By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 March 2026 at 5:20 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: Holley students and community volunteers expanded their community cleanup last year on May 17 to include working on the landscaping by the tank at the Holley VFW post. The group reset memorial bricks, put down mulch and yanked out a lot of weeds.
Volunteers are welcome for Canal Clean Sweep events in Orleans County and other canal communities in the state.
The events are planned in alignment with the Parks & Trails New York annual state-wide Earth Day Canal Clean Sweep. Most of the events are April 17 to 19, but not all are in that time frame.
Holley has one of the biggest clean sweep efforts, with more than 100 students in the EarlyAct and Interact Clubs taking the lead in picking up trash along the canal and also on village streets and parks.
Holley calls it a “Day of Impact” and it will be from 10 a.m. to noon on May 17. This year’s clean sweep is in honor of Eric Fredendall, a Holley grad and U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran who passed away at age 46 on Feb. 17 after a battle with cancer.
The “Day of Impact” begins at the elementary school parking lot at 10 a.m. before the volunteers disperse into the community.
Adam Burgio, an Albion student, picks up litter and trash near the railroad tracks by Platt Street on April 19, 2025 during a Canal Clean Sweep event. The Albion Rotary Club and Interact Club at the school filled 19 garbage bags with a total weight of 307 pounds.
Other clean sweep events registered on the Park and Trails website in Orleans County include:
Albion – April 18 from 10 a.m. to noon. Meet at Tinsel (Lockstone) and participants will receive free ice cream, gloves and trash bags.
Holley – April 18 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Volunteers will meet in the pavilion at the Canal Park Trail in Holley and will be provided with light breakfast refreshments before cleaning begins. This event is coordinated by the Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District & Orleans County Tourism.
Medina – April 25 from 9 a.m. to noon (with rain date on May 2). The Medina Lions Club welcomes people on the park on the east side of the canal near the lift bridge on the north side of the Medina village. Participants will clean up the trash and mulch the trees, bushes, sculptures and ground signs.
Medina – April 17 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. The Medina Junior Senior High School Student IMPACT Club will be picking up litter along the canal, beginning near Ryan Street.
There is time for other groups to register for cleanup events along the canal, too. Click here for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 March 2026 at 1:07 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville Central School is performing Peter Pan for the school’s annual musical. The top photo shows the cast on Friday’s opening night. There are more performances at 7 p.m. today and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Gavyn Draper stars as Peter Pan and he gets to fly about the stage in several scenes. Peter Pan and other characters – Wendy, John and Michael Darling – get to fly by using wires with harnesses and pulleys.
There are about 35 students in the cast, 20-plus in the stage crew and another 14 in the pit orchestra.
Lyndonville is coming off a highly acclaimed musical season a year ago when its show, Newsies, was named “Production of the Year” for small schools in the Rochester region by the Stars of Tomorrow program which sends trained evaluators to the school musicals.
Draper, a sophomore, has been performing in shows since he was in third grade, first at his church. By fifth grade, he was on stage for the Lyndonville school musicals.
“I like singing and acting, and I like an audience,” he said before Friday’s show.
Last year’s show gave him “goose bumps” on stage to see how the cast came together in a powerful way, and to see the crowd react.
He believes the message of Peter Pan is to embrace your childhood for as long as you can.
Austin Fonda plays the role of Captain Hook in Neverland. Captain Hook wants to kill Peter because he cut off his hand and threw it to a crocodile. Hook leads a group of pirates. In this photo, Fonda sings about a mysterious woman who has captured Hook’s fancy.
Sarah Corser plays the role of Tiger Lily, who leads a group of Indians who are hunting the pirates. Tiger Lily and Peter Pan reach a truce and friendship.
Peter Pan (Gavyn Draper) sprinkles some fairy dust on the three Darling children and urges then to “think lovely thoughts” so they can fly with him to Neverland. Emily Kroll plays Wendy (left), Jackson Hargrave is Michael Darling (center) and Bella Bresett is John Darling. In this scene, they’re singing, “I’m Flying.”
Draper is playing the role his mother, Katie (Thurber) Draper, played as Peter Pan in 2002. Becky Botsford, a Lyndonville music teacher, also was Wendy in the 2002 production. She is playing the bassoon in the pit orchestra for this year’s show.
Jen Trupo, the musical director the past 15 years at Lyndonville, said the flying characters make the show feel “magical.” She believes the musical shares a powerful message.
“I just want everyone to really soar above adversity and the all the Captain Hooks in their life and all the things that they are weighing them down,” she said.
Wendy Darling (Amy Kroll) is in Neverland and shares stories with the Lost Boys, who ask her to be their mother.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 March 2026 at 8:45 am
Warren Blount, Michael Royal, Nelda Toussaint and Mary Brennan Woodruff will be recognized
MEDINA – The Medina school district will be recognized four graduates as “Distinguised Alumni” at a ceremony on April 23 at 2 p.m. in the school auditorium.
The honored alumni include:
Warren Blount – posthumously, Class of 1963
Michael Royal – Class of 1997
Nelda Toussaint – posthumously, Class of 1947
Mary Brennan Woodruff – Class of 1965
Warren Blount in highlighted for outstanding service to his profession. He served three tours of duty during the Vietnam War with the United States Marines, including the Battle of Khe Sanh and the Tet Offensive. His received the Purple Heart, the Naval Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star, and the Vietnam Cross.
Following his military service, Warren transitioned from the battlefield to the operating room, dedicating himself to the pursuit of medical excellence. After graduating from the University of Birmingham, he became a highly skilled Surgeon’s Assistant in Cardiac Vascular Surgery. His career in Michigan saw him assist in over 6,000 open-heart surgeries and transplants, working alongside world-class surgeons to save countless lives.
He furthered his education at the Michigan University College of Human Medicine, completing a residency in Emergency Medicine to expand his capacity to care for those in crisis.
Blount concluded his distinguished career in Tallahassee, Florida, where he served for 17 years as a practicing emergency physician at the Capital Region Medical Center.
“Whether in the heat of combat or the intensity of the emergency room, Warren Blount lived a life of purpose that fundamentally changed the lives of others,” the school district said. “He remains a shining example of the heights a Medina alumnus can reach through hard work and a heart for service.”
Mary Brennan Woodruff is being honored for outstanding service to her community. Her distinguished 35-year career in education at the Royalton-Hartland School District was marked by a versatile mastery of teaching, ranging from elementary classrooms to specialized middle school mathematics.
Beyond the classroom, Woodruff emerged as a formidable leader in her profession, serving nine terms as Union President and chairing the district’s Professional Council.
Her impact on the local landscape is perhaps most visible through her visionary leadership of the Medina Hometown Heroes initiative. Inspired by a family tribute to her father-in-law, she launched the program in 2019 to honor the military men and women of Medina.
“With meticulous attention to detail and profound empathy for grieving families, Mary has coordinated the placement of over 410 banners throughout the village,” the district said. “Her tireless work balancing design, sponsorship, and logistics has transformed the streets of Medina into a living gallery of gratitude, ensuring that the sacrifices of local veterans are never forgotten.”
Woodruff made history in 2012 by becoming the first woman elected to the Ridgeway Town Council in the town’s 200-year history. Now serving her third term, she remains a steadfast advocate for her constituents and a vital member of the Decorate Medina Committee.
Dr. Michael Royal, Ed. D. is recognized for excellence in his profession. Dr. Royal has built a distinguished career defined by academic excellence and leadership.
A member of the National Honor Society and a record-setting athlete in the 4×400 relay, he carried his Medina work ethic to the Mooresville Graded School District in North Carolina.
Since 2001, he has ascended from an award-winning mathematics teacher and Principal of Mooresville High School to Chief Operations Officer—where he oversaw over $100 million in construction projects—and currently serves as Assistant Superintendent. His visionary leadership in digital learning and student growth earned him the 2016–2017 Administrator of the Year award and led to his appointment as Interim Superintendent in 2022.
Dr. Royal also is a legendary figure in North Carolina athletics. One of only five coaches inducted into the Mooresville High School Athletic Hall of Fame, he led his teams to a staggering 39 team titles and six State Championships. Most notably, his 2007–2008 boys’ teams achieved the historic “Triple Crown,” winning State Championships in Cross Country, Indoor Track and Outdoor Track—a feat unmatched by any other boys’ program in state history.
Beyond the scoreboard, his contribution to humanity is seen in his devotion to his brother, Corey. By running marathons for Team Spina Bifida, he turned personal loss into a mission of hope, raising vital funds and awareness in Corey’s memory.
Nelda Toussaint is recognized for “Outstanding Service to her Community.” Toussaint was a woman of remarkable intellect and determination, graduating at the age of 16 before earning a degree in Fine Arts from Syracuse University, the district noted.
After returning to her hometown, she applied her meticulous organizational skills to the management of her family’s farm and multiple local law offices.
For over seven decades, Nelda remained a pillar of the Medina community, balancing her professional acumen with a deep-seated commitment to civic duty. Whether managing complex finances or serving as an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, she moved through life with a grace and precision that earned her the enduring respect of her peers.”
She offered an unwavering advocacy for local education. For over 20 years, she served as a vital member and President of the Medina School Board, steering the district through decades of growth and change. She continued to serve on the budget committee and attend meetings well into her 90s, ensuring a bright future for generations of students.
Beyond the school district boardroom, her leadership extended to the Medina Memorial Hospital’s Association of Twigs and the Woods Creek Pony Club, reflecting a lifelong mission to enrich the social and educational fabric of the village she loved, the district said.
“To all who knew her, Nelda was a portrait of vitality and spirit,” the district said. “An adventurer at heart, she traveled the world, notably riding a camel across the Sahara at the age of 89. Nelda Toussaint’s life was a masterclass in active citizenship and family devotion.”
A “No Kings” demonstration will be in Albion on Saturday, March 28, from 12 to 2 p.m. at the corners of Rt. 98 and Rt. 31.
How can people not be concerned about what this current administration is doing to solidify unaccountable power?
A war and a gold-plated ballroom, neither with Congressional authorization celebrate an inflated ego; trial balloons about an unconstitutional third term; Undermining voting integrity on the basis of election irregularities that have never been proven in court case after court case; Promoting our nation’s 250th Anniversary in ways that only a dictator could love; Changing government departments for personal gain as evidenced by appointment of leaders without expertise in these areas; Pardoning convicted criminals following massive business deals or donations to campaigns – These are the things we protest today.
The No Kings Movement has been accused of over-dramatizing its case, but everything we have warned about has come true as democracy is being squeezed and squeezed until there will be nothing left.
It’s time to take a stand in every village and town. The basic tenets of democracy are evaporating before our eyes, but we who are participating in this No Kings event, one of thousands of such gatherings across the country, are hopeful, deeply committed, and not afraid to speak truth to power. Join us, stand with us, and add your voice.
“No Kings” is a nonviolent national day of action and mass mobilization in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration. It is non-partisan in nature.
Although this event is being hosting by your Orleans County Democratic Committee, all are welcome. Municipal and street parking are available, and we ask participants to respect the needs of businesses.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 21 March 2026 at 7:56 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading Kendall into the upcoming softball season will be, in front, Allayna Keirn, Sophia Picardo and Ella Cole. In back are Izzy D’Agostino, Teagan Shaw, Brooke Rodas and Alea Barrett.
Coming off a 7-7 Genesee Region League record (10-9 overall) last spring, the Kendall softball squad is led by a solid nucleus of seven players.
A trio of G-R All-Star honorees including senior catcher Brooke Rodas, sophomore shortstop Izzy D’Agostino and sophomore infielder Teagan Shaw heads that group which also includes senior infielder Alea Barrett, junior outfielders Sophia Picardo and Allayna Keirn and freshman infielder/outfielder Ella Cole.
The Lady Eagles are also looking to sophomore Kourtney Marion, freshman Gabby Hauptman and eighth grader Adrianna D’Agostino.
“We have a decent nucleus back and some promising young players so we’re looking for a good season,” said Coach Jeff Parizek.
The Lady Eagles graduation losses included Inez Stangler (pitcher/outfield), Lia Larson (third base), Ella Christ (shortstop/second base) and Maggie Zastrow (infield).
Kendall is scheduled to begin tuning up for the April 14 G-R home opener against Elba by visiting Barker on March 24 at 4:45 p.m.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 20 March 2026 at 6:56 pm
A comeback bid fell short as Medina’s Melanie Green has missed the cut at the LPGA Tour’s Fortinet Founders Cup Touanament at Menlo Park, California.
Green fired a strong bogey free 4 under par round of 68 today with four birdies.
However, the solid round was not enough to overcome Thursday’s 7 over par round of 79 which included 6 bogies and a disastrous triple bogey and only two birdies.
That gave her a two day total of 3 over par 147 which missed the cutline of even par by three shots.
Next up on the LPGA Tour will be the Ford championship at Phoeniz, Arizona next week.
Photos courtesy of GLOW With Your Hands: Genesee Community College hosted the fourth annual GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare event today. Medical, public health and emergency medical providers and colleges gave students career insights and hands-on healthcare experiences.
Press Release, GLOW With Your Hands
BATAVIA – More than 650 students from 29 school districts in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming (GLOW) counties experienced hands-on healthcare career exploration today at Genesee Community College.
The annual GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare event returned for a fourth year at GCC, supported by business and educational groups and sponsors led by Triple Platinum Sponsor ESL Federal Credit Union and volunteers from numerous local organizations and businesses.
Sienna Berrios, a senior at Attica High School, is interested in pursuing a career in nursing and was impressed by the knowledge and hands-on instruction she learned from vendors throughout the day-long career exploration event.
“The classroom information session was my favorite experience of the day, our group learned about the responsibilities, duties, and pathways of various healthcare careers,” said Berrios. “If you are a student in the GLOW region and figuring out your next step after graduation, GLOW With Your Hands is the event for you.”
Over 60 healthcare, higher education, and career pathway organizations provided informational and hands-on activities related to careers in EMS, pharmacy, healthcare administration, physical therapy, healthy living, physicians/residents, holistic medicine, radiology/sonography/ultrasound, mental health and social work, research science, nursing, respiratory therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, physician’s assistant/nurse practitioner, surgery, and vet technician.
“GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare recognizes the importance of access to high-quality healthcare services in the GLOW region and other rural areas in New York State starts with preparing our next generation of healthcare leaders,” said GLOW With Your Hands Co-Chair Angela Grouse. “It has been encouraging to see students achieving their aspirations and starting rewarding careers through the training programs and employers they meet at our event.”
In addition to hands-on demonstrations, every student participated in a pair of self-selected workshops with a variety of healthcare careers led by medical, emergency response, and training professionals. Students also explored educational pathways in the healthcare sector through BOCES and degree programs at local colleges and universities.
“By bringing together educators, workforce experts, and local organizations we are advancing our major goal: to prepare the next generation of workforce candidates and connect them to local, in-demand careers,” said GLOW With Your Hands Co-Chair Karyn Winters.
Kennedy Gross, a sophomore at Perry High School, learned how to cauterize a pig’s foot in the surgery classroom session. Hands-on experiences about unique and rewarding career paths are a hallmark of how GLOW With Your Hands jumpstarts career interests for future workforce candidates.
“The hands-on activities are experiences we do not typically get during our high school classes, but practicing these simulations will help me prepare for a healthcare career,” said Gross. “After today, I have a better understanding of how I can further my education and what skills I need to learn before I graduate in 2028.”
Representatives from hospitals and health systems and professionals in nursing, mental health, social services, and emergency responders interacted with students to discuss their careers and pathways into their respective fields.
University of Rochester Medicine Noyes Health has been a participant of GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare since its inception in 2023. The organization delivers multiple activities and informational tables to the annual career exploration event, including imaging, career/college pathways, and infection prevention.
“Students learn about unique healthcare opportunities they might not encounter elsewhere, providing them with an advantage in choosing their future career path,” stated Jennifer Ornt, Director of Infection Prevention and Nursing Education, University of Rochester Medical Center. “We look forward to this annual event; recruiting and educating the next generation of workers helps us provide essential services to the GLOW region and surrounding communities.”
Photo and information courtesy of State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt’s Office
NIAGARA FALLS – Today, State Senator Rob Ortt joined the Meals on Wheels program with FeedMore Western New York to distribute meals to community members.
A passionate community partner, FeedMore WNY’s mission is to offer dignity, hope and a brighter future by providing nutritious food, friendship and skills training to our Western New York neighbors in need.
“I was happy to be on the ground with the incredible staff of Feedmore WNY and hand out meals while providing much needed assistance to members of our community,” Ortt said. “Whether an elected official or a resident here in Senate District 62, this experience can truly open one’s eyes to the overwhelming need faced by some of our neighbors. I’m proud that I was able to contribute to Feedmore WNY’s mission, and look forward to doing so again in the future.”
If you or someone you know would like to help out Feedmore WNY through monetary or food donations, or learn about other ways to contribute, you can head over to their website: www.feedmorewny.org.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 March 2026 at 10:04 am
Some favor Stream US Data Centers for construction jobs, hundreds of millions in new municipal revenue
Photos by Tom Rivers: Chief Scott Logan, chief for the Bear Clan of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, said the data center and development at STAMP are a threat to Tonawanda culture and so much wildlife. He spoke during a public hearing on Thursday at the Alabama fire hall about $1.4 billion in incentives for the data center. He is holding the “two row wampum belt” that he said symbolizes peace between the United States and six nations of the Haudenosaunee. The belt shows how two different culture should be living as neighbors, with the Haudenosaunee not facing the potential loss of its traditions.
ALABAMA – More than 300 people packed the Alabama fire hall on Thursday night for a public hearing on incentives for a massive data center at the STAMP site.
Stream US Data Centers is seeking $1.43 billion in sales tax exemptions – $715,944,000 locally and $715,944,000 to the state. Stream also is seeking an exemption on the 1.0 percent mortgage tax, which totals over $31 million with $15,613,500 each locally and to the state.
That project, at nearly $20 billion, would pump out about $700 million in municipal revenues over the next 30 years.
Building the data center is expected to employ 1,200 construction workers over the next five years, with 125 employees then working at the site.
The data center, however, isn’t a good fit for such a rural area next to a wildlife refuge and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, many of the speakers said at the public hearing.
It will displace wildlife, disrupt the Native American culture and traditions, and could harm the Oak Orchard Creek through water discharges. The Oak Orchard is a popular fishing draw for Orleans County, where fishermen generate $28 million in economic activity annually in the county, according to a DEC study.
This person holds a sign opposing the data center. There has been a bigger need for the data center complexes with the surge in artificial intelligence.
Scott Logan, chief for the Bear Clan of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, said the large industrial development doesn’t belong in such a rural area.
“You’re not thinking about humanity,” he said.
He said the local economic development officials need to look long-term and at future generations with such a change to the land.
“This data center is causing our community stress and it will cause us health problems,” he said. “I realize it’s bringing jobs for the construction companies coming here, but a majority of them don’t live here.”
Chief Logan is concerned about the 24-7 noise from the site. The decibel levels of 45 and 65 could have a negative impact on nearby residents and wildlife.
“You don’t know what it will do to the deer and the plants,” he said.
Chief Logan called the tax incentives “gross” and not needed by the billion-dollar companies involved with the project. The users of the data center have not been identified, and that rankled several of the speakers who said those identities should be disclosed.
Matt Hurlbutt, president and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise, said the data center fits with the “tech hub” and innovation goals for the region, state and country. He said local colleges and universities provide a pipeline of trained people that could work at the site in the future. He was loudly booed by the crowd when he was one of the few to speak in support of the project.
The Genesee County Economic Development Center listed these future payments by Stream:
$285.8 million in new revenues to municipalities and schools
STREAM US Data Centers has agreed to pay $7 million in base annual PILOT/Host payments to Genesee County, the Town of Alabama and the Oakfield-Alabama School District. PILOT/Host Payments would increase by a fixed 2% annually. This would total more than $283.9 million in new revenue over 30 years.
The Town of Alabama would also receive a one-time $1.9 million payment through the terms of the Incentive Zoning Agreement.
$270 Million in new sales tax revenue to Genesee County
STREAM US Data Center’s electrical usage is estimated to generate $9 million annually in sales tax revenue to Genesee County which totals $270 million over 30 years. Of this, 14 percent would be distributed by Genesee County to the City of Batavia over 30 years.
STREAM US Data Centers will not apply for a Hydropower allocation or National Grid discounted rate programs.
$268 Million to complete electrical infrastructure
STREAM US Data Centers would invest $268 million in total to complete electrical infrastructure at STAMP.
$146 million in new funding for economic development projects
The GCEDC would reinvest the project fees generated by STREAM US Data Centers to support projects to further grow Genesee County’s tax base, workforce development initiatives and careers in the community.
$5 million in new revenues to Town of Alabama Fire District
Stream US Data Centers will pay an estimated $170,579 in annual fire district fees. This totals more than $5 million in funding over 30 years.
Kacey Stewart of Elba, program director for health, wellness and climate at Daemen University and research assistant professor in environment and sustainability at the University at Buffalo, said the large project would disrupt the ability of wildlife to get from one location to the next and for plants to easily spread.
“This will fragment four wildlife management areas,” he said. “It will disrupt their ability to move.”
The Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge also is an economic asset to the community, drawing 80,000 visitors annually, he said. Stewart also noted the $28 million impact from fishing for Orleans County.
He worries what happens at the end of the data center’s useful life. How will the complex be handled then? he asked.
“Western New York is full of the scars of industries,” he said.
Jim Joyner, a Town of Alabama resident, said there are other less intrusive projects that could go at STAMP instead of the large data center. He said the local municipal and economic development officials seem to be pushing the project too fast on the community. He favors a three-year moratorium on new data centers. That moratorium has been proposed in the State Legislature.
“Let’s wait the three years and really study this,” he said.
Laborers’ Local 435 in Rochester had a sign outside the Alabama fire hall in support of the project. It would employ about 1,200 construction workers over five years – at a payroll of $505 million.
Valerie Parker-Campbell, a Tonawanda Seneca woman, said STAMP jeopardizes sacred medicines and practices of the community. She is holding her 1-year-old son. She said she worries if he will be able to hunt, collect medicinal plants, and safely swim in a watering hole in the future.
“Our children are the gatekeepers of this land,” she said. “You’re not guaranteeing their future. We should be looking out for seven generations.”
Melissa Smith, a member of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, said the large-industrial development of the data center so close to the Native Americans feels like racism.
She said the “projected monster” of the data center has brought the Tonawanda Seneca community together as well as their many allies.
“We’re all committed to stopping this environmental catastrophe,” she said. “I oppose everything about this project.”
Tom Iorizzo of Batavia, a representative for Carpenters Union Local 277, said he strongly supports the data center development. It will be a five-year prevailing wage construction project that would make a big difference for the union workers, he said.
Jennifer Durham lives 3 miles from STAMP. She said she can hear trains a night, 12 miles away in Corfu. She said the data center will bring constant, disruptive noise.
Evelyn Wackett, a certified wildlife rehabber from Buffalo, holds a picture of a short-eared owl. She said the data center with its noise and 65-foot-high walls will affect local birds. The noise will reduce the number of eggs many will lay, and those eggs wont be as viable, she said.
“We need to advocate fiercely for these creatures that can’t speak for themselves,” she said.
Mary Jo McConnell of Elba said the community should look into legal action “to stop this crap.” She said the data center “would be detrimental to the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, wildlife and our little piece of Heaven.”
Diane Ciurczak of Buffalo, vice chair of the Sierra Club Niagara Group, said the tax incentives are the largest of any data center in the United States. A full environmental impact study should be presented before the incentives are approved.
“There are many unanswered questions,” she said. “We don’t know how this behemoth will be constructed.”
She worries about the “noise pollution,” traffic, horizontal drilling across streams, diesel generators, nearly 200 chillers on the roofs and giving one location so much electricity – 500 megawatts.
“This beautiful place shouldn’t be a state sacrifice area,” she said.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 20 March 2026 at 9:01 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s veteran group includes, in front, Aine Davis, Fallyn Mescall, Kaylee Stoll and Madelina Pavlock. In back are Lexi Brazzell, Lilly Reyes, Madyson Flint, Elise Monaco and Peyton Bradley.
Last spring Barker earned a share of the Niagara-Orleans League softball championship. Now, with the lineup returning virtually intact, Barker is again taking aim at earning top N-O honors.
Barker shared the N-O crown with Roy-Hart at 10-2 last spring.
The Lady Bulldogs large veteran contingent includes seniors Kaylee Stoll (infield), Peyton Bradley (pitcher/infield), Madelina Pavlock (infield) and Sophia Gerhardt (outfield) along with junior Fallyn Mescall (infield), sophomores Elise Monaco (utility), Lexi Brazzell (catcher), Madyson Flint (pitcher/infield), Lilly Reyes (utility) and freshman Aine Davis (outfield).
Flint, Bradley and Stoll were all first team N-O All-League honorees while Pavlock and Brazzell were second team selections and Monaco an Honorable Mention selection.
“We bring back a large group of experienced player and are excited about the season ahead. We are looking forward to challenging for another league title,” said Coaches Aileen Gilbert and Bill Moeller.
Barker is scheduled to tune up for the March 30 N-O home opener against Medina by hosting Kendall on March 24 and visiting Lockport on March 27.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 March 2026 at 5:26 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Albion Fire Chief Jeremy Graham, right, is shown during last week’s Albion Joint Fire District meeting at the Albion fire hall. From left include district treasurer Victoria Tabor, district chairman Al Cheverie, vice chairman Dave Buczek, and commissioner Derek Howes.
ALBION – The calls for the Albion Joint Fire District were at 140 the first two months of the year, putting the district on pace for about 840 calls. That is up from the 692 calls for 2025, Albion Fire Chief Jeremy Graham told the district’s board of commissioners last week.
Graham said a core of 10 to 12 firefighters respond to most of the calls. Most of them are officers.
The department has 98 members are the roster and needs more participation or the core group could get worn out. Graham said it’s not a sustainable situation.
He wants to see the district step up its recruitment and retention efforts.
He noted a new program will soon be offered by the Orleans/Niagara BOCES that could boost the ranks in the future.
The Orleans/Niagara BOCES center in Medina next school year will offer EMS and a fire science class. Incoming high school juniors are encouraged to sign up. It’s available for students in Albion, Barker, Lockport, Lyndonville, Medina, Newfane and Roy-Hart districts.
The program offers a rigorous and hands-on introduction to emergency services, which BOCES officials say could lead to a career or volunteer in emergency services.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 March 2026 at 3:00 pm
Boat is replica of famed Erie Canal vessel that carried Gov. DeWitt Clinton in 1825
Photo by Tom Rivers: Holley Mayor Mark Bower last week holds a promotional material highlighting the Seneca Chief’s stay in Holley on June 24. The vessel made a much-publicized voyage across the Erie Canal last year in commemoration of the canal’s 200th anniversary. It heads back across the canal from near Albany to Buffalo in June, staying at 16 ports.
HOLLEY – Mark Bower is excited about June 24 in the Village of Holley. The mayor will be welcoming the Seneca Chief that day.
The boat is a replica of the vessel that carried Gov. DeWitt Clinton in 1825 in the maiden voyage that went from one end of the canal to the other.
The replica did a commemorative journey of that voyage last year to help celebrate the bicentennial of the Ere Canal. Last year the Seneca Chief docked in Medina to end the second day of its trip, and the following day went through Orleans County and then stopped in Brockport.
This time, on the journey back to Buffalo, the Seneca Chief will be staying in Holley on June 24 and will offer guided tours of the boat. The following day it will port in Medina.
The Seneca Chief was built by volunteers of the Buffalo Maritime Center. The replica stopped in Medina’s Canal Basin during its “sea trial” in 2024 and again during the 33-day journey to New York City in 2025.
The Seneca Chief is shown on Sept. 26, 2025 during a brief stop in Albion where the public had a chance to tour the boat.
The 73-foot boat features a tiller made from wood pulled from Lockport’s “Flight of Five” locks. The vessel shared historical re-enactments, including the “Wedding of the Waters” ceremony, to canal-side communities in 2025.
The Seneca Chief will be heading back to Buffalo this year. The vessel’s journey this time will be over 22 days, instead of last year’s 33-day effort.
The schedule includes:
June 6: Waterford
June 6: Schenectady
June 7-8: Amsterdam
June 9-10: Little Falls
June 11-12: Rome
June 13: Sylvan Beach
June 14: Brewerton
June 15-16: Syracuse
June 17: Baldwinsville
June 18-19: Lyons
June 20-21: Fairport
June 22-23: Rochester
June 24: Holley
June 25: Medina
June 26: Tonawandas
June 27: Buffalo
Click here for more on the “Back to Buffalo” voyage for the Seneca Chief.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 March 2026 at 11:34 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: These students try a stethoscope on a baby mannequin “Luna” at a station for the nursing program at Genesee Community College on March 22, 2024. The students could listen to the heart beat, the sound of the lungs and the abdomen. GCC has about 100 students complete an associate’s degree in nursing each year.
BATAVIA – Genesee Community College on Friday will host 650 students for the fourth annual GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare.
The students come from 29 school districts from the GLOW region will learn about and interact with businesses and organizations from the healthcare industry.
The students will see opportunities in the healthcare workforce, education and training. The event brings healthcare organizations and providers, healthcare businesses, first responders, colleges and companies across the GLOW region.
In addition to hands-on demonstrations and face-to-face interactions with healthcare organizations, students will each participate in two self-selected healthcare career workshops in fields including EMS, nursing, surgery, research science, pharmacy and others.
The event is made possible by GLOW region workforce development leaders, educators, and community organizations and sponsors, led by Triple Platinum Sponsor ESL Federal Credit Union, and Platinum Sponsors Wyoming County Community Health System, Rochester Regional Health United Memorial Medical Center, and Genesee Community College.
NIAGARA FALLS – Today, State Senator Rob Ortt joined the Meals on Wheels program with FeedMore Western New York to distribute meals to community members.
