Lighthouse Museum celebrates new mosaic compass at Point Breeze

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 September 2025 at 10:36 pm

Photos courtesy of Marsha Rivers: This mosaic compass was created by artist Kim Martillotta Muscarella in her Albion studio.

POINT BREEZE – The Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum this evening celebrated a new addition to the grounds at Point Breeze by the Oak Orchard Harbor: a mosaic compass.

Kim Martillotta Muscarella created the mosaic piece in a project funded through a Ripple grant from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

GO Art! also directed another $5,000 grant to the lighthouse for a light show each day for a half hour after sunset. The light show mimics the northern lights. That project and the mosaic compass enhance the grounds, trying to bring more people to see the lighthouse and Point Breeze area.

Kim Martillotta Muscarella stands by the mosaic compass she made for the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum.

“The creation of a compass rose to complement the lighthouse was part of the original scope of the proposed lighthouse work, but was delayed due to cost,” said Chris Manaseri, the museum president. “The GO Art! grant was a means by which the Lighthouse Board might accomplish competing its original proposal at a lower and indirect cost.”

Manaseri, who is also an artist, approached Muscarella last winter. She is the owner of the Marti’s on Main art gallery. She created the mosaic at her studio at the gallery.

Lighthouse Museum President Chris Manaseri thanks Kim Martillotta Muscarella for her work creating the compass rose mosaic that has been installed in the lighthouse garden.

Photo by Isabella Zasa: Kim Martillotta Muscarella shows Orly the Ox the mosaic when it was in the early stages back on Aug. 1. Orly is the Orleans County mascot for its bicentennial celebration this year.

Purple Eagles edge Rams in overtime

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 September 2025 at 9:19 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Adam Burgio (23) and Garret Jones (1) battle with Roy-Hart’s Andril Mikulskyi.

Albion edged past visiting Roy-Hart 2-1 in overtime in a Niagara-Orleans League boys soccer game this evening.

Roy-Hart took a 1-0 lead in the first half on a goal by Hayden Hillburn assisted by Michael Fuller.

However, Albion battled back to first tie the game in the second half and then to claim the win in the first overtime period as Garret Jones scored both goals.

Colin Coyle made 5 saves to earn the win in goal.

Albion is now 1-1-1 and Roy-Hart 0-4 in N-O action.

Albion’s Malik Lamar tries to keep the ball away from Roy-Hart’s Maxwell Hickman.

Lady Eagles and Lady Hawks post soccer wins

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 September 2025 at 9:02 pm

Improving to 4-0 in the league and 6-1 overall, Kendall romped past Pembroke 9-0 in a Genesee Region girls soccer game this evening.

Ryleigh Denning scored 3 goals and Olivia Sawyer 2 for Kendall as Stella Kwiatek, Jersie Drake, Sophia Picardo and Keara Reed each had one. Picardo also had 3 assists.

Brooke Rodas earned the shutout in goal.

Holley 2, Oakfield-Alabama 0
Holley blanked Oakfield-Alabama 2-0 to improve to 3-2 in G-R girls soccer competition.

Hanna Ostrom scored both goals for the Lady Hawks as Brynn Thomas and Ava Mosier each had an assist.

Zoey Warner made 1 save to earn the shutout in goal.

Holley downs W-C in G-R volleyball

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 September 2025 at 8:50 pm

Holley evened its Genesee Region League volleyball record at 3-3 with a straight set 25-8, 25-9, 25-12 win over Wheatland-Chili this evening.

Senior Ali VanAmeron had 7 service aces, 6 spiking kills and 1 block and sophomore Madison Bonacci 6 aces, 5 assists and 1 kill to lead the way for Holley.

Megan Fraser had 2 aces for W-C.

Field Hockey
Eden 3, Roy-Hart 1
Savannah Newton scored Roy-Hart’s goal off an assist from Adella Dukes in the Lady Rams 3-1 non league loss to Eden.

Albion and Roy-Hart score N-O golf wins

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 September 2025 at 8:36 pm

Albion defeated Newfane 220-258 and Roy-Hart downed Barker 227-255 in Niagara-Orleans League golf matches this afternoon.

Viktor Snyder took medalist honors with a 40 for Albion as Owen Spencer and Luke Bedford both had rounds of 43 and Drew Pritchard a 44.

Albion is now 7-2.

Noah Orens had a 46 and Caeleb Rivera a 47 for Newfane.

Roy-Hart stayed undefeated at 8-0 as Evan Poeller and Jared Hy shared medalist honors with rounds of 43 and Gavin Heideman added a 45.

Tigers Modified football has home opener

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 September 2025 at 8:10 pm

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville High had its first home football game in 50 years this afternoon as the Tigers Modified ‘A’ team (for players in grades 7-8-9) hosted Holley. Here Tigers quarterback Christian Prine picks up yardage during first quarter action. Holley claimed a narrow 20-14 win. Lyndonville High last fielded a football team in 1975.

2 more dogs complete canine training at Albion Correctional

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 September 2025 at 12:06 pm

Allie and Tux have been adopted through PAWS Animal Shelter

Photos courtesy of Albion Correctional Facility: Allie and Tux are celebrated at their graduation for complete a canine obedience program. They are joined by incarcerated individuals, Albion Correctional officials, PAWS Animal Shelter director Patty Coffee, and Dawn Spencer, owner of Eye of Oden K9 Training.

ALBION – In collaboration with PAWS Animal Shelter, Albion Correctional Facility has graduated another team of dogs, Allie and Tux.

These dogs were under the supervision of staff and two teams of incarcerated individuals. Allie and Tux were cared and guided for approximately 14 weeks.

Dawn Spencer, the community volunteer trainer, trained the handlers and supervised the program. Spencer is also the owner of Eye of Oden K9 Training in Kent and has over 25 years of experience in dog training.

Allie, left, and Tux completed training and have been adopted.

While both dogs have been adopted, Albion Correctional Facility has welcomed our next set of dogs into the program: Aaron and Adrian.

They will be working throughout the program on obedience training and the basics of good manners.

For more information about animals available for adoption at PAWS, visit paws14411.com.

Aaron, left, and Adrian will go through a 14-week obedience training program.

Medina will visit Wilson Thursday in key N-O League boys soccer contest

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 September 2025 at 10:43 am

First place will be on the line as Medina visits defending champion Wilson in a key early season Niagara-Orleans League boys soccer game at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Wilson and Medina are both 2-0 in N-O competition. The Lakemen are 7-0 overall and the Mustangs 4-0.

Offensively Wilson is led by Aidan Neumann (21 goals), David Gurski (10 goals) and Cole Hermann (8 assists).

A total of nine players have already scored goals for Medina including 8 by Aleks Seefeldt and 3 each by Aidan Papaj and Caden Kingsbury. Seefeldt and Vinny Gray both have 4 assists.

One N-O game this evening will have Albion hosting Roy-Hart at 6:45.

N-O Standings
Boys Soccer: Medina 2-0-0, Wilson 2-0-0, Newfane 1-1-1, Akron 1-1-0, Albion 0-1-1, Roy-Hart 0-3-0.

Girls Soccer: Wilson 3-0-0, Akron 1-0-1, Barker/Lyndonville 1-1-1, Roy-Hart 1-1-0, Newfane 1-2-0, Albion 0-1-2, Medina 0-2-0.

Field Hockey: Akron 4-0, Barker 3-1, Medina 2-2, Roy-Hart 2-2, Kenmore 1-2, Wilson 1-3, Newfane 0-3.

Volleyball: Roy-Hart 3-0, Akron 2-1, Newfane 2-1, Wilson 2-1, Albion 0-3, Medina 0-3.

Mustangs football home opener will be Thursday; Purple Eagles will be on Friday

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 September 2025 at 10:37 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Christian Moss and his Mustang teammates will host Barker/Roy-Hart at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the home opener.

After starting the season with a pair of road games Medina and Albion will both have their football home openers this week.

In a rare dinner time contest, Medina will host Barker/Roy-Hart at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in a C North Division contest. The early start has been set as the Buffalo Bills will host the Miami Dolphins at 8 p.m. Thursday.

Albion will host Lackawanna at 7 p.m. Friday in a B2 Division game.

Then on Saturday Holley, which is playing an independent schedule, will host former Genesee Region League foe Notre Dame at 1 p.m.

Medina and Barker/Roy-Hart both opened C North Division competition with victories last week. The Mustangs outlasted host Alden 48-29 and the Bulls downed Akron 28-10 at Barker.

The Mustangs were led offensively by Christian Moss who rushed for 248 yards and 4 touchdowns and quarterback Preston Woodworth who threw touchdown passes to both Avion Johnson and Kolton Fletcher. Woodworth also had two interceptions on defense returning one for a touchdown.

Barker/Roy-Hart got touchdowns from Tysen McCaa, Joey Reiter, Owen Maedl and Anthony Adinolfe.

Medina is now 2-0 overall and Barker/Roy-Hart 1-1.

Albion will be looking to rebound from a 55-6 B2 loss at Dunkirk while Lackawanna will be looking to keep the momentum from a 52-13 B2 win over East Aurora.

Lackawanna is 1-1 and Albion 0-2.

Holley and Notre Dame are both looking to bounce back from 0-2 starts to the season.

New tugboat heads across Orleans County

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 September 2025 at 10:16 am

Thomas X. Grasso, named for canal advocate, going to Buffalo for World Canals Conference

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A new tugboat, Thomas X. Grasso, heads west on the Erie Canal this morning, approaching the Gaines Basin Road bridge.

The tugboat is headed to Buffalo for the 2025 World Canals Conference.

The new tugboat is 64.5 feet long. It is a welcome sight on the Erie Canal, especially after some of the old tugboats have been taken out of service in recent years.

The boat is named for Grasso, a long-time advocate for the canal who served as president of the Canal Society of New York State. Mr. Grasso of Pittsford died at age 82 on June 6, 2022. He spoke several times in Medina about the canal as part of the Cycling the Erie Canal journey for hundreds of cyclists in July.

The new tugboat was built in 2025 by Blount Boats of Warren, Rhode Island for the New York Power Authority of White Plains, New York.

The tug is ice-strengthened and equipped with a heavy ice knife at the stem, gradual rake to the keel, and significantly reinforced structure using ABS Grade D plating in the ice belt. The tug will be able to assist with ice breaking operations on the Canal System as needed, the Canal Corp. states on its website.

The Grasso is a twin screw tug, rated at 750 horsepower. It has capacities for 4,140 gallons of fuel and 350 gallons of water.

The tugboat heads towards a bend in the canal near the northernmost point of the historic waterway.

The tugboat is shown this morning in Albion with the Orleans County Courthouse dome and the First Presbyterian Church spire in back. The tug spent the night in Albion next to the Canal Corp. maintenance facility.

Orleans officials draw line in the sand against human trafficking

Posted 17 September 2025 at 9:19 am

Photo courtesy of Orleans County Crime Victim’s Office: Pictured in photo include Holli Nenni, commissioner of DSS; Terra McGaffick, DSS; Judianne Gearing, DSS, Alex Eaton, District Attorney’s Office; Don Draper, undersheriff; James DeFilipps, OCSD chief deputy; Cyndi Stumer, deputy commissioner of DSS; Susan Howard, district attorney; Dan Punch, first assistant DA; Michelle Werth, Crime Victim coordinator.

Press Release, Orleans County Crime Victim’s Office

ALBION – The Orleans County District Attorney’s Office, Department of Social Services and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department on Monday gathered outside of the Public Safety Building to take part in the National Red Sand Project to help bring awareness to human trafficking and exploitation.

Today, 50 million people worldwide are being trafficked.  Overlooked populations, most at risk of being trafficked, need support to not fall through the metaphoric cracks.  The Red Sand Project fills sidewalk cracks to encourage people to question, connect, and take action against vulnerabilities that lead to human trafficking and exploitation.

To learn more, visit www.redsandproject.org.

Medina scores non league win over Park

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 16 September 2025 at 9:44 pm

Improving to 4-0, Medina posted a 5-1 win over host Park School in a non league boys soccer game this afternoon.

Aleks Seefeldt scored two goals for Medina as Vinny Gray, Caden Kingsbury and Aidan Papaj each had one.

Seefeldt also had a pair of assists as Izzy Anderson, Papaj and Kingsbury each had one.

Medina next visits Wilson in a key Niagara-Orleans League game at 7 p.m. Thursday.

N-O Boys Soccer
Wilson 7, Roy-Hart 0
Aidan Neumann scored 4 goals and David Giurski 3 to lead Wilson past Roy-Hart 7-0.

N-O Girls Soccer
Akron 4, Newfane 0
Olivia Novak scored two goals and Riley Irish-Barker and Sahpur Guijalva 1 each for Akron in the 4-0 win over Newfane.

Wilson 3, Roy-Hart 0
Wilson improved to 3-0 with a 3-0 win over Roy-Hart which slips to 1-1.

Non League Girls Soccer
CSAT 4, Medina 3
CSAT edged Medina 4-3 in a non league contest as Rhoswyn Oakes scored all three of the Mustangs goals.

Kendall tops rival Holley in Volleyball

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 16 September 2025 at 9:36 pm

Kendall outlasted rival Holley 14-25, 25-17, 25-13, 23-25, 15-11 in a Genesee Region League volleyball match this evening.

For Kendall, Rylan Clark had 9 aces, 11 kills and 9 digs, Emma Minster 10 aces, 9 digs and 21 assists and Makayla Bentley 3 aces, 9 kills and 11 digs.

For Holley, Ali VanAmeron had 6 kills, 3 aces and 3 digs, Cadence Lujan 6 kills, 2 aces and 3 digs and Brianna Pellegrino 5 kills and 1 block.

Notre Dame 25-25-25, Lyndonville 5-11-13
Hannah Fox had 3 kills and Ainsley Vann and Emily Dill 1 ace each for Lyndonville in the three set G-R loss to Notre Dame.