By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 31 March 2026 at 7:47 am
File photo: These volunteers painted picnic tables at Camp Rainbow during the “Day of Caring” on May 19, 2023. About 70 people volunteered for the United Way Day of Caring three years ago in Orleans County.
KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans Community Connects, the new name adopted by United Way of Orleans County, has announced it will continue the former Day of Caring, in which volunteers offer their services county-wide to do projects for local non-profits.
May 8 has been designated as Community Connects Day and will begin with a kickoff breakfast at 8 a.m. in the pavilion at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds, 12590 State Route 31. Volunteer projects will be launched at 9 a.m. at designated locations throughout Orleans County.
Community Connects Day reflects the spirit of connection and purpose through its theme, “Rooted in Community. Driven by Connections.” The initiative invites volunteers of all skill levels and backgrounds to assist nonprofits with meaningful projects that help strengthen the organizations that serve the community every day.
“We are excited to bring our community together for a powerful day of service,” said Dawn Winkler, event coordinator of Orleans Community Connects. “This event highlights what is possible when neighbors, organizations and volunteers connect to support causes that matter. Every project completed helps strengthen the foundation of the nonprofits who work tirelessly for our community.”
The event is made possible through generous support from our sponsor North Shore Networks, whose contribution helped fund meals, supplies and visibility for the initiative, Winkler said.
Local nonprofits are invited to submit project needs – such as minor maintenance, indoor cleaning, landscaping, painting or other identified tasks in order to receive volunteer assistance. Agencies can request the number of volunteers needed and provide descriptions of the work to be done. A nonprofit project form may be requested by e-mailing Events@OrleansCommunityConnects.org.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 30 March 2026 at 7:42 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Quincy McClinsey delivers a pitch for Lyndonville diring the Tigers league opening win over visiting Wheatland-Chili this afternoon.
Lyndonville opened the Genesee Region League baseball season on a high note this afternoon as the Tigers downed visiting Wheatland-Chili 14-4.
The Tigers scored 3 times in each of the first three innings and then put a lock on the win with 5 more in the fourth.
RBI hits by Austin Fonda and winning pitcher Quincy McClinsey highlighted the first inning scoring burst. Fonda and McClinsey also both had RBI hits in the big fourth inning.
McClinsey finished with 3 hits and 5 RBI and Fonda 2 hits and 3 RBI.
On the mound, McClinsey allowed 1 hit and struck out 7 in three and two-thirds innings of work.
Oakfield-Alabama 9, Albion 5
Trailing 5-3, Oakfield-Alabama rallied for 6 runs in the sixth inning to earn the non league win over visiting Albion.
The Hornets bunched four singles and a double into the decisive sixth inning uprising.
Kaiden Froman, Elliott Trapiss, Drew Prichard and Gavin Boyce each had a pair of hits for Albion.
Albion held leads of 3-0 and 5-3. Trapiss and Pritchard both had RBI hits in the fourth inning, Trapiss another RBI hit in the fifth and Pritchard and Viktor Snyder RBIs in the sixth.
Lyndonville’s Brandon Dill takes a throw at first base to get the out on Whealtland-Chili’s Sawyer Galajda.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 30 March 2026 at 7:23 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Elise Monaco takes a throw at first base to get the out on Medina’s Savannah Jo Thmpson during the Lady Bulldogs league home opening win this afternoon.
Two big early inning scoring bursts keyed defending co-champion Barker to a 13-0 win over visiting Medina in the Niagara-Orleans League softball season opener this afternoon.
Barker took the lead for good with 4 runs in the second inning on RBI singles by Aine Davis and Madelina Pavlock and an error.
A big 7 run third inning then broke the contest wide open as Davis and Peyton Bradley had RBI hits.
Davis and Pavlock both finished with a pair of hits.
Madyson Flint dominated in the circle for Barker allowing only 1 hit and striking out 13.
Akron 9, Albion 0
Akron blanked visiting Albion 9-0 in another N-O opener as Kenadee Jonathan hurled a 4 hitter with 9 strikeouts.
Akron went up 3-0 in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Jonathan and an RBI single by Madison Gates. RBI singles by Morgan Tomporowski and Mackenzie Tomporowski then keyed a 3 run fifth inning which upped the advantage to 6-0.
Wilson 12, Newfane 7
In the other N-O opener Wilson downed rival Newfane 12-7.
Medina’s Isabelle Perez makes a running catch in centerfield.
Press Release, United States Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, Western District of New York
BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Norman Kelly, 69, of Albion, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 144 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who handled the case, stated that on October 20, 2023, Kelly arrived at the Port of Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, Michigan, on a flight from Incheon, South Korea.
During an inspection of his baggage, Kelly removed a cellular phone from his pocket, and had a computer bag, which contained a laptop computer, and four USB thumb drives. Due to a lack of eye contact during questioning, inconsistencies in his travel story, and nervous behavior, the devices were authorized to be examined.
A Customs and Border Protection officer examined the cell phone, laptop and one of the thumb drives and discovered what appeared to be suspected child pornography. Subsequent investigation determined that between March 12 and September 20, 2023, Kelly used his laptop computer to entice minors to engage in sexually explicit behavior for the purpose of producing images, which he would receive via the internet.
On March 12, 2023, Kelly received a sexually explicit image of a female child, approximately 10-12 years old. On July 20, 2023, he received a sexually explicit video file of an infant female, approximately 1.5 to three years old.
Kelly possessed approximately 475 image files and 377 video files of child sexual abuse material. Some of the images included depictions of violence against children.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan. Additional assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations in Detroit, Michigan.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 March 2026 at 6:55 pm
Photo courtesy of Marsha Rivers: The sun sets on Friday evening over Lake Ontario, creating some dramatic light.
A flood watch has been issued in Orleans County from Tuesday morning through Wednesday evening.
Flooding could be caused by heavy rainfall. Flows in creeks and rivers may increase quickly and reach critical levels, the National Weather Service said.
The flood watch also includes Niagara, Monroe, Wayne, northern Cayuga, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Ontario, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties.
“Multiple rounds of showers and embedded thunderstorms are expected between tonight and Tuesday night which may result in several inches of rainfall over a 2 to 3 day period,” the Weather Service said about the affected areas. “Excess runoff from this rainfall may cause area waterways to reach or exceed bankfull stage.”
Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop, the Weather Service said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 March 2026 at 4:45 pm
Harriger was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2015 after being convicted in trial
File photo by Tom Rivers: Roy Harriger, a former local pastor, walks to Orleans County Court on April 6, 2015, when he was sentenced to 15 years in state prison.
ALDEN – Roy Harriger, a former prominent local pastor serving a 15-year prison sentence for sexually abusing children, died on March 26 at Wende Correctional Facility. He was 82.
Harriger was convicted by a jury in 2015 of child molestation. During his sentencing on April 6, 2015, Harriger was called “a wolf in shepherd’s clothing,” by then Orleans County Court Judge James Punch.
Harriger was pastor of the Ashwood Wesleyan Church in Lyndonville for 12 years before he was terminated by the church in 2009 after a falling out with denomination leaders. He was accused of abusing his grandchildren in 2002 and 2001.
After the falling out at Ashwood, Harriger started a new church, Community Fellowship Church in Johnson Creek, which is in Niagara County. Many of members of Community Fellowship attended his trial and court dates in 2015 in support of their pastor, who denied any wrongdoing.
Three of his grandchildren testified during his trial in January 2015 that he had molested them.
“He’s had a tremendous impact on the people he has victimized,” Joe Cardone, the district attorney then, said at sentencing. “It’s made this entire family dysfunctional.”
Harriger could have faced a 25-year sentence for his crimes. Judge Punch gave him 15 years total in prison plus another 10 years of post-release supervision.
Harriger’s son George and Harriger’s sister Nona also told reporters them were sexually abused by Harriger when they were children. His sister said his crimes go back 60 years.
Judge Punch said Harriger used his position as a pastor, as a leader in his family and the community, to try to silence the victims.
“The bullying, the use of charisma, the power of your personality were all brought forward to victimize these children and keep them quiet,” Punch said.
He said it was a breach of trust to Harriger’s family, friends, the church and the grandchildren.
Harriger was convicted again in a Pennsylvania court in February 2017 for sexually molesting his niece when she was 6 to 11 years old. Those crimes occurred when Harriger was leading the Mercer Community Church of the Nazarene in Mercer County, Pa. He was pastor there from 1991 to 1997.
He was charged with rape, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault. Harriger was sentenced to 2 to 5 years in prison for the crimes in Pennsylvania, with the sentence to be served concurrently with the New York sentence.
Daniel Martuscello III, commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, advised in a Feb. 25 letter to Orleans County DA Susan Howard that Harriger was suffering from a terminal condition and would be eligible for medical parole.
Howard, in a letter to the DOCCS commissioner on March 13, opposed the release from prison. She urged the Board of Parole not to grant the medical parole. She said she spoke with Harriger’s victims and they were “horrified” about him getting out of prison early, saying he could abuse other children.
The victims told Howard that Harriger planned to fake a stroke if he was ever sent to prison.
“The crimes of this man shook our small community to its core,” Howard wrote in her letter. “In addition to that of his own family, he violated the trust of many, many people who attended his church. He did not take responsibility for his actions, and dragged our office, his victims and the community through a trial. He showed no remorse for his actions. The lives he destroyed far outweigh the years he has left, which should be lived out incarcerated in prison.”
The Rev. Dr. Ashley Casanova is pastor of the Family of God, a church in Middleport. She also is Harriger’s niece who was sexually abused by him in Pennsylvania.
She said today is hopeful Harriger’s death can help the family “completely heal.”
Harriger’s victims were contacted about a month ago about a possible early medical release. Casanova opposed his release. In a letter to Martuscello on March 13, she asked that Harriger stay in prison, and cited the “heinous acts he committed against me.”
She said he violated trust, faith and safety of family and friends.
“The impact of what he did has been devastating, profound, and far-reaching. It has affected every area of my life and every part of who I am,” she said in her letter. “Releasing Roy Harriger would reopen wounds that many of us have spent years and I mean years trying to heal. It would send a painful message that the lifelong suffering of victims carries less weight than the remaining years of the person who caused it. I fear the emotional harm his release would cause and the potential risk to others, especially children.”
Casanova said she wants to be involved in a prison ministry where she can connect with women in prison who have been sexually abused, and help them find God’s healing in the process. Many victims will often turn to drugs and crime due to the violations and betrayals of trust they’ve suffered, she said.
Her Christian faith led her through the devastation she experienced from her uncle.
“I’m a walking, breathing testimony,” she said. “It is by God’s grace and mercy that I am where I am today. I want our family to know that this chapter and this season of our life is over and we can move on to the next chapter God has for us.”
Harriger sued the state in 2019 and won, and was awarded $2 million by the NYS Court of Appeals after being injured by corrections officers at Attica Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison. He was hit in the back of the head with a baton, leaving him unconscious. The court ruled Harriger was assaulted and the unwarranted use of excessive force at Attica Correctional caused his injuries.
Casanova said Harriger didn’t receive that money and there is a dispute within the family on who is entitled to it.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 March 2026 at 12:30 pm
Photos courtesy of Crosby’s
ALBION – The remodeled Crosby’s convenience store reopened on Friday at 204 South Main St. This follows the remodeling of Crosby’s other store in Albion on North Main Street in May 2024.
Crosby’s, owned by the Reid Group in Lockport, has revamped the store at the intersection of routes 98 and 31. The company operates 86 throughout Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania.
The celebration also was a kickoff to Crosby’s yearly partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, in which various donation efforts will begin across all Crosby’s stores in service of CF and finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Crosby’s also donated $300 to Albion Central School District and $500 to Albion Fire Department.
The remodeled store has 16 employees. The store will offer Crosby’s food items including pizza, made-to-order subs and specialty drinks such as hot chocolate, 100% Columbian Coffee and slushies.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 March 2026 at 10:36 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from March 6 shows icicles on the bronze statue of Santa at Waterman Park on Main Street in Albion. A building in back in center is owned by the Albion Betterment Committee and will be turned into a Santa School Museum. Charles W. Howard ran the first Santa School in the world on Phipps Road in Albion from 1937 until his death in 1966. The school continues in Howard’s name in Midland, Mich. The Betterment Committee dedicated the statue, created by Brian Porter, during the Strawberry Festival in June 2023.
ALBION – The Albion Betterment Committee is a step closer in its goal of developing a Santa School Museum in downtown Albion.
The Betterment Committee has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Rochester Community Foundation to replace a front-arched window on the second floor of 128 North Main St. The window will be replaced with wood at the exact dimensions as the existing window which has rotted wood.
This is the first grant from the Rochester Community Foundation for the Betterment Committee, said Natasha Wasuck, one of the committee’s board members.
The committee purchased the building in November from the estate of Henri Pulley. The site is 6,600 square feet.
The Betterment Committee is working to turn the vacant two-story site into the Santa School Museum. It 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.
Howard continues to be revered among the people who portray Santa. The Santa School continues in his name in Midland, Mich. Howard also was well known as the Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from 1948 to 1965. Howard also was inducted as an inaugural member in 2010 of the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame.
The Betterment Committee wants to make the Main Street site into a tourism center that celebrates Santa. 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.
The Betterment Committee envisions the first floor as interactive exhibits and displays, as well as room for a bakery and food operator. The site could also offer services, including showers, for canal boaters, cyclists and other visitors.
The second floor is envisioned to offer space for artists – painters, potters, and others in need of studio space. The second floor has large windows that let in natural light that would be ideal for artists, Wasuck said.
The group is seeking grants to help with building upgrades, especially a new roof that will cost an estimated $50,000. The Betterment Committee welcomes donations.
“The roof is the most important part,” Wasuck said about the building’s pressing needs. “We need to raise the money to replace it.”
The group is a 501c3 organization that accepts tax deductible donations. Donations can be sent to Albion Betterment Committee, P.O. Box 125, Albion NY 14411.
“This project is built on belief — in our history, our community, and the magic of what’s possible,” she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 March 2026 at 9:06 am
Photos courtesy of Marsha Rivers: The Oak Orchard Lighthouse is shown on Sunday evening looking east across the Oak Orchard Harbor.
It won’t be so cold this week compared to last week when the temperatures often fell below freezing.
Today is forecast to be mostly cloudy with a high near 64 in Orleans County, with overnight showers, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
Tuesday will be the warmest day of the week with a high near 65, but there could be a half inch to ¾-inch of rain.
The highs then include 48 on Wednesday with showers, 51 on Thursday with showers, 63 on Friday with showers likely, and 59 on Saturday with a chance for precipitation.
A goose is moving on Lake Ontario as the sun sets on Sunday night near the Oak Orchard harbor in Carlton.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 March 2026 at 8:26 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The gas price at the Crosby’s on Route 104 in Gaines was at $4.05 on Sunday. The average price in Orleans County jumped from $3.77 to $4.03 in the past week.
The price for regular unleaded gas in Orleans County jumped another 26 cents in the past week and has now passed $4. The price went from $3.766 a week ago to $4.030 today, according to AAA.
The price in Orleans County is the highest in Western New York. Here are the prices around WNY:
Orleans, $4.030
Genesee, $3.930
Monroe, $3.958
Niagara, $3.882
Erie, $3.952
Wyoming, $3.879
Livingston, $3.906
Chautauqua, $3.878
Cattaraugus, $3.781
Allegany, $3.832
Other counties in the state at $4 or higher include: St. Lawrence, $4.173; Franklin, $4.180; Clinton, $4.132; Essex, $4.248; Hamilton, $4.199; Rockland, $4.075; Westchester, $4.077; and New York (Manhattan), $4.040.
The average gas price nationally is at $3.99 today, up 5 cents from last Monday, while the New York State average is $3.93, up 7 cents from last Monday. The war in Iran has hit the four-week mark. A month ago, the NYS gas price average was $3.002. The diesel price in NYS has gone from $4.008 a month ago to $5.75 today, AAA reported.
AAA issued this statement: “As March winds down, drivers are feeling renewed pressure at the pump as the national average for regular gasoline continues its sharp climb, fueled by rising seasonal demand and the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Over the past several weeks, prices have surged on the back of elevated crude oil costs, increased road travel, and broader geopolitical uncertainty.
“Crude prices remain stubbornly high as the conflict approaches its fourth week, pushing the national average toward the $4-per-gallon mark for the first time since August 2022. Spring break travel is also ramping up, adding another layer of upward pressure on pump prices.”
Photos and information courtesy of the Medina Band Boosters
GATES – Medina’s varsity and JV winter guard groups both competed Saturday in the North East Color Guard Circuit Championships at Gates Chili.
The top photo shows Medina’s varsity winter guard with scored 78.55 and finished fourth in the A1 class. Corning-Painted Post HS won with 82.810 in the division.
There were 29 guards performing that came from NYS, Canada and PA at the championships.
Classifications are determined by age and skill level. The Medina Colorguard Club performed in exhibition and therefore not scored.
Medina’s JV guard competed in the Cadet class and scored 75.24 putting them in 2nd place in a group of 6 guards. The Lancaster Cadet scored 76.780 for first place.
While the WG season comes to close the entire band will be preparing for the parade season.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 March 2026 at 6:00 pm
File Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Melanie Green
Three birdies on the back nine of today’s final round has earned Medina’s Melanie Green a solid 10 under par finish at the LPGA Tour’s Ford Championship Tournament at Phoenix.
Green started the day at 7 under and was still at that score after 10 holes.
However, she put together back-to-back clutch birdies on 11 and 12 to go 9 under and the tacked on a birdie at 17 for the second day in a row to finish the day with a 3 under 69.
She completed the tourney with a 10 under par total score of 278.
She had just one bogie on the day and 4 birdies to earn her third sub par round of the four day tournament.
She also had a 3 under par 69 to open the tourney on Thursday. She followed that up with a 5 under 67 on round two on Friday and a 1 over 73 on the third round on Saturday.
Green’s next LPGA Tour start will be at the LA Championship April 16-19 at Tarzana, California.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 March 2026 at 9:29 am
The calendar says it is a bit early but the Niagara-Orleans League softball season is scheduled to get underway on Monday with a full slate of three games at 4:45 p.m.
Those contests will have Medina at defending co-champion Barker, Albion at Akron and Wilson at Newfane.
Defending co-champion Roy-Hart, which has the bye on Monday, will visit Medina at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday. The other two 4:45 p.m. games that afternoon will have Newfane at Albion and Barker at Wilson.
On the baseball diamond, Kendall will be playing a pair of games at Myrtle Beach on Monday and Thursday.
Weekly Schedule Monday Baseball – Wheatland-Chili at Lyndonville, 5 p.m. Softball – Medina at Barker, Albion at Akron, Wilson at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday Softball – Alexander at Barker, 4:45 p.m. Lacrosse – Medina at Akron, 7 p.m.
Wednesday Baseball – CSAT at Barker, 4:45 p.m.; Tonawanda at Albion, Roy-Hart at Sweet Home. 5 p.m. Softball – Roy-Hart at Medina, Newfane at Albion, Barker at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; CSAT at Lyndonville, 5 p.m. Lacrosse – Depew at Medina, 7 p.m.
Thursday Baseball – Pembroke at Barker, 4:45 p.m.; Lyndonville at Oakfield-Alabama, 5 p.m. Softball – Oakfield-Alabama at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.
Friday Softball – Wheatland-Chili at Lyndonville, 5 p.m.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 March 2026 at 9:25 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – The Lyndonville varsity baseball squad’s lineup includes, in front, Austin Fonda, Landon Markidis, Colton Smith, Devon Babcock and Shannon Withey. In back are Shawn Robertson, Brandon Dill, Quincy McClinsey, Thomas Blake, Atticus Mank and Will Arlington. Missing are Christopher Dix and Lane Woodworth.
Continuing to build, Lyndonville is prepping for its second season since returning to varsity baseball competition with a youthful but veteran laden lineup.
Seniors Austin Fonda (second base) and Colton Smith (shortstop) head the Tigers large veteran contingent which also includes juniors Quincy McClinsey (pitcher/third base), Atticus Mank (first base/pitcher), Landon Markidis (third base), Shannon Withey (outfield), Will Arlington and Thomas Blake along with sophomores Lane Woodworth (outfield), Brandon Dill (first base), Shawn Robertson (third base) and Devon Babcock (outfield).
The Tigers graduation losses from last spring’s return to varsity competition 1-16 team include Cole Moyle (catcher) and Jacob Pitcher (outfield/pitcher).
“We do have a large group back but it is a young team that needs to get more varsity experience,” said Coach Brad Hoffee.
The Tigers are scheduled to open the Genesee Region League season at home on Monday against Wheatland-Chili at 5 p.m.
