By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 December 2025 at 6:06 pm
Orleans County has seen a significant spike in the number of flu cases, and statewide the number of the cases is the most since 2004 when the state started doing a weekly tracker of the cases.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reports there were 217 flu cases in the two rural counties in the week ending Dec. 20.
In Orleans, there are 196 cases per 100,000 people, according to the Health Department online flu tracker. The county’s population totals 40,343, according to the 2020 census. A week earlier, Orleans had 60.5 confirmed cases per 100,000 people.
The 196 cases in the most recent week is the third highest for Orleans County this year, topped by 196.8 for the week ending March 22, and 236.6 in the week ending March 15.
Genesee County just had the most confirmed flu cases in a week this year with 239.9 per 100,000 people for the week ending Dec. 20. (Genesee’s population was 58,388 in the 2020 census.)
That 239.9 is up from 60.4 in the week ending Dec. 13. The previous high was 233.7 for week ending Feb. 15.
State-wide there were 71,123 flu cases last week. That is up 38 percent from the previous week. The state Department of Health reports there have now been 189,312 cases of flu so far this season.
The DOH said hospitalizations from the flu rose 63 percent in the week from 2,251 to 3,666 statewide.
State health officials said flu typically peaks in January so the cases may continue to rise.
The Department of Health encourages people to get the flu shot, and take antivirals if it’s been less than 48 hours since symptoms began.
People are also urged to wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
People are advised to stay home when sick, and avoid close contact with people who are ill.
Governor Kathy Hochul negotiated a chapter amendment and signed legislation that will require social media platforms to display labels warning of the dangerous impact certain features can have on young users’ mental health.
Legislation S4505/A5346, under the chapter amendment, requires social media platforms that offer addictive feeds, auto play or infinite scroll to post warning labels on their platforms. This legislation builds on the Governor’s ongoing efforts to address the youth mental health crisis statewide.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe has been my top priority since taking office, and that includes protecting our kids from the potential harms of social media features that encourage excessive use,” Governor Hochul said. “New Yorkers deserve transparency. With the amount of information that can be shared online, it is essential that we prioritize mental health and take the steps necessary to ensure that people are aware of any potential risks.”
Recent studies show that adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression. About half of adolescents claim that social media makes them feel worse about their bodies, and teenagers with the highest levels of social media use are nearly twice as likely to rate their overall mental health as poor or very poor.
Consumer warning labels are already found on a variety of different products, such as tobacco, where they communicate the health risk of cancer; plastic packaging, where they communicate the risk of suffocation for small children; certain high-sugar and sodium food products, where they communicate the risk of diabetes, obesity, tooth decay, heart disease, or stroke; alcohol, where they communicate the risk of birth defects during pregnancy as well as the dangers of driving while drunk; and video games and other types of media, where they communicate the risk of flashing lights for users with photosensitive epilepsy.
To combat the mental health risks of using harmful features of social media platforms that prolong use, this legislation will require social media companies to display warning labels on their platforms when a young user initially uses the predatory feature and periodically thereafter, based on continued use. Users will not be able to bypass or click through the warnings.
Assemblymember Nily Rozic said, “New York families deserve honesty about how social media platforms impact mental health. By requiring warning labels based on the latest medical research, this law puts public health first and finally gives us the tools we need to make informed decisions. I’m proud to sponsor this legislation alongside Senator Gounardes as part of our broader effort to create a safer digital environment for kids.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 December 2025 at 12:50 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Downtown Albion is shown on Nov. 25, decorated for the holidays. The village will see a slight decrease in the local sales tax share in 2026.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has set the sales tax amounts for the 10 towns and four villages for 2026, and the four villages will see a slight decrease.
Overall, the towns and villages collectively remain at $1,366,671, the same amount they have received since 2001.
Every year the Legislature does a sales tax apportionment. In the years after a census update, the county uses a formula in determining the village share by dividing the village taxable value by the town taxable value.
If a town’s taxable value increases at a higher percentage rate than the village within its borders, then some of that sales tax from the village shifts to the town.
Charts: Orleans Hub with data from Orleans County Legislature.
Next year, $887 collectively from the four villages will go to the towns. That drops the village overall amount to $386,534 while the 10 towns get $980,137.
Many of the town and village officials have asked the County Legislature to increase the sales tax sharing, but the Legislature has declined, saying the county faces its own rising costs.
Sean Pogue, the Barre town supervisor, made the latest plea to the county to increase the sales tax shared with towns and villages. Pogue, speaking during last month’s meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities, asked the legislators to unfreeze the cap to the towns and villages, so those municipalities could see an increase in the sales tax.
The sales tax has risen significantly in recent years. This year, in the first three quarters, the sales tax for the county was up 9.7 percent or about $1.6 million.
The county is on pace to take in about $25 million total this year in sales tax.
Here are the amounts of local sales tax in recent years in Orleans County, according to the state comptroller’s office:
A year ago, volunteers identified 12,000 birds in annual count
Photos courtesy of Celeste Morien: A fox sparrow is shown in this photo. Volunteers will be out for the annual Oak Orchard Christmas Bird Count on Monday. Last year, 41 counters found 70 species and just over 12,000 individual birds.
By Celeste Morien, count compiler for Oak Orchard Swamp Christmas Bird Count
BASOM – It’s nearly time for the Oak Orchard Christmas Bird Count! The count began in December 1968. The National Audubon Society has been sponsoring Christmas Bird Counts since their inception.
This map shows the area where volunteers will be out counting birds on Dec. 29.
Count compilers Celeste Morien and Brandon Connare would like the public to be alert for participants with spotting scopes and binoculars in on Dec. 29. We will be searching for birds inside the map circle from dawn to dusk.
Filling bird feeders now and keeping them stocked ahead of the count helps fulfill the count objective of counting all wild birds seen and heard within the circle.
The Oak Orchard count circle is centered on Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge at the Orleans and Genesee County line on Route 63. Count volunteers follow routes staying inside the designated 15-mile diameter circle. The day’s total is not just a species tally; individual birds are counted, giving an indication of the total number of birds per species in the circle that day.
If you are at home on count day within the circle, you may report the birds that visit your feeders. To do so, please contact celeste.morien@gmail.com.
According to the Audubon website, “Prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas ‘Side Hunt.’ They would choose sides and go afield with their guns—whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won.”
Conservation was in its beginning stages in that era, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the then-nascent Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition—a “Christmas Bird Census” that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them.
So began the Christmas Bird Count. Thanks to the inspiration of Chapman and the enthusiasm of 27 dedicated birders, 25 Christmas Bird Counts were held that day. The locations ranged from Toronto, Ontario to Pacific Grove, California.
From December 14 through January 5 each year tens of thousands of volunteers throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Pacific Islands brave snow, wind, or rain, and take part in the effort. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this long-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations, and to help guide conservation action.
A blue jay is shown in this photo. Last year there were 283 identified during the annual bird count.
The data collected by citizen scientists allows researchers, conservation biologists, wildlife agencies and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. When combined with other surveys such as the Breeding Bird Survey, we are provided with a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed over the past 125 years.
The long term perspective is vital for conservationists. It informs strategies to protect birds and their habitat, and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well.
Please consider donating to the Christmas Count here since the Audubon Society no longer collects fees from each participant. www.audubon.org/GiveCBC
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 26 December 2025 at 8:59 am
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – All State soccer honorees, from left, Sophia Picardo and Brooke Rodas from Kendall and Kyla Burne from Holley.
Wilson’s All State honorees Lilly Gurski, left, and Addison Elia.
A trio of Orleans County players have earned spots on the Class C All State girls soccer squad.
Kendall junior midfielder Sophia Picardo has been named to the second team. She scored 16 goals and had 23 assists this season.
Kendall senior goalie Brooke Rodas and Holley sophomore defender Kyla Burne have both been selected to the fourth team.
Rodas made 94 saves this season and had a 0.33 goals against average.
Burne had 5 goals and 4 assists.
Niagara-Orleans League champion Wilson is represented on the All State Class C squad by the sophomore duo of forward Addison Elia, who was named to the second team, and midfielder Lilly Gurski who was selected to the fourth team.
Elia scored 38 goals and had 9 assists on the season while Gurski had 11 goals and 26 assists.
In addition, Byron-Bergen, which advanced to the state semifinals has placed a trio of senior players on the All State Class C squad.
Mia Gray, who was named Class C Player of the Year, and Grace DiQuatro were both named to the first team and Elizabeth Starowitz to the second team.
Gray had 44 goals and 26 assists, DiQuatro 31 goals and 26 assists and Starowitz 15 goals and 21 assists.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 December 2025 at 7:59 pm
HARTLAND – Firefighters from departments in Orleans County were among those responding to fire at Hartland on Wednesday night, Christmas Eve.
The Niagara County Communications Center received a report of a possible fire at 3484 Stone Rd. in Hartland at 9:12 p.m. The first arriving units confirmed a fully involved garage fire that was spreading into the residence, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office reported.
There were no people home at the time of the fire, but several animals are believed to have perished. The home is believed to be a total loss, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The Niagara County Fire Investigation Unit is investigating the cause of the fire.
Responding departments included Middleport, Barker, Gasport, Hartland, Shelby and Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 December 2025 at 10:14 am
County nearly shut out from $463 million in funding from Regional Economic Development Council
Photo by Tom Rivers: Several anglers fish near the dam in Lyndonville on Oct. 28, 2021. Many Chinook salmon were jumping up in Johnson Creek. The area draws many visiting fishermen during the fall tributary season.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $463 million in funding around the state on Dec. 23 in grants approved through the Regional Economic Development Councils plus the new Advancing Collaboration for High-impact Initiatives for Economic Visions & Expansion competition — or ACHIEVE Competition.
Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes REDC and was approved for an $86,250 grant to develop Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs for the towns of Kendall, Carlton, Yates and Village of Lyndonville. Those municipalities will work with the Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council to complete draft Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs for each municipality.
“The LWRPs will revitalize waterfronts along Lake Ontario, Oak Orchard Creek, Johnson Creek, Marsh Creek and Bald Eagle Creek,” according to the announcement from the state. “Issues to be addressed include revitalization, erosion, transportation and water quality.”
The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council, which serves both Genesee and Orleans, was approved for a $75,000 grant to market cultural festivals in the two counties. The grant will go towards “a strategic, multi-platform marketing campaign and tourism app integration, aimed at increasing regional visitation and economic impact.”
Close to Orleans County, Brightly Farms LLC in Hamlin was approved for $316,860 towards a new cold storage for the short-term preservation of crops from October through March.
“This building retrofit will be designed to be carbon neutral, with no usage of fossil fuels via all-electric equipment,” according to the grant announcement. “There will be a 154 kilowatt (kW) rooftop solar photovoltaic system to offset the building’s energy usage. An improved building envelope and energy control for lighting and climate will allow Brightly Farm to maximize energy efficiency and eliminate wasted energy.”
The Village of Barker in eastern Niagara County was approved for $1.5 million to replace the existing undersized and deteriorating storm sewer infrastructure.
Becker Farms in Gasport, Niagara County, was approved for $100,000 to launch a strategic tourism marketing campaign to promote its eco-lodging, agritourism experiences, and year-round events driving visitation, job creation, and regional economic growth in rural Niagara County. The project highlights sustainable agriculture, experiential travel, and community revitalization in Western New York, according to the grant announcement.
Foodlink in Rochester, which serves Orleans and nine other counties, was approved for a $440,000 grant. Foodlink will undertake renovations to include a cafeteria/auditorium with event seating to host community and partner engagement events including trainings and Benefits Navigation work helping individuals enroll and maintain their SNAP and WIC benefits to increase access to healthy food. The project will increase capacity and better position Foodlink to respond more effectively to rising food insecurity in the region, according to the grant award.
Another grant that may be of interest in Orleans County, the Village of Red Creek with population of about 500 in Wayne County, was approved for a $50,000 grant to complete a “Comprehensive Economic Development Plan” to help revitalize and strengthen the village’s downtown core.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the $463 million in funding on Tuesday. Long Island, the Mohawk Valley, New York City and the Southern Tier were chosen as winners of the inaugural $150 million Advancing Collaboration for High-impact Initiatives for Economic Visions & Expansion competition — or ACHIEVE Competition.
Additionally, nearly 400 projects across the state have been awarded over $300 million in funding through the various state agency programs within the annual Regional Council initiative and Consolidated Funding Application, which Hochul said have been redesigned to help catalyze economic growth, jump-start housing growth, and advance regionally designed strategic plans, while addressing state priorities.
For many Division I college basketball players, the recruiting process comes naturally. Prospective student-athletes begin to withdraw from competing in other sports as programs show interest and coaches battle to position themselves as front runners for commits.
For St. Bonaventure men’s basketball senior Broek Ostrom, this was not the case.
A native of Holley, N.Y., the four-year Bonnie followed an unusual path to D-I hoops, unconventionally finding himself wearing the Brown and White for the first time as a freshman walk-on during the 2022-23 season.
Brock Ostrom
“I didn’t market myself very much for basketball, so I had no offers from junior colleges, D-III schools, or anything like that,” Ostrom said. “Coming from a small school, it’s hard to get attention anyway unless you play AAU or you’re in the local circuit.”
Though Ostrom was Holley High School’s clear-cut best player, a 10-10 regular season record in his senior year combined with a graduating class size of roughly 60 kept his name out of recruiting contention.
Despite a lack of collegiate attention, Ostrom racked up numbers at the high school level.
Playing in Section 5, Class C1 he averaged 27 points and eight rebounds per game in his senior year, reaching 575 total points in one year. He also posted a 51-point single-game performance to set the school record. Since this success did not stimulate recruitment in the basketball world, Ostrom decided to move on and continue his involvement in other athletics and activities.
A pitcher on the baseball diamond, he struck out 55 batters in 41 innings during his senior season. He also compiled a .565 batting average, going 26-for-46 with 20 runs scored and 20 RBIs. “In baseball, we weren’t very good, but I still had a great time because I loved pitching and fielding,” Ostrom said.
He played football for the first time as a junior, giving him insight into learning a new sport. “I played safety, wide receiver, and punter. I had a great time doing it. It was definitely a different feel and look at practices, so it gave me a better view of how football works,” Ostrom said.
Ostrom first planned on playing soccer when he came to St. Bonaventure.
Soccer was arguably Ostrom’s top sport behind basketball as he played varsity for three years as a goalkeeper. He was ranked in Section 5 with some of the most saves in the league, also helping lead Holley to the sectional finals.
When he started his Bonaventure career, he first planned on attempting to make Bonnies soccer his priority.
“I was planning on coming to Bonaventure to try out for the men’s soccer team originally,” he said. “When I got to school and moved in, I realized I had missed those tryouts. So I just planned on being a regular student, and I joined club baseball and club lacrosse as other activities to do outside of school. Then I saw that basketball tryouts were open, and I would’ve kicked myself if I didn’t end up trying. So, I tried out and ended up making the team, and I’ve been here ever since.”
Though the gameday role for a walk-on may look different from that of a player on scholarship, Ostrom still puts in the same amount of work behind the scenes. Participating in lifts and practice and traveling to games are universal responsibilities for all players on the team, and though he may not run as many plays in practice, Ostrom still uses that time to soak up everything going on around him.
“The most difficult part is realizing that you’re not going to play in the majority of games, and when you do, it’s only for a couple of minutes,” Ostrom said. “But I’ve learned to look past that and enjoy practices much more as my game time. The most rewarding part is learning under Coach Schmidt because I’m trying to be a coach, and learning under such a high-level coach has impacted my game knowledge in many ways.”
Ostrom sees the opportunity to learn under the Bonnies coaching staff as a key reason why he has stayed with the team for four years.
“I’m always thinking for the future. I know I’m not going to get consistent minutes here, but I’m just thinking about trying to be the best version of myself that I can be on and off the court,” he said. “Sometimes I’ll forget that, and that’s when I go through lows, but when I realize that everything I’m doing right now is going to pay off in the future, that’s what keeps me going.”
With intentions of moving into the college basketball coaching world post-graduation, Ostrom sees his time with the Bonnies as a precursor to a fulfilling career.
“I’m trying to go into college basketball coaching,” he said. “In that sense, I’m just trying to better my understanding of the game and how the inner operations work. That’s my main focal point.”
Despite a myriad of other athletic and academic hobbies and an unlikely route to Division I hoops, Ostrom said he has found his home on the Bonnies men’s basketball team.
“I feel like this is the most rewarding thing I could’ve done. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Editor’s Note: This article written by Athletics Communications Graduate Assistant Owen Albright and photos are being reprinted courtesy of St. Bonaventure University basketball.
Brock Ostrom in action for St. Bona against Bloomsburg.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2025 at 7:22 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Francis family on Platt Street in Albion for many years has put out many Christmas decorations for the holiday season.
If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, you’re going to be disappointed on Thursday.
You won’t see much snow on the ground in Orleans County. Most of what we had from about a week ago has melted.
The high for Christmas will be 37 degrees. That is quite the contrast from three years ago when a blizzard Orleans County on Dec. 23, 2022. That storm claimed the lives of about 50 people in Western New York.
On Friday, we could get some snow, possibly 2 to 4 inches with a high near 27.
The highs then include 32 on Saturday and 41 on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 24 December 2025 at 10:32 am
Contributed Photos – Albion graduates Cami London, left, and Willow Gaines are now competing collegiately at SUNY Oswego.
Two Albion High graduates are now competing collegiately at SUNY Oswego, one on the ice and one in the pool.
Cami London is a freshman member of the Oswego women’s hockey team and Willow Gaines is a freshman members of the Lady Lakers swim team.
London prepped for her collegiate hockey career by playing for several years with the national level Amherst Lady Knights.
She was also a multi year starter in soccer, basketball and softball at Albion High earning All-League honors in all three.
Gaines is competing in the 50 Freestyle, 100 Free, 200 Free Relay and 200 Medley Relay for Oswego.
During her scholastic days at Albion Gaines competed in swimming and track.
During her senior year Gaines placed first in the 100 Breaststroke, tied for first in the 50 Free at the Niagara-Orleans All-League meet and also helped Albion win the 200 Free Relay.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2025 at 10:00 am
203 have now completed program since 2018
Photos by Tom Rivers: Marcy Boyce, office manager for Arc GLOW in Albion, is congratulated for completing the 2025 Leadership Orleans program. She also received citations of commendation from the Orleans County Legislature, and offices of Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Sen. Rob Ortt. From include County legislator Skip Draper, representing Ortt; Jayleen Carney, Hawley’s chief of staff; and Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairman.
LYNDONVILLE – The eighth class of Leadership Orleans has completing the year-long program, bringing the total grads to 203 since the program started in 2018.
The class met monthly, building leadership skills and gaining knowledge, experiences and connecting with people from many different sectors in the community. The class spent different days focused on agriculture, non-profit organizations, government services, small and larger businesses, law enforcement, tourism, arts and culture, community health and economic development.
The class visited 33 sites around the county and heard from 56 presenters.
The class voted Captain’s Cove in Waterport as their favorite place to visit. They were able to ride on pontoon boats and explore the Oak Orchard River.
Charlie Nesbitt, a retired state assemblyman and helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, was voted as presenter of the year. Nesbitt is on the steering committee for Leadership Orleans and helped to launch the program.
He shared with the class about harrowing rides on the helicopter to save fellow American soldiers and children in Vietnam.
Kelly Kiebala holds a portrait of a child from Vietnam that Charlie Nesbitt was able to transport to safety by helicopter. Nesbitt, left, shared that story with the class when he was a presenter during the year. The class named him “Presenter of the Year” for his inspiring message. Kiebala and Nesbitt are both on the steering committee for Leadership Orleans.
Nesbitt served in Vietnam from May 1968 to May 1969. He awarded the “Distinguished Flying Cross” for his valor on Nov. 14, 1968when he and his crew members were told an American soldier was stranded in enemy territory in the jungles of Laos, across the border from Vietnam.
Another helicopter had been hit with a rocket and crashed. The crew needed to be rescued. Nesbitt flew a helicopter in and got out everyone, except one gunman, John Grimaldi, who was separated from his crew. That day he took the recovered crew members back to safety, and then returned to enemy territory to find Grimaldi.
Nesbitt told the class he is a big believer in Leadership Orleans. He was in a similar program as a young man after the Vietnam War. That program in Rochester “changed the direction in my life,” he said.
He said Leadership Orleans will have an impact on them in their work and family lives.
“If your life is better, all of our lives will be better,” he said during the graduation program on Dec. 11 at the White Birch in Lyndonville.
A new class with 26 members starts in January. Leadership Orleans also offers a “Level Up” program for graduates to continue to hone their leadership skills and build their network.
Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the County Legislature, thanked the class members for investing the time to learn about county and to better equip themselves to be forces for good.
Johnson urged them to keep maintaining the personal relationships they built over the past year.
“Never hesitate to engage with those who share different opinions,” Johnson said. “Welcome the discussion. Often times you will find there are more areas of agreement than you think.”
“Great leaders who build those personal connections will be followed – not because of a title or position – but because they are trusted. And that is true leadership.”
The program receives a stipend from the county, and there are 20 other community sponsors of programs throughout the year. The class members also pay tuition to be in Leadership Orleans.
Kathy Hodgins, chief executive officer of UConnectCare, was named Alumnus of the Year. Hodgins was in the inaugural class of 2018. She started 23 years ago with the agency, formerly known as GCASA. She began as a chemical dependency counselor in 2002 and worked her was up to becoming CEO.
The 27 members of the class representing several sectors in the community, including agriculture, education, human services, government, business and volunteerism
The program aims to build the “citizen capital” of the community, helping develop leaders who are educated on the many facets of the community.
This year’s graduates include:
Trisha Allen, project director for UConnectCare Behavioral Health Services in Albion
Jami Allport, executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern
Tyler Baker, technical resource manager for Lake Ontario Fruit in Albion
Marissa Bell, social scientist for U.S. Department of Energy
Marcy Boyce, office manager for Arc GLOW in Albion
Candace Casey, coordinator of work-based learning at Iroquois Job Corps in Shelby
Aeddon Cayea, deputy director of United Way of Orleans County
Wendy Cruz, manager of Project Salus, a program of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
Jodi Fisher, program director for GO Art!
Alishia Foss, resource specialist for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
Randy Heslor, production supervisor for The Print Shop in Medina
Tim Ingrassia, operational excellence manager for Baxter Healthcare
Riki Lake, logistics/finance for CHPC in Medina
Ryan Lasal, director of programming for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
Becky Manfreda, assistant superintendent of instruction for Albion Central School
Kristine Mostyn, director of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina
Amanda Nash, transportation director for Western New York Energy
Kevin Neureuter Jr., director of IT for Orleans County
Alana Palone, clinic administrator for Orleans Community Health
Jillian Peracciny, public information assistant for Orleans/Niagara BOCES
Abby Smith, literacy director for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County
Alyssa Thomas, clinic/SPOA coordinator for Orleans County Mental Health Clinic
Quinton VerCruysee, equipment operations manager for Orchard Dale Fruit Company in Carlton
Michael Weller, library assistant at Hoag Library in Albion
Nick Wetherwax, senior director technical solutions at Info Advantage Inc. in Rochester
Bryce Wilson, farmer with Panek Farms in Albion
Corey Winters, director of Orleans County Department of Planning and Development
Nick Wetherwax (left), senior director of Technical Solutions, Info Advantage, Inc., and Riki Lake, Logistics/Finance for CHPC, were picked by the class to be the presenters and reflect on the year’s highlights. Lake won the award for winning the most points throughout the year for different competitions and activities.
Both said they learned so much about Orleans County and felt a strong bond with their classmates.
Wetherwax, 35, said he was particularly impressed visiting many of the local farmers and agricultural businesses to see how they are using technology and adapting.
Michael Weller, a library assistant at Hoag Library, is congratulated for completing the program. He is the seventh Hoag staff member to graduate from Leadership Orleans.
Weller, 36, said the year proved eye-opening. The tour of the ethanol plant in Medina was a highlight.
“It’s so big and so technical,” Weller said about Western New York Energy. “It was really cool to see.”
Jami Allport, executive director of the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, said she made strong connections with other class members, resulting in collaborations to serve the community.
She noted how her agency, GOMOC, has teamed with Community Action in some initiatives. She and Ryan Lasal, director of Programming for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, are both in the class. They are also Albion graduates from the same era.
Allport said a tour of the county jail was a strong memory.
Lasal, 40, said he expects many in the class will continue to work together on projects serving the community.
“This has been a great opportunity to parter with other organizations in the county,” Lasal said.
Randy Heslor, production supervisor of the The Print Shop in Medina, was among the graduates.
Kristine Mostyn, director of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, walks up to accept her certificates for completing Leadership Orleans.
Amanda Nash, commodity & transportation manager for Western New York Energy, completed the year-long Leadership Orleans.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) issued the following statement in response to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s announcement that she is exiting the race for governor of New York.
“Congresswoman Stefanik has been a powerful and principled voice for New York and our nation, and her decision to step aside from the governor’s race is disappointing to many of us who believed she would bring the bold leadership our state desperately needs, but I completely understand and respect her desire to spend more time with her family” said Hawley. “Like so many of my colleagues, I want to thank her for her years of service and for her willingness to step forward at a critical moment for New York.”
Hawley echoed sentiments expressed by leaders across the state who praised Stefanik for clearly identifying the direction New York has taken under the current administration, a direction defined by rising costs, declining public safety, runaway spending and an increasingly rigid, top-down approach to energy policy that forces an all-electric agenda onto families, businesses, schools and local governments.
Hawley stressed that New York needs a drastic change in executive leadership to stop the bleeding and restore balance, accountability and opportunity.
“That’s why I have full confidence that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is the prescription New York needs,” Hawley said. “He understands how to apply tight fiscal policy by cutting waste, restoring public safety and promoting economic growth without crushing taxpayers. Blakeman has shown what responsible leadership looks like, and I believe he can bring that same discipline and results to the governor’s office.”
“New York is at a crossroads,” Hawley concluded. “We can continue down the same failed path, or we can choose real leadership that puts people, affordability, and freedom first. I remain committed to fighting for that change.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley represents the 139th Assembly District, which includes parts of Erie, Genesee, Monroe, and Orleans counties.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 December 2025 at 9:22 pm
KENDALL – Matt Kludt of Kludt Brothers Farm is back on the leaderboard among the top corn growers in the state.
Kludt finished third in New York with 307.8705 bushels in strip-till, minimum-till, mulch-till, ridge-till non-irrigated class.
Matthew Swede of Piffard was first at 311.2497 bushels, with Ryan Swede of Pavilion second at 309.0837 bushels.
Kludt won the state title three straight from 2014 to 2016.
The National Corn Growers Association has held the yield contest for 61 years. This year there were nearly 7,800 entries from farmers in 47 states. Entrants across 10 production categories had verified yields averaging 269 bushels per acre.
The highest yield for the year came out of Charles City, Virginia – 572.2589 bushels per acre in Class H (strip-till irrigated) for David Hula.
“The Yield Contest is really about finding out what this crop is capable of,” said Ohio grower and NCGA President Jed Bower. “And as corn farmers, we get to show what we’re made of, too. It challenges participants to find innovative ways to succeed and contribute to decades of agronomic data that prove that American farmers are great at what we do.”
The winners will be honored at the Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, from February 25-27.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 23 December 2025 at 8:49 pm
Five pins sparked Roy-Hart/Barker to a 38-28 win at Albion in a Niagara-Orleans League wrestling match this evening.
Remington Marohn (132), Luke Fay (150), Lincoln Murray (175), Aaden Munn (190) and Liam Silsby (215) all notched pins for Roy-Hart/Barker which also got a technical fall win by RJ Townsend (285) and a decision win by Max Liuzzi (103).
Stryker Sanders (118), Drake Schomske (126) and Jaxon Lynch (165) all registered pins for Albion as Parker Roberts (144) had a major decision win.
Roy-Hart/Barker is now 2-1 and Albion 1-2 in N-O action.
Wilson 30, Medina 26
Wilson edged visiting Medina 30-26 to improve to 1-2 in N-O competition.
Ryan Frentz (144) and Tyler Raduns (175) scored wins for Medina which slips to 0-3.
