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Albion Alumni Foundation awards nearly $175K in scholarships to Class of 2025
Photos courtesy of Albion Alumni Foundation: Alumni Foundation board member Mollie Radzinski congratulates Emily Richardson as she receives the Jonathan Doherty Memorial Scholarship.
Press Release, Albion Alumni Foundation
ALBION – The Alumni High School Alumni Foundation awarded $174,325 in scholarships to Albion High School Class of 2025 graduates during their Class Night ceremony on June 20. These awards provide financial assistance to seniors as they continue to pursue their educational goals after high school graduation.
The Foundations’ scholarship committee chose recipients for 56 academic, vocational, service, leadership, arts and athletics scholarships. The committee reviewed numerous applications and chose students that they felt best fit each scholarship’s criteria.
Three new annual scholarships were awarded for the first time this year:
Raymond Lissow Jr. Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship was established in 2024 by the Family of Raymond M Lissow. Ray graduated from Albion in 2006 and benefited greatly from Albion’s special education personnel. Ray was very active in his community and thoroughly enjoyed his years at ACS. Sadly, he passed away in 2022 at the age of 34 but left a lasting impression on everyone he met and hopefully he always put a smile on their faces. This $2,000 scholarship, administered by the Albion Alumni Association, is awarded to a graduating senior attending college to pursue a degree in Special Education.
Ray and Fran Lissow congratulate Nicholas Baxter as the first recipient of the Raymond Lissow Jr. Memorial Scholarship.
Paganelli Family Scholarship – This scholarship has been established by the Paganelli family to support the pursuit of higher education, whether academic or vocational. It will be awarded to a graduating senior who demonstrates financial need and actively participates in extracurricular activities, whether related to work or academics. This scholarship is administered by the Albion High School Alumni Foundation.
Coach Robert Ord Scholarship – This scholarship was established in honor of Coach Ord who dedicated many years of service to the Albion School District and the Athletic program. This scholarship is administered by the Albion High School Alumni Foundation, Inc.
Our scholarships are made possible through the generosity of our Albion alumni members and the local community. We are grateful to them for their willingness to support so many Albion graduates through our scholarship program.
If you are interested in starting a scholarship or want to learn more about the Albion High School Alumni Foundation, please contact Steve Hicks, Albion Alumni Foundation President at steve@albionalumni.org or go to albionalumni.org.
Congratulations to all 2025 scholarship recipients!
- Albion High School Alumni Foundation Scholarship – Willow Gaines, Krystalin Taylor, Taylor LeFrois, Adysyn Stirk
- Paul R. Haines Memorial Scholarship – Leo Bolton
- Elizabeth Balcom Smith Scholarship – Madison LeBaron
- Golden Performance Scholarship – Alexis Hand
- Jim & Susie Fraser Health Careers Scholarship – Alana Irvine
- Minier Family Scholarship – Jayden Lewis
- Albion Alumni Foundation Performing Arts Scholarship – Mallory Kozody
- Coach Richard Diminuco Scholarship for Athletic Excellence – Camryn London
- Harry W. Salchak Science Scholarship – Tye Talbot
- A.B. Dick Eddy Service Above Self Scholarship – Leo Bolton
- Nancy Elaine Lagamba Scholarship – Madison LeBaron
(Left) Jayden Lewis accepts the Minier Family Scholarship from Marissa (Minier) Olles and her daughter Hannah. (Right) Zachary Baron receives the Brennan Michael Carlyle Moody Scholarship from Erin and Jackson Moody.
- Dr. Paul Mahany Family Scholarships – Madalyn Ashbery
- Hoag Engineering Scholarships – Tye Talbot, Zachary Baron, Seth Krenning
- Panek Family Farm Agriculture Scholarship – Oliver Beach
- Horton Scholarship – Donavan Braley
- Wayne A. Burlison Memorial Scholarship – Kelli Dingle, Keira Zambito
- Glassner Family Scholarship – Nathan Garrett, Tracy Garrett
- John Panek Memorial Scholarship – James Harris
- Ronald L. Sodoma Memorial Scholarship – Mallory Ashbery
- Masonic Renovation Lodge #97 Scholarship – Katherine Hollenbeck
- Edward B. Archbald Memorial Scholarship – David Rosario
- Dr. David and Anita Long Scholarship – Oliver Beach
- D’Andrea Family Scholarship – Cassandra Brown
- Brandon Bruski Memorial Scholarship – Kelli Dingle
- Ralph and Pearl Poelma Good Neighbor Community Scholarship – Mallory Ashbery, Rori Higgins
- Jake and Anna Vreeburg Scholarships – Ella Trupo (College), James Harris (Trade School)
- Inge Hume Elementary Education Scholarship – Mallory Kozody
- Robert P. VanDeusen Memorial Scholarship – Donovan Braley
- Moore Family Scholarship Fund – Kenadie Patten
Sawyer Brigham and Donovan Braley receive the Benjamin Dennis Kirby Memorial Scholarship from Ben’s friends. Lucas Martin also received this scholarship.
- Sherman Awards – Keira Zambito (Moses Sherman Award) & Dillon Digulio (Margaret Sherman Award)
- Benjamin Dennis Kirby Memorial Scholarship – Donovan Braley, Sawyer Brigham, Lucas Martin
- Oak Orchard Bowl/Whittier Scholarship – Camryn London, Jayden Lewis
- Country Lane Veterinary Scholarship – Keira Zambito
- Babbitt Family Scholarship – David Rosario
- Matthew K. Gardner Memorial Scholarship – MacKenzie Snook
- Scott H. Ward Memorial Scholarship – Mallory Kozody
- Craig Anderson Scholarship – Kyle Radder
- Brennan Michael Carlyle Moody Scholarship – Ella Trupo, Zachary Baron
- Jared M. Fearby Scholarship – Rori Higgins
- Edward Fancher Memorial Scholarship – Rori Higgins
- Gil and Christine Pritchard Vocational Scholarship – Aaron Flanagan
- Lamont Family Scholarship – Kelli Dingle
- Kelly Sidari Ricker Memorial Scholarship – Willow Gaines
- Gwenyth Hughson Memorial Scholarship – Taylor Lefrois
- Nicholas Kovaleski Memorial Scholarship – Oliver Beach
- Hoag Skilled Trades Scholarship –James Harris, Roselan Steffan
- Betty West Memorial Scholarship – Alexis Hand
- Stewart New Scholarship – Alexis Hand
- Dick Tower Scholarship – James Harris
- Alvin Smith Family Scholarship – Paige Newton
- Sperandio Foundation Family Scholarship – Ella Trupo, MacKenzie Snook
- Lu Johnson Memorial Scholarship – Xavier Hess
- Johnathan Doherty Scholarship – Zachary Abel, Emily Richardson, Zachary Yankevich
- Raymond M. Lissow Scholarship – Nicholas Baxter
- Paganelli Family Scholarship – Kenadie Patten
- Coach Robert Ord Scholarship – Isaiah Riley
Lyndonville adds Modified Football
It has been 50 years since Lyndonville High fielded a football team.
In fact, Lyndonville’s last football team was the 1975 varsity squad.
However, that will change this fall as the Board of Education recently approved the addition of Modified ‘A’ Football (for players in grades 7-9) to the Tigers lineup of interscholastic sports teams.
Modified Football will join soccer as the school’s two fall sports for the Tigers boys student-athletes.
“Our goal is to build up our participation numbers and to make sure that both sports succeed,” said Athletic Director Jim Zeliff who notes that a football squad of 22 to 24 players is projected.
“Although this year’s graduating class numbered only 30 our seventh grade class numbers 56 so we are trending in the right direction,” added Zeliff. “The community’s youth football program numbers have been good and our varsity soccer team had a very solid season last fall so we think it is a good time to bring on another sport. We feel both sports can exist simultaneously. Our goal is to make sure that both succeed.”
No schedule has been set for the Modified team but practice for the fall season is scheduled to begin on August 18.
Golf tournament was a sellout success for Orleans Community Health Foundation
Provided photo: The winning team at Orleans Community Health Foundation’s golf outing June 20 at Shelridge Country Club were Eric Waters, Kemal Koksal, Eric Nolle and Adam Macha.
MEDINA – The 38th annual Orleans Community Health Foundation golf outing was a sellout success, bringing together a full roster of golfers, community supporters and local businesses for a day of fun and philanthropy, according to Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach.
The event on June 20 at Shelridge Country Club took place under sunny skies and raised critical funds to support patient-centered initiatives through the Orleans Community Health Foundation. Proceeds will directly benefit healthcare projects which enhance services and improve the well-being of the local community.
The day began with registration and basket raffles, followed by a 10 a.m. shotgun start. Golfers enjoyed lunch on the course, and the day concluded with dinner, awards and final raffles.
The first-place team of Eric Waters, Kemal Koksal, Eric Nolle and Adam Macha led the competition, followed by second-place finishers Zach Newton, Brad Wilson, Scott Sloper and Evan London. Third place went to the team of Davied Monti, Gary McCarthy, Joe Guisiana and Michael McCarthy.
Individual contest winners were Lou Sassel, Closest to the Pin (#12); Brandi Pasnik, Longest Drive (#2); and Dustin Pahura, Longest Drive (#5).
“This event is so much more than just a day of golf,” said Megan Johnson, executive director of the Orleans Community Health Foundation. “It’s a celebration of community, generosity and our shared commitment to improving local healthcare. Every swing truly makes a difference.”
The Foundation extends a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who came out to support the event and to the dedicated volunteers who made the day run smoothly from start to finish, Johnson said. Their time, energy and enthusiasm played a key role in the outing’s success, she added.
A special thank-you was extended to event sponsors Lawley Insurance, TeamHealth and MS Hall for their generous support, which helped make the tournament possible, Johnson said.
With such a successful tournament this year, planning is already underway for an even bigger 39th annual outing in 2026, she said.
True patriots seek to correct country’s flaws, not serve a political leader
Editor:
On July 4th, we celebrated our nation’s nearly 250th birthday. So, I have been thinking about patriotism.
Everyone I meet tells me they are patriots, and I have no reason to doubt them. Patriotism seems to be a general term everyone defines for themself.
This is what I know, when I joined the military to defend this country from all enemies foreign and domestic, I swore an oath to the Constitution, not to an individual or to a political party.
So, it seems to me that patriotism is aspiring to the ideals and principles laid out in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. “That all men are created equal,” and that “We the people” establish the government to create a more perfect union, to “establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.”
Therefore, patriotism is actively trying to create that more perfect union, recognizing flaws and working to remedy them. It recognizes the need for criticism and oversight. It promotes a cohesive and inclusive society where everyone is valued.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that 11.8 million will lose health coverage under the legislation Republicans are proposing. The Fiscal Policy Institute issued a report on June 28, 2025, detailing how the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) will affect hospitals in New York.
According to hospital financial data 45 percent of hospitals receive a quarter of their net patient revenue from Medicaid and other government appropriations. The cuts in the OBBB will severely threaten hospitals throughout the State.
In Congressional District 23 (Rep. Nick Langworthy) 8 of the 12 hospitals receive more than 25 percent of revenue from Medicaid; and in District 21 (Rep. Elise Stefanik) 8 of 16 are threatened. In Claudia Tenney’s district, 5 hospitals are threatened.
Republican legislators are abandoning their responsibilities to serve their constituents and slavishly serve their party leader.
William Fine
Brockport
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Heat advisory today for Orleans with high temp at 92
Kimberly Stawicki sent in this photo from Glenwood Lake in Ridgeway.
It will be a scorcher today in Orleans County with the high temperature at 92 degrees.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a heat advisory from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Orleans, Niagara, Genesee, Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Oswego, Ontario and northern Cayuga counties. Heat index values in the upper 90s are expected.
“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat-related illnesses to occur,” the Weather Service said.
The highs for the rest of the week include 87 on Monday, 80 on Tuesday, 84 on Wednesday, 82 on Thursday, 85 on Friday and 85 on Saturday.
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Several families displaced after fire in Murray on Gulf Road
Photos and information courtesy of Murray Joint Fire District
MURRAY – A three-alarm fire badly damaged a multi-family house at 17131 Gulf Rd. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at about 3 a.m.
“Thankfully, no injuries have been reported but several families have been displaced and experienced significant loss,” the Murray Joint Fire District stated on its Facebook page. “Our thoughts are with them during this incredibly difficult time.”
Several other agencies provided mutual aid to Murray firefighters including, Clarendon, Kendall, Brockport, Albion, Spencerport, Hamlin, Shelby, Bergen, Medina, Barre, Carlton, Mercy EMS, Orleans County fire coordinators and fire investigation team, Village of Holley Police Department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office (road patrol, investigations and 911 center), Town of Murray code enforcement and the water department.
“We are incredibly grateful for the brave firefighters who arrived on the scene swiftly and worked tirelessly to keep everyone safe,” The Murray Joint Fire District stated. “The blaze was contained and extinguished before more damage could be done.”
The following departments were on standby to protect Orleans County while the fire companies responded at the scene: Hilton Fire Department, Ridge Road Fire District, Town of Batavia Fire Department and Middleport Fire Department.
“This was a true team effort that shows the strength of mutual aid, coordination and public service in our region,” the Murray Joint Fire District said. “To those affected by the fire, please know that your community stands behind you as your recovery begins.”
Lyndonville honors the late Col. Rick Parsons
1962 grad was first from Lyndonville to attend U.S. Air Force Academy
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – The family of the late Rick Parsons, a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, holds a banner with his portrait.
From left include Parsons’ daughter Penn Grow, son Rustin Parsons, wife Nancy (Custer) Parsons, and Maj. James Plummer, retired from the U.S. Air Force. Parsons’ wife served as honorary grand marshal of the parade. She is a Lyndonville grad and she and her husband were high school sweethearts.
Parsons was the first Lyndonville grad to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. He graduated in 1966 and then served in the military for a 26-year career, including two tours in Vietnam, and a pivotal role as commander of the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He logged over 5,000 flight hours in his career in the T-38, F-4, F-15 and F-16.
While the flag was raised the national anthem was sung by Kayleen Sanchez and Joanna Folman. The 914th Air Refueling Wing of the U.S.A.F. from Niagara Falls had four soldiers serving as honor guard during the parade with one raising the flag in Parsons’ honor.
Under his leadership, the 33rd TFW(P) achieved remarkable success, said Steve Goodrich, commander of the Houseman-Tanner Post of the American Legion in Lyndonville. Parsons led a unit that recorded 16 combat kills, the most of any allied unit. That earned Parsons the distinction of being the only wing commander to achieve an aerial victory during Desert Storm.
“Beyond his military achievements, Rick was a devoted husband, father and grandfather,” Goodrich said.
Parsons passed away at age 77 on May 25, 2021 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Steve Goodrich, commander of the Houseman-Tanner Post of the American Legion in Lyndonville, is at left while Lynne Johnson, chairman of the Orleans County Legislature, reads a proclamation in honor of Parsons’ distinguished career. The offices of Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Sen. Rob Ortt also presented citations in honor of Parsons being picked as honorary grand marshal.
Just before the hour-long parade a military flyover passed over Lyndonville. The plane came from the 911th United States Air Force Reserve from Pittsburgh, Pa. The flyover was at about noon. Mackenzie Poynter sent in this photo of the plane passing over Route 63, just south of the village.
Medina Railroad Museum offering history talks, and children’s story time
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Cassandra Harden of Medina reads a train story to young children in a new event every Saturday at Medina Railroad Museum.
MEDINA – Medina Railroad Museum is starting off the summer with a new event coordinator and a series of new events.
Renee Hemby, who joined the Museum earlier this spring, has developed several ideas to bring more people to the world-class train museum.
First is Reading at the Rails, an opportunity for young children up to the age of 8 to come and learn about trains from picture story books, read by Cassandra Harden of Medina. Any age, however, is welcome to come, Hemby said. Sessions start at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays and are free. Youth who attend three sessions will receive a souvenir badge. Anyone who joins the museum will also receive a souvenir badge.
The next feature, a historic speaker series, was suggested by museum volunteer and history buff Erica Wanecski. She will be the first speaker on July 9, talking about steel plants and how they related to the railroad.
On July 16, Medina native and news writer Ginny Kropf will share the history of the railroad museum and its founding by the late Martin Phelps.
On Aug. 6, the Cobblestone Society will discuss “Written in Stone.”
Speaker for Aug. 20 will be Craig Lacy, former owner of a sandstone building on North Main, which houses a jail in the basement, where the late Grover Cleveland was held when arrested during a visit to Medina. Lacy, who is also past president of the Medina Historical Society, will also discuss other facts of historic interest in Medina.
On Sept. 3 the discussion will focus on Bill Lattin’s book, “Architecture Destroyed.”
On Sept. 17, Ryan Duffy from the Holland Land Office in Batavia will talk about the life of Dean Richmond.
Sessions will start at 6 p.m. each week and light refreshments will be provided. There is no charge, but donations to the museum are always appreciated.
“We are trying to bring more people to the museum,” Hemby said.
She remembers going to the late Beverly Mitchell’s house in Albion and listening to all her stories about the past.
“Hearing about history is cool,” Hemby said.
Midget League 12U playoffs begin Monday
The Albion Midget League 12U Division playoffs will get underway on Monday with four quarterfinal round games at 6 p.m.
Sandstone, which posted the best regular season record of 11-1, is the No. 1 seed. Elba ‘A’ (10-4), Barre (9-3) and Elba ‘B’ (9-6) round out the top four seeds.
The quarterfinal matchups will have No. 8 Holley ‘B’ (4-7-1) at No. 1 Sandstone, No. 7 Holley ‘A’ (5-8-1) at No. 2 Elba ‘A’, No. 6 Elks/Rotary (6-8) at No. 3 Barre and No. 5 Carlton (8-5) at No. 4 Elba ‘B’.
The semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday at the higher seeds and the championship game for Saturday.
Lyndonville celebrates 4th with another epic fireworks show
Lions Club sets goal for its biggest show ever in 2026 for USA’s 250th anniversary
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club capped its 51st annual Independence Day celebration with another spectacular fireworks show on July 4th.
The Lions Club works with Young Explosives to put on one of the biggest fireworks shows in Western New York.
The Lions last year had its biggest show ever for the 50th anniversary of the club doing the July 4th celebration.
Club President Eric Johnson and fireworks chairman Harold Suhr want to make next year’s show even bigger. They have set a $52,000 fundraising goal which would top the $50,000 from 2024.
The band Bleeding Hearts performed from a stage near the Lyndonville ball fields right up to the start of the fireworks show. Bleeding Hearts has been performing in Western New York since 1989.
The band plays a unique blend of Classic Rock from the ’60s and ’70s, retro hits of the ’80s, alternative hits from the ’90s and current hits of today. The band closed with a tribute to Lyndonville by performing John Mellencamp’s “Small Town.”
The Bleeding Hearts include David Lloyd on lead vocals, drums and guitar; Bob Kupczyk on bass, vocals and keyboards; and Tim Unger on lead guitar and vocals.
Daniel Nottingham of Brockport swirls a sparkler while passing time before the fireworks show.
Wynter Dominguez, 2, of Brockport had glow-in-dark bracelets on and tried spinning a sparkler.
The fireworks proved to be a crowd pleaser for the big group gathered on the Lyndonville ballfields.
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Lyndonville parade puts shine on patriotism and hometown pride
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – This group represents Head Start and Early Head Start in today’s Lyndonville Fourth of July Parade.
Snowstorm Solutions follows them with a tribute to Sept. 11, 2001 victims – “Gone but not forgotten” is painted on the snow plow with an image of the World Trade Center towers.
About 50 different groups were in today’s parade. The 51st annual Independence Day festival put on the Lions Club concludes with a big fireworks starting around 10 p.m.
Orly the Ox, Orleans County’s bicentennial mascot, was decked out in red, white and blue for the parade. Orly is driven by Susan Starkweather Miller, a member of the Orleans County Bicentennial Committee.
Just before the hour-long parade a military flyover passed over Lyndonville. The plane came from the 911th United States Air Force Reserve from Pittsburgh, Pa. The flyover was at about 11:55 a.m.
A big crowd filled Main Street as the procession of fire trucks and floats made their way along the route.
Bob Eberle once again dressed as Uncle Sam. He waved to the crowd along Main Street.
Mark Watts has lots of people on board while he drives a former Medina fire truck from 1933.
The Christ family in Murray was in the parade promoting the Murray Tractor Pull July 19 on Groth Road.
Lyndonville native Matt Tabor was back in the parade as the character Deadpool.
Gallagher Hill Trucking brought some tractor trailers for the parade.
The Niagara Falls Air Force Honor Guard marches in the parade.
Many in the crowd removed their hats to show respect to the soldiers in the Honor Guard.
The Lyndonville marching band from the school had a strong contingent of students in the parade.
Veterans ride in a trolley provided by the Houseman-Tanner Post of the American Legion.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office led the parade with the family of the late Colonel Rick N. Parsons of Lyndonville not far behind. Parsons’s wife Nancy served as honorary grand marshal.
Colonel Parsons graduated from the Lyndonville Central High School in 1962 and was the first Lyndonville High School graduate to attend the United States Air Force Academy graduating in 1966. He spent 26 years in service to his country before his retirement from the Air Force in 1994.
Scott Schmidt served as the parade emcee. He is joined on the parade platform by his father, Bruce Schmidt, a member of the Lyndonville Lions Club.
The Alexander Fire Department Band has been a perennial parade performer in Lyndonville for many years.
Kids from the Oak Orchard Assembly of God unleashed many bubbles in the parade. They were promoting Kids Crusade from July 20 to 23, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for children ages 4 to 11.
The Keystone Club Police Pipes & Drums in Gates is another parade mainstay in Lyndonville.
Joshua Vacanti, a star from The Voice, sang from a float to promote the upcoming Salt & Light Festival from July 25-27 at Solid Rock Assembly of God, 8590 Rochester Rd., Gasport.
Ontario Shores Realty generously sprayed water soakers at the crowd. The temperatures weren’t too bad at around 80. Some recent Independence Day holidays have been well above 90 in Lyndonville.
All 7 schools share in earning N-O titles
It was a year in which everyone earned a piece of the pie.
During the recently completed 2024-25 school year the Niagara-Orleans League crowned champions in no less than 17 varsity sports and each of the league’s seven schools earned at least one of those titles.
Newfane led the way with five championships. The Panthers won Wrestling, Boys Swimming and Girls Cross-Country and shared the title in Girls Basketball and Girls Swimming.
The wrestling title is the 11th in a row and the Girls Cross-Country title the 10th straight for the Panthers.
Roy-Hart claimed four championships. The Rams won Volleyball and Girls Soccer and also shared the crown in Softball and Girls Swimming.
Akron captured three championships including Boys Basketball, Field Hockey and Golf.
The Field Hockey title is the fifth straight for the Lady Tigers.
Wilson also earned three titles including Girls Track and Boys Soccer and a co-championship in Girls Basketball.
The Girls Basketball title is the 7th straight and the 15th in the last 16 years for the Lakewomen.
Albion claimed a pair of titles in Boys Track and Tennis.
The track championship is the sixth in a row for the Purple Eagles.
Barker also captured two titles winning Boys Cross-Country and sharing the Softball championship.
Medina captured the Baseball championship. The title is the fifth in the last six seasons for the Mustangs.
