Largest fireworks show in Lyndonville history to cap 250th anniversary celebration for USA
Photo by Tom Rivers: Fireworks lit up the sky in Lyndonville last year on the Fourth of July to cap the 50th annual July 4th celebration organized by the Lyndonville Lions Club.
Press Release, Lyndonville Lions Club
LYNDONVILLE – At its final planning meeting on Wednesday, June 24, the Lyndonville Lions Club finalized preparations for what is expected to be the largest Fourth of July Celebration in the history of the Town of Yates.
The Lions Club anticipates no changes from the traditions that have made this event a community favorite for the past 51 years. The annual celebration will once again take place throughout the streets of Lyndonville and on the grounds of Lyndonville Central School.
The celebration will begin with the “Light Up Lyndonville” initiative, encouraging residents throughout the Town of Yates and the Village of Lyndonville to illuminate their homes in red, white and blue from July 1 through July 5.
In partnership with the Village of Lyndonville Department of Public Works, the Lyndonville Lions Club will also be lighting Main Street with a variety of patriotic displays and decorations.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Just before the hour-long parade a military flyover passed over Lyndonville during last year’s parade on July 4, 2025. The plane came from the 911th United States Air Force Reserve from Pittsburgh, Pa. The flyover was at about 11:55 a.m.
The Lions encourage residents to showcase their community spirit and patriotic pride by decorating their homes with flags, banners, lights, wreaths and inflatables. Following the holiday weekend, awards will be presented to recognize the most outstanding residential displays.
A military fly over is anticipated on July 4th at 11:55 a.m. which will honor our past, present veterans and active military personnel. Please remember the military fly over is dependent on present world events and weather conditions. Further details may be forthcoming, so stay tuned.
This year’s chicken barbecue will feature chicken from Chiavetta’s along with all the traditional sides. Tickets may be purchased at the Hojack Ice Cream Shack and the Yates Town Hall during regular business hours. Tickets may also be reserved through any Lyndonville Lions Club member on a will-call basis and will be held at the door for pickup on the day of the event. In addition, tickets will be available for purchase at the door, subject to availability.
The Lyndonville Lions Club is also setting an ambitious goal this year—to sell 1,000 hot dogs during the Fourth of July Celebration. To help reach this milestone, the Lions are inviting everyone to join their “A Bad Day to Be a Hot Dog” campaign. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the Lions hot dog stand, enjoy a delicious hot dog, and support the many community service projects sponsored by the Club throughout the year.
After the parade there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the grave of Nehemiah Spalding, a Revolutionary War soldier.
The parade will kick off at noon and is expected to have all the usual participants along with some new additions. The Lyndonville Lions will be sponsoring their “Salute to America’s Forefathers” float.
The Grand Marshal cars will carry the 4th generation relatives of one of Lyndonville’s “Home Town Hero’s” Mr. Nehemiah Spalding. Mr. Peter Wybron and his sister Mrs. Nancy Gerhardt are 4th generation grandchildren and are his descendants living here in Western New York. Mr. Spalding was a Revolutionary War Volunteer who served in the Albany area militias.
Records from the War Department and research through the Daughters of the American Revolution corroborate Mr. Spalding’s participation in multiple local British scrimmages in the Hudson and Mohawk Valley regions. Further records show his cooperation in several of the major Revolutionary War Battles including the Battle of Oriskany, The Battle for Klock’s Field and the Battle of Fort Ticonderoga. This last battle has been considered by historians to be the turning point of the Revolutionary War in favor of the Continental Army.
A wreath laying ceremony will follow the parade at the grave marker of Mr. Nehemiah Spalding in Lynhaven Cemetery. The event is expected to include a wreath being placed by local dignitaries, a full honor guard with a flag folding presentation, gun salute and the playing of taps. This will be carried out by the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Honor Guard. The Lions are in gratitude to The Houseman-Tanner American Legion Post 1603 and Mr. Scott Goetze for their efforts in seeing this come to fruition. The retired pastor from the Yates Baptist Church Reverend Lyle Drake will offer a few words along with a closing prayer.
At the culmination of the service the Gates Pipe and Drum Band will perform ” Amazing Grace. All are welcome to attend this brief memorial service that will honor and remember those who made this day possible.
The evening entertainment will feature an encore performance by one of Lyndonville’s favorite bands, the Bleeding Hearts. The band is expected to perform many of their popular crowd-pleasers, along with a special tribute set featuring classic hits from one of America’s most beloved summer bands, the Beach Boys.
Provided photo: The Bleeding Hearts will perform a special tribute set to the Beach Boys before the fireworks.
During the Beach Boys tribute set, the Lyndonville Lions Club will sponsor its inaugural Lawn Surfing Contest. Aspiring surfers from Lyndonville and across Western New York will have the opportunity to compete for cash prizes and bragging rights as they showcase their best lawn surfing skills. So break out your “baggies” and your “Huarache sandals,” practice your best surf moves, and join the fun.
The evening will close with the much-anticipated Salute to America 250 fireworks extravaganza. Patriotic songs will accompany the first part of the fireworks display expected to commence at 10 p.m.
The Lions would like to thank all those who have sponsored this event. The Lions would ask that all take a moment to remember those who have passed and bequeathed funds to the Lyndonville Lions to be used for this year’s fireworks display.
In further business the Lyndonville Lions selected the Scholarship winners for the Dr. Julius Layer “Doc Layer Award” and the Mr. Donald Fraiser Memorial Scholarship Award. These two scholarships are the oldest scholarships awarded at the Lyndonville High School Graduation Ceremony dating back to their inception in 1968 and 1970. Each scholarship is a $1,000 award to a graduating senior who encompasses the scholarship, compassion, civic responsibility and sportsmanship.
The Lions Club will continue its annual tradition of recognizing the top ten graduating seniors with a $100 cash gift at graduation. The club will recognize the work of the Senior Class Leo Club members with a Lions Club International Gold Pin Award. The awards will be announced by a Lyndonville Lions Club member at graduation.
The Lyndonville Lions Club extends a warm invitation to residents, former residents, neighbors, and visitors to join us for this historic Fourth of July Celebration as we commemorate the 250th birthday of the United States of America. May God continue to bless our men and women in harm’s way around the world as they continue to protect our rights and freedoms.
Photos courtesy of Hoag Library: Wildlife Rockstars are shown during their presentation last summer at Hoag Library.
Press Release, Hoag Library
ALBION – Hoag Library is pleased to announce that the Wildlife Rockstars will visit the library on Monday at 11:30 a.m. to kick off the 2026 Summer Reading Program.
The Wildlife Rockstars program is part of Bridges for Brain Injury, Inc., a nonprofit that raises awareness of traumatic brain injury and disability while promoting prevention and support. The program is a wildlife and conservation education initiative led by staff and day program members rebuilding their lives after brain injuries, who develop hands-on skills in the care and handling of live animals, including birds, reptiles and other animal ambassadors.
Last year’s program drew a large and enthusiastic turnout, offering attendees the chance to see and learn about a wide variety of animals. At this year’s kickoff, participants can pick up the full Summer Reading schedule for adults, teens, and children, and learn more about the Nioga Library System Passport Program, which encourages visits to libraries throughout the system.
Hoag Library also invites the community to enjoy two upcoming free concerts. The Kendall Community Band will perform tonight, June 25 at 6:30 p.m., and classical guitarist Matthew Ardizzone will perform this Saturday at noon. Both free performances are open to the public and offer great opportunities to enjoy live music at the library.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2026 at 9:17 am
Replica of famed boat headed to Medina today
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – The Seneca Chief carries of a contingent along the Erie Canal on Wednesday afternoon. Most of this group includes Brockport and Holley residents. They were guests on the Seneca Chief, a 73-foot-long replica of the famed boat that carried Gov. DeWitt Clinton on the Erie Canal in 1825 when it opened following eight years of construction.
Volunteers at the Buffalo Maritime Center worked for four years to recreate the Seneca Chief. The 73-foot-long replica received great fanfare last year as part of the 200th anniversary celebration of the Erie Canal. It went from Buffalo to New York City and spent the winter in Waterford near Albany.
The Seneca Chief is doing a “Back to Buffalo” tour this month. The boat was open for tours on Wednesday in Holley.
Because the replica has no engine, the 33-foot historic wooden tugboat C.L. Churchill is used to push and maneuver the vessel along the Erie Canal.
The Seneca Chief will be in Medina today. The schedule includes:
3:30 p.m. – Seneca Chief arrives at Medina Canal Basin
4 p.m. – Welcome ceremony
4:30 p.m. – Visitor experience that is open to the public
7 p.m. – Visitor experience public hours end
As part of the welcome ceremony in Holley, some water from the Erie Canal was scooped out of the canal and out in a barrel that will be used to water a white pine tree in Buffalo. Robbie Weit, a Holley elementary student in the red hat, scoops out the water from the canal in Holley.
This Holley group adds the water from the canal in Holley to the barrel. In back are Dan Man, president of the Murray-Holley Historical Society and Mayor Mark Bower. He is assisting Holley students Robbie Weit, Timothy Hendrickson and Vivian Applegate.
The Buffalo Maritime Center did a “Gathering of the Waters” ceremony at each stop last year and then used it to water a white pine tree in New York City.
This year the group is collecting water from each stop and it will be used to water a white pine in Buffalo. The white pine trees were planted as a symbolic tribute to the Haudenosaunee and a commitment to a sustainable future.
Dr. John Montague, president emeritus of the Buffalo Maritime Center, thanks the Holley community for welcoming the Seneca Chief on Wednesday.
Montague said hundreds of volunteers worked over four years to build the replica boat, which he said has helped unite communities along the canal.
“It’s worked out far beyond our dreams,” he said. “It astonishes me that we pulled this off.”
Members of a band, PSA, from Holley Central School performed while people toured the Seneca Chief.
The band members include lead singer Isla Schultz, Brody Williams on drums, Aidan Kelley on guitar and Kallan Babcock on bass.
Former Holley Mayor John Kenney, a retired Holley teacher, steps off the boat after a riding from Brockport to Holley. He has lived in Holley for more than 60 years and said it was his first time riding a boat on the canal.
“You don’t realize how a gorgeous a ride it is with the homes are along the canal and all the wildlife,” Kenney said. “It was very relaxing.”
People line up to tour the boat which was docked at Holley’s Canal Park.
Holley Mayor Mark Bower holds up a souvenir button showing the Seneca Chief. Those buttons were given to crew members as a gift from Holley. They were made by Robbie Weit and his mother, Jessica Weit.
The boat heads west on the Erie Canal, getting close to the Holley Canal Park. This photo was taken from the Bennetts Corners Road canal bridge.
The Seneca Chief reaches the Holley Canal Park, where it was open for tours and docked for the night. The boat was given an escort by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department’s Marine Patrol.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2026 at 8:30 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – The Dave Viterna Group performed Tuesday evening at the Orleans County Marine Park to kick off the summer concert series.
There were several hundred people at the concert. The band members include from left: Marty Hobbs, “Scooter” Scott Felice on drums and Dave Viterna.
Dave Viterna and his band have been sought after performers in Western New York for many years.
“Scooter” Scott Felice pounded the skins for about two hours during the concert on Tuesday.
The park is located on Route 98 in Point Breeze along the Oak Orchard River.
The schedule for the rest of the season includes:
June 30 – Something Else, playing pop covers
July 7 – SkyCats, playing classic rock, southern rock, country, blues, soul
July 14 – Feedback, playing Motown to country
July 21 – The Who Dats, playing dance rock
July 28 – No Concert due to Orleans County 4-H Fair
Aug. 4 – Stone Age Romeos playing Classic 70’s Vinyl and more
Aug. 11 – rain date
Aug. 18 – rain date
The concerts go from 6 to 8:30 p.m. There is a $2 admission charge.
The Clarendon Lions Club are back serving grilled items, including burgers, hot dogs and sausage. Clarendon Lions members Don Knapp, left, and Roger Boynton were assisted by Philip Molino, age 12.
There are other food vendors at the park for the concerts.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 24 June 2026 at 10:53 pm
Provided photos – (Left) Iroquois Job Corps pre-apprentice students in the International Masonry Institute brick masonry program grind the Medina Sandstone on the wall at Boxwood Cemetery. From left are Michael Whitfield, Imani Palmer and Jayden Sharp. (Right) Iroquois Job Corps’ IMI brick masonry instructor David Gonzalez, right, shows Center director Eric Seppala the technique on how to point and finish the Medina Sandstone wall.
MEDINA – Boxwood Cemetery Commission recently partnered with the Iroquois Job Corps to do much-needed masonry work on the cemetery’s Medina Sandstone wall, preserving it well into the future and saving the Cemetery many dollars.
On June 1, students in the International Masonry Institute’s brick masonry program began work to help restore the historic Boxwood Cemetery’s sandstone wall. The Preservation League of New York state and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts helped fund this project, as they have recognized the significance of Boxwood Cemetery, according to information from Job Corps Operations Director John Thomas.
Jacob Hebdon, chairman of Boxwood Cemetery Commission, reached out to Iroquois Job Corps to see if the center could offer any assistance with the project. IMI Brick Instructor David Gonzalez worked with Todd Bensley of Friends of Boxwood Cemetery and village of Medina historian.
Village historian and Friends of Boxwood member Todd Bensley, center, pose with International Masonry Institute pre-apprentice students from the Iroquois Job Corps, Michael Whitfield, left, and Jayden Sharp in front of the sandstone wall they recently repointed.
The students in the Brick Pre-Apprentice Program at Job Corps donated all of their professional brick masonry labor skills to assist with the preservation project at Boxwood Cemetery. The students worked a week, grinding, pointing and re-finishing the sandstone that had been worn down over 175 years and was crumbling in some areas of the wall.
“It has been a pleasure working with Dave Gonzales and his students,” Bensley said. “The quality of their work and their enthusiasm for the project are amazing.”
Bensley said by partnering with Job Corps, the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery has been able to stretch their dollars further, which means they can accomplish more in regards to the restoration of the cemetery.
“The work Job Corps has done repointing the walls will stand for years to come,” Bensley said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2026 at 10:20 pm
ALBION – An Albion man admitted in Orleans County Court today that he was driving under the influence and without a license when he was driving recklessly in the village on May 18, crashing into two Albion patrol cars.
Timothy Ausman Jr., 56, of Albion pleaded guilty to two felonies in county court today, and faces a 1 to 3-year sentence in state prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 26.
Ausman pleaded guilty to aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and attempted criminal mischief in the second degree.
He has a previous DWI in 2010, which caused him to lose his driver’s license.
He appeared before County Court Judge Sanford Church this morning. Ausman agreed to pay $14,259 in restitution for damaging two Albion Police Department patrol cars. That restitution covers the cost of repairs, towing and getting decals replaced.
Ausman admitted that he intentionally drove into the patrol cars, intending to damage them, and said he had been drinking alcohol before driving on May 18.
Ausman has been in the county jail for about six weeks. Judge Church was asked by Public Defender Joanne Best to either reduce Ausman’s bail or let him be released on his own recognizance.
But Judge Church said he would keep bail at $10,000 cash, $20,000 insurance bond and $50,000 ten percent partially secured bail bond.
In other cases:
• Mohammed Ayash, 35, of Cheektowaga was arraigned for criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminal nuisance in the second degree.
Ayash, owner of D-R Smoke Shop in Albion, was charged in September after undercover controlled buys by the Orleans County major Felony Crimes Task Force.
One of the numerous controlled buys was a chocolate bar infused with mushrooms (Psilocin) which is a controlled substance classified as a hallucinogen.
Ayash entered not guilty pleas to the charges in court this morning.
• Allan Bieber, 22, admitted to violating terms of his probation. Judge Church said they were substantial violations and revoked Bieber’s probation and will sentence him up to a year in the county jail on July 22.
Bieber in December was sentenced to 10 years of probation for third-degree rape for having sex with a 15-year-old girl at St. Joseph’s Park on South Clinton Street on April 25. Bieber is a first-time offender.
He has missed many of his appointments for probation, a job training program, sex offender counseling and mental health counseling. Those appointments are terms of his probation.
File photo: Terry C. Abrams, a resident of the Tonawanda Indian Reservation, is shown speaking in may 2024 at the Cobblestone schoolhouse in Gaines. He was one of the presenters during the Leadership Orleans program. Abrams will speak today at 7 p.m. at the Gaines Basin Cobblestone Schoolhouse – 3286 Gaines Basin Rd. in Albion.
Press Release, Orleans County Historical Association
GAINES – The signing of the Declaration of Independence, the subsequent Revolutionary War and the politics of the post-war years had a profound impact on the Native American population.
The Orleans County Historical Association has invited Terry C. Abrams, a resident of the Tonawanda Indian reservation, to speak on the topic ”The Haudenosaunee Perspective of NY 250” today at 7 p.m. in the Gaines Basin Cobblestone Schoolhouse (3286 Gaines Basin Road, Albion).
Abrams is the Curator and Collections Manager for the Niagara County Historical Society and a member of the Council on Iroquois Research. He lectures frequently on issues pertaining to Native American history.
This free event is open to the public. All are invited to attend.
Future History Talks
• July 1 – “Revolutionary War Veterans: Sharing their Stories.” The program will be at 6:30 p.m. at Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Hall and will be presented by Deborah Wood, the Murray Town Historian.
The following programs will begin at 7 p.m. at the Gaines Basin Cobblestone Schoolhouse:
• July 29: “Soldiers Who Served in the Revolution from Orleans County” with Tim Archer
• Aug. 26: “Songs and Stories of the Erie Canal” with Don Dwyer
• Sept. 30: “The Burned Over District Part II-The Fire Was Not Easily Distinguished” with Doug Miller
• Oct. 28: “Neat Stuff from the Hoag Library History Collections” with Dee Robinson
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2026 at 9:16 am
Former Ogden police officer also was briefly chief deputy of Orleans County Sheriff’s Office
Steven Ploof
ROCHESTER – Steven Ploof, who briefly was chief deputy of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office in 2023, was sentenced to 14 months in prison on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca.
Ploof, 48, of Greece was convicted of threatening to assault a member of the immediate family of a federal law enforcement officer with the intent to impeding that law enforcement officer while engaged in the performance of official duties, or with intent to retaliate against such law enforcement officer on account of the performance of official duties.
Ploof, who worked 16 years for the Ogden Police Department, resigned from the Orleans County in June 2023 after being put on administrative leave relating to suspected drug use, according to Channel 10 News in Rochester.
Ploof on September 15, 2025, went to the Ogden residence of an FBI special agent and his family. When he arrived at the house, Ploof placed two posterboard signs on the front porch. One sign read “Corrupt FBI AGENT!” and the other sign read “I Want To (expletive) Your Kids!”
Video of Ploof placing the two signs on the front porch was obtained from a residential security system, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Everardo A. Rodriguez, who is handling the case for U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo of the Western District of New York.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis II, the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Ryan Parina, the Ogden Police Department, under the direction of Chief Travis Gray, and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Christopher Bourke.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2026 at 8:57 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Alissa Ellman speaks during a candidate forum in Albion on June 4 at the Hoag Library. She is next to moderator Jim Renfrew and candidate Diana Kastenbaum.
Diana Kastenbaum of Batavia has conceded to Alissa Ellman of Lockport in the Democratic primary for the 24th Congressional District.
Ellman will move on to the general election against Claudia Tenney, the Republican incumbent.
Ellman, 42, is married with two grown daughters in Lockport. She grew up in rural Allegany County. She joined the Army National Guard at the age of 17, and deployed at age 19 to Afghanistan from January 2003 to June 2004 as a flight operation specialist.
She later returned to the Afghanistan with Halliburton from 2005-2008 managing flight line operations in Kandahar. In 2018, Ellman was diagnosed with a rare adrenal cancer, associated with toxic burn pit exposure during her service in Afghanistan. She was working at the Buffalo VA when her job was eliminated as part of DOGE cuts early last year.
The 24th district includes 14 counties. In Orleans County, Ellman received 216 votes compared to 207 for Kastenbaum. There are 119 absentee ballots in Orleans County that may still come in.
Kastenbaum issued this statement this morning to her supporters:
“I know this is not what we wanted,” Diana told her campaign team, “but this is how a democracy is supposed to function. We cannot waste time sulking over my loss; we must be pragmatic, and support whomever is willing to challenge Claudia Tenney and the broader MAGA movement in November. Alissa and I may disagree on approach, but we agree on the end goal: the preservation of our democratic values and a return to people-first politics.”
Kastenbaum acknowledged a Democrat faces an uphill challenge in a Republican-leaning district.
“It will be a challenge to win against Tenney in November, but Alissa is a fighter, and understands that people are fed up with the Republican status quo and want real change,” Kastenbaum said. “With the right support, Alissa has a real chance of becoming our next representative.”
Kastenbaum said she will stay active as a citizen.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with each and every one of you,” she said. “You are the lifeblood of American democracy, and a testament to hard work and perseverance. I hope to continue to work with you on the issues plaguing our community, even if I cannot do so from Washington.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 June 2026 at 10:59 pm
Orleans County Democrats picked Tom DiNapoli for comptroller over two challengers. DiNapoli, the incumbent, received 285 votes compared to 81 for Drew Warshaw and 44 for Raj Goyle.
DiNapoli was the only state-wide office holder facing a primary challenge, and he won the primary handily, according to multiple media reports, including The New York Times.
Comptroller Tom DiNapoli issued this statement on Tuesday night:
“Tonight’s victory is a victory for every single working family in New York State, every public sector worker and first responder who relies on a secure pension, every student and senior who worries about the affordability crisis we’re facing.
“I want to thank all our voters, volunteers, endorsers, and especially my friends in labor who powered this campaign to victory. Our opponents tried over and over to derail our work with false attacks and reckless promises, but the people of New York once again have seen the value of steady, responsible leadership in these chaotic times.
“Now the campaign is over and we need to get back to the hard work that we do protecting taxpayers and retirees, investing in New York’s future, pushing back against Trump’s extremism, and helping working families get by in Trump’s terrible economy.
“Thank you to my family and friends, my tireless campaign team, and once again, every voter across New York. The Office of the State Comptroller will have four more years of steady, experienced leadership to serve every single New Yorker and every single corner of our State. Now on to the general election where together, we can defeat MAGA, to take back the House, take back the Senate and make sure we take back the White House in 2028!”
The race for the 24th Congressional District was much closer. In Orleans County, Alissa Ellman of Lockport received 216 votes compared to 207 for Diana Kastenbaum of Batavia.
There are 119 absentee ballots that could still be turned in. The turnout by today has been low. There are 5,036 registered Democrats in the county. Only 8.4 percent voted. That doesn’t include the outstanding absentee ballots.
The district covers 14 counties. The winner will face Claudia Tenney, the Republican incumbent, in the general election.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 June 2026 at 10:32 pm
CLARENDON – Fred Seeman holds a 15-vote lead over Marc Major in the Republican primary for Clarendon town supervisor. After the votes today, early voting and absentees received by today, Seeman is ahead, 170-155.
There are 16 absentee ballots they haven’t been turned in. They need to be postmarked by today and received by the Board of Elections one week from today to be counted.
Major has been the town supervisor for about a year. He was the deputy town supervisor and was appointed town supervisor after Richard Moy retired. Major was a town councilman for 12 years.
When Major became town supervisor, his councilman seat was open and Seeman was appointed to the position about a year ago.
Both were then elected in November, but for Major it was only a one-year term, forcing him to go through the election process again this year.
Major had the Republican Committee endorsement but Seeman forced a primary. He holds the lead today.
Seeman’s wife, Melissa Ierlan, is facing felony grand larceny charges for allegedly stealing about $100,000 from the Clarendon Historical Society, where she was president. Ierlan also was the town code enforcement officer, cemetery administrator and historian.
She is scheduled to appear in County Court on Friday morning.
In Clarendon, there were 326 votes today and with early voting and absentees turned in by today. (There was one write-in vote.) There are 1,284 registered Republicans in the town for a turnout of 25.4 percent.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 June 2026 at 3:50 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: Sarah Stornelli, a resident of Ohio Street, speaks during a public hearing on Monday and said an on-street parking ban was posing hardships to residents and their guests.
MEDINA – The Village Board on Monday rescinded a decision from Nov. 24 when Medina banned on-street parking on Ohio Street between Park Avenue and West Center Street.
Residents have been vocal at recent village meetings, saying the on-street parking ban has posed hardships on the affected residents and their guests, who often have to walk a couple blocks on uneven sidewalks when driveways are full.
The board held a public hearing on Monday about allowing on-street parking again, with vehicles allowed to park on the west side of the street for 525 feet of Ohio Street between Park Avenue and West Center Street.
Sarah Stornelli lives within the 500 block of Ohio Street. She said she and her family have to keep rearranging vehicles in the driveway because they can’t park a car in the street anymore.
The on-street parking ban makes it harder and dangerous for older people with mobility issues, she said.
Matt Anelli lives on Ohio Street and has pushed for the parking ban, including back in November when it was approved by the Village Board. He said Ohio Street is narrow, especially in the winter. If people park on the street it’s hard to get out of his driveway.
Jill Chudy also asked to rescind the parking ban due to the inconvenience for residents and their guests.
Mayor Debbie Padoleski read a petition signed by about 15 people asking for the parking ban to be rescinded. That petition was submitted by Patricia Stacey, who spoke at a board meeting last month about the challenges of no on-street parking.
The Village Board was unanimous in voting to put the on-street parking back the way it was. Medina will allow on-street parking on the west side of the street on Ohio, between Park Avenue and West Center Street.
Dave Berry suggested the Village Board make Ohio Street a one-way street and allow on-street parking.
