By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 18 July 2026 at 9:48 am
Locked in a tight battle for a playoff spot, Medina FC faces a very challenging regular season finale as the Mustangs will host undefeated (9-0) front-running Buffalo Italia FC at 8:15 p.m. Monday at Vets Park in a key Buffalo District Soccer League Championship Division contest.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Trenton Jones here makes a throw-in for Medina FC which will host division leading Buffalo Italia FC in a key regular season ending game at Vets Park Monday evening.
The Medina vs. Buffalo Italia game was originally scheduled for Sunday evening at Vets Park.
The top six teams in the final division standings advance to the playoffs.
Buffalo Italia, along with runner-up Ukraine (8-1) and third place Revolution FC (6-3) have already locked up playoff berths.
Medina is in a five way battle for one of the three remaining playoff spots.
The Mustangs have gone 4-1-1 over the last six games after an 0-3 start to the season.
The Mustangs, the Queen City Gunners and the Sporting Cavs are currently all deadlocked in fourth place at 4-4-1 (13 points).
Mes Que FC which is 4-5 (12 points) and Rance FC which is 3-5 (9 points) are also still in the playoff hunt.
The Queen City Gunners will face Rance FC and Mes Que FC will take on Ukraine on Sunday. Rance FC also has a makeup game against the Sporting Caves on the 23rd.
The Mustangs offense has been led by Cole Callard with 8 goals and Peter Martillotta with 4.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 July 2026 at 9:25 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Brett Sobieraski is shown on the Albion High School track this morning, the beginning of an 8-day fundraiser for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.
Sobieraski is planning to run 400 miles over the eight days with a goal of raising $20,000 for Community Action.
He is planning to run 220 laps at tracks the first seven days for 55 miles each day, then a final 60 laps for 15 miles next Saturday.
Sobieraski gets a high five from Jackie Dunham, the director of operations for Community Action.
As of 9 a.m. today, $4,866 has been raised online from 72 donors. Click here for more information about donating online.
Sobieraski rounds the far end of the track by the Albion scoreboard while running next to his girlfriend, Laura Rinaldi.
He welcomes people to join him on the track, even if it’s just for a lap.
He expects to be out at each track for 10 to 12 hours.
The schedule includes:
Today, July 18 – Albion High School for 55 miles
Sunday, July 19 – Lyndonville HS for 55 miles
Monday, July 20 – Batavia HS for 55 miles (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Tuesday, July 21 – East Rochester HS for 55 miles (Special Remembrance Day for Fallen Officers)
Wednesday, July 22 – Kendall HS for 55 miles
Thursday, July 23 – Medina HS for 55 miles
Friday, July 24 – Holley HS for 55 miles
Saturday, July 25 – Albion HS (8 a.m. to 11 a.m.) for the grand finale of 15 miles
Brett Sobieraski runs on the track at about a 10-minute mile pace this morning. Brenda Myrthil of Rochester is behind him.
Myrthil wanted to be part of the experience on the track with Sobieraski, who has completed many endurance challenges to benefit charities and fallen police officers. Sobieraski is a retired sergeant from the Rochester Police Department. He currently works as an investigator with the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force.
“He is such an inspiration,” Myrthil said. “He does these crazy things to draw attention to others.”
She likes running on the track with other people, which she said makes it more of a community event.
Jeff Atwell (left), manager of weatherization for Community Action, and Ernie Gursslin, the facilities technician for the agency, secure a Community Action banner along the track fence. There will also banners for sponsors of the 400-mile run.
There is merchandise available, including commemorative T-shirts.
Brett Sobieraski poses for a photo with two colleagues at the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office before the start of the run this morning at 7. Connor Smith is an intern at the DA’s office and Susan Howard is the district attorney.
“Our whole office supports him,” Howard said. “What he is doing is ridiculously amazing.”
There was a gentle rain at the start of the run at 7 a.m.
Sobieraski said the rain to start the run today felt like a friendly jab from “Maz,” who is the late Anthony Mazurkiewicz. That Rochester police officer was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022.
In 2023, Sobieraski ran a marathon every day for 50 straight days, traveling on foot from Florida and Rochester, going 26.2 miles a day. Sobieraski would raise $110,000 for the Mazurkiewicz family. In the last 5K of the final marathon, 850 people joined Sobieraski in Rochester.
He is hoping for a big turnout on the track for Community Action, especially the finale next Saturday in Albion.
Sobieraski wants the run to bring people together during a time of divisiveness, and also raise money for Community Action which provides many services in Orleans and Genesee counties.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 July 2026 at 8:41 am
ALBION – A carnival event planned for Bullard Park today as a fundraiser for Hospice of Orleans has been cancelled due to the forecast of severe thunderstorms.
The event will be rescheduled. Christina Nenni and Michelle Wiseman from Best of Tymes Party Rentals were planning to have many activities from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 July 2026 at 6:33 am
Enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms today
For the fourth straight day, an air quality alert has been issued for Orleans County and Western New York due to the smoke from the wildfires in Canada.
The alert is in effect until midnight today. Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 175 for fine particulates. The State Department of Health recommends individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.
The National Weather Service also said there is an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms through this evening. The primary hazards are damaging winds, heavy rainfall and an isolated tornado, the Weather Service said.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 July 2026 at 9:26 pm
Playing shorthanded with only 10 players, Albion dropped an 8-0 decision at Avon this evening in a Rochester District Youth Soccer League girls U18 Division game.
The loss drops Albion to 2-6.
Roy-Hart Roundup
In recent Buffalo District Youth Soccer League action the Roy-Hart girls U16 Division team edged the Lockport Lightning 2-1 led by the goal scoring of Alexis Bedford to improve to 2-4.
In girls U19 Division action, Roy-Hart played to a 4-4 tie with KSC Surf to improve to 2-1-1 as Maria Trombley and Ruth Walker each scored a pair of goals.
Paul Lauricella accused me of “outright hostility towards his neighbors,” and using words like “racist, bigoted, and hateful.” Those are lies. I have never used those words or been disrespectful in any of my letters; never.
It is interesting that Mr. Lauricella attacks me, personally rather than the facts or my arguments. It is also very disappointing that the Orleans Hub prints such a libelous letter.
Crime has always been a problem and is a problem everywhere. It is an emotional issue and not all crime can be stopped. Universities have established programs to study the causes of crime and ways of reducing and hopefully preventing crime.
We have a choice, we can continue to use an emotional response for crime issues, or we can use what has proven successful through actual study and facts.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 July 2026 at 5:01 pm
Base hits proved to be hard to come by as the Medina Mustangs 15U team dropped a 9-0 decision to the Nuff Said Wow Factor squad this afternoon in the opening round of the Cooperstown Tournament.
Medina managed only 3 scattered hits as a trio of Nuff Said pitchers registered 15 strikeouts.
The Mustangs hits, all singles, were by Mason Berry in the fifth inning, Brayden LaMartina in the sixth and Jacob Duffina in the seventh.
Nuff Said scored in five different innings including twice in the first inning on two singles and an error, twice in the third on a pair of RBI singles, twice in the fifth on two RBI doubles, once in the sixth and twice in the seventh.
Medina will next face the VT Strikers at 9 Saturday morning at Cooperstown’s historic Doubleday Field.
Photos by Natalie Baron: From left include Pat Harrington, Owen Eichensehr, special guest Hayden Fogle and Paul L. Yates. Harrington expressed gratitude to the audience for their attendance during an evening with an air quality alert.
By Natalie Baron, correspondent
MEDINA – Blue Thursdays kicked off its first concert at State Street Park on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. following three cancellations in the weeks before.
The Pat Harrington Trio, which plays around WNY, was joined by award-winning guitarist Hayden Fogle. Along with performing in The Pat Harrington Trio and the Pat & Own Duo, Harrington tours both nationally and internationally and is the lead guitarist for the award-winning band Victor Wainwright & The Train. Special guest Fogle is the grand prize victor in the 2018 Lee Ritenour/Yamaha Music International Guitar Contest for the Blues Category against contestants from 50 countries.
Hayden Fogle feels the groove. Paul L. Yates is all smiles.
The audience braved the hazy, campfire-like weather for an evening filled with music. This follows cancellations due to other unfortunate weather that would have featured the bands the Dave Viterna Group, the Growlers Blues Band, and Miller and the Other Sinners.
Blue Thursdays usually brings by 600-800 people per concert. The turnout was excellent considering the weather. This is a testament to the joy these concerts bring the community.
Blue Thursdays run from 6 to 8 p.m. and are free of charge. As always, there were many food and beverage vendors at the concert, and there was even a vendor selling crocheted goods. The concerts are organized by The Print Shop and Orleans Renaissance Group, showing off blues talents from the Rochester and Buffalo regions. The sound that evening was done by Curly Pfalzer of Pro Sound and Lighting.
The music combined with the bounce house and the playground made this a great evening out for families.
Other performances from the Pat Harrington Trio, The Pat & Own Duo, or additional groups featuring Harrington include July 18 at Heron Hill Winery at 3 p.m., July 19 at 42 North Brewing Company at 4 p.m., and August 14 at Top of the Bay Tex Mex Bar and Bistro at 6 p.m.
Blue Thursdays will continue on July 23 with the Eric Weinholtz Band and wrap on August 6 with Grosh. There are no rain dates.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 July 2026 at 10:40 am
District makes $266,495 in cuts after budget was rejected twice
Photo by Tom Rivers: Dan Dragula, the Lyndonville school business administrator, goes over a contingency budget during Tuesday’s Lyndonville Board of Education meeting.
LYNDONVILLE – The Board of Education has approved $266,495 in cuts needed for the district to adopt a contingency budget.
Lyndonville adopted the $18,927,505 in a unanimous board vote on Tuesday. The district twice presented a $19,194,000 budget to the public. It was rejected on May 19 by a 172-129 vote, and then again on June 16 with a 327-292 vote.
The district worked to whittle down expenses that aren’t legally required or necessary to maintain the educational program, and not needed to protect the health and safety of students and staff. These contingency expenses could be equipment purchases, optional program enhancements, subsidized community use of school facilities and other discretionary expenditures.
The budget preserves all educational programs for students, and keeps all of the extracurricular programs and sports, including at the modified, junior varsity and varsity levels.
Lyndonville made the cuts from the following areas: $57,000 from administrative expenses; $52,000 from general instruction; $40,000 from operations; $21,118 from special education; $20,600 from library, media and technology; $20,000 from pupil services; $17,746 from Board of Education; $11,000 from Athletics; $8,200 from Central Administration; $7,331 from Instructional Administration/Staff Development; $7,000 from Finance; $3,500 from Community Services; and $1,000 from Transportation.
No new equipment purchases are allowed. Lyndonville zapped $108,600 in equipment purchases with $10,000 from elementary school, $20,000 from high school, $6,000 from music program, $40,000 from building maintenance and upkeep, $600 from library/AV equipment, $20,000 in computer equipment, $11,000 in athletics equipment, and $1,000 from garage equipment.
The board cut conferences and training programs, including for the Board of Education. The budget cuts $20,000 for part-time psychologist intern, and $27,000 in public information services. The Applegram newsletter may not be in print, and instead be online.
Lyndonville Board of Education members Patrick Whipple, left, and Vern Fonda are shown at the recent board meeting. Whipple said he was concerned about the budget cuts for curriculum development and teacher training.
“Not only does this hamper the coming year, but it reverberates from here on out,” Whipple said.
The main focus of the district is education and the contingency budget does weaken the district’s educational program due to the continuing education cuts for teachers.
“That compounds,” Whipple said. “It effects this year’s kids and next year’s. Teachers won’t be honing their craft.”
Whipple also said he was concerned by a reduction of $32,000 in the district line item for legal expenses from $72,000 to $40,000. He said “an increasingly litigious society” could warrant more legal costs for Lyndonville.
“We’re crossing our fingers we won’t need them as much,” Dragula said about the legal costs. If Lyndonville needs to spend more, Dragula said the district would need to find the money in another part of the budget.
Board member James Houseman said any outside groups using Lyndonville facilities should be responsible for any damaged equipment. The baseball and soccer leagues already do that, but the it should be spelled out for all outside groups, board members said.
The contingency budget continues all current community use programs except a $3,500 non-subsidized use of the fitness center. The other programs don’t have a line item cost to the district.
Houseman and board members said Lyndonville should consider fees for use of ball fields, the gym and other facilities. The Lyndonville Facility and Finance Committees will consider if there should be a charge in the future.
District Superintedent Dr. Heather Lyon goes over the district’s code of conduct. She addressed the contingency budget challenges. She said it will be “an ongoing conversation through the school year. She wants serving students and their needs to remain the focus.
“Our students didn’t get to vote but they are impacted by the vote,” she said.
Dr. Lyon has secured some assistance to help with student and teacher supplies in the coming year. The continency budget allows for some teacher supplies, but can’t cover students supplies, such as crayons, pencils, paper and erasers.
Hope Resales in Lyndonville has donated $500 to the district to help with needs due to the budget cutbacks. The ladies of Charity gave $1,600 for student supplies.
The Teachers’ Desk in Buffalo is welcoming Lyndonville teachers this school year to come to the site and pick up needed supplies for free.
Lyndonville was accepted after qualifying for assistance partly due to its high free and reduced lunch rate of 56 percent, Lyon said.
Isabella Brevet, the student representative on board, spoke during Tuesday’s meeting and urged the Board to keep as many programs and services for students as possible.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 17 July 2026 at 8:57 am
Provided photos: These inflatable bounce houses are away the items in the carnival zone on Saturday at Bullard Park.
UPDATE at 6:35 a.m. on July 18: This event will be rescheduled due to the severe weather in the forecast for July 18.
ALBION – A fundraiser sponsored by Christina Nenni and Michelle Wiseman from Best of Tymes Party Rentals will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Bullard Park for Hospice of Orleans.
The event also is in memory of Gertie Montulli, who passed away at age 61 on Nov. 9, 2025. She was Wiseman’s best friend and Gertie sold her flavored popcorn at many community events.
A $5 wrist band will admit entrants for the day to play in the carnival zone. More than 30 vendors will be there, along with a food truck and Best of Tymes Party Rentals, who will have all their new inflatable games set up with Rowdy Rentalz bounce houses for all ages.
Kz Characters will be there with Ninja Turtle for photos and meet and greet. Monster Energy Drinks team will also be there to hand out free monster drinks and swag. A petting zoo will have llamas and other animals. In addition, balloon artists will do air-raising events, and there will be face painting. The Kitchen will be there with soul food.
Other features will be free haircuts, tattoos and face painting.
“There will be something for everyone,” Nenni said.
For the older crowd, there will be a basket raffle and 50/50 drawing.
Key Bank is going to match what they raised up to $2,000.
“Hospice is such an amazing organization and is near and dear to my heart and Michelle’s,” Nenni said.
Nenni said her grandmother was served by Hospice in the residence on Route 31. The family is very grateful for the care of her grandmother by Hospice.
“I wouldn’t have survived without them,” Nenni said.
Wiseman said Hospice cared for her mother, with nurses coming to her home and providing exceptional care.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 July 2026 at 8:30 am
Kim Stawicki sent in this photo from this morning at Glenwood Lake in Medina.
An air quality alert has been issued for the third straight day for Orleans County due to the wildfire smoke.
Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 150 for fine particulates.
The air quality alert is in effect until midnight and includes Western New York.
“When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects,” the DOH said. “People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease.”
The high temperature today in Orleans County is forecast to be 83 with an overnight low of 68.
The July 3rd Independence Day Celebration again drew thousands to Bullard Park for an afternoon and evening of free family fun.
The park was packed with people who came from all around the surrounding counties. The celebration started with the delicious chicken barbecue from 4 to 6 p.m. with another sellout.
The celebration continued into the evening with food and beverage vendors, artisans, and ended with a spectacular fireworks display. This celebration will be every July 3rd moving forward. It took a supportive community to make all this come together.
Several people commented that this year’s celebration drew more than last year. There were many free activities for the adults and especially the children. The weather was hot with threatening storms, but we were lucky that it went to the south and north of us. The Splash Pad was filled with people of all ages. For the next two years, this celebration will start at 11 a.m. and conclude at the end of the fireworks. It will be an all-day affair.
I should apologize before I start naming all those who contributed to this event. I am sure I will leave out some names or organizations.
Special thanks to June Persia and Jeff Holler, who chaired the food vendors and artisans. They did a super job of making sure this celebration had everything for the people.
A huge thank you goes out to our Diamond Sponsor ARG Disposal. The fireworks were dedicated to ARG Disposal for their generous contribution and thoughtfulness. We cannot thank them enough for their loyalty and generosity.
Thanks to the Village of Albion Mayor, Tim McMurray, who was there from start to finish assisting in many ways. Thanks to Chief David Mogle and the Village of Albion Police Department, Chris Bourke and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, Jay Pahura and his DPW staff, Aric Albright, Chris Kinter, Jeremy Graham and the Albion Fire Department, Village of Albion Office Staff and the Albion Village Board of Trustees.
Thanks to the GACRE and Recreation Committees who helped sponsor the event, to Bernie Baldwin and Diana Grillo for their support, energy, and effortless time assisting me. Also to John Bigley who took care of a lot behind the scenes.
Thanks to Master Chicken Barbecuer Tom O’Hearn and his cookers Dusty DeCarlo, John Sacco, Gary VanWycke, Gary Moore, Dan Conrad, Ray Stefani and Kevin Sheehan. This group volunteered and cooked the best chicken barbecue around. Thank you to the servers Theresa O’Hearn, Nicole DeCarlo, Denise London, Annette Grillo Finch, Kim Remly, Holli Nenni, Mike Beach, John Kurtz and Brian Quinn.
Thank you to Tom Brown who donated golf carts for the evening. Thanks to GoArt and NY 250 for their grants and George Bidleman for sponsoring all the advertising. Thank you to Terry Wilbert and Dick Remley from the Town of Albion and to the Village Recreation Staff and Counselors.
Thank you to all the businesses who allowed donation jars at their locations and to the fabulous donors who contributed to the cost of the fireworks. Thanks to Young Explosives for a spectacular display of fireworks and to the bands consisting of Ryan and Company, Feedback/Side Doors/The Road Less Traveled, and the Who Dats for the wonderful music.
Thanks to Tom Rivers from the Orleans Hub and to Brad London from Lake Country Pennysaver, to Mark Restivo and Ron Albertson for overall assistance, and to Keeler Construction for the lighting. Thank you to Dora and Partick from Save-A-Lot who made it easy for us to get items from the store.
Once again, I apologize if I failed to mention others, so many worked together to make this happen.
We will continue to collect donations for July 3rd, 2027. If you would like to donate, send checks to the Village of Albion, 35 East Bank Street, Albion, NY 14411 and make payable to the Village of Albion with a memo of Fireworks.
This community should stand proud. Thank you for all the support.
