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By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 2 September 2024 at 9:27 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading Barker into the up coming Niagara-Orleans League field hockey season will be this group of veterans. In front are Kaylee Stoll, Hailey Dodge and Madelina Pavlock. In back are Madilyn Detschner, Elizabeth Samson, Ella Taylor and Adeline Atwater.
The accent is on youth for the Barker varsity field hockey squad which faces a challenging Niagara-Orleans League season opener at defending champion Akron on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Senior Madilyn Detschner (Defense) and junior Madelina Pavlock (Attack/Midfield), who both earned first team N-O All-League honors, and junior Kaylee Stoll (Defense), who was an Honorable Mention selection, head the Lady Bulldogs veteran group which includes only three seniors.
The Lady Bulldogs returning regulars also include seniors Elizabeth Samson (Defense) and Ella Taylor (Attack) along with junior Hailey Dodge (Midfield) as freshman Adeline Atwater looks to handle the goaltending duties.
“We’re still young,” said Coach Karin Menz. “We have a lot of young players so our focus is on developing out skills. Improving our skill level will be key especially going on turf.”
Barker’s graduation losses included second team N-O All-League honorees Macie May (Attack/Midfield) and Addison Szafranski (Midfield) along with Rachel Sutter (Attack) and Cole Carnes (Attack).
Barker finished in a tie for second place with Medina at 9-3 last fall behind undefeated (12-0) Akron. Over the past two decades either Akron or Barker has won or shared the N-O title.
Akron is led by a group of seven players who earned spots on the N-O All-League squad. They include first team honorees juniors Marissa Brege and Morgan Tomporowski, second team selections seniors Ava Fox and Julia Klodzinski and sophomore Madigan Regan and Honorable Mention picks sophomores Madison Gates and Alexis Salmon.
Contributed Story Posted 2 September 2024 at 9:20 am
Roy-Hart will be inducting five new members into the Proud To Be RAM Wall of Fame on Thursday September 19th prior to the 7 p.m. Homecoming football game vs Newfane at Bruno Pacini Field
The new inductees include Jon Corser (Class of 1969), Sid Silsby (Class of 1969), Dorothy Keirn (Class of 1979), Michelle Wroblewski (Class of 1979) and Roger W. Grove, an Honorary Member who was the Founder of the Rams Mascot for the Royalton-Hartland School District.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 September 2024 at 9:20 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Vance VanSkiver, a motor equipment operator with the Village of Albion Department of Public Works, paints the gazebo by the Erie Canal in Albion on Friday.
The structure was gray but is now a red-brown color to fit in better with the other buildings close by, as well as the benches along the canal.
The DPW also will soon replace the shingles on the gazebo. It’s part of an upgrade of the park that will include a bench and lamppost from old steel from the Main Street lift bridge. A monument to the 15 victims of the Sept. 28, 1859 bridge collapse also will be installed in the park.
The site was never officially designated as a park until the Village Board on Aug. 14 formally named it the “Erie Canal Park.” It will be dedicated during a noon ceremony on Sept. 28. That will include the unveiling of the park improvements.
Jay Pahura, the DPW superintendent, paints the interior of the gazebo on Friday.
A handful of giant corporations such as Cargill and JBS have control of agriculture, from what farmers pay for seeds and fertilizer to what they are paid for their finished products.
As a result farmer gets squeezed at both ends from input to output. I explained in my last letter how the Trump administration prioritized these corporations over small family farms. In this letter, I would like to outline some of the ways the Biden-Harris administration is helping small farmers. The Biden-Harris administration strengthened farmers’ bargaining position when dealing with these large corporations and has made antitrust a central theme.
For example, the Trump administration greenlit both the Bayer-Monsanto merger, which created the world’s largest company for vegetable seeds, cotton seeds and herbicides, and the Dow-DuPont merger, which created the largest ag-biotech and seed firm in the U.S.
The Biden-Harris administration sued to block the merger of supermarket chains Kroger and Albertsons. Farm Action stated: “A successful merger between the two companies would leave dairy farmers with fewer places to sell their milk, and grant Kroger-Albertsons with untold power to command lower prices. As a result, independent producers would inevitably be forced out of business.”
The Biden-Harris administration also filed legal action against Koch Foods Inc. to prevent them from requiring chicken farmers to pay a “termination penalty” for switching to a different processor. President Biden has issued an executive order directing the FTC to go after corporate “right to repair” restrictions that prevent farmers and ranchers from doing their own maintenance on equipment.
It is no accident that under the Biden-Harris administration, net farm incomes have gone up from $94 billion in the years between 2017 to 2019 to $165 billion between 2021 to 2023. Our local farmers and farm communities are economically more healthy under the Biden-Harris administration.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 September 2024 at 8:12 am
Grounds could be sold by Diocese; Volunteers hope festival will continue for many more years
Photos by Tom Rivers
HULBERTON – Joe Morlino was among many volunteers cooking food at St. Rocco’s Italian Festival on Sunday in Hulberton. The event has been a big fundraiser for the St. Mark’s and St. Mary’s Catholic Parish.
Morlino has been volunteering at the festival for 20 years. He is cooking French fries, ravioli and mozzarella sticks.
The festival included a bocce tournament, arts and craft vendors, food, a beer tent, and other activities.
Sunday was the 49th St. Rocco’s Italian Festival.
The property has been listed to be sold by the Buffalo Diocese, but church members have advocated that the property be kept by the local church and continued to be used for the Italian Festival, which volunteers say is a community event, bringing many former Holley residents back for a homecoming.
Bishop Michel W. Fisher said the Diocese will announce its final recommendations this week or early next week on what churches and properties will be closed and sold in the Diocese.
Kevin Lynch, a former Holley mayor, eyes where to toss the ball in the bocce tournament. Lynch and three of his high school friends – Charlie Smith, Bernie Ruggeri and Paul Gifaldi – have been playing as a team for about 30 years. They were 1-1 in the early going of the tournament on Sunday.
The bocce tournament had 10 teams on Sunday, up from eight last year. Another tournament was held on Sunday at the courts at Hickory Ridge Golf Course. The goal is to be the closest to the small ball. The first team to 16 wins, and the team has to win by at least 2 points.
Dan Mawn prepares waffles to be deep fried and then covered in confectionary sugar. He has been volunteering at St. Rocco’s since 2009, when Holley ended its firemen’s carnival.
I hadn’t noticed the plaques on the festival grounds until Sunday. This monument sign is concealed in bushes.
One side facing the road declares: “In gratitude to the J. Walter Koessler Family (Greater Buffalo Press) for the gift of this land and building.”
The other side is in memory of the Rev. James D. Walker, who served St. Mary’s, St. Rocco’s and St. Mark’s.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 September 2024 at 4:26 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Steven Long, a firefighter in the Medina Fire Department, collects money this morning during a boot drive to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation in Western New York, which grants wishes to children battling critical illnesses.
Firefighters were at three intersections – Route 63 and Maple Ridge Road, Route 104 and South Lyndonville Road, and Main Street and Center Street – and collected $6,500 for Make-A-Wish.
Medina firefighters were at the Main and Center Street intersection, while Shelby and East Shelby firefighters were at Route 63 and Maple Ridge Road. Ridgeway and Lyndonville firefighters collected funds at Route 104 and South Lyndonville Road.
The boot drive was planned for Saturday but was pushed back a day to the rainy morning yesterday.
Traffic was a little slower today than on a Saturday, but firefighters said many people were generous, giving 10- and 20-dollar bills.
Caleb Fisher, 11, is the son of Medina firefighter Adam Fisher. Caleb is on East Center Street leading up to the Main Street intersection.
From left include Medina firefighters Adam Fisher and Dylan Schrader and Fisher’s son Caleb.
The west battalion firefighters have teamed on the boot drive in recent years. Firefighters said at least two children in the community have benefitted from Make-A-Wish recently.
Captain Mike Young of the Medina FD collects money in the boot drive today on Main Street.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 1 September 2024 at 10:08 am
Photo via the Golf Channel – Melanie Green gets set to make a shot during today’s final round at the Curtis Cup.
Medina’s Melanie Green tied in her singles match today to earn a half point to Team USA in the closing round of competition at the Curtis Cup being played at Sunningdale, England.
Green, who was three up after 7 holes and two up after 10 had to win the final hole to halve her match with Mimi Rhodes of the Great Britain/Ireland Team.
Making her debut in Curtis Cup competition, Green had a win, a loss and two ties in her four rounds over the three days of the tournament.
Great Britain/Ireland edged Team USA 10 1/2 – 9 1/2 to win the Curtis Cup.
Green will next be attending the Stage 2 tournament of the Qualifying School next month at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice Florida as she tries to earn her card to turn professional and compete on the LPGA tour.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 1 September 2024 at 9:28 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – The Lyndonville/Barker girls varsity soccer team’s returning group includes, in front, Arnie Sturtevant, Leah Costello, Lilly Raduns and Elisabeth Ingersoll. In back are Isabella Groves, Alexa Robinson, Brooke Robinson, Rylan Townsend and Alexis Dauphinee. Missing is Natalie Rath.
The accent is on youth for the Lyndonville/Barker girls varsity soccer team as the Lady Tigers prep for the September 6 non league opener at CSAT.
Elisabeth Ingersoll and Alexis Dauphinee are the only retuning seniors on the underclassmen dominated squad.
The veteran group also includes juniors Brooke Robinson, Rylan Townsend, Isabella Groves and Lilly Raduns along with sophomore Leah Costello, freshmen Alexa Robinson and Arnie Sturtevant and eighth grader Natalie Rath.
“We’ve got better numbers this year enough so we can have full varsity and JV teams which is a very positive step,” said Coach Lee Dillenbeck.
The Lady Tigers will open Genesee Region League competition at home on September 11 against Attica.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 1 September 2024 at 9:23 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the Medina field hockey team include, in front, Lilah Class, Sophia Castricone, Sophia Goyette, Penelope Schalck and Ava Blount. In back are Morgan Zeiner, Malloree Rinker, Maggie Lonnen and Emiliana Batista.
Having finished in a tie for second place last fall and with a sizeable group of veterans on hand to lead the way Medina is again looking to challenge for top Niagara-Orleans League field hockey honors this season.
Junior Forward/Midfielder Penelope Schalck (20 goals), who earned first team N-O All-League honors last fall, along with senior Sophia Goyette (Defense)and junior Emiliana Batista (Forward) who both received Honorable Mention head the Mustangs underclassmen dominated veteran contingent. That group also includes juniors Sophia Castricone (Forward), Lilah Class (Midfield/Defense), Ava Blount (Forward), Maggie Lonnen (Forward), Malloree Rinker (Midfield/Defense)and Morgan Zeiner (Defense).
The Mustangs graduation losses included first team N-O All-League honoree Forward Iyla Lilleby (33 goals) along with second team selections Midfield/Defender Adeline Castricone and Goalie Arianna Bloom.
“We do have a good group back”, said Coach Amber Cleaveland. “We’re just looking to keep improving.”
Medina, which went 9-3 in the league and 15-4 overall reaching the Section VI Class C finals, will open the league campaign at home on September 9 against Roy-Hart.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 September 2024 at 8:55 am
Contractors rebuilt roads, tackled other projects
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The main campus road at Medina Central School was closed off to traffic on Aug. 2 in front of Clifford H. Wise Intermediate School. The road was rebuilt and repaved this summer.
It’s part of a $34.3 million project that was approved by school district voters on Feb. 14, 2023. State aid is covering $29.9 million.
The project includes $17.3 million at Junior-Senior High School, $9.8 million at Clifford H. Wise Intermediate, $6.2 million at Oak Orchard Primary School, and $1.1 million at the bus garage.
Work will continue on the project, including next summer.
Here is the repaved road in front of the district office on Saturday morning.
The road is freshly paved here in front of the junior/senior high school.
“We’ve had a real busy summer in terms of construction,” said Dr. Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent.
He listed the main projects at the district this summer:
The main roads were completely rebuilt, and the parking lots at the Junior-Senior High School were milled and repaved.
A new dehumidification system is in the process of being installed in the pool, which will be ready for swim season. Next summer, the pool itself will be completely rebuilt.
Foundation work for our new band, tech and ag rooms has been ongoing all summer, and construction will continue throughout the year.
New bathrooms are being added to the second floor of the junior/senior high school and near the cafeteria at Oak Orchard. Those will be completed by November.
Work on the new library at Oak Orchard started this summer and will also be completed by November. (Once the library is completed, the old library at Oak will be converted to district offices. Once those new offices are finished, the current district offices will be converted to classrooms.)
“Next summer, all of the entrances and main offices will be reconstructed with enhanced security for all entrances,” Kruzynski said.
The parking lot by the Junior-Senior High School has construction equipment and materials on Saturday.
The State of West Virginia, the cities of Cumberland, MD, Tulsa, OK and Rochester, NY have created programs to lure people who already have jobs, and work remotely, to their cities.
Cumberland is giving $20,000 to people who agree to buy a home and live in the community.
The Rochester program, called Greater ROC Relocate, grants up to $9,000 towards purchasing a home. In addition the State of West Virginia has started the Ascend program which offers $12,000 to people willing to live in the city of Morgantown and the Greenbrier Valley areas.
The Tulsa, Oklahoma program now has 3,000 people working remotely which has added $62 million to its economy.
Perhaps the Orleans County Government, the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce and the 10 Orleans towns could consider creating such a program. It could be called OR Relocate.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 August 2024 at 6:18 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Orleans County Historical Association today served 305 chicken barbcue dinners from the Gaines Basin Schoolhouse on Gaines Basin Road.
Pi tured from left include Jean Shervin, Chris Capurso and Coleen Cliff. Capurso’s late husband Al was instrumental in the rehabilitation of the former schoolhouse.
A kiosk was installed across the road from the Gaines Basin Schoolhouse, a cobblestone building that served students from 1832 to 1944. The schoolhouse now serves as a museum, meeting place and headquarters for the Orleans County Historical Association. It is the oldest documented cobblestone building in the region.
The building was in rough shape before volunteers saved it from ruin. Beginning in 2015, Capurso led a team that put on a new roof, replaced windows and cleaned out junk and debris from the site. They put in new electric, a new subfloor, restored the trim and repaired the facade. They added a historic marker and flag pole. A log cabin from 1930 also has been relocated from an Albion backyard to behind the schoolhouse.
Frank Berger, right, and Rick Ebbs are part of the crew serving up the meals.
Proceeds from the dinner go to OCHA programming, including lectures and cemetery tours. The tours ended last Sunday for this year. OCHA led tours at West Ridgeway Cemetery, the “Poorhouse Cemetery” in Albion, St. Mary’s in Medina and Mount Albion.
The group has two lectures left this year. Those upcoming presentations at the schoolhouse include 7 p.m. on Sept. 25 by Delia Robinson, “FDR Slept Here” and 7 p.m. on Oct. 30 by Jim Friday on Medina Sandstone.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 31 August 2024 at 2:01 pm
Photo via Golf Channel – Melanie Green in Curtis Cup competition today at Sunningdale, England.
It was a busy two match day for Medina’s Melanie Green at the Curtis Cup competition being played at Sunningdale, England.
Green earned a half point for Team USA in the Foursomes match this morning.
She and her partner Rachel Kuehn halved their match with the Great Britain/Ireland Team duo of Lottie Wood and Sara Byrne.
In the afternoon Fourballs match, Green and her partner Anna Davis dropped a 2 and 1 decision to the Great Britain/Ireland team of Lorna McClymont and Beth Coulter.
The Curtis Cup competition will conclude on Sunday with singles matches to decide the title.
Great Britain/Ireland holds a 7-5 lead heading into Sunday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 August 2024 at 11:22 am
MEDINA – A boot drive to benefit Make-A-Wish has been pushed back from today to Sunday due to the rainy weather this morning.
Firefighters from five companies and departments in western Orleans County will team on Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon in an annual boot drive to raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation in Western New York, which grants wishes to children battling critical illnesses.
Firefighters from Shelby, East Shelby, Medina, Ridgeway and Lyndonville will be near the intersections at Route 63 and Maple Ridge Road, Route 104 and South Lyndonville Road, and Main Street and Center Street.
The firefighters have raised about $8,000 in the recent boot drives for Make-A-Wish.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 August 2024 at 9:52 am
Village also expects to try again for Restore NY funding
File photo by Tom Rivers: Downtown Albion is pictured last winter. The Main Street lift bridge has been closed for nearly two years, reducing traffic for some of the Main Street businesses.
ALBION – The Village of Albion submitted applications last year for the $4.5 million Forward NY program and for up to $10 million in a Restore NY grant.
Albion was denied in both applications in what grant writer Jay Grasso said are very competitive programs among municipalities looking to help their downtown business districts, and tackle other housing and tourism initiatives.
Grasso, owner of G & G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, was encouraged by the strength of Albion’s applications and he wants to try again for the state funding. He said municipalities that receive those larger grants often miss the cut the first time.
The Village Board has scheduled a tentative 6 p.m. public meeting on Sept. 12 at the Village Hall to hear from building owners and residents about the programs.
“There was good feedback to the applications,” Grasso said during Wednesday’s Village Board meeting. “I think the village is primed for it.”
Grasso said the state wants to see bigger “transformational” projects that can be a catalyst for other investment in the community. The projects don’t have to be in the downtown.
The applications last year included a trail that extended from the downtown to Mount Albion Cemetery where the village sought funding to replace the roof on the chapel.
Albion’s Restore NY grant application last year totaled $11 million in projects. That list has Grasso convinced Albion should pursue the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant, rather than the $4.5 million Forward NY grant.
Once he hears from business owners, non-profit organizations and village officials about potential projects, Grasso said he expects to submit a letter of intent in October to apply for either the Forward NY or larger DRI. He also said he will go after the Restore NY grant.
The Restore NY program could bring up to $10 million to revitalize distressed commercial and residential sites, providing 90 percent of the costs. The program funds reconstruction, structural repairs, repair and replacement of mechanical systems, energy efficiency upgrades, and demolition.
Forward NY or the DRI provides matching funds for building owners to create residential space or upgrade facades and make other improvements. The village could receive 100 percent funding towards public-benefit projects, such as upgraded parking lots.
Potential projects for building owners could include:
new construction (residential, mixed use, hotel, etc.)
renovation of existing buildings
facade improvements
renovation of new retail, office, co-working, commercial, industrial, recreational or cultural use
