Mustangs use late surge to win B1 semifinal

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 February 2026 at 7:27 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Jerrell Nealy drives to the basket against Southwestern defenders Carter Casselman (24) and Oscar Harris (0) during the Mustangs sectional semifinal victory over the Trojans at SUNY Fredonia thia afternoon.

Putting together a big fourth quarter scoring surge, No. 5 seed Medina rallied to down No. 9 Southwestern 62-52 in the semifinal round of the Section VI Class B1 boys basketball playoffs this afternoon at SUNY Fredonia.

The victory propels Medina into the Class B1 championship game on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at SUNY Frwdonia against No. 2 Olmsted which downed No. 6 Springville 49-34 in the other semifinal.

Trailing 44-40, Medina rallied with a big 22-8 fourth period scoring edge to claim the victory as seven players contributed to the point production during that stretch.

A three by Kolton Fletcher followed by baskets by Jayzon Wills and Kendrick Russaw ignited that decisive uprising rallying Medina back into the lead for good at 47-46.

Keeping the momentum, the Mustangs then got baskets from Christian Moss and Russaw, a free throw by Wills and a three-point play by Avion Johnson to hike the lead to five at 55-50.

Preston Woodworth puts up a shot for Medina as Oscar Harris defends for Southwestern.

The Trojans could get no closer than 55-52 after that as the Mustangs put a lock on the victory with a 7-0 closing run. Jerrell Nealy had a basket and two free throws and Preston Woodworth three from the foul line during that closing run.

Nealy finished with 17 and Woodworth 15 as Moss added 8, Wills 7, Russaw 6 and Hadrian Batista, Johnson and Fletcher 3 each.

Landon Hooks took game high honors with 18 to lead Southwestern.

Southwestern held narrow leads of 14-11 at the end of the first period, 29-24 at the half and 44-40 at the three-quarter mark. Hooks hit three threes in the first quarter and later tallied 7 points in the third for the Trojans.

Moss hit two threes and Woodworth one for the Mustangs in the first quarter. Woodworth then had two more threes and Wills a pair of baskets in the second period while Nealy erupted for 11 points in the third stanza.

There was a total of four ties and six lead changes in the first half.

The Mustangs will take a 16-6 record into Wednesday’s B1 title contest.

Medina’s Christian Moss drives against Southwestern’s Jalen Edwards.

Indoor soccer tournament brings 74 teams, about 2,000 people to Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 February 2026 at 5:08 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The annual Ben Kirby Memorial Tournament in Albion has brought about 2,000 people to Albion for the two-day tournament that started Friday and concludes tonight.

The top photo shows the grades 5 and 6 teams from Albion and Buffalo United in the elementary school gym. Buffalo United won the game, 2 to 1.

There are 74 teams in the tournament, up from 65 last year. The teams can have six players on the court and most teams have three or four subs. Many of their parents attended the tournament.

Lena Grillo of Albion looks for a pass in a JV game against the Batavia YMCA. Grillo would score for Albion in the game.

There are teams from grades 3 and 4 to adults in an open division in the tournament. The teams are from Albion, Alexander, Attica, Batavia, Bloomfield, Brockport, Buffalo, Campbell Sanova, Canandaigua, Holley, Hilton, Kendall, Le Roy, Lyndonville, Palmyra Macedon, Pavilion, Victor and Warsaw in the tournament.

Peter Borello, one of the organizers of the tournament for the Albion Soccer club, runs the scoreboard during a game in the elementary school gym.

Borello said a big group of volunteers put on the tournament. He estimated about 2,000 people attended the tournament on Friday and today.

Peter Borello holds the medals that will go to the winning teams.

Renee Wolf, coach for Holley’s JV and varsity girls teams, gathers the JV team before a game against Attica this afternoon in the high school gym.

The Albion Soccer Club organizes the two-day tournament which honors the memory of Ben Kirby of Albion. He was a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology when he died in a car accident on Nov. 6, 2017. He was 21 at the time, in his senior year majoring in software development. Kirby played youth soccer for Albion and also on the school teams.

Some of the proceeds go towards a $500 Ben Kirby scholarship given to a student nominated by one or more of the teachers in the Albion High School. Three of the scholarships are awarded each year.

3 rescued from house fire this morning on South Main Street in Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 February 2026 at 3:28 pm

Photo courtesy of Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company: Firefighters converge at the scene of a fire on South Main Street in Medina this morning.

MEDINA – Three people were safely rescued from a fire this morning on Sout Main Street in Medina.

The Medina Fire Department was dispatched to 824 South Main St. at 5:52 a.m. Firefighters encountered active fire and heavy smoke conditions near the entrances of two apartments of a large multi-unit apartment building.

Medina Police officers were first on the scene and attempted to slow the spread of fire with several fire extinguishers.

With reports of multiple residents still inside, firefighters deployed a 1¾’ hoseline and initiated fire attack, Fire Chief Steve Cooley said in a news release.

“After knocking down the fire at the doorway, crews made entry into an apartment under hazardous smoke-filled conditions,” Cooley said. “Firefighters quickly located and removed two occupants, a mother and child.”

Firefighters were then told a third person remained inside a bedroom. Lieutenant Adam Fisher and Firefighter Amanda Cassano re-entered the apartment with the protection of a hoseline and conducted a targeted search with the thermal imaging camera, locating and rescuing the third victim found in the bedroom, Cooley said.

Additional firefighters and Medina police officers conducted searches of the remaining smoke-filled apartments to ensure all occupants were accounted for. Medina firefighter-paramedics immediately began medical evaluations and treatment of the rescued residents, Cooley said.

“As additional firefighters arrived, crews completed primary and secondary searches, continued suppression efforts, and conducted overhaul to ensure the fire was fully extinguished,” Cooley said,

The Orleans County Fire Investigation Unit, assisted by the Medina Fire Department Investigation Unit, began determining the cause of the fire. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office accelerant detection K9 unit also responded to assist. The fire cause is under investigation.

Two residents were transported to Strong Memorial Hospital. One occupant left the scene prior to transport, and another resident was evaluated for smoke inhalation but declined further treatment. No firefighters were injured at this incident.

East Shelby, Albion ladder, Middleport and Mercy EMS all responded to the scene with the Middleport Fire Company providing coverage at the Medina Fire Station to ensure uninterrupted emergency response within the village during the incident.

“We extend our sincere appreciation to all the agencies listed above including the Orleans County dispatchers and deputies, village code enforcement and the Red Cross,” Cooley said. “During this incident, an additional EMS call within the village was handled by Medina Fire Ambulance. We would also like to thank the manager of Dunkin’ Donuts for delivering fresh coffee to crews operating on scene.”

County planners approve 2 new towers, plus equipment on grain silo for high-speed internet service

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 February 2026 at 11:37 am

Photo by Tom Rivers: Workers from Upstate Tower Construction in West Seneca are shown putting up a 180-foot-high tower in Carlton on Feb. 5, 2024. The tower is next to the Town Hall and highway garage on Waterport-Carlton Road. The tower was paid for as part of $2,990,000 grant from the state to the county through the Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant. That grant pays for the new tower in Carlton, a new tower and equipment at the Orleans County Emergency Management Office on West Countyhouse Road in Albion, and two backup 911 dispatch consoles at the EMO site. A separate $11.5 million grant is paying for more towers and high-speed internet equipment.

ALBION – Two new towers for high-speed internet service will be built in Ridgeway and Carlton, and equipment also will be going on a grain silo in Clarendon.

Those projects are part of a build-out of the wireless internet system in the county. The county in November 2024 was awarded a $11,562,698 state grant to upgrade wireless internet service throughout the county.

The funding came through the Empire State Development’s ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program. This will allow the county to increase wireless internet speeds from the current 25 Mega Bit Per Seconds (Mbps) to 100 (Mbps).

There are currently 19 towers for the high-speed internet system. The Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday gave its support for two new towers plus the equipment on a grain silo in Clarendon. Those additions should fill gaps in internet coverage.

The county approved a $11,216,500 contract from North Shore Networks LLC in Medina to implement the faster internet service. That company is led by Duston Ellis, who worked over a decade in Kentucky for Broadlinc, helping run a high-speed internet service in a rural area. Ellis moved to Medina to be near his wife’s family.

• The new 150-foot-high tower in Carlton will be a monopole at 961 Wilson Rd. near the Village of Albion Water Treatment Plant.

• The 150-foot-high tower in Ridgeway will be at 2490 Townline Rd. on land owned by Panek Farms. The tower will be on a site that is not being actively farmed.

• In Clarendon, an antenna array will be installed atop an existing 140-foot-high grain silo at 5122 Soth Holley Rd., near Glidden Road. The property is owned by Kevin Wolf, LLC.

The equipment includes four radios and a network cabinet. The radios will broadcast out at 90 degrees in each direction.

Tenney says US ‘brilliantly executes’ military strikes in Iran

Posted 28 February 2026 at 9:56 am

Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today released the following statement regarding Operation Epic Fury and the joint U.S. and Israeli military strikes targeting the Iranian regime.

“As the Department of War brilliantly executes Operation Epic Fury against the despotic Islamist Iranian regime, I pray for the safety of all our U.S. service members and allies in the region,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “I hope the brave Iranian people will take back their country from the brutal mullahs, and the people of Iran can have a future of peace and prosperity, instead of tyranny and terrorism.”

UPDATE at 1:23 p.m.: Gov. Kathy Hochul issued this statement:

“Following the U.S. military operations in Iran overnight, we are taking precautionary steps to protect New Yorkers. State Police are increasing their presence at religious, diplomatic, and cultural sites statewide in coordination with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. Additionally, in advance of the Jewish holiday of Purim, State Police remain alert and have already begun outreach to religious organizations to offer support.

“While there have been no specific, credible threats to New York identified, we continue to monitor online activity for any potential threats, and we encourage New Yorkers to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.”

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee, released the following statement on U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran:

“I came to Congress in opposition to endless wars. Trump’s actions today risk exactly that again.

“Congress should return to session immediately to vote on a war powers resolution.

“The president lacks the constitutional authority – and in my opinion, the temperament and judgment – to act in such a reckless fashion.

“I pray for the safety and well-being of our brave service members and American families in the region.

“America voted for lower costs, not forever wars.”

USA Wrestling coaching honor for Holley grad

Contributed Story Posted 28 February 2026 at 9:43 am

Contributed Photo – Holley High graduate Matt Paeth has been selected for a prestigious honor by USA Wrestling, Paeth, who coaches at North Platt High School in Omaha, Nebraska has been chosen for the USA Wrestling’s Coach Apprentice Program this June in Lima, Peru . He will be coaching alongside Team USA at the U23 Pan-American championships.

Planners back farmworker housing in Lyndonville to support potato operation

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 February 2026 at 8:59 am

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board is recommending the Town of Yates approve a special use permit for Call Farms in Batavia for farmworker housing at 2162 Lyndonville Rd.

Call Farms has already built two barns near the property as part of a new seed potato operation. They would use an existing house for about 10 farmworkers who would be in the H2A guest worker program. The house is south of the Village of Lyndonville on Route 63 ina residential-agricultural district.

The house for farmworkers is not expected to result in a significant increase in traffic to the area, the County Planning Board said during its meeting on Thursday in Albion.

“It’s a positive thing for the community,” said Planning Board member Gary Daum of Lyndonville. “Call Farms is a first-class operation. They’re very conscientious.”

Call Farms isn’t planning any exterior work on the house, but will do a small amount of interior work and may need to enlarge the septic system if required by the Orleans County Health Department.

The Planning Board also acted on another referral from the Town of Yates. The board supported a special use permit for Kervin Stauffer to run a home business repairing hydraulic cylinders and heavy equipment, and could include part sales at 11916 Roosevelt Highway, which is in a residential-agricultural district.

Stauffer wants to build a 10-by-12-foot storage shed and 50-by-70-foot accessory structure for the business.

Pembroke downs Kendall in C1 playoffs

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 27 February 2026 at 9:32 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s CJ D’Agostino goes in for a layup during the Dragons sectional quarterfinal loss to Pembroke at Oakfield-Alabama this evening.

Combining a fast start with a strong finish, No. 3 seed Pembroke downed No. 6 Kendall 59-46 in the quarterfinal round of the Section V Class C1 boys basketball playoffs this evening at Oakfield-Alabama.

Nolan Peterson scored 17, Lennox Kohorst 16 and Luca Baker 14 to spark Pembroke which will take a 20-2 record into Monday’s C1 semifinal against No. 2 Geneseo.

Vinnie D’Agostino took game high honors with 20, CJ D’Agostino 11 and Noah Morehouse 8 to lead Kendall.

Unleashing a barrage of five early threes, including two each by Peterson and Baker and one by Owen Schultz, Pembroke jumped out to a 17-5 lead at the outset.

Pembroke’s Owen Schultz (0) and Mason Weatherbee (11) try to block the drive to the basket by Kendall’s Vinnie D’Agostino.

The Eagles did close the opening period with a 9-2 run including 5 by CJ D’Agostino and 4 by Vinnie D’Agostino to cut the deficit to 19-14 but the Dragons went on to hold maintain a 10 point, 31-21, lead at half-time.

Kendall though came battling back with a 14-5 scoring surge to open the third period to rally back to within one at 36-35.

Morehouse hit two threes, Vinnie D’Agostino and Sammy Conte one each and Jonny Conte a two during that rally.

However, the Eagles could not pull even as the Dragons went back up 40-35 at the end of the third period and then put a lock on the victory with a 19-11 scoring edge in the decisive final period.

Kohorst spearheaded that late Dragons surge with 11 points including three huge threes as Barker also hit a big three.

Kendall finishes the season at 15-7.

Kendall’s Noah Morehouse looks to put up a shot as Luca Baker (5) and Lennox Kohorst (43) defend for Pembroke.

Injury at sectionals causes Albion wrestler to withdraw from state championships

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 27 February 2026 at 5:37 pm

An injury suffered during the recent sectional competition has forced Albion freshman Stryker Sanders (118) to withdraw from the state wrestling championships which began today in Albany.

“We made the decision to pull him,” said his father Albion wrestling Coach Mike Sanders. “He was hurt at the very end of his match at the sectionals (final 12 seconds). He dislocated his elbow. We rehabed and practiced through this week hoping he could go. The plan was to brace it and give it a go. But it flared up in warmups so we medically forfeited him out.”

Roy-Hart/Barker junior RJ Townsend lost his opening match by a 4-0 decision to Trey Parker of Susquehanna Valley.

Churches join for Lenten lunches in Albion, Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 February 2026 at 4:25 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – ONE Catholic is hosting the Albion Ministerium’s annual Lenten Luncheon series on Wednesdays at St. Joseph’s Lyceum, 114 South Main Street.

This past Wednesday was the first luncheon of the season. Albion churches and clergy take turns preparing soups and sandwiches, and also sharing a devotional message.

Elsie Boring and her daughter, the Rev. Susan Boring, are in line to try some of the soups and sandwiches prepared by the First Baptist Church of Albion and the Gaines Carlton Community Church. The Rev. Boring is pastor of the Eagle Harbor Methodist Church.

Mike Thaine, left, was an enthusiastic participant in the luncheon. The serving line includes, front to back, Peggy Bropst, Cheryl Denson, Eileen Allen and Lori Thomson.

The hour-long gatherings will occur five consecutive Wednesdays, from Feb. 25 through March 25.

There is no charge for the meal. A free will offering is collected to be used for luncheon supplies and other Ministerium events, such as the Albion High School Baccalaureate in June.

Kay Marsh plays the piano for one of the hymns during Wednesday’s luncheon. Pastor Marsha Rivers of the First Baptist Church and Gaines Carlton Community Church gave the message.

Medina’s Lenten luncheon series is hosted by the Medina Area Association of Churches. It started last Thursday and takes place at noon every Thursday for six weeks at the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street.

Participating churches will provide lunch on a rotating basis, followed by a meaningful reflection. There is a suggested donation of $5 for lunch, with all the proceeds going to the Meals on Wheels program and the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen in Albion.

3 county legislators attend national conference in DC

Posted 27 February 2026 at 3:40 pm

Provided photo: County Legislator John Fitzak, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson and Legislator Skip Draper meet in Tenney’s office in Washington, DC.

Press Release, Orleans County Legislature

WASHINGTON, DC – Orleans County legislative leaders joined nearly 2,000 county leaders from across the country for the 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference this week in Washington, D.C.

The conference featured speakers from the Trump Administration and Congress including of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Lee Zeldin, head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Conference attendees shaped NACo’s legislative agenda, received updates on key federal policies and advocated for county priorities on Capitol Hill.

“Each year, we use this conference as an opportunity to collaborate with county leaders from across the country on our shared priorities and then advocate for those policies and the specific needs of Orleans County with federal leaders,” said Lynne Johnson, Chairman of the Orleans County Legislature. “In previous years, our advocacy efforts have been key to securing federal funding for local projects.”

Joining Chairman Johnson at the NACo conference were Legislators Merle “Skip” Draper of Medina and John Fitzak of Carlton. The conference touched on several key areas of importance to Orleans County including data centers, artificial intelligence, workforce development and public safety. There was also a Federal Agency Expo, with nearly 50 federal program offices sending representatives to meet with conference participants and build intergovernmental partnerships.

“Federal policies have direct and long-lasting impacts on county governments and our residents,” said NACo President J.D. Clark. “NACo’s Legislative Conference is an important opportunity for county leaders to strengthen relationships with our intergovernmental partners, tell our county story and advocate for county priorities that help our communities and residents thrive.”

The conference culminated in an Advocacy Day of Action, positioning attendees to advocate for county federal policy priorities. Orleans County officials spent time on Capitol Hill meeting with staff from Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand’s office. In addition, Orleans County officials met with Congresswoman Tenney and staff from the USDA.

Orleans County leaders thanked federal representatives for securing funding for the future Emergency Management Operations Center and the Public Safety Building rehabilitation. This year’s priorities included funding for the modernization and upgrades of the former Genesee Community College building in Albion for the Probation Department; support for the regional dredging initiative that includes Oak Orchard Harbor; and funding for Marine Park dock repairs to support public safety.

“We know we will not get everything we ask for, but it’s important to continue to beat the drum for our funding priorities and hope our federal representatives can deliver,” Fitzak said. “Sometimes it takes years of asking before a funding pot is identified for a project, so our job is to keep it on the front burner until that happens.”

Punishing winter hard on pavement, underground infrastructure

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 February 2026 at 1:22 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers: The pavement on Ingersoll Street in Albion has cracks and potholes after four months of punishing winter weather. This photo was taken on Thursday. The Village of Albion DPW was out today using cold patch to fill in the pavement.

ALBION – The brutally cold winter has caused cracks in street pavement and big leaks in waterlines.

It’s also meant many trips for DPW and highway departments for salting and plowing roads.

Crews have been out frequently since early November with few breaks from any prolonged warmups in the temperatures.

Jay Pahura, the Village of Albion DPW superintendent, said his crews have already been out 82 times for salting in the past four months. The village is down to its last load of salt – 80 tons, he told the Village Board on Wednesday.

The winter started in earnest in early November. Pahura said village crews were out salting 30 times before Jan. 1. In some winters, the DPW plows and salters don’t see much action until January.

The freezing temperatures also have been hard on the village’s underground infrastructure. Pahura said there have been 10 major water leaks this winter, including one on East Bank Street on Wednesday that probably was a 200,000-gallon water loss.

The village’s water system typically shows a 15 percent water loss from leaks in the system. But the current report reports about 20 percent.

Village Trustee Will Gabalski said the brutal winter has caused major waterline ruptures through Western New York, not just Albion.

“It’s been a tough winter,” Pahura said. “It’s hard on the roads and what’s underneath.”

It’s also hard on the DPW budget with additional costs for salt and overtime.

Albion DPW crews are out today putting cold patch on roads. Steve Borowczyk, left, and Shaun Stephens were working on Ingersoll Street.

Medina plays in B1 semifinal Saturday; Kendall, Lyndonville girls will face top seeds

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 27 February 2026 at 12:45 pm

No. 5 seed Medina will face No. 9 Southwestern in the Section VI Class B1 boys basketball semifinals at 4 p.m. Saturday at SUNY Fredonia.

The victor will advance to next Wednesday’s B1 title game at SUNY Fredonia against the winner of Saturday’s other semifinal between No.2 Olmsted and No. 6 Springville.

Medina advanced by defeating No. 4 Alden 53-35 in the quarterfinals while Southwestern ousted No. 1 Middle Early College 65-54.

On Sunday, No. 2 Akron will face No. 3 Randolph in the Class B2 semifinals at 2 p.m. at SUNY Fredonia.

The No. 5 seed Akron girls will face No. 8 Eden in the Class B semifinals at noon on Saturday at SUNY Fredonia.

Kendall, Lyndonville girls play Saturday

The Kendall and Lyndonville girls teams will both face the top seeds on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Section V playoffs.

In Class C1, No. 9 Kendall (13-8) will visit No. 1 Letchworth (20-1) at 6 p.m.

In Class D, No. 8 Lyndonville (11-10) will visit No. 1 Avoca-Prattsburgh (17-3) at 2 p.m.

Cannabis-growing operation in Carlton gets approval from OC Planning Board

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 February 2026 at 10:52 am

ALBION – A business that will be growing cannabis in a 1,000-squarefoot warehouse has the Orleans County Planning Board’s support.

Joe Molisani Jr., owner of Dream orchard LLC, wants to cultivate the cannabis at 13353 Kendrick Rd., Waterport. He then plans to sell it from another business he plans to be opening in downtown Medina, a cannabis dispensary.

Molisani said he won’t be selling any cannabis directly from the Kendrick Road site. If he has any wholesale orders, he will make the deliveries with no customers coming to the site in Carlton.

He needs a special use permit from Carlton to grow the cannabis. The County Planning Board recommended Carlton approve the permit. Some of the Planning Board members didn’t think a special use permit was necessary because Molisani will be doing an allowed use in a residential-agricultural district.

Molisani has his license to grow cannabis as a micro-business through the state’s Office of Cannabis Management.