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Albion youth football sweeps in playoff tuneup

Contributed Story Posted 12 October 2025 at 9:48 am

Tuning up for the upcoming playoffs, Albion scored a three game sweep over Attica in Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) action Saturday.

Beginner Division
Albion 33, Attica 6
Kenny Almonte had a huge game for the Beginner Eagles running for 303 yards and 4 touchdowns. Matthias Tre Ellis picked up 74 yards and a score.

Gunner Jackson, Xavier Weis and Almonte led the defense with 11 tackles a piece. Ellis was in on 7 stops, Drake Neri added 6, Jaxon Francis and Lexington Pridgen 5. Artavion Lewis, Roman Pridgen, Mason Rodden and Mayson Vosburgh each were in/ on stops.

Albion finishes the regular season 8-0. They will play Barker/Roy Hart in the North Division playoffs at Albion High School this Saturday at 10am.

Mini Division
Albion 33, Attica 8
Moses Taylor had a big day for the Mini Eagles defense with 15 tackles. Mason Cornick had 9 tackles, Conor Murphy 8 and Zeus Vallejo 7. Hudson Palmer had 6, Elian Almonte 5,Roman Tisdale and Zion Richardson 4 each. Patrick Westlund, Elijah Cornick, Landon Stalker ,Greyson Roberts and Wyatt Purnell 3 each. Carter Hall has 2 tackles. Roberts and Westlund each had a interception.

Almonte picked up 124 yards and 2 touchdowns on offense. Taylor had 74 yards and a score, Westlund 59 yards, Roberts 52 and both had a score. Elijah Cornick rushed for 19 yards, Palmer 12 and Murphy 6.

Albion finishes the season 7-1. They will play Barker/Roy Hart in the North Division playoffs at Albion High School this Saturday at Noon.

JV Division
Albion 31, Attica 0
Damareon Shine rushed for 124 yards, 3 scores and caught a TD pass from Jace DiMatteo. Jayce Torres rushed for 118 yards and a score, Camden Holt for 96 yards and DiMatteo 8 yards.

Shine had 13 tackles, Roman Allport and Holt 9 tackles, Kairo Bennett 8, AJ Lewis III 7, Jayden Russo and Kyle Schomske 5 each. Cooper Traxler, Harrison Froman, Liam Saporito, Edward Hammonds and Cayden Farrell 3 each. Matthew Colmerero,Isaac Button Arkell Lewis had 2 each. Lincoln Voorhees, Kolton Berry, Tyler Patten, Blaze Worrells, Owen Beecher, Jai’Kaih, Sebastian Stritzinger and Dominic Westlund were each in on tackles.

Albion finishes the regular season at 8-0. They will play Oakfield/Elba in the North Division playoffs at Albion High School this Saturday at 2pm.

Hurd Orchards named a “Hidden Gem” by Chamber

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 12 October 2025 at 9:02 am

Farm on Route 104 in Murray draws many visitors for ‘authentic’  experience

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Amy Machamer, who runs Hurd Orchards with her mother Susan Hurd Machamer, stands amid a fall display of flowers and pumpkins at the family farm.

HOLLEY – Hurd Orchards, located at 17260 Ridge Rd., is not only an eighth-generation family farm and one of a few elite EcoCertified farms, but it now claims the distinction of being named a “Hidden Gem” by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.

The farm will be honored with eight other businesses and individuals at an awards ceremony Oct. 23 at White Birch Golf Course.

Amy Machamer and her mother Susan Hurd Machamer are celebrating 40 years of their partnership running the farm. Amy is proud to announce her daughter Amelia is the eighth generation to run the farm, which dates back to pioneer days.

Amy Machamer sits in the 200-year-old barn at Hurd Orchards. The farm has been named by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce as a “Hidden Gem.”

“It is very flattering to be chosen for the Hidden Gem award,” Amy said. “Mom said one of the ‘hidden’ things here is the fact we tree-ripen our fruit. There’s nothing better than biting into one of our peaches, and the juice runs down your chin.”

While the farm is constantly changing, they always stay authentic, Amy said. The barn in which they hold luncheons is 200 years old and was purchased, moved there and raised in the traditional way in 1994.

They are known for their luncheons which come from an 1895 cookbook. One of the things they make is a steamed quince pudding. A pear luncheon features the Seckel pear which they grow there.

Susan commented that it’s not everywhere one can grow the market basket they are able to, being located between the Erie Canal and Lake Ontario.

“Our farm really is a gem,” Amy said. “We are very happy someone was thinking about this beautiful area on the eastern flank of the county. It is exciting to think somebody noticed what we are trying to do here.”

In addition to her mom and daughter, Amy’s husband Joe Sidonio is very supportive of the farm’s efforts, Amy said. She also said Amelia, a recent graduate of Cornell University, is remarkably excited and invested in their farm. Amy said her dad was a geologist and they lived in many places, but always returned to the farm, which her grandparents Leland and Betty Hurd were running. When Amy graduated from college in 1984, she came back to the farm.

“I didn’t know I was going to stay, but I loved it here,” Amy said. “It was challenging in so many directions.”

“We have a beautiful team who cook and develop new recipes,” Amy said. “They are the ones who breathe new life into our farm, yet we’ve stayed ‘authentically ‘us.’”

Hurd Orchards sells their fruits commercially, have a bakery and own a jam kitchen. They raise elegant flowers and make up gift baskets to order.

“My parents and grandparents saw the possibilities and beauty here and appreciated what this farm meant,” Amy said. “We have dedicated ourselves into shaping it and carrying it on into the future. We have followed our instincts and followed things that inspired us. Maybe it has evolved because we shared these ‘hidden gems.’ We are very grateful. It is a joy to be recognized for what we do.”

Mike Hodgins feels the love from community during benefit as he awaits second heart transplant

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 October 2025 at 10:08 pm

Shelby fire hall packed for spaghetti dinner, basket raffle

Photos by Tom Rivers

SHELBY – Mike Hodgins, left, is greeted by Matt Grammatico of Albion today during a big benefit for Hodgins as he awaits a second heart transplants.

Hodgins, 64, had a heart transplant 35 years ago. He is on the list for another heart transplant at the Cleveland Clinic.

Grammatico, 52, of Albion is nearing the fifth anniversary of a heart and liver transplant at the Cleveland Clinic. Grammatico received those transplants on Jan. 12, 2021.

Grammatico and Hodgins have been friends on Facebook for several years and have been cheering each other on through social media. Today they met in person for the first time.

“I don’t want to miss the chance to connect with another heart transplant recipient,” Grammatico said.

The community also put on a benefit for him and his family before his transplants. He was thrilled to see such a big turnout today for Hodgins at the Shelby Fire Hall.

Hodgins said he and Grammatico are both miracles who have been given another chance at life by God’s mercy. Hodgins is wearing a “Miracle Mike” shirt.

Mike Hodgins takes a brief break from greeting friends, family and community members who attended a benefit for him and his family today.

“I’m just overwhelmed,” Hodgins said.

He and his wife Kathy have three children – Alisha, Greg and Ryan – and seven grandchildren.

Mike and Kathy need to travel about four hours to the Cleveland Clinic for testing, evaluation, surgery and recovery. This will require extended time away from work and significant out-of-pocket expenses for lodging, food and transportation.

“I’m taking it one day at a time,” said Hodgins, a longtime employee at Medina Memorial Hospital in the dietary department. His wife is chief executive officer at UConnectCare.

There were 200 people at the fire hall within the first hour of the benefit which was 4 to 8 p.m. today. There were 195 baskets up for raffle, plus 86 gift cards.

Businesses from the region donated gift cards as part of today’s benefit which was led by Hodgins’ niece Stephanie Kozma.

Many family members, friends and members of the Oak Orchard Assembly of God rallied to run the benefit.

Dark Horse Run entertained the crowd with country music.

Some of the kitchen crew serving spaghetti dinners included, from left, Julie Mufford, Pete Panek and Amy Albone. They had 400 dinners ready.

The Shelby fire hall was a full house for the benefit.

Matt and Rhonda Grammatico of Albion pray with Hodgins as he awaits a second heart transplant.

Another dazzling sunset despite some drizzle

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 October 2025 at 7:47 pm

Photos courtesy of Marsha Rivers

EAGLE HARBOR – It was a brilliant sunset this evening in Orleans County. These photos were taken from the lift bridge in Eagle Harbor looking west.

Sunday is forecast to be sunny with a high of 68, followed by a partly sunny Monday (Columbus Day) with a high of 63.

The forecast then calls for a mostly sunny Tuesday with a high of 67, and mostly sunny Wednesday with a high near 56.

Tigers score non league soccer win over Rams

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 October 2025 at 5:19 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Barrett Alexander gets the ball past the out stretched arms of Roy-Hart goalie William Bundrock for the Tigers first goal during this afternoon’s win at Middleport.

Scoring four goals in each half, Lyndonville posted an 8-1 win over Roy-Hart in a non league boys soccer game this afternoon at Middleport.

Barrett Alexander, Raul Morales, Amir Zimmerman and Colton Smith took turns scoring goals for the Tigers in the first hslf. Smith also had three assists and Izaiah Rodriguez one during that stretch.

Smith then had a pair of goals in the second half as Michael Alexander and Brayden Aydelotter each netted one with the later coming on a penalty kick.

Maddox Smith, Aram Patrick and Austin Fonda all had assists in the half for the Tigers.

Michael Fuller scored the Rams goal.

Lyndonville is now 9-6 overall and Roy-Hart 2-13-0.

Roy-Hart’s Ethan Brown and Lyndonville’s Amir Zimmerman race after the ball.

Lyndonville’s Michael Alexander sends the ball up field as Christopher McOmber moves in for Roy-Hart.

Roy-Hart nips Newfane in N-O girls soccer

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 October 2025 at 4:56 pm

Roy-Hart trimmed Newfane 1-0 in a Niagara-Orleans League girls soccer game this morning.

Josephine Silsby scored the Lady Rams goal off an assist from Maria Trombley.

In the other games, Wilson, which has already locked up the N-O title, blanked Albion 7-0 and Akron shutout Medina 8-0.

Addison Elia led Wilson with five goals while Olivia Novak sored three and Brooke Warren two to pace Akron.

N-O Standings: Wilson 11-0-0, Akron 7-3-1, Roy-Hart 6-3-2, Barker/Lyndonville 5-3-3, Newfane 3-8-0, Albion 2-6-4, Medina 0-11-0.

N-O Field Hockey
Akron 8, Kenmore 0
League leading Akron blanked host Kenmore 8-0 in an N-O field hockey game this afternoon.

Morgan Tomporowski had three goals as McKenzie Tomporowski, Averi Monkelbaan, Madigan Regan, Maddy Gates and Brooklyn Gerstung each had one for the Lady Tigers.

N-O Standings: Akron 9-0, Barker 9-1, Medina 5-4, Kenmore 3-6, Roy-Hart 3-7, Wilson 3-7, Newfane 1-8.

Mustangs win non leaguer to go to 12-2

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 October 2025 at 4:35 pm

Improvong to 12-2 overall, Medina posted a 3-1 win over host Frewsburg in a non league boys soccer game this afternoon.

Caden Kingsbury, Luke Duffina and Decklan Meiers each scored a goal for the Mustangs with the last two coming in the final 10 minutes to lock up the victory.

Aleks Seefeldt had two assists and Aidan Papaj one for the Mustangs.

Wilson 13, Albion 0
Locking up outright possession of a second straight Niagara-Orleans League title, Wilson blanked Albion 13-0 this afternoon.

David Gurski and Hayden Fellows both scored three goals to lead the scoring parade for Wilson which is now 9-0 in N-O action with one game remaining.

N-O Standings: Wilson 9-0-0, Medina 7-2-0, Akron 5-4-0, Newfane 3-4-1, Albion 2-6-1, Roy-Hart 0-10-0.

Lots of stuffed scarecrows with personalities created at Fairgrounds

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 October 2025 at 12:44 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – The Medina Lions Club is holding its annual Scarecrow Fest today at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Jennifer Slack of Medina makes a scarecrow with her children, Emma and Bradley.

There has been a good turnout so far for the festival. Last year there was a record 212 scarecrows made at the event. The Scarecrow Fest goes until 3 p.m.

Patti Parker and her son Zack of Albion make their scarecrow. Cindy Winters of the Medina Lions Club assists with a stapler.

Lions Club members visited the MAAC Thrift Shop to acquire most of the clothing for the scarecrows, including dresses, pants, shirts, blouses, neckties, hats and belts.

T-posts for scarecrow bodies were donated by Barden Homes, and Jen Scott’s art class at Medina High School painted 180 faces for cloth heads.

Straw for the scarecrows’ bodies was donated by Poverty Hill Farms in Albion and Dunham Farms of Knowlesville.

A scarecrow made by the Medina Lions Club greets people at the Fairgrounds.

Piper Glass of Medina, left, gets straw to stuff in a scarecrow she made with her cousins, Harlow and Henry Zacher of Medina.

The Master Gardeners in Orleans County also are having a “Pumpkinpalooza” event, with pumpkin decorating and pumpkin-themed activities. These are some of the entries in the pumpkin-carving and decorating contest.

Marie Phillips decorates pumpkins with her daughters, Mazie and Mallorie.

Debbie Fuller, the grandmother of Mazie and Mallorie, helps another granddaughter, Melanie Phillips, while she decorates a pumpkin. Fuller, a former Medina resident, made a surprise trip up from Florida to see her grandkids.

Fishing spot near top of dam in Lyndonville called ‘magical’

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 October 2025 at 7:58 am

Photo by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Dylan Cote of Pavilion casts a line out on Friday evening at Johnson Creek in Lyndonville. This is a spot near the top of waterfalls of the dam.

“This is the magical spot,” Cote said.

He usually catches blue gill, bass, cat fish and carp. Cote frequently is in Lyndonville to see his girlfriend.

He said several salmon fishermen were in the area on Friday. The salmon make it all the way up Johnson Creek from Lake Ontario, but can get no farther than the dam. Cote said sometimes the big fish are jumping, trying to get past the dam.

Barker/Roy-Hart rolls to hold C North lead

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 October 2025 at 10:10 pm

Keeping a hold on sole possession of first place, Barker/Roy-Hart rolled to a 46-24 victory over host JFK in a C North Division football game this evening.

Barker/Roy-Hart, which built up a commanding 38-8 half-time advantage, improves to 4-0 in the division and 5-1 overall.

Four players contributed touchdowns to the Bulls attack as Joey Reiter scored on runs of 40 and 48 yards, Vinny Fazzio on carries of 1 and 5 yards, Carter DerSarkissian on a 65 yard run and Anthony Adinolfe on a 20 yard pass from quarterback Tysen McCaa.

Carson Schwab and Reiter both had a pair of two-point conversion runs and Adinolfe and Fazzio two-point conversion pass receptions.

On defense for the Bulls, RJ Townsend had 9 tackles, Fazzio 8 tackles and Caden Rogers 6 tackles and a pass interception.

Barker/Roy-Hart next hosts Alden next Friday night a 7 at Barker.

Front running Iroquois downs Albion

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 October 2025 at 10:02 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Front-running Iroquois bested host Albion 42-6 this evening to improve to 5-0 atop the B2 Division standings. Albion did tie the game at 6-6 early on this 80 yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Hunter Huscher. However, Iroquois quarterback Justus Kleitz threw touchdown passes on each of Iroquois’ first three possessions putting the Redhawks on top to stay at 21-3. Iroquois led 35-6 at the half.

Albion’s Elijah Doxey goes outside for a big gain for the Purple Eagles, which slip to 0-5, 0-6 overall.

Mustangs post N-O soccer win over Tigers

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 October 2025 at 9:56 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Improving to 7-2 in the league, Medina downed Akron 3-1 in a Niagara-Orleans boys soccer game at Vets Park this evening. Here Medina’s Vinny Gray sends a header toward the Akron goal. Aidan Papaj sored two goals in the first half for the Mustangs. Aleks Seefeldt rounded out the scoring with a second half goal on a penalty kick.

Medina’s Luke Duffina fights to get past  Akron’s Thatcher Ranney to get to the ball. The Mustangs have little time to savor the win as they have a non league game at Frewsburg at 1 p.m. Saturday. Medina is now 11-2 overall.