Orleans Career and Tech grad lands job at new Edwards Vacuum facility

Posted 26 August 2026 at 2:13 pm

Provided photo: Pictured from left include Genesee County Economic Development Center EVP of Business & Workforce Development Chris Suozzi, Edwards Vacuum Technical Training Specialist Jacob Samland, Orleans-Niagara BOCES Instructor William Rakonczay, Edwards Vacuum Manufacturing Engineer Anthony Cercone, and Edwards Vacuum Manufacturing Engineering Manager Michael Auquier.

Press Release, Genesee County Economic Development Center

BASOM – The success of a recent Orleans Career and Technical Education Center graduate in his new role at Edwards Vacuum demonstrates opportunities available during the ramp up of the semiconductor dry pump manufacturing facility in Genesee County.

Lockport native Anthony Cercone joined Edwards Vacuum earlier this year after graduating from a high school Advanced Manufacturing Engineering course in 2023.

“It’s amazing to work here. It’s really changed my life for the positive,” said Cercone, a manufacturing engineer. “I never thought I’d be this close to home and have so much opportunity.”

Edwards Vacuum, a technology leader in the semiconductor industry, will produce dry vacuum pumps used throughout the world in major chip manufacturing facilities at a new 250,000 square-foot facility at the Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP).

“We’re undergoing a massive hiring push as we ramp up production,” said Dan Papsidero, General Manager. “Machine installations and prove-out activities are well underway. We are making parts, we are making a small number of pumps and that’s only going to increase in the very near future.”

Papsidero noted that Edwards currently has posted around half of the positions to be hired this year, including roles in CNC machining, assembly and test technicians, and other manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, planning and logistics.

“We will have a multitude of roles from entry level to experienced professionals that we will be hiring,” Papsidero said. “We will likely be around 100 (professionals) by the end of this year and into the next year will potentially climb to 200 or more … as demand increases this facility could max out with over 300 people, and then we could be expanding the facility in the future.”

Michael Auquier, manufacturing engineering manager, joined Edwards in 2024 as the company began construction of the manufacturing facility at STAMP and throughout the hiring and training of manufacturing engineering members. He serves as the instructor of a CNC Fundamentals course at Genesee Community College and is actively involved in growing CNC training and awareness of careers in western New York.

“This is a great place to be. I advertise to these kids that this is something that you should actually really consider, to support a family, to have a good life, and to go home happy knowing that you’ve done something to contribute,” Auquier said. “Edwards is a great launching pad for anybody who wants to get involved in the trades, or if you’re even at a mid-career level and you want to make a change, or you want to experience a different kind of culture that is really focused on your development and success.”

In Cercone’s example, the pathway for local students is clear. At the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, Cercone achieved a gold medal at the national Skills USA competition and participated in the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program.

As Edwards Vacuum ramps production, Cercone said he is excited to apply his training from Orleans Career and Technical Education Center instructor Bill Rakonczay in a role focused on the tooling manufacturing process.

“He taught us how to use manual machines, CNC machines, how to program them, and soft skills,” Cercone said. “It allowed me to know what I wanted to do for my life, and to get already set up in my life before I even turned 18.”

To learn more about Edwards Genesee and future job opportunities, please visit the company’s careers website.

Judge insists on some jail time, full restitution at Ierlan sentencing

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2026 at 11:55 am

Long-time Clarendon official called ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ by judge

Melissa Ierlan

ALBION – A former Clarendon official with a long list of good works in the community was sentenced today for fourth-degree grand larceny for taking $62,000 from the Clarendon Hisotrical Society.

Melissa Ierlan, 59, has to pay full restitution and will spend the next four months with weekends in the county jail.

County Court Judge Sanford Church insisted on some jail time for Ierlan. A plea agreement from District Attorney Susan Howard called for five years probation, full restitution and no jail time.

But Judge Church during sentencing today said he couldn’t agree to that arrangement without some incarceration.

He also insisted that Ierlan clearly state she stole the money. The judge said many of Ierlan’s supporters have been saying she didn’t take any money.

There has been some disagreement on the precise amount. The amount of funds missing from the Clarendon Historical Society was identified as $102,752 by the state comptroller’s office. That office then lowered the amount to $70,000.

Ierlan was able to show time stamps of cash withdrawals from the bank and photos of items purchased on behalf of the society to lower the amount to $62,000.

Her attorney, George Muscato, said Ierlan did steal money – clearly at least $20,000. She is agreeing to repay the $62,000 and acknowledge that is the number for missing funds without proper authorization.

The judge still wanted it to be known that Ierlan was admitting to stealing the money, not simply using it without proper authorization.

“You did steal the money?” Judge Church asked Ierlan.

“Yes, sir,” she responded.

When Ierlan admitted in court to taking the money, the judge agreed to proceed with sentencing but he made it clear there would be some jail imposed. Ierlan could have withdrawn the plea, but she opted to go forward with sentencing.

“I realize what I have done has hurt the whole community and broken a lot of trust,” Ierlan said during sentencing. “I’m embarrassed and I’m sorry.”

Ierlan intends to remain in the Clarendon community. Her husband, Fred Seeman, is a Clarendon town councilman who won a Republican primary in June to be town supervisor. He will be unopposed on the ballot in the November election, but is facing a write-in campaign from Kathy Harnischfeger.

Ierlan was the town’s code enforcement officer for 20 years, and also served as the Hillside Cemetery administrator, town historian and president of the Historical Society. The comptroller found no misappropriated funds in her roles with the town government as codes officer, historian and cemetery administrator.

The Historical Society has its own board and that board allowed her to be the sole signer for writing checks. The board has since reorganized and the group said it is satisfied with the $62,000 in restitution, Howard told the judge.

Ierlan has been a dynamic community member, volunteering on the Holley Board of Education, and repainting about 50 historical markers around the county. She organizes Clarendon’s annual lighted Christmas parade and has Santa at the Historical Society to greet children.

She has spearheaded historic preservation initiatives in the community, and helped Boy Scouts earn their Eagle rank through projects in the cemetery.

Judge Church acknowledged he received testimonial letters about Ierlan’s good works.

But he said the amount of theft and the division its caused in the community warrants time in jail.

“We have a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing here,” Judge Church said.

Ierlan was able to pay $40,000 in restitution today. The remaining $22,000 will be paid at $1,000 a month. Ierlan is working at a business in Murray.

She also needs to pay $375 in court charges.

The judge in refusing to only sentence Ierlan to probation noted a previous case in March where a man received four months of weekends in jail, plus five years of probation for stealing $49,000 in lottery tickets from a Clarendon business.

Howard said she agreed to the plea deal for Irelan without jail to try to bring the case to closure.

“This incident has polarized the Town of Clarendon where I was worried they would never get back on track,” Howard said.

The judge said Ierlan shouldn’t avoid jail when the other person who took the lotto tickets got weekends in jail.

“This seems more heinous than the other one,” Judge Church said, comparing Ierlan’s crime to the man who took the lottery tickets.

2 dispatchers presented Stork Award for helping deliver baby

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2026 at 8:54 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Skip Draper, right, on Tuesday presents a Stork Award to county dispatchers Jodi Marion and Mike Schultz for their efforts to help deliver a healthy baby on Aug. 15.

The father of the baby called 911 around 11:45 a.m. The baby was born four minutes later at the Clarendon Crosby’s.

Marion stayed on the phone with the father while Schultz dispatched an ambulance that took the mother and newborn to Strong Memorial Hospital.

“Ot was a sign of relief to hear the baby crying,” Marion recalled.

Marion is a former EMT who became a dispatcher three years ago after working in the Albion village clerk’s office.

She enjoys the job as a dispatcher, where she said “you are the first person to call when people need help.”

Schultz is a former Kendall fire chief who has worked as a dispatcher for 12 ½ years.

Pictured from left include Deputy Matt Prawel, 911 communications director Julie Vendetti, dispatchers Mike Schultz and Jodi Marion, Legislator Skip Draper, and Sheriff Chris Bourke.

Vendetti has worked in dispatch for 15 years and said this is the third time in her career a dispatcher has helped deliver a baby over the phone. Jerry Bentley did it twice, she said.

The Stork Award from the County Legislature commends Marion and Schultz.

“Your quick thinking, swift actions, and dedication in the moment will forever be widespread and extremely appreciated,” the award states.

Barker has veteran laden field hockey team

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 26 August 2026 at 8:10 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s large veteran group includes, in front, Addisyn Weller, Xyon Weese, Jillian Maines, Sophia Pavlock, Lexi Brazzell and Autumn Lewis. In back are Naomi Bish, Elise Monaco, Milayna May, Adeline Atwater, Brooke Weber, Lauren Zglinicki and Faith Bowerman.

Perennial contender Barker returns a large veteran group with which to again challenge for top Niagara-Orleans League field hockey honors.

That veteran contingent for Barker, which has finished either first or second in each of the past 25 years, includes seniors Brooke Weber, Faith Bowerman, Lauren Zglinicki and Naomi Bish along with juniors Elise Monaco, Sophia Pavlock, Lexi Brazzell, Xyon Weese, Addisyn Weller, Jillian Maines, Milayna May, Autumn Lewis and goalie Adeline Atwater.

“We’ve got a good core group and they are stepping up,” said Coaches Karin Menz and Bill Moeller.

Barker’s graduation losses included first team N-O All-League honorees Kaylee Stoll and Madelina Pavlock along with second team selections Jordyn Kinne and Haley Dodge.

Barker went 10-2 in N-O action last fall finishing second to Akron which had a fifth straight 12-0 N-O championship season.

Barker will tune-up for the N-O season opener at home against Wilson on September 10 by facing Pioneer in the WNY Field Hockey Preseason Classic on September 2 at 4 p.m. at Starpoint.

Medina church at former Apple Grove Inn will celebrate site’s restaurant history

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 26 August 2026 at 8:07 am

The Grove United Methodist Church will serve up big meal, memories on Sept.19

Photos courtesy of the Rev. Mike Breunig: This photo of the outside of the Apple Grove Inn was taken in 2007.

MEDINA – The Grove United Methodist Church is celebrating on Sept. 19 the restaurant from which it took its name, with a buffet dinner and presentation renewing memories of the former Apple Grove Inn.

When the United Methodist Church needed a new home, in 2013 they moved into the building which for many years was the Apple Grove Inn and then vacant.

Earlier this spring, the Grove United Methodist Church had planned to have a Lenten dinner with a guest speaker, but, unfortunately, the speaker had to cancel and the church did not have time to locate a replacement to fill the spot, according to the Grove’s pastor Barb Brewer.

After canceling the Lenten dinner, the church decided to take more time in planning another event.

This is hostess Segrid Van Auker greeting guests Mrs. Karlton Davis and Mrs. John C. Collins.

Pastor Brewer was talking with Nate Sanders, who uses the church kitchen for his business, Elite Foods, in which he sells healthy and pre-packaged meals for public consumption. The two started talking about the Apple Grove Restaurant and Sanders suggested doing an Apple Grove buffet dinner. For years, the original Apple Grove Inn was famous for its gigantic and delicious buffet.

The pastor liked the idea and took it to the Worship Committee, who liked it as well.

The Grove UMC is currently selling tickets to the Sept. 19 event, which promises to be an evening of good food, with a buffet and presentation on the history of the Apple Grove Inn. There will be two seatings for dinner, at 4 and 6 p.m.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to food pantries at The Vine and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

Jeff Wagner, who worked at the Apple Grove and later purchased it, is shown on the stairs.

The menu for the evening will consist of roast pork loin with apple glaze, roasted chicken thighs, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, candied carrots, dinner rolls, garden salad and homemade applesauce. A dessert table wlll hold the Apple Grove’s famous bread pudding, apple crisp and sugar-free butterscotch pudding. Coffee and tea (hot or cold), lemonade and ice water will be the available beverages for the evening.

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The Apple Grove Inn was a landmark restaurant/lounge in Medina which began in 1927 as a hot dog stand and grew into one of the most popular restaurants in the state, having been owned for decades by Walter Hilger.

It had several rooms, including the Greening Room, Baldwin Room and Johnny Appleseed Lounge, where an apple tree grew up to the roof. At its peak the restaurant could seat at least 700 customers. For decades, people came from all over to celebrate everything from weddings and proms to anniversaries, retirements and more.

This photo shows the Apple Grove Inn before the United Methodist Church transformed it into a church.

For many years, the Apple Grove ran a boat, the Miss Apple Grove, from across the street on the Erie Canal.

After a fire, several owners and declining popularity, the restaurant closed.

A presentation on the history of the Apple Grove Inn will follow each dinner seating at the Sept. 19 event..

Tickets are currently available for $25 and are selling quickly, Pastor Brewer said. They are available at the church during office hours, which are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Those wishing to purchase tickets should park on the west side of the building and enter through the office door. To make other arrangements to purchase tickets, contact the church at (585) 798-2142 or Pastor Brewer at (716) 598-8543. If no one is there, leave a message and someone will return the call.

This Baldwin Room photo was taken from the outside, looking through a window. On the far right is the Greening Room and entrance

Scrimmage test for Holley/Lyndonville Sat.

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 26 August 2026 at 8:01 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Holley/Lyndonville will tune-up for the upcoming football season by taking part in a scrimmage on Saturday ar Red Jacket. Anchoring the Hawks offense will be, in front, linemen Lucas Mack and Immanuel Cornell along with tight end Aiden Robins. In back quarterback Joey Tombari is flanked by running backs Brady Aydeloete and Iziah Williams. Holley/Lyndonville will open the season at South Seneca on September 5. The Hawks will then host Avon in the home opener on September 12.

Albion Healthcare Center starts Sports Closet with donated equipment available

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 August 2026 at 9:49 pm

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Kagney Bienick, a radiologic technologist of the Albion Healthcare Center, recently came up with the idea to start a Sports Closet to help families who may not be able to afford their child’s sports equipment. Here, she stands next to a rack of donated sports equipment available in the lobby of the clinic.

ALBION – Orleans Community Health is proving there are many ways to make the community feel better.

A simple idea from a worker at the Albion Healthcare Center to give used sports gear a second life is quickly growing into a community-wide effort, said Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach at Orleans Community Health.

The Albion Healthcare Center has launched a new “Sports Closet” where families can donate gently used sports equipment, shoes and apparel – or pick up items their children can use at no cost.

The idea came from Kagney Bienick, a radiologic technologist at the Albion Healthcare Center, who knows firsthand how quickly the cost of youth sports can add up for families.

“Sports expenses can be outrageous, and if we can help make it so kids can participate and take some load off parents, why not,” Bienick said. “It’s stuff that we had laying around, used for a season or two, but still has life left in it.”

The concept is simple. Take what you need and donate what you can. Families are welcome to bring some items to the Sports Closet and pick up something they may need. There is no requirement to donate an item in order to take one.

The Sports Closet is already beginning to fill up with items, including football pants, practice jerseys, football cleats, soccer cleats, dance shoes and baseball pants. The hope is, as more people learn about the program, the selection will continue to grow to include equipment and apparel for a variety of sports and activities, Robinson said.

Youth sports can provide children with opportunities to exercise, build confidence, make friends, learn teamwork and become more connected to their community.

“As we all know, registration fees, uniforms and equipment can make participation difficult for some families – especially when children can outgrow gear after only a season or two,” Robinson said.

The Sports Closet offers an opportunity for that outgrown or unused equipment to help another child.

Shortly after information about the Albion Sports Closet began circulating, community members started asking whether a similar program could be established at Medina Memorial Hospital.

“I received several messages asking if we could do something similar at the hospital,” Robinson said. “That tells you how quickly Kagney’s idea connected with people. There are families who have perfectly good equipment sitting at home, and there are families who could put that equipment to use right now. This is a great way to connect the two.”

Orleans Community Health plans to bring the concept to Medina Memorial Hospital, as well, expanding the opportunity for families throughout the community to participate

Community members are encouraged to donate clean, gently used sports equipment, footwear and apparel that still have plenty of life left in them. Items can be brought to either the Albion Healthcare Center or Medina Memorial Hospital.

“This really is about helping your neighbors,” Robinson added. “Kagney deserves the credit for getting this project off the ground and building immediate excitement.”

Albion Healthcare Center is located at 14789 Route 31, Albion.

Medina Memorial Hospital is located at 200 Ohio St., Medina.

For additional information about the Sports Closet, contact Kagney Bienick in Albion at (585) 589-2273 or Scott Robinson in Medina at (585) 798-2000.

Medina’s Main Street hosts Super Cruise on Wednesday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 August 2026 at 2:53 pm

File photo by Tom Rivers: Elvis impersonator Terry Buchwald performs “Bue Suede Shoes” and other classics from a stage on Main Street during the Super Cruise in Medina last year on Aug. 27. Buchwald is shown looking through the side windows of a 1965 GMC pickup owned by Jim Stone.

MEDINA – Main Street in Medina will be closed to traffic on Wednesday evening from the Center Street intersection going down North Main past the American Legion.

Medina will be hosting the annual Super Cruise. Last year there were 289 classic cars, trucks and other vehicles for the event which is sponsored by The Walsh and Hellner Development Company.

This is the biggest car show of the year in Orleans County. Elvis impersonator Terry Buchwald will again be performing from a stage on Main Street.

GO Art! announces lineup of musicians for 3-day fest in Holley from Aug. 28-30

Posted 25 August 2026 at 11:40 am

Photos courtesy of GO Art! – Bart Dentino, left, and Judd Sunshine will both be performing Saturday and Sunday at the Erie Canal Artisan Festival in Holley.

Press Release, GO Art!

HOLLEY – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council has planned a three-day Erie Canal Artisan Festival in Holley from Friday through Sunday at the Canal Trail Park.

The schedule includes:

Friday

Vendor preview (5-9 p.m.)

Holley Concerts on the Canal featuring the Blue Circle Band (6-8 p.m.)

Saturday

Vendors and food trucks (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Music and children’s performances (10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

Judd Sunshine Children’s Performance (10-10:45 a.m.)
Bart Dentino Children’s Performance (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
Judd Sunshine Children’s Performance (1-1:45 p.m.)
Bart Dentino Children’s Performance (2:30-3:30 p.m.)
Damn the Flood (4-5 p.m.)
Paul Almeter (5:30-6:30 p.m.)

Family outdoor movie (7 to 9 p.m.)

Sunday

Vendors and food trucks (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Music and children’s performances (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Bart Dentino Children’s Performance (10 to 11 a.m.)
Judd Sunshine Children’s Performance (11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.)
Bart Dentino Children’s Performance (1 to 2 p.m.)
Judd Sunshine Children’s Performance (2:30 to 3:15 p.m.)
The Strummerz (4 to 5 p.m.)

Families are invited to sing, laugh, imagine and join in when award-winning children’s musician Bart Dentino performs at the GO Art! festival on Saturday and Sunday.

Dentino will present two one-hour shows each day, combining original music, humor, storytelling, and plenty of audience participation in a warm, engaging experience for children and the grown-ups who bring them.

Dentino has spent more than three decades creating music and arts experiences that invite children to use their imaginations and discover that their ideas and voices matter. His original album I Wish I Was a Dinosaur was selected as an American Library Association Notable Children’s Recording. He has appeared as guest soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s Orkidstra concert, performed frequently at The Strong Museum and the Rochester Museum & Science Center, and was featured on PBS as an innovator in children’s music.

The festival performances will feature songs from I Wish I Was a Dinosaur and The Spaces Between the Leaves, along with interactive favorites designed to get the whole family singing and participating.

Judd Sunshine is a pianist and vocalist with over 30 years of experience as a professional musician and entertainer. An extensive repertoire of well-known popular music from the ’40s to the present as well as special styles such as children’s music, jazz standards, classic rock, blues, country, and bluegrass music.

Paul Almeter, left, will be performing Saturday. Damn the Flood, right, features an acoustic duo features Billy Lambert and Michael Iten.

The band “Damn the Flood” is an acoustic duo featuring longtime musicians Billy Lambert and Michael Iten. Lambert is a singer-songwriter who has released two solo albums and fronts the long-lived Rochester rock band Woody Dodge. Iten has performed in various bands such as Mayberry After Midnight, The Incredible Venus Flytrap, The Neurotic Blondes, and Phoenix, featuring the Morgan Twins.

Their duo features acoustic and electric guitars, tight harmonies, and harmonica. They will be playing from 4-5 p.m. on Saturday.

Paul Almeter who will be playing from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. He has played multiple times at Batavia Ramble Explore Art and Music Festival. He has been featured at various open mics and has performed at several GO Art! music series.

Strummerz will perform Sunday from 4 to 5 p.m. Strummerz is a musical duo based in Batavia, featuring members Rich Conroy and Don Bouchard. Established in 2001, they perform classic rock, pop, and folk music from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.

Trump considers changing Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’ as trade disputes with Canada escalate

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 August 2026 at 9:58 am

Photo by Tom Rivers: Lake Ontario is shown near sunset in this photo from Aug. 6 at the shore near the Oak Orchard State Marine Park.

President Donald Trump today posted on social media that the United States is giving serious consideration to changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” because the US doesn’t “expect to doing much business with Ontario any longer.”

Canada pulled out of trade talks with the U.S. over the weekend. Trump has announced 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods and Canada is expected to announce retaliatory tariffs today.

The U.S. has changed the long-standing name of a body of water before. Trump last year announced an executive order that gave the Gulf of Mexico a new name, the Gulf of America.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, criticized Trump’s tactics with Canada, saying he is needlessly driving up costs for Americans.

“Let’s be clear: these latest tariffs against Canada directly hit Americans,” she said in a news release. “They will only increase costs on New York families and hurt our state’s small businesses. Trump needs to stop the political games, go back to the negotiation table, and get a deal done that lowers costs and strengthens our economy instead of harming it.”

Lady Hawks squad has youth and experience

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 25 August 2026 at 9:40 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s large veteran group includes, in front, Jayna Burris, Emma Burne, Hanna Ostrom, Carsyn Mogle, Brianna Tomasino and Aiyana Stevens. In back are Kyla Burne, Zoey Warner, Ava Mosier, Brynn Thomas, Addison Bevins and Aurora Arnold. Missing are Mya Brown and Riley Sweet.

Last fall a very youthful Holley girls varsity soccer team matured quickly as the Lady Eagles went 8-3-1 in Genesee Region League competition and went on to capture the Section V Class C1 championship.

“We’ve got a solid group of returners but we’re still young,” said Coach Renee Wolf.

Now that still young squad returns nearly intact led by the G-R All-Star trio of juniors Ava Mosier, Brynn Thomas and Kyla Burne along with Honorable Mention selections juniors Jayna Burris and Hanna Ostrom. Mosier scored 15 goals last season and Ostrom 8.

The Lady Hawks veteran group also includes senior Mya Browm, juniors Riley Sweet, Addison Bevins, Aurora Arnold and goalie Zoey Warner along with sophomores Carsyn Mogle, Aiyana Stevens, Brianna Tomasino and freshman Emma Burne.

Holley will open the season with a pair of non league road games near Utica against Lake George on September 5 and Frankfort-Schuyler on September 6 before beginning the G-R campaign at Pembroke on September 8.

Trade fight with Canada will push up prices in US, strain relations with ally

Posted 25 August 2026 at 9:40 am

Editor:

In the early stages of dementia, people get nasty and irrational. On any given day there is a different excuse or justification.

Ronald Reagan said the United States and Canada should not have tariffs. He knew our economies are braided together as tightly as well kept pig tails on one head – the North American continent. Closer economically than any other two counties on earth.

For example, now we are going to have a 50% tariff on products like aluminum. Last year the claim was we would buy aluminum from Bahrain instead. But, dah, we can not buy Bahrain’s aluminum this year as it has cancelled all aluminum contracts due to inability to ship through the Strait of Hormuz.

Canada will be hurt but we need many of its products simply to keep prices down. Wood, aluminum, crude oil and gas, electric and wheat to name a few.

I was just there and although they will lose a lot of jobs, grocery bills there are generally far better than ours. We will be hurt badly even before they hit back.

These folks are our good friends and insisting that we get pre-approval over their trade with other countries would indenture them to our whims. Insisting they buy our jets – which require long runways – is bad strategy when they also need more short take-off fighters which can use roads for take-off and landing in the Arctic they patrol along the northern Russian border.

There will be tariffs on products covered by our trade agreement. So we are also breaking our word. Perhaps that is one reason Canada has world-leading investment. Not here; there! That is the price for being unreliable.

And one of the saddest things is that the wealthier a family is, the less they are hurt by tariffs. They spend more of their income on investments and, unlike you and me, less on products they need to live. How the US is using tariffs is another way to shift wealth upstream.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

1st fundraiser on Saturday for new foundation in memory of Koleson Meakin

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 August 2026 at 9:13 am

Proceeds from chicken BBQ go to other families with children facing serious medical issues

Photo by Tom Rivers: Dominique and Brady Meakin are pictured with a photo of their late son, Koleson, who passed away on Jan. 3 at age 4. Koleson lived with TPK1 Thiamine-Deficient Leigh Disease, a rare genetic condition.

MEDINA – Brady and Dominique Meakin want to offer compassion to other families with children facing serious medical issues.

The Meakins’ son Koleson lived with a rare genetic condition, TPK1 Thiamine-Deficient Leigh Disease. Koleson was 4 when he passed away on Jan. 3, 2026.

His family has started a foundation in his honor. Cared for Koleson has its first fundraiser this Saturday at the Glenwood Lake boat launch, not far from Koleson’s grave at Boxwood Cemetery.

There will be chicken barbecues from Chiavetta’s from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 presale and $18 the day of the event. Click here for more information on tickets.

Brady and Dominique, both 28, said they feel fortunate the local community was so helpful while their son fought his condition, often requiring extended hospital stays. They met other parents with children in the hospital, and some of them didn’t have a strong support system.

The Meakins started the foundation to initially raise money for gift cards for DoorDash, Uber Eats and the hospital cafe for the families. They know a good meal and cup of coffee can provide a momentary lift.

The Meakins plan to give the gift cards to the children’s hospitals in Rochester and Buffalo.

This Saturday’s fundraiser is close to Koleson’s fifth birthday which is on Aug. 31.

“We are thankful for all the support we had,” Dominique said. “But a lot of other parents, including single mothers, don’t have that kind of help.”

Dominique is a Medina graduate and Brady graduated from Albion. They met at the former GCC campus in Albion, taking a class together.

Dominque is president of the new foundation with Brady the director. Other family and friends are assisting with the foundation, including one of Koleson’s nurses. Click here to see the foundation’s website which was designed by Brady’s brother, Zandyr.

They hope the foundation can eventually help provide some financial assistance to families where parents may not be able to keep working full-time due to the care needs for their child.

The Meakins said they are grateful for their son, Koleson, who loved having his stuffed bear close by.

“His smile was the best in the world, lighting up every room,” they state on the foundation’s website. “He never complained. He continued to shine. He continued to have faith. He inspired everyone he met. This foundation exists to carry his light forward.”