Medina family went to Disney World in January through Make-A-Wish

Photos courtesy of Meakin family: Koleson Meakin, now age 4, went to Disney World in January for a week with his family. Koleson is diagnosed with TPK1 Thiamine Deficient Leigh syndrome, a rare genetic metabolic disease. His parents, Brady and Dominique Meakin, navigate his complex needs, which require a special ketogenic diet and frequent medical care.

MEDINA – Firefighters from the western battalion in Orleans County will be out this Sunday filling the boot for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Firefighters have been doing this for several years. This tike has special significance because a local boy and his family were able to go to Disney World through Make-A-Wish.

Koleson is shown at Disney World in January with his parents, Brady and Dominique, and younger sister, Jovie.

Koleson Meakin turned 4 on Aug. 31. He has a rare condition, TPK1 Thiamine Deficient Leigh syndrome. It is a gene-linked brain malformation characterized by the absence of normal folds in the cerebral cortex and an abnormally small head.

His parents, Brady and Dominique Meakin, navigate his complex needs, which require a special ketogenic diet and frequent medical care. Koleson has been hospitalized four times since May.

His mother said the family is grateful for the community’s support through fundraisers and prayers.

“We’re making him comfortable and trying to make as many memories as possible,” she said by phone this morning.

Koleson has a strong and committed care team.

Make-A-Wish gave him an expedited wish about a year ago. He loves lights and music, and Make-A-Wish suggested Disney World. His parents drove Koleson and his little sister Jovie down last January and they were able to stay for a week in a village on site for Make-A-Wish families..

“Our family was treated like royalty at Disney village,” Mrs. Meakin said. “That was the best week of our lives. It is a core memory we will never forget.”

The boot drive will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday at on Route 63 with Shelby and East Shelby firefighters, Maple Ridge Road and the downtown intersection with Medina firefighters, and South Lyndonville Road and Route 104 with Lyndonville and Ridgeway firefighters. The local drive usually raises about $8,000.

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, alongside Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Mark Warner (D-VA), introduced the Small Business RELIEF Act to exempt small businesses from global baseline and reciprocal tariffs and to provide refunds to the small businesses that were forced to pay them.

The senators introduced the legislation as U.S. consumers experience the highest overall tariff rate since 1934, and a recent survey found that 30% of small business owners plan to increase their prices.

On August 29, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that President Donald Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs were illegal, setting the stage for small businesses to receive relief from the crushing “Liberation Day” tariffs. The Supreme Court agreed to consider whether these tariffs are legal and will hear the case in November. However, the tariffs will remain in place until the Supreme Court makes a decision.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, but they are especially vulnerable to President Trump’s tariff policies that are suffocating our economy,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Millions of small businesses are already struggling to keep up with rising costs. That’s why I will keep fighting to push back against these reckless tariffs, so every small business has the resources and stability it needs to thrive.”

In April, Senator Gillibrand announced her support for the bipartisan Trade Review Act, which would require congressional oversight of the president’s implementation of tariffs. At the time, she also signed a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick demanding that he immediately work to repeal Trump’s tariffs, which will cost the average New York household approximately $2,400 this year alone.

“Small businesses are feeling the brunt of the Trump administration’s economic carnage,” said Senator Schumer. “Tariffs are raising costs, pushing away tourists, slowing down manufacturing, and forcing many businesses to close their doors altogether. Trump’s disastrous economic policy must be stopped, and Congress must pass the Small Business RELIEF Act to protect our economy and small businesses across the country.”

Press Release, Independent Living of the Genesee Region

BATAVIA – The Independent Living of the Genesee Region, in partnership with the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, is pleased to announce an upcoming focus group dedicated to the families and caregivers of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN).

This important event will take place on two separate dates at accessible community venues to help shape future programs and services.

The meeting on Sept. 22 will be in Batavia at the Independent Living’s office at 319 West Main St., while the Sept. 24 session will be at the Hoag Library in Albion, 134 South Main St.

The focus group offers a welcoming space for parents, guardians, and advocates from Genesee and Orleans counties to share their experiences, challenges and suggestions regarding services for children with special health care needs. Input from participants will directly inform initiatives and resources designed to improve care and support for CYSHCN and their families.

All attendees will have an opportunity to have their voices heard in a supportive environment. Feedback collected will help guide future planning and advocacy efforts at the local and state level. A $50 Visa gift card will be provided as a stipend to the first 15 participants at each location.

For more information or to register, please contact April Fearby at (585) 815-8501, Ext. 401 or visit: http://forms.office.com/r/ai0daB9xfZ.

About Independent Living of the Genesee Region:

Independent Living of the Genesee Region, part of the WNY Independent Living Inc., Family of Agencies, is a catalyst for systems and individual change, enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities, while respecting diversity and promoting choices and alternatives for independent living.

Mary Mattingly did similar project in New York City with 350,000 visitors

Photos by Tom Rivers: Mary Mattingly is shown on a canal barge that she has begun turning into a floating garden that should bear fruit next summer as part of the inaugural Medina Triennial.

MEDINA – The next six weeks a rusty and out-of-serve canal barge will be given new life as a very unlikely base for a floating garden.

Mary Mattingly is turning he 27-by-80-foot barge into a showcase for plants and nature. She led a similar initiative in New York City, and that repurposed barge drew 350,000 visitors and more than 900 guided tours.

Mattingly is in town locally as one of 12 featured artists in the Medina Triennial. She is the first of the artists to be working in residence on her project. Five of the artists are expected to be doing their work in residence as part of the Triennial that will feature about 50 artistic works at 10 to 12 indoor and outdoor sites next year from June 6 to Sept. 7. Triennial organizers expect the major art initiative will draw 50,000 people to Medina over the three months next year.

The Triennial is spearheaded by the NYS Canal Corp. and New York Power Authority with input from the major art galleries in the Rochester and Buffalo region.

Mattingly is renown as an ecological art pioneer and her participation is a big honor for the Triennial, said Kari Conte, co-artistic director for the Triennial.

“This is an incredibly big project by Mary Mattingly,” Conte said Saturday during an discussion at the Triennial’s headquarters in a kick off teaser to next year. “She’s taking a chance on a startup.”

Mary Mattingly shares about the project during a discussion on Saturday at the Medina Triennial “Hub” at 345 Main St., a building that for many years was used by NAPA Auto Parts. It will be the base for the Triennial and arts program through 2026.

Mattingly has been working on the barge the past two weeks, getting it ready for eight different areas that will be growing plants. She has been talking with local residents about what they want to see on the barge when the plants are blooming and producing next year.

She held a workshop Sunday at the Triennial “Hub” to get more input. The group convinced her to have one of the eight spots be for butterflies. Mattingly said the garden will be designed so the eight sections compliment and don’t compete with each other.

People shared personal stories about why they feel connected to certain plants, and Mattingly said she wants to display those anecdotes as part of the floating garden.

Mattingly has a lot of work to do in the next six weeks, bringing in soil and creating a healthy growing medium for the plants. The barge will winter away from Medina and will return at the start of next year’s canal season. By the time the Triennial starts on June 6, the barge should be a vibrant ecosystem.

She thanked local residents for their input and kindness while she has been working on the project in Medina.

“I feel very at home,” she told about 75 people during the opening session on Saturday. “I’m learning a lot.”

Don Cook, a photographer for The Journal-Register in Medina, captured this image of the demolition of the Hojack bridge on Sept. 11, 1995.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 32

CARLTON – Our recent column on the history of the Hojack Railroad evoked many memories, particularly of teenage hair-raising exploits on the landmark trestle bridge at Waterport.

Built to convey the trains of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad trains across the Oak Orchard River gorge, the actual dimensions of this impressive structure are unclear. According to one source, it was 500 feet long, 10 feet wide and 200 feet above the river, while another site describes it as having been 800 feet from bank to bank and 90 feet high.

This photograph gives a sense of the scale of the bridge.

At any rate, the railroad line was discontinued in 1978, and the infrastructure soon fell into disrepair. In November 1993, citing missing railroad ties and concerns for the safety of the public as well as of emergency personnel presented by the condition of the bridge, the Town of Carlton went on record to request action from Penn Central.

As it transpired, the title to the bridge was owned by Charles Pelleschi, an avid angler from Summerhill, Pa. He had purchased some vacant railroad property adjacent to Park Avenue, in the Town of Carlton from Penn-Central, with the intention of building a second home there. Much to his surprise, the deed to the land included the bridge.

Mr. Pelleschi decided to have the bridge removed on account of its deteriorating condition. It was dismantled in the fall of 1995 by Jack Weakland of Hastings, Pa. The steel from the bridge was sold to a New York City company and the landmark was no more.

However, it lingers in the memories of many and was captured in this pen and ink drawing by Arthur Barnes.

This artwork of the Trestle in Waterport was done by Arthur Barnes.

Photos and information courtesy of Medina Mustang Band

WEST SENECA – The Medina Mustang Marching Band traveled to West Seneca on Saturday for their first competition of the season. A total of seven schools participated including Iroquois from Pennsylvania and six others from Western NY.

Medina was the only SS1 competitor and scored 70.40. In SS3 there were 3 competitors – Iroquois, Pioneer and Falconer-Frewsburg with FF taking 1st place with 64.85.

Thee LS2 class included Lancaster, West Seneca and Orchard Park with Lancaster earning 1st place with 73.05.

It was a beautiful evening in terms of weather and the crowd was enthused to be back in the loop of marching band participation.

Medina hosts their Fall Festival in Veterans Memorial Park this Saturday with gates opening at 4:30 and show starting 5:30. Ten bands will perform in competition.

Photo by Tom Rivers: A boat is pictured on Saturday evening on Glenwood Lake in Medina with changing fall foliage in the background.

The leaves are starting to change colors around Orleans County although much of the tree canopy remains green.

The fall foliage season has begun in New York state with some spectacular seasonal colors starting to appear. The state’s tourism division, I LOVE NY, updates the changing colors with a weekly fall foliage reports.

Locations in NYS with the most significant change so far include Wilmington, Saranac Lake and Old Forge (Adirondacks); Windham, Delhi and Liberty (Catskills); Corning (Finger Lakes); and Salamanca (Chautauqua-Allegheny).

Orleans is starting to see about a 5 percent change with average to bright orange and red leaves, according to the report (click here).

This map from I LOVE NY shows the fall foliage progress around the state.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Looking much younger than her 100 years, Florence Sanmarco stands by a birthday bouquet in her kitchen. Family friend Grace Kent of Albion made her the birthday crown on the counter.

MEDINA – Florence Sanmarco had one wish for her 100th birthday on Friday.

“I wanted to be home and hear from all my friends, and I got just the birthday I wanted,” she said.

Sanmarco counts her blessings to be celebrating her 100th birthday and enjoy excellent health.

Born in Medina Sept. 12, 1925, Sanmarco grew up in Middleport, daughter of parents who immigrated from Italy. The oldest of six, three siblings still survive.

She graduated from Middleport High School in 1943 and spent the next few years working at various jobs, including several years at Niagara Chemical Company (FMC).

“I left to get married, then went back in 1951,” she said.

Her first husband died after four years of marriage, and a second marriage to Danny Sanmarco lasted until his death in 2004.

(Left) Longtime family friend Karen Mannella, left, and Florence Sanmarco share a toast to Sanmarco’s 100th birthday on Friday. (Right) Florence Sanmarco and friend Sheila Doty hold a “100 and Fabulous” blanket Doty gave Sanmarco for her 100th birthday on Friday.

Sanmarco moved into Lakewood Village in 1985, where she continues to live on her own, doing her own cooking and cleaning, managing her own finances and occasionally driving her car short distances.

Her career included many years as a beautician.

“I’m very thankful for today – I don’t have an ache or a pain,” she said.

Her hearing is wonderful. She takes care of her flower gardens and loves to shop.

She often asks herself, “Why am I still here?”

Her only answer is she thinks she is meant to be an incentive to others, who may look at her and think, “I can do what Florence is doing.”

Sanmarco has seen many changes in 100 years, but she thinks the most amazing thing is probably the internet, although she doesn’t have a computer.

Friday, family friend Karen Mannella spent the day with her. They met when Mannella’s aunt and Sanmarco’s sister roomed together in the nursing home and they’ve been friends ever since. Mannella recently took Sanmarco shopping at Kohl’s and “she wore me out,” Mannella said.

When asked what she thought contributed to her longevity and good health, Sanmarco replied, “My faith. I pray a lot.”

Her Italian heritage and eating garlic might have helped, also, she added.

6 local sites to be recognized during Oct. 10 banquet

Provided photos: This is the home of Donald and Linda Prince at 14050 State Route 31, Albion. It is one of six sites being recognized with preservation awards from the Cobblestone Museum.

LYNDONVILLE – The Cobblestone Society and Museum’s historic preservation awards banquet Oct. 10 will be its third annual event.

Scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. at White Birth Golf Course, the banquet recognizes historic and preserved properties in the Orleans County area.

Nominees for the award were received from the Cobblestone Society board and the general public, said Cobblestone Museum director Doug Farley.

This year’s nominees are:

• Joseph Hart home of Douglas Miller and Susan Starkweather Miller at 323 S. Main St., Albion
• Ebeneezer Rogers house at 352 South Main St., Albion, owned by John and Melissa Gailie
• Greek Revival Tousley-Church house, home to the Orleans Chapter DAR at 249 North Main St., Albion
• Newell Shirt Factory/Hart House at 113 West Center Street, Medina, owned by Andrew Meier
• Donald and Linda Prince’s home at 14050 State Route 31, Albion
• Hank and Sue Beamer’s home at 10181 West Shelby Rd. in the Town of Shelby.

The Joseph Hart home at 323 South Main St., Albion.

The Joseph Hart house was constructed between 1820-23 in the Federal style. It was built to replace a log cabin which Joseph Hart erected in 1911/12 as an early settler. The home is situated on its third site, still on land purchased by Joseph Hart in 1811 from the Holland Land Company. This parcel was originally part of the town of Barre.

Joseph Hart and Ebenezer Rogers both founded the First Congregational Church in Barre. It was organized in Hart’s home in 1816. The Joseph Hart home was originally built across the street from the Ebenezer Rogers’ home located a short distance away.

According to the Pioneer History of Orleans County, Joseph Hart almost always held some town office, and for many of his later years he was an overseer of the poor of the town of Barre, a position the kindness of his nature well qualified him to fill. His fortunate location near the thriving village of Albion, which has been extended over a part of his farm, made him a wealthy man. Through a long life, he maintained a high character for priority and good judgement and was respected by all who knew him.

In 1880, Hart’s son Joseph S. Hart built a brick home for his wife Harriet Cole Hart and moved the Joseph Hart home directly behind his. In 1921, the home was moved to its third and current location at 323 South Main St. The Joseph Hart home has been in the Starkweather family since June 1974, when it was purchased by Sue’s parents, Duane and Rosalind Starkweather.

Highlights of the home include a five-inch key to the original lock possessed by the family; wide board floors in the foyer, dining room and living room; an open, U-shaped staircase with landing and an additional staircase leading downstairs to the crescent-shaped breakfast nook in the back of the house; and glass-enclosed sunporch with a fieldstone floor and a floor-to-ceiling fireplace.

Ebenezer Rogers house at 352 South Main St., Albion, home of John and Melissa Gailie.

John and Melissa Gailie’s Ebenezer Rogers’ house is located at the southern edge of Albion and is the oldest house in the town. Building began in 1816 and was completed in 1820 for Ebenezer Rogers. He was born in 1769 in Norwich, Conn. and moved to Orleans County in 1816. He acquired land through the Holland Land Company. A tanner and shoemaker by trade, he decided to become a farmer and dropped his trade. Rogers opened his home up to many new settlers in the area. He would allow them to stay in his home while they were building their own homes. He also helped start the Barre Center Presbyterian Church, formerly the Congregational Church, as well as the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.

Rogers’ house is appealing through the beautiful brickwork, the welcoming front entrance and front door with its fanlight window, which opens to its original stairway and entry. At each side of the hall and throughout the downstairs, Bible and cross double doors are unpainted originals, revealing the mellow color of the wood and Rogers’ love for his Christianity. In the living room, the early date of the house is displayed in the fireplace mantel and window trim. The delicately-scaled mantel has paired, reeded and columnettes which flank the firebox. Underneath the windows are wood panels with a dainty quarter fan ornament in each corner. The kitchen was remodeled in 2018, and still has the original fireplace and mantel to keep the historic feel of the house. The living room fireplace is duplicated in the master bedroom upstairs.

The two-story rear wing of the house was added on in the early part of the 20th century. The first floor consists of three rooms, and the second floor has two small bedrooms which are believed to have been used for live-in servants.

Greek Revival Tousley-Church house at 249 North Main St., Albion, home to Orleans Chapter of the DAR.

The Orleans Chapter DAR house at 249 North Main St., Albion, was built circa 1845. Sitting on a spacious shaded lawn, the stately red brick Patriots House served as a residence for the Lee, Tousley and Church families until 1929. At that time, it was purchased by Emma Reed Webster for the Orleans Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. The Orleans Daughters are proud caretakers of the Greek Revival building that serves as their chapter house and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Of note in the front hall are the hand-carved newel post and landing, supported by four Doric columns, a most unusual feature.

Orleans Chapter DAR was organized June 8, 1925 and received its charter on June 11, 1926. By the year 1928, membership had grown and overflowed private homes as meeting places. Realizing the need, Emma Reed Webster offered to buy a substantial house and give it to the Chapter, the maintenance to be controlled by a corporation. On June 14, 1929, this red brick residence was purchased from the Church family. Some remodeling was done to make a large meeting room. The beautiful period woodwork was left intact and the house is graced with period furniture, antiques and a large collection of artifacts.

Hart House/former Newell Shirt Factory at 113 West Center St., Medina.

Andrew Meier, a Medina native and local attorney, had long admired the Robert H. Newell building at 113 West Center St. Established in 1876 by Elizur Kirke Hart, a banker and U.S. Congressman from Albion, for 86 years, it was home to the Robert H. Newell Shirt Factory, which manufactured custom-made shirts, including many for famous customers, including Winston Churchill and Bob Hope. The Newell company left the historic building in 2004 and moved to Maple Ridge Road. The business eventually closed in 2007.

The village of Medina acquired the building after years of unpaid taxes. The three-story site had been neglected and was in disrepair. It was put up for sale in 2005 and Meier bought it. He was 25 at the time.

“It had great bones and potential,” Meier said about the building. “I knew the risks going in, but it was an opportunity that came up that I could not pass up.”

He set about the task of methodically renovating and preserving the 14,000 square-foot building which had opened in 1876, a site that was a hotel for its first 14 years before it became the Newell Building.

The Hart House Hotel onsite includes rooms named for famous Newell shirt customers, including Churchill, the British statesman. There are also rooms named for legendary comedian Hope and Astor, the wealthy industrialist from New York City.

Meier is praised for showing faith in the community when he invested in the Newell site. Many describe Meier as “one of the original risk takers in Medina and a catalyst for the downtown development.”

This historical aerial image depicts the Prince home and farm as it looked in the early 1900s.

The oldest portion of Donald and Linda Prince’s home at 14050 State Route 31, Albion, was built of wood in 1825 and included many full logs in its construction. A brick addition was added in 1850 with full brick floors in the basement. This large home now has more than 5,000 square feet of space. Some of the early residents to call this home include the Hatch family, and later the Ricci and Perrizini families. Don and Linda acquired the home in 1986.

The historical aerial image depicts the Prince home and farm as it looked in the early 1900s, before much of the recent development that has filled in both sides of NYS Route 31, just east of the Villages nursing home.  Massive farm barns were once located directly behind the residence.

Hank and Sue Beamer’s home at 10181 West Shelby Rd., Town of Shelby.

Hank and Sue Beamer are the third family to reside in the Shelp-Beamer House since its construction in 1836, having purchased the property in 1985. This house at 10181 West Shelby Rd. is located just east of the Niagara-Orleans County line, near Dewey Road in the town of Shelby. It was built of field and lake-washed cobbles for John Shelp, and is one of six cobblestone structures in the town of Shelby, sitting on 145 acres. It was built for Shelp, his wife Mary and her father Oliver Cone, a veteran of the Revolutionary War. In 2008, the house, two barns and a milk house on the grounds were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is considered one of the finest examples of cobblestone masonry in western New York.

Shelp came from Schoharie County in 1828. In 1836, he moved his family into the new house and remained there until his death in 1868. He and his descendants were prosperous farmers who expanded and improved the property.

The rare three-story cobblestone house contains a huge fireplace, originally used for both heating and cooking. A bake oven is built into the side of it. The house is constructed of both field and lake-washed cobblestones, while the quoins, lintels and sills are local limestone. A wooden addition and first floor remodeling took place in the early 1900s, at which time the first-floor interior woodwork was remodeled in colonial revival style oak. Hank and Sue Beamer have lovingly and painstaking attended to preserving this beautiful historic home for posterity.

In addition to the many interesting attributes of the structure, the owners feel the history of its builders is noteworthy. The home was originally built by John and Mary Shelp in 1836. Mary’s father Oliver Cone was from East Haddam, Conn. and served as a Minute Man in 2nd and 5th Connecticut regiments during the Revolutionary War. He settled in Orleans County in 1817 and was one of many Revolutionary veterans who were early settles in Shelby. He later resided with John and Mary in the cobblestone house and is interred in Mount Pleasant Cemetery on Salt Works Road, West Shelby.

Nominations are reviewed by the Preservation Awards Committee, and each will receive a photo plaque and several citations from various elected officials, according to Farley.

Those who want to attend the banquet or help celebrate the awards should call the museum (585) 589-9013 or register on the website at cobblestonemuseum.org.

Jean Wetherbee is long-time volunteer while her daughter Nancy Callara is director of Patient Financial Services

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Jean Wetherbee, right, a longtime volunteer at Medina Memorial Hospital, visits with her daughter Nancy Callara, director of Patient Financial Services, who first started working there in 1987. The mother/daughter are among a long list of relatives who have been employed at the hospital during its 100 years.

MEDINA – As Medina Memorial Hospital celebrates 100 years, they are reminded of the countless stories which make the place so special, said Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach.

He weighs in on two people – a mother and daughter – one a volunteer and the other an employee, whose combined years of service span nearly 70 years.

“Jean Wetherbee and Nancy Callara are two who stand out,” Robinson said. “Jean gave her time as a Twig, volunteered in many other ways and kept out community informed through her updates. Nancy, as a valued team member, is always finding ways to make the hospital run more efficiently – strengthening our stability and the care we provide. Together, they reflect the true spirit of service and teamwork that defines Medina Memorial. We’re fortunate to have them both as part of our story.”

Callara, who is director of Patient Financial Services, first came to Medina Memorial Hospital when she moved back to Medina in 1987. With a 6-week-old baby, she accepted a part-time position in medical records. That was followed with many positions – secretary for the medical staff payroll coordinator, payroll for nursing and IT revenue cycle coordinator for 10 years, after which she left to take a job at Unity Hospital in Rochester.

Callara returned to Medina in 2015 as director of patient financial services. She plans to retire next December, she said.

Her mother had retired from HSBC when they offered early retirement in 1994.

“At the end of that year, the hospital needed someone to do filing in HR,” Wetherbee said. “Nancy told me they were looking for someone to volunteer. I came in December. Then, they needed someone at the registration desk. There was also a greeter’s desk and a coffee cart in the waiting room. I would get it from the kitchen and keep it full. I volunteered half days in the mornings.”

When Liz Wagner started a new Twig group – the Lilac Twig – at the hospital, Wetherbee joined and continued supporting the hospital through her membership in Twigs, until they disbanded in 2018.

“We did a lot for the hospital,” she said. “The biggest thing was renovation of the chapel. We raised $9,800 for it. Then we bought pictures and a fountain for the North Wing, and a lot of other things. We were constantly having fundraisers in the lobby, like a popcorn machine, selling candy bars, jewelry and flowers, having bake sales and sponsored a circus.”

Callara’s son Nicholas also worked in dietary while he was in high school. After entering St. John Fisher College to become a pharmacist, he did his internship at the hospital and is now manager of a pharmacy in Denver.

When the Covid pandemic hit in march 2020, Wetherbee said she couldn’t be at the hospital until 2022, when she returned. She still does filing in HR one day a week.

“I like just being able to be out with other people,” Wetherbee said. “I’ve been doing this here for 31 years.”

Callara just wanted to remind everyone, “We are fortunate to have this hospital here and not be under a big umbrella.”

MEDINA – Dark evenings are about to descend upon us much too soon, according to Catherine Cooper, Orleans County historian and board member of the Medina Historical Society.

“But we can look forward to Medina Historical Society programs at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library,” she stated in a news release.

She has listed the following lineup of programs for fall 2025:

• On Sept. 29, Donna Vanderlaan, Terry Abrams and Bill Chase will present The Native American Presence in Genesee-Orleans.

• October’s program on the 27th will be The Pioneer Log Cabin, presented by Adam Tabelski.

• On Nov. 24, Renee Lama will present “Once Majestic, Now Forgotten” – the Mansions of Medina.

All programs begin at 7 p.m. and run until 8 p.m.

Lee-Whedon Memorial Library is located at 620 West Ave.

Photo courtesy of Orleans County Tourism Department: From left, Jim Hancock, chair of Medina’s Tourism Committee, and committee members Kathy Blackburn and Jan Smith pose with a billboard advertising an innovative Building Bricks/LEGO event in conjunction with the 200th anniversary celebration of the Erie Canal.

MEDINA – Medina Tourism Committee has hit on an innovative and new feature to celebrate the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary.

“It all started at a Tourism Committee meeting when we were discussing the celebration of the canal,” said Jan Smith, a member of the Tourism Committee who came up with the idea to have a Building Bricks/LEGO competition. “There were going to be a lot of communities doing arts and crafts, vendors, food trucks and concerts, and I thought why couldn’t we do something different.”

She said she knew of other organizations who had done events focusing on Building Bricks and LEGOs, and she suggested it to the committee.

“They thought is was a great idea,” Smith said.  “We were fortunate to get a grant from the Canal Corporation to help promote the event.”

The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at Sacred Heart Club and will include displays from RocLUG Group from Rochester.

High School arts students have been doing canal-oriented creations, such as boats, docks, the canal and culvert – things that will tie into the canal, Smith said. Entrants are encouraged to be creative in their designs, including things like bridges, sandstone buildings and quarries.

Shawn Ramsey from Canalside Tattoo is planning to do temporary tattoos and set up his LEGO collection for display.

“Individuals in the community can build anything they want out of Building Bricks or LEGOs, as long as they have an emphasis on the canal,” Smith said.

The day will include a sensory area for those who need that kind of activity, Smith said.

“There will be a hodge-podge of activities,” she added

She said she knows of other organizations who have done similar events and they were very popular.

 “People have a very good time doing this,” she said.

Downtown merchants will also participate with a scavenger hunt in the village, in addition to window displays out of Building Bricks and LEGOs, Smith said. They will also be giving out souvenir boats for customers to collect and keep.

To participate in the scavenger hunt, entrants must pick up a registration sheet at Creekside Floral or Sacred Heart Club and drop off completed forms at the front desk of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

Entrants will be competing for awards based on age and creativity. The competition is open to all ages and abilities.

A lunch menu will also be available to purchase, offering items such as chicken sandwiches, pizza, beverages and more.

Photo courtesy of State Sen. Rob Ortt’s office: Rob Ortt speaks at a press conference on Friday at the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office.

Press Release, State Sen. Rob Ortt’s Office

LOCKPORT – Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Senator Pam Helming and Senator George Borrello, and several sheriffs from across New York on Friday joined together to call for the passage of the bipartisan PROTECT Act (Senate Bill S.2282A) introduced by Senator Helming of Canandaigua.

The bill, developed with input from law enforcement and community faith leaders, provides judges with a tool to evaluate whether violent offenders should be held pretrial or released.

For years, Democrats’ failed public safety policies have left New Yorkers less safe by removing judicial discretion and putting dangerous individuals back on the street, Ortt said. The PROTECT Act is a bipartisan solution that restores balance to the justice system and helps keep communities safe.

“Albany Democrats would rather handcuff our judges instead of criminals and this has resulted in more dangerous individuals in the community instead of in jail,” said Ortt, leader of the Republican conference in the State Senate. “Just recently in Buffalo we saw a young mother murdered at the hands of someone who should have been behind bars, but thanks to out of touch policies that favor violent felons – this man was allowed to roam free. The PROTECT Act is the first step to restoring sanity to our communities.”

The PROTECT Act (Pretrial Risk Overview for Threat Evaluation Custody and Treatment) creates a judicial risk-assessment tool to help judges determine whether individuals charged with violent crimes should be held pretrial.

The bipartisan bill was written in consultation with sheriffs, district attorneys, and faith leaders to restore fairness and protect public safety. The bill remains in the codes committee.

“Public safety is an issue that affects everyone, whether you’re 9 or 99,” Helming said. “My legislation, The PROTECT Act resulted from a collaborative and bipartisan effort of people who believe our state government must prioritize your safety, your family’s safety, and the safety of our communities. I’m determined to make the PROTECT Act the law in New York State and I invite everyone to join us.”

“The men and women in uniform risk their lives to protect the public,” said Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke. “The current system is failing them and failing victims. The PROTECT Act is a practical step toward fixing that failure and ensuring justice works for everyone.”

Photo courtesy of Albion Central School. Ashleigh Stornelli is the school resource officer at Albion Central School this year. She has worked as an SRO for Kendall.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – Albion Central School is pleased to introduce Ashleigh Stornelli, an Orleans County deputy sheriff, as the district’s new School Resource Officer. She assumed her role at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year. She has served as an SRO for Kendall Central School.

Deputy Matthew Prawel served in the role for Albion the previous three years.

Stornelli is a graduate of Lyndonville High School. She earned her associate’s degree in criminal justice from Genesee Community College and completed her law enforcement training at the Erie County Police Academy.

Her previous experience includes six years as Military Police in the U.S. Army National Guard, one year with the Holley Police Department and seven years in the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

“A safe school environment is imperative for all,” said Mickey Edwards, Albion Superintendent of Schools. “Deputy Stornelli brings a wealth of experience and a passion for serving the community. We are excited to welcome her and support her as she leads safety initiatives in our buildings and establishes strong relationships within our school community.”

An SRO’s presence has a complex impact and benefits the school community in more ways than one.

“I look forward to serving as a trusted and approachable mentor, and educating on all facets of student safety while prioritizing a safe and secure campus,” Stornelli said. “It’s an honor to join the ACSD team and continue my career here. Serving as an SRO is extremely rewarding and I am eager to build relationships, navigate challenges together and make a lasting positive impact.”

Mary Mattingly transforming a barge on the canal into floating garden

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Federico Rosario of Medina and co-curator Karin Laanso of Rochester wait in front of the former NAPA Auto Parts store on North Main Street for the arrival of artist Mary Mattingly from New York City, who plans to transform a barge on the Erie Canal into a floating garden. The project is part of the Medina Triennial in observance of the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal.

MEDINA –  Medina Triennial has announced the inaugural edition of a new contemporary art triennial, which will take place June 6 to Sept. 7, 2026.

In preparation for the event, the opening of the Medina Triennial Hub Sept. 13-14 has been announced in the former NAPA building on North Main Street.

This barge docked in Medina’s canal basin is waiting for the arrival of Mary Mattingly, an American visual artist from New York City, who plans to transform the barge into a floating garden.

Also part of the Triennial is a barge docked in the Erie Canal Basin, which American visual artist Mary Mattingly of New York City is planning to transform into a floating garden. Mattingly, an ecological art pioneer, arrived last Saturday afternoon to begin assessing her project.

The inaugural edition next summer will feature more than 50 artworks at approximately 12 indoor and outdoor locations in Medina, highlighting Medina’s dynamic natural residency program and its education and welcome center, according to Federico Rosario of Medina, community engagement and program coordinator for the Medina Triennial.

The former NAPA Auto Parts building on North Main Street is a former sandstone hotel building in the heart of the village. The Medina Triennial is calling the building “The Hub” and it will be open this weekend for sessions about the art initiative.

Saturday Sessions

• 12 to 2 p.m. – Co-Artistic Directors Kari Conte and Karin Laansoo, architects Serweta Peck, and artist-in-residence Mary Mattingly introduce the Hub’s design and fall programming, followed by a tour of the building and Mattingly’s Floating Garden.
• 4–5 p.m. – “What is a Triennial?” Kari Conte and Karin Laansoo trace the history of the triennial format and discuss how the Medina Triennial reimagines it for a new context.

Sunday Sessions

• 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Roundtable on Labor and Ecology: Mary Mattingly and agricultural educator Todd Eick discuss care and invisible labor across art, ecology, and community life.
• 4 to 6:30 p.m. – Floating Garden Orientation: Mary Mattingly invites neighbors to plan and plant for her floating food forest on the Erie Canal.

The Medina Triennial was initiated by the New York State Power Authority and the New York State Canal Corporation as part of a broader effort to revitalize the canal and highlight its contemporary significance.

This event will feature new work by local, national and international artists and collectives, to create a free, village-wide exhibition that will be the first of its kind in the region.

Renowned commissioned artists will be invited to respond to Western New York’s communities and ecosystems, often working in collaboration with local residents to create work rooted in context.

Visitors are invited to stop by from noon to 6 p.m. weekends (always on Saturday and some Fridays and Sundays).

Federico Rosario, Community Engagement and Program Coordinator for the Medina Triennial, stands in the newly-renovated space in the former NAPA building, which will house an art triennial June 6 to Sept. 7, 2026.