By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 July 2026 at 2:34 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Aaron D’Angelo walks out of the courtroom in the Orleans County Courthouse on July 15 being arraigned before Judge Sanford Church.
ALBION – The man accused of stabbing one man to death and gravely wounding that man’s brother has been offered a plea deal that would keep him behind bars for 20 years to life.
Aaron D’Angelo, 36, of Medina has been charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder after two brothers were stabbed on Feb. 7 in Shelby.
D’Angelo allegedly caused the death of Dale R. Lang, 65, who was pronounced deceased at the scene, 4643 South Gravel Road (Route 63). His brother John Lang, 67, also suffered multiple stab wounds and was transported to Medina Memorial Hospital and then Erie County Medical Center. John Lang has recovered after being stabbed about 20 times.
District Attorney Susan Howard in court today offered D’Angelo a plea agreement where if he pleads guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder in the second degree, he would face a maximum of 20 years to life in prison.
He also would need to plead guilty to menacing a police officer and would serve no more than eight years on that charge.
In addition, he faces charges of strangulation and criminal contempt in the first degree for violating an order of protection.
The plea deal would satisfy all charges and the sentences would be served concurrently or at the same time with the 20 years to life maximum, Howard said.
D’Angelo is represented by Public Defender Joanne Best. The plea offer wasn’t rejected today. It will be held over and discussed at the next court appearance.
In his recent letter (“The ‘Right’ ignore statistics, common sense when it doesn’t align with views”), Matthew Ballard takes a victory lap on behalf of academic studies and government statistics, dismissing anyone concerned about public safety as operating purely on “fear and anecdote.” It’s a clever piece of satire, but clever rhetoric doesn’t make a neighborhood safer.
Mr. Ballard mocks for questioning “ivory-tower research” on bail reform. But the frustration with bail reform in Upstate New York isn’t about being “anti-education”—it’s about the disconnect between official data and lived experience.
When shoplifting spikes, small business owners stop reporting every incident because they know repeat offenders are processed and released before the paperwork is finished. When police departments report lower numbers, it often reflects fewer arrests being made under new legal restrictions, not fewer crimes occurring.
Pointing out that “crime is down on paper” rings hollow to a community watching local quality-of-life offenses go unpunished. That isn’t “ignoring common sense”—it’s observing reality.
Furthermore, Mr. Ballard criticizes for objecting to partisan labels, yet his own letter relies heavily on broad brushstrokes and personal jabs like “orange demagogue.” If we are going to debate policies like criminal justice reform or regional economic health, we should be able to do so without treating every local citizen who voices concern as an uneducated partisan.
Academia and statistical models have their place, but they shouldn’t supersede the firsthand experience of local business owners, residents and crime victims. Dismissing genuine community concern as mere “fear-mongering” does nothing to address the actual problems facing Orleans County.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 July 2026 at 2:10 pm
MEDINA – Two people from the Hemp House in Medina pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court today to attempted criminal possession of cannabis in the first degree.
Mitchell Kwandrans, 38, of Medina and Marcus Verratti, 40, both admitted in court today to attempting to possess more than 10 pounds of marijuana on Nov. 5, 2025. A Niagara County lab weighed the cannabis at 10.16 pounds.
Kwandrans is the owner of the Hemp House which has been shut down by the NYS Office of Cannabis Management for possessing and selling unauthorized cannabis products. Verratti was an employee of the Hemp House.
Both were offered a plea deal and won’t face jail time as part of their pleas in court today.
They could face probation and a fine when they are sentenced on Sept. 30. They are both first-time felony offenders.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 July 2026 at 1:54 pm
ALBION – The Sky Cats concert scheduled for this evening at Bullard Park has been cancelled for today.
The schedule for the following two weeks of summer concerts includes: The Dave Viterna Group on Aug. 5 and Highway 31 on Aug. 12. The concerts start at 6:30 p.m. with food vendors on site.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 July 2026 at 12:30 pm
In another case, Medina man pleads guilty to sex abuse against child
ALBION – A Lyndonville man was sentenced to four years in state prison this morning by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.
Stanley Jenks
Stanley Jenks, 55, on April 29 pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted sex abuse involving a child under age 11.
He was arrested on March 10 for sex abuse in the first degree. As part of a plea agreement, he admitted to attempted sex abuse in the first degree, by trying to have a child under age 11 touch his penis. Jenks said he did that for his own sexual gratification.
But today in court Judge Church and District Attorney Susan Howard said Jenks didn’t take responsibility during pre-sentencing interviews. Howard said there were also three other complaints against Jenks. Howard said Jenks hasn’t taken responsibility for the crime, and instead engages in “whole lot of victim blaming.”
Jenks is represented by Public Defender Joanne Best. She said Jenks has no other criminal charges in the prior 20 years. She asked for no incarceration and instead 10 years of probation where he would be monitored. The sex offender registry also means additional supervision for Jenks, she said.
Taylor Valovic
Judge Church opted for the maximum sentence in a plea deal of four years in state prison. Jenks will also be on post-release supervision for 10 years. He also issued an order of protection for the victim of the crime for eight years.
In another sex abuse case against a child, a Medina man pleaded guilty to first-degree sex abuse and could face up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 28.
Taylor Valovic, 30, of Medina admitted in court to putting his hand on a 10-year-old girl’s private parts for his sexual gratification.
He was arrested by the Medina Police Department on March 25. He is currently in the Orleans County Jail with bail set at $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond and $500,000 partial secured bond.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 July 2026 at 9:53 am
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion first baseman Mason Snook puts the tag on Nunda’s Aiden Upright during Tuesday’s semifinal playoff game.
Stymied on just three hits, Albion dropped a narrow 3-2 decision to Nunda in the semifinals of the GLOW Baseball League 18U playoffs Tuesday evening at Albion.
Nunda built up a 3-0 lead by scoring one in the second inning on three singles and twice in the fourth on two singles, an error and a sacrifice fly.
Albion battled back with two runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Kaiden Froman and an error but could not score again. A triple by Nate Gibson set up that threat.
Albion’s only other hit was a second inning single by Rocco Sidari.
Gavin Boyce pitched the first six innings for Albion allowing 5 hits and striking out 10. Gibson hurled the final frame giving up no hits and fanning 3.
The loss was the first of the season for Albion which finishes at 7-1.
Albion’s Nate Gibson steals second as Nunda’s Aiden Upright awaits the throw,
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 July 2026 at 9:39 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Garrett Jones drives the ball up field for Medina /Lyndonville against Clarence.
Clarence bested Medina/Lyndonville United 5-3 in a Buffalo District Youth Soccer League boys U16 game Tuesday evening at Vets Park.
Garrett Jones and Amire Zimmerman each scored a goal for Medina as the other tally came on an own goal off the Clarence goalie. Jace Grimes had an assist.
Steven Gobeli had a strong game in goal for Medina as did Adler Glass and Evan Stanton on defense.
Clarence improves to 5-3-1 while Medina is 4-4-1 with one road game next Tuesday upcoming to close out the season.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 July 2026 at 9:17 am
Photo from shopgarage.com: Medina’s ladder truck is shown on an online site that sells fire trucks, emergency vehicles and equipment.
MEDINA – The Village of Medina has received offers and a lot of interest in its ladder truck, and the apparatus could be sold next month at a tidy profit for Medina, village officials said.
The website, shopgarage.com, lists the 2025 quint fire truck with a 100-foot ladder for $2.4 million. That is about $700,000 more than Medina’s deal for the truck. Medina in March 2023 agreed to pay $1,698,995 to Pierce manufactruing.
The truck hasn’t been put into service by the Medina Fire Department, a move the Village Board decided would maximize the sale value.
Village Trustee Scott Bieliski said the offers thus far would allow Medina to at least break even. The board in April approved a 2026-27 village budget that included $300,000 in profit for the sale of the ladder truck. Bieliski said he expects Medina will reach the $300,000 number in profit. The truck sale would have to reach at least $2.1 million for the $300,000 profit. The village is working with a broker that collects a 5 percent fee or about $100,000.
Interested fire departments in the ladder truck are working with their municipalities to work out financing, which has stretched out the process, Bieliski said.
During Monday’s Village Board meeting, he declined to disclose the offers publicly for the ladder truck, but said there is strong interest in the 2025 Pierce Enforcer Quint.
The Village Board on Feb. 9 voted to declare the truck surplus, to begin the process of selling it. The board said the truck isn’t affordable for the community. In addition to buying the truck, the village would need to put an addition on the fire hall to accommodate it. The current fire hall is too small for the new truck. A one-bay addition would cost at least $1.3 million.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 July 2026 at 8:32 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Nicholas Barniak, 5, of Holley puts the pedal to the metal in the small fry tractor pull. He was able to clear the 40-foot distance, pulling a sled.
Seniors, enjoy a free cup of coffee at the 4-H Senior Council Stand!
8 a.m. – 4-H English Dressage Horse Show at Carlos Marcello Arena
9 to 11 a.m. – 4-H Senior Council Stand Breakfast Hours at 4-H Senior Council Stand
9 a.m. – 4-H Poultry Showmanship and Knowledge Contest at Wachob Pavilion
10 a.m. – 4-H Beef Cattle Show at Livestock Show Arena
10 a.m. – 4-H Dog Show Obedience and Rally Classes at Dog Show Tent
Tommy Dresser, 12, of Medina competes in the dairy junior showmanship competition on Tuesday. Kaitlin Bennett of Barre won the master showman for dairy on Tuesday with Molly Flansburg of Barre the reserve master showman.
10:30 a.m. – 4-H Fry Stand Opens at Fry Stand
11 a.m. – Senior Council 4-H Food Booth Hamburgers, Hots, and Cold Drinks at 4-H Senior Council Stand. Proceeds support teen award trips and programs.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Nutrifare Senior Luncheon with the sing-along music of Craig Wilkins at Curtis Pavilion. (Food will be served at 12 p.m. with ticket.) Entertainment is free for all!
12 p.m. – Paid public admission begins at Taylor Hill Road Parking Lots. Buildings open to the public.
12 p.m. – 4-H Poultry Breed Classes at Wachob Pavilion
1:30 p.m. – Public Contest- Register at Event: Dunk Bucket by the Junior Fair Committee featuring Albion Mayor Tim McMurray from 1:30 to 2 p.m. and Lyndonville School Superintendent Dr. Heather Lyon from 2 to 2:30 p.m.
Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoo Company, gets doused from a bucket of water after someone hit the bulls eye.
1:30 to 3 p.m. – Bread & Butter Making Demo and Tasting at Trolley Building
2 p.m. – Fair Official Meeting at Fair Office
3 to 10 p.m. – Main Event Amusements $35 Unlimited Rides Wristband at Midway
4 p.m. – 4-H Leaders’ Homemade Pie Stand Opens at Pie Stand
4 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Agri-Puppets the Farming Singing Puppets! at Cattle Barn Lawn
5 p.m. – Contest- Register at Event: Rubber Chicken Throwing at JCH of Buffalo Food Court
5 p.m. – 4-H Camelid Show at Livestock Show Arena
Sharlene Pratt throws a ball at a target, trying to get a bucket of water to dump on Assemblyman Steve Hawley in a fundraiser for the Junior Fair Committee. It costs $1 per attempt.
5 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Lew-e the Clown- a show full of Magic and Laughs! at Trolley Lawn
5:30 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Pompeyo’s Ranch- As seen on America’s Got Talent! At Knights Lawn
6 to 8 p.m. – Orleans County 4-H Fair Talent Show at Orleans Hub Stage
6 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Agri-Puppets the Farming Singing Puppets! at Cattle Barn Lawn
6 p.m. – Rooster Crowing Contest at Wachob Pavilion
6:30 p.m. – Small Fry Pedal Tractor Pull- Registration ends 15 minutes before event. Located at JCH of Buffalo Tent
6:30 p.m. – Dunk Bucket by the Junior Fair Committee at Tram Stop featuring Albion Mayor Tim McMurray from 6:30 to 7 p.m. and Junior Fair Committee member Mady Elliott from 7 to 7:30 p.m.
Jocko Pionessa, 3, of Albion sits on a big John Deere tractor and tries to fasten his seat belt. There were several tractors that kids could sit in at the fairgrounds.
8 p.m. – Public Contest- Register at Event: Frozen T-Shirt Contest at JCH of Buffalo Food Court
7 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Lew-e the Clown- a show full of Magic and Laughs! at Trolley Lawn
8 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Agri-Puppets the Farming Singing Puppets! at Cattle Barn Lawn
8:30 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Pompeyo’s Ranch- As seen on America’s Got Talent!
8 to 10 p.m. – Orleans County 4-H Fair $1,000 Karaoke Challenge at Orleans Hub Stage
9 p.m. – Free Entertainment: Lew-e the Clown- a show full of Magic and Laughs!
10 p.m. – Hay Bale Rolling Contest – Teams of 1-2 ages 16 and up. Register at the Fair Office by 9:50 p.m. at Byron’s Bale Rolling Barnyard
10 p.m. – Buildings Close – Goodnight Fair
Abby Pratt, 20, of Middleport sings “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” by Shania Twain during karaoke on Tuesday night. There is more karaoke today before the finals on Thursday night.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 July 2026 at 9:49 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature this afternoon approved a new five-year contract with 160 employees in the CSEA union, giving them a significant pay boost.
Under the agreement, employees will receive an immediate wage increase of 2 percent for 2026 and then 2 percent in 2027, combined with shifting steps, resulting in a 4.7 percent increase.
Then employees will receive a 2 percent increase every six months until the end of the agreement.
The county was on the low end of the pay scale with neighboring counties, including about $2 per hour less than next door Genesee County, said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer.
The CSEA union represents most of the county employees outside of the Sheriff’s Department. The contract was overwhelmingly ratified by CSEA members. The agreement runs retroactively from Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2030.
“We value our workforce and believe these are reasonable and necessary increases that will help Orleans County remain competitive with surrounding counties, recruit and retain qualified employees, and ensure the continued delivery of the vital public services county residents rely upon,” Welch said. “We also believe the agreement is mindful of taxpayers and the need to remain under the property tax cap.”
The new agreement builds upon the parties’ previous one-year contract, which transitioned employees to the New York State Health Insurance Program and resulted in significant health insurance savings for the county and the employees.
The agreement also adds CSEA Employee Benefit Fund dental and vision plans to the contract for the first time, with the county paying for individual vision coverage while employees can pay for family coverage and have the option to purchase dental coverage themselves through payroll deductions.
The agreement also allows part-time employees, who were not previously included in the regular salary step process, to advance through the salary schedule based on their compensated hours.
“This agreement reflects the strong communication between our negotiating team and the membership throughout the process,” said CSEA Orleans County Unit President Heather Jackson. “Our members remained engaged, shared their priorities and helped us shape an agreement that recognizes their years of service and the value of the work they perform for Orleans County every day.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 July 2026 at 8:07 pm
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s youth football teams have started practicing for the upcoming Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) season. Albion is scheduled to open the season at home on August 15 against Holley as the Varsity Division team will visit Barker/Roy-Hart that same day. Here during just their third practice session Monday evening players of the Beginners Division team work on learning a play.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 July 2026 at 2:21 pm
Village Board also approves Boxwood at Night event for Oct. 3
File photo by Tom Rivers: Sandra and Tom Philbrick portray Susan and John Bland at the Bland family plot during the Boxwood at Night event on Oct. 5, 2024. The Philbricks live in the Bland family home on West Center Street. Boxwood at Night returns on Oct. 3.
MEDINA – The Village Board on Monday authorized spending $22,800 to remove seven trees in Boxwood Cemetery.
The board also approved spending $8,500 to reset two monuments that are in a precarious position. The money comes from two cemetery funds.
The Boxwood Cemetery Commission was initially eyeing about $36,000 be spent to repair the Newell retaining wall. But Jake Hebdon, the leader of the commission, said the group is very concerned about the seven dead trees and wants them removed because they pose a danger to the public, and the monuments and headstones at the cemetery.
Hebdon urged the Village Board to make it a priority to have the trees removed before Boxwood hosts two Medina cross country races in the falls and the Boxwood at Night event on Oct. 3.
“Due to liability issues the trees should take major precedence,” Hebdon said at Monday’s Village Board meeting. “If we could green light that ASAP that would be fantastic.”
The Village Board approved the $22,800 bid from Lakeshore Tree Service in Gasport to remove the large trees, which include maple, beech and oak.
The board approved paying Brigden Memorials in Albion $8,500 to take care of two large monuments that are close to toppling over. That includes the Hedley monument and a spire for the Fuller family.
Brigden will need to put in new concrete footers and move the monuments, dissembling and then resetting them.
The village has been the caretaker of the Boxwood Cemetery since about 1850, even though the site is outside the village. Mayor Debbie Padoleski said will reach out to Town of Ridgeway officials about helping to support the cemetery, which is in the town.
The Village Board also gave its blessing for the Boxwood at Night event on Oct. 3. The event features dramatic lighting around the cemetery, as well as music and highlighting some of the prominent people in the cemetery. Boxwood at Night is the biggest fundraiser for the Friends of Boxwood.
Todd Bensley, one of the Friends members, said past events helped raise money to refurbish a stained-glass window in the chapel. He is hopeful a new memorial will be ready by Oct. 3 for the 107 people buried in a potter’s field. Only 28 have head stones. The Friends wants to list all 107 people.
The village approved closing the cemetery at 2 p.m. on Oct. 3 to allow for setup. The DPW will deliver five traffic barricades at the cemetery entrances and Glenwood Boat Launch. The DPW also will bring two garbage barrels near the boat launch and deliver two light stands.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the ratification of a five-year labor agreement with the United University Professions (UUP) which includes approximately 42,000 SUNY faculty and professional employees. The agreement, which runs until July 1, 2031, was approved by 98 percent of UUP members who cast ballots.
“This agreement invests in the hard-working members of the United University Professions, recognizing their contributions to SUNY while also underscoring my administration’s support for New York’s public university system and its talented workforce,” Governor Hochul said. “I thank UUP’s dedicated members for ensuring that students at our state universities continue to grow and thrive by preparing them for the challenges ahead through a world-class education and the support they need, which in turn is a worthy investment in New York State’s future.”
The ratified contract includes raises in each of the five years of the agreement, as follows: 4.5 percent, 4 percent, 3.5 percent, 3 percent, and 3 percent. The contract also includes boosts to location pay and several other unit-specific payments.
Members also will gain 20 hours of paid pre-natal leave and an increase in the cap for sick leave accumulation. The agreement also includes health insurance provisions eliminating certain co-pays and incentivizing the use of in-network providers. This reduces projected plan costs for services and will help reduce future premium increases for our employees.
United University Professions President Frederick E. Kowal said, “I would like to thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her willingness to work with us on an agreement that recognizes the important work our members do, in our teaching, student support, healing and life-changing research. The governor understands the importance of public higher education, appreciates the central role of unions in building a middle class and shows a deep affinity for workers in these challenging times.”
