Editor:
The Orleans County Veterans Affairs deserve thanks for providing a wonderful event on Tuesday night at the White Birch.
Honoring so many Orleans County veterans with this kind of event is a great way of thanking these veterans who gave years of service. Many were never recognized or honored in the past.
Please continue because these veterans are very grateful.
Jeanne Crane
Waterport
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Community Action staff and volunteers pose in a room at the Main Street Corner Thrift Store in Albion, which is filled with gifts and food for 131 families. Gifts were distributed on Thursday. From left are Ryan Lasal, director of Community Planning at CAOG; Nicki Targa, Emergency Services assistant; Kristina Ettinger, director of Community Services; and Maria Morgan, a volunteer.
ALBION – Three hundred and forty-one families will enjoy Christmas dinner and celebrate with gifts, thanks to Community Action of Orleans and Genesee counties and generous contributions from the community.
Community Action’s Christmas giveaway has been an ongoing program to assist families struggling financially. This year saw one of the largest (if not the largest) number of requests.
Ryan Lasal, director of Community Programming at Community Action, gives a ham to Filamena Salyer of Albion. In addition to food for Christmas dinner, Salyer received gifts for her young son.
In Albion 131 families received gifts and food for a Christmas dinner, which included a ham. Holley gave out gifts and food to 36 families, while Genesee County filled 174 requests.
Every eligible family who applied received a box of food with a ham or turkey and food for a traditional holiday meal, said Ryan Lasal, director of Community Planning at CAOG. Children filled out a wish list and each child received a gift, Lasal said.
On Tuesday, Lasal and Kristina Ettinger, Community Services organizer, were assisted by Nicki Targa, Emergency Services assistant and volunteers Brittany Knight, her son Teddy and Maria Morgan. Morgan regularly works 21 hours a week volunteering, Lasal said.
Ettinger said by the end of the day on Tuesday, most all of the packages will have been distributed.
The distribution took place at the rear of Community Action’s Main Street Corner Thrift Store, where two rooms were filled with bags and boxes of gifts and food.
One resident who happily picked up his gifts was Dennis Massey of Albion.
“Getting this food means we won’t be hungry on Christmas,” he said. “This is a gift from God.”
Massey said there are four in his family who will now have a Merry Christmas. He said Community Action has helped him before and he was very thankful.
Brittany Knight volunteered to help with her son Teddy, 8.
“Community Action gave to us when we first moved here, and we wanted to give back,” Knight said.
While requests for holiday assistance were up from last year, Lasal said they were able to fill all requests because of the generosity of the community.
“A lot of organizations stepped up and adopted children,” Lasal said. “This is the most prepared we’ve been for the holiday.”
Last year, Community Action served a total of 244 families in both counties.
“When SNAP benefits were canceled, the community really rallied around our agency,” Lasal said. “We saw a big influx of donations and cash.”
He said they worked with Walmart to buy 160 hams and 130 turkeys.
Toys and gifts for children were made possible through donations from the Pirate Toy Fund of Rochester, Toys for Tots and a toy drive by Canalside Tattoo in Medina.
“A lot of community members just came in and dropped off presents, food and cash,” Ettinger said.
Filomena Salyer of Albion was another resident whose family will have a happy holiday because of Community Action.
“Getting food for Christmas and gifts for my son means a lot to me,” Salyer said. “I am very thankful for Community Action. By the grace of God they have been very generous to me. Our Christmas would be pretty bland without their support. I thank God for this place.”
Community Action of Orleans and Genesee gave out Christmas food and gifts to more than 300 families on Tuesday. Here, Dennis Massey of Albion, right, picks up his gifts and Christmas ham from Kristina Ettinger, director of Community Services; Teddy Knight, 8; and Ryan Lasal, director of Community Programming at COAG.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Megan Wakefield, leader of the Medina Community garden, speaks during Monday’s Village Board meeting. Pictured, from right to left, include Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman, Deputy Mayor Jess Marciano, Trustee Debbie Padoleski and Village Clerk/Treasurer Jada Burgess.
MEDINA – The Medina Community Garden had a successful first year in 2025 despite the drought-like conditions, said Megan Wakefield, leader of the garden.
The site was in a backyard on Bernzomatic Drive, on the east side of the village. Wakefield said the garden produced crops despite a lack of rain for much of the growing season.
She would like to see the community garden in a more centrally located part of the village. She asked the Village Board to allow part of the green space on Park Avenue, between the village office and West Avenue.
Not only would that be in a more accessible location for the public, but Wakefield said it would also make the community garden eligible for grants through the local health departmet. To be eligible, the garden needs to be on municipal land, she said.
Mayor Merguerite Sherman commended wakefield for her efforts with the community garden, but the mayor said the village land by the village office is being eyed for an expanded parking lot especially if an addition in put on the fire hall at part of an existing parking lot.
Wakefield said she has scouted sites in the village for the garden that is on village-owned land, but 121 Park Ave. seems like the best location.
The grant from the health department could pay for raised beds, which Sherman and other Village Board members could make it easier to have the garden on village property.
Wakefield was asked about land by the compost facility and dog park on North Gravel Road, but she said that location would be too far for many community members.
She was also asked about village land behind the Medina Theater. Wakefield said she would look at it, including with the potential for raised beds.
Board members said they support the garden and want to try to find a suitable location.
Wakefield said the community garden can help many residents facing food insecurity.
Akron swept to a doubleheader victory over host Albion in a Niagara-Orleans League swim meet this afternoon.
The TigerSharks won the boys’ meet 44-39 and the girls’ competition 55-35.
The Akron boys had a pair of individual event double winners in Evan Iversen (200 Free and 500 Free) and Aron Gehl (200 Individual Medley and 100 Breaststroke).
The Albion boys had Justin Kania double in the 50 Free and 100 Free and Nathan Wehling win the 100 Backstroke.
The Akron girls had Aurora VanDusen win both the 50 Free and 100 Breaststroke.
Keira Sidari was a double winner for the Albion girls in the IM and 100 Free as Victoria Rotoli won thr 500 Free.
N-O Wrestling
Akron nips Albion
Akron edged Albion on a criteria decision points (most forfeits) in a Niagara-Orleans League wrestling match this evening after the contest finished deadlocked at 39-39.
Albion got pins from Elizabeth Colmenero (103), Stryker Sanders (118), Drake Schomske (126), Corbin Piccirilli (132) and Kaiser Allport (157) as well as an overtime decision win by Jaxon Lynch (150).
Girls Basketball
Wilson 64, Barker 24
Defending champion Wilson posted a 64-24 win over Barker in a Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball game this evening as Rowan Simpson scored 25, Abbie Faery 12 and Lucy Madan 8.
Elise Monaco led Barker with 13.
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Avante Walker drives to the basket ahead of Byron-Bergen defender Joseph Brumsted during the Hawks home court loss to the Bees this evening.
Improving to 4-1, Byron-Bergen posted a 52-39 win at Holley this evening in a Genesee Region League boys basketball game.
Byron-Bergen jumped out to an 11 point, 17-6, first quarter lead as Cody Carlson hit three threes and Adam Cardenas made three baskets.
The Bees went on to lead by margins of 15 (32-17) at the half and by 24 (49-24) at the end of the third quarter.
Cardenas finished with a game high 21 points on seven threes and Carlson had 16.
Avante Walker scored 17 and Cam Mosier 16 for Holley which slips to 1-4.
Holley’s Blake Coleman puts up a shot between Byron-Bergen defenders Joseph Brumsted (3) and Cody Carlson (2).
Photos courtesy of Orleans County master Gardeners: Master Gardener Michael Klepp shows participants the components of a handheld pruner in his 2025 Purposeful Pruning class.
Contributed by Katie Oakes, Orleans County CCE Master Gardener Coordinator
KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County Master Gardeners have set the schedule for 2026 for the “Master Your Garden” monthly educational classes. The classes are held on the first Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. in the “Buzz” Hill Education Center at the Orleans CCE office in Albion.
The series kicks off on Jan. 3 with “Smart Garden Research” taught by Master Gardener Julia Bender. In the class, she will show participants how to navigate the overwhelming world of online gardening advice with confidence, how to identify trustworthy sources, spot red flags in gardening content, and build a toolkit of reliable websites and resources.
Other topics include hydroponic growing, nature journaling, flower arranging, composting, container gardening and more! Check out the full lineup with class dates and details on the Orleans County CCE Master Gardener Facebook page here.
“We developed the Master Your Garden series to share accessible, practical gardening knowledge with our Orleans County community,” said Julia Bender, Master Gardener volunteer and chairperson of this educational series. “Whether you’re looking to gain confidence or connect with fellow gardeners, we hope you’ll join us in making 2026 your best growing season yet!”
Classes are offered at an optional $5 donation fee and are held in the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Education Center, 12690 State Route 31, Albion. Pre-registration is encouraged to properly prepare for seating and materials, however, walk-ins are always welcome, especially with the first class being so close to the holidays. To register, call (585) 798-4265 ext. 125 or email klo54@cornell.edu.
Master Gardener Julia Bender teaches a class on the Fall Garden for the 2025 Master Your Garden series.
Editor:
It has been an honor to serve our community as Orleans County District Attorney and lead the office in overseeing hundreds of cases in local and county courts including the Integrated Domestic Violence Court, Drug Court, Youth and Family Court.
Our lean staff is active 365 days a year participating in arraignments on new arrests to follow due process, provide justice and keep our community safe.
We have hundreds of cases pending in local courts and many active indictments in County Court. That doesn’t include all of the traffic cases we prosecute for our ten towns across Orleans County.
That’s why it’s so frustrating when Governor Hochul and state legislative leaders ask local prosecutors like us to do more with less.
The recent pressure of criminal justice reforms coming from the State Capital have made it even harder to carry out our mission. Mandates like discovery reform are usually unfunded and can cause serious delays in our ability to prosecute crime and secure favorable outcomes in a timely manner.
I applaud the Orleans County Legislature for unanimously passing a resolution calling on Albany to reform our state’s discovery laws. That’s an important step in telling our state government that we’re struggling to keep up with their unrealistic demands.
But we must also prioritize public safety right here at home and focus on what we can control.
This year, a critical Assistant District Attorney position was cut from the Orleans County budget. That prosecutor handled several justice courts, assisted in presenting cases to the grand jury, and oversaw the supervision of investigations being conducted by law enforcement for cases not yet arrested.
In fact, we recently recruited a young, highly experienced felony prosecutor who could have been a wonderful asset to our community. Sadly, the budget no longer funds this position.
I understand the need to keep taxes low and be responsible stewards of local tax dollars. We certainly shouldn’t take any cues from Albany or New York City on how to properly spend a dollar wisely. However, it’s incumbent upon our local officials to act accordingly when Albany politicians create an already burdensome system to make sure we have the proper tools to be successful.
It comes down to wants versus needs.
The District Attorney’s office needs to be available to assist law enforcement with oversight and advice for investigations, search warrants and subpoenas.
We need to be available for witnesses, victims, other agencies, and County Departments like the Sheriff’s Office’s newly-convened Threat Assessment Committee (TAC).
We need to reestablish this critical role in the District Attorney’s office so our staff can effectively seek justice for victims and hold accountable those who do harm.
When I took my oath of office, I pledged to uphold the Constitution and work tirelessly to secure justice and be an advocate for Orleans County residents. I will keep fighting for those values and our community.
Susan Howard
District Attorney of Orleans County
Press Release, New York Farm Bureau
ALBANY — New York Farm Bureau has announced its state legislative priorities for 2026. These priorities are based on grassroots policy development over the course of the past year, which culminated at the organization’s State Annual Meeting earlier this month. Delegates from 50 counties discussed and voted on a number of wide-ranging issues at the meeting.
NYFB public policy staff identified NYFB’s priority issues as those listed below.
NYFB will release federal legislative priorities by early spring.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Jon Rissinger and his wife Galina are shown inside Sew-It-Seams Upholstery, which they opened in October at 28 East Bank St.
ALBION – When Jon Rissinger was a kid growing up in Wyoming County, his parents were 4-H leaders. His mother taught him to sew as a kid as part of being in 4-H.
Rissinger, now 66, has turned that hobby into a busy new business in Albion. He opened Sew-It-Seams Upholstery on Oct. 1 at 28 East Bank St.
He works with leather, vinyl, cloth, cutting the materials to size and then sewing them together. Some of the projects have 40 different pieces to sew.
Rissinger likes to work with his customers to give new life to old furniture, and seats for cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles and boats. He also does hemming and zipper replacement.
“What intrigued me most about sewing is you can make whatever you want,” he said. “You connect two pieces together and you got a new product.”
Jon Rissinger creates a pattern for a new cover on a snowmobile seat. He makes new fabric for furniture, car seats, motorcycle seats, boat seat and snowmobiles. He also is skilled a chair caning.
Rissinger has previously worked as a hoof trimmer for the dairy industry for 15 years and he owned a computer repair shop in Castile. He moved to Albion 3 ½ years ago, drawn by a good deal on his house.
He has been doing upholstery projects the past decade and wanted more room for the business. The spot in downtown Albion has been a good fit.
“I’ve been self-employed for 30 years,” he said. “You get to meet a lot of people.”
Rissinger has four sewing machines, a serger, fabric cutter and other equipment. He is considering offer classes this winter for people who want to learn the sewing craft, upholstering and chair caning.
The business is open from noon to 6 p.m. from Monday through Friday. For more information call (585) 867-1536 or check the business’s Facebook page.
Jon Rissinger opened his business, Sew-It-Seams Upholstery, in Albion on Oct. 1 and he said he has been busy.
Holley defeated Attica 44-36 and Kendall downed Alexander 55-32 in Genesee Region League girls basketball action this evening.
In another G-R contest, Wheatland-Chili topped Lyndonville 27-22.
Brynn Thomas had 16 points, 5 steals and 4 assists, Ali VanAmeron 10 points and 8 rebounds, Des McCormack 7 points and 7 rebounds and Kyla Burne 6 points and 5 steals to lead Holley.
Izzy D’Agostino led Kendall with 16 points as Payton Vogt added 9, Teagan Shaw and Sophia Picardo 8 each, Mia Price 7 and Stella Kwiatek 5.
Wheatland-Chili was led by Whitney Thrush with 12 points.
Alexa Robinson scored 8 and Hannah Fox 5 to lead Lyndonville.
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Ben Doolan works toward a decision win over Alexander/Pembroke’s Wade Franks during the Tigers home match this evening.
Six pins sparked Alexander/Pembroke to a 44-28 win over host Lyndonville in a Genesee Region League wrestling match this evening.
Aydaen Talmon (126), Austin Post (132), Jackson Waite (150), Ryder Reichert (157), Brody Heckman (175) and Joseph Severino (285) all registered pins for Alexander/Pembroke.
Justin Holmes (118) and Greyson Romano (190) both notched pins for Lyndonville which also got an overtime decision victory by Abby Alexander (110), a major decision win by Dom Hargrave (138) and a decision win by Ben Doolan (215).
The match was the league opener for both teams.
Holley-Kendall 46, Byron-Bergen 30
In the other G-R opener, Holley-Kendall bested defending champion Byron-Bergen 46-30.
Jayden Rivera (126), Brenden Eichas (138) and Immanuel Cornell (285) all registered pins for Holley-Kendall which also got decision wins by Carson Cady (118), Isaac Bartlett (132) and Miguel Vasquez (190) and three forfeit wins.
Lyndonville’s Abby Alexander in route to earning an overtime decision victory over Wyatt Whitmore of Alexander/Pembroke.
Lyndonville’s Dom Hargrave works toward a major decision win over Alexander/Pembroke’s Corbin Pierce.
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Nate Surdel works toward a pin over Newfane’s Levi Henning during the Mustangs home mat loss to the Panthers this evening.
A combination of five forfeit wins and two pins keyed defending champion Newfane to a 45-33 victroy over host Medina in a Niagara-Orleans League wrestling match this evening.
Wes Henning (215) and Jonah Morello (103) both notched first period pins for the Panthers which also got a decison win from Colin Doxey (165).
Medina had a trio of pins registered by Luke Duffina (138) in 5:40, Ryan Frentz (144) in 1:34 and Nate Surdel (285) in 2:33 as well as a decison win by Jacob Duffina (118). Surdel rebounded from a 15-2 deficit to score his second period pin.
Newfane is now 2-0 and Medina 0-2 in N-O action.
Roy-Hart/Barker 52, Wilson 24
In the other N-O match Roy-Hart/Barker downed Wilson 52-24.
Scoring wins for Roy-Hart/Barker were Max Liuzzi, Rowan Murray, Aideen Rusnock, Remington Marohn, Luke Fay, Max Hickman, Lincoln Murray, Liam Silsby and RJ Townsend.
Medina’s Ryan Frentz in route to scoring a pin over Newfane’s Evan Hornburg.
Photos courtesy of Medina Fire Department: This photo from earlier this week shows the new ladder truck that is expected to be delivered in Medina next month. The quint truck has a 100-foot ladder and many other capabilities. Medina Fire Department officials visited the truck manufacturing site in Appleton, Wisconsin. They were there from Sunday through Wednesday.
MEDINA – The Village of Medina expects to take delivery of a new $1.7 million fire truck next month, but village officials still aren’t certain where the truck will be housed.
The quint ladder truck is too big to fit in the current fire hall on Park Avenue. The truck is taller than the current ladder truck. The current truck from 1996 has been declared surplus and will be sold by auction. The truck has been plagued by mechanical issues for several years.
The ladder is shown at extension during an inspection by Medina Fire Department officials.
That truck is 10 feet, 4 inches in height. The fire hall bay has a clear of 10 feet, 6 inches. The new truck is 13 feet high.
Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman favors a one-bay addition on the current fire hall to accommodate the new truck, but she has been unable to get the majority of the board to agree on that addition. That project would be just over $1 million. The village may need to borrow $1.3 million for the addition.
Sherman said Medina is a strong candidate to receive a grant for up to $1 million in federal funds through for the project through the Community Development Block Grant program. She was advised by the village’s grant writer to get additional information for the grant on buying materials made in the United States for the addition. To do that study, getting cost estimates for “Buy America and Build America,” would cost $4,600.
Sherman was unable to get enough support from the board to spend the $4,600 to get those prices on American made products.
Trustee Scott Bieliski said $1.3 million for the one-bay addition seems out of whack and far too costly.
“I would never spend $1.3 million for what we’re getting or even remotely close to that,” he said.
Sherman said municipal projects tend to be much higher due to all the regulations and extra requirements.
Trustee Debbie Padoleski said the village can’t afford the new truck and the addition. She suggested at Monday’s board meeting that Medina sell the new truck and not take on more debt. She said village taxpayers are already overburdened with property taxes.
“When the truck arrives, put a ‘for sale’ sign on it,” she said. “We can’t afford it. We can’t afford to house it.”
She said the village is bearing the costs for the truck where most of its calls will likely be outside Medina for mutual aid.
Pictured from left include Trustee Debbie Padoleski, Mayor Marguerite Sherman and Trustee Scott Bieliski.
Paying the debt on the truck in annual payments will raise the village taxes by $1 per $1,000 of assessed property, Padoleski said. The village’s tax rate is currently $13.995 per $1,000.
“The western district would love for us to get the truck and pay for it,” she said. The towns aren’t willing to cooperate in any way, shape or form.”
Trustee Bieliski said selling the truck is worth considering.
“It’s two big lifts: the truck and the addition,” he said.
Mayor Sherman said she has been trying to find places to put the new ladder truck while the board tries to find a solution for a permanent home for the truck.
The owner of the former Snappy building on Commercial Street near the Erie Canal and lift bridge offered to make the building available for the next three months at $4,500 a month plus utilities.
But other board members didn’t want to put money in someone else’s building. After some discussion, including feedback from DPW Superintendent Jason Watts, the board said it was worth looking at the former compost facility on North Gravel Road to temporarily house the truck. Because the truck carries water, it needs to be in a heated building.
Watts said a heating system could be put in the compost facility, plus a dividing wall to reduce the space needed to keep warm. He was tasked with getting cost estimates for making the compost building usable to keep the truck.
He also said the DPW garage on East Avenue could be used by shifting vehicles around.
Watts said when the new truck arrives it won’t immediately go into service. Firefighters need to train on it and the truck needs to be outfitted. He said it’s very likely it won’t be in service until after the winter.
File photo courtesy of Medina Fire Department: Medina used a fire engine from the Murray Joint Fire District in August.
Medina has a second truck that will be replaced. Medina 10, a fire engine from 1990, has been taken out of service and will join the ladder truck at an auction.
The Village Board approved spending $32,000 to buy a 2007 fire engine from the Murray Joint Fire District.
Medina borrowed Murray’s truck in August while both the ladder truck and fire engine were out of service due to mechanical problems.
Padoleski and Trustee Mark Prawel both opposed spending the $32,000 for Murray’s truck.
Fire Chief Steve Cooley said he appreciates Murray making a reliable truck available to Medina at a fair price.
