HOLLEY – Festival visitor Evie is all smiles as she braves the Ultimate Ninja Warrior obstacle course. It was a popular attraction at this year’s JuneFest, which also featured craft and food vendors.
JuneFest took place on June 6 along Holley’s canal park path. The festival was made possible by funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program and was administered by GO ART!
Wendy Cruz, manager of Project Salus, a program of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee hands out free flowers. Young Carlee Dale happily experiences the booth. The pots came in four rim colors that each represented a different kind of person. For example, the red rim represented playfulness and a loving and nurturing spirit. The group also handed out free make-your-own flowers out of pipe cleaners that came in both daisy and sunflower varieties. Running with the tagline “Youth Voices Driving Change – Define Your Impact”, the project promotes positivity and finds resources for adolescents. It has afterschool programs in Lyndonville and Holley. Moving forward, Project Salus wants to do more community outreach focused on youths.
Alex excitedly receives a face painting of a rocketship, with glittery flames. Mary Jo Whitman of Far Out Faces WNY Face Painting creates the masterpiece.
Kevin Johnson of Clarendon Lions Club serves up grilled goodies. There were several food vendors at the festival. They were hard at work crafting great food and tasty beverages.
Christina Kelley and Stephanie Ridder of CK Designs sold keychains that could be custom-made with a large number of selections, as well as ready-made keychains.
Samantha and Mike were in charge of the Oak & Flora Shop booth. They had an array of nicknacks to purchase.
Lorraine of LD Designs poses with her selection of crocheted goods. There were many vendors selling delightful crocheted critters.
Dennis Lusk shows off the Lusk Tree Service booth. It included a large bucket lift.
Arianna gets a rainbow butterfly wing done by Mary Jo Whitman. Families had a wonderful time looking at all the sights and goods.
JuneFest featured several more booths. One of the vendors sold rocks ranging from blue calcite from the Adirondacks to geodes from Kentucky. Penna’s Crafts and Things provided samples of maple products from Carney Farms in Hornell and also sold crafts from Donald Penna’s shop.
Candy Mosholder’s Pink Zebra had wax melters that, when burned, produce a pleasant aroma. Author Debbie Patt was selling her book, Aurora’s Sweet Dream, about her dog. Esipova Youth Ballet Theater had a recruitment booth. It has a focus on Classic Ballet Rendezvous Style and accepts children ages three-plus, and it also offers adult classes.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 6 June 2026 at 3:30 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina pitcher Preston Woodworth celebrates after registering the final strikeout of the Mustangs regional win over Oneonta this afternoon.
One lone late inning run proved to be just enough as Medina avenged a one run (2-1) loss in last year’s regional by nipping Oneonra 1-0 in tn the Class B Regional at Frontier High this afternoon.
Cam Fike drove in the game’s lone run for Medina with a two out RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning which drove home Vinny Gray who had reached on a walk.
“He had been throwing fastballs so I knew he would be around the zone,” said Fike. “That was big.”
Preston Woodworth did the rest on the mound for the Mustangs allowing only 1 hit and striking out 13. His only trouble came in the top of the seventh as the Yellowjackets got two runners aboard via a single and a walk. However, he bore down to register the final victory clinching strikeout.
“It feels great,” said Woodworth of the win. “It was a nice day out there and I kept throwing strikes and kept them on their feet.”
Aidan Papaj, who made several outs defensively at shortstop, had the Mustangs only other hit with a third inning single.
Improving to 21-2, Medina now advances to the state Class B semifinals in Binghamton this coming Friday.
Note – More pictures will be on the Hub’s Facebook pages later today.
Medina’s Vinny Gray slides home with the game’s only run.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2026 at 8:36 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Visitors of the Medina Triennial on Friday walk in “Reflection,” a piece created by artist Asad Raza of Buffalo. Raza made the 70-foot water channel in the former NAPA Auto Parts building at 345 Main St., which is the Hub for the Medina Triennial. Raza sought to mimic the Erie Canal and urges people to remove their shoes and walk on Reflection and feel the slow current. This is one of 39 works created by artists and featured in the Triennial, which opens today and runs through Sept. 7.
MEDINA – A major arts initiative will open today in Medina and the public is welcome to visit 39 arts installations around the village.
The Medina Triennial is free to visit, and organizers are anticipating 50,000 people will come to Medina during the Triennial’s three-month run. The project’s main sponsors include the New York Power Authority and the New York State Canal Corporation. Many other sponsors also are supporting the initiative.
It will be a busy weekend of exhibitions, performances, talks, tours, and gatherings with artists, organizers and the Medina community.
Today’s schedule
• 11:30 a.m. – Ribbon-cutting ceremony with public officials, the Medina Triennial team, and artists at the front lawn of the historic Medina High School, 324 Catherine St.
• Noon to 8 p.m. – Exhibitions open at all sites with extended hours
• 1 p.m. – Guidebook launch with designers Other Means, editor Sarah Demeuse, and writer Laura Marris at Medina Triennial Hub, 345 Main St.
• 2 p.m. – Live Work: Faithfully Recording by Lina Lapelytė at Medina Railroad Museum Grounds, 530 West Ave. Faithfully Recording unfolds through a small team of people coming together to sing while constructing a sculpture from fragments of reclaimed Medina sandstone.
• 3:30 p.m. – Curatorial Tour with Kari Conte and Karin Laansoo, co-artistic directors of Medina Triennial. The tour will be at the historic Medina High School, 324 Catherine St.
• 6 p.m. – Undigging with Futurefarmers starts at the Medina Triennial Hub, 345 Main St. The Futurefarmers will start from the the exhibition space of their artwork, 48 Encounters, and then move with props in a dérive: an un-digging of the Erie Canal.
• 8 p.m. – Opening Party at Mile 303 Cantina at 416 Main Street. Celebrate the opening of the Medina Triennial with artists, organizers, and the community. RSVP is required here.
Sunday, June 7
• Noon to 6 p.m. – Exhibitions Open
• 12 p.m. – Richard Ibghy & Marilou Lemmens talk and birdwatching at Rotary Park, 507 Main S. Ibghy and Lemmens will lead an artist talk and birdwatching session in collaboration with Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and the New York State Bluebird Society. Beginning in front of their installation, Community Toolshed for the Birds, the artists will discuss their research into how birds use tools and transmit knowledge across generations, challenging human-centered ideas of intelligence. Afterwards, participants are invited to join the artists and local experts for guided birdwatching in nearby habitats. Binoculars will be provided to participants.
• 2 p.m. – Artist AKI INOMATA and writer Lilia Rocio Taboada will have a conversation at Medina Triennial Hub, 345 Main St., about the artist’s ongoing interest in forms of collaboration across species and environments. The artist’s ongoing project How to Carve a Sculpture, a collaboration with beavers, is on view at the Historic Medina High School.
The “Reflection” piece created by Asad Raza was popular during a preview of the Medina Triennial on Friday. He created a pebbled bottom on the 70-foot-channel that uses water from the Erie Canal. The water will be pumped out and replaced each week.
“There is something intimate and real about walking in flowing water,” Raza said.
Raza, a Buffalo resident, has been in other biennials or triennials in New York City, Cleveland and Pakistan.
He urges local residents to go see all the arts installations and they will discover a deeper appreciation for Medina.
“The Triennial gives people in an area a reason to explore their own community and see it from the eyes of an artist,” he said.
Mary Mattingly greets people who are ready to explore the “Floating Garden.” She repurposed a 30-by-80-foot industrial barge into a vessel with plants, fruit trees, herbs and vegetables. The public is welcome to forage from the plants throughout the summer.
People explore the old barge that Mattingly has repurposed into one filled with plants. Mattingly said she wants people to think about the canal as a potential food way where more fruits and vegetables could be grown for the local community. Some of the plants on the barge were shared by residents of Medina, who dug them out of their yards.
Mattingly started working on site last September and spent three months in Medina. She is one of five artists working on projects in residency as part of the Triennial.
Kari Conte, left, and Karin Laansoo are co-curators of the Medina Triennial, which has a theme, “All That Sustains Us.” They are shown inside the Triennial Hub building, greeting about 50 visitors who attended a preview tour.
Laansoo said she thinks Medina is the first smaller village to host a triennial arts project. The events are typically in large cities.
Medina was picked to host the Triennial of contemporary art partly due to its location between Rochester and Buffalo, and mainly because Medina is viewed as a model community that embraces its historic resources while welcoming offering a vibrant downtown and strong agricultural and manufacturing resources.
Kari Conte and Karin Laansoo welcome the visitors – media members and many arts professionals and partners in the Triennial.
Conte writes in a guidebook about the Triennial that Medina is the perfect place for the initiative.
“The Triennial was an ambitious idea from the start: an international contemporary art triennial in a rural, post-industrial canal village between Buffalo and Rochester, with a population of 6,000, a limited art infrastructure, and no regional precedent at this scale,” Conte writes. “However, Medina offered something more important. It had a historic Main Street with preserved sandstone buildings, a working canal, orchards and farms, and a hundred-year-old, light-filled former high school that seemed built for an exhibition. Above all, it had a community—good neighbors—that had been quietly tending these places for generations.”
Jean Shin, an artist who works out of New York City and the Hudson Valley, has given a new purpose to more than 400 trophies on display in the gymnasium of the old Medina High School. Instead of celebrating athletic achievements, Shin now has the trophies paying homage to everyday professions: caregivers, food service employees, postal carriers, sanitary workers and others whose labor is often unappreciated.
Shin’s trophy collection was first presented in 2009. Her installations use discarded materials – pill bottles, bottle caps, old shoes, worn garments, outdated phones and broken records – which are then used for new material explorations.
Shin is one of about 30 artists with work on display in the old high school.
Selva Aparicio, a native of Spain, created this piece called “Maintenance” that features a sculpture carved from anthracite coal, steel rail fragments and a railway sleeper.
This broom was inspired when Aparicio visited the Medina Railroad Museum and learned about a set of four brooms from more than a century ago that were found between the walls of the museum, a former freight house. The brooms were discarded when they were no longer usable.
Aparicio created the broom out of coal to recognize the workers who used them. The broom is at the railroad museum.
Erica Wanecski of Medina is a tour guide for the Triennial and she showed people the broom on Friday. Wanecski said she has enjoyed meeting many of the artists at the Triennial.
“The people who come up with this kind of art are deep thinkers,” she said. “She was able to use an everyday broom to highlight the labor. The artists are trying to integrate the history of our community. It’s so cool.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 6 June 2026 at 7:52 am
MEDINA – Today is shaping up to be a banner day at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market.
Taking place in its summer home at the corner of West Center and West Avenue, the market today will have several special features, according to market manger Gail Miller.
For the first time, there will be a food demo from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., featuring Chef Caitlin from Shelridge Country Club. She will be making a dish from local seasonal vegetables and fruit. She has previously appeared in “Chopped” on the Food Network on TV.
A new crafter who does watercolor cards will debut at the market, and Greenlief’s on the Go will be on site with a food truck
“We are very excited to have Oakfield Artisanal Cheese at the market for the first time,” Miller said. “It is very nice cheese.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 5 June 2026 at 4:48 pm
U.S. Women’s Open Photo – Melanie Green
Rebounding strongly from a disastrous start, Medina’s Melanie Green posted an even par round of 72 today to make the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open being held at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.
Starting on the back 9, Green, who posted a 1 over par 72 on Thursday’s opening round, quickly saw her score soar to 4 over after a double bogey on 10 and a bogey on 11.
However, she came battling back with a clutch run of three birdies, on 12, 14 and 16, to get back to 1 over.
Green then pared the final 11 holes to finish the day at even par 71 for a two-day total of 1 over 143.
When she finished her round she was only 5 shots back of the leader.
The tournament will continue on Saturday and conclude on Sunday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 June 2026 at 1:12 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Neveya Barnes, an Albion High School senior, reacts after seeing her friend Nisi Beltran Roblero badly injured on a car. It was a scene from a drunk driving simulation this morning outside Albion High School. Albion police officer Chris Glogowski was among many first responders as part of the simulation.
The school district and local first responders wanted to send a message about being safe during prom and the upcoming graduation parties. Albion’s prom is this evening at the White Birch in Lyndonville.
Holley also had a DWI crash simulation this morning.
Aubrey Gannon is led by stretcher to a Mercy Flight EMS ambulance. Albion firefighters used the Jaws of Life to extricate her from the car. Another student, Kaitlynn Basinait, also was put on a stretcher and into an ambulance as part of the simulation.
Ashleigh Stornelli, an Orleans County sheriff’s deputy and the school resource officer at Albion, gave students a simple message: “Have fun and be safe.”
The young drivers were urged to be extra careful with opportunities for late nights and drinking.
The “100 Deadliest Days” is the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when fatal teen crashes increase dramatically. AAA used that phrase after examining troubling data regarding fatal crashes among teen drivers.
Nationwide, 6,697 people died in teen driver-related summertime crashes over a ten-year period from 2013 to 2022. That is nearly half of the total number of those killed in teen-driver crashes for the entire rest of the year in that span.
The parents of Nisi Beltran Roblero, Eladio and Loyda, are shaken after being told their daughter has been pronounced dead by County Coroner Julie Woodworth. Even though it was role playing, Nisi’s parents said they were overwhelmed by the scene.
Bogan & Tuttle Funeral Home brought a hearse to take Nisi from the scene.
There was also a mock sentencing where Gideon Pask, the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident, was sentenced to state prison, a $5,000 fine, five years of probation, and a one-year revocation of his driver’s license. Once he starts driving again, he’ll have to use an interlock ignition device that tests his BAC.
Pask is led out of the LGI in the high school by Lt. Adam hazel of the Sheriff’s Department. He was sentenced by Albion Town Justice Gary Moore.
Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard, left, prosecuted Pask for first-degree vehicular manslaughter, aggravated driving while intoxicated and reckless endangerment in the first degree.
She pushed away a call for leniency and probation only for the Pask’s lawyer.
“This is about Nisi and her family,” Howard said. “It’s not about revenge or retribution. It’s about justice.”
Diana Fulcomer, a senior prevention educator for UConnectCare, urged students to watch over each other, especially if they see others engaging in toxic drinking where their lives could be at risk from toxic alcohol poisoning.
She told them about the Red Watch challenge where they can wear a red band to remind them to watch out for one another.
Students were urged to call for help immediately if they see someone who is vomiting from alcohol, or if they don’t respond when shouted at, if they have very slow breathing, can’t stand up, have pale/bluish skin or an irregular/slow pulse.
“Be a band of students and watch over one another, and actually care,” she said.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 5 June 2026 at 12:17 pm
Event honors the late Darlene Zeliff, long-time nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Scott Robinson, director of Marketing at Orleans Community Health, introduces expert panelists at For Women Only Tuesday evening. From left are Danielle Figura with Orleans County Department of Mental Health; Pastor Lisa Myers of River Church; Lorene Barulich with Independent Health; Vianiliz Echevarria Rivera, coordinator of the Cancer Services Program of GOWN and Healthy Living of UMMC/Rochester Regional Health; Dr. Ermelinda Bonaccio, with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Heather Miles with Orleans Community Health.
LYNDONVILLE – Orleans Community Health’s annual For Women Only on June 2 at the White Birch Golf Course was an evening to celebrate cancer survivors and pay tribute to those who lost their battle.
The event this year was dedicated to Darlene Zeliff, a nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital from 1979 to 2025, as well as a nurse at Brockport College from 2008 to 2021. Zeliff was diagnosed with uterine cancer in March 2021 and died Feb. 15, 2026. Much of the evening Tuesday was spent paying tribute to Zeliff by co-workers and her family.
(Left) Rebecca Mannella reads a tribute to the late Darlene Zeliff on behalf of Kim Gray, director of surgical services and chief nursing officer. (Right) Lori Condo welcomes a full house to the annual For Women Only on Tuesday evening.
After a welcome by assistant controller Lori Condo, director of marketing Scott Robinson introduced the panel of experts who took questions from the audience regarding cancer, diagnosis and treatment.
The panel included Danielle Figura, director of community services and director of Orleans County Department of Mental Health; Pastor Lisa Myers of River Church; Lorene Barulich, manager of clinical programs and strategy at Independent Health; Vianiliz “Vee” Echevarria Rivera, coordinator of Cancer Services Program of GOWN, Healthy Living at UMMC/RRH; Dr. Ermelinda Bonaccio, chair of diagnostic and interventional radiology and director of breast imaging at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Heather Miles, radiology technologist at Orleans Community Health.
Questions asked were “When you first receive a cancer diagnosis, what is the first step a person should take?” “What resources or support services are available?” and “What are some signs someone may need additional support?”
Foremost in their answers was “Take care of yourself, mentally and physically. Pray. Find a person to talk to and share your diagnosis.”
Next was a tribute to all the cancer survivors in the room, followed by a special tribute to Zeliff, read by Rebecca Mannella, on behalf of Kim Gray, director of surgical services and chief nursing officer.
A panel of survivors/caregivers who shared their cancer journey included Pat Vader, Ryin Moriarity, Marissa Levine and Darlene Zeliff’s children, Katie Zimmerman and Joe Zeliff.
Vader is a former employee and owner of the former Newell Shirt Factory and current employee of OCH. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, and then doctors discovered a mass on her left lung. She had surgery to remove that, which turned out not to be cancer, and finally had a lumpectomy with reconstruction. She urged women to get a mammogram, saying she was fortunate her cancer was caught in stage one.
Moriarity shared the story of her mother’s journey with Glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive brain cancer. When doctors said her mother had 14 months to live, Moriarity said she felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.
“I walked down the street and screamed, then went back and hugged her,” Moriarity said.
Telling their cancer stories are, from left, Pat Vader, Marissa Levine and the children of the late Darlene Zeliff, Katie Zimmerman and Joe Zeliff.
Levine was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at the age of 29. She underwent eight surgeries and six months of therapy.
“I wanted to live,” she said. “It’s been 18 years now and most days I don’t give a thought to it. Nobody is never not touched by cancer.”
Kate Zimmerman and her brother Joe Zeliff, children of Darlene Zeliff, each shared their memories of their mother.
“Medina Hospital meant a lot to my mom,” Zimmerman said. “Her father was in the North Wing until he died.”
Joe said their mom was a force to be reckoned with.
“She was kind, compassionate and put your needs over her own. She approached all aspects of life with a witty sense of humor,” he said. “She raised six children, and anyone who knew her knew she could stretch a dollar. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we had a lot. She always made sure we felt special. She had more patience than anyone I ever met.
Zimmerman said her mom was always her first call when she needed something.
“She was always determined to have a life well lived,” she said. “She played piano and loved dancing, singing and baking. She learned in 2021 her cancer had metastasized to her lungs, but she wouldn’t let it slow her down. She continued to work at Medina Hospital and traveled. Even after she made the decision to stop her treatment, she went on a cruise.”
In February the family gathered around their mom.
“She looked around and took her last breath,” Zimmerman said.
The For Women Only evening also included a buffet, basket raffle and vendors in the health care field.
At the conclusion of events, Condo announced they had raised $5,500 for cancer support services.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 June 2026 at 9:47 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A group of artists met on Thursday at Nola’s Gaming & Crafting Café in Medina to display artwork this month.
The group, the Medina Art Initiative, formed to promote local artists and to piggyback on the visitors who will be in the area for the Medina Triennial. That arts initiative opens on Saturday and runs through Sept. 7 and is expected to bring 50,000 people to the community to see work from 39 artists from many countries.
Pictured from left at Nola’s include Rosie Patronski, Arthur Barnes, Patrica Greene, Amirah Hicks, Kira Sinclair, Shirley Nigro and Amy Mayne.
Additional artists with work that will be featured include Mike O’Keefe, Ninandre Bogue, Amy Belotti, Terry lake, Angela Udell and Rhonda Parker.
“We want to make the most of the opportunity we have with people coming into Medina who love art,” said Mayne, who is leader of the local group. “We want to share it.”
Mayne created a large oil painting, 4 by 3 feet, of her family’s cat named Calico. That cat was orphaned and in rough shape when it was rescued by the Mayne family.
“She was ugly and sickly,” Mayne said. “But then she turned into a sumptuously coated cat. She has never met someone she didn’t like.”
Mayne said the painting has a message that everyone has intrinsic value and shouldn’t be cast aside even when things may be going rough.
The art show features about 30 pieces altogether. It will be on display until July 5 at Nola’s, 525 Main St.
That business is a creative location that works as an ideal spot to display artwork, the artists said.
Steven Sones, co-owner of Nola’s, said he is pleased to welcome the local artists and also is excited about the Medina Triennial.
“Anything that brings people to Medina is a good thing,” he said.
The Medina Art Initiative will see how the first art show goes before looking at their next venture. Some of the artists said they hope it is a springboard for more shows and arts programs in the community.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 5 June 2026 at 8:56 am
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Vinny Gray, left, and Kendall’s Andrew Cole and their Mustangs and Eagles teammates will be competing in state tournament Regional games at Frontier High School on Saturday.
Saturday will be a special doubleheader day for Orleans County baseball fans as Medina and Kendall will both be competing in the state tournament Regionals at Frontier High School.
Medina will face Oneonta (Section IV) in a Class B Regional at 1 p.m.
Kendall will then take on Beaver River (Section III) in a Class C Regional at 4 p.m.
The winners will advance to the state semifinals at Binghamton on Friday June 12.
The Medina game will be a rematch of last year’s Regional as Oneonta nipped the Mustangs 2-1.
Medina, which is 20-2, advanced by defeating Bath Haverling (Section V) 5-1 in a Sub Regional contest on Tuesday.
Oneonta, which is 16-5, romped past Bishop Ludden (Section III) 14-4 in another Sub Regional Tuesday.
The Kendall vs. Beaver River will be a matchup of teams on long winning streaks. The Eagles have won 10 in a row and the Beavers 9 straight.
Kendall, which is 22-2, advanced by shutting out Gowanda (Section VI) 8-0 in the Sub Regional on Tuesday. That victory avenged the Eagles 8-1 loss to the Panthers in last year’s regional.
Beaver River, which is 15-7, advanced by rolling past Charles O. Dickerson High from Trumansburg (Section IV) 14-1 in a Sub Regional on Tuesday.
Both Medina and Kendall have won five straight postseason games to reach the Regional.
A trip to the state semifinals would be the second in three years and the fourth overall for Medina and just the second ever for Kendall. The Eagles only other trip to the final four came in 1999.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2026 at 5:16 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club today presented three scholarships. The recipients include, from left: Neveya Barnes, Kaitlin Bennett and Will Plummer. The Rotary Club meets at the Tavern on the Ridge.
Neveya Barnes was awarded the Dick Eddy “Service above Self” Scholarship. This $1,250 scholarship is awarded in memory of Eddy, a community leader, businessman, and Rotarian, who committed his life to the principle of Service above Self.
This scholarship is awarded to a senior who demonstrates a personal commitment to community service and leadership, and displays high potential for future accomplishment.
Barnes has proven that she embodies the principles of “Service Above Self,” said Bonnie Malakie, the Rotary scholarship chairperson. Barnes is graduating 4th in the 2026 class academically with 97.2 average and will be attending the University of Buffalo for Social Work.
“Neveya has proven her commitment to the community and desire to serve others by volunteering almost 600 hours since 9th grade, including volunteering as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor all four years and with the Special Olympics three years,” Malakie said.
Barnes also has been involved in bowling, dancing, instrumental music, musical theater, chorus, Girl Scouts, choir, bell-ringing and other activities. She is currently the class president and has served as a social work intern at the Elementary School.
“I truly believe that every person deserves to live peacefully and have chances to explore their aspirations,” she wrote in her essay. “I want to give back kindness to the world that has offered me so many opportunities.”
Kaitlin Bennett will receive the Edward B. Archbald Memorial Scholarship, a $ 1,250 scholarship in memory of Ed Archbald, who was a farmer, philanthropist, outdoorsman, and a 70-year member of Rotary.
This scholarship is presented to a graduating senior pursuing a college education who shares Archbald’s love for sports, recreational activities, community service, and work experience.
Bennett has proven that she has a vision very similar to that of Ed Archbald and has demonstrated this through her involvement in sports, recreational activities, agriculture, and community service, Malakie said.
Bennett is 5th in the class with a GPA of 97.15 and will be attending Monroe Community College, which recruited her to play softball. She will be majoring in business administration and accounting.
She plans to return to her family farm after MCC and be the fourth generation at the operation.
“My biggest goal is to continue keeping the farm alive and prospering,” she wrote in her essay. “I hope to someday be able to give my kids the same farm lifestyle that I am grateful to have had.”
Bennett has volunteered in many capacities for over 200 hours including the Barre Presbyterian Church, softball with younger students, Travel Softball and the FFA. She has been actively involved in softball, dance, FFA, and 4-H for all of her high school years, while also working at AL Bennett & Sons in many capacities, Dresser’s Dairy Farm and the Orleans County Elections Department.
William Plummer won the Rotary Career Advancement Prize, a $500 prize for a graduating senior entering a field that doesn’t require a traditional college education, such as a technical field, agriculture, law enforcement, or business.
Plummer is planning to join the US Air Force in August to further his education in engineering. Once he completes his service, he would like to continue his education at Alfred University, where he has been accepted, and to eventually return to the area to start a small business.
He has a GPA of 92.9 and is 13th in the class. He has volunteered regularly for FFA and other organizations, has played baseball and been in cross country for four years. He also has been actively involved in many other groups including FFA, the marching band, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, and Skills USA. He also has worked at Kirby’s Farm and The Village House. In the Air Force he wants to pursue mechanical technology and business management, and explore air traffic control person or an airframe maintenance inspector.
His goal is to run a small motor-vehicle workshop in Albion.
Photos by Natalie Baron: Maya Tatar is excited and all laughs as she is handed her award from County Legislator John Fitzak during the Youth Recognition Awards Banquet at the White Birch in Lyndonville.
By Natalie Baron, correspondent
LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County Youth Bureau celebrated its 44th annual youth banquet on Wednesday, and awards were presented to young people nominated for their character, along with three adults who have positively impacted children.
The event took place at White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville. The evening opened with keynote speaker Julie Berry, New York Times Bestselling Author who has published children’s and young adult books. She is also owner of Medina’s bookstore, Author’s Note. Berry implored the kids to hold onto their hopes and aspirations in a world that might tell them their dreams are far-fetched.
Keynote speaker Julie Berry provides words of wisdom to the young award winners.
Berry described how she was a high schooler who knew only how to be a good student, but through further learning and training, she discovered how to accomplish her goals, and that the audience can do the same.
She stated that one must have a willingness to try with a sense of neutrality, not shame if it does not work out, learning to embrace the struggle. Berry was motivated by a woman who laughed at her for saying she wanted to be a children’s author, helping her to move past her own shame, saying we each need to find our own motivator.
She asked the youths to hold onto their good character that they have presented to the community in order to be nominated for these awards, even in a world that can seem cruel. She provided the analogy that acts of kindness, honesty, fairness, and forgiveness are like deposits into a bank account, and later in one’s life, one should want to see a full account.
“Don’t let the world change you from the shining lights you are today,” Berry said.
Before the award recipients walked the stage, the Youth Bureau took a moment to recognize the Youth Board’s new young members. These three introduced the students who received honors.
Emma O’Neill is a junior at Kendall Junior-Senior High School and has been an active member on the youth board since 2023. She is in National Honor Society and has performed in productions such as Freaky Friday, Annie, Beauty and the Beast, and Willy Wonka. Emma has also been performing at Head Over Heels dance studio for 10 years.
Grace Goodrich is from Medina Junior-Senior High School, and this is her first year on the board. She is involved in the Orleans County 4-H Fair and clubs at school, including PAAC Student Association, which promotes the knowledge and acceptance of cultures, and National Honor Society.
Samaj Miller is enrolled at Albion High School as a junior. She joined the youth board in 2026. Active in basketball and track, Samaj also sings at church and works over summer breaks. She is caring and willing to lend a helping hand to peers who are struggling. Samaj loves to spend quality time with friends and family.
The youth award recipients were given certificates from the youth board, an Orleans County Youth Bureau water bottle, a yard sign, a portrait photo captured by Gia Marquardt, a Taco Bell certificate, and a convocation certificate from the Orleans County Legislature, as well as citations from State Senator Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Stephen Hawley.
Pictured, from left to right: Nora Lindsay, Colton Smith, Maya Tatar, Krysta Laitenberger, Isabella Bresett, Winter English, Maddison Hults, Izabella Garcia, Neveya Barnes, Elizibeth Conner and Logan Callara.
Neveya Barnes of Albion was nominated by Valerie Pettit. Neveya is stated to be kind and someone who, for her peers, is always willing to go the extra mile. She is a busy student, as not only a class officer, but also as an active participant in chorus, band, Student Council, and more. She additionally partakes in Girl Scouts and volunteering, and she assists community events.
Isabella “Bella” Bresett of Lyndonville , nominated by Aaron T. Slack, is involved in both sports and music. She speaks out as a student liaison to the Lyndonville Board of Education and as the editor-in-chief of the award-winning school newspaper, Tiger Talks.
Logan Callara of Medina was nominated by David Sevenski. Logan began his entrepreneurship journey at just thirteen years old. He built up his business, today serving the Orleans and Niagara counties. Logan has both landscaped and tended to the community, helping it grow.
Elizibeth Conner of Albion, nominated by Valerie Pettit, has participated in the Orleans County Youth Court program and has many hours of community service via this program. She is known to be friendly and willing to help out with many local projects.
Izabella Garcia of Medina was nominated by Andrea Krawiec. She has assisted with several community events. For the past two years, Izabella participated in Medina IMPACT Day, helping to bring students together to make impacts on campus as well as out in the community.
Krysta Laitenberger of Kendall, nominated by Jourdan Kludt, is enthusiastic and passionate toward cheerleading. She has put in time showing elementary school-aged children proper safety techniques and is known to have a kind heart, a free spirit, and an inclusive and caring nature.
Nora Lindsay of Holley was nominated by Samantha Zelent, Gabriel Lindsay, and Kelly Marzano. She has a strong capacity to think of others and a caring nature. She believes in making both her community and the world better places and is willing to put in effort toward that goal. Nora prioritizes kindness and always includes everyone.
Colton Smith of Lyndonville, nominated by Aaron T. Slack, is a three-sport varsity standout athlete who simultaneously maintains a strong academic record. He has spent many hours dedicated to improving his community as an Eagle Scout.
Maya Tatar of Kendall was nominated by Jourdan Kludt. Maya is active in both band and in stage management for the school musical. She is dedicated to helping out and is very reliable. At church, she performs both via singing and instruments. Every week, she helps out with children’s church.
Winter English of Kendall, nominated by Mirjam Bauer, loves to read and volunteer, bringing these worlds together by volunteering at the Hamlin Public Library. She is also captain of the varsity cheerleader team, a track & field athlete, and a member of the school musical. She is known to always go above and beyond in anything she sets out to do.
Maddison “Maddy” Hults of Kendall was nominated by Mirjam Bauer. Maddy is a musician and a dancer who volunteers at her dance studio in order to help younger students. At school, she participates in anything she is able to, and she always brings out 100% effort. She is said to make the most of every situation with a great attitude.
Pictured, from left to right: Jami Allport, Brie Trembley, and Jonathan Trembley.
Jami Allport, nominated by Chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature Lynne Johnson, received the Helen R. Brinsmaid Adult Youth Worker Award. This honor “recognizes paid professionals who demonstrate exemplary services for youth and families in Orleans County,” Johnson explained. She said kids need help and hope, and someone to support them, and that Allport embodies this ideal.
Allport serves as the Executive Director of the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern and its Youth and Family Empowerment Program. She is dedicated to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and safe space for youths and focuses on opening up opportunities for shared experiences and positive engagement. She puts on many games, events, and activities that are accessible for all, removing financial barriers, reflective of her commitment to the values of equity, inclusion, and community.
Additionally, Allport is a cheerleading coach at Albion High School, serving as a mentor and advocate who is always open to students who need emotional support. Her time dedicated to these students creates a positive influence on their personal development, self-confidence, and academics.
Allport took a moment to reflect on receiving an award surrounded by young leaders, something she did not take lightly. She stated she comes at her job trying to have fun, and that if someone finds something important, that person will find the time to make it happen, as can be seen in her giving time and energy to always support the needs of the youths she works with. She emphasized, “It’s not me, it’s we.”
Jonathan and Brie Trembley were nominated by Brittany Dix to receive the Eileen Heye Adult Youth Volunteer Award. The award recognizes individuals who tirelessly give time to better children’s lives. These individuals prove to be role models for the kids.
Brie and Jonathan organize theme nights at their local church for the children. They also put together monthly projects that are both educational and fun. During the 4-H Fair, they can often be found participating in outdoor games with the kids partaking in the games and acting as judges for karaoke contests. They also instruct the Albion Purple Eagles Marching Band. Jonathan and Brie are always ready to offer kind words, hugs, smiles, and a calming presence to overwhelmed children. They are kind, humble, disciplined, and compassionate, serving the youths of the community in their free time with joy.
The evening closed after a delightful meal and many congratulations. The community is so glad to have each of these active and kind individuals.
Izabella Garcia of Medina is all smiles as she proudly walks the stage.
