Firefighters from Orleans help battle blaze in Brockport that displaced 30 people

Posted 21 June 2026 at 4:58 pm

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.

West Lyndonville a century ago was a hotbed for dahlia flowers

Posted 21 June 2026 at 3:44 pm

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.

Kendall baseball team made community proud with tremendous season

Posted 21 June 2026 at 2:42 pm

Editor:

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.

Margaret Zambito

Oakfield (and Kendall cottage resident)

N-O League honors track Players of the Year

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 21 June 2026 at 9:54 am

Contributed Photos – Ryan Hough and Reece Addesa

Wilson senior Ryan Hough and Akron 8th grader Reece Addesa have been named the Niagara-Orleans League’s Track and Field Players of the Year.

Hough was a quadruple winner at the Section VI Class C championship meet capturing the Long Jump (23-2), High Jump (6-4), Triple Jump (45-3.75) and the 110 Hurdles (:15.48).

He went on to win both the Long Jump (23-4) and High Jump (6-6) at the state Class C championships. He also placed second in the Triple Jump (47-8) and third in the 110 Hurdles (:14.79).

Addesa won both the 800 (2:28.11) and 1500 (5:06.99) at the N-O All-League meet.

She went on to again win both the 800 (2:29.33) and the 1500 (5:04.29) at the Section VI Class C championship meet.

Medina 15U scores a pair of victories

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 21 June 2026 at 9:42 am

The Medina Mustangs 15U baseball team scored a pair of tournament victories on the road Saturday defeating 15URR 6-4 and NY Stingers Black 15-4.

Evan Collins and Mason Mikulec combined to hurl a 4 hitter with 11 strikeouts in the win over 15URR as Viktor Snyder led the offense with 3 hits.

Medina scored in the third inning on a three-run double by Zach Graham after a walk, a hit batter and a single by Snyder had loaded the bases.

A wild pitch and an RBI single by Snyder plated a pair of runs in the fifth frame.

Snyder, Jacob Duffina, Brayden LaMartina and Shawn Robertson each had a pair of hits in the win over the Stingers as Medina scored in every inning but one.

A six run fourth inning was the big one as Mason Berry had a two-run single, Duffina an RBI double and Snyder and Graham RBI singles.

Medina continues tournament play today.

Gun shop on Ridge Road in Holley outgrew owner’s garage and home

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 June 2026 at 8:22 am

Scott Pachla, a former airline pilot, enjoys working with gun owners

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Scott Pachla is shown on Saturday at Building Your Dreams Gun Shop, which opened about three weeks ago at the former West Ridge Realty building at 16584 Ridge Rd.

Pachla for more than a decade ran the business out of his home on Kendall Road. It outgrew his garage and then expanded into his house, taking up even more room.

The new location is more visible for the public and in a better location for the public, Pachla said.

He started selling guns 16 years ago as a hobby. Pachla, 55, is connected with many distributors. He used those contacts to maintain access to hand guns, long guns, ammunition and other supplies during the Covid pandemic in 2020, when many gun sellers struggled to get supplies.

That’s when the business really started to take off for Pachla, who worked 20 years as an airline pilot. He stepped away from that career due to the constant time away from home.

“I slept in 80,000 hotel beds,” he said. “I was never home.”

After his career as a pilot, Pachla tried a business where he built custom log cabins. He called his contracting business, Building Your Dreams. He kept that name for the gun shop.

The gun business is more family-friendly for Pachla. His wife Joanna Fraser helps with the books, and is at the store on Saturdays. She also works full-time at Lowe’s.

Pachla’s twin sons, Hunter and Kohle, also help at Building Your Dreams. They both will graduate from Holley on Saturday. Hunter does scope mounts and can make gun repairs. Kohle helped design the store’s look and layout.

Scott Pachla and his wife Joanna Fraser are shown at Building Your Dreams Gun Shop at the former Westridge Realty on Ridge Road.

Pachla said he has been a gun enthusiast since he was hunting as a kid. Some of the animals he’s hunted are mounted high on the store walls, including a wild boar he shot with an arrow.

Pachla enjoys sharing his knowledge with the public. If he doesn’t have what they want in the store, he said he can order and quickly have it on site. He has products from about 30 gun manufacturers, including Traditions, Versacarry, Barnes, Hornady, Kimber, Ruger, Glock, Savage, Springfield, Henry, Smith & Wesson and others.

“I enjoy the customers and I enjoy the industry,” he said.

Building Your Dreams also sells ammunition, accessories, cleaning supplies, scopes and does minor gun smithing.

The business is open Monday through Saturday – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6:30 on Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Click here for more information.

Pachla works with fire departments and other organizations on gun raffles, trying to help them retain as much of the proceeds as possible.

G-R bests N-O in Senior baseball game

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 20 June 2026 at 2:12 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Vinnie D’Agostino slides safely into home for a run for the Genesee Region League. Trying to make the tag for the Niagara-Orleans League is Newfane catcher Tristan Smith. The action took place during this afternoon’s N-O vs. G-R Senior game at Vets Park.

A pair of late inning scoring spurts keyed the Genesee Region League to a 6-1 win over the Niagara-Orleans League in the Senior baseball game at vets Park this afternoon.

Breaking away from a 1-1 deadlock, the G-R took the lead for good by scoring 3 runs in the sixth inning on a bases loaded walk and a two-run single by Mikey Colucci (Kendall).

Kendall’s Mikey Colucci bangs out a key two-run single for the G-R.

A double by Leo Egloff (Alexander), a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases to set up the threat.

The G-R then added a pair of runs in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Egloff and a double steal.

The N-O League’s only run came in the second inning as Tristan Smith (Newfane) singled, and scored on an error.

The G-R tied the game at 1-1 in the fifth on an RBI double by Adyn Horzempa (Notre Dame).

A quintet of G-R pitchers including Nic Cole (Kendall), Brayden Lang (Pembroke), Vinnie D’Agostino (Kendall), Eli Grice (Notre Dame) and Mark Caparco (Elba) combined for a 3 hitter with 15 strikeouts.

The N-O’s only other hits were a single by Sean Mettler (Roy-Hart) in the first inning and a triple by Evan Poeller (Roy-Hart) in the ninth.

Defensively the N-O did turn a double play in the fifth inning from Vinny Gray (Medina) to Elliott Trapiss (Albion).

Sharing the pitching duties for the N-O were Gavin Heideman (Roy-Hart), Gray, Will Plummer (Albion), Isaac Smith (Roy-Hart), Colin Miller (Akron), Jimmy Dieter (Medina) and JJ Prynn (Barker).

NOTE: Additional pictures from today’s game have been posted to the Hub’s Facebook pages.

Barker’s JJ Prynn puts the tag on Elba’s Fletcher Norton for an out for the N-O League.

Medina’s Jimmy Dieter gets an out for the N-O League at third base on Pembroke’s Brayden Lang.

Holley celebrates new playground along canal park trail

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2026 at 12:22 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Local officials today celebrated a new playground in the Village of Holley along the canal park trail. The project was a joint venture through the village, Town of Murray and the county health department.

Unveiling the new sign at the park, from left, include: Village Trustee Rochelle Moroz, Murray Town Supervisor Gerry Rightmyer, County Legislator John Fitzak and Village Trustee Jessica MacClaren. The new sign was designed by Lake Country Media in Albion.

The playground was popular with kids this morning around 11 a.m.

The playground replaces one that was about 25 years old and was removed in 2022 due to disrepair.

The new playground was funded with a $150,000 state grant secured by health department, $52,000 from the Village of Holley and $25,000 from the Town of Murray.

It’s the only public playground in the Town of Murray and Village of Holley besides the one at the elementary school.

Rightmyer said Murray used ARPA federal funds for its share of the project.

Holley Mayor Mark Bower, left, thanked the town and county for supporting the project. The local governments worked with Parkitects and Landscape Structures on the design of the playground, which was installed by Align Outdoors.

Bower said they wanted a new playground that was different from the one at the school. He has been pleased to see many kids and families using the playground.

Legislator John Fitzak said the project was a “creative collaboration” among the three government – village, town and county.

“It’s another way everyone works together for a common benefit,” he said.

Brenden Bedard, assistant director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, spotted the grant possibility. He reached out to Bower to see if Holley was interested in pursuing it. The local entities worked with the county grantwriter, Diane Cihak of Upper Edge Consulting, to submit the successful grant application.

Bedard, a Holley resident who was elected a village trustee on Tuesday, said a playground brings many health benefits, encouraging kids and families to exercise and be outside.

Mayor Bower said the project is the latest in efforts to add recreational amenities in the village. A new kayak launch was recently added through a grant.

Holley also received a grant to add more lighting along the canal path at the park. A screen also will be put in the canal park pavilion to protect people from bugs and insects while they are enjoying the pavilion. A bench with a solar cover also will be added that will be a spot where people can recharge their phones, Bower said.

The village owns the fireman’s field across from the elementary school and two Gaga Ball pits and a bocce court were recently installed at that field, which is leased by the fire department.

Roy-Hart holds athletic awards ceremonies

Contributed Story Posted 20 June 2026 at 9:49 am

Roy-Hart held its annual Athletic Awards ceremonies this past week as Tysen McCaa and Kylie McOmber were honored as Athletes of the Year.

Jillian Ossont received the Dave Brown Memorial Award for swimming.

The Stan Voss Memorial Award for baseball was presented to Evan Poeller.

McCaa received the Bruno Pacini Award for football.

The Bill Holahan Coaches Award was presented to Grace Pearl.

The William Donovan Memorial Scholarship Award Once A Ram, Always a Ram was presented to Ian Earl.

The John Jablonski Outstanding Track Athlete Award was presented to Kylie McOmber (Girls Field), Jillian Ossont (Girls Track), Tysen McCaa (Boys Field) and Jase Waters (Boys Track).

The Dan Seefeldt Award was presented to Hayley Hillburn and Vincenzo Fazzio.

Isaac Smith received the Connor Callaghan Courage Award.

The Walter Kowalski Award was presented to Joseph Reiter III.

Peyton May and Evan Poeller received the Brian Weaver Memorial Award for Outstanding Citizenship in the Roy-Hart Community.

The Wally Sidebottom Memorial Award of Excellence was presented to Kaylie Churchill and Sean Mettler.

The Roy-Heart Award was presented to Abby Fox, Raegan Kern, Brooke Zglinicki, Millie Owens, Anthony Adinolfe, Gavin Heideman, Hayden Hillburn, Ryleigh Capen, Taylor Alvord, Hannah Verratti and Colin Cousins.

Kylie McOmber and Evan Poeller received Niagara-Orleans League Scholar Athlete Awards.

Five Year Plaques were presented to Judson Heck (Golf), Jackson Brauen (Golf), Marissa Bryant (Cross-Country), Samantha Silsby (Cross-Country) and Dillan Santella (Field Hockey), Alayna Kowalski (Field Hockey), Brooke Zglinicki (Field Hockey), Kaylie Churchill (Soccer), Luke Fay (Wrestling), Peyton May (Softball), Hayley Hillburn (Softball), Abby Fox (Softball), Jase Waters (Track and Field) and Felicity Kwaizer (Track and Field).

Six Year Plaques were presented to Isaac Smith (Golf), Evan Poeller (Golf), Madelina Pavlock (Swimming), Brooke Zglinicki (Track and Field) and Kylie McOmber (Track and Field).

Albion and Lyndonville in GLOW 18U action

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 20 June 2026 at 9:23 am

Albion blanked Mt. Morris 15-0 and Pavilion edged Lyndonville 3-1 in GLOW baseball League 18U Division games this past week.

Gavin Boyce, Omer Fugate and Alakai Colmenero combined to hurl a no hitter with 13 strikeouts for Albion.

Boyce and Elliott Trapiss both had a pair of hits as Albion scored 5 times in the first, third and fourth innings. Trapiss and Kaiden Froman both had doubles. Froman and Mason Snook both drove in 3 runs and Trapiss and Fugate 2 each.

Quincey McClinsey pitched a 4 hitter with 11 strikeouts for Lyndonville.

Sebastian Clark and Devon Babcock had hits for Lyndonville.

Medina pitcher is named Max Preps Player of the Year for New York State

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 20 June 2026 at 9:11 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina junior pitcher Preston Woodworth has been named the Max Preps Player of the Year for New York State. Woodworth helped lead Medina to the Class B state finals. He posted a 10-1 record on the mound with a 0.61 earned run average and a state leading 132 strikeouts. At the plate he hit .400 with 14 doubles and 29 RBIs.

Marti’s showcases 3 artists in newest show at Albion gallery

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2026 at 9:02 am

Arthur Barnes, Marco Rodriguez and David Burke all have paintings on display

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – David F. Burke of Bergen is one of the featured artists in a new show at the Marti’s on Main art gallery in Albion.

He is shown by his painting, “White Trees in September,” an acrylic on canvas.

Burke has 12 paints in the show at Marti’s. Kim Martillotta Muscarella has the gallery open for its 16^th season. There are receptions the third Friday each month from April to November for the new art shows at 20 South Main St.

Arthur Barnes is shown with some of his new ink and water color paintings that he did over the winter. Barnes has about a dozen new paintings in the art show. He likes to paint trees in the winter when there aren’t leaves on the branches. That way there is more to see of the landscapes.

Marco Rodriguez of Brockport is also featured at Marti’s. Rodriguez retired from General Motors after 40 years. He moved to Brockport from Detroit about five years ago to be near his grandchildren.

Rodriguez always liked art but didn’t make the time to paint until his retirement. He has 32 oil paintings at Marti’s including “Colorado Fly Fishing” which is left at top and “Rain Drops” at the bottom. “The King” is another painting he is standing near.

Kim Martillotta Muscarella welcomes people to the art gallery for Friday’s show. There are works from many artists on display throughout the building, which used to the Cornell Cooperative Extension until it moved to a new building in 2007 at the 4-H Fairgrounds.

Mark Parker sang and played the guitar during the art show, which also included a spread of snacks.

This season there are sculptures on display that were created by Richard Bannister and George Graham. Bannister’s work is at left and Graham’s is at right. In back at right, Marco Rodriguez talks with Albion resident Samuel Robinson.

For more information on Marti’s, click here.

Albion 14U opens with 2 diamond wins

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 19 June 2026 at 8:27 pm

The Albion 14U baseball team opened GLOW league competition this week with a pair of wins 18-1 over Alden and 10-0 over Warsaw.

Robert Hickman, Brycen Potter and Jace DiMatteo each had a pair of hits in the win over Alden which saw Albion score 5 runs in the first inning and 4 in the second.

On the mound, Brody Furness and Evan Coots combined to hurl a no hitter with 9 strikeouts.

Hickman and DiMatteo then both had 4 hits in the win over Warsaw as Jackson Frasier had 2.

Hickman also registered 15 strikeouts on the mound.

Albion next hosts Pioneer at 6:15 Monday.

Establishment tries to stack the deck on Shelby Republican Committee

Posted 19 June 2026 at 7:59 pm

Editor:

You would think by now the “Political Establishment” would get the hint that the people of Shelby are sick and tired of their games. Clearly they haven’t at this point or they just simply don’t care. They will do whatever they think they can get away with.

If you haven’t been following – which everything happens in backroom deals and secret meetings – the Shelby Republican leadership is once again trying to stack the deck to stack their future. Let me explain:

In local politics, the committee can endorse and make decisions based on a weighted vote. This determines who they “support” during elections. It’s not a majority or equal, it’s often a few people making all the decisions regardless. This often prevents good, qualified candidates from ever standing a chance to seek public office.

The Political Establishment’s friends and family program wins out. No matter how many times we tell them to knock it off, they keep going back to the well. It’s a machine designed to break your will.

Next week, there’s an open committee seat to be elected as a result of my brother, Jim Zelazny, passing away from cancer. Jimmy was an avid committee person, for the people, and wanted the best and brightest to represent us. He just so happened to be in one of those heavily weighted districts.

So now, the Political Establishment wants to play musical chairs with their candidates, moving a former board member into this heavily weighted district. To make matters worse this former board member was already a committee person in one of the lowest weighted districts. Makes you wonder why the move is needed?

The Establishment is denying the opportunity for John “Yonic” Parada to participate. Yonic, as we all know, stands for the people. He embodies the principles that Jimmy stood for. He will seek transparency in the committee process while fighting to keep the Political Establishment in check. He’s a person we need!

To make matters even more important, the Town Board recently passed a rule that prevents any elected official or employee from being on a political committee. Guess who the other committee person is in this heavily weighted district? None other than our Highway Superintendent. So not only are they denying Yonic, but they are waiting for this elected official to eventually step away so they can appoint, without election, another hand-picked Establishment candidate. We can’t make this stuff up.

The lights are on. There’s no hiding in shadows. Please join me in supporting John “Yonic” Parada for Republican Committee District 1. To keep the spirit of Jimmy fighting for the people.

Ed Zelazny

District 1 voter Shelby