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9 days of early voting starts today at Orleans County Board of Elections
ALBION – Today is the first of nine days of early voting in Orleans County with many positions on the ballot, including a race for governor, Congress and many other offices at the state, county and town levels.
There is one polling location open in the county for early voting. It is at the Orleans County Board of Elections Office, 14016 Route 31 in Albion.
During the general election on Nov. 3, there will be polling locations at each of the 10 towns in Orleans County.
The early voting schedule includes:
- Saturday, October 24 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, October 25 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday, October 26 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 27 – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 28 – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Thursday, October 29 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday, October 30 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, October 31 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, November 1 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mike Mele and Janice Grabowski are the election commissioners in Orleans County. They issued this statement: “All indications are that turnout for this year’s election will be high, so early voting is just another way for people to cast their ballots. We do want to remind people that whether you choose to vote early or on Election Day, you must be in line before polls close in order to cast your ballot.”
The last day to register to vote for the Nov. 3 election is today. Those with questions about voter registration, early voting, absentee ballots or any other questions can call the Board of Elections at (585) 589-3274 or visit the BOE website (click here).
Lady Hawks nip Geneseo in Class C1 contest
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley goalie Zoey Warner makes a save on a shot attempt by Geneseo’s Emma Swanson during the Lady Hawks home field sectional win this evening.
No. 3 seed Holley nipped visiting No. 6 Geneseo 1-0 in the quarterfinal round of the Section V Class C1 girls soccer playoffs this evening.
Carsyn Mogle scored the lone goal for the Lady Hawks as Ava Mosier and Emma Burne earned assists.
Zoey Warner made 5 saves to earn the shutout in goal.
Improving to 12-5 1. Holley will next visit No. 2 Red Creek in the semifinals on Tuesday. Red Creek edged No. 7 Williamson 1-0.
Holley’s Carsyn Mogle, who scored the lone goal, drives the ball up field against Geneseo defender Madilyn Ladelpha.
Lady Eagles top Naples in Class C2 playoffs
Top seeded Kendall blanked visiting No. 8 Naples 3-0 this evening in the quarterfinal round of the Section V Class C2 girls soccer playoffs.
Sophia Picardo, Ryleigh Denning and Jersie Drake each scored a goal for the Lady Eagles. Drake and Adriana D’Agostino also both had assists.
Teagan Shaw made 5 saves to earn the shutout in goal.
Improving to 16-1, Kendall will next face No. 5 Genesee Valley-Belfast on Tuesday in the semifinals. Genesee Valley-Belfast nipped No. 4 Campbell-Savona 4-3 in overtime.
Albion/Medina rallies for last second touchdown to nip McKinley in key B1 game
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Quarterback Preston Woodworth threw the game winning pass to Rocco Sidari with only 9 seconds remaining earning Albion/Medina a key win over McKinley this evening at Albion.
Showing plenty of flair for the dramatic, Albion/Medina rallied for a touchdown with only nine seconds remaining to nip McKinley 23-20 in a key regular season ending B1 Division game this evening at Albion.
Scrambling and rolling to his right, quarterback Preston Woodworth hooked up with Rocco Sidari for the dramatic game winning 6 yard touchdown pass as Boe Preston tacked on the extra point kick for the 23-20 final.
The victory earns Albion/Medina a share of the B1 title at 6-1 with West Seneca East and a home game for the opening round of the up coming sectional playoffs as the division’s No. 2 seed.
Jaxon Lynch returns an interception on a tip play for the Rivals as Rocco Sidari backs up the play.
Albion/Medina also got on the scoreboard first taking a 7-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter as Woodworth connected with Elijah Doxey for a 23 yard touchdown pass and Preston tacked on the extra point.
A very unusual McKinley decision to punt on second down from deep in their own territory gave Albion/Medina the ball at the Macks 27 to set up the scoring opportunity.
However, McKinley answered back with a pair of touchdowns to grab a 12-7 lead first on a 90 yard pass from quarterback Kylon Minter to Marcis Daniels and then on a 1 yard run by Nicholas Williams.
The Rivals though battled back to regain a 14-12 lead at the half as Doxey threw a 14 yard pass to Noah Harrison and Preston added the extra point kick with only 47 seconds to go in the second quarter.
Neither team could score in the third quarter but McKinley regained a 20-14 lead with 4:34 remaining in the final period on a short run and two-point conversion carry capping a lengthy 8 minute drive.
The Macks then got the ball right back on a fumble recovery at the McKinley 27 with two minutes to go.
Albion/Medina though got a huge break as McKinley lost 17 yards back to the 10 yard line after a fumble which the Macks recovered.
Facing a fourth and forever situation the Macks gave up a safely with 42 seconds remaining pulling the Rivals to within four at 20-16.
McKinley’s ensuing kickoff from the 20 went only some 15 yards and the Rivals took over at the Macks 35.
Woodworth quickly hooked up with Doxey twice for pass completions of 15 and 14 yards advancing the ball to the McKinley 6 yard line.
That set the stage for the dramatic game winning Woodworth to Sidari touchdown pass capping an impressive debut B1 Division co-championship campaign for the Rivals.
The contest was penalty filled with over 30 yellow flags being thrown by the officials.
Albion/Medina, which will take a 7-1 overall record into the sectionals, will find out their first round opponent at the seeding meeting on Sunday.
Albion/Medina’s Parker Roberts makes a tackle on McKinley’s Tayon Mullen.
Author gets big response to new book, ‘Beyond Haunted Holley’
Raymond Santoro writes more ‘tales of mystery and the unexplained’
Photos by Tom Rivers
CLARENDON – Raymond Santoro, the Holley and Murray historian, had a line of people wanting him to signa copy of his new book, Beyond Haunted Holley – Further Tales of Mystery and the Unexplained. Santoro held a book-signing on Wednesday evening at the Hillside Cemetery chapel.
He will be signing books and reading from the book at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Community Free Library in Holley. He has another book signing and talk at 6 p.m. on Nov. 6 at Gaines Basin Cobblestone Schoolhouse, 3286 Gaines Basin Rd., Albion. This schoolhouse is used by the Orleans County Historical Association.
Ghost-themed cookies were served Wednesday evening at the Clarendon chapel. Santoro has 500 copies of the new book available.
“Beyond Haunted Holley” costs $18 and can be purchased at Author’s Note bookstore in Medina, the Community Free Library in Holley, Murray Town Hall and Cobblestone Museum in Albion.
Santoro’s new book is a follow-up to his book from 2023 on Haunted Holley. That book has been a sellout with two printings. He wrote about paranormal experiences for people in the Holley community.
He included his email at the end of the book. He received 80 emails from people, sharing their own stories and experiences. Others have called him or told him in person that they felt encounters with ghosts or the unexplained. Santoro said Haunted Holley has generated a lot of interest, much more than he expected.
“There are plenty of local stories to fill a dozen books,” he said.
Santoro encourages people to read the stories with an open mind.
“There is so much of the world we don’t comprehend and perhaps aren’t meant to fully understand,” he writes in the introduction of the 174-page book. “I hope that reading this work as whole might shed light on some of these mysteries.”
Raymond Santoro signed a copy of his book for Gerry Rightmyer, the Murray town supervisor. Rightmyer said he found the first book on Haunted Holley to be a page-turner that he couldn’t put down.
“It is extremely interesting,” Rightmyer said. “I’m real excited to get started on reading this one, too.”
Santoro wore a black cape for added effect during a brief book talk on Wednesday evening in the Hillside chapel.
His new book shares stories from communities near Holley – Bergen, Churchville, Hulberton, Kendall and others.
Santoro was joined up front by Peter Turkow, left, the president of the Clarendon Historical Society. Turkow said Santoro has done a commendable job writing stories that have a profound impact on many people in the community.
“Everybody has a scary story to tell,” Turkow said. “He has done a great job. It’s an important and unique contribution to the history of Holley and the surrounding towns.”
Firefighters conclude week-long fire prevention efforts at Albion elementary
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Lauren Zwifka, a Barre firefighter and 2026 Albion graduate, helps Sebastian, an Albion fourth-grader, hit a target with water from a fire hose.
A group of volunteer firefighters wrapped up a week-long fire prevention effort at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School this week. After spending four days with classroom activities, firefighters joined students outside to learn about fire trucks and equipment, and test their fire prevention knowledge.
Barre firefighters Lauren Zwikfa and Barry Flansburg helped students aim at the targets.
Albion firefighters Victoria Tabor and Jeremy DiMatteo let these students get a close look at some of the tools and gear in a fire truck.
Ryan Woolston of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company let students hold a 20-pound air bottle that holds oxygen if firefighters go inside to fight a fire.
Students crawl through a smoke simulator inside a fire safety training trailer was outside the school today. That trailer, owned by the Orleans County’s Emergency Management Office, has a fog machine to simulate smoky rooms. Students were urged to “Stay Low and Go.” Students went through the smoke when the door inside the trailer wasn’t hot.
If the door inside the trailer was hot, students were told to instead look for a way out of the room. The electrical door could be heated to simulate a hot door from fire. Thomas Bringenberg climbs out the window and down a ladder. Albion firefighter Cody Newsome was there if any assistance was needed.
The fake flames are knocked down with water sprayed by Barre firefighter Gary Rowley, left, with second-grader Dylan Feitshans and Barry Flansburg with second-grader Danny Klips.
Shelby should keep highway chief, town clerk as elected positions
Editor:
Town of Shelby voters have an important decision to make in this year’s election. Will the Shelby residents allow the Republican Town Board to make a decision regarding how the Town Superintendent of Highways and the Town Clerk positions are selected?
There are 10 towns in Orleans County and presently all towns make this decision by having candidates on the ballot. Why does this all-Republican board want to take away this right from the citizens?
Every voter needs to be aware that they will no longer have a choice in this process. Why? Remember, it is doubtful that qualified candidates will be chosen unless you are a registered Republican. No Democrat, Conservative or other parties will ever be considered. Do not let the Town Board make this decision for you. It is not a fair process.
Exercise your right and vote.
Jeanne Crane
Carlton
Sheriff issues press release on fatal fire in Knowlesville, with 2 others injured
Victims’ names not released, cause of blaze under investigation
Photo by Tom Rivers: Firefighters from multiple departments responded to the fire on Thursday night at 12625 Presbyterian St.
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke
KNWOELSVILLE – On Thursday at 8:28 p.m., the Orleans County Sheriff’s 911 Center received multiple reports of a working house fire with two people trapped at 12625 Presbyterian St. in the Town of Ridgeway.
Upon arrival, Ridgeway Fire found a working house fire, and two victims. One victim, a resident of the house, was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester with injuries.
A second victim, a neighbor from across the street, had become aware of the fire, ran over and entered the burning house in an attempt to rescue the remaining person in the house. Conditions forced the neighbor out of the house due to the heavy fire and smoke and was in fact on fire himself as he exited the house.
This victim had to roll and receive assistance from others in the front yard to have the fire be extinguished. The second victim was transported by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital as well.
The third victim was deceased and located on the first floor of the residence.
Currently, the cause and origin of the fire is under investigation. Further details and names of the victims will be released when appropriate.
Public safety dispatchers sent the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company to the scene with automatic mutual aid from the following: Medina Fire and Ambulance, Albion FD, East Shelby FC, Shelby FC, Orleans County Emergency Management and Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies.
Additional mutual aid was called into the scene or to fill in from the following: Lyndonville FD, Mercy Ambulance, Tri-Town Ambulance Filling in at Medina, Mercy Flight to the O.C. Fairgrounds, Barre FC, Carlton FC, Orleans County Sheriff’s Animal Control, Murray Fire Dist., Batavia to fill in at Albion and Middleport to fill in at Medina.
The Orleans County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene.
Orleans County Emergency Management fire coordinators and fire investigators were on scene with EMO Director Justine Niederhofer.
NYS Fire was on scene with fire investigators, and the Orleans County Sheriff’s investigators and Sheriff’s fire investigators were on scene as well.
The fire shot out of windows, the roof and the front porch and took several hours to get under control.
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Even par round for Green at Korea tourney
Medina’s Melanie Green posted an even par 72 on Friday’s (Korea time) second round of the LPGA Tour’s BMW Championship being played in South Korea.
Green, who had a 4 under par 68 in the opening round, had four birdies (on 2, 7, 12 and 18) to offset four bogeys (on 3, 4, 9 and 16) on the up and down round two.
Heading into the third round she is 9 shots back of the leader who is at 13 under.
