County Legislature, Eddie Eagle mascot promote firearms safety awareness month
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Skip Draper, right, presents a proclamation last week to Eddie Eagle, a gun safety mascot, that designates August 2026 as “Firearm Safety Awareness Month.” They are joined by Justin Niederhofer, the county’s emergency management director.
The Eddie Eagle mascot was developed by the National Rifle Association to teach children about gun safety.
The proclamation from the County legislature states that firearm safety is a “shared responsibility” among firearm owners, families, educators, healthcare providers, law enforcement, sportsmen, firearm instructors, retailers and community organizations.
Responsible firearm ownership includes safe handling, secure firearm storage and child access prevention, the proclamation states.
“Orleans County supports educational efforts that encourage lawful firearm ownership, promote responsible firearm ownership and handling, responsible hunting traditions, recreational shooting safety, suicide prevention awareness, secure firearm storage, and the protection of children and vulnerable individuals,” the proclamation states.
County legislators said Firearm Safety Awareness Month provides an opportunity to increase public awareness, promote voluntary safe storage practices, encourage community education, and strengthen partnerships dedicated to preventing firearm-related injuries and deaths through education and responsible ownership.
County Leg honors Medina Memorial for excellence in wound care
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Don Allport, right, presents a proclamation to the team at Medina Memorial Hospital’s Wound Care Center, which recently earned the designation of “Wound Care Center of Distinction” by Healogics.
The Wond Care team includes program director Lisa Albanese, medical director Dr. Joseph Canzoneri, clinical nurse manager Teresa Clark, nurse practitioner Amanda McDonald, RN Kristen Warriner, LPN Melissa Neuman and office manager Budena Hess.
This is the second time, the Wound Care Center has been designated a “Center of Distinction” by Healogics, the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care. The honor was earned for having achieved 82% wound mix adjusted CHR with a patient satisfaction rating of 96%.
The Wound Care Center has grown from a small program operating just two days a week into a four-day-a-week center. Patients who once had to travel out of county to get this kind of care can now receive it at Medina Memorial.
County gives commendations in Medina arson case
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature and District Attorney Susan Howard, second from right, last week presented “Commendations of Excellency” to first responders and investigators in a Medina arson case.
Zachary Natale, 32, of Medina pleaded guilty to the crime and on April 1 was sentenced to 13 years in state prison by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church. Natale also was ordered to pay $270,000 in restitution.
Natale admitted to setting a fire on Dec. 17, 2024 at 207 Bates Rd. That fire forced a mother and her 9-year-old son to evacuate.
Howard during the April 1 sentencing said Natale caused a “terrifying, horrifying ordeal” for the victims where they could have been killed, and also put local firefighters in danger.
Howard and County Legislator Skip Draper, right, praised the first responders for preventing a loss of life from the blaze. Howard and Draper also commended law enforcement and fire investigators for their work which led to a conviction in the case.
Pictured from left include: officer Dustin Meredith – Medina Police Department, Sargeant Jonathon McManus – Medina Police Department, Investigator Chris Seefeldt – Medina Fire Department, Investigator Jacob Crooks – Medina Fire Department, Chief Steven Cooley – Medina Fire Department, Investigator Scott Kuhlmey – Erie County Sheriff’s Department with K-9 Clipper, Investigator Dave Clary – Orleans County Emergency Management, Investigator Brian Marsceill – Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney Susan Howard, and Legislator Skip Draper.
National Night Out set for Tuesday in Medina
File photo by Natalie Baron: Caspian Villegas of Medina high-fives the Safety Pup during National Night Out in Medina on Aug. 5, 2025.
MEDINA – National Night Out is back for the fifth year in Medina on Tuesday with free pizza, and lots of activities to connect with local first responders and agencies that serve the community.
The event runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. outside the Clifford Wise Intermediate School at 1016 Gwinn St.
National Night Out often draws about 500 to 800 people. Albion hosted NNO for five years from 2015 to 2019. It was then cancelled due to the Covid pandemic and restrictions in 2020 and 2021. Medina has hosted it annually since 2022.
There are many activities including the Battle of the Belts competition which will be emceed by Assemblyman Steve Hawley. The battle of the Belts feature four-person teams alternating as fast as they can to put on seat belts in four different seats in a car. Many community members also will be in the dunk tank and there will again be a bike rodeo.
A committee planning the event has been co-chaired by Diana Fulcomer of UConnectCare and Sherrie Bensley of GO Health. Other committee members include Alishia Foss and Taryn Moyle of Community Action, Jess Marciano of the Village of Medina, and Danielle Figura of the Orleans County Mental Health Department.
Use real data, rather than emotions, in spending tax dollars to address crime
Editor:
I appreciate Mr. Lauricella taking the time to respond, and I want to clarify, I am not dismissing concerns about public safety. I am dismissing concerns about public safety that are built on anecdote while ignoring the data in front of us. Those are not the same thing.
Any honest debate about safety in our communities requires a careful blend of data and lived experience, not one at the expense of the other. Mr. Lauricella has been a vocal advocate for fiscal responsibility, so I’ll ask directly: is it responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars to fund programs, initiatives, and legislation based on how some people feel, particularly when those feelings run contrary to what the data actually shows?
Mr. Lauricella points to a rise in unpunished “quality-of-life” offenses, and here is where we clearly part ways. So-called victimless crimes and quality-of-life offenses are precisely the category where we’d be better served addressing root causes rather than reflexively reaching for punishment. The prevailing instinct among hardline conservatives on this issue is a punitive one, which conveniently keeps the prison-industrial complex well fed. Perhaps that’s no accident, given how central the prison system is to the economic “health” of our region.
From what I’ve observed, public criticism of bail reform in New York tends to lump every offense together — petty theft and manslaughter treated as though they sit on the same shelf. That criticism conveniently ignores both the facts and the actual intent of the legislation, which is to reduce recidivism rates for low-level offenses. This is exactly where data matters, because one person’s lived experience, however real to them, isn’t a stand-in for the experience of an entire population. I don’t think Mr. Lauricella is actually disputing the validity of the research. I think he’d simply prefer that “observing reality” mean whatever aligns with his existing opinion.
I’ll skip the broad brushstrokes this time and instead leave Mr. Lauricella with a question. He argues that academia and statistical models shouldn’t “supersede the firsthand experience of local business owners, residents and crime victims.” Is that a standard you’re prepared to apply consistently? Take, for instance, the firsthand experience of parents, teachers, school administrators, and survivors of school shootings — should their testimony be what drives legislation restricting access to firearms? Or take the firsthand experience of survivors of rape, incest, or molestation — are conservatives equally willing to let those lived experiences shape how we legislate abortion? Or is the anecdote-over-evidence approach reserved for the topics where it happens to be politically convenient?
Much of this latest letter reads as an argument for governance by the loudest minority rather than the majority informed by evidence. It would help if Mr. Lauricella defined, in concrete terms, what qualifies as a “genuine community concern,” listed the actual problems facing Orleans County, and identified their real causes. Absent that, this amounts to little more than an appeal to emotion.
Matthew Ballard
LeRoy
Early Intervention Coordinating Council meeting set for Aug. 13
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
BATAVIA – The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) will be holding their Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council (LEICC) Quarterly Meeting on Thursday, August 13, from 2:30- 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Genesee County Health Department, 3837 West Main Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020.
The LEICC is a supportive group made up of county officials, Early Intervention providers, childcare providers, parents of children with disabilities, and other community members. Members are encouraged to collaborate, share their perspectives, and raise concerns to help strengthen the Early Intervention program and, ultimately, improve outcomes for children and families.
For zoom connection information or for more information on the meeting, please contact Deborah Krenzer-Lewter, Director of Children with Special Needs, at 585-344-2580 ext. 5572 or 585-589-2777.
Newfane man charged with arson after allegedly throwing Molotov cocktail at Albion residence
Press Release, Albion Police Chief David Mogle
Marquis Harrell
ALBION – During the early morning hours on Saturday, the Albion Police Department arrested a Newfane man following a domestic violence investigation that resulted in the discovery of an incendiary device at a village residence.
At approximately 3 a.m., Albion police officers were dispatched to make a phone call to a village resident after they reported receiving multiple threatening text messages and emails from her ex-boyfriend. The messages included threats to harm the victim and set her residence on fire by way of Molotov cocktail.
During the investigation, officers confirmed that a valid full stay away order of protection was in effect, prohibiting the suspect from having any contact with the victim.
At approximately 4 a.m., an Albion Police K-9 Officer responded to the victim’s residence to continue the investigation and check the area for suspicious activity. Upon arrival, the officer observed a suspicious vehicle parked outside the apartment complex and requested additional officers to investigate the vehicle while he continued toward the residence.
As the K-9 Officer approached the apartment complex, he observed a male exiting from the rear of the property who immediately fled on foot. After a brief pursuit through the area, the suspect was apprehended without incident at a neighboring apartment complex. The suspicious vehicle was later determined to be the suspect’s Uber transportation to the scene.
Officers subsequently discovered a suspected Molotov cocktail at the rear of the victim’s residence that had been ignited and thrown at the building. Although the device had burned itself out prior to officers’ arrival, officers observed fire damage to the residence.
The suspect was identified as Marquis J. Harrell, 22, of Newfane, New York. A search of the suspect resulted in the recovery of additional evidence related to the investigation.
Harrell was charged with:
- Arson in the First Degree (A1 Felony)
- Criminal Mischief in the First Degree (B Felony)
- Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (4 counts) (D Felony)
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child (2 counts) (A Misdemeanor)
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (D Felony)
- Criminal Contempt (2 counts) (E Felony)
Following processing by the Albion Police Department, Harrell was arraigned in CAP Court and remanded to the Orleans County Jail without bail due to the seriousness of the charges.
A new order of protection was issued protecting the victim and her two young children, who were inside the residence at the time of the incident.
The Albion Police Department would like to thank the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol and Dispatch Divisions for their assistance during the investigation, as well as Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard for her support throughout the case.
Criminal charges are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
4-H Market Auction sets new record, topping $200K
Breaks previous high of $139K from last year
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Eli Schutz, 10, of Lyndonville gets ready to bring his steer into the show ring during Friday’s 4-H Market Auction. Samantha Basinait waits with Eli before he took the big beef animal into the ring.
Eli had an animal in the auction for the first time. Dunham Farms paid $4.75 a pound for the steer, a 1,270-pound steer he named Bruce.
Mark Dunham bid on the steer and attended the auction for the first time. He wanted to support a hard-working 4-Her and paid just over $6,000.
“These kids do such a good job,” he said at the auction. “They deserved it.”
The auction was a record-breaker for the Orleans County 4-H Fair. The total winning bids totaled $213,031. That is a big jump from last year’s $139,852, which also set a new record. Before that the high was $64,128 in 2024. The total has now more than tripled in two years.
Haylee Wright, 15, of Lyndonville seeks bids for champion turkey that was already processed. Town & Country Equipment paid $500 for the turkey. Todd Jantzi, auctioneer with Bontrager Real Estate & Auction Service in Batavia, kept the auction moving and the bids going up throughout the evening.
There were 126 bidders at the auction, which was 29 more than last year.
There were also 98 lots up for sale, up from 86 the previous year.
About 300 people attended the auction, which was moved from Saturday to Friday night for the first time at the fair.
“You can see there is a lot of energy here,” Jantzi said after the auction. “It’s other businesses doing businesses with the farms and saying ‘Thank you.’”
Jantzi also serves as the market auctioneers at the fairs in Niagara, Cattaraugus and two in Erie County.
Matthew Bloom, 16, of Albion has a steer in the ring that was purchased by Keeler Construction for $7,612. Matthew said he reached out to the company, and Keeler attended the auction. Matthew said the proceeds from the auction will go into a college fund after he graduates from Albion.
The 4-Hers were credited for making connections in the community, and personally inviting people to big on the animals and fiber products.
“The kids did a great job reaching out to the bidders,” said Robert Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County.
The biggest bids of the night included $15,172 from H.H. Dobbins for a steer owned by Charlotte Bannister in Carlton and $4,448 from Watson Construction Group for a pig owned by Natalie Miller of Lyndonville.
Carissa Klossner, 18, of Clarendon models a scarf and hat she made from alpaca fibers. It sold for $275 to Lynn Vendetti of Vendetti Farms.
David Welker, 8, of Medina had two lambs in the auction, the market champion and the reserve champion. Hartland Abattoir paid $819 for the champion while Dale Root Trucking paid $600 for the reserve champ. Todd Jantzi is shown scanning the crowd for bids.
Lee Winters, owner of Genesee Feeds in Batavia, paid $12.50 a pound or $3,475 for a pig raised by Henry Dresser of Medina. Winters said the Dresser family have been long time customers.
“They’re a good family,” Winters said. “They support us and I wanted to support them.”
He usually attends five county fairs in WNY to buy an animal at the market auction.
Helen Schofield, 15, of Holley raised this pen of three chickens that sold for $175 to Enjoyable Acres. Helen was assisted in the show ring by her sister Peregrine, age 10, and friend Micah Anderson, age 12.
Schofield said she was pleasantly surprised to see larger-than0expected bids throughout the auction.
“I’m very happy,” she said about the prices. “It’s great to see the community support we have in Orleans County.”
Brody Collyer of Kendall had a steer in the auction that sold for $4,706 to Dan Dresser.
Anna Grillo, 17, of Albion leads her beef animal towards the show ring. The steer sold for $3,780 to Growmark.
Lane Miller, 9, of Lyndonville had the grand champion pig. His sister Claire, age 6, helps promote the award-winning swine animal. The pig sold for $4,417 to Pat Brennan.
Georgia Baxter, 16, of Churchville leads a dairy steer in the ring. Willow Rock Farm paid $4,635 for the animal.
4 N-O schools earn state academic honors
Four Niagara-Orleans League schools have earned special academic honors from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.
Wilson has earned a NYSPHSAA School of Distinction Award.
Barker, Roy-Hart and Newfane have all earned NYSPHSAA School of Excellence Awards.
Schools qualify for the School of Distinction Award by having 100 percent of their varsity teams earn NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team recognition during their respective sports seasons.
To earn the School of Excellence Award, 75 percent or more of a school’s varsity teams must achieve Scholar-Athlete Team status.
The purpose of the School of Distinction and School of Excellence Awards is to unite athletic departments in challenging every varsity team to achieve statewide academic recognition through the NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete program.
For the 2025-2026 school year, 118 schools earned the School of Distinction Award, while 237 schools earned the School of Excellence Award. This compares to 110 Schools of Distinction and 221 Schools of Excellence during the 2024-2025 school year.
“The commitment demonstrated by our member schools to academic excellence continues to be one of the greatest strengths of educational-based athletics,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “These awards recognize entire school communities that value success in the classroom as much as success in competition.”
10 local kids spend week at camp in Penn Yan
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Bethany Zeiner of Medina gives her son Mateo, 7, a hug on his return from Camp Long Pond. (Right) Wyatt Purnell, 10, and his brother Levi, 7, are greeted by their mother on their return from The Salvation Army’s Camp Long Pond near Penn Yan on Friday morning.
Ten local youth enjoyed a week of camping last week at Camp Long Point in Penn Yan. Andrew Szatkowski of Medina led an effort to secure scholarships and fundraising so the kids could go to camp.
Szatkowski began soliciting donations earlier in the year to pay the $2,000 needed for a bus to transport campers to and from the camp.
On Friday morning, they returned from camp, bursting with stories of camp activities.
As Ryan Howes of Lyndonville sat in his car waiting for their bus to arrive, he said four of his kids were on the bus. He said this was the first time for his son, Alex, but he wanted to do it. His children are 11, 11 (twins), 10 and 9.
He said they learned of the camp when the superintendent of Lyndonville schools put out a memo stating there was a camping opportunity.
“It was really cool that there were scholarships available,” Howes said.
One of his children had previously gone to a sheriff’s camp next door to Camp Long Pond, and came home and told everyone how much fun it was.
“She went again July 5,” Howes said. “We go to Jellystone every summer, so they are used to camping, but this was the first time on their own. Gavin, one of the twins, hesitated on the morning they left, and didn’t know if he wanted to go. Then he said, ‘OK, I’m going.’”
Bethany Zeiner of Medina greeted her son her son Matteo, 7, with open arms and a big hug as he stepped down from the bus. He attended the camp last year and liked Penn Yan, he told his mother.
This was the second year of camping for Wyatt Purnell, 10, of Medina and his brother Levi, 7, said their mother Alexandria. Wyatt’s favorite activities were Gaga ball and 9 Square. Levi also liked Gaga ball and sleeping in a cabin.
“That was really cool,” he said.
Szatkowski was grateful for the community support when he was raising money for the transportation.
“When I was in Hoag Library to sign kids up, people were coming up to me with checks. Community Action also helped, he said.
He stressed the importance of giving to The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign in Orleans County.
“Those donations all stay in Orleans County and help fund programs like this,” Szatkowski said.
Szatkowski added he hopes more children will take advantage of the camping opportunity next year.
Top seed ousts Medina 15U at Summer Classic
The top seeded Niagara Surge downed the Medina Mustangs 15U 11-2 this afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the Western New York Summer Classic Baseball Tournament being played at West Seneca.
Medina did jump out to a quick 2-0 first inning lead on a two-run single by Brayden LaMartina after two walks and a hit batter had loaded the bases.
However, the Mustangs managed no more hits and no more runs the rest of the way.
The Surge rallied into the lead for good by scoring three times in the second inning on a bases loaded walk, a fielders choice play and an RBI single.
Keeping the momentum, the Surge locked up the win by scoring a total of 8 runs over the next four innings including one in the third, two in both the fourth and fifth and three in the sixth.
Albion PD seeks public’s help in finding missing teen
Alexandria Ledger was last seen by her family on July 27 on Lydun Drive Extension.
ALBION – The Albion Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing teen who was last seen on Monday at approximately 6 p.m. in the Lydun Drive Extension area of Albion.
Alexandria M. Ledger is 17 years old, and is 5’5″ and 120 pounds. She has brown hair and green eyes. She was last wearing a light purple hoodie and black short shorts.
On Monday around 6 p.m. Alexandria left to go for a walk with a friend and did not return later that evening. The next day her Snapchat location indicated she was in the area of Lockport-Olcott Road in Newfane. Family has been unable to get a hold of Alexandria since Monday. She was reported missing on Saturday to the Albion Police Department.
If you have seen Alexandria or have any information regarding her whereabouts, please contact the Albion Police Department immediately at (585) 589-5527 or call 911 if the situation is an emergency.
Even the smallest piece of information could help, the Albion PD said. Please share this post to help bring Alexandria home safely.
Softball playoffs will continue Monday
Medina Women’s Softball ‘A’ League playoff competition will continue with four games on Monday evening at the Jr. Wilson fields.
At 6 p.m. top seeded Jr. Wilson will face Katy’s/Parkitect in a winners bracket game and White Birch will take on Mr. Septic in a losers bracket contest.
Then at 7:15 p.m. the Jr. Wilson vs. Parkitect winner will take on Banes in the winners bracket semifinal. In addition, the White Birch vs. Mr. Septic winner will take on the Jr Wilson vs. Parkitect loser in the losers bracket semifinal.
The playoffs are scheduled to conclude on Monday evening August 10.
Young 4-Her with intensity takes grand master showman title
Isabel Nesbitt, 13, wins competition featuring top 9 showmen at the fair
Photos by Tom Rivers
KNOWLESVILLE – Isabel Nesbitt, 13, of Lyndonville is congratulated by judge Kirby Palmer after winning the grand master showmen title for large animals on Saturday. It is one of the most prestigious awards at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
Nesbitt may be the youngest grand master showman in the fair’s history. It is typically won by a seasoned 4-Her with years of experience showing many species of animals.
Natalie Miller, 12, of Lyndonville (in front) was the reserve grand master, with Isabel Nesbit the grand master (in back). They are showing pigs during the competition. The two were tied in points, and tied in the number of first places after nearly 3 hours of the competition. The judge favored Nesbitt after two tiebreakers.
The judge commended both for their skills in showing a variety of animals. The competition features the master showman in nine different animals: horse Western, horse English, dairy goat, meat goat, sheep, swine, llama, dairy cattle and beef cattle.
Isabel qualified after winning the beef showmanship while Natalie won the pig master showman.
The judge said Nesbitt’s intensity stood out, and she showed great determination working with some uncooperative animals.
Isabel Nesbitt shows a sheep during the grueling event on Saturday at the fair. The exhibitors had to learn how to show animals they usually don’t work with during the fair.
“I love the competition,” Nesbitt said after winning the grand master title.
She has been showing animals at the fair since she was 8.
“It’s a true passion,” Nesbitt said. “I’ve learned so much from the older kids at the fair.”
Natalie Miller shows a dairy cow among the many different species during the grand master showmen competition. Behind her is Kaitlin Bennett of Barre. Natalie said showing the llamas was the most difficult because they are so tall and her arms had to be outstretched to control the animal with a halter.
Carissa Klossner, 18, smiles while showing a llama. She qualified as a llama master showman.
Gary “GJ” Donofrio, 17, of Bergen won the grand master title a year ago. He is shown keeping a dairy cow under control in the show ring.
Marissa Young (left), 14, of Kendall and Brooke Jurek of Kendall show sheep. Marissa qualified by winning the Western horse title. Brooke, who just graduated from Kendall, was the English horse showmanship champion.
Celes Paratore, 18, of Corfu leads a steer in the show ring. She qualified as the top meat goat showman. Earlier on Saturday she won the small animal grand master showman.
Kaitlin Bennett, 17, of Barre shows a dairy animal during the competition. She qualified as a the dairy master showman.
Kate Bennett, 15, of Brockport shows a llama. She won the dairy goat master showman title.
Judge Kirby Palmer keeps a close eye on how well the showmen are maintaining eye contact and leading the animals in the ring, as well as setting them up to best show off their desired characteristics.
Palmer said all of the showmen are clearly hard workers who she expects will be leaders in the future.
Brooke Jurek leads a horse as part of the grand master competition.
The showmen try to keep control of these pigs with gentle taps with a show stick.
Flood Watch issued for Orleans with heavy rain forecast for today
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Orleans County, all of Western New York, parts of central New York and goes up to Watertown in northern New York.
The watch is in effect from 10 a.m. today until late tonight. The Weather Service said flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
Scattered to numerous heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected today and tonight, the Weather Service said.
“Locally heavy rainfall is possible with rainfall rates near, or exceeding 2 inches per hour at times,” the Weather Service said. “Repeated rounds of heavy rain over any given location could result in flash flooding.”
