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 200^th 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.

Photo by Ginny Kropf

MEDINA – The Kropf family recently posed for this five generation picture.

Counterclockwise, from right, are dad Hayden Kropf of Nelsonville, Ohio, holding three and one-half month-old daughter Evelyn, grandfather William Kropf of Medina, great-grandfather Mike Kropf of Albion and great-great-grandfather Allan Kropf of Medina (seated).

This is William’s first grandchild, Mike’s first great-grandchild and Allan’s first great-great-grandchild.

State senator concerned over rising costs, including electricity from Power Authority

Photo by Tom Rivers: State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt speaks during Friday’s Orleans County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon at Bent’s Opera House in Medina. Ortt said state policies and spending are driving more businesses and residents to flee to other states.

MEDINA – State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt listened to presentation Friday on how Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed budget would help with an “affordability crisis” in the state.

The governor wants refunds to help with the rising cost of inflation, increased child tax credits, universal school meals with free breakfast and lunch, increased access to child care, and a middle-class tax cut. State Canal Commissioner Brian Stratton went through a power point about the governor’s proposed budget during the Legislative Luncheon organized by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.

Ortt said he favors proposals to help residents keep more of their money. But Ortt said the governor’s proposed budget doesn’t rein in the state spending. The budget goes from $233 billion in 2024-25 to $242 billion in Hochul’s plan.

Ortt said he expects the spending will go even higher after the State Legislature, led by strong Democratic Party majorities, gets through with it.

“We cannot spend our way to a more affordable state,” Ortt said during Friday’s Legislative Luncheon with the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. “We need to reduce costs to stop residents and businesses from leaving.”

New York, population 19.6 million, spends more than states with bigger populations, Ortt said. Texas (population 30.5 million) spends $321.7 billion in a two-year budget, while Florida (population 22.6 million) has a proposed $115.6 billion budget for 2025-26.

“Why is New York so much more money?” Ortt said. “”You can’t spend your way to prosperity.”

The state senator cited two other price hikes that have him concerned about the affordability of the state.

Many businesses in Western New York, including some in Orleans County, have access to low-cost hydropower through the New York Power Authority. But NYPA is proposing to nearly triple the rates charged to customers for renewable hydropower from the Niagara Power Project. The proposed rate increase would go from $12.88 per megawatt-hour to $33.05 per megawatt-hour over four years.

Congestion pricing in New York City is imposing up to $9 fees on cars, $4.50 on motorcycles and $14.40 to $21.60 on trucks and buses. The pricing started on Jan. 5 to try to reduce some of the traffic in the city.

Ortt said he and Republicans in the Legislature are pushing for “immediate bold relief with taxes.”

Hochul, Ortt said, needs “to be more forceful” with Democrats in the Assembly and Senate about reducing costs in the state, addressing the negative impacts of bail reform, and targeting crime.

The state is entering a budget cycle with no more federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, adding to the challenges and pressure on New Yorkers to foot the full bill, Ortt said. ARPA was passed as part of a $1.9 billion federal stimulus package in 2021.

“We have got to do something about the rising costs in this state or we’ll continue to lose our most valuable asset, our people,” Ortt said.

‘We added a full continuum of services of care in a rural community. I would say that one of my biggest pride and joys is that our organization really tries to make a difference. The staff here care about the people we serve and always try to do the right thing. I will miss them all dearly.’

Press release, UConnectCare

John Bennett

BATAVIA – John Bennett is leaving UConnectCare after dedicating the past 25 years at the agency formerly known as Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse to helping those affected by substance and alcohol use disorder.

With his last day as chief executive officer set for this Friday (Feb. 7), the 63-year-old Geneseo resident took time out to reflect upon a 40-year career in the field.

A reception for Bennett, which is open to the public, is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 4 at The Recovery Station on Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

Bennett has accepted a grant-funded director of network development position with Forward Leading IPA’s WeLinkCare social care network that connects individuals and families to vital resources that address the social factors affecting health – from housing and employment to food and transportation.

In his new position, he will oversee agencies, including UConnectCare, in 14 counties across the Finger Lakes region.

Question: Forty years is a long time in what can be a highly stressful field of work. What made you choose alcohol and substance use treatment and prevention?

Answer: In the past, I have shared that my grandfather, who I am named after, was an alcoholic. It was during the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s when they didn’t have EAP (Employee Assistance Programs) and much help for people like my grandfather. So, he died young from his alcoholism, and it affected my mom in a lot of ways.

My mom always worried that her children would develop alcohol and drug addiction, So alcohol was never allowed in our household growing up. If you came home with alcohol on your breath it didn’t matter what time of night it was she would get up to smell your breath.

Her whole life centered around breaking the cycle for her own children. Her sister, my Aunt Virginia, married a man who was alcoholic and she took me to AA and Al-Anon meetings when I was probably 8 or 9 years old. Also, my grandmother ended up living with us after my grandfather died. So my mom, my aunt and my grandmother influenced me to enter a field to help individuals and families with addiction.

I felt like it was a calling for me to help families and individuals with addiction. That’s how I got started.

Question: Where was your first job?

Answer: My first job was in Livingston County for what was then called Livingston County Council on Alcoholism. That was in 1985. I think there were 12 employees in total at the time – like two secretaries, a couple directors and the rest of us were counselors.

I went to college, SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Brockport, for counselor education and later I became a certified alcoholism counselor, a CAC, around 1989. I ended up working at LCCA for about 15 years.

Question: What brought you to GCASA, now UConnectCare?

Answer: I worked my way up in the field as a counselor and then as a team leader and eventually as the clinical supervisor. I was kind of recruited, actually, to come to GCASA by Beverly Maniace, who had just been promoted to deputy director in Batavia. She had a program director position open and asked me to interview.

So, I did, and I got the job a week later. That was in 1999. We were located in the bottom of the Growney Building (on Bank Street). We were there until 2003 and then moved to East Main Street to our current location.

Question: Dave Markham, the former executive director, was well respected in the community. What was your relationship like with him?

Answer: Dave was my mentor and when he left in 2012, I became the executive director and eventually the CEO. He has had a profound impact upon my life and career.  David was very well respected in the community and in the behavioral health field.  David gave me ample opportunity to get involved at the state level sitting on several state wide and local committees and he taught me a lot about how to be a leader.

Question: How has the substance use field changed over the years?

Answer: I started when substance abuse and alcoholism were divided up into two different sectors. And then eventually we became certified alcohol and substance abuse counselors.

There were two different divisions, and we treated drugs and alcohol differently at the time. DAAA and DSAS. Then the two different organizations merged to become OASAS (New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and now New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports).

When I first started we dealt mostly with long-term alcoholism and short-term drinking drivers. Opioids were a drug of last resort. Today the majority of our patients are addicted to poly substances and most included opioids. I never saw our organization opening a methadone clinic but we did in 2018 and I am thankful we did because we have helped a lot of people.

Question: What stands out as far as services available in Genesee and Orleans counties?

Answer: Looking back, the people that I met and the providers, especially those like Genesee Justice with its restorative justice program, stand out. I became friends with the director at the time, Dennis Wittman, and helped participate in pre-sentencing investigations when there was drug abuse involved.

Eileen Kirkpatrick, who was the director of Genesee County Social Services. People like Dennis and Eileen reached out to me when I first arrived in Genesee County and they introduced me to people and institutions that could make a difference in people’s lives.

I became part of the Criminal Justice Advisory Council, which is really unique across the state to have a council that’s made up of criminal justice and service providers.  I think that group of individuals does amazing things in our community and is incredibly collaborative.  It’s unique and I think all the agencies try to work together and the county legislature has been mostly supportive of our services

I’ve just really been impressed with Genesee County and Orleans County, the providers and law enforcement and everybody works together to try to make the lives of individuals we serve better. That’s one of the blessings to be able to work in a place where we had those types of relationships,

Question: UConnectCare has grown significantly in recent years. Can you speak about that?

Answer: Over the last 10 years, we’ve grown from an agency of 68 employees to what will be about 190 employees when the Women & Children’s Residence in Albion opens in a few months.

That was my goal when I took over. It was very frustrating that urban communities had all these services and rural communities had none. So, a lot of our community members had to leave the area to get the services they need … like inpatient or detox or to get methadone. And so, my goal was to bring all those services here so that people didn’t have to leave the community, and so that’s what we set out to do.

We added a full continuum of services of care in a rural community. I would say that one of my biggest pride and joys is that our organization really tries to make a difference. The staff here care about the people we serve and always try to do the right thing. I will miss them all dearly.

I think opening The Recovery Station at the former Bohn’s Restaurant is one of my favorite projects, because that is one of the most unique recovery centers across the state.

Recently, AA hosted an event there and they had 71 people there. We have had several events with over a 100 people.  So, it’s those things that make a difference in the lives of the people we serve.

‘I think the hardest part of working in this field is that I’ve spent 40 years working in a stigmatized field. And no matter how hard I fought to reduce stigma, it still exists today in the year 2025. People with addiction continue to be stigmatized and that sometimes makes me feel like I didn’t do enough to change the attitudes towards people with addiction.’

Question: What challenges have you faced and continue to face?

Answer: I think the hardest part of working in this field is that I’ve spent 40 years working in a stigmatized field. And no matter how hard I fought to reduce stigma, it still exists today in the year 2025. People with addiction continue to be stigmatized and that sometimes makes me feel like I didn’t do enough to change the attitudes towards people with addiction.

The people that we serve are just people like everybody else. They just have a drug addiction and when they become sober or get into recovery, they’re some of the kindest and coolest people you could ever meet.

So, that probably has been the most difficult part. When I reflect on how we tried to open a recovery center down on Swan Street and they kind of ran us out of town. Those are disappointing moments, not because we weren’t able to open a program, but because it sends a message to people who are struggling with addiction and are in recovery that they are somehow less than others. It makes me sad that people have this misconception of people in recovery.

Question: What can you say about the people you have worked with over the years?

Answer: Well, obviously, all of the staff that I’ve gotten to work with in the past 25 years at UConnectCare are amazing people. I’ve had the privilege to work with a great leadership team. Some of us have been together for the full 25 years.

I want to be careful to mention individuals because I am sure I will forget someone important, so I’ll just say that my current leadership team is comprised of incredible people who have devoted their careers to serving people and their families suffering with addiction. I couldn’t have done half of what we accomplished without them. I love getting to know as many staff individually as possible. I will miss them all.

I’ve worked with a great volunteer board of directors over the years. I want to say a huge thank you to all of them over the past 13 years. Most of them had some kind of connection to the work we do and I truly appreciate all their guidance over the years.

In the community, I need to mention Jay Gsell and now Matt Landers, Genesee County managers, and also Lynda Battaglia and Danielle Figura, who head up the mental health clinics in Genesee and Orleans. They have always had our backs and have been supportive all we do. There have been so many great people along the way – too many to mention.

Question: What made you decide to leave UConnectCare?

Answer: I will truly miss this work, but it was really after 40 years, it was just time for me to pass the torch on to someone else. I really kind of feel like I’ve accomplished what I needed to.

Honestly, my father died two years ago. I just kind of felt like I did what I needed to do in my career to make my family proud. I’m proud of how the agency has grown and I am leaving it, I hope, better than it was when I took over and in good hands with the current leadership and the interim CEO Kathy Hodgins.

With this new position, it gives me the chance to get back to my roots of hands-on assistance and help this social care grant grow and be successful and to help people who really sometimes just need the basics to have a better life.

‘Human trafficking can happen to anyone, but certain populations are disproportionately at risk, including people affected by prior abuse or sexual violence, poverty, and unstable living situations or homelessness’

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Fred Miller, right, presents a proclamation from the County Legislature last week to Teresa Elam-Zwifka, Director of Child & Family Services for the Department of Social Services (left), and Heather Jackson, a senior caseworker at DSS.

The Legislature issued a proclamation declaring January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Legislators highlighted human trafficking which is a commercial sex act induced by force, fraud, or coercion or when a person induced to perform such an act is not yet 18 years old.

Legislators also said trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

“Human trafficking is a public health issue and crime affecting individuals, families, and communities across generations, in every state and territory across the United States, exploiting the most vulnerable among us and weakening our collective well-being,” the proclamation states.

People can be trafficked in person and online, and in industries such as restaurants, cleaning services, construction and factories, legislators said. People can be trafficked by strangers or someone they know, including partners, parents and other family members.

“Human trafficking can happen to anyone, but certain populations are disproportionately at risk, including people affected by prior abuse or sexual violence, poverty, and unstable living situations or homelessness, as well as those systemically marginalized and underserved,” legislators stated in the proclamation.

Provided photo: The Medina varsity winter guard competed in Batavia on Saturday and took fourth place.

Information courtesy of Medina Band Boosters

BATAVIA – The Batavia school district hosted a winter guard competition on Saturday with 22 guard units performing in competition.

Medina’s varsity guard’s show is entitled “Tidal.” Nature’s elements create phenomenal events and water, under the influence of the moon and other natural events, can create tidal waves, a force to be feared. The Varsity guard competed in the A1 class and came in 4th place with a score of 50.66.

The JV guard competed in the Cadet class and came in 3rd place with a score of 45.83. Their show is “Going Up” and depicts a journey to the party of the season where they enjoy the beauty and color of city nightlife.

Both guards are instructed by Melissa Jaeger and both will compete this Saturday in Victor.

BUFFALO – Buffalo State University is pleased to recognize the following students from Orleans County who have been named to the Fall 2024 Dean’s List. In general, students who have completed at least 12 credit hours and who have attained a GPA of 3.5 or higher qualify for the Buffalo State dean’s list.

The students from Orleans on the Dean’s List include:

• Nicolina Creasey, Albion
• India Green, Albion
• Lorelei Sanders, Medina
• Madison Williams, Medina

Buffalo State University is a State University of New York university located in Buffalo, New York, offering over 75 undergraduate majors, more than 60 graduate programs, as well as many minors and certificate programs.

Historian urges community to embrace for painted Ox statues for county’s bicentennial celebration

Orly the Ox was featured in the Nov. 30 Medina of Parade of Lights. It was the debut of Orly in his mascot costume. The vest includes the names of Orleans County towns, villages and hamlets. The statue was propped up on a trailer for the parade. The County Bicentennial Committee would like to see more of the statues painted to celebrate the county’s 200th anniversary.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, Number 5

ALBION – Hoag Library patrons may very well wonder if they are experiencing auditory hallucinations.

“Did I just hear a moo?”

Yes, Orly the Ox is temporarily “Ox in Residence” at Hoag. He emits a hearty “Moo” from time to time. Owned by Cornell Cooperative Extension, Orly is the first ox in Orleans County’s bicentennial herd. Scenes depicting his role in agriculture were created by artist Stacey Kirby Steward.

Orly’s “ambassador” is a nimble two-legged character with a winning personality. Orly in costume has proved to be very popular. He has recently made appearances at the Canal Culvert and and at various businesses throughout the county.

Charged with honoring the county’s 200th year since its political formation, the Bicentennial Committee chose the ox as its mascot, since oxen were indispensable to the early settlers. The ox also represents the importance of agriculture to the county and honors all of those who labor in the fields.

‘Slow, steady, strong and sure-footed, oxen were more suited to the rough terrain than horses. They could pull heavier loads than horses, and they could pull steadily for longer periods of time.’

The settlers who moved here in the early 1800s provided detailed written accounts of their journeys here and of their experiences as they tried to wrest arable land from deep woods. They used oxen to haul their wagons westward, an arduous trip which took from three to five weeks. Slow, steady, strong and sure-footed, oxen were more suited to the rough terrain than horses. They could pull heavier loads than horses, and they could pull steadily for longer periods of time.

Oxen are castrated male cattle, four years old, who have been trained to work. They can weigh up to 2,600 pounds, depending on weight. “Oxen” refers to more than one ox. A “yoke of oxen” refers to working pair, connected by a wooden beam (the yoke) on their necks, which allows them to pull together

The following are but a few references to oxen from first-person accounts published in the Pioneer History of Orleans County by Arad Thomas, 1871:

David Matson raised the first log-house in Clarendon in 1814. He sold the horses which he brought into the country, having no use for them in the forest. He bought oxen which drew the logs for the first shanty.

Nathaniel Brown came to Kendall with three yoke of oxen and wagon.

Adin Manley arrived in Kendall in 1815. The following fall he returned to Massachusetts and married. In February 1816, he set out with three yoke of oxen and a covered wagon, for his new home in Kendall. Unfortunately, that was the “year of no summer”:

“We had three yoke of oxen and nothing for them to eat, this was the worst of all. We turned them into the woods and cut browse for them, but the poor cattle suffered much.”

As the woods were cleared, oxen hauled logs and pulled the stubborn tree stumps out of the ground. Oxen were used in Orleans County for quite some time. As late as 1871, the Orleans County Agricultural Society Fair held in Albion included a category for Working Oxen, one for the Best Pair of Working Oxen and one for the Best String of Ten Yoke of Oxen.

The Bicentennial Committee encourages businesses and community organizations to participate in the “Oxen of Orleans County” Public Art project. We hope to populate Orleans County with an artistic & historic ox trail. Several are already on order!

Details are available on the Orleans County Tourism Page. Click here for more information.

Orly the Ox will be out highlighting people, places and things in Orleans County this year. Orly recently stopped by Canalside Tattoo Company in Medina where he got some ink from owner Shawn Ramsey. It was actually a sticker. To request a visit from Orly the mascot, click here for more information.

Orly also was hyped for the Buffalo Bills playoff games. Here he is wearing a Josh Allen jersey. Orly’s adventures can be followed on the Orleans County Tourism’s social media.

After a chilly week, the temps will be on the rise this week. Today is forecast for a high of 32 followed by 43 on Monday.

The highs in the forecast then include 29 on Tuesday, 28 on Wednesday, 39 on Thursday, 30 on Friday and 32 on Saturday.

By Randy LeBaron

Good morning! Grab your favorite cup. Fill it up. And let’s start this day right… TOGETHER!!!

After a month-long hiatus I am thankful to be back writing Refill with Randy and I look forward to connecting with you over a cup of coffee (or another beverage of your choosing) every other week in 2025.

As I began this first article back, I admittedly began to struggle because as much as I wanted to write about something inspiring I was coming off an exceedingly difficult week filled with too many funerals. And just the night prior my dream of another Bills’ Super Bowl turned into yet another nightmare starring Patrick Mahomes.

Add to that the fact that I had several near accidents on the road earlier during the windstorm and that I was already worrying about how my family and I were going to get out of our driveway in the morning since the snow drifts had already encased our vehicles. Thankfully though, it was in that moment that my wife ran in the room to tell me that our friend Ron LaGamba was sitting out front with his plow.

After making it so we could get our vehicles out of the way Ron spent the better part of an hour plowing out our overly wide driveway. Knowing that Ron had been sick made this gesture of goodwill that much more generous in our eyes and we were equally grateful.

Ron LaGamba was a welcome sight at the LeBaron home after a recent snow.

And this was not the first time that Ron has showed up to help in this capacity. There were other times and other people helped as well. And he is not alone. I have witnessed others displaying wonderful acts of kindness often such as someone paying for a stranger’s meal while another offered a ride to someone walking home in the cold.

It would be easy to focus on all the troubling things that are happening to or around us in this world, but then we would miss the seemingly random acts of kindness that are taking place all around us. I say seemingly because, even though the act may appear random to the one observing or to the one being shown kindness, it is an intentional act by the one doing it. And so I would urge you to consider becoming more intentional yourself in 2025 when it comes to caring for others.

Be intentionally kind. Be intentionally generous. Be intentionally considerate. Be intentionally hospitable. Be intentional about finding ways to show others love in tangible ways.

Pay for the food of the person behind you at a drive-thru. If you have a waiter or waitress that seems overwhelmed, instead of adding to their stress add some extra $ to their tip and leave an encouraging note.

Go to a local nursing home and spend time with a resident putting together a puzzle or simply listening to their stories (You won’t be disappointed!). Get creative. It doesn’t have to be complicated; it just has to be intentional. Let’s remind others how much we care one kind act at a time.

See you in 2 weeks!

Wine About Winter is a fast sellout for Medina Area Partnership

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Sarah Fisher, left, a member of Medina Area Partnership, places a wrist band on a ticket holder to Wine About Winter. From here, participants picked up a goodie bag and purchased tickets for a chance to win a basket of prizes from participating businesses. (Right) Wynter Dumont of Albion gets a goodie bag from her companion as they prepare to embark on Wine About Winter. They do it every year, she said.

MEDINA – They came in pairs, some in groups. They came with friends and they came with family – 800 in all.

Today is Medina Area Partnership’s 16th annual Wine About Winter, an event which began with far fewer participants and continued to grow to a fast sellout again this year.

“All 800 tickets were sold out a month ago,” said Wendy Oakes Wilson, a member of Medina Area Partnership who has worked at most of them.

Wendy Oakes Wilson, left, and Ann Fisher-Bale take a break from checking in ticket holders to Wine About Winter on Saturday afternoon. They checked in 300 participants in 20 minutes. Start times were staggered between 1 and 3 p.m. to even out the crowds.

Temperatures that threatened to plummet into single digits did nothing to deter the revelers who came from across Western New York.

Suzanne Marinelli came from Canadaigua. She is the sister of Gabriella Albanese from Orleans County. She attended with Gabirella, her husband Larry, and friends Robin Alexander and Drew Lederhouse. They braved the cold to wait in a long line outside Medina Senior Center for registration to begin, while Marinelli chose to wait it out in the warm car. The Albaneses have gone to every one of the wine-tasting events, Larry said.

Autumn Polar refills the table of goodie bags at the Senior Center for participants of Wine About Winter.

Outside the Senior Center, Patrick Weissend proofed everyone before letting them go inside, where Wendy Oakes Wilson and Ann Fisher-Bale checked their tickets. After receiving a wrist band from Sarah Fisher or Amber Sherman, participants picked up a goodie bag, containing a list of participating businesses, a pen, ice scraper, wine glass, crackers, water and a sheet of coupons. There, they also had the opportunity to buy tickets to win one of the raffle baskets each store provided.

No one seemed mindful of the cold, especially Wynter Dumont of Albion, who joked about her name.

“I do this event every year,” she said.

Charise Blew of Batavia was also not mindful of the weather. She was just glad it wasn’t windy.

Patrick and Elizabeth Dannebrock of Burt were participating for the first time, attending with her mom from Hartland, who had done it before.

Ariana Pluskwa pours Cayuga White for Chris Long of East Amherst at Creekside Floral during Wine About Winter.

At Creekside Floral, Ariana Pluskwa poured Cayuga white wine for Chris Long of East Amherst, who came with a friend, Maria Bussenger. Long’s son Steve is a Medina firefighter and paramedic, and he and his wife have done the event before, so his mother knew about it, she said.

“I like the day out with friends, and I like to see the shops,” Chris said. “I try to buy something, even if it’s little, at all the shops. That’s why I brought my little backpack. I bought three bags of sponge candy at Della’s Chocolates and a raffle ticket at the Knights of Columbus to support their project to put in an elevator.”

Jayne Kuhn of Creekside Floral said the majority of people buy a little something. She has also worked during Ale in Autumn, and said each event draws a different variety of people.

(Left) Patrick Weissend proofs a ticket holder to Wine About Winter on Saturday outside the Senior Center in Medina, where participants in the event were registered. (Right) Larry Albanese of Albion, his wife Gabriella and friends Robin Alexander and Drew Lederhouse wait in the cold for registration for Wine About Winter to start at the Medina Senior Center.

Several participants were located “outside the beaten path,” but still had good crowds all afternoon. This included the Medina Railroad Museum, Medina Historical Society and American Legion.

At the American Legion, the place was packed and people were streaming down the sidewalk from the shops on Main Street. The Legion took advantage of the crowds by promoting the Breakout Band that night, open to the public, sale of American flags, a chicken and biscuit dinner on Feb. 22 and sale of raffle tickets for a fire pit.

Cathy Fox, a member of the Legion and head of the County American Legion Auxiliary, said they had sold 100 raffle tickets before 3 o’clock.

“This really is such a positive event,” Fox said.

At the American Legion on North Main Street, Joni Meehan pours Black Widow’s Berry wine for Tina Henning of Lockport.

MEDINA – The newest event to call the YMCA “home” graduated its second class on Thursday night.

Merle Fredericks, founder and leader of the Bow Bending Believers, the Orleans County chapter of the national Christian Bowhunters of America, has announced the graduation and success of the program he started a year ago.

National Archery in the School-Centershot Archery is an eight-week archery class for boys and girls in grades four through 12.

It became a reality in Orleans County after Fredericks got permission from YMCA director Jesse Cudzillo to clean out and renovate an unused section of the basement, which had been the indoor shooting range in the former Company C Armory.

The first class from March to May 2024 graduated 14 young archers.

From left, Evan Wright, Charlotte Miner and Annalynn Kusmierczak compete one last time on Thursday night.

The recent free eight-week archery class began Dec. 5, 2024, with 10 youths who met from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday night.

Classes begin at ground level, first determining if the kids are right eye dominate or left eye dominate (essentially if they are a right-handed or a left-handed archer). Before a Genesis compound bow is put into their hands, the kids make a string bow, which helps them identify their draw length and develop good form and mechanics, Fredericks explained. Then the NASP/Centershot’s 11 steps of archery success are learned – stance, nock (notch), draw hand set, bow hand set, pre-draw, draw, anchor, aim, shot set-up, release, follow through and reflect.

Before they handle a Genesis compound bow, the kids are taught range safety, which Fredericks said means they must know and understand what the three lines represent – the waiting line, the shooting line and the target line. Then they must learn and understand the whistle commands.

Instead of coaches giving verbal commands, the NASP/Centershot teaches the kids four different whistle commands, so they know what they can and cannot do by the number of times the whistle is blown.

Jesse Cudzillo, center, director of the YMCA, poses with Merle and Mitzi Fredericks, leaders of the archery class which graduated its second group of youth on Thursday night.

One whistle means they may shoot (release an arrow); two whistles means they may get their bow; three whistles means they may retrieve their arrows; and five whistles means “Emergency. Stop what you are doing.” Safety is emphasized regularly during the course, Fredericks said.

Once the kids are allowed to shoot, they shoot at NASP/Centershot bulls-eye targets which have scoring rings that begin with 10 points in the center, decreasing to nine, eight, seven, etc. the further they get from the center.

It is emphasized from day one and every week thereafter that there will be friendly competition and every arrow shot will be scored ranging from 0 to 10. Kids know that at the end of the eight weeks, only the top three archers will receive a trophy. Each week, the kids shoot at least four rounds of five arrows and every arrow is counted and tabulated weekly. Good sportsmanship is emphasized throughout the course.

The 10 youths who participated and successfully completed this latest class were Jace Grimes, Maverick Hill, Bradley Klotzbach, Annalynn Kusmierczak, Charlotte Miner, Dudley Panek, Grady Panek, Zachary Prine, Evan Wright and Haylee Wright.

The three top winners in the archery class sponsored by the Bow Bending Believers at Medina’s YMCA are, from left, Grady Panek, second; Jace Grimes, first; and Haylee Wright, third.

The top three archers who received trophies were Jace Grimes, first, with a score of 936; Grady Panek, second, with 914; and Haylee Wright, with 908.

In addition, each archer was awarded an archery medal and certificate of completion.

“The competition was fierce, and a few kids missed a trophy by only a few points,” Fredericks said. “All the kids did a great job and improved weekly. We’re proud of all their many accomplishments.”

What is unique about this class is not only do the kids learn about archery, but they actually spend about one-half hour of the two-hour weekly class enjoying a snack and learning about God, following the Centershot Biblically-based devotional curriculum called “The Plan.” According to Fredericks, this is the primary reason for teaching archery at the YMCA.

“We want kids to know how much God loves them and what Jesus Christ did for them at the cross,” Fredericks said. “We want them to know they can be saved, reconciled to God and to live a meaningful life for God, sharing this Good News with their friends and family.”

After Thursday’s awards presentation, all in attendance were invited to celebrate with a piece of cake.

Archery students and parents who came to observe their final competition filled the former shooting range of the Medina YMCA during their graduation Thursday night.

In addition to Fredericks, three other NASP certified basic archery instructors are Mitzi Fredericks, Jeffrey Robinson and John Curtin. Also assisting with the program were Jason Cogovan, Jim Pritchard, Francis Grabowski, Donald Ingersoll, John Follman and Jim and Angel Arnold. Several of these are hoping to become certified in the future, Fredericks said.

Fredericks extended his appreciation to all who helped make this program successful, especially YMCA executive director Jesse Cudzillo, for allowing them to clean and renovate the old rifle range, which can now be used for archery and ministry.

In addition to NASP/Centershot classes, Fredericks added that they have 3D targets set up inside, so local bowhunters can hone their skills shooting out to 35 yards at buffalo, caribou, black bear, whitetail deer and other critters.

The Bow Bending Believers are also contemplating having regular indoor leagues in the future. Anyone who is interested is asked to call Fredericks at (585) 765-2839.

They are now taking applications for the next eight-week NASP/Centershot archery class. Boys and girls in Orleans or Niagara counties in grades four through 12 who are interested are encouraged to call him at (585) 765-2839 or e-mail him at mfred2@hughes.net. There is a limit of 15 in a class, first come, first served. Classes are free, however, donations are always appreciated.

12 percent gain led Greater Niagara Region; Residents urged to be ambassadors for Orleans County

Photos by Tom Rivers: These fishermen try to catch trout and salmon on Oct. 21 at Johnson Creek in Lyndonville near the dam. Fishing is Orleans County’s top draw for visitors.

MEDINA – Orleans County experienced 12 percent growth in visitor spending in 2023 compared to the previous year, the biggest gain among the five counties in the Greater Niagara Region, according to a report from Tourism Economics.

Orleans has been stepping up its promotion efforts and the work is paying off, Tourism Director Dawn Borchert told about 125 people during the Legislative Luncheon on Friday at Bent’s Opera House. The event is coordinated by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. Niagara County was right behind Orleans with an 11.7 percent gain.

Dawn Borchert, the county’s tourism director, talks about the county’s bicentennial and shows the cover of the new tourism guide. The cover includes a photo of 1906  “Old Home Days” in Medina, the Seneca Chief canal boat in Medina, a harvest luncheon at Hurd Orchards in Holley, and two fishing buddies. Brian Stratton, the canal commissioner for the state, is at left.

In Orleans County, the visitor spending totaled $42 million in 2023. That breakdown includes $3 million for lodging, $8 million for recreation, $15 million for food and beverage, $6 million at retail and service stations, $1 million in transportation, and $10 million for second homes used for income, according to the report.

The totals for the five counties in visitor spending in Greater Niagara Region include:

• Erie, $2.423 billion
• Niagara, $1.082 billion
• Genesee, $140 million
• Wyoming, $71 million
• Orleans, $42 million

Orleans County’s biggest draw is fishing, and anglers trying to catch trout, salmon and other fish accounted for an economic impact of $28 million in 2017, according to a survey by the DEC. With inflation factored in that impact is now about $34 million a year, Borchert said.

The county is promoting more than fishing. This year’s tourism guide is hot off the presses and arrived Friday. It was distributed to many people at the legislative luncheon. The guide celebrates the county’s bicentennial in 2025.

There are 35,000 copies that will be distributed at Thruway rest stops in New York and Pennsylvania, and airports in Buffalo, Rochester and Niagara Falls, as well as trade shows. The guides also will be available in the county at local businesses, libraries and the tourism office at the County Office Building.

The guide was bumped up by 12 pages to 60 to celebrate more facets of the county on its 200^th anniversary. It highlights all 10 towns and four villages, as well as agri-tourism, art galleries, campgrounds, the Erie Canal, history and heritage, marinas and yacht clubs, prominent local memorials and monuments, local trails, parks and the wildlife refuge.

Borchert said revenue from the county’s bed tax has helped increase promotion efforts. That bed tax money is used to match state funding from I Love NY.

The county imposes a 4 percent “bed tax” on lodging. That revenue has been increasing.

• $51,002 in 2018
• $58,424 in 2019
• $58,438 in 2020
• $79,102 in 2021
• $111,013 in 2022
• $119,003 in 2023

County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said tourism promotion is a factor the county and local residents have some control over, unlike any of the mandated programs and policies from the state and federal governments.

Many visitors describe Orleans County as “cozy, charming and under-the-radar,” Johnson said.

She would like to raise Orleans County’s profile, and she welcomed residents and businesses to be part of that and serve as Orleans ambassadors in their conversations and social media posts.

“Through your friends, your social media accounts, your business networks and elsewhere, let’s be sure we all invite people to visit Orleans County and enjoy all we have to offer,” Johnson told the crowd at the luncheon.