Big crowd celebrates at Bullard for early Independence Day
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Fireworks light up the sky over Bullard Park during the finale of a fireworks show. A 1967 Ford is in the foreground. The car was there for a cruise-in, one of the many activities at the park as part of a July 3rdIndependence Day celebration.
The Village of Albion and Great Albion Community Recreation & Events, Inc. (G-ACRE) organized the event which included fireworks for the second year in a row.
Some kids watched the fireworks from the playground at Bullard.
The Who Dats played for about two hours before the fireworks, including “867-5309/Jenny.” They were joined at the amphitheater stage by the Who Dat Dancers.
Kids enjoyed the swings and the playground while the fireworks went off.
Some kids were shooting hoops at the basketball courts while the fireworks went off at the park.
These kids gathered on the basketball court at the start of the fireworks show.
A crowd watches the Who Dats perform at Bullard. There were about 40 vendors.
The activities started at 4 p.m. and included bounce houses, food vendors, artisans, a chicken barbecue, carriage rides, a car cruise-in and fireworks to cap the day.
People lined up at night for food. The vendors were busy throughout the day, especially at night before the fireworks.
The Citrus Circus Crew and Albion Masonic Lodge were popular spots for Friday night food.
Ed Hilfiker and The Who Dats kept the crowd entertained. Other bands also played for about six hours total.
A day early, Albion throwing big birthday party for USA at Bullard Park
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Ryan & Company, led by Ryan Klatt (center), performed at Bullard Park this afternoon as part of a July 3rd Independence Day celebration at Albion.
The community has been throwing the big party a day before July 4th. For the second year in a row, the day will be capped with fireworks at 10 p.m.
There are other musical performers, including The Who Dats beginning at 8 p.m. on the amphitheater stage.
There are numerous artisan vendors at the park.
Nick Holler of the Citrus Circus Crew has red, white and blue kettle corn, as well as lemonade and snow cones for sale.
Confection Connection in Albion has cookies, brownies and craft sodas. MyKayla Deyarmin, left, is helping Confection owner Becky Harris at her booth.
Volunteers prepared 533 chicken barbecue dinners. Tom O’Hearn, left, led the group that includes from left in back John Sacco, Dan Conrad and Gary Moore. Gary Van Wyke, Ray Stefani and Dusty DeCarlo also were part of the crew.
Farm makes patriotic display for Fourth
Photo courtesy of Kristina Nesbitt
WATERPORT – Nesbitt Fruit Farms has an American flag displayed from farm machinery today on Wilson Road, just in time for the Fourth of July celebration.
Gillibrand seeks to ban Trump, elected officials from issuing memecoins
President disclosed $636 million in profit from memecoin in 2025
Screen shot from GetTrumpMemes.com – President Trump made $636 million from cryptocurrency in 2025, with many of his supporters buying a memecoin, $TRUMP.
Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following new reporting on President Trump’s personal financial disclosures — which show that his single largest source of income in 2025, $636 million, came from issuing a memecoin — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand renewed her call for Congress to bar all elected officials, and their spouses, from issuing or sponsoring their own digital assets.
Under the proposal Senator Gillibrand has championed alongside a group of colleagues, it would be illegal for President Trump to issue or sponsor any digital asset, including memecoins. The First Lady also issued her own memecoin and separately reported $6 million in income from NFTs and other digital collectibles.
“This is a commonsense requirement that should get broad bipartisan support – public officials and their spouses should not be issuing memecoins. We cannot let self-dealing destroy an opportunity to strengthen consumer protections, crack down on illicit finance, and expand economic opportunity for the millions of Americans our financial system has left behind,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The time to act is now — and that must include ethics reforms that prohibit members of Congress, the president, and their spouses from cashing in on their office.”
Earlier this year, speaking from the main stage at a conference of industry insiders, Senator Gillibrand declared that no bill would pass without an ethics provision that captures the president’s own activity. She has spent years working to regulate a crypto industry that today operates with little to no consumer protection and increasingly offshore, beyond the reach of U.S. law.
Earlier this year, she also led a bipartisan bill to crack down on the newly created prediction markets and has been a longtime leader in efforts to ban all members of Congress and their spouses from owning or trading stocks while in office.
Albion Rec Dept. sponsoring tennis camps
The Village of Albion Recreation Department will be sponsoring two free Tennis Camps this summer. The first of two camps will start on Monday, July 6th, at 10 a.m. at the Albion High School courts and conclude at 11:15 a.m. each day, through Thursday, July 10th.
The second Tennis Camp will begin on Monday, July 27th at 10 a.m. at the Albion High School Tennis Courts and conclude at 11:15 a.m. each day, Monday through Friday, July 31st.
Players do not need tennis experience to join this free summer event. Tennis balls will be provided. Players are encouraged to bring their own tennis racquet. However if you do not have your own racquet one may be provided.
There is no pre-registration for these camps. Walk up registration will be at the beginning of each session. An adult does not need to be at registration but encouraged.
Basic tennis skills will be taught to the beginners along with tennis drills and low level tennis competitive match situations. Scoring, rule and regulations will be taught along with tennis strategies.
Experienced tennis players will have an opportunity to drill and play matches throughout the two weeks.
This camp is for beginners to advanced tennis players of all ages.
The Tennis Camp will be postponed on any day related to bad weather.
Albion 18U scores early and often for win
Scoring in five different innings, Albion downed Alden/Attica 7-1 in a GLOW League 18U Division baseball game Thursday evening.
Gavin Boyce picked up the win on the mound allowing 2 hits and striking out 10 in five and two-thirds innings of work. Nate Gibson pitched the final inning and one-third giving up no hits and striking out 2.
Albion picked up a quick run in the first inning on a single by Boyce and a passed ball. RBI singles by Nick Luft and Potter then plated a pair of runs in the second.
Gibson doubled and came in on a steal of home in the third inning. He also had an RBI sacrifice fly in the fifth as a double by Kaiden Froman plated a second run. A walk and a double by Elliott Trapiss set up that opportunity.
Albion’s final run came in the sixth inning on an error.
Albion improves to 3-0 with the win.
Late scoring burst earns Medina 15U a win
A big late inning scoring burst keyed the Medina Mustangs 15U baseball team to a 7-3 victory over the visiting Spartans Thursday evening.
Trailing 3-2, Medina rallied for 5 runs in the sixth inning to claim the win on two passed balls, a wild pitch, an error and an RBI single by Brayden LaMartina.
Earlier, Medina scored once in the first inning on an error and three walks and once in the second on a home run by Shawn Robertson.
Mason Berry, Evan Collins and Mason Mikulec combined to hurl a 4 hitter with 7 strikeouts as Medina improves to 5-5.
Schumer, Orleans County officials speak out about cuts in SNAP, cost shift from federal government
Orleans County could see $400K increase in administering SNAP in 2027
Photos by Tom Rivers: U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer speaks at the Eastern Orleans Community Center on Thursday, when he highlighted the impact on cost shifts in the SNAP program. The federal government will shift administration to some states, such as New York and its 62 counties, while other “red states” don’t face the same costly scenario, Schumer said. Pictured from left include Whitley Hasty, benefits navigation manager for Foodlink; Charles Schumer, the U.S. Senate minority leader; Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman; and Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.
HOLLEY – U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is deeply concerned about changes in the SNAP program proposed by the Trump Administration, which he said will result in less food for people in need and higher administration costs for “blue states” such as New York, driving up costs for the state and the 62 counties.
Schumer was in Holley on Thursday at the Eastern Orleans Community Center, to highlight the change that is scheduled to take effect in September. Orleans County officials say the county will face an additional $100,000 in administration costs for the program for the final quarter of 2026 and about $400,000 more in 2027. (Schumer’s office puts the fiscal hit to the county at about $250,000.)
Schumer said he will push to stop the cost shift and potential reductions in SNAP as part of the new Farm Bill. He also said if there is a new Democrat-controlled House of Representatives and U.S. Senate through the mid-term elections, the new Congress would oppose the cost shifts.
“We all know that families are struggling right now,” Schumer said the Holley center.
This chart, released by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, details SNAP benefits costs and recipients, and cost shifts to counties in the Rochester region.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food assistance to 135,000 families, kids, and seniors across the Rochester-Finger Lakes region, Schumer said. SNAP is the largest anti-hunger program in the United States and a lifeline for nearly 3 million people in New York State, he said.
Last year, President Trump and Congressional Republicans approved a nearly $200 billion cut to SNAP, Schumer said.
The action also shifted administration costs to some states and counties – about $5.6 million in new annual costs on county budgets in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region, forcing counties to choose between raising local taxes or cutting food assistance for New Yorkers in need, Schumer said.
“These cuts are going to be devastating for Orleans County and all of Upstate New York,” Schumer said. “We’ve always fed the hungry. It’s part of our Judeo-Christian view. Jesus said to feed the hungry.”
Schumer urged the local community to ask Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney to back a Farm Bill that doesn’t push SNAP costs on the states and counties – or least gives them more time to prepare for the added expense.
“I’m here today to announce that I will not support a Farm Bill that does not at least provide more time for states and counties to prepare to shoulder the cost of SNAP,” Schumer said. “A Republican Farm Bill that abandons hungry families is not a serious proposal. It’s a non-starter for me”
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer greets Rose Sargent, a part-time employee at the Eastern Orleans Community Center who was holding the door open to the center. In back from left are Holley Mayor Mark Bower, and Ryan Lasal, director of Community & Family Program Innovation / Chief Innovation Officer for Community Action.
The Holley center run by Community Action serves over 6,000 prepared meals each year, said Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.
“As the cost of basic goods continues to rise, the need for food assistance in our community only grows,” she said.
She noted that SNAP also is an important program for farmers and other small businesses in the community.
“Programs like SNAP, shaped through the Farm Bill, don’t just help families put food on the table, they also support our local farmers, grocery stores, and rural economy,” Hungerford said. “And when federal proposals shift more of those program costs onto states, it puts real pressure on counties like Orleans, where local resources are already stretched, increasing the strain on food pantries, community programs, and the families who rely on them every day.”
Lynne Johnson, the County Legislature chairwoman, said Orleans County’s budget is strained and she doesn’t want to push the added costs onto higher property taxes.
“Our budget is already under tremendous pressure from unfunded mandates from Albany,” she said.
Johnson would like a two-year extension from the higher administration fees, and would like to see New York State treated like other states that were given a two-year delay.
“New York should be treated like other states,” she said.
Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, said the county budget is “already under tremendous pressure” due to unfunded mandates from the state government and other rising costs.
Orchestra will perform at Holley this evening to kick off Friday concert series
Provided photos: Holley has new banners to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary. The banners were designed by Lake Country Media. The banners were funded by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
HOLLEY – The Village of Holley will kick off its Friday summer concert series today with a patriotic concert by The Joey Stempien Big Band. This group includes 17 musicians from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Rochester.
The free concert goes from 6 to 8 p.m. by the gazebo along the canal. People are encouraged to park at the lot by the former Save-A-Lot grocery store.
Holley is using a grant from the NY-250 Committee to pay for the orchestra’s performance.
The Holley Canal Concert Series Schedule includes:
- July 10: Feedback
- July 17: Who Dats
- July 24: Triple Play
- July 31: Road Less Travelled
- Aug. 7: Stanton Band
- Aug. 14: Vinyl Recovery
- Aug. 21: Beggers Will Ride
- Aug. 28: Blue Circle Band
Hawley schedules 3 town hall meetings in Genesee County on July 25
Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) will host a series of town hall meetings on Saturday, July 25, 2026, giving residents of Elba, Byron and Bergen an opportunity to hear updates on state and local issues, ask questions and share their concerns.
The meetings are open to all members of the community, and no registration is required.
The schedule is as follows:
- Town & Village of Elba from 10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. at the Elba Town Hall, 7133 Oak Orchard Rd., Elba
- Town of Byron from 11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at Byron Town Hall, 7028 Byron Holley Rd., Byron
- Town & Village of Bergen from 12 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. at Byron-Bergen Public Library, 13 S. Lake Ave., Bergen
“Meeting with residents in our communities is one of the most important parts of serving in the Assembly,” said Hawley. “These town halls are an opportunity to discuss what’s happening in Albany, answer questions, hear concerns firsthand and learn more about the issues that matter most to local families. I encourage everyone to stop by and join the conversation.”
Residents from throughout the community are welcome to attend any of the meetings. Hawley looks forward to hearing directly from constituents and providing updates on issues affecting Genesee County and New York State.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley represents the 139th Assembly District, which includes parts of Erie, Genesee, Monroe and Orleans counties.
Heat advisory for Orleans County today until 8 p.m.
County not in “extreme heat warning” today
It will be another hot day in Orleans County today, but not quite as hot as Wednesday and Thursday when there was an “extreme heat warning” for the county.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a heat advisory for Orleans until 8 p.m. The high temperature is forecast to be 92 degrees with the heat index values in the 98 to 103 degree range from late morning through the afternoon.
People are urged to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
It will be a little more comfortable on the Fourth of July with the high temperature forecast to be 85.
Primary results finalized with Fred Seeman the winner in Clarendon
Ellman topped Kastenbaum by 5 votes in Orleans in NY-24th District
ALBION – The Orleans County Board of Elections on Wednesday certified the results of the primary from June 23, allowing a week for any absentee ballots to be counted that were postmarked by June 23.
There were 12 absentees that arrived after June 23 for the Democratic Party primaries, but no additional absentees for the Republican races, the Board of Elections said.
• In Clarendon, Fred Seeman is the certified winner for town supervisor, receiving 170 votes to 155 for Marc Major.
• In Shelby, there were three candidates for two positions from District 1 of Shelby as representatives on the Orleans County Republican Committee. John Parada, 66 votes, and Steve Seitz, 62 votes, were both elected to the committee positions. Dale Root received 55 votes.
• The 24th congressional district includes 14 counties. Diana Kastenbaum of Batavia has conceded to Alissa Ellman of Lockport in the Democratic primary for the 24th Congressional District.
In Orleans County, Ellman received 219 votes to 214 for Kastenbaum.
• Tom DiNapoli, the state comptroller, was the only state-wide candidate facing a primary challenge. He won the primary handily.
In Orleans County, DiNapoli received 295 votes, compared to 81 for Drew Warshaw and 44 for Raj Goyle.
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3 displaced after fire at West Academy Street in Albion
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Three people are displaced from their home at 130B West Academy St. after a fire today.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 11:22 a.m. after reports of smoke from the back of the house.
No one was home at the time. Albion firefighters responded and were assisted in the 90-plus degree heat by Murray, Medina and Barre.
Cobblestone’s annual patriotic service will celebrate 250th anniversary
Keynote address will discuss Liberty Poles and origin of the one at museum
Photo by Tom Rivers: Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Museum, speaks on July 6, 2025 during the annual patriotic service held near the Fourth of July in the Cobblestone Church.
CHILDS – A special America 250 celebration is scheduled at 11 a.m. Sunday at the National Historic Landmark Cobblestone Church on Route 104.
A festive program of patriotic songs, readings, and much more, themed to highlight the nation’s semi-quincentennial, has been planned, according to Cobblestone Museum Director Doug Farley.
Bill Lattin, former Cobblestone Museum director and county historian, will provide a keynote address explaining the historic significance of Liberty Poles, and how the Museum’s Liberty Pole was dedicated on the museum campus.
Assistant director Sue Bonafini and summer intern Casey Starkweather will provide information about the four signers of the Declaration of Independence from New York state. They will answer questions, such as “How and why did they decide to sign the document? What led them to that decision? What were the ramifications of their actions?”
For answers to these questions, and more, Farley urges everyone to join them on Sunday.
In addition, summer intern Collin Capurso will be offering selected readings from Thomas Payne and other patriots. Of course, guests will be asked to join in singing several historic melodies that will add to the occasion.
Following the patriotic program, a picnic lunch is planned on the side lawn. Guests are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to pass. Hotdogs and beverages will be provided.
This is a free, public program, however, donations are gladly accepted.
