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Riley’s micro-management pushed out village employees, key tenant

Posted 16 March 2026 at 7:43 pm

Editor:

Things Joyce Riley has left off her accomplishments list:

Approximate Result of attempted Police Defunding: $7,500 to PBA attorney, $30,500-plus in village attorney fees, and $20,000-plus for auditor, plus monies resulting from back pay due to the unauthorized and illegal pay change.

Three police officers quit with one as a direct result of the defund attempt and another two resulting from fear of no growth (loss of SRO because of inability to work with school on negotiating) or further hostilities from the board.

The water plant operator and an employee quit as a result of verbal berating and constant micro managing including comments to the effect of “they knew what the job was and if they don’t like it then they can leave.”

Several personal harassment and other investigations.

Pricing a not-for-profit out of a rental unit then saying good luck finding a new place cheaper than what we’re offering. And ridiculing other board members when attempting to correct the situation. And the rental unit is still empty, costing the village to continue on missing out on income.

Constant rhetoric of just cutting services and leaving them fall to the county with zero concern about their budget or impact on county-wide constituents.

Overly aggressive communication to the point where unless you agree you’re wrong.

We don’t need to continue with those accomplishments.

Please get out and vote for Tim McMurray on March 18th for mayor.

Geno Allport

Albion

Medina Triennial announces key artists, commission sites

Posted 16 March 2026 at 6:34 pm

100 artworks by 35 artists and collectives will be featured June 6 to Sept. 7

Press Release, Medina Triennial

MEDINA – The Medina Triennial, a new contemporary art triennial centered in the Western New York village of Medina along the Erie Canal, is pleased to announce key artist commissions, sites, and the theme for its inaugural edition taking place June 6 to Sept. 7.

Co-Artistic Directors Kari Conte and Karin Laansoo have invited artists from across five continents to present site-responsive installations and public programs.

Titled “All That Sustains Us,” this ambitious, free, village-wide exhibition features more than 100 artworks by 35 artists and collectives. It marks the first recurring exhibition of this scale to take place in a U.S. community of this size, positioning small-town geographies as vital sites of cultural and critical imagination.

Grounded in place and shaped through deep community engagement, the Triennial features new commissions alongside recent and historical works across 12 indoor and outdoor sites.

The curatorial framework of the Triennial sits at the intersection of art, ecology, architecture, and rural contexts and considers maintenance not only as a physical act of upkeep, but also as a social, political, and environmental process shaped by fragility and resilience. The Triennial brings together artistic practices that examine how civic and ecological systems are structured by labor, regulation, extraction, and repair. At its core, the Triennial asks: What essential efforts and commitments are required to sustain life in our fractured world?

Commissioned artworks include:

  • Ash Arder’s INT. HOME(S) (2023/2026), an expanded sculptural installation made from parts of a 1987 Cadillac Sedan de Ville—her family’s childhood car—salvaged from a local junkyard and wrapped in gold. Reconstructed as an interactive vessel and a domestic space, the work features a new multi-channel video that traces the artist’s Detroit childhood and her relationship with the automobile, which served many roles as home, guardian, and safe space in a factory town.
  • Tania Candiani’s Two Waters (2026), a large-scale filmed performance created with 1/4 composer Rogelio Sosa and hundreds of local volunteers, inspired by Medina’s aqueduct, where the Erie Canal crosses above Oak Orchard Creek—two waters that never touch.
  • Futurefarmers (Amy Franceschini, Michael Swaine, and FS Bàssïbét) present 48 Collections from the Erie Canal (2026), a three-part installation that begins with a local legend and expands outward through collective memory. Working with residents, the artists gathered oral histories and archival fragments, translating them into sound and video works, as well as a series of glass sculptures that encase canal sediment.
  • Matt Kenyon’s The TELL (2026) reimagines a champagne tower using glass, Medina sandstone, and roses of Jericho—plants that revive with just a drop of water. A custom atmospheric water generator suspended above the tower draws moisture from the air and releases it unpredictably, creating a fragile, living system in which renewal is never guaranteed.
  • Asad Raza imagines a site-specific new work, Reflection (2026), redirecting the Erie Canal’s water into the Medina Triennial Hub. By physically rerouting water that once powered extraction and trade, the work confronts the canal’s histories of labor and environmental transformation. The installation foregrounds the canal as a living system shaped by human intervention, repurposing its infrastructure for the play of bodies and light.
  • Kärt Ojavee collaborates with local farmers on Between Blossom and Core (2026), an installation exploring scent extraction from Honeycrisp apple blossoms and scent-mapping of Medina’s orchards, soils, and industrial sites.

Triennial sites range from post-industrial buildings to public spaces and locations on the Erie Canal. The Medina Triennial Hub, located in a former sandstone hotel overlooking the canal, will serve as a welcome center as well as the home of the Triennial’s residency and education programs.

The main exhibition site is 25,000 square feet of the historic former Medina High School building, which has been closed to students and the public for more than three decades and recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Artist’s works will be presented at the Medina Railroad Museum grounds, Medina Memorial Hospital, Rotary Park, State Street Park, and Sacred Heart Church, as well as installations directly on the Erie Canal.

“Thinking with artists through a small town like Medina gives us a sharp lens for considering how our shared futures are built and carried forward, and shows why places often seen as peripheral are, in fact, central to responding to the crises shaping our world today,” said Co-Artistic Directors Kari Conte and Karin Laansoo. “By bringing artists from across the globe into dialogue with the Erie Canal and Medina’s post-industrial histories, the Triennial fosters new artistic gestures and shared work with local partners. The Triennial invites neighbors and visitors to come together and reflect through art on a time shaped by ecological breakdown and social division—while holding space for hope.”

The Medina Triennial, initiated with major support provided by the New York Power Authority and the New York State Canal Corporation, was conceived as part of a broader strategy to showcase the Erie Canal as active civic infrastructure.

For more information on the Triennial and to sign up for the official newsletter, please visit medinatriennial.org.

Orleans youths place at state championships

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 16 March 2026 at 5:15 pm

Nearly 15 Orleans County athletes earned top five finishes at the New York Wrestling Association For Youth 2026 State Championships held at Syracuse this past weekend.

On the boys’ side, Albion’s Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy had eight place finishers including Matthias Ellis III (1st), Jeffrey Lutes (2nd), Liam McElwin (2nd), Colton Moreland (3rd), Jaxon Francis (3rd), Ayden Porter (3rd), Matthew Schomske (4th) and Jayce Rivera (5th).

The Lyndonville Wrestling Club had Carson Dix place third and Harrison Joy fourth.

On the girls side, the Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy had Elizabeth Colmenero place first, and Zaya Ellis third.

Holley-Kendall had Charlie Fox place second and Lyndonville Jacy Heideman fifth.

School House Rock! teaches citizenship, other lessons

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2026 at 1:24 pm

Albion Middle School performed the musical March 13-14

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Bailey Elliott is the soloist for “Sufferin’ Until Suffrage” during the Albion Middle School musical, School House Rock!

The Middle School Drama Department performed the show on Friday and Saturday. There were 25 songs that offered lessons in mathematics, grammar and citizenship.

The musical is based on the Saturday morning TV show from 1973 to 1985, where lessons were offered in 3-minute songs in jazz and animation.

“It was catchy, clever and somehow made grammar, math and the Preamble stick in our heads rent-free for life,” Albion musical director Carrie Kozody wrote in the show’s program.

Nadalee Ryan sings “I’m Just A Bill” about how legislation turns from an idea into a law.

Kinzie Rickner sings “Rufus Xavier Sasparilla” which is a song about pronouns.

Wyatt Ernst sings “Conjunction Junction,”  a song about how some words connect other words, phrases and clauses.

Annabella Dusharm is the soloist in “Figure Eight,” which highlights the multiplication tables.

Holley will vote on $22.9 capital project for school district on March 24

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2026 at 1:06 pm

School officials will present public information session today at 5:30 p.m. in middle/high school cafeteria.

This rendering shows a redesign of the canopy at the front entrance of the middle-high school for Holley.

HOLLEY – The district will present a $22.9 million capital project to voters on March 24. Polls will be open from 12 to 9 p.m. in the middle/high school foyer.

Holley school officials will have a public information session about the project today at 5:30 p.m. in the middle/high school cafeteria.

Holley already has $4 million set aside towards the project and won’t need to raise additional local taxes for the project. The state’s building aid ratio for Holley is 91 percent, the district said.

The proposed project focuses on four areas: program spaces – athletics & performing arts; safety, security and technology; infrastructure improvements for comfort, reliability and function; and site & transportation improvements.

In a letter to the community, district superintendent Karri Schiavone and Board of Education president Trina Lorentz said the Holley community offered continued support of the district and its campus improvements. Holley recently completed a capital project that was approve din 2022.

“Building on those improvements, and in keeping with the district’s responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer resources, Holley is now proposing a new Capital Improvement Project to address additional facility needs,” Schiavone and Lorentz said. “By planning projects thoughtfully and proactively, the district can extend the life of its buildings, avoid more costly emergency repairs, and make efficient use of available funding. The proposed project would be fully funded by utilizing New York State building aid and existing district funds.  Therefore, there will be no tax impact on our residents.”

The auditorium stage also would be significantly updated for first time since the school opened about 50 years ago.

The district provided this breakdown of the project:

Program Spaces: Athletics & Performing Arts

  • Providing A/C to Elementary School gymnasium
  • Refinishing gym floors at both ES and MS/HS
  • Rock wall improvements at the Elementary School
  • Replacing the auditorium stage rigging and curtains, and providing acoustic upgrades at the High School
  • Library upgrades at the Elementary School including a new circulation desk

Safety, Security and Technology

  • Camera system upgrades and replacements district-wide
  • Replacing fiber lines for data systems between the campus buildings
  • Audio/Visual upgrades at ES gymnasiums to improve educational experiences
  • Replacement of the canopy at the MS/HS for improved sightlines, lighting and security for visitors

Infrastructure Improvements for Comfort, Reliability and Function

  • Replacement of windows and masonry restoration at both the ES and MS/HS
  • Renovations to restrooms at both academic buildings to improve plumbing and infrastructure and also improve ADA access for all building occupants and visitors
  • Replacement of water softening system at the MS/HS
  • Providing A/C at data closets at both academic buildings

Site & Transportation Improvements

  • Repaving the parking lots around the bus garage
  • Utility and sitework improvements at the athletic fields to allow for a toilet facility to be installed
  • Providing a new scoreboard for the softball field

For more information on the proposed project, click here.

Dollar General’s return to Albion doesn’t make much sense

Posted 16 March 2026 at 10:04 am

Editor:

It was voted yes to construction of another Dollar General next to Cone Zone and across from the school in the village of Albion.

Why?

There was already a Dollar General on West Avenue near Tops from 2006-2019 that closed because it couldn’t compete with Dollar Tree, Walmart and Family Dollar even Save-A-Lot and Tops. The lease had expired and Dollar General left which was the easiest way to when it was the least performing store in the area during those years.

Why attend public hearings? When I’ve attended public hearings in the past and had valid concerns, I was told by elected officials that everything will be okay and to just deal with it, and brush us off.

So here we are its 2026 and the change certain people ran on to bring change to Albion and were bringing back something that’s already failed and the competition that led to it leaving is still here.

You drive down Main Street in Medina and see a street full of businesses and people and you go down Main Street in Albion and you see well a lot less then Medina.

So whoever thought this was a great idea bringing back Dollar General for a second time, the only thing you brought back what could be in the future is another empty store front, an empty parking lot, or another bottle can return. I say give it 5 years.

I don’t see change when it comes to this idea. I just see a band-aid fix to losing to another village that’s flourishing.

Aaron Vosburgh

Albion

Sherman has proven to be effective public official for Medina

Posted 16 March 2026 at 8:57 am

Editor:

It is a privilege for me to write this letter of support for the re-election campaign of Mayor Marguerite Sherman in Medina. She is an exceptional individual and a public servant of the highest caliber. As a long-time resident, I have seen many mayors and trustees come and go – Marguerite Sherman is one of the best.

She possesses an impressively sound command of the issues and takes a wide-ranging, creative approach to seeking common sense solutions. Over the years, I have come to see that what makes a truly exceptional public servant – what sets her apart from others is what she possesses beyond those basics.

She is a professional, competent, and capable individual, and is also a good and decent human being. She is energetic, passionate, dedicated, creative, empathetic, collaborative, communicative, engaging. In short, she is everything a good public servant should be.

Further, Marguerite understands that good governance demands a broad perspective. She understands that when politics becomes fixated on a single issue, it turns destructive – pushing a narrow agenda at the expense of the many complex needs of a community. The result is dysfunction, deepened division, and the complete erosion of any realistic chance for meaningful compromise.

Medina needs people who engage, cooperate, and communicate. People like Marguerite Sherman.

I could write far more at the risk of losing the most important part of what needs to be said:

Marguerite Sherman is extremely dedicated to her office, public service and this village, and has proven herself to be an invaluable asset to the community. The Village of Medina is indeed lucky to have her.

Sincerely,

Darlene Rich

Medina

Genesee offering too much in incentives at STAMP for Stream Data Centers

Posted 16 March 2026 at 8:53 am

Editor:

As a resident of Genesee County, I am hopeful for the possibility of AI when used to solve problems and further progress for us all. However, I have serious concerns about US Stream Data Centers and their proposal to build a massive data center complex at the STAMP site in Alabama, NY. I also have several unanswered questions.

Just last month, I attended the Stream open house at the Alabama Fire Hall; I arrived open minded and eager to learn, but left deeply disappointed that there was no formal presentation from the company and no space for meaningful public dialogue.

All conversations were one on one or in small groups. It was a spectacle that struck me to be as disingenuous as it was strategic. When I expressed my concerns to Stream, I was told by two representatives that the engineers do not feel comfortable presenting to a large public group. I have to ask: How is it that a company that is planning to make a 19-billion-dollar investment can’t figure out how to hire someone to moderate a presentation or panel discussion with the engineers?

That brings me to my next question: Do New Yorkers really want to fund a for-profit company with our tax dollars? A recent article in the Batavian announced Stream donated $50,000 to the Oakfield Alabama School District. But this comes on the heels of them requesting $1.4 billion in tax subsidies. More than that, the average expenditure per student in Genesee County is just under $23,000 per year and in Oakfield Alabama is around $24,000 per year (data.nysed.gov), so what they’ve donated equates to chump change. To me, it speaks to how little they value the community’s future and their partnership with it. Sure, they donated $50,000, but they are asking for  $1.44 billion dollars, which averages to $46 million a year over 30 years. Are we really supposed to play along or pretend we don’t see how lopsided this agreement is?

Another question I have is about the future price we’ll be paying, not just with our tax dollars, but with the increases in electricity rates over time. The 500-megawatt demand the data center would place on the grid will mean more electricity would be used. Unfortunately, with the way power is delivered and priced, such a huge increase in demand will pass on that cost to all end users. For those already struggling with the cost of gas, groceries, and their current electric bill- we do not need our finances to be stretched any further by private for-profit companies over-using our shared utilities.

I encourage the GCEDC to reThink STAMP and for all who want to learn more and/or lend their voice to their public hearing on the financial incentives on March 19th at 7 p.m. at the Town of Alabama Fire Hall 2230 Judge Rd Basom, NY. I will see you there. For more info, check out Allies of TSN’s website, Facebook group STOP the STAMP Monster Data Center. Call / text: (585) 300-4925.

Very truly yours,

Em Grant

Bergen

Gas prices went up 33.5 cents in Orleans County in past week

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2026 at 8:29 am

Gas prices went up 33.5 cents per gallon of regular unleaded in the past week, according to AAA. The price was at $3.306 a week ago and today it’s at $3.641.

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.72, up 24 cents from last Monday and by 72 cents in the past two weeks. The New York State average is $3.62, up 22 cents from last Monday and 61 cents in the past two weeks.

Diesel prices have also escalated, AAA reported. The national average is $4.99, up 33 cents while the New York average is $5.14, up 39 cents in the past week.

AAA issued this statement today:

“Spring Break season is here as the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped 24 cents in the past week. Gasoline demand increases this time of year as the weather warms up and more drivers hit the road.

“Crude oil prices play a major role in what drivers pay at the pump, and prices have surpassed the $100/barrel mark again this morning (and multiple times last week). To help offset rising prices, the U.S. announced it will release 172 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves. The move is part of a broader effort by the International Energy Agency to release a total of 400 million barrels of oil in response to the Iran turmoil, the largest emergency release in its history.”

Here are today’s average prices at counties in WNY:

  • Orleans, $3.641
  • Genesee, $3.535
  • Monroe, $3.584
  • Niagara, $3.540
  • Erie, $3.570
  • Wyoming, $3.577
  • Livingston, $3.577
  • Chautauqua, $3.500
  • Cattaraugus, $3.466
  • Allegany, $3.508

Mustangs prep for lacrosse opener

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 16 March 2026 at 8:02 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Getting set to lead the Medina lacrosse team into the upcoming season is this group of veterans. In front are Gavin Dahlhaus, Luke Duffina, Landon Costich and Tegan Meland. In back are Miles Arbegast, Matthew Jacobs, Brennan Allen and Deven Byrne.

Anchored by a good veteran nucleus, the Medina lacrosse team is prepping for the March 24 D Division home opener against Tonawanda at 5 p.m. at Vets Park.

The Mustangs veteran group includes seniors Luke Duffina, Landon Costich, Frankie Stephens, Tegan Meland, Miles Arbegast and Deven Byrne along with juniors Gavin Dahlhaus, Brennan Allen, Matthew Jacobs, Jayzon Wills and Jobi Wheeler.

Dahlhaus had 18 goals and 5 assists last season while Duffina had 7 goals and 10 assists.

“We have a good group back,” said Coach Ben Austin. “We are just going to do our best and work hard to keep Mustang lacrosse heading in the right direction.”

The Mustangs graduation losses included attackmen Cole Callard (45 goals, 24 assists) and Max Pilon (7 goals); midfielders Lucius Wagner (22 goals), Jake Dunn (13 goals) and Cam Kenward (6 goals 4 assists) along with defenders Austin Seefeldt and Ethan Carson.

Medina went 3-7 in the division and 6-12 overall last year.

Kendall brings Mary Poppins to stage for school musical

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 March 2026 at 9:26 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – The cast of Mary Poppins sings one of the iconic songs from the musical, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

Ierlynn Maloney starred as Mary Poppins, center,  in Kendall’s performances, which included a show on Friday and two on Saturday.

There were 28 students in the cast and another 16 in the crew. Melanie Langton was the show’s artistic director and producer, with Rebekah Yoder the music and instrumental director.

Karter May plays Bert. He is shown in the opening scene, introducing the audience to 17 Cherry Tree Lane, the home of the Banks family: George and Winifred Banks, their two naughty children Jane and Michael. They are also joined by a cook/maid, Mrs. Brill, and their house boy, Robertson Ay.

Things are not going well for the nanny, and she storms out. Mary Poppins arrives and takes charge of the Banks children.

Mary works magic in getting the two Banks’ children to behave better and respect their nanny. Kayla Minster, center, plays Jane Banks, and Savannah Stone plays the role of Jane’s brother, Michael Banks.

Noah Morehouse as George Banks and Adriana Schiavone is his wife, Winifred Banks. George is under intense stress at work as a banker, and Winifred feels she has shortcomings as a wife and mother.

Bert and Mary meet up at the park for a “jolly holiday.” Bert works as a chimney sweep and street lamp lighter, and in this scene his talents come out as a sidewalk artist. Karter May, Left, Ierlynn Maloney, right, are shown dancing with Madison Hults.

The group of children meet the enigmatic Mrs. Corry (center in red played by Riley Passer) who runs a magic sweet shop that also sells words , in this case “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

The cast gave an energetic performance of the “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

McMurray, Albion mayoral candidate, sees power in caring community

Posted 15 March 2026 at 7:36 pm

Editor:

This could be a typical writing about all the intentions if elected Mayor but that’s not me, instead let’s talk about “We.” This village, this community, this group of individuals and families that collectively have one thing in common which is where we call home.

This is about more than an election; it’s about rediscovering who we are as a community with neighbors, friends, and families connected by roots and shared hopes. It’s about getting back to the basics where caring for one another, stepping up to help/volunteer, and remembering that each of us plays a pivotal part in the strength of our village.

It’s not about titles or positions; we thrive because people care enough to volunteer, to show up and to put in the work. It’s the hands that set up tables at the Strawberry Festival or HomeTown Holiday, the voices that cheer at our children’s games, the neighbors who lend a tool or a smile. That is the heartbeat of our community.

If we want our future to shine brighter, we must roll up our sleeves and invest in each other. It takes courage to take chances on new ideas, on each other, and on the belief that together, we can do more. The foundation we need is already here; it just needs all of us building upon it with our time, energy, and our love.

So yes, this is about coming together not just for an election, but for a renewal of our sense of belonging. Let’s remind ourselves that the power of “We” is greater than any single “me.” When we choose community over competition, connection over criticism, and action over apathy, we don’t just preserve what’s special about this village; we make it even better.

On Wednesday the 18th let’s vote for Character, Compassion and Commitment and begin the rebirth of togetherness within our community.

Tim McMurray

Concerned resident and Village of Albion Mayoral Candidate

Winterguard show brings lots of pizzazz, powerful messages in Medina competition

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 March 2026 at 4:11 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The varsity winterguard for Medina performs on Saturday during its ColorBurst home show at Medina Junior-Senior High School.

The top photo shows Natalie Herbert in blue and Mackenzie Poynter. They are two of the 15 members of the varsity winterguard.

Medina’s show is titled, “A Dream to Me.” It explores the balance “between control and chaos – between dreamer and the dream.”

The Medina winterguard is led by director Melissa Jaeger, instructor/choreographer and drill designer Kara Brown, and instructor/choregraphers Katie Crooks and Kaela Grosslinger, wth assistance from consultant Molly Beth Jaeger.

Maddie Voss carries a flag for the Medina winterguard on Saturday.

Skielair Montgomery looks up and gets ready to catch the twirling flag on Saturday for Medina.

Here are the scores from the competition:

• Novice – Gates Chili, 1st at 62.040

• Cadet – Lancaster 1st at 69.470; Medina JV, 2nd at 67.810; Batavia, 3rd at 65.880; and Marcus Whitman, 4th at 61.120

• Regional A – Greece RA, 1st at 80.000; Victor JV, 2nd at 76.960; Gates Chili RA, 3rd at 76.640; Ventures RA, 4th at 74.860; and Orchard Park JV, 5th at 65.260

• A1 – Marcus Whitman, 1st at 74.550; Hinsdale Headliners, 2nd at 74.320; and Medina Varsity, 3rd at 73.720

• Scholastic A – Victor Blue Devils, 1st at 86.670; Greece, 2nd at 84.340; Lancaster HS, 3rd at 81.450, and Orchard Park, 4th at 74.030

• Independent A – Batavia Varsity, 1st at 81.180

• Senior – Luminosa, 1st at 81.940

The Marcus Whitman Marching Wildcat Varsity Winterguard presented “Mine.” The show asks people to reflect on life’s everyday challenges and demonstrates how witnessing the resilience of others shapes the way we face our own obstacles. At the end of the performance the members each ripped up the paper with the obstacle they were facing.

The Marcus Whitman winterguard includes students from Marcus Whitman and Penn Yann school districts.

Greece High School performed “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall.”

Greece took first place in the Regional A Division.

Gates-Chili Regional A winterguard presented “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” which is inspired by the book by Dr. Seuss.

The Gates-Chili show gives a message of following your own path, embracing challenges and trusting the journey ahead.

Victor’s RA winterguard presented “A Sky Full of Stars.”

The Hinsdale Headliners presented a show “Lose Yourself” by Eminem with a western twist.

The Ventures Regional A Guard performed “Here Comes the Sun” with music by The Beatles.

The Heritage Hurricanes, all all-abilities guard team, includes performers from Heritage Christian Services and other community members. The group is directed by Medina native Melissa Jeager.

This member of the Heritage Hurricanes gives a peace sign after the performance ended. The Hurricanes’ show was set to “Hand Clap” by Fitz and the Tantrums.