Page Sponsor
Medina committee working on 18th annual Parade of Lights on Nov. 28
Provided photo
MEDINA – The Parade of Lights Planning Committee is working on the details for the 18th annual lighted parade in Medina.
This year’s parade will be on Nov. 28 and will cap the Olde Tyme Christmas celebration in the village.
The committee is shown at its meeting on Wednesday night at the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. Pictured left include Kevin DeHollander, Sue DeHollander, Cindy Robinson, Barb Hancock, Jim Hancock, Gail Miller and Reinhard Rogowski. Back row: Kathie Valley, Nicole Bensley, Todd Bensley and Mollie Mark.
The committee urges local businesses, organizations and residents to prepare a float for the parade or consider being a sponsor for the event. Entries forms to be in the parade are due by Nov. 25. Click here to see the Olde Tyme Christmas website for more information.
Hrovat has decades of experience, community service to prepare her as Yates town supervisor
Editor:
With early voting beginning October 24th and election day right around the corner, it is important for voters to know who is on the ballot in their community.
In the Town of Yates, there is an election for the Yates Town Supervisor, and Sue Hrovat will be on the ballot. Sue (and many others) passed petitions by going door to door, discussing issues, and meeting with registered Republicans throughout the Town of Yates.
The petition process is unique and indicative of democracy in our country. It provides any person the ability and opportunity to pass petitions to force a primary for a political party’s line if they are not nominated by a political party, in accordance with state laws and filing deadlines.
Our democracy also provides the ability for candidates to seek elected office as a write-in candidate. This is one of the great parts of our democracy—the ability to give voters a choice. I have no problem with this; I have personally been elected as a write-in candidate myself.
Having a choice is healthy for democracy. While having a choice is vital, selecting a candidate with proven leadership is equally important, which is why Sue Hrovat stands out. She is highly qualified, motivated, and capable to lead the Town of Yates as Town Supervisor, possessing the exact experience and expertise needed to manage town government.
Sue has been involved in our community for decades, taking on roles in various organizations well before she ever sought elected office. I went to school with her children, and looking back, she was always a reliable and steady presence in the community—attributes that continue today.
Balancing community needs with regulations, labor laws, and financial constraints is a demanding and often thankless responsibility. I am thankful we have someone like Sue Hrovat willing to step up, and I am proud to support her as our next Yates Town Supervisor.
Respectfully,
James C. White
Lyndonville
VFW in Medina led Stop 22 Walk to highlight suicide prevention for veterans
Photo and information courtesy of Deborah Berry, VFW Auxiliary treasurer
MEDINA – Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post and Auxiliary members from the VFW Lincoln Post 1483 in Medina held a Stop 22 Walk on Oct. 8 to increase the public awareness of suicide prevention for veterans.
The members walked 22 minutes along Medina Business District. The 22 minutes represents the daily average of 22 veterans who die by suicide.
A veteran in any type of need or service is encouraged to reach out to our VFW Post 1483 at 216 East Center Street in Medina. Help is also available at the National Veteran Crisis Hotline 1-800-273-8255.
Participants were VFW 1483 Post members Patrick Little, Mike Owczarczak,and Jim Nudd; VFW Aux members Dave and Debbie Berry, Tammy Pogel, Stacy Newell, Jada Burgess, Thomas Burgess Jr., and Thomas Burgess Sr.; and community member Don Dubois.
Holley celebrates ‘spectacular’ new mural by Public Square
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – The Holley community celebrated a new mural today. Mary Jo Whitman, a 1995 Holley graduate, created the “Holley is Home” mural on the Geddes Street side of the Heath and Heath law offices at 66 Public Square.
Whitman said she appreciated the chance to reconnect with her hometown. She now lives in Batavia.
Mary Jo Whitman stands next to the mural she painted on the Heath and Heath law offices.
Whitman was approached by Holley mayor Mark Bower to paint the mural. He wanted it to feature local landmarks. Whitman came to Holley and photographed landmarks, printed out the photos and visualized how the mural could look.
Whitman painted the Salisbury Fountain, the Holley Waterfalls, the gazebo by the canal, the old Holley High School and the block of storefronts in the Public Square that incudes Sam’s Diner.
“She did a most spectacular job,” Bower said during the mural dedication today.
He praised Whitman for engaging with many residents while she was working on the mural.
The mayor noted the community added other new murals recently. Arthur Barnes painted a large agricultural scene on the back of the Community Free Library in 2024. Tony Barry painted a large-scale Erie Canal-themed mural on the back of the library in 2023.
Barry, a retired Holley teacher, was one of Whitman’s teachers when she was a Holley student. Barry and Barnes both attended the mural dedication today.
Doug Heath, owner of the Heath and Heath building, said Whitman did an amazing job. Doug is the fourth generation of Heaths to be a lawyer locally. His great-grandfather, Edward Heath started in Bergen in 1895, followed by his son Mark and then Doug’s father, Robert Heath. The family has been in Holley for more than 100 years. Doug has been working as a lawyer in Holley for 41 years.
Mary Jo Whitman thanked the Holley mayor and village clerk Rainey Losee for their support of the project. Losee was a key partner in getting a grant application completed through the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (Go Art!). The project was funded with a $7,500 grant through Go Art! That money came from the New York State Council on the Arts.
Whitman thanked Clarence Moyer for loaning her use of a lift to paint the high parts of the mural.
Whitman signed the lower right corner of the mural, in a final piece of the painting.
Medina scores 5 set volleyball victory
Medina outlasted visiting Health Sciences from Buffalo in five sets 27-25, 25-23, 24-26, 22-25, 15-9 in a regular season ending non league volleyball match this evening.
Grace Goodrich and Cassidy Janas both had 3 aces, Maya Anderson 2 kills and 2 blocks, Hailey Moore 3 aces and 1 kill, Sam Heschke 2 aces and 1 kill and Jenna Cecchini 2 aces and 1 kill to lead the way for the Mustangs.
Lyndonville/Barker and Kendall both score Section V boys soccer playoff victories
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville/Barker’s Jesus Reyes Rosario works to get the ball up field against Pembroke defenders Gavin Liss and Patrick Reeves during this evening’s sectional game at Barker won by Lnydonville/Barker.
A pair of second half goals powered No. 8 seed Lyndonville/Barker to a 2-0 win over No. 9 Pembroke in the opening round of the Section V Class C1 boys soccer playoff game this evening at Barker.
Drew LaGreca and Iziah Rodriquez scored the goals both coming off assists from Jesus Reyes Rosario.
Lyndonville/Barker next visits top seeded East Rochester on Saturday.
Kendall 2, Perry 0
No. 9 Kendall likewise blanked host No. 8 Perry 2-0 in a Section V Class C2 contest.
Brenden Eichas and Andrew Cole scored the goals for the Eagles as CJ D’Agostino had an assist.
Kendall next visits top seeded Geneseo on Saturday.
Section VI Class B
Southwestern 4, Newfane 3
No. 6 Southwestern edged visiting No. 11 Newfane in a Section VI Class B opening round game on Tuesday.
Dwayne Dawes scored 2 goals and Brody Miller 1 for Newfane.
Lyndonville/Barker’s Maddox Smith works to keep the ball away from Pembroke’s Lincoln Landis.
Contributed Photo – Kendall’s Andrew Cole, who scored one of the Eagles goals, puts a shot on net during this evening’s sectional win over host Perry.
Barker/Lyndonville wins sectional opener; Roy-Hart/Medina scores shootout victory
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker/Lyndonville’s Elysse Dillenbeck looks to pass to Natalie Rath during this afternoon’s sectional win over Franklinville at Barker.
Pulling away in the second half, No. 8 seed Barker/Lyndonville defeated No. 9 Franklinville 5-1 in the opening round of the Section VI Class C girls soccer playoffs this afternoon at Barker.
Leading by a narrow 2-1 margin at the half, Barker/Lyndonville put a lock on the victory on second half goals by Natalie Rath, Ayla Riches and Trinity McGovern. Braelynn Dillenbeck and Villette Jary had assists during that stretch.
Elysse Dillenbeck scored two goals in the first half for Barker/Lyndonville off assists from Braelynn Dillenbeck and Arnie Sturtevant.
The victory advances Barker/Lyndonville to the quarterfinals at top seeded Wilson on Saturday at noon.
Roy-Hart/Medina 2, Iroquois 1
No. 10 seed Roy-Hart/Medina outlasted host No. 7 Iroquois 2-1 in a shootout in a Section VI Class A contest this afternoon.
Peyton Johengen scored the game winner for Roy-Hart/Medina on a penalty kick in the shootout.
Maria Trombley scored Roy-Hart/Medina’s other goal in the first half.
Roy-Hart/Medina next visits No. 2 Starpoint in the quarterfinals at noon on Saturday. Starpoint blanked No. 15 Dunkirk 10-0 this afternoon.
Section VI Class B
Southwestern 3, Albion 0
No. 8 seed Southwestern downed visiting No. 8 Albion 3-0 in a Section VI Class B game.
Barker/Lyndonville’s Izzy Nesbitt advances the ball against Franklinvolle’s Alayna Spittler.
Area hits peak fall foliage conditions
Robyn Ottaviano shared these photos today of a journey to the waterfalls in Medina. She paddled a kayak along the Oak Orchard Creek to get here photos.
Orleans County and much of Western New York are in peak conditions for fall foliage, the state’s tourism agency reported today in its weekly fall foliage update.
“The progression of bright and vibrant fall colors across New York State continues this weekend with peak foliage throughout much of the Capital-Saratoga, Greater Niagara, Chautauqua-Allegheny and Hudson Valley regions, and near-peak and peak leaves dominating the Finger Lakes and central and southern portions of the Thousand Islands,” according to the update from I LOVE NY.
The leaves in the Adirondacks and Catskills are mostly past-peak, while foliage at midpoint of change is sweeping across Long Island, according to the report.
A volunteer observer in Orleans County reports lots of vibrant colors on the leaves.
“75% change and peak at the Cobblestone Museum in Albion with bright amber leaves,” according to the observer.
The forecast shows sunny days with highs in Orleans County of 61 on Thursday, 55 on Friday, 61 on Saturday and 65 on Sunday.
Robyn Ottaviano took a photo of the fall foliage reflected in Oak Orchard Creek today.
This map from I LOVE NY shows the fall foliage conditions around the state.
Man arraigned on charges for attempted arson after allegedly throwing Molotov cocktail at Albion residence
Marquis Harrell
ALBION – A man who allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the home of the mother of his children was arraigned in Orleans County Curt today on four different charges.
Marquis Harrell, 22, of Newfane, in the early morning hours on Aug. 1, allegedly was driven by an Uber driver to his ex-girlfriend’s. Police say Harrell threw a Molotov cocktail at the home, causing charring and siding damage.
Albion police officers were dispatched to the scene at about 3 a.m. on Aug. 1. Harrell’s ex-girlfriend said she received multiple threatening text messages and emails from Harrell, despite a stay away order of protection for him to not have contact with her.
The messages included threats to harm her and set her residence on fire by way of Molotov cocktail, Albion police said.
Harrell was arraigned in court today for attempted arson in the first degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and criminal contempt.
Harrell has been held in the Orleans County Jail since his arrest. Public defender Joanne Best asked that he be released on his recognizance but County Court Judge Sanford Church insisted that bail remain at $10,000 cash, $20,000 bond and $50,000 partially secured bond.
Best told the judge she requested a psychological evaluation be done on Harrell while his case was at the town court level but hasn’t received any results or updates.
Callard earns Empire 8 weekly honor
Contributed Photo – Cole Callard
Medina High graduate and SUNY Cortland sophomore placekicker Cole Callard has been named Empire 8 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.
Callard had 6 extra point kicks and a 32 yard field goal in Cortland’s 45-7 win over Alfred University on Saturday.
For the season to date he is 31 of 33 in extra point kicks and 6 of 7 in field goal attempts.
For his two year career he has made 83 extra point kicks and 12 field goals with the longest being 37 yards.
Callard is majoring in Sport Management.
Red Dragons junior quarterback Mike Rescigno, who completed 23 of 33 passes for 241 yards and 3 touchdowns, was named Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week.
Cortland is 6-0 on the season and is ranked 11th nationally in Division III.
The Red Dragons host St. John Fisher (5-1) on Saturday.
