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Blakeman says Hochul and Democrats pushing NY ‘on a death spiral’

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 August 2026 at 9:02 am

Candidates for governor, state offices campaign in Orleans

Photos by Tom Rivers: Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive who is running for governor, speaks at the Orleans County Republican picnic on Sunday at the Clarendon Historical Society. Behind him are Assemblyman Steve Hawley, left, and Todd Hood, right, who is Blakeman’s running mate for lieutenant governor. Hood is the sheriff of Madison County.

MURRAY/CLARENDON – The Republican candidate for governor made two campaign stops on Sunday in Orleans County and blasted the state’s top leadership for putting New York on a pathway to ruin due to excessive taxes, high utility bills and an embrace of socialist principles.

“Our state is in a death spiral,” said Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive.

He is challenging Kathy Hochul, the incumbent. A Siena poll last week showed Blakeman is gaining. Hochul has the edge, 49 to 39 percent. In a June poll, he trailed 52 to 32 percent among registered voters.

“Kathy Hochul is the most pro-criminal governor in the United States of America,” Blakeman said.

Bruce Blakeman speaks at a “Ride for the Blue” rally on Sunday afternoon on Countyline Road in Murray. About 150 people attended that rally. He is joined from left by Virginia McIntyre, a Monroe County legislator running for Congress against Joe Morelle of Rochester; State Sen. Rob Ortt; Joe Hernandez, candidate for comptroller against Tom DiNapoli; and Todd Hood, the lieutenant governor candidate and Madison County sheriff.

Blakeman faulted Hochul for supporting bail reform and Raise the Age that that raised the age of criminal responsibility in New York to 18 for non-violent offenses, putting most 16- and 17-year-old offenders into family court rather than adult prisons. Hochul also backed the HALT Act, which many correction officers opposed enough to go on strike at prisons throughout the state. The HALT Act limited how prisons could punish inmates with solitary confinement.

Blakeman said the changes have tipped the scales with criminals and prisoners gaining more rights and power over law enforcement officers.

He called Hochul “Comrade Kathy” for her support of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, he was elected as a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Other members of the DSA have recently won Democratic primaries in Buffalo, Syracuse and New York City.

“We are in a battle for the soul of New York State,” Blakeman said about the rise of the DSA. He worries there will be a shift away from capitalism to socialism.

“She has aligned herself with Mamdani the Commie,” Blakeman said.

He faulted Hochul for providing state aid to illegal immigrants and said he would work closely with ICE to remove undocumented immigrants from the state.

Blakeman also said he embraces tapping into the natural gas in the Southern Tier. The Marcellus Shale could bring tremendous prosperity to the Southern Tier while bringing down utility bills, he said.

“When I become governor it’s ‘Drill baby, drill!’” he said at the Republican rally at Clarendon.

Joseph Hernandez, a son of Cuban immigrants, is running for state comptroller against Tom DiNapoli. Behind him are State Sen. Rob Ortt, left, and Bruce Blakeman.

Hernandez fled with his family from Cuba when he was 7. Hernandez went to Florida public schools, and then earned degrees from the University of Florida, Yale University and the University of Oxford. A biotechnology entrepreneur, he has founded 12 companies.

Hernandez said he would aggressively pursue fraud in Medicaid and any abuse of tax money.

“Albany is not an honest place,” Hernandez said. “I will bring a blow torch to it.”

State Sen. Rob Ortt urged people to get out and vote for Republicans. Ortt is the Republican conference leader of the State Senate. He said Democrats only need to flip one seat and they would have a veto-proof majority.

Ortt’s district includes Orleans, Niagara and part of western Monroe counties. He said he will be very busy campaigning for Republican candidates across the state for the Senate.

“I’m going to bust my ass,” he told a crowd of over 100 people at the picnic in Clarendon.

Ortt said Hochul, despite being a Western New Yorker from Hamburg, has lost touch with the local community. He said she has yet to meet with families in Niagara County with properties contaminated by radioactive waste. Blakeman has met with them in person.

“If it happened in Westchester County or Manhattan, you bet your ass she would be there,” Ortt said.

He said leadership is about showing up and Hochul hasn’t done that for the families in Niagara County.

During the “Ride for the Blue” rally, Ortt said he continues to be amazed that such a ride is needed. But he said Democrat policies have painted law enforcement as the bad guys.

“I’d like to get in a place where our elected officials back the blue,” Ortt said. “Kathy Hochul doesn’t have law enforcement’s backs or ICE’s back. Bruce Blakeman will work with ICE.”

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said more extreme Democrats are winning primaries and poised to go to the 150-member Assembly. He sat near Mamdani when the NYC mayor was an assemblyman. He said Mamdani has “a fake smile” and is pushing socialism.

He said Hochul, who once represented WNY in Congress, “has lost her way” by supporting Mamdani and other far left politicians.

Hawley accompanied Blakeman to other campaign events on Sunday in Batavia and then in Pike for the Wyoming County Fair.

Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke spoke against “crazy” pro-criminal legislation.

“It’s probably never been a tougher time to put on the uniform than it is right now,” Bourke said at the Ride for the Blue rally. “There are issues with morale. You got out and make a great arrest and the judge doesn’t have the ability to consider dangerousness (of the individual).”

Bourke said the criminal justice state legislation “have been devastating to victims, to communities, to law enforcement and in many times the defendants who would be better sitting in a cell and getting some treatment.”

He urged support for Blakeman and the Republican candidates.

“These crazy socialist Democrats, listen, they are riding high on their supply, if you know what I mean,” Bourke said.

Virginia McIntyre, a Monroe County legislator, is running for Congress against Joe Morelle of Rochester. McIntyre said Morelle has embraced big money donors and lost touch with the district.

She said she would lead the Republican Party in being more connected to the City of Rochester.

She regretted there has been a portrayal of police officers as bad guys.

“Law enforcement are the ones who can help you when you’re exploited,” she said. “Local police are our neighbors, our brothers and our sisters.”

After the political speeches, there was about a 50-mile Ride for the Blue. These vehicles are lined up near a large American flag at the start of the ride at David Paul’s property.

Massive collection of John Deere toys, farm memorabilia will be on display this weekend

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 17 August 2026 at 7:44 am

Cliff Grant has more than 4,000 toys of iconic farm brand

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Cliff and Sue Grant of Gasport sit by a portrait of the late John Deere in one of three barns full of toys. They will have an open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at their home at 3251 Hosmer Rd.

GASPORT – An avid toy collector will share his massive array of John Deere toys and other farm memorabilia at an open house Aug. 22 and 23 at 3251 Hosmer Rd.

Cliff Grant first started collecting toy tractors when he bought his first son a rubber tractor teething toy. When his son no longer used it, Grant put it up on a shelf. His first actual toy tractor was a John Deere 5020 which he purchased at the State Fair.

Grant grew up on an 81-acre farm on the Johnson Road, Middleport, and although he didn’t go on to be a farmer, that life never left him.

“The farm wasn’t big enough to support two families, so I pursued a different career,” Grant said.

He completed a machinist course at BOCES, and after graduating from Royalton-Hartland High School, he went to work at E&M Enterprises in Middleport, where he stayed for 16 years. Next he went to Harrison Radiator in Lockport, where he would spend 30 years.

His love of farm tractors and toys stems from the fact he grew up with seven sisters, and there weren’t many boy toys around, he said. His only brother would be born while Grant was serving with the Army in Vietnam.

“He was 21 years younger than me,” Grant said. “As the years went along, I’d see a toy and buy it if I liked it.”

“We would stop at any John Deere dealer we saw,” said his wife Sue. “We still do.”

A life-size John Deere tractor is on display in one of Cliff Grant’s barns, along with hundreds of toy tractors and other memorabilia, much of it paying tribute to John Deere.

His collection of more than 4,000 toys includes 125 pedal cars, 10 lawn and garden tractors, a toy John Deere motorcycle and snowmobile, manure spreader, planter and numerous collections, such as Mickey Mouse and Molly Moo characters on John Deere equipment.

He has five real tractors that run, a line of 15-scale and 8-scale toys, one of every brand of pedal tractor, John Deere hammocks and flags, cookie jars, lunch pails, mail boxes and numerous framed pictures.

“I first started out only collecting John Deere, then I branched out to other makes,” Grant said.

He has several one-of-a-kind items in his collection, including a yellow and a lavender Oliver.

A 1960 grain drill was once owned by Dave Culver of Albion, Grant said.

One display case houses memorabilia from a trip to Germany the Grants made with the Middleport Community Choir, including pictures taken by the late Herb Koenig during a visit to Mannheim. John Deere’s 6000 series tractors were made there.

In 2000, Grant bought a John Deere Gator to run, but he has never put the battery in it, instead choosing to display it on a shelf.

Grant built his first barn to house his collection in 2000.

“We got it done and it wasn’t big enough,” Grant said. “So we decided to buy a second building from Penn Yan. It came in two sections.”

A third barn was built 10 years ago and is also full.

Jim and Margaret Lustumbo of Medina are close friends of the Grants and said his collection is overwhelming.

“We are so impressed and everything is so nicely displayed,” Jim said. “There is so much history there.”

The Lustombos said they also know Cliff as “Santa Claus.”

“Every year we celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas, and Cliff and Sue come as Mr. and Mrs. Claus,” Jim said.

In addition to collecting toys, Cliff and Sue Grant are Mr. and Mrs. Claus at Christmas time. Shown here is their sleigh.

Although Cliff is a farm boy, Sue grew up in town and calls herself a “farmer in training.” While she supports Cliff in his love of farm toys, she calls it “a wonderful hobby which has become an insane obsession.”

“It draws people from all over the state,” she said. “When the FFA Convention was in Medina, they came here on a tour.”

The open house Aug. 22 and 23 will be the first in 10 years, Sue said.

On Sunday, Cafora’s Pizza from Newfane will be on site selling pizza and cold drinks. Also on Sunday, the Model T Club will be on site, along with other vintage automobiles. Both days, farmers from the local area will have their modern equipment on display in the yard. This includes McCullum, Verratti, Silsby’s, Tom Britt, Steve Spencer and Jason Besso.

The open house will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

The Grants say they also welcome individual tours and anyone interested in coming to see his massive collection may call them at (716) 213-3016.

State Police ask for help in locating missing local teen

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 August 2026 at 4:16 pm

Carmella Rowe has been reported missing.

ALBION – State troopers are asking for the public’s helping in locating a missing teen from Orleans County.

State troopers out of Albion say Carmella Rowe, 16, is missing. She is 5’4” and 160 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.

If you have any information, contact NYSP at 585-344-6200.

Street dance brings Yates community together for summer fun

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 August 2026 at 11:34 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Fireworks are shot off in front of the Lyndonville school buildings on Saturday night to cap the fifth annual Town of Yates Street Dance.

The fireworks were more visible from Main Street rather than from the July Fourth launch area behind the school.

These people watched the fireworks behind the Yates Community Library near Johnson Creek.

Tables were set up on Main Street for people to enjoy food, fellowship and the music.

Nick Goodwin plays the bass for the band Vinyl Recovery which entertained the crowd with classic rock from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.

Vinyl Recovery also includes Nick Ciaramella on lead vocals, bass and harmonica; Mike Scanlan on drums, and Mike Zelazny on guitar and vocals.

Yates Town Supervisor Jim Simon welcomed people to the fifth annual Street Dance.

The event was partially funded by the Town of Yates, and also sponsored by Plummer Orchards, Signature Styles, RLW Cattle Company, and a New York 250 grant.

Jim Simon sings “God Bless America” with his sons Elijah (with son Theodore) and Sharbell (with daughter Esther).

Ellen LaBerth is shown with some of the iron works made by her and her son Leo LaBerth.

The Lyndonville Sports Boosters served tacos in the bag and other snacks. The group includes, from left: Alisha Schwarzott, Emily Aydelotte, Emily Costello, Stephanie Freas and Teri Buffin. The meat for the tacos was donated by RLW Cattle Co.

Best of Tymes Party Rentals brought this bounce house for kids to enjoy.

The fireworks go off behind Main Street near the “Hometown Hero” banners for the two Medal of Honor recipients from Lyndonville.

David Bellavia received the medal on June 26, 2019 in the East Room of the White House. Bellavia is the first living veteran from the Iraq War to receive the nation’s highest military medal.

Bellavia was honored for his acts of valor on Nov. 10, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq. Bellavia led an infantry squad clearing houses of insurgents, saving the lives of the members of his unit.

Forrest Vosler was a radio operator and aerial gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II. On Dec. 20, 1943, Vosler’s fourth combat mission, the plane was under fire and had two engines knocked out with the aircraft windmilling out of control. When a fellow aviator was knocked unconscious, Vosler maneuvered himself into the tailgun.

Vosler, severely wounded and floating in and out of consciousness, begged the crew to throw him out of the plane to reduce weight. As the aircraft plunged into the frigid waters of the North Sea, Vosler crawled out of the aircraft onto a wing. A passing Norwegian trawler quickly picked up the crew and transferred them to a British rescue vessel. One of Vosler’s eyes had one of his to be removed, and the other required extensive surgery.

Fireworks go off over the Yates Town Hall on Main Street.

Albion sweeps in youth football openers

Contributed Story Posted 16 August 2026 at 10:07 am

Contributed Photo – Albion defenders Jai’Kaih Drisdom and Christopher Swan move in to tackle Holley’s Hudson Ashton during Saturday’s JV Division game at Albion.

Albion registered three victories to open the Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) season on Saturday.

Albion downed Holley in the Mini and JV Divisions and Barker/Roy-Hart in the Varsity Division.

Mini Division
Albion 47, Holley 6
The Albion Mini Eagles opened things up in a big way, defeating Holley 47-6 behind a balanced rushing attack.

Five different Eagles found the end zone as Albion piled up yards on the ground. Patrick Westlund led the way with 126 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Trey Ellis added 55 yards and two touchdowns, while Hudson Palmer rushed for 77 yards and a score. Xavier Weis added 32 yards and a touchdown, and Lexington Pridgen scored on the ground with 14 yards.

Albion also received strong contributions from Elijah Cornick with 46 rushing yards, Joshua Bennett with 32, Artavion Lewis with 28, Arlen Beecher with 24 and Gunner Jackson with five.

Defensively, Westlund led the Eagles with seven tackles. Beecher, Palmer, Chazz Monacelli and Carter Hall each recorded four tackles, while Drake Neri, Weis and Bennett finished with three apiece. Roman Pridgen, Jackson, Ellis, Colton Daggs, Jai’Heem Drisdom and KK Harper each added two tackles.

Xavier Richardson highlighted the defensive effort by coming away with an interception.

JV Division
Albion 50, Holley 19
The Albion JV Eagles put together a dominant performance on both sides of the ball, defeating Holley 50-19 behind a balanced rushing attack and two defensive touchdowns.

Jayce Torres led the Albion offense with a huge game, rushing for 150 yards, adding 27 receiving yards and scoring three total touchdowns. Cayden Farrell added 66 rushing yards and a touchdown while also throwing a touchdown pass. Jaidyn Harper also found the end zone with a rushing score.

Albion received contributions throughout the backfield, with Arkell Lewis rushing for 28 yards, Greyson Roberts 18, Jai’Kaih Drisdom 15, Moses Taylor 14 and Christopher Swan 10.

The Eagles’ defense also made its presence felt. Parker Gardner led the team with seven tackles, followed by Kairo Bennett and Kaydence Russaw with six each. Kyle Schomske and Harrison Froman recorded five tackles apiece, Conor Murphy had four, and Harper and Taylor each added three.

Lewis, Mason Cornick, Wyatt Purnell, Zeus Vallejo, Drisdom and Khrystopher Wilston-Jones each finished with two tackles. Farrell, Torres, Elijah Warren, Owen Marritt, Matthew Swan, Zion Richardson and Kaynon Reamer also contributed tackles.

Albion’s defense provided two of the biggest plays of the game. Russaw scooped up a fumble and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown, while Gardner intercepted a pass and took it 32 yards to the end zone for a pick-six.

Varsity Division
Albion 33, Barker/Roy-Hart 19
The Albion Varsity Eagles earned a 33-19 victory over Barker/Roy-Hart behind a strong rushing attack.

Jeramiah Hildreth led Albion with 147 rushing yards and three touchdowns. AJ Lewis added 101 yards and a touchdown, while Camden Holt rushed for 73 yards and a score. Damareon Shine added 20 yards.

Defensively, Holt led the Eagles with nine tackles, followed by Lewis with four and Brady Graham and Hildreth with three each. Hudson Armer, Cooper Traxler, Ryan Gardner, Roman Allport and Shine each recorded two tackles, while Jace Wright, Parker McDaniels, Matthew Colmenero and Liam Saporito also contributed.

Allport added an interception to help seal Albion’s 33-19 victory.

Albion Elks Lodge unveils new memorial for veterans

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 August 2026 at 2:00 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Elks Lodge today unveiled a new memorial for veterans by the lodge’s flagpole at 428 West State St.

Jeff Mosher, a trustee at the lodge and a member of the Elks Riders in Albion, unveiled the monument with Sharon Pollock, the exalted ruler at the lodge.

The Elks used proceeds from past motorcycle dice runs and other fundraisers to pay for the memorial, which was created by Brigden Memorials in Albion.

The front of new Orleans County Veterans Memorial includes the logo from the Albion Elks Lodge, an image of a U.S. soldier, and the seals of the six branches of the military – the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard.

A group from the Elks Lodge and others on a 100-mile motorcycle dice run gathered by the flag pole to see the new memorial.

“We want to remember all the veterans, past and present,” Pollock said. “Some have paid the full price, or come back injured and crippled. This beautiful monument pays tribue to all veterans.”

The back of the monument includes a quote from President Ronald Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from Extinction.”

After the memorial unveiling, about 50 motorcyclists left for a 100-mile Veterans Memorial dice run that will include stops at the VFW in Batavia, Elks Lodge in Brockport, Priscilla’s Black North Inn at Point Breeze, the VFW in Medina and a return to the Elks Lodge in Albion. (Jeff Mosher is riding the motorcycle with the American flag and an Elks flag on the back.)

There will be food and live music at the Albion Elks Lodge today after 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

The Albion Elks Lodge hosts many patriotic events throughout the year, including a Flag Day observance. The lodge also will be having a chicken barbecue next month for veterans at the VA in Batavia. The local lodge also donated $1,000 towards a van to take veterans to medical appointments.

OC Rivals wrap up summer camp sessions

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 15 August 2026 at 8:18 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – The fledgling Albion/Medina OC Rivals football team wrapped up its summer series of camp sessions this past week. Here Elijah Doxey, left, hauls in a pass while Jackson Snook works on a tackling drill under the watchful eye of Coach Ocie Bennett. The camps, which were held at both Albion and Medina,  were a tune-up for the three weeks of fall preseason practices which begin on Monday. The Rivals will host a scrimmage on August 29 and then open the season on September 3 at Akron on the Tigers new turf field. Practices for the other fall high school sports including boys and girls soccer, field hockey, volleyball, cross country and golf will begin on August 24.

Former Albion water plant chief named DPW superintendent in City of Batavia

Posted 15 August 2026 at 7:23 am

Press Release, City of Batavia

Adam Rush

BATAVIA – The City of Batavia announces the appointment of Adam Rush as the City’s Director of Public Works.

Rush, a resident of Gaines in Orleans County, previously worked as the chief operator at the Village of Albion Water Treatment Plant.

Rush participated in the City of Batavia’s active recruitment and competitive search process and was identified as the top candidate for the position. He brings extensive municipal, public works, utility, and project management experience to the City.

His professional background includes service in the United States Navy, work as an operator at Western New York Energy, then the chief operator at Albion’s Water Treatment Plant, and, most recently, work as a project manager with Wendel Companies.

As Director of Public Works in Batavia, Rush will oversee the City’s public works operations and a significant portfolio of ongoing and planned capital projects. These include wastewater treatment plant upgrades, pump station improvements, water main replacements, the Richmond Avenue corridor street project, participation in the Genesee County Phase III Water Project, replacement of the City’s water storage tank, lead service line identification and replacement, and the Swan Street sidewalk project.

“Adam displayed a strong level of technical knowledge in both project management and public works throughout the interview process. Over the past two years, we have also had the opportunity to work with Adam on various wastewater and stormwater projects, so we have seen firsthand his ability to understand complex municipal infrastructure issues and move projects forward,” said City Manager Rachael J. Tabelski. “Adam is also a strong leader who can bring organizational change, greater efficiency, and new technology to the Department of Public Works while supporting and developing the talented staff already working for the City.”

Rush has worked with and on behalf of numerous municipalities throughout Upstate New York on water, wastewater, building, drainage, infrastructure, and capital planning projects. He also has experience with grant development, strategic planning, and project delivery, assisting municipal clients in obtaining more than $30 million in grant funding over the past two years.

Rush’s leadership philosophy centers on effective communication, accountability, and continuous improvement. He is committed to working closely with City employees, residents, elected officials, municipal partners, consultants, and other stakeholders to ensure that the Department of Public Works continues to provide reliable services while advancing the City’s long-term infrastructure and capital improvement goals.

“I am excited for the opportunity to join the City of Batavia and work alongside the dedicated employees of the Department of Public Works,” said Rush. “I look forward to building on the department’s strengths, supporting our staff, improving the way we deliver services, and working collaboratively to advance the many important infrastructure projects underway throughout the City.”

Rush holds an Associate of Science degree in Wildlife Conservation and a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Many stepped up to treat 110 senior citizens to a picnic in Albion

Posted 14 August 2026 at 9:52 pm

Editor:

It was my pleasure to witness the 110 senior citizens at the Village of Albion Senior Citizens Picnic held at beautiful Bullard Park on Thursday, August 13 at 4 p.m.

The senior citizens were treated with a chicken barbecue, hot dogs, hamburgers and several sides with a drink and dessert. Music was provided by The Hastings Duo where you saw the senior citizens clapping and enjoying the music. There was a fun trivia contest which brought laughs to the group. Following trivia were a few questions where they received prizes. It was great to see Mayor Tim McMurray, Trustee Jami Allport and Trustee Greg Bennett attend the picnic and speak to the senior citizens.

Special thanks go out to Jeff Holler and the Albion Masons for preparing the delicious food. Thank you to Mike Neidert from the Town of Albion and two members from the Town of Murray for setting up.

Thank you to the Albion DPW and Jay Pahura for assisting and cleaning up following the event. Thank you to Becky Karls for her assistance along with Jonette Jackson. Thank you to Ezera Bloom, Noah Harrison, ChrisJen Winters and Semaj Miller for assisting in serving and helping the senior citizens.

A huge thank you to Bernie Baldwin and Diana Kindig Grillo for always being there to help in any way possible.

Finally, thank you to the senior citizens for all the years in our community.  This event was sponsored by the Village of Albion Recreation Department.

Sincerely,

John J. Grillo

Village of Albion Recreation Director

Orleans County Farm Bureau awards 2 scholarships

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 August 2026 at 6:52 pm

Provided photos

Two recently graduated seniors from Orleans County have been awarded $1,500 scholarships from the Orleans County Farm Bureau.

In the photo at left, Nathan Woodworth is shown receiving his high school diploma from Lyndonville High School Principal Dr. Aaron Slack.

In the photo at right, Madison Farley of Medina is shown with district superintendent Dr. Mark Kruzynski at left and High School Principal Michael Cavanagh.

Woodworth is a 2026 graduate of Lyndonville. He plans to continue his family’s proud agricultural legacy by working on his family farm as well as working with and learning from other Orleans County farm operations.

Farley is a 2026 Medina graduate. She was very active in FFA throughout high school. She will be attending the University of Buffalo with plans to attend law school with a focus on environmental law.

In addition Nathan and Madison will receive a complimentary Orleans County Farm Bureau membership and an invitation to speak at the organization’s annual meeting.

Jim Simon will retires as Yates town supervisor at end of the year

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 August 2026 at 10:32 am

Town leader kept out turbines, added large park by Lake Ontario

Photos by Tom Rivers: Yates Town Supervisor Jim Simon is shown near his office after Thursday’s Town Board meeting. Simon has been the town supervisor for nearly 11 years.

YATES – Jim Simon pulled off a shocking upset 11 years again when he was elected Yates town supervisor through a write-in campaign.

He had the backing of voters in an effort to fight wind turbines proposed for Yates and Somerset. Simon and two towns ultimately were successful in keeping out that project.

He would continue as town supervisor, and led the town’s effort to create a new $2.5 million park by the lakeshore. That project was 95 percent funded by the state.

Simon, 66, will be retiring as town supervisor after Dec. 31. He isn’t seeking re-election. Current councilwoman Sue Hrovat has the Republican endorsement as town supervisor and won’t see any opposition on the ballot.

“I’m thinking 11 years is enough,” Simon said after Thursday’s Town Board meeting. “The board and the town are in a really good position.”

Simon, his wife Paula and their family moved to the Yates community when he was hired as associate dean of the GCC campus centers in Albion and Medina. When he retired from that job, he worked as a headmaster of a Catholic high school in Buffalo.

Simon also retired from that full-time job. He is looking forward to be fully retired to have more time for his family and other community service.

He has seven grandchildren with two more on the way. He and his wife also lead the food pantry based at the Presbyterian Church in Lyndonville. He is an active member at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Medina (the Holy Trinity Parish).

Before his term ends, Simon said he wants to approve a local law for short-term rentals (Airbnbs and Vrbos) in the town.

He also wants to reach an agreement with the county that gives the town a significant boost for plowing and mowing county roads.

Yates, Ridgeway and Shelby also are negotiating with the Village of Medina about a new ambulance contract. Each town has contributed $35,000 towards the ambulance service, but the village wants more. Medina officials are asking for $135,000 each from the three towns in a new contract that starts 2027.

Simon said he wants to reach an agreement before his term ends, but not with Yates paying $135,000 a year. He also has talked with Mercy Flight EMS about providing ambulance services in Yates.

Yates Town Supervisor Jim Simon speaks during a Sept. 24, 2022 ribbon cutting for upgrades at the Yates Town Park. Simon announced that day the new pavilion at the park would be dedicated in honor of Russ Martino, the retired town supervisor and elementary school principal.

The $2.5 million park upgrades include a 75-foot-long pier, a pavilion with bathrooms, new playground equipment, a kayak launch, a crusher-run walking trail, and new parking lot with sidewalks.

The project was 95 percent funded by the state, which made $300 million available to southshore communities  through the state’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative or REDI. That was in response to historic flooding along the shore in 2017 and 2019. That flooding destroyed part of the shoreline at the Yates park and the town used a separate $400,000 grant from the state to put in a massive breakwall.

The park upgrades included a new elevated platform or pier that extends out into Lake Ontario.

New slate roof nearly complete for Mount Albion chapel

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 August 2026 at 9:39 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Employees from Easton Specialties Inc. in Honeoye Falls put new slate on the roof of Mount Albion Chapel on Thursday afternoon.

The chapel from 1875 is getting a new roof as part of a $225,000 overall restoration of the building.

Local mason Neal Muscarella last year repaired and repointed the chapel’s entire exterior.  The most extensive damage was in the northwest section.  Muscarella has worked on several projects at Mount Albion over the years, including the Civil War memorial tower, the front sign, and the pond at the western side that is memorial to firefighters.

Before Easton Specialties started putting on the new slat, The Environmental Construction Group in Albion abated asbestos from the tar along the edges of the roof.

Easton also has rebuilt the northwest corner’s rafters and repaired the roof deck in spots where it has failed over the years. The company installed an ice and water shield, a copper drip edge and flashings, and now are nearly  done with the new Vermont slate with colors and in a pattern that are a perfect match to the original 1875 slate.

 There is still a lot to do inside the chapel. The overall $225,000 project includes interior replaster of the north wall; electrical upgrades (wiring, outlets, internal and external lighting); heating unit for seasonal use; repair of plaster and vaulted ceiling; removal of old floor, repair subfloor and put in a new floor; and refurbish exterior doors and window trim.