By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 July 2026 at 11:06 am
Images from Orleans County Tourism: The Orleans County Courthouse was built in 1857-1858 in the Greek Revival style and has been a focal point of the square for almost 170 years. The dome with a cupola is a landmark for miles around. The Orleans County Clerk’s Office was built in 1882-1883 in the Eastlake Style. It was designed by Isaac G. Perry, the same architect of the “Million Dollar Staircase” in the State Capital of Albany
ALBION – There is a new brochure from the Orleans County Tourism Department that highlights the Courthouse Square in Albion. This district has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.
Albion and the 1441 zip code has several nationally recognized historic districts with Courthouse Square, Mount Albion Cemetery, Downtown Albion, the Erie Canal, Cobblestone Museum and the Childs hamlet.
There are seven architecturally outstanding churches that surround the Courthouse Square: the Free Methodist Church (first one in the denomination), First Baptist Church, Canalside Community Church (formerly the Albion United Methodist Church), St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, First Presbyterian Church, Christ Episcopal Church and the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church.
The brochure also features notable residences in the Second Empire, Greek Revival, and Queen Anne styles.
The Orleans County Tourism posted this information about the new brochure:
Explore Albion’s Historic Courthouse Square
Orleans County Tourism has released an updated Albion Historic Courthouse Square Walking Tour brochure, providing visitors and residents with a refreshed guide to one of the county’s most significant historic landmarks.
Originally created by former Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin, the walking tour brochure has been redesigned in full color and features updated information. The self-guided tour highlights the history, architecture and significance of the buildings surrounding Albion’s Historic Courthouse Square, allowing visitors to explore the district at their own pace.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Albion’s Historic Courthouse District in Orleans County features one of the county’s most remarkable collections of 19th-century architecture and stands as a notable small-town public space, showcasing diverse architectural styles and a community’s ambition as it prospered from the Erie Canal. Centered around the iconic domed courthouse, the square features seven churches alongside stately residences representing a variety of architectural styles.
The updated brochure was created through a collaboration among former Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin, Village of Albion Historian Sue Starkweather Miller, current Orleans County Historian Catherine Cooper and Tom Rivers, editor of the Orleans Hub.
The cover photo is a drone shot at sunset of the Orleans County Courthouse taken by Elliott Neidert. It also features the stained glass window “Christ the Consoler” at the Pullman Universalist Church and showcases the historic 1877 Steer & Turner organ at Christ Episcopal Church.
Free copies are available at locations throughout Albion, including the Orleans County Tourism Office, Hoag Library, the Orleans County Clerk’s Office, Albion Village Hall, Assemblyman Stephen Hawley’s district office and the Downtown Browsery.
Those who live outside of Orleans County or are unable to visit one of these locations may request a copy to be mailed to them. Click here for more information.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 23 July 2026 at 9:01 am
Provided photo: Children will receive free bicycle helmets at this week’s Family Fun Day on Friday. The event is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. in the park south of the hospital.
MEDINA – Orleans Community Health recently announced Family Fun Fridays, a new summer series designed to bring families together through fun, active and educational experiences, while connecting them with local organizations and health resources.
Taking place every other week throughout the summer, these free events encourage children and families to stay active, learn healthy habits and discover programs and services available throughout Orleans County. Family Fun Fridays are part of Orleans Community Health’s ongoing Healthy Communities initiative, which focuses on prevention, education and community connection.
The Medina events take place in the park south of Medina Memorial Hospital, while one in Lyndonville will be at Yates Town Park pavilion. All Family Fun Fridays are free and open to the public.
This Friday’s event will feature Children’s Yoga, presented by Hometown Wellness. Children will be introduced to yoga through engaging, age-appropriate activities that promote movement, mindfulness, relaxation and overall wellness.
At the Aug. 7 event at Yates Town Park, families from across the area are invited to enjoy activities, games and opportunities to connect with local organizations serving children and families.
The Aug. 21 Family Fun Friday finale in Medina will conclude with another afternoon of family-friendly activities, community engagement and health and wellness resources.
Each event will feature interactive activities for children, along with information from community organizations which prove programs and services benefiting local families. Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity to learn about healthcare, wellness, education, recreation and other community resources available throughout Orleans County.
“Family Fun Fridays are about creating opportunities for families to spend quality time together, while promoting healthy lifestyles and introducing them to the many organizations that help make our community stronger,” said Scott Robinson, director of marketing for Orleans Community Health. “We hope these events become a fun summer tradition that encourages families to stay active, build connections and discover resources that support their health and well-being.”
Community organizations and Orleans Community Health departments interested in hosting an informational table or providing a family-friendly activity are encouraged to participate.
In addition to Family Fun Fridays, Orleans Community Health is currently planning a Children’s Wellness Fair in Albion, further expanding opportunities for children and families to access health education, wellness resources and community support.
The 2026 County Wide Recreation Day was another incredible success, welcoming our largest crowd yet! We estimate that more than 600 children and family members joined us for a day filled with fun, laughter, and community. It was wonderful to see families from across Orleans County and beyond enjoying everything the day had to offer.
We were especially excited to welcome children who traveled by bus from Byron-Bergen, Elba, and the Liberty Partnership to be part of this special event.
An event of this size takes months of planning and the dedication of many individuals, organizations, and volunteers. We are truly grateful for everyone who helped make the day possible.
A special thank you goes to Jami Allport and the staff at the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern for once again partnering with the Village of Albion Recreation Department. Your commitment to creating opportunities for local children and families is deeply appreciated. Thank you as well to Rosie Friedl for your assistance throughout the day.
We are grateful to the many community organizations that participated by sharing information about their programs and engaging children with games and activities. Your presence helped make the event even more meaningful for the families who attended.
A heartfelt thank you to Ann Vail of the Salvation Army and the Knights of Columbus Council #1330 for their continued dedication to serving children and families throughout our community. Your ongoing support never goes unnoticed.
A huge thank you to Albion McDonald’s for bringing the Hamburglar and Grimace, who were a tremendous hit with the kids. Magic by Patrick once again entertained and amazed audiences throughout the day, while Rowdy Rentalz kept children smiling with their water slide and bounce house, which stayed busy from start to finish.
We also extend our sincere appreciation to the Albion Police Department, Albion Fire Department, our local ambulance personnel, and the Village of Albion Department of Public Works. Your support, assistance, and commitment to keeping everyone safe are invaluable and greatly appreciated.
Our heartfelt thanks go to the Village of Albion Summer Recreation staff and counselors, who did an outstanding job supervising activities, ensuring safety, and creating a welcoming and fun environment for every child. Thank you also to Rome for leading the popular rock painting activity and to our staff members who spent the day creating smiles through face painting.
We are incredibly grateful to Jeff Holler and the Albion Masons, who generously served food and refreshments to hundreds of attendees throughout the day. Thank you as well to Jeff and Vicki Elsenheimer for warmly greeting families and helping manage registration as everyone arrived.
Most importantly, thank you to the families, volunteers, sponsors, and community members whose continued support makes County Wide Recreation Day possible year after year. Seeing so many children laughing, playing, and making memories together reminds us why this event is so important.
We are already looking forward to making next year’s County Wide Recreation Day even bigger and better.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 July 2026 at 8:35 pm
Contributed Photo – Albion 14U players celebrate capturing the GLOW League playoff championship this evening.
Rebounding from an early three run deficit, Albion came storming back to capture the GLOW Baseball League 14U Division playoff championship by downing Cal-Mum 12-5 this evening at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia.
Trailing 4-1, Albion rallied into the lead for good by scoring 4 times in the fourth inning on RBI doubles by Blake Brown and Lukas Snyder along with RBI singles by Brody Furness and Evan Coots. A single by Giovanni LaMartia ignited that uprising.
Albion upped the advantage to 7-4 with a pair of runs in the fifth frame on two errors which followed singles by Bryce Saxton and Hudson Armer.
Albion then put a lock on the championship by erupting for five runs in the sixth inning on an RBI double by Brycen Potter, RBI singles by Coots and Kyler Bennett, a bases loaded walk and a steal of home.
Coots, DiMatteo, Saxton and Armer each finished with a pair of hits as Albion pounded out a total of 14 base raps to complete an undefeated (9-0) season.
Snyder was named the MVP and Coots earned the Sportsmanship Award.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 22 July 2026 at 4:08 pm
(Left) Monarch butterflies are pollinators and essential to the environment. Photo courtesy of Dave O’Donnell. (Right) Mary Mattingly stands in an area of her floating barge where plants are growing which are favorable to Monarch butterflies. A Monarch butterfly release is scheduled at the barge at 1 p.m. July 25. Photo courtesy of Mark Tomas Duggan.
MEDINA – A repurposed barge and the Erie Canal will be the backdrop for a historic Eastern Monarch butterfly release this Saturday as part of the Medina Triennial, now taking place throughout Medina until Sept. 7.
The butterfly release will be led by Dave O’Donnell of Clarence, who runs the Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm. O’Donnell is on the board of the Iroquois Wildlife Refuge, where he created pollination gardens at the Cayuga Overlook. He explained the 80% decline of Monarch butterflies in recent years is due to human destruction of the one plant they need to survive – the milkweed.
After O’Donnell was put in touch with Mary Mattingly, who created the Triennial’s floating barge for of vegetation, a section of the barge was dedicated to native plants favorable for butterflies.
“This is a great educational project, as well as a beautiful art installation,” O’Donnell said of the barge. “Sustainability – climate change, the environment are big issues. No matter what our ideologies are, we don’t bother about butterflies. Butterflies are pollinators, but more importantly to me, butterflies are a part of our culture.”
He hopes his programs with butterflies will bring people together for one cause – to protect our natural environment.
“A lot of pollinators and birds are disappearing and nobody is aware of it,” O’Donnell said. “Monarchs have such an interesting life cycle.”
He explained how after being released they travel to Mexico.
“Their population is down 80% because of one plant we call a ‘weed,’” O’Donnell said.
Milkweed is essential to the life of a Monarch butterfly, because milkweed is toxic, and therefore unpalatable to predators of butterflies and caterpillars.
Attending the butterfly release will be Professor of Ecology Nicholas Henshue of the University of Buffalo, who is also with the Department of Environment and Sustainability, and a a representative of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Schedule:
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Environmental organization tents open at Erie Canal Basin, behind the Medina Triennial Hub, 345 Main Street, Medina, NY 14103
12 p.m. – Floating Garden Harvest: Forage for a selection of fruit, vegetables and herbs.
2 p.m. – Program concludes
(In the event of rain, this program will be held on Sunday, July 26. The Medina Triennial’s public programs are free and open to the public.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 July 2026 at 3:36 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Kathy Harnischfeger speaks during Tuesday’s Clarendon Town Board meeting. She challenged Councilman Fred Seeman to a debate for town supervisor. Seeman told her he would think about it.
CLARENDON – A Clarendon resident has announced a write-in campaign for town supervisor.
Kathy Harnischfeger wants to give people an option besides Fred Seeman, who won the Republican primary over incumbent Marc Major. Seeman won’t have any challengers with their names on the ballot because the deadline has passed for independent candidates or other political parties to nominate a candidate.
Seeman is currently a town councilman. His wife, Melissa Ierlan, was the town’s code enforcement officer, historian and cemetery administrator. On June 26, three days after the Republican primary, she pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree in Orleans County Court, admitting to taking $62,000 without authorization from the Clarendon Historical Society when she was the group’s president.
She is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 26. Ierlan won’t have to go to jail, but will need to pay full restitution and will be on probation for five years as part of a plea agreement.
Harnischfeger said Seeman shouldn’t have pursued the higher office given the case against his wife.
“There has been a very dark cloud over our town now,” Harnischfeger said. “The respect for our town has been diminished around the county.”
Harnischfeger is a semi-retired school teacher. She worked at the Rochester City School District but continues as a sub at Spencerport. She also is a home health aide and an animal rescuer.
She described herself as a moderate Democrat who would insist on integrity in the Clarendon Town Hall and push for lower taxes for residents.
“Why not me?” she said. “I’m a leader naturally and I will fight for all.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 July 2026 at 2:59 pm
Day 5 in Kendall with Community Action 400 concluding Saturday in Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers
KENDALL – Today is day 5 of the Community Action 400, and Brett Sobrieski’s blistered feet are hurting.
He entered today have already run over 200 miles since Saturday. He is attempting to complete 400 miles over 8 miles with a goal of raising $20,000 for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. As of about noon, the fundraising is up to $19,000.
The top photo shows Sobrieski, second from right, chatting with Kendall resident Jim Baker, a fellow ultramarathoner. Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter is second from left with his son Kevin next to him. Christine Klein is at far right.
Klein drove in from Chili and she brought the rosemary herb, which she said promotes circulation and clears brain fog. Klein said so many miles in a short time frame can lead to delusions.
“I’ve run ultras,” she said. “I know how you can feel loopy.”
She ran 20 laps with Sobieraski this morning for 5 miles. He is going to try to complete 220 laps for 55 miles today. Klein could see Sobieraski was struggling with very sore feet, but was pushing forward.
“It’s amazing what he does,” she said.
Jim Baker runs with Brett Sobieraski on the Kendall track. Sobieraski has already run 55 miles on Saturday in Albion, 55 miles on Sunday in Lyndonville, 50.5 miles in Batavia on Monday and 55.8 miles in East Rochester on Tuesday.
After Kendall today he plans to run 55 miles in Medina on Thursday, 55 in Holley on Friday and 15 in Albion on Saturday. He needs to make up for the 4.5 miles at Batavia. The track closed at 5:30 p.m. due to a lacrosse game. Sobieraski made up 0.8 mile on Tuesday with 3.7 more before the 400-mile trek is complete.
Baker, 63, said he has run many miles at the Kendall track training for marathons and ultras that are beyond the 26.2-mile distance of a marathon.
“I hope he can do it,” Baker said about Sobieraski’s 400-mile goal. “He’s a good man. He has a ton of heart.”
Sobieraski is cheered on by some members of the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office, who too their lunch break to encourage him. From right from the DA’s office include Michayla Boyer and Michelle Werth, the director of the Crime Victim’s Office. Sobieraski’s girlfriend Laura Rinaldi is second from left.
Sobieraski is retired from the Rochester Police Department as a sergeant. He is working as an investigator for the Orleans County Major Felony Crimes Task Force.
His two sons graduated from Kendall.
Sobieraski said today’s effort in Kendall is dedicated to Rich Williams, a longtime wrestling coach in Kendall who passed away at age 64 on July 3. Williams “would give you the shirt off his back” and was a great friend and mentor to many in the community, Sobieraski said.
Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter is next to Sobieraski on the Kendall track. Baxter’s son Kevin is on the other side. They are joined by Christine Klein.
Sheriff Baxter said he was there to provide moral support because he knew Sobieraski’s feet were badly blistered and he could use encouragement.
About 250 people joined Sobieraski on Tuesday in East Rochester, including many law enforcement officers.
Sobieraski used that run to also honor the memory of three law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty: Rochester police officer Daryl Pierson, Rochester police officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz and Jamison Ritter, a Rochester native killed in the line of duty working as an officer in Cleveland.
Sobieraski said it was an emotional high seeing so many people come out in support of those three officers on Tuesday.
He welcomes community members to join him on the track, even for a lap, at any of the locations.
Kendall Fire Department rallies behind Sobieraski for charity run
Press Release, Kendall Fire Department
KENDALL – As local hero Brett Sobieraski made his way around the Kendall track on Wednesday as part of a 400-mile charity run, he was met with a show of support from the Kendall Fire Department.
Fire apparatus lined the roadway, emergency lights flashed, air horns echoed through the community, and firefighters, family members, and residents gathered to remind Brett that he wasn’t taking a single step alone.
Assistant Chief James Fox said supporting Sobieraski was never a question.
“Brett is an inspiration to everyone, not just those who wear a uniform,” Fox said. “He has always been a supporter of our fire department and is like family to everyone he meets. Brett would give the shirt off his back and literally the skin off his feet for anyone who needs it. The strength and determination he shows is simply unbelievable.”
When firefighters learned that Sobieraski would be running in his hometown and completing laps on the Kendall track, the department quickly organized a show of appreciation.
“There was never any doubt that we’d get some trucks out there and make a little noise as we rolled up to the track,” Fox said. “It’s just a small way of showing Brett that he’s not alone out there.”
The support extended well beyond the fire apparatus. Past Chief Bryan Hardenbrook, his wife, and their two children joined Brett on the track for a lap, along with Junior Firefighter Charlie Fox, her sister Rylie Fox and friend Brooke. Their participation symbolized not only the department’s appreciation but also the community spirit that Sobieraski has inspired throughout his journey.
Earlier that morning, the department issued a page requesting drivers to help move the apparatus to the track.
“Within one minute of sending the page, my phone was blowing up,” Fox said. “That says everything about the members of this department. It makes me proud to be a chief in a department that genuinely loves supporting people who sacrifice so much of themselves to raise money for such great organizations.”
While the fire trucks and flashing lights caught the attention of many, the true story was the relationship between a community and one of its own. Sobieraski’s relentless commitment to raising money for charity has inspired countless people, and Kendall firefighters wanted to ensure he felt that support while in his hometown.
As Brett continues his remarkable 400-mile journey, the Kendall Fire Department hopes their tribute serves as a reminder that behind every extraordinary effort is a community standing shoulder to shoulder with those who dedicate themselves to helping others.
For the members of the Kendall Fire Department, honoring Brett Sobieraski wasn’t simply about supporting a runner, it was about recognizing a man whose selflessness, perseverance, and commitment to serving others embody the very values firefighters strive to live by every day.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 July 2026 at 9:12 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Tracy Chalker, Clarendon highway supervisor, said the town’s costs are up significantly for plowing and salting roads.
CLARENDON – The 10 towns in Orleans County are seeking a 30 percent increase for plowing and salting county roads.
Orleans County currently pays the towns $7,218 per mile in an agreement that ends Dec. 31. That price however isn’t nearly enough to cover the towns’ expense for plowing and salting, said Tracy Chalker, the Clarendon highway superintendent. He also is president of the Orleans County Town Highway Superintendents Association.
Chalker said the costs of fuel, salt, labor and plow trucks have all increased dramatically since the last agreement was approved five years ago.
The towns aren’t seeking to make money by plowing the roads for the county, but they do want to cover their costs, Chalker told the Clarendon Town Board on Tuesday.
“We’re not looking to make a profit but the Town of Clarendon and the other towns shouldn’t have to eat the costs for the county,” Chalker said.
Clarendon plows 14.94 miles of county roads, for 29.88 lane miles. Those roads include Upper Holley Road, South Holley Road, Fancher Road, Hindsburg Road and section of New Guinea Road.
The highway department did 150 plow runs last winter, using 6,723 pounds of salt every time on the county roads, Chalker said.
He tallied the costs at $123,798 for the 14.94 miles for a per mile cost of $8,286. Chalker said those calculations are light on the total expense because employee benefits aren’t included.
The towns are seeking a 30 percent increase or $2,165 more per mile in 2027, for $9,383. They then want a 5 percent increase each following year in the five-year agreement.
The $7,218 rate per mile adds up to $107,836 for Clarendon, leaving a significant deficit, Chalker said.
Jack Welch, the county chief administrative officer, has shared a letter with the 10 towns, listing what other nearby counties pay towns for plowing and salting. Welch said Orleans County is paying slightly more than other counties. Welch reported the following: Orleans at $7,218; Monroe at $7,010; Genesee at $6,954; Wyoming at $7,000; and Ontario at $6,954.
Clarendon officials noted that most other nearby counties share far more in sales tax than Orleans County does with towns and villages. Orleans hasn’t increased the share to municipalities since 2001.
The Clarendon Town Board passed a formal resolution on Tuesday seeking the 30 percent increase for 2027 to plow and salt county roads, with 5 percent increases to follow from 2028 to 2031. Clarendon and the other towns also are seeking a 30 percent increase in mowing the sides of county roads. They are currently paid $759 per mile.
“I think that’s reasonable because the county isn’t sharing the sales tax,” Town Councilman Chris Caufield said about the 30 percent increase.
The county currently doesn’t have plow trucks or the personnel to plow and salt their own roads. Chalker said the towns just want a fair deal to cover their costs.
“We want to stay on good terms with the county,” he said. “We want to work with them. We don’t want to beat them up.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 July 2026 at 8:44 am
Medina/Lyndonville United dropped a narrow 3-2 decision at West Seneca in a Buffalo District Youth Soccer League boys U16 Division game Tuesday evening.
Garrett Jones scored both goals for Medina/Lyndonville with one coming on a penalty kick.
Medina goalie Steven Gobeli made two big saves on West Seneca peanlty kick opportunities.
Maddox Smith also played a strong game at midfield for Medina/Lyndonville as did Bradley Goyette both on offense and defense.
Now at 4-3-1, Medina Lyndonville next hosts Clarence next Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. at Vets Park.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 July 2026 at 8:12 am
Photo courtesy of Peter Turkow
CLARENDON – An anonymous donor has committed to paying the cost for cleaning, repairing and resetting the headstone for Clarendon’s founder, Eldredge Farwell.
Farwell is buried at Pettengill Cemetery on Hibbard Road. He was the town’s first white settler of town. Farwell built the first mills in Clarendon, with a saw mill in 1811, and then a grist mill in 1813.
His headstone is broken near the bottom. It lists his death as Oct. 15, 1843. He was born in March 6, 1770 at Charlestown, New Hampshire. Farwell initially settled around nearby Clarkson along the Ridge Road.
His brother Isaac settled nearby to the west of the Ridge Road and Lake Road intersection in the same location, according to a column by former Orleans County Historian Matt Ballard.
“As so many historians have recorded, the story of Clarendon’s foundation occurred by happenchance after the unfortunate escape of Isaac Farwell’s horse around 1810,” Ballard wrote in a column posted on Jan. 20, 2018. “Following the animal’s trail along the bank of Sandy Creek, it is said that Eldredge stumbled upon a waterfall and while recognizing its potential for power, decided that he should settle the area.
“Farwell purchased approximately 210 acres the following year and relocated his wife and five children to the area in the spring of 1811. With that acreage upon which the beautiful waterfall sat came the mill privilege, providing him with the opportunity to construct a grist mill on the site.”
Farwell would be elected Clarendon town supervisor, and he operated the first post office at the location then known as “Farwell’s Mills.” He was later selected as a judge in the court of common pleas and from that point on was known locally as Judge Farwell, Ballard wrote.
Peter Turkow, the Clarendon historian, said a donation will cover the costs of repairing and resetting the headstone. Brigden Memorials in Albion is taking on the job. Turkow said the repaired headstone could be reset in the fall.
Another headstone of a prominent early resident also is broken and Turkow said some money has been pledged to fix it, but more is needed. Benjamin Pettingill (1795-1870) is the namesake for the cemetery and served as a Clarendon town supervisor.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 21 July 2026 at 5:38 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: A kindergartner from Medina checks her stuffed animal during the Teddy Bear Clinic at Medina Memorial Hospital on April 23 when about 100 kindergartners brought in their stuffed animals. Medina Memorial welcomes the students to help them feel more comfortable if they ever need to go the hospital. The kids can bring in toys and give those dolls and stuffed animals bandages, X-rays, Band-Aids and other care.
MEDINA – An event to make children more comfortable if they have to be hospitalized has become a tradition at Medina Memorial Hospital.
On Aug. 6, Orleans Community Health will sponsor a special Teddy Bear Clinic from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for children and their families.
Designed for children of all ages, the Teddy Bear Clinic provides a fun, hands-on experience that will help young visitors become familiar with a hospital setting in a friendly, non-threatening environment, said Scott Robinson, director of marketing at OCH. The program has long been a favorite community outreach initiative and is regularly offered to Pre-K and kindergarten students throughout the school year.
Children are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animal or teddy bear to serve as their “patient” during the visit. As they tour the hospital, participants will stop at several departments, where team members will explain what they do and demonstrate how they help care for patients.
Stops included in the tour are laboratory/blood draw, radiology/imaging, surgical services and pediatric care, as well as additional hospital departments and services.
“The Teddy Bear Clinic is a wonderful opportunity for children to explore the hospital in a fun and interactive way,” Robinson said. “By allowing children to experience our hospital in a low-stress comfortable way, we hope to reduce fears they may have about future healthcare visits, while helping them understand the important role our team plays in caring for the community.”
The event is free, but registration is required to ensure an enjoyable experience for all participants. Families can register by e-mailing srobinson@medinamemorial.org.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 July 2026 at 5:11 pm
Photos courtesy of Val Czamara: First Harvest Arancini, left, and Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp Salad were both prepared by Lyndonville native Val Czamara. She has made it to the quarterfinals of the Favorite Chef competition. The First Harvest Arancini is her contest entry for the critic’s pick which she could present at the James Beard Foundation gala if she is the overall winner. The other food photos are dishes she prepared.
Val Czamara works in digital marketing. She loves to cook as a side passion. She is a well-known regular customer at Lebro’s Restaurant in Getzville, near Buffalo.
A Lyndonville native has made it to the quarterfinals of a the national Favorite Chef competition. Online voting continues until Friday. She is currently is second place and could move up to the semifinals.
Val Czamara, 45, graduated from Lyndonville in 1998 when she was Val Bergeman. She lives in Buffalo and is a passionate home chef.
The Favorite Chef competition is hosted by Carla Hall, well known for her roles on the Food Network and Top Chef. The contest seeks to find the best undiscovered chef in the country.
Czamara is a self taught cook. She isn’t a caterer or a professional cook. She instead enjoys preparing meals for family and friends. She did the online profile for the Favorite Chef competition, and submitted photos of her signature dish. She was accepted and has been steadily advancing in the online competition.
If she wins, she gets $25,000 which she said she would put into her kitchen at home. The winner also will appear in Taste of Home magazine, and get to cook with Carla Hall. If Czamara wins, her signature dish, First Harvest Arancini, also would be served at the James Beard Foundation Gala in New York City in November.
She said her grandmother, Helen Bergeman, is her culinary inspiration. She made many pies for the former Apollo Restaurant in Albion and helped bake the record-setting pie at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds, a 21,210-pound apple pie in 1978 that was a record-setter.
“She taught me that food is how you take care of people, bring them together, and create memories,” Czamara writes in her profile on Favorite Chef. “She sparked the foundation, and from there my curiosity took over. I wanted to learn more, try more, and push myself further.”
Czamara said she has found incredible flavors and food from restaurants in Buffalo.
To vote for Czamara, click here to see her online profile.
Walleye Chowder, left, and Greek Style Lake Ontario Salmon Farro Bowl.
Linguine and Clams, left, and Mexican Shrimp Street Corn Bowl.
Orleans County Tourism has released an updated Albion Historic Courthouse Square Walking Tour brochure, providing visitors and residents with a refreshed guide to one of the county’s most significant historic landmarks.
