By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2026 at 12:01 pm
HOLLEY – The Village Board on Monday adopted a $3,601,257 village budget that will increase taxes by 9.9 percent.
The $1,303,831 tax levy is up from $1,186,379 for 2025-26. The tax rate will increase from $19.54 to $21.51 per $1,000 of assessed property.
The budget includes the General Fund at $2,165,925, Water Fund at $983,883 and Sewer Fund at $451,448.
During a public hearing on the budget April 15, Mayor Mark Bower said the village hasn’t seen in increase in other revenues and needs to raise taxes.
Holley has sought more of the local sales tax from the Orleans County Legislature but the share to towns and villages hasn’t changed since 2001.
The state is proposing a small increase in AIM (Aid and Incentives to Municipalities). Holley has been stuck at $17,786 in AIM for several years. Gov. Hochul, in her budget proposal, has another $3,732 in AIM for Holley through “Temporary Municipal Assistance.”
Here is a breakdown of the General Fund by each department with previous year in parenthesis: DPW at $870,855 ($782,267); Police at $453,973 ($406,911); Office at $296,729 ($299,789); Code Enforcement at $72,313 ($71,280); Employee Benefits at $199,700 ($136,030) and Debt Payments at $72,710 ($75,146).
The 9.9 percent tax increase follows a budget where taxes went up by 10.0 percent. Over the past two years, the village property taxes have now gone up 20.9 percent or another $225,304 in the tax levy to $1,303,831.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 30 April 2026 at 10:44 am
Contributed Photos via the Golf Channel – Medina’s Melanie Green had a spectacular start this morning at the LPGA’s Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba, Mexico (near Cancun) as she registered a hole-in-one on the 15th hole. The outstanding feat was shown live on the Golf Channel. She was interviewed on TV right after the hole-in-one and her scorecard with the ace is shown on the screen. Starting on the back nine, the hole-in-one put her 4 under and into the tournament lead.
Green celebrates after scoring the hole-in-one, which was the first on this her debut season on the LPGA Tour. She followed up with a birdie on 17 to go to 5 under and increase her tournament lead to 2 shots. Getting good TV coverage as the leader it was mentioned that she was from Medina, NY.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 30 April 2026 at 10:01 am
Contributed Photo – Lyndonville High senior Colton Smith has signed a letter of intent to continue his education and his soccer career at Thiel College in Pennsylvania. He is planning on majoring in Medical Technology for a career as a Physical Therapist. He is shown here at the signing with his brother, Maddox, and his parents Elissa and Shaun Smith. He has been a multi year soccer, basketball and baseball player for the Tigers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2026 at 9:59 am
County-wide system would have full-time staff, more consistency
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Association of Municipalities met Tuesday evening at Dubby’s Tailgate to discuss code enforcement in the county and whether there would be interest from the towns and villages for the county to do some of the code enforcement work. Chad Haviland, assistant director for Oversight for the New York State Department of State, Division of Building Standards and Codes, spoke to the group. Haviland said some counties do code enforcement, and that has resulted in more consistency in how the job is done in those communities.
ALBION – Do the towns and villages in Orleans County have the best system for providing code enforcement in the community right now, or could the service be improved with the county helping with property maintenance and fire inspections, incident responses and other duties that can arise 24-7?
Most of the municipalities have part-time code officers. A shift to full-time officers at the county should improve accessibility and consistency in how the job is done, local officials were told during a meeting Tuesday. About 50 people attended the Orleans County Association of Municipalities meeting at Dubby’s Tailgate.
The county Department of Planning and Development has put together a survey about the issue and is seeking input from the code officers, town and village board members, and zoning and planning board members about the current code enforcement needs and challenges, and whether there is interest in exploring whether the county should provide code enforcement.
Dwayne Tinkous, code enforcement officer for the town of Carlton, said the part-time job is demanding, requiring full-time effort. Last year he handled 120 permits in Carlton. He said a shift to the county in doing the job may result in a loss of the “personal touch” where the town code enforcement knows the people and their circumstances.
Being a code enforcement officer is “one of the most thankless jobs out there,” said Dwayne Tinkous, the Carlton code officer. He brings a “personal touch” and has been able to resolve issues with property maintenance and permits, without ever going to court in his three years on the job.
“I try to make it personal,” he said. “You can put out fires before they start.”
If the code officer wasn’t from the town, Tinkous fears they wouldn’t be as personable and would be quick to cite people for a violation.
The position is part-time, but he said it is full-time hours in Carlton. Last year he handled 120 permits.
Tinkous said the local code officers could use more help in doing all facets of the job, but he isn’t sure having the county involved in the best approach.
“Just the lakeshore alone is impossible to deal with,” Tinkous said about the many permits and projects on that coveted property.
The local code officers do work together and cover for one another if someone is out of town, Tinkous said.
Chad Haviland, assistant director for Oversight for the New York State Department of State, said there are a lot of requirements on code enforcement officers for training that can make it difficult for rural areas to have enough certified people in the positions.
Chad Haviland, assistant director for Oversight for the New York State Department of State, said some parts of the state have a shortage of code officers, and he worries the situation will get worse. He supports full-time code officers at the county level, who would do work in the towns and villages.
The municipalities could contract with the county, perhaps being billed by permit, population or parcel.
County Legislator John Fitzak said the informal survey among the local officials is to gauge if there is interest in doing a more formal study on the pros and cons of countywide code enforcement, how it would be funded and what services provided. If the municipalities are happy with the current system, Fitzak said there is no reason to make a change.
Genesee County is currently doing a study for county-wide code and zoning enforcement for 20 municipalities, trying to bring more consistency for residents, businesses and property owners.
Tim McMurray, the Albion mayor, speaks at Tuesday’s meeting about code enforcement in the community. He said one option could be the county handling fire inspections do let code officers focus on other parts of the job.
Lyndonville Mayor John Belson said the issue has been discussed in Orleans County before. Belson, the former Yates town supervisor, was part of a group from Orleans that visited Wyoming County to see how it handled county-wide code enforcement.
He recalled there were four full-time officers and each hand a county car and a secretary and needed offices. They were provided health insurance and retirement benefits.
“It was a phenomenal amount of money,” Belson said.
Barre Town Supervisor Steve Coville said he isn’t in favor of making a change from the town’s part-time codes officer unless he can see a benefit to Barre in reduced cost and improved service. He would like to see all the code officers in the county get together and make suggestions first before getting into a survey.
Paul Hennekey, the Kendall code officer, noted many of the code officers “are beyond retirement age.”
Haviland, the Department of State official, said code enforcement is a critical position that can lead to fewer fires and building collapses. He previously worked as a senior code officer in the town of Seneca.
“It’s about safety and who’s going to be living there next,” he said.
Corey Winters, director of Planning and Development for Orleans County, said the county will wait to see the results of the initial survey before deciding whether to pursue a bigger study on the issue.
Chris Kinter, the code officer for the village and town of Albion, said code officers need the support of their town and village boards, as well as municipal attorneys to do the job effectively.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2026 at 8:04 am
Photo by Marsha Rivers: The sun sets recently over lake Ontario in this photo from Lake View Park in Kendall.
The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory beginning at midnight and extending until 9 a.m. on Friday.
The advisory includes Orleans, Nigara, Monroe, Wayne, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Ontario and Chautauqua counties.
Temperatures in the lower to mid 30s will result in frost formation, and frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left unprotected, the Weather Service said.
The highs in the forecast for Orleans County the next few days include 52 today, 52 on Friday, 51 on Saturday, 53 on Sunday and 60 on Monday.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) criticized the passage of New York state’s eighth budget extender, warning continued delays this far into the school year are causing unnecessary strain on local school districts that depend on timely state funding to plan for the upcoming academic year and prepare their own budgets to be voted on by New Yorkers in just a few weeks.
Hawley says he cannot ignore frustration of school districts across Genesee, Monroe and Orleans counties that are facing growing uncertainty as they attempt to finalize staffing levels, classroom resources and student programs. He stated that repeated extenders force schools to operate without the financial clarity they need, making it harder to responsibly prepare budgets that support students and taxpayers.
“Every time Albany passes another extender, local schools are left in the dust to wonder if they’ll be able to do their jobs because the Majority and governor can’t,” said Hawley. “School districts are in the process of finalizing the budget for the next school year to present to voters in May. It’s important that we have a budget to allow school districts around the state of New York to have some idea of what financing is going to come in, so the budget they present to the community is a reasonable one.”
Hawley supports passing a final budget to give schools all across New York the plan they need sooner rather than later.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 April 2026 at 7:46 pm
Medina scored a rainy 74.5-66.5 win at Wilson this afternoon to improve to 2-1 in Niagara-Orleans League boys track competition.
Cole Hughes was a double winner in the 1600 and 3200 for Medina which also got individual event victories by Aleks Seefeldt (800), Bryson Ford (400 Hurdles), Briley Allen (High Jump), Jonathan Dix (Pole Vault), Nate Rutledge (Discus) and Jude Lacy (Triple Jump).
Wilson had a quadruple winner in Ryan Hough who captured the 100, 200, 110 Hurdles and Long Jump.
Wilson downed Medina 85-51 in the girls meet to improve to 3-1.
Colleen Cliffe doubled in the Shotput and Discus and Ciera Strack in the 100 Hurdles and Triple Jump for Wilson.
Aurora Owczarczak was a triple winner for Medina in the 100, 200 and 400.
Photo and information from Shelby Volunteer Fire Department
SHELBY – The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company responded to a motor vehicle accident today involving a vehicle into a pole with poles and wires down at 11:28 a.m. on South Gravel Road (Route 63).
Chief and Engine 10 arrived on scene at 11:29 a.m., with Shelby 81 and Shelby 69 responding to assist with traffic control and arriving within four minutes.
Upon arrival, the Chief confirmed that extrication was needed. Crews on scene stabilized the vehicle and cut the windshield and seatbelt to assist with patient removal. With 13 Shelby members operating on scene, the patient was successfully extricated from the vehicle at 11:35 a.m.
After extrication, Medina Ambulance obtained a patient sign-off.
Later during the incident, Shelby was toned out for a second call involving a reported seizure. Shelby 10 and the Chief responded to the EMS call while the original incident was still in progress.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 April 2026 at 4:15 pm
Assemblyman Hawley will present ‘Historic Business Preservation Registry’ citations to Stockham Lumber and Holley Cold Storage
HOLLEY – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley will be presenting “Historic Business Preservation Registry” citations to two long-time Holley businesses on Friday, May 8.
The registry recognizes businesses that have been in operation for at least 50 years and have contributed to their community’s history.
Hawley will be at the Holley Cold Storage on 16677 State Route 31 to present the citation at 1:30 p.m.
Founded in 1902 by Marcus Balcom and Almond Boyce, Holley Cold Storage has become an essential link among regional farmers, food processors and distant markets allowing perishable goods to be preserved safely for extended periods of time, Hawley said.
The facility has provided cold storage services to regional customers and is committed to preserving the legacy of the business while maintaining its role as a steady employer within the Holley community and the region.
Then at 2:15 p.m., Hawley will be at 88 Geddes St. to present Stockham Lumber with its citation.
Founded in 1880 by Nerv L. Cole, Stockham Lumber has over a century of history with its original business focusing on coal and lumber. Stockham Lumber continues its legacy as a lumber company known for its reliability and service with its principles of quality, integrity and customer service remaining in place, Hawley said.
Stockham Lumber has recently expanded and continues to grow the business serving customers across the region ensuring exemplary standards, Hawley noted.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 April 2026 at 3:03 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Holli Nenni accepts a “Special Recognition” award on Tuesday from the Orleans County Legislature in appreciation for a 38 ½ year career with the Department of Social Services.
ALBION – When Mary Grace “Holli” Nenni started as a caseworker for Orleans County 38 ½ years ago, the Department of Social Services didn’t have cell phones or the internet.
Nenni used a Dictaphone to record notes from client visits.
When she started her career, she never imagined she would be ending it as the commissioner of the DSS, overseeing 70 employees.
Nenni will be retiring on May 22. She started in 1987 as a caseworker and then was promoted to a senior position in 1992. She became coordinator of Child Enforcement Unit in 2000, then director of temporary assistance in 2006. She was promoted to deputy commissioner of social services in 2010 with a final appointment as DSS commissioner in 2021.
“Your dedication and expertise have benefitted our county tremendously,” the County Legislature declared in an award presented to Nenni on Tuesday.
Legislators praised Nenni for her “commendable service and dedication to the Orleans County Department of Social Services.”
Nenni worked with three DSS commissioners before becoming one herself.
“Each step of my journey came with its own challenges, but also a lot of growth,” Nenni said during the Legislature meeting. “While I’m looking forward to forgetting a lot of the past 38 years, one thing I won’t forget is the co-workers who show up every day ready to help others. Each of them helped me along in my journey.”
The DSS divisions include temporary assistance, child & family services, domestic violence services, and the child support and enforcement unit.
DSS partners with many local agencies and county departments – UConnectCare, Mental Health, Job Development and others – to help people overcome barriers and become self sufficient, Nenni said.
In recent years, DSS has faced a rising caseload of people without housing. Before the Covid pandemic in 2020, DSS usually was working with less than 20 people to find housing.
“We were in the teens, and now we’re in the low 70s,” Nenni said. “We have been over 100.”
A former youth that Nenni assisted as a caseworker spoke at Tuesday’s Legislature meeting and thanked Nenni for helping guide him through a rough period of his childhood. Tim McMurray is now the Albion mayor. He said Nenni was able to connect him with a supportive family, and that made a huge difference in his life.
The Legislature named Nenni’s successor during the Tuesday meeting. Shirley Mazourek, a licensed clinical social worker and mental health professional, will be the next commissioner.
In response to the Albion Village budget increase of 2.5 percent after last year’s devastating 11 percent budget increase.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. In Albion, 46% ($2,268,000) of the village budget is the police department. Medina’s at $1,277,000 is about half that. And Medina has a higher population count.
We do not need 13 full-time police officers making more than most county sheriffs. Now you know why your village tax is higher than your school or county tax. And how are the village taxes so high when you lost the fire department? Fire department expenditures went from $174,000 in 2023-2024 to $50,000 in 2026-2027. Give me a break.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 29 April 2026 at 1:22 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Joe Blake, left, is new owner of the Coffee Pot Café, which he runs with help from son Colby.
MEDINA – A popular gathering spot in Medina is now open under new management and a new name.
The Coffee Pot Café at 114 East Center St. was recently sold to Joe Blake of North Tonawanda and is now known as Cuppa Joe.
The business was started by Hans and Dan Rosentrater, who have since branched off into other interests. Hans runs Hans Bakery on Main Street, and Dan plans to open a bicycle rental business in the basement of the bakery.
Blake is very familiar with Medina, having worked with COVA, he said. He met his wife Ann Pritchard, a teacher, here.
The decision to buy the Coffee Pot Café was a quick and confident one, Blake said.
“I saw the post Dan put on Facebook a month ago,” Blake said. “I talked to my wife and she said to go for it. I love my other job, but I want to be able to relax and enjoy life. This is a lot of work and responsibility now, but at the end of the day when you see your accomplishments, it’s worth it.”
Blake came out and watched the flow, and talked to Dan, he said.
“Hardly a month later, we closed the deal,” Blake said.
Son Colby runs the café when his father is at his regular job. On weekends and in the summer, Ann will help with the business.
“This has the laid-back atmosphere I like,” Blake said.
Joe also shared his wife’s father used to own Western Auto in Middleport with Hans’ grandfather.
“When I introduced my wife to Hans, she realized the connection,” Blake said. “The thing I like about Medina is the family atmosphere here. I love the music on Main Street, the Parade of Lights and the waterfall. The waterfall has been my ‘happy place’ for 25 years.”
He said his past experience has been in running a business and serving the public, and he’s looking forward to continuing that at his new venture.
He is working on a new menu and expanding it to include a kids’ menu.
“Medina has a big home-schooled community and I want to do something special for them one day a week,” Blake said.
He has introduced parfaits, which are going over very big, he said. He is also planning to add salads and wraps.
New hours will be 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and next month he will be open until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
All the former employees who wanted to stay with the new ownership are there, and Blake has brought on one or two more.
“We are coming into the busy season, with nicer weather, and I want to capitalize on that,” he said.
He’s looking to add music and has a friend who sings Americana and canal songs.
“We are very thankful to the community for their support,” Blake said. “It has been overwhelming.”
He said he doesn’t plan to make any drastic changes – just little things along the way.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 April 2026 at 11:41 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Don Sloper, center, president of the Orleans County chapter of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) accepted a proclamation from County legislator Don Allport on Tuesday that declared May as “Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month in Orleans County.” Sloper was joined in legislative chambers by Steve Rosenberg, vice president of ABATE.
The organization usually has a motorcycle safety and awareness rally at the Orleans County Courthouse the first Sunday in May, and then heads out on a 50-mile ride in the county, ending at the VFW in Medina.
ABATE will instead be starting its ride at the VFW in Medina on Sunday with riders to assemble at 1 p.m. and speakers at 2 p.m. The motorcyclists will then embark on a 50-mile ride around the county.
The county is requiring proof of insurance by organizations to hold events at the courthouse property. Sloper said ABATE didn’t want to spend the money for the insurance and instead will start at the VFW.
ABATE has about 80 members in Orleans County. Motorcyclists want the public to know they are back on the roadways. The motorcyclists urge drivers to “look twice” and use extra caution when making a left turn or pulling out onto the roadway.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 April 2026 at 10:49 am
Stanley Jenks
ALBION – A Lyndonville man pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court today to first-degree attempted sex abuse involving a child under age 11.
Stanley Jenks, 55, could face a maximum sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison when he is sentenced on July 1.
He was arrested on March 10 for sex abuse in the first degree. As part of a plea agreement, he admitted to attempted sex abuse in the first degree, by trying to have a child under age 11 touch his penis. Jenks said he did that for his own sexual gratification.
Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church told Jenks the maximum sentence could be up to 4 years in state prison. Jenks also could face 3 to 10 years of post-release supervision and will be on the sex offender registry.
Jenks has been in the Orleans County jail since his arrest on March 10 with bail at $2,500 cash, $25,000 bond.
Public defender Joanne Best asked that Jenks be released on his own recognizance. District attorney Susan Howard asked the judge that bail continue.
Judge Church set bail at $5,000 cash and $10,000 bond.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 April 2026 at 10:19 am
Contributed Photos – This trio of Kendall High graduates are competing on the collegiate level in Flag Football and Softball this spring. At left is Danielle Offhaus who is a sophomore member of the undefeated (11-0) Roberts Wesleyan University Flag Football team. She is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. She is joined by two of her former Lady Eagle teammates who are freshmen members of the Houghton University softball team, outfielder Ella Christ, center, and infielder Maggie Zastrow. Christ is majoring in Biomedical Science and Zastrow in Sports Management.
