10 charged with welfare fraud, grand larceny
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff Christopher Bourke
ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of multiple individuals following a series of investigations conducted in conjunction with the Department of Social Services into alleged public assistance fraud.
As a result of these investigations, several subjects were charged with offenses including Welfare Fraud, Petit Larceny, Grand Larceny, Filing a False Instrument, and Offering a False Instrument for Filing.
It is alleged that the individuals collectively received $37,562.20 in public assistance benefits to which they were not entitled.
The following were charged: Jessica Andrako, Cassandra Beck, Desiree Plucknette, Cheryl Jett, Bradley Acker, Alicia Ford, Angela Walker, Briahna Milot, Tricia Belcher and Launey D’ambra.
All subjects were issued appearance tickets and are scheduled to appear in the Albion Town Court at a later date.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work closely with the Department of Social Services to investigate and prosecute fraud-related offenses.
Weekly high school sports schedule
Tuesday
Baseball – Newfane at Lyndonville, 1 p.m.; Batavia at Medina ,5 p.m.
Softball – Kendall at Wheatland-Chili, Pembroke at Holley, 5 p.m.
Wednesday
Baseball – Roy-Hart at Maryvale, Elba at Barker, 12 p.m.; JFK at Medina, 4:30 p.m.
Softball – Aquinas at Kendall, 5 p.m.
Thursday
Baseball – Byron-Bergen at Albion, Roy-Hart at Gowanda, 12 p.m.; Lyndonville at CSAT, Elba at Kendall, 5 p.m.
Friday
Baseball – Roy-Hart at Kenmore East, 11 a.m.
Saturday
Baseball – Lyndonville at Barker 11 a.m.; Kendall at Albion, 12 p.m.; Alexander at Medina, 2:30 p.m.
New mayors of Albion, Medina will take oaths of office this evening
ALBION/MEDINA – There will be a change in leadership today in Orleans County two largest villages.
Both Albion and Medina are swearing in new mayors as well as trustees on their village boards.
Each village will have swearing-in ceremonies at 6 p.m. Albion’s will be in the Village Office at 35-37 East Bank St. while Medina’s will be at the Shelby Town Hall at 4062 Salt Works Rd.
Tim McMurray was elected mayor in Albion on March 18, defeating Joyce Riley by seven votes, 209 to 202. Both had been trustees on the board for four years.
McMurray will be joined in taking the oath of office today by new trustees, Jami Allport and Kevin Sheehan Sr. Their terms are for four years.
In Medina, Debbie Padoleski is the new mayor after defeating Marguerite Sherman, the incumbent, on March 18 by a 489-405 vote. Padoleski was on the board as trustee the previous two years and also worked 41 years in the village clerk’s office, including the final eight years as the village clerk/treasurer.
She will be joined at the swearing in by trustees Mark Prawel and Jeff Wagner. In Medina, the terms are for two years.
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Orleans Hub reaches 13th anniversary covering local news
Photos by Tom Rivers: Neeko Caterisano pops confetti at the end of the Holley’s commencement on June 28, 2025 in the school auditorium. Caterisano is one of 67 members of Holley’s Class of 2025. The Orleans Hub covers most of the local school graduations and many other activities around the county.
The Orleans Hub reached its 13th anniversary on April 1. The online news site has been covering Orleans County, posting articles every day since it first started.
The Hub continues to report the news at a time when many larger news organizations have ceased operations or significantly cut back on reporting.
The Orleans Hub posts about 3,500 articles a year, or about 10 a day. This post is number 45,302.
We also have 30,000 followers on Facebook on the Orleans Hub News page and another 3,500 on Facebook through Orleans Hub Sports. We also have 3,150 following Orleans Hub news on Twitter and about 2,000 on Twitter through the Hub Sports. We recently started an Instagram page and have nearly 1,000 followers.
We’re trying to get the news out to the public.
The Orleans Hub is owned by Brad London of Albion. He also is the advertising manager. He acquired the Hub when Karen Sawicz retired on Jan. 1, 2025.
We survive through advertising, and many of our advertisers have been with us since we started. We appreciate them. We also receive revenue by posting obituaries and the $80 we charge is much less than most news organizations.
We are focused on Orleans County, which hasn’t had a printed newspaper based in the county since The Journal-Register shut down on May 30, 2014. The weekly Albion Advertiser closed in May 2013. The Orleans Hub didn’t knock these papers out of business. They had been struggling for years.
The newspaper business has been a very challenging environment the past two decades, with more than 3,000 closing since 2005, according to the Associated Press. The papers have lost a good chunk of their advertising and classifieds, and also their paid subscription base. Another 136 closed or merged in the United States between July 2024 and September 2025.
While some communities are served by online-only sites, these publications like the Orleans Hub are hurt by an archaic state law that doesn’t allow them to be considered “official newspapers” for legal notices. Those notices must be in print newspapers with a “paid circulation.”
We would welcome the opportunity to carry these notices to better serve our readers and to receive some of that revenue. We don’t charge to access the site. We want the news to be available to everyone.
Most of the towns, villages, school districts and even Orleans County use The Daily News of Batavia to publish legal notices. The Daily News has some coverage in Orleans County, but not nearly what is posted by the Orleans Hub. We also consistently have 7,000 to 10,000 “unique visitors” or readers each day. Last year we averaged 7,500 unique visitors and were at nearly 9,000 the first three months of 2026.
The Orleans Hub welcomes local municipal leaders and our state legislators to advocate for getting legal notices to be an option in local online-only news sites. Let’s give the local government leaders the option to decide where these notices can be best be seen by the most people. Right now, the Orleans Hub isn’t a legal option.
It was quite a spectacle when this 200,000-pound, oversized industrial load passed through Albion on Sept. 25, 2025. The big load is shown headed north on Gaines Basin Road. The shipment was manufactured by Batavia’s Graham Corp. for the Navy and headed to the Erie Canal, where it was then taken by a very large barge.
Albion invites residents 55 and over to annual Senior Citizens Day at high school
File photos: Albion students played bingo with senior citizens and also joined them in rock painting on May 10, 2023 during Senior Citizens Day at the high school.
Press Release, Albion Central School
ALBION – Albion Central School District invites senior citizens, 55 and older, for our annual Senior Citizens Day on Wednesday, April 29th, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Albion High School gymnasium.
The school district would like to thank the senior citizens in our community for all they have done to support our students, teachers, and staff throughout the years.
We have a limited number of seats available for this free event. Kindly RSVP by Friday, April 17th, to the High School Student Council Advisor, Mrs. Sawyer Green, at (585) 589-2040, ext. 8414. You can also email sgreen1@albionk12.org to secure your reservation. Please leave a message with your name, phone number, and the number of seats you’d like to reserve.
Mrs. Green will call you to confirm your participation. We look forward to having you join us for this wonderful event hosted by Albion High School’s Student Council!
Gas prices down 2 cents in Orleans, but up 14 cents in NYS, 13 cents nationally in past week
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Crosby’s in Holley in Route 31 at the Batavia Street intersection is just below $4 for regular unleaded gas on Sunday.
The price for regular unleaded gas fell by 2 cents in Orleans County in the past week (from $4.03 to $4.01) while the average price jumped 14 cents in new York State and 13 cents nationally.
The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $4.12, up 13 cents from last Monday. This is the first time since August 2022, the national average is over $4, AAA said this morning. A year ago, the price was $3.26.
The New York State average is $4.07, up 14 cents from last Monday. The average was $3.930 a week ago, $3.228 a month ago and $3.139 a year ago.
Today’s average diesel price is at $5.914 in NYS compared to $5.750 a week ago, $4.390 a month ago and $3.941 a year ago, according to AAA.
Here are the average prices in counties around Western New York:
- Orleans, $4.008
- Genesee, $3.979
- Monroe, $4.044
- Niagara, $3.958
- Erie, $4.027
- Wyoming, $3.986
- Livingston, $4.033
- Chautauqua, $4.000
- Cattaraugus, $3.861
- Allegany, $3.977
A week ago, Orleans was the only WNY county above $4, but now five of those counties are topping $4 a gallon for regular unleaded. Hamilton County in Adirondacks has the highest price in the state at $4.366.
AAA released this statement today: “The national average for a gallon of regular exceeded $4/gallon last week for the first time since August 2022, and prices continue to rise. Today’s average of $4.12 is 80 cents higher than a month ago.
“Crude oil prices remain high, coming in at $108-$109 per barrel this morning, as the conflict in the Middle East continues. In 2022, gas prices remained elevated from March through August, after Russia invaded Ukraine, peaking in June when the national average reached a record of $5/gallon for one week.”
“Demand is also on the rise as Easter travelers head to warmer destinations. While Orlando was the top destination for air travelers, many families were driving from New York to Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina based on local AAA bookings.”
More than 1,000 orange flags at Pullman show prevalence of sexual assault
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion once again is displaying more than 1,000 orange flags during the month of April to show the prevalence of sexual assault each day.
RESTORE Sexual Assault Services, a program of Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, put the orange flags on the front lawn of the Pullman church at the corner of East park Street and South Main Street.
The flags are out in April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Restore notes that an American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds.
RESTORE serves Monroe, Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming and Livingston counties. The RESTORE 24-hour hotline is available at 585-546-2777.
For more information on RESTORE, click here.
Double rainbow graced sky in Holley
HOLLEY – A spectacular double rainbow appeared on Saturday evening in Holley.
Ken Verhagen took these photos on Powerline Road.
Mustangs prep for N-O title defense
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Defending Niagara-Orleans League champion Medina’s large veteran group includes, in front, Hadrian Batista, Aidan Papaj, Jimmy Dieter, Carlos Doval and Lathan McEwen Miller. In back are Ryan Pegelow, Kolton Fletcher, Cam Fike, Preston Woodworth and Vinny Gray.
Anchored by a large veteran group, defending champion Medina will prep for the April 13 Niagara-Orleans League home opener against Akron by hosting Batavia on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and JFK on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
The Mustangs went 12-0 in the league and 22-2 overall last spring capturing both the N-O League and Section VI Class B championships for the second year in a row.
Heading the Mustangs veteran contingent is a trio of first team N-O All-League honorees including senior outfielder/pitcher Vinny Gray, junior pitcher/ second baseman Preston Woodworth and junior shortstop/pitcher Aidan Papaj.
Woodworth went 10-0 on the mound last spring with 100 strikeouts and a 0.45 earned run average. He also hit .297 with 33 RBI. Papaj hit .394 with 21 RBI and Gray .309 with 9 RBI.
The Mustangs returnees also include seniors Ryan Pegelow (pitcher/outfield), Jimmy Dieter (outfield) and Kolton Fletcher (outfield) along with juniors Cam Fike (first base/pitcher), Carlos Doval (outfield), Hadrian Batista (catcher/outfield) and Lathan McEwen Miller (infield/outfield).
Medina’s graduation losses included the first team N-O All League trio of pitcher/infielder Brody Fry, third baseman/pitcher Carter Woodworth and outfielder Tyler Kroening along with second team honoree catcher Ryleigh Culver.
“Our pitching and defense are strong,” said Coach Chris Goyette. “The key for us will be to play good situational baseball.”
The Mustangs league opening week will also included trips to Akron on April 15 and Albion on April 17.
Lyndonville Lions hold eyeglass clinic, welcome Easter Bunny
Photos and information courtesy of Lyndonville Lions Club
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions held their 5th annual Free Eyeglass Clinic on March 21 at the White Birch Golf Resort. Participants received free eye examinations and fittings for eye glasses. Over 60 individuals were seen during the morning event.
The Lyndonville Lions Club extends its sincere gratitude to all who attended this event, and especially to the dedicated volunteers who contributed their time and effort to make it a success.
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We are deeply appreciative of our fellow Lions from surrounding clubs who, year after year, generously support this event. This year, we were fortunate to have assistance from Lions Clubs in Medina, Barker and Olcott.
A special thank you is extended to the Lions Clubs of Kenmore, Lewiston and Niagara Falls for their outstanding professional contributions. Their support, along with the expertise of optometrists and vision specialists, is essential in making this project possible and impactful.
In collaboration with the Lyndonville United Methodist Church the Lions participated in the annual community Easter Egg Hunt held at the Lyndonville Central School. The Club treated all attendees to grilled hot dogs and beverages following this event. There were over 150 children who participated in the hunt.
The Lyndonville Lions Club would like to remind the community of its upcoming Mother’s Day Rose Sale. One dozen red roses are available for purchase for $20, with orders being accepted now through May 1st.
All orders will be available for pickup at the White Birch Resort from May 6th through May 9th. Group purchases are welcome, and delivery arrangements can be made by the Lyndonville Lions Club for larger orders.
To place an order, interested individuals or groups may call 585-281-4646.
The Lions would like to wish all a joyous Easter season. We hope that God will continue to bless this great nation and watch over our men and women in our military during these most difficult times.
Lady Hawks aim for rebound softball season
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – The Holley softball team’s veteran group includes, in front, Serenity-Ann Rath and Madison Bonacci. In back are Lily Newman, Skylar Gallagher, Alexis VanAmeron and Alexis Lujan. Missing is Desire McCormack.
A group of seven veterans anchors the lineup for the Holley softball team which is scheduled to open the Genesee Region League season at home on Tuesday against Pembroke at 5 p.m..
New Coach Holley graduate Madison Papaj’s Lady Hawks are led by the veteran grouo of seniors Alexis VanAmeron (shortstop), Lily Newman (outfield/pitcher) and Skylar Gallagher (outfield/oitcher) along with juniors Alexis Lujan, Desiree McCormack and Serenity-Ann Rath and sophomore Madison Bonacci (pitcher).
The Lady Hawks are looking to rebound from last spring’s 0-13 G-R, 1-17 overall campaign.
Second bald eagle egg hatches at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
This screenshot from the livestream shows the two eaglets in the nest today at 8:40 a.m.
BASOM – This image taken from an eagle cam shows two eaglets. The first eaglet was spotted on Thursday morning and a second eaglet hatched on Friday.
The Friends of the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge encourage people to check the livestream (click here) and see the eagles. There is another egg in the nest that could hatch anytime.
The first egg was laid at 5:06 p.m. February 20; the second at 5 p.m. February 23; and the third at 2:34 p.m. February 27.
Eagle eggs typically take 35 days or so of incubation before hatching.
This screenshot from the livestream shows the eagle in the nest tending the flock today at 8:32 a.m.
High temps to plummet with more rain in forecast
Kimberly Stawicki sent in this photo she took this morning while enjoying the sunrise over Glenwood Lake in Medina.
Friday the high temperature reached over 70 degrees and today is forecast for a high of 66 with showers and thunderstorms possible after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said, with three quarters of an inch to one inch possible.
The temperatures will plunge to an overnight low of 42, and a high of 47 on Sunday, which is Easter with a chance for another tenth to quarter inch of rain.
The highs are then forecast for 42 on with showers, 33 on Tuesday with snow showers likely, and 50 on a sunny Wednesday.
