Photo from Arc GLOW – The eight graduates show their certificates and citations from State Sen. Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley. The graduates were recognized on May 31 during a celebration at the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County.
Press Release, Arc GLOW
KNOWLESVILLE – Eight people with Arc GLOW recently celebrated their graduation from SANYS-U, a six-week course developed by the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State.
The graduates on May 31 stood proudly with certificates from SANYS-U in front of local representatives, friends and family at Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension.
This program is designed to provide people with developmental disabilities and their direct support staff with a deeper understanding of self-advocacy through engaging discussions, hands-on activities, and collaborative learning. Arc GLOW had a second cohort of five self-advocates and three self-direction assistants successfully complete the program.
Willow Baer, the newly appointed commissioner of the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), had a recorded message for the graduates, and Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard gave words of encouragement.
Sophia Roberts and B.J. Stasio from SANYS presented the graduates with their certificates with Julia Bauer, constituent relations staff and community liaison for state Sen. Rob Ortt, and Assemblyman Steve Hawley giving each graduate a citation.
This graduation was a special one as it was held on the 4th Annual Jonathan Doherty and Gladys Hopper Self-Advocacy Day, established in honor of two self-advocates and founding members of Orleans County Self-Advocacy All-Stars.
“At the time of his passing, Jonathan was deeply committed to creating a day that celebrated and empowered self-advocates. To carry forward his vision and legacy, our group came together to make his dream a reality—and Self-Advocacy Day was born,” said Andrew Johnson, President of the Self-Advocacy All-Stars and graduate of SANYS-U. “Each year, we bring together individuals, advocates, and organizations to share resources, ideas, and inspiration. We invite community partners to speak or host informational tables on a variety of topics that support independence, well-being, and advocacy.”
Johnson added the Self-Advocate Annual Talent Show raised $900, and they wanted to give back this year. They donated $200 to SANYS-U and Mercy Flight each.
Arc GLOW is a public non-profit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties. To learn more, visit ArcGLOW.org.
Photo and information courtesy of Medina Marching Band
MEDINA – The Medina Mustang Band marked the close of the 2024-2025 season on Sunday with the 52nd annual band banquet held at the Shelby Fire Hall and prepared by their members.
Ric Jones offered a prayer before dinner and Dr. Mark Kruzynski, district superintendent, and Mollie Mark, High School assistant principal, were present.
The evening was spent recognizing the individuals who had contributed to the band season’s success as well as a number of scholarships awarded to several students for their special contributions and accomplishments.
Student staff members for next year’s season were named including Carmen Stalker as next year’s drum major and with Sophia Lopez and Madelyn Elliott serving as assistant drum majors.
Next year’s fall marching band show was announced as “Fragile World – The Way We Were.”
Turf instead of wood chips, and many other state-of-the-art features
Construction started on Kendall’s new playground in May, will continue throughout the summer and is expected to be complete in the fall.
Photos and information courtesy of Kendall Central School
KENDALL – Construction has started on a new playground at the elementary school on Kendall Road, and includes some features that are new to playgrounds.
The new playground is funded as part of the $12.68 million 2023 capital project, and work has been underway at the elementary and junior/senior high school buildings, as well as the transportation and building and grounds facilities.
“We are excited to bring a state-of-the-art playground to the Kendall community,” said Superintendent Nicholas Picardo. “The new location and design will provide enhanced safety and a multitude of play options for our students. I would further like to thank Campus Construction Management, LaBella Associates, and Parkitects for their collaboration with the district on bringing our vision to life.”
The playground will include turf that will replace the current woodchip base. Work will continue throughout the summer, with an official grand opening being planned for early fall. The new playground will replace one that is 30 years old.
District Superintendent Nick Picardo and elementary school principal Kevin Watson join board of education members and other officials in a ground breaking for a new playground at the elementary school.
This new space includes a wide variety of interactive stations that appeal to all elementary-grade levels. The previous structure had limited access points, often only allowing one student at a time to use specific features. Now, with a more open and varied layout—including multiple slides, see-saws, and swings—kids will always be able to find something fun and available to explore.
Many of the playground decisions were made with safety, comfort and accessibility in mind for all students and community members. The current playground is not built to scale for the tiny humans in Pre-K through first grade, as many features were simply too large or difficult for them to use. At the same time, the limited variety meant there wasn’t much that appealed to students in fifth and sixth grade. The new layout ensures that all age groups can find something engaging and developmentally appropriate.
The We-Go-Round is a modern take on the merry-go-round, with floor-level entry rather than requiring students to climb on. This makes it easier for students who use wheelchairs or have mobility difficulties to join in on the fun. It also features custom panels with seasonal photos taken by art teacher Andy King, showing off Kendall in spring, summer, fall and winter – a vibrant upgrade from the plain side paneling originally proposed.
The turf will also bring big improvements. Compared to the woodchips (which were messy and needed constant upkeep), the turf will be cleaner, safer, more accessible, and usable in more types of weather.
Kendall’s new playground will be the first school district on the East Coast to have a Volo Aire – a covered climbing tower complete with slides. There will also be We-Saws, a We-Go-Round, swings, a zipline, chill spinners, climbing mounds, and plenty of shade to protect students and equipment from the sun (no more hot metal slide summers)—as well as for grown-ups to enjoy while they keep an eye on their kids.
Finally, the playground’s new location addresses a major safety issue: previously, students had to cross an access road to reach the play area. With the removal of the nearby tennis and basketball courts, the new playground will be located further back from the road, allowing students to head directly outside without having to navigate traffic.
The design of the new playground took into consideration ideas from several focus groups made up of students and staff members. A Playground Committee was also formed to take the lead on bringing those ideas to the forefront of the planning process.
“I’d like to thank the playground committee for taking the time to help push this project further with design features, color recommendations, site visits to other schools, and their genuine passion,” said Elementary School Principal Kevin Watson. “Our committee featured the voices of older students who wished to advocate for our youngest eagles. Together, we designed the next generation of play for our community!”
The committee, which was composed of both students and staff members, took a field trip to visit three elementary school playgrounds in Orchard Park. There, students tested out the structures, noted features they hadn’t seen before, and brought their ideas back to the district.
“I knew our school needed a new playground, and I felt like I should take responsibility and see what I could do to help,” said sixth grader Kaitlyn Bunn. “I talked to Mr. Watson about it, and then I got invited to join the playground committee. We went on a trip to test out playgrounds in Orchard Park. After that, I helped give suggestions and share ideas about what I liked. I thought it was really smart that we’re going to have two different playground areas, because the larger one is too big for the Pre-K students, and they could get hurt.”
One of the first things to top the list was the type of slide. During Voting Day 2023, KES students cast ballots for either a curly slide or a double slide. Their voices were heard, the votes were counted, and the curly slide won by a landslide.
The Playground Committee members include Amy Bateman, Angela Cole, Sarah Cole, Toni Cook, Sara Dellaquila, Meghan Dill, Andy King, Taylor Kingsbury and Jackie Roberts, as well as student participants Chase Kludt and Kaitlyn Bunn, who shouldered the exhilarating task of product-testing the Orchard Park playgrounds.
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are alerting the public to a noticeable increase in bat encounters. As the weather gets warmer, bats become more active and may occasionally find their way into homes, particularly in older homes that are not properly sealed.
“If you find a bat in your home, safely capture it and immediately contact the health department,” advised Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director for GO Health. “We can assess whether there was potential exposure and if the bat needs to be tested. If you are unable to safely capture the bat, call the health department for guidance on the next steps to take.”
In certain situations, a bat bite may go unnoticed. For example, if you wake up and find a bat in your room, discover a bat in a child’s bedroom, or see one near someone who is under the influence or otherwise impaired, it’s important to seek medical advice and have the bat tested for rabies.
To safely capture a bat:
Turn on all the lights and close all the windows.
Close the room and closet doors.
Wait for the bat to land.
While wearing thick leather-like gloves, place a coffee can, pail or similar container over the bat (Never handle a bat with your bare hands).
Carefully slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat.
Hold the cardboard firmly against the container, turn it right side up and tape the cardboard tightly to the container.
Photo from Rob Ortt’s Office: State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and other Republican state legislators, as well as Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, speak in ALabany today about the high cost of living in the state.
Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt
ALBANY – Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay, along with members of the Senate and Assembly Republican Conferences today were joined by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik at the State Capitol blasting Democrats for failing New Yorkers by ending this legislative session with more spending, more mandates, and more excuses.
“Albany Democrats are wrapping up another session with record spending, radical mandates, and zero results for struggling New Yorkers,” Ortt said. “Governor Hochul’s $254 billion budget does nothing to lower costs, but everything to drive up energy bills, grocery prices, and the cost of doing business.
“While families are getting crushed, Democrats created a $10 million legal slush fund to protect their political allies,” Ortt said. “They doubled down on pro-criminal policies and turned a blind eye to rising antisemitism, illegal immigration, and collapsing public safety. The message from Albany is clear: if you’re a criminal or a bureaucrat, you’re protected; if you’re a hardworking taxpayer, you’re on your own. Senate Republicans are fighting for a better path, one that puts law-abiding New Yorkers first, restores public safety, and makes this state affordable again.”
Top Five Takeaways this 2025 Legislative Session:
1. Affordability Crisis in New York Worsens:
New York remains one of the most unaffordable states in America. Instead of cutting taxes or easing the cost of living, Governor Hochul and the Democrats passed a $254 billion budget, a $11 billion increase from last year.
Governor Hochul and the Democrats fought to keep in place congestion pricing.
New York Democrats, led by Governor Hochul, continue full steam ahead with their reckless energy policies that have led to sky high utility bills and construction costs, such as a prohibition on natural gas and propane equipment in new buildings beginning next year.
They raised spending and pushed new regulations that make it harder to live and do business in New York.
The so-called Packaging Reduction Act is a hidden tax on everyday goods that will make groceries, household items and essentials more expensive and will cost New York households upwards of $700 per year.
The HEAT Act threatens to eliminate affordable natural gas, spike utility bills, and kill good-paying energy jobs — all while delivering no measurable climate benefit.
2. Choosing Criminals Over Victims:
Meanwhile, the Democrats’ pro-criminal agenda continues to make New Yorkers less safe. The Democrats have pushed radical legislation such as:
The Earned Time Act, which would allow inmates, even violent felons, to drastically reduce their prison sentence by up to three-fourths.
Elder Parole, which would automatically grant a parole hearing to the worst offenders in New York State’s prisons, including murderers and rapists.
Fair and Timely Parole, which would dramatically change the parole process by presuming an inmate should be released unless the Board of Parole can prove the individual is currently an unreasonable risk to public safety. This shift in presumption would lead to more violent felons being granted parole, even if they still pose a risk to the community.
Second Look Act, which would allow a prisoner to seek a sentence reduction.
These measures put violent offenders ahead of victims. That’s not justice. That’s a disgrace.
3. Antisemitism and Campus Chaos:
In the face of rising antisemitism and hate on college campuses, Democrats refused to pass legislation that provides real consequences for campus agitators who spew hate and threaten Jewish students.
4. Illegal Migrants and Public Safety:
Democrats refused to repeal dangerous sanctuary policies that protect illegal migrant criminals over law-abiding citizens.
5. Albany Democrats’ Corruption:
Democrats created a $10 million taxpayer-funded legal defense slush fund… for our corrupt Attorney General.
At a time when working people can’t afford groceries, Albany insiders made sure they are protected. That’s not leadership — that’s corruption.
“I am honored to join Leader Ortt and Leader Barclay to meet with the Republican Senate and Assembly Conferences for the last week of legislative session,” Stefanik said. “Another year, another failed, radical, reckless agenda and legislative session in New York State passed by single Party Democrat rule led by the worst Governor in America Kathy Hochul.
“Kathy Hochul and Far Left NY Democrats have once again put New York last with a massive, bloated $254 billion budget that is anti-worker, anti-family, anti-farm, anti-small business, and anti-law enforcement,” Stefanik said. “From job-killing regulations proposed like the insane 700-cow farm cap to pro-criminal policies that make our streets, communities, and campuses less safe, this legislative session continues New York down the path to catastrophe further exacerbating the affordability crisis and crime crisis.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 9 June 2025 at 3:55 pm
Photos by Sherry Tuohey-Sipple: The board of Medina Senior Center gathered around Kelly Shaw as she was presented with a cake for her 20 years as director. With her, from left are Sandy Thaine, secretary; Lynn Creasey, president; Jean Wetherbee, treasurer/membership secretary; Lee Smith, vice president; Ginny Kropf; Larry Morgott; Donna Frey; Jim Sipple; and Dave Lindsay.
MEDINA – The June dinner meeting of the Senior Center of Western Orleans was a special occasion Monday, with celebration of Kelly Shaw’s 20th year as director.
After a potluck meal, the seniors enjoyed a delicious cake made by Hans’s Bakery.
Shaw was pleasantly surprised and shared her love for the job and seniors. She answered the ad she saw in the Pennysaver, and with only two hours of training for running a senior center from former director Chris Capurso, Shaw jumped in wholeheartedly to maintain membership, add programming and create new fundraisers.
Kelly Shaw was honored Monday at the June meeting of the Western Orleans Senior Center in Medina for 20 years as director of the organization.
She had previously worked for a bank in Albion until her department shut down.
“I had also worked for 10 years in a nursing home, so I knew I would get along very well with seniors,” Shaw said.
She said what she did was just “common sense” stuff.
With small (and much appreciated) donations from the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway, the village of Medina and United Way, it was necessary for the Senior Center to have fundraisers to keep going.
Shaw introduced two basket raffles a year (which net several thousand dollars), cash drawings, rummage sales, a monthly drawing for donated prizes (which brings in $700 to $800 a year) and in recent years, a very successful chicken barbecue.
“I couldn’t do any of these things with the support and cooperation of my volunteers,” Shaw said.
Once a month, craft classes are held, and every Wednesday morning the Office for the Aging holds exercise classes at the Center.
Card games have become increasingly popular, with euchre every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. and pinochle on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The Senior Center is open from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and noon to 4 on Friday. Day-old baked goods from Tops are available to members every day. Shaw has also provided leftover baked goods to the homeless.
Membership runs from 275, to 400 at its peak, and new members are always welcome. It costs only $10 a year to join.
The monthly luncheon meeting is a prepared meal three times a month, and potluck one week. Catered meals are provided on major holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. An annual picnic takes place every summer.
Shaw said the best part of her job is spending the day with all her friends.
“Never once in 20 years did I consider this a job,” she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 June 2025 at 1:30 pm
Photos courtesy of Ron Bierstine
CARLTON – A familiar monster fish was featured in the Carlton parade on Saturday, but this time the fish had a name, “Charlie the Chinook.”
The 13-foot-long salmon also had new eyes and was cleaned after being covered in dust from being in storage.
The fish has been around for about 40 years. It was created in the early 1980s to promote the Rotary fishing derby. It was made by Jack Elam and Bob McGaffick, said Ron Bierstine, sportsfishing coordinator for Orleans County.
For about 25 years it was on a trailer on Route 279 in Gaines next to the Bait Barn run by the late Al Capurso. Students in the Medina FFA about a decade ago worked to bring the fish back to its original luster.
Students painted the fish a shiny silver, refurbished the fiberglass and put in a new mount. The county’s sportsfishing promotion department has taken the fish to many events since then.
Bierstine said the cleaned up fish with a name is intended to “catch” people’s attention. A banner on a trailer carrying the fish declares that Charlie is “King of Orleans County.”
Cover of sheet music for this Chapman/Melville composition
ALBION – We continue our survey of musicians in Orleans County with an introduction to Archie Chapman who composed stirring lyrics of encouragement in 1942 for members of the US Army Air Forces serving in World War II with his composition, “Keep on Flying.”
Archibald Samuel Chapman was born in 1893 in the village of St. Faith’s, Norfolk County, in England. He served as a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery, Territorial Forces, in World War 1 and was awarded a British War Medal and a Victory Medal.
He was one of the many immigrants from Norfolk who settled in Orleans County. His sister Emma and her husband Ernest Mayes had been living in Gaines since 1912. Archie came to the US in January 1920. Eliza Ann Spark joined him in August of that year and they were married in Albion on August 31, 1920.
They operated a farm on Allen Road for twenty years. Archie later worked at the Grower’s Cold Storage in Waterport, at Hunt’s Foods Inc. and retired in 1957.
“KEEP ON FLYING”
(We’ll build the ships for you)
Dawn, a new day is breaking, war is now fought in the sky
Caissons now will go a-rolling, guarded by the ships that fly.
We have the men to build them, we have the money too,
So, keep ‘em flying soldier, we’ll roll ‘em out to you.
Chorus
Keep on flying, Keep on flying, up there in the sky
Keep on flying, keep on flying, soldiers keep ‘em high
You do the flying, we’ll do the rest
We’ll build the planes and give you the best.
War, that was forced upon us by an unworthy foe,
Band us all as one together, onward to fight we go.
Danger and death before us, peace and victory too
Just keep ‘em flying soldier, we’ll roll them out to you.
A naturalized citizen, Archie was very invested in his community. He was an Albion village trustee, a member of the Albion Masonic Lodge, the Chamber of Commerce, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Orleans County Democratic Committee and was involved in scouting. He was a past president of the Active Hose Company of the Albion Fire Dept. and of the Orleans County Fair Assn.
He also played in the Albion Sheret Post American Legion Band. Band director, W.J. Melville
composed the music for “Keep on Flying.” The two collaborated on several other compositions: “There’s an Angel Watching Buddy” and “The Sheret Post March.”
In addition to composing verse and lyrics, Archie painted watercolors.
Following their active lives in Albion, Archie and Eliza chose to return to the village of St. Faith’s in Norfolk. According to a Democrat & Chronicle article, they sold their home, furniture and car and set sail to England from Hoboken on July 13, 1962, having visited their daughter and son-in-law in New Jersey. Archie died in Norfolk in 1977 at the age of 83.
The sheet music for “Keep on Flying” is the only Chapman composition in the Orleans County Dept. of History collection. We would welcome any of the others, especially “The Sheret Post March.”
Press Release, Sherburne-Earlville Central School District
Provided photo from Sherburne-Earlville Central School District: Medina won the Albert Whitney Award for the overall championship at the 76th Sherburne Pageant of Bands on Saturday at Sherburne-Earlville. Accepting the award on behalf of the Medina Marching Band include Medina seniors Ryder Jones, Riley Tompkins and drum major Mackenzie McGrath.
Congratulations to Medina High School on winning five major awards during the 76th Sherburne Pageant of Bands, which ran June 5-7.
As the host school, Sherburne-Earlville’s Marching Band and Color Guard started the annual parade with an exhibition march down Main Street to the Sherburne-Earlville Central School District stadium. Twenty-five other schools and a number of clubs and organizations followed the same route to S-E’s new turf field for the 2025 Awards Ceremony.
Medina earned the coveted Albert Whitney (overall), Frank Miller (outstanding band director), Ernie Marano (best overall color guard), Drum Major, and Best in Class AA awards.
Pulaski won the Norman Palmiter Jr. Percussion Award for best overall drumline and was named Best in Class A. Other Best In Class awards went to Bloomfield (B), Marion (C), and Worcester (D), and Mexico Middle School won the Junior High Award for overall achievement.
Award-winners from all three days of the 76th Sherburne Pageant of Bands are below.
Major Awards
Albert Whitney Award (Overall): Medina.
Frank Miller Award (Outstanding Band Director): Medina.
Ernie Marano Award (Best Overall Color Guard): Medina.
Norman Palmiter Jr. Percussion Award (Best Overall Drumline): Pulaski.
Drum Major Award: 1, Medina; 2, Naples.
Junior High Award (Overall Achievement): Mexico Middle School.
Best In Class: Medina (AA); Pulaski (A); Bloomfield (B); Marion (C); Worcester (D).
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 June 2025 at 4:28 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: County Legislator John Fitzak, left, and United Way director Nyla Gaylord accept a check for $30,000 from Loren Kelly with Spectrum, prior to Friday’s golf tournament at Shelridge Country Club. The check is a grant to support the county’s Digital Literacy Initiative, in which United Way has been deeply involved.
MEDINA – In spite of a wet, dreary start, the annual golf tournament at Shelridge Country Club on Friday morning to benefit United Way of Orleans County went off without a hitch. The event is a major fundraiser for United Way and helps the agency’s efforts to support nearly a dozen and a half non-profit agencies in Orleans County.
In all the years of the tournament’s history, it has never been canceled due to rain, said Dean Bellack, who has chaired the event for the past six years.
Club manager Brett Decker pointed out a row of new golf carts and told golfers the course is ready and the rain is gone. He said 116 golfers were signed up to golf.
A highlight of the welcoming ceremonies was presentation of a check from Spectrum for Orleans County’s Digital Literacy Initiative, in which United Way has been deeply involved. The check, presented by Loren Kelly, director of government affairs for Spectrum, was one of the largest awarded by the company. It was accepted by Gaylord and Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak.
“We are grateful to Spectrum for this donation,” Fitzak announced on behalf of the county legislators.
The digital literacy efforts include free tech help and computer classes where participants can develop new and refresh on old skills. There is help available for using a computer, cell phone, tablet, smart watch, and how to use the internet safely. Click here for more information.
Bellack added a massive thank-you to everyone who participated, donated raffle baskets and sponsored the event.
“The annual golf tournament was another huge success, thanks to the incredible support from our community,” Bellack said. “It’s always a great feeling knowing we’re raising money for such worthwhile charities in Orleans County.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 June 2025 at 3:41 pm
Photos courtesy of Holley-Kendall Marching Band
The Holley-Kendall Marching Band competed in the Class A competition on Saturday at the Sherburne Pageant of Bands in central New York.
Sherburne-Earlville High School is the host school for the oldest pageant of bands in New York state, now in its 76th year.
Holley-Kendall performed their 2025 Spring Show titled “Nightmare on Main Street,” which features music from Beetlejuice, Halloween and Ghostbusters.
The band took home the following awards: Marching Band – 2nd place; Color Guard – 3rd place; Drumline Cadence – 2nd place.
This is the second year Holley-Kendall competed at Sherburne. Holley-Kendall was one of five bands in the Class A division. There were 25 marching bands in all at the competition.
The Holley-Kendall Marching Band will close out their season with two final performances at the Holley-Kendall marching Band Showcase on June 12 at Hawk Stadium and the Albion Strawberry Festival on June 14.
Pictured from left include Isla Schultz and Kylee Dann – Color Guard captains; Isabella Emery – Drum Major; Madison Hults and Owen Schultz – Assistant Drum Majors.
Press Release, Orleans Renaissance Group – Blue Thursdays
MEDINA – Blue Thursdays, the incredibly popular summer music series in Medina, is back for another run in 2025 with eight of the most outstanding blues bands in WNY.
The free summer blues concerts take place Thursday evenings, June 19 through Aug. 7 at the State Street Park Pavilion in Medina. The event attracts several hundred to Medina each week.
The Print Shop of Medina is the sole underwriter of the event, partnering with the ORG/Orleans Renaissance Group, Inc./medinaalive.com in booking and coordinating top regional blues talent from the Buffalo/Niagara area.
Headlining the much-anticipated opening night of the series is local favorite, the Dave Viterna Group. Viterna, a Medina native, has been performing across WNY for decades. That performance is set for June 19 at 6 p.m.
The artists booked for the event are highly acclaimed, award-winning blues bands from the Buffalo/Niagara area.
“We continue to book top-tier, sensational talent that people may not have had a chance to see locally,” said Chris Busch of ORG. “Many of these artists are hall-of-famers, nationally renowned and award-winning musicians, songwriters and recording artists. They have been performing for decades with some of the greatest names in the business and we’re excited to bring bands of this caliber to Medina.”
The 2025 Blue Thursdays big line-up includes:
June 19 – legendary guitarist and recording artist Dave Viterna with the Dave Viterna Group.
June 26 – Jony James, a Buffalo-born, Chicago raised guitarist, songwriter & recording artist, who is often compared to Stevie Ray Vaughn and a true Buffalo icon!
July 3 – Growlers Blues Band, one of the top bands in Buffalo, awarded “best traditional blues band.”
July 10 – Grosh, featuring the phenomenal award-winning guitarist, songwriter & recording artist, Grace Lougen.
July 17 – Pat Harrington Trio, featuring Pat Harrington, lead guitarist with Grammy Nominated and Multi-Blues Music Award winning band Victor Wainwright & The Train.
July 24 – High Horse, recording artists and legendary classic rock/blues from Buffalo.
July 31 – Rusty Fisher Band – high energy blues with a dose of Jimi from legendary guitarist Rusty Fisher.
August 7 – The Thurman Brothers Band from Niagara Falls, presenting “an evening with” featuring the timeless music of the Allman Brothers.
New this year, all shows will feature professional sound provided by Sal Licata of Sound Factor.
“We’re very excited at add Sal’s services to BT this year. Every show is going to sound incredible. It’s really going to elevate the experience.”
All the concerts are free and open to the public. Shows run from 6 to 8 p.m. There are no rain dates.
A wide variety of food and beverages will be available on site, including Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza, Greenlief’s On The Go, Oakley’s Ice Cream, Stone Hollow Bakery, NOLA Concessions, Blue Groove Coffee. Beverages are provided by Northridge Distillery and Schulze Vineyard & Winery. Additional vendors may be added at a later date.
“The public should start arriving at 5:30 or before, get a great spot on the lawn and grab a bite to eat,” said Mike Fuller of the Print Shop. “These gigs are a fantastic summer evening of food, drink and the best blues music in WNY – an excellent way to start the weekend.”
Event updates, any cancellations and venue information will be posted at “Blue Thursdays Medina” Facebook page. The Print Shop, in partnership with the Orleans Renaissance Group/medinaalive.com produces the series.
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are alerting the public to a noticeable increase in bat encounters. As the weather gets warmer, bats become more active and may occasionally find their way into homes, particularly in older homes that are not properly sealed.
