Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Eight players contributed goals as front-running Wilson downed an undermanned Medina squad 11-1 in a Niagara-Orleans League girls soccer game at Vets Park this morning. Here Wilson’s Lilly Gurski works around Medina defender Lillian Maynard. Addison Elia scored three goals and Gurski two to lead Wilson. Tessa Costich scored for Medina off an assist from Arabella White. Wilson is now 9-0 and Medina 0-7 in N-O action.
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Gia Baker, 9, of Albion decorates a pumpkin on East Bank Street in Albion this morning as one of the activities at Albion’s Fall Fest.
The Albion Merchants Association organized the event which continues until 3 p.m.
Andy and Rebecca Scroger brought their kids, Lizzy and James, to the festival to make a scarecrow.
These cousins are decorating pumpkins. From left include Malani Baker, 5; Gavin Baker, 4; and Mia Wilston, 10.
The pumpkins were decorating with stickers and markers.
DeClerck’s Goldens in Albion brought several creatures for the public to see including “Caeser,” a Goffin’s cockatoo. Cary DeClerk was happy to share some of his animals and pets at the festival.
He also had a tortoise, golden retrievers, a wallaby, a sugar glider and others.
Cary DeClerk lets people see a sugar glider.
This wallaby attended the festival with DeClerck’s Goldens. Cary DeClerk also has kangaroos but they’re a little too big for the festival.
The Real News Duo performs at the end of East Bank Street. The Road Less Travelled also will be performing from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
KTJ Saddle Up Pony Rides has a pony and horses at Waterman Park.
There are other fall festivals in Orleans County today.
The Lakeside State Park Fall Fest is from noon to 9:30 p.m. with food trucks, face painting, balloon art, Seneca Mobile Zoo, crafts and other activities. The musicians include Jim Aina from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Who Dats from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Triple Play Band from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Kendall also has its scarecrow festival today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The theme: “Spooky, Scary and a Little Creepy” There will be music by Rebel’s Posse, a chainsaw carving demo by Jeff of Critters 3D, a chicken barbecue, hay rides and other activities.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Wes Bradley served as Lyndonville’s fireworks chairman for 19 years. He is shown on July 4, 2024, pulling a collection container in the Lyndonville parade. Bradley raised $50,000 to make that fireworks display the biggest ever in Lyndonville. That year was the 50th anniversary of the Lyndonville Lions Club organizing the July 4th celebration.
LYNDONVILLE – One of Orleans County’s greatest citizens passed away on Sept. 27. Wes Bradley was 77.
After a career as a science teacher for middle schoolers and a coach at Lyndonville, Bradley may have been best known in recent years as the chairman of Lyndonville’s phenomenal fireworks show on July 4.
He worked all year rounding up donations for the show. The July 4, 2024 show was his last as chairman. He met his goal of raising $50,000 for the 50th anniversary fireworks display for the Lyndonville Lions Club.
Wes Bradley, shown on Dec. 3, 2016, for many years also served as emcee of Lyndonville’s Christmas celebration in early December when Santa arrived and 60 to 100 Christmas trees are typically lit up at Veterans’ Park. Bradley has said many dedicated volunteers put on events to enliven Lyndonville.
Bradley proudly wore a one-of-kind T-shirt that Young Explosives made for him showing the fireworks in Lyndonville. Bradley had a strong bond with the crew from Young Explosives. He brought them chicken barbecue dinners while they set up in stifling heat for the July 4th show in Lyndonville. It was one of the biggest shows in all of Western New York despite Lyndonville being one of the smallest communities to host a fireworks show.
Those fireworks would bring in thousands of people, and Bradley was proud to show off the village with its flag-lined Main Street and friendly residents.
Bradley and one of his best friends, Mark Hughes, for years would put 75 flags on the utility poles that line the street. Bradley would climb the ladder and put the flags up, and would make an early morning check on July 4th to make sure they were all looking good and not rolled up.
Hughes passed away on June 4. He was another dedicated teacher and coach at Lyndonville. The two were both pillars of the community the past half century.
They both stayed deeply involved in the school – long after their retirement.
Bradley was a soccer official locally, and did a game about three weeks ago. He could run the field well into his 70s.
Lyndonville needed a boys soccer coach in 2024 for the varsity team. The previous year, Lyndonville didn’t have its own team due to low numbers.
Bradley agreed to be the coach and the team helped him reach a career milestone of 200 victories. Many of those players attended his calling hours on Friday.
Young Explosives also was there at the calling hours. So were many former students, teachers, Lyndonville firefighters and community members.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman: Wes Bradley is shown in late August 2024 when he returned to coaching the Lyndonville varsity soccer team. He is shown meeting with five veteran players from the last Tigers varsity team in 2022. They include Austin Fonda, Michael Alexander, Colton Smith, Jesus Rosario and Brody Hazel. The team would earn Bradley’s his 200th career soccer victory.
When Bradley moved to Lyndonville in August 1979 at age 31, he joined the Lyndonville Fire Department. He was inspired by his father’s example. Ray Bradley volunteered for more than 30 years as a firefighter in Canton, NY.
Bradley was an active firefighter responding to many calls, finding the time even during his very busy days as teacher and coach.
In his 70s, he still was going to about 50 calls a year and served as the department’s chaplain. In 2019, he was Lyndonville’s firefighter of the year at age 71.
“He does everything very professional,” Ben Bane, the Lyndonville fire chief at the time, told the Orleans Hub. “As chaplain, he is always there to comfort members when we have bad calls.”
Bradley, after years as an interior firefighter, continued as an exterior firefighter and with the fire police on traffic control. He also went on EMS calls. He wasn’t an EMT but he said it is comforting for many residents to see their neighbors in the fire service respond to the calls.
“I enjoy serving the community,” Bradley said on Feb. 1, 2020 when he was presented with the award. “The community has been good to me. I can give a little bit back.”
Laurie Bradley said her husband was “a go-getter who wanted to serve others.” She was the school librarian at Lyndonville. She and Wes raised three children in the community.
Ben Bane, Lyndonville’s fire chief in 2020, presents the Firefighter of the Year award to Wes Bradley on Feb. 1, 2020.
Bob Larkin worked as a custodian at the school district. He saw Bradley every day and without fail Bradley always was quick to greet Larkin by name. During the end-of-season pizza parties, Bradley made sure his team picked up after themselves.
If there was a fire alarm at the school, Bradley was typically the first on the scene in his firefighter turn-out gear, Larkin said.
Lee Dillenbeck, a Lyndonville teacher and coach, said the community is reeling from the loss of Bradley and Hughes. Both were tremendous mentors for teachers and students, Dillenbeck said.
Bradley never wavered in trying to be of service to the community.
“He was the best person you could come across,” Dillenbeck said. “Anything you needed he was there for you.”
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker/Roy-Hart’s Vince Fazzio breaks away from a tackle attempt by York/Pavilion’s Zachary Bauer during the Bulls non league win at Barker this evening.
Improving to 4-1, Barker/Roy-Hart knocked Pavilion/York from the ranks of the unbeaten by scoring a 30-23 non league victory this evening at Barker.
Vince Fazzio caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Tysen McCaa and also returned a pass interception for another TD to lead the way for Barker/Roy-Hart which also got a TD run by Carter DerSarkissian.
Barker/Roy-Hart took an 8-6 lead in the second quarter on a 12 yard McCaa to Fazzio TD pass and a two-point conversion carry by Anthony Adinolfe.
York/Pavilion though took a slender 9-8 lead at the half on a 45 yard field goal as time expired by quarterback Parker Bonefede who also had a 5 yard TD pass in the first quarter.
However, Barker/Roy-Hart regained the lead for good at 22-9 in the third quarter on back-to-back touchdowns as McCaa hooked up with Fazzio for a 45 yard scoring pass and DerSarkissian followed up with an 8 yard TD run. McCaa kicked the extra point after both scores.
York/Pavilion did cut the deficit to 22-15 at the end of the third quarter but Fazzio upped the host Bulls lead to 30-15 with what proved to be a clinching 25 yard pass interception return for a touchdown with four minutes to go in the final period. Adinolfe again added the two-point conversion run.
York/Pavilion closed back to within 30-23 late on a 5 yard TD run by Bonafede. However, the Golden Knights would get no closer as the Bulls offensive unit ran out the clock.
The Barker/Roy-Hart duo of Jakob West (55) and Ashton Ark (1) sack York/Pavilion quarterback Parker Bonafede for a loss.
Barker/Roy-Hart’s Anthony Adinolfe goes around the edge looking for yardage as Aiden Kobylanski moves in for York/Pavilion.
In a high scoring affair, Eden/North Collins outlasted visiting Medina 45-34 in a key C North Division football game this evening.
Eden improves to 3-1 in the division and 4-1 overall while Medina slips to 2-2, 3-2 overall and all but out of title contention.
Quarterback Brady Waring passed for five touchdowns and ran for another to lead the way for Eden which led 31-20 at the half and 38-28 after three quarters.
The Mustangs touchdowns came on a 69 yard run by Christian Moss, a 2 yard run by quarterback Preston Woodworth, a 43 yard pass from Woodworth to Hadrian Batista, a 13 yard run by Jayzon Wills and an 85 yard punt return by Kolton Fletcher.
Medina next visits Tonawanda at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Depew 57, Albion 8
Depew downed visiting Albion 57-8 in a B2 Division contest.
Bo Preston had a 3 yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion pass to account for Albion’s scoring.
Depew is now 4-1 in the division and overall and Albion 0-5.
Holley blanked Alexander 5-0 and Kendall shutout Notre Dame 7-0 in Genesee Region League girls soccer action this evening.
Ava Mosier scored two goals for Holley as Hanna Ostrom, Carsyn Mogle and Jayna Burris each netted one.
Mogle, Burris, Riley Sweet, Mia Thom and Brynn Thomas all had assists.
Holley is now 7-2-1 in G-R action.
Ryleigh Denning and Aleah Barrett both had a pair of goals for Kendall as Addison Kludt, Stella Kwiatek and Sophia Picardo each chipped in with one.
Kendall improves to 9-0 in G-R competition.
Volleyball
Roy-Hart 25-25-25, Oakfield-Alabama 14-10-17
Roy-Hart scored a straight set win over Oakfield-Alabama in a non league match this evening as Grace Pearl had 8 kills, Kylie McOmber and Raegan Kern 6 kills each, Lauren Snyder and Zoey Healey 3 kills each and Ryleigh Capen 24 assists.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Decklan Meiers kicks the ball away from Pembroke’s Austin Post during the Mustangs non league win at Vets Park this evening.
Celebrating Senior Night, Medina posted a 3-0 non league victory over Pembroke this evening at Vets Park.
Caden Kingsbury scored all three goals for the Mustangs as Aleks Seefeldt had two assists and Owen Sargent one.
River Jones earned the shutout in goal as the quartet of Sargent, Ryan Pegelow, Jimmy Dieter and Luke Duffina anchored the defense.
Medina is now 10-1 overall.
Moving into the top 10, Medina’s Melanie Green registered her second straight 4 under par round of 68 today at the Epson Tour’s Championship Tournament being played at Indian Wells, California.
Green notched five birdies on the day on 11, 16, 18, 3 and 4 and had only one bogey on 5.
Her two day total of 136 puts her in a tie for 8th place four shots back of the leader.
The tournament continues on Saturday and concludes on Sunday. She is scheduled to tee off at 2″05 p.m. Saturday our time.
Photos courtesy of ABATE in Orleans County
KENDALL – The Orleans County chapter of ABATE (Americans Bikers Aimed Toward Education) recently resented $500 checks to three fire departments in eastern Orleans County.
The top photo shows Chuck Persons, second from right, and Becky Persons, right, of ABATE presenting a $500 check to the Kendall Fire Department. They are joined by Fire Chief Randy Davis, second from right, and Mike Schultz, president of the Kendall FD.
Last year ABATE presented similar checks to the central battalion departments, and they donated to the western battalion in 2023.
The donations to the eastern battalion are the result of a fundraising ride and a basket raffle this summer.
Becky Persons of ABATE presents a $500 check to Bob Freida, fire chief of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Company.
ABATE also donated $500 to the Murray Joint Fire District.
ABATE leaders said firefighters are often the first on the scene if a motorcyclist is an accident.
Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is hosting three town hall events in Monroe and Genesee Counties on Saturday, Oct. 11.
Hawley will take the time to meet with constituents and discuss the issues that matter to them the most. These events will give the community the opportunity to let their voices be heard and share their thoughts and concerns about where the state is headed.
“Speaking directly with my constituents is one of the most important parts of my job,” said Hawley. “I hope people show up to share their thoughts and opinions on how we can make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family.”
The schedule includes:
• Town of Wheatland, Village of Scottsville and Hamlet of Mumford on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Genesee Country Village & Museum in the Meeting Center Lounge, 1410 Flint Hill Rd., Mumford, NY 14511
• Town of LeRoy and Village of LeRoy on Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Woodward Memorial Library, The Mystery Room, 7 Wolcott St., LeRoy, NY 14482
• Town of Batavia and City of Batavia on Oct. 11 from 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Batavia City Centre, Council Room on 2nd Floor, 102 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020
Assemblyman Steve Hawley represents the 139th Assembly District, which includes parts of Erie, Genesee, Monroe and Orleans counties.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Some leaves on these trees are still green and others have changed to bright colors. This is a spot on the Erie Canal Towpath in Albion, east of the Ingersoll Street lift bridge.
Some parts of the state are seeing peak fall foliage colors, while locally it is about at midpoint with lots of green leaves still on the trees.
“Beautiful peak fall colors will continue to spread through the Adirondacks and Catskills, and are expected to arrive in some parts of the Chautauqua-Allegheny and Finger Lakes regions this weekend,” I Love NY posted on Wednesday.
A spotter in Albion reports that there is less than 15% change in Albion “with average to bright red, orange and yellow leaves.”
A spotter in Buffalo reports a 25 percent change while one in East Aurora puts it at 55 percent.
In Niagara County, there is 50 percent change in Lewiston and 25 percent transition in Niagara Falls.
In Wyoming County, Letchworth State Park is seeing 50 percent change in Castile and 60 percent change in Warsaw.
Map courtesy of I Love NY: Some parts of the state are in peak fall foliage conditions, while Orleans County still has a ways to go towards peak.
ALBION – A former Albion man pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court to attempted course of sexual conduct in third degree and could get up to five years in state prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 3.
Joel Prouty, 39, now lives in Bethany. He admitted in County Court on Wednesday to having anal sexual contact at least twice with a victim between June 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. The victim was the ages of 9 and 10 when this happened, the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office said.
Prouty was charged on May 21 by the Albion Police Department with course of sex conduct against a child in the 1st degree and endangering the welfare of a child.
In other cases in County Court:
Allan Bieber, 22, pleaded guilty to third-degree rape for having sex with a 15-year-old girl at St. Joseph’s Park on South Clinton Street on April 25. It was dark at the park at about 9 p.m. when the alleged rape occurred.
Bieber will face probation and no incarceration as part of a plea agreement. He could be a registered sex offender for 10 years. That will be determined at a hearing before Judge Sanford Church.
Jamar Daniel, 41, of the Bronx pleaded guilty last week to attempted promoting prison contraband in the first degree.
Daniel admitted to bringing a folding ceramic blade into the Orleans Correctional Facility on Nov. 17, 2024.
He faces up to 364 days in the county jail when he is sentenced.
Photos courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES: (Left) Todd Eick, former Medina teacher now an animal science teacher for Orleans/Niagara BOCES, holds a pig in Uganda. (Right) This group builds a structure.
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
Todd Eick, the Animal Science teacher at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center, recently spent a month over the summer in Uganda with fellow educators to support education initiatives in a small village at the Lira Secondary School.
“It is without a doubt the best professional development and experience I have ever had,” said Eick, who previously worked in Medina for 14 years as FFA advisor and animal science teacher. “There are not enough adjectives to describe that trip.”
The Global Teach Ag Network sent 12 educators, across the United States, to work with local schools in East Africa on global issues like agriculture and food security. The Teach Ag Uganda project is funded by the USDE (United States Department of Education) Fulbright-Hays Program and partners with Field of Hope.
The teachers had the opportunity to work one-on-one with peer educator colleagues in Uganda to advance agriculture projects in local schools. Eick was assigned to work on a team with the students on building a piggery for pig farming. He worked directly with two US teachers, one from Indiana and the other from Washington state, and three Uganda educators.
“We are all still in a group chat all the time” says Eick. “We built great friendships and had so much fun together. Such amazing memories and knowledge to share. I love telling people I know someone who knows something about this and that. I had such a wonderful time there.”
The staff at a school joins for a group photo.
Eick had applied for the grant opportunity to take part in the program last October and was thrilled to find out that he was selected to be part of the project.
“I was kind of the elder statesman since I had more time in education than anyone else on the team, but I learned a lot from everyone I worked with,” he said. “We helped the school build the piggery and showed them how to select the pigs and care for them. We left educational artifacts for them to use after we returned home to help them run the farm.”
The visiting teachers were fascinated on how the Lira Secondary school was run. A boarding school, there are 20-80 students in a classroom and the teachers rotate through each classroom.
Classes ran three weeks on and then three weeks off to allow the students to go home and help their families, many of them using the skills they learned in school to help their families generate extra money.
The students would be considered sophomores, juniors and seniors here. “Most of the seniors were learning so they could take the state test and had a lot of project-based learning as part of their education as well,” Eick said. “The students were shy at first, but they warmed up pretty quickly to us. They were so eager to learn. How they implemented their curriculum was cool. For one hands-on learning project, we worked together to string a barbed wire fence. The students caught on very fast.”
There was no cafeteria, but everyone ate together. “We stood in line with the students with our bowls and we usually had some sort of stew made with beans, maize and rice,” explained Eick. “It was fascinating. It is a very poor country, but they were rich in hospitality. They are truly the kindest, warmest people I have ever met.”
Eick, along with his fellow educators, also enjoyed a morning and evening safari to see the wildlife.
“It was magical,” he said. “We went to the Nile River. I must have taken hundreds of photos. We visited several villages and a dairy farm and that was eye-opening on how varied milk production is there than it is here.”
He brought back a Uganda hoe as a souvenir. “It cost me $3.75 and I had no idea how to use it, so the students had to show me. They thought it was hysterical. I have to say I learned as much from them as they did from me. I love this kind of teaching. It is a hand up not a handout. This global experience had to be one of the most impactful things that ever happened to me on a personal level, spiritually and educationally. I am enjoying bringing these lessons into my classroom, especially doing more with less and embracing a worldwide perspective on things. My students here have really embraced this and we now share things in class from art to the practical from different countries. I am really looking forward to taking some of the students to Belgium and the Netherlands next year to learn about their agriculture and way of life. I really want them to have the same experience I did with seeing a different culture.”
