Medina fire on Pleasant Street causes $30K in damage
MEDINA – A fire on Sunday in Medina on Pleasant Street caused about $30,000 in damages, said Medina Fire Chief Steve Cooley said.
Firefighters were dispatched at 7:57 p.m. to Pleasant Street with reports of the upstairs area charged with smoke. Engine 1 from Medina with a crew of four arrived on scene at 8:02 p.m. with smoke coming from the eves and windows on the second floor, Cooley said.
Engine 1 was quickly supplemented by Engine 10, Ambulances 60 and 62 with off-duty staff and crews from Shelby and Ridgeway fire departments.
Firefighters found the interior staircase of the second floor to have smoke from stairs to ceiling. Once they reached the top of the staircase, due to zero visibility conditions, a thermal imaging camera was utilized to locate the fire in the corner of the westernmost bedroom, the fire chief said.
Simultaneously a backup hose line was stretched and brought to the base of the stairs to protect the crews working upstairs. The fire was brought under control with approximately 200 gallons of water or less and crews began checking for fire extension and performed ventilation at 8:15 p.m. with the fire completely extinguished at 8:18 p.m.
Fire investigators have ruled this fire as accidental. Damage to the structure is approximately $20,000 with damage to contents estimated at $10,000, Cooley said.
The residents are being assisted by family members at the present time. No injuries to civilians or firefighters occurred at this scene.
“We will be entering a busy time for residential fires,” Cooley said. “Make sure to check your smoke detectors and have an exit plan.”
He thanked the Orleans County Public Safety Dispatchers and mutual aid partners for helping with the quick response and fire extinguishment.
Mutual aid partners on scene: Shelby, one ladder truck; Ridgeway, one fire engine; Albion, FAST crew; Office of Emergency Management, director and investigator; Village of Medina Police Department and Code Enforcement.
4 contractors bid on Phipps Road bridge replacement in Albion
Keeler Construction apparent low bidder at $997,851
This photo from Sept. 12, 2022 shows Albion town highway employees blocking off traffic on the Phipps Road bridge, which was closed that day. Construction should start on a new bridge this spring. This bridge is on the west end of Phipps Road near Eagle Harbor Road.
ALBION – Four contractors bid on the Phipps Road bridge replacement over Otter Creek, and Keeler Construction is the apparent low bidder by more than $200,000.
Contractors were asked to submit proposals for a replacing the existing 19.5-foot-long bridge and replacing it with one that is 25 feet long.
The project includes the removal of the existing concrete culvert, and replacement with a 3-sided single span precast concrete span unit. The structure will be supported by micro-piles on spread footings, and associated highway approach work and stream work, according to a description seeking bids.
Keeler, a local company based in Barre, proposed to do the project for $992,851.75. That is less than the bids submitted by C.P. Ward of Scottsville at $1,221,503.75; Nardozzi Paving and Construction of Geneva at $1,207,593; and Mark Cerrone Inc. of Niagara Falls at $1,279,443.75. (The bids were opened today at 1 p.m. at the Town Hall.)
The town has been awarded a $1.038 million state grant for the project from the Bridge NY program.
Albion has been working with Ravi Engineering and Land Surveying in Rochester for design and bid specifications, as well as securing easements.
Rick Papaj, an engineer with Ravi, said the bid from Keeler is a “good price” for the town. The Town Board will review the bids and is expected to accept the low bid during its meeting at 5 p.m. on Dec. 8.
Papaj said construction should start in the spring.
The project also gave contractors the option for alternative cast-in-place system for the bridge onsite, rather than a precast structure. The alternates for that, however, were much more than the precast concrete bridge.
Keeler’s bid, for example, would have been nearly $300,000 higher with the cast-in-place unit.
Chamber award winners praised for commitment to Orleans County
Photos by Tom Rivers: Heather Smith, the CEO and a partner at Velocitii, accepts thanks the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce for naming the company in Medina as its “Business of the Year” for 2025. She is joined on stage by Velocitii leaders, Jeff Brandt, chief information officer, and Brian O’Neill, vice president of sales. The awards celebration was held Oct. 23 at the White Birch Golf Course.
LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce presented nine awards to businesses and committed citizens during the Chamber’s 27th annual awards banquet last month.
Darlene Hartway, the Chamber’s executive director, told 125 people at the banquet that the county has a strong backbone of business owners.
“Our local business owners invest their time, talents and money not only into their own businesses, but into the entire community,” Hartway said at the Oct. 23 banquet. “They donate, volunteer, serve on community boards and actively participate in the community.”
The award winners were nominated by other businesses and residents in the county.
“Local business owners are tenacious,” Hartway said. “They fight through times of loss and hardships. They sacrifice family time, financial rewards, wear and tear on mind and body, simply to serve their neighbor communities. I am in constant awe of people who make the commitment to invest in themselves, their businesses, and their community.”
Business of the Year: Velocitii
Velocitii opened 11 years ago and operates out of the Olde Pickle Factory on Park Avenue in Medina.
Velocitii is a business process outsourcing company. It provides support for other businesses, handling calls for customers about plans, billing and troubleshooting. Velocitii works with companies in healthcare, waste management, hospitality, e-commerce, auto insurance and technology.
Velocitii was founded by Roger Hungerford in the Olde Pickle Factory, initially with six employees. Velocitii each of the past three years has been named a top workplace in the Rochester region, placing in the mid-size company category (125 to 300 employees).
The company is now owned by Heather Smith (CEO), Brian O’Neill and Jeff Brandt. It has grown from 55 employees to 180 in the past three years.
Most of the employees work from home and Smith said Velocitii values work-life flexibility for the employees, while maintaining customer service for its clients.
The company provides paid time off to volunteer in the community, and strives to reward employees with other recognitions throughout the year.
“I want to thank the management team and the employees,” Smith said. “We look forward to many more years in the Orleans County community.”
Lifetime Achievement Award: Rita Zambito
Rita Zambito accepts the award for “lifetime achievement.” She has led a very successful real estate business in Orleans County and the region.
Rita Zambito in less than 20 years has turned a startup real estate business into a powerhouse in the region with 80 real estate agents that handled 600 transactions, topping $100 million in 2024.
“She has reached sales volumes thought unattainable in her market,” Hartway said.
Zambito started selling real estate in 1995. In 2006, she launched Zambito Realtors with her son, Mark. In 2021, she bought into the nationwide Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.
She also has assisted her other son Michael with the very popular Zambistro restaurant in Medina, handling the back office operations.
Her daughter, Mandy Gotham, works out of the Berkshire Hathaway office in Orchard Park.
Zambito said she took chances on the business as a single mother. Her children have all been great to work with.
Hartway praised Zambito for being a great role model for women in business locally.
“This award is so deserving,” Hartway said. “You have been a beacon in our community.”
Business Person of the Year: Dan DeCarlo
Dan DeCarlo accepts the “Business Person of the Year” during the Chamber banquet. DeCarlo has been involved in the family business of selling auto parts in Albion ever since his father purchased Arnold’s Auto Parts in 1968. Dan was 8 years old back then.
After taking over the business when his father retired 10 years ago, DeCarlo has been a big supporter of the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministry which has a community refrigerator stocked with food outside Arnold’s, 116 North Liberty St. The outreach ministry has many other events throughout the year, including a massive Easter egg hunt, Trunk of Treat at Beggar’s Nite and free chicken barbecue dinners.
DeCarlo also has organized many car shows and cruise-ins over the years.
His business ethics and support of community have earned him the Business Person of the Year. DeCarlo said he is a low-key guy who doesn’t like to be in the spotlight.
“I want to thank my employees, customers and friends who come in every day to support us,” he said. “I’ve spent almost my whole life at the store and in the downtown community. It’s been quite a ride.”
New Business of the Year: Homestead Pest Control
Jacob Ivison, owner of Homestead Pest Control, accepts the award for “New Business of the Year.”
The business is based at 109 East Bank St. in Albion. Hartway, the Chamber director, said the Chamber appreciates Ivison investing in a brick-and-mortar site in downtown Albion as well as offering the pest control services to the community.
Ivison was working as a delivery driver for an agricultural chemical facility. He met the owner of a pest control business sin Middleport, and that person directed him to a new career.
Ivison works with residents and business owners to rid the sites of bugs and rodents.
“Orleans County has been very good to me,” he said.
Hidden Gem: Hurd Orchards
Amy Machamer, co-owner of Hurd Orchards on Route 104 in Holley, accepts the “Hidden Gem” award which goes to a business that brings in tourists and visitors to the county.
Machamer is the seventh generation in her family to be part of the farm. Her daughter, Amelia Sidonio, is the eighth generation.
Amy has teamed with her mother, Susan Hurd Machamer, to run the farm the past 40 years. Hurd Orchards, located at 17260 Ridge Rd., is an EcoCertified farm that uses sustainable and environmentally responsible growing practices.
“Our hope is to be ambassadors to the fruit culture,” Machamer said about the Chamber event. “Our message is to bring simple goodness to the broad world around us.”
While the farm has adapted to changes, Hurd Orchards stays authentic, Machamer said. Hurd Orchards welcomes many visitors for events, including luncheons with food prepared from an 1895 cookbook. The steamed quince pudding is a popular item. A pear luncheon features the Seckel pear which are grown at Hurd’s.
Hurd Orchards sells fruits commercially, and has a bakery and jam kitchen. They raise elegant flowers and make up gift baskets to order.
“It’s been almost two centuries of filling Western New York with beauty and flavor,” Machamer said about the farm. “We draw a lot of people from very far away. We’re proud of that, and we have dedicated ourselves to Orleans County.”
Phoenix Award: Newell Lounge/Shirt Factory
Andrew Meier, right, and his partner Richie Sarrero accept the Phoenix Award for their efforts to restore and repurpose the Newell building at 113 West Center St.
Meier, an attorney in Medina, purchased the building in 2005. He has worked 20 years to upgrade the property, which was once home to the Newell Shirt Factory business.
The building now has three floors of different businesses. In 2006, the first business, the Shirt Factory Café, opened. It has since been restructured and is a restaurant and cocktail lounge known as the Shirt Factory.
Several businesses, including 810 Meadworks and a salon opened there, but moved out, creating new opportunities for Meier to try other ventures. The result was creating a coffee and snack shop called Factory Espresso, which opened in the spring of 2024, and a classic cocktail bar called the Newell Lounge which opened this spring.
Total remodeling of the second floor created space for Webster, Schubel and Meier to move their law offices there. The third floor renovation is home to the Hart Hotel, with 10 boutique rooms.
Meier and Sarrero plan to eventually have the Lounge open every day. They are expanding the kitchen and adding an outdoor event space in back of the building.
Medina gets downtown decorated for holidays, Olde Tyme Christmas
Photo courtesy of Jada Burgess
MEDINA – Downtown Medina is getting decked out for the holidays. This morning the Department of Public Works was out putting decorations on Main Street.
This photo shows Foreman Ben Lacy, in bucket truck, and Foreman Brad Freeman getting garland hung across Main Street near the Park Avenue intersection.
Medina will celebrate Olde Tyme Christmas this Saturday, an event that includes the Parade of Lights at 6 p.m.
Lyndonville has three Scholar Athlete teams
All three of Lyndonville’s fall varsity sports teams including boys soccer, girls volleyball and the combined Barker/Lyndonville girls soccer squad have earned New York State Public High School Athletic Association Scholar Athlete Awards by compiling a composite average of at leas 90.
Boys Soccer (90.83 combined GPA) – Michael Alexander, Brayden Aydelotte, Austin Fonda, Ethan Franks, Brody Hazel, Iziah Rodriguez, Colton Smith, Maddox Smith and Shannon Withey.
Girls Soccer (95.48 combined GPA) – Brooke Robinson, Natalie Rath, Alexa Robinson, Rylan Townsend, Leah Costello, Braelynn Dillenbeck, Abigail Alexander, Arnie Sturtevant, Isabella Groves, Annalee Clark, Cheyanne Rouse, Melodi Murphy, Alina Riches, Lillyanna Reyes, Delaney Lefever and Aine Davis.
Girls Volleyball (92.66 combined GPA) – Elena Barry, Isabella Bresett, Sarah Corser, Emily Dill, Destinee Holmes, Leah Kenyon.
Polar Express on pace to draw 25,000 to Medina this holiday season
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Santa and his elves pose in front of the headquarters at the North Pole as they wait for the arrival of the Polar Express on Sunday afternoon. The Polar Express will run for four more weekends.
MEDINA – More than 25,000 people are expected to visit Medina during the next four weekends to ride the Polar Express at Medina Railroad Museum.
The magical train of movie fame will depart the Railroad Museum for the North Pole on the corner of Bolton Road in Gasport for six runs each Saturday and Sunday.
The Museum has acquired use of property by Bolton Road to construct their North Pole site, complete with a permanent work shop, a clock tower and live Christmas trees.
Passengers on the Polar Express receive “the first gift of Christmas,” hot chocolate and a cookie enroute, while elves read and dance through the aisles. Santa also rides the train and visits with youngsters in every car.
When the train pulls into the “North Pole,” Santa and his elves come out of the workshop and wave as the train slows and prepares to stop for its return to the Museum.
Some tickets are still available and may be ordered by visiting the Museum’s website at medinarailroadmuseum.org. Trains depart for the hour-long ride every hour and 20 minutes, from 11:20 a.m. to 6 p.m.
As the Polar Express train from Medina Railroad Museum arrives at the North Pole, Santa and his elves line up in front of the clock tower to welcome it.
Albion girls prepping for early N-O opener
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading Albion this season will be this veteran quintet of Aubrey Gannon, Melia Prince, Aaliyah Jones, Madison Muckle and Leah Pawlak.
Five veterans anchor the lineup for Albion which will get the Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball season off to an early start as the Purple Eagles are scheduled to host Akron on December 8 at 6:30 p.m.
The Purple Eagles veteran quintet includes seniors Leah Pawlak, Madison Muckle and Aubrey Gannon along with junior Melia Prince and freshman Aaliyah Jones.
“We did lose four starters but we’ve got good experience back,” said Coach Wil Prince.
The Purple Eagles graduation losses included the starting quartet of Cami London, Julia Knight, Paige Newton and Kenzi Snook.
Albion, which went 4-8 in N-O action and 6-14 overall last season, will tune up for the N-O campaign by visiting Wheatland-Chili on December 2.
Veteran trio set to lead Barker cagers
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading Barker into the upcoming season is this veteran trio of Anthony Taliaferro, Donovan Hefferon and Jackson Prynn.
Looking to improve upon last year’s 3-9 league record, Barker has four non league contests scheduled before the Niagara-Orleans home opener against Medina on December 11.
Seniors Donovan Hefferon and Jackson Prynn along with junior Anthony Taliaferro head Barker’s returning group which also includes seniors Carson Schwab, Carson Marvin, Austin Puchlerz and Maico Vazquez. The Bulldogs are also looking to juniors Ashton Ark, Carter DerSarkissian and Peyton Wagner.
“We’ve got good size and pretty good experience back,” said Coach Jake Haight.
Barker is slated to host Lyndonville in the season opener on December 1 at 6:30 p.m. The Bulldogs also have non league games scheduled at Attica on Dec. 3 and home against Notre Dame on Dec. 5 and Alden on Dec. 8.
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7 music students from Orleans perform at Area All-State
Photos and information courtesy of Zach Busch, Holley band teacher: (Left) Aurora Avery, left, and Sara Corser performed at Area All-State, representing Lyndonville. (Right) Two Albion students, Gideon Pask and Phoebe Allen, were part of the festival.
CHURCHVILLE – This weekend 7 students from Orleans County participated in the NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) Zone 2 Sr. High Area All-State festival at Churchville-Chili High School.
NYSSMA Zone 2 encompasses schools from Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, and Wayne counties. To be selected for Area All-State, students must first prepare a solo on their instrument or voice for adjudication at Solo Festival.
Then, based on their score and a teacher recommendation, an application is sent to a committee of music teachers from the NYSSMA Zone 2 area who select that year’s student participants in the Area All-State ensembles. Students performing at Area All-State are among the best of the best in the Zone 2 region.
These students include Aidan Kelley of Holley, River Jones of Medina and Elise Olsen of Medina.
Participating students from Orleans County include:
Albion: Gideon Pask, 12th grade – Mixed Choir; and Phoebe Allen, 11th grade – Mixed Choir.
Holley: Aidan Kelley, 11th grade – Symphonic Band.
Lyndonville: Sara Corser, 11th grade – Mixed Choir; and Aurora Avery, 10th grade – Treble Choir.
Medina: River Jones, 11th grade – Symphonic Band; and Elise Olsen, 10th grade – Symphonic Band.
Conducting the Symphonic Band was Dr. Jared Chase of Nazareth University, where he directs the Wind Ensemble. Dr. Chase also conducts the Penfield Symphony. The band performed “Galop” by Dmitri Shostakovich, “Rising Light” by Kevin Charoensrir, and movements from Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana”.
Conducting the Treble Choir was Dr. Crystal Sellers Battle of Eastman School of Music where she is the Inaugural Dean of Equity and Inclusion as well as the Director of the George Walker Center for Equity and Inclusion in Music. The treble choir performed works including “Colorful” by Philip E. Silvey, “Keep Your Lamps!” a spiritual arranged by Andre Thomas, and “Shine the Light” by Raymond Wise.
Conducting the Mixed Choir was Mr. Holden Maiorana who serves as the Director of Choirs at Spackenkill High School in Poughkeepsie, NY. Mr. Maiorana and his choirs have performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center, as well as in Europe. The mixed choir performed works including “Does the World Say?” by Pederson, “Wisdom of the Moon” by LaBarr – which featured Lyndonville soloist Sarah Corser, and a world premier of “Songs for the People” by Lloyd.
Hawks, Eagles, Tigers have All Tourney picks
Holley, Kendall and Lyndonville have all placed players on the All Tournament teams following the recent Section V soccer playoffs.
The Holley girls team, which won the Class C1 title, is represented by the quartet of Hanna Ostrom, Mia Thom, Brynn Thomas and Jayna Burris
The Hawks boys squad has placed Tarek Garret.
In Class C2, the Kendall girls team has placed the trio of Addison Kludt, Sophia Picardo and Brooke Rodas.
The Eagles boys squad is represented by the threesome of Brandon Barrett, Jonny Conte and Pablo Rosario-Reyes.
Both of the Eagles teams lost in the C2 finals.
In Class D2, the Lyndonville Tigers have placed Jesus Reyes and Colton Smith.
Lady Rams face a busy opening week
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s veteran group includes, in front, Adella Dukes, Millie Owens and Peyton May. In back are Brooke Corser, Courtney Aquilina, Abby Fox and Kylie McOmber.
Anchored by a good group of seven returnees, Roy-Hart will be tuning up for the Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball season with a busy slate of three of non league road games the first week of December.
The Lady Rams, which went 6-6 in N-O action and 11-9 overall last year, will visit Kenmore East on December 1, Lyndonville on December 3 (6:30 p.m.) and Niagara-Wheatfield on Dec 5.
Junior Courtney Aquilina, who earned first team N-O All-League honors last year, and junior Adella Dukes, who was a second team honoree, head the Lady Rams veteran contingent. Aquilina had 192 points and 122 rebounds and Dukes 236 points and 158 rebounds.
That veteran group also includes seniors Millie Owens, Kylie McOmber, Abby Fox and Peyton May along with junior Brooke Corser.
“We have a good group back, The key is figuring out everyone’s role,” said Coach Grace Swick.
The Lady Rams also have two more non league games scheduled Dec. 11 home vs. Byron-Bergen and Dec. 16 at Starppint before opening the N-O season at home against Medina on Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Tigers to open season with North Country trip
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s veteran group includes in front, Sebastian Clark, Colton Smith and Raul Morales. In back are Atticus Mank, Lyric Raduns and Lane Woodworth. Missing is Quincy McClinsey.
The high school basketball season will tip off the day after Thanksgiving as Lyndonville travels to the North Country to compete in the Lafargeville High tournament.
The Tigers will face the host Knights in Friday’s opening round.
This is the second year in a row Lyndonville has competed in the Lafargeville tournament which is a bit of a homecoming for Tigers Coach Rich Augustus who formerly taught and coached there.
Senior Colton Smith and sophomore Lane Woodworth lead Lyndonville’s veteran group which also includes seniors Sebastian Clark and Raul Morales along with juniors Atticus Mank, Lyric Raduns and Quincy McClinsey.
“Most of our scoring is back so we are looking to build off of last year,” said Augustus. “Defense will be key for us.”
Following the North Country trip the Tigers are scheduled to visit Barker for a non league game on December 1 at 6:30 p.m.
125 free turkeys given out to veterans
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Jim Nudd, left, and Nik Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency, hand out free turkeys to veterans on Friday. Here, Albion American Legion commander Brad Rouse gets his free turkey.
ALBION – Orleans County veterans received 125 free turkeys for Thanksgiving this year, thanks to support from the Pfc. Joseph Dwyer Peer-to-Peer program.
Nik Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency, and retired veteran Jim Nudd handed out the turkeys on Friday.
One of the first to get his free turkey was Brad Rouse, commander of the Albion American Legion, who praised the give-away program, funded by the Pfc. Joseph Dwyer Peer-to-Peer program.
“This is an excellent program,” Rouse said. “I also picked up one for my vice commander, Bob Gilsinan. We will probably cook both of them for veterans in the Legion.”
Mroz said in total they handed out 1,000 pounds of turkeys. They also do a ham give-away at Easter, passing out 100 hams to veterans.
