Lyndonville’s annual Fred Large Memorial Wrestling Tournament held today included two girls weight classes with Albion and Lyndonville girls claiming top honors.
In the 113-123 lb. class, Albion’s Mia Standish took top honors going 3-0. Lyndonville’s Emily Garcia went 2-1 to take second place.
In the 132-146 lb. class, Lyndonville’s Ainsley Vann went 3-0 to take first place honors. Lew-Port’s Mariana Bucelato finished second going 2-1.
Improving to 2-1, Roy-Hart downed host Attica 55-41 in a non league boys basketball game this evening.
Matt Aquilina poured in 24 and Tysen McCaa had 9 to set the pace for the Rams which led by 8 (14-6) after the first quarter, by 10 (29-19) at the half and by 12 (42-30) at the end of the third quarter. Aquilina scored 8 in the second quarter and 7 in the third.
Roy-Hart next hosts Cleveland Hill in another non league game at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Rams then begin Niagara-Orleans League competition at Medina on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Wilson 70, Tully 52
Wilson defeated Tully (Section III near Syracuse) 70-52 this evening in the championship game of the Wilson Tip-Off Tournament.
Aidan Neumann scored 29 and Ryan Hough 16 to lead the Lakemen. Neumann surpassed the 1,000 career points milestone.
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Jake Gidley works against CSAT’s Dieu Mera Babuliza in a 144 lb. bout at the Fred Large Memorial Tournament today at Lyndonville.
Holley-Kendall had two individual weight class champions and host Lyndonville one at the annual Fred Large Memorial Wrestling Tournament today.
Jeremy Lutes won at 103 and Brenden Eichas at 138 for Holley-Kendall. Lutes pinned Nathan Dollinger (McQuaid) in 3:34 in his title bout while Eichas went 3-0 in round robin competition at 138.
Lyndonville’s Shannon Withey won at 165 with a narrow 1-0 victory over Medina’s Tyler Raduns in the finals.
Wilson also had two champions in Roman Zarbo (110) and Victor Cusatis (157) as did Byron-Bergen with James Lamb (150) and Soloman Smith (170).
Holley-Kendall also had Parker Denning (144) place third, Kohle Pachla (126) fifth and Jacob Abrams (150), Carter McGrain (175), Tyler Davenport (190) and Aiden McGrain (215) sixth.
Lyndonville also had Brody Hazel (150) and Ben Doolan (190) place second, Justin Holmes (126) third, Abby Alexander (110), Greyson Romano (175) and Bryson Hazel (103) fourth, and Iziah Rodriguez (118), Jake Gidley (144) and Michael Alexander (157) sixth.
Medina had Luke Duffina (132) place second and Jake Duffina (118) fifth.
Albion’s Jackson Snook placed third at 285.
Niagara Falls won the team title with 220 points as Wayne (133), Byron-Bergen (120), Lyndonville (119.5) and Holley-Kendall (89) rounded out the top five.
Medina’s Jake Duffina works against Lyndonville’s Iziah Rodriguez in a 118 lb. match.
Holley-Kendall’s Kohle Pachla in action against Ace Komme from Williamson/Sodus/Marion.
Building up a commanding 28-2 half-time advantage, Roy-Hart went on to defeat Maryvale 47-6 in a non league girls basketball game this afternoon.
Courtney Aquilina and Adella Dukes each scored 16 to lead the way for Roy-Hart. Millie Owens added 6, Brooke Corser 5 and Kylie McOmber and Zoe Healey 2 each for the Lady Rams.
Wilson 33, East Aurora 16
Abbie Faery scored 8, Bella Thrush 7 and Andrea Faery and Lucy Madan 6 each for Wilson in a 33-16 non league win over East Aurora Friday evening.
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Anthony Taliaferro puts up a shot against a pair of Cleveland Hill defenders during the Bulldogs home court win this afternoon.
Regaining the .500 mark at 3-3, Barker rolled to a 67-44 victory over visiting Cleveland Hill in a non league boys basketball game this afternoon.
Anthony Taliaferro took game high scoring honors for Barker with 27. JJ Prynn added 11, Peyton Wagner and Carter DerSarkissian 8 each, Carson Schwab 6, Donovan Hefferon and Caden Garcia 3 each and Ashton Ark 1.
Cleve Hill was led by Malachi Brazelton with 17.
Trailing 6-2, Barker rallied into the lead for good by putting together a big 16-1 scoring burst including 7 by Taliaferro and 5 by Prynn.
Up 18-10 at the end of the first quarter, the Bulldogs went on to lead by margins of 14 (38-24) at the half and 21 (57-36) at the end of the third quarter. Taliaferro, who also grabbed off 17 rebounds, scored 10 in the second period and 8 in the third.
Barker next hosts Oakfield-Alabama at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Akron 69, Olmsted 48
Blake Gerstung scored 27 and Derren Brooks 20 to lead Akron to 69-48 non league win over Olmsted this afternoon as the Tigers improve to 4-0.
Barker’s Donovan Hefferon drives to the basket.
The Barker duo of Carter DerSarkissian (5) and Ashton Ark (22) go up for a rebound.
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Pastor Al Wilson of the Royal Body Shop Ministries in Albion gets butter ready for 450 pounds of salt potatoes that will be served as part of 1,000 chicken dinners.
The Royal Body Shop will serve the meals beginning at noon from the Masonic Lodge on Platt Street.
The dinners are being offered as part of Albion’s Hometown Holiday which includes many events throughout the day including a parade with 35 floats beginning at 6 p.m.
Pastor Jose “Cas” Casanova of the Family of God Christian Center in Middleport is cooking green beans with smoked turkey. Vickie Elsenheimer, an active volunteer of the Royal Body Shop Ministries, also is helping with the meals.
The Family of God Christian Center is part of the Royal Body Shop Ministries which also includes a church in Buffalo, the Greater Royal Worship Center. The Rev. Dr. Ashley Casanova, Jose’s wife, leads the church in Middleport.
This is the fourth year the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries is serving at least 1,000 dinners for free to the community.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Mike Donahue is the bugler while Taps was played as part of the Honor Guard on Dec. 14, 2024 during the first Wreaths Across America at Mount Albion Cemetery.
By Ginny Kropf and Tom Rivers
More than 2,300 wreaths will be set at veterans’ graves today at cemeteries in Albion, Holley/Clarendon, Medina and Lyndonville.
All four are hosting ceremonies at noon today as art of Wreaths Across America.
Volunteers will be placing 300 wreaths at Hillside Cemetery, about 450 in Lyndonville at Lynhaven and other sites, 360 at Mount Albion Cemetery, and over 1,260 in Medina at Boxwood, St. Mary’s and other cemeteries.
Medina was the first community in Orleans County to embrace Wreaths Across America in 2013. The wreaths are purchased for $17 each. The first year Medina had nine wreaths and now has over 1,200.
More than 5,600 communities around the country will honor service members laid to rest as part of Wreaths Across America.
Wreaths Across America began when Morrill Worcester, owner of a wreath company in Maine, visited Arlington National Cemetery and realized many veterans’ graves did not have wreaths.
That Christmas Worcester had extra wreaths and arranged to have them shipped to Arlington and placed on graves in the older part of the cemetery which had fewer visitors. His action picked up support, and since then Wreaths Across American has become a national tradition.
Kathy Blackburn pushed to start the effort in Medina and coordinated the program for about a decade. Tom Snyder is now heading Wreaths Across America in Medina.
He said 1,260 wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves in Medina. A brief ceremony will begin at noon at Boxwood Cemetery, with Nik Mroz, director of Orleans County Veterans’ Services, as emcee.
Following the ceremony, which includes placing a wreath on the grave of a veteran from each branch of the military, volunteers will start placing the wreaths on the rest of the veterans’ graves in the cemetery. Snyder commended the Medina DPW, who placed the boxes of wreaths in strategic locations throughout the cemeteries.
Last year, Blackburn felt it was time to give up her role in the wreath project and turned it over to local businesswoman Gloria Snyder. This year Tom Snyder, who is Gloria’s brother-in-law and a Navy veteran, agreed to take on the project.
“I also take a wreath every year to my father’s grave at Mount Albion,” Snyder said.
Snyder encourages the public to consider buying a wreath for a veteran’s grave. During the month of December, they can be purchased for $17, buy one, get one free. Any resident may purchase one or make a donation to the project at the village office on Park Avenue.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Village of Albion is pursuing a state grant to bring funding to rehab vacant residential units. This photo shows downtown Albion on Nov. 3.
Press Release, G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing
Albion and Medina are working together on a joint application to the state for funding to rehabilitate vacant rental units for housing.
Both villages will be hosting information meetings on Thursday, Dec. 18. The Albion meeting will be 5 p.m. at Village Hall, 35 East Bank St. with the Medina meeting at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center, 615 West Ave.
Landlords with vacant rental units in the villages of Albion and Medina are invited to attend an informational session for the New York State Vacant Rental Rehabilitation Program. This state-funded grant program is designed to assist property owners in bringing vacant rental units into active use through eligible rehabilitation work, supporting the broader goal of increasing access to quality rental housing in the community.
During the session, attendees will learn about program eligibility requirements, available funding, the application process, and how disbursements are handled. Albion and Medina will complete a joint grant application. The program will move forward if the grant is awarded by New York State.
The program will provide up to $75,000 per vacant rental unit for renovation (up to 5 units per building). There is no financial match for the property owner.
“This initiative presents an excellent opportunity for landlords to invest in their properties while contributing to housing stability in Albion and Medina,” said Jay Grasso of G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, which is working with the villages on the application. “We’re excited to help local property owners understand how to take full advantage of the program.”
All property owners with vacant rental units in Albion and Medina are encouraged to attend. No registration is required.
For questions or additional information, please contact Nichola Ostrander at G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing at Nichola@ggprocess.com or (585) 368-8866.
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s CJ D’Agostino goes in for a layup during the host Eagles win over Wheatland-Chili this evening.
Sparked by an aggressive, pressing defense, Kendall rolled to a 75-35 victory over visiting Wheatland-Chili in a Genesee Region League boys basketball game this evening.
Jonny Conte scored 14, Vinnie D’Agostino 13 and Sammy Conte and Caleb Opalecky 12 each to lead Kendall’s balanced attack as CJ D’Agostino and Noah Morehouse both added 8, Jonas Rhodes 6 and Ryan Gaesser 2.
Setting the tone for the evening, Kendall raced out to a commanding 25-8 first quarter lead. All five starters contributed baskets to that surge led by Jonny Conte with 8 and Vinnie D’Agostino 7.
The Eagles went on to lead by 33 (49-16) at the half and by 40 (64-24) at the end of the third quarter. Sammy Conte scored 8 in the second period and Opalecky 5 in the third.
Alexander 70, Holley 36
Alexander bested host Holley 70-36 in another G-R contest.
Avante Walker scored 16, Josh Silpoch 12 and Cam Mosier 6 for Holley.
Kendall’s Caleb Opalecky puts up a shot over a pair of W-C defenders.
Kendall’s Noah Morehouse drives the baseline to the basket.
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Alexa Demmer drives in for a layup ahead of Barker defender Kaylee Stoll during the Mustangs league opening home court win this evening.
Moving on top to stay with a big 18-2 scoring run to closing the opening period, Medina went on to down visiting Barker 57-33 in the season opening Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball game for both teams.
Caliyah St. Louis scored 14 and Alexa Demmer 10 to spark Medina in the first quarter which ended with the Mustangs up by 14, 24-10.
Medina went on to lead by margins of 36-16 at the half and 49-29 after three quarters. Demmer and Sam Heschke both scored 6 in the second period. Heschke also tallied 9 in the third period.
Demmer finished with a game high 20 as St. Louis and Heschke both had 15, Tatianna Maxon 3 and Autumn Cornelius and Emberlyn Oakes 2 each
Elise Monaco scored 11 and Hailey Dodge 9 to pace Barker as Villete Jary added 5, Cheyenne Rouse 4 and Kaylee Stoll and Briley Huwyler 2 each.
Medina is now 3-1 overall while Barker is 0-3.
Pembroke 37, Lyndonville 17
Pembroke downed Lyndonville 37-17 in a Genesee Region League game as Jaylen Hootman scored 13 and Peyton Liss 9.
Braelynn Dillenbeck scored 6, Alexa Robinson 5 and Bella Groves 4 for Lyndonville.
Medina’s Emberlyn Oakes puts up a shot against Barker defender Elise Monaco as Cheyenne Rouse moves in.
Barker’s Hailey Dodge tries to drive against Medina defender Harmoni Wilson.
File photo by Tom Rivers: This float carrying Santa and Mrs. Claus passes down Platt Street during last year’s Charles W. Howard Hometown Parade on Dec. 14. The parade tomorrow on Dec. 13 will have Santa in a boat to celebrate the Erie Canal bicentennial.
ALBION – A parade will feature 35 lighted floats on Saturday in Albion for the fifth annual lighted parade in the village.
The Charles W. Howard Hometown Parade begins at 6 p.m. on Route 31 at Dubby’s parking lot and heads to Route 98, goes down Main Street to Bank Street and then goes to Platt Street and concludes at Dubby’s, where there will be a party after the parade.
The parade is named in honor of Charles Howard, who ran a Santa School in Albion from 1937 to 1966. He also operated Christmas Park beginning in the mid-1950s. That site attracted about 80,000 people a year.
The parade will culminate with a float carrying Santa. This year Santa will be a boat as a tribute to the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary in 2025.
There are prizes for the top floats: $600 for first $400 for second, and $200 for third.
Ron Albertson will serve as the parade announcer from a stand on Main Street across from the Post Office.
Here is the schedule for Saturday for Albion’s Hometown Christmas:
Press Release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Photo courtesy of DEC: Yongfeng Tian of Brooklyn reeled in a 3-pound, 4-ounce white perch to set a new state record.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that a fourth fish species officially qualified as a state record catch this year.
On Nov. 23, Yongfeng Tian of Brooklyn reeled in a 3-pound, 4-ounce white perch from Cross River Reservoir in Westchester County. Mr. Tian’s record-breaking catch surpassed the previous state record white perch caught in 1991 by 3 ounces.
“This latest State record is a testament to the incredible fishing opportunities that New York State’s waters provide,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “I would like to congratulate Mr. Tian on an impressive catch, and encourage all New Yorkers to visit DEC’s website to find an opportunity near you to catch the next record fish.”
White perch are a common freshwater fish found in lakes and rivers throughout the state, including the Hudson River. White perch are known for their schooling behavior and once located, can provide a lot of action. They can be caught on a variety of small baits and lures, such as jigs, worms, and minnows.
Mr. Tian submitted details of his winning catch as part of DEC’s newly revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program, which tracks State record fish and recognizes anglers who catch any of the 40 eligible fish species that meet or exceed the minimum qualifying lengths established for that species.
Through this program, anglers can enter freshwater fish that meet specific qualifying criteria and receive official recognition of their catch, along with a species-specific sticker commemorating their achievement.
This morning’s sun rise included a sun pillar, a stunning optical phenomenon that appears as a vertical shaft of light extending up from the sun.
Tara Thom took the top photo on Gaines Basin Road at 7:36 a.m.
A sun pillar is caused by sunlight reflecting off tiny, flat, hexagonal ice crystals that flutter in the atmosphere from high-altitude clouds. That creates a glowing column.
“They develop as a result of ice crystals slowly falling through the air, reflecting the sun’s rays off of them,” the National Weather Service says. “Look for sun pillars when the sun is low on the horizon, and cirrus clouds are present.”
Theresa Ann Ottaviano took this photo behind her house on Telegraph Road in Medina.
Marsha Rivers took this photo from the elementary school parking lot in Albion, looking across Clarendon Road towards the Albion Town Hall.
Photos courtesy of Hoag Library: The Rochester Mandolin Orchestra will perform on Saturday at noon to cap this year’s series of concerts at the library in Albion. This will close out the third year of concerts at Hoag.
Press Release, Hoag Library
ALBION – Hoag Library is excited to announce that the Rochester Mandolin Orchestra will perform the final concert of the 2025 Hoag Library Music Series on Saturday at noon. This free community performance will take place at Hoag Library, bringing a dynamic year of live music to a memorable close.
Planning for the 2026 Music Series is already underway. Among the artists preparing to take the stage next year is the Medusa Quartet, a genre-bending chamber-folk ensemble known for reimagining the traditional string quartet. Additional performers will be announced as the new season approaches.
The Hoag Library Music Series, presented in partnership with GO Art!, showcases a diverse lineup of accomplished musicians throughout the year. This initiative is made possible with funding from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, supported by the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by GO Art!
This winter, Adult Services Librarian Jim Doyle will also continue his hands-on music programming with Make a Mountain Dulcimer Classes and Learn a Dulcimer Song with Jim, offering patrons a unique opportunity to explore traditional folk music and instrument building.
For more information about upcoming concerts and music workshops, visit Hoag Library or follow us on social media.
Medusa Quartet will perform next year at Hoag Library. The group is known for reimagining the traditional string quartet.
