By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 May 2026 at 8:37 pm
Kendall boosted its Genesee Region League baseball record to 10-1 and to 15-2 overall by downing Pembroke 15-1 this afternoon.
Leading 5-1, Kendall broke the contest wide open by erupting for 10 runs in the fourth inning as winning pitcher Nic Cole had a three-run homer and CJ D’Agostino, Vinnie D’Agostino and Andrew Cole all had two-run doubles.
The Eagles took the lead for good by scoring 3 quick runs in the first inning as Sammy Conte had a two-run single.
CJ D’Agostino, Vinnie D’Agostino and Jonny Conte each finished with 3 hits as Sammy Conte and Andrew D’Agostino both had 2. Vinnie D’Agostino’s base raps included his milestone 100th career hit.
On the mound, Nic Cole scattered 4 hits and struck out 6.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2026 at 8:25 pm
Medina, Lyndonville students urged to make responsible choices with upcoming proms, grad parties
Photos by Tom Rivers
RIDGEWAY – Medina teacher Rachel Trillizio comforts student Arabella White after seeing her friend Mady Elliott be put on a stretcher.
Medina school district coordinated a mock DWI crash simulation today at the Ridgeway fire hall parking lot. Medina invited Lyndonville students for the first time the two schools experienced the mock simulation together.
The simulation sends a message to students to be responsible with the prom and graduation parties coming up. There were 98 Medina seniors at the event today as well as 52 from Lyndonville who are juniors or seniors.
Grayson Romano of Lyndonville was a student involved in the crash. He portrayed a person who was unconscious. He was moved from the car onto a stretcher by EMTs. Grayson would be pronounced “dead” by county coroner Rocky Sidari.
Firefighters work to extricate Mady Elliott from a car. Mady, a junior at Medina, said she was hyper ventilating in the car as firefighters cut and removed pieces of the car to free her.
“It was scary,” she said afterwards. “People need to take this seriously.”
Elliott said drivers need to not be impaired when behind the wheel, and need to not be texting or looking at their phones.
Mady Elliott is led by stretcher to a Mercy Flight helicopter.
Mady Elliott is put into the helicopter which was flown by pilot Haji Shareef with nurse Gina Pennell on board. They flew from Buffalo in a trip that took 8 minutes.
Pam Cherry, the outreach coordinator for Mercy Flight in Batavia, said the organization will do about 30 of the fly-ins in mock simulations around Western New York. Mercy Flight receives a state grant for those responses.
Medina police officer Bradon Brown and Sgt. Marty Stirk of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office lead Austin Fonda, a Lyndonville senior, to a patrol car after he failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DWI in the simulation.
Firefighters from East Shelby, Ridgeway, Medina and Shelby worked on the response today.
Kevin Bogan, right, the owner of Bogan & Tuttle Funeral Home and his assistant Norman Smolarek move Grayson Romano into the hearse. Grayson was pronounced “dead” by a county coroner as part of the simulation drill.
Members of the Probation Department shared with students some of restrictions and supervision they would likely be under if they were arrested for DWI. From left in back include probation supervisor Katie Vick, juvenile officer Adam Kuhn and Bobby Hodge, probation officer who supervises the DWI caseload.
Hodge said people convicted of DWI have to stay out of bars and parties with alcohol. Vick said the Probation Department will try to connect people to mental health and substance abuse services if needed.
Calvin Cook, a junior at Lyndonville, tries on turnout gear with some assistance from Morgan Austin, the EMS captain for the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company.
Firefighters urged the students form Lyndonville and medina to consider becoming a volunteer firefighter. Austin said she joined the Ridgeway Fire Company even though she didn’t have a family connection to the department. She said the other firefighters welcomed her.
To pass the Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations (BEFO) class, firefighters need to put on all the turnout gear in 60 seconds or less.
Kelly Kiebala, director of the Orleans County Job Development Agency and the Youth Bureau, made STOP-DWI items available to the students and also shared how there are job training programs available through Job Development, The agency also runs a summer youth employment program.
Matt Hopkins with the NYS Department of Transportation health and safety program tells students they need to be extra careful if they are driving in a work zone. They should slow down and change lanes if possible, and watch out for flaggers.
These students tried to steer pedal cars while wearing goggles that showed what is what like to have your vision affected by alcohol intoxicated or marijuana.
Diana Fulcomer, a senior prevention educator for UConnectCare, urged students to watch over each other, especially if they see others engaging in toxic drinking where their lives could be at risk from toxic alcohol poisoning. Students were urged to call for help immediately if they see someone who is vomiting from alcohol, or if they don’t respond when shouted at, if they have very slow breathing, can’t stand up, have pale/bluish skin or an irregular/slow pulse.
Melinda Rhim, supervisor at the Orleans County Mental Health Department (left), and Amber Fortunato, a care manager, discussed how stress can affect people with some turning to alcohol and substances to help with anxiety and mental health issues. Rhim and Fortunato did a true or false exercise with the students. The two mental health professionals were pleased to see the awareness from the students and how they don’t see a stigma around mental health and a willingness to get help if needed.
The NYS Department of Transportation let students climb into a plow truck and blow the horn. Students were encouraged to seek out careers with the DOT.
Medina called today’s simulation and the many presentations at the fire hall part of a “Making Memories Safely” awareness event. The district said it would like to see a bigger county-wide event perhaps at the fairgrounds with all five school districts just before the prom season.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 May 2026 at 8:08 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Rhoswyn Oakes in action for Medina in the Long Jump during today’s home meet against Newfane.
Medina split with visiting Newfane in a Niagara-Orleans League track meet this afternoon.
Medina won the girls’ met 84.5-56.5 and Newfane took the boys’ competition 73-68.
Aurora Owczarczak was a triple winner for the Medina girls in the 100, 200 and 400 as Payton Denniston took the High Jump and Shotput, Saniyyaha Wilson the Discus and Caliyah St. Louis the Triple Jump.
Eden Hillman was a quadruple winner for Newfane in the 1500, 3000, 400 Hurdles and Pole Vault.
The Medina girls finish the regular season at 1-5 and Newfane at 0-6.
The Newfane boys were led by individual event double winners Traegan MacEvoy (800, 1600) and Isaac Zachery (High Jump, Long Jump).
Bryson Ford was a double winner for Medina in the 110 Hurdles and 400 Hurdles.
The Newfane boys wins up at 5-1 and Medina at 3-3.
Akron and Wilson split
Wilson defeated Akron 100-40 in the boys’ meet as Ryan Hough was a quadruple winner in the High Jump, Triple Jump, Long Jump and 110 Hurdles. Aidan Neumann was a triple winner in the 100, 200 and 400 and Brock Lepsch doubled in the Shotput and Discus.
The Wilson boys finish at 2-4 and Akron is at 0-5 with a make-up meet still to go against Roy-Hart on Thursday.
Akron won the girls’ meet 93-48 as Madigan Regan doubled in the 100 and 400.
Bella Thrush doubled for Wilson in the Long Jump and 200.
The Akron girls stay unbeaten at 5-0 and Wilson finishes at 4-2.
Roy-Hart and Barker split
The Roy-Hart girls downed Barker 84-57 as Julia Rohde doubled in the 1500 and 3000 and Lilly Pabon-Rosa in the Shotput and Discus.
Jordyn Kinne doubled for Barker in the High Jump and 100 Hurdles.
Barker won the boys meet 71-61.
Roy-Hart had a pair of double winners as Tysen McCaa took the Long Jump and Triple Jump and Chris McOmber the 110 Hurdles and 400 Hurdles.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 May 2026 at 7:45 pm
Roy-Hart pushed across two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to nip Akron 10-9 in a Niagara-Orleans League softball game this afternoon.
The Lady Rams tied the game at 9-9 on an RBI single by Hannah Verratti and then scored the game winner on an RBI single by Brooke Corser. A triple by Peyton May ignited the rally.
Kylie Mangione had 4 hits and Addison Massaro 3 for Akron.
Roy-Hart is now 7-3 and Akron 5-5 in N-O action.
Albion 7, Newfane 3
Albion bested host Newfane 7-3 in a night game as Melia Prince had 3 hits, including a two-run home run and a total of 4 RBIs, Kaitlin Bennett a bases loaded 2 run single and Lux Froman and Aubrielle Barry each with a pair of hits.
Barry also registered 4 strikeouts in the circle.
Sweet Home 15, Barker 3
Sweet Home jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first two innings in route to posting a 15-3 non league win over Barker.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 May 2026 at 7:29 pm
Sparked by a big second inning scoring burst, Lyndonville went on to down Byron-Bergen 15-1 in a Genesee Region League baseball game this afternoon.
The Tigers took charge by scoring 7 times in the second inning highlighted by a two-run double by Shannon Withey, a two-run single by Shawn Robertson and an RBI single by Landon Markidis.
Lyndonville then put a lock on the win by tallying four times in both the fourth and fifth innings. Robertson and Markidis both had RBI singles and winning pitcher Quincey McClinsey a two-run sacrifice fly in the fourth. Markidis also had an RBI double in the fifth.
Robertson finished with 4 hits, Markidis 3 and Withey and Austin Fonda 2 each.
On the mound, McClinsey allowed only 2 hits and struck out 4.
Making it 4 wins in the last 5 games, Lyndonville improves to 6-8.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 May 2026 at 7:17 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wert,man – Lyndonville’s Emily Dill attempts to lay down a bunt during the Lady Tigers win over Medina at Vets Park this afternoon.
Improving to 13-1 Lyndonville scored a 13-1 victory over Medina in a non league softball game at Vets Park this afternoon.
Lyndonville moved on top to stay by scoring 3 quick runs in the first inning as Alexa Robinson and Rylan Townsend both had singles. Alexa Robinson and Brooke Robinson then both had singles to spark a 2 run second inning.
The Lady Tigers broke the game open by scoring 6 times in the fifth inning as Townsend had a two-run single and Emily Dill a single.
Alexa Robinson finished with 3 hits and Townsend 2 as did Karlee Cau for Medina.
Arnie Sturtevant earned the win in the circle for Lyndonville scattering 4 hits and striking out 11.
Kendall wins doubleheader
Kendall swept to a Genesee Region League doubleheader victory over Attica by scores of 5-2 and 8-4.
Trailing 2-1, Kendall won the opener by scoring 4 times in the seventh inning on a wild pitch, a two-run single by Adrianna D’Agostino and an RBI single by Isabelle D’Agostino.
Adrianna D’Agostino, Teagan Shaw and Alea Barrett then each had a pair of hits in the second game.
Byron-Bergen sweeps Holley
Byron-Bergen scored a pair of G-R wins over Holley by scores of 8-0 and 22-19.
Zoey Warner had 2 doubles and an RBI and Desiree McCormick a double and 2 RBIs for Holley.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 May 2026 at 7:04 pm
Roy-Hart bested host Wilson 16-6 this afternoon to complete a 10-2 Niagara-Orleans League baseball season.
Breaking away from a 6-6 deadlock, Roy-Hart regained the lead for good by scoring three times in the fifth inning on an RBI triple by RJ Townsend and a pair of passed balls.
The Rams then put a lock on the win by scoring twice in the sixth on 3 walks and a double by Isaac Smith and five times in the seventh as Hank Snyder had an RBI double.
Wilson had tied the game at 6-6 by scoring five times in the third highlighted by a two-run single by Noah Johnson.
Roy-Hart had grabbed an early 6-1 lead by scoring five times in the second inning sparked by a three-run double by Sean Mettler.
Smith and Jared Hy combined to hurl a 4 hitter with 13 strikeouts on the mound for the Rams.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2026 at 1:54 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: A 430,000-pound load is shown on May 6 in Albion. The journey was delayed by a week and is set for Wednesday, May 13.
ALBION – A big load will slowly move from Albion through Barre and Elba and then end in Byron on Wednesday.
The 430,000-pound load will begin around 7:30 a.m. in Albion. A transformer is currently next to the railroad tracks on Hamilton Street. The transformer will be moved by a truck and trailer.
The trip was planned for last Wednesday but was cancelled when National Grid wasn;t given enough notice.
The journey on Wednesday will start about 7:30 a.m. and end around 3:30 p.m., according to the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.
“Please give yourself a little extra time as cargo will be slow moving and delays are expected,” the EMO posted on Facebook. “National Grid customers along the transport route may experience brief outages.”
Motorists are expected to experience delays on Wednesday and are urged to consider alternate routes.
The width of this load will obstruct oncoming traffic, the State Police advised last week.
The height of this load will necessitate the lifting of most overhead wires and traffic control devices. The load will move into oncoming traffic to avoid overhead obstructions.
Route 98 will be closed for an undisclosed amount of time to all traffic from Old Orchard Road to Lockport Rd.
The permitted route of travel will begin on Hamilton Street in the town of Albion and proceed east on Allen Road then south on Oak Orchard Road (Route 98). Then it goes east on Lockport Road in Elba and continues to North Byron Road, and then goes south on Searls Road to east on Tower Hill Road. The cargo then goes south on Byron Road in Byron.
Photos and information from Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
The eaglet at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge that many have been following through the bald eagle nest camera was 38 days old as of Monday and is growing by leaps and bounds.
Just like human babies, the eaglet is doing a lot of eating and sleeping. Sometimes both: Mother eagle brought in a juicy catfish the other day and the chick wasn’t hungry so used the catfish for a pillow – at least when the catfish stopped flopping about. Another time father eagle brought in a stick, disappointing the chick who was looking for some fish bits.
As an only chick, the eaglet is being fed very well so is growing fast and hitting all its important behavioral and physical milestones.
It is taking much larger bites of food, including being able to digest fur, feathers, scales and small bones. It reaches toward the parents and pecks at them to ask for food. It partly helps itself by picking up and eating dropped pieces of food. Its body feathers are growing in and the primary flight feathers can be seen poking out of the sheathes at the wings and tail.
The eaglet is also entertaining camera viewers with more “wingersizing” – an eagle version of calisthenics. It is gaining more strength in its legs, and you will see the eaglet standing up more often. Once it gains more stability in those legs ─ “riding the rails” is a term used on eagle cameras ─ the chick will start to perch near or on the sticks surrounding the bole.
The camera was funded and installed by the Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, with assistance from Pixcams Inc., out of Pittsburgh, and Treeman Tom tree service out of Wilson. You can watch the feed on a monitor in the refuge Visitors Center on Casey Road in the town of Alabama, or through a link at the Friends group’s website, FINWR.org.
If you’re keeping track, the eaglet is about halfway through its nestling phase.
Next the eaglet will be doing more standing and walking in the fully upright adult posture instead of scooting around using its hocks and wings. It is already starting to do this, but it will happen more often. In the next few weeks, it will also start doing more practice flapping to build breast and wing muscles.
In about four weeks it will start hopping and flapping to practice hovering above the nest. At this point its feathers will be much more grown in and the bird will be fully dark brown. It will also be able to feed itself from prey items brought to the nest, although the parents will continue to feed it.
Toward the end of June, the juvenile will be able to balance and perch on branches, hover reliably above the nest and flap from branch to branch. The primary wing and tail feathers will be almost entirely grown. It should fledge (be ready for its first real flight) in late June or early July at around 72 days old.
The eaglet will typically hang around a few weeks after fledging but then head off to seek its own territory. It will retain its dark brown coloring for several years and won’t develop its adult plumage ─ the iconic white head and tail feathers of a bald eagle ─ until it’s almost five years old. Until then it is scoping out other territories, play learning with other juveniles and perfecting its hunting techniques.
A final note: Friends group President Dick Moss would like to thank everyone who came out to Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge for Saturday’s Spring Spectacular. Everyone had a great time and the eaglet and its parents were one of the main topics of conversation.
“A special thanks to the vendors who shared their environmental expertise, and especially to the refuge staff who made it all possible,” Moss said.
This eaglet update was a collaboration of Friends of Iroquois NWR group members Dick Moss, Emma DeLeon, Amy Merritt and Garner Light.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 May 2026 at 10:05 am
Putting together a big last inning rally, White Birch edged Banes 16-15 to open the Medina Women’s Softball League season Monday evening.
Trailing 15-10, White Birch rallied for 6 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to claim the win. A home run by Ella Lewis highlighted the decisive uprising which also included a double by Morgan Ralph and singles by Mallory Albone and Dana Cotriss.
Earlier White Birch had a big 5 run fifth inning on a double by Ella Lewis, a triple by Ralph and a home run by Aubrey Lewis to pull to within one at 9-8.
Brianna Panncia had a triple to key a two-run sixth for White Birch.
Banes jumped out to an early 7-2 lead as Lindsay Chatt had a two-run home run in the first inning and a three-run homer in the second. She also had another two-run homer in the top of the seventh to put Banes up 15-10.
Banes also had a three run fifth inning on RBI singles by Teri Scharlau, Connie Heschke and Lindsay Chatt to go up 12-8.
Lindsay Chatt and Heschke both finished with 4 hits as Patti Page and Jami Chatt both had 3.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2026 at 9:18 am
Carter Kuipers
An active 4-H member in Orleans County has been named the first-place winner of a New York Farm Bureau scholarship.
Carter Kuipers of Byron won a $3,000 NY Farm Bureau’s 2026 Agricultural Youth Scholarship.
To qualify for scholarships, applicants must have a student or family membership in Farm Bureau. A panel of judges selects the winners based on their essay submissions and applications, which include community and agricultural engagement. District winners then compete for state scholarships.
Kuipers also was awarded $250 as the District 2 winner. He is a member of Genesee County Farm Bureau and is a senior at Byron-Bergen Senior High School.
Kuipers plans to attend SUNY Cobleskill to study agricultural power machinery with a career goal related to diesel technology. His agricultural experience includes working on his family’s farms, where he cares for animals and maintains equipment.
He has been an active member of FFA, including serving as the 2022-2025 Chapter Secretary, and has received many FFA awards and recognitions. Kuipers has been an active participant in the 4-H Beef and Dairy Club for the past decade. Outside of agricultural activities, he is a sectional champion with the Byron-Bergen/Le Roy swim team and a member of the clay target team, while also finding time to volunteer with his local church.
Kuipers has shown animals at the Orleans County 4-H Fair and won the grand master showman title in 2024, which features the top showmen of nine different animals: horse Western, horse English, dairy goat, meat goat, sheep, swine, llama, dairy cattle and beef cattle.
Kuipers showed pigs and beef cattle at the fair in 2024. He qualified for the grand master showmen competition after winning the beef master showman title.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Carter Kuipers, then 16, of Byron shows a beef animal during the grand master showman competition on July 26, 2024. Kuipers won the competition, one of the most prestigious at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. It features the top livestock showmen from the fair.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2026 at 8:40 am
KENDALL – The school district is proposing a $23,469,328 budget to the community for a vote on May 19. Kendall’s budget would raise taxes by 3.15 percent – from $5,162,224 to $5,324,835, an increase of $162,611.
Kendall school officials will go over the budget during a presentation today at 6:30 p.m. in the junior-senior high school library.
The vote will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Kendall Town Hall on May 19.
Kendall school leaders say many factors are driving the $2,045,169 budget increase for 2026-27: inflation, special education enrollments, instructional operation enhancements, shared services with BOCES, debt service, benefits, salaries, and minimum wage increases.
The debt service increased by 47.7 percent or $1,124,632 because Kendall will be issuing debt during June 2026 to pay for current capital project costs. However, this will be offset by a corresponding increase in building and transportation aid.
Kendall is using $150,000 more from its fund balance to lessen the need on property taxes, school officials state in the district’s budget newsletter.
State aid at $16,004,160 covers 68 percent of the school budget. The tax rate is projected at $10.29 per $1,000 of assessed property, which Kendall officials say in one of the lowest school tax rates in the area.
In addition to the budget, voters will be presented a proposition to use up to $390,000 from the vehicle capital reserve fund to purchase vehicles in the transportation program for the district, including passenger buses.
There are also two candidates for one five-year term on the Board of Education.
• Christa Bowling currently represents Kendall on the board of Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES. She and her husband have two children, a fifth-grade daughter at Kendall and a 20-year-old medically complex son who is in the Transitions Program at BOCES.
Bowling is the sole proprietor for a direct sales and distribution business. She has been Girl Scout Leader for Kendall since 2023, leading a troop of 40 girls each year. She is part of the Kendall Strategic Plan Committee. Her family has been involved with coaching Kendall Rec Soccer for seven years.
“Since moving to Kendall, our family has fallen in love with this community and school district because of the compassion and pride that comes with being an Eagle,” she said. “My drive to be on the Kendall BOE is my love and passion for advocating for both students and staff, which I have proven to do with my BOCES 2 Board role. I plan to help ensure that Kendall continues to have devoted staff, small class sizes, opportunities for all students, and continues to be an affordable community we are all proud to call home.”
• David Warren is a current Board of Education member. He is retired as a manufacturing engineering manager. He and his wife have two children and two grandchildren.
Warren has been a Little League baseball coach, youth soccer coach, and manager of the Kendall Community Band.
“I want to help ensure that our students have the best opportunity for success,” he stated in the school newsletter about why he is running for the Board of Education.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 8:59 pm
Cheryl Wertman File Photo – Gavin Heideman
Sparked by the sharp no hit pitching of Gavin Heideman, Roy-Hart downed visiting Wilson 8-2 in a Niagara-Orleans League baseball game this evening.
Heideman registered a whopping total of 19 strikeouts as the Rams improve to 9-2 in N-O action.
Roy-Hart took the lead for good when Isaac Smith belted a three-run home run in the first inning.
Wilson scored twice in the top of the fifth on an error and a passed ball but could get no closer than 4-2.
Roy-Hart put a lock on the victory by scoring twice in the home half of the fifth on an RBI single by Evan Poeller and a steal of home and twice in the sixth on a passed ball and an error.
Wilson pitcher Logan Held hurled a 3 hitter with 8 strikeouts.
Roy-Hart will close out the N-O season by visiting Wilson at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 8:11 pm
Continuing to close in on the title, Barker improved to 9-1 by besting visiting Akron 4-1 in a Niagara-Orleans League tennis match this afternoon.
Daniel Goodwin and Matthew Jordan scored singles wins for Barker which also got doubles victories by the duos of Oscar Dergel – Luke Fay and Aurora Wass – Nick Heideman.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 8:03 pm
Photo by Cheryl Werman – Medina’s Chris Mulcahy advances the ball up field ahead of Brockport’s Ryan Miller during the Mustangs 17-0 loss to the Blue Devils at Vets Park this evening.
