline. The New York State Convention of Universalists took over the building in 1961 and sold it to Faith Bible Baptist Church in September 1973.

Firefighters from Ridgeway, Lyndonville and Medina battled the early morning fire at the Faith Bible Baptist Church, with assistance from East Shelby and Middleport.

On October 11, 1993, a fire of unknown origin destroyed the 160-year-old structure. In June 1994, the Middleport construction company of Barden and Robeson started construction at the site of the original church. The new 7,400 square foot Faith Bible Baptist Church was dedicated on Sunday, January 8, 1995.

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health has announced the Wound Care Center has been recognized by Healogics, the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services, as a 2025 Center of Distinction.

To earn this designation, the Center achieved outstanding clinical outcomes for 12 consecutive months, including a patient satisfaction rate of 96 percent.

“Receiving the Center of Distinction award from Healogics is an incredible honor for our team at Orleans Community Health Wound Care Center,” said Lisa Albanese Klein, program director. “This recognition reflects the dedication, compassion and clinical excellence our wound care team brings to patients every day.”

The Wound Care Center is located on the first floor of Medina Memorial Hospital and offers highly specialized wound care to patients suffering from diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections and other chronic wounds which have not healed in 30 days. Leading edge treatments at the Center include negative pressure wound therapy, bio-engineered tissues, biosynthetic dressings and growth factor therapies.

An award ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. June 3 at the Wound Care Center, which opened in 2020.

“In just six years, our wound care center has grown from operating two days a week to caring for patients four days a week – a reflection of both the increasing need for advanced wound care close to home and the trust our community places in us,” Albanese Klein said. “Our 96% patient satisfaction score and 82% wound mix-adjusted comprehensive healing rate demonstrate our commitment to delivering exceptional care and achieving meaningful outcomes for those we serve.”

Albanese Klein continued to say, “This award belongs to our dedicated staff members who work tirelessly to support, encourage and care for each patient throughout their healing journey. We are proud to provide high-quality wound care close to home and remain committed to improving the health and well-being of our community.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: The price for regular unleaded gas at the Crosby’s on Route 31 in Holley was at $4.63 on Sunday.

Gas prices took another jump this past week in Orleans County, going from an average of $4.48 a week ago for regular unleaded to $4.62 today, according to AAA. The price has now gone up nearly 27 cents in the past two weeks.

Nationally, however, the price is unchanged in the past week, remaining at an average of $4.52 a gallon, while the average price is up 2 cents state-wide to $4.61 a gallon.

The average price has topped $5 a gallon in several states: Illinois, $5.054; Nevada, $5.248; California, $6.151; Washington, $5.778; Oregon, $5.338; Alaska, $5.285; Hawaii, $5.635. The lowest average price is in Texas at $3.975.

“The national average is sitting in the same range as it was in 2022, the year that gas prices hit record highs,” AAA said in a news release this morning. “Travelers are preparing to hit the road in record numbers this week, and drivers will be facing the highest Memorial Day gas prices in four years. As of this morning, oil is trading between $106 and $111 per barrel, compared to $97 and $104 a week ago.”

The New York average for diesel fuel is $5.94, up 1 cent from last week, and up from $3.89 last year. The average national price for diesel is at $5.63, down a penny from last week, but up from $3.55 a year ago.

Here are the average prices in counties around Western New York:

• Orleans, $4.618
• Genesee, $4.591
• Monroe, $4.583
• Niagara, $4.575
• Erie, $4.595
• Wyoming, $4.623
• Livingston, $4.588
• Chautauqua, $4.623
• Cattaraugus, $4.579
• Allegany, $4.588

The highest price in the state is in Manhattan (New York County) at $5.022, the only county above $5. The highest in upstate is in Essex County at $4.802.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Jeremy Arnold and his daughter Philomena, 13, pull a long invasive vine from the bushes near a rest area along the Erie Canal in Holley.

They were among 200 volunteers for today’s “Day of Impact” led by Holley Rotary Interact and EarlyAct Clubs at the school.

There are usually about 100 volunteers for the big day in Holley of picking up trash and doing special projects. There was an even bigger response with today’s efforts dedicated in memory of Eric Fredendall, who passed away from melanoma on February 17, 2026 at age 46.

Leah Fredendall thanks the big crowd that turned out for the “Day of Caring” in honor of her late husband. Mrs. Fredendall works as an aide in the elementary school. Her husband grew up in Holley, graduated in 1997 and insisted on raising their family in the community. After serving as a combat veteran in the US Marines during the Iraq War, he worked for Stockham Lumber driving the lumber truck and making deliveries, a job he thoroughly enjoyed, his wife said.

Mr. Fredendall was an enthusiastic participant in previous “Day of Caring” events, relishing oddball items he would find as part of the litter cleanup. He once found a piece of a hot tub in the canal.

“Eric was always a hands-on, hard worker,” his wife said. “He took great pride in Holley.”

They have two children – Cole, 16; and Lauren, 14.

The people wore orange shirts today that noted it was the 2026 Day of Impact and it was dedicated in memory of Eric Fredendall.

“It means so much to all of us,” Mrs. Fredendall said about honoring her husband with today’s community service projects.

Mr. Fredendall was at last year’s event, despite being sick with cancer. He didn’t want to miss the chance to help out.

“He looked forward to it because you could accomplish something and get something done,” she said.

Holley students paint red along the curb in front of the elementary school. These students include Miori Fisher, an eighth-grader at right, and Zoey Warner, a sophomore.

Zoey said she looks forward to the “Day of Impact” every year.

“It’s a way to bring our community together,” she said.

Samantha Zelent, the Interact Club advisors, thanked the students and other volunteers for joining on the community service projects. She said the community is very supportive of the Interact Club efforts throughout the year.

The group gathered at the elementary school parking before dispersing to tackle different projects.

These Holley students washed about 200 afghan blankets that were donated when a house was cleaned out in Holley. The people who donated the afghans also gave detergent and 200 dollars in quarters to have they all cleaned at the laundromat.

The students – from left Bailey Bibbins, Nora Lindsay, Kaeleigh Eiland, Olivia Kirkpatrick and Lillian O’Brien – also folded all of the blankets.

The afghans will be donated to the VA, nursing homes, and a few organizations that work with homeless people.

Matt Campbell cleans off the memorial bricks at the military tank by the VFW. Students and volunteers did landscaping and other cleanup work by the tank. Bricks also were placed there in memory of Eric Fredendall and Mark Morreall. Morreall was very active at the VFW and American Legion. He also worked with the Interact Club last year to make the landscaping by the tank one of the projects for the “Day of Impact.”

Don Pera, a retired Holley teacher and Eric Fredendall’s uncle, holds a garbage bag while volunteers put trash in it from a field in the Holley Business Park.  Eli Prior, 11, and his sister Leah, 13, were among the litter hunters. They are in Fredendall’s family.

Volunteers picked up litter along every village street and the canal towpath within the Holley school district.

This group works on cleaning up the East Avenue canal welcome spot. It was overgrown on the stone pavers and also the bushes needed to be trimmed and some nasty weeds removed. Lewanne Nettles, in front with the shovel, was among the community volunteers to helped with today’s projects. The welcome area was a new project on the list this year.

Pat Fredendall, Eric Fredendall’s mother, stopped by the canal welcome area to pass out bottles of water. She saw her granddaughter there, helping clean up the stone pavers. Lauren Fredenedall, 14, is Eric’s daughter.

Pat Fredendall said she appreciated the big turnout today from the volunteers.

“We live in a beautiful community,” she said.

Memorial bricks placed by military tank near VFW  to conclude today’s ‘Day of Impact’

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Memorial bricks were set today in honor of Eric Fredendall and Mark Morreall by the military tank by the Holley VFW, where Morreall was a long-time leader.

“These are two amazing veterans,” Interact Club advisor Samantha Zelent said about Morreall and Fredendall. “They are two very special people to the Interact Club.”

Morreall passed away at age 69 on October 29, 2025.  He was a US Army veteran who also was very involved with the American Legion in Holley.

Mark Morreall’s wife Susan is joined by son Sean Morreall after they set the brick in honor of Mark Morreall.

A group gathers near the tank to see the two memorial bricks be placed in honor of Mark Morreall and Eric Fredendall.

Eric Fredendall’s children – Cole, 16, and Lauren, 14 – place a brick with their father’s name by the tank. The Vietnam War era tank has been near the VFW since 2009.

Eric Fredendall passed away February 17, 2026 at age 46 from melanoma. He was a 1997 Holley graduate who then served as a combat veteran in the US Marines during the Iraq War.

The bricks were placed to conclude today’s “Day of Impact” in Holley, where about 200 students and other community members picked up litter and tended to other special projects in Holley, including landscaping work by the tank. Today’s “Day of Impact” was also dedicated in Fredendall’s memory.

Next year more bricks honoring veterans could be added by the tank on the “Day of Impact.”

Provided photos

MEDINA – Jill Kelly, Julie Maryjanowski and about 20 members of the “Kindness Crew” were busy today painting a welcome message at the Medina Canal Basin and the bathrooms at Butts Park and State Street Park.

They also painted a few hydrants in the State Street area.

The basin wall got a major overhaul with paint and a message welcoming people to Medina.

Volunteers also painted the building at State Street Park and the bathrooms at Butts.

Mayor Debbie Padoleski said she appreciates the crew volunteering to help the community. Many of the volunteers aren’t even village residents, Padoleski said.

Some of the volunteers enjoy fellowship and some refreshments in the Canal Basin.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – High temperatures have finally reached Orleans County with a high of 78 today, followed by 89 Monday by Tuesday by 88.

These two friends from Clarendon were fishing this morning from a new dock at Holley’s Canal Park. Rick Meise, left, and Terry Cassey said the fish were biting. They caught a bass, catfish, rock bass and perch, and saw a lot of water snakes.

“They were soaking up the sun,” Cassey said about the snakes.

Holley soon will be installing a new kayak launch by the new dock.

After a warm few days the highs will drop later in the week to 62 on Wednesday, 57 on Thursday, 65 on Friday and 68 on Saturday, according to the national Weather Service in Buffalo.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Chris Capurso, left, and Mollie Radzinski show the audience a quilt being auctioned off during the live auction at Wednesday’s Membership Fundraising Dinner to benefit the Cobblestone Society. (Right) Doris Antinore of Albion, a regular supporter of the Cobblestone Museum, sits with some of the items she bought and won at the annual membership dinner Wednesday at Carlton Recreation Hall.

CARLTON – The eighth annual Membership Fundraising Dinner to benefit the Cobblestone Society and Museum was a resounding success, according to director Doug Farley.

“As people understand our goal, this gets better every year,” Farley said. “We had close to 100 people who donated items for our auctions and raffle. This fundraiser helps keep our operation going.”

Approximately 100 people attended the event Wednesday night at the Carlton Recreation Hall.

Larry Albanese filled in as auctioneer in the absence of Randy Bower, who was unable to attend. This was Albanese’s  first attempt at auctioneering, he said.

The evening featured an early bird raffle for prizes for those who purchased their tickets on or before March 31, a money tree raffle, split club, basket raffle, live auction and silent auction. Early bird winners were Kathleen Smith, Larry Albanese, Marcia Graczyk, Ann Czajkowski and Gene Graczyk.

Donated prizes included everything from handcrafted jewelry, a quilt made by Brenda Radzinski and lunch for 10 at the Vagg House, to a new grill, smart TV and 30-gallon ceramic crock.

Gail Johnson has been chair of the fundraising dinner for all eight years.

“Even though the Membership Dinner is a fundraiser, I like to think that our members get together primarily to socialize and have a good time,” Johnson said. “This year our event netted $30,821. This is due to a large part to our sustaining members – Bronze ($250), Silver ($500), Gold ($1,000) and Diamond ($2,500).”

(Left) Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Society and Museum, welcomes the crowd to the annual Membership Fundraising Dinner Wednesday at Carlton Recreation Hall. At rear, Larry Albanese, who filled in as auctioneer, chats with guest Delbert Young of Medina. (Right) Chris Capurso sits in an antique rocking chair, which was donated for the Cobblestone Society’s annual fundraising dinner Wednesday at Carlton Recreation Hall. She is demonstrating how ladies could sit and knit or crochet without any arms in the way.

Motorcycle Club has been racing on Culvert Road since 1957

Provided photos: (Left) Justin Jones of Holley was the 2025 Track Champion. (Right) Kyle Wyman, the 2025 King of the Baggers Champion is left next to James Rispoli, the 2025 Mission Super Hooligan National Champion.

Press Release, Crusaders Motorcycle Club

MEDINA – What began in 1957 as a handful of friends building a dirt track on a leased farmer’s field has evolved into a legendary Western New York sports tradition.

The Crusaders Motorcycle Club Today kicks off its 69th consecutive season on a track recognized nationwide for producing national champions and elite professional racers.

The club’s early history is deeply rooted in the local community. Initially, members met in private homes or at various off-site locations. The club eventually moved an older trailer onto the current property to serve as a meeting space, using it until the modern, permanent clubhouse was constructed in September 1997. A concrete concession stand was added in the 2000s to upgrade the facility and accommodate growing spectator crowds.

A Legacy of National and International Draw

The Medina track has long been a destination for global racing talent. In 2000, the club launched the Pat Blount Memorial Race in dedication to club member David Waters’ late friend and fellow motorcycle enthusiast. This marquee event grew into a historic 25-year tradition, annually drawing competitive riders from across the United States, Canada, and as far away as Australia.

Today, the club operates as a 100% volunteer-run organization. Dedicated members work countless hours to maintain a safe, family-friendly environment that balances high-octane competitiveness with lifelong community friendships. The club is actively seeking new volunteers and interested community members to join its ranks.

Summer Event Schedule

The Crusaders Motorcycle Club will host five major events throughout the summer season. The lineup features a mix of standard points races and specialized showcase classes:

• May 17: Regular Race Event & Season Opener
• May 31: Regular Race Event
• June 14: Men’s Mad Dawg Special Event
• June 28: Women’s Mad Dawg Special Event
• July 12: Retired Riders 100cc Race

Gate and Track Information

Location: 3312 Culvert Road, Medina, NY 14103

Admission: $15.00 per person (Children under 12 are free with an adult)

Sunday Times: Gates open at 8 a.m. | Practice begins at 11 a.m. | Racing starts at 12 p.m.

Track Venue Rules: For public safety, pets, grills, and glass containers are strictly prohibited on the premises.

Pierce-Smith Pioneer Cemetery on Hulberton Road includes burials of Revolutionary War soldier, Civil War vets and many early residents

Photos by Tom Rivers

MURRAY – About 75 people attended a program today at the Pierce-Smith Pioneer Cemetery at 3960 Hulberton Rd. in Murray. Two historical markers were unveiled at the cemetery.

The markers were part of an effort by Albion middle school students and their teacher Tim Archer, who researched Orleans County’s Revolutionary War soldiers.

The “Early Cemetery” marker recognizes the approximately 135 early citizens of the Pierce-Smith Pioneer Cemetery, with burials dating back to 1818.

Sutton Sanders, an eighth-grader who has been working on project since last summer with classmate Luci Borello, thanked local officials for their assistance researching and recognizing the Revolutionary War soldiers.

There are 65 proven burials, but Sanders said there are likely more, but cannot be proven. There are 30 cemeteries with a Revolutionary War veteran.

The Daughter of the American Revolution purchased 13 bronze Revolutionary War flag markers for those who had none, she said.

The students also secured a new headstone from the Veterans Administration in Washington, DC for Revolutionary War veteran Lott Smith at the East Barre Cemetery. It replaces a broken headstone. Another headstone for the Revolutionary War veteran will be replaced in Medina this fall.

Besides the two historical markers at the cemetery on Hulberton Road, the students secured markers that have been placed in Albion at Annis Cemetery on Riches Corners Road and Tanner Road on Route 31 across from Mount Albion.

Luci Borello shared about the historical marker for Robinson Smith, who died on Aug. 27, 1828 at the age of 66.

Smith is buried at the cemetery with his wife Mariam. He enlisted as a private in August 1782 in New Hampshire and served several months in General Washington’s Commander-in-Chief’s Life Guard.

Known to many as Elder Robinson Smith, he was one of a group forming the “Christian Society,” which started in Murray in 1815. Smith had seven children and at least 16 grandchildren.

The other namesake of the cemetery originates with Aretas Pierce. Upon his arrival to the natural wilderness of Western New York, the family lived in a log schoolhouse where they would later construct a simple log cabin.

Aretas was their school teacher. Nine Pierce family members are buried at the cemetery. Prior to their arrival to New York from Vermont, Aretas served as a captain in the Vermont state militia.

Another Pierce family member, Darwin, was a Civil War solider in a New York cavalry. He died at the Andersonville Prison in George on Oct. 30, 1864. Andersonville was a notorious Confederate prison at Camp Sumter where over 45,000 Union soldiers were held captive, and 13,000 died from disease, malnutrition and exposure. The cemetery on Hulberton Road includes headstones for four Civil War soldiers.

Tim Archer welcomes the group. He worked with students on the project. It is among many service-learning projects he has been a part of in the past two decades, connecting students with community services efforts. In the back are regiment flags from the Revolutionary War. They were brought by the Rochester chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Caleb Wolfe, standing next to Tim Archer, provided some details about the two new historical markers. He read a letter from the Pomeroy Foundation, which paid for the markers. The two markers represent over two centuries of history in Albion and Murray, and memorialize Revolutionary War and Civil War veterans and also early residents who are interred at the cemetery.

The foundation praised the Albion School District and the students for worked with teacher Tim Archer on the project. The foundation congratulated them for identifying one of General George Washington’s special unit “Life Guards” who protected the Commander-in-Chief during battle.

Sutton Sanders, left, and Luci Borello, right, presented folders of their research to Elizabeth Haibach, assistant director at Hoag Library; Catherine Cooper, Orleans County historian; Patrice Birner of the Orleans County chapter of the DAR; and Sue Starkweather Miller, Village of Albion historian.

The folders include information about the 65 Revolutionary War soldiers in the county. The document lists the soldiers by town and cemetery. There’s a master list with the service record of each of the soldiers, when they served, where they served, wife’s name, birth and death date. The folder includes some of the records that were used to prove they were Revolutionary War soldiers – enlistment papers, pension records that showed their wives were trying to get a pension after their husband’s death, and census records. The students collected the data since last summer.

Albion student Lucas Palone read an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence.

Civil War re-enactors, including retired Albion teacher Doug Mergler, do a military volley during today’s program.

These Sons of the American Revolution members from Rochester and Buffalo were part of the service. They said they have a busy schedule this year as part of the country’s 250^th anniversary. They plan to attend other marker unveilings, parades and special events throughout the year.

Ron Boyd of Holley is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Rochester chapter.