By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 April 2026 at 9:36 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: The current emergency management office was built as an early 1960s bomb shelter. It has a leaking roof and a shortage of space.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature approved about $5 million in construction bids today for a new Emergency Management Office.
The new building will be one-story and 7,700 square feet. It was downsized from a proposal for a 17,000-square-foot building. Initially county officials sought a new building that was 11,000 square feet for offices and classrooms, and another 5,600 square feet for equipment storage. That complex would have topped $12 million.
The county has been awarded a $2 million federal grant secured by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. The county may be able to pay off the remaining amount from its existing funds, or it may need to borrow some money to complete the project, said County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch.
The construction bids approved today include $3,931,000 for general construction by the Watson Construction Group Inc. of Albion; $360,000 for plumbing/fire protection by McGrain Mechanical of Rochester; and $547,500 to McGrain Mechanical of Rochester for HVAC.
The new building will be west of the current structure that is 8,000 square feet – 80 by 100 feet. Most of the current EMO building is underground. It isn’t handicapped accessible and is tight on space.
County officials eventually want to have that building demolished but that isn’t part of the construction bids approved today.
The new building will include offices for the EMO’s three full-time staff, a classroom for training for firefighters and other first responders, and space to have the backup 911 dispatch system.
The county also is looking to take down two radio towers – one is 485 feet tall and the other is 225 feet – and replace them with two towers. Welch said there should be state funding to help remove the towers and put up the new ones in a project separate from the new building.
Construction is anticipated to start on the new building in July.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 April 2026 at 8:36 pm
Barker improved its Niagara-Orleans League tennis record to 4-1 with a 5-0 win over Akron this afternoon.
Daniel Goodwin and Matthew Jordan scored singles victories for Barker which also got doubles wins from the duos of Lucas Nestoros – Oscar Dergel, Nick Heideman – Aurora Wass and Aaden Munn – Luke Fay.
Golf
Kendall downed Holley 216-260 in a Genesee Region League golf match this afternoon.
Kendall’s Gavin Husereau took medalist honors with 52.
Lacrosse
Eden downed visiting Medina 27-0 in a D Division lacrosse game this evening.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 April 2026 at 8:18 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: Roy-Hart dominated the distances in today’s girls track meet at Albion. (Left) Taylor Alvord won the 800 while Julia Rohde, right, took first in the 1500 and 3000.
Defending champion Albion downed visiting Roy-Hart 101-40 this afternoon to improve to 4-0 in Niagara-Orleans League boys track competition.
Adam Burgio was a triple winner in the 110 Hurdles, 400 Hurdles, and 200 for Albion which also got individual event wins by Hunter Huscher (100), Tritian Tilbe (1600), Yohanel Harris (400), Wesley Olles (800), Jackson Snook (Shotput), Austin Huscher (Long Jump), Ezra Bloom (High Jump). Parker Richards (Pole Vault) and Jon Money (Discus).
Roy-Hart got wins from Ethan Brown in the 3200 and Tysen McCaa in the Triple Jump.
Roy-Hart got a split on the day as the Lady Rams scored a 74.5-66.5 victory to improve to 3-0.
The Lady Rams got individual event wins by Julia Rohde (1500, 3000), Addison Carr (400), Taylor Alvord (800), Kylie McOmber (Long Jump) and Josephine Silsby (Pole Vault).
Albion had a quartet of individual event double winners including Sophia Wendt (High Jump, Triple Jump), Izzy Truelson (100, 200), Mia Standish (100 Hurdles, 400 Hurdles) and SeMya Tilford (Shotput, Discus).
Sophia Wendt is shown in the triple jump. She won that event plus the high jump for Albion.
Wes Olles of Albion cruises to a win in the boys 800 meter race.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 April 2026 at 7:29 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Braelynn Dillenbeck tags out Holley’s Charlie Gearing at second base during the Lady Tigers win over the host Lady Hawks this afternoon.
Lyndonville and Kendall both rolled to Genesee Region League softball victories this afternoon.
Lyndonville bested host Holley 15-8 to improve to 6-1 and Kendall blanked Byron-Bergen 13-0 to go to 7-2.
In Niagara-Orleans League softball action, Akron shutout Barker 3-0 in a clash of unbeatens and Wilson downed Medina 13-1.
Lyndonville 15, Holley 8
Arnie Sturtevant had 4 hits, including two doubles and a home run, to highlight the Lyndonville offense which also included 3 hits each by Brooke Robinson and Isabella Groves, two by Natalie Rath and a triple by Hannah Fox.
Sturtevant also earned the win in the circle in relief as she allowed 3 hits and struck out 6 in five and one-third innings of work.
Madison Bonacci had a triple and Angelina Church a double for Holley which did take a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a single by Alexis Luan, two wild pitches and an error.
Lyndonville rallied into the lead for good at 4-3 by scoring 3 times in the third inning on RBI doubles by Sturtevant and Robinson and an RBI single by Groves.
The Lady Tigers later put a lock on the win by scoring 4 times in the sixth inning as Sturtevant, Robinson and Groves all had RBI singles and 5 times in the seventh highlighted by a home run by Sturtevant, a two-run single by Rath and an RBI single by Groves.
Holley’s Lexi Lujan is safe at home as Hannah Fox moves in to cover for Lyyndonville.
Kendall 13, Byron-Bergen 0
Gabby Hauptman pitched a 1 hitter with 6 strikeouts for Kendall as Teagan Shaw led the offense with a double and a home run.
Shaw put Kendall on top to stay with a two-run homer in the first inning. She later added a two-run double to highlight a 6 run fifth inning which also included an RBI single by Brooke Rodas.
Akron 3, Barker 0
Kenadee Jonathan hurled a 4 hit shutout with 6 strikeouts to lead undefeated (4-0) to a 3-0 win over Barker which slips to 5-1.
Wilson 13, Medina 1
Katie Hardy pitched a 1 hitter with 3 strikeouts for Wilson in the 13-1 win over visiting Medina.
Abbie Faery had 2 hits, including a double and Taylor Ernest a triple for Wilson which scored in 5 of the 6 innings of the run rule contest.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 April 2026 at 6:44 pm
Taking charge early with a huge second inning scoring burst, Medina went on to defeat host Wilson 16-0 this afternoon as the Mustangs improve to 5-0 in Niagara-Orleans League baseball competition.
Up 2-0 on a two-run first inning double by Preston Woodworth, Medina broke the contest wide open by erupting for 9 runs in the second inning.
An RBI double by Woodworth along with run producing singles by Vinny Gray, Hadrian Batista, Carlos Doval and an RBI sacrifice fly by Gray highlighted the decisive uprising which also plated runs on two wild pitches, a passed ball and an error.
Batista also had an RBI single in the fourth inning and Kolton Fletcher a two-run single in the fifth.
Gray, Woodworth, Batista and Lathan McEwen-Miller each finished with a pair of hits.
On the mound, the Mustangs got a combined no hitter. Aidan Papaj pitched the first four innings allowing no hits and striking out 11. Gray came on to hurl the fifth inning of the run rule contest again allowing no hits and striking out 1.
The loss drops Wilson to 1-7 in N-O action.
Medina next visits front-running (7-0) Roy-Hart on Friday at 4:45 p.m.
Barker 10, Newfane 9
In the other N-O contest, Barker evened its league record at 4-4 by outlasting Newfane (1-5) 10-9.
Two runs in the sixth inning on a pair of hit batters, which snapped an 8-8 tie, provided the margin of victory for Barker.
Newfane had pulled even at 8-8 by scoring 7 runs in the fifth inning on a combination of 5 singles and 3 walks.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 April 2026 at 3:06 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Nathan Pace and his wife Margaret will be closing the Medina law office of Mack & Pace on May 31 for a three-year sabbatical while they lead a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guatemala City.
MEDINA – Nathan and Margaret Pace are following a higher calling beginning this summer when they take a break from the Mack & Pace law firm for three years to lead a Mormon mission based in Guatemala City.
They will lead the mission’s 180 to 200 full-time missionaries, young adults who are often on their first extended time away from their families.
Over the three years, the couple expects to work with 400 to 500 missionaries, with a new group coming in every year as others head back home.
“We are so excited,” Mrs. Pace said. “We have loved young people our whole lives. I cannot wait to get there.”
The law firm will close for three years. Mr. Pace said he expects the office will reopen on July 1, 2029.
While they are gone, Tom Seaman, a Lockport attorney, will maintain documents – wills, trusts, powers of attorney.
“We have a solid plan that our clients will be taken care,” Pace said. “I love my clients. We have thousands of people that we have worked with and helped through the most difficult times in their lives.”
He hasn’t taken on new criminal cases, but the office will continue to do estate planning, power of attorney and health proxy until May 31. He and his wife fly out to Guatemala on June 14. The Paces will have about a two week-transition with the current leaders before they take over.
Provided photo: Nathan and Margaret Pace have raised their six children in Medina. Beginning on July 1, they will lead 180 to 200 young adults over three years in Guatemala.
Nathan Pace, 60, said he is grateful for the chance to serve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in such a big role. He has learned Spanish and has been studying the Guatemalan culture.
“Guatemalans are the most humble people,” he said. “And they have the best food.”
Nathan will stand out in the crowd. He is 6 foot, 7 inches. That towers over the average man at 5’ 3’’.
“I will be a giant,” he said.
He knows the two-year mission assignments can be critical for young Mormons to embrace their faith and also to serve others. The missionaries in his charge will work in an urban environment and also out in the jungle areas. Guatemala City has 3.3 million people – and more than 30 volcanoes.
Pace was born in Wyoming, but moved to Medina when he was a boy after his father, James Pace, was transferred to the FMC plant in Middleport.
Nathan said he loved growing up in Medina. He went to Brigham Young University and met his wife, who from North Carolina. Nathan served his mission commitment in Spain for two years, and he said the president of the mission had a tremendous positive influence on him.
Nathan and Margaret spent the first 12 years of their marriage in Salt Lake City where he was an attorney, a city councilman and a judge pro tem.
Their goal was to raise their children in Medina. Their six children graduated from Medina. The Paces have 14 grandchildren.
Nathan for the past 21 years has teamed with Tom Mack to run the law practice at 534 Main Street, Suite 6. Margaret Pace is a paralegal and office manager of the law practice.
Nathan also has been active in his church, first as a leader of a congregation in Lockport and then as president of nine congregations in Western New York.
He then was picked as part of the Area 70 leadership in the Northeast from North Carolina to Canada. Nearly every weekend he was gone, doing leadership trainings and working with Mormon members. He was often away Friday morning to Sunday night or Monday morning.
Pace’s tenure as an Area 70 leader ended last Aug. 1 and he thought life would slow down a little. He and Margaret became certified scuba divers and went on vacations.
But a new opportunity would be presented in January: to live in Guatemala City and lead the mission for an area of 4.5 million people including the city and more remote areas.
Nathan and Margaret welcomed the opportunity to serve in the volunteer role for the next three years.
“It may seem crazy but every adult should do something crazy,” Mrs. Pace said. “It’s everything we love all wrapped into one. It’s the most amazing thing.”
Pace said he will bring his skills as a planner to the assignment as well as one who enjoys working with other people.
“Fundamentally, it’s sharing the love of Jesus Christ and the willingness to love the people,” he said.
He is grateful his wife will be with him as the lead the mission.
They will strive to monitor the physical, mental and spiritual health of the young missionaries.
The Paces said they will be doing frequent Zoom video conferencing with the parents of the Mormon missionaries, letting them know how their children are doing. They know the anxiety when a young adult goes away as a missionary for two years.
Their son Levi served in Uruguay in southeastern South America bordering Argentina; Nate was in inner city Chicago; Lincoln served in Ecuador; and Isaac recently finished a two-year commitment in Peru.
Mr. Pace said he and his wife have been studying the photos and bios of the 180 missionaries who will be in Guatemala City when they start as the leaders.
“We pray for them every day,” Nathan said. “And not only for them, but that we’ll be sensitive to their needs. We are so enthusiastic and optimistic and looking forward to these relationships.”
BROCKPORT – Oak Orchard Health, a leading healthcare provider in rural upstate New York, has introduced Marco Altieri as its Chief Executive Officer.
On Wednesday night, the Oak Orchard Health Board of Directors voted unanimously to remove the interim status from Altieri’s title. This vote followed a rigorous interview session conducted by the board on Monday, April 20th, and due deliberation thereafter.
Altieri comes to Oak Orchard with over 20 years of experience in healthcare, 16 of which was spent as a CEO. In his role as interim CEO, he spearheaded efforts to inspire and motivate Oak Orchard’s providers and staff through open and transparent communication, equipping them with the tools to improve patient care across our communities.
Altieri has set ambitious goals as CEO: stabilize operations; develop a 3–5-year strategic plan; improve overall organizational efficiency; reduce the potential for risks and liabilities; continue efforts at strengthening organizational culture; focus on Oak Orchard’s financial well-being and provide for controlled growth. The Board of Directors believe these goals align with their priorities as well as the overall needs for the organization.
“We are pleased to announce that Marco Altieri has accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer at Oak Orchard Health,” said John Slenker, chairman of the Board of Directors. “He brings a wealth of experience, proven leadership, and a dynamic vision for the future of our organization.”
In his new role, Altieri will be responsible for directing all operational activities while balancing present-day stability with a clear vision for the organization’s future.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 April 2026 at 11:16 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Nicholas Goluses performs on Saturday in the Hoag Library concert series. Goluses, a professor of guitar at the Eastman School of Music, opened the concert on Saturday with “Fantasis our guitare seul, Op. 58” by Fernando Sor.
Goluses followed that “The Five Preludes” by Heitor Villa-lobos.
Goluses performed for about 50 people in Saturday’s concert. He has played around the world as a soloist, with an orchestra and as a chamber musician. He has a new album, “Across the Horizon,” which was released in the fall by Parna/Albany Records.
Goluses praised the acoustics at Hoag Library during Saturday’s concert.
“I love the sound in this room,” he said. “It’s very nice. Sometimes you play in places and it’s as dead as a doornail. Here, it’s very alive.”
He performed as part of the third concert series at Hoag. The concerts are at noon on Saturdays. The series started on March 28 with Medusa Quartet.
The remainder of the schedule includes:
Striking Strings Ensemble – May 23 at 12 p.m.
The White Hots Jazz Trio – May 30 at 12 p.m.
Matthew Ardizzone – June 27 at 12 p.m.
Lynn McGrath – July 25 at 12 p.m.
Adrianna Noone – August 22 at 12 p.m.
Muriel Anderson & Kinloch Nelson – Sept. 12 at 12 p.m.
Evie Ladin & Keith Terry –October 10 at 12 p.m.
O’s Pipa & Fiddle Witch Duet – Nov. 7 at 12 p.m.
Rochester Ukulele Orchestra – Dec. 5 at 12 p.m.
All performances are free and open to the public. The Hoag Music Series is aimed at bringing unique music experiences to Albion from artists who do not frequently perform in Orleans County.
The events are possible with funding from the New York State Council on the Arts that is administered by GO Art!
Despite profound public resistance reaching all of the way to Governor Hochul, the massive STREAM Data Center Project in the Town of Alabama continues to inch forward.
While on the state level, both the senate and legislature have introduced a bill that would enact a three-year moratorium on data center permitting (Senate Bill S-9144, Assembly Bill A-10141), state reps continue to take a “not my circus, not my monkeys” approach when asked by so many of their constituents for help. Some take even less of a stance in that they take no stance at all – refusing to publicly promote or condemn the project.
The latest example of this is State Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R), representing Assembly District 139 which includes all of Orleans and Genesee counties, and portions of Monroe and Erie counties. Just last week Mr. Hawley mailed out postcards warning of impending energy crises, rising utility bills, an unstable utility grid, and his great plan to save us all. And yet, no mention of the STREAM Data Center project.
What could be more dangerous to an already unstable grid than adding a massive Data Center that requires 500 megawatts to operate? What could cause already rising utility costs to increase even further? (cough, a 500 megawatt data center).
One way or another, we deserve to know where he stands. If he really means all that he claims on this latest postcard it would only make sense that he would also be against this project.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 April 2026 at 7:41 am
Budget includes $300K profit from sale of ladder truck
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina Village Board approved the village’s new budget on Monday for 2026-27. From left includes trustees Jeff Wagner and Jess Marciano, clerk/treasurer Jada Burgess, mayor Debbie Padoleski, and trustees Mark Prawel and Scott Bieliski.
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board on Monday approved the village’s budget for 2026-27 that shrunk a tax increase from 22 percent in the tentative budget on April 13 to a final figure of 1.3 percent.
The budget is boosted by $300,000 in profit from the sale of a new ladder truck. Medina also will be spared about $130,000 from making the first bond payment for the truck.
To net a $300,000 profit, the village would need to sell the truck for $2.1 million. The village already has received offers for $2 million for the truck without any advertisement, said trustee Scott Bieliski. The board said on Monday it will reaching out to three different brokers to try to maximize the price for the new truck. The broker would get 1 percent of the sale, or about $20,000 and that fee may be paid by the buyer, Bieliski said.
Medina is looking to sell the truck, which will spare it from the $130,000 annual payments over 20 years and also save the village from taking on the expense of an addition to the fire hall to house the truck. The truck is too big for the existing fire hall.
The village budget was adopted unanimously by the board on Monday. It preserves all existing village positions. The budget a year ago eliminated four firefighter positions and also didn’t fill a vacancy in the DPW. The board also cut the K9 program and withdrew from having the Medina PD as the school resource officer.
The budget for 2026-27 increases spending in the general fund by 2.0 percent from $7,723,296 to $7,877,764. The tax levy is up by 1.29 percent or $50,418 from $3,910,344 to $3,960,762.
The tax rate will increase by 21.5 cents from $13.995 to $14.21 per $1,000 of assessed property.
The village’s tax base decreased by $690,258 from $279,406,911 to $278,716,653. New townwide reassessments won’t take effect in the village until the 2027-28 budget.
The new budget was the first one for Steve Cooley as fire chief and Christian Navas as the police chief. They both thanked the board and Jada Burgess, the clerk/treasurer, for their assistance with the budget.
Mayor Debbie Padoleski said the department heads all attended extra meetings and worked hard with the board to reach the final spending plan.
The board also approved the water fund budget, which is up 1.1 percent or by $23,395 – from $2,210,778 to $2,234,173.
Medina also adopted the sewer fund budget, which increased by 8.7 percent or by $118,133 – from $1,360,558 to $1,478,691.
Provided photo and press release, Orleans County Legislature
BUFFALO – Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson and Niagara County Legislator Dave Godfrey took part last week in the Great Lakes Shallow Harbor Draft Stakeholders meeting led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The legislators continue to advocate for dredging of our recreational harbors along the shore of Lake Ontario to ensure they remain open to boaters. These recreational harbors are a significant economic driver for the communities along the lake.
Editor’s Note: The Oak Orchard Harbor was dredged in 2025, 2021 and 2014.
A total of approximately 15,000 cubic yards of material from Oak Orchard was dredged last year.
Dredging of the harbors ensures accessible depths for vessels traveling the Great Lakes and enables recreational boating which supports business revenue and labor income to the transportation sector combined.
Oak Orchard Harbor is a shallow-draft harbor. Recreational boating facilitated by the harbor supports $6.8 million in business revenue, 94 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, and $6 million in labor income to the nation, the Army Corps of Engineers stated in a press release last year.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 27 April 2026 at 8:39 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Carlos Doval waits to take the throw as Wilson’s Cam Bryer slides into second base. The action took place during the Mustangs shutout win over the Lakemen at Vets Park this evening,
Four run scoring bursts in each of the first two innings sparked Medina to a 10-0 victory over Wilson in a Niagara-Orleans League baseball game at Vets Park this evening.
Aidan Papaj had an RBI double and Hadrian Batista an RBI single in the first inning to get the Mustangs rolling.
Papaj also had an RBI double in the second frame as Cam Fike banged out a two-run double.
Preston Woodworth picked up the win on the mound allowing only 3 hits and striking out 11 over the five innings of the run rule contest.
Medina is now 4-0 and Wilson 1-6 in N-O action.
Medina’s Jimmy Dieter hits a sacrifice fly. Cam Bryer is the Wilson catcher.
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of multiple individuals following a series of investigations conducted in conjunction with the Department of Social Services into alleged public assistance fraud.
As a result of these investigations, several subjects were charged with offenses including Welfare Fraud, Petit Larceny, Grand Larceny, Forgery and Offering a False Instrument for Filing.
It is alleged that the individuals collectively received $27,255 in public assistance benefits to which they were not entitled.
The following were charged: Olivia Schultz, Stacey Wright, Salina Sunday, Sara Ward, Kelly Gibson, Amber Walls, Greggory Steinmetz and Larneice Hall.
All eight were issued appearance tickets and are scheduled to appear in the Town of Albion Court at a later date.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work closely with the Department of Social Services to investigate and prosecute fraud-related offenses.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 27 April 2026 at 7:41 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville first baseman Isabella Groves stretches to get the ball and the out on Roy-Hart’s Peyton May during the Lady Tigers win over the visiting Lady Rams this afternoon.
Leading by a narrow 2-1 margin, Lyndonville erupted for 6 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to lock up an 8-1 win over visiting Roy-Hart in a non league softball game this afternoon.
A two-run double by Brooke Robinson capped off the decisive uprising which also included an RBI single by winning pitcher Arnie Sturtevant. An error, a single by Hannah Fox and a walk loaded the bases to set up the threat.
The Lady Tigers other two runs came in the first inning on an RBI double by Sturtevant and an RBI single by Isabella Groves. A double by Alexa Robinson set up the opportunity.
In the circle, Sturtevant scattered 3 hits and struck out 7.
Barker 4, Medina 2
Two runs in the top of the seventh inning on a passed ball and groundout provided the margin of victory for Barker in the Niagara-Orleans League softball win over Medina at Vets Park. A double by Peyton Bradley helped set up the threat.
Madyson Flint hurled a sparkling 2 hitter with 16 strikeouts in the circle for Barker.
Samantha Heschke pitched a 4 hitter with 7 strikeouts for Medina which also got an RBI double by Savannah Jo Thompson.
Barker is now 5-0 and Medina 0-4 in N-O action.
Perry 4, Holley 3
Perry edged Holley 4-3 in a non league game. Madison Bonacci had a two-run double for the Lady Hawks.
