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New 100-foot-long pedestrian bridge installed in Medina over Oak Orchard Creek
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A crane from Trimble Services LLC in Fulton lifts a 33,000-pound steel bridge over the Oak Orchard Creek today at about 11:25 a.m.
The pedestrian bridge was manufactured by Bridge Brothers Inc. from Pickens, South Carolina.
The bridge is 100 feet long and 8 feet wide. It was delivered in Medina on a truck in two 50-foot sections.
Kevin Foster and his son Jack, owners of RJT Construction Services, are the first to walk across the bridge.
RJT is the general contractor on the project after submitting the low bid of $837,448. Barton & Loguidice also provided engineering services for $166,300.
The project also includes about 2,000 feet of sidewalks along Maple Ridge Road.
The bridge is on Maple Ridge Road over the creek awaiting to be lifted and set in place on its new concrete abutments.
Workers put bolts in place where two 50-foot sections were put together.
The thick straps are put in place to hoist the bridge.
Kevin Foster, co-owner of RJT Construction Services, checks the work before the bridge was lifted.
5 earn GED through O/N BOCES Literacy Zone
Photo and press release courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Congratulations go to five graduates of the Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ GED class at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Medina.
Their Literacy Zone teachers, family and friends are so proud of their achievement. Well done, Alex Hain, Marty Spencer, Jade Trautman, Jennifer Nichols and Sherry Burgher!
To learn more about Literacy Zone program, click here.
Holley honors Samantha Zelent with Appreciation Award
Interact Club advisor leads students on many service projects in community
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Holley Mayor Mark Bower presents Samantha Heise Zelent with the Mayor Vaughn Appreciation Award for her efforts as a Holley school social worker and as advisor of the school’s Interact Club. The award was presented during Tuesday’s Village Board meeting at the American Legion. In back are village attorney John Sansone and village trustee Brenden Bedard.
Hundreds of students have tackled community service projects in recent years through the Interact Club.
Bower said he remembers when Zelent moved to Holley with she was a first grader. Her father, the late John Heise, was starting a job as Holley principal. John and his wife Sandy, and their children – Kevin and Samantha – settled into the Holley community.
John Heise was very involved in Rotary and served as the district governor. He pushed to start the Interact Club at the school. Interact is affiliated with Rotary.
Zelent has helped turn Interact into a powerhouse, connecting students to service projects throughout the school year.
Samantha Zelent addresses about 200 volunteers on May 17 for the annual “Day of Impact” as part of the Canal Clean Sweep.
The Day of Impact includes a huge group of students and community volunteers who pick up litter in the community, tend to landscaping by the tank at the VFW, clean blankets to be given to a homeless shelter and work on other service projects.
The Interact Club also cleans headstone at Hillside Cemetery, serves food at the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen in Albion, prepares meals for the Open Door Mission in Rochester, and helps in numerous other ways.
Mayor Bower said Zelent has given many years of dedicated service to students and the Holley community.
“She’s a force to be reckoned with,” Bower said. “She’s a get-it-done person.”
Samantha Zelent in March 2025 gives Holley students a pep talk before they served sloppy joes at the OK Kitchen in Albion. Clockwise from Zelent include MacKenzie Fiorito, Lily Moore, Brianna Pellegrino, Leon Wilcox, Charli Gearing, Madie Lowell, Kylie Dann, Joscelyn Underwood and the back of Erin Dibble.
The Holley community donated the food for a sloppy joe dinner, including 90 pounds of ground beef, 83 cans of Manwich, 83 jars of peas, 500 Little Debbie snacks and a $100 from Wegmans. The Holley school kitchen staff cooked the sloppy joes which were then reheated at the OK Kitchen and then served by the students.
Zelent said the Holley community eagerly steps up to serve others. She praised the Holley community “tribe” for their giving hearts.
“This tribe has come through every single time and it is so powerful,” Zelent said. “Be it donations, manpower or support, this community is always there. They are the reason all of this happens, including Interact.”
She praised her father for his example of service, and for pushing to start Interact in Holley. The students have embraced the Rotary mission of “Service Above Self.”
“It is for the 100s of kids who have come through Interact who inspire me and make me so incredibly proud,” Zelent said. “They make me know that the future is so bright and that the world is going to be left in pretty caring, determined, and hard working hands.”
Mayor Bower reactivated the Mayor Vaughn Appreciation Award in 2022. Since then the recipients have included: Charlene Sielaff in 2022, Sabir Khan in 2023, Sandy Shaw in 2024, Mark Scarborough in 2025 and Samantha Heise Zelent in 2026.
Rivals will host Amherst Friday at Vets Park
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Quarterback Preston Woodworth and his Albion/Medina teammates will host Amherst at 7 p.m. Friday at Vets Park.
Looking to rebound from last weekend’s one point loss and to stay in the thick of the title race Albion/Medina will host Amherst in a B1 Division game at 7 p.m. Friday at Vets Park.
Albion/Medina, which dropped a narrow 35-34 decision to West Seneca East last Friday, is now deadlocked with McKinley at 4-1 in the B1 standings just behind front-running West Seneca East at 5-1.
West Seneca East will host Williamsville South (4-2) and McKinley will entertain Maryvale (3-2) in Friday’s key B1 contests which will also have Lew-Port (0-5) at Lake Shore (1-5).
Amherst (1-5) is looking to keep the momentum from last weekend’s 28-0 win over Lew-Port which snapped the Tigers season long five game losing streak.
Offensively Amherst is led by Michel Hamistor (194 yards rushing and 296 yards passing with 1 touchdown). Noah Groff (195 yds. passing and 2 TDs) and Maddox Nedescu (13 receptions for 165 yards and 2 TDs).
The Albion/Medina rushing attack has been led by Elijah Doxey (479 yds., 7 TDs) and Jayzon Wills (385 yds., 2 TD).
OC Rivals quarterback Preston Woodworth has passed for 910 yards and 11 touchdowns. His main receivers have been Noah Harrison (22 catches for 478 yds. and 6 TDs) and Doxey (19 catches for 384 yds. and 3 TDs).
Following Friday’s game, which is Homecoming at Medina, the Rivals will close the regular season against McKinley at Albion on Friday October 23.
30 scarecrows at Bullard Park in Albion contest
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – There are 30 scarecrows lined up along the fence of the basketball courts at Bullard Park. The scarecrows were created during Albion’s Fall Fest on Oct. 3.
The Albion Merchants Association has a contest among the scarecrows and asked people to fill out a ballot with their name and then their choice for the spookiest scarecrow, the most humorous, the most traditional and best scarecrow name.
“The scarecrow’s name appears on the white tag that is pinned/stapled to the front of the scarecrow,” the Merchants Association stated. “Please write the scarecrow’s name. Only write a description of the scarecrow if there is no tag on site.”
Completed ballot should be turned in to the Albion Downtown Browsery or Rise & Grind by Friday, October 23. Questions should be directed to Kim Remley at 589-5053 (leave message).
The winners will be announced in the Oct. 31 Lake Country Pennysaver Entertainment Section.
Yates Community Library to celebrate new Book House and storage space
Provided photo: The new Yates book house is shown in this photo. The garbage can is at a spot where the electric hook-up would later go.
Press Release, Yates Community Library
LYNDONVILLE – As part of a grant titled “From Shore to Sky: Supplying Our Communities Outdoor Explorers,” the Yates Community Library has increased its storage space allowing things like binoculars, fishing poles, and stream ecology kits to be added to the library collection.
A ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. on Thursday will officially open the new Book House to the public, a small space in the front of the building reserved to sell used books. Local residents are encouraged to attend the ribbon cutting and show their support for this much-needed expansion at 15 North Main St.
Tom Wenhold, president of the Yates Community Library Board of Trustees, will open the event supported by other library trustees. A check will be presented from The Rural Library Grant powered by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and coordinated by the Western New York Library Resources Council and Rochester Regional Library Council.
Presentations will be made by Assemblyman Steve Hawley of the 139th District and Lynne Johnson, chairman of the Orleans County Legislature. Frank Sykes, executive director, and Gretchen Schweigart, member libraries consultant, will be in attendance to represent the Nioga Library System.
All those in attendance will be allowed to tour both sections of the new building, enjoy snacks, and enter a drawing for prizes.
With Johnson Creek only a few feet away, Yates Community Library is also proud to partner with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to provide free fishing rod loans through “I Fish NY” and backpacks with binoculars and birding reference materials through “I Bird NY” initiatives.
Funds from the WNY Rural Library Grant will allow teachers, scout leaders, and other educators to check out sets of binoculars, fishing and birding resources, and other nature exploration kits that are geared to be used for larger groups.
As a birder herself, Library Director Heather Rutherford, is excited to start taking patrons on bird walks with the new supplies.
“The WNY Rural Library Grant has allowed us the space to purchase resources and materials that will allow us to provide programs for our patrons to learn, experience, and appreciate the nature that is right here in our backyard,” Rutherford said. “Over time, the library will continue to purchase more active lifestyle materials to investigate bugs, test stream water quality, or create nature journals. All of these items promote the library’s mission to provide current materials for education, enjoyment, enrichment, and lifelong learning to local residents.”
The book house will be open when the library is open: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The library is closed Wednesday and Sunday.
Donations of gently used books will again be accepted after the official opening.
Mustang booters down Purple Eagles
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Cam Fike scores a first half goal for Medina during the Mustangs win over Albion at Vets Park this evening. Defending for Albion are Ayden Thompson (21) and Nathan Wehling (20).
Two goals in the first 8 minutes ignited Medina to a 13-0 win over Albion in the Niagara-Orleans League boys soccer season finale this evening at Vets Park.
The Mustangs led 9-0 at the half as Aleks Seefeldt had 3 goals, Aidan Papaj and Cam Fike 2 each and Izzy Anderson and Lathan McEwen-Miller 1 each during that stretch.
Papaj, Anderson, McEwen-Miller and Jake Duffina then each scored a goal in the second half.
Medina finishes the N-O season at 6-4 and Albion 0-9-1.
Wilson 3, Roy-Hart 0
Undefeated (10-0) Wilson capped off a fourth straight N-O championship season with a 3-0 win over Roy-Hart as Max Harmon, Mason Schultz and Elijah Moore each scored a goal.
Akron 3, Newfane 1
Akron (8-2) downed Newfane (4-6) 3-1 in the other N-O contest.
Albion’s Christopher Lopez Cruz blocks a shot by Medina’s Izzy Anderson.
Kendall girls avenge earlier loss to W-C; Barker/Lyndonville romps past CSAT
Avenging their only loss, Kendall blanked visiting Wheatland-Chili 2-0 in a Genesee Region League girls soccer game this evening.
Ryleigh Denning and Sophia Picardo each had a goal as Jersie Drake and Kirsten Loescher had the assists for the Lady Eagles.’
Teagan Shaw made 3 saves to earn the shutout in goal.
Kendall is now 14-1 overall.
Barker/Lyndonville 10, CSAT 0
Seven players contributed goals as Barker/Lyndonville romped to a 10-0 win over CSAT in a non league girls soccer game this evening.
Natalie Rath scored 3 goals and Elysse Dillenbeck 2 to lead the way as Braedynn Dillenbeck, Arnie Sturtevant, Villette Jary, Leah Costello and Cheyanne Rouse each had 1.
Wilson 4, Roy-Hart/Medina 0
Undefeated (9-0) Wilson clinched at least a tie for the Niagara-Orleans League title by downing Roy-Hart/Medina (4-6) 4-0 on goals by Zoey Beck, Lucy Madan, Keira Croisdale and Kairi Beck.
Akron 8, Newfane 0
Akron improved to 8-1 in N-O action by downing Newfane (0-10) 8-0.
Field Hockey
Wilson 7, Sacred Heat 1
Wilson downed Sacred Heart 7-1 in a non league field hockey game as Brynn Lepsch scored 3 goals and Taylor Ernest and Clara Ferdinand 2 each.
Roy-Hart spikers score win over Medina
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Lily Pabon Rosa makes a service return druing the Lady Rams win over visiting Medina this evening.
Roy-Hart scored a straight set 25-21, 25-20, 25-12 win over visiting Medina in a Niagara-Orleans League volleyball match this evening.
For the Lady Rams, Lauren Snyder had 7 kills and 3 aces, Zoe Healey 6 kills, Tessa Degenhardt 5 kills and 4 aces, Lily Pabon Rosa 5 aces and Jaycie Heck 2 aces and 23 assists.
For the Mustangs, Maya Anderson had 4 kills, Sam Heschke 2 aces and 2 kills, Caliyah St. Louis 3 aces, Cassidy Janas 1 ace and Maddy Watts 1 ace.
Roy-Hart is now 4-5 and Medina 1-8 in N-O action.
Wilson d. Albion
Wilson (6-3) scored a 4 set 2-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-19 win over Albion (2-7).
For Albion, Charlotte Pike had 3 aces, 10 digs and 8 assists, Jillian LeBaron 7 kills, 2 aces and 1 block, Melia Prince 4 kills and 2 blocks and Anna Grillo 4 aces and 1 kill.
Medina’s Maddy Watts sends the ball over the net as Loreli Ryan backs up the play.
Hawks win to close out 13-1-2 regular season
Holley capped off a 13-1-2 regular season by edging host HAC 1-0 in a non league boys soccer game this afternoon.
Cam Kelley scored the lone goal for the Hawks off an assist from Chase Kempa.
