By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 September 2025 at 8:48 am
Photos from Hoag Library
ALBION – A new free art library was been set up outside Hoag Library in a project spearheaded by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!).
Local residents are encouraged to take an art book or art kit, or leave an art book or art kit and spread creativity.
The art library was architecturally designed by Jeff Pasnik, built and designed by Carpenters Local Union 276, and painted by Jaylah Sherman.
This kit includes yard and other supplies to create a fairy wand.
GO Art! established the art library to make art supplies and resources more accessible to the community, fostering creativity and engagement in the arts. The library includes art kits, coloring books and art books that are freely available for anyone to take and enjoy.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 15 September 2025 at 10:05 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Seated from left, Chris Crane and Tammy Fearby chat with Joey Molisani while waiting for the start of the Fuller 155 benefit by the Watts/Fuller families to support suicide prevention causes. For a donation of any amount, people could write their loved ones name on a heart, which will be placed on a banner and carried in the Out of the Darkness walk on Saturday in Buffalo.
SHELBY – The Fuller 155 Suicide Prevention Basket Raffle/Walk Committee is extending a heartfelt thanks to the community for tremendous support of their annual fundraiser Sunday at Shelby Fire Hall.
Committee chair Ike Watts was overwhelmed with the generosity with which people throughout the area supported their efforts.
“Your support plays a meaningful role in helping us raise awareness, offer hope and provide essential resources to those affected by suicide and mental health struggles,” Watts said. “I am particularly grateful for my work family at Medina Central School. I received tremendous support from my co-workers.”
“Your kindness and generosity help us build a stronger, more compassionate community,” Watts said.
Walkers start out on the walk held for the first time this year during the annual suicide prevention fundraiser at Shelby Fire Hall.
A walk added for the first time this year brought 47 adult walkers and a crowd of children.
Jennifer Bansbach of Lyndonville signed up to walk in memory of three very dear people who succumbed to suicide, she said.
“This is to support them, and besides it’s a beautiful day for a walk.”
The basket raffle had the most donations in the three years of the benefit – 242.
Early birds check out the more than 200 baskets donated for the Fuller 155 basket raffle/walk to benefit suicide prevention Saturday at Shelby Fire Hall.
An added attraction was a trolley which Doug Bracey brought and gave rides to those unable to walk the route or pick up anyone who couldn’t finish.
“Everyone I spoke to said what a wonderful event this was and how happy they were to have come,” Watts said. “It was for a very meaningful cause.”
Another feature was a table where, for any donation, Chris Crane and Tammy Fearby sold hearts on which a loved one’s name or a message could be written. The circles were then glued on a banner which the Watts will carry in the Out of the Darkness Walk on Saturday in Buffalo.
Chris and Anita Hughes, right, register Jennifer Bansbach of Lyndonville for the first walk held in conjunction with a suicide prevention benefit Sunday at Shelby Fire Hall.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 15 September 2025 at 9:29 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Keara Reed battles for control of the ball with Holley’s Addison Bevins during the host Lady Eagles double overtime win over the rival Lady Hawks this evening.
Kendall nipped rival Holley 1-0 in double overtime in a Genesee Region League girls soccer game this evening at Kendall.
Sophia Picardo scored the game’s lone goal for Kendall midway through the second 10 minute overtime period on a direct kick from outside the box..
Kendall goalie Brooke Rodas came up with three big saves in the first overtime period to keep the game scoreless.
Holley goalie Zoey Warner had 13 saves on the evening and Rodas 6.
Kendall is now 3-0 in the league and 5-1 overall while Holley is 2-2 and 2-3.
Holley’s Hannah Ostrom heads the ball up field as Mia Thom moves in to support.
Kendall’s Stella Kwiatak controls the ball against Holley’s Brynn Thomas.
Holley’s Kyla Burne works to keep the ball away from Kendall’s Sophia Picardo who scored the game’s lone goal.
HOLLEY – Holley Central School District will host a series of events commemorating our alumni during the weekend of Sept. 26-27.
The Alumni Soccer Game will be held on Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. at Sander Soccer Field at The Woodlands, featuring 35 alumni who graduated in 1965-2021.
The Alumni Flag Football Game will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 4 p.m. at Hawk Stadium, featuring 19 graduates from 1998-2019.
There will be an Athletic Hall of Fame Induction in between the 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Varsity games will be at the Woodlands honoring 2025 inductees.
A voluntary $3 donation will be collected at the entrance from spectators for all alumni games. Alumni game proceeds will benefit Interact Club, the 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip Scholarship Fund and Holley Sports Boosters. Cash-only concessions will be available.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 September 2025 at 3:42 pm
Medina family went to Disney World in January through Make-A-Wish
Photos courtesy of Meakin family: Koleson Meakin, now age 4, went to Disney World in January for a week with his family. Koleson is diagnosed with TPK1 Thiamine Deficient Leigh syndrome, a rare genetic metabolic disease. His parents, Brady and Dominique Meakin, navigate his complex needs, which require a special ketogenic diet and frequent medical care.
MEDINA – Firefighters from the western battalion in Orleans County will be out this Sunday filling the boot for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Firefighters have been doing this for several years. This tike has special significance because a local boy and his family were able to go to Disney World through Make-A-Wish.
Koleson is shown at Disney World in January with his parents, Brady and Dominique, and younger sister, Jovie.
Koleson Meakin turned 4 on Aug. 31. He has a rare condition, TPK1 Thiamine Deficient Leigh syndrome. It is a gene-linked brain malformation characterized by the absence of normal folds in the cerebral cortex and an abnormally small head.
His parents, Brady and Dominique Meakin, navigate his complex needs, which require a special ketogenic diet and frequent medical care. Koleson has been hospitalized four times since May.
His mother said the family is grateful for the community’s support through fundraisers and prayers.
“We’re making him comfortable and trying to make as many memories as possible,” she said by phone this morning.
Koleson has a strong and committed care team.
Make-A-Wish gave him an expedited wish about a year ago. He loves lights and music, and Make-A-Wish suggested Disney World. His parents drove Koleson and his little sister Jovie down last January and they were able to stay for a week in a village on site for Make-A-Wish families..
“Our family was treated like royalty at Disney village,” Mrs. Meakin said. “That was the best week of our lives. It is a core memory we will never forget.”
The boot drive will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday at on Route 63 with Shelby and East Shelby firefighters, Maple Ridge Road and the downtown intersection with Medina firefighters, and South Lyndonville Road and Route 104 with Lyndonville and Ridgeway firefighters. The local drive usually raises about $8,000.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, alongside Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Mark Warner (D-VA), introduced the Small Business RELIEF Act to exempt small businesses from global baseline and reciprocal tariffs and to provide refunds to the small businesses that were forced to pay them.
The senators introduced the legislation as U.S. consumers experience the highest overall tariff rate since 1934, and a recent survey found that 30% of small business owners plan to increase their prices.
On August 29, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that President Donald Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs were illegal, setting the stage for small businesses to receive relief from the crushing “Liberation Day” tariffs. The Supreme Court agreed to consider whether these tariffs are legal and will hear the case in November. However, the tariffs will remain in place until the Supreme Court makes a decision.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, but they are especially vulnerable to President Trump’s tariff policies that are suffocating our economy,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Millions of small businesses are already struggling to keep up with rising costs. That’s why I will keep fighting to push back against these reckless tariffs, so every small business has the resources and stability it needs to thrive.”
In April, Senator Gillibrand announced her support for the bipartisan Trade Review Act, which would require congressional oversight of the president’s implementation of tariffs. At the time, she also signed a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick demanding that he immediately work to repeal Trump’s tariffs, which will cost the average New York household approximately $2,400 this year alone.
“Small businesses are feeling the brunt of the Trump administration’s economic carnage,” said Senator Schumer. “Tariffs are raising costs, pushing away tourists, slowing down manufacturing, and forcing many businesses to close their doors altogether. Trump’s disastrous economic policy must be stopped, and Congress must pass the Small Business RELIEF Act to protect our economy and small businesses across the country.”
Press Release, Independent Living of the Genesee Region
BATAVIA – The Independent Living of the Genesee Region, in partnership with the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, is pleased to announce an upcoming focus group dedicated to the families and caregivers of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN).
This important event will take place on two separate dates at accessible community venues to help shape future programs and services.
The meeting on Sept. 22 will be in Batavia at the Independent Living’s office at 319 West Main St., while the Sept. 24 session will be at the Hoag Library in Albion, 134 South Main St.
The focus group offers a welcoming space for parents, guardians, and advocates from Genesee and Orleans counties to share their experiences, challenges and suggestions regarding services for children with special health care needs. Input from participants will directly inform initiatives and resources designed to improve care and support for CYSHCN and their families.
All attendees will have an opportunity to have their voices heard in a supportive environment. Feedback collected will help guide future planning and advocacy efforts at the local and state level. A $50 Visa gift card will be provided as a stipend to the first 15 participants at each location.
For more information or to register, please contact April Fearby at (585) 815-8501, Ext. 401 or visit: http://forms.office.com/r/ai0daB9xfZ.
About Independent Living of the Genesee Region:
Independent Living of the Genesee Region, part of the WNY Independent Living Inc., Family of Agencies, is a catalyst for systems and individual change, enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities, while respecting diversity and promoting choices and alternatives for independent living.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 September 2025 at 7:59 am
Mary Mattingly did similar project in New York City with 350,000 visitors
Photos by Tom Rivers: Mary Mattingly is shown on a canal barge that she has begun turning into a floating garden that should bear fruit next summer as part of the inaugural Medina Triennial.
MEDINA – The next six weeks a rusty and out-of-serve canal barge will be given new life as a very unlikely base for a floating garden.
Mary Mattingly is turning he 27-by-80-foot barge into a showcase for plants and nature. She led a similar initiative in New York City, and that repurposed barge drew 350,000 visitors and more than 900 guided tours.
Mattingly is in town locally as one of 12 featured artists in the Medina Triennial. She is the first of the artists to be working in residence on her project. Five of the artists are expected to be doing their work in residence as part of the Triennial that will feature about 50 artistic works at 10 to 12 indoor and outdoor sites next year from June 6 to Sept. 7. Triennial organizers expect the major art initiative will draw 50,000 people to Medina over the three months next year.
The Triennial is spearheaded by the NYS Canal Corp. and New York Power Authority with input from the major art galleries in the Rochester and Buffalo region.
Mattingly is renown as an ecological art pioneer and her participation is a big honor for the Triennial, said Kari Conte, co-artistic director for the Triennial.
“This is an incredibly big project by Mary Mattingly,” Conte said Saturday during an discussion at the Triennial’s headquarters in a kick off teaser to next year. “She’s taking a chance on a startup.”
Mary Mattingly shares about the project during a discussion on Saturday at the Medina Triennial “Hub” at 345 Main St., a building that for many years was used by NAPA Auto Parts. It will be the base for the Triennial and arts program through 2026.
Mattingly has been working on the barge the past two weeks, getting it ready for eight different areas that will be growing plants. She has been talking with local residents about what they want to see on the barge when the plants are blooming and producing next year.
She held a workshop Sunday at the Triennial “Hub” to get more input. The group convinced her to have one of the eight spots be for butterflies. Mattingly said the garden will be designed so the eight sections compliment and don’t compete with each other.
People shared personal stories about why they feel connected to certain plants, and Mattingly said she wants to display those anecdotes as part of the floating garden.
Mattingly has a lot of work to do in the next six weeks, bringing in soil and creating a healthy growing medium for the plants. The barge will winter away from Medina and will return at the start of next year’s canal season. By the time the Triennial starts on June 6, the barge should be a vibrant ecosystem.
She thanked local residents for their input and kindness while she has been working on the project in Medina.
“I feel very at home,” she told about 75 people during the opening session on Saturday. “I’m learning a lot.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 14 September 2025 at 5:27 pm
Contributed Photos – Holding the trophy, Melanie Green celebrates capturing the Guardian Championship Tournament title. At right, the Epson Tour salutes Green’s victory.
Continuing a sensational debut season, Medina’s Melanie Green captured her second Epson Tour tournament championship in dramatic fashion today at the Guardian Championship at Prattsville, Alabama.
Green outdueled Gianna Clemente in what ended up as a five hole playoff to claim the championship.
The two golfers matched scores over the first four playoff holes. Then on the fifth hole Green claimed the title by making par as Clemente bogeyed.
The playoff was set up when Clemente had a birdie on 17 and Green a bogey on 18 leaving the two golfers deadlocked with identical rounds of 68 and identical tournament totals of 13 under par 203.
Green, who started the day at 9 under and tied for third two shots off the pace, upped her total to 12 under after the front nine. She had four birdies (on 4, 5, 8 and 9) and one bogey (on 6) during that stretch.
Keeping rolling on the back nine, she pulled into a tie for first at 13 under after a birdie on 12. She then took over sole possession of first place at 14 under with another birdie on 16.
However, the combination of Clemente’s birdie on 17 and Green’s bogey on 18 caused a tie for first place forcing a playoff.
Green, who also regained first place in the Epson Tour’s season long points race with the win, opened the tourney with a 6 under par round of 66 on Friday. She followed that up with a 3 under par 69 on Saturday to stay in the thick of the title chase.
Green’s first Epson Tour victory came at the Island Resort Championship in Michigan in June.
BATAVIA – The Independent Living of the Genesee Region, in partnership with the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, is pleased to announce an upcoming focus group dedicated to the families and caregivers of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN).
