Roy-Hart held its annual Athletic Awards ceremonies this past week as Tysen McCaa and Kylie McOmber were honored as Athletes of the Year.
Jillian Ossont received the Dave Brown Memorial Award for swimming.
The Stan Voss Memorial Award for baseball was presented to Evan Poeller.
McCaa received the Bruno Pacini Award for football.
The Bill Holahan Coaches Award was presented to Grace Pearl.
The William Donovan Memorial Scholarship Award Once A Ram, Always a Ram was presented to Ian Earl.
The John Jablonski Outstanding Track Athlete Award was presented to Kylie McOmber (Girls Field), Jillian Ossont (Girls Track), Tysen McCaa (Boys Field) and Jase Waters (Boys Track).
The Dan Seefeldt Award was presented to Hayley Hillburn and Vincenzo Fazzio.
Isaac Smith received the Connor Callaghan Courage Award.
The Walter Kowalski Award was presented to Joseph Reiter III.
Peyton May and Evan Poeller received the Brian Weaver Memorial Award for Outstanding Citizenship in the Roy-Hart Community.
The Wally Sidebottom Memorial Award of Excellence was presented to Kaylie Churchill and Sean Mettler.
The Roy-Heart Award was presented to Abby Fox, Raegan Kern, Brooke Zglinicki, Millie Owens, Anthony Adinolfe, Gavin Heideman, Hayden Hillburn, Ryleigh Capen, Taylor Alvord, Hannah Verratti and Colin Cousins.
Kylie McOmber and Evan Poeller received Niagara-Orleans League Scholar Athlete Awards.
Five Year Plaques were presented to Judson Heck (Golf), Jackson Brauen (Golf), Marissa Bryant (Cross-Country), Samantha Silsby (Cross-Country) and Dillan Santella (Field Hockey), Alayna Kowalski (Field Hockey), Brooke Zglinicki (Field Hockey), Kaylie Churchill (Soccer), Luke Fay (Wrestling), Peyton May (Softball), Hayley Hillburn (Softball), Abby Fox (Softball), Jase Waters (Track and Field) and Felicity Kwaizer (Track and Field).
Six Year Plaques were presented to Isaac Smith (Golf), Evan Poeller (Golf), Madelina Pavlock (Swimming), Brooke Zglinicki (Track and Field) and Kylie McOmber (Track and Field).
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 20 June 2026 at 9:23 am
Albion blanked Mt. Morris 15-0 and Pavilion edged Lyndonville 3-1 in GLOW baseball League 18U Division games this past week.
Gavin Boyce, Omer Fugate and Alakai Colmenero combined to hurl a no hitter with 13 strikeouts for Albion.
Boyce and Elliott Trapiss both had a pair of hits as Albion scored 5 times in the first, third and fourth innings. Trapiss and Kaiden Froman both had doubles. Froman and Mason Snook both drove in 3 runs and Trapiss and Fugate 2 each.
Quincey McClinsey pitched a 4 hitter with 11 strikeouts for Lyndonville.
Sebastian Clark and Devon Babcock had hits for Lyndonville.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 20 June 2026 at 9:11 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina junior pitcher Preston Woodworth has been named the Max Preps Player of the Year for New York State. Woodworth helped lead Medina to the Class B state finals. He posted a 10-1 record on the mound with a 0.61 earned run average and a state leading 132 strikeouts. At the plate he hit .400 with 14 doubles and 29 RBIs.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2026 at 9:02 am
Arthur Barnes, Marco Rodriguez and David Burke all have paintings on display
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – David F. Burke of Bergen is one of the featured artists in a new show at the Marti’s on Main art gallery in Albion.
He is shown by his painting, “White Trees in September,” an acrylic on canvas.
Burke has 12 paints in the show at Marti’s. Kim Martillotta Muscarella has the gallery open for its 16th season. There are receptions the third Friday each month from April to November for the new art shows at 20 South Main St.
Arthur Barnes is shown with some of his new ink and water color paintings that he did over the winter. Barnes has about a dozen new paintings in the art show. He likes to paint trees in the winter when there aren’t leaves on the branches. That way there is more to see of the landscapes.
Marco Rodriguez of Brockport is also featured at Marti’s. Rodriguez retired from General Motors after 40 years. He moved to Brockport from Detroit about five years ago to be near his grandchildren.
Rodriguez always liked art but didn’t make the time to paint until his retirement. He has 32 oil paintings at Marti’s including “Colorado Fly Fishing” which is left at top and “Rain Drops” at the bottom. “The King” is another painting he is standing near.
Kim Martillotta Muscarella welcomes people to the art gallery for Friday’s show. There are works from many artists on display throughout the building, which used to the Cornell Cooperative Extension until it moved to a new building in 2007 at the 4-H Fairgrounds.
Mark Parker sang and played the guitar during the art show, which also included a spread of snacks.
This season there are sculptures on display that were created by Richard Bannister and George Graham. Bannister’s work is at left and Graham’s is at right. In back at right, Marco Rodriguez talks with Albion resident Samuel Robinson.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 19 June 2026 at 8:27 pm
The Albion 14U baseball team opened GLOW league competition this week with a pair of wins 18-1 over Alden and 10-0 over Warsaw.
Robert Hickman, Brycen Potter and Jace DiMatteo each had a pair of hits in the win over Alden which saw Albion score 5 runs in the first inning and 4 in the second.
On the mound, Brody Furness and Evan Coots combined to hurl a no hitter with 9 strikeouts.
Hickman and DiMatteo then both had 4 hits in the win over Warsaw as Jackson Frasier had 2.
Hickman also registered 15 strikeouts on the mound.
You would think by now the “Political Establishment” would get the hint that the people of Shelby are sick and tired of their games. Clearly they haven’t at this point or they just simply don’t care. They will do whatever they think they can get away with.
If you haven’t been following – which everything happens in backroom deals and secret meetings – the Shelby Republican leadership is once again trying to stack the deck to stack their future. Let me explain:
In local politics, the committee can endorse and make decisions based on a weighted vote. This determines who they “support” during elections. It’s not a majority or equal, it’s often a few people making all the decisions regardless. This often prevents good, qualified candidates from ever standing a chance to seek public office.
The Political Establishment’s friends and family program wins out. No matter how many times we tell them to knock it off, they keep going back to the well. It’s a machine designed to break your will.
Next week, there’s an open committee seat to be elected as a result of my brother, Jim Zelazny, passing away from cancer. Jimmy was an avid committee person, for the people, and wanted the best and brightest to represent us. He just so happened to be in one of those heavily weighted districts.
So now, the Political Establishment wants to play musical chairs with their candidates, moving a former board member into this heavily weighted district. To make matters worse this former board member was already a committee person in one of the lowest weighted districts. Makes you wonder why the move is needed?
The Establishment is denying the opportunity for John “Yonic” Parada to participate. Yonic, as we all know, stands for the people. He embodies the principles that Jimmy stood for. He will seek transparency in the committee process while fighting to keep the Political Establishment in check. He’s a person we need!
To make matters even more important, the Town Board recently passed a rule that prevents any elected official or employee from being on a political committee. Guess who the other committee person is in this heavily weighted district? None other than our Highway Superintendent. So not only are they denying Yonic, but they are waiting for this elected official to eventually step away so they can appoint, without election, another hand-picked Establishment candidate. We can’t make this stuff up.
The lights are on. There’s no hiding in shadows. Please join me in supporting John “Yonic” Parada for Republican Committee District 1. To keep the spirit of Jimmy fighting for the people.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2026 at 5:44 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Tiny “PowerHouse” visited Albion on Thursday. It was stationed in the parking lot of Hoag Library. The PowerHouse is on an 11-day tour of the Rochester region.
The 250-square-foot house was built in 2020 by the Cornell Cooperative extension in Tompkins County.
The house has many exhibits and demonstrations that show the best ways to conserve energy within a house.
Emily Hung, a residential energy advisor for Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region, answered questions from the public about the PowerHouse and led demonstrations.
Hung said a properly insulated house is one of the best ways to conserve energy. Changing to LED bulbs is another easy way to reduce electric usage.
She said there are many programs to help residents implement energy-savings projects through NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority).
“You can save money and be more comfortable in your home,” she said.
In this demonstration, people used a hand pedal to see how much energy it takes to turn on a light bulb and keep it lighted up. The LED took far less energy while the incandescent took the most electricity.
Another display showed the wattage to power a hair dryer at abut 240 watts. That compared to a string of lights that used 41 watts of electricity.
Grace Kent of Albion checks out the Tiny PowerHouse. Emily Hung is at left and in back is Brady Fergusson, director of public engagement for Climate Solutions Accelerator.
Green Orleans, a local group focused on preserving the environment and sustainable living, invited Climate Solutions Accelerator to bring the Tiny PowerHouse to Albion.
Climate Solutions Accelerator is bringing the home to communities in the region, offering a free, hands-on opportunity to learn how energy works inside the home and explore practical ways to save energy, improve comfort, reduce waste, and prepare for cleaner energy choices.
Exhibit topics include air leaks, insulation, renewable heating and cooling, solar energy, lighting, windows, appliances, Do-It-Yourself projects, and indoor air quality.
This display asks what takes the most electricity at a house.
Home heating makes up 51 percent of home energy use, with water heating at 19 percent, air conditioning at 5 percent, refrigeration at 3 percent, and other demands at 22 percent.
To see the schedule of the Tiny PowerHouse tour in Rochester, click here.
Contributed Photo – The Medina LOYAL Baseball and Softball has honored Chris Goyette for his 20 years of dedicated service to the organization. He is shown here with his family including son Bradley, wife Nicole, daughter Sophia and son Chris.
Press release Medina LOYAL
Medina LOYAL Baseball and Softball proudly recognizes a man whose impact on our organization cannot be measured in wins, losses, or championships alone.
For 20 years, Chris Goyette dedicated countless hours to Medina LOYAL Baseball. As the driving force behind the league, Chris handled everything from scheduling games, recruiting coaches and umpires, ordering and maintaining equipment, caring for our fields, organizing registrations, and tackling countless behind-the-scenes tasks that often went unnoticed. Through it all, he also coached teams himself, and later guided the Medina varsity baseball program, helping shape generations of athletes.
His commitment to the league has always ensured that local children continued to have the opportunity to learn, play, and grow through baseball.
Because of Chris’ dedication, Medina LOYAL Baseball (and now LOYAL Softball as well) is what it is today.
Our mission has always been to help local children grow through teamwork, sportsmanship, and a love of the game while keeping baseball and softball accessible to as many families as possible. For two decades, Chris embodied that mission in everything he did.
To honor his years of service, a commemorative plaque has been installed on Field 3 at Butts Memorial Park. We hope it serves as a lasting reminder of the impact one person can have on an entire community.
Thank you, Chris, for 20 years of leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the players, families, coaches, and volunteers of Medina LOYAL Baseball and Softball. Your legacy will continue to inspire future generations for years to come.
Dear Clarendon Republicans, I am writing to encourage you to vote for Marc Major for Town Supervisor in the upcoming Republican Primary on June 23rd.
Marc has been endorsed by our Republican Committee and has a long history of dedicated service to the residents of Clarendon. His contributions include 20 years of service with the Clarendon Fire Company, where he rose to the rank of Fire Chief, and 12 years as a Town Councilman.
Since being elected last year to his current post as Town Supervisor, he has continued to demonstrate the experience, knowledge, and leadership necessary to serve our town effectively.
Please join me in supporting Marc Major for re-election as Town Supervisor on Tuesday.
Very Respectfully,
Chris Caufield
Clarendon Republican Committee Chairman
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 19 June 2026 at 3:18 pm
Agency will step up advocacy while providing many critical local services
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Renee Hungerford introduces Jenn Redding, RN, who spoke on Sharps Safety at Community Action’s In-Service Day last week.
ALBION – Since its founding more than 60 years ago, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee has provided food, clothing and necessary services to a countless number of families.
Community Action last week observed its annual In-Service Day at the Albion Elks Lodge. Theme for the day was “Doing the Work When the Work is Hard.”
“Seeing people struggle can be very discouraging,” said executive director Renee Hungerford. “We have dealt with the pandemic and the constant threat of funding cuts.”
She also shared the successes their agency had last year, in addition to the hurdles they are facing with state and federal cuts to its programs. A highlight of her speech was the need for advocacy.
“If Community Action went away, the Department of Social Services could not pick up all those in need,” she said.
Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, recognizes Peter Bartula at the annual In-Service Day for being an advocate for the agency.
The program last Friday began with breakfast and a presentation to Peter Bartula, an advocate for Community Action and keynote speaker, whose presentation was “We’re All Salespeople.” Bartula recently ran a cornhole tournament fundraiser for Community Action, something Hungerford would like to see recurring.
In Friday’s speech, highlighting the State of the Agency, Hungerford explained the seriousness of their situation and some positive wins.
“Our organization actively advocates for federal and state funding, facing proposed cuts to program like Low Income HEAP and Community Services Block Grant, but securing some wins, such as a $40 million line item for the Weatherization Assistance Program in the New York state budget.
“Federal budget proposals include a $4 billion cut to LIHEAP and $775 million to CSBG.”
LIHEAP is targeted for elimination, citing state policies that prevent utility disconnections. CSBG is proposed for elimination due to perceived duplication and accountability concerns.
Hungerford stresses the government is proposing these cuts because they don’t realize all the good Community Action does, and says it is imperative to advocate. Advocacy activities by Hungerford and local politicians include trips to DC and Albany, testimony, meetings and letters to officials.
“The president doesn’t know what we do here,” she said.
The president’s 2027 budget does maintain Head Start funding, but Hungerford warns of inflation and rising costs.
The Community Block Grant Improvement Act reauthorizes CSBG through 2032, increasing eligibility to 200% of the poverty line and expanding permitted uses.
Hungerford said advocacy emphasizes the importance of community support and building a strong agency reputation.
Although faced with cuts, the agency reported significant achievements across health, education, housing and youth programs, demonstrating positive community outcomes, she said.
In 2025, the agency addressed social determinants of health with services to 752 households, 4,404 families and 228 individuals receiving meals, rental and utility assistance.
Head Start and Early Head Start enrolled 194 children with high access to healthcare and developmental improvements. Early Head Start served 94 children having 100% accessible healthcare and a 12% increase in dental care.
Youth development programs supported 417 students with evidence-based curricula. Transportation services provided 3,509 trips for seniors and disabled, and the Child Care Resource Center facilitated 55 referrals, 438 technical assistance sessions and expanded staff with new mental health and business specialists.
Housing initiatives installed air conditioning in 70 homes and completed 76 weatherization jobs.
Topping off the year’s successes was the launching of the Fresh Start Care Center, a room at the Main Street Corner Thrift, Gifts and More store which houses a laundry, shower and personal care items for homeless or other students who have no access to them at home.
The prom giveaway program was expanded to eight counties and 92 prom dresses were distributed.
Historically, 10% of HEAP funding was allocated to WAP, but this year the Hochel administration plans to redirect these funds, resulting in a 69% reduction for WAP. Advocacy efforts led to a $40 million line-item for WAP in the state budget, partially offsetting the loss.
Hungerford said sustained advocacy has become a significant part of agency work, diverting resources from direct service delivery, although yielding some positive outcomes.
In addition to the above accomplishments, Community Action’s Emergency Services and Case Management distributed 752 holiday meal kits, provided 379 individuals with clothing, distributed food to 4,404 families, 5,991 prepared meals to 338 people at the Eastern Orleans Community Center. In addition, 34 individuals received help to avoid eviction and 27 individuals received support to prevent utility shutoff.
Youth and adolescent support was offered through Project Salus, in which students received evidence-based curriculum on healthy decision making and advocacy skills.
The Child Care Resource Center received 55 referrals for child care and added a business specialist and infant early childhood mental health consultant to enhance provider support.
In addition to providing thousands of individuals with needed services, Community Action contracted for Medicaid 1115 Waiver Services and celebrated the agency’s 60th anniversary.
All this is in addition to major improvements and growth at the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley.
“It has been completely redone,” Hungerford said. “It is fabulous.”
The center is open from 9:30 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and serves lunch daily. A clothing closet, emergency food pantry, emergency clothing pantry, public access computers with internet, food distribution site and senior activities are some of features offered there.
Other highlights of the in-service were a ROMA refresher by Cassie Healy, head of the Main Street store; a talk on Sharps Safety by registered nurse Jenn Radigan; introduction of directors and board members; lunch and an afternoon of fun activities.
In regard to Hungerford’s urgency for advocacy, she said, “Before I worked here, I had no idea what Community Action did. We think food distribution and emergency services. But we do so much more. We have so many amazing programs that help our community. We cannot lobby. But we can advocate. Our message needs to go to the top.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 19 June 2026 at 2:47 pm
Students saved nearly $180 throughout school year for pantry
Photos by Ginny Kropf: First graders in Allison Woodburn’s class at Oak Orchard Primary School pose on the steps of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, where they visited the food pantry. At rear is Robin Dubai, left, food pantry coordinator, and class teacher Allison Woodburn.
MEDINA – Teaching her class about kindness and giving has become an annual message for Allison Woodburn and her first-grade students at Oak Orchard Primary School.
She calls the class “Camp Woodburn,” because they are a camp-themed classroom, and teaches all about kindness through several projects and activities, she said. One of those projects is saving their small change every day to support the Food Pantry at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
Then, just before school ends for the year, they walk to St. Peter’s with their backpacks full of groceries they have bought to donate to the food pantry.
Every day, they say the class quote together – “In a world where you can be anything, choose to be kind.” At Christmas, the class read the book “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein and learned about how the tree always had a full heart when it gave to others. So the students decided to have their very own giving tree and donate their favorite cereals to put under their Christmas tree instead of exchanging gifts with each other.
Allison Woodburn and her first-grade students pose around the cart filled with groceries they purchased and brought to St. Peter’s Food Pantry.
In the spring during math the students learn all about coins and money, which they and their families have donated during the year. They sort the coins, roll them up and this spring counted $179.55. The students wrote a shopping list of needs and wants for the food pantry. Woodburn shopped for all the food on their list, and was still able to donate a $40 gift card to give the pantry, in addition to all the food purchased with the monetary donations.
Woodburn has been doing this with her class for six years and always feels like she is teaching them the most important lesson in life, which is to always show kindness to others without expecting anything in return.
The Food Pantry has been managed by Robin Dubai for 32 years, who first started in 1994 when her son went to nursery school.
“People have been very generous to the food pantry,” Dubai said. “I think it’s wonderful how Mrs. Woodburn is teaching kindness. I love working with her and her class.”
The food pantry has seen a slight increase in demand this year, now providing food monthly to 72 families, Dubai said.
Although the students are taught to be kind, while not expecting anything in return, Dubai wanted to show her appreciation and bought doughnuts for the class.
Robin Dubai, left, explains to Allison Woodburn’s first-grade class how a food pantry operates.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2026 at 1:08 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club celebrated another successful year on Thursday evening during its meeting at the Tavern on the Ridge.
Richard Remley, left, served as president the past 12 months. He hands off the gavel to incoming president, Mike Bonnewell.
Bonnewell is retired as Albion Central School superintendent. He previously served as Rotary Club president in 2017-18. He is active on the Albion Strawberry Festival Committee, and also is chairman of the Strawberry Festival parade.
Rotary Club member Don Bishop, left, presents a Paul Harris Fellow award to Remley in appreciation for his leadership the past year.
The Club has been a part of the Albion community for more than a century and spearheads several events and fundraisers.
Its next big event will be a golf tournament July 16 at Shelridge Country Club in Medina with proceeds going to the Office for the Aging’s volunteer transportation program and other Rotary community projects.
The Rotary Club meets at the Tavern on the Ridge the first Thursday each month at noon and the third Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
The right to vote stands as one of the most fundamental pillars of American democracy, enshrined in the Constitution and protected through generations of struggle. It empowers citizens to select their leaders and shape their government.
Yet today, in the Town of Shelby, this right faces quiet erosion. The Shelby Town Board is quietly seeking to strip residents of their ability to elect certain officials, proposing instead to appoint them directly. Such a move threatens the very principle of self-governance.
Citizens have both the right and the duty to choose their elected representatives. Voting is not merely a privilege—it is the mechanism by which ordinary people hold power accountable. When boards bypass elections in favor of appointments, they reduce transparency and limit public input.
Appointed officials may owe loyalty to the board rather than the community they serve. This shift diminishes civic participation and risks concentrating authority in fewer hands, away from the will of the people. History shows that when voting rights are curtailed, whether through poll taxes, literacy tests, or procedural maneuvers, democracy weakens.
Citizens must exercise their duty to vote, stay informed, and voice opposition to policies that undermine electoral choice. Apathy only invites further encroachment.
From a military perspective, the defense of voting rights carries profound weight. Service members swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Many have fought overseas precisely so that people—including Americans at home—can live under representative government.
Veterans understand that the Constitution’s promise of republic government rests on free and fair elections. Eroding the right to vote for local offices disrespects the sacrifices made to preserve democratic institutions. I for one didn’t risk everything so that politicians could appoint their successors and sideline the voters.
Local actions like the Town of Shelby board’s proposal set dangerous precedents. They test whether communities will tolerate reduced accountability. Citizens should attend public meetings, contact representatives, and, if necessary, pursue legal or ballot remedies to restore and protect electoral rights.
In the end, the right to vote is more than a procedural formality. It is the heartbeat of liberty. Protecting it requires vigilance from all citizens—especially those who have worn the uniform. Our republic endures only when the people retain the power to choose.
Scott Wengewicz
Former Shelby Town Supervisor and a disabled veteran
