More than 100 baskets raffled off, raising $4K for Santa School Museum in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 August 2026 at 7:58 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Anita McCarthy places tickets in baskets up for raffle this afternoon at the Lockstone in a fundraiser for a new Santa School Museum.

There were just over 100 baskets in the raffle. The Albion Betterment Committee put on the benefit to help raise money for a new roof for the museum at 128 North Main St. Organizers say just over $4,000 was raised at the benefit today.

The group has secured a $10,000 grant from the Rochester Area Community Foundation, but the cost is expected to top $70,000 for the roof.

The Betterment Committee will be seeking a grant from Preserve New York for the roof and a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson for arts space and programming on the second floor.

People gather inside the Lockstone for today’s fundraiser.

The Betterment Committee purchased the building at 128 North Main last November from the estate of Henri Pulley. The site is 6,600 square feet. The Betterment Committee said the roof needs to be replaced before a museum opens.

The winning numbers for the basket raffle are called off. From left include Gail Ebbs, Lori Laine and Maureen Bennett. Laine helped secure many of the baskets for the raffle.

She said the museum on Main Street will be a boost for the community and the downtown business district.

“I believe in Albion and Albion needs to be branded,” Laine said. “What is a better brand than Santa Claus?”

The museum will pay homage to the late Charles W. Howard, who created the first Santa School in the world. He ran it on Phipps Road in Albion from 1937 until his death in 1966.

The group wants to develop an interactive tourism center with displays about the Charles W. Howard Santa School and Christmas Park, which Howard ran for many years near his farmhouse on Phipps Road.

Laine said many people still have strong memories of visiting Christmas Park as kids and meeting Santa.

“They hold that place as very special in their hearts,” Laine said.

Nolan Blake, grandson of Betterment Committee member Valerie Rush, served as an elf and took gift baskets to the winners. Rush has long portrayed Mrs. Claus during community events.

Betterment Committee leaders Joe Martilotta, Joe Gehl and Gary Kent have worked for years to promote Charles Howard’s legacy in Albion. Gehl, center, pulled the winning 50/50 ticket. Peter Turkow, the winner, donated the money back to the Betterment Committee.

Gary Simboli played Christmas music from his keyboard during the benefit.

Jesse Colmenero took photos of people and families in a holiday backdrop.

These Santa-themed rocks were painted during the event.

Green finishes Canadian Open at 2 under par

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 23 August 2026 at 5:29 pm

Contributed Photo – Melanie Green

Carding her second straight even par round, Medina’s Melanie Green has finished competition in the LPGA’s Canadian Open Tournament being held at Edmonton, Alberta with a 2 under par total of 278.

Green had three birdies on the day to offset three bogeys as she had her third straight roller-coaster type of round.

She got of to a quick start with a birdie on 1. She then had another birdie on 9 to offset bogeys on 3 and 7 to keep her at 2 under for the tournament at the turn.

The back nine then saw Green have a birdie on 16 to offset a bogey on 13 to finish with an even par round of 70 for the second day in a row.

The LPGA Tour then moves cross-country for a tournament in the Boston area Thursday through Sunday.

Albion youth football teams split in 4 games

Contributed Story Posted 23 August 2026 at 9:43 am

Contributed Photo – Albion’s Tre Ellis makes a tackle on Elliott Morrison of LeRoy during Saturday’s action.

The Albion youth football teams earned a split of four games in Niagara Orleans Football Association action on Saturday.

The Albion Beginners earned an 18-6 victory over LeRoy behind a strong rushing performance from Myles LaBarge.

LaBarge led the Albion offense with 171 rushing yards and three touchdowns. James Mahoney added 47 yards, while Hudson Hodgins contributed nine yards and Jaxon Nashburn added two yards.

Defensively, Tanner Beecher, Levi Purnell, LaBarge, Mahoney and Hodgins were all in on tackles as Albion’s defense held LeRoy to six points.

The Albion Minis battled LeRoy in a defensive matchup, coming up just short in a 6-0 loss.

Albion’s defense turned in a strong performance, led by Hudson Palmer with eight tackles. Gunner Jackson and Patrick Westlund recorded seven tackles each, while Lexington Pridgen, Drake Neri, Elijah Cornick and Xavier Weis each finished with five.

Tre Ellis, KK Richardson, Arlen Beecher and Jaxon Sloper added three tackles apiece, with Colton Daggs recording two. Jaxon Francis, Quinton Gottberg, Chazz Monacelli and Jordan Button also contributed with tackles for the Albion defense.

Offensively, Ellis led Albion with 19 rushing yards, followed by Westlund with 12 and Jackson with 11. Cornick added six yards, Weis finished with four and Palmer contributed three yards on the ground.

The Albion JV team fell to a strong LeRoy squad, 33-0, despite a hard-working defensive effort.

Kaydence Russaw led the Albion defense with an impressive 13 tackles. Arkell Lewis and Kairo Bennett recorded eight tackles each, while Parker Gardner finished with seven and Conor Murphy added six. Jaidyn Harper recorded five tackles, Jayce Torres and Elijah Warren had three each, David Parsell and Mason Cornick added two apiece, and Jai’Kaih Drisdom recorded one tackle.

Offensively, Drisdom led Albion with 31 rushing yards, followed closely by Torres with 30. Greyson Roberts added six yards and Harper finished with four yards on the ground.

Albion’s Varsity team turned in an impressive all-around performance, defeating Newfane 55-15.

Jeramiah Hildreth made all four of his touches count, finding the end zone each time. Hildreth scored on touchdown runs of 4, 26 and 45 yards and added a 37-yard touchdown reception from Jace DiMatteo. AJ Lewis added two touchdowns, while Damareon Shine rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown. Camden Holt added 39 yards on the ground, followed by Jace Wright with six, Matthew Colmenero with four and Roman Allport with two.

Holt also made a huge impact defensively, returning an interception 92 yards for a touchdown, recovering a fumble and adding two tackles. Lewis led the Albion defense with 12 tackles, followed by Conner Hinkley with five and Ryan Gardner with four.

Allport, Shine, Wright, Hildreth and Brady Graham each recorded two tackles. Cooper Traxler, Hudson Armer, Kayden Donnelly, Liam Saporito and Colmenero were also in on stops. Colmenero added a pair of fumble recoveries to help Albion’s defense create several turnovers in the victory.

Lyndonville youth football teams open the season in a new league

Contributed Story Posted 23 August 2026 at 9:21 am

Contributed Photos – In the Flag Football game Lyndonville’s Easton Klotzbach eludes a Pembroke defender. At the right Teddy Taribone scampers for a touchdown for the Lyndonville Cubs.

The Lyndonville Tri County Football League youth football teams kicked off the season with a great showing from their Pre-K and Kindergarten Flag Football and Littles Cheer squads. The new league has focused on developing the littlest kids to learn the sport in a non contact format that includes no scores on the scoreboard or standings with games lasting 2 20 minutes halves. It was a great showing and the kids were really fun to watch.

That was followed up by the Beginners level (1st & 2nd graders) game which features tackling with modified rules. The LYFC Cubs won 12-0 over visiting Pembroke Dragons at that level. The Cubs scored on an Opening play 70 yd touchdown run by Teddy Tardibone.
Sawyer Joy ran hard all day and gave the team a cushion with a 30 yard td late in the 3rd. The defense pitched a shutout helping seal the team win.

That was followed by Mini Level (3rd & 4th) where the LYFC Sabres lost a hard fought game 26-13. The game was tied for the majority of the game. Going into the 4th quarter the score was 13-13. The offensive effort was spearheaded by Bryson Holloway who scored 2 touchdowns on runs of 40 and 30 yards . Kam Griffin and Preston Rath had long runs as well to setup those touchdown. But two late scores by Pembroke put the game away.

At the Majors Level (5th and 6th grades) the LYFC Bengals game was postponed late in the 3rd quarter with the Bengals trailing 8-7 to Pembroke. The game was suspended due to weather. Zach Allen scored on a 45 yard touchdown run and completed the PAT as well. Scottie Nesbitt also had a few long runs for the Bengals. While Kannon Pangrazio-Coger recorded an interception on defense.

At left, Kam Griffin heads up field for the Lyndonville Sabres. At right, Zach Allen runs for a touchdown for the Lyndonville Bengals.

New slate roof complete on Mount Albion chapel to match original from 1875

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 August 2026 at 8:49 am

Provided photo from Susan Starkweather Miller

ALBION – The new slate roof is shown on Mount Albion Chapel on Friday. Easton Specialties Inc. in Honeoye Falls put the new Vermont slate on the roof for the chapel, and it was done in a way that the pattern and colors match the original slate from 1875.

The new roof is part of an overall $225,000 restoration of the building.

Local mason Neal Muscarella last year repaired and repointed the chapel’s entire exterior. The most extensive damage was in the northwest section.

Easton also has rebuilt the northwest corner’s rafters and repaired the roof deck in spots where it has failed over the years. The company installed an ice and water shield, a copper drip edge and flashings.

Mount Albion will host a tour of the cemetery at 6 p.m. on Aug. 30, with the tour led by retired Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin and current Village of Albion Historian Sue Starkweather Miller. There is tour this evening beginning at 6 p.m. at the Otter Creek Cemetery with Town of Gaines Adrienne Kirby (13252 Ridge Road, Gaines).

There will be other substantial work to follow at the chapel including interior replastering of the north wall; electrical upgrades (wiring, outlets, internal and external lighting); heating unit for seasonal use; removal of old floor, repair subfloor and put in a new floor; and refurbish exterior doors and window trim.

The $225,000 for the chapel restoration was funded by donations from the community.

File photo by Tom Rivers: The chapel at Mount Albion Cemetery is shown in September 2024 before getting new mortar and a new roof.

State legislator brings ‘NY Fights AI Data Centers’ tour to Batavia today

Posted 23 August 2026 at 8:12 am

Press Release

BATAVIA – State Senator Kristen Gonzalez will bring her “NY Fights AI Data Centers” Statewide Tour to Genesee County today at 2 p.m. at Eden Cafe in Batavia, 242 Ellicott St Batavia.

The event is hosted by local residents of Genesee County who are concerned about the proposed STREAM US Data Center at the Western New York Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing (STAMP) mega-industrial site in the town of Alabama.

Senator Gonzalez sponsored the Responsible Data Center Development Act (S.10642), which the NYS Legislature passed earlier this year. This event is one stop on the Senator’s statewide tour to learn from communities fighting existing and proposed data centers.

Residents plan to address a wide range of issues, including their experiences with local governments, the potentially detrimental consequences of a data center at STAMP, concerns about PILOT payments, transparency and accountability issues associated with the GCEDC, the public health and environmental impacts, and alternative visions for the future of the site.

The event will also include time for additional audience comments and discussion with the Senator. The event is open to the public, although in-person attendance is limited and requires an RSVP. The organizers will also livestream the event on zoom.

Governor Kathy Hochul signed Executive Order No. 62 on July 14, 2026, making New York the first state in the country to enact a statewide pause on new hyperscale data center construction. While the Executive Order marks a step toward protecting New Yorkers from the impacts of large-scale data centers, organizers of Sunday’s event hope that this listening session and the Senator’s tour will bolster advocacy efforts towards creating long-term regulations on future data center developments.

Senator Gonzalez’s legislation, the Responsible Data Center Development Act (S.10642), which passed both chambers of the Legislature with bipartisan support in June, codifies important regulations missing from the current Executive Order and ensures public engagement, labor agreements, and energy efficiency standards.

Local residents join advocates around NYS in urging Governor Hochul to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act to protect New Yorkers after the current Executive Order – which is in effect for up to one year only – has expired.

Today’s listening session represents an opportunity for the downstate-based Senator, Chair of the Senate Committee on Internet and Technology, to hear firsthand how these projects affect rural communities.

People who wish to attend the event in person may RSVP using this link (click here). Those who prefer to watch the proceedings live may join via the Zoom link –https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84465170895.

Headlines in August 1945 declared end of World War II, and noted local sacrifice

Posted 22 August 2026 at 9:08 pm

This headline was gladly welcomed in the Albion Advertiser on August 16, 1945.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No. 23

ALBION – President Truman officially announced Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13, 1945.

The announcement of the ending of this war which had begun on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, was a welcome one. In Albion, factory whistles and bells sounded out the celebration.

Events on the world stage invariably have a local impact.

In that same issue of the Albion Advertiser, an article titled “Medina Man Gives Life in Pacific War” told of the death of Sgt. Stanley W. Dunn, killed in action over the Ryukyus Islands in the Pacific on July 18, 1945. He had served as a top turret gunner on a B-25 with the 405th Bomber Squadron, Fifth Air Force.

The son of Mr. & Mrs. William Dunn of Fletcher Chapel Road in Shelby, Sgt. Dunn was awarded the Purple Heart Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. His monument is in the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines, the largest of the American overseas military cemeteries, it honors over 17,000 American servicemen

An unusual event, which occurred at the First Methodist Church in Medina on Sunday, August 12, just days before the announcement of the end of the war, was also reported in that issue of the Albion Advertiser. During a service which was being led by Rev. Webb Ayres, the congregation was startled by the sudden appearance of a white dove flying through the church. It perched on an organ pipe at the front of the church and later flew to another part of the church where it remained for the duration of the service. A white dove is generally recognized as the symbol of peace.

Severe thunderstorm watch in effect until 9 p.m. for Orleans, most of WNY

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 August 2026 at 6:16 pm

Garrett Knaak sent in this photo from 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday of a shelf cloud on Clarendon Road in Albion. This cloud is a low and a horizontal, wedge-shaped cloud that appears at the leading edge of a thunderstorm’s gust front. It signals sudden strong winds and a dramatic drop in temperature.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m. for Orleans County and much of Western New York.

The Weather Service also issued a beach hazards statement from Sunday morning through Tuesday evening, warning that strong currents will create dangerous swimming conditions at beaches in Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, northern Cayuga, Oswego and Jefferson counties.

Green has even par round at Canadian Open

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 August 2026 at 6:08 pm

Contributed Photo – Melanie Green

Unable to keep the momentum from a red hot start, Medina’s Melanie Green finished with an even par 70 at today’s third round of the LPGA’s Canadian Open being held at Edmonton, Alberta.

Starting the day at 2 under after back to back rounds of 1 under 69 to open the tournament, Green quickly improved to 5 under after registering birdies on 4, 5 and 7.

However, just as was the case during Friday’s second round, the rest of this round would be a roller-coaster ride.

Bogeys on 8 and 9 set her back to 1 under for the day and 3 under for the tournament.

Green got that one right back with a birdie on 10 to go to 2 under for the day and 4 under for the tourney.

However, bogey trouble struck again on both 12 and 14 again putting her back to even for the day and 2 under for the tournament.

Green rebounded with a birdie on 15 but that advance was quickly wiped out by a bogey on 16 as she finished the day at even par 70 and at 2 under for the first three days of the tourney.

The tournament will conclude on Sunday.

Triennial hosting programs for youth on Sunday and Aug. 30

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 22 August 2026 at 12:11 pm

Photo by Alexandra Peracciny: Youth are shown in an activity during one of the youth programs held during the summer as part of the Medina Triennial. Here, they are building structures out of toothpicks and marshmallows to see how different materials hold up. They practiced using a variety of foraged and repurposed materials to see what was most sustainable. The final two programs are this Sunday and Aug. 30.

MEDINA – As the Medina Triennial enters into its final weeks, focus is being given to a series of youth programs, led by Medina School teacher and local photographer Alexandra Peracciny.

Peracciny has been leading the free programs throughout the summer, in which children and teenagers were introduced to the ideas behind the Triennial’s artworks through conversations, close looking and hands-on creative activities, said Kari Conte, creative director of the Medina Triennial.

Each workshop offered separate sessions for ages 5-10 and 11-18, allowing activities and discussions to be tailored to different age groups.

The programs encourage young people to think about art in relation to everyday life, community, local history, food, storytelling and the environment.

Participants received Triennial passports to use while visiting the exhibition’s 10 sites throughout Medina. The passports encourage families to experience the full exhibition and connect the individual artworks.

The Medina Triennial is a contemporary art exhibition presented across multiple sites in Medina. Its programs invite residents and visitors of all ages to engage with art and with ideas that relate to the region, its communities and the wider world.

The next program, titled “Nourishing Connection: A Workshop on food and Where it Comes From,” is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Medina Triennial Hub on North Main Street. The sessions for ages 5-10 begin at 2 p.m., followed by the program for ages 11-18 at 3 p.m.

Inspired by the works of Mary Mattingly and Michael Wang, participants will discuss where food comes from and how caring for their communities can encourage healthier habits. Each participant will then plant seeds to take home.

The final youth program of the summer on Aug. 30 is called “Reflection:” Who We Are and What We’ve Learned.” Sessions begin at noon for ages 5-10 and at 1 p.m. for ages 11-18. Participants will receive the Triennial passports they completed over the summer and reflect on their favorite artworks and the projects they created during the youth program. The closing activity will invite participants to make self-portraits and write descriptions expressing who they are as artists and who they hope to become.

Past programs, which began June 14 with “Everyday Stories,” introduced participants to works by Jean Shin and Tania Candiani. Young people considered how art can celebrate ordinary experiences and make space for many voices. They then created projects inspired by the discussion.

Future Forests on Aug. 9 explored sustainability and deforestation through works by James Beckett, Harun Farocki and FIBRA. Participants used recycled materials to construct structures of their own.

Collective Memory on Aug. 16 drew upon works by Futurefarmers and Gregory Halpern. Participants discussed how one place can contain many stories and perspectives, then created drawings through which they shared their own stories.

Pawlak is named Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Villa Maria College

Contributed Story Posted 22 August 2026 at 9:33 am

Contributed Photo – Joe Pawlak

Villa Maria College Press Release
Former Roy-Hart Coach Joseph Pawlak has been named the new Villa Maria College Head Women’s Basketball Coach, announced Villa Maria Athletic Director Chris Heximer.

“Coach Pawlak brings extensive experience coaching high school and college basketball with both women’s and men’s teams,” Heximer said.

“Further, he has been active in coaching travel basketball and has helped host numerous basketball camps in the WNY area over the years. Coach Pawlak is eager to share his core values, develop student-athletes, and promote their academic success. Please join me in welcoming him to Villa Maria College.”

Pawlak has nearly two decades of basketball coaching experience with both men’s and women’s teams. He spent six seasons at Medaille University in various roles, including Head JV Coach, Assistant Varsity Coach, Director of Operations, and Team Manager. In that role, he received the Men’s Basketball Team’s First Award for managerial excellence. During his final season at Medaille, Pawlak served as both Men’s Varsity Basketball Assistant Coach and Men’s JV Basketball Head Coach while completing his Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership.

“I want to thank Villa Maria College for this incredible opportunity. My family and I are very blessed to join the Villa Maria community. This is a dream come true; God has a plan. We look forward to connecting with the college community and getting to work. Go Vikings! Quiet, unassuming, talented, and tough,” said Pawlak.

Pawlak comes to Villa after spending last season at Oakfield-Alabama High School as the Women’s Varsity Basketball Team’s Assistant, helping the Hornets win the 2026 Genesee Region League Championship.

Prior to Oakfield-Alabama, Pawlak served as the Men’s Varsity Basketball Head Coach at the Royalton-Hartland Central School District, earning numerous accolades, including the Niagara-Orleans League Championship, Section Champion Runner-Up, and the Niagara-Orleans Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY) Coach of the Year.

Pawlak has served as a basketball instructor at numerous camps and clinics at collegiate venues, including Niagara University, Daemen University, Canisius University, Medaille University, and Buffalo State University.

In addition to BCANY, Pawlak is affiliated with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the National High School Basketball Coaches Association (NHSBCA), and is licensed by USA Basketball (USAB) as a Gold-level Coach.

Pawlak and his wife, Gabriella, live in Medina with their three children, Michael, Julian, and Noah.

4 artists showcased at new Marti’s show in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 August 2026 at 9:05 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Marti’s on Main art gallery in Albion held a reception on Friday for a new art show featuring Jan Kisiel, Jenna Papponetti, Paul Facklam and Sharon Stewart. The top photo shows Harriet Symons, 10, taking a photo of paintings by her grandmother, Sharon Stewart of Albion.

Sharon Stewart is shown with some of her acrylic landscape paintings. Some of them are from trips she went on to Italy and Greece.

Stewart is a retired math professor from a community college in Kentucky. She and her husband Brian moved to Albion to be close to their daughters and their families, including six grandchildren.

Stewart, 79, was an art minor at Houghton College. She has 21 paintings featured in the new show at Marti’s, which is located at 20 South Main St.

Jenna Papponetti, 26, of Albion has seven charcoal landscape drawings on display featuring the Erie Canal. Papponetti also has written and illustrated three books. For more information on her books and artwork, click here.

Paul Facklam is recently retired as an art teacher at Roy-Hart, working in the elementary, middle and high schools. Before his 27-year teaching career, Facklam worked 20 years as an illustrator.

He has paintings with marshmallows, which he said represent “that soft, sensitive part out us.”

The paintings by Facklam shows marshmallows with fishing lures, billiard balls, and a hammer and nails.

“The hammer and nails represent the difficult or painful things that happen to us,” he said. “The fishing lures symbolize the things that we can be drawn to that are not particularly healthy for us.”

Jan Kisiel, a retired event planner who lives in Holley, has 12 pieces in the art show. She uses egg tempera painting, mixing dry pigment, egg yolk and some water.

The top painting shows a lamb sticking out its tongue. It was inspired from the ‘Good Shepherd” stained-glass window at the Canalside Community Church in Albion, a former United Methodist church. That window shows Jesus as a shepherd with lambs. In the window, one of the lambs is sticking out its tongue.

Kisiel said being an artist and an event planner are similar in that both need a strong attention to details.

For information on Marti’s, click here or call 585-590-9211.

Candidate for county legislator welcomes chance to meet with residents

Posted 22 August 2026 at 8:07 am

Editor:

Let me introduce myself. My name is Marlene Seielstad and I am running for Orleans County Legislator at Large. I am asking for your vote this election day, November 3rd.

That in itself doesn’t tell you much about me. The reality is I would really like us to get to know each other. I would like you to follow me at facebook.com/Marleneforcountylegislator. I would like for you to check out my website Marlene4Orleans.com but most of all I want to meet you!!

I have two Meet N Greets scheduled for this week. One is today the 22nd from 3 to 5 p.m. at Medina Lanes and the second is Thursday the 27th from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Hoag Library. Stop in for 2 minutes or 2 hours, the choice is yours. 2026 is filled with choices come learn about one of them!

Regards,

Marlene Seielstad

Carlton

Republicans further their cruelty by raising costs, cutting access to SNAP

Posted 22 August 2026 at 7:56 am

Editor:

On Oct. 1st, 2026, every county in New York will face a steep increase in the administration of SNAP benefits, according to New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC).

The increase is the direct result of the One Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, Congressman Nick Langworthy, and the Republicans in Congress. This legislation reduces federal subsidies for SNAP benefits. Monroe County, for example, will need to increase its program costs by more than $3 million; Niagara County by more than $1.5 million; Livingston and Orleans by more than $300,000 and $200,000, respectively.

In addition to the cost of the program, counties will be required to increase monitoring and documentation of SNAP recipients. As NYSAC explains: “Counties are being asked to monitor more people, explain more rules, process more documentation, and preserve program integrity with less federal support.”

Republicans justify this increase in county cost and the suffering of their constituents by claiming they are stopping waste, fraud, and abuse of the system. However, the data they are using does not measure waste, fraud, or abuse. They are using Payment Error Rate Measurement (PERM), which measures improper payments, and most of these are shown to be paperwork mistakes.

Having two jobs or variable hours or shifts with different pay schedules greatly increases filing errors. As NYSAC reports: “Many errors stem from wages, salaries, and missing reports. Those issues often reflect changing jobs, changing hours, delayed paperwork, inconsistent schedules, and difficulty documenting income in a timely way.”

However, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney cited PERM data in a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul “urging her administration to cooperate with the federal government to reduce Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment errors, combat waste, fraud and abuse and protect New York taxpayers from unnecessary costs.”

Even the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recognizes that PERM does not identify fraud. Ms. Tenney and Mr. Langworthy are intentionally and knowingly misusing data to further Republican cruelty. And the cruelty is obvious.

The need for food assistance has not changed, especially with the rising cost of food and fuel. The bureaucratic changes will only restrict access, making food insecurity more of a problem, not less. Because of Ms. Tenney and Mr. Langworthy, counties will be forced to increase taxes, cut services, or both. The cruelty is in the Republican plan.

William Fine

Brockport

Holley man killed after colliding with farm tractor on Route 19 in Clarkson

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 August 2026 at 7:39 am

CLARKSON – A Holley man died on Thursday morning after an accident with a farm tractor on Route 19 in Clarkson.

Daniel Kernan, 60, of Holley collided with a tractor just before 6 a.m. on Lake Road in Clarkson. Kernan was driving a SUV.

Kernan was headed northbound near Lawton Road when he collided with a tractor towing a set of 17-foot discs, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Karnan was pronounced dead at the scene. The tractor driver wasn’t injured or impaired, the Sheriff’s Office said.