AI investments are out of line with future profits, creating bubble that’s likely to pop

Posted 26 July 2026 at 8:29 pm

Editor:

It is important to put the proposed data center at the STAMP site in Genesee County into the broader context of artificial intelligence (AI).

AI technology in the US is experiencing a huge economic bubble, with investments far out of line with likely future profits. That financial bubble is likely to pop, thereby devastating the current AI landscape and dramatically reducing the need for new data centers. This vulnerability of AI has been overlooked in the irrational rush to invest in the technology.

AI depends on data centers. They hold the expensive, power-guzzling hardware on which the AI software runs. They are the physical brains of AI.

Very legitimate arguments against data centers like the one proposed at STAMP cite inefficient land use, excessive power use, large tax breaks for the ultra-rich, few jobs created, noise, infrasound, heat, air and water pollution, risk to wildlife, and quality of life effects on local residents.

Decent arguments all. However, to these we must add another: Data centers and the companies that build them are part of a looming AI crisis that could leave locals with a huge mess to clean up. We need to consider the economics of AI.

Consider the two “rock star” AI companies, OpenAI and Anthropic. Both are developing cutting edge LLM’s (large language models), both are privately held and lavishly financed, both want to go public via IPO’s, and both predict that an overwhelming demand for AI computations will ultimately flow through their systems.

Both put out incredible hype about the capabilities of their systems, how they will fundamentally change the world. Both downplay the obvious and well-documented risks of their systems (hallucinations, urging users to commit suicide, the recent major security breach, and many others). They also downplay the fact that for the foreseeable future, they are unlikely to generate any profits at all.

Right now they are losing large amounts of money by selling computations (or “compute”) for far less than their actual cost (Estimates: $13 of compute sold for $1 to $3). Customers have chafed at attempts to raise prices. Moreover, AI, unlike so many modern technologies, does not “scale.” Making it bigger does not mean that the cost per customer will go down.

When OpenAI and Anthropic go public the stockholders will demand profitable operations. There is no evidence that either company can deliver the promised value to their customers and still make a profit for their shareholders. This could pop the AI bubble, send the country into a recession, and leave the skeletons of half-built data centers across the USA.

So when you go over the list of reasons why the proposed STAMP data center doesn’t make sense, don’t forget to add the uncertainty of the future of AI, and how it may affect data center construction. The AI industry appears to be far less robust than its leaders would have us believe. Don’t be taken in by their hype.

Dave Giacherio

Kent

The ‘Right’ ignore statistics, common sense when it doesn’t align with views

Posted 26 July 2026 at 8:01 pm

Editor:

I have to ask: what has education ever done to Paul Lauricella that he treats it like a personal enemy? At some point one has to wonder if he skipped the units on self-awareness, because he seems remarkably unable to hear himself.

He bemoans Mr. Fine for “throwing around labels” and attacking people who raise “valid, common-sense concerns,” a sentence so rich in irony I nearly needed a moment to compose myself.

I’m confident that if the Orleans Hub search bar were a bit more forgiving, we’d unearth a small library of Mr. Lauricella’s past letters, glowing with admiration for his favorite orange demagogue and his “America First” agenda. Funny how so many on the Right adore a man who “tells it like it is” right up until the truth doesn’t flatter them, then suddenly it’s someone else who’s being “divisive.” A moral high ground claimed several years and several letters too late.

And remind me again; who’s the snowflake?

As for bail reform: multiple studies – yes, those dreaded “ivory-tower” studies – show it hasn’t driven crime rates up. Crime statistics, reported not by professors but by local law enforcement agencies across Upstate New York, show crime rates are down. So, are we to conclude our own police departments are cooking the books? My mistake, I forgot that research only counts as legitimate when it happens to agree with the populist talking point of the week.

But who needs facts when feelings will do? It’s certainly easier to build an argument on vibes, and plenty of Right-wing policy proudly stands on a sturdy foundation of fear, anecdote, and the ever-reliable “many people say…”

Credit where it’s due, though: not once did Mr. Lauricella reach for “Communist,” “Marxist,” or “Socialist.”

Matthew Ballard

LeRoy, NY

50 butterflies released from canal barge for Medina Triennial event

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 26 July 2026 at 12:53 pm

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Children held out their hands hoping a Monarch butterfly would land in their palms, after the butterfly release Saturday on the Floating Barge on the Erie Canal in Medina. (Right) Dave O’Donnell, founder of the Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm in Clarence, prepares to release 50 Monarch butterflies on Saturday afternoon.

MEDINA – A Monarch butterfly release from the Medina Triennial’s Floating Barge drew a crowd estimated at more than 200 Saturday afternoon.

As the Triennial concludes its eighth week today (Sunday), co-director Kari Conte said the event has been attracting people from across the country. She reported on Friday there were visitors from Ithaca, New York City, Massachusetts, California and Toronto, many of whom spent at least one night.

Grace McKissock, an intern with Great Lakes Education, and volunteer Emma Tanovis are dressed as butterflies on Medina’s floating barge, where a Monarch butterfly release took place Saturday afternoon.

Three friends from Williamsville said they visit Medina at least twice a year.

“We love this town, its shops, Zambistro’s, the scenery and the community,” said Eileen Giarraffa of Williamsville, who was there with Lora Fletcher and Eileen Torse.

The Floating Barge, also called a “food forest on the Erie Canal,” was open for harvesting beginning at noon.

At 1 p.m. today, Conte will conduct a curatorial tour at the historic Medina High School, 324 Catherine St. She will share information about participating artists and their works.

Volunteers Terry Cook and David Sidari greet visitors to the Floating Barge in Medina’s Canal Basin, prior to a butterfly release Saturday by Dave O’Donnell of Clarence.

Crowds stood with cameras ready to capture the release of 50 Monarch butterflies Saturday afternoon on the Floating Barge in Medina’s Canal Basin. A Monarch can be seen in the upper left corner on a flowering bush.

LOYAL soccer stresses fun and fundamentals

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 26 July 2026 at 9:19 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – The LOYAL Youth Soccer program is off to a busy summer season with some 300 youngsters participating in age group divisions including 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10-11-12. Here youngsters in the 4-5 age group play in a game on Saturday. While most of the players taking part in the LOYAL program are from Medina there are also some youngsters from Lyndonville, Roy-Hart and Albion.

There were a number of 4-5 age group teams playing on Saturday morning as the LOYAL program is halfway though its summer season. “We’re teaching them the fundamentals of the game and hopefully most importantly a love of the game,” said LOYAL Soccer President Carl Husung. “We want them to have fun playing the game, We’re the grass roots level of local soccer. I kind of feel like Johnny Appleseed planting the seeds for the future of soccer here.”

Firefighters train from on high for rope rescues

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 July 2026 at 8:30 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – There were 16 firefighters at the Orleans County Fire Training Tower on Saturday, practicing rope rescue operations. Firefighters rappelled about 50 feet down from the top of the training tower.

Firefighters need to deploy rope rescues when people are stuck down ravines and embankments.

Bob Freida, the Clarendon fire chief, descends down the training tower. Freida is part of a rope rescue team that includes Clarendon and Murray firefighters.

A new county-wide technical rescue team is being created from multiple departments to train and work together and share equipment.

Not all departments with rescue equipment have the same gear. The team will train on each department’s equipment to be familiar with the ropes, harnesses and other tools. Some departments also have grain rescue equipment which includes steel plates and an augur. The team members will also have wet suits for going into the water.

Dale Niehaus of the Carlton Volunteer Fire Department makes his way down the tower. He is entering into a window on the side of the tower.

Saturday was the first day of a 32-hour course that includes today and next weekend.

Participants will develop skills in rappelling and high-angle rescue systems. Topics include safety orientation, risk assessment, equipment, basic rappelling and ascending, anchoring, belaying, mechanical advantage, patient packaging, incident management, skills evaluation, and testing.

John Hightower from the Rochester Fire Department rappels down the training tower. There are three firefighters from Rochester in the class, which is mostly firefighters from Orleans County.

Karl Biedlingmaier of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Company works his way down the tower at 14064 West County House Rd.

File photo by Tom Rivers: Ray Keffer is on shore while three firefighters head out into the icy water of a quarry by the Erie Canal in Murray to go after a dog on Jan. 4, 2020. Firefighters were able to safely bring the dog to the shore. They also assisted the owner of the dog in getting up the embankment.

10 fire departments responded to blaze in Medina this morning

Posted 25 July 2026 at 4:45 pm

Photo from Medina Fire Department: Fire destroyed a house at 208 Prospect Ave. in Medina this morning and spread next door.

Press Release, Medina Fire Department

MEDINA – As many of you can imagine, we had a very difficult morning on Prospect Avenue. We are incredibly grateful that no residents or firefighters were injured. Sadly, some family pets were lost in the fire, and our thoughts are with the families affected during this difficult time.

We were dispatched at 4:22 a.m. and arrived on scene at 4:24 a.m. to find a significant volume of fire, with the possibility of occupants trapped inside. The crew of Engine 11 immediately began search operations until it was confirmed that everyone had safely escaped the original fire building.

A second alarm was struck at 4:26 a.m. as crews worked to protect the neighboring home at 206 Prospect Avenue, located approximately 20 feet north of the original structure. Once all occupants of that residence were accounted for, a third alarm was requested at 4:36 a.m. as additional manpower and equipment were needed after the fire breached the exterior of 206 Prospect Avenue. Multiple crews worked simultaneously to search for occupants while extinguishing fire throughout both floors and the attic space of that home.

Eight of Orleans County’s eleven fire departments responded to the scene, along with two departments from Niagara County. Fire departments from Niagara, Monroe, and Genesee counties also staffed stations throughout Orleans County to ensure emergency coverage remained available while crews battled the fire.

We cannot thank our brothers and sisters from every department enough for their hard work, professionalism, and support today, whether they were operating on scene or covering our stations. We also appreciate the assistance provided by Orleans County Emergency Management and the Orleans County Highway Department.

To the many residents who stopped by with encouraging words, cold drinks, and support throughout the morning—thank you. Your kindness means more than you know. We wish we could thank everyone individually, but we know we’d unintentionally leave someone out.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Orleans County Fire Investigation Unit, with assistance from the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

The photo accompanying this post was provided by a nearby resident and was taken just after they called 911 to report the fire.

Again, thanks to all that assisted us today.

Steve Cooley

Chief of Department

Fire destroys apartment house in Medina, damages next-door home as well

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 July 2026 at 3:14 pm

Photos by Ginny Kropf: A house at 208 Prospect Ave. was reduced to rubble after a fire this morning.

MEDINA – Three people are homeless in a fire early this morning, which completely destroyed an apartment house at 208 Prospect Ave. and displaced at least five people in the house next door at 206 Prospect Ave.

Medina Fire Department received the call at 4:20 a.m. and arrived at the scene at 4:24 a.m., said Medina Fire Chief Steve Cooley.

“The house was fully engulfed and three people were outside when we arrived,” Cooley said. “When the ambulance arrived, they said fire was coming from every window.”

A dog and cat were also lost in the fire.

Considerable damage was done to all three stories of the house next door and some damage to a house across the street.

The houses in that location are 20 feet apart, and Cooley said had they not responded as quickly as they did, an entire block of homes could have been destroyed. The fire was extinguished in an hour.

He said indications are the fire started on the front porch. Cooley said they received assistance from every department in Orleans County and addition help from Niagara County.

Cooley praised all the responders, saying they did a great job of getting the fire extinguished.

Fire Chief Steve Cooley said the fire could have wiped out a block of houses if firefighters from many departments hadn’t responded so quickly.

400 miles and lots of goodwill for Community Action

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2026 at 2:49 pm

Brett Sobieraski and team of runners complete 1,600 laps at local tracks in past 8 days, raising $25,000 for Community Action

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Brett Sobieraski holds the American flag high while leading a pack of runners around the Albion High School track this morning in the final lap of an 8-day, 400-mile benefit for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

Renee Hungerford, the Community Action chief executive officer, is next to Sobieraski for the final lap. She sang the national anthem right before the final, celebratory 400 meters.

Sobieraski is a retired Rochester police sergeant. He lives in Carlton. He has done endurance challenges before to raise money for fallen police officers and the Special Olympics. This time he wanted to help Community Action, an agency he said serves local residents in many different ways, He set a $20,000 fundraising goal. By the end of the run at 11 a.m., the fundraising was at $25,000.

Sobieraski, 60, has been mostly sidelined the past three days due to severe blisters and an infection in his feet. He thanked other runners for stepping up and wearing his watch that records the laps and distance. He completed more than 275 miles of challenge himself.

Hungerford said that similar to what happens at Community Action, with the agency assisting people through challenges. Community Action is facing a $900,000 cut to the Head Start program, but Hungerford said the agency will persevere.

Jaxon Francis is ahead of Tanner Beecher and other members of the Albion youth football team which came out to do a few laps around the track today.

Jeff Atwell (left), manager of weatherization for Community Action, walks around the track with Jim Babcock, who recently had back surgery. Babcock completed more than a mile both Friday in Holley and today in Albion.

Brett Sobieraski hugs Todd Arnold after he ran for about an hour and half this morning.

Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard walks with Sobieraski around the track this morning. Sobieraski works as an investigator with the Orleans County major Felony Crimes Task Force, which Howard oversees.

Sobieraski during comments after the final lap praised Community Action for doing “God’s work” in Orleans and Genesee counties.

Some of the programs offered by Community Action include:

transportation for the elderly and disabled
food and clothing
home cooling and weatherization projects
thrift store services
work place job training and counseling
prom dresses along with credit counseling for high school students
Head Start programs to assist with learning, child care and family services
Through their Project Salus, help adolescents with the support from education to financial

Medina FC begins playoffs on Sunday

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 25 July 2026 at 8:45 am

Posteason playoff action gets underway for Medina FC on Sunday as the No. 6 seeded Mustangs visit No. 3 Revolution FC in a Buffalo District Soccer League Championship Division quarterfinal round game at 4 p.m. at Nichols.

Medina brings a 4-4-2 record into the playoffs while Revolution FC is 7-3.

Medina dropped a 5-0 decision to Revolution FC in the season opener when the Mustangs were shorthanded.

The Mustangs are on a bit of a roll heading into the playoffs having gone 4-1-2 over the last seven games after the 0-3 shorthanded start to the season.

The victor will face top seeded Buffalo Italia (9-0-1) in the semifinals.

Sunday’s other quarterfinal will have No. 5 Sporting Cavs (4-4-2) vs. Queen City Gunners (5-4-1) at Nichols at 6 p.m. The victor will face No. 2 Ukraine (8-1-0) in the semifinals.

Final laps this morning for 400-mile run for Community Action

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2026 at 7:30 am

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Brett Sobieraski, far right, is shown running with two police officers and Roger Bolton of Albion during a massive downpour in Albion a week ago. That rain would lead to extensive blisters that became infected Sobieraski’s feet, forcing him to back off his goal of completing 400 miles for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

However, other runners have stepped up and wore his watch that tracks the miles. The distance adds up to 388 miles with the final 12 this morning in Albion at the high school track beginning at 8 a.m.

Nearly 1,000 people have joined Sobieraski at the local high school tracks over the first seven days. Friday’s run was at Holley and more than 150 people joined him, including Holley teen Hayden Keiffer, who presented Sobieraski $100 that Hayden collected from neighbors and friends.

Sobieraski aimed to bring awareness of the many programs offered by Community Action. Friday’s run in Holley highlighted the Eastern Orleans Community Center.

He also wanted to raise $20,000 for the agency that serves people in Genesee and Orleans counties.

The run has raised $24,000 going into the final homestretch. Click here to make a donation online or show up in person this morning.

Renown TV personality entertains with puppet show at Lee-Whedon Library

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 24 July 2026 at 9:44 pm

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Donning his ventriloquist hat, Mike Randall banters with his puppet Timmy during a performance Thursday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. (Right) Dudley the Duck and ventriloquist Mike Randall entertain with their antics during Thursday’s appearance at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

MEDINA – Children and their families who attended Lee-Whedon Memorial Library’s summer reading series program on Thursday got to see local television personality Mike Randall perform his magic/puppet show. Seventy children were signed up for the program, which was the first in the new section of the library.

Sawyer Green of Medina was one of the parents who came with her son Glenn, niece Norah Bennett, and nephew Zeke Bennett, 6, to see Randall perform.

“We come to the library all the time, and my oldest son and I saw Mike in Dickens and loved it,” Sawyer said. “Some of the kids have seen Mike at school and they are happy to be seeing him again.”

Mike Randall greets his young audience prior to a puppet/magic show he performed Thursday morning at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. Sawyer Green of Medina brought her niece and nephew, Norah, 4, and Zeke Bennett, 6, and her son Glenn Green, 4, to see Randall.

Randall, who recently moved to Medina with his wife Kathy, presents a fast-paced program featuring puppets, magic, comedy, ventriloquism and audience participation.

A man of many hats , Randall has become one of Western New York’s most popular entertainers, having performed at many local events, including the Cattaraugus County Fair, M&T Plaza, Eastern Hills Mall Children’s Theater Series, the Toy Festival in East Aurora, Lewiston’s Wildlife Festival at the New York Power Authority, Cuba Garlic Festival, as well as schools and libraries throughout the area.

Mike Randall chose these four children to help with his dinosaur/archeology-themed show at Lee-Whedon. The children hold posters depicting things than archeologists might dig up, such as jewelry, pottery, bones and tools.

Randall’s first experience with magic was when he was 6 and saw a man who sounded like Harry Potter entertaining in the street with a deck of cards. He has loved puppets from the time he was a child, watching Howdy Doody and Paul Winchell. At the age of 7 he spent three months in the hospital, recovering from an automobile accident. The one thing which kept him from going stir crazy was a set of Disney hand puppets his grandmother had given him. He has loved puppets ever since.

In 1978 and ’79 he was hired as one of the 20 Marvelous Magical Burger-Kings, performing shows across WNY, northern Pennsylvania and southern Ontario, Canada.

Although he has received rave reviews for his fun-filled entertaining shows, Randall is best-known for his weather-forecasting and award-winning feature reporting for 40 years at WKBW-TV. He has interviewed celebrities such as John Candy, Steve Allen, Red Skelton, Gregory Peck, Willie Nelson and Robert Goulet. He was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2017 and retired from WKBW in August 2023.

A native of Western New York, Randall is also a professional actor and playwright. His plays have won awards and been produced at theaters locally and nationwide. He has performed a variety of roles in theaters in Western New York and around the country. He continues to perform his critically acclaimed, one-man portrayal of Mark Twain Live! In 2017 he conceived, wrote, directed and starred in the holiday solo show, Charles Dickens Presents: A Christmas Carol, again receiving praise from area critics and theatergoers. His presentation of Dickens at the Medina Theater shortly after moving here, sold out.

The summer reading program with a theme “Unearth a Story” will continue at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library on Thursdays through Aug. 11.

Randall continues to do shows at such venues as libraries, schools and churches. His next public shows are July 30 at the Lancaster Library, Aug. 7 at Hoag Library in Albion and the Niagara County Fair on Aug. 6 and 8. In addition, he will read the Declaration of Independence Sept. 6 for the Medina Tourism’s bicentennial celebration at State Street Park in Medina.

Caleb was picked from the audience to help Mike Randall with a trick.

(Left) Eleanor Davis of Medina is greeted by a dinosaur (who is actually her daughter) as she arrives at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library on Thursday morning to see Mike Randall do a dinosaur-themed puppet show. (Right) Magician/ventriloquist Mike Randall picked Autumn, 6, to help him with a magic trick during his appearance at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

New sign unveiled for Holley Community Garden

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 July 2026 at 1:58 pm

Photos courtesy of Village of Holley

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley unveiled a new sign today for the Holley Community Garden that is located off State Street.

Mayor Mark Bower is shown removing a covering from the new sign. The village used a grant from The Community Heart and Soul Foundation to pay for the sign.

The Holley Community Garden started in 2017 through the County Health Department, Clarendon Lions Club, Myron Holley Garden Club, and Village of Holley employees and officials. Susan Persia was at the sign unveiling today. She was instrumental in starting the community garden nearly a decade ago.

Green misses the cut at the Scottish Open

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 24 July 2026 at 1:43 pm

Contributed Photo – Melanie Green

Unable to keep the momentum from a fast start, Medina’s Melanie Green carded a 2 over par 74 on today’s second round of the LPGA Tour’s Scottish Open.

The 74 gave her a two day total of 9 over par 153 which missed the cut line of 6 over.

Green, who started the day at 7 over after Thursday’s 79, quickly improved to 4 over after registering birdies on 3, 5 and 7.

However, those gains were quickly erased by bogeys on 8, 9 and 12 which put her back to 7 over.

Green’s hopes of making it to the weekend were then dashed by a disastrous triple bogey on 15 which ballooned her tourney total to 10 over.

She did finish on a positive note though with a birdie on 17 for a 2 over round of 74 and a two day total of 9 over 153.

Medina authorizes $1.7 million bond for sewer system upgrades

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 July 2026 at 1:31 pm

MEDINA – The Medina Village Board last week approved a bond resolution for the village to borrow up to $1.7 million for sewer system improvements.

The upgrades include replacing sewer system pump stations and upgrading the SCADA systems throughout the village.

The village is seeking grants to help with the costs, so the final money needed to borrow may be less than $1.7 million.

Medina initially authorized a bond for a maximum $1,250,000 in Oct. 11, 2021. But the project has been modified and the anticipated costs are higher, prompting the Village Board to seek a higher serial bond.