Circus returns bringing lots of entertainment to local schools
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Ian and Claudia perform on aerial silks at the Clifford Wise Intermediate School. Billy Martin’s Cole All Star Circus did two shows on Friday at Clifford Wise with some of the proceeds going to the Orleans Community Health Foundation.
Ian and Claudia showcased strength, flexibility and balance in their performance on the aerial silks.
The circus is led by Billy Martin, who is now in his 49th season of leading the circus. He and his group of a dozen perform go to about 150 schools each year. Their 2026 season started on Jan. 9 in Coudersport, Pa.
They have three more shows in Orleans County:
- Albion Elementary School on Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
- Holley Elementary School on Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m.
- Kendall High School Gym on Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Children 12 years and younger are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Adults at the door are $20 each. Each school offers a special $5 discount on advance adult tickets, which reduces the cost to $15 per adult.
Sophia performs a juggling routine.
These kids are delighted watching a performer in the show ring.
Jake McPherson of Medina and his son Connor, age 9, get their photo taken with one of the circus’s stars, Slinko. This year marks Slinko’s 25th season.
Tatyana Johnson, 9, gets her face painted as the Lady Bug character during intermission at the circus.
The Fudi sisters juggled hats, pins and hoops as part of their routine.
Winter storm watch for Orleans, WNY from Sunday evening to Wednesday
Photo courtesy of Marsha Rivers: A truck heads north on Main Street in Albion while it was snowing. More snow, possibly 7 inches or more, could hit Orleans by Wednesday.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a winter weather watch for Orleans and several Western New York counties from Sunday evening to Wednesday afternoon.
Heavy lake effect snow is possible, with potentially 7 or more inches in the most persistent lake snows, the Weather Service said.
“Winds could gust as high as 45 miles per hour creating blowing and drifting snow with very poor visibility,” the Weather Service said.
The advisory also includes Niagara, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.
“Lake effect snowbands are expected to oscillate throughout this event with the greatest duration of lake snows likely from the Buffalo Metro area to Batavia southward,” the Weather Service said.
Akron swimmers sweep Roy-Hart/Barker
Akron swept to a doubleheader victory over Roy-Hart/Barker in a Niagara-Orleans League make-up swim meet this evening.
Akron won the boys’ meet 63-59 and the girls’ competition 101-64.
Logan Meyers won the 100 Butterfly and Aron Gehl the 100 Breaststroke for the Akron.
Roy-Hart/Barker had a pair of individual event double winners in Noah Corraine (200 Free and 100 Free) and Hendrick Trombley (200 Individual Medley and 100 Backstroke).
The Akron girls had a trio of individual event double winners including Aurora VanDusen (200 Free and 500 Free), Charlotte Carlson (IM and Butterfly) and Brooke Milhollen (100 Free and Backstroke).
Madelina Pavlock won the 50 Free for Roy-Hart/Barker.
Newfane sweeps Albion
Newfane also swept to a doubleheader victory over Albion in the other N-O make-up meet.
Newfane won the boy’s meet 50-38 and the girls’ 70-21.
Noah Kneeland doubled in the Butterfly and Breaststroke for the Newfane boys which also had Robert Hathaway take the IM and Dylan Lamont the 500.
Justin Kania doubled for the Albion boys in the 200 Free and 50 Free as Logan Kast took the 100 Free and Nathan Wehling the Backstroke.
Sara Klinger doubled in the 50 Free and Breaststroke for the Newfane girls as Emma Haseley took the 200 Free, Eden Hillman the 100 Free, Riley Klopfer the 500 and Eloana Reis the Backstroke.
Keira Sidari won both the IM and Butterfly for Albion.
Akron girls edge Medina; R-H, Kendall win
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Alexa Demmer puts up a shot against Akron defender Olivia Novak during the Mustangs home court loss to the Lady Tigers.
Improving to 4-1, Akron edged host Medina 47-44 in a Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball game this evening.
Abby Gerstung scored 15, Clara Bogdan 10 and Cara Swader 7 to lead Akron.
Caliyah St. Louis took game high scoring honors for Medina with 20 as Alexa Demmer added 12 and Samantha Heschke 8.
Breaking away from a 9-9 deadlock at the end of the first quarter, Medina grabbed a 21-17 half-time lead as St. Louis and Demmer both scored 5 in the second period.
The Mustangs maintained a slender 29-27 lead at the end of the third period as Demmer had a three and a two and St. Louis a basket in the quarter.
However, Akron rallied down the stretch to outpoint Medina 20-15 in the decisive final period and claim the win. Swader scored 5, Bogdan, Olivia Novak and Kylie Mangione 4 each and Gerstung 3 to lead that uprising.
Roy-Hart 50, Newfane 42
Adella Dukes scored 24, Courtney Aquilina 9 and Millie Owens 7 to lead Roy-Hart past Newfane 50-42.
Ah-Leena Golden scored 15 and Julia Noonan 10 for Newfane.
Wilson 54, Albion 17
Defending champion Wilson improved to 5-0 by downing visiting Albion 54-17 as Lucy Madan scored 15 and Rowan Simpson 10.
Aailyah Jones scored 12 to lead Albion.
N-O Standings: Wilson 5-0, Akron 4-1, Albion 4-2, Roy-Hart 3-2, Medina 1-4, Newfane 1-4, Barker 0-5.
Kendall 58, School of the Arts 39
Kendall defeated School of the Arts 58-39 in a non league game as Izzy D’Agostino scored 16, Mia Price 12, Stella Kwiatek 10 and Teagan Shaw 9.
Medina’s Caliyah St. Louis drives on Akron defender Abby Gerstung.
Lakemen top Purple Eagles, Tigers down Mustangs in key N-O basketball games
Undefeated front-running Wilson downed visiting Albion 69-53 this evening to maintain sole possession of the Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball lead at 5-0.
Akron took over sole possession of second place by rolling past visiting Medina 79-49. The Tigers improve to 4-1 while the Mustangs slip to 3-2.
In the other N-O contest Newfane defeated Roy-Hart 47-26 to improve to 3-2.
Wilson 69, Albion 53
Aidan Neumann scored a game high 26, Shamus George 20 and Ryan Hough 15 to lead Wilson past Albion.
Elijah Doxey scored 22 and Nate Gibson 18 to pace Albion which slips to 2-4.
Leading by a narrow 34-32 margin at the half, Wilson took charge in the third period by outscoring Albion 23-7. Neumann tallied 8, George 6, Brock Lepsch 5 and Hough 4 to lead that surge.
Neuman then scored 10 in the final period to help the Lakemen close out the win.
Akron 79, Medina 49
Ben Gerstung scored 22, Derren Brooks 20, Brodie Hill 15 and Blake Gerstung and Ace Abrams 8 each to spark the Akron attack.
Christian Moss scored 18, Jerrell Nealy 14 and Preston Woodworth 12 to lead Medina.
Moving on top to stay, Akron grabbed a 16-6 lead at the end of the opening quarter. Ben Gerstung scored 6 and Brooks 5 to lead that early surge.
The Tigers went on to lead by margins of 14 (35-21) at the half and by 24 (52-28) at the end of the third period. Blake Gerstung scored 8, including a pair of threes, in the second quarter while Brooks had 9 in the third period.
Newfane 47, Roy-Hart 26
Isaac Zachery, Mac Capen and Kasey Wheat each scored 11 points and Camlo Flowers 8 to lead Newfane past Roy-Hart.
Matt Aquilina led Roy-Hart with 19.
N-O Standings: Wilson 5-0, Akron 4-1, Medina 3-2, Newfane 3-2, Albion 2-4, Barker 1-4, Roy-Hart 0-5.
Holley 59, Lyndonville 46
Holley downed host Lyndonville 59-46 in a Genesee Region League game as Josh Silpoch scored 24, Avante Walker 15 and Cam Mosier 8.
Atticus Mank scored 14, Lane Woodworth 10 and Colton Smith and Quincy McClinsey 7 each for Lyndonville.
‘Run for America’ brings ultramarathoner to WNY as part of 5,500-mile journey on foot
Brett Soberiaski runs 8 miles this morning with man on epic adventure to celebrate country’s 250th anniversary
Photo courtesy of Brett Sobieraski: Brett Soberiaski of Carlton is shown this morning with Noah Coughlan. The two left Batavia and ran to Pembroke. Sobieraski, an ultra marathoner and endurance athlete, praised Coughlan who is on day 91 of a 260-day journey, running 5,500 miles across the United States.
BATAVIA – Brett Sobieraski is proud of New York State for showing such a big response to a man running across the country in an effort to stir a love for the flag and the United States.
Noah Coughlan is on day 91 of a 260-day journey, with plans to cover 20 states and conclude on July 4 in Hawaii. The trek is 5,500 miles on foot. Coughlan is a California native who most recently has been living in Nashville.
Coughlan made his way from Avon to Batavia on Thursday, and this morning left the Best Western Inn in Batavia and headed to Pembroke along Route 5. He is trying to get to near the Buffalo airport later today.
Coughlan usually runs by himself, and sometimes has a police escort like he did in Genesee County.
Sobieraski reached out to Coughlan about having a partner for part of today’s run. Sobieraski, a retired Rochester police sergeant, asked if he could join Coughlan for part of the journey today. Coughlan agreed.
Sobieraski in 2023 ran 50 marathons for 50 days, covering 1,300 miles from Florida to Rochester, NY. He did it as a tribute to Rochester police officer Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz, who was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022. Sobieraski sought to raise $100,000 for Mazurkiewicz’s family, and passed that goal by reaching $110,000.
Today, cars honked their horns and people rolled down their windows to cheer on Coughlan, who turned 42 on Thursday.
When Coughlan reached the Pembroke Intermediate School, students were standing outside and cheering him on.
“He was really overwhelmed,” Sobieraski said about the Coughlan. “He said he’s never had a response like this. He can’t get over the reception from New York State.”
Coughlan started the journey on Oct. 18. He has been going about 18 miles a day, pushing a jogger stroller with an American flag mounted on the stroller. He has covered more than 1,700 miles so far.
Coughlan isn’t raising money for a charity, just trying to spur patriotism on the 250th anniversary of the country.
“It’s non political,” Sobieraski said. “He isn’t running for any cause just the flag.”
Coughlan has done four previous ocean-to-ocean runs across the country. His “Run for America” started in the Midwest and covered about 950 miles in Kansas, South Carolina and North Carolina, states where had not run before.
Then, the journey goes 3,600 miles from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Oregon.
It’s not over yet. Coughlan plans to cross 900 miles across Alaska and then conclude in Hawaii on July 4.
For information on Run for America, click here.
Albion sets public hearing on Dollar General site plan for Feb. 12
This is a photo of a print out of a rendering of the proposed Dollar General store in Albion on East Avenue across from the high school.
ALBION – The Village of Albion Planning Board has set a public hearing for 5 p.m. on Feb. 12 for the site plan for the new Dollar General store at 327 East Ave. The meeting will be at the Village Office on East Bank Street.
The new 10,640-square-foot store would be across from the high school.
Tye Albion Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 9 approved a variance for the project, allowing Dollar General to have 35 parking spaces instead of the 53 required for a store that size. Albion’s zoning calls for one parking space for every 200 square feet of a retail store.
The Broadway Group is the developer of the new store. The company said having 35 parking spaces will allow for more green space on the site.
During a public hearing on Sept. 9 about the variance, several speakers said they didn’t think a Dollar General across from the school was a good fit. They also questioned if there was enough room on the lot for tractor trailers to make deliveries and then turnaround without backing out onto Route 31. The store is expected to have two deliveries a week, Broadway Group representatives said at the hearing.
The Planning Board will discuss traffic flow issues and truck turnaround as part of the site plan.
The store is proposed to be next to the Cone Zone ice cream business. The Broadway Group from Huntsville, Ala. proposes to demolish an existing building to the east of Cone Zone and put up the new store.
Tenney opens applications for Military Service Academy nominations
Press Release, Congresswomen Claudia Tenney
OSWEGO – Congresswomen Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today announced that her office is now accepting applications for 2026 United States Military Service Academy nominations.
Students from New York’s 24th Congressional District interested in attending one of these distinguished academies are invited to apply for a Congressional nomination through Tenney’s office.
As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Tenney has the honor of nominating a select number of candidates to four of the five United States service academies. Appointment to a service academy provides a world-class education and carries a minimum five-year commitment to serve as a commissioned officer in the United States Armed Forces.
Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to the following service academies:
- United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
- United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
- United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
- United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY
If you, or a student you know, are interested in applying for a nomination to one of the United States Military Service Academies, please visit our website here to find application instructions, required forms, and additional details. All application materials must be received by Thursday, October 1, 2026.
“As the mother of a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, I understand the commitment, discipline, and sense of purpose required to attend a service academy,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “I am always encouraged by the exceptional young men and women across NY-24 who step forward to pursue this path of service. These academies offer an extraordinary education while preparing future leaders for our Armed Forces, and it’s a privilege to support students who are willing to serve our nation with integrity, dedication, and courage.”
For more information, contact Congresswoman Tenney’s Oswego District Office at (315) 236-7088 or visit her website by clicking here.
Albion looks to disband Historic Preservation Commission, shift function to Planning Board or codes officer
Photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from November shows downtown Albion from East Bank Street. The downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
ALBION – The Historic Preservation Commission in Albion has struggled to reach a quorum in recent years and the inability to hold meetings has delayed some building owners from moving forward with projects, Village Board members said.
The HPC needs to give its approval for a certificate of appropriateness for signs and exterior work on a building in the historic downtown district.
The seven-member board currently only has four members.
The Village Board will have a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Feb. 23 about disbanding the Historic Preservation Commission and having its functions handled by either the code enforcement officer or the Village Planning Board.
In Medina, the Planning Board decides whether to grant certificates of appropriateness for signs and exterior building work.
In October 2022, Mary Anne Braunbach, the Albion HPC chairwoman at the time, said the commission was struggling to have a quorum. She didn’t want to hold up projects in the historic district because the board lacked enough participants for an official meeting.
With seven members, the commission needs at least four for a quorum. She suggested reducing the members to five members, and then the minimum would be three for a quorum.
Braunbach said then the commission tries to be a resource to building owners looking to upgrade their facades or do other projects. The commission doesn’t want to be an obstacle, she said, but will push for property owners to meet the standard for the historic district.
“We want to let people know we’re working with them,” she told the Village Board then. “We want to help people make the buildings look better and look historic.”
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Farmers’ market in Medina hosting a survey on digital literacy this Saturday
MEDINA – Clementine Gold Group, which is fielding a survey on the Western New York Digital Coalition’s behalf, will be at the Canal Village Farmer’s Market on Saturday.
With the support of a grant from the New York State ConnectAll Office, the WNY Digital Equity Coalition is conducting the regional survey of digital literacy across all of Western New York’s eight counties.
This survey will give them community-level information about digital skill levels which is not available from any other source, and will guide digital literacy programs, support grant applications and provide information which advocates can use to ensure everyone in Western New York has the ability to make full use of computers and the internet.
Mark Glasgow, director of Engagement and Strategic Insights for the Clementine Gold Group, requested permission to have a presence at the market this week, said Chris Busch, chair of Orleans Renaissance Group, which sponsors the market.
Glasglow explained the brief survey helps measure digital skills across WNY, especially among groups most impacted by digital exclusion.
“Your event is a strong opportunity to reach residents whose experiences should be represented,” Glasglow said in an e-mail to market manager Gail Miller.
Along with the brief survey, Glasglow said they will have raffle tickets and candy to offer visitors.
The Canal Village Farmers’ Market supports local nonprofit organizations by providing them with free space at the market, Miller said.
“We recognize it can be challenging for nonprofits to reach the community members who most need their services,” Miller explained. “By offering a no-cost space at the market on Saturdays to share information, we hope to strengthen community connections and ensure valuable resources are more accessible to those who need them.”
Some examples of non-profit groups which have taken advantage of free space at the market are Orleans Community Health, Hospice of Orleans, PAWS, Friends of Iroquois Wildlife Refuge and many more. Space may be reserved by contacting canalvillagemarket@gmail.com.
Market hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the basement of the former NAPA building at 345 North Main St. Ample parking is available in the canal basin and on Main Street.
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Albion looks to increase fines for parking infractions
Photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from Saturday evening shows traffic and cars parking on Main Street in Albion.
ALBION – The Village Board will take comments from the public on raising the fines for people with parking infractions.
Police Chief David Mogle suggested the fines be doubled from their current levels of $25 if paid within seven days of the violation, $30 if paid after seven days but within 30 days, and $35 if paid after 30 days.
Village Trustee Joyce Riley believes doubling the fines is too much. She suggested a $40 fine if paid with seven days, $50 if paid after seven days and wthin 30 days, and $65 if paid after 30 days.
The other board members agreed with Riley’s reasoning. The board will have a public hearing on the higher fines at 6 p.m. on Feb. 11.
The Albion Police Department is almost out of parking tickets and will soon be ordering more. Mogle advised the board the fine amounts had not been changed in many years.
The Police Department can issue parking tickets for parking in the street overnight from Nov. 15 to April 15, parking in a no parking zone, blocking a fire lane, parking closer than 10 feet of a fire hydrant, double parking, parking in handicapped parking spot without a permit, parking on curb or sidewalk, and overtime parking.
Medina adds late fees to Ridgeway, Shelby for not paying bills for water charge
2 towns together have been billed about $60,000 by Medina last 2 years for ad valorem charges
Photos by Tom Rivers: This photo from Aug. 8, 2016 shows a worker from DN Tanks putting a second coat of paint on Medina’s 3-million-gallon water tank. DN Tank also made several repairs to the water tank that was initially built in 1959 on Route 31A. The tank holds water from the Niagara County Water District. The Village of Medina’s water system also feeds water districts in Shelby and Ridgeway.
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board isn’t backing off collecting money from the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway with their shares of an ad valorem charge from the Niagara County Water District.
The NCWD supplies Medina, Shelby and most of Ridgeway with its water. The NCWD bills Medina about $136,000 annually in an ad valorem charge as an out-of-district user. That charge helps pay for infrastructure and operations of the Water District.
Village Attorney Matt Brooks told the Village Board on Monday it is obligated to collect the ad valorem charges from Shelby and Ridgeway, and may need to take legal action if the towns continue to not pay the bill.
Medina has been bearing the full bill itself, even though a study from 2013 called for Ridgeway to pay 5.02 percent of the bill and Shelby to contribute 17.98 percent. That is their share of the bill based on their water usage back in 2013. (Medina officials expect the towns are using a higher percentage now after adding water districts since 2013.)
Medina, however, didn’t seek to collect the ad valorem charge from the two towns until September 2024.
Shelby was billed $23,554.81 and Ridgeway was billed $6,576.48. Neither has paid.
They were billed again in September 2025, with Shelby’s amount at $23,193.84 and Ridgeway’s at $6,475.70.
The Medina Village Board is determined to get those funds, and will be assessing 10 percent late fees as it does with all of its water customers who don’t pay on time.
Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman said she has reached out to the town supervisors at both towns to tell them the money is owed, per their contract with Medina. The village sells water to the two towns that comes from the Niagara County Water District.
Sherman said Brian Napoli, the Ridgeway town supervisor, doesn’t think Ridgeway needs to pay. Jim Heminway, the Shelby town supervisor, has asked the town attorney to review the issue, Sherman said.
Village Attorney Matt Brooks advised the board on Monday that the village may need to take legal action if the two towns continue to refuse payment.
“This is an issue of a contractual breach,” he said. “It’s in violation of a contract.”
The Medina mayor said she is trying to reach an amicable agreement with the two municipalities.
“It’s not out of spite,” Sherman said about the bills from the village to the towns. “We want to be good neighbors but we are obligated to collect this amount based on the contract.”
Clear Skies Above Barre still pressing for answers with local wind turbine project
Press Release, Clear Skies Above Barre
BARRE — Heritage Wind LLC stated earlier this year that tree clearing would begin on January 19, 2026. This announcement came without the required “notice to proceed” from the NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting.
Back on December 9, 2024, the Orleans Hub reported that clearing was expected to begin in February 2025. Now, more than a year later, the timeline has shifted again with no public explanation. ORES has deemed the company’s notice to proceed application incomplete four times: February 18, 2025; May 13, 2025; October 20, 2025; and January 12, 2026.
Additionally, a fourth modification was just approved December 16, 2025; the project is significantly different from what was approved by the state January 13, 2022. The 4 modifications were individually deemed minor and thus required significantly less review than a major modification would have required.
The Heritage Wind project has been reduced by 27 percent in nameplate capacity (in the 4th modification) — from 173.6 MW to 126 MW — and our Host Community Agreement and payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) have been reduced by the same amount (HCA and PILOT are based on nameplate capacity and at the time the HCA and PILOT were signed the name plate capacity of the project was expected to be 201MW).
Yet the turbines themselves are virtually unchanged. A 16‑foot decrease in height does nothing to lessen the noise, shadow flicker, or visual intrusion residents will face (this is according to Heritage Wind, LLC own studies submitted to ORES).
When the Town of Barre raised its height limit from 500 feet to 700 feet (in the wind ordinance), the Town was told bigger turbines were needed to improve efficiency and produce more electricity. Now, after state approval on January 13, 2022, Heritage Wind has switched to a smaller-output turbine that is almost the same size, and uses older technology.
This is a major shift and worthy of a formal request for answers by the Barre Town Board. That request was put forward by George McKenna and seconded by Dave Waters — but shut down by Sean Pogue and Margaret Swan at their last 2 meetings in December. Their vote left residents without representation on an issue that deeply affects our community.
Residents should not accept the idea that “nothing can be done.” The project may be approved, but the process is not over. Clear Skies Above Barre, along with engaged residents and the Town Board, still have many ways to speak up for our community.
We invite everyone to our next Clear Skies Above Barre, Inc. meeting on February 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Hoag Library. Our meetings are open to the public, and we welcome your participation. We meet on the first Tuesday of each month. You can also email clearskiesabovebarre@gmail.com and request to be added to receive updates via email.
If you would like to follow what Heritage Wind LLC is proposing, or has submitted to the state you can find the proceedings by clicking here.
Clear Skies Above Barre, Inc.
Clear Skies Above Barre, Inc. is a grassroots group of citizens who are concerned about the proposed Heritage Wind Project, working to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Barre, N.Y. and surrounding communities that would be impacted by the proposed industrial wind turbines.
Clear Skies Above Barre, Inc. is a not for profit organization that was formed by residents of the Barre community and not by any other organization. We have not been funded by any other organization.
