Photos courtesy of Ashley Huntington

LYNDONVILLE – A brilliant rainbow appeared around 7 p.m. after a severe thunderstorm passed through Orleans County.

Ashley Huntington took these photos on Platten Road in Lyndonville.

Photo by Tom Rivers: A flag flaps in the wind on Main Street in Albion this evening. In back are St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the First Baptist Church of Albion.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today directed flags to be lowered at half staff to honor the life and legacy of His Holiness Pope Francis, who passed away today at the age of 88.

“I join everyone around the world in mourning the loss of His Holiness Pope Francis, as his leadership transcended religious boundaries,” Governor Hochul said. “He embodied the values Christ taught us every day: helping the less fortunate, calling for peace, and ensuring every person is treated as a child of God. Pope Francis led with compassion, humility and inclusivity, emphasizing that God does not disown any of his children, and reminded us of our collective responsibility to protect this beautiful planet, our shared home. We should all strive to carry on his legacy.”

Last year, Governor Hochul visited the Vatican to deliver remarks at a Pontifical Summit to discuss climate change where Pope Francis delivered an address calling on the world to take care of the most vulnerable in our society.

Flags will be lowered from Monday, April 21 through the day of his funeral service.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Sacred Heart Club celebrated Dyngus Day today with lots of Polish food and also crowned the king and queen of Dyngus Day. Eli Howard was picked as king and Eileen Pettit is the queen. Both are very active volunteers at the Sacred Heart Club.

Dyngus Day is a Polish-American tradition that celebrates the end of Lent and the start of Easter festivities.

Pettit said she has been a member of Sacred Heart the past 14 years, helping with fish fries and other events, and donating prizes. She especially likes the tailgating parties at Sacred Heart during the Buffalo Bills season.

“It is a family,” Pettit said about the Sacred Heart Club which has about 400 members. “Every single person, whether Polish or not, we back each other.”

Jim Pinckney, left, last year’s Dyngus Day king, puts the crown and robe on Eli Howard, this year’s king.

Howard joined Sacred Heart in 1996 and is the current events co-chairman. He donates to many of the events and is an active volunteer.

Howard said he remains very grateful the Sacred Heart Club hosted a benefit in his honor on Sept. 21 where 500 chicken barbecue dinners sold out and hundreds of others came for a basket raffle. He is battling stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer, and Howard said it is manageable.

“This organization does a lot of good for the community,” he said.

Howard helps organize many of the events on the weekends that bring in crowds of people.

“It means a lot to be recognized by my peers in the club,” Howard said about being crowned king. “I am totally shocked.”

JT Thomas, the Sacred Heart president, also served as DJ, playing Polish music, including “Please Love Me Forever” by Bobby Vinton.

About 75 people are expected at the Dyngus Day celebration which continues until 9 p.m. There is lots of Polish food served including Golumpkis – Polish cabbage rolls that are stuffed with a mixture of beef, pork, rice and seasoning. There are also pierogis, sweet and sour cabbage, smoked kielbasa and other Polish food.

There also is a display of pussy willows. In the Dyngus Day tradition, boys sprinkle water on the girls who then tap the boys with pussy willows as a way of flirting.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Orleans County until 7 p.m. There could 60 mile-per-hour wind gusts and penny-size hail.

The warning also includes Genesee County, northeastern Erie County, southeastern Niagara County and northwestern Wyoming County.

The Weather Service said to expect damage to roofs, siding and trees.

“For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building,” the Weather Service said.

Press Release, Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble

ALBION – We are excited to announce the Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble’s upcoming Spring 2025 concert, set to take place on May 3 at 4 p.m. at Albion Middle School.

This free event promises to be an unforgettable evening of music, showcasing the talented musicians of our community in a lively and inspiring performance.

The program will feature a diverse array of musical works, including both classic and contemporary pieces, conducted by Philip J. Briatico and Member Conductor Christopher B. Taylor. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience the rich sound and dynamic energy of a full wind ensemble.

Featured works including “Guiding Spirit” by William Palange, “Be Glad, Then, America” by William Schuman, “A Tribute to Elvis” arranged by James Christensen, “One Life Beautiful” by Julie Giroux, “Rippling Watercolors” by Brian Balmages, “Selections from Wicked” arranged by Jay Bocook, and “The Thunderer” by John Philip Sousa.

This concert is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO Art! We are deeply grateful for their generous support, which helps make cultural events like this accessible to our community.

We invite you to join us for this special occasion, and we encourage you to bring your friends and family to enjoy an evening of outstanding music, all at no cost to attend. The concert is open to the public, and there will be ample seating for everyone.

For more information, please visit www.geneseevalleywindensemble.org or email Philip Briatico at geneseevalleywindensemble@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing an inspiring evening of music!

Provided photo: A food pantry and other services from Community Action are now located at 131 S. Main Street, accessible from Platt Street.

Press Release, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee is excited to announce that its Orleans County Emergency Services and Case Management programs will officially open today at a new location.

The new office, located at 131 South Main St., is just steps behind the agency’s Main Street Thrifts, Gifts, and More store in Albion. Customers are advised to enter through the Platt Street entrance to the plaza.

This move from 409 East State St. reflects Community Action’s commitment to being more accessible to the people it assists. With a more central location, the agency hopes to remove barriers for families who rely on support programs, especially those without reliable transportation.

“We know how important it is for our programs to be easy to find and even easier to access,” said Ryan Lasal, Director of Community & Family Program Innovation at Community Action. “This move brings us closer to the heart of our community and allows us to better meet people where they are.”

The new office will also house the food pantry, previously located at the State Street address. However, the overnight pantry at 409 East State Street will remain open, ensuring that individuals in immediate need continue to have after-hours access to food assistance.

“Sometimes it’s just helping someone get through a tough month — whether it’s paying a bill, getting food, or finding a bit of stability,” Lasal said. “This move brings us closer to the people who rely on us, making it easier to be there when they need us most.”

In addition to the existing programs CAOG offers to help people become self-sufficient, CAOG is actively involved in the New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) Program, also known as the “1115 Waiver Program.”

This initiative allows all Medicaid members to be screened for unmet needs related to housing, nutrition, and transportation. Based on screening results and other eligibility criteria, Medicaid members may receive free services to support their overall health and well-being, including rent or utility assistance, medically necessary home modifications, food prescriptions, pantry stocking, transportation, and more.

Community Action of Orleans and Genesee is contracted with the FLIPA “Social Care Network” for which Community Action CEO, Renee Hungerford serves as co-chair of the governing board. The program is funded in New York State through March 2027.

“We will soon be offering these screenings at all locations, including the 131 South Main Street location,” Hungerford said. “We are excited that the new location will make these opportunities more accessible.”

All other Community Action programs will continue operating from their current locations. To learn more about Emergency Services, Case Management, or food assistance, community members are encouraged to call (585) 589-5605 or visit www.caoginc.org.

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board is working on the village’s budget for 2025-26, with three more meetings scheduled this week to try to bring down a tax increase that stood at 23.5 percent during last week’s public hearing.

Total spending in the general was at $8,438,681 for 2025-26, which is up 9.9 percent from the $7,679,256 in the current budget.

The tax levy would increase by 23.5 percent or by $916,631 – from $3,903,200 to $4,819,831. That would result in the tax rate going up from $13.97 to $17.25 per $1,000 of assessed property.

However, Village Board members said they are determined to bring down that increase, hopefully under the state tax cap, which generally is about a 2 percent increase.

“This budget is still in its infancy stage,” Mayor Marguerite Sherman said during the public hearing. “There is still a lot of work to do on the budget.”

The board has budget sessions scheduled for today, Tuesday and Wednesday this week. The budget needs to be adopted by April 30.

Board members said they would discuss the budget in more detail at the 6 p.m. April 28 meeting. The board also is looking at the possibility of creating a fire district which would move the fire department out of the village budget and into its own taxing entity.

Deb Padoleski, a village trustee, said the numbers will come down before the budget is passed.

“I’m committed to keeping the increase as low as possible,” she said.

Residents in recent meetings have told the board they are concerned that the villages taxes are too high, and could push some residents out of the village.

“We hear you and share your pain because we are village taxpayers, too,” Sherman said.

When the board worked on the budget a year ago, Medina’s tax base increased by $100.5 million, going from $178,984,667 to $279,494,874. That is a 56.2 percent increase following town-wide reassessments in both Shelby and Ridgeway.

That huge boost in the tax base allowed the tax rate to plunge by more than $7 – from $21.16 to $13.97 per $1,000 of assessed properties.

But this time the tax base is showing a slight decline of $87,963 – from $279,494,874 to $279,406,911.

The village budget will include a new revenue: Medina will be collecting a 2 percent bed tax on hotels, motels, short-term rentals and other lodging establishments. The board is budgeting $10,000 in revenue from the new tax.

The tentative budget presented last week at the hearing also includes $2,287,949 for the Water Fund, up 8.8 percent from the $2,102,947 in 2024-25; and $1,486,921 for the Sewer Fund, up 18.4 percent from the $1,256,195 in 2024-25.

‘The elimination of these agencies and programs would be devastating.’ – Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee

Press Release, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee

ALBION – Several national news stories are circulating about Health and Human Services (HHS) cuts in the proposed federal 2026 budget.

The proposed cuts include the elimination of Head Start, LIHEAP (energy assistance), and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) which is the foundational funding that enables Community Action Agencies to exist.

Last month, Renee Hungerford, CEO of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, spent a week in Washington, DC, to meet with members of Congress and their staff to discuss the critical importance of the Community Services Block Grant, Head Start, and LIHEAP.

“I am grateful to have received words of support, from both Republicans and Democrats, for our programs,” Hungerford said. “Any one of us can fall into a situation of economic challenge. Our programs are designed to help people through those difficult times and reach self-sufficiency.”

It is important to note that the federal budget has not yet been approved by Congress and constituents are urged to contact members of Congress, with concerns, before the budget is presented to Congress.

The contacts for the area’s House of Representatives member and two U.S. senators include:

• Congresswoman Claudia Tenney  (Click here for contact information)

• Senator Kirsten Gillibrand  (Click here for contact information)

• Senator Charles Schumer  (Click here for contact information)

“In 2024, our agency assisted nearly 5,000 individuals with programs that improve health outcomes and financial stability,” Hungerford said. “This includes over 240 children in Head Start programs. In addition, we provide meaningful employment which supports our local economy. There are one thousand Community Action Agencies in the US providing similar programs.  The elimination of these agencies and programs would be devastating.”

For more information, please contact: info@caoginc.org or visit www.caoginc.org.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Main Street lift bridge in Albion, shown today, will close to traffic tomorrow to finish up the rehabilitation project.

ALBION – The Main Street lift bridge will close again tomorrow (April 21) so crews can finish an extensive rehabilitation of the bridge.

The closure is expected to last up to six weeks. Detours will be posted.

The bridge was initially closed on Nov. 14, 2022 for what was expected to be about 18 months for a major rehabilitation. That project stretched to more than two years when the bridge was reopened just after Christmas on Dec. 27, 2024.

But there was still some more work on the deck and with additional testing, Village Trustee Joyce Riley said.

The original bridge from 1914 has been extensively rebuilt with new steel now over about 80 percent of the structure.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Bruce Spencer, owner of the Country Store at 10204 County Line Rd., and his sister Barbara Lamont stand behind the counter of the store, which he has recently decided to sell.

LYNDONVILLE – A historic country store is about to undergo a change in its more than 135-year existence.

Bruce Spencer, owner of The Country Store at 10204 Roosevelt Highway, has decided to put the business up for sale.

“It’s always best to leave when everything is intact,” Spencer said.

Bruce Spencer looks at a notebook full of articles and pictures about the historic Country Store, which was built in the 1890s.

He bought the store in 2016. One of its previous owners were his late aunt and uncle LaVerne and Marilyn Lartz of Lyndonville, but it had sat empty for three years when Spencer decided to buy it.

The store’s history dates back to the 1890s when it originally sat across the street and was part of the parsonage. When the railroad came in 1875, the post office relocated to Millers and the store was built.

W.H. Garland bought the store in the 1880s from Mrs. Carrigall. In 1885 it was sold to Hiram Vaughn and Garland then bought land across the street to build Herman’s Grocery, which was completed in 1886.

The store was owned by Marshall Todkill in 1901-02, and newspaper accounts say he “occupied the house, ran the store and sold shoes, laces, nails, general merchandise and groceries.” There was a blacksmith shop at the back and a barn for apples and molasses in barrels.

Ray and Ona Downey owned the store from 1920 to 1944,  when William and Bertha Herman bought it and ran it with their daughter Hazel until November 1966. Next owners were the Lartzes, who owned it from November 1966 until March 1985.

Two more owners were Eddie White in 2003 and Tim Payne in 2005 until 2013, when it closed and remained empty until Spencer and his brother Brian purchased it.

Shortly after, the pandemic hit but Spencer persevered with help from a friend Ed Fura and his Aunt Marilyn, who came in nearly every day to help. He has successfully run it (with some snags along the way) until now, when he decided to sell to concentrate on helping several relatives with health issues.

“I never wanted to sell, but I want to be able to help my relatives,” he said.

One of the store’s most popular features is their Friday night fish fries, Spencer said. The store has a bakery and deli counter, where they sell subs, pizza and wings. Gas pumps are installed in case the next owner wants to sell gas.

Currently, Spencer’s sister Barbara Lamont helps in the store every day. Business booms in the summer when cottagers move in at the lake.

The Country Store is the “go-to” place for cottagers at the lake during the summer months. Owner Bruce Spencer is hoping to sell it soon to pursue retirement.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 15

Corporal John H. Stevens of Knowlesville, a member of the 151st Regiment, had the distinction of several interactions with President Lincoln.

While we were busy celebrating the Bicentennial of Orleans County on April 15, we overlooked April 14, 1865, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, 160 years eariler. Remarkably, one young man from Orleans County was among the audience of approximately 1,700 in attendance that night at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.

John H. Stevens was born in Knowlesville on Sept. 23, 1839, the son of Andrew Stevens and Sophronia Harding. Andrew Stevens had moved to the area in 1816 and was one of the earliest settlers in what was then a wilderness. A farmer, he benefitted greatly from the opening of the Erie Canal.

In the summer of 1862, additional recruits were needed for the Union cause. Captain Hezekiah Bowen of Medina received authority to recruit a company of riflemen. John Stevens was one of the one hundred who quickly enlisted, mostly sons of well-to-do farmers. They were nicknamed the “Top Buggy Company,” since many of them could afford to take their young ladies out in top-buggies, then considered an item of luxury.

They bought their own guns, Sharp’s Rifles, each paying over forty dollars apiece for them. The ladies of Ridgeway presented them with a silk flag embroidered “Bowen’s Ind. Rifles.”

Stevens was mustered in as a Corporal of Company A, 151st N.Y. Volunteer Infantry on October 22, 1862. He was wounded at the Battle of Mine Run, Va.  on November 27, 1863, receiving a bullet wound to his right thigh. Following his recovery, he was placed on duty at the Medical Purveyor’s store in Baltimore on March 4, 1864.

In June of that year, Stevens received a ticket to attend the Republican National Convention from Senator E.D. Morgan of New York. Stevens was present when Lincoln was nominated for the second time.

Stevens voted for Lincoln twice, on Nov. 6, 1860, and Nov. 8, 1864.

He was transferred to work at the Medical Bureau of the Provost Marshal General’s Office in September 1864. He attended church on Thanksgiving Day, 1864, sat in Senator Morgan’s pew and at the end of the service, walked down the aisle alongside President Lincon.

On January 1, 1865, Stevens attended the Annual Meeting of the Christian Commission, listened to a speech given by Lincoln and afterwards, shook his hand.

John H. Stevens in later years

On Good Friday, April 14, 1865, Stevens was seated in the front center seat of the dress circle at Ford’s Theater. He saw Booth leap from the box after he shot the President. Stevens was unable to see Lincoln’s remains lying-in-state because of the crowds, but he did witness the funeral procession.

Stevens was discharged on May 11, 1865. He returned to Knowlesville, and married Alice Andrews in 1866. They had two children, George and Avery. Alice died in 1875. Avery died in 1881, aged 11. Stevens married Mary D. Clapp in 1876, they had two daughters, Florence and Mary.

Stevens was an active member of the G.A.R. and a member of the S.J. Hood Post 91 for many years. He attended reunions of the 151st Regiment and liked to recount his encounters with Lincoln.

Stevens died on February 15, 1919, at the age of 80, in the home in which he had been born, having fulfilled his wish of living to mark the centenary of that home which had been built by his father in 1816. He is buried in Tanner Cemetery in the Town of Ridgeway, NY.

Photos by Marsha Rivers

GAINES – About 50 people were up early today for a sunrise service at the pavilion of the Gaines Carlton Community Church on Ridge Road. Several churches held services at dawn on Easter, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The attendees at Gaines Carlton sang “We Welcome Glad Easter,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” and “Because He Lives.”

These young people performed a drama, “And Now He’s Gone.” The participants include Clara Bergeman, Madalyn Ashbery, Brody Collyer, Olivia Andrews, Lindsay Crawford, Kelsey Crawford, Owen Collyer and Mallory Ashbery.

Kendyl Collyer shares a reading, “Easter Blessings.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These kids take off for the Easter egg hunt around noon today at the Courthouse lawn in Albion. The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries organized the event for the fourth year.

About 400 to 500 kids were at today’s egg hunt. They were separated into three age groups: (1-5), (6-9) and (10-14).

For the second straight year Ben Rowcliffe, 9, of Medina got a golden egg. Inside was a ticket for a free bike. There were two golden eggs in each age group.

These younger kids hunt for eggs. Since the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries started the egg hunt in 2022, it has grown from 3,000 the first year to 10,000 in 2023, 12,000 last year and now 15,000.

Pastor Al Wilson said Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries wants to be a blessing to the community, “sharing the love of Jesus.”

Colt Tumia, 8, of Albion gets a Pokémon ball painted on his face by Candace Casey.

Divina Cifunetes of Batavia, 5, was happy to meet the Easter Bunny. (Rose Friedl was in the costume as the Easter Bunny.)

These kids are happy with the eggs they collected. Students from the Iroquois Job Corps spread out the eggs on the courthouse lawn. Within minutes they were all scooped up.

The Masonic Lodge in Albion served 500 hot dogs and about 120 pounds of French fries of free. Shown here cooking are Steve Pawlak in front with the hot dogs and Markus Ruffin in back with the fries.

The Albion Lions Club and Rotary Club also both contributed $300 towards the Easter baskets.

The Easter Bunny visited and greeted Lori Laine, who was at the event with her grandchildren.

Carlitos Lopez, a barber with the Barber Republic in Brockport, gives Gio Ristuccia, 4, of Rochester a haircut. Four barbers were on site giving free haircuts, up from two last year when the lines were long to get a hair cut.

Tony Greene, a barber from Brockport, gives Sebastian Vallejo Morales, 7, of Albion a haircut.