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Editor:
In the nearly two years of governance, Republicans have broken trade agreements, threatened our allies, forced through tariffs, gave the wealthy deep tax cuts and created extraordinary corruption, while cutting funds for healthcare, food assistance, education and other benefits for the rest of us.
This midterm election is a referendum on those policies. Representatives Claudia Tenney, Nick Langworthy and Republican candidates running for office are strong supporters of these policies. The direct result of these policies is rising unemployment, a slowing economy, and wages not keeping up with inflation. You feel the effects of their policies every time you fill up at the gas station or buy groceries.
Your health premiums are more costly because Republicans are giving a tax break to the wealthy. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that more people are going hungry in the United States now than during the height of COVID-19. Republicans support these policies and they will vote in this election; just look at all the yard signs supporting them.
Staying home, not voting, in this election will be seen as acquiescing to Republican policies. Policies that are driving up cost for farmers and small businesses, making life more difficult for Western New Yorkers.
Democrats running for office support policies to strengthen our economy, help farmers and small business and support families. Please vote early; if that is not possible make plans to get to the polls to vote. Please vote to end the rampant corruption and support Western New York.
William Fine
Brockport
State announces $1.6 million to help prevent suicide in rural areas, including Orleans
Press Release, New York State Office of Mental Health
The New York State Office of Mental Health today announced a four-year $1.6 million initiative aimed at strengthening community-led prevention and resiliency efforts to address the higher suicide rates experienced in rural areas of Broome, Genesee, Orleans, Wayne, and Yates counties.
The announcement followed a two-day conference on rural suicide prevention that was hosted in Ithaca last week by the Suicide Prevention Center of New York, which is located within OMH.
“Each of the 1,700 New Yorkers who die by suicide annually represents an incalculable loss,” OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “They were our family members, colleagues, our friends, and our family members – our loved ones. At OMH, we have an unwavering commitment to reducing the tragedy of suicide by reducing isolation and removing barriers to care, especially in our high-risk rural communities.”
The Rural Outreach, Organizing, Training and Suicide Prevention initiative – also known as “ROOTS-NY” – will build sustainable suicide prevention capacity by strengthening community infrastructure, expanding workforce skills, and fostering coordinated partnerships between healthcare systems, community organizations, and local leaders. The program will rely on existing community resources to create a sustainable, localized prevention system to support counties that are predominantly rural.
Rural communities are often exposed to a host of risk factors for suicide, including economic hardship, unemployment, unstable housing, social isolation, higher prevalence of firearm access, less access to mental healthcare, and more. Between 2022 and 2024, the counties participating in ROOTS-NY had a combined suicide rate of 12.23 per 100,000 population – significantly higher than the statewide rate of 8.77.
Among those over age 20, the rate was 15.35 per 100,000, which is also sharply higher than the statewide rate of 10.85 per 100,000 for that age group. About half of suicide deaths in these counties were by firearm, compared to 29 percent statewide, highlighting the opportunity available to promote lethal means safety as part of the initiative.
“Rural communities have unique strengths, but they also face unique challenges when it comes to suicide prevention. Geographic isolation, limited access to behavioral health services, and other barriers can make it harder for people to get the support they need,” Suicide Prevention Center Director Dr. Jay Carruthers said. “ROOTS-NY is about meeting communities where they are, building on the people, organizations, and resources already working to support their neighbors. By strengthening existing local partnerships and forming new ones, expanding prevention skills, and increasing access to lifesaving support, we can help rural communities build enduring pathways to hope, connection and help.”
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is also available to connect New Yorkers to trained crisis counselors 24/7, who can help anyone thinking about suicide, struggling with substance use, experiencing a mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. New Yorkers can call, text or chat 988 if they are worried about someone who may need crisis support.
Medina ladder truck sold for $2.1 million to community in Illinois
Photo from shopgarage.com: Medina’s ladder truck is shown on an online site that sells fire trucks, emergency vehicles and equipment. The site lists the truck as being sold. It was listed on the site on May 19.
MEDINA – The Village of Medina has sold its ladder truck for $2.1 million to the Village of Wilmette, an Illinois community of about 28,000 people near Chicago. Wilmette has a median household income of $190,662.
Medina has a population of 5,855, according to the 2025 population estimates from the Census Bureau. Medina’s median household income is $59,231, just a fraction’s of Wilmette’s.
“They are a wealthy community,” said Medina Mayor Debbie Padoleski. “It’s a beautiful truck. I would have loved to keep it, but it’s more truck than we need and it’s more truck than we can afford.”
Wilmette officials on Monday were in Medina and hand-delivered a check for $2.1 million. They also gave the truck a final inspection. The ladder truck is expected to leave Medina next week and be transported to Wilmette. The ladder truck is currently being kept in the former compost facility on North Gravel Road near Boxwood Cemetery.
With new ladder trucks having a 3- to 5-year wait due to a backlog of orders, Wilmette wanted Medina’s because it was available right away, Padoleski said.
The price for the ladder trucks also has soared since Medina locked in its contract in March 2023. The Albion Joint Fire District on Aug. 14, 2025 voted to buy a new ladder truck at a cost of $2,480,698 from Pierce Manufacturing.
Padoleski is happy the Medina ladder truck is sold and at a nice profit for the village.
“It’s been tough to move forward,” she said about the ladder truck, an issue that the village officials have been wrestling with for several years now.
The village budget for 2026-27 included a $300,000 profit with the sale of the ladder truck.
The sale is about $400,000 more than Medina’s contract with Pierce Manufacturing back in March 2023 when the Medina Village Board voted to pay $1,698,995 for the ladder truck. But with the first interest payment, Medina’s cost is closer to $1.8 million.
The sale at $2.1 million also includes a $100,000 fee to the broker. Padoleski said the village won’t have to make the year one principal payment at $130,000.
The new truck was too big for the existing fire hall and the board at that time expected an addition would be built on the existing fire hall. The truck is about 13 feet high where the fire station bays only have a clearance of 10 feet, 6 inches. But the initial construction estimates put an addition and overhaul of the current station at about $6 million. Just doing a one-bay addition would be about $1.3 million.
A new majority on the Village Board deemed those costs too much for the village taxpayers. They declared the ladder truck as surplus on Feb. 9, about two months after Pierce delivered it. The truck was never put into service.
The fire truck was listed for sale at $2.4 million on May 19 on an online site that sells fire trucks and other emergency vehicles and equipment. The website, shopgarage.com, touted the 2025 quint fire truck with a 100-foot ladder. The truck was promoted as “brand new, never used” with only 1,095 miles.
Padoleski said there was a strong interest in the ladder truck from a community in Texas, from a private business and from nearby Brockport.
Wilmette made the best offer, and followed up with a check.
Padoleski commended Deputy Mayor Scott Bieliski for working with the broker and potential buyers to get a good price for Medina.
The mayor said the Village Board will shift to looking at the future of the fire department and its ambulance service. Bieliski is on the hunt for a smaller used ladder truck that would fit in the existing fire hall.
She said the village needs more buy-in from neighboring towns that receive the ambulance service. Medina is seeking an increase from $35,000 to $135,000 from the towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates. But even at that level, the village taxpayers are paying more than $1 million a year towards its paid fire department.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous to expect the Village of Medina to pay for a service that goes outside the Village of Medina,” she said.
An Orleans County Shared Services Committee is looking at how to best fund and provide EMS and the fire service throughout the county. Padoleski wants to see a plan from that committee that shares the burden around the county.
“With EMS, it needs to be everybody’s problem,” she said. “It can’t just be Medina’s problem.”
Lyndonville downs W-C in G-R volleyball
Lyndonville scored a straight set 25-13, 25-20, 25-8 victory over Wheatland-Chili in a Genesee Region League volleyball match this evening.
For the Lady Tigers, Leah Kenyon had 5 kills and 2 blocks, Hannah Fox 6 kills and 5 aces, Isabella Bresett 2 kills and 1 ace, Destinee Holmes 6 aces and 1 kill, Grace Fox 2 aces, Hannah Pajek 2 aces, Sarah Corser 1 ace and 1 kill and Grace Kenyon 1 kill.
Holley booters edge Lyndonville/Barker
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Chase Kempa works to get the ball past Lyndonville/Barker’s Amir Zimmerman during the Hawks narrow 1-0 win this afternoon at Lyndonville.
Making a lone first half goal stand up, Holley nipped Lyndonville/Barker 1-0 in a Genesee Region League boys soccer game this afternoon at Lyndonville.
Chase Kempa scored the lone goal for the Hawks with 9 minutes remaining in the first half off an assist from Tarek Garrett.
This is the second time this season that the Hawks have edged past Lyndonville/Barker by a narrow 1-0 margin.
Holley is now 8-1-1 in the league and 10-1-1 overall while Lyndonville/Barker is 4-6, 6-7.
In another stormy weather shortened G-R contest Byron-Bergen edged Kendall 1-0.
Michael Alexander looks to pass the ball up field for Lyndonville/Barker as Aiden Kelley defends for Holley.
Roy-Hart repeats as N-O golf champions
Contributed Photos – Roy-Hart locked up a second straight Niagara-Orleans League golf championship with a victory at the All-League tournament today at Willowbrook. Coached by Jake Haight and Judd Heck the Rams lineup includes (not in order) Samantha Fox, Blake Stahl, Jared Hy, Kyle Corser, Judson Heck, Jackson Braun and Easton Kern.
Roy-Hart took top honors at the annual All-League Tournament held today at Willowbrook as the Rams locked up a second straight Niagara-Orleans golf championship.
Roy-Hart posted a title clinching score of 475 as Akron (478), Albion (485), Barker (512) and Medina (520) rounded out the top five teams.
Wilson’s Ben Meyers was the individual champion as he edged out Medina’s Tyler Draper in a three hole playoff after the two had finished tied for first place with identical rounds of 82. Roy-Hart’s Kyle Corser finished third with an 88.
Wilson’s Grace Boyd was the girls division individual champion with a 87.
Boys indivual champion Ben Meyers from Wilson is flanked here by Roy-Hart’s Kyle Corser , left, and Medina’s Tyler Draper.
Girls Individual champion Grace Boyd from Wilson, third from left, is joined by, from left, Akron’s Kendall Murray and Roy-Hart’s Samantha Fox, who tied for third, and Wilson’s Grace Wills who finished second.
Members of the N-O All-League first team are, from left, Drew Pritchard (Albion), Owen Spencer (Albion), Jackson Schlabach (Akron), Blake Stahl (Roy-Hart), Tyler Draper (Medina), Hudson Prynn (Barker) and Ben Meyers (Wilson).
County historian settling into new office
County DPW transformed space adjacent to Subway, giving historian more accessible space for local artifacts
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Catherine Cooper, the Orleans County historian, has a new office at 162 South Main St., a spot adjacent to Subway and next to the County Treasurer’s Office.
The county Department of Public Works transformed 2,000 square feet of space, putting in new drywall, a ceiling, electric and a floor.
“They did a huge amount of work,” Cooper said, commending the DPW staff for its work in the office and also relocating local artifacts and files from the top floor of Central Hall.
The County Legislature on Dec. 3 agreed to a lease with Nomax Albion, LLC, which is owned by Noah Michaels. He reached out to the county about using the 2,000 square feet for free if the county agreed to plow the lot for the plaza.
The county already was plowing part of it for the treasurer’s office. The county had to renovate the space and will be responsible for utilities.
Central Hall at 34 East Park St., which used to house the historian’s office and treasurer’s office, now is up for sale and listed for $229,000.
Catherine Cooper said her new space is more ground level and all on one floor. It is more accessible to the public. The previous site had stairs to climb and people often parked in a lot behind the building.
Cooper said the new space is more open, and isn’t in several smaller rooms. The 16 shelving units were purchased from Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, which sold the shelves as part of a renovation and addition project. Cooper worked at Lee-Whedon in Medina for 33 years, including 10 years as director before becoming county historian six years ago.
Cooper has office hours on Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. People are welcome to stop by and see her or by making an appointment. The office number is 585-589-4174.
Catherine Cooper is shown after the entrance to her new setup. The World War II uniform is from Dr. John Roche, who was an Army medic. The uniform is on loan from the Medina Historical Society. The poster celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in 1986.
It has been an extra busy two years for Cooper with the bicentennial celebration of Orleans County in 2025, and the 250thanniversary of the United States this year. She has helped plan many of the events the past two years, in addition to her regular duties as historian.
Those big milestone years are part of a very eventful tenure so far as historian. Her office already has moved twice in that time with the first move from the basement of Central Hall to the top floor.
Cooper looks forward to things being a little less hectic for the historian and Department of History.
“It’s been a lot of extra excitement that has brought a lot of focus to the department,” Cooper said about the big anniversary celebrations the past two years. “It has made it more challenging and interesting. But what I find the most interesting is going through the collection and sorting, trying to organize it in a fashion that is coherent and can be used by people going forward.”
She is eager to go through and organize more of the files and artifacts.
“I’m looking forward to having time to work on the collection more,” Cooper said. “The filing cabinets I’d like to get revamped. That takes time.”
2 inmates at local state prisons plead guilty to crimes against corrections officers
ALBION – Two inmates in local state prisons will be spending more time in prison after they pleaded guilty in the Orleans County Court today to crimes against corrections officers.
Raequan Tarver, 25, was an inmate at Orleans Correctional Facility on Nov. 25, 2025 when he attempted to injure a correction officer. He admitted in court today to an altercation with an officer where Tarver said he tried to hurt that officer.
He pleaded guilty in court today to attempted assault in the second degree and faces an addition 2 to 4 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 16.
Tarver is currently serving a 1 ½ to 3 year sentence for attempted robbery in the second degree and attempted promoting prison contraband in the first degree. He is eligible for parole on Oct. 8, 2027. He is currently incarcerated at Five Points Correctional Facility in Romulus, Seneca County.
Marisa Lockridge, 43, was at Albion Correctional Facility on Deb. 15, 2026 when she threw urine in an area near a corrections officer, causing the urine to come into contact with the officer.
She pleaded guilty in court today to aggravated harassment of an employee by an incarcerated person. She faces an additional 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison when she is sentenced on Dec. 16.
Lockridge has been moved to the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Westchester County. She is currently serving a 1 to 3 year sentence for grand larceny in the third degree. She is due to be released on Oct. 12. County Court Judge Sanford Church ordered here to be held without bail due to her release date on Monday.
In another case in court this morning, Tony Thompson, 59, of Albion was offered a plea deal where he would face up to 3 years in state prison if he pleads guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance.
He is facing eight counts of drug charges for allegedly selling crack cocaine in the Village of Albion. Thompson was arrested on May 12.
He can consider the offer and file motions in the case, which are due Nov. 2 and to be argued in court on Nov. 18.
Rivals will have home opener at Albion Friday
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Jayzon Wills and his Albion/Medina teammates will host West Seneca East at 7 p.m. Friday at Albion.
Six weeks into the season Albion/Medina will finally have a home game at Albion and it is a big one as the Rivals will host West Seneca East in a key B1 Division contest on Friday at 7 p.m.
Albion/Medina currently leads the B1 Division with a 4-0 record (5-0 overall). The Rivals have a one game lead over a trio of one loss teams including West Seneca East and Williamsville South, both at 4-1, and McKinley at 3-1.
Offensively the Rivals and the Trojans are both averaging over 40 points per game.
The Trojans are led by Josh Urban who has rushed for 767 yards and 19 touchdowns and Joey Molnar who has 8 rushing touchdowns.
The Rivals ground attack has been led by Elijah Doxey with 479 yards and 7 touchdowns and Jayzon Wills with 385 yards and 2 TDs.
Quarterback Preston Woodworth has passed for 910 yards and 11 touchdowns. His main receivers have been Noah Harrison with 22 catches for 478 yards and 6 touchdowns and Doxey with 19 catches for 384 yards and 3 TDs. Woodworth also has 4 rushing touchdowns.
After playing four of their first five games on the road, this will be the first of three straight “Home” games for the Rivals to close the regular season. The Rivals will face Amherst on Friday October 16 at Medina and then entertain McKinley on Friday October 23 at Albion in the regular season finale.
Friday’s other B1 Division games will have Maryvale (2-2) at Williamsville South, Lake Shore (1-4) at McKinley and Amherst (0-5) at Lew-Port (0-4) all at 7 p.m.
Barker/Roy-Hart will visit Akron Friday
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Matt Aquilina and his Barker/Roy-Hart teammates will visit Akron at 7 p.m. Friday.
Front-running defending champion Barker/Roy-Hart will begin a two game C North Division road swing as the Bulls visit Akron at 7 p.m. Friday.
Barker/Roy-Hart, which is 4-0 in the division, currently holds a one game lead over both Springville and Cleveland Hill which are 3-1.
That deadlock for second place will be broken as Springville hosts Cleveland Hill in a key game on Friday at 7 p.m.
Akron is 1-3 in the division.
Following Friday’s game, the Bulls will visit Alden (2-2) on Friday October 16 and then close out the C North campaign at home against Cleveland Hill on Thursday October 22.
The Bulls ground oriented offense has been led by the trio of Carter DerSarkissian (889 yards, 14 touchdowns), Aaron Bowerman (443 yds., 3 TD) and Owen Maedl (230 yds., 4 TD).
For Akron, Brock Lamont has rushed for 289 yards and 1 touchdown and Gavin Miller 200 yards and 3 TDs while Cole Siska has passed for 379 yards and 2 TDs.
The other C North games will have Eden/North Collins at JFK on Thursday and Alden at Tonawanda on Friday both at 7 p.m.
