By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 31 March 2025 at 3:58 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: An organist plays the 1873 Steere & Turner pipe organ at Christ Episcopal Church in Albion. The organ will be one of three featured in the Cobblestone Museum’s sixth annual progressive organ tour June 1.
ALBION – The Cobblestone Museum’s sixth annual Progressive Organ Concert will feature three instruments in churches located in Albion’s Courthouse Square.
Scheduled at 3 p.m. on June 1, the concert will begin at Christ Episcopal Church, where Darryl Smith will play their 1873 Steere & Turner pipe organ.
A wine and cheese reception will follow this first of three short concerts at 3:30 p.m., after which concert goers will take a short walk to St. Joseph’s Church, where Aaron Grabowski will play the second concert on the 1896 Garrett House tracker organ. Grabowski restores organs and works for Parsons Pipe Organ Company of Canandaigua, which currently maintains the organ.
The final concert will take place at the First Baptist Church next door, where Gary Simboli will demonstrate the amazing breadth of the 1925 Moller Opus pipe organ there.
An optional dinner will follow at the Tavern on the Ridge (formerly Tillman’s Village Inn), where a choice of three menu selections will be available for concert guests, who may choose from cottage pie, French ham melt sandwich with arugula salad or Asian chopped salad with ginger chicken. Coffee or soft drinks are also included. A cash bar will be available.
Tickets for the Progressive Organ Concert are available now. Cost is $20 for the three concerts or $45 for the concerts and dinner. Reservations must be made for dinner by ordering online at CobblestoneMuseum.org or calling (585) 589-9013. A limited number of tickets for the concerts only will be available at the door. Dinner seating is limited, so making reservations early is advised.
The Cobblestone Society first started progressive organ concerts in 2018, but missed a couple years due to Covid. This will be their sixth concert in what has become an annual fundraising event.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 March 2025 at 8:52 am
Proposed Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway would stretch 550 miles in New York State
A statue of a younger Harriet Tubman as a conductor on the Underground Railroad stands in the City of Auburn next to the Equal Rights Heritage Center. The statue, 7.5 feet tall, was created by sculptor Bria Hanlon and dedicated in 2018 during the bicentennial year of Tubman’s birth.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature and several municipalities in the county are backing the New York Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.
The proposed byway stretches 550 miles in New York, from New York City north to Albany and then about 350 miles across the state to Niagara Falls. Orleans is one of 22 counties in the byway, which highlights triumphant stories of freedom seekers and abolitionists.
The Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State has sought support from the municipalities along the proposed byway, and wants to have the route recognized in 2026, a year before the 200th anniversary of the state abolishing slavery. (The County Legislature, Shelby Town Board, Clarendon Town Board, and Albion, Holley and Medina village boards are among several local municipalities to officially back the byway.)
The byway recognizes Harriet Tubman, who was born enslaved in Dorchester County, Maryland in 1822. She seized her freedom at age 27. In the next 10 years she led about 70 people to freedom, making 13 trips from Maryland to Philadelphia; St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; and Auburn, New York.
She was the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad. She also was a nurse, spy and scout for the Union Army during the Civil War. Tubman settled in Auburn in central New York and stayed there until her death in 1913.
There are three sites in Orleans County identified by the consortium with historical sites with connections to the Underground Railroad.
The proposed Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway includes 22 of the 62 counties in New York State.
Dawn Borchert, Orleans County tourism director, said the byway would be a boost to the county, bringing in some visitors and highlighting the county’s role in Underground Railroad, which was a secret network of trails and homes. Many of the houses and sites that were part of the Underground Railroad are unknown.
But there is documentation about one house in Holley that helped Freedom Seekers on their journey. A historical marker was erected in October 2020 at 35 South Main St. to highlight the home of Chauncey Robinson as a “Safe House.” Robinson was an Orleans County pioneer and an abolitionist. He sheltered at least one escaped slave at this site as part of the Underground Railroad.
The consortium also lists the cemetery where Robinson is buried as a historical site in Orleans County on the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad New York Proposed Byway. Robinson Cemetery is on Route 237 in Clarendon at the intersection of Glidden Road. The cemetery sign notes Chauncey Robinson was a veteran of the War of 1812 and a prominent abolitionist in the community.
The consortium also highlights a historical marker on Main Street in Medina. The Orleans Renaissance Group in April 2015 unveiled the marker in recognition of two speeches delivered in the community by Frederick Douglass, a leading abolitionist.
The byway will recognize many historical sites that were part of the Underground Railroad and the Freedom Seekers, who were African Americans who left enslavement. At the time they often were deemed “fugitives,” “runaways” or “escapees.”
The Orleans County Legislature, in a resolution approved last week, said it will work in partnership with the other municipalities along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad New York Scenic Byway and local and regional stakeholders “in order to support future Byway program development and collaborate with these interested entities to explore opportunities for cooperation and methods to advance the Scenic Byway.”
This stretch of the proposed byway goes from Rochester to Lockport. The byway goes along Route 31 in Orleans County.
ALBION – The original handwritten volumes of the Pioneer Association records include several photographs. Shown in the top photo are Martin Evarts (1817-1873) and his wife, Charlotte Burnham Evarts who died in 1862. Martin was a farmer in Clarendon and Town Supervisor in 1863.
Members of the D.A.R. and the S.A.R. proudly trace their lineage back to an ancestor who “aided in achieving American independence.” So too, descendants of the early settlers of Orleans County trace their genealogy back to those hardy pioneers and can now chronicle up to nine generations of continuous residence in the county.
The Orleans County Bicentennial Committee invites these descendants to attend the Bicentennial Celebration of the formation of the county which will take place at the Courthouse in Albion on April 15, beginning at 11:45 a.m. So that we may ensure seating for all, please complete the brief registration form at https://www.orleanscountytourism.com/bicentennial.
Members of the Pioneer Association of Orleans County photographed in Albion on June 19, 1869.
On June 19, 1869, those in attendance at the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the Pioneer Association of Orleans County, held at the Courthouse in Albion, assembled for a group photo. The Bicentennial Committee plans to echo this now iconic photograph by taking a group photograph of those in attendance immediately following the event.
Photos and information courtesy of Medina Band Boosters: The Medina varsity winterguard competed Saturday at Gates Chili in the North East Color Guard Circuit’s championships.
ROCHESTER – The Winter Guard season came to a close on Saturday when the held their championships at the Gates Chili High School.
The Medina varsity came in fourth in A1 and the Medina JV was second in Cadets.
There were 30 guards performing in competition in various classes coming from around New York State, Pennsylvania and Canada. Approximately 1,000 spectators were there to cheer them on.
The winners in each class are as follows:
Novice – Gates-Chili with a score of 62.71
Cadets – Ventures with 72.45; Medina JV in 2nd with 70.74
Regional A – Marcus Whitman with 83.93
A1 – Jamestown Express with 80.14; Medina Varsity in 4th with 74.31
Scholastic A – Victor with 91.86
Independent A – Gates Chili IA with 87.74
Senior – Luminosa with 86.51
Independent Open – Gates Chili IO with 89.90
The Medina JV winterguard competed on Saturday and came in second in the Cadets division.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 March 2025 at 9:07 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is moving the Home, Garden & Outdoor Show from the 4-H Fairgrounds to Dubby’s Tailgate in Albion.
“We are excited to have a heated facility, with a full-service restaurant,” said Darlene Hartway, the Chamber executive director. “We will have vendors from all over the county.”
The event will be next weekend from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
The event will have more activities for children, not only through Dubby’s but with an Easter scavenger hunt, and bird house workshops at 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday there will also be a small petting zoo available for children.
“We will have various presentations planned throughout the days,” Hartway said.
Michael Klepp, The Plant Man, will discuss “Native Plants for Pollinators & More” on Sunday at noon. The event also includes an Easter Plant Sale.
Press Release from Dubby’s Tailgate/Photos courtesy of Mike Beach
ALBION – Dubby’s Tailgate owners Rebecca Alexander, left, and Brian Alexander, right, are joined by American Cornhole League champions Miranda Coy and Lori Dool during a tournament on March 22.
Dubby’s Tailgate brought 108 teams to the area for the tournament. The 216 total players made it the biggest tournament so far for Dubby’s. Many of the players came from outside Orleans County, including some American Cornhole league pros and the two top-ranked female players, Miranda Coy and Lori Dool. (Dool is a graduate of Lockport High School who now resides in Delray Beach, FL. Many of her family members came to Dubby’s in Albion to see her play in person.)
Coy and Dool captured the top prize of the day – double dipping the team of Ron “Hat Man” Durinka and Mark Hamm in the championship match. The event was put together by the Moxham/Szczesny family of DLS Cornhole in honor of their mother/wife Donna Szczesny, better known as “Momma Shez.”
Proceeds from the event will go to the American Heart Association in her honor. DLS cornhole runs weekly Saturday night tournaments at Dubby’s Tailgate. Special thanks to Mike Beach for helping with the tournament software and Doug Michael B who was the MC.
Miranda Coy and Lori Dool won the tournament, with proceeds from the event going to the American Heart Association in honor of Donna Szczesny.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 March 2025 at 8:43 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Ella Trupo is the Fairy Godmother and D Johnson is the coachman in Albion High School Drama Department’s production of Cinderella on Friday night. There are two more shows today at noon and 7 p.m. in the Middle School Auditorium.
In this scene, the Fairy Godmother uses her magic to transform a pumpkin into a carriage. She sings, “It’s Possible.” The Fairy Godmother also used magic to turn small animals into horses to pull the carriage and transformed Cinderella’s dress into an elegant gown for the Prince’s Ball.
The production caps off a busy season of school musicals in Orleans County. All five districts performed full-length shows in the past two weeks.
Mallory Kozody is Cinderella and Zack Baron is Prince Christopher. They dance at the ball. Christopher reluctantly participated in the ball, not expecting to fall in love. But he feels a romantic connection with Cinderella.
Kozody and Baron are both seniors and have been in the Albion musicals since middle school.
Cinderella’s mean stepsisters are played by Mallory Ashbery, left, as Grace and Julia Button as Joy. Grace is pulling Joy’s hair. Grace is often itching her arms and Joy has a very obnoxious laugh. They are shown singing “Stepsisters’ Lament.” They are both jealous watching the prince dance with a beautiful, but oddly familiar girl.
Sawyer Brigham plays Lionel and has big news to share with the villagers: the prince is giving a ball. Lionel is the servant of Prince Christopher and his parents, King Maximilian and Queen Constantina.
Al Hand is Queen Constantina and unleashes a long scroll of invited guests for the prince’s ball, which the prince (Zack Baron) is not happy about. He agrees to attend only if his parents then let him pursue love on his own terms. Gideon Pask, left, is King Maximilian.
Mallory Kozody spins as Cinderella’s rags and transformed into a sparkling gown.
Phoebe Allen plays Stepmother who has a crush on Lionel, who heads throughout the kingdom with a glass slipper after Cinderella bolted at the ball after the clock struck midnight. After the Stepsisters’ feet didn’t fit the slipper, Stepmother wanted to try.
ALBION — Don’t worry about dinner on April 24! Arc GLOW has you covered.
Following a timeless tradition dating back over 30 years, Arc GLOW’s Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner will be returning 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday, April 24. Proceeds support the Meals on Wheels/Nutri-Fair program, which Arc GLOW has overseen since 2009.
“We are so thankful to the Burly Bros. Country Butchery for their generous donation of beef,” said Lisa Bors, vice president of Public Relations and Development.
The program’s main goal is to assist in maintaining the healthy independence of Orleans County’s senior population and improving their quality of life. In addition, Meals on Wheels acts as a wellness check.
Vicki Havholm, nutrition program manager, said drivers for Meals on Wheels checks on the clients Monday through Friday, and if there are any issues, Meals on Wheels will reach out to family members.
Meals are prepared every day. Kitchen staff arrive at 6 a.m. to start cooking, so that drivers can start delivering them by 11 a.m. The menu is put together monthly by a dietician, and Havholm meets with her head cook to look at last year’s menus to review them, and adjust to meet the needs of the community.
In addition to the Meals on Wheels staff, volunteers from the Arc GLOW day habilitation and prevocational programs help prepare meals.
Seniors can come to the Nutri-Fair locations in Kendall, 1873 Kendall Road, and Albion, 16 E. Academy St. Albion serves Monday through Friday at noon, and Kendall serves noon Wednesdays and Fridays. Call (585) 589-7817 ext. 1417 by at least 9 a.m. to inform the kitchen staff you are coming in. A notification of 24 hours is preferred.
The Meals on Wheels Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner cost $12 and children under 10 eat free. Tickets can be purchased at the door, 16 E. Academy St. in Albion.
Early bird tickets can be purchased at one of the following Arc GLOW locations: 64 Walnut St. in Batavia, 122 Caroline St. in Albion or 16 E. Academy St. in Albion. They can also be purchased at the Orleans County Office for the Aging at 14016 NY-31 in Albion.
For more information on Meals on Wheels and eligibility in Orleans County, contact (585) 589-5424 option 5 to sign-up. You can also visit ArcGLOW.org for information.
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Central School District is accepting applications for its 2025-26 pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) and kindergarten programs.
If you are a resident of the Lyndonville Central School District and your child will be 3, 4 or 5 by Dec. 1, 2025, they are eligible to enroll. If your child is already enrolled in our Pre-K program this year, they will automatically be pre-registered for the following year. Pre-K space is limited, but openings are available for all age groups.
Our developmentally appropriate Pre-K and kindergarten programs, which include breakfast and lunch at no cost to families, follow this schedule five days a week:
3-year-old Pre-K: 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
4-year-old Pre-K: 7:35 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.
Kindergarten: 7:40 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
If more students are pre-registered for Pre-K for the 2025-26 school year than available seats, a lottery will be held on May 1. If Pre-K seats remain, they will be filled per UPK and district guidelines.
It is important to begin the registration process as soon as possible! Pre-K and kindergarten screening will take place on June 23. The district will be hosting a Pre-K Open House on July 4, but seats fill up quickly. Getting your application in as soon as possible will ensure a higher chance of an available spot for your student.
If you have any questions or would like more information about the program, please call or email Dr. Elissa Smith, Elementary School Principal, at (585) 765-3122 or esmith@lcsdk12.org.
You will need to provide your name, address, and child’s name and date of birth. More information and a pre-registration form can be found at lyndonvillecsd.org/registration.
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
ALBION – In partnership with the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) and Orleans County Office of Emergency Management, SCOPE of Orleans County is excited to offer a free Stop the Bleed course on Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hoag Library, 134 South Main St., Albion.
Uncontrolled bleeding is the number one cause of preventable death after an injury. With just three quick actions, you can be trained and empowered to save a life.
Registration is required as only 20 spots are available due to equipment limitations. To secure your spot, email scopeorleans@outlook.com with your name, number of seats requested, and phone number. A confirmation email will be sent for all approved registrations.
There is no minimum age requirement, though we encourage parents/guardians to be aware that the course includes graphic images and content. Instructors have successfully taught children of all ages.
The partnership with GO Health and Orleans County Office of Emergency Management makes this training possible, supplying both instructors and equipment. This is our first time offering this training. If demand exceeds available seats, we will schedule additional sessions.
