Local students named to Dean’s List, President’s List at 4 colleges

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 January 2026 at 11:04 am

Finger Lakes Community College, Jacksonville State University, SUNY Canton and Southern New Hampshire University note academic achievers from Orleans

Four colleges have recently notified the Orleans Hub of students from Orleans County who made either the Dean’s List or President’s List for the fall semester.

• At Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, there are 973 students on the Dean’s List, maintaining at least a 3.5 grade point average for the semester.

Those students include Rachael Howard of Albion, Bryan Hardenbrook of Kendall, and Addison Paul and Julian Woodworth of Medina.

• Seagan Christine Majchrzak of Medina has been named to Dean’s List at Jacksonville State University in Alabama.

To be named to the Dean’s List, students must earn a 3.5-3.99 GPA for the semester while completing at least 12 GPA hours of course credit.

• Two students from Orleans County were named to the President’s List at SUNY Canton with GPAs of 3.75 or higher.

Lakshia Johnson of Albion and Lorelei Sanders are both Legal Studies majors.

• Two from Orleans also were named to the President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, NH.

Andrea Sanchez Vargas of Holley and Nordia Campbell of Albion both had GPAs of 3.70 or higher.

Purple Eagles face two key contests this week

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 January 2026 at 10:38 am

Nearing the midpoint of the league season, Albion faces a pair of key contests this coming week as the Purple Eagles look to stay in the Niagara-Orleans boys basketball title race.

Currently at 2-2, Albion will visit rival Medina (2-1) on Tuesday and then host league leading Wilson (4-0) on Friday, both at 6:30 p.m. Medina also faces another key contest at Akron (2-1) on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

The Albion girls likewise face a pair of contests this week as they seek to stay in the N-O title chase. Now at 3-1, Albion will host Medina (1-2) on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and then visit front-running defending champion Wilson (4-0) on Friday at 6 p.m.

The N-O wrestling season will conclude on Saturday with the All League Tournament at Albion beginning at 10 a.m. Defending champion Newfane leads the way as the Panthers have gone 4-0 to date during the dual match portion of the season.

Weekly Schedule
Monday
Boys Basketball – CG Finney at Kendall, 7 p.m.

Tuesday
Boys Basketball – Newfane at Barker, 6 p.m.; Albion at Medina, Akron at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Medina at Albion, 5 p.m.; Barker at Newfane, Roy-Hart at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; Lyndonville at Elba, Kendall at Holley, 7 p.m.
Swimming – Medina at Newfane, Albion at Roy-Hart/Barker, 5 p.m.

Wednesday
Boys Basketball – Lyndonville at Elba, Kendall at Holley, 7 p.m.
Wrestling – Medina at Albion, Roy-Hart/Barker at Akron, Wilson at Newfane, Lyndonville at Byron-Bergen, Alexander/Pembroke vs. Holley-Kendall at Kendall, 6 p.m.

Thursday
Girls Basketball – Lyndonville at Holley, 7 p.m.
Swimming – Newfane at Albion, Akron at Roy-Hart/Barker, 5 p.m.
Wrestling – Lyndonville at Wilson, 6 p.m.

Friday
Boys Basketball – Medina at Akron, Wilson at Albion, Roy-Hart at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.; Holley at Lyndonville, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Akron at Medina, 5 p.m.; School of the Arts at Kendall, 5:30 p.m.; Albion at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Newfane at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
Girls Basketball – Lyndonville at Alexander, 11:30 a.m.; Barker at Cleveland Hill, 12:30 p.m.; Elba at Holley, 1 p.m.
Wrestling – N-O All-League Tournament at Albion, 10 a.m.

N-O Standings
Boys Basketball: Wilson 4-0, Akron 2-1, Medina 2-1, Albion 2-2, Newfane 1-2, Barker 1-2, Roy-Hart 0-3
Girls Basketball: Wilson 4-0, Albion 3-1, Akron 2-1, Roy-Hart 2-1, Medina 1-2, Newfane 0-3, Barker 0-4
Boys Swimming: Newfane 4-0, Medina 3-1, Akron 2-2, Albion 1-3, Roy-Hart/Barker 0-4
Girls Swimming: Newfane 3–1, Akron 3-0-1, Roy-Hart/Barker 2-2, Medina 1-3, Albion 0-4
Wrestling: Newfane 4-0, Akron 3-1, Roy-Hart/Barker 3-1, Albion 1-3, Wilson 1-3, Medina 0-4

Akron swimmers sweep Roy-Hart/Barker

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 11 January 2026 at 10:17 am

Akron swept to doubleheader victory over Roy-Hart/Barker in a Niagara-Orleans League swim meet Saturday.

Akron won the boys’ meet 64-57 and the girls’ competition 84-73.

Quinn O’Malley was a double winner in the 50 Free and 100 Free for the Akron boys. The TigerSharks also got wins from Aron Gehl (200 Individual Medley) and Logan Meyers (100 Butterfly).

Jackson Braun was a double winner in the 500 Free and 100 Breaststroke for Roy-Hart/Barker which also had Noah Corraine take the 200 Free and Hendrick Trombley the 100 Backstroke.

The TigerSharks are now 2-2 and the Channel Cats 0-4.

The Akron girls had a trio of double winners including Brooke Milhollen (200 Free and Backstroke), Charlotte Carlson (IM an Butterfly) and Aurora VanDusen (100 Free and Breaststroke) as Avery Haak took the 500 Free.

Samantha Fox won the 50 Free for Roy-Hart/Barker.

Akron is now 3-0-1 and Roy-Hart/Barker 2-2.

Tiger matmen place second at Cal-Mum Duals

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 January 2026 at 7:01 pm

Going 4-1, Lyndonville placed second at the Caledonia-Mumford Duals Wrestling Tournament today.

Rebounding from an opening round loss to Cal-Mum, Lyndonville rattled off four straight wins downing East 61-18, Avon-Geneseo 68-6, Red Jacket 54-29 and Lyons 54-30.

Shannon Withey went 5-0 (5 pins) and Ben Doolan 5-0 (3 pins) to lead the Tigers as Bryson Hazel, Brody Hazel, Dom Hargrave and Bub Benedict all went 4-1.

Falconer Tournament
Medina’s Luke Duffina placed fourth at 132 lbs. at the Falconer Tournament today.

Holley downs Dansville to snap losing streak

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 January 2026 at 6:44 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Josh Silpoch (11) erupted for 30 points, including eight threes, to lead the Hawks past visiting Dansville 62-46 this afternoon.

Snapping a five game losing streak, Holley downed visiting Dansville 62-46 in a non league boys basketball game this afternoon.

Josh Silpoch spearheaded the Holley offense by pouring in 30 points including eight threes. Avante Walker added 14, Cooper Wolf 8. Cam Mosier 5, Tarek Garrett 3 and Blake Coleman 2.

Clayton Rigdon scored 17 and Brady Henchen 10 to lead Dansville.

Holley grabbed a 14-11 first quarter lead as Wolf hit two threes, Silpoch one and Walker tallied five points.

Silpoch then caught fire from long range in the second quarter erupting for 16 points including four threes during one big run which vaulted the Hawks out to a 14 point, 32-18, lead.

Dansville though answered with a 10-0 run to close the period and cut the deficit to four, 32-28, at the half.

Dansville did rally into a brief 38-37 lead late in the third period but Holley closed with a 6-0 run which included a three by Silpoch and a basket and a free throw by Garrett to regain a 43-38 lead at the three-quarter mark.

The Hawks then locked up the win by outpointing the Mustangs 19-8 in the final period. Silpoch scored 8, including a pair of threes, Walker 6 and Mosier 5 to key that surge.

Holley is now 2-6 and Dansville 4-5.

Holley’s Blake Coleman drives in for a basket.

Fast start keys Tigers to win over Saints

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 January 2026 at 6:39 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Lane Woodworth drives in for a layup during the Tigers home court win over Lima Christian this afternoon.

Putting together a big first quarter scoring surge, Lyndonville went on to defeat visiting Lima Christian 71-62 in a non league boys basketball game this afternoon.

The Tigers jumped out to a 15 point, 26-11 lead in the opening quarter. Lane Woodworth scored 12, including a pair of three-point plays, to lead that uprising as Lyric Raduns and Devon Babcock both had a three and a two.

Lyndonville maintained leads of 16 points, 43-27. at the half and of 17 points, 57-40, at the three-quarter mark.

Woodworth and Atticus Mank both scored 5 in the second period for the Tigers while Babock had 6 and Colton Smith 4 in the third.

The Saints did battle back to within six, 59-53, midway through the final period but could get no closer.

The Tigers answered with a key 8-2 run including two baskets by Babcock and one by Woodworth to regain a 12 point, 67-55 lead.

Woodworth finished with game high 22 points, Babcock 18, Raduns 10, Quincy McClinsey 8, Mank 7 and Smith 6.

The Tigers improve to 3-6.

Devon Babcock puts up a shot for Lyndonville.

Rain provides picturesque reflections in downtown Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 January 2026 at 6:12 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Main Street in Albion reflects street, traffic and car lights this evening around 5:30. It was raining, and the wet street provided a mirror.

Some people get very excited with sunsets and sunrises, but I like these scenes the most for photos.

A pickup truck drives down East State Street in Albion in front of the Orleans County Courthouse.

Tree-clearing to start next week for wind turbine project in Barre

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 January 2026 at 10:11 am

Apex will focus on site work in 2026 before 28 turbines constructed next year

BARRE – The first phase of construction is expected to start next week for a high-profile project that has been 10 years in the making.

Apex Clean Energy will start clearing about 30 acres of trees next week in Barre. Apex has hired Ironwood Heavy Highway in Rochester for the job of clearing trees. Ironwood is expected to start cutting down trees on Jan. 19. The job should take a few weeks with work limited to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., said Carmen O’Keefe, the director of development, and Brian O’Shea, director of public of public engagement for Apex Clean Energy.

Apex is owner and developer of the Heritage Wind project in Barre, which will have the capacity to produce 126 megawatts of electricity.

The tree clearing is limited to no later than March 31 due to the presence of federally listed bats.

There will be a full mobilization of about 200 construction workers in the community in May or June to work on installing access roads, turbine foundations and other site work, including construction of turn radiuses for the delivering of the turbine components.

The Heritage Wind project will have 28 turbines, and the turbines will be constructed in 2027 with the project expected to be operational in late 2027, O’Shea said. The turbines will be more than 600 feet high.

The project also includes 10.5 miles of access roads, one permanent meteorological tower, 25.2 miles of collection lines, a temporary construction laydown yard of approximately 13.9 acres, a temporary concrete batch plant (if needed), parking for construction workers, an operations and maintenance facility with two buildings totaling about 4,000 square feet, and one aircraft detection lighting system tower.

For maps and more details of the project, click here.

Once the project is operational, Apex will pay $9,000 per megawatt to local municipalities or $1,134,000 in the first year, with a 2 percent increase after that over 25 years.

Barre gets 75 percent of the money as part of a Host Community Agreement. The $6,750 per megawatt totals $850,000.

The remaining 25 percent or $2,250 per megawatt is evenly split by the school district and county. That is $140,175 each.

In addition, Heritage Wind will be paying $4.575 million administrative fees to the Orleans Economic Development Agency for administering the PILOT with the school district and county.

The project also will save the average Barre household $150 annually in energy bills through the first ten years of the project’s operations through NYSERDA’s Host Community Benefit Program, O’Shea said.

Flu cases are up in Orleans, especially among those 60 and older

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 January 2026 at 9:01 am

State-wide the number of new cases dropped 43 percent

The number of new confirmed cases has decreased in New York State during the week ending Jan. 3, but the cases went up in Orleans County during that week, especially among those 60 and older.

State-wide, there were 28,554 laboratory-confirmed cases in the week ending Jan. 3, which is down 43 percent from 49,850 cases the previous week. This season there have been 269,433 laboratory-confirmed cases, according to the state Department of Health.

Flu hospitalizations is at 4,228 in the week ending Jan. 3, down 7 percent from 4,546 in previous week. So far this flu season 17,833 people have been hospitalized in New York State.

In Orleans County, the rate of cases is at 353.8 per 100,000 people, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. That is up from 181.7 per 100,000 from the previous week, and 76.5 the week ending Dec. 20.

The rate for people ages 0-19 is at 226.1 in the week ending Jan. 3, which is down from 440.4 the previous week and 571.3 the week ending Dec. 20.

Overall, the rate of new confirmed cases in Orleans County is at 204.1 per 100,000 people. (The county’s population is the 2020 census was 40,343.) That 204.1 rate is up from the 196.5 in both the previous two weeks.

While the cases was up slightly in Orleans County, Genesee had a rate of new confirmed cases at 146.7 for the week ending Jan. 3. That was down significantly from the rate of 252 new cases the previous week and 239.9 from the week ending Dec. 20.

While the new cases were down statewide, in Genesee and Orleans counties the new cases increased from 217 for the week ending Dec. 20 to 224 in the week ending Dec. 27, according to the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.

In Genesee and Orleans counties the new confirmed cases was 166 for the week ending Jan. 3. That is down from 224 the previous week and 217 for the week ending Dec. 20, according to the local health departments.

Lady Tigers post win over Lady Bees

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 9 January 2026 at 9:28 pm

Improving to 4-3 overall, Lyndonville posted a 32-21 victory over visiting Byron-Bergen this evening in a Genesee Region League girls basketball game.

Alexa Robinson scored 13, Isabella Groves 9 Hannah Fox 5, Braelynn Dillenbeck 4 and Leah Kenyon 1 for the Lady Tigers which led 16-15 at half-time. Robinson scored 5 in the third period.

The Lady Bees were led by Simone Scharvogel with 10.

Purple Eagles top Rams to even N-O record

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 9 January 2026 at 9:15 pm

Albion evened its Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball record at 2-2 by posting a 58-53 home court victory over Roy-Hart this evening.

Elijah Doxey scored 19 and Tyler Cody 11 to lead the way for Albion s Nate Gibson added 8, Wesley Olles 7, Elliot Trapiss 6, Josh Schoeberlein 3 and Adam Burgio and Ezra Bloom 2 each.

Matt Aquilina scored 18 and Jakob West 13 to spark Roy-Hat as Vinny Fazzio added 8, Tysen McCaa and Owen Madel 5 each and Tyler Rothwell and John Brigham 2 each.

Albion grabbed a slender 15-11 lead at the end of the first period as Cody had seven, including a three, and Gibson a three.

The Purple Eagles then put together a 19-9 second period scoring surge to hike the lead to 14, 34-20, at the half. Doxey scored 8 and Trapiss 6 on two threes to lead that uprising.

Albion maintained 13 point, 50-37, advantage at the end of the third period which saw Doxey score 9 and Cody 4.

Roy-Hart answered with a 16-8 scoring edge in the final period but could get no closer than four.

The Rams slip to 0-3 in N-O action.

Akron 91, Barker 53
Akron go back onto the winning track by downing visiting Barker 91-53 to improve to 2-1 in N-O action.

Derren Brooks scored 24, Ben Gerstung 17, Brodie Hill 17 and Blake Gerstung 15 to spearhead the Akron offense.

Carter DerSarkissian scored 20 and Anthony Taliaferro 15 for Barker which slips to 1-3 in league competition.

Lakewomen top Mustangs to take N-O lead as Lady Rams down Purple Eagles

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 9 January 2026 at 9:02 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Wilson’s Abbie Faery puts up a shot as Medina’s Roswyn Oakes tries for the block during the Mustangs home court loss to the Lakewomen this evening.

Defending champion Wilson took over sole possession of the Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball lead at 4-0 by combining a 47-28 victory over host Medina with Roy-Hart’s 56-50 win over visiting Albion.

Abbie Faery scored 15, Lucy Madden 13 and Rowan Simpson 8 to lead the way for Wilson which led 25-15 at the half.

Caliyah St. Louis scored 11 and Sam Heschke 9 for Medina which is 1-2 in N-O action.

Roy-Hart 56. Albion 50
Roy-Hart knocked Albion from the N-O ranks of the unbeaten 56-50 to improve to 2-1 in league play while the Purple Eagles slip to 3-1.

Adella Dukes scored 22, including 7 of 8 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, to lead Roy-Hart. Millie Owens added 14, Brooke Corser 8, Kylie McOmber 6, Courtney Aquilina 4 and Peyton May 2.

Aaliyah Jones scored 21 and Melia Prince 16 to lead Albion.

Akron 56, Barker 35
Akron improvedto 2-1 in N-O action by posting a 56-35 win over Barker which slips to 0-4.

Charlotte Haag scored 16 and Hailey Dodge 12 for Barker.

Medina’s Caliyah St. Louis drives in for a shot over Wilson’s Kylee Elia.

Lakemen put together a huge second half rally to post a key home court win over Mustangs

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 9 January 2026 at 8:19 pm

Coming from way back, Wilson put together a huge second half scoring surge to defeat visiting Medina 66-45 in a key early season Niagara-Orleans League clash of unbeatens this evening.

Trailing by a many as 19 late in the second quarter and by 14 early in the third period Wilson came storming back to outscore Medina 43-8 over the last quarter and a half to improve to 3-0 in N-O competition as the Mustangs slip to 2-1.

Aidan Neumann scored 28 of his game high 35 points and Ryan Hough 8 of his 14 to lead Wilson’s decisive second half rally.

Christian Moss finished with 16 and Preston Woodworth 12 for Medina which had a season long nine game winning streak snapped.

Medina jumped out to a 17-10 first quarter lead as Woodworth hit two threes, Hadrian Batista one and Moss added a pair of baskets.

The Mustangs boosted the advantage to 19, 31-12, by opening the second period with a 14-2 run which included two baskets each by Jerrell Nealy and Moss along with threes by Woodworth and Avion Johnson.

However, Wilson, which had been ice cold from the field, closed the period with a 6-0 run, including four by Hough, to trim the deficit to 13, 31-18 at the half.

Threes by Moss and Kolton Fletcher hiked the Medina advantage back to 14, 37-23, early in the third period but it was all Wilson after that.

The Lakemen erupted for a decisive 16-0 run, to move on top for the first time at 39-37. Neumann hit three threes to highlight that big uprising.

Medina did pull even at 39-39 at the end of the third period on a basket by Moss and then regained the lead for what proved to be the last time at 42-41 at the outset of the final period on a three by Woodworth.

Wilson though answered in decisive fashion with a whopping 25-0 scoring run to coast to the 21 point, 66-45 victory. Neumann scored 11, including 9 for 9 from the free throw line, and Hough had 8 to spearhead that surge.

Wind takes down more trees, knocks out power to about 750 in Orleans

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 January 2026 at 7:38 pm

Powerful winds have again taking down more trees in Orleans County today, about 10 days after the county endured strong winds that took out electricity.

National Grid is reporting 747 of its customers in Orleans County are without electricity at about 7:30 p.m. Most of those outages were in Barre and Clarendon, as well as the Brockville hamlet of Murray. The electricity is expected to be restored by 11 p.m. today.

Genesee County has 1,826 National Grid customers without power, National Grid reported.