Big load will head from Albion to Byron on Wednesday, disrupting traffic

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2026 at 1:54 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers: A 430,000-pound load is shown on May 6 in Albion. The journey was delayed by a week and is set for Wednesday, May 13.

ALBION – A big load will slowly move from Albion through Barre and Elba and then end in Byron on Wednesday.

The 430,000-pound load will begin around 7:30 a.m. in Albion. A transformer is currently next to the railroad tracks on Hamilton Street. The transformer will be moved by a truck and trailer.

The trip was planned for last Wednesday but was cancelled when National Grid wasn;t given enough notice.

The journey on Wednesday will start about 7:30 a.m. and end around 3:30 p.m., according to the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.

“Please give yourself a little extra time as cargo will be slow moving and delays are expected,” the EMO posted on Facebook. “National Grid customers along the transport route may experience brief outages.”

Motorists are expected to experience delays on Wednesday and are urged to consider alternate routes.

The width of this load will obstruct oncoming traffic, the State Police advised last week.

The height of this load will necessitate the lifting of most overhead wires and traffic control devices. The load will move into oncoming traffic to avoid overhead obstructions.

Route 98 will be closed for an undisclosed amount of time to all traffic from Old Orchard Road to Lockport Rd.

The permitted route of travel will begin on Hamilton Street in the town of Albion and proceed east on Allen Road then south on Oak Orchard Road (Route 98). Then it goes east on Lockport Road in Elba and continues to North Byron Road, and then goes south on Searls Road to east on Tower Hill Road. The cargo then goes south on Byron Road in Byron.

Iroquois eaglet, 38 days old on Monday, halfway through nestling stage

Posted 12 May 2026 at 10:16 am

Photos and information from Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

The eaglet at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge that many have been following through the bald eagle nest camera was 38 days old as of Monday and is growing by leaps and bounds.

Just like human babies, the eaglet is doing a lot of eating and sleeping. Sometimes both: Mother eagle brought in a juicy catfish the other day and the chick wasn’t hungry so used the catfish for a pillow – at least when the catfish stopped flopping about. Another time father eagle brought in a stick, disappointing the chick who was looking for some fish bits.

As an only chick, the eaglet is being fed very well so is growing fast and hitting all its important behavioral and physical milestones.

It is taking much larger bites of food, including being able to digest fur, feathers, scales and small bones. It reaches toward the parents and pecks at them to ask for food. It partly helps itself by picking up and eating dropped pieces of food. Its body feathers are growing in and the primary flight feathers can be seen poking out of the sheathes at the wings and tail.

The eaglet is also entertaining camera viewers with more “wingersizing” – an eagle version of calisthenics. It is gaining more strength in its legs, and you will see the eaglet standing up more often. Once it gains more stability in those legs ─ “riding the rails” is a term used on eagle cameras ─ the chick will start to perch near or on the sticks surrounding the bole.

The camera was funded and installed by the Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, with assistance from Pixcams Inc., out of Pittsburgh, and Treeman Tom tree service out of Wilson. You can watch the feed on a monitor in the refuge Visitors Center on Casey Road in the town of Alabama, or through a link at the Friends group’s website, FINWR.org.

If you’re keeping track, the eaglet is about halfway through its nestling phase.

Next the eaglet will be doing more standing and walking in the fully upright adult posture instead of scooting around using its hocks and wings. It is already starting to do this, but it will happen more often. In the next few weeks, it will also start doing more practice flapping to build breast and wing muscles.

In about four weeks it will start hopping and flapping to practice hovering above the nest. At this point its feathers will be much more grown in and the bird will be fully dark brown. It will also be able to feed itself from prey items brought to the nest, although the parents will continue to feed it.

Toward the end of June, the juvenile will be able to balance and perch on branches, hover reliably above the nest and flap from branch to branch. The primary wing and tail feathers will be almost entirely grown. It should fledge (be ready for its first real flight) in late June or early July at around 72 days old.

The eaglet will typically hang around a few weeks after fledging but then head off to seek its own territory. It will retain its dark brown coloring for several years and won’t develop its adult plumage ─ the iconic white head and tail feathers of a bald eagle ─ until it’s almost five years old. Until then it is scoping out other territories, play learning with other juveniles and perfecting its hunting techniques.

A final note: Friends group President Dick Moss would like to thank everyone who came out to Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge for Saturday’s Spring Spectacular. Everyone had a great time and the eaglet and its parents were one of the main topics of conversation.

“A special thanks to the vendors who shared their environmental expertise, and especially to the refuge staff who made it all possible,” Moss said.

This eaglet update was a collaboration of Friends of Iroquois NWR group members Dick Moss, Emma DeLeon, Amy Merritt and Garner Light.

White Birch rallies late to nip Banes in Women’s Softball League opener

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 12 May 2026 at 10:05 am

Putting together a big last inning rally, White Birch edged Banes 16-15 to open the Medina Women’s Softball League season Monday evening.

Trailing 15-10, White Birch rallied for 6 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to claim the win. A home run by Ella Lewis highlighted the decisive uprising which also included a double by Morgan Ralph and singles by Mallory Albone and Dana Cotriss.

Earlier White Birch had a big 5 run fifth inning on a double by Ella Lewis, a triple by Ralph and a home run by Aubrey Lewis to pull to within one at 9-8.

Brianna Panncia had a triple to key a two-run sixth for White Birch.

Banes jumped out to an early 7-2 lead as Lindsay Chatt had a two-run home run in the first inning and a three-run homer in the second. She also had another two-run homer in the top of the seventh to put Banes up 15-10.

Banes also had a three run fifth inning on RBI singles by Teri Scharlau, Connie Heschke and Lindsay Chatt to go up 12-8.

Lindsay Chatt and Heschke both finished with 4 hits as Patti Page and Jami Chatt both had 3.

Orleans 4-Her named first-place NY Farm Bureau scholarship winner

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2026 at 9:18 am

Carter Kuipers

An active 4-H member in Orleans County has been named the first-place winner of a New York Farm Bureau scholarship.

Carter Kuipers of Byron won a $3,000 NY Farm Bureau’s 2026 Agricultural Youth Scholarship.

To qualify for scholarships, applicants must have a student or family membership in Farm Bureau. A panel of judges selects the winners based on their essay submissions and applications, which include community and agricultural engagement. District winners then compete for state scholarships.

Kuipers also was awarded $250 as the District 2 winner. He is a member of Genesee County Farm Bureau and is a senior at Byron-Bergen Senior High School.

Kuipers plans to attend SUNY Cobleskill to study agricultural power machinery with a career goal related to diesel technology. His agricultural experience includes working on his family’s farms, where he cares for animals and maintains equipment.

He has been an active member of FFA, including serving as the 2022-2025 Chapter Secretary, and has received many FFA awards and recognitions. Kuipers has been an active participant in the 4-H Beef and Dairy Club for the past decade. Outside of agricultural activities, he is a sectional champion with the Byron-Bergen/Le Roy swim team and a member of the clay target team, while also finding time to volunteer with his local church.

Kuipers has shown animals at the Orleans County 4-H Fair and won the grand master showman title in 2024, which features the top showmen of nine different animals: horse Western, horse English, dairy goat, meat goat, sheep, swine, llama, dairy cattle and beef cattle.

Kuipers showed pigs and beef cattle at the fair in 2024. He qualified for the grand master showmen competition after winning the beef master showman title.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Carter Kuipers, then 16, of Byron shows a beef animal during the grand master showman competition on July 26, 2024. Kuipers won the competition, one of the most prestigious at the Orleans County 4-H Fair. It features the top livestock showmen from the fair.

Kendall’s $23.5 million school budget proposes 3.2% tax increase

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2026 at 8:40 am

KENDALL – The school district is proposing a $23,469,328 budget to the community for a vote on May 19. Kendall’s budget would raise taxes by 3.15 percent – from $5,162,224 to $5,324,835, an increase of $162,611.

Kendall school officials will go over the budget during a presentation today at 6:30 p.m. in the junior-senior high school library.

The vote will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Kendall Town Hall on May 19.

Kendall school leaders say many factors are driving the $2,045,169 budget increase for 2026-27: inflation, special education enrollments, instructional operation enhancements, shared services with BOCES, debt service, benefits, salaries, and minimum wage increases.

The debt service increased by 47.7 percent or $1,124,632 because Kendall will be issuing debt during June 2026 to pay for current capital project costs. However, this will be offset by a corresponding increase in building and transportation aid.

Kendall is using $150,000 more from its fund balance to lessen the need on property taxes, school officials state in the district’s budget newsletter.

State aid at $16,004,160 covers 68 percent of the school budget. The tax rate is projected at $10.29 per $1,000 of assessed property, which Kendall officials say in one of the lowest school tax rates in the area.

In addition to the budget, voters will be presented a proposition to use up to $390,000 from the vehicle capital reserve fund to purchase vehicles in the transportation program for the district, including passenger buses.

There are also two candidates for one five-year term on the Board of Education.

• Christa Bowling currently represents Kendall on the board of Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES. She and her husband have two children, a fifth-grade daughter at Kendall and a 20-year-old medically complex son who is in the Transitions Program at BOCES.

Bowling is the sole proprietor for a direct sales and distribution business. She has been Girl Scout Leader for Kendall since 2023, leading a troop of 40 girls each year. She is part of the Kendall Strategic Plan Committee. Her family has been involved with coaching Kendall Rec Soccer for seven years.

“Since moving to Kendall, our family has fallen in love with this community and school district because of the compassion and pride that comes with being an Eagle,” she said. “My drive to be on the Kendall BOE is my love and passion for advocating for both students and staff, which I have proven to do with my BOCES 2 Board role. I plan to help ensure that Kendall continues to have devoted staff, small class sizes, opportunities for all students, and continues to be an affordable community we are all proud to call home.”

• David Warren is a current Board of Education member. He is retired as a manufacturing engineering manager. He and his wife have two children and two grandchildren.

Warren has been a Little League baseball coach, youth soccer coach, and manager of the Kendall Community Band.

“I want to help ensure that our students have the best opportunity for success,” he stated in the school newsletter about why he is running for the Board of Education.

Heideman hurls a no hitter for Roy-Hart

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 8:59 pm

Cheryl Wertman File Photo – Gavin Heideman

Sparked by the sharp no hit pitching of Gavin Heideman, Roy-Hart downed visiting Wilson 8-2 in a Niagara-Orleans League baseball game this evening.

Heideman registered a whopping total of 19 strikeouts as the Rams improve to 9-2 in N-O action.

Roy-Hart took the lead for good when Isaac Smith belted a three-run home run in the first inning.

Wilson scored twice in the top of the fifth on an error and a passed ball but could get no closer than 4-2.

Roy-Hart put a lock on the victory by scoring twice in the home half of the fifth on an RBI single by Evan Poeller and a steal of home and twice in the sixth on a passed ball and an error.

Wilson pitcher Logan Held hurled a 3 hitter with 8 strikeouts.

Roy-Hart will close out the N-O season by visiting Wilson at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.

N-O Standings
Medina 10-0, Roy-Hart 9-2, Albion 7-3, Akron 6-5, Barker 4-8, Newfane 1-10, Wilson 1-10.

Barker netters win to improve to 9-1

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 8:11 pm

Continuing to close in on the title, Barker improved to 9-1 by besting visiting Akron 4-1 in a Niagara-Orleans League tennis match this afternoon.

Daniel Goodwin and Matthew Jordan scored singles wins for Barker which also got doubles victories by the duos of Oscar Dergel – Luke Fay and Aurora Wass – Nick Heideman.

Brockport stickmen post win over Medina

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 8:03 pm

Photo by Cheryl Werman – Medina’s Chris Mulcahy advances the ball up field ahead of Brockport’s Ryan Miller during the Mustangs 17-0 loss to the Blue Devils at Vets Park this evening.

Lyndonville and Kendall post softball wins

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 7:54 pm

Lyndonville romped to a 22-1 win over visiting CSAT in a non league softball game this afternoon.

Arnie Sturtevant had a three-run home run to highlight a 10 run first inning and Alexa Robinson a two-run triple to key a 7 run second inning for the Lady Tigers.

Sturtevant had a total of 3 hits and Isabella Groves 2 including a triple. Brooke Robinson also had a triple and winning pitcher Hannah Fox had a double.

In the circle, Fox allowed 3 hits and struck out 8 as Lyndonville improves to 12-1.

Kendall 9, Notre Dame 5
Four run scoring bursts in the third and fifth innings keyed Kendall to a 9-5 win over Notre Dame in a Genesee Region League game.

Alea Barrett had a two-run single in the third and Izzy D’Agostino a two-run triple in the fifth.

Teagan Shaw had 3 hits and D’Agostino 2 for Kendall which improves to 9-5.

Attica sweeps Holley
Attica scored a pair of G-R softball wins over Holley by scores of 7-3 and 15-5.

Barker clinches a tie for the N-O softball title

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 7:47 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Aine Davis dives into third base during the Lady Bulldogs home field win over Roy-Hart this afternoon. Grace Pearl moves in to cover the bag for Roy-Hart.

Closing out the league season on a high note, Barker downed visiting Roy-Hart 7-2 this afternoon to finish with a 10-2 record and clinch a tie for a third straight Niagara-Orleans softball championship.

Barker tied with Roy-Hart for the N-O title last year at 10-2 and captured the league crown outright in 2024 with a 12-0 record.

Roy-Hart jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning sparked by singles by Millie Owens, Grace Pearl and Abby Fox.

However, Barker answered right back with 3 runs in the home half of the frame on an RBI double by Peyton Bradley and a two-run single by Melodi Murphy to take the lead for good.

Bradley and Lexi Brazzell also both had RBI doubles in the third inning.

Murphy, Bradley, Brazzell and Kaylee Stoll each finished with a pair of hits.

Madyson Flint picked up the win in the circle allowing 5 hits and striking out 14 including her 400th career strikeout.

Wilson 19, Akron 3
Wilson stayed in the hunt for a share of the N-O title by downing Akron 19-3 to improve to 9-2.

Lucy Madan, Katie Hardie, Lauren Vanderlinden and Paige Thrush each had 2 hits for Wilson. Madan’s hits included a double and triple as Mackenzie Hardy also had a triple.

Newfane 10, Medina 4
A big 7 run fourth inning keyed Newfane (2-7) to a 10-4 N-O win over Medina (1-10).

Barker’s Madyson Flint registered her 400th career strikeout during the Lady Bulldogs win.

Albion blanks Akron on Gibson’s no hitter

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 7:37 pm

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Nate Gibson hurls a no hitter.

Albion rode the sparkling no hit pitching of Nate Gibson to score a 9-0 Niagara-Orleans League baseball victory over Akron this afternoon.

Gibson, who struck out 16, also provided the only runs the Purple Eagles would need as it turned out by belting a two-run homer in the first inning.

Elliott Trapiss added a two-run single to key a three run second inning and Kaiden Froman had an RBI single during a four run sixth.

Albion improves to 7-3 in N-O action as Akron slips to 6-5.

Alexander 14, Barker 3
Scoring 5 quick runs in the first inning, Alexander went on to post a 14-3 run rule win over Barker in a non league game.

Notre Dame 12, Lyndonville 6
Notre Dame rallied to down Lyndonville 12-6 in a Genesee Region League baseball game.

Trailing 5-2, Notre Dame rallied for 5 runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good. A two-run single by Evan Fitzpatrick highlighted the rally.

Lyndonville built up the early 5-2 lead by scoring twice in the first inning on hits by Quincey McClinsey and Shawn Robertson and three times in the third sparked by hits by Robertson and Lane Woodworth.

Medina clinches tie for N-O diamond title

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 7:17 pm

Clinching at least a tie for the title, Medina used a big first inning scoring burst to key an 11-0 victory at Newfane this afternoon in a Niagara-Orleans League baseball game.

The N-O title is the third in a row for undefeated (10-0) Medina which used a big 6 run first inning to key the five inning run rule win.

A two-run single by Kolton Fletcher was the only hit of the decisive first inning as the Mustangs other runs came home on three errors and a fielders choice play.

Aidan Papaj later had a two-run sacrifice fly to highlight a three run fourth inning.

Preston Woodworth earned the win on the mound as he allowed only 2 hits and struck out 13.

Medina will close out the N-O season by hosting Newfane at 7 p.m. Wednesday and then visiting rival Albion at noon on Saturday for a makeup game.

N-O players compete in Section VI golf championships today at Shelridge

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 May 2026 at 6:11 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Shelridge Country Club hosted the Section VI boys golf championships today. Seven Niagara-Orleans League players took part in the competition including Medina’s Cam Fike, shown here teeing off at the 10th hole. No N-O player made the cut for the championship round which was a score of 83. Fike shot an 88.

Shown in action here are Albion’s Drew Pritchard, left, and Roy-Hart’s Gavin Heideman. Prichard shot a 96 and Heideman an 87. The other N-O players who competed were Albion’s Owen Spencer, Roy-Hart’s Evan Poeller (89), Newfane’s Caleb Rivera (86) and Wilson’s Ben Meyers (95).

Owner of new Mayfair Marine wants to be a catalyst for Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 May 2026 at 3:52 pm

Site along Erie Canal has options for small businesses on East Bank Street

Photos by Tom Rivers: Local officials joined the owner of the Mayfair Marien for a ribbon-cutting celebration on Friday in Albion. From left include Jami Allport, Albion village trustee; Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman; Andrew Dugan, district director for State Sen. Rob Ortt; County Legislator Skip Draper; Matt Holland, small business development director for the Orleans Economic Development Agency; Mayfair Marine owner John Fitzak, who is also a county legislator; Dawn Borchert, Orleans County tourism director; Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Kevin Sheehan, Albion village trustee; Jackie Tarricone, executive assistant for Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Michael Dobell, chief executive officer of the Orleans EDA; and Tim McMurray, Albion mayor.

ALBION – There is now a place along the Erie Canal for boaters to get fuel in Orleans County. John Fitzak has opened Mayfair Marine along East Bank Street.

Fitzak for 23 years ran a bottle redemption business at 255 East Bank St. He closed the Albion Redemption Center on March 1 to focus the site on the fuel sales and also as a small business incubator.

He expects to rent out space at the site to several small businesses, and is working with the village to see if people would be allowed to stay overnight in RVs and also in tents.

“I’m just trying to be a catalyst for the village,” Fitzak said on Friday, when he held a ribbon-cutting for the Mayfair.

Fitzak is an Orleans County legislator. He is retired as a state corrections officer. Fitzak worked at Orleans, Attica, Sing Sing, Groveland and Willard correctional facilities.

John Fitzak built five sections of docks totaling 80 feet along the Erie Canal in Albion. The Ingersoll Street lift bridge is behind him. He sees a lot of opportunity in the Erie Canal for the community.

He built the 80 feet of docks at the Mayfair. There are five 16-foot-sections at different heights to accommodate different size boats. The two new 1,000-gallon fuel tanks were certified last November. He will have 100-foot-long hoses from the gas pumps that extend to the boats at the docks.

This will be the only spot offering marine-grade fuel on the Erie Canal between Macedon and Amherst. Fitzak said about 400 to 500 boats pass by the location each canal season. He expects at least 10 percent will stop for fuel at the Mayfair.

He named the business in honor of the Mayfair Restaurant, which was operated by his mother’s father in Rochester in the 1950s and ’60s. That restaurant was at the corner of Lexington and Mount Read Boulevard.

The new canal season opens on May 15. Fitzak is working with small businesses to open soon after the start of the canal season.

He said Big Dog BBQ from Kendall will be selling hot dogs and food from the site. Fitzak also will have vending machines with items at room temperature, in a cooler and a freezer.

Another business with offer marine services. There will be an ATM, a vendor selling Albion merchandise, and other possible merchants.

Several local officials toured the site on Friday. John Fitzak said there is plenty of room to offer other services, including RV parking.

Fitzak said he has reviewed a comprehensive plan for the canal, with leaders from the canal Corp. stating they would like to see fuel sales offered every 20 to 40 miles along the waterway. Fitzak said Mayfair Marine fills a big void for fuel.

He suspects many boaters haven’t ventured to Albion out of fear they could run out of gas. The Mayfair could result in more boaters making the trip to Albion and Orleans County.

He is hopeful they will tie up at his docks and check out the Albion community. He is short walk from the Albion downtown.

“this is another opportunity to see what Albion has to offer,” Fitzak said.

Dawn Borchert, the Orleans County tourism director, praised Fitzak for seeing a need and meeting it along the canal with the fuel sales.

The Mayfair owner has about 600 feet of frontage for the business. He would like to allow RV parking, and a boat launch for kayaks and canoes. He is working with the village officials to determine if those uses are allowed for the property, which is zoned general commercial and is currently mostly undeveloped.

Frost advisory in effect for Orleans tonight through Tuesday morning

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 May 2026 at 2:02 pm

Some other counties in WNY face freeze warning

Kimberly Stawicki sent in this photo of the sunrise from Saturday at Swallow Hollow in the wildlife refuge.

The National Weather Service has issued as frost advisory for Orleans County from midnight to 9 a.m. Tuesday due to temperatures dropping around 30 degrees.

The advisory also includes Niagara, Monroe, Wayne, northern Cayuga and Ontario counties.

“Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left unprotected,” the Weather Service said.

Farther away from the lake, the temperatures could be even colder. The Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties.

“Sub-freezing temperatures in the upper 20s expected,” the Weather Service said about those counties. “Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.”