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Y will again offer kayaks, hydro-bikes on Erie Canal
Bent’s Opera House covering costs this season for free use for public
File photo by Tom Rivers: These three people enjoy hydro-bikes on the Erie Canal in Medina in July 2023 near the Horan Road bridge. The hydro-bikes were offered for free in an “On the Canals” program where hydro-bikes and kayaks can be rented for free through the Orleans County YMCA. Bent’s Opera House is covering the cost for the kayaks and hydro-bikes to be offered free to the community and visitors this season.
MEDINA – This summer the YMCA will again offer its Canal Club program for people to have fun while exercising on Erie Canal with kayaks and hydro-bikes.
Beginning this week the Y will be allowing people to go kayaking and to pedal the hydro-bikes from Thursdays to Saturdays, from noon to 9 p.m. The program ends on Aug. 9.
People can sign up on Event Brite and rent them for free. (Go to eventbrite.com and search for kayaks and hydro-bikes to make a reservation.) The Y has 10 kayaks and four hydro-bikes from prior years. Bent’s Opera House is covering the costs of the Y’s staff time to run the program.
“We want people to get out and enjoy the summer and the canal,” said Coby Albone, who helps run the program for the Y. “It’s here and it’s free for them to use.”
No experience is needed. Participants need to be at least 12 years old. The Y will have the kayaks and hydro-bikes behind Captain Kidz at 143 East Center St.
The Y received the kayaks and hydro-bikes in 2020 through grants from the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation and the Erie Canalway Corridor’s Consolidated Fund.
The state covered the Y’s staffing costs to run the program with the “On the Canals” initiative in 2021 and 2022. About 1,200 people signed up to use the kayaks and hydro-bikes those years. Albone said the Y would like to reach 2,000 users this summer.
He thanked Bent’s Opera House for its financial assistance this year.
Honors presented at N-O Coaches Banquet
Contributed Photos – Highlighting Monday’s annual Niagara-Orleans League Coaches Banquet was the honoring of two new Foundation Award recipients, former Roy-Hart Coach Mark Rydza and former Medina Coach Kristi Young. Rydza, holding his plaque at left, was presented his award by Barker Athletic Director and Roy-Hart graduate Rob Mucha. Rydza was a long time basketball and golf coach at Roy-Hart. Young was presented her award by Medina Athletic Director Eric Valley. She was a long time field hockey and softball coach at Medina.
Recipients of the N-O Sportsmanship Coaches awards were, from left, Gordy Luthart (Medina), Paul DerSarkissian (Barker) and Kerry Atlas (Wilson).
Distinguished Service Awards were presented to Norm Palmer (Newfane), at left, and Scott Dinse (Wilson) holding his plaque at right. Palmer received his award from Akron Athletic Director John Morello. Dinse received his award from Wilson Athletic Director Jeff Roth.
Albion and Lyndonville tie in 18U contest
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Drew Pritchard sides into third base as Lyndonville’s Shawn Robertson applies the tag during Tuesday’s 18U game at Lyndonville.
Albion and Lyndonville played to a 7-7 tie in a GLOW 18U Division baseball game at Lyndonville Tuesday evening that was halted after five innings.
GLOW League rules state that no new inning can be started after 8:15 thus the stoppage of play after five innings.
Albion jumped out to an early 2-0 lead by scoring once in the first inning on a double by Nate Gibson and once in the second on an error following a double by Mason Snook.
Lyndonville rallied into a 3-2 lead in the third inning on a three-run single by Atticus Mank.
However, Albion answered with 5 runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Snook, two passed balls, a wild pitch and a bases loaded walk to regain the lead at 7-3.
GLOW League rules also limit the number of runs that can be scored in an inning to 5.
Lyndonville though again came rallying back to knot the contest at 7-7 by scoring once in the fourth on a balk and three times in the fifth on a hit batter and a two-run double by Thomas Blake. He also had a double to set up the fourth inning tally.
Albion is now 3-0-1 and Lyndonville 0-2-1.
Starting on the mound were Aaron Woodrow for Albion and Quincy McClinsey for Lyndonville.
Heminway wins big in Shelby, with Coville taking primary in Barre
Jim Heminway scored a decisive victory in the Republican primary today for Shelby town supervisor, topping incumbent Scott Wengewicz, 283 to 118.
Wengewicz was endorsed by the Shelby Republican Committee and so were Vassilios Bitsas and Michael Moriarty. But they also were defeated by Republican challengers Lawrence Waters Sr. and Edward Żelazny.
In Barre, Stephen Coville II topped Scott Burnside in a primary for town supervisor to replace Sean Pogue, who is retiring after this year. Coville won, 155 to 120.
Barre Republicans also picked David Allen and Wes Miller, the Republican-endorsed candidates, over George and Iva McKenna.
In Yates, Bill Jurinich was the top vote-getter among three candidates for two spots on the Town Board. Harold Suhr was the other candidate to win the primary.
Election results include:
Barre
Town Supervisor – Stephen Coville II, 155; Scott Burnside, 120.
Town Council (two positions) – David Allen, 150; Wesley Miller, 149; George McKenna, 127; and Iva McKenna, 124.
Shelby
Town Supervisor – James Heminway, 283; Scott Wengewicz, 118.
Town Council (two positions) – Edward Żelazny, 293; Lawrence Waters Sr., 245; Michael Moriarty, 122; and Vassilios Bitsas, 105
Yates
Town Council (two positions) – William Jurinich, 111; Harold Suhr, 87; and Terry Chaffee, Jr., 65.
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Attorney General seeks limits on high-speed police vehicle chases
Press Release, New York Attorney General Letitia James
Letitia James
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today released a report on police vehicle pursuits and proposed reforms to help keep New Yorkers safe.
Police vehicle pursuits have been shown to increase danger and result in injury or fatalities to drivers, passengers, bystanders, and police. In the report titled “Improving Policing and Public Safety: Problems Presented by Police and Vehicle Pursuits,” the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) reviews and analyzes available data showing how police vehicle pursuits harm New Yorkers, what other jurisdictions are doing to address police pursuits, and makes recommendations for reform.
“Millions of New Yorkers take to the roads each day, and they deserve policing and traffic enforcement that is safe, fair, and effective,” said Attorney General James. “The evidence is clear: police vehicle pursuits and high-speed car chases can be dangerous and even fatal, and it is time for a change. We are proposing these reforms to improve public safety for everyone on the road – drivers, passengers, and law enforcement.”
The report (click here) finds that some of the most extreme harm to New Yorkers happens when routine traffic stops escalate into pursuits or high-speed police chases. Although there is no mandatory centralized database for high-speed pursuits by law enforcement agencies in New York or nationwide, data pulled from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) maintained by the Department of Transportation (DOT) found that from 1996 to 2015, an average of 355 people – nearly one person per day – were killed annually in pursuit-related crashes. The report also reviewed several examples of police vehicle pursuits in New York that put both drivers and police officers in danger and led to civilian fatalities.
States and localities that have made changes to traffic enforcement and police vehicle pursuit policies in order to minimize harm and improve public safety have already seen successes. The OAG recommends New York implement similar statewide reforms to keep New Yorkers safe, including:
- Pass legislation to increase transparency. New York law enforcement agencies should be required to track and publish data about traffic pursuits and high-speed chases to improve public accountability, evaluate agency performance, and help oversight agencies protect civil liberties and civil rights. This data collection should be facilitated by a centralized agency such as the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
- Ban high-speed police pursuits with narrow exceptions. Though high-speed chases can be deadly, OAG recognizes they may be necessary when a serious or violent felony has been or will be committed or when the driver’s conduct poses an imminent threat of death to themselves, bystanders, or police officers. Narrow exceptions for use of high-speed police pursuits would eliminate police chases that risk harming drivers, passengers, bystanders, and officers.
The clear danger of high-speed chases has led many jurisdictions across the country to take steps to update their enforcement practices. Some jurisdictions have banned pursuits and chases with limited exceptions, while others have implemented new policies that allow officers to use discretion within set guidelines when determining whether or not to initiate a chase. For example, Milwaukee changed its policy to require police officers to have probable cause for a violent felony before initiating a vehicle pursuit after a series of pursuit-related deaths in 2010.
In New York, laws and policies vary based on location. In New York City, a recent policy change limits officer discretion to initiate vehicle pursuit to only the most serious and violent crimes, not traffic infractions or low-level crimes.
In Buffalo, pursuits are banned if they are in response to a traffic violation, a misdemeanor, or another non-violent felony, and in Albany, officers are required to consider several factors before starting a chase, including the threat posed to the public, seriousness of the offense, and possibility of apprehending the individual at a later time.
Several students from Orleans named to UB’s spring 2025 Dean’s List
BUFFALO – The following local students from Orleans County were named to the University at Buffalo’s spring 2025 Dean’s List:
- Daniel Barry of Lyndonville
- Jylees Bermudez of Albion
- Adriana Botello of Kendall
- Caiden Class of Medina
- Thomas Costello of Medina
- Nathan Dillenbeck of Lyndonville
- Matthew Drum of Medina
- Anthony Gagliardo of Medina
- Kevin He of Albion
- Emma Jacobs of Medina
- Jonah Karnyski of Albion
- Jordan Marshall of Albion
- Elizabeth McCarthy of Medina
- Jaklin Mofardin of Lyndonville
- S’koi Sanders of Albion
- Hilda Santiago Bautista of Medina
UB is New York State’s flagship university and the largest and most comprehensive institution in the State University of New York system.
“Each semester brings new opportunities to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our students,” said Ann Bisantz, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education. “The scholars named to this semester’s undergraduate dean’s list exemplify what it means to pursue academic excellence with purpose, passion, and integrity. We are proud to honor their achievements and look forward to the impact they will continue to make.”
Missing girl from Albion is back home with her family
ALBION – Kendra Wilston has been safely located and is back home with her family, the Albion Police Department reported this afternoon.
Wilston, 14, ran away from home on Friday and hadn’t been seen from her family since around 6 p.m. that day.
4 from Orleans graduate from Buffalo State College
BUFFALO – Buffalo State University is pleased to congratulate students from Orleans County who completed the requirements to earn their baccalaureate and graduate degrees in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025.
• Nicolina Creasey of Albion graduated from Buffalo State with a BS in Speech-Language Pathology.
• India Green of Albion graduated from Buffalo State with a BS in Individualized Studies.
• Madison Williams of Medina graduated from Buffalo State with a BA in Media Production.
• Alexis Jones of Medina graduated from Buffalo State with a MSED in Childhood and Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction.
Medina urged to change zoning for 46 acres of vacant land to allow more housing
Some residents don’t want to see more rental units in village
Photos by Tom Rivers: Ken DeRoller, a former county legislator who is part of a housing task force in the county, urges the Medina Village Board to support a zoning change to allow mixed use housing on 46 vacant acres at 450 West Oak Orchard St.
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board was told 46 vacant acres near the school district on West Oak Orchard Street represents a great opportunity for much-needed housing development in the community.
Sieck Wholesale Florist owns the land off West Oak Orchard Street. The land is zoned light industrial which doesn’t allow housing.
Ed Michel of Sieck Wholesale wants to use 46 acres for housing and keep the other 8.8 acres of the property as light industrial. That land is next to the railroad and includes a cell tower, an old boiler and another older building.
The Village of Medina Planning Board has recommended the zoning be changed for 46 vacant acres to planned residential community. That allows for mixed use housing and also gives the village more oversight in how the property is developed.
During a public hearing on Monday, some residents said the village is saturated with rental properties and they don’t want more poorly kept rental units that could be a blight on the community. One resident said to keep the zoning as light industrial to allow for more business development in Medina.
Nyla Gaylord, the executive director of the United Way in Orleans County, said a housing shortage is threatening the community’s ability to grow. For businesses to come to Medina, there needs to be more housing for their workers, she said.
J. Lincoln Swedrock, an engineer and vice president with BME Associates in Fairport, said the owner of the acres wants to find out if the land will be rezoned before committing to a detailed plan for the property. Ed Michel of Sieck Wholesale wants a mixed-use option for the property with single-family houses as well as multi-family town houses.
Orleans County overall needs more housing options from single family construction, to affordable rentals for young adults and senior citizens, Gaylord said.
“We have some scary data for our community if we don’t allow more property to be developed for housing,” Gaylord said.
A housing report shared last month by the United Way’s Housing Task Force included the following data:
- Orleans County population dipped from 44,178 in 2020 to 42,850 in 2010 to 39,124 in 2024.
- School enrollments at the five districts are down from 8,225 in 2010 to 5,505 in 2022. The enrollments for 2022 include 1,782 in Albion, 1,391 in Medina, 992 in Holley, 708 in Kendall and 632 in Lyndonville.
- The share of population ages 0 to 4 decreased from 5.3 percent in 2010 to 4.7 percent in 2022, while share of population 65 and older increased from 14.4 percent in 2010 to 20.2 percent in 2022.
- Building permits for new houses are trending down. The county had 83 permits for new houses in 2004 but that was down to 33 in 2020, 21 in 2021, 2 in 2022 and 16 in 2023.
Dean Bellack of the United Way said getting more units should be a high priority in the county so more workers can live locally.
“The big question is do you want to stay in a declining county?” Bellack said.
He said more workers in the county are coming from outside Orleans than those who live in the community.
“These are critical problems,” Gaylord said. “We need to make changes now.”
Ken DeRoller, a former county legislator who has been active with the housing task force, said the vacant acres within the village are a great opportunity for Medina to add housing to keep and attract residents.
Other residents said the developer should provide the detailed plans for the property before the zoning change is approved. Once the zoning is changed to housing, Medina will be limited in how it can influence what happens on the property, said Scott Carlton, a village resident.
“We’re getting ahead of ourselves,” he said.
Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman said the development would be subject to scrutiny and more public meetings if the zoning is changed to allow for housing. She said the zoning change is just step one in the process. A site plan would follow later.
J. Lincoln Swedrock, an engineer and vice president with BME Associates in Fairport, responded to concerns that the property may be contaminated. He said the DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) shows there is no contamination on the vacant land. There was a spill from Fisher Price but a monitoring well hasn’t detected any contaminants in about 40 years, Swedrock said.
The developer will work on plans if the zoning change is approved, he said. There needs to be a mix of housing with some townhouses to allow more units so a project would be economically feasible, he said.
The board didn’t vote on the issue on Monday, opting to wait until Trustee Mark Prawel also can be at the meeting. The board may vote on the issue at its next meeting on July 14.
Conservative Party leaders attack forms of government without knowing the differences
Editor:
A quick thought regarding Paul Lauricella’s very well written and informative letter endorsing his “friend” Bill Jurinich for Yates town councilman. As comprehensive as his letter is, one paramount vetting question that should be required answering for every single candidate was erroneously omitted.
As follows please …
“Bill, in order to be effective, do you actually understand what ‘communism,’ ‘socialism’ and ‘fascism’ are and how they differ from one another as well as other forms of government?”
I include this question because it is agonizingly clear that some in conservative leadership seek to mislead the public by their ignorant and careless misappropriation of these words as though they’re peeing in the wind.
Again, thank you Mr. Lauricella for a thoughtful, well written, and meaningful letter.
Tom Graham
Rochester
Graham is a member of Albion High School’s Class of 1978.
Medina man charged after allegedly threatening others, including police, with a knife
MEDINA – The Medina Police Department has charged James Moore, 63, with menacing a police officer, a class D felony; second-degree menacing and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, both class A misdemeanors.
Moore was charged after police were dispatched on June 19 at 9:18 p.m. to Catherine Street for a man with a knife who had allegedly threatened someone.
Upon arrival, Medina officers made contact with a person who assisted in locating the suspect in the area of the lift bridge, the Medina PD reported.
When officers made contact with Moore, he allegedly had a knife in hand and raised it towards the officers as they approached. A Taser was deployed and Moore was taken into custody without further incident, the police department reported.
Moore was transported to the Orleans County Jail for centralized arraignment.
Police Chief Todd Draper said officers Dustin Meredith and Tanner Ferris made the arrest. The chief said the Orleans County Sheriff’s road patrol and dispatch, the State Police and Medina Fire Department ambulance provided assistance with this incident.
Nine Mustangs earn N-O diamond honors
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s contingent of nine N-O All-League honorees. In back are first team selections Aidan Papaj, Vinny Gray, Carter Woodworth, Brody Fry, Preston Woodworth and Tyler Kroening. In front are Honorable Mention picks Cam Fike and Hadrian Batista and second team selection Ryleigh Culver.
Undefeated (12-0) champion Medina has placed a total of nine players on the annual Niagara-Orleans All-League baseball squad.
The Mustangs have six players on the first team including senior pitcher Brody Fry, sophomore pitcher Preston Woodworth, senior third baseman Carter Woodworth, sophomore shortstop Aidan Papaj, senior outfielder Tyler Kroening and junior outfielder Vinny Gray.
Fry, who has been named N-O Player of the Year for the second year in a row, and Papaj are both repeat first team honorees. Preston Woodworth and Carter Woodworth were both second team honorees last year.
The Mustangs have also placed senior catcher Ryleigh Culver on the second team while sophomore outfielder Hadrian Batista and sophomore first baseman Cam Fike have both earned Honorable Mention.
On the mound in N-O contests. Fry was 5-0 with 58 strikeouts and a 0.00 earned run average and Preston Woodworth 6-0 with 56 strikeouts and a 0.00 era. In all Mustangs pitchers earned shutouts in 10 of 12 league outings.
At the plate in league action, Papaj hit .459 with 3 double, 2 triples, 1 home run and 18 RBIs. Fry hit .455 with 4 doubles, 1 triple and 15 RBIs. Gray hit .444 with 2 doubles and 8 RBIs. Kroenimg hit .406 with 1 double and 5 RBIs. Carter Woodworth hit .382 with 7 doubles , 1 triple and 14 RBIs. Preston Woodworth hit .316 with 6 doubles and 16 RBIs.
Purple Eagles have a trio of first team N-O All-League baseball honorees
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s trio of first team honorees include Elliott Trapiss, Nate Gibson and Andrew Boyce.
Albion has placed three players on the first team of the Niagara-Orleans All-League baseball squad including senior outfielder Andrew Boyce, junior infielder Elliott Trapiss and junior catcher Nate Gibson.
The Purple Eagles have also placed sophomore infielder Gavin Boyce on the second team as junior outfielder Kaiden Froman has earned Honorable Mention.
In N-O games, Gibson hit .568 with 11 RBIs, Trapiss .375 with 12 RBIs and Boyce .318 with 3 RBIs.
Roy-Hart is represented on the first team by junior pitcher Gavin Heideman who had 78 strikeouts and a 1.66 earned run average. At the plate he hit .270 with 2 doubles and 5 RBIs.
The Rams have also placed junior infielder Sean Mettler and junior outfielder Evan Poeller on the second team as sophomore infielder RJ Townsend has received Honorable Mention.
Contributed Photos – Akron’s Hunter Haist and Ryan Owen and Roy-Hart’s Gaviin Heideman.
Rounding out the first team is the Akron duo of senior infielder Ryan Owen who hit .424 in N-O games and freshman infielder Hunter Haist who hit .341.
The Tigers have also placed junior outfielder Collin Miller on the second team as seniors Anthony Consiglio and Vincent Consiglio have both earned Honorable Mention.
Barker has a trio of second team honorees including senior infielders Isaac Monaco and Noah Sandolfini and junior outfielder Jackson Prynn.
The Bulldogs also have senior Tristen Garcia earning Honorable Mention.
Wilson also has a trio of second team honorees including senior pitchers Tyler Johnston and Tyler Durow and senior outfielder Aiden Flynn.
The Lakemen also have three Honorable Mention selections including senior Tyler Woolston, sophomore Cameron Bryer and freshman Luke Howard.
Newfane has placed sophomore infielder Matthew Kline on the second team as junior Tristen Smith has received Honorable Mention.
