By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 January 2026 at 9:58 pm
A narrow one point decision win in the final bout earned Lyndonville a narrow 36-33 victory over host Wilson in a non league wrestling match this evening.
Shannon Withey (165) provided the margin of victory for the Tigers with a 5-4 decision win which snapped a 33-33 tie.
Bryson Hazel (103), Michael Alexander (144) and Brody Hazel (150) all registered pins for Lyndonville which also got a technical fall victory by Justin Holmes (118) and a decision win by Chanse Amsdill (132).
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 January 2026 at 9:46 pm
Regular season champion Newfane took first place honors in 6 of 11 events at the annual Niagara-Orleans boys All-League swim meet held this evening at Akron.
Newfane’s foursome of Dylan Lamont, Noah Kneeland, Eli Kneeland and Giovani Wright teamed up to win both the 200 Medley Relay in 1:54.33 and the 400 Free Relay in 3:48.25.
Noah Kneeland was also an individual event double winner taking both the 100 Butterfly in :55.63 and the 100 Breaststroke in 1:02.95.
Dylan Lamont also won the 100 Backstroke in 1:00.73 and Eli Kneeland the 200 Individual Medley in 2:37.73.
Albion’s Justin Kania also was an individual event double winner taking both the 200 Free (2:01.05) and the 100 Free (:54.80).
Kania also teamed up with Liam Leader, Nathan Wehling and Logan Kast to earn Albion a victory in the 200 Free Relay (1:42.06).
Medina had a pair of individual even winners as Bryson Ford took the 50 Free in :24.01 and Bradley Goyette the 500 Free in 5:55.75.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 January 2026 at 9:10 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Adam Burgio puts up a shot over Barker’s Ashton Ark during the Purple Eagles home court win over the Bulldogs this evening.
Moving on top to stay with a scoring burst to close the first half, Albion went on to down visiting Barker 72-49 in a Niagara-Orleans League boys basketball game this evening.
Breaking away from a 27-27 tie, Albion closed the first half with a key 12-3 scoring surge, including seven by Wesley Olles, to take the lead for good by a 39-30 margin at the half.
The Purple Eagles then broke the game wide open by outscoring the Bulldogs 18-5 in the third period to pull away to a commanding 22 point, 57-35 lead.
Elijah Doxey scored 8, including two threes, and Tyler Cody and Nate Gibson both added 4 to spearhead that Purple Eagles uprising.
Albion’s Tyler Cody (4) and Nate Gibson (10) try to block a shot attempt by Barker’s JJ Prynn.
Doxey finished with a game high 29, including 20 in the first half. Cody had 13 and Gibson 10 on the evening as Olles tallied 7, Adam Burgio 5, Josh Schoeberlein 3, Nick Luft and Hunter Huscher 2 each and Ezra Bloom 1.
Anthony Taliaferro and Donovan Hefferon both scored 12 and JJ Prynn 10 to lead Barker as Carter DerSarkissian and Blake Carnes 3 each, Peyton Wagner, Ashton Ark, Caden Garcia and Dominic Cimato 2 each and Carson Schwab 1.
Albion is now 4-5 and Barker 1-6 in N-O.
Barker next visits Medina at 6:30 p.m. Friday for a make-up game.
Akron 67, Newfane 39
In the other N-O game, Akron (6-2) defeated Newfane (3-6) 67-39 as Ben Gerstung scored 19, Derren Brooks 15 and Ace Abrams 13.
Kasey Wheat took game high honors for Newfane with 26.
Barker’s Donovan Hefferon goes to the basket between Albion defenders Wesley Olles, left, and Tyler Cody.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 January 2026 at 8:57 pm
Albion improved to 6-3 in Niagara-Orleans League girls basketball competition with a 65-40 win at Barker.
Madison Muckle scored 17, Aaliyah Jones 15, Melia Prince 9 and Jocelyn Friedl 6 to pace Albion which led 29-19 at the half and by 15, 46-31, at the end of the third quarter.
Elise Monaco led Barker with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Oakfield-Alabama 53, Lyndonville 18
Oakfield-Alabama downed Lyndonville 53-18 in a Genesee Region League game as Allison Williams scored 12, Raine Denny 9 and Alexa Clark 7.
Isabella Groves scored 6 for Lyndonville as Braelynn Dillenbeck, Rylan Townsend and Leah Costello each had 3.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 5:17 pm
ALBION – The replacement of the Eagle Harbor Road bridge in the Town of Barre is moving forward.
The County Legislature on Tuesday accepted a bid from Nardozzi Paving & Construction of Geneva for $979,000. This project is 100 percent reimbursable and won’t need any local dollars, county legislators said.
The Legislature also approved a bid for $1,077,947 for preventive maintenance on bridges in Kent. Keeler Construction in Barre submitted the low bid for a project that is 95 percent reimbursable.
ALBION – The Orleans County Board of Elections (BOE) reminds all registered voters that Saturday, February 14, is the deadline to change your party enrollment before the 2026 Primary Election on June 23.
Primary elections are a way for political parties to choose who will be their candidates on the General Election ballot in November. New York State has closed primaries, meaning that to vote in a party’s primary election, you must be an enrolled member of that party on or before Feb. 14.
Enrollment requests must be received by the BOE no later than Feb. 14 to be effective for the June Primary Election. Any enrollment changes received after the deadline will take effect June 30.
The Orleans County Board of Elections will be open Saturday, Feb. 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to receive any last-minute enrollment changes.
Paper forms are available at your local post office, municipal building, or over the counter at the BOE. Call the BOE at 585-589-3274 if you need a form mailed to you or have any other questions.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 2:46 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Museum, speaks on July 6, 2025 during the annual patriotic service held near the Fourth of July in the Cobblestone Church.
BUFFALO – The Cobblestone Museum and Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council have both been approved for $13,500 grants from the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo.
The money comes through the 2025 Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Arts & Culture Initiative awards, which total over $421,000 to support 46 small to mid-sized arts organizations.
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Arts & Culture Initiative was established at the Community Foundation to support arts and culture in the eight counties of Western New York, plus Monroe County, in recognition of the key role arts and culture organizations play in a thriving economy.
The grants are in two categories:
Category 1 – Combined Capacity-Building and General Operating Funds for organizations with at least one full-time staff member to help organizations build the solid foundation necessary to pursue an ambitious mission and vision.
Grantees include:
Alfred Box of Books Library – $13,500
Beau Fleuve Music & Arts – $14,500
Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology – $13,500
Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art – $13,500
Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, Inc. – $13,500
Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts, Inc. – $13,500
The Cobblestone Society – $13,500
Community Canvases – $13,500
Cordelia A. Greene Library – $13,500
Danceability, Inc. – $13,500
El Museo Francisco Oller Y Diego Rivera – $13,500
Fenton Historical Society of Jamestown, New York – $13,500
The Fountain Arts Center, Inc. – $13,500
Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council – $13,500
Gowanda’s Historic Hollywood Theater, Ltd. – $13,500
Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center – $13,500
IndicatorArt Corporation – $13,500
KORP Foundation Inc. – $14,500
Lewiston Council on the Arts Inc – $13,500
Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes, Inc. – $13,500
North Park Theatre of Buffalo, Inc. – $13,500
Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective – $13,500
Shake on the Lake – $13,500
Sukanya Burman Dance Inc. – $13,500
The Theatre of Youth Company, Inc. – $18,515
West Falls Center for the Arts – $13,500
Western New York Minority Media Professionals Inc – $13,500
Category 2: General Operating Micro Grants up to $2,500 for organizations with less than one full-time staff member to execute immediate programming.
Grantees include:
Arts Services Inc. – $5,000 (for two separate projects)
Aurora Players – $2,500
Batavia Players – $2,500
Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus – $2,500
Buffalo Heritage Carousel – $2,500
Chautauqua Youth Symphony – $2,500
Community Canvases – $2,500
El Museo Francisco Oller Y Diego Rivera – $2,500
Genesee Symphony Orchestra – $2,500
Harmonia Chamber Singers, Inc. – $2,500
LMCimpact Inc. – $2,500
Minerva Free Library – $2,500
Polish Arts Club of Buffalo – $2,500
Sotto Voce Inc. – $2,500
Starring Buffalo – $2,500
Tonawandas’ Council on the Arts/Carnegie Art Center – $2,500
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America – Buffalo, NY Branch – $2,500
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 12:55 pm
State now contributing nearly $1.7 million to $5.2 million project
This rendering from Passero Associates shows the front of the library in Medina, which includes an overhang near the entrance. This is part of a $5 million capital project at the library, which includes a 4,785-square-foot addition.
MEDINA – Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina has received confirmation of an additional $874,124 grant from New York State Public Library Construction Aid towards the library’s $5.2 million expansion.
This is the second state library construction grant. Lee-Whedon also received a $795,320 grant in construction aid which brings the total from the state to $1,669,444.
In December, Lee-Whedon also received $25,000 in funding from the Garmin Family Foundation administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.
“Lee-Whedon has received a total of $1,697,444 in grants toward expansion costs exceeding our goal of $1.5 million,” said Kristine Mostyn, the library executive director.
Lee-Whedon will host a gala and auction from 7 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 6. That is expected to be the final big fundraising event for the library expansion. Click here for more information about that event.
Lee-Whedon celebrated a ground-breaking on Aug. 22, 2025 for a 4,785-square-foot addition on the back of the current library, which is 11,100 square feet. That project is expected to be complete in July.
The addition will create space for two meeting rooms, two tutoring rooms, a programming room with makerspace, Friends of the Library book sale room, a quiet research room, an art gallery, a teen room and 14 parking spots.
There will also be additional restrooms, a new circulation desk, a new entry portico with automatic sliding doors, about a 10 percent increase in the collection and upgraded technology.
“The library’s expansion project is designed to meet growing community needs and ensure the facility can continue to provide high-quality service for decades to come,” Mostyn said.
Contributed Story Posted 29 January 2026 at 12:38 pm
Contributed Photo – Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina Club Hockey team senior players are shown here with their families at Thursday’s Senior Recognition ceremony. The seniors include Max Pilon, Aiden Cronkhite, Noah Orens, John Peracciny, David Ward, Nate Downey and Sean Mettler.
Reversing the scene from their game earlier in the season, Timon defeated the Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina Knights Club Hockey team in Lockport last evening by the same 2-0 score that RBM beat them earlier in the season.
After a scoreless first period, the visitors scored the game winning goal early in the second period and added an insurance score in the third. The Knights outshot Timon 36-15, but could not light the lamp.
The evening was Senior Recognition for RBM with the following players in their final season for RBM: Max Pilon- Medina, Aiden Cronkhite and Noah Orens- Newfane, and John Peracciny, David Ward, Nate Downey and Sean Mettler- Royalton-Hartland.
RBM returns to action at home on Friday evening at 8:15 p.m. against league- leading Rochester.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 12:02 pm
ALABAMA – The public can hear from the developer of a proposed data center at the STAMP site in the Town of Alabama during a meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday.
Stream Data Centers will host an information session at the Alabama Fire Hall, 2230 Judge Rd.
The event is open to the public and advance registration is not required.
In addition, Stream has created a website which summarizes the project and responds to many of the concerns which have been raised to date in various forums. Visit streamwny.com to learn more about the project.
Stream Data Centers is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The company is looking to build a 2.2 million square foot facility on 90 acres of the Western New York’s Science, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP).
“When completed, the project would immediately create hundreds of construction and trade jobs to support development across years, offering stable, high-paying employment,” the company states on its website. “Once operational, 120+ long-term employment opportunities for high-tech, full-time jobs in operations, management, and trades. This is in addition to the hundreds of jobs required during the construction phase, which spans over multiple years.”
I am writing to express my strong appreciation for the leadership of our County Legislature Chairwoman, Lynne Johnson, and her commitment to look out for the best interest of the community.
At a time when large development projects often move forward with little regard for the long-term consequences, Chairman Johnson has shown the courage and integrity to stand up against the proposed data center in our neighboring county—a project that would have serious environmental impacts on our own community. From increased strain on water resources to potential harm to air quality, wildlife, and our rural character, the effects of this development would not stop at county lines.
Chairman Johnson understands that protecting our environment is not anti-progress—it is pro-resident. Her advocacy reflects a deep respect for the people who live here, work here, and want to preserve this county for future generations. She has demonstrated that responsible leadership means asking tough questions, demanding transparency, and refusing to sacrifice our quality of life for short-term gains elsewhere.
Our county is fortunate to have a legislative chairman who listens to constituents and is willing to stand firm when our environment and well-being are at stake. Lynne Johnson’s actions remind us of what true public service looks like, and she deserves recognition and thanks from the community she serves.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 9:46 am
ALBION – Harry Papponetti, Albion’s animal control officer for more than 30 years, knew we were in for a rough winter.
In the fall he saw squirrels furiously stacking pine cones around his property. He had never seen anything quite like it. In October, he told the Village Board to expect a punishing winter based on what he was seeing from the squirrels.
“I told you,” Papponetti told the Orleans Hub before Wednesday’s Village Board meeting. “The squirrels were right.”
The area has been in the grip of bitter cold temperatures and frequent bouts of snow this winter.
The stacking of pine cones by squirrels as a sign of a brutal winter is believed to be folklore. But Papponetti is a believer that squirrels and wildlife knew extended harsh conditions were in store this winter.
He told the board deep cold and frozen landscape is bringing foxes and other wildlife farther into the village than in a normal winter looking for food. These creatures weren’t stocked up on pine cones.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2026 at 7:49 am
Orleans also could get 6 to 12 inches more of snow today through Saturday
With wind chills expected to plummet to as low as minus 24 degrees tonight, the National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a cold weather advisory for Orleans County and much of Western New York.
The advisory begins at 7 p.m. and goes until 10 a.m. on Friday.
“This is a potentially hazardous situation to be outdoors,” the Weather Service said. “If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 15 below zero or colder.”
Orleans County also is included in a winter weather advisory with Monroe and Wayne counties from 10 a.m. today until 10 a.m. on Saturday. Those counties could see 6 to 12 inches of snow in the most persistent of snowbands.
“Greatest snowfall amounts will be closer to the Lake Ontario shoreline and across eastern Monroe to Wayne County,” the Weather Service said.
Today is forecast for a high of 15 degrees with the temperature dropping to 0 overnight.
The highs in the forecast then show 10 on Friday, 14 on Saturday, 18 on Sunday, 25 on Monday and 26 on Tuesday.
