Ox mascot riding hydrobike in Medina among photo winners in state-wide contest
Photo by Isabella Zasa: Orly the Ox rides a hydro-bike on the Erie Canal in Medina on July 18. This was one of five photos that won a statewide contest.
A photo of an ox mascot riding a hydrobike in Medina’s Canal Basin is one of five state-wide winners in a photo contest by the New York State Association of Counties.
Isabella Zasa, a digital contest creator and tourism assistant in the county’s Tourism Department, took the photo on July 18 showing Orly the Ox. In the background are people on kayaks, the Glenwood Avenue canal bridge and the “Big Apple” sculpture created by Richard Bannister.
Zasa spent part of her time last year creating frequent social media posts with Orly highlighting local history, attractions and activities in Orleans County. The hydrobike feature was among more than 200 posts that Zasa helped created in 2025, when Orly was out for Orleans County’s bicentennial celebration.
The New York State Association of Counties welcomes photos each year in contest that wants to “capture the spirit of your county.”
The rules state: “County government has many angles to capture, including public safety, infrastructure, public health, parks, community engagement, and more! Whether it’s an infrastructure project, a community event, or a snapshot of county operations, your photo can help illustrate the impact of counties across New York State.”
Zasa’s photo of Orly the Ox will be featured in an NYSAC News magazine as well as the 2027 NYSAC Calendar.
This photo of Main Street in Batavia and the Upton Monument was taken out of the old Genesee County Courthouse by Steven Falitico and also was among the five winners in the photo contest.
Other winners included “Tompkins County Naturalization Ceremony” at the County Courthouse in Ithaca by Robert Henry; “Madsion County Fair at Dusk” in Brookfield by Melissa During; and an aerial photo of “Chemung County, NY Government Sewer Consolidation Project” in Elmira by Jett Industries, Inc.
