By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 5 October 2025 at 9:40 am
Weekly Schedule Monday Boys Soccer – Holley at Lyndonville, 5 p.m.; Byron-Bergen at Kendall, 7 p.m. Girls Soccer – Roy-Hart at Alden, 5 p.m.; Medina at Albion, 7 p.m. Field Hockey – Buffalo Seminary at Medina, 7 p.m. Volleyball – Lyndonville at Kendall, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday Boys Soccer – Albion at Roy-Hart, 6:45 p.m.; Wilson at Medina, 7 p.m. Girls Soccer – Barker/Lyndonville at Akron, 4:45 p.m.; Kendall at Oakfield-Alabama, 6 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Albion, 6:45 p.m.; Medina at Wilson, 7 p.m. Field Hockey – Roy-Hart at Newfane, Wilson at Akron, 4:30 p.m.; Barker at Kenmore, 7 p.m. Cross-Country – Wilson and Akron at Medina, Barker and Roy-Hart at Newfane, 4:45 p.m. Volleyball – Medina at Akron, Albion at Newfane, Roy-Hart at Wilson, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Boys Soccer – Lyndonville at Pembroke, Attica at Holley, 7 p.m. Field Hockey – Starpoint at Barker, 6 p.m. Volleyball – Wheatland-Chili at Lyndonville, Pembroke at Holley, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday Football – Medina at Tonawanda, Holley at Attica, 7 p.m. Boys Soccer – Roy-Hart at Akron, 4:45 p.m.; O’Hara at Albion, 6 p.m. Girls Soccer – Newfane at Barker/Lyndonville, 5:30 p.m.; Akron at Roy-Hart, 6:45 p.m.; Albion at Medina, Attica at Holley, Finney at Kendall, 7 p.m. Field Hockey – Medina at Wilson, 4:30 p.m. Volleyball – Medina at Wilson, Akron at Albion, Newfane at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.
Friday Football – Iroquois at Albion, Barker/Roy-Hart at JFK, 7 p.m. Boys Soccer – Byron-Bergen at Lyndonville, 5 p.m.; Akron at Medina, Kendall at Wheatland-Chili 7 p.m. Field Hockey – Akron at Roy-Hart, Newfane at Barker, 4:30 p.m. Volleyball – Oakfield-Alabama at Lyndonville, Alexander at Holley, Kendall at Wheatland-Chili, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday Boys Soccer – Albion at Wilson, 11:30 a.m.; Medina at Frewsburg, 1 p.m.; Lyndonville at Roy-Hart, 2:30 p.m. Girls Soccer – Medina at Akron, Roy-Hart at Newfane, 10 a.m.; Wilson at Albion, 12 p.m. Field Hockey – Akron at Kenmore, 7 p.m.
Contributed Story Posted 5 October 2025 at 9:35 am
Contributed Photo – Kenny Almonte turned this carry into a touchdown right before halftime for the Beginner Eagles.
Albion scored a three game sweep over host Pembroke in Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) action Saturday.
Beginner Division Albion 39, Pembroke 6
Kenny Almonte ran for 147 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the offensive attack. Xavier Weis ran for 102, Matthias Tre Ellis ran for 75 and each had a score. Roman Pridgen picked up 12 yards and Gunner Jackson 11 yards.
Almonte had 12 tackles for the Beginner Eagles defense, Weis 8, Jaxon Francis and Ellis 4 each. Jackson 3, Artavion Lewis and Drake Neri 2 each. Gaven Jackson. Myles Labarge, Lexington Pridgen and Jaxon Nashburn were each in on stops.
Mini Division Albion 34, Pembroke 0
The defense came up huge for the Mini Eagles, holding Pembroke to negative yards on offense. Moses Taylor led the defense with 11 tackles, Jaidyn Harper 10, Conor Murphy 9, Zeus Vallejo 8 and Chase Armer 7, Patrick Westlund, Greyson Roberts, Elijah Cornick, Mason Cornick and Zion Richardson each had 2.
Roberts rushed for 65 yards and 2 touchdowns and passed for 39 yards. Westlund ran for 48 yards, Murphy 33 yards, Harper 31 yards and each had a score. Taylor picked up 42 yards and had 39 receiving. Elijah Cornick 35 yards and Hudson Palmer 6 yards.
JV Division Albion 42, Pembroke 0
Damareon Shine rushed for 66 yards, had 60 receiving and a total of 4 touchdowns on the day to lead the JV Eagles. Jayce Torres picked up 71 yards and a score. Kaydence Russaw had 37 yards, Camden Holt 28, Jai’Kaih Drisdom 31 and AJ Lewis III 20. Jace DiMatteo passed for 124 yards and 2 scores. Lincoln Voorhees had 21 yards receiving and a PAT reception.
Lewis led the defense with 10 tackles. Roman Allport had 7 and Isaac Button 5. Matthew Colmerero, Cayden Farrell,Kairo Bennett, Shine, Harrison Froman and Kyle Schomske had 3 each. Torres, Edward Hammonds, Holt and Parker Gardner 2 each. Chris Swan, Parker McDaniels, Eli States and Liam Saporito were each in on tackles. Holt also scored on a fumble return.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 October 2025 at 9:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Some geese enjoy Johnson Creek in Lyndonville on Friday evening. This is the area behind the library and parking lot off Main Street.
The stretch of unseasonably warm weather continues to start the week in Orleans County with highs of 85 today and 83 on Monday. Both days will be sunny.
On Tuesday, the high will be near 75 with a 90 percent chance of rain, with a quarter to a half inch, according to the national Weather Service in Buffalo.
The highs the rest of the week include 62 on Wednesday, 61 on Thursday, 68 on Friday and 68 on Saturday.
The geese don’t like to see a photographer getting close and they take off on Friday evening.
Kimberly Stawicki of Medina sent in this photo of the sun rise on Saturday on Fletcher Chapel Road in Shelby.
Kimberly Stawicki sent in this photo of the Oak Orchard Creek on a sunny Saturday.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 October 2025 at 7:59 pm
File photo by Cheryl Wertman – Melanie Green
Continuing her steady climb up the leader board, Medina’s Melanie Green fired a sizzling 5 under par 67 today in the third round of the Epson Tour’s championship tournament being played at Indian Wells, California.
Green’s 67 vaults her into a tie for fifth place four shots back of the leader.
She had six birdies on the day on 1, 3, 6, 11, 16 and 17 against just one bogey on 18.
Her five under round today follows back-to-back 4 under par rounds of 68 on Thursday and Friday giving her a three day total of 203.
The four day, 72 hole tournament will conclude on Sunday.
Green, who has two tournament wins on the Epson Tour this season, entered championship tourney as the Epson season points leader.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 October 2025 at 7:38 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Celebrating Homecoming Lyndonville downed The Park School 4-1 this afternoon in a non league boys soccer game. Colton Smith, shown here advancing the ball up field, scored two goals for the Tigers as Jesus Reyes and Amir Zimmerman each netted one. The Tigers improve to 7-4 overall.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 October 2025 at 7:26 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Ava Woolston works to keep the ball away from Newfane’s Stephanie Chunco during this afternoon’s Homecoming game at Albion. Newfane scored a 2-0 win as Chunco scored what proved to be the game winner in the second half on a penalty kick and Pearl Tubo tacked on an insurance tally. Newfane is now 3-6 and Albion 0-5-3 in Niagara-Orleans League competition.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 October 2025 at 6:39 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Barker/Lyndonville’s Alexa Robinson drives against Pembroke defender Athena Woods during this afternoon’s 5-0 Homecoming game victory at Lyndonville. Robinson scored four goals on the day, two in each half, and Natalie Rath netted one. Barker/Lyndonville is now 6-3-3 overall on the season.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2025 at 4:49 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
KENDALL – The scarecrows were a little scary today for the Kendall Scarecrow Festival. The top photo shows a group of scarecrows, many with characters from horror films. These scarecrows were created by Girl Scouts in Kendall and they were promoting an upcoming Girl Scout cookie drive.
The festival had nine entrants to be judged in a contest with a theme: “Spooky, Scary and a Little Creepy.”
These painted pumpkins dry near the entrance of Kendall’s Community Park across from the elementary school. Panek Farms in Albion donated about 200 pumpkins for the event.
Kendall has had the festival since 2010. The activities are free with donations accepted.
Eloise Baker, a seventh-grader, climbed the wall at the festival. The climbing wall was one of the new activities at the event.
Colleen Fanton made this crow-themed scarecrow.
Katie and Lee Robinson brought their kids, Isla and Cami, to make scarecrows. Usually more than 100 scarecrows are made during the festival.
Jeffrey Lutes created this scarecrow.
The public could vote for their favorite scarecrow. The winner gets $75 worth of gift certificates, followed $50 for second place and $25 for third.
Mavis Williams, a member of the Kendall Scarecrow Committee, took the lead in creating this RIP scarecrow.
John Becker drives a tractor down Kendall Road. The Kendall Lions Club offered the wagon rides as part of the festival.
Dylan Bushnell, 10, and his brother Winston, 6, decorate their pumpkins. They were visiting from Big Flats. Their mother, Hannah Billings Bushnell, grew up in Kendall.
The Boy Scouts in Kendall made this display with a giant spider.
Becky Charland, who leads the Scarecrow Festival Committee, posed with the festival’s mascot. There was a naming-contest for the mascot as part of today’s events.
Preston and Everett Swetz created these “Ghost Basket” scarecrows.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 October 2025 at 1:41 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Eight players contributed goals as front-running Wilson downed an undermanned Medina squad 11-1 in a Niagara-Orleans League girls soccer game at Vets Park this morning. Here Wilson’s Lilly Gurski works around Medina defender Lillian Maynard. Addison Elia scored three goals and Gurski two to lead Wilson. Tessa Costich scored for Medina off an assist from Arabella White. Wilson is now 9-0 and Medina 0-7 in N-O action.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2025 at 11:33 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Gia Baker, 9, of Albion decorates a pumpkin on East Bank Street in Albion this morning as one of the activities at Albion’s Fall Fest.
The Albion Merchants Association organized the event which continues until 3 p.m.
Andy and Rebecca Scroger brought their kids, Lizzy and James, to the festival to make a scarecrow.
These cousins are decorating pumpkins. From left include Malani Baker, 5; Gavin Baker, 4; and Mia Wilston, 10.
The pumpkins were decorating with stickers and markers.
DeClerck’s Goldens in Albion brought several creatures for the public to see including “Caeser,” a Goffin’s cockatoo. Cary DeClerk was happy to share some of his animals and pets at the festival.
He also had a tortoise, golden retrievers, a wallaby, a sugar glider and others.
Cary DeClerk lets people see a sugar glider.
This wallaby attended the festival with DeClerck’s Goldens. Cary DeClerk also has kangaroos but they’re a little too big for the festival.
The Real News Duo performs at the end of East Bank Street. The Road Less Travelled also will be performing from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
KTJ Saddle Up Pony Rides has a pony and horses at Waterman Park.
There are other fall festivals in Orleans County today.
The Lakeside State Park Fall Fest is from noon to 9:30 p.m. with food trucks, face painting, balloon art, Seneca Mobile Zoo, crafts and other activities. The musicians include Jim Aina from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Who Dats from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Triple Play Band from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Kendall also has its scarecrow festival today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The theme: “Spooky, Scary and a Little Creepy” There will be music by Rebel’s Posse, a chainsaw carving demo by Jeff of Critters 3D, a chicken barbecue, hay rides and other activities.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2025 at 9:29 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Wes Bradley served as Lyndonville’s fireworks chairman for 19 years. He is shown on July 4, 2024, pulling a collection container in the Lyndonville parade. Bradley raised $50,000 to make that fireworks display the biggest ever in Lyndonville. That year was the 50th anniversary of the Lyndonville Lions Club organizing the July 4th celebration.
LYNDONVILLE – One of Orleans County’s greatest citizens passed away on Sept. 27. Wes Bradley was 77.
After a career as a science teacher for middle schoolers and a coach at Lyndonville, Bradley may have been best known in recent years as the chairman of Lyndonville’s phenomenal fireworks show on July 4.
He worked all year rounding up donations for the show. The July 4, 2024 show was his last as chairman. He met his goal of raising $50,000 for the 50th anniversary fireworks display for the Lyndonville Lions Club.
Wes Bradley, shown on Dec. 3, 2016, for many years also served as emcee of Lyndonville’s Christmas celebration in early December when Santa arrived and 60 to 100 Christmas trees are typically lit up at Veterans’ Park. Bradley has said many dedicated volunteers put on events to enliven Lyndonville.
Bradley proudly wore a one-of-kind T-shirt that Young Explosives made for him showing the fireworks in Lyndonville. Bradley had a strong bond with the crew from Young Explosives. He brought them chicken barbecue dinners while they set up in stifling heat for the July 4th show in Lyndonville. It was one of the biggest shows in all of Western New York despite Lyndonville being one of the smallest communities to host a fireworks show.
Those fireworks would bring in thousands of people, and Bradley was proud to show off the village with its flag-lined Main Street and friendly residents.
Bradley and one of his best friends, Mark Hughes, for years would put 75 flags on the utility poles that line the street. Bradley would climb the ladder and put the flags up, and would make an early morning check on July 4th to make sure they were all looking good and not rolled up.
Hughes passed away on June 4. He was another dedicated teacher and coach at Lyndonville. The two were both pillars of the community the past half century.
They both stayed deeply involved in the school – long after their retirement.
Bradley was a soccer official locally, and did a game about three weeks ago. He could run the field well into his 70s.
Lyndonville needed a boys soccer coach in 2024 for the varsity team. The previous year, Lyndonville didn’t have its own team due to low numbers.
Bradley agreed to be the coach and the team helped him reach a career milestone of 200 victories. Many of those players attended his calling hours on Friday.
Young Explosives also was there at the calling hours. So were many former students, teachers, Lyndonville firefighters and community members.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman: Wes Bradley is shown in late August 2024 when he returned to coaching the Lyndonville varsity soccer team. He is shown meeting with five veteran players from the last Tigers varsity team in 2022. They include Austin Fonda, Michael Alexander, Colton Smith, Jesus Rosario and Brody Hazel. The team would earn Bradley’s his 200th career soccer victory.
When Bradley moved to Lyndonville in August 1979 at age 31, he joined the Lyndonville Fire Department. He was inspired by his father’s example. Ray Bradley volunteered for more than 30 years as a firefighter in Canton, NY.
Bradley was an active firefighter responding to many calls, finding the time even during his very busy days as teacher and coach.
In his 70s, he still was going to about 50 calls a year and served as the department’s chaplain. In 2019, he was Lyndonville’s firefighter of the year at age 71.
“He does everything very professional,” Ben Bane, the Lyndonville fire chief at the time, told the Orleans Hub. “As chaplain, he is always there to comfort members when we have bad calls.”
Bradley, after years as an interior firefighter, continued as an exterior firefighter and with the fire police on traffic control. He also went on EMS calls. He wasn’t an EMT but he said it is comforting for many residents to see their neighbors in the fire service respond to the calls.
“I enjoy serving the community,” Bradley said on Feb. 1, 2020 when he was presented with the award. “The community has been good to me. I can give a little bit back.”
Laurie Bradley said her husband was “a go-getter who wanted to serve others.” She was the school librarian at Lyndonville. She and Wes raised three children in the community.
Ben Bane, Lyndonville’s fire chief in 2020, presents the Firefighter of the Year award to Wes Bradley on Feb. 1, 2020.
Bob Larkin worked as a custodian at the school district. He saw Bradley every day and without fail Bradley always was quick to greet Larkin by name. During the end-of-season pizza parties, Bradley made sure his team picked up after themselves.
If there was a fire alarm at the school, Bradley was typically the first on the scene in his firefighter turn-out gear, Larkin said.
Lee Dillenbeck, a Lyndonville teacher and coach, said the community is reeling from the loss of Bradley and Hughes. Both were tremendous mentors for teachers and students, Dillenbeck said.
Bradley never wavered in trying to be of service to the community.
“He was the best person you could come across,” Dillenbeck said. “Anything you needed he was there for you.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 3 October 2025 at 11:08 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker/Roy-Hart’s Vince Fazzio breaks away from a tackle attempt by York/Pavilion’s Zachary Bauer during the Bulls non league win at Barker this evening.
Improving to 4-1, Barker/Roy-Hart knocked Pavilion/York from the ranks of the unbeaten by scoring a 30-23 non league victory this evening at Barker.
Vince Fazzio caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Tysen McCaa and also returned a pass interception for another TD to lead the way for Barker/Roy-Hart which also got a TD run by Carter DerSarkissian.
Barker/Roy-Hart took an 8-6 lead in the second quarter on a 12 yard McCaa to Fazzio TD pass and a two-point conversion carry by Anthony Adinolfe.
York/Pavilion though took a slender 9-8 lead at the half on a 45 yard field goal as time expired by quarterback Parker Bonefede who also had a 5 yard TD pass in the first quarter.
However, Barker/Roy-Hart regained the lead for good at 22-9 in the third quarter on back-to-back touchdowns as McCaa hooked up with Fazzio for a 45 yard scoring pass and DerSarkissian followed up with an 8 yard TD run. McCaa kicked the extra point after both scores.
York/Pavilion did cut the deficit to 22-15 at the end of the third quarter but Fazzio upped the host Bulls lead to 30-15 with what proved to be a clinching 25 yard pass interception return for a touchdown with four minutes to go in the final period. Adinolfe again added the two-point conversion run.
York/Pavilion closed back to within 30-23 late on a 5 yard TD run by Bonafede. However, the Golden Knights would get no closer as the Bulls offensive unit ran out the clock.
The Barker/Roy-Hart duo of Jakob West (55) and Ashton Ark (1) sack York/Pavilion quarterback Parker Bonafede for a loss.
Barker/Roy-Hart’s Anthony Adinolfe goes around the edge looking for yardage as Aiden Kobylanski moves in for York/Pavilion.
