Sponsored Post
Artist begins work on mural of beloved canines at Medina Dog Park
Provided photos
MEDINA – Brandi Zavitz, an artist from Medina, has been at the Medina Dog Park working on a mural that will feature about 70 beloved canines in the community.
Zavitz and the Friends of the Medina Dog Park had set a cap of 50 dogs for the mural. People pay $100 to have their dog painted on the mural with those proceeds going to the Friends for improvements at the park on North Gravel Road, just south of Boxwood Cemetery.
Due to the strong interest, the mural was expanded to 70 dogs as well as Orly the Ox, the county’s bicentennial mascot.
The mural initially was planned to be 24 feet long but Zavitz made it 8 feet longer to fit in more dogs.
Her artist fee and the cost of the materials are being covered with a grant administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.
Cindy Davis, vice president of Friends of Medina Dog Park, is thrilled to see the outlines of all the pets that Zavitz has sketched out on the mural.
“I’m so excited,” Davis said. “It’s going to be awesome. I truly think it’s going to bring more people to the park. We have kind of become a family here. We all take care of each other. So seeing these dogs painted will always keep these fur babies in our hearts.”
The Friends of the Dog Park would like to add another water station, a second gazebo, another fenced-in area for smaller dogs and include more agility equipment, Davis said.
New time for Medina sectional game
The time for the Medina vs. Southwestern Section VI Class B championship baseball game has been changed.
The game will now be played at 10 a.m. Saturday at Frontier High School. It was originally scheduled for 4 p.m.
To get tickets in advance, click here.
Heritage Wind accepting applications for community grant program
Press Release, Heritage Wind
BARRE – The Heritage Wind Community Grant Program is now accepting applications for its Spring 2025 grant cycle.
Since its inception in 2020, the grant program has awarded nearly $140,000 to Orleans County community causes and non-profit organizations working to build healthy communities, increase environmental sustainability, foster economic development, and promote education.
The Fall/Winter Grant Cycle included awards to the following community organizations:
- Town of Barre Fire Department
- Village of Albion Summer Youth Park Program
- The United Way of Orleans County
Local organizations working in the Town of Barre and the broader Orleans County community are encouraged to apply. Grants are typically awarded in the $1,000 to $5,000 range, with priority given to proposals that demonstrate meaningful impacts to the greatest number of area residents.
We will be accepting applications until June 15. Please apply at www.heritagewindpower.com/grant.
The four focus areas for the Community Grant Program are:
- Building Healthy Communities – Programs that support public health or enhance the quality of life in the community.
- Economic Development – Programs that support the economic wellbeing of the community.
- Environmental Sustainability – Programs that support environmental revitalization, sustainability, or empower residents to be stewards of the environment.
- Promoting Education – Programs that support educational institutions, especially the advancement of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This may include curriculum development, vocational training, or literacy support.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Anna Mathes at (585) 563-5137 or anna.mathes@apexcleanenergy.com.
Job Corps told to send students home by June 4 after ‘pause’ announced by DOL
Department of Labor says program costs too much with dismal results
File photos: (Left) In these photos from February 2024, Iroquois Job Corps’ carpentry student Jeremiah Caldwell works on one of the buddy benches which will be placed in four local Medina parks as a way to spread goodwill. (Right) Students in the carpentry program at Iroquois Job Corps Center work on Adirondack chairs, which the Medina Rotary Club will sell to raise money for the community.
MEDINA – The Iroquois Job Corps has been ordered by Department of Labor to have its students sent home by June 4 as part of a “pause” announced by the DOL on Thursday.
Center officials believe the DOL is moving to close the centers, and not put them on pause. The DOL announced it has halted contracts with 99 contract-operated centers. The Iroquois center, with a capacity for 225 students, is run by ETR, Education and Training Resources. ETR operates 11 Job Corps in states. In New York, it runs the Job Corps in Medina and Oneonta.
Job Corps is an employment and training system for young adults aged 16-24 throughout the United States with over 120 campuses. The center in Medina is located on the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
It has 104 full-time equivalents working there with a $8.9 million budget serving up to 225 students. The center says it has a $17 million economic impact on the community.
The Department of Labor, in its announcement on Thursday, said the Job Corps are not cost-effective and the sites often have violence and other infractions, with a dismal graduation rate.
“Job Corps was created to help young adults build a pathway to a better life through education, training and community,” DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement. “However, a startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve. We remain committed to ensuring all participants are supported through this transition and connected with the resources they need to succeed as we evaluate the program’s possibilities.”
The DOL said the graduation rate nationwide at the centers is at 38.6 percent, with the average cost per student a year at $80,284. The average cost per graduate is $155,600, according to the DOL.
The program also doesn’t tend to be a pathway to a career. On average, participants earn $16,695 annually on average when they leave the program, the DOL said.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Legislature on July 20, 2024 recognized the Iroquois Job Corps on its 60th anniversary. Pictured from left include Luke Kantor (Admissions and Career Transition Services manager for the Iroquois Job Corps), Deshawn Knights, Logan Abeyta, Unique Weeks, Janissa Legister, County Legislator Fred Miller and Job Corps operations director JT Thomas.
For the Iroquois Job Corps, the DOL reports there were 247 students at a $12,281,990 “prorated yearly center cost” or $8,858,261 yearly center cost.
The DOL reports Iroquois is at $49,724 cost per enrollee with 28.4 percent graduation rate.
The cost per graduate is at $211,758. The DOL reports there are 225 in the program for contract, but only 111 actual.
There were also 121 infractions in 2023 at Iroquois, and 14,913 “serious incident reports” at all the Job Corps centers, according to the DOL report.
Those serious incidents at all Job Corps included 372 sexual assaults and inappropriate sexual behavior, 1,764 acts of violence, 1,167 breaches of safety or security, and 2,702 reported uses of drugs.
The Iroquois campus can serve 225 students who are ages 16 to 24. They receive training in six main programs: brick masonry, carpentry, electrical, commercial painting, clinical medical assistant, and certified nursing assistant.
Students stay on campus and receive other education. Some of those programs include work towards an equivalency diploma and driver’s education.
The DOL announced on Thursday it will be suspending program at 99 contract-operated centers. Those centers need to mobilize students to safely return to their home of record. Funds will be used to pause program operations, which includes managing facilities, maintaining student records, and ensuring students are connected with necessary employment and program resources, the DOL said.
The announcement is a major shock to the local center, which sees its program as a success, helping at-risk youth to receive employment training and often do community service projects in Orleans, Genesee and Niagara counties, said Skip Draper, a government liaison for Job Corps. He has worked for the program for 25 years. Draper is also an Orleans County legislator and chairman of the Orleans County Republican Party.
He said he and others are reaching out to elected officials, including Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, to stop the closure of the Job Corps centers. Draper said Congress has already approved funding to operate the centers through June 20, 2026.
The centers offer residential programs for students at or below the poverty line, who often struggled in a traditional school setting.
He is hopeful the DOL and the Trump Administration will reverse the decision when they see the many successes of Job Corps, connecting people to trades, health services and other careers.
“Job Corps is open to reform,” Draper said this morning. “The centers are well positioned to advance President Trump’s skilled-worker initiative. We have been able to get young adults in programs to take training initiatives.”
Draper said the enrollments are at about 60 percent capacity because the DOL isn’t letting the centers do background checks on students who seek to enroll in the program. The DOL took over that responsibility but hasn’t been doing the background checks. That has led to smaller enrollments, which inflates the cost-per-student, he said.
The Job Corps program has broad support in Congress, Draper said. Tenney and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand have both visited the local site to meet students and learn about the programs offered there.
Born out of the War on Poverty and signed into law as the Economic Opportunity Act on August 20, 1964, Job Corps has provided safe housing, education, career and technical training opportunities, and support services for deserving young people, Job Corps officials said.
Mustangs will face Trojans for Class B title
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Carter Woodworth, shown here banging out the winning hit in Thursday’s semifinal win, and his Mustangs teammates will next face Southwestern for the Class B title at 4 p.m. Saturday at Frontier High School.
Just as was the case in both the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, Medina will face a familiar foe in Saturday’s title contest as the top seeded Mustangs will take on No. 6 Southwestern for the Section VI Class B baseball championship at 4 p.m. at Frontier High School.
It will be the fourth time in five years that the Mustangs and Trojans have met in the sectionals.
Medina defeated Southwestern 10-0 in the 2021 Class B2 quarterfinals and 5-4 in the 2022 Class B2 semifinals.
In their most recent meeting, the Trojans blanked the Mustangs 3-0 in the 2023 Class B2 opening round.
Medina, which brings a 20-1 record into the finals, has advanced with a pair of narrow nail bitter victories where both times the winning run scored in the final inning.
Medina first nipped Niagara-Orleans League foe No. 9 seed Roy-Hart 3-2 in the quarterfinals by scoring a run with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Mustangs then needed nine innings to edge No. 4 Fredonia 2-1 in the semis scoring the tying run in the bottom of the seventh and the game winner in the bottom of the ninth.
Southwestern, which is 13-6, likewise had a close call in the quarterfinals rallying for four runs in the top of the seventh inning to post a narrow 6-5 win over No. 3 Akron which left the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh. The Trojans then romped to a 17-6 win over No. 2 JFK in the semifinals sparked by a trio of four run scoring innings.
Saturday’s winner will advance to the new Sub Regional contest which is scheduled for Thursday at Dwyer Stadium against the Section V champion (either No. 1 seed Wellsville or No. 2 LeRoy). The winner will advance to next Saturday’s Regional against the Section IV champion (either Oneonta or Lansing). That winner will then advance to the state semifinals on June 13 in Binghamton.
Sponsored Post
Kendall ‘9’ will play in C2 title game Friday
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Mikey Colucci and his Eagle teammates will face Genesee Valley/Belfast for the Section V Class C2 title on Friday evening at 7:30 at Dwyer Stadium.
Top seeded Kendall will face No. 2 Genesee Valley/Belfast in the Section V Class C2 baseball championship game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia.
Both teams bring 21-1 records into the title contest.
Genesee Valley/Belfast advanced by downing No. 3 Gananda 4-3 in the semifinals this evening.
Kendall topped Genesee Region League foe Oakfield-Alabama 3-2 in the other semifinal on Wednesday.
Medina FC nipped in Wood Cup soccer contest
The Medina Mustangs FC dropped a narrow 4-3 decision on penalty kicks to LaSalle this evening in a Buffalo District Soccer League Wood Cup contest.
Medina tied the game at 2-2 on a penalty kick goal by Cole Callard.
Nate Dillenbeck also had a penalty kick goal for Medina whose other tally was scored by Aiden Prince off a corner by Elian Gonzalez.
Medina will open the home portion of its BDSL 1st Division season by hosting Great White Buffalo at 6 p.m. Sunday at Vets Park.
The Mustangs are off to a 3-0 start in 1st Division competition.
Mustangs rally late to win a 9 inning Section VI Class B semifinal thriller over Fredonia
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina catcher Ryleigh Culver gets the force out at home on Fredonia’ Ashton Putney during the Mustangs extra inning sectional semifinal win over the Hillbillies at Vets Park this evening,.
In an extra inning thriller, top seeded defending champion Medina edged past No. 4 Fredonia 2-1 in 9 innings in the semifinal round of the Section VI Class B baseball playoffs this evening at Vets Park.
The Mustangs scored the game winner in the bottom of the ninth as Aidan Papaj walked, stole second, went to third on a sacrifice fly by winning pitcher Preston Woodworth and came home on an infield single by Carter Woodworth.
Trailing 1-0, Medina rallied for a run on an error in the bottom of the seventh to send the contest into extra innings. Pinch runner Kolton Fletcher scored the tying run on the error after stealing second and third.
Fredonia’s run came in the fifth inning on a double by Brady Crawford.
The Hillbillies then got the bases loaded in the sixth inning on an error, a hit batter and a bunt single but Preston Woodworth bore down to get out of the big jam by registering two clutch inning ending strikeouts.
Preston Woodworth, who allowed only 3 hits and struck out 13 on the evening, also notched a clutch inning ending strikeout in the seventh as Fredonia left a runner stranded at third.
Medina left fielder Brody Fry then made a spectacular diving catch for the first out in the eighth which included another strikeout by Preston Woodworth who also had a pair of strikeouts in the top of the ninth.
Fredonia pitcher Ashton Putney likewise went the distance on the mound giving up just 2 hits and striking out 10.
Improving to to 20-1, Medina will next face No. 6 seed Southwestern in the Class B championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday at Frontier High School. Southwestern downed No. 2 JFK 17-6 in the other semifinal.
Medina second baseman Tyler Kroening gets set to put the tag on Fredonia’ Brady Crawford during a run down play which also involved Carter Woodworth (1) and Vinny Gray.
Medina’s Kolton Fletcher steals third as Fredonia’s AJ Kinney goes high to try and get the throw. Fletcher came home on the overthrow with the tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
In the pitching dual, both Fredonia’s Ashton Putney and Medina’s Preston Woodworth went the distance on the mound of the 9 inning thriller.
Fillmore nips Lady Tigers in Class D semi
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Rylan Townsend tags out Fillmore’s Mattie McCumiskey to compete a double play. The action took place during the Lady Tigers home field sectional loss this afternoon.
Runs proved hard to come by as top seeded Lyndonville dropped a narrow 2-1 decision to No. 4 Fillmore in the semifinal round of the Section V Class D softball playoffs this afternoon at Lyndonville.
Fillmore pitcher Mylee Miller helped her self at the plate by driving in both of the Eagles runs with RBI singles in the first and third innings. In the circle she allowed 4 hits and struck out 8.
Lyndonville pitcher Arnie Sturtevant likewise had a strong outing in the circle scattering 6 hits and striking out 7.
Lyndonville’s lone run came in the first inning on a single by Hannah Fox after Sturtevant had led off with a single. Alexa Robinson followed up with a double but was left stranded. Fox had 2 hits on the day.
Defensively, the Lady Tigers turned a double play in the fifth inning from shortstop Brooke Robinson to first baseman Isabella Groves to second baseman Rylan Townsend.
The Lady Tigers, which finish the season at 19-3, had just one hit after the first inning.
Fillmore advances to the Class D finals with a 16-4 record.
Lyndonville’s Isabella Groves tags out Fillmore’s Tenlee Miller at first base.
Lyndonville’s Hannah Fox is out at home after colliding with Fillmore catcher Morghyn Ross.
New owner steps forward for Gotta Dance in Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers: Amy Sidari, left, congratulates Danielle Schmidt for becoming the new owner of Gotta Dance Performing Arts LLC in Albion. Sidari led the business, known as Gotta Dance by Miss Amy, for 28 years.
ALBION – A new owner will be taking over Gotta Dance in Albion, with the long-time leader staying on as a mentor the first year.
Amy Sidari is retiring as the business owner, choosing to spend more time for her family and pursue other projects. She will stay on to assist Danielle Schmidt in her first year running the dance studio and business based at 28 West Bank St.
“She has the charisma, the communication skills and the compassion,” Sidari said about Schmidt. “She has talent, talent, talent. This is a woman of confidence and a voice that belongs on Broadway.”
Besides assisting Schmidt in the transition to Gotta Dance owner, Sidari also hopes to teach a class to very young children, and be in the Thursday adult class as a participant.
Schmidt, 20, was a dancer at Gotta Dance for five years, and then studied dance for two years at Nazareth University. She is grateful for the opportunity to keep the dance studio going for the Albion community.
Schmidt was hedging whether to commit to buying the business and taking on the demands of that role. At age 20, she thought she might be too young to take on that challenge.
But she received strong feedback from those close to the studio. The April 5 dance recital, the last one for Sidari at Gotta Dance owner, sealed the deal for Schmidt. She saw more than 200 dancers get on stage and several hundred watch the recitals.
Schmidt could feel and see just how important Gotta Dance was to so many people.
“Everybody has been so loving and supportive,” Schmidt said. “I know how much this means to the community.”
Danielle Schmidt, right, has bought the Gotta Dance business at 28 West Bank St. from Amy Sidari.
Schmidt has been in the background assisting Sidari at dance recitals, cabaret shows, and benefits for people in need.
She has run the front of the house for some of the bus tours that attend cabaret shows at Gotta Dance for live music and comedians, sometimes two or three times a week. Those shows will continue with Schmidt as the owner.
Sidari in the past 28 years has gradually transformed the Gotta Dance building into three dance studios, the cabaret venue, and a piano studio. The building was used for a plumbing business before she acquired it.
The building has new wiring, insulation, a roof, three newer furnaces, thermal windows and a host of other upgrades.
Sidari is pleased Gotta Dance will enter into a new chapter, and Sidari can still be a part of it.
“It will be good for me because I love this place,” Sidari said about her continued role.
But she said ultimately she will support Schmidt as she makes Gotta Dance her own. Schmidt said nearly the entire staff has already committed to returning next season.
There will be an open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on June 12 at Gotta Dance for the community to meet the new owner. Schmidt will have dance registration in August, but may take sign-ups during the open house as well.
Schmidt said the studio will be a welcoming place where people can let loose, and build “confi-dance.”
Sponsored Post
Bergen man who had machine guns discarded in Orleans County pleads guilty in federal court
Press Release, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, Western District of New York
BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Peter Celentano, 36, of Bergen pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to illegal possession of machine guns, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated that on September 29, 2024, the New York State Police, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, executed a search warrant at Celentano’s residence in Bergen.
During the search, law enforcement recovered numerous items, including 3D printed pistol frames, firearm parts and accessories, ammunition reloading equipment, tools for constructing privately made firearms, a drill press, and two 3D printed machinegun conversion devices.
Law enforcement also conducted additional searches at properties in Lyndonville and Medina, during which they seized numerous AR-style lower receivers, 3D printed handguns, and additional firearm parts and accessories. In total, law enforcement seized over 200 firearms tied to Celentano.
During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Celentano provided another individual with nine lower receivers, two of which contained the “third pin hole,” qualifying them as machine guns.
An individual known by defendant had subsequently discarded these firearms off the Beals Road Bridge into the Erie Canal. A New York State Police dive team searched the Erie Canal beneath the bridge in Medina and recovered a cardboard box containing 10 AR-style receivers, an unmarked handgun, ammunition magazines, and additional firearm parts.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Joseph M. Graff, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 6 before Judge Vilardo.
Landowners have chance in June to add acreage to Orleans County Ag District
Photo by Tom Rivers: These apple trees are shown on Sunday evening in the Carlton countryside.
Press Release, Orleans County Department of Planning and Development
ALBION – Orleans County is accepting enrollment of additional parcels in its existing, certified agricultural district during the month of June, pursuant to New York State Agricultural and Markets Law.
The annual 30-day window is for inclusion of property that consists of predominantly viable agricultural land. During this time period, land may only be added and not removed from County Agricultural District No.1.
This opportunity supplements, but does not replace, enrollment in an existing agricultural district during a more comprehensive review process held once every eight years. In 2024, the County Agricultural District No. 1 went through its major eight-year review.
The next eight-year anniversary review – the only time during which parcels can be both added and removed – will not occur until 2032. Presently, there are over 120,150 acres in County Agricultural District No. 1.
Requests for inclusion in District No. 1 will be evaluated, in order, by the Orleans County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, the Orleans County Legislature, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
To enroll, owners must complete and sign a Letter of Intent for Annual Enrollment form. These are available from the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development. Click here to access the form online.
Completed forms should be sent by July 1 to:
Corey Winters, Director
Orleans County Department of Planning & Development
14016 Route 31 West
Albion, NY 14411-9382
Please note that requesting enrollment during this 30-day time period is not a guarantee that an owner’s property will be added to Agricultural District No 1. Moreover, it will not automatically qualify your land for a reduced agricultural property tax assessment.
For information on obtaining a reduced agricultural property tax assessment, please contact your local assessor. Any qualifying lot must be included entirely rather than partially.
Sandstone Society contributes towards new doors for chapel at Kendall cemetery
Photo by Tom Rivers: Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata stands at the chapel at Beechwood Cemetery. The Medina Sandstone Society contributed $1,400 towards new doors for the chapel which has been hit with vandalism in recent years. The town recently put a new roof on the sandstone structure which was built in 1898.
KENDALL – The Medina Sandstone Society has approved a $1,400 grant to assist the Town of Kendall with new doors for a sandstone chapel at Beechwood Cemetery.
The new doors will protect the chapel from vandalism on the inside of the building which was constructed in 1898.
Sandstone Society President Matt Holland said the organization wanted to help the town in preserving and safeguarding the historic building.
Provided photo: Matt Holland, president of the Medina Sandstone Society, recently presented a check for $1,400 from the Medina Sandstone Society to Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata. The money goes towards new doors on a chapel at Beechwood Cemetery.
Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata said the town appreciates the assistance from the Sandstone Society. Cammarata said the total cost of the new doors will be about $3,500.
“It’s a big help,” he said about the $1,400 grant.
He also is thankful the Medina Sandstone Society is looking to assist with preservation projects outside its immediate target area of Medina.
“This sends a message the Sandstone Society is for all of Orleans County,” Camarrata said.
The Town of Kendall Highway Department recently worked on the roof of the chapel. With the new doors, Cammarata expects the building will be used to store lawn mowers and equipment. It also will keep out vandals.
“It’s a beautiful little chapel,” Cammarata said.
Holland said the Sandstone Society commends the Town of Kendall for working to preserve the chapel. The Sandstone Society is looking to partner with organizations to maintain historic sandstone buildings.
“This is really at the heart of why the Sandstone Society was created in the first place,” Holland said about the organization, which originally formed to save the Medina Armory and find a new use for the site (which later became the YMCA). “I look forward to doing more projects like this.”
The Sandstone Society also approved a $2,500 grant towards a memorial at Boxwood Cemetery in Medina for the 107 people buried in the potter’s field. Of those 107, only 28 have head stones. The Friends of Boxwood Cemetery would like to install a plaque in the cemetery listing all 107 people.
