Facebook

Month: August 2019

Our Letters Policy

Posted 24 October 2023 at 3:00 pm

We appreciate input from our readers, and we publish letters to the editor without charge. The letters should be written by the person who submits the letter and not be “ghost written” by someone else. While open speech and responsibility are encouraged, comments may be rejected if they are purely a personal attack, offensive or repetitive. Comments are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Orleans Hub. Although care is taken to moderate comments, we have no control over how they are interpreted and we are unable to guarantee the accuracy of comments and the rationality of the opinions expressed. We reserve the right to edit letters for content and brevity. Please limit the length of your letter (we suggest no more than 500 words) and provide your name, telephone number, mailing address and a verifiable email address for verification purposes. Letters should be emailed to news@orleanshub.com.

Kendall youth wrestler wins Ohio Tourney

Contributed Story Posted 29 April 2024 at 3:06 pm

Contributed Photo – Jeffrey Lutes, a second grader at Kendall Elementary and a three-time New York State finalist, won the “Ohio Tournament of Champions” a national level wrestling tournament this past weekend. Entered in a 22 man bracket with multiple state champions and place finishers from 7 different states he defeated all 5 of his opponents. His wins included over a 2024 Tulsa National champion, Reno World’s Finalist and two-time Michigan State Champion in the semi finals with a 8-3 decision. Carrying that momentum into the finals he got a pin half way though the bout to secure the win. He attributed his success to his work with local clubs and training partners including Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy in Albion, Mongoose Elite in Rochester and Revolution Elite in Lockport.

Ortt hears how ‘red tape’ hurting small businesses during roundtable in Kendall

Posted 29 April 2024 at 2:59 pm

High taxes, shortage of workers among challenges

Provided photo: Senator Rob Ortt and Regional Director of SUNY Brockport SBDC Lindsay Ward speak with local small business owners

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

KENDALL – Today, New York State Senator Rob Ortt hosted a small business roundtable in partnership with SUNY Brockport Small Business Development Center Regional Director Lindsay Ward at The Grove 1848 in Kendall.

A variety of businesses and entrepreneurs were represented with backgrounds and interests including, realty, agriculture, retail, food service, healthcare, banking, among others attending the meeting to learn more about the successes and struggles of businesses around Orleans and Monroe counties.

“There is no better way to learn what business owners are dealing with, both good and bad, than hearing directly from them – I’d like to thank everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to join us this morning for a lively discussion on what is and what is not working for Western New York’s Business Climate,” Ortt said. “I’m always thankful to be able to gather with and hear from local businesses and deliver the latest news out of Albany and how legislative changes could or will directly affect their livelihood and bottom line.”

Participants talked about many concerns over running a business that include increased taxes, failure to address issues with unemployment insurance, staffing shortages and utility costs. Strict rules and regulations governing many businesses from the local level up to the state level remain chief among the top concerns of small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Senator Ortt introduced and continues to champion the Red Tape Reduction Act (S869). This legislation would require that when a rule is adopted that imposes a new administrative burden on a business, one or more existing rules must be amended or repealed to offset the cost of the new administrative burden. This would also require the identification of the rule to be repealed whenever a new rule is proposed.

There are many avenues business owners and entrepreneurs must navigate including the laws and regulations of their respective industry, securing loans to fund their business, in addition to hiring qualified and reliable people to help out. It can be an overwhelming task for any person to deal with, especially if this is their first time.

Thankfully, there are well qualified experts to help and offer guidance through many of the processes. The SUNY Brockport Small Business Development Center is one such place and Regional Director Lindsay Ward oversees and assists a large portion of Western New York businesses in an area serving Genesee, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, and Wayne ​counties with confidential business advisement at no charge.

“I would like to thank Senator Ortt for hosting the small business roundtable discussion with small businesses and entrepreneurs within Orleans and Monroe counties, and in partnership with the SUNY Brockport Small Business Development Center,”  Ward said. “We are  proud to share all the resources that our center offers to support entrepreneurs and small businesses across Western New York. I encourage anyone to feel free to reach out to our center anytime for assistance with their small business.”

Tonawanda Seneca Nation responds to Fish & Wildlife Service terminating drilling permit for STAMP pipeline

Posted 29 April 2024 at 2:48 pm

Press Release, Tonawanda Seneca Nation

TOWN OF ALABAMA – The U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service has announced its decision to pull a permit that would have allowed construction of an industrial wastewater and sewage pipeline through the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. The Tonawanda Seneca Nation, which opposes the pipeline, commended USFWS on its decision.

“This industrial wastewater pipeline through our ancestral lands threatened harm to the Refuge, our people, and our way of life,” said Chief Roger Hill of the Nation. “We asked the Fish and Wildlife Service to terminate this permit nearly two years ago, and only went to court when our repeated requests were denied. The Service made the right decision to pull this permit and protect the land and waters.”

The Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1958 to support migratory waterfowl, maintain the health of Oak Orchard Creek and its floodplain and wetlands, preserve habitat, and enhance outdoor opportunities for local communities.

The Tonawanda Seneca Nation first called on USFWS to pull the permit in September 2022, citing fatal flaws in its issuance that included failure to consult with the Nation. USFWS refused the Nation’s request and allowed pipeline construction to begin in July 2023. Construction was halted in September 2023 following multiple spills of hundreds of gallons of drilling fluids onto federally protected land and wetlands, and the Nation filed suit against USFWS in federal court in November 2023.

Cleanup of the spills has taken more than seven months and included removal of more than 73 tons of contaminated drilling mud from wetlands in the Refuge, with engineers and state regulators acknowledging that some drilling mud cannot be removed and will likely remain in the environment permanently. The Nation’s lawsuit argues that the pipeline permit approval and subsequent drilling violated the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act.

In its decision, USFWS found that “construction of [the pipeline] cannot be completed as originally permitted and… the environmental impacts extend beyond the permitted Right-Of-Way (ROW).” USFWS noted that termination of the permit would be effective as of June 24, 2024, and clarified that any further proposed pipeline construction would require the developer to file a new permit application.

The decision represents a stinging blow to developer Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC), which intended construction of the pipeline to draw industrial tenants to the proposed Western New York Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Park (WNY STAMP).

While the agency has receivedc$100 million in state funding for WNY STAMP since 2005, including $56 million recently awarded by Governor Hochul, WNY STAMP remains unoccupied. Its sole tenant, Plug Power, has suspended construction of a facility there due to cash shortages and market conditions.

The Plug Power project has received state subsidies totalling $270 million, or $4 million per promised job. The project fails to meet baselines required by New York’s “Smart Growth” law, and both Plug Power and WNY STAMP were included in Western New York’s list of “Biggest Business Losers” by the Buffalo News in 2023.

According to a 2017 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation study, visitors coming to fish Oak Orchard Creek, Lake Ontario, and its tributaries in Orleans County bring $27 million to the region every year. Contamination caused by WNY STAMP would jeopardize these economic benefits.

The Tonawanda Seneca Nation, a federally recognized Indian Nation, has raised concerns about the WNY STAMP industrial mega site since its inception. The project poses an existential threat to the people and culture of the Nation, as well as threats to birds, fish, deer, water, and medicinal plants in the Big Woods that border WNY STAMP. Federal law requires robust consultation with the Nation on projects that affect it, and federal guidance directs agencies to aim for consensus with Indian Nations.

According to Chief Hill, “Protecting the land and water for future generations is one of our greatest responsibilities, and preventing this pipeline through the Refuge is an important step. But our Nation still faces a looming threat from the proposed STAMP industrial site and we hope to move forward collaboratively with the Fish and Wildlife Service and New York State to ensure potential impacts from heavy industry are fully analyzed and avoided before permits are issued. It shouldn’t take an environmental disaster for agencies to follow the law.”

Editor’s Note: The Genesee County Economic Development Center on April 25 announced it is working closely with the towns of Oakfield and Alabama, along with the village of Oakfield and regulatory agencies to construct a force main to accommodate the current projects at STAMP and a potential future project.

“As the Oakfield line cannot fully replace Orleans County line we will continue to pursue the force main to Oak Orchard Creek in the town of Shelby through a different construction method and we look forward to working with United States Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation as this process moves forward. The Oakfield plan alleviates the timing pressures for the build-out of the force main to Oak Orchard Creek.”

The GCEDC said it is in the process of submitting a new permit application to propose an open cut construction method which will avoid the types of incidents that resulted from the horizontal directional drilling.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on April 26 announced construction started for the Edwards Vacuum factory at STAMP. That $319 million facility will make technology that is a vital component to controlling the highly sensitive environment of semiconductor manufacturing processes, Hochul said.

Albion village tax rate tops $20 for first time

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 April 2024 at 10:49 am

ALBION – The Albion Village Board adopted a $8,194,333 village budget for 2024-25 on Thursday that raises the tax rate by $1.27 – from $19.13 to $20.40 per $1,000 of assessed property.

The tax levy, what the village will collect in property taxes, increased by 6.6 percent or by $194,340 – from $2,923,473 to $3,117,813.

This is the first time the village tax rate tops $20. Medina a year ago was the first village where the tax rate went over $20. Medina went through reassessments last year and the new assessments added $100 million to Medina’s tax base, allowing that village to drop the tax rate from $21.16 to $13.97 with its new budget for 2024-25.

Albion doesn’t have the new reassessments on the official rolls yet. That will likely happen next year.

For the 2024-25 budget. Albion’s tax base shrunk slightly by less than 0.1 percent or by $74,424 – from $152,867,932 to $152,793,508.

The preliminary numbers for 2025-26 show a growth in the village tax base by about 40 percent or $62 million to $214.8 million. But the Village Board has to wait until next year to have those numbers, which will be finalized after the grievance process if property owners challenge their new assessments.

The village budget for 2024-25 totals $8,194,333 with $4,701,848 in the general fund, $2,068,150 in the water fund, and $1,424,335 in the sewer fund.

UPDATE at 1:10 p.m.: Albion Mayor Angel Javier Jr. said he did not vote for the budget that exceeded the tax cap. He said the village is headed towards consolidation with the Town of Albion “as village taxes exceed the state-mandated cap.”

He said village taxpayers will continue to see more tax increases, and higher fees – including water, sewer and fire protection.

Medina village taxes up 3% but tax rate plunges from reassessments

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 April 2024 at 8:35 am

Rate drops from $21.16 to $13.97 after tax base grew by $100 million

MEDINA – The Village Board adopted a $7,678,256 budget for the general fund on Thursday that will increase the amount of taxes collected by 3.1 percent. However, the tax rate will plunge more than $7 – from $21.16 to $13.97 per $1,000 of assessed properties.

The towns of Shelby and Ridgeway, where the village is located, both completed town-wide reassessments in 2023 and those new values take effect in the 2024-25 village budget.

The tax base increased by $100.5 million, going from $178,984,667 to $279,494,874. That is a 56.2 percent increase.

The tax rate dropped 34.0 percent or by $7.19.

During a budget public hearing on April 8, the budget was at a 34.9 percent tax increase or up by $1,320,759. The Village Board and the department heads shaved $1.2 million from that to try to get to a “minimal amount,” said Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman.

However, she said the board can only cut so much. The village will be looking for more revenues outside of the property tax. Medina has tried for years to get in increase in the local sales tax, but has been kept flat by the County Legislature since 2001.

“This board has had numerous discussions on the need to pursue additional funding sources while looking long-term on how to best to continue services while trying to keep the tax rate affordable,” Sherman said.

Overall spending in the general fund is at $7,678,256 – up $84,960 or by 1.1 percent. The water fund is up 4.1 percent or by $83,296 to $2,102,947. The sewer fund is down 3.1 percent or by $39,816 to $1,256,195.

Debbie Padoleski, retired village clerk and treasurer, was elected to the Village Board in March and started her term on April 1. She ran for the board partly due to the rising assessments in the village and potential for much higher tax bills.

Some residents will actually see lower tax bills with this village budget, depending on the percentage of increase in their reassessments, Padoleski said. But others will be paying more.

“While we were able to reduce the levy by $1.2 million from the proposed budget, our hands have been tied by several factors,” she said.

Union contracts push up labor costs, and Padoleski said the lack of an increase in the local sales tax strains the village budget. Medina gets $160,160 of the local sales tax total, which is expected to be near $25 million this year. That is less than 1 percent for Medina of the total in the county.

Padoleski also thinks the village isn’t properly treated by the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway with divvying up the tax burden at the town level. Village residents should be seeing more of a break in their town taxes, padoleski said.

Without some relief from the towns and county, Padoleski said the Village Board could face hard choices in the future about cutting some services.

“We are one step away from cutting services and while some of us are not yet ready to do that, I have been assured that we will continue to look for ways to cut costs, increase revenue and be open to different ways of doing business,” Padoleski said. “Our taxpayers need to be our main priority, always.”

Here are the village tax levies and tax rates in the past six budgets:

  • 2024-25 tax levy, $3,903,200; tax rate, $13.97
  • 2023-24 tax levy, $3,786,964; tax rate, $21.16
  • 2022-23 tax levy, $3,296,140; tax rate, $18.95
  • 2021-22 tax levy, $3,259,119; tax rate, $18.77
  • 2020-21 tax levy, $3,197,059; tax rate, $18.46
  • 2019-20 tax levy, $3,138,059; tax rate, $18.32

Gas prices up 7 cents in Orleans in past week

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 April 2024 at 7:09 am

The price for regular unleaded gas is up 7 cents in Orleans County in the past week, from $3.56 to $3.63 a gallon, AAA reported this morning. The price is now up 21 cents in the past three weeks in Orleans.

Nationally the average price is down 2 cents in the past week to $3.66, and in New York State the average increased 2 cents to $3.66.

Here are the average prices today for Western New York counties:

  • Orleans, $3.626
  • Genesee, $3.553
  • Wyoming, $3.620
  • Livingston, $3.622
  • Monroe, $3.648
  • Niagara, $3.539
  • Erie, $3.619
  • Chautauqua, $3.627
  • Cattaraugus, $3.557
  • Allegany, $3.643

AAA said gas demand fell slightly last week, meanwhile total domestic gasoline stocks also decreased slightly, according to new data from the Energy Information Administration.

“Lower demand and a drop in crude oil prices could push pump prices lower,” AAA said. “Domestic gasoline demand will pick back up as we get closer to Memorial Day weekend and the traditional start of summer driving season, which will likely come with an increase in prices at the pump.”

County planners back zoning change for vacant lot next to Crosby’s in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 April 2024 at 8:58 pm

Company looks to add parking at site that used to be a doctor’s office

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board voted in favor of a request from Crosby’s to change the zoning of 210 South Main St. from residential-commercial to general commercial.

The Planning Board reviewed a referral from the Village of Albion during a meeting on Thursday, and the board recommended Albion approve the request from Crosby’s owner, Reid Petroleum of Lockport.

Crosby’s in early March had a house that used to be a doctor’s office knocked down at 210 South Main, next to the Crosby’s store at the southwest corner of routes 98 and 31. Crosby’s wants to add 10 more parking spaces to the now vacant land. The company also wants to have two new 20,000-gallon underground storage tanks, with those tanks partly on the lot next to Crosby’s.

The company could do the project under the current zoning but would prefer to have both sites be zoned general commercial.

John Pastore, director of Real Estate at Reid Petroleum, met with the Albion Village Board on April 10 and said the company also would like to eventually add four electric charging stations for vehicles in the future, and they would likely be the faster-charging level 3 units.

The plan for the now vacant land also includes an outdoor sitting area, expanded dumpster coral, 6-foot high fencing and landscaping.

Pastore said the land acquisition gives Crosby’s a chance for better traffic circulation at the Albion store, which he said is one of the company’s best-performing sites.

Pro wrestlers give crowd-pleasing performance for 450 in Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 April 2024 at 3:20 pm

Event was fundraiser for East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Cheech, one of the pro wrestlers who competed Saturday in the Medina High School gym, acknowledges the crowd after he won a five-man scramble.

It was one of the featured battles in the “Spring Smash,” a benefit for the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company. Empire State Wrestling brought a group of pro wrestlers, including three with ties to Orleans County, for the event.

About 450 people attended the 2 ½-hour “Spring Smash” on Saturday. That matches the crowd from about a year ago, when ESW held its first event at Medina. ESW previously did an annual event at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds, with crowds of 350 in 2018 and then 200 in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic kept the wrestlers away starting in 2020 before last year’s return to Orleans County.

Cheech, one of the ESW’s more popular wrestlers, now faces the ESW champion Spencer Slade on May 18 during Brawlfest at Riverworks in Buffalo.

Colin Delaney, formerly of the WWE, screams when Spencer Slade twists Delaney’s leg. Slade, the ESW champion, kept his title.

Spencer Slade, an imposing physical specimen, acknowledges the crowd before his match. Slade is hearing-impaired and wears ear protection.

Kevin Blackwood, one of the most successful pro wrestlers from Orleans County, returned to battle Yoya. Blackwood has Yoya in a headlock.

Blackwood, 33, grew up in Albion as Kevin Lockwood. He lives in Los Angeles and wrestles all over the United States and Canada.

Erin Moody of Albion is Lockwood’s uncle. Moody remembers Lockwood as a little boy, jumping off the couch and pretending to be a wrestler.

“I’m really happy to see Kevin following his dream,” Moody said. “He is really doing it. Not many people get to live their dream.”

Maxx Cannon, “The Big Filthy,” makes his entrance into the gym. Jacob Miller of Medina wrestles as Maxx Cannon. Miller, 30, has been wrestling for about four years, but he took nearly a year off after the birth of his daughter. Saturday was his return to the ring.

He said he was thrilled to get a big response from the local crowd.

He battled Frankie Feathers, the former ESW champion.

“There is nothing like being in your hometown,” Miller said.

He has wrestled with ESW, Buffalo Championship Wrestling, Southern Tier Wrestling and Xcite Professional Wrestling.

Maxx Cannon gives a big facial reaction in his match against Frankie Feathers. Cannon had Feathers beat, but the referee missed the count after being knocked down.

Cannon enjoys interacting with the crowd and being on the microphone, talking some trash with his opponents.

During Saturday’s match, when he had the mic, he snuck in, “Let’s go Mustangs!” in a tribute to his alma mater.

Gavin Glass (right), a Medina native, is up high on the ropes with Darren Crowe. Glass used his “Glass Cutter” move to finish off Crowe.

Glass, 26, returned to the ring last month after taking about a year off when he became a father. Glass has been wrestling for almost a decade and travelled all over the country and Canada.

“I grew up wanting to do this since I was in fourth grade,” he said. “The dream has come true.”

Gavin Glass signs an autograph on a kid’s arm after Glass was victorious.

Adrianna Fury, right, has Haley Dylan down on the mat in the only match featuring women wrestlers. Dylan won the battle.

Zach Nystrom was among the wrestlers in a  five-man scramble. Nystrom, a Texas native, now lives in Pittsburgh. He wrestles “up and down the East Coast,” often devoting Thursdays through Sundays to wrestling, and then returning to his regular job in logistics for a trucking company. He said the regular job “is much more boring than this.”

Nystrom, 26, played college football and was working as an iron worker when he decided to give wrestling a try. He loves the physicality of the sport, and some of the exaggerated showmanship.

He is a power wrestler. He doesn’t do fancy moves. His slogan: “Making the Basics Brutal.”

Nystrom typically is a “bad guy” in the matches. He enjoys connecting with the crowd.

“Wrestling is physical theater,” he said. “It’s somewhere between sport and show. For us, it’s our passion and we’re living out our dream.”

Guardrails needed to protect democracy from vindictive president, bent on destroying rivals

Posted 28 April 2024 at 11:58 am

Editor:

A lot of people are criticizing the conservatives on the Supreme Court for stalling on the Trump immunity issue.  But if you listen to Justice Alito – with whom I seldom agree due to his hubris  overreaching to impose his opinions on us rather than apply settled law –  he did say, “I am not concerned about the circumstances of the Trump case; I am concerned about the long term.”  That may concede Trump trampled over the line.

He and I come from it from opposite sides of the spectrum but he could be saying that he sees democracy in decline. I see that’s a decline because of the radical right. He sees it in decline because of change that he doesn’t like.

But were the two may meet is with a need for guardrails to make sure that something like Trump and partisan prosecution and use of the courts cannot be used to accelerate the process or completely undue democracy in one swoop as proposed by Trump.

As Nicole Wallace, former White House Bush administration official put it during her show on MSNBC, we know if Trump says it the most extreme hypothetical is going to happen.  That includes prosecution and death of political opponents. Before the Supreme Court, Trump’s  attorneys discussed that that a coup overthrowing the government could be and protected official act.

Obviously we have to wait for what the decision is. However, if the conservatives on SCOTUS install guardrails rather than creating an avenue authorizing decline, the wait may be understandable and worth it even if Trump never answers for some of his crimes.

We’ll have to see.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Medina faces key diamond tests vs. Newfane

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 April 2024 at 9:46 am

Looking to stay in the thick of the Niagara-Orleans League baseball title race, Medina will face Newfane in a key home-and-home series early this week.

Medina will visit Newfane at 4:45 p.m. Monday. The Mustangs will then host the Panthers at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Newfane, which has yet to have its two game bye, is currently in first place at 5-1. Medina, which has had its bye, is in the runner-up spot at 3-1.

The top two teams in the N-O softball title chase will meet on Wednesday as Albion (5-2) hosts undefeated (7-0) Barker at 4:45 p.m.

In N-O track competition, Medina will host rival Albion at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Weekly High School Schedule
Monday
Baseball – Medina at Newfane, Wilson at Albion, Roy-Hart at Akron, 4:45 p.m.; Byron-Bergen at Holley, Kendall at Alexander, 5 p.m.
Softball – Lyndonville at Kendall, 4:15 p.m.; Alexander at Holley, 4:30 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Medina (doubleheader), Akron at Wilson, Newfane at Barker, 4:45 p.m.
Tennis – Notre Dame at Holley, Attica at Kendall, 4 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Medina, Newfane at Barker, Akron at Wilson, 4:30 p.m.
Golf – Alexander at Kendall, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday
Baseball – Barker at Pembroke, 4:45 p.m.; Notre Dame at Holley, 5 p.m.
Softball – Holley at East Rochester, 4:30 p.m.; Akron at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; Lyndonville at Byron-Bergen, 5 p.m.; Medina at Newfane, 7 p.m.
Track – Albion at Medina, Newfane at Roy-Hart, Barker at Wilson, 4:30 p.m.
Tennis – Kendall at Notre Dame, 4 p.m.; Barker at Roy-Hart, 4:30 p.m.
Golf – Holley at Byron-Bergen, 3:30 p.m.
Lacrosse – Tonawanda at Medina, 5 p.m.

Wednesday
Baseball – Newfane at Medina, Albion at Wilson, Akron at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; Alexander at Kendall, 5 p.m.
Softball – Kendall at Aquinas, 4:30 p.m.; Medina at Akron, Barker at Albion, Wilson at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; Holley at Notre Dame, 5 p.m.
Tennis – Holley at Wheatland-Chili, 4 p.m.; Barker at Albion, Medina at Akron, Wilson at Newfane, 4:30 p.m.
Track – Holley at Kendall, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday
Baseball – Barker at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; Holley at Pembroke, 5 p.m.
Softball – Finney at Lyndonville, Holley at Kendall, 5 p.m.
Tennis – Kendall at Pembroke, 4 p.m.; Akron at Roy-Hart, 4:30 p.m.
Track – Medina at Barker, Roy-Hart at Albion, Newfane at Akron, 4:30 p.m.
Golf – Notre Dame at Holley, Kendall at Pembroke, 3:30 p.m.

Friday
Baseball – Newfane at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; Albion at Medina, 7 p.m.
Softball – Newfane at Medina, Albion at Wilson, Roy-Hart at Oakfield-Alabama, 4:45 p.m.; Holley at Lyndonville, Kendall at Notre Dame, 5 p.m.
Tennis – Attica at Holley, Kendall at Wheatland-Chili, 4 p.m.; Akron at Wilson, Newfane at Medina, 4:30 p.m.
Golf – Elba at Kendall, 3:30 p.m.
Lacrosse – Medina at Eden, 7 p.m.

Saturday
Baseball – Barker at Alexander, 11 a.m.
Softball – Albion at Byron-Bergen, 10 a.m. Barker at Elba, 11 a.m.

N-O Standings
Baseball – Newfane 5-1, Medina 3-1, Akron 3-3, Wilson 3-3, Albion 2-2, Roy-Hart 2-2, Barker 0-6
Softball – Barker 7-0, Albion 5-2, Wilson 4-2, Roy-Hart 2-2, Akron 2-4, Medina 0-4, Newfane 0-6
Tennis – Albion 6-0, Akron 6-0, Wilson 5-2, Barker 2-4, Roy-Hart 1-4, Medina 0-5, Newfane 0-5
Boys Track – Albion 3-0, Roy-Hart 2-0, Newfane 3-1, Medina 1-1, Barker 1-2, Wilson 1-3, Akron 0-4
Girls Track – Akron 4-0, Newfane 4-0, Wilson 2-0, Barker 1-2, Medina 0-2, Roy-Hart 0-2, Albion 0-3

Head Start in Medina donates food, toiletries to Hands for Hope

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 28 April 2024 at 8:18 am

Provided photo

MEDINA – Staff from the Head Start in Medina recently collected all kinds of food items, toiletries and more for the Hands for Hope ministry, led by Jack Burris of Albion.

Front row, from left, are Tabitha Miller, Cara Wachob, Nicole Struble and Jack Burris. Second row, from left, are Linda Scurry, Randi Watts, Christina DeBoard, Arika Grasskopf, Theresa Annecharico, Laura Fields, Sharon Wright and Margie Davies.

Each year the Medina staff from Community Action of Orleans and Genesee Head Start work together to collect and donate items for a local organization.

This year, they reached out to Burris and presented Hands for Hope with a collection of food items, as well as toiletries, such as shampoo, conditioners, lotions, razors and other items.

They met with Burris on March 26 to present him with their gifts for Hands for Hope.

YMCA brings back ‘Mud Run’ through orchards at LynOaken

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 28 April 2024 at 7:59 am

Provided photo: Participants in a mud run try to get through a pool of mud on the course. The event is back on Saturday at LynOaken Farms in Lyndonville.

LYNDONVILLE – Orleans County YMCA is announcing the return of its much-anticipated fundraiser, the “Bad Apple Mud Run,” scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at LynOaken Farms.

Participants will embark on an adventure through sprawling orchards, navigating a labyrinth of mud and obstacles that will test their fitness and determination, according to sponsors.

There were 108 runners who braved the course last year, raising much-needed funds for youth programming and scholarships at the YMCA. This year, the YMCA is hoping for 150 runners to challenge themselves, while supporting this important cause.

Registration will begin at 9 a.m. at LynOaken Farms, 11540 Platten Rd. Runners can secure their participation in advance by clicking here.

Every contribution, great or small, will play a pivotal role in supporting youth programs and scholarships at the local YMCA, according to director Jesse Cudzilo.

For more information or to register, participants can also contact Cudzilo at jcudzilo@glowymca.org or by calling (585) 798-2040.

Trash cleanup from railroad tracks in Albion yields 22 bags, 291 pounds

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 April 2024 at 4:34 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Gideon Pask found lots of empty containers from the local fast food stores in the tall grass near Platt Street this morning.

The Albion Rotary Interact Club and Rotary Club in recent years have targeted trash from near Platt Street to West Academy Street.

Today seven volunteers filled 22 garbage bags weighing 291 pounds.

Provided photo: The volunteers include from left: Lucy Rivers, Tim Archer, Sophie Markle, Gideon Pask, Emmaline Gailie, Cordelia Rivers and Tom Rivers.

The group thanks Ace Hardware for accepting the trash in the store’s dumpster.

Cordelia and Lucy Rivers found lots of litter in the brush between Platt and Main streets. They are joined in the garbage pickup by Sophie Markle and Emmaline Gailie.

In front of Dunkin’ Donuts was a small mattress and some clothes that had been out all winter.

There were two other waterlogged sleeping bags along the railroad tracks, and many empty cans of food.

The trash was weighed and the total will be sent into a database for the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup.

Local trio helping to spark Thunderwolves

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 27 April 2024 at 2:33 pm

Contributed Photo – Helping to spark the SUNY Niagara baseball team this season is the local trio of, from left, Gavyn Boyle, Zach Fike and Aidan Paul.

A trio of local players have been playing key roles for the SUNY Niagara baseball team which is enjoying an outstanding season compiling a 35-7 overall record to date.

On the mound, the Thunderwolves starting rotation includes Medina High graduates Zach Fike, a sophomore, and Aidan Paul, a freshman, while at the plate, freshman outfielder Roy-Hart grad Gavyn Boyle, has provided a strong bat.

Paul, who leads the Thunderwolves in mound appearances with 9, has won 5 games and also earned a pair of saves while notching 49 strikeouts and compiling a 1.17 earned run average. His most recent win came Thursday as he hurled a 1 hitter with 8 strikeouts in a 5 inning 11-0 win over Tompkins Community College.

Fike, who shares second place on the team in mound appearances with 7 has 3 wins and a save while registering 35 strikeouts and compiling a 1.20 era. His most recent win also came against Tompkins as he allowed 2 hits and struck out 9 over four innings of the 21-2 five inning win.

At the plate, Boyle is batting .398 with 9 doubles, 1 triple, a team leading 4 home runs and 33 RBI.

The Thunderwolves next visit Finger Lakes Community College Sunday for a doubleheader.