Photos and information from Lyndonville Lions Club
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club exited their den to hold a winter fundraising event at the Medina Lanes bowling alley on Saturday.
The first ever Snowflake Tournament saw over a dozen four-person teams compete for the coveted “Golden Champions” bowling pin award. Non-bowlers were welcomed as well, as a tailgate buffet of pizza and wings helped them to cheer on their favorite team. The competing teams donned their best Hawaiian apparel as they stayed true to this year’s tournament theme of “Lions Go Hawaiian.”
There was a large display of Bills gear in the crowd as bowlers and non-bowlers alike were in anxious anticipation of the Bills AFC Championship game. Raffles and a 50/50 drawing saw winners take home cash and prizes that included two, one hundred level Buffalo Sabres game tickets.
First, second, and third place awards were handed out as the sponsored team by Mr. Russell Martino bowled their way to the winner’s circle. The Lions awarded the Golden Champions pin to the winning team at the completion of the tournament festivities. Since the Lyndonville Lions are planning for this to be an annual event it will be incumbent for the reigning champions to return next year to defend their title.
Russ Martino sponsored the winning team and they hold the championship trophy, “The Golden Pin.”
The Lions would like to encourage and challenge other local Lions organization to bring teams to next year’s event in an effort to dethrone the champions. The planning committee has yet to confirm the exact date of next year’s tournament but the theme will be “Lions go to Mardi Gras.” Get your beads and hats ready for next year’s event.
Since the Lyndonville Lions have been awakened, they are planning several up-and-coming events. The Lions will be supporting the planned Lyndonville Area Community Easter Egg Hunt that has traditionally been sponsored by the local religious organizations in the Village of Lyndonville.
In early May, the Lions will hold their 4th annual community vision screening and free eyeglass clinic, with the exact date to be made available in the near future. Planning is under way for the 51st annual July Fourth Celebration, which hopes to return numerous marching bands to the parade, top level bands to the “Fire Cracker Concert” series and an evening fireworks display.
The leadership of the Lions, along with the bowling committee members, would like to thank all those who made this first tournament a big success. Committee members were extremely happy at the turnout and results of this fundraising event. They were so pleased that several members dusted off their recipe cards for shrimp creole and gumbo in anticipation of next year’s event.
The Lions would like to wish all a safe end to winter and speedy arrival of spring and the Easter season. May God continue to bless all of us and this great nation we live in.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2025 at 3:52 pm
Joshua Biaselli in guarded/critical condition at Strong
ALBION – The Albion Police Department are publicly identifying the man who was seriously injured on Monday when he allegedly jumped on a moving car on Main Street.
Joshua Biaselli, 40, remains at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester in guarded/critical condition, said Lt. W. Brandon Annable of the Albion PD.
Biaselli was injured after jumping on a moving vehicle and falling and hitting his head on the roadway in an area in front of Hoag Library at about 2:05 p.m. on Monday.
First aid was rendered to Biaselli immediately after he fell to the road, said David Mogle, police chief. Biaselli was transported by Mercy Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2025 at 12:13 pm
Soldier from Albion was killed by roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2009
Jason Johnston
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is seeking to have a section of Route 31A named in honor of Jason Johnson, a soldier from Albion who was killed in combat in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb on Dec. 26, 2009.
Johnson was a specialist and paratrooper with the U.S. Army. He was 24 when he was killed. He is the only soldier from Orleans County killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan during the War on Terror.
The Legislature last June sought to have Route 98 in Orleans County named for Johnston. The State Legislature and Go. Hochul need to give their approval.
The County Legislature on Tuesday rescinded that resolution from last year because 98 already has been named the “Veterans Memorial Highway.”
The Legislature now is asking the state to name the Route 31A corridor between Powerline Road to Route 98 in Albion in memory of Johnston.
Legislators asked State Sen. Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley to take up the issue in the Legislature.
Johnston is survived by his parents, Brad and Jenny Johnston; and his sisters, Carrie, Heather and Holly; and several nieces and nephews.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2025 at 11:20 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: County Legislator Don Allport speaks during Tuesday’s County Legislature meeting. He opposed seeking another two-year extension to an extra penny on the local sales tax.
ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Don Allport wants the sales tax to be 7 cents in Orleans County, instead of 8 cents.
Allport said cutting a penny from the sales tax would save people more than $5 million a year on expenses in the county. He thinks those savings would be injected back in the local economy, helping businesses and ultimately leading to even more sales tax revenue.
But none of the other county legislators are willing to take that chance. They worry not having that extra penny in sales tax could lead to a dramatic increase in property taxes or a reduction in local services.
The state gets 4 cents for every taxable sale while the county also receives 4 cents. The county used to get 3 cents, but it was raised to 4 cents on June 1, 1993. The county needs State Legislature’s permission every two years to keep the 4-cent tax.
That permission comes due this year. The County Legislature on Tuesday voted to start the process for the state to renew the sales tax by an extra penny. It would extend the 4-cent local share to Nov. 30, 2027.
The county takes in about $23 million in sales tax a year. That extra penny is worth nearly $6 million.
If the county lost that revenue – $5.75 million – it could translate into a 29.2 percent property tax increase, going from $19,639,000 in the tax levy for 2025 to $25,389,000.
Allport, however, thinks the county would see more sales tax with residents spending more at businesses because they would have more money in their pockets.
“This was supposed to be a temporary tax,” Allport said about the extra penny in 1993.
But those temporary taxes never seem to go away, he said.
“If that $5 million was put back in the local economy the businesses could use it,” Allport said. “The residents could use it. People would put it back in the local economy.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2025 at 10:05 am
Issue could ultimately go to public referendum
Photo by Tom Rivers: Debbie Berry, a retired chief clerk for the Surrogate Court in Orleans County, speaks on Tuesday against a district court in Orleans County. She said the 10 local town courts are serving the people well.
ALBION – Orleans County legislators, with two dissenting, are reviving a push for a district court in Orleans County.
The issue was going to a public referendum last November but was pulled when county officials were notified of a procedural flaw. In order to bring the issue to a public vote, the county first needs approval from the State Legislature with its support of a District Court.
County legislators, in a 4-2 vote on Tuesday, passed a resolution requesting the State Legislature to establish a countywide district court in Orleans.
“This is just the first step,” said Legislator John Fitzak, R-Carlton.
He supported the resolution along with Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson, R-Lyndonville; Legislator Bill Eick, R-Shelby; and Legislator Ed Morgan, R-Murray.
Legislators Don Allport, R-Gaines, and Fred Miller, D-Albion, opposed the resolution.
Miller said there was significant opposition to the proposal during public hearings in May and June last year from local town justices and town officials, who say the current system is cost effective and responsible to the community.
The local Magistrates Association said a district court would ultimately be more costly, even if the state takes on the salaries of the judge, clerks and security.
Allport doesn’t have confidence the state would assume the costs of a district court. Even if it does initially, it could push the expense to the county and towns if the state is feeling a budget crunch in the future, Allport said.
“This is not the correct time to approach the state on this,” Allport said, citing what he said are $40 billion in budget shortfalls in Albany. “I’m not sure there is a right time.”
Fitzak said the vote to request state support is another step in a process that could be drawn out. He and Johnson said it is unknown if and when the State Legislature would vote on the issue.
“I wouldn’t hazard a guess on the timetable,” Johnson said.
She said a district court would be beneficial to the county in many ways, offering a streamlined system with full-time hours that would benefit people in the court system.
She cited a report from local officials looking at the costs of the local court system. Joe Cardone, the now retired district attorney, helped push the issue and prepare the report.
Cardone, during public hearings last year, said state aid should cover most of the cost of a district court. The county would provide the facility with the state is expected to cover the salaries for judges, clerks and security.
Cardone said having the cases be handled by a full-time court would move matters more expeditiously through the courts system. He said it would be a savings for the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender and law enforcement by having a centralized court, rather than a patchwork of 10 town courts.
Legislator Ed Morgan said county residents will get a vote on the issue if the State Legislature backs the proposal.
“The Orleans County taxpayers will have the final say,” Morgan said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2025 at 8:38 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Craig Lane on Tuesday was appointed as Orleans County’s new commissioner of the Department of Public Works.
ALBION – The Orleans County Department of Public Works has a new leader. Craig Lane on Tuesday was named the new commissioner of the DPW, which oversees two divisions, highways and buildings and grounds for the county.
Lane has worked for the DPW for about four years following a 20-year career in Air Force where he was a logistics readiness officer.
Lane was hired as a motor equipment operator for the DPW. He was named deputy commissioner about two years ago and has been interim commissioner after John Papponetti left the DPW.
Lane oversees about 30 employees. The Highway Division is responsible for overseeing 196 miles of county highways, 64 county bridges, the fuel farm and snowplowing for the county parking lots.
The Buildings and Grounds Division is responsible for 20 buildings with 28 departments which include preventive maintenance, new construction and refurbishing along with a crew of janitorial services.
“It’s busy,” Lane said about the DPW. “I spent most of my formative years as a civil servant so this is a natural fit.”
Lane is a Clarendon native. He now lives in Gaines. He is president of the Holley Rotary Club, and serves on the Gaines Planning Board and is a commissioner for the Albion Joint Fire District.
United States Attorney Trini E. Ross, Western District of New York
BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Christian A. Poole, 32, of Medina was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, Poole joined a chatroom on the Telegram application, where he observed child pornography and downloaded at least 60 photos and videos.
In May 2022, the Medina Police Department seized Poole’s electronic devices, including his cell phone. An initial search of the phone recovered several videos of child pornography. Subsequently, a forensic review recovered approximately 423 images and approximately 560 videos containing child pornography. Some of the images and videos included depictions of violence against children.
Poole made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was held pending a detention hearing on Jan. 29.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Medina Police Department, under the direction of Chief Todd Draper, and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Christopher Bourke.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2025 at 2:05 pm
MEDINA – A career exploration event on March 17 aims to show students from 28 school districts in the GLOW region the many careers available in the rural counties.
This will be the third annual GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare. About 650 students from the four counties are expected to experience interactive workshops, see “medicine in action” and connect with over 65 regional employers, training programs and post-secondary institutions.
“From nursing and mental health to emergency services and respiratory therapy, students will discover a universe of possibilities and forge their own paths to success,” said Karyn Winters, director of the Genesee County Business Education Alliance and co-chair of GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare.
She spoke at an event last week at Medina Memorial Hospital, highlighting the upcoming career exploration initiative.
Karyn Winters, director of the Genesee County Business Education Alliance, said the GLOW With Your Hands events in March and September have been big successes for students to see careers in trades, manufacturing, agriculture and healthcare.
Several groups are working together on the event, such as Orleans County Job Development, Livingston County Area Chamber, Wyoming County Business Education Council, the GLOW workforce development offices, Genesee County Economic Development Center, Genesee Community College, and Medina Memorial Hospital,
“Our mission is clear: to empower the next generation of healthcare professionals and ensure a thriving healthcare workforce right here in the GLOW region,” Winters said. “We’re not just talking about jobs; we’re talking about building careers, fostering and retaining talent, and strengthening our communities.”
Kim Gray, chief nursing officer and director of surgical services at Orleans Community Health and Medina Memorial, said she is pleased to welcome interns and students at the hospital, calling it “an incredible opportunity to connect with students and inspire the next generations of healthcare professionals.”
Kim Gray, chief nursing officer and director of surgical services at Medina Memorial Hospital, said healthcare is a “dynamic and rewarding field, one that requires compassion, dedication, and a lifelong commitment to learning.”
Gray said Orleans Community Health and Medina Memorial have partnered with many educational programs to help students gain hands-on experience and insight into many careers in the healthcare field. OCH and Medina Memorial open their doors to the Allied Health program at Orleans/Niagara BOCES, University at Buffalo, GCC, NCCC, Daemen University and D’Youville University.
“I am personally proud to be part of this work, and I want to emphasize just how essential programs like GLOW With Your Hands are in helping students explore the world of healthcare,” Gray said. “These events allow students to interact directly with professionals, ask questions, and experience first-hand what it is like to work in a hospital or other healthcare setting.”
GLOW With Your Hands showcases an array of opportunities available in healthcare right here in the local community.
This group is promoting the GLOW With Your Hands healthcare career exploration event on March 17 at GCC in Batavia. From left include Mark Shurtz, CEO of Orleans Community Health and Medina Memorial Hospital; Kim Gray, chief nursing officer and director of surgical services at OCH and Medina Memorial; Madison Davis, a senior at Lyndonville; Courtney Slack, Allied Health instructor at Orleans/Niagara BOCES; and Kelly Kiebala, director of Job Development and the administrator of the Orleans County Youth Bureau.
Marc Shurtz, CEO of Medina Memorial and Orleans Community Health, noted it is the 100th anniversary of the hospital at the current site at 200 Ohio St.
The smaller facility gives staff and students a chance to see a range of healthcare services.
Mark Shurtz, CEO of Orleans Community Health and Medina Memorial Hospital, said working in the GLOW region offers employees a lower cost of living than in the cities and suburbs.
“The healthcare sector is in dire need of workers, especially in rural communities, and we want to convey to the students that they can have a successful and rewarding career in healthcare without having to leave the area because they think these opportunities don’t exist here,” Shurtz said.
Angela Grouse, director of Education to Employment Initiatives at Livingston County Area Chamber of Commerce, said the rural counties have careers in healthcare and offer the chance for much lower cost of living.
“We don’t want people to have to drive 50 to 60 miles for healthcare,” she said.
Her message to students considered a career in healthcare: “There is a better cost of living and a quality of life, while working in rewarding careers,” she said.
There are still sponsorship opportunities for the March 17th event at the Platinum ($5,000), Gold ($2,500), Silver ($1,000) and Bronze ($500) levels.
OSWEGO – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today announced that her office is now accepting applications for the 2025 Military Service Academy nominations. Students from New York’s 24th Congressional District interested in attending one of these distinguished academies are invited to apply for a Congressional Nomination from Tenney’s office.
In 2024, Tenney nominated 16 students from New York’s 24th Congressional District to the United States Military Service Academies.
As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Tenney has the honor of nominating a select number of candidates to four of the five service academies. The honor of attending a service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to the four U.S. service academies:
U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY
U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY
If you, or a student you know, are interested in applying for a nomination to one of the service academies, please visit our website here to find the required forms and documents.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2025 at 11:13 am
ALBION – The sentencing for Noah Magee has been moved from Wednesday to Friday at 10:30 a.m.
Magee, 20, on Dec. 4 was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the death of Roger Kingdollar III, age 24.
Magee faced a more serious charge of second-degree murder but was instead found guilty of second-degree manslaughter.
Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church said on Dec. 4 the case didn’t meet the level of “depraved indifference to life” for second-degree murder but did for manslaughter, which is “recklessly causing another person’s death.”
Magee could have faced up to 25 years in prison if found guilty of second-degree murder. With the manslaughter charge, he faces 5 to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced. He has been held in the county jail without bail until sentencing.
Magee also was found guilty of leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving and failure to keep right.
Magee was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado truck when crossed over the center lane and went to the north side of McNamar Road on Feb. 8, 2024. Kingdollar was driving a dirt bike on the north side of the road.
The truck struck the dirt bike’s handle bars. Kingdollar suffered a fatal fracture in his neck.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2025 at 11:02 am
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a winter weather advisory for Orleans County from 6 p.m. today until 6 p.m. Wednesday with 3 to 7 inches of snow expected.
The advisory also includes Genesee, Niagara, Monroe, northern Erie, Livingston and Ontario counties.
“Expect slippery, snow covered roadways and limited visibilities,” the Weather Service said. “The hazardous conditions will impact the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes.”
HOLLEY – Holley Central School District’s Pre-K and kindergarten registration for the 2025-26 school year will be held on March 12 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Holley Elementary School Foyer, 3800 North Main St.
To be eligible to register for Pre-K, children must be 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2025. To be eligible to register for Kindergarten, children must be 5 years old by Dec. 1, 2025.
Pre-K and kindergarten health physicals are required to be completed by Sept. 1, 2025. If your child currently attends Holley CSD Pre-K, you do not need to register for kindergarten, your Pre-K child will be automatically enrolled.
Please bring the following original documents to register your child: completed registration packet, birth certificate, immunization record and proof of residency. Copies will be made during your visit. You will not be able to register without these documents.
To request a registration packet be mailed to you, please fill out the form on the district’s website (Click here).
If you need assistance completing the registration packet, bring it in on March 12, and assistance will be provided. If you have any questions, please call 585-638-6316 extension 2580. HCSD looks forward to welcoming you!
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2025 at 8:45 am
The following students from Orleans County are being recognized for making the Dean’s List during the fall semester.
Two students from Orleans County – Drayven Oakes of Medina and Danielle Wyant of Albion – are on the Dean’s List at SUNY New Paltz, maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.3 while taking a full-time course load.
Two students from Orleans County made the Dean’s List at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio.
Leah Kania of Albion is majoring in voice performance, and Kayleigh Neale of Holley is majoring in early childhood education.
To be eligible for the Dean’s List at Baldwin Wallace, students need a GPA of 3.8 or higher while being enrolled in 12 or more graded hours during the semester.
Samantha Rotoli of Holley made the Dean’s List at University of Maryland Global Campus. To be eligible for the honor, a student must complete at least six credits during the term, earned a grade point average of at least 3.5 for the term, and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 at UMGC.
