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Ridgeway Fire Company swears in officers, presents awards during annual banquet

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 19 January 2026 at 9:18 am

Austin Seefeldt named Firefighter of the Year

Provided photos: Austin Seefeldt was named Firefighter of the Year at Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company’s banquet. From left are assistant chief Jerry Lewis; deputy chief Kristin McAdoo; Seefeldt; his father and life member Christopher Seelfeldt; and chief Tyler Luckman.

RIDGEWAY – The Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company and Ladies Auxiliary held their 74th annual installation banquet Saturday night.

A welcome was given by secretary Marisa Gilbert and chief Tyler Luckman, followed by introduction of guests by master of ceremonies Justin Niederhofer. After the invocation by Pastor Dan Thurber, guests enjoyed dinner catered by Donna Eick.

The program began with special recognitions of firefighters and installation of officers.

Chief Tyler Luckman gave the Firefighter of the Year award to Austin Seefeldt.

Outgoing president Marisa Gilbert named Patrick Kelly as recipient of the President’s Award. Kelly, a 35-year member, was unable to attend because of work.

Ridgeway Fire Captain Jason Bessel was presented with a special award at the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company’s installation banquet Saturday night. With him are, from left, assistant chief, Jerry Lewis, Bessel; deputy chief Kristin McAdoo and chief Tyler Luckman.

A special presentation was made to Jason Bessel for the great amount of work he did on the fire company’s Truck Committee.

“He has been involved with all our truck purchases for the last decade,” said Kristin McAdoo, deputy chief.

Fire company officers for 2026 were sworn in by Niederhofer, as follows: Chief, Tyler Luckman; deputy chief, Kristin McAdoo; assistant chief, Jerry Lewis; firematic captain, Jason Bessel; firematic lieutenants, Austin Mosher and Justin McAdoo; safety officer, Don Marchner; fire police captain, Paul Wengrzycki; fire police lieutenant, Kyle Brakenbury; EMS captain, Morgan Austin and EMS lieutenant, Page Smith.

Justin Niederhofer, Orleans 1 (the county’s emergency management coordinator), is at the podium and swears in officers for 2026 in the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department during their banquet Saturday night.

Executive officers sworn in were president, Greg Gilbert; vice president, Madison Austin; secretary, Marisa Gilbert; treasurer, Jennifer Thom; sergeant-at-arms, Justin McAdoo; director for 3 years, Morgan Austin; director for two years, James Ryan; and director for one year, Austin Mosher.

Members of the Ladies Auxiliary sworn in by Ridgeway Town Clerk Hannah Hill were president, Tracey Hendrick; vice president, Melissa Hansler; secretary/treasurer, Joelle Brown; and chaplain, Harriet Petrie.

It was announced that Ridgeway responded to a record number of calls in 2025 – 376, of which 218 were EMS. Other calls were for mutual aid – 19 (which included one water rescue; 12 fill-ins and nine working structure fires); automatic alarms – 10; structure fires – nine; good intent calls – eight; brush/grass fires – eight; water problems – five; vehicle fires – five; miscellaneous fire at a power substation – one; water rescue for kayakers stranded on the creek – one; and other calls, 12.

Top 10 responders in 2025 were Don Marchner – 283; his grandson Justin McAdoo – 273; Kyle Brakenbury – 186; Austin Seefeldt – 177; Greg Gilbert – 130; Andrew Austin – 127; Jerry Lewis – 125; Morgan Austin – 120; Kristin McAdoo – 105; and Mike Blue – 91.

The evening concluded with benediction by Pastor Thurber and music by disc jockey JT.


Hannah Hill, town of Ridgeway clerk, right, swears in Ridgeway Ladies Auxiliary officers at their banquet Saturday night. Officers are, from left, Harriet Petrie, chaplain; Joelle Brown, secretary/treasurer; and Tracey Hendrick, president. Absent is Melissa Hansler, vice president.

Cobblestone Museum presenting program on historical Baltimore Album Quilts

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 19 January 2026 at 8:58 am

Provided photo: Baltimore Album Quilts, such as this example here, will be the topic of a virtual lecture at 7 p.m. Wednesday to benefit the Cobblestone Society and Museum.

CHILDS – The Cobblestone Society and Museum will host its first fundraising event of 2026 on Wednesday. A virtual lecture will be presented at 7 p.m. on the topic of Baltimore Album Quilts, by quilt historian and collector Deborah “Debby” Cooney of Maryland, one of today’s leading experts on these historical quilts.

She and Ronda McAllen published “Baltimore Album Quilts: New Research,” in the journal of the American Quilt Study Group in 2017, in addition to other articles and essays, according to Sue Bonafini, assistant director of the Cobblestone Museum.

Cooney’s talk is titled “Baltimore Album Quilts: Their History and Major Styles.” Cooney shares that Baltimore Album Quilts, produced largely between 1842 and 1862, are among the most elaborate and accomplished examples of American quilt making.

Her presentation will explain the context of their development and the various design styles, largely in floral applique, that emerged from Baltimore’s talented needlewomen and its religious groups. Many images of the genre’s lavish creations will be discussed.

Registrations for the virtual lecture will be accepted at the Museum’s event’s page at Cobblestonemuseum.org or click here for more information.

Donations are accepted in exchange for the Zoom link to attend the program. Donors may choose their level of support on a sliding scale basis, beginning at just $5. Donations of $25 or greater allow individuals or businesses to claim the title of sponsor or support of the program. Town & Country Quilt Shop in Albion and Country Treasures Quilt Shop in Brockport are current sponsors of this event, as well as a few anonymous donors who offered additional financial support.

The Cobblestone Society owns a small collection of antique quilts and 19th century coverlets in their textiles collection. An exhibit of more than 20 coverlets is currently displayed at the Museum’s Thompson-Kast Visitors Center.

A full color catalog details each coverlet, used as a reference guide or for purchase by donation. Interested individuals can call (585) 589-9013 for an appointment to view this exhibit or for more information regarding Wednesday’s virtual lecture.

Medina kicks off new winterguard season

Posted 18 January 2026 at 8:55 pm

Provided photos: The varsity winterguard involves includes 14 students in grades 9 to 12 and their show is “Dreams.”

Courtesy of Medina Mustang Boosters

Medina opened its winterguard season  on Jan 17th with a competition at Marcus Whitman HS in Rushville, Ontario County.

Winterguard is a hybrid art form that combines elements of music, dance and military-like precision marching in a competitive arena for a total entertainment package. WG started about 30 years ago and involves the manipulation (spins, tosses, flips) of equipment (flags, rifles, sabers) while moving around the performance space.

Medina is sponsoring 2 guard units this season – junior varsity and varsity.

Both guards competed at Marcus Whitman on Saturday. The JV guard came in 1st in the cadet class. The varsity guard came in 2nd out of 3 in the A1 class.

Both will compete again on Saturday, Jan 24th at Orchard Park.

The junior varsity winterguard includes 14 members from 5th to 8th grade who started practicing in mid-November.  Three students have joined for the first time. Their show is “The Big Cheese” about a day at the races.

Albion will have caucuses to pick candidates for village election

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 January 2026 at 8:42 pm

Republicans meet on Jan. 24 and Democrats follow on Jan. 27

ALBION – The Republican and Democratic parties will soon be holding their caucuses to pick their candidates in the upcoming March 18 village election.

The Republican Party will have its caucus at 2 p.m. on Jan. 24 in the Curtis Room at Hoag Library. The Democrats will have their caucus at 7 p.m. on Jan. 27 at Pullman Memorial Universalist Church.

The election is usually the third Tuesday in March, which would be March 17 this year. However, that is St. Patrick’s Day so the election has been moved back a day.

This year there will be four-year terms on the ballot for mayor (currently Angel Javier Jr.) and trustees (currently Tim McMurray and Joyce Riley).

Polls will be open on March 18 from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Office, 35-37 East Bank St.

Candidates also can run as independents and need to submit petitions signed by at least 100 registered voters in the village. Those petitions are due to the village clerk by Feb. 10.

Albion is the only village in Orleans County that has candidates run under the major party lines. Lyndonville, Medina and Holley don’t have the party lines in their elections. In those villages, all of the candidates run as independents.

In 1889, spire from Methodist church collapsed, damaging neighboring home

Posted 18 January 2026 at 2:36 pm

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No.1

MEDINA – The gusty winds of January revive generational memories of terror for one household in Medina. A news article in The Daily Press, Jan 10., 1889, gave a vivid description.

“Nearly all day yesterday, the wind blew a strong gale from the west…. About four o’clock (a.m.), a terrible crash that could be heard even above the roaring of the wind, shook the town. People who heard it awoke with fear and trembling, and it was soon learned that the Methodist Church spire had fallen, and that the residence of M. Cooper, situated about twenty feet directly east, was partly buried under the pile of debris.

“People began to collect and it was found that the spire had fallen in a northeasterly direction, just grazing the west wing, tearing the cornice off and completely crushing the woodshed. The yard is filled to a depth of some three feet with a pile of broken timbers, brick and slate, all of which are broken in fine pieces and the collapse could not be more complete.”

Medina businessman, Michael Cooper (1839 – 1899) had a narrow escape when the spire of the Methodist Church fell on his home on January 10, 1889.

The residence at 216 West Center St. had been built in 1850 by Sylvester Sherman. Michael Cooper purchased it in 1866 for $3,000. At the time of the steeple collapse, it was occupied by Michael Cooper, his wife Catherine and sons John and George.

Construction of the First Methodist Episcopal Society of Medina Church at 222 West Center St. was completed in 1876. A prior location on Main Street had been destroyed by fire.

A notable feature of the new construction was a 156-foot-tall spire. (The height of the spire was also described as 180 feet and at 235 feet.) Currently, the 175-foot–high spire of the Presbyterian Church in Albion is the highest point in Orleans County.

Whatever its exact height, the spire was not structurally sound. A high wind in May 1884 caused a three-foot-long crack in the brick work. Architect A.J. Warner of Rochester, who was hired by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Medina, described the spire as “unsafe and in a ruinous condition and liable to fall and do serious damage to life and property.” He recommended that it be taken down or “rendered entirely safe” without delay.

Architect William Morgan of Somerset agreed that it was unsafe but proposed that it could be made perfectly safe with new braces. He supervised the repair which was carried out by “a force of men” and “pronounced it entirely safe, in fact stronger than ever.”

The repair only lasted four years. The church was badly damaged by the collapse of the spire, the Cooper house was badly jarred, but “the family of Mr. Cooper had a very narrow escape and are receiving the congratulations of their many friends today.”

N-O basketball leaders to meet this week

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 18 January 2026 at 10:15 am

The top two teams in the standings will collide Tuesday as front-running Wilson hosts runner-up Akron at 6 p.m. in a key Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game.

Wilson is 5-0 (12-0 overall) and Akron 4-1 (10-1 overall) heading into this big matchup which will complete the first half of the N-O season..

Both teams are led by a trio of scorers.

Wilson is paced by Aidan Neumann (277 points, 25.2 average), Ryan Hough (123 pts., 12.3 ave.) and Shamus George (125 pts., 11.4 ave.) George also has 97 rebounds, Hough 80 and Neumann 61.

Akron is led by Derren Brooks (220 pts., 20.0 ave.), Blake Gerstung (181 pts., 16.5 ave.) and Ben Gerstung (174 pts., 15.8 ave.) Brooks has also grabbed off 146 rebounds.

Interestingly, this same matchup of teams will also highlight Tuesday’s N-O girls schedule as defending champion Wilson visits Akron at 6:30 p.m.

Wilson is 5-0 and Akron 4-1.

The upcoming week’s wrestling competition will be highlighted by Medina’s annual Gary Gross Memorial Tournament on Saturday.

Weekly Schedule
Tuesday
Boys Basketball – Akron at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Newfane at Medina, Barker at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.; Lyndonville at Kendall, Notre Dame at Holley, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Roy-Hart at Barker, Wilson at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Holley at HAC, 5 p.m.
Swimming – Roy-Hart/Barker at Medina, Albion at Akron, 5 p.m.

Wednesday
Girls Basketball – Medina at Newfane, 5 p.n.; Kendall at Lyndonville, Holley at Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Wrestling – Albion at Holley-Kendall, Akron at Lyndonville, Lake Shore vs. Roy-Hart/Barker at Barker, 6 p.m.

Thursday
Boys Basketball – Alexander at Lyndonville, Oakfield-Alabama at Holley, Attica at Kendall, 7 p.m.
Swimming – Medina at Albion, Newfane at Akron, 5 p.m.
Wrestling – Holley-Kendall at Perry, 6 p.m.

Friday
Boys Basketball – Newfane at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Barker at Medina, Akron at Albion, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Medina at Barker, 5 p.m.; Albion at Akron, JFK at Roy-Hart, Wilson at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.; Holley at Oakfield-Alabama, 7 p.m.

Saturday
Boys Basketball – Spencerport at Albion, 1:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Notre Dame at Kendall, 11:30 a.m.; Albion at Lyndonville, 12:30 p.m.
Wrestling – Medina’s Gary Gross Memorial Tournament, 9 a.m.; Albion and Holley-Kendall at Livonia Tournament

N-O Standings
Boys Basketball – Wilson 5-0, Akron 4-1, Medina 3-2, Newfane 3-2, Albion 2-4, Barker 1-4, Roy-Hart 0-5
Girls Basketball – Wilson 5-0, Akron 4-1, Albion 4-2, Roy-Hart 3-2, Medina 1-4, Newfane 1-4, Barker 0-5
Boys Swimming – Newfane 6-0, Akron 3-2, Medina 3-2, Albion 2-4, Roy-Hart/Barker 0-6
Girls Swimming – Newfane 5-0-1, Akron 4-0-1, Roy-Hart/Barker 3-3, Medina 1-4, Albion 0-6

71st annual Kendall-Hamlin euchre tournament begins Jan. 21

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 January 2026 at 8:50 am

Photo by Tom Rivers: Card players filled the Kendall Fire Hall on Feb. 5, 2025 for the Kendall-Hamlin euchre tournament. The three-day tournament provides some fun and camaraderie during the middle of the winter.

KENDALL – Card players are welcome to be part of the 71st Kendall-Hamlin euchre tournament which begins this Wednesday in Hamlin at Merritt Hall at 6:30 p.m.

The action then shifts to Kendall at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 28 at the Kendall fire hall and concludes in Hamlin at Merritt Hall on Feb. 4 with the fish fry supper to follow at the Hamlin VFW.

The two towns have kept up the tradition for generations. Players can just show up, said John Becker of Kendall. There are usually about 60 players each night.

The tournament is open to residents in both towns. If one town has more players than the other, some of those players might play for the rival town to even out the players.

After the three days of card playing, the scores will be tabulated to determine the winner.

The event isn’t a fundraiser, but Becker said donations are made to the fire departments in both Kendall and Hamlin.

The tournament started in 1954 when a group of farmers from Kendall and Hamlin stopped to play cards after attending a farm show in Rochester.

They had so much fun playing cards and drinking beer that the euchre tournament became an annual event. It remains popular and has expanded from a one-evening tournament to being spread over three Wednesdays in the dead of winter.

The tournament still includes many farmers but it has opened up to the entire community. The players pay $10 each night and that includes beer or soda.

All six teams share in capturing individual titles at the annual N-O All League tourney

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 January 2026 at 6:17 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Jaxon Lynch, who earned the Most Outstanding Wrestler award, works toward a major decision win over Newfane’s Jake Morello in his 150 lb. title bout at today’s annual Niagara-Orleans League Tournament this afternoon at Albion.

All six teams had at least one champion crowned at the annual Niagara-Orleans All-League wrestling tournament held this afternoon at Albion.

Newfane led the parade to the podium with five champions including Jonah Morello (103), Rian Czaja (126), Colin Doxey (175), Tristian Smith (190) and Weston Henning (215).

Host Albion had a trio of winners including Justin Mengs (110), Stryker Sanders (118) and Jaxon Lynch (150) who earned the tourney’s Most Outstanding Wrestler award.

Roy-Hart/Barker had a pair of winners in Luke Fay (138) and RJ Townsend (285) as did Akron in Alexander Parisi (144) and Joey Burg (165).

Medina’s Luke Duffina won at 132 and Wilson’s Victor Cusatis at 157.

Sanders, Duffina, Fay and Czaja are all repeat champions.

Roy-Hart/Barker’s RJ Townsend in route to scoring an overtime win over Akron’s James Crooks in the 285 lb. title bout.

In Newfane’s championship bouts Jonah Morello scored a 16-0 technical fall win over Max Liuzzi (Roy-Hart/Barker), Czaja had a 10-3 decision win over Drake Schomske (Albion), Doxey pinned Lincoln Murray (Roy-Hart/Barker) in 2:40, Smith pinned Cristofaro Interisano (Wilson) in 5:08 and Henning pinned Liam Silsby (Roy-Hart/Barker) in 2:35.

For Albion in the finals, Mengs pinned Roman Zarbo (Wilson) in 2:24; Sanders pinned Tyler Zimmerman (Akron) in 1:28 and Lynch scored a 14-6 major decision victory over Jake Morello (Newfane).

Mengs advanced to the finals with a technical fall win in the semifinals; Sanders had pins of 42 seconds in the quarterfinals and 3:18 in the semis and Lynch registered pins of 3:15 in the quarterfinals and 5:57 in the semis.

Roy-Hart/Barker’s title wins saw Fay post a 17-0 technical fall win over Alex Brandl (Akron) and Townsend edge James Crooks (Akron) 4-1 in overtime.

For Medina, Duffina scored a 21-6 technical fall win over Ryley Mahoney (Newfane) in the finals. He advanced with a pair of lightning quick pins of 12 seconds in the quarterfinals and 38 seconds in the semis.

In Akron’s title matches Parisi posted a 16-0 technical fall win over Parker Roberts (Albion) and Burg had a 21-5 technical fall victory over Mason Coulter (Wilson).

For Wilson, Cusatis decisioned his Lakemen teammate David Gurski 14-8.

Newfane, which captured the regular season title with a 5-0 record, also captured the tournament team championship with 208 points. Albion finished second with 166 points followed by Akron 161.5, Roy-Hart/Barker 153.5, Wilson 104.5 and Medina 59.5.

Medina’s Luke Duffina works toward earning a technical fall win over Newfane’s Ryley Mahoney in his 132 lb. title bout.

Albion’s Stryker Sanders in route to scoring a first period pin in his 118 lb. title bout over Akron’s Tyler Zimmerman.

Roy-Hart/Barker’s Luke Fay works toward scoring a title round technical fall victory over Akron’s Alex Brandl in the 138 lb. final.

Albion’s Justin Mengs in route to scoring a second period pin over Wilson’s Roman Zarbo in his 110 lb. title bout.

 

Barker girls earn first victory; Lyndonville and Holley bow

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 17 January 2026 at 5:34 pm

Snapping a season long 10 game losing streak, Barker downed Cleveland Hill 55-32 in a non league girls basketball game this afternoon.

Elise Monaco scored 23, Charlotte Haag 13 and Hailey Dodge and Cheyanne Rouse 7 each to lead the way for Barker. Rouse also grabbed off 11 rebounds and Monaco 10.

Leading 22-15 at the half, Barker used a big 25-7 third period scoring edge to open up a 47-21 advantage and put a lock on the win.

Alexander 50, Lyndonville 34
Long range shooting was the name of the game as Alexander made nine three’s in a 50-34 Genesee Region League win his afternoon over Lyndonville which had seven threes.

Paige Morton took game high scoring honors for Alexander with 21 including three threes.

Isabella Groves scored 19, including five threes, and Braelynn Dillenbeck 8, including two threes. to lead Lyndonville.

Elba 74, Holley 20
Hanna Ostrom had 9 points and 5 rebounds and Mia Thom 6 points and 5 rebounds for Holley in a 74-20 G-R loss to Elba.

Weather Service warns 10 to 20 inches of snow headed to Orleans

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 January 2026 at 4:20 pm

Photo courtesy of Marsha Rivers: The sun rises over a snow-covered Gaines Basin Road on Friday in a field across from Walmart.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Orleans, Niagara, Genesee and northern Erie counties from 1 p.m. Sunday until 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Those counties can expect 10 to 20 inches of snow, with winds gusting as high as 50 miles per hour. That will create blowing and drifting snow with whiteout conditions at times.

“Significant snow accumulation will occur Sunday night through Monday, and again Tuesday into Tuesday night,” the Weather Service said. “Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening.”

The snowbands will oscillate with varying  intensities and snowfall amounts over the area, the Weather Service said. There will also be wind chill values zero to 10 below zero Monday night through Tuesday night.

Concerts at Lee-Whedon bring out crowds on cold Friday nights

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 January 2026 at 10:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Breakout Band performed on Friday night to about 125 people at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina.

The band plays many classic rock songs. From left include Gary Withey, Timothy Stoll and Alan Biano. John Lynch, not pictured, plays the drums.

Lee-Whedon has offered the “Finally Fridays!” concert series during the winter since 2002.

The season usually goes to early March but this year will only be during January due to the library’s expansion project that is under construction.

The Breakout Band kept the crowd entertained on a wintry Friday night.

The Creek Bend Band opened the series on Jan. 2, followed by Tom Keefer & Celtic Cross on Jan. 9.

There are two more concerts that begin at 7 p.m. with the Hennan Brothers on Jan. 23 and Doc’s Pocket Change on Jan. 30.

There is no charge for admission. The concerts received funding from the New York State Council on the Arts. Go Art! administers that funding for the state.

This group worked together on a puzzle while listening to the music. From left include Georgia Thomas and Barb Hancock with Fred Cavers at right. Thomas said sometimes “The Puzzle Group” can put together a 1,000-piece puzzle in an hour. This trip put together a 300-piece puzzle on Friday evening.

Federal government brings chaos to Minnesota with no accountability for actions

Posted 17 January 2026 at 9:28 am

Editor:

What is going on in Minnesota has no relationship with the law or law enforcement.  It is performative cruelty by dress-up military actors behaving like an occupying force in a hostile environment, with no oversight and no accountability for their actions.

The administration’s stated reason for sending in immigration enforcement is because of fraud, allegedly committed by residents with a Somali background. It is important to note that 98 individuals have already been charged in the scheme, which could exceed $250 million. But none of the more than 2,000 immigration officers on the streets of Minnesota are investigating fraud.

Although $250 million is a lot of money it pales compared to the billions President Trump and his administration have defrauded from the American people. Mr. Trump has defrauded Americans with his cryptocurrency scheme, the brides for pardons fraud, and all his violations of the emoluments clause of the Constitution. Not to mention the hundreds of millions of dollars of Venezuelan oil money Mr. Trump sequestered in an offshore account he claims he controls.

The list of fraud from Mr. Trump alone takes pages. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, spent $200 million of taxpayer money to purchase luxury jets for her personal and private use, according to a Department of Homeland Security press release.

Furthermore, when the state officials of Mississippi were found guilty, in a court of law, of defrauding the federal government and ordered to pay more than $1 million dollars in fines, the Trump administration reversed that decision. But I don’t want to get bogged down in both-siderisms.

Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence that: Governments “derive their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.”  The Immigration officers in Minnesota are not there with the consent of the citizens or their elected leaders. There was no increase in crime or civil disorder that required federal law enforcement’s presence.

And let me be clear, if there were a need for immigration officials to be in Minnesota, Minnesotans would ask for help. Minnesota has a long and successful history of working with federal immigration officials. But that is not the situation now. Federal agents have not communicated with or made any attempt to coordinate with state and local law enforcement. This is not law enforcement, it is dominance.

Further evidence that this is not a law enforcement activity is that since the federal immigration invasion of Minnesota, schools have gone remote, and businesses have closed.  People are afraid to go out, and residents of the city are terrified. Think about that, federal agents are intentionally creating chaos to terrorize the citizens. They are not making the city safer; they are intentionally and deliberately terrorizing the citizens.

The facts and the evidence are overwhelming. What is happening in Minnesota has no connection to the law or law enforcement. It is forced obedience to authority and to an authoritarian regime. That is why people are taking to the streets to protest.

William Fine

Brockport

Circus returns bringing lots of entertainment to local schools

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 January 2026 at 8:41 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Ian and Claudia perform on aerial silks at the Clifford Wise Intermediate School. Billy Martin’s Cole All Star Circus did two shows on Friday at Clifford Wise with some of the proceeds going to the Orleans Community Health Foundation.

Ian and Claudia showcased strength, flexibility and balance in their performance on the aerial silks.

The circus is led by Billy Martin, who is now in his 49th season of leading the circus. He and his group of a dozen perform go to about 150 schools each year. Their 2026 season started on Jan. 9 in Coudersport, Pa.

They have three more shows in Orleans County:

  • Albion Elementary School on Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Holley Elementary School on Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Kendall High School Gym on Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Children 12 years and younger are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.  Adults at the door are $20 each. Each school offers a special $5 discount on advance adult tickets, which reduces the cost to $15 per adult.

Sophia performs a juggling routine.

These kids are delighted watching a performer in the show ring.

Jake McPherson of Medina and his son Connor, age 9, get their photo taken with one of the circus’s stars, Slinko. This year marks Slinko’s 25th season.

Tatyana Johnson, 9, gets her face painted as the Lady Bug character during intermission at the circus.

The Fudi sisters juggled hats, pins and hoops as part of their routine.