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Man riding wheelchair along canal makes it to Medina, heads to Buffalo today
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Ian Mackay heads east in a mouth-controlled power wheelchair on Sunday at about 4:30 p.m. He is near the Main Street lift bridge in Albion, with the Lockstone building behind him.
He is joined on a bicycle by Dr. Josh Blausten, Mackay’s college chemistry professor from Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, California. One of Mackay’s friends since college, Jimmy Quenelle, also has been on the 10-day journey from Albany to Buffalo.
Mackay is executive director of Ian’s Ride. He also works as an accessibility consultant to Apple.
The group heads west along the canal towpath. Mackay can go 8 miles per hour in the motorized chair. His lithium batteries can go about 80 to 90 miles before needing to be charged.
Mackay was paralyzed from the neck down after a bike accident in 2008 when he collided with a tree and suffered a spinal cord injury. He has become a strong advocate for accessibility in the outdoors, and has done several long distance trail rides including in Washington State; from Washington DC to Columbus, Ohio; and the annual Sea to Sound ride for 74 miles over three days. That ride before Labor Day weekend had 150 participants including 50 people in wheelchairs.
Mackay also holds Guinness World Record for traveling the farthest in a motorized, mouth-controlled wheelchair in one day. From June 21-22 in 2022, he went 184.4 miles in 24 hours. He took 14 laps over a 13-mile paved loop at Sauvie Island near Portland, Oregon.
The record-breaking feat is featured in an upcoming documentary, “Good Moment.” It has its world premiere on Oct. 11 at the SOHO International Film Festival in New York City.
Albion Mayor Tim McMurray greets Ian Mackay when he was in Albion on Sunday. Mackay said every part of the towpath has been accessible to him so far from Albany to Albion.
Mackay said he has enjoyed the journey along the canal towpath and seeing so many small towns and so much wildlife. He said the crusher-run towpath is prefereable to asphalt paths.
“It’s been incredibly beautiful,” Mackay said. “You’re seeing great blue herons. We even saw a muskrat run by.”
He has seen locks and lift bridges in action, and learned about the canal history’s. The Erie Canal celebrated its bicentennial last year.
“It’s neat seeing the whole experience of the Erie Canal,” Mackay said.
Mackay is from Washington state. During his ride on Sunday afternoon he checked score update for his favorite team the Seattle Seahawks, which lost a close one, 33-31, to the Washington Commanders. He also kept a close eye on the Buffalo Bills score. The Bills came back to win, 24-16, versus the Los Angeles Chargers.
Photos courtesy of Teena Woodward, Ian Mackay’s mother: The trio made it to Bates Road in Medina last evening. They plan to start later this morning around 10:30 for the final segment of Ian’s Ride along the canal to Buffalo.
Ian Mackay has long hair and his friends held it up to form a Y while in Clyde.
New mural of pollinators’ garden completed in Albion at Lockstone
Justin Suarez of Aerosol Kingdom finishes third project in Albion
Photo courtesy of Justin Suarez
ALBION – Justin Suarez of Aerosol Kingdom finished his third large-scale mural in Albion today. The northside side of the Lockstone at 160 North Main St. now features a pollinators’ garden showing flowers, a bee, butterfly and a hummingbird.
Suarez used a state grant from the Cultivating Havens for the Arts through Regional Murals (CHARM) for the project.
Natasha Wasuck, co-owner of The Lockstone, said Suarez picked Albion for the project through the CHARM grant because he felt welcomed by the community with his previous projects here.
Suarez previously did a mural on the southside of the Lockstone in 2022, facing the Erie Canal. That one showed flowers.
In 2020, he painted a mural of the Santa School on the north side of 170 North Main St., the building for The Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Justin Suarez of Rochester uses spray paint to create the large paintings. It took him about a week to paint the latest mural in Albion. The Lockstone is an event center that hosts many weddings.
Medina Marching Band takes 1st at home show
Photos courtesy of Cindy Busch: The Medina Mustang Band performs against a backdrop of important leaders in the United States’ history at the Fall Festival of Bands on Saturday night at Veterans’ Memorial Park. The show titled “We the People” celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary and features the music of Aaron Copeland.
MEDINA – The Fall Festival of Bands brought out a crowd to Veterans’ Memorial Park Saturday night to see their hometown band and half a dozen other area bands perform under a perfect sky.
Competing bands were Medina in SS2 class, with a first-place score of 74.60, followed by Le Roy with 72.10; in SS3, Marcus Whitman was first with 70.30, Pioneer, second with 66.30 and Falconer-Freesburg, third, with 64.60; and in LS2, Greece, first, with 78.85 and West Seneca, second, with 74.30.
Medina’s show, “We the People” pays tribute to the country’s 250th anniversary, and is performed by 92 students in grades 7 through 12.
The program also paid tribute to the late John Ryan, who was a color guard instructor for Medina and was involved with several other marching organizations. He passed away at age 85 on Aug. 17. His career with the Mustang Marching Band started in 1975 and spanned 30 years, serving with Mustang Band directors Joe McKain and Jim Steele. As director of the Mustang Winter Guard, it grew to become one of the highest ranked in the United States.
The horns are featured here as they perform in front of a portrait of Abraham Lincoln.
Two people in Saturday’s crowd were twins Darlene Rich and Sharlene Pratt, both of Medina and both former band members. They attend the Festival of Bands every year, they said.
“Once a Mustang Band member, always a Mustang Band member,” Pratt said.
The sisters said not only they, but their older sister Fonda was in the band under Joe McKain.
“Regardless of the weather, we always come to watch the band,” Rich said. “We have sat here under umbrellas in the pouring rain. This is our ‘ladies night out.’”
The sisters said they get goosebumps when they see Medina’s show this year.
“It brings tears to your eyes,” Rich said.
The evening also featured a 50/50 drawing.
The Mustang Band currently sits in third place in Smal School II in the New York State Field Band Conference, behind Oswego and Mohanasen, with Medina one point out of first place. They compete against Oswego next Saturday in their division. Oswego High School is located at 2 Buccaneer Blvd. The show starts at 6:30.
The Mustang Marching Band is lined on the end of the field at Vets Park.
Photo by Karen Jones: Seniors in the band pose for a photo on Saturday.
Lyndonville Bengals Sweep Pembroke Majors
Lyndonville’s Majors team earned two wins over Pembroke on a day that began with the finish of a weather-suspended Week 1 game. The Bengals took the makeup game 20–14, then won the second game 26–8.
Pembroke led 7–6 when the first game resumed and scored from the 2-yard line to extend its lead. Kannan Pangrazio answered with a 40-yard touchdown run, followed by a Zach Allen conversion. With 25.9 seconds left, Allen scored on a 2-yard run and added the conversion to put Lyndonville ahead. Kanyon Stephens pressured the Pembroke quarterback into an incomplete pass to seal the win.
In the second game, Allen threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Israel Weese and ran for three more scores, including an 88-yard run just before halftime. Pangrazio and Jameson Scholes added conversions. On defense, Raymond Faro-Dix made key fourth-down stops, while Stephens helped shut down runs up the middle. Allen, Mason Hetzel, Pangrazio, Luke Aryhart, Philip Mauragis and Scotty Nesbitt also contributed important stops.
At the Beginner level, Lyndonville’s Cubs fell 7–6 in double overtime thriller despite a strong defensive effort. Sawyer Joy, Easton Zeliff and Owen Heine each recovered a fumble. Kam Kirkpatrick forced one fumble and recovered it, taking it down to the opponents red zone on the recovery. He also recovered another after a strip by Jameson Hetzel on the day. Joy scored on a 15-yard run in the second overtime to put the team up 6-0, but Pembroke answered with a touchdown and conversion to seal the win 7-6.
The Mini-level Sabres kept their game close deep into the third quarter before Pembroke pulled away for a 20–0 win. Logan Galens-Puma, Brantley Wik and Nicaly Rhim led a hard-fought defensive effort.
The LYFC will travel to Attica next weekend for the final week of the regular season.
The Cubs will face off in two weeks against Pembroke for the TCFL Beginners Level Championships while the Bengals will face off against Attica later that weekend for the TCFL Majors Level Championships. All three levels will play at Pembroke during Championship Weekend with the Sabres playing in the TCFL Developmental Cup.
Paralyzed man riding Erie Canal for 350-plus miles reaches Orleans today
Ian Mackay, on trek from Albany to Buffalo, wants to highlight accessibility in nature
Provided photo: Ian Mackay is using a mouth-controlled power wheelchair to travel the Erie Canal towpath. He is scheduled to pass through Orleans County today and tomorrow.
ALBION – A man who is paralyzed from the waist down is headed to Orleans County today on the Erie Canal towpath, as part of 10-day journey to highlight accessibility in nature for people who are disabled.
Ian Mackay is one day nine of the 10-day initiative. As of about noon today, he was at South Greece and headed west. His team estimates he will be in Holley around 2:30 p.m. today, and then will reach Albion around 4 p.m.
He plans to have pizza at Avanti’s in Albion after today’s ride.
Mackay is paralyzed from the neck down after a bike accident when he hit a tree in 2008. He continues to lead an active life and loves to explore the outdoors.
His schedule showed him stopping at Albion today and then starting the final day of the trip in Albion on Monday morning and then go 46 miles to near Buffalo. But he may go past Albion today due to the long journey on Monday. He usually starts the day’s ride around 10 or 11 a.m.
Mackay is using the ride from Albany to Buffalo to highlight what’s possible for wheelchair users when accessible infrastructure makes outdoor recreation more inclusive.
Mackay is founder and executive director of Ian’s Ride, which is based in Washington state.
“This is an opportunity to show what’s possible when people have access to the outdoors,” Mackay said before the trip started. “The Erie Canalway Trail is an incredible piece of American history, and I’m excited to experience it with my friends, meet people along the way and continue pushing for trails that everyone can enjoy.”
Weekly High School Sports Schedule
Monday
Boys Soccer – Medina at CSAT, 5 p.m.; Buffalo Science at Roy-Hart, 6 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Northstar at Kendall, 5 p.m.; Holley at Attica, 7 p.m.
Volleyball – Lyndonville at Pembroke, Notre Dame at Holley, 7 p.m.
Tuesday
Boys Soccer – Medina at O’Hara, 4:45 p.m.; Newfane at Albion, Akron at Roy-Hart, 6:45 pm.; Kearney at Kendall, Byron-Bergen at Holley, 7 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Roy-Hart/Medina at Akron, Albion at Newfane, 6:45 p.m.
Volleyball – Roy-Hart at Albion, Akron at Wilson, 6:30 p.m.
Field Hockey – Medina at Barker, 4:30 p.m.; Kenmore at Wilson, 5 p.m.
Cross-Country – Roy-Hart at Medina, Wilson at Barker, Akron and Newfane at Albion, Kendall at Byron-Bergen, Holley at Mt. Morris, 5 p.m.
Wednesday
Girls Soccer – Finney at Holley, 7 p.m.
Volleyball – Batavia at Albion, Williamsville East at Roy-Hart, Alexander at Lyndonville, Kendall at Wheatland-Chili, Holley at Elba, 6:30 p.m.
Field Hockey – Roy-Hart at Akron, 5 p.m.
Thursday
Football – Albion/Medina at Maryvale, 7 p.m.
Boys Soccer – Akron at Medina, 4:45 p.m.; Lyndonville/Barker at Albion, Roy-Hart at City Honors, 6:45 p.m.; Holley at Kendall, 7 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Albion vs. Barker/Lyndonville, 5 p.m. at Lyndonville, Newfane at Wilson, Kendall at LeRoy, 6 p.m.
Volleyball – Health Sciences at Medina, Lyndonville at Byron-Bergen, 6:30 p.m.
Field Hockey – Roy-Hart at Wilson, 4:30 p.m.; Kenmore at Akron, 5 p.m.; Newfane at Medina, Nardin at Barker, 7 p.m.
Friday
Football – JFK at Barker/Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Oakfield-Alabama at Kendall, 7 p.m.
Volleyball – Newfane at Albion, Oakfield-Alabama at Kendall, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
Boys Soccer – Akron at Wilson, 10 a.m.; Northstar at Kendall, 11:30 a.m.; Wheatland-Chili at Lyndonville/Barker, 2:30 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Albion, 5 p.m.; Avoca-Prattsburgh at Holley, 5:30 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Newfane at Barker/Lyndonville, 12 p.m.; Roy-Hart/Medina at Albion, 7 p.m.; Pembroke at Holley, 7:30 p.m.
Volleyball – Attica at Holley, 12 p.m.
Field Hockey – Akron at Medina, Kenmore at Roy-Hart, 10 a.m.
N-O Standings
Boys Soccer – Wilson 5-0, Akron 4-1, Medina 3-2, Newfane 2-3, Roy-Hart 1-4, Albion 0-5
Girls Soccer – Wilson 5-0, Akron 4-1, Albion 2-3, Barker/Lyndonville 2-3, Roy-Hart/Medina 2-3, Newfane 0-5
Field Hockey – Akron 5-0, Barker 5-1, Kenmore 2-2, Newfane 2-3, Wilson 2-3, Medina 0-3, Roy-Hart 0-4
Volleyball – Newfane 4-0, Wilson 4-0, Akron 2-1, Roy-Hart 2-2, Medina 1-5, Albion 0-5
Boys Cross-Country – Barker 3-0, Albion 3-1, Akron 1-1, Newfane 1-1, Medina 1-2, Roy-Hart 1-2, Wilson 0-3
Girls Cross-Country – Albion 4-0, Akron 2-0, Newfane 2-0, Medina 1-2, Roy-Hart 1-2, Barker 0-3, Wilson 0-3
Albion youth football teams go 1-2 vs. LeRoy
The Albion youth football teams went 1-2 in Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) action against LeRoy on Saturday.
Beginners Division
Albion 20, LeRoy 12
A strong offensive line performance paved the way for 198 yards rushing. Myles LaBarge, James Mahoney, Hudson Hodgins, Levi Purnell, Tanner Beecher and Jaxon Nashburn led the rushing attack. LaBarge had 3 touchdown runs of 27,30 and 2 yards. Purnell added 2 PAT’s.
The running back crew was also big on defense along with Grant Whitcroft.
Mini Division
LeRoy 15, Albion 0
Xavier Weis led the Eagles on defense with 5 tackles. Jordan Button, Elijah Cornick,Hudson Palmer,Xavier Richardson and Tre Ellis with 4. Drake Neri, Colton Daggs, Landon Stalker, Patrick Westlund, Quinton Gottberg, Gunner Jackson and Lexington Pridgen were all in on tackles.
JV Division
LeRoy 26, Albion 6
Cayden Farrell 7 yard td run was the lone score for the Eagles. Jayce Torres led the rushing attack. Easton Hodgins led the team in receiving.
Kaydence Russaw had 17 tackles on defense. Arkell Lewis, Kairo Bennett and Kyle Schomske 11 each. Torres, Parker Gardner and Harrison Froman 6 each. Kaynon Reamer, Farrell, Conor Murphy, Zeus Vallejo, Elijah Warren, Chase Armer, Mason Cornick and David Parsell were each in on tackles.
Next week at Holley, Mini 10am and JV at noon.
High School Football Weekend Recap
Weekend Notes
Albion/Medina has moved into a tie for the B1 Division lead as McKinley downed West Seneca East 24-13 Friday in a midseason clash of unbeatens. Albion/Medina and McKinley now share the division lead at 3-0 (4-0 overall).
Barker/Roy-Hart has grabbed the C North Division lead after rallying past Springville 39-24 Friday in a clash of division unbeatens. Barker/Roy-Hart is now 3-0 in the division while Springville, Cleve Hill land JFK are all 2-1.
B1 Division
Game Results
Albion/Medina 68, Lew-Port 0
McKinley 24, West Seneca East 13
Williamsville South 28, Amherst 8
Maryvale 27, Lake Shore 21
Standings (Division, Overall)
Albion/Medina 3-0, 4-0
McKinley 3-0, 4-0
West Seneca East 3-1, 3-1
Williamsville South 3-1, 3-1
Maryvale 2-1, 3-1
Lew-Port 0-3, 0-4
Amherst 0-4, 0-4
Lake Shore 0-4, 0-4
This Week’s Schedule
Thursday
Albion/Medina at Maryvale, 7 p.m.
Amherst at Lake Shore, 7 p.m.
Friday
McKinley at Williamsville South, 7 p.m.
West Seneca East at Lew-Port, 7 p.m.
C North Division
Game Results
Barker/Roy-Hart 29, Springville 24
Akron 30, Tonawanda 22
JFK 40, Alden 27
Eden/North Collins 13, Cleveland Hill 6
Standings (Division/Overall)
Barker/Roy-Hart 3-0, 3-1
Springville 2-1, 3-1
Cleve Hill 2-1, 2-2
JFK 2-1, 2-2
Eden/NC 2-2, 2-2
Alden 1-2, 1-3
Akron 1-2, 1-3
Tonawanda 0-4, 0-4
This Week’s Schedule
Friday
JFK at Barker/Roy-Hart, 7 pm.
Springville at Eden/NC, 7 p.m.
Alden at Akron, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Tonawanda at Cleve Hill, 2 p.m.
Holley/Lyndonville
Due to an insufficient number of players Holley/Lyndonville has cancelled the remainder of its season.
Breathtaking sunset graces Orleans County
Peter Bartula sent in this photo of a spectacular sunset this evening over Lake Alice in Carlton.
Katie Bourke took this photo of the sunset in Albion, looking west down Route 31 near the Route 98 intersection.
The high temperatures for the next few days include 66 on Sunday with a chance of showers, cloudy on Monday with a high near 65, partly sunny on Tuesday with a high of 70 and then partly sunny on Wednesday with a high near 74.
Green misses the cut at Arkansas tourney
A strong finish was not quite enough as Medina’s Melanie Green has missed the cut at the LPGA Tour’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
Green posted an even par round of 71 today to finish the first two days of the tournament at 2 under which was 2 shots off the cutline of 4 under.
One over par after a costly double bogie on 11, Green registered birdies on 3 of the final 5 holes to finish ther two day tourney run at 2 under.
She opened the tournament with a 2 under par round of 69 on Friday.
The LPGA’s next stop is in Hawaii next weekend.
