By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 December 2025 at 9:48 pm
Due to today’s high winds the two opening round varsity games of the Kendall boys basketball Holiday Tournament have been postponed until tomorrow.
Kendall is now scheduled to face Roy-Hart at 3:30 p.m. followed by Livonia vs. Northstar.
The Kendall and Roy-Hart JV teams will play at 2 p.m.
The tournament is scheduled to conclude on Friday with the JV consolation game at 10 a.m., the JV championship game at 11:30 a.m., the varsity consolation game at 1 p.m. and the varsity championship game at 2:30 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 December 2025 at 7:31 pm
More than 2,600 still without power in Orleans County
The Clarendon fire station on Route 31A has opened as a warming center for people to stay and warm up and charge their devices. The fire station at 16169 East Lee Rd. will be open all night for people to stay or stop by.
Christ Episcopal Church in Albion at 26 S. Main St. will also be available as a warming center. Anyone that needs access to the warming center at Christ Church is asked to call (585) 340-1355 to make arrangements prior to going.
UPDATE at 7:50 p.m.: The Pullman Memorial Universalist Church at 10 East Park St. in Albion also announced it will be open as a warming center until 10 tonight.
There will be snacks and beverages available, as well as the chance to charge phones.
National Grid is reporting at 7:06 p.m. that 2,683 of its customers are currently without electricity.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C–Batavia) today commented on the Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) announcement of new Gold Star Family license plates.
The new plates will give qualifying family members a meaningful way to honor the service and sacrifice of their fallen loved ones and will be offered alongside the existing Gold Star Mothers license plate.
Assemblyman Hawley’s bill, A.2334, has long supported efforts to waive registration fees for Gold Star parents and family members who apply for commemorative plates. He welcomed the unveiling of the new plates and thanked DMV Commissioner and former state Assembly colleague Mark Schroeder for his work in making them available to Gold Star Families across New York. Hawley also said he plans to amend his bill to ensure the DMV includes this new plate when waiving registration fees for eligible Gold Star Families.
Qualifying family members can order the new plates now by visiting the DMV’s website.
“I’m proud to see the DMV take this important step supporting our state’s Gold Star Families and my legislation and providing them with another way to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Hawley said. “One of my goals as an assemblyman has been to ensure these plates are accessible and affordable for qualifying families. This announcement marks real progress, and I look forward to continuing to work with Commissioner Schroeder and my colleagues in Albany to make sure Gold Star Families will be able to obtain these plates for no registration fee.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 December 2025 at 6:51 pm
Some two dozen Orleans County varsity teams have earned New York State Public High School Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete awards for the Fall season.
To qualify as a Scholar-Athlete team, the average of 75% of the roster must be 90.00 or higher for the marking period.
Albion has five honored teams including Boys and Girls Cross-Country, Boys and Girls Soccer and Volleyball.
Holley has a quartet of honored teams including Boys and Girls Soccer, Volleyball and Cheerleading.
Kendall has a trio of honored teams including Boys and Girls Soccer and Volleyball.
Lyndonville also has three honored teams including Boys and Girls Soccer and Volleyball.
Medina has nine honored squads including Boys and Girls Cross-Country, Boys and Girls Soccer, Field Hockey, Volleyball, Football, Golf and Cheerleading.
Neighboring Roy-Hart has three honored teams Field Hockey, Volleyball and Girls Soccer while Barker has six including Boys and Girls Cross-Country, Girls Soccer, Field Hockey, Football and Golf.
Akron and Wilson both have nine honorees including Boys and Girls Cross-Country, Boys and Girls Soccer, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Football, Golf and Cheerleading.
Newfane has eight honored squads including Boys and Girls Soccer, Girls Cross-Country, Field Hockey, Volleyball, Football, Golf and Cheerleading.
“The Scholar-Athlete program remains one of the most meaningful recognitions we provide as an Association,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “The dedication shown by these student-athletes, balancing rigorous academic responsibilities with their commitments to interscholastic athletics, is truly remarkable.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 December 2025 at 6:45 pm
OK Kitchen cancels Thursday dinner due to frigid forecast
The Barre Town Board has rescheduled the year-end board meeting from 6 p.m. today until noon on Tuesday due the rough weather, including a travel advisory. The meeting will be at the Town Hall on West Barre Road.
The Orleans Koinonia Kitchen’s board of directors also has canceled the meal scheduled for Thursday on New Year’s Day due to the forecast of very cold weather.
“We want everyone to stay home and stay safe and warm,” said Faith Smith, the kitchen’s director. “It will be very cold and there will be ice everywhere. Our only concern is for everyone’s safety. We will be back open Thursday, January 7.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 December 2025 at 5:16 pm
Site is available for residents of Orleans County
ALBION – The warming center at Christ Episcopal Church in Albion is open tonight for people in Orleans County who need a warm place to stay.
The site is operated by Oak Orchard Health. Anyone that needs access to the warming center/shelter is asked to call (585) 340-1355 to make arrangements prior to going
“Our staff is on standby and ready to help, including providing a warm cup of coffee and a safe place to warm up,” Oak Orchard Health stated on its Facebook page. “Do not stay stranded in the cold. Please call for assistance.”
There are also daytime warming centers that include Hoag Library in Albion at 134 South Main St.; Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina at 620 West Ave.; and the Eastern Orleans Community Center at 75 Public Square in Holley.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 December 2025 at 2:30 pm
Power outages near 4,000 in county
ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke has issued a travel advisory urging no unnecessary driving due to many downed trees and wires causing unsafe conditions throughout the county.
“Please exercise extreme caution when traveling, and only travel if necessary,” Bourke said in a press release sent at 1:55 p.m.
Additional information will be released when the travel advisory is lifted, he said.
“Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with keeping our roadways safe,” the sheriff said.
National Grid also reports the number of customers without electricity is up to 3,740 as of 2:35 p.m. That is about 19 percent of National Grid’s 19,724 customers in Orleans County.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 December 2025 at 11:05 am
Drivers dodge garbage cans, recycling carts on windy day
Photos by Tom Rivers: It’s a bad day to be garbage day with powerful winds knocking over the recycling carts and garbage cans. Drivers needed to dodge a recycling cart and toppled cans on East Park Street in Albion.
National Grid reported at 10:45 a.m. that the number of customers without electricity in Orleans County has increased to 2,147. That was up from 564 just after 8 a.m.
The biggest outages are in the Kendall area. National Grid expects that power to be restored there by 11:45 a.m. and the rest of the county back on line by 3 p.m. today.
A high wind warning is in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday with southwest winds at 35 to 45 mile per hour and gusts up to 75 mph.
These garbage cans blew into South Clinton Street in Albion after being emptied by Modern Disposal.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 December 2025 at 8:26 am
Provided photo: A crew works to restore electricity in Barre on Route 98 this morning around 8 a.m. This is in between the Barre fire hall and East Barre Road.
Powerful winds have knocked out electricity to 564 National Grid customers after 8 a.m. today.
National Grid said the power should be back on in the affected areas by 11:30 a.m.
A high wind warning is in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday with southwest winds at 35 to 45 mile per hour and gusts up to 75 mph.
National Grid reports the following outages by county:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 December 2025 at 10:17 pm
Photo by Celeste Morien: This Turkey Vulture is shown in the Oak Orchard Swamps.
BASOM – The annual Christmas Bird Count that was scheduled for Dec. 29 has been pushed back a week due to the powerful winds forecast for Dec. 29.
Those winds, with gusts that could reach 70 miles per hour, make it unsafe for people to be out in the wooded areas, said Celeste Morien, the county compiler.
Last year, 41 counters found 70 species and just over 12,000 individual birds.
The Oak Orchard Christmas Bird Count began in December 1968. The National Audubon Society has been sponsoring Christmas Bird Counts since their inception.
The bird counters will instead be out on Monday, Jan. 5. They will be equipped with spotting scopes and binoculars from dawn to dusk.
The Oak Orchard count is centered on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge at the Orleans and Genesee County line on Route 63. Count volunteers follow routes staying inside a designated 15-mile diameter circle.
National Grid is increasing staffing and extending evening and overnight work shifts as the company prepares for a severe weather system that is anticipated to begin Sunday evening and continue through Tuesday morning across Upstate New York.
Weather forecasts are predicting heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and wind gusts that could approach 70 mph.
We anticipate large portions of Upstate New York to be impacted, including the shorelines of Lakes Erie and Ontario, and the Genesee Valley, Central New York, Tug Hill, Mohawk Valley, Capital and Adirondack regions.
Additionally, the company has secured external resources to support potential power restoration efforts. The company also has activated its comprehensive emergency response plan.
Customers are reminded to keep safety a priority with the following reminders:
If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online to expedite restoration.
Generators used to supply power during an outage must be operated outdoors to prevent the buildup of deadly carbon monoxide. Before operating a generator, be sure to disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker, located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could endanger our crews and your neighbors.
Customers who depend on electrically powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should register as a life support customer by calling National Grid at 1-800-642- 4272. In a medical emergency, always dial 911.
Stay tuned to local news outlets or the National Weather Service for storm updates, weather alerts
Keep working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home and be sure to charge all electronic devices.
If the power is out, use flashlights or other battery-powered lights. Do not use candles, which can pose a fire hazard.
Please use caution when driving near emergency responders and crews restoring power.
Be sure to check on elderly family members, neighbors, and others who may need assistance during an outage.
Contributed Story Posted 28 December 2025 at 1:45 pm
Playing their second game in three days, the Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina Club Hockey Knights posted their second win in a row by defeating Lancaster at home 4-0 this morning.
In the opening stanza, Viktor Snyder of Albion scored assisted by Cameron Bryer (Wilson).
Early in the second period, Clayton Wagner (Medina) gave the hometeam a two goal lead with the assist going to Blake Palumbo (Newfane).
That second period saw great defense by RBM as Lancaster had many power play opportunities, including a 5-3 which lasted nearly two minutes.
In the third, Bryer scored the final two goals, one on a power play.
Kudos to Noah Orens (Newfane) in goal for posting his second concecutive shutout.
RBM’s next contest is this Friday evening at home against Cheektowaga at 8:15 p.m.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 December 2025 at 9:34 am
The annual Kendall boys basketball Holiday Tournament will get underway on Monday as Livonia will face Northstar at 3:30 p.m. and the host Eagles will take on Roy-Hart at 6:30 p.m.
The opening round JV games will have Livonia vs. Northstar at 2 p.m. and Roy-Hart vs. Kendall at 5 p.m.
The tournament will conclude on Tuesday with the JV consolation game at 2 p.m., the JV championship game at 3:30 p.m., the varsity consolation game at 5:15 p.m.. and the varsity championship game at 6:45 p.m.
The light holiday week schedule will also have two girls basketball games on Tuesday as Medina travels to Maryvale and Lyndonville visits Alexander both at 12:30 p.m.
On Friday, the Roy-Hart girls will host Lockport at 6:30 p.m.
On Saturday, two boys basketball games are on tap with Barker at Byron-Bergen at 12:30 p.m. and Albion hosting Warsaw at 1:30 p.m.
One girls basketball contest on Saturday will have Kendall at Barker at 12:30 p.m.
Wrestling competition on Saturday will have Albion at the Salamanca Tournament and Holley-Kendall at the Perry Tournament
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 December 2025 at 8:56 am
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a flood watch and a high wind warning for Orleans County.
The flood watch is in effect from 1 p.m. today through Monday afternoon with flooding possible from excessive rainfall. The excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
The flood watch includes Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. Widespread rainfall totals of 1-1.5 inches are expected within the watch area, the Weather Service said.
A high wind warning also is in effect from 4 a.m. Monday to 1 a.m. Tuesday with southwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 70 mph.
The high wind warning includes Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming and Chautauqua counties.
“Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines,” the Weather Service said. “Widespread power outages are expected. Shallow rooted trees in a saturated ground will be more susceptible to falling. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 27 December 2025 at 9:15 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Jim Nudd of Medina, a retired career military officer, sits at his desk at the Orleans County Veterans’ Services Agency in Albion, where he was hired as a Veterans’ Services Officer to assist director Nik Mroz.
ALBION – Soon after assuming duties as director of the Orleans County Veterans’ Service Agency in Albion, Nik Mroz realized it would be even more beneficial to local veterans to have a second person on staff to serve the veterans’ community.
“Not only is it an advantage to have a veterans’ services officer available to manage veterans’ affairs, but it is very helpful in implementing events sponsored by the Dwyer Peer-to-Peer program,” Mroz said. “And if I have to be absent, he’s a big asset to have in the office.”
And Mroz knew just who to ask to fill the position – his brother-in-law, Jim Nudd.
The office will continue to have Jackie Lonnen as a clerk, but there are certain duties pertaining to veterans’ affairs that can only be done by a person accredited by the Veterans’ Administration.
Nudd obtained that accreditation and was hired in November 2024.
A Medina native, Nudd is a son of Jan Nudd and the late Tom Nudd. He graduated from Medina High School in 1984 and immediately joined the Air Force. What followed was a 33-year career which saw him advance from airman to command chief of several bases.
“I had a lot of exposure to the military,” Nudd said. “My dad was in the Navy, my grandpa in the Army and my uncle Ralph Gottovi was in the Army Air Corps. I thought the Air Force sounded more exciting and I had signed up in December of 1983.”
His first assignment was to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio for basic training, where he learned he would be a munitions systems technician.
Next came a transfer to Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, where he met his wife Kristina. This was followed by orders for RAF Bentwaters in England, where he achieved the rank of senior airman. While on leave from Bentwaters, his mother bought Kristina a plane ticket to Medina and he proposed to her at Glenwood Lake. On his return to England, Kristina eventually followed him, and they were married there in 1985.
In the years which followed, Nudd continued to climb in rank, becoming sergeant while serving from 1988 to 1990 at Hill Air Force Base in Utah; deployment in Desert Shield/Storm from 1990 to 1991; obtaining rank of staff sergeant at Hill Air Force Base while serving from 1991 to 1994; becoming tech sergeant at RAF Lakenheath, UK. During that time he was also deployed several times, including Bosnia.
In 1997, Nudd was transferred to McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas until 1999, and then to the Kansas Air National Guard until 2004, during which time he obtained master sergeant, senior master sergeant and first sergeant.
Then came his first retirement, which he enjoyed from 2004 to 2006, when he returned to duty at March Air Force Base in California. In 2008 he was sent to Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. For two years, followed by assignment to the Pentagon from 2010 to 2012, where he was promoted to chief master sergeant. His boss arranged for his promotion ceremony to be held at Niagara Falls Air Force Base, so his father, who was in failing health, and his mother could attend.
His next deployments were back to RAF Lakenheath and Whiteman Air Force Base in 2012 until 2016. His final duty was at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona from 2016 to 2017, where he became command chief, and then retired for the second time.
Jim and Kristina had two daughters during his military service – Kassidi, who was born during his second deployment to Hill Air Force Base from 1991-94; and Alison, who was born after he joined the Kansas Air National Guard in 1999.
As a civilian, he became an explosives safety officer for the U.S. Air Force, serving at McConnell, Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, Hill and Ramstein, Germany until 2023, when he retired for the third time and returned to Medina.
“Nik approached me and said with my experience in the military would I consider coming to work in the Veterans’ Service office part-time,” Nudd said. “I would help veterans with disability claims, burial arrangements and education questions, and I would manage the Dwyer Peer-to-Peer program and help with the van service. Nik took action to get me accredited, and I started in November 2024.”
Nudd is in the office from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and from 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays.
