By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 November 2025 at 8:25 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Madelina Pavlock, who scored both Barker goals drives toward the goal as Adelynne Lacy and Penelope Schalck defend for Medina. The action took place during host Barker’s sectional semifinal win over Medina this evening.
All of the scoring came off of corner opportunities as No. 2 seed Barker edged No. 3 Medina 2-1 in the semifinals of the Section VI Class C field hockey playoffs this evening at Barker.
Barker grabbed a 1-0 lead with 2:30 remaining in the first quarter as Madelina Pavlock scored off a corner by Kaylee Stoll.
That same combination of Stoll to Pavlock clicked again off a corner with 11:57 to go in the final quarter for what proved to be the game winning goal giving Barker a 2-0 lead.
Medina answered right back a minute later as Penelope Schalck scored off a corner by Lilah Class to cut the deficit to 2-1 but the Mustangs could not net the equalizer.
Improving to 13-5, Barker will now face top seeded Niagara-Orleans League champion Akron in the Class C championship game at 8 p.m. Thursday at Alden.
Medina finishes the season with an 11-7 overall record.
Akron nipped No. 5 seed Eden 4-3 in overtime in the other semifinal on a goal by Mackenzie Tomporowski.
Morgan Tomporowski also had a pair of goals on the evening for Akron.
Medina’s Penelope Schalck lets go with a shot which scored the Mustangs lone goal. Kaylee Stoll moves in to defend for Barker.
Barker’s Milayna May reaches to knock the ball away from Medina’s Penelope Schalck.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 November 2025 at 4:19 pm
Residents could hook into system that would run along 31A, Bennetts Corners Road
Photos by Tom Rivers: Matt Zarbo, director of engineering for Square Engineering in Buffalo, discusses constructing a sewer line from the Heron Falls park on Route 31A and connect with the Village of Holley sewer system on Bennetts Corners Road near Route 31.
CLARENDON – Heron Falls is offering to spend $2 million to extend public sewers in the town by about 2 miles.
Heron Falls has about 400 housing units and 800 residents. The park on Route 31A, formerly called Thomas Estates, wants to decommission its aging wastewater treatment system on site and instead run a 4-inch sewer line to connect with Holley’s sewer system.
Heron Falls would pay for the new sewer lines and a pump station, and then turn the project over to the Village of Holley. Residents along 1,650 feet on Route 31A and then 9,150 feet along Bennetts Corners Road would have the option to connect to the sewer system, but wouldn’t be required.
During an information meeting about the project on Monday, some Bennetts Corners Road residents – Dan Cater, Katie Applegate and Charles Kinsey – said they were concerned the public sewer line would bring more development to the rural road which they said already sees lots of speeding motorists.
Cater said the construction of the project could have negative impacts on properties, and he also worries potential leaks in the sewer line could contaminate well water.
“I only see negatives,” Cater said during the meeting. “I only see negatives for my family and neighbors.”
Matt Zarbo shows how the proposed sewer line would go east 1,650 feet along Route 31A, and then north 9,150 feet along Bennetts Corners Road.
Matt Zarbo, an engineer working as a consultant for Heron Falls, said the sewer line is safer than having septic near wells. He said there is very little chance the sewer line would leak. The sewer line should last for a century.
The project would use directional drilling to minimize construction impacts, he said.
Applegate said the rural nature of the community is a big draw for the residents.
“I don’t want to see development on Bennetts Corners,” she said. “It would decimate the peacefulness we have in that area.”
The project would give the village of Holley more sewer users to help the village pay for its sewer plant, which recently completed over $2 million in upgrades.
Holley’s sewer plant currently treats about 210,000 gallons a day. Heron Falls would send another 38,000 to 70,000 a gallons to Holley’s plant which has a capacity to treat 450,000 gallons a day. Even with Heron Falls, Holley would have plenty of capacity to accommodate other users, said Aric Albright, the sewer plant chief operator.
The project needs the Clarendon Town Board’s approval to proceed. Town Supervisor Marc Major said he wants the board to consider the comments made during the meeting. The board hasn’t set a date on when it will vote on the issue.
Major said residents can check the Town Board agenda and attend upcoming meetings. The regular town board meetings are the third Tuesday each month beginning at 7 p.m.
Matt Zarbo speaks during a public information meeting on Monday at the Clarendon Town Hall. About 25 people attended the meeting. Town Supervisor Marc Major said the board would discuss the issue in an upcoming meeting.
If the town doesn’t allow the sewer project, Zarbo said Heron Falls would have to spend more to put in a new waste water treatment facility, and would need to pay an operator for the system. That would also mean there wouldn’t be a new sewer line over about 2 miles for residents to have the option to tap into, and Holley wouldn’t get the sewer revenue from Heron Falls.
The proposal to run a sewer line and connect to Holley’s system is the best option for Heron Falls residents, Zarbo said, while offering a benefit for residents along the line and the Village of Holley.
“We view this as a win, win, win,” Zarbo said about the benefits for Heron Falls, Clarendon and Holley.
A Heron Falls representative said the park has no plans of expanding and adding more units as part of the proposed sewer project.
Heron Falls is working to have all the approvals in place between now and February, so construction can start in the spring and be done in the fall 2026. It has an agreement with Holley to connect into the sewer system. Heron Falls also is working with the state Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Transportation to get their approval.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 November 2025 at 10:09 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Part of the Orleans County Courthouse dome is illumined in green on Monday evening as part of Operation Green Light.
ALBION – Orleans County is joining in Operation Green Light, a campaign designed to show support for our nation’s veterans, raise awareness of the county role in providing support and resources to veterans, and advocate for legislation that will strengthen counties’ ability to support veterans.
In honor of Operation Green Light, the dome of the courthouse will be lit green from Nov. 4 through Nov. 11.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to participate in Operation Green Light by placing a green light in a window of their home or business.
Orleans County legislators last week passed a resolution in support of Operation Green Light. Legislators said 44 to 72 percent of service members experience high levels of stress during transition from military to civilian life.
“Active military service members transitioning from military service are at a high risk for suicide during their first year after military service,” legislators stated in the resolution.
The Orleans County Veterans Service Office can help veterans with anything they need including filing important paperwork, fighting for benefits, securing medical appointments and finding counseling. The office can be reached at (585) 589-3219.
Photos courtesy of Medina Fire Department: Three Medina firefighters were sworn in as lieutenants of the Medina FD during a Village Board meeting on Monday. Pictured from left include Steve Miller, Adam Fisher and Tim Miller. (Steve and Tim are twin brothers.)
Press Release, Medina Fire Chief Steve Cooley
MEDINA – At the special meeting of the Village Board on Monday, the following promotions were made.
Firefighter Adam Fisher was promoted to Lieutenant effective Nov. 3.
Firefighter Stephen Miller was promoted to Lieutenant effective Nov. 4.
Firefighter Timothy Miller was promoted to Lieutenant effective Nov. 5.
Lieutenant Fisher is a nine-year veteran of the Department. He has been a senior firefighter/paramedic on the 4th Platoon and serves as the Department’s Municipal Training Officer.
Lieutenant Fisher is also a Certified Instructor Coordinator for NY State EMS courses as well as a Fire Instructor for NYS Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services assigned to the NYS Fire Academy in Montour Falls. Lieutenant Fisher will serve as the Company Officer for the 1st Platoon effective Dec. 1 and oversee the Department’s EMS Operations.
(Left) Fire Chief Steve Cooley pins the collar on Tim Miller during the swearing in ceremony. (Right) Steve Miller takes the oath of office in front of his family.
Lieutenant Stephen Miller is a 13-year veteran of the Department, most recently serving as the senior firefighter on the 2nd Platoon with prior time as the senior firefighter on the 3rd Platoon.
He also serves as a Fire Investigator with the Department’s Fire Investigation Unit. Lieutenant Miller will be the Company Officer for the 2nd Platoon and will be assisting Lieutenant Fisher with the Department’s EMS Operations.
Lieutenant Timothy Miller is an 8-year veteran of the Department and has been serving as the senior firefighter on the 3rd Platoon. He has been running the Department’s CPR training program both in-house and for outside agencies including the public.
He will serve as the Company Officer for the 4th Platoon effective Dec. 1 where he will also assist Senior Lieutenant Jacob Crooks with planning and Fire Department Operations.
Congratulations Gentlemen!
Adam Fisher takes the oath of office while joined by his family.
Editor’s Note: The promotions give Medina a lieutenant for each of the three shifts. They fill some of the recent leadership vacancies. Steve Cooley was promoted from lieutenant to fire chief on Sept. 8. Jonathan Higgins, a captain for the Medina FD for 11 years, retired on Aug. 8.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 November 2025 at 8:25 am
MEDINA/BARRE – Two churches are serving meals today on election day.
The First Presbyterian Church in medina will again be serving a ham and scalloped potato dinner. Last year the meal was such a big hit, the church is doing it again this year.
The dinner will be available from 4 to 6 p.m. as a drive-thru only at the Senior Center on West Avenue. The Senior Center provides a convenient setup to pull up, hand in your ticket and pull forward to the next door and get your meal to go.
Pre-sale tickets are encouraged, but if not sold out, a limited number might be available at the door. Tickets are $15 and available by calling the church at 798-1264 or dinner chair Sue Martin at (585) 721-4723.
The meal will include ham and scalloped potatoes, green beans, applesauce, roll and butter and dessert.
The West Barre Church for many years has served a turkey dinner on election day. The meals comes with sides and pie for dessert.
It is take-out only from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are pre-sale only and are $15 for adults and $7 for children. The church is located at 5377 Eagle Harbor Rd.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 November 2025 at 7:46 am
Orleans County residents go to the polls today with voting from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
There are positions up for election in each of the 10 towns as well as the seven Orleans County legislators and the county treasurer. There are 25,777 registered voters in the county.
Most of the polling sites are at town halls, although Albion votes at Hoag Library, part of Ridgeway uses the Volunteer Fire Company, and Carlton uses the Fire Company Rec Hall.
Here is a list of the polling sites:
Albion – Districts 1 through 6 – Hoag Library, 134 South Main St.
Barre – Districts 1 and 2 – Town Hall, 14317 West Barre Rd.
Carlton – Districts 1 through 3 – Carlton Fire Co. Rec Hall, 1853 Oak Orchard Rd.
Clarendon – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 16385 Church St.
Gaines – Districts 1 through 4 – Town Hall, 14087 Ridge Rd.
Kendall – Districts 1 through 3 – Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd.
Murray – Districts 1 through 6 – Town Hall/Highway Garage, 3840 Fancher Rd.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 3 November 2025 at 8:09 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Grace Pearl spikes over JFK’s Emily Swain during the host Lady Rams sectional semifinal win this evening.
Setting the tone at the outset by romping to a 25-9 win in the opening set, No. 3 seed Roy-Hart went on to complete a three set sweep of visiting No. 7 JFK by scores of 25-17, 25-15 this evening in the semifinal round of the Section VI Class B2 volleyball playoffs.
Peyton May served up points 1-8, Grace Pearl 13-17 and Raegan Kern 21-25 in the opening set to get the Lady Rams rolling.
Pearl had 10 spiking kills on the evening as Kylie McOmber had 7 and Lauren Snyder 5.
Roy-Hart advances to Wednesday’s B2 final at 5:30 p.m. at Cheektowaga against the winner of the No. 5 Springville vs. No. 8 Salamanca semifinal.
Field Hockey semis postponed
This evening’s Medina at Barker Section VI Class C field hockey semifinal was postponed due to lightning and has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The No. 5 Eden vs. No. 1 Akron semifinal at Alden was also postponed by lightning with Akron leading 2-1 in the second quarter. The contest is expected to be completed on Tuesday.
Roy-Hart’s Zoe Healey spikes over JFK’s Erica Reader. Moving in on the play for the Lady Rams are Peyton May, Raegan Kern and Ryleigh Capen.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 3 November 2025 at 4:42 pm
Contributed Photo – Holley’s quintet of players on the GCC regional championship team includes, in front, Samantha Bates and in back Emma Brady, Bella Thom, Alexia Renner and Alivia Wolf.
Five Holley graduates have helped the Genesee Community College women’s soccer team capture the Region III championship.
The Lady Hawks quintet includes sophomores Samantha Bates, Emma Brady and Bella Thom along with freshmen Alivia Wolf and Alexia Renner.
GCC defeated Herkimer Community College 7-0 in the semifinals and Jefferson Community College 1-0 in the Region III championship game on Sunday.
Brady, Bates and Wolf each scored a goal in the semifinal win over Herkimer.
Bates then had an assist on the game winning goal in the championship game which was scored by Oakfield-Alabama graduate Piper Hyde who also scored twice in the semifinal.
Bates now has 14 goals and 13 assists on the season, Wolf 8 goals and 3 assists, Brady 6 goals and 14 assists, Thom 4 goals and 5 assists and Renner 1 goal and 1 assist.
To residents of Barre, please vote this election! I wanted to take this opportunity to respond to the “Republican endorsed candidates” stating that this election is not about Heritage Wind or renewable energy.
Did you know that the majority of the Barre Republican committee are lease holders or immediate family of lease holders? Did you know that when Dave Waters and I ran the first time, the Republican committee in Barre denied us an interview stating that they “always endorse the incumbent”?
Did you know that this time, when I reached out to seek their endorsement I was told that things have changed and they now required an interview and they went with the “new” candidates? I asked why, and was told that they were going in a “new direction.”
To me they are going in the same direction, endorsing candidates who support or are uninformed about large projects impacting our community, specifically the Heritage Wind project. This financially benefits the committee members and their immediate families’ own interest.
Now I ask you how your voice and opinion has been heard? Or is it a minority with their own financial interests directing this community? Steve Coville has a signed lease and has been and will continue to be paid by Heritage Wind as listed by Heritage Wind.
Wes Miller, as co-chair of the Planning Board, allowed lease holders to vote and discuss the proposed changes for the wind ordinance and at a public hearing. When concerns were brought up about the changes to the wind ordinance, he sat and listened and then read a pre-written note by the attorney that no changes would be made by the Planning Board and they would hand it off to the Town Board. (Did he actually care or listen or would he rather handoff the concerns?)
The endorsed candidates have disregarded the community’s voice. The current Town Board is stalling the new comprehensive plan, mainly trying to hide your comments and the results of the Town survey that shows a majority of the community being opposed to wind, solar, and battery in our community.
The Planning Board co-led by Wes Miller chose to bury the comments and survey results in the back of the “updated comprehensive plan,” going against the recommendation of the professional hired by the planning board from Labella, who shared that very few communities chose to do this of the many that she has worked with.
These individuals do not want your opinion, they have ignored your concerns, they have ignored or failed to investigate, or question the project. The candidates are being endorsed by the same people who endorsed candidates involved in a scam of our community by a University of Buffalo professor that supposedly worked for 16 weeks, 40 hours a week and was paid tens of thousands of dollars for a 7-page report that lacked substance to change our wind ordinance allowing this project to continue.
The endorsed candidates will tell you that this is not about turbines, or renewable energy. The reality is that it is, and their position or lack of position on the biggest thing facing our community actually shows the need for different leadership.
So yes this election is important for you. Please write in “No Turbines” for Supervisor, to make a statement. And please write in the names Iva McKenna and George McKenna for Town Councilmembers, so that we may serve you and protect all residents of our wonderful community.
I promise to continue my commitment to serve you in all Town matters, but to say that this election is not impacted significantly by the Heritage Wind project and renewable energy is deception.
As those candidates have done before them, if Iva and I do not win, these candidates will likely say that their being elected is the endorsement that says “yes, the Town of Barre is in favor of wind turbines.” We know that this is not the case, please help show them by writing in George and Iva McKenna’s names for Town Councilmembers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 November 2025 at 12:53 pm
ALBION – Orleans County had 425 registered voters cast ballots through nine days of early voting.
The general election is Tuesday and polls will be open in all 10 towns. But with early voting, there is one polling location at the Board of Elections office in Albion.
The totals included 54 on Oct. 25, 26 on Oct. 26, 58 on Oct. 27, 30 on Oct. 28, 48 on Oct. 29, 50 on Oct. 30, 66 on Oct. 31, 58 on Nov. 1 and 35 on Nov. 2.
The early voting total is down significantly from a year ago when 4,539 ballots were cast over the nine days. In 2024, the election featured the presidential race.
This time, the election is at the local levels and nearly all the positions are unopposed.
The only races among candidates on the ballot include:
Carlton Councilman – Marlene Seielstad, Democratic Party, and Ryan Woolston, Republican.
Clarendon Council members with three candidates for two positions – Cecelia Pacheco Stevens, Democratic Party, and Christopher Caufield and Fred Seeman, III, Republicans.
Shelby Councilman – John Pratt III, Republican, and Mark Wambach, Conservative.
There are some write-in campaigns as well. Jeremy Ross of Murray has been endorsed by Democratic Party as write-in candidate for County Legislator in District 4 against John Fitzak of Carlton, a Republican.
George and Iva McKenna are mounting a write-in campaign for Barre Town Board against Wesley Miller and David Allen, who have the Republican and “Future for Barre” lines.
In Murray, William D. “Bill” Bosley Jr., is seeking write-in votes to unseat Dirk Lammes Jr., a Republican, for highway superintendent.
The following proposal also is on the ballot: Amendment to Allow Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County on State Forest Preserve Land. This would allow skiing and related trail facilities on state forest preserve land. The site is 1,039 acres. Requires State to add 2,500 acres of new forest land in Adirondack Park.
A yes vote authorizes new ski trails and related facilities in the Adirondack forest preserve, while a no vote does not authorize this use.
If you are looking for people who truly have your best interests in mind when they serve this community we ask you to please write in George and Iva McKenna.
We have been serving this community volunteering and professionally for decades. We have and will continue to give of our time, energy and resource to serve without being paid by a company that would put 28 of the 625-foot-tall monster fans in our community to put money in their own pockets! I must add with extremely little financially coming back to our community.
The candidates state that this is not about wind turbines or Heritage Wind, but that is because (at least one candidate) is being paid by Heritage Wind. The Heritage Wind project, along with the Hemlock Ridge Solar projects, are probably the biggest changes that will impact all of Barre during the upcoming term.
The Heritage Wind Project would destroy the landscape and beautiful birds we all enjoy, and the hard-earned investments we have put in our homes. Many of us Barre residents would have 6 wind turbines within 1 mile of their home, and they will have to be curtailed for many homes because the project is so poorly sited that homes are predicted to have over the state threshold of 30 hours of flicker (mainly in the morning and in the evening during the summer months when you may be trying to enjoy your home (ours is not one of them) but we have and continue to advocate for those of you who will be impacted)!
Additionally, the acres and acres of trees that are planned to be cleared for this project that help to keep our air clean and provide the oxygen that we need does not benefit anyone.
Yes, the wind turbines would be huge, but they are just the tip of the massive 500-foot blades of concern for our community. Issues of financial concern need to be considered and with the background both George and I have in owning our own business helps us to be financially alert and because of the way that previous boards agreed to the host community agreement, it is solely at the discretion of the Town Board how any funds (although only a fraction of what Heritage Wind had promised when they started pushing this project) are used.
By the way, do you know that for years we have been trying unsuccessfully to get the cost benefit analysis of the bottom line of how much the wind turbines would cost and how much they would earn? Seemingly, they would not save any money or make good amounts of power or the developer would be proud and make it well known!
Even our congressman cannot get the bottom line for us! Who do you think would pay for the cost of the industrial wind turbines….we would! In our power bills and our taxes!
When we started our business and needed a loan, we had to be able to justify the amount we needed to borrow to get the loan which is reasonable, but our government does not feel this is necessary. If you would like any documentation supporting what I have shared above please contact me at 716-474-1865.
Please write in George McKenna and Iva McKenna for the Town Councilmember positions.
Barre matters! You matter in this situation! You obviously do not have to vote for us. Thank God we live in a free country, but at least vote! Let your opinion matter. No matter how you vote we can still be good friends and neighbors.
Take care and God bless you and yours and this nation …..and Go Bills!
Having served a 4-year term on the Shelby Town Board (2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023), I would be honored to be elected to work with the new board on the issues involving our town and to help move our town forward, keeping our spending and taxes down.
I am the endorsed Republican candidate for councilman in the Town of Shelby where I have been a resident for 37 years. I have attended board meetings and workshops for the last 10 years and have always had a great interest in our town.
I would like to thank everyone for the talks we had as I canvassed the town over the last few weeks. To those of you I didn’t get a chance to speak with, I am always open to your questions.
So Town of Shelby voters, as it comes to Election Day on Nov. 4, please exercise your right to vote and make things right in Shelby!!
Please vote Line B, the Republican Line, and choose Jim Heminway – Supervisor, Larry Waters – Councilman, Ed Zelazny – Councilman, and John Pratt – Councilman.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 November 2025 at 12:02 pm
File photos by Tom Rivers: The Elks Lodge in Albion dedicated this memorial for Jason Johnston on Aug. 17, 2019. The Albion Elks Riders have supported a memorial scholarship for Johnston that is given each year for an Albion senior who is pursuing a helping profession.
Editor’s Note: This article was corrected from an earlier version that said Route 98 in Albion would be dedicated in honor of Jason Johnston.
ALBION – A part of Route 31A in Albion, from Route 98 to Powerline Road, will be dedicated on Wednesday for Spc. Jason Johnston, who was 24 was killed by a roadside bomb in the war in Afghanistan on Dec. 26, 2009.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley said there will be a dedication event at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the intersection of Route 98 and Route 31A.
Hawley said State Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt and other elected officials will be there for the highway dedication for Army Specialist Jason Johnston, who was born and raised in Albion.
Johnston enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2006. His family always said Johnston had an eagerness to serve in the military and then attend Syracuse University after his term in the Army was completed, Hawley said.
Johnston was killed in action on Dec. 26, 2009, when his unit was bombed in Arghandab, Afghanistan.
“I’m honored to take part in this dedication honoring Army Specialist Jason Johnston, a hometown hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,” Hawley said. “His courage, commitment and love for his community and country embody the very best of Albion and Western New York. May this highway stand as a lasting reminder of his service and the gratitude we all owe to those who defend our freedom.”
The American Legion Sheret Post in Albion also unveiled a memorial bench in Johnston’s honor on Aug. 14, 2021. Johnston is the only Orleans County resident killed in combat during the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq.
