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Fairgrounds hosting Shakesbeer Steampunk Festival on Saturday
Press Release, Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council
BATAVIA – Live performers, musicians, artisans and an imaginative mix of Victorian-inspired curiosities and creations will take over the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds, 12690 Route 31 in Albion on Saturday, Oct. 17 for the Shakesbeer Steampunk Festival.
Presented by GO Art! (Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council), the free, one-day festival will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Reimagined for 2026 by GO Art!, the festival blends the theatrical flair of the Shakespearean era with the inventive, retro-futuristic world of steampunk. Visitors are invited to dress up, join in and experience a world where gears grind, tea steams and imagination rules. From tea dueling and trivia to a costume contest, live entertainment and nearly 20 regional artisans, the interactive festival offers plenty of ways for attendees to become part of the experience.
The event pays homage to the beloved steampunk festival originally hosted by Leonard Oakes Estate Winery from 2011 to 2019, while introducing a fresh creative twist inspired by classic literature, performance and fantasy.
“Shakesbeer Steampunk is meant to bring people together to celebrate the arts in a playful, imaginative way,” said Gregory Hallock, executive director of GO Art! “Come in costume, challenge someone to a tea duel or meet the artists behind the handmade creations. There are so many ways to join in, and we hope everyone finds something that sparks their curiosity.”
Festival Activities and Entertainment
Live music and performances will take place throughout the day, alongside an artisan market featuring handmade goods and steampunk-inspired creations. Other festival highlights include:
Interactive Challenges
- Tea Dueling: A beloved steampunk tradition that puts competitors’ biscuit-dunking skills to the test under the watchful eye of Queen Elizabeth I and her Ladies-in-Waiting.
- The Noon-Tide Contest of Cunning: A team trivia competition featuring history, literature, movies, curious facts and unexpected challenges. Free Registration
- Sword Combat and Jousting: Inflatable horse jousting and sword combat for festivalgoers ready for some friendly competition.
Costume Contest
Festival-goers are encouraged to arrive in their finest Shakespearean, steampunk or imaginative attire and enter the Shakesbeer Costume Contest. Free Registration will be open from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., followed by the costume presentation at 4 p.m. Contestants will compete for honors in three categories:
- Best Shakespeare & Steampunk Representation
- Most Creative & Unexpected
- Crowd Favorite
Entertainment
The sights and sounds of ShakesBeer Steampunk will fill the fairgrounds throughout the day with live music, theatrical performances, roaming characters, and immersive entertainment around every corner. Blending Shakespearean inspiration with steampunk imagination, the festival will feature a lively atmosphere where performers, musicians, and storytellers bring the world of ShakesBeer Steampunk to life.
Food and Craft Beverages
Food trucks and specialty beverages will be available throughout the festival, along with Shakespeare-inspired GO Art! craft beers sponsored by Eli Fish Brewing Co., including Get Thee to a Brewery, Much A-Brew About Nothing and As You Lite It.
Admission is free. For additional festival information, visit goart.org/programming/festivals. Must be 21-plus with a valid ID for craft beer tastings and purchases. No outside alcohol permitted on the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
Severe thunderstorm warning in southeastern Orleans this morning
Photo by Marsha Rivers: This photo of the Orleans County Courthouse and the First Presbyterian Church of Albion was taken at 5:55 p.m. on Thursday and shows what appears to be altocumulus clouds. Those clouds can signify changing weather is approaching.
A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for southeastern Orleans County until 10 a.m. The storm could bring 60 mile-per-hour wind gusts that could damage roofs, siding and trees, said the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
The warning also includes eastern Genesee County, Monroe County, northeastern Livingston County and northwestern Ontario County.
Today is forecast for periods of rain in Orleans County, mainly before 5 p.m. The temperature will drop from about 70 this morning to 56 by 5 p.m., the Weather Service said. Tonight the low will fall to around 37 degrees.
The highs in the coming days include 47 on Saturday, 61 on Sunday, 65 on Monday, 64 on Tuesday and 63 on Wednesday.
Landslide in election would bring needed realignment from failed policies
Editor:
There comes a point when things you did not want to believe in the past become obviously true.
Inflation just hit new highs as did the debt. A handy tool to calculate your inflation costs can be found by clicking here. You might want to believe otherwise but these are real numbers.
The purchase of 1.5 days worth of Russian diesel will pay for weapons Russia can use against Ukraine or sell to Iran to kill American soldiers. That’s the hard truth so there is no reason to trust anyone continually aligning with a butcher like Putin.
The second war in the Middle East calms down, the Israeli PM will likely be voted out of office and his trial for fraud and graft will resume. His bad advice to stay in power is recognized there and has brought economic disaster for us – fuel, fertilizer and missiles. There is no reason to trust anyone who chooses to believe everything a desperate crook wants to cling to power.
Did you know Donald Trump profits this year on his cryptocurrency business exceed his investors’ losses? This says something about whose pocket book really matters to him. That was a pattern with the New Jersey casinos too.
AI investment supports the economy right now. Profits are years off. But the money makes stock market numbers and economic activity numbers look good. Clearly in a crowded field many will go bust. No matter investors may overbuilding data center capacity since Google has announced radical new software which increases computational speed 8x while decreasing memory needs 6x.
Now do you think DT has pure motives when he fights all proposals to exam the details of AI or does he simply want to support growth numbers for his investor friends and to pad inflated economic reports?
Good capitalism, in theory and practice, depends upon good math, accurate information, free speech, and fairly applied laws. These will be needed to figure out the mix of financial and fiscal policy needed to dig out of our huge deficit. Doesn’t it makes sense to accept 50 years of data showing that policies which make the filthy rich, richer really do not create jobs or a better life style. What we face is being a country of renters rather than homeowners.
And why are the Epstein files and rich perpetrators names still being hidden while so many young victims information was outed. That is a good example of current misuse of government power and our justice system.
Will Canada every trust its boyfriend again?
This is an rare and consequential election similar to 1860 and 1932. So much is blowing up in our face that the crisis forces out old ideas and can bring clarity. Usually a major realignment in political thought starts with a landslide which matches the self evident need.
You matter, so your vote matters. Dare say, no one voted for what is happening. Vote this year.
Conrad F. Cropsey
Albion
Hands 4 Hope announces annual winter jacket and clothing drive
Photo by Tom Rivers: Jack Burris, the Hands 4 Hope founder, is shown in November 2024 when winter clothing was made available outside the Holy Family Parish in Albion. There were tables with kid-size boots and other winter clothing. This photo was taken after about 100 people went through, picking out coats and other winter apparel. Burris founded Hands 4 Hope 11 years ago. He appreciates the community’s continued donations towards the ministry.
Press Release, Hands 4 Hope
The Hands 4 Hope street ministry is preparing for its fifth annual Red Jacket Rally, continuing a community tradition that has helped provide thousands of warm winter jackets and other cold-weather necessities to neighbors throughout Orleans County.
Since the Red Jacket Rally began five years ago, Hands 4 Hope has consistently distributed more than 600 winter jackets each year, putting the ministry’s total at well over 3,000 jackets given away to local individuals and families. Every jacket, hat, pair of gloves and other item is offered completely free of charge to those who need them.
This year’s Red Jacket Rallies will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on three Thursdays: October 22 at Hoag Library in Albion, November 5 at Evans Ace Hardware in Medina, and November 19 at Holley Square.
Community members are encouraged to donate new or gently used warm winter apparel, including jackets, hats, gloves and winter boots. Those in need are invited to come to the rallies and take what they need — freely given.
The Red Jacket Rally, however, represents only part of Hands 4 Hope’s year-round outreach. During the ministry’s regular Hands 4 Hope Shares, held on the first four Saturdays of each month, volunteers also distribute winter jackets and seasonal clothing, hats and other necessities whenever needed.
At the heart of the effort is a simple mission: neighbors helping neighbors while sharing the hope and love of Jesus Christ.
For additional information about the Red Jacket Rally, donating winter apparel, or Hands 4 Hope Street Ministry, contact Hands 4 Hope or follow the ministry’s community outreach announcements.
Barker/Lyndonville and Holley girls post wins
Barker/Lyndonville closed out the regular season with a 2-1 non league girls soccer victory over Pembroke this afternoon at Lyndonville.
Cerenity Street scored in the first half for Barker/Lyndonville off an assist from Delaney LeFever.
Braelynn Dillenbeck scored what proved to be the game winner in the second half which gave Barker/Lyndonville a 2-0 lead.
Ashlyn Robinson scored Pembroke’s goal on a penalty kick.
Barker/Lyndonville finishes the regular season with a 9-7 record.
Holley 3, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba 1
Holley defeated host Oakfield-Alabama/Elba 3-1 in a Genesee Region League girls soccer game this evening.
Carsyn Mogle scored all 3 goals for the Lady Hawks off assists from Emma Burne, Jayna Burris and Sophia Satter.
Zoey Warner made 3 saves in goal.
Holley is now 6-4-1 in the league and 9-5-1 overall.
Volleyball
Lockport d. Roy-Hart in 5
Lockport defeated Roy-Hart in 5 sets 14-25, 25-15, 25-23, 21-25, 15-8 in a non league volleyball match this evening.
For Roy-Hart, Lauren Snyder had 13 kills and 2 blocks, Skylar Walker 4 kills and 2 blocks and Zoe Healey 4 aces, 2 kills and 2 blocks.
Medina tops Roy-Hart in N-O field hockey
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Savannah Jo Thompson winds up to drive the ball up field during the Mustangs 4-0 Niagara-Orleans League field hockey win over Roy-Hart this evening at Vets Park. Savannah Newton (7) and Adella Dukes (1) defend for Roy-Hart. Amelia Stalker scored 2 goals for Medina as Thompson and Brylee Christiaansen each had 1. Medina is now 3-7 and Roy-Hart 2-9 in N-O action.
Camaraderie at the creek in pursuing the big catch
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – It’s the fall salmon and trout run and many fishermen are trying to catch a big fish in the Lake Ontario tributaries in Orleans County.
One popular spot is by the dam in Lyndonville. The fish swim up through Johnson Creek and run into a wall at the dam.
Kendall bows in regular season soccer finale
Northstar bested Kendall 4-2 in a regular season ending non league boys soccer game.
Andrew D’Agostino and Brenden Eichas scored the goals for Kendall which finishes the regular season at 7-7-2.
Akron posts key win at Barker to clinch at least a tie for the N-O field hockey title
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Akron’s Brooke Milhollen (5) scores the eventual game winning goal in the Lady Tigers key 3-1 win at Barker this afternoon. Defending for Barker are Jillian Maines and goalie Adeline Atwater. Joining in on the play for Akron are Madison Gates, Brooklyn Gerstung (3) and Abigail Schlabach (13).
Clinching at least a tie for a seventh straight league title, Akron downed host Barker 3-1 in a key Niagara-Orleans field hockey game this afternoon.
The keeps Akron undefeated in N-O action at 10-0 with two games remaining while runner-up Barker slips to 9-2 with one game to go.
Akron built up a 2-0 advantage as Mackenzie Tomporowski scored with 5:16 remaining in the first quarter and Brooke Milhollen tallied with only 14 seconds to go in the third period.
Barker did cut the deficit to 2-1 when Sophia Pavlock scored at 13:27 of the final period but Akron got that one right back as Tomporowski tallied the clincher at the 11:32 mark.
Akron will close out the N-O season with games next week against Newfane and Kenmore on Tuesday and Thursday while Barker will finish with a contest at Medina on Tuesday.
Sophia Pavlock, who scored the Barker goal, works to advance the ball against Akron’s Brooke Milhollen.
Protest on Oct. 17 in Albion shows support for hard-working immigrants
Editor:
Don’t take our neighbors! They are not criminals. They are not the worst of the worst. The immigrants in our communities contribute every day. Many of them are working seven days a week, long hours to bring in the harvest as I type this letter.
On Saturday, October 17th from 4 to 5 p.m. there will be a protest at the corner of East Park Street and South Main Street in Albion. We will be standing against immigration officials taking our neighbors. It has been set to coincide with No Kings, though it is not an official part of the No Kings rallies nationally.
This is our community. This is a non-partisan issue. Many of you voted to have the worst criminals, the “worst of the worst” taken out. That is not what is happening in our community. Many of you did not vote for this at all. Our neighbors are people who support local industry as workers, as consumers, and as taxpayers. They are being taken away.
Please come stand with us. Show our immigrant neighbors that they are not alone. Show our immigrant neighbors that many of us are angry at what the government is doing. Let them know they are not alone.
Betty Garcia Mathewson
Albion
