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Zucchini races return next week at Canal Village Farmers’ Market
File photos by Ginny Kropf: Here is a sampling of some of the creative zucchini race cars youth made at the Canal Village Farmer’s Market last summer. The event returns the next two Saturdays.
MEDINA – With the Canal Village Farmers’ Market now open at its original home at West Center Street and West Avenue, market manager Gail Miller has announced the return of the popular zucchini races for the next three Saturdays.
On July 19, 26 and Aug. 2 the races will begin at 10 a.m. and last until 1:20 p.m. The races included categories for children and adults.
Inspired by a story from the Farmers’ Market Federation of New York, Miller hatched the creative idea last year.
“We really didn’t know what to expect last year, but we had more fun than we imagined,” Miller said. “This year, we’ve made some improvements, including a better track. We’re really looking forward to it.”
Last year, 15 youth participated in the event. Components of the races, including zucchini, are provided by the market.
(Left) Dave Miller gives two zucchini race cars a trial run to check out the track he built, before the competition starts at Medina’s Canal Village Farmer’s Market last year. (Right) Bishop Stanton, 9, checks out a zucchini race car last summer before beginning to build his own.
Children and adults who register for the races will each have access to all sorts of stickers, flags and fun stuff with which to decorate their racers, Miller said.
“Both kids and parents had a lot of fun creating their customized racers and sending them down the track,” she said. “Since the parents and by-standers all had so much fun, the market is encouraging the ‘young at heart’ to compete also. How about challenging your friends, neighbors or your siblings to compete for a zucchini race throwdown. And, of course, we’ll again have the Outlaw Class, which is great fun.”
Certificates and prize vouchers from Confection Connection and NOLA Snowballs will be awarded for the fastest, weirdest, coolest and best crash.
Racing classes will be:
- Sprout – under 8.
- Tenderfoot – 8 – 16.
- Young-at-Heart – 16+
- Outlaw Class – Open to all ages and any vegetable. Entrants can use their imagination to create a racing vegetable, keeping to the vehicle specs in the rules.
Participants can get additional information and register at the market in age-group categories, starting today (Saturday) at the manager’s tent.
Albion to hold baseball and volleyball camps
The Village of Albion Recreation Department will be holding free baseball and volleyball camps over the next two weeks.
The baseball camp will run from Monday July 14 to Friday July 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at the varsity baseball field.
The camp. which is open to students entering grades 3 – 10, will include instruction on hitting, fielding, bunting, throwing, infield, outfield and baserunning.
The volleyball camp will run from Monday July 21 to Friday July 25 from 9 a,m, to noon at the high school.
The camp, which is for students in grades 6-12, will include skill drills, match situations and scrimmages.
No experience is necessary to participate in either camp and there is no pre registration.
Heat advisory issued for today; Orleans faces a hot week ahead
Photo by Tom Rivers: A boater enjoys the Erie Canal in Medina on July 2 when the Albany Symphony was playing a concert to celebrate the canal’s bicentennial.
A heat advisory has been issued for Orleans County today from noon to 7 p.m. Heat index values in the mid and upper 90s are expected.
The advisory includes Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Wayne, northern Cayuga, Oswego, northern Erie and Ontario counties.
In Orleans, the high temperatures could hit 91 today. The hot temperatures plus high humidity may cause heat-related illnesses to occur, the National Weather Service said.
People are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
It’s going to be a hot week ahead. The high temperatures in Orleans County include 87 on Sunday, 87 on Monday, 89 on Tuesday, 89 on Wednesday, 85 on Thursday, and 83 on Friday.
Cobblestone Museum seeks vendors for Aug. 9 flea market
File photo: Several vendors with their unique wares are shown in this photo from the Aug. 12, 2023 flea market at the Cobblestone Museum. Vendors are encouraged to reserve their spot for this year’s event on Aug. 9.
CHILDS – The Cobblestone Society has extended an invitation to vendors of all types to reserve a spot for their annual Flea Market on August 9.
“We anticipate the campus will once again be bustling with vendors, visitors and, of course, bargain hunters,” said Sue Bonafini, assistant director of the Cobblestone Museum.
Handmade goods, household items, plants, knitted/crocheted apparel, wall art, vintage tools and dishware, as well as a wide array of mixed goods should appeal to young and old alike, Bonafini said.
The Museum’s Holiday Shoppe, featuring Christmas-themed merchandise, and the Used Books Building will be open that day, and tours of the historic Cobblestone campus will be offered at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Crafters and vendors of all sorts, as well as any others who would like to showcase what they have to offer, are encouraged to request an application by calling the Cobblestone Museum at (585) 589-9013 during regular hours – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Families, individuals, small businesses and organizations are invited to take advantage of this opportunity to sell what they have to offer, while supporting the historic Cobblestone Museum.
Booths are $20 for a 10’ x 10’ space. Sellers must bring their own table, chairs and canopy if they desire some shade.
As an added feature, Weidner’s chicken barbecue will be sold at the food tent from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. or sold out. Tickets are $15 in advance (and can be ordered by calling the museum) or $17 the day of the event.
The Cobblestone Museum is located on Route 104 just north of Albion at the intersection of Route 98. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ample free parking is available across the road along the grounds of the Thompson-Kast Visitors Center.
Missing disabled man located and home safe
ALBION – A disabled Albion man has been located and is home safe, the Albion Police Department reported just after midnight.
Marvin Russ, 22, went missing at 6 a.m. on Friday. He is deaf, disabled and developmentally delayed.
“The Village of Albion Police Department is extremely thankful for the calls and tips that lead to his safe return,” Sgt. Will Francis said in an email at 12:25 a.m.
Strong 2nd round for Green at Conn. tourney
Putting together a sparkling second round today, Medina’s Melanie Green is now 4 shots under par at the halfway point of the Epson Pro Golf Tour’s Hartford Healthcare Women’s Championship in Connecticut.
Rebounding from a 1 over par round of 73 on Thursday, Green fired a 5 under par round of 67 today for a two day total of 140.
She had six birdies (on 3, 4, 5, 8, 11 and 14) which more than offset just one bogey.
Green is currently tied for 13th seven shots back of the leader’s 133 total.
The 72 hole tourney continues Saturday and will conclude on Sunday.
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22-year-old disabled man reported missing in Albion
Photos courtesy of Albion PD: Marvin Russ is shown in the portrait at left, and also at right in a picture off of a home camera system, showing the clothing Marvin was wearing when he left early this morning.
ALBION – The Albion Police Department said a 22-year-old disabled man is missing. Marvin Russ Jr. was reported missing from 25 Lydun Drive.
Marvin was observed by a neighbor leaving his residence around 6 a.m. and running down the road towards Brown Road.
Marvin was last seen wearing a blue shirt and dark blue pants with “23” written on them in red.
Marvin is about 5’5″ and 140 pounds. He is deaf, disabled and developmentally delayed, the Albion PD said.
Anyone with any information regarding Marvin Russ’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Albion PD at (585) 589-5627 or through the Orleans County Sheriff’s Dispatch at (585) 589-5527 or 911.
Retiring GLOW workforce leader honored by County Legislature
Photo by Tom Rivers: Jay Lazarony, retiring director for the GLOW Workforce Development Board, receives a “Special Recognition Award” from County Legislator Fred Miller during a recent Legislature meeting.
ALBION – The leader of the GLOW Workforce Development Board has pushed to be bring in training funds to help residents develop skills for in-demand local careers.
Jay Lazarony led the GLOW organization the past eight years, and worked 20 years before that as a youth counselor for the Genesee County Job Development Bureau. He has retired, and has been praised for his efforts to connect GLOW residents to job training.
He also was one of the driving forces in the GLOW With Your Hands career exploration events that showcased careers in the trades and local manufacturing, and also in healthcare.
The Orleans County Legislature recently presented Lazarony with a “Special Recognition Award” for his career in workforce development.
Lazarony, in an interview today, said it has been a rewarding career “to provide people with a restart, an initial start or just a change in their work status.”
The GLOW WDB works with BOCES to connect residents to training. That training can make a huge difference for people in getting a new career or a step up at the jobs. GLOW has secured about $500,000 a year each of the past five years for job training in the four local rural counties.
“A small training could be the difference in them getting a new career with a family-sustaining income,” Lazarony said.
When he worked for the Genesee County Job Development Bureau, Lazarony said the office would ring a bell every time someone landed a job through the bureau’s help. That signified a new start, a chance at a family-sustaining career.
Lazarony said those jobs are available in the GLOW region, but more residents need training to be hired at these positions.
“I think there are great careers locally but there is a skill gap,” he said. “We have to get them trained first. We’re fighting for funding for training. It’s not that nobody wants to work. It’s just that they’re not up to speed yet.”
Lazarony praised the work of the job development agencies in each of the four counties. In Orleans, Kelly Kiebala is director of the Job Development Agency.
The overall GLOW Workforce Development Board has a new leader in Tracy VanVleck, the executive director who is based in Batavia.
Lazarony said she worked with him his final month in the position. He is confident she will be a good fit for the four counties.
“She will take it in a direction that is positive and very good for all of GLOW,” Lazarony said.
Medina FC advances in Wood Cup Tourney
The Medina Mustangs FC downed the Hamburg Monarchs 3-2 Thursday evening in the quarterfinals of the Buffalo District Soccer League’s Wood Cup Tournament.
Nate Dillenbeck scored two goals and Trent Choate netted the game winner for Medina.
Cole Callard had two assists and Aiden Prince one for the Mustangs.
Medina next hosts Ukraine in a BDSL 1st Division game at 6 p.m. Sunday at Vets Park.
Medina is currently in first place with a 7-0-1 record while Ukraine is tied for fourth at 3-2-3. A win would clinch the 1st Division regular season title for the Mustangs.
Ortt, Senate GOP want Hochul to end CLCPA mandates due to rising costs of energy
Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt
Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, along with Senator Mario Mattera, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Telecommunications, and members of the Senate Republican Conference on Thursday penned a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul calling on her to declare a state of emergency amidst increasing concerns surrounding the reliability of the state’s electrical grid and skyrocketing energy costs affecting all New Yorkers.
The letter also calls on the Governor to use her Executive Authority to suspend laws enacted under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) that have placed more demand on the grid and more of a financial burden on New Yorkers – including electric vehicle and bus mandates, bans on natural gas hookups, the repeal of the “100 foot rule” and the Cap and Invest program.
Just last week, the Governor admitted that it is impossible to achieve the current objectives of the CLCPA without hurting ratepayers, and the president of NYSERDA pointed to the need for an updated energy plan that continues to include fossil fuels.
“A one-size-fits-all energy policy does not work – we need reliable and affordable energy alternatives and a diverse energy portfolio is necessary to properly address unique needs across diverse regions,” Ortt said. “The industry has already raised concerns about the inability of the grid to keep up with the increased demand caused by burdensome all-electric mandates. New Yorkers were left in the dark just a few weeks ago amidst a dangerous heat wave. We need to stop the insanity of the CLCPA and revisit smart and diverse energy policies that will meet the unique needs of our state and ensure accessible and affordable energy options for all New Yorkers.”
Ortt is one of 18 senators to sign the letter to the governor.
“This is a pivotal moment for our state’s energy future. We urge you to act now to protect the stability of our energy grid and the economic well-being of all New Yorkers,” the letter concludes.
Albion escapes with narrow 18U diamond win
Surviving a big last inning comeback bid, Albion held on to nip host Alden 8-7 in a GLOW League 18U Division baseball game Thursday evening.
Trailing 8-2, Alden rallied for five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on an error, two doubles and four singles but the rally fell just short.
Albion took the lead for good by scoring four quick runs in the first inning on an RBI single by Elliott Trapiss, an RBI sacrifice fly by Kaiden Froman, an error and a passed ball. A triple by Drew Boyce set up the opportunity.
A two-run single by Gavin Boyce later highlighted a three run third inning.
Albion plated what proved to be the game winning run in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Viktor Snyder.
Improving to 6-1-1, Albion will next host Avon in a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.
Tri Town 9, Lyndonville 0
In another GLOW 18U contest, Tri Town held Lyndonville hitless in posting a 9-0 win.
Tri Town scored three quick runs in the first inning and four more in the fourth.
Fire district in Albion looks to add website, sign and uniforms
ALBION – The Albion Joint Fire District, which officially started on Jan. 1, faces many tasks – some big and some small – as the new entity overseeing fire protection for the towns of Albion and Gaines as well as the Village of Albion.
The five fire commissioners voted Thursday evening to seek bids for a quint ladder truck. That truck would replace a ladder truck from 1994 and also a fire engine from 1991. The quint would have the ability to pump water and carry some water, while also deploying a ladder that would stretch 110 feet.
The commissioners could vote to accept a bid at their next meeting on Aug. 14. The truck is expected to cost about $2.2 million. It will be a major purchase for the district.
Commissioners are weighing other costs that are far less, but still important. During Thursday’s meeting, commissioners discussed having a new sign on the fire hall on Platt Street. It may just be lettering that states Albion Joint Fire District. Commissioners are seeking a defined proposal for the sign.
They also have received two proposals to develop a website for the fire district, with ongoing IT support and maintenance. One proposal was for $1,995 to set up the website with a $95 monthly maintenance. That would also provide at least 40 email addresses for the district. Another informal quote was for $980 to set up the website with $185 for host maintenance for the whole year. Commissioners want more details on the proposals to make sure the services being offered are similar.
The joint district also is considering purchasing Class A formal uniforms for some of the members. President Scott Papponetti said two companies have not responded to repeated requests for proposals for the uniforms while another, MES, has proposed $800 for each uniform and would come to Albion to fit the firefighters with white buttoned shirts, jackets and pants. The Class A’s also include a hat, belt, neck tie, coat and hardware on the collar with a firefighter’s badge number.
These uniforms are worn at parades, funerals and other special events, such as the Sept. 11 memorial service.
MES also could provide the Class B uniforms with polo shirts, T-shirts and other less formal clothing.
The fire district has $9,000 budgeted for the Class B’s. The district also received $36,313 from the Village of Albion from its insurance company. That money for insurance coverage was approved as part of the village budget for a full fiscal year, from June 1 to May 31. That was when the fire department was part of the village budget. But the fire district started in Jan. 1, with the fire department moved out of the village budget.
The insurance payment had already been approved towards the fire department for 2024-25. That unexpended money was turned over to the district. Commissioners are considering using some of it towards Class A uniforms.
The commissioners want a more detailed proposal from MES on what their quote entails and the costs.
The commissioners also discussed the possibility of new sprinklers and an alarm system in the fire hall.
The board also is looking to adopt a policy for non-members being on fire trucks. The commissioners want to allow family members to be in trucks for parades, and to continue having other community members on the trucks, especially when elementary kids are given a ride on a truck for winning fire prevention contests. Al Cheverie, chairman of the commissioners, said a policy should state that a firefighter or parent of a child would need to be assigned to a kid getting a ride on a fire truck.
Kevin Sheehan, a fire commissioner, said those rides and allowing children of firefighters to ride in the trucks during parades may pay off down the road in firefighter recruitment.
“Having kids involved is how we get the next generation of firefighters,” he said.
The commission on Thursday accepted one new member, Christina Irwin.
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Albion Joint Fire District seeking bids for new ladder truck, expected to top $2 million
Photos by Tom Rivers: Fire trucks for the Albion Joint Fire District head down Main Street in the June 14 Albion Strawberry Festival parade. The fire district is working towards a new quint ladder truck that would replace the ladder truck in front from 1994 and the fire engine behind it from 1991. The new quint ladder truck could pump water and carry water to fire scenes. Albion’s current ladder truck doesn’t have the ability to carry or pump water.
ALBION – The Albion Joint Fire District is seeking proposals for a new ladder truck. It will replace one that is currently 31 years old.
The new truck, however, is expected to take as long as four years to be built and delivered due to a backlog among the fire truck manufacturers. The new fire truck also is expected to cost about $2.2 million.
Al Cheverie, the fire district chairman, said the costs for new apparatus have escalated in recent years. The Village of Medina, for example, agreed to pay $1,698,995 to Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisc. for a new fire truck with a 100-foot-long ladder. That was June 26, 2023. Medina’s truck is expected this December, about a 2 ½ year wait.
The fire district will put a notice to bidders in The Daily News of Batavia, the district’s legal newspaper. That is expected to be posted next week, with the bids due 12 days after that. If the legal notice can be posted on Tuesday, Cheverie said the bids will be due on July 27. Cheverie said the fire district commissioners should be able to accept a bid at their Aug. 14 meeting.
The bid specifications for the truck will be available to bidders through secretary Rachel Hicks once the legal notice is posted.
The fire district is seeking a quint ladder truck with a 100-foot-long ladder. The quint also has the ability to pump water and carry 300 gallons on the truck. The current ladder truck doesn’t pump or carry water, and has a 103-foot-long ladder.
“This will have everything we need for the initial attack,” Cheverie said about the new quint ladder truck.
Cheverie said the new truck will allow the fire district to take two older trucks out of service – a 1994 ladder truck and a fire engine from 1991.
The new truck will fit in the existing fire hall. Cheverie said the new truck will actually be a little bit smaller because the ladder is in four sections instead of three.
The fire district budget for 2025 established an “Apparatus Repair & Replacement Reserve” and a $250,000 was put in the reserve fund the first year.
The two older trucks have held up well for the Albion Fire Department but Cheverie said they will need extra care to make it four more years.
“We will have to band-aid them as best we can to keep them in service,” he said.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to state the truck will have a 100-foot ladder, not 110 feet as originally stated, and will have capacity to carry 300 gallons of water, not the 500 to 800 as originally stated.
Fire commissioner Kevin Sheehan, left, makes a point during the Albion Joint Fire District meeting today in the Albion fire hall. Listening from left include Chairman Al Cheverie, Commissioner Dave Buczek and Treasurer Victoria Tabor. Other commissioners, not pictured, include Chris Kinter and Craig Lane.
