By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 23 November 2025 at 9:21 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s veteran group includes, in front, Adella Dukes, Millie Owens and Peyton May. In back are Brooke Corser, Courtney Aquilina, Abby Fox and Kylie McOmber.
Anchored by a good group of seven returnees, Roy-Hart will be tuning up for the Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball season with a busy slate of three of non league road games the first week of December.
The Lady Rams, which went 6-6 in N-O action and 11-9 overall last year, will visit Kenmore East on December 1, Lyndonville on December 3 (6:30 p.m.) and Niagara-Wheatfield on Dec 5.
Junior Courtney Aquilina, who earned first team N-O All-League honors last year, and junior Adella Dukes, who was a second team honoree, head the Lady Rams veteran contingent. Aquilina had 192 points and 122 rebounds and Dukes 236 points and 158 rebounds.
That veteran group also includes seniors Millie Owens, Kylie McOmber, Abby Fox and Peyton May along with junior Brooke Corser.
“We have a good group back, The key is figuring out everyone’s role,” said Coach Grace Swick.
The Lady Rams also have two more non league games scheduled Dec. 11 home vs. Byron-Bergen and Dec. 16 at Starppint before opening the N-O season at home against Medina on Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 23 November 2025 at 9:16 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s veteran group includes in front, Sebastian Clark, Colton Smith and Raul Morales. In back are Atticus Mank, Lyric Raduns and Lane Woodworth. Missing is Quincy McClinsey.
The high school basketball season will tip off the day after Thanksgiving as Lyndonville travels to the North Country to compete in the Lafargeville High tournament.
The Tigers will face the host Knights in Friday’s opening round.
This is the second year in a row Lyndonville has competed in the Lafargeville tournament which is a bit of a homecoming for Tigers Coach Rich Augustus who formerly taught and coached there.
Senior Colton Smith and sophomore Lane Woodworth lead Lyndonville’s veteran group which also includes seniors Sebastian Clark and Raul Morales along with juniors Atticus Mank, Lyric Raduns and Quincy McClinsey.
“Most of our scoring is back so we are looking to build off of last year,” said Augustus. “Defense will be key for us.”
Following the North Country trip the Tigers are scheduled to visit Barker for a non league game on December 1 at 6:30 p.m.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 23 November 2025 at 8:27 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Jim Nudd, left, and Nik Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency, hand out free turkeys to veterans on Friday. Here, Albion American Legion commander Brad Rouse gets his free turkey.
ALBION – Orleans County veterans received 125 free turkeys for Thanksgiving this year, thanks to support from the Pfc. Joseph Dwyer Peer-to-Peer program.
Nik Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency, and retired veteran Jim Nudd handed out the turkeys on Friday.
One of the first to get his free turkey was Brad Rouse, commander of the Albion American Legion, who praised the give-away program, funded by the Pfc. Joseph Dwyer Peer-to-Peer program.
“This is an excellent program,” Rouse said. “I also picked up one for my vice commander, Bob Gilsinan. We will probably cook both of them for veterans in the Legion.”
Mroz said in total they handed out 1,000 pounds of turkeys. They also do a ham give-away at Easter, passing out 100 hams to veterans.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2025 at 7:17 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: Allen and Rose Phillips opened Rosenal Hardware today at 29 South Main St. The ran a hardware store in Albion the past two years next to Save-A-Lot before moving the store to Lyndonville.
LYNDONVILLE – Allen Phillips tried to stay retired from the hardware business but he finds he likes to share his knowledge with the public.
He started working with a hardware distributor 50 years ago when he was in high school. He worked as a sales rep for many years, visiting hardware stores all over the region.
He finally retired, but when a new hardware store opened four years ago in Albion, Phillips decided to take a part-time job at Pro Hardware. Not longer after he became the store’s manager and then two years ago, the owner.
He renamed the store, Rosenal Hardware, which is a combination of his wife’s first name and his, Al.
The couple lives in Lyndonville and they decided to move the hardware store closer to their home.
Allen and Rose Phillips chose the name, Rosenal Hardware, as a combination of their first names, Rose and Al. Rosenal Hardware is located a building that saw a major renovation. Lyndonville native Robert Smith owns that site as well as others on Main Street that have been significantly refurbished.
Today was an unofficial opening day at 29 South Main St. They are still settling into the space. Only half of their hardware inventory is currently available at the site.
Phillips said Rosenal has a full array of hardware products, from a paint department to plumbing, electrical, nuts, bolts, rakes, shovels, rock salt, fasteners and many other products. Rosenal sells DeWalt power tools.
Rose and Allen are happy to have the store in Lyndonville, where the couple raised their four daughters: Amanda, Alicia, Rachael and Dana.
Rosenal will be open Monday through Saturday. Call (585) 765-1144 for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2025 at 12:15 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Annabella Dusharm stars as Junie B. Jones in the Albion Middle School’s production of Junie B. Jones, The Musical. Junie B. is a first grader with friendly and bright personality.
She is shown in the opening number: “Top Secret Personal Beeswax.”
Friday was opening night. There also are shows at noon today with the finale at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Samiyah Sanders plays the role of Mrs. Gutzman, who is loved by the class for baking the best brownies and other treats. Samiyah and the cast are singing, “Gladys Gutzman Queen of Snacks.”
Sutton Sanders plays Lucille, center, who was Junie’s best friend but has ditched her for two new friends, Kinzie Rickner as Camille and Nadalee Ryan as Chenille. The three have rhyming names and Junie bemoans no other names rhyme with hers. This trio is singing, “Lucille, Camille, Chenille.”
Kenya N. Bennett plays the role of Miss Scary, the teacher. She instructs the class to choose a word from the list and draw a picture of it.
Junie tries on her glasses. Her teacher suggested she might need them when Junie struggled to see the chalkboard. Junie worries the kids at school will make fun of her because of her glasses, but they tell her she looks good in them.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 November 2025 at 9:35 am
Contributed Photos – Orleans players on the GCC women’s basketball squad include, from left, Samantha Bates, Alivia Wolf, Madison Hughson and Julia Knight.
This season’s Genesee Community College women’s basketball team lineup includes four Orleans County players.
That quartet included Albion graduates sophomore Madison Hughson and freshman Julia Knight along with Holley grads sophomore Samantha Bates and freshman Alivia Wolf.
Bates and Wolf also both played on the GCC women’s soccer team which captured the Region III championship and went on to place fourth at the national championship tournament.
The Niagara-Orleans League is also represented on the GCC squad basketball by sophomore Sloan Jonathan from Akron.
Four former Genesee Region League players are also on the GCC squad including freshman Seneca Calderon and sophomore Elle Peterson from Pembroke, freshman Janessa Amesbury from Byron-Bergen and freshman Sydney Reilly from Elba.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2025 at 9:34 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – It’s been over five years that Community Action of Orleans & Genesee has been organizing a food distribution with Foodlink in Albion. These events have always been in the morning – until Friday when there was one beginning at 4:30 p.m. The top photo was taken about 5 p.m. when the distribution was halfway over.
Foodlink gave Albion an extra distribution due to the delays with getting SNAP benefits caused by the federal government shutdown.
Volunteers in one hour filled 200 boxes with food and placed them in the trunks of vehicles that were at the large Albion municipal lot at 165 South Platt St.
Community Action was grateful for the extra distribution on Friday but the agency wondered about having volunteers to help pack the food into boxes and deliver it to a parking lot full of vehicles.
Community Action had a big group of volunteers on Friday, with a group of 14 cheerleaders providing the most manpower.
Jami Allport is the Albion cheerleading coach and also executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern. The cheerleaders also will be ringing the bell for the Red Kettle Drive to raise money for local residents in need.
There were people who haven’t been to a food distribution before due to the time later in the afternoon. The morning start time prevents many from those food distributions.
Ryan Lasal, director of community programming for Community Action, said the agency will reach out to Foodlink about alternating the times in the future, with a morning distribution one month and then the afternoon time the following month.
Jackie Dunham, chief operating officer at Community Action, was among the volunteers helping with the food distribution on Friday evening.
Other upcoming distributions in Orleans County include:
Orleans Cornell Cooperative Extension, 12690 State Route 31, on Monday, December 1 beginning at 10 a.m. Pre-registration is strongly suggested. Those who pre-register will be assigned timeslots for pickup (12-12:30, 12:30-1, 1-1:30. 1:30-2 p.m.) Pre-register at 585-798-4265. Walk-ins may start at 2 p.m.
Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, 107 North Main St., on Friday, Dec. 5, beginning at 9:30 a.m. (No registration required.)
Community Action at Albion municipal lot at 165 South Platt St. on Monday, Dec. 8, beginning at 9 a.m. (No preregistration required.) Community Action also has the schedule for the first six months of 2026: Jan. 12, Feb. 9, March 9, April 13, May 11 and June 8.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 November 2025 at 9:23 am
Photos by Cheryl Wertman and contributed – Akron’s honorees Madigan Regan, Morgan Tomporowski and Marissa Brege.
Medina’s Penelope Schalck and Barker’s Kaylee Stoll.
Five Niagara-Orleans League field hockey players have been named to both the All Western New York first team and to the Class C All State squad.
N-0 champion Akron is represented by the trio seniors Marissa Brege and Morgan Tomporowski along with junior Madigan Regan. Brege has also been named to the Class C state playoffs All Tournament team.
Tomporowski scored 49 goals and Regan had 4 goals and 18 assists while Brege made 50 saves in goal and had a 0.29 goals against average.
Barker has placed senior Kaylee Stoll who had 2 goals and 8 assists.
Medina is represented by senior Penelope Schalck who had 23 goals and 8 assists.
Three N-O players have also been named to the All WNY second team including Akron juniors Madison Gates and Alexis Salmon and Barker senior Madelina Pavlock.
The N-O also has two All WNY Honorable Mention selections in Medina senior Sophia Castricone and Roy-Hart junior Adella Dukes.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 21 November 2025 at 7:17 pm
Newfane romped to a 75-12 victory over Avon (Section V) in the Class D Far West Regional this evening at All High Stadium in Buffalo.
Newfane built up a commanding 36-12 first half lead as quarterback Mac Capen scored five touchdowns on runs of 14, 3, 40 and 1 yards and a 97 yard interception return.
Capen added his sixth touchdown in the third quarter on a 66 yard run.
The Panthers also got second half touchdown runs by Camryn Stover, Aiden Cronkhite, Camlo Flowers and Jayson Cole.
Improving to 12-0, Newfane will next face Tioga in the state Class D semifinals next weekend at Cicero-North Syracuse.
Tioga (Section IV) downed Lowville (Section III) 28-14 in the Central Regional.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2025 at 5:44 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Village of Albion unveiled a new sign today on the eastern side of the village on Route 31 that highlights the community’s ties to Santa. The sign also spells out “ALBION” and local landmarks are painted within the letters.
Albion eighth-grade chorus students sang “Jingle Bells” and joined in a group photo with Village Trustee Joyce Riley, third from right, Village Historian Susan Starkweather Miller, second from right, and Mary Jo Whitman, the artist who created the sign.
The students from left include Ryalee Moyer, Zyann Pore, Kinzie Rickner, Nadalee Ryan, Kyalee Moyer and Kennedy Roberts.
Joyce Riley spearheaded the project for the village, securing a $5,000 grant administered through the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.
The sign gives Santa Claus a prominent role. Albion was home of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School form 1937 until Howard’s death in 1966. The school continues in his name in Midland, Mich.
Susan Starkweather Miller shares about Howard, who continues to shape the way thousands of people portray Santa.
She noted the Route 31 in Albion has signs declaring it as the Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway. There is a bronze statue in downtown Albion of Santa, two murals celebrating Howard and the Sana School, and other efforts to promote the community’s heritage with the school and Christmas Park, which Howard operated in Albion bringing 80,000 visitors at its peak.
Howard urged people to give of their time and talents, and not be so focused on possessions.
The “ALBION” sign features the a boat on the Erie Canal with the lift bridge in back, the Civil War memorial tower at Mount Albion and the Orleans County Courthouse.
This shows, from left, Joyce Riley, a village trustee; Susan Starkweather Miller, the village historian, and Mary Jo Whitman, an artist from Batavia.
Whitman said the Santa was intended to be set lower on the back of the sign. If it can’t be adjusted, she said she would make some modifications and touch-ups.
She also is planning a mural in Holley for next year, but is waiting to see if the project will be funded by GO Art!
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2025 at 3:12 pm
Provided photos
ALBION – Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke announced that Julie Vendetti, a long-time dispatcher, is the new communications coordinator for the Sheriff’s Office.
She succeeds Allen Turner who retired in October after a 33-year career with the Sheriff’s Office. Vendetti’s appointment is effective Oct. 28.
“I am confident that all members of our agency will work with Julie Vendetti to ensure that she has a smooth transition into his new role,” Sheriff Bourke said.
The Sheriff’s Office has 10 full-time dispatchers and four part-timers that receive about 40,000 calls for service each year. The dispatch center handles calls for fire, EMS, ambulance, police/law enforcement, animal control, and the coroner’s office.
Dispatchers also handle other non-emergency calls that brings the total call volume to about 61,000, Bourke said.
“The communications coordinator is responsible for assisting the sheriff with the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the many operating platforms that make the 911 center work,” Bourke said.
The center is currently doing a $1.1 million mandated upgrade to the Motorola/Vesta/Frontier 911 phone equipment as well as the computer-aided dispatch. The upgrade includes a new report management system (RMS), the sheriff said.
“The 911 center is an extremely important component to public safety and is the lifeline to our residents in Orleans County,” he said.
Allen Turner was celebrated by many of his co-workers, retired sheriffs and other law enforcement personnel during a retirement party last month.
