By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 May 2026 at 10:05 am
Putting together a big last inning rally, White Birch edged Banes 16-15 to open the Medina Women’s Softball League season Monday evening.
Trailing 15-10, White Birch rallied for 6 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to claim the win. A home run by Ella Lewis highlighted the decisive uprising which also included a double by Morgan Ralph and singles by Mallory Albone and Dana Cotriss.
Earlier White Birch had a big 5 run fifth inning on a double by Ella Lewis, a triple by Ralph and a home run by Aubrey Lewis to pull to within one at 9-8.
Brianna Panncia had a triple to key a two-run sixth for White Birch.
Banes jumped out to an early 7-2 lead as Lindsay Chatt had a two-run home run in the first inning and a three-run homer in the second. She also had another two-run homer in the top of the seventh to put Banes up 15-10.
Banes also had a three run fifth inning on RBI singles by Teri Scharlau, Connie Heschke and Lindsay Chatt to go up 12-8.
Lindsay Chatt and Heschke both finished with 4 hits as Patti Page and Jami Chatt both had 3.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2026 at 9:18 am
Carter Kuipers
An active 4-H member in Orleans County has been named the first-place winner of a New York Farm Bureau scholarship.
Carter Kuipers of Byron won a $3,000 NY Farm Bureau’s 2026 Agricultural Youth Scholarship.
To qualify for scholarships, applicants must have a student or family membership in Farm Bureau. A panel of judges selects the winners based on their essay submissions and applications, which include community and agricultural engagement. District winners then compete for state scholarships.
Kuipers also was awarded $250 as the District 2 winner. He is a member of Genesee County Farm Bureau and is a senior at Byron-Bergen Senior High School.
Kuipers plans to attend SUNY Cobleskill to study agricultural power machinery with a career goal related to diesel technology. His agricultural experience includes working on his family’s farms, where he cares for animals and maintains equipment.
He has been an active member of FFA, including serving as the 2022-2025 Chapter Secretary, and has received many FFA awards and recognitions. Kuipers has been an active participant in the 4-H Beef and Dairy Club for the past decade. Outside of agricultural activities, he is a sectional champion with the Byron-Bergen/Le Roy swim team and a member of the clay target team, while also finding time to volunteer with his local church.
Kuipers has shown animals at the Orleans County 4-H Fair and won the grand master showman title in 2024, which features the top showmen of nine different animals: horse Western, horse English, dairy goat, meat goat, sheep, swine, llama, dairy cattle and beef cattle.
Kuipers showed pigs and beef cattle at the fair in 2024. He qualified for the grand master showmen competition after winning the beef master showman title.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Carter Kuipers, then 16, of Byron shows a beef animal during the grand master showman competition on July 26, 2024. Kuipers won the competition, one of the most prestigious at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. It features the top livestock showmen from the fair.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2026 at 8:40 am
KENDALL – The school district is proposing a $23,469,328 budget to the community for a vote on May 19. Kendall’s budget would raise taxes by 3.15 percent – from $5,162,224 to $5,324,835, an increase of $162,611.
Kendall school officials will go over the budget during a presentation today at 6:30 p.m. in the junior-senior high school library.
The vote will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Kendall Town Hall on May 19.
Kendall school leaders say many factors are driving the $2,045,169 budget increase for 2026-27: inflation, special education enrollments, instructional operation enhancements, shared services with BOCES, debt service, benefits, salaries, and minimum wage increases.
The debt service increased by 47.7 percent or $1,124,632 because Kendall will be issuing debt during June 2026 to pay for current capital project costs. However, this will be offset by a corresponding increase in building and transportation aid.
Kendall is using $150,000 more from its fund balance to lessen the need on property taxes, school officials state in the district’s budget newsletter.
State aid at $16,004,160 covers 68 percent of the school budget. The tax rate is projected at $10.29 per $1,000 of assessed property, which Kendall officials say in one of the lowest school tax rates in the area.
In addition to the budget, voters will be presented a proposition to use up to $390,000 from the vehicle capital reserve fund to purchase vehicles in the transportation program for the district, including passenger buses.
There are also two candidates for one five-year term on the Board of Education.
• Christa Bowling currently represents Kendall on the board of Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES. She and her husband have two children, a fifth-grade daughter at Kendall and a 20-year-old medically complex son who is in the Transitions Program at BOCES.
Bowling is the sole proprietor for a direct sales and distribution business. She has been Girl Scout Leader for Kendall since 2023, leading a troop of 40 girls each year. She is part of the Kendall Strategic Plan Committee. Her family has been involved with coaching Kendall Rec Soccer for seven years.
“Since moving to Kendall, our family has fallen in love with this community and school district because of the compassion and pride that comes with being an Eagle,” she said. “My drive to be on the Kendall BOE is my love and passion for advocating for both students and staff, which I have proven to do with my BOCES 2 Board role. I plan to help ensure that Kendall continues to have devoted staff, small class sizes, opportunities for all students, and continues to be an affordable community we are all proud to call home.”
• David Warren is a current Board of Education member. He is retired as a manufacturing engineering manager. He and his wife have two children and two grandchildren.
Warren has been a Little League baseball coach, youth soccer coach, and manager of the Kendall Community Band.
“I want to help ensure that our students have the best opportunity for success,” he stated in the school newsletter about why he is running for the Board of Education.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 8:59 pm
Cheryl Wertman File Photo – Gavin Heideman
Sparked by the sharp no hit pitching of Gavin Heideman, Roy-Hart downed visiting Wilson 8-2 in a Niagara-Orleans League baseball game this evening.
Heideman registered a whopping total of 19 strikeouts as the Rams improve to 9-2 in N-O action.
Roy-Hart took the lead for good when Isaac Smith belted a three-run home run in the first inning.
Wilson scored twice in the top of the fifth on an error and a passed ball but could get no closer than 4-2.
Roy-Hart put a lock on the victory by scoring twice in the home half of the fifth on an RBI single by Evan Poeller and a steal of home and twice in the sixth on a passed ball and an error.
Wilson pitcher Logan Held hurled a 3 hitter with 8 strikeouts.
Roy-Hart will close out the N-O season by visiting Wilson at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 8:11 pm
Continuing to close in on the title, Barker improved to 9-1 by besting visiting Akron 4-1 in a Niagara-Orleans League tennis match this afternoon.
Daniel Goodwin and Matthew Jordan scored singles wins for Barker which also got doubles victories by the duos of Oscar Dergel – Luke Fay and Aurora Wass – Nick Heideman.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 8:03 pm
Photo by Cheryl Werman – Medina’s Chris Mulcahy advances the ball up field ahead of Brockport’s Ryan Miller during the Mustangs 17-0 loss to the Blue Devils at Vets Park this evening.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 7:54 pm
Lyndonville romped to a 22-1 win over visiting CSAT in a non league softball game this afternoon.
Arnie Sturtevant had a three-run home run to highlight a 10 run first inning and Alexa Robinson a two-run triple to key a 7 run second inning for the Lady Tigers.
Sturtevant had a total of 3 hits and Isabella Groves 2 including a triple. Brooke Robinson also had a triple and winning pitcher Hannah Fox had a double.
In the circle, Fox allowed 3 hits and struck out 8 as Lyndonville improves to 12-1.
Kendall 9, Notre Dame 5
Four run scoring bursts in the third and fifth innings keyed Kendall to a 9-5 win over Notre Dame in a Genesee Region League game.
Alea Barrett had a two-run single in the third and Izzy D’Agostino a two-run triple in the fifth.
Teagan Shaw had 3 hits and D’Agostino 2 for Kendall which improves to 9-5.
Attica sweeps Holley
Attica scored a pair of G-R softball wins over Holley by scores of 7-3 and 15-5.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 7:47 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Aine Davis dives into third base during the Lady Bulldogs home field win over Roy-Hart this afternoon. Grace Pearl moves in to cover the bag for Roy-Hart.
Closing out the league season on a high note, Barker downed visiting Roy-Hart 7-2 this afternoon to finish with a 10-2 record and clinch a tie for a third straight Niagara-Orleans softball championship.
Barker tied with Roy-Hart for the N-O title last year at 10-2 and captured the league crown outright in 2024 with a 12-0 record.
Roy-Hart jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning sparked by singles by Millie Owens, Grace Pearl and Abby Fox.
However, Barker answered right back with 3 runs in the home half of the frame on an RBI double by Peyton Bradley and a two-run single by Melodi Murphy to take the lead for good.
Bradley and Lexi Brazzell also both had RBI doubles in the third inning.
Murphy, Bradley, Brazzell and Kaylee Stoll each finished with a pair of hits.
Madyson Flint picked up the win in the circle allowing 5 hits and striking out 14 including her 400th career strikeout.
Wilson 19, Akron 3
Wilson stayed in the hunt for a share of the N-O title by downing Akron 19-3 to improve to 9-2.
Lucy Madan, Katie Hardie, Lauren Vanderlinden and Paige Thrush each had 2 hits for Wilson. Madan’s hits included a double and triple as Mackenzie Hardy also had a triple.
Newfane 10, Medina 4
A big 7 run fourth inning keyed Newfane (2-7) to a 10-4 N-O win over Medina (1-10).
Barker’s Madyson Flint registered her 400th career strikeout during the Lady Bulldogs win.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 7:37 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Nate Gibson hurls a no hitter.
Albion rode the sparkling no hit pitching of Nate Gibson to score a 9-0 Niagara-Orleans League baseball victory over Akron this afternoon.
Gibson, who struck out 16, also provided the only runs the Purple Eagles would need as it turned out by belting a two-run homer in the first inning.
Elliott Trapiss added a two-run single to key a three run second inning and Kaiden Froman had an RBI single during a four run sixth.
Albion improves to 7-3 in N-O action as Akron slips to 6-5.
Alexander 14, Barker 3
Scoring 5 quick runs in the first inning, Alexander went on to post a 14-3 run rule win over Barker in a non league game.
Notre Dame 12, Lyndonville 6
Notre Dame rallied to down Lyndonville 12-6 in a Genesee Region League baseball game.
Trailing 5-2, Notre Dame rallied for 5 runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good. A two-run single by Evan Fitzpatrick highlighted the rally.
Lyndonville built up the early 5-2 lead by scoring twice in the first inning on hits by Quincey McClinsey and Shawn Robertson and three times in the third sparked by hits by Robertson and Lane Woodworth.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 7:17 pm
Clinching at least a tie for the title, Medina used a big first inning scoring burst to key an 11-0 victory at Newfane this afternoon in a Niagara-Orleans League baseball game.
The N-O title is the third in a row for undefeated (10-0) Medina which used a big 6 run first inning to key the five inning run rule win.
A two-run single by Kolton Fletcher was the only hit of the decisive first inning as the Mustangs other runs came home on three errors and a fielders choice play.
Aidan Papaj later had a two-run sacrifice fly to highlight a three run fourth inning.
Preston Woodworth earned the win on the mound as he allowed only 2 hits and struck out 13.
Medina will close out the N-O season by hosting Newfane at 7 p.m. Wednesday and then visiting rival Albion at noon on Saturday for a makeup game.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 6:11 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Shelridge Country Club hosted the Section VI boys golf championships today. Seven Niagara-Orleans League players took part in the competition including Medina’s Cam Fike, shown here teeing off at the 10th hole. No N-O player made the cut for the championship round which was a score of 83. Fike shot an 88.
Shown in action here are Albion’s Drew Pritchard, left, and Roy-Hart’s Gavin Heideman. Prichard shot a 96 and Heideman an 87. The other N-O players who competed were Albion’s Owen Spencer, Roy-Hart’s Evan Poeller (89), Newfane’s Caleb Rivera (86) and Wilson’s Ben Meyers (95).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 May 2026 at 3:52 pm
Site along Erie Canal has options for small businesses on East Bank Street
Photos by Tom Rivers: Local officials joined the owner of the Mayfair Marien for a ribbon-cutting celebration on Friday in Albion. From left include Jami Allport, Albion village trustee; Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman; Andrew Dugan, district director for State Sen. Rob Ortt; County Legislator Skip Draper; Matt Holland, small business development director for the Orleans Economic Development Agency; Mayfair Marine owner John Fitzak, who is also a county legislator; Dawn Borchert, Orleans County tourism director; Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Kevin Sheehan, Albion village trustee; Jackie Tarricone, executive assistant for Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Michael Dobell, chief executive officer of the Orleans EDA; and Tim McMurray, Albion mayor.
ALBION – There is now a place along the Erie Canal for boaters to get fuel in Orleans County. John Fitzak has opened Mayfair Marine along East Bank Street.
Fitzak for 23 years ran a bottle redemption business at 255 East Bank St. He closed the Albion Redemption Center on March 1 to focus the site on the fuel sales and also as a small business incubator.
He expects to rent out space at the site to several small businesses, and is working with the village to see if people would be allowed to stay overnight in RVs and also in tents.
“I’m just trying to be a catalyst for the village,” Fitzak said on Friday, when he held a ribbon-cutting for the Mayfair.
Fitzak is an Orleans County legislator. He is retired as a state corrections officer. Fitzak worked at Orleans, Attica, Sing Sing, Groveland and Willard correctional facilities.
John Fitzak built five sections of docks totaling 80 feet along the Erie Canal in Albion. The Ingersoll Street lift bridge is behind him. He sees a lot of opportunity in the Erie Canal for the community.
He built the 80 feet of docks at the Mayfair. There are five 16-foot-sections at different heights to accommodate different size boats. The two new 1,000-gallon fuel tanks were certified last November. He will have 100-foot-long hoses from the gas pumps that extend to the boats at the docks.
This will be the only spot offering marine-grade fuel on the Erie Canal between Macedon and Amherst. Fitzak said about 400 to 500 boats pass by the location each canal season. He expects at least 10 percent will stop for fuel at the Mayfair.
He named the business in honor of the Mayfair Restaurant, which was operated by his mother’s father in Rochester in the 1950s and ’60s. That restaurant was at the corner of Lexington and Mount Read Boulevard.
The new canal season opens on May 15. Fitzak is working with small businesses to open soon after the start of the canal season.
He said Big Dog BBQ from Kendall will be selling hot dogs and food from the site. Fitzak also will have vending machines with items at room temperature, in a cooler and a freezer.
Another business with offer marine services. There will be an ATM, a vendor selling Albion merchandise, and other possible merchants.
Several local officials toured the site on Friday. John Fitzak said there is plenty of room to offer other services, including RV parking.
Fitzak said he has reviewed a comprehensive plan for the canal, with leaders from the canal Corp. stating they would like to see fuel sales offered every 20 to 40 miles along the waterway. Fitzak said Mayfair Marine fills a big void for fuel.
He suspects many boaters haven’t ventured to Albion out of fear they could run out of gas. The Mayfair could result in more boaters making the trip to Albion and Orleans County.
He is hopeful they will tie up at his docks and check out the Albion community. He is short walk from the Albion downtown.
“this is another opportunity to see what Albion has to offer,” Fitzak said.
Dawn Borchert, the Orleans County tourism director, praised Fitzak for seeing a need and meeting it along the canal with the fuel sales.
The Mayfair owner has about 600 feet of frontage for the business. He would like to allow RV parking, and a boat launch for kayaks and canoes. He is working with the village officials to determine if those uses are allowed for the property, which is zoned general commercial and is currently mostly undeveloped.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 May 2026 at 2:02 pm
Some other counties in WNY face freeze warning
Kimberly Stawicki sent in this photo of the sunrise from Saturday at Swallow Hollow in the wildlife refuge.
The National Weather Service has issued as frost advisory for Orleans County from midnight to 9 a.m. Tuesday due to temperatures dropping around 30 degrees.
The advisory also includes Niagara, Monroe, Wayne, northern Cayuga and Ontario counties.
“Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left unprotected,” the Weather Service said.
Farther away from the lake, the temperatures could be even colder. The Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties.
“Sub-freezing temperatures in the upper 20s expected,” the Weather Service said about those counties. “Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 May 2026 at 12:55 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Betterment Committee dedicated a new plaque on May 2 at Waterman Park in honor of the late Charles E. Bergeman. He was the grandson of Charles Howard, the famed founder of the first Santa School.
Bergeman passed away from cancer at age 64 on Oct. 31, 2023. He had recently moved to Lewiston and wanted to help promote his grandfather’s legacy.
When sculptor Brian Porter created a bronze statue of Charlie Howard as Santa Claus, Bergeman’s cheeks and face gave Porter a reference.
The plaque is near the statue that was dedicated during the Strawberry Festival on June 10, 2023.
A sleigh was donated to the Albion Betterment Committee. It was refurbished by Jim Babcock, a local contractor who is on the ABC’s board of directors. That sleigh has been dedicated in loving memory of Charles E. Bergeman.
The plaque states: “Grandson and namesake of Charles W. Howard. Like Santa, he spread joy to all he knew with his generosity and kindness. His warmth and selflessness touched everyone around him. Charles was dedicated to preserving his grandfather’s legacy, ensuring its magic would live on for generations to come.”
Bergeman’s wife Carol Bergeman and Howard’s granddaughter Jane Holland were in Albion on May 2 for the plaque dedication.
Three of Charles Howard’s grandchildren are pictured on June 10, 2023 with the three Albion Betterment Committee directors who have worked on the statue project over eight years. From left include Charles Howard’s grandchildren Susan Howard Brown, Charles Bergeman and Jane Holland and ABC directors Gary Derwick, Joe Gehl and Gary Kent.
‘He subsisted for 15 days on a pint of flour and a dog’s liver’
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No. 12
MURRAY – This bronze marker set on a millstone is located at the northeast corner of the junction of Routes 104 and 237 in the Town of Murray.
It was dedicated on October 12, 1932, by members of the Orleans Chapter DAR and the Jewell Buckman American Legion Post in Holley. It commemorates “the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of George Washington and the Men Who Fought in the American Revolution and Sleep in the Town of Murray.”
Many of the early settlers of Orleans County were Revolutionary War veterans or the sons of veterans. In other instances, aging parents later came to live with their families. An estimated 65 Revolutionary War soldiers are buried in Orleans County.
The Orleans Chapter of the DAR and the Rochester Chapter of the SAR have maintained records of these burials. In addition, Luci Borello and Sutton Sanders, two students from the Albion Middle School, have researched and presented a list of the Revolutionary War veterans buried in Orleans County with the guidance of their teacher, Tim Archer. They also obtained graveside markers for unmarked graves and replaced a damaged headstone.
They will present their findings on Saturday, May 16, at 10:30 am at the Pierce-Smith Pioneer Cemetery at 3960 Hulberton Road in Holley. This event is open to the public.
During this current year-long recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, there has been a renewed interest in the wartime experiences of the Continental Army soldiers.
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the National Park Service have created a Citizen Archivist Mission project to assist in the transcription of the 80,000 pension application records on file. Perhaps you may be interested? https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist/missions
Adam Tabelski, a former mayor of Medina who now lives in Batavia, has contributed several transcriptions of the experiences of these veterans buried in Orleans County to the Orleans County Department of History records:
John Percival (1754-1837)
According to his pension deposition in 1833, Percival saw much action during the war. He enlisted on May 16, 1775, with a Massachusetts company under General Heath and was involved in the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. He volunteered for the ill-fated Continental Army expedition to Quebec under Col. Benedict Arnold later in 1775. He testified that:
“They were supplied with Boats to carry their Baggage and provisions (at Fort Winslow) and they went up the river through a dreary wilderness. The river was very rapid, and the soldiers were obliged to wade and push the boats upstream. In many cases, the boats were taken out of the River and carried upon their shoulders…..At this time they were in the greatest distress for the want of provisions. He himself subsisted 15 days on a pint of flour and a dog’s liver.”
He was part of the group that retreated following the unsuccessful attack on Quebec. In 1777, he was involved in the burning of two British schooners and the fortifications at Fort George as well as the destruction of bridges and felling of trees tin an effort to deter the advance of General Burgoyne’s troops. Later he was “out on one or two short alarums after Tories and Indians”. He testified that he never received any of his monthly wages except for the Quebec Expedition. Apparently, the Continental paper money soldiers occasionally received as pay for service was often worthless.
Two of Percival’s sons resided in Orleans County: Montgomery in the Town of Carlton and Samuel in the Town of Gaines. In 1824, Samuel built the hotel/tavern which is still in operation currently as the Tavern on the Ridge, formerly the Village Inn.
John Percival is buried in Gaines Cemetery.
Robinson Smith (1761-1828)
Smith enlisted in the Continental Army in 1782 and served in General Washington’s Life Guard, a unit of the Continental Army, about 180 strong, which protected Washinton as well as the money and papers of the Continental Army. Smith was discharged in 1784. He applied for a pension in 1818 and was awarded $8 per month. Eligible to reapply in 1820, he had to cite financial need. His testimony gives a vivid description of the difficulties of the times.
By 1820, he was a farmer with a wife and four children. He could do little labor as he was “badly ruptured.” His debt amounted to $30. His itemized possessions were indeed meagre and included 3 old axes and 3 old hoes, 1 sickle, 1 barrel and 3 old common chairs.
Robinson Smith is buried in Pierce-Smith Cemetery, Hulburton. In July 1939, the Lemuel Cook Chapter Sons of the American Revolution unveiled an official marker at his grave in recognition of his services for the Life Guard.
Please note that Patrice Birner of the Orleans County DAR will speak about the DAR and the NY250 Centennial Celebration at the Gaines-Basin Cobblestone Schoolhouse, 3286 Gaines-Basin Road, Albion, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28. This is an Orleans County Historical Association program.
MURRAY – This bronze marker set on a millstone is located at the northeast corner of the junction of Routes 104 and 237 in the Town of Murray.
