By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 February 2025 at 5:21 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature recently approved the following voting members to the Emergency Medical Services Council, effective Jan. 1, with all terms expiring Dec. 31, 2025.
• Albion Fire Department: Fred Piano (primary) and Emma Klaver (alternate)
• Barre Fire Company: Kara Smith (primary) and Terry Bentley (alternate)
• Carlton Fire Company: David Bertsch (primary) and Brandi Fisher (alternate)
• Clarendon Fire Company: Don Mosier (primary) and Karl Beidlingmaier (alternate)
• East Shelby Fire Company: Mike Fuller (primary) and Sue Behrend (alternate)
• Kendall Fire Company: Sue Maslyn (primary) and Stephen Balka (alternate)
• Lyndonville Fire Company: Anna Schuner (primary)
• Medina Fire Department: Jacob Crooks (primary) and Steve Cooley (alternate)
• Murray Joint Fire District: Mark Porter (primary)
• Ridgeway Fire Company: Kristin McAdoo (primary) and Austin Mosher (alternate)
• Shelby Fire Company: Jenna Simmons (primary) and Donnell Bennett (alternate)
• Orleans County EMO EMS Coordinator: Scott Buffin (primary) and Justin Niederhofer (alternate)
• Orleans County Public Health: David Bell (primary) and Cora Young (alternate)
• Orleans County Sheriff’s Office: Christopher Bourke (primary) and Don Draper (alternate)
• Orleans County Sheriff Dispatch: Allen Turner (primary)
• Orleans Community Health/ Medina Memorial Hospital: Dr. Richard Elman (primary) and Kerry Miller (alternate)
The following were approved as non-voting members of the Council:
• County Legislature: Lynne Johnson and William Eick
• Public Safety Chairmen: Merle Draper and John Fitzak
• Mercy EMS: Adam Wengrzycki and Michael Gugliuzza
• University of Buffalo Medical Doctors: Rob McCartin and Mike Shaw
CANANDAIGUA – Three students from Orleans County are among the 917 full- and part-time students named to the Dean’s List at Finger Lakes Community College for fall 2024.
To be named to the Dean’s List, students must complete 5 credits with a combined 3.5 grade point for the semester with no class withdrawals or incompletes.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 February 2025 at 2:01 pm
Provided photos
ALBION – These students in the Akron Interact Club filled backpacks with school supplies that will be delivered by Albion teacher Tim Archer to a school in a remote part of Honduras.
Archer is also the Albion Interact Club advisor. The two Interact clubs teamed to fill about 400 backpacks with notebooks, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, rulers, bookmarks, stickers, wristbands, folders, maps, T-shirts and other supplies.
The Albion Rotary Club also id donating most of the proceeds from its March 13 St. Patrick’s ham dinner towards assisting the school. Archer has a connection to the school from when he was a missionary in this jungle area of Honduras.
Archer leaves on Sunday and will be gone for three weeks.
Some kids from the Honduras La Mosquitia region are shown at left. Archer will be visiting several small villages along the 200-mile Patuca River. Archer will be traveling by canoe with pastors in that region.
Photo by Tom Rivers
The two Interact Clubs also met today in Albion for a leadership conference. The people seated at the table were the featured speakers.
From left include retired State Assemblyman Charlie Nesbitt, a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War; Craig Lane, Orleans County DPW commissioner, Holley Rotary Club president and a 20-year Air Force veteran; Albion Village Trustee Joyce Riley, a retired nursing supervisor; Steve Giroux, owner of seven pharmacies, including Rosenkrans in Medina and a Rotarian for 41 years; Pastor Jovannie Canales of Harvest Christian Fellowship; and Tim Archer, Albion Rotary Interact Club advisor.
BATAVIA – Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) will be holding his 4th Annual National Pizza Day Police Appreciation Program on Thursday, Feb. 6.
Hawley will be providing pizza to law enforcement officers across his Assembly District. This gesture complements his ongoing efforts in Albany to advocate for policies that support and equip our law enforcement officers.
Pizza will be delivered to the following 11 departments:
City of Batavia Police
State Police – Troop A Batavia HQ
Albion Police Department
State Police – Troop A Albion Barracks
Orleans County Sheriff’s Office
Medina Police Department
Brockport Police Department
LeRoy Police Department
Corfu Village Police Department
Genesee County Sheriff’s Office
Holley Police Department
Hawley will personally deliver pizza to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police – Troop A Headquarters, and Batavia Police Department.
Run for office! Here’s what is still open/unendorsed by the Orleans County Democratic Party. It’s not too late to inbox and let us know you’re interested!
ORLEANS COUNTY
Treasurer – 4 year term
Legislature at Large – 2 year term (3 positions, West, Central, and East).
Legislature District 1 – 2 year term
Legislature District 2 – 2 year term
Legislature District 4 – 2 year term
TOWN OF ALBION
Supervisor – 2 year term
Town Clerk – 2 years (to fill vacancy)
2 Councilpersons – 4 year terms
TOWN OF BARRE
Supervisor – 2 year term
2 Councilpersons – 4 year terms
TOWN OF CARLTON
Town Clerk – 4 year term
Town Justice – 4 year term
2 Councilpersons – 4 year terms
Superintendent of Highways – 4 year term
TOWN OF CLARENDON
Supervisor – 2 year term
2 Councilpersons – 4 year terms
TOWN OF GAINES
Supervisor – 2 year term
Town Clerk – 4 year term
Town Justice – 4 year term
2 Councilpersons – 4 year terms
TOWN OF KENDALL
Supervisor – 2 year term
Town Clerk – 4 year term
Town Justice – 4 year term
2 Councilpersons – 4 year terms
Superintendent of Highways – 2 year term
TOWN OF MURRAY
Supervisor – 2 year term
Town Clerk – 4 year term
Town Justice – 4 year term
2 Councilpersons – 4 year terms
Superintendent of Highways – 4 year term
TOWN OF RIDGEWAY
Town Clerk – 4 year term
Councilperson – 4 year term
Superintendent of Highways – 4 year term
TOWN OF SHELBY
Supervisor – 2 year term
2 Councilpersons – 4 year terms
TOWN OF YATES
Supervisor – 2 year term
Town Justice – 4 year term
3 councilpersons – 4 year terms for two of them and the other is 2 years to fill a vacancy.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 February 2025 at 8:40 am
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board has adopted a 2-percent occupancy for hotels, motels, short-term rentals and other lodging establishments in the village.
The Village Board held a public hearing on the new tax last week and the board adopted it with no comments offered from the public. However, the village is still working through how the tax will be implemented. A start hasn’t been established for when the lodging establishments need to begin collecting the tax.
Village officials aren’t sure how much the 2-percent tax will generate. It is on top of a 4-percent occupancy tax collected by Orleans County. That “bed tax” raised $119,003 for the county in 2023 and is used to promote tourism to bring in more visitors to the county. (Both the county and village occupancy taxes are also in addition to the 8-percent sales tax.)
The 2-percent tax in Medina gives the village some new revenue at a time when it faces rising costs for a new fire truck and an addition to the fire hall, as well as overall operations. The village has tried in recent years for a boost in the local sales tax revenue and also more money from the state in Aid and Incentives to Municipalities or AIM, but has seen little change from the county and state.
The Village Board didn’t designate how the funds will be spent, except to specify the money will be “allocated at the discretion of the Medina Village Board for any Village purpose.”
Lodging establishments are to pay the village the occupancy tax in quarterly payments.
To see the local law on the occupancy tax, click here.
Press Release, Orleans County Office for the Aging
ALBION – The Orleans County Office for the Aging will welcome the Center for Elder Law & Justice to Hoag Library on Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
This is a free event open to everyone, but targeted to those 60 years of age and older. The library is located at 134 S. Main St. in Albion.
The Center for Elder Law & Justice provides free legal services to older adults across a host of areas including health care advocacy, elder abuse, housing, consumer protection and more. This event will go into more depth of these services and help those looking for legal advice.
“Our older residents often have unique legal problems but do not seek assistance because they do not know where to turn or fear a lawyer will be too costly and beyond their means,” said Melissa Blanar, director of Orleans County OFA. “Thankfully, the Center for Elder Law & Justice is here to help our older citizens, and OFA is hosting this event to help spread the word on how they can help.”
Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP by Feb. 14 to the Office for the Aging at (585) 589-3191.
Press Release, State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt
ALBANY – Senior members of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) held a public forum in Albany today to discuss raising the preference power rate in a series of rate hikes over the next four years.
NYPA says the increases are necessary to keep up with increased maintenance and operations costs. The proposed rate hikes would take effect as follows:
$17.61 for 2025
$21.66 for 2026
$26.72 for 2027
$33.05 for 2028
Municipalities, school districts, businesses and nonprofits across New York State benefit from NYPA’s current preference power rate of $12.88 per megawatt hour. These additional costs will not be absorbed by affected organizations – but passed on to consumers and residents in the form of increased product costs and taxes.
“New York is one of the worst states to operate a business in, and manufacturers in Western New York have been struggling to make ends meet. Many of the operations in my district rely on low cost power so that they are able to remain viable, and the proposed tripling of these rates are unwanted and absurd. This will surely lead to even more businesses closing their doors and leaving our state,” said Senator Rob Ortt. “Instead of sweeping millions of dollars every year into New York state’s general fund, NYPA should have been reinvesting the profits generated back into the power project. Thanks to NYPA’s mismanagement, they are now turning to the community to cover the cost of these infrastructure upgrades.”
“Across Western New York, working families rely on low-cost hydropower for their day-to-day activities. These proposed rate increases by the New York Power Authority will only intensify the burden on residents and deepen the affordability crisis across the region. I am calling on NYPA to reject these increases and return to a model that puts consumers and affordability first,” said Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
A public comment period is currently open and will end on February 24th. Comments can be submitted to secretaryoffice@nypa.gov. Senator Ortt will be submitting public comments on behalf of ratepayers in his district.
A final vote is scheduled to take place during a July 2025 meeting.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2025 at 2:27 pm
HOLLEY – The Village of Holley has been awarded a $75,000 state grant for an inclusive playground that will ADA-accessible.
“Nestled beside the Erie Canal, this addition reflects the Canal’s role in enhancing quality of life and creating welcoming spaces for all,” the Canal Corp. said in announcing the funding on Monday.
Holley has the matching funds for a project that will total about $150,000, Mayor Mark Bower said.
The village has $35,000 set aside for the playground and the Town of Murray has committed $25,000 towards the project. The Holley Department of Public Works also will provide in-kind services with excavating and site work, Bower said.
Community volunteers will also be asked to help construct the playground which will allow Holley to maximize the funding towards the equipment for children.
The village will soon seek bids from playground companies for the equipment. Bower is hopeful construction will start in April.
The playground will go where there was one previously along the canal path. That playground wasn’t accessible to people with disabilities, had fallen into disrepair and was removed in 2022, Bower said.
The mayor thanked the Orleans County Health Department for helping to secure the grant for the village.
Holley also recently was awarded a grant to put in a kayak launch and new decking and stairs at its canal park.
MEDINA – Representatives from Citizens’ Climate Lobby will be in Medina on Wednesday to lead a discussion about climate change and how to influence policies that are friendly to the planet.
The discussion will begin at 6 p.m. at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, contact robertdotjohnson@rochester.rr.com.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a national nonprofit organization with local chapters across the country. The group pushed for the energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.
“We welcome anyone who is serious about solving climate change as a volunteer,” the organization said in a press release. “We work with members of Congress across the political spectrum to find common ground on climate change action.”
For more about Citizens’ Climate Lobby, click here.
ALBANY – Every year, the New York State Conservative Party releases its conservative ratings for elected officials across the state. Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia), who has been a strong advocate for conservative policies in Albany, received a 100% rating from the party for the year.
Throughout his time in the state Assembly, Hawley has promoted initiatives to lower taxes, support law enforcement, protect our second amendment rights and cut regulations for small businesses.
Hawley, along with Sens. George Borello, Joe Griffo, Pam Helming, Mario Mattera, Rob Ortt, Steve Rhoads, Dan Stec, Jim Tedisco and Alexis Weik, as well as Assemblymembers John Lemondes, Brian Maher and Chris Tague, received perfect ratings during the 2024 Legislative Session.
“I’m proud to have received this high honor from the New York State Conservative Party for my record of supporting common-sense policies in the State Assembly,” Hawley said. “It’s an honor to be named amongst so many of my colleagues in the state government who are fighting hard each day to bring our state back to the conservative principles we were founded on. I’m grateful for the work we were able to do during last year’s session, and I look forward to the progress we can make this year to bring common sense back to Albany.”
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) and Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) announced they sent a letter to newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requesting the Department of Defense consider opening the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS) to support Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations with additional bed space for detainees and as a point of departure for deportation flights.
The letter states, “The Northeast U.S. currently has only one ICE-operated Service Processing Center, located in Batavia, NY. This facility, though critical, cannot solely handle the growing demand for detention and deportation processing. With an estimated 759,218 illegal immigrants residing in New York City alone, including 58,000 individuals who are either convicted felons or facing criminal charges, the need for additional detention capacity is clear. Local facilities are overwhelmed, and it is imperative that we have the resources necessary to address this serious public safety concern.
“The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station’s role in supporting our national defense can be enhanced by partnering with ICE in this effort to ensure the swift and secure removal of high-priority illegal immigrants from the United States. Utilizing this federal resource would help ease the burden on local law enforcement and detention centers while advancing President Trump’s agenda of maintaining public safety through efficient and effective deportations.”
“Maximizing every available resource is crucial to carrying out President Trump’s executive orders to detain and remove illegal aliens swiftly and efficiently, particularly those who pose security risks to our country,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “I am so grateful to the ICE agents who are stepping up to protect our nation and address this pressing crisis and want to ensure they have all the resources they need to carry out these deportations. Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station can play a valuable role in hosting detention beds and serving as a point of departure for deportations, supporting ICE’s work in deporting these criminals. I urge Secretary Hegseth to authorize NFARS to assist in securing our borders and upholding our nation’s safety by allowing ICE to utilize this station in its fight against criminal illegal aliens that threaten the safety of our communities. NFARS can play a vital role in the fight to protect our borders, and I look forward to working with Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Noem to make this a reality.”
“One of my top priorities when I got home from Washington was to set up an in-person briefing with the Buffalo ICE office to hear directly from them about how their operations have ramped up under President Trump’s executive actions to deport criminal illegals,” said Congressman Langworthy. “In that meeting, I learned that the ICE Processing Center in Batavia is nearly at capacity, and with the massive illegal population accused and convicted of crimes in New York, opening the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station to support their efforts will help ensure they can continue to swiftly execute the President’s orders. As the Department of Defense is already aiding the Department of Homeland Security in its border security measures, it makes perfect sense to ask Secretary Hegseth to consider this request. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the entire federal government is working together to make our country safer.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2025 at 8:47 am
Projects offer huge revenues to municipalities but seen as very disruptive to refuge, Tonawanda Seneca Nation
Photos by Tom Rivers: (Left) Betty Pitcher of Lancaster speaks against industrial development at the STAMP site, saying it has negative impacts to wildlife and neighbors. “Nature does not have a voice,” she said. “It’s up to us to be that voice and protect this natural beauty.” (Right) Barbara Jonathan, a Tonawanda Seneca Nation resident, displays a poster that says, “The answer is ‘No, No, No.’ No data centers near wetlands, water.”
TOWN OF ALABAMA – Three companies have pitched plans for massive data centers at the STAMP site in the Town of Alabama. The projects would bring the prospect of about $150 to $200 million in revenue to Genesee County municipalities over 20 years.
But the data centers would be huge consumers of electricity, about 200 megawatts of lower-cost hydropower. Speakers during public hearings on Monday said a data center near a wildlife refuge and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation would be very disruptive, due to the noise and sheer size of the data center. The buildings, ranging from 750,000 square feet to 900,000 square feet, would be about five to six times the Albion Walmart Supercenter which is 155,000 square feet.
Christine Zinni of Batavia speaks against a large-scale data center at STAMP, which she said is a remote area with pristine wildlife. “I am here to speak for nature’s rights,” she said. “The character of this region is at stake.”
The GCEDC board will either select one of the companies or none of them, Mark Masse, the GCEDC chief executive officer. He spoke during three public hearings on Monday afternoon about the economic incentives offered for each of the projects.
The projects range from $2 billion to $6 billion in capital investments. GCEDC is offering sales tax exemptions ranging from $124.8 million to $462.6 million. Those are the main incentives from the agency. The data centers would also have access to the low-cost hydropower.
The data centers were roundly criticized for more than three hours during public hearings at the Alabama Fire Hall.
“The data centers are immensely intensive energy users with not much benefit,” said Chris Murawski of the Clean Air Coalition of New York.
The projects consume tremendous resources with water and energy while not producing many jobs, he said. The direct employment for the three projects includes 200, 105 and 122.
The three projects and the incentives offered include:
Potentia Holdings from Minneapolis, Minn.
892,000 square-foot data center
$2,156,900,000 total capital investment
200 new jobs ($129,250 average), plus 76 other indirect jobs
Economic impact: $143,378,881 in local municipal revenue over 20 years
Sales tax exemption: $124,864,000
Property tax exemption: $42,784,801
Total tax incentives: $167,648,801
PILOT payments: $42,784,801 over 20 years with $1,760,882 year 1 to $2,565,273 in year 20
Other local municipal revenue: $100,594,080 over 20 years – $42,079,704 in year 1, $3,079,704 from years 2 to 20. (That includes $39 million towards substation, $1 million for community grant, $500,000 to county host, $82,104 towards fire district, and $1,497,600 electric sales tax revenue.)
Project Rampart, LLC from Dover, Delaware
750,000 square-foot data center on 67-acre parcel.
Total capital investment: $3,318,450,000
$206,028,908 in local municipal revenue over 20 years
Sales tax exemption: $218,960,000 (half state and half local)
Mortgage tax exemption: $19,950,000 (half local and half state)
Estimated tax incentives: $238,910,000
105 direct jobs ($64,095 average), 40 indirect jobs
PILOT payments, $3,848,745 in year 1 to $5,606,894 in year 20 paying $93,514,368 in 20 years, saving $93,514,368 in property taxes
Other local municipal revenue: $112,514,540 over 20 years, with $43,625,727 in year 1, and $3,625,727 from years 2 to 20. In year one there would be a one time $40 million for substation, and then $1 million for community, $1 million county host, $89,727 to the fire district, and $1,536,000 in sales tax revenue.
Stream US Data Centers, LLC from Dallas, Texas (Project “Double Reed”)
900,000 square-foot data center on 59.2 acres
Total capital investment: $6,320,000,000
Incentive amount: $471,560,000
Generate $218,450,978 in local municipal revenue over 20 years
Sales tax exemption: $462,560,000
Mortgage tax exemption: $9,000,000
Estimated tax incentives: $471,560,000
Direct jobs: 122 ($88,505 average), plus 46 indirect
PILOT $127,723,298 over 20 years, $5,000,000 in year 1 to $7,993,252 in year 20
Other local municipal revenue: $90,727,680 over 20 years, with $52,036,384 in year 1, $2,036,384 from years 2 to 20. Includes $1,920,000 sales tax revenue, $116,384 in fire district for $2,036,384 a year, plus one time $50 million for substation.
The GCEDC hasn’t set a vote on whether it will pick one of the projects. Speakers urged GCEDC to reconsider its plans to turn about 1,200 acres into industrial use. The site already has two projects under development.
Dr. Kirk Scirto, a family medicine specialist at Tonawanda Family Care Center, spoke at the hearings and called the three data centers “parasitic centers.” He said the constant noise from the data centers is comparable to the sounds of jet engines. The impact from the noise and light will have negative impacts on neighbors and wildlife, he said.
Barbara Jonathan, a Tonawanda Seneca Nation resident, said STAMP is threatening the way of life for the Tonawanda Senecas, putting the nearby Big Woods at risk. That forest is critical to the Nation for hunting and medicine.
“That land is all that we have left,” she said.
Kristin Mosher plays recordings of the sounds of birds in the Big Woods at the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, and also the noise from a data center in Virginia.
The “perks” from a data center in revenue and jobs aren’t worth sacrificing the lands and wildlife, she said.
Kristin Mosher, a wildlife photographer and sound recordist from Syracuse, played audio from the Big Woods with many different types of birds. She also played the noise from a data center in Virginia. That data center emits a constant low frequency sound, she said.
“There is incredible diversity of birds in the Big Woods,” Mosher said. “This is one of the last little untouched areas we have here in New York State.”
Christine Zinni of Batavia said the local residents living near STAMP should have the ultimate say in what goes there.
There should be “meaningful” noise studies and other assessments of the environmental impacts on local residents and the nearby wildlife, tributaries and other natural resources, Zinni said.
“I’m here to speak for nature’s rights,” she said. “The character of this region is at stake.”
(Left) Eveyln Wackett of Buffalo and (right) Gary Ciurczek of Buffalo speak against a data center at STAMP, saying it would put birds and other wildlife at risk.
Wackett held up a photo of a short-eared owl.
“I love owls,” she said. “I love raptors.”
Ciurczek is a member of the Buffalo Ornithological Society, a group that enjoys coming to the wildlife refuge and nearby wildlife management areas.
“It is shocking this is being considered in this pristine wetland area,” he said about the data center. “This would be a loud unrepenting noise 24-7, 365 days a year.”
Karen Jones of Shelby (left) and Amy Kahn of Rochester shared their concerns about a data center at STAMP.
Jones said water discharges from the facility could have negative impacts on the Oak Orchard Creek and other tributaries. The companies proposing the data centers haven’t provided much detail with the projects.
She said the companies should fully fund any needed infrastructure upgrades. She also worries the heavy electricity demands for a data center could push up costs for other rate payers.
Jones also was critical of the GCEDC for scheduling the hearings in the afternoon when many people are working or unavailable. It was also during the Tonawanda Senecas mid-winter ceremonies.
The hearings also were poorly advertised, Jones said, and weren’t included on the Town of Alabama website.
Amy Kahn denounced the “opaqueness” of the data centers, and wanted to know who is leading the effort to develop them at STAMP.
She said the project with the noise, large-scale development and water discharges will affect very sensitive wildlife.
GCEDC is also accepting written comments to gcedc@gcedc.com before 5 p.m. on Thursday. The email must contain the project name in the subject line.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 February 2025 at 9:02 pm
Stratton announces Albany Symphony will perform in Medina on July 2
Photo by Tom Rivers: Brian Stratton, commissioner of the Canal Corp., said there are over 400 events celebrating the Erie Canal’s bicentennial this year. He spoke during Friday’s Legislative Luncheon for the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.
MEDINA – It’s going to be a big year celebrating the Erie Canal in 2025, which is the 200th anniversary of the completion of the 363-mile-long waterway.
Brian Stratton, the canal commissioner, said there are over more than 400 programs and events along the canal system in 2025, including many in Orleans County. He announced the Albany Symphony will be performing in Medina on July 2 to celebrate the canal’s bicentennial.
Stratton said the canal is an “economic engine” going across the state. He noted in Orleans County, canal water is used to supplement the tributary fishery, providing steady streams of water into December. The canal water also is used to irrigate farmland.
Those are just two ways the canal is used outside of navigation and recreation, the canal commissioner said on Friday when he spoke at the Legislative Luncheon in Medina, an event organized by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.
He spoke at the Bent’s Opera Hall, which has seen a dramatic restoration led by Roger and Heather Hungerford. Stratton highlighted a $4.5 million Forward NY grant from the state that will spur more investment in the community with nine different initiatives.
This year the canal will have a longer boating season than usual, opening May 16 and going until Nov. 3. There won’t be any tolls or fees for recreational use of the canal system this year.
“We’re extending the season because this year is such an important year,” Stratton said. “We’re going to have a huge celebration all year long.”
In 2024 the navigation season ended Oct. 16, and in 2023 it closed for the season on Oct. 11.
Stratton said he looks forward to the Erie Canal hosting the World Canals Conference in Buffalo from Sept. 21-25, with about 500 people expected. Many of them will make an excursion out to Medina and Orleans County, Stratton said.
Some of the local events highlighting the canal, in addition to the Albany Symphony concert on July 2, include:
Erie Canal Arts & Craft Festival led by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council from Sept. 26-28 at Medina, Albion and Holley. The event will be a celebration of heritage, creativity, and community spirit along the canal. It will feature over 400 artisan vendors, a theatre and car showcase, a headline concert with The Voice’s Ddendyl Hoyt, and a festive boat parade, and boat taxis for attendees to get from each village.
Erie Canal Bicentennial Building Bricks Event organized by the Village of Medina Tourism Committee. The event will be Sept. 20-21 at the Sacred Heart Club in Medina. Participants will create canal-themed boats, bridges, and landmarks using LEGO bricks, while competing for awards based on age and creativity.
The Erie Canal Family Concert at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina on June 23.
Holley’s June Fest on June 7.
Albion Strawberry Festival on June 13-14.
St. Rocco’s Italian Festival in Hulberton on Aug. 31.
Blue Thursdays concert series at State Street Park in Medina this summer.
