By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2026 at 4:01 pm
The average gas price for regular unleaded has fallen below $4 nationally for the first time in about three months, down 14 cents in the past week to $3.93, AAA reported today. A year ago the price was $3.22.
In new York State, the average price is $4.23, which is down 13 cents in the past week. The average price in Orleans County is at $4.396 today. A week ago it was $4.503, according to AAA.
“Drives are getting a break at the pump as summer arrives and the travel season heats up,” AAA said. “Last week, for the first time since March 30, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline dropped below $4 and has continued to drop to $3.93 this morning.”
“Unfortunately, New York prices remain over $4 per gallon with the state ranking 9th for the highest prices in the country,” AAA said. “Crude oil prices are down as the U.S. and Iran reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This morning, oil prices are down to $75 to $79 per barrel.”
Diesel prices are down this week, with the national average at $5.01, down 19 cents from last week, but up from $3.68 a year ago.
Here are the average prices at counties around Western New York:
Orleans, $4.396
Genesee, $4.300
Monroe, $4.302
Niagara, $4.363
Erie, $4.350
Wyoming, $4.422
Livingston, $4.423
Chautauqua, $4.299
Cattaraugus, $4.213
Allegany, $4.360
Yates County has the highest price in state at $4.549, while the lowest price of $4.028 a gallon is in Nassau County.
Photo from Pixcams, Inc.: The eaglet featured on a nest cam at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge has been named Skanon. The eaglet took flight for the first time on Sunday.
By Dick Moss, president of Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
BASOM – The eaglet that has been the focus of attention at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge took flight for the first time Sunday morning.
The fledging occurred just a day after Amy Merritt of Corfu, a member of Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (FINWR) and one of the lead eagle camera moderators, announced the eaglet’s new name.
The name is Skanon (pronounced Skä•noñh), a name with deep Seneca roots meaning peace and wellness. It was suggested by FINWR board member Marvin Jacobs of Cheektowaga, an elder of the Seneca Wolf Clan, and was one of three names that interested observers chose among.
Skanon has many meanings and also expresses: Continuance — the idea that life, culture, and responsibility carry forward; as well as journey — walking a path guided by the Great Law of Peace.
Skanon spread her wings and took off from the nest at 7:31 a.m. Sunday, aged 79 days, and swooped down toward the marsh. She returned later in the morning after her adventure, and settled for a time on a branch near the bald eagle camera operated by FINWR before returning to the nest.
“Skanon had what we call an intentional fledge,” Merritt said. “She wanted to fly! You look for a poop shoot first, she will extend her neck out looking for a target, judging distance, wings extended. Then a spring from the legs, as if you were jumping off a diving board!”
The name was chosen from among three possibilities by FINWR members, participants in the eagle cam chat and followers of FINWR’s web pages who made a small donation to the nonprofit to participate in the voting. The other two options were Oneida and Casey.
FINWR’s eagle camera committee also named Skanon’s parents Cayuga and Seneca, in tribute to the Haudenosaunee legacy of the land the refuge sits on.
The mother bald eagle, previously designated IF1, will now be known as Cayuga — a name rooted in the People of the Great Swamp, reflecting strength, resilience, and deep connection to the waters and wetlands that cradle this nest.
The father, previously IM1, will now be known as Seneca — honoring the Keepers of the Western Door, a name that carries the spirit of guardianship, wisdom, and watchful protection.
Merritt said that in the post-fledge period, expect Cayuga and Seneca to continue to bring food to the nest, or wherever Skanon happens to be.
“She will explore, as she did today,” Merritt said.
“She seems to be a strong flyer,” said FINWR Vice President Emma DeLeon of Williamsville, who has shared the main moderator duties with Merritt and is one of the people most responsible for the eagle camera and its setup. “Over the next 4-6 weeks, the parents will continue feeding her as she learns to hunt and scavenge. Gradually she will spend more time independently and more time outside of the parents’ territory. She will be fully independent and have left the territory by this fall.”
The eagle camera idea was born mostly from comments and feedback from visitors to the refuge Visitor Center asking if the original eagle cam was still working. It had stopped working over 20 years ago, said FINWR past president and current board member Garner Light of Gasport.
“The inquiries happened often enough that it seemed like a good idea to propose installing a new camera,” he said. “The camera was installed on a beautiful warm day in October of 2024. This was the culmination of a year’s worth of research, consultations, permissions, discussions and a lot of logistics.”
Many people were involved in making the camera a reality, among them the state Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Iroquois NWR management, Bill Powers of Pixcams Inc. of Export, PA, Treeman Tom LLC of Wilson, DeLeon and Light.
Dick Moss of Medina is president of Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, a 501(3)c nonprofit, all-volunteer corporation that helps support and maintain the refuge for future generations.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 June 2026 at 12:43 pm
Contributed Photo – A total of nine Roy-Hart seniors will be continuing their education and their athletic careers at the collegiate level this fall. They include, from left, Gavin Heideman (SUNY Niagara for Baseball), Brooke Zglinicki (SUNY Morrisville for Field Hockey), Tysen McCaa (Alfred University for Football), Anthony Adinolfe (Erie Community College for Football), Evan Poeller (Finger Lakes Community College for Baseball), Millie Owens (Genesee Community College for Basketball), Joe Reiter III (Alfred University for Football), Sean Mettler (Finger Lakes Community College for Baseball) and Isaac Smith (Clark University for Baseball).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2026 at 11:54 am
Seneca Chief will be open for tours on Wednesday in Holley, Thursday in Medina
Photos by Tom Rivers: This group gets a ride on the Seneca Chief replica boat last year as part of the commemorative bicentennial journey of the original Seneca Chief that took Gov. DeWitt Clinton across the entire newly constructed Erie canal in 1825. The photo shows the replica boat headed east as it passes though Eagle Harbor under the lift bridge on Sept. 26, 2025.
The Seneca Chief will be back in Orleans County this week with the public welcome to take free tours of the boat when it’s in Holley on Wednesday and then in Medina on Thursday.
The vessel is a replica of the boat that took Gov. DeWitt Clinton on the maiden voyage across the newly built Erie Canal in 1825, going from Buffalo to New York City.
Volunteers at the Buffalo Maritime Center worked for four years to recreate the Seneca Chief. The 73-foot-long replica received great fanfare last year as part of the 200th anniversary celebration of the Erie Canal.
The Seneca Chief is on a three-week “Back to Buffalo” journey. The boat left Waterford on June 6 and will reach Buffalo on June 27. It will be in Rochester today and Tuesday before heading west. It is scheduled to reach Holley and be open for tours at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Holley will have food vendors – Red Osier Lands & Lobsters, Dottie’s Lemonade, and Red, White and Moo. People are encouraged to park at the former Save-A-Lot store’s parking lot and then head to Holley’s Canal Park. A band comprised of Holley students – PSA-Public Service Announcement – also will be performing.
Holley elementary students – Robbie Weit, Vivian Applegate and Timothy Hendrickson – have been selected to board the boat in Brockport and ride the canal to Holley, Mayor Mark Bower said. They will be joined by their parents, Murray-Holley Historical Society President Dan Mawn and Village Historian Raymond Santoro.
The schedule in Holley includes:
3 p.m. – Seneca Chief arrives at Holley Canal Park
3:30 p.m. – Welcome ceremony
4 p.m. – Visitor experience that is open to the public. Music starts and food vendors open.
7 p.m. – Visitor experience public hours end
The Seneca Chief will depart Holley at noon on Thursday and head to Medina.
The event schedule for Medina includes:
3:30 p.m. – Seneca Chief arrives at Medina Canal Basin
4 p.m. – Welcome ceremony
4:30 p.m. – Visitor experience that is open to the public
7 p.m. – Visitor experience public hours end
Visitors checked out the inside of the Seneca Chief on Aug. 12, 2024 when it made a test run of its bicentennial journey. In August in 2024, the boat went from Buffalo to Rochester and back.
The Buffalo Maritime Center said the boat’s keel, frames, and other structural timbers were made of white oak. The keelson was a single 60-foot-long piece of reclaimed Douglas Fir.
The center says this about the wood in the boat:
“The planking consisted of two layers of 1-inch-thick cypress with a waterproof dynel cloth set in epoxy between the layers. The outer layer of planking was caulked with cotton in the traditional manner. This combination of modern and traditional planking methods was designed to help the boat stay watertight even if it spent winters out of the water.
“All of the bolts used in the backbone structure were forged in the BMC’s own machine shop by a crew of volunteers. This crew also produced several specialized tools and hardware needed to build the boat.”
The Seneca Chief is shown passing under the Main Street lift bridge in Albion last year on Sept. 26.
Contributed Photo – Holley United’s BU15 soccer team captured the championship at Greece Tournament over the weekend.
Holley United’s BU15 team delivered a statement performance this weekend, capturing the BU15 Elite Championship at the 36th Annual Greece United Futbol Club Soccer Tournament.
The squad opened the tournament with a convincing 6-1 victory over Penfield Fusion before defeating host Greece United 4-0 in the tournament’s deciding match. By weekend’s end, Holley United had compiled a perfect 2-0 record while outscoring opponents 10-1.
However, Coach Joshua Ebbs noted that this championship was about more than wins and losses.
“The roster that lifted the title was built from athletes representing Holley, Albion, Kendall, Brockport, and Barker—five communities united by a shared passion for the game,” said Ebbs.
The championship squad included Colson Brayley, Stryker Brayley, Jax Gotte, and Michael McElwain (Albion); Delaney Lefever (Barker); Gabriel Dixon and Rocco Gubiotti (Brockport); Kallan Babcock, Colton Foeller, Cameron Kelley, Logan Lane, Mason McGuire, Jackson Taylor, Angel Vazquez-Mendoza, Trent Walker, and Evan West (Holley); and Matthew Heberle, Jackson Robinson, Landon Schiavone, and Garrett Smith (Kendall).
“The weekend’s results highlighted the talent on the roster, but they also showcased the power of a club culture built on bringing communities together,” said Ebbs. “Soccer has a unique ability to connect people, create lasting friendships, and unite families around a common goal. Holley United’s success this weekend was a reflection of what can happen when talent, opportunity, and culture align.”
“For Holley United, the championship was more than a tournament title—it was another example of the club’s guiding belief: Community Builds Culture,” concluded Ebbs.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2026 at 10:20 am
Provided photos
HOLLEY – For the 15th year, a group from Holley Elementary School participated in the Girls on the Run 5K at the University of Buffalo campus. The top photo shows some of the Holley runners and their running buddies.
The Holley students joined about 1,000 girls from grades 3 to 5 from Western New York in the event on June 8.
Natalie Young, a fifth-grader, runs the 5K with her running buddy, teacher Kristina Rich.
(Left) Lillian Bedard gets help pinning on her bib from her father Brenden Bedard, who was also her running buddy. (Right) Carlee Dale shows the medal she received for completing the Girls on the Run 5K.
The runners from Holley pose for a photo outside the Holley Elementary School. The 8-week program combines physical activities with social-emotional skills, team work and self esteem.
The coaches for the Girls on the Run at Holley include, from left: Lynn Vendetti, Shannon Brett, Hannah Bushen and Julie Boss.
Lillian Passarell, a fourth-grader, was speedy, running the course in 26 minutes, 29 seconds.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 June 2026 at 9:53 am
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Greg Hughson takes a shot to score Medina FC’s first goal in the Mustangs victory over Germania at Vets Park Sunday evening.
Gaining the .500 mark, the surging Medina Mustangs FC blanked Germania FC 2-0 in a Buffalo District Soccer League Championship Division game Sunday evening at Vets Park.
Greg Husung scored what proved to be the game winning goal for Medina early in the first half off an assist from Ollie Ardle.
Medina defender Trenton Jones later came up with a key block of a shot at the goal line to keep the Mustangs up 1-0 with five minutes remaining in the second half.
The Mustangs finally put a lock on the victory when Cole Callard scored with two minutes remaining as Ardle again earned the assist.
Tyler Ribbeck earned the shutout in goal.
Medina, which has now gone 3-0-1 over the last four games after an 0-3 start, is 3-3-1 with three games remaining in the regular season. The Mustangs have also picked up a 1-0 win over the Williamsville Willies as the result of last Sunday’s rain shortened game.
The Mustangs will next face Ukraine at 8 p.m. Sunday at Buffalo State.
Medina FC goalie Tyler Ribbeck goes high to make a save.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2026 at 9:25 am
Color splash part of celebration at elementary school
Photos courtesy of Andy King, Kendall art teacher
KENDALL – Robbert Mundt, a Kendall sixth-grader, runs through a cloud of color powder thrown by sixth-grade teachers during last Thursday’s moving up ceremony outside the Kendall Elementary School.
Kendall since 2021 has celebrated sixth-graders moving up to the junior-senior high school with a ceremony that includes a color splash.
There are 51 sixth-graders moving up to the junior-senior high school.
Sidewalks were chalked by families during the day with messages for the sixth-graders. Some families need to rechalk their messages three times due to rain showers throughout the day. The moving up celebration was held in the bus loop.
Jaydon Stephens emerges from a cloud of chalk powder.
Kevin Watson, the school principal, usually handles the DJ duties for the celebration but this time handed off the role to sixth-graders Joliene Jurzysta, left, and Preston Swetz. They both have been the DJs for Kendall’s monthly SOAR assemblies. They were able to participate in the color splash when it was their turn.
Eleanor Heeks gets color sprayed by the sixth grade staff.
Landon Perry is moving to seventh grade. He is all smiles with his father, Lucas, following the ceremony.
The sixth-graders take a final group shot at the elementary school following the moving up ceremony.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 June 2026 at 8:05 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville school, district recently honored retiring staff and teachers and an administrator awarded tenure. Pictured from left include Superintendent Dr. Heather Lyon; Aimee Chaffee, tenure for role as district’s director of special education, data and grants; Emily Aydelotte, tenure as second grade teacher; Caroline “Carrie” Samson, tenure as elementary teacher; Tammy Mallon, retiree as special education teacher; Kelly Follman, retiree as music teacher; Brenna LaSpada, tenure as third grade teacher; Patrick Whipple, Board of Education president. Missing from photo: Denise Keavney, retiree as cleaner. Jerod Thurber also was recognized for six years of service on the Board of Education. His term ends June 30.
The retirees said they were thankful for the family atmosphere at Lyndonville.
Denise Keavney was praised for bringing “kindness and warmth” to her job at the school. She started as a lunch lady, and became a cleaner.
Tammy Mallon worked 31 years at Lyndonville as a special education teacher.
“She has had a profound impact on the school district,” said Aimee Chafee, the district’s director of special education, data and grants. “For three decades she has been championing students with disabilities.”
Chaffee praised Mallon for being a mentor to other teachers in the special education department.
Kelly Follman was commended for bringing passion to her job as a music teacher, and inspiring many of her students to pursue careers in the arts. Follman said 82 students will be in the marching band for the Fourth of July parade.
“I’m so proud of our music department,” Follman said. “I’m ready to pass the torch to a young person who can take it to the next level.”
Aimee Chafee was awarded tenure for role as district’s director of special education, data and grants. Dr. Heather Lyon, the district’s superintendent, said Chaffee has demonstrated “an unwavering commitment to doing what’s right for students.”
She fosters a culture of shared responsibility and commitment, Lyon said.
“What stands out is Aimee’s integrity,” Lyon said.
Chaffee will be taking a leave of absence next school year before returning in 2027-28.
Emily Aydelotte was awarded tenure in the elementary school. She thanked elementary school principal, Dr. Elissa Smith, “for always believing in me.”
Caroline “Carrie” Samson was praised for being awarded tenure in the elementary school teacher and for setting a remarkable example for students and staff. Samson started working in the school cafeteria in 2013 and then became a teacher aide and a classroom teacher. She did that while taking college classes and earning her master’s degree in education.
“She is such a role model,” said Smith, the elementary principal. “She has chased her dreams as an adult.”
Brenna LaSpada also was awarded tenure as an elementary school teacher. Her students have excelled in third grade. Smith said Lyndonville’s third graders have some of the highest academic achievers in the region and LaSpada is a big part of the third grade team.
LaSpada joined Lyndonville after started her career in the tourism and hospitality industry.
“Every day I get to wake up and come to work with the best colleagues and the best students,” LaSpada said. “I’m happy to be a Tiger.”
1 resident rescued from apartment and carried out by firefighters
Photo courtesy of Brockport Fire District: Fire tore through an apartment complex at 3640 Lake Rd. in Brockport this morning.
Press Release, Brockport Fire District
BROCKPORT – Before the sun rose this morning, fire ravaged through the center building in the apartment complex on Lake Road just North of Ridge Road West.
Four different callers reported the fire to the Monroe County 911 center at 04:48 hours this morning reporting the fire burning out of control at 3640 Lake Rd. in the Town of Clarkson.
A heavy fire load was obvious as first arriving apparatus pulled in the driveway. Additional companies were immediately summoned to assist Brockport firefighters.
15 fire companies from Monroe, Orleans and Genesee counties responded to assist. They included Hamlin-Morton-Walker, Hilton, Spencerport, Bergen, Churchville, Murray, Gates, Ridge Road FD, North Greece, Albion, Kendall, Chili, Henrietta, Mumford and Scottsville.
Many of them were utilized at the scene while some of them stood by in our headquarters station covering our district for us. Monroe Ambulance provided EMS with several ambulances. The Brockport Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office provided drone support to examine the heavily damaged areas while searching for hot spots from above the structure.
No firefighters were injured while fighting the fire. There were four residents treated at the scene and released by EMS crews. One resident had to be rescued from their apartment and carried out by firefighters. Two cats and an Iguana were rescued by firefighters as part of the search and rescue operation.
The structure involved had 21 housing units affected by the fire with approximately 30 residents displaced. The American Red Cross is assisting with temporary housing, and the Brockport Fire District opened the doors of their Station #2 across the street to provide immediate shelter for residents while the Red Cross worked out the details.
The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation by the Monroe County Fire Bureau’s Fire Investigation Unit. The cause is undetermined at this time.
Bruce Burch (sporting dahlias on his lapel), Harry Hillman (center) and Norma Wheeler photographed in 1928 with the West Lyndonville Dahlia Gardens sign.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No. 18
LYNDONVILLE – It never ceases to amaze us how random photographs can survive and surface after many years to give us a tantalizing glimpse into a moment in time. Naturally this happy photograph caught our attention. And, wonder of wonders, it was dated and the and the subjects were identified.
But Dahlia Gardens? West Lyndonville??
West Lyndonville was at one time recognized as a distinct area.
For some years, a local correspondent contributed news of area milestones and social activities to the Lyndonville Advertiser.
The 1920s has been referred to as the “golden age” of dahlia breeding as the variety and intensity of colors and forms appealed to the Art Deco Jazz Age aesthetic.
We traced the history of the West Lyndonville Dahlia Gardens through advertisements and news articles. Appropriately, the enterprise dates from that time. The first reference appeared in the Times-Union, Sept. 13, 1924:
“Perhaps the most beautiful colors of dahlias in this vicinity can be seen in Mrs. H. P. Wheeler’s garden in West Lyndonville. Every conceivable color is there, from the lighter shades to blossoms that are almost black. The flowers are large and the double-quilled ones, one variety of which is called the “Country Girl” is especially beautiful.”
Sue Starkweather Miller, Village of Albion Historian, is a dahlia enthusiast. Shown here are some of the dahlias she has grown. The varied forms include semi-cactus, ball, and water-lily.
An ad in The Buffalo News, September 26, 1931, mentioned 400 varieties of dahlia in full bloom at the gardens. What a sight that must have been! Dahlia blossoms are intensely vibrant in the fall.
Pinpointing the actual location of this idyllic garden was a puzzle. To those of us now accustomed to precise directions, the instructions given in the ads were delightfully vague: “One and one fourth miles south-east of Lyndonville” or “Take the first three left-hand turns after passing north through Lyndonville and crossing the railroad.”
Finally, we located the Wheeler property in the 1913 New Century Atlas of Orleans County at the intersection of Angling Road and Marshall Road.
The lady responsible for the dahlia gardens was Mrs. H.P. Wheeler (Lena Boughton). She was listed as a florist in the 1930 Census. Tubers, bulbs and fresh-cut flowers could be purchased at the gardens. Gladioli were added in later years. The business continued until 1943.
Lena died in 1963. She and her husband, Harry Wheeler, are buried in Hartland Central Cemetery, Gasport.
Congratulations to the Kendall boys baseball team on their phenomenal season!
They beat the other C team and not one, but two crossovers as it was Section Five’s turn to do so, beating the Section 6 sectional champs and Section 3 champs before marching forward to the New York State semifinal. They won that game also. The excitement and pride was overwhelming.
Kendall player Vinnie D’Agostino phrased their loss with class in the final saying Kendall is the best public high school in Class C. He didn’t say they suffered a loss in the NYSPHS State final to a private Catholic school.
The “P” stands for ‘Public” in New York State Public High School Athletic Association. This is an ongoing controversy in Section V. Section VI does not allow it. Section 1 just overwhelmingly voted 69 to 4 to prohibit Catholic schools playing in public playoffs beginning with the 2027-28 school year.
No secret that private schools can recruit and do it openly.
Hold your heads up, boys. We are so proud of your not only winning season but your sportsmanship in getting there.
