Curtain Up! Local schools all performing musicals in March

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 March 2026 at 10:46 am

Photo courtesy of Erin Townsend Photography: Some of the Roy-Hart cast members in the upcoming production of The Addams Family include back row: Jaycie Heck as Grandma, Willow Clarke as Lurch, Collin Nicosia as Uncle Fester, and Fawn Elko as Wednesday Addams. Front row: Mailynn Dick as Morticia Addams, John Brigham as Gomez Addams and Isaac Schultz as Pugsley Addams.

It’s almost showtime for the local school districts with their annual musical productions.

Here are the upcoming shows:

Kendall Junior-Senior High School – Mary Poppins. The shows are at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 13; and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, in the JSHS Auditorium. Tickets are $7, and can be purchased at the main office. “We can’t wait for you to see this supercalifragilisticexpialidocious production!” the school district stated.

Albion Middle School Theater Department – School House Rock, Live. The shows are Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 14 at 12 and 7 p.m. in the MS Auditorium. Tickets are $5 at the door. “Thanks in advance for your support! Students cannot wait to see you in the audience,” the district stated.

Holley Middle/High School – Shrek the Musical. Shows will be at Holley Junior Senior High School Auditorium on March 13 at 7 p.m., and March 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online (click here) or at the Guidance Office. “Come see Holley High School’s talented student performers bring this magical show to life,” the district stated.

Roy-Hart Central School – The Addams Family. Shows are at the Roy-Hart HS Auditorium on Friday, March at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 14 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 15, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. Click here to purchase tickets online.

Lyndonville High School – Peter Pan. Shows are Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 22, at 2 p.m. Tickets will be $5. They can be purchased online (click here). “The production features students in grades 7-12. Join us at Lyndonville’s Stroyan Auditorium in March for this fantastic production!” the district stated.

Albion High School Drama Department – Annie. Shows will be in the MS Auditorium on Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, March 28 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 presale or at the door.

Medina business leading tea program at Middleport library on March 12

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 4 March 2026 at 8:50 am

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Angelina DiMascio, left, librarian at the Royalton-Hartland Community Library in Middleport, and Georgia Thomas of Medina discuss plans for an upcoming tea March 12 at the library, presented by English Rose Tea Shoppe, where Thomas volunteers. Here Thomas shows two types of tea cups used centuries ago. The cup on the left has a ledge with an opening in it for men with a mustache. At right is a Nippon porcelain tea cup made in Japan in the 1800s.

MIDDLEPORT – When the Royalton-Hartland Community Library had a request from a Friend of the Library to do a tea, the English Rose Tea Shoppe immediately came to mind.

Library director Angelina DiMascio contacted the tea shop’s owner Cindy Robinson, who turned the request over to tea connoisseur Georgia Thomas.

Georgia Thomas will demonstrate how to make tea at a program March 12 at Royalton-Hartland Community Library in Middleport. After polishing it, she will serve from this tea service which was once a gift to the late Robert H. Newell and is on display at the Medina Historical Society. Newell was founder of the Newell Shirt Factory in Medina.

Thomas not only volunteers to work at the tea shop, but has been drinking tea since she was a child.

Thomas will preside at a program about tea at 6 p.m. March 12 at the library, located at 9 Vernon St. Attendees are invited to dress in their fanciest tea party apparel.

“To me, tea is a family thing,” Thomas said. “My grandmother was Canadian, so she was very British and drank a lot of tea. Mom always made tea and she made tea sandwiches for Dr. Leone’s wife here in Medina. And being an Army wife, I spent a lot of afternoons drinking tea.”

Thomas’ presentation will include how tea became famous, all the instruments used to make and serve tea and foods that go along with tea. She will share how the Dutch and British Tea companies fought over doing business with the East Indies Trading Company.

“We actually had tea here in New Amsterdam, now New York, before the British ever knew what tea was,” Thomas said.

An interesting fact is that originally tea cups didn’t have handles. Tea, sugar and cream would be mixed in the cup and then it was poured into the saucer, which it was drunk from as the cup would be too hot to handle.

The first cup with a handle was designed by a potter in Britain by the name of Wedgewood, Thomas said.

Special cups with a ledge across it and a hole to drink from were used by men with a mustache.

At the March 12 presentation, Thomas will make and serve tea from a silver plated tea service which was owned by Robert H. Newell of Medina’s Newell Shirt Factory. The set had been given to him by a fire company and donated to the Medina Historical Society after Newell’s death. Thomas will have to spend a considerable amount of time polishing the tarnished set.

DiMascio said the program on tea was very timely with television programs such as “Downton Abbey” and “Bridgerton” being so popular right now.

“It is wonderful to learn about the history of tea and bring people in the community together,” DiMascio said.

The library has a full schedule of programs for the entire family all year, according to DiMascio.

One is story time for children up to age 5. Homeschool Hour is popular with home-schooled students and takes place in March at 2 p.m. on the 17th. March 17 events will also feature leprechaun traps at 2 p.m. and a Tween/Teen Tuesday program for youth 10 and older.

Coming up will be a community craft supply swap, in which the public can donate any gently used craft supplies they don’t want or need. On March 28, people can come in and take what they want.

On March 31 the library will offer adult craft night, where they will make spring decoupage plates.

To register for programs, especially the tea presentation on March 12, call the library at (716) 735-3281 or e-mail mdtrpt@nioga.org.

Trump leading most reckless administration in history of the country

Posted 4 March 2026 at 8:00 am

Editor:

So President Trump orders the bombing of Iran. He says to stop their ability to build a nuclear bomb which he already said the strikes on Iran months ago completely destroyed their capability to do so.

Then he indicates regime change is a goal. His Secretary of State says that Israel was going to bomb Iran so the US had to join them to protect US personnel and interests in the area and regime change was not an objective.

Hostilities commence and the crap hits the fan. US military installations in the area are not significantly hardened and Iranian munitions kill US service members and destroy assets. The commander in chief says there will be casualties as this happens in war, brilliant military mind he is. Then we lose three multimillion dollar aircraft to friendly fire. Actually our own planes were shot down with air defenses supplied by the US.

Iran targets our embassies and consulates in the area and civilian airports, stranding thousands of American citizens and the state department says we can’t help you and you are on your own and get out anyway you can.

So here we are. My take is when you fire every senior experienced and seasoned military leader, others resign rather than support the regime and replace them with Trump loyalists, the force is weakened. Especially when you have a totally incompetent Secretary of Defense.

During the DOGE purge many senior State Department staff were fired or resigned causing a large gap in the ability to anticipate, plan and protect citizens abroad. This is the most reckless and irresponsible administration in the history of the country. This nightmare will only stop when Americans wake up. So again I ask still not enough?

Thanks.

James Fraser, Colonel (Retired), USAF

Batavia

Westfield upsets Wilson in Class C semifinal

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 3 March 2026 at 7:34 pm

Leading from wire-to-wire, No. 4 seed Westfield upset top seeded Wilson 40-30 in the semifinal round of the Section VI Class C boys basketball playoffs this evening at Jamestown Community College.

Unable to get the offense untracked, cold shooting Wilson fell behind by margins of 11-10 at the end of the first quarter, 25-16 at the half and 32-24 at the end of the third period.

Grant Beadle scored 12, Braylon Swanson 9 and Logan Baum 6 to lead Westfield.

Aidan Neumann scored 11, Shamus George 8, Ryan Hough 6, Brock Lepsch 3 and Nick Lemke 2 for Wilson.

Westfield will now face the winner of the No. 2 Global Concepts vs. No. 6 Ellicottville semifinal in the Class C championship game on Saturday at Jamestown Community College.

Visitors paid $12K in new Medina bed tax in first 3 quarters

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 March 2026 at 4:48 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Comfort Inn and Suites on Maple Ridge Road in Medina has 58 rooms for guests. The hotel opened in March 2022.

MEDINA – The Village of Medina implemented a new 2 percent bed tax last June and it has generated just over $12,000 for the village so far.

Hotels, motels, short-term rentals and other lodging establishments need to pay the village the occupancy tax in quarterly payments. So far Medina has been through three quarters of the new tax and it has raised $12,318.71 for Medina, said Jada Burgess, Medina’s clerk-treasurer.

The 2 percent tax is on top of the 8 percent sales tax and Orleans County’s 4 percent bed tax.

The bed tax in Medina gives the village some new revenue at a time when it faces rising costs. The village has tried in recent years for a boost in the local sales tax revenue and also more money from the state in Aid and Incentives to Municipalities or AIM, but has seen little change from the county and state.

When the tax was implemented the Village Board didn’t designate how the funds would be spent, except to specify the money will be “allocated at the discretion of the Medina Village Board for any Village purpose.”

The village tried for several to get the tax in place, but it took approval from the State Legislature and the governor.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the bill on Nov. 22, 2024, culminating a process that started in 2018 with village officials looking to generate some additional money.

RTS plans to add bus shelter in Medina behind Medicine Shoppe near municipal lot

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 March 2026 at 4:13 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers: RTS Orleans has this bus shelter in Albion on South Main Street near Walgreens, and also has one in Holley along Route 31 near the Holley Gardens apartments, which is also the former Holley High School.

MEDINA – RTS Orleans expects to soon be adding a new bus shelter in Medina, a project that has been talked about for several years.

The transportation organization is planning to put the shelter off Church Street in a spot behind the Medicine Shoppe pharmacy near a municipal lot.

The shelter will be paid by RTS. It will be on a 7-by-17-foot concrete pad with a 5-by-9-foot ramp because the spot doesn’t have a sidewalk, said Mayor Marguerite Sherman. There will be one bench inside the shelter.

RTS expects to award the bid later this month. The project doesn’t need village permission except for the sign.

RTS has been looking for spots for the shelter and wanted it in the downtown area. It met with village officials and considered a shelter on a sidewalk, but the sidewalks were too narrow, Sherman said.

The spot behind the Medicine Shoppe allows the buses to pull in easily and they aren’t impeding traffic. They can also come into the shelter location from East Center Street near the St. John’s Episcopal Church, and they easily go around the church to head back to Albion, Sherman said.

The Regional Transit Service has run a public transportation service in Orleans County since 2003. It has six buses in the county, and they are parked outside by the County Highway Department on West Academy Street.

$87K in funding approved for youth programs, services in Orleans County

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 March 2026 at 12:43 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers: These kids enjoy the splash pad at Bullard Park last year on June 4 when temperatures were in the 80s. The Village of Albion runs a six-week summer recreation program.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has approved $86,658 towards youth programs and services in the county.

The Youth Bureau Resource Allocation Plan was developed by the Orleans County Youth Bureau and Department of Social Services. The joint plan makes the county eligible for state aid from the State Office of Children and Family Services.

The money is awarded to municipalities and community-based agencies. The county received funding requests for about $260,000, said Kelly Kiebala, the Youth Bureau administrator. There is a small amount of additional money that is expected to be awarded for youth programs in addition to the $86,658, Kiebala said.

The allocations are for three different programs: Municipal Youth Development Program, $44,768; Municipal Youth Sports & Education Opportunity Funding, $23,252; and Municipal Youth Team Sports, $18,638.

Here is a breakdown of the funding:

Municipal Youth Development Program:

  • Arc GLOW Camp Rainbow – $4,152.80
  • GLOW Works, Inc. (GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare) – $500
  • GLOW Works, Inc. (GLOW With Your Hands: Manufacturing) – $500
  • Hoag Library Summer Reading – $500
  • Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension – $1,500
  • Orleans County Probation Juvenile Adjustment Services – $16,000
  • PTA New York Congress – Albion Elementary PTA – $900
  • Town of Kendall Recreation – $2,000
  • Village of Albion Recreation – $2,000
  • Village of Holley Recreation – $2,000
  • Village of Medina Recreation – $1,500
  • Orleans County Youth Bureau Annual Awards – $2,000
  • Orleans County Youth Bureau Family Game Night – $2,000
  • Orleans County Youth Bureau – $6,715.20

Municipal Youth Sports & Education Opportunity:

  • Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension – $1,500
  • Village of Albion Recreation – $17,264.20
  • Village of Holley Recreation – $1,000
  • Orleans County Youth Bureau – $3,487.80

Municipal Youth Teams Sports:

  • Albion High School Alumni Foundation for the Albion Soccer Club – $3,500
  • Albion Youth Football and Cheerleading – $3,500
  • Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy – $8,842
  • Orleans County Youth Bureau – $2,795

Mustangs seek Class B1 title Wednesday

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 3 March 2026 at 10:18 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Kendrick Russaw and his Mustangs teammates will face Olmsted in the Section VI Class B1 championship game at 6 p.m. Wednesday at SUNY Fredonia.

Looking to keep the momentum from Saturday’s come-from-behind semifinal victory, No. 5 seed Medina will now face No. 2 Olmsted in the championship game of the Section VI Class B1 boys basketball playoffs at 6 p.m. Wednesday at SUNY Fredonia.

The Mustangs gained a spot in the title contest by rallying from a 44-40 deficit with a big 22-8 fourth quarter scoring surge to defeat No.9 Southwestern 62-52 in the semifinals.

Olmsted advanced with a 49-34 win over No. 6 Springville.

The Mustangs bring a 16-6 record into the final while the Owls are 15-7.

This is Medina’s first appearance in the championship game since the Covid shortened 2021 season. Seeded No. 1 that season, the Mustangs captured the Class B2 title with three straight home court victories downing Alden 68-48 in the quarterfinals, Newfane 64-55 in the semis and Lackawanna 68-57 in the title contest.

Medina’s only other Section VI championship came in 1971 when the Mustangs downed then Niagara-Orleans League foe Starpoint 84-73.

Offensively, Medina has been led by Jerrell Nealy, who is averaging 16 points per game and Preston Woodworth who is averaging 14.

Olmsted is led by Tacon McCray who has scored 481 points for a 21.9 average and Jaden Wood who has tallied 298 poins (13.0 ave.)

Akron seeks B2 title

The N-O League will also be represented in Wednesday’s Class B2 championship game at No. 2 Akron will face No. 1 Tapestry at 7:45 p.m. at SUNY Fredonia.

Akron brings a 19-2 record into the final while Tapestry is 20-2.

Last year Akron captured the B1 championship with a 49-38 win over Olmsted.

Wilson in Class C semi tonight
Top seeded Wilson will take on No. 6 Westfield in the Class C semifinals at 6 this evening at Jamestown Community College.

Wilson is 19-2 and Westfield 12-9.

Last year Wilson captured the Class B2 championship.

The other Class C semi will have No. 2 Global Concepts vs. No. 6 Ellicottville at 7:45 at Jamestown Community College.

 

Former Medina mayor, Mike Sidari, retires as callman firefighter after 40 years

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 March 2026 at 10:02 am

Photo by Tom Rivers: Mike Sidari, shown during a meeting in October 2023 when he was Medina’s mayor, has retired as a callman firefighter for Medina Fire Department.

MEDINA – Mike Sidari, Medina’s mayor for eight years until 2024, has retired from another role with the village.

Sidari for 40 years was a callman firefighter, responding to emergency calls on a part-time basis.

The Medina Village Board accepted his resignation last week and approved allowing him to keep his helmet shield and uniform badges. Sidari’s helmet shield includes his number as callman firefighter 213.

“I have witnessed many changes not only in the department, but in the fire service, from equipment and training to technology,” Sidari wrote in a letter to Fire Chief Steve Cooley. “Throughout my time there has been one constant, that is the dedication of the officers and firefighters of the Medina Fire Department. I am proud to have served our community.”

Chief Cooley praised Sidari for his service to the department and the community.

“I will always be an advocate of the good department and the residents of the village,” Sidari wrote in his letter. “I wish you and my fellow firefighters nothing but the best in the future.”

Solar is the wrong choice at shuttered coal-fired powerplant in Somerset

Posted 3 March 2026 at 8:51 am

Editor:

The Somerset Solar project is a 125 megawatt installation proposed on part of the site of the shuttered coal-fired powerplant.

Financially, the project should stand on its own and not receive tax breaks or financial incentives from the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency (NCIDA) or other organizations.

Those that argue for incentives claim Somerset Solar will help meet the New York State Energy Policy Goals. These goals are under question as to how realistic they are and raise issues that were ignored in the original State Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) decision.

Claims made that the Somerset Town Board is on record as approving the project are false. More power to our Governor who has begun to raise questions about certain of the issues surrounding “clean energy.” Further a greenspace barrier was required by the Article 8 siting process for the coal operations. That barrier is being destroyed to the detriment of those living in the area.

ORES has recently issued a deficiency judgement for the project allowing the clearing of trees to begin on the proposed site. There is nothing more counterproductive to clean air than cutting down trees and clearing forested lands. Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, store it and release oxygen to the atmosphere. Exactly the process wanted to clean our air.

Further, trees act to deaden sounds and form a sight barrier, a much desired effect to preserve the Rural Character of our area. The Nature Conservancy in its Spring 2026 issue indicated that New York State has a plan to plant 680 million  trees by 2040. Part of this plan should be to stop the arbitrary destruction  of forested areas for unreliable clean energy projects.

The Somerset Solar Project will remove 247 acres from active farming. The 2022 Agricultural Census of Niagara County estimated the average yearly value of agricultural products sold in the County is $1,291 per acre. Over the projected life of 35 years the total loss in agricultural production in Somerset will exceed eleven million dollars in 2022 year dollars. How will this sum ever be recovered?

Farmland and all green spaces should never be used for solar projects. Secure landfills, rooftops, abandoned shopping centers and parking lots, and brownfields located in cities and suburban areas closer to the electrical demand are far better sites.

An examination of details of construction of Somerset Solar puts the lie to any possibility of rehabilitation of the site after it outlives its useful life. Hundreds of buried pilings will be constructed to support the thousands of solar panels. Five miles of crushed stone trails and roads will be constructed, eliminating any notion of ever farming the site again.

The claim is that Somerset Solar will supply power to 25,000 homes. This is at best half-truth as power is only generated when the sun shines. Reliable clean burning natural gas, reliable clean hydropower and reliable carbon free nuclear power come to the rescue.

The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency must deny the request of Somerset Solar for all manner of tax exemptions and financial incentives. Hopefully this action will be enough to kill the project. We will all benefit!

James C. Hoffman

Town of Somerset

Hoag Library highlights programs in March, including health screenings

Posted 3 March 2026 at 8:30 am

Press Release, Hoag Library

ALBION – Hoag Library is expanding what it means to be a library this spring — offering not just books, but vital health screenings, legal and social service outreach, tax assistance, and live music, all under one roof.

The UR Medicine Mobile Mammography Van will be onsite at Hoag Library on March 27, providing convenient breast cancer screenings. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 1-844-870-0002.

Several community organizations, including Oak Orchard Health Clinic, YWCA, Neighborhood Legal Services, HCR Home Care, Alzheimer’s Association of WNY, Homeless Alliance of WNY, and Cancer Services Program, will be present at the library throughout the month of March offering medical, legal, and social outreach services.

For those preparing their tax returns, IRS-trained tax volunteers will be available at Hoag Library on select Mondays in March and April. Appointments are required for tax preparation services.

The free Hoag Library Music Series was set to return on March 28 with a performance by the Medusa Quartet; unfortunately, they are unable to perform that day, but we are working to schedule another performance and will share updates soon.

In April, Hoag Library will host the EDDY Mobile CT Unit in partnership with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, offering lung cancer screenings. Registration is required by calling 1-800-ROSWELL.

“Many people are surprised to learn just how much Hoag Library offers beyond traditional library services,” said Library Director Betty Sue Miller. “We are proud to serve as a hub for health services, legal assistance, tax help, and cultural enrichment — all free and open to the public.”

Conveniently located in the center of Albion, Hoag Library continues to redefine what a modern library can be: a place where community members can read, learn, connect — and access essential services that improve quality of life.

For more information about upcoming programs and services, visit Hoag Library or call 585-589-4246.

Veterans enjoy camaraderie while bowling at Medina Lanes

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 3 March 2026 at 8:09 am

Photos by Tom Rivers (Left) Carol Callina of Medina was one of about 40 veterans who took advantage of a free day of bowling Saturday at Medina Lanes. (Right) Nick Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans’ Services Agency, chats with his wife, Tricia, left, and Sara Hults, a volunteer in suicide prevention from the Batavia VA, as they wait to check in veterans for the day of bowling Saturday, sponsored by the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer Program.

MEDINA – The Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer-sponsored afternoon of bowling was a resounding success, according to Nick Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans’ Services Agency.

At least 40 veterans and their families enjoyed an afternoon of bowling with pizza, wings and pop. complements of the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer Program.

Adam Rush of Waterport, a Navy veteran, came with his wife Ashley and children Evelyn, Henry and Charlotte.

“It’s great to get together with other veterans,” Adam said.

Navy veteran Adam Rush of Waterport checks in at Medina Lanes with his wife Ashley and children Evelyn, Henry and Charlotte.

Carol Callina, also a Navy veteran, brought her sister Christine Mason. Mason’s son is a 17-year veteran of the Navy, where he is an air traffic controller.

“This is great,” Mason said.

At another table, Jack Miles and his wife Nancy of Albion chatted with Mike Donahue of Albion, a Navy veteran who did two tours to Vietnam. Both men are members of the Veterans’ Services Council and Honor Guard. Neither man bowls but they wanted to be there at the bowling alley.

“We’re just here for the camaraderie,” they said.

A veteran waits with his ball, while Danille Colasurdo speaks to her service dog Brady, partly visible at right. A Navy veteran, Colasurdo suffers from PTSD.

It was a very significant day for Daniele Colasurdo, a Navy veteran who was happy to be out.

“I have PTSD and this is the first time I’ve been in a bowling alley in four years,” she said.

She was accompanied by her service dog Brady, who helps her deal with her stress.

Nick Mroz said the turnout was double the number who came last year. Other events sponsored by the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer to Peer Program were free turkeys at Thanksgiving and a banquet with prize giveaways at White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville. The next event will be giving away 100 free hams for Easter.

Jack Miles and his wife Nancy, left, and Mike Donahue are greeted by Bill Moroz, a volunteer driver for the Veterans’ Van Service.

Congress needs to take action to stop president who is a danger to US and world

Posted 2 March 2026 at 9:40 pm

Editor:

By the time I was done reading about the bombing of a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, on Saturday morning, Trump/Netanyahu supporters were already hard at work running cover.

“You believe Iranian state media?” “You’re telling me they were in school on Saturday?” “Oh, did you forget war is hell?” American media would wait to report on the school children we killed until Sunday, when the death toll had reached well over one hundred. Now we have videos, evidence, photos of bloody backpacks, and all those Trump/Netanyahu supporters have to say is…

Well that’s the obvious problem; they can’t get their story straight. Why were suddenly bombing dozens of sites across Iran? Trump said it was so they couldn’t make nukes. This, despite the fact Ted Cruz told the media he’d seen no evidence Iran was rebuilding what we apparently “obliterated” last June (the “12 Day War”), and despite the fact that negotiators told CBS news the day before that the US and Iran had come to a framework for a nuclear deal more comprehensive and secure even the historic and durable one Obama signed in 2015, and despite the fact that last spring Trump’s own Director of National Intelligence said, “Iran not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamanei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003.”

To hear others tell it, the reason Trump was now killing civilians in Iran and admitting American soldiers would have to die (Trump: “That’s just the way it is”) was that Iran was a brutal regime that kills its own citizens. If that’s a legitimate reason for war, I think we have to start a lot more wars. If Trump cared about the deaths of protestors, he wouldn’t have blamed Alex Pretti for legally carrying a firearm while trying to help a woman abused by an ICE officer.

Others say we had to bomb Iran because the Ayatollah was a religious zealot who says “Death to America.” Has anyone heard the way our own government officials speaks about other countries and entire ethnicities?

Does anyone remember that Iran was a democracy in 1951 when Mossadegh was voted in on a platform of nationalizing Iran’s oil? The CIA created a coup and installed a literal King whose police state brutalized Iranians for decades before a religious movement overthrew him. Trump and his cronies are the last people I want to hear talk about Democracy; anyone paying attention can see this is part of his broad, chaotic attempt to stop future elections (just listen to the pro-Trump attorneys pushing him to sign an executive order to declare an election-stopping emergency over “Chinese election interference in 2020”).

There are no good reasons for this war. Iran is not a threat to us.

There are not good reasons to bomb a school. Children are not a threat to us.

There are no good reasons to close the entry points to Gaza and stop the World Central Kitchen from feeding the starving Palestinian people. Palestinians are not a threat to us.

Trump is a threat to us. We’ve already seen US soldiers die. Praying won’t save them. The only thing that can is an act of Congress. Use the 25th amendment because he’s clearly lost touch with reality, or impeach him, again.

Tyler Barton

Hamlin

Hawley joins Albion, Elba schools in ‘Read Across America Day’

Posted 2 March 2026 at 8:24 pm

Photos and information courtesy of Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s Office

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) today visited Elba Elementary School and Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School in Albion for Read Across America Day.

This event has been a longstanding tradition for Hawley and his office, and he is proud to be able to host it for another year.

Hawley read “Maybe You Should Fly a Jet! Maybe You Should Be a Vet!” by Dr. Seuss to third graders at Elba Elementary School and second graders at Ronald L Sodoma Elementary School before donating the books to the schools.

“Read Across America Day highlights the important role books have in our classrooms,” said Hawley. “Through reading, our students are able to expand their minds and create a passion for learning. I want to thank all of the schools, teachers and staff members for making this event possible and for putting their time, talent and energy into educating the next generation.”

“I would also personally like to thank Mrs. Anmarie Maher, Mrs. Amy Damasiewicz, Mrs. Holly McNair, Mrs. Beth Stanley and Mr. David Plewinski for allowing me to read to their classes,” Hawley concluded.