By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 July 2024 at 9:27 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Nick Salvatore, lead singer for Clueless, belts out a rock song on Friday evening at Holley’s Concerts on the Canal series.
Musicians will be performing on Friday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. through Aug. 23.
The lineup for the rest of the series includes:
July 12: Brick Band
July 19: Old Hippies
July 26: Triple Play
August 2: Michael Zelazny
August 9: Feedback
August 16: Ghost Riders
August 23: Greg Stanton
Clueless performs at Holley Canal Park at 29 East Ave. There were about 75 people at the concert, including a few boaters.
The band includes, from left in front: Nick Salvatore, Gary Tarr and Robert Gallagher. Ritty Right is the drummer.
Daniel Weatherbee grills a hamburger at his new business, The Tugboat Grill. Weatherbee built the trailer that resembles a boat with a grill and refrigerator. He plans to be at the concerts on Friday evenings in Holley, offering burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken and sausage.
Weatherbee has the Tugboat Grill at Glenside Sales & Service at 56 State St. in Holley from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday.
Nick Salvatore roamed from the main performing area to play the guitar in front of these boaters.
Holley’s concert series is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with funds administered by the Genesee Orleans Regional Arts Council.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 July 2024 at 3:07 pm
ALBION – Seven towns in central and eastern Orleans County are seeking proposals from ambulance providers to serve the seven-town block.
Monroe Ambulance has had the ambulance contract for most of 2023, and then for 2024. The seven towns previously did not pay for ambulance services.
The towns this year are paying Monroe Ambulance $300,000, The agreement calls for Monroe to station an ambulance in Albion 24 hours a day, seven days a week and one in Holley for at least 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Monroe also said it will draw on ambulances in Monroe County if there is a need in Orleans County.
The contract is divvied up among the towns based on call volume. The amounts for each town in 2024 include Albion at $155,820, Barre at $13,740, Gaines at $12,030, Carlton at $22,350, Clarendon at $25,350, Kendall at $17,850 and Murray at $52,860.
The first contract started in April 2023 with Monroe paid $181,200 from six of the towns. Kendall didn’t contribute the first year when Monroe was seeking $200,000 for the seven towns.
A Mercy EMS ambulance is shown in Albion in October 2022.
Mercy EMS took over COVA’s ambulance station and vehicles after the organization ceased operations in late 2022. Mercy has sought to be considered for the contract for the seven towns. Many COVA employees work for Mercy.
The seven towns declined to do an RFP last year for the ambulance contract, with Town Board members saying they wanted at least a full year of data from Monroe to measure call responses and service.
The towns are now seeking an RFP with the contract up to three years. The RFPs are due at the Albion Town Hall by noon on July 22.
The ambulance providers need to bid on a contract for two basic life support ambulances available 24/7 and one advanced life support fly car 24/7.
“The bid response should include specific response times, and how those response times will be measured,” the bid documents state.
The ambulance providers also need to identify housing for the ambulance and fly car. The Albion highway department has made part of its facility available to Monroe Ambulance but the municipalities state in the RFP that the towns won’t be providing facilities for the ambulances.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 July 2024 at 10:30 am
39 buildings have been inducted so far in Hall of Fame at City Hall
Photo by Tom Rivers: Robin Hill Manor on Platten Road in Lyndonville was inducted in the Medina Sandstone hall of Fame in 2023. Robin Hill also includes an arboretum with about 250 varieties of trees.
MEDINA – The Medina Sandstone Society is accepting nominations for its Hall of Fame, seeking to recognize prominent buildings made of Medina Sandstone that are well-maintained and architecturally significant.
Since the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame was created in 2013, the society has inducted churches, public structures, private buildings and other civic sites, such as the Civil War Memorial at Mount Albion Cemetery. There have now been 39 inductees.
The four inductees last year included the First Baptist Church of Medina, Hamlin Beach State Park, Robin Hill Manor in Lyndonville and the Masten/Mundion home in Ridgeway.
The plaques and photographs are on display in the main meeting room of City Hall. The Hall of Fame will be open from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Sandstone Society will be there to welcome some of the 520 cyclists on the “Cycling the Erie Canal” adventure which stops in Medina. The community is also welcome to see the Hall of Fame, which includes a new kiosk about Medina Sandstone sites and history.
This year’s Hall of Fame class could include nominations from previous years not already selected, and any new nominations received by July 15.
Criteria for consideration will include age, beauty, longevity, structural soundness, and architectural uniqueness. If possible nomination information should have full background and documentation, and, at the very least, should give a name and phone number to be contacted for further information or a website.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 July 2024 at 8:37 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – The fireworks are shown Thursday night with a reflection in Johnson Creek by the waterfalls.
Young Explosives put on a 45-minute show with big booms and bright lights. It was the largest show in the company’s 75-year history.
The Lyndonville Lions Club pushed for a bigger show than usual to commemorate the club’s 50th anniversary of organizing the Fourth of July festivities in Lyndonville.
The show began with the lighting of a “50” display in honor of the Lions Club’s 50 Fourth of July festivals.
These kids sit on top of a vehicle to take in the experience of the fireworks.
Here are some reactions posted on the Orleans Hub Facebook page:
Stephanie Waszak: “Amazing show, thank you”
Donna Glover: “Best fireworks ever!”
Beth Ann Mccollum-Bobzien: “It was a great show over a half hour of fireworks and a 10 minute Grand Finale.”
April Lambert Flick: “Best fireworks I have ever seen!”
Joey Molisani Jr.: “Lyndonville absolutely delivered with the fireworks this year!”
Maeday Theodorakos: “I told my friend it was something you would see at NYC. I watched from Mill Road. It was packed with cars. Perfect night.”
Sharon Ricotta Lampo: “The most magnificent display I have EVER seen in my entire life. You totally outdid yourselves and was completely in aww.”
Jen Johnson: “My daughter grew up near Philly and lives here now, watched the fireworks in Lyndonville tonight and says it was the most amazing display she’s ever seen. She said they were so great she almost cried.”
The trees by the ballfields are a silhouette with the fireworks lighting up the sky.
These fireworks are shown over the Lyndonville school.
Liberty Klein, 5, holds a sparkler with her father Austin Klein while they wait for the fireworks.
Ronald and Carole Cunningham of Churchville have fun with sparklers while passing time before the fireworks show. They drove more than an hour with their daughter and son-in-law from California, as well as their grandchildren. “We do it every year,” Mr. Cunningham said about the Lyndonville fireworks. “It’s a family tradition.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 July 2024 at 8:03 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Kendyll Kidney, wearing her duchess sash from last year’s Orleans County 4-H Fair, helps promote the upcoming fair from July 22-27.
The float from 4-H’ers was among about 60 in today’s parade in Lyndonville. This was the 50th anniversary celebration put on by the Lyndonville Lions Club.
A group of 55 Lyndonville students in grades 5 to 12 marched in the parade and played “Stars and Stripes” and “Cupid Shuffle.” They wore patriotic tie-dyed shirts.
Gerald “Shorty” Nellist, a World War II veteran, served as grand marshal of the parade. He is driven in a car by his son-in-law Harold Suhr.
A plane passes over Main Street during the parade. This was the third straight year there was a ceremonial flyover carried out by the 911th Air Lift Wing of the U.S. Air Force Reserves in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The plane heads north over Main Street over a caravan of floats.
Bob Eberle dressed as Uncle Sam and greeted many of the onlookers along the parade route.
Uncle Sam heads north on Main Street in front of a throng of people.
The Alexander Fire Department Band, a mainstay at the parade in recent years, was among several bands adding lots of pep to the parade.
Gordon-Fisk, Inc. on Ridge Road in Medina brought several lawn mowers and other equipment in the parade. Many local businesses participated in the parade.
The fire trucks were a little too loud for some of the people on Main Street.
These people were friendly faces from a Ridgeway fire truck.
These veterans ride in trolley provided by the Houseman-Tanner Post of the American Legion.
People wave to the crowd from atop a Middleport fire truck. Main Street is lined with flags for the holiday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 July 2024 at 7:26 pm
POINT BREEZE – Sharon Gavenda was out on the Oak Orchard River today in a kayak when she saw a giant American flag on display from a bridge on the Lake Ontario State Parkway.
Gavenda took this photo looking south at the flag and bridge.
It’s been a great day to be outside on the Fourth of July, with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the 80s.
Ron Bierstine sent in this photo of the flag taken from the docks of the Orleans County Marine Park.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 July 2024 at 5:14 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Stan Powers, crew leader for Young Explosives, holds a 12-inch shell that will be sent up about 1,000 feet tonight during the finale of Lyndonville’s fireworks.
The shell is in a special package in honor of the Lyndonville Lions Club’s 50th annual Fourth of July celebration.
Lyndonville is one of Young Explosives biggest fireworks shows every year, and tonight will be a record-breaker in the company’s 75-year history. Before today, the biggest fireworks show ever for Young Explosives was $50,000. The Lyndonville show tonight will top that at $50,100. That is about double the $25,000 in recent history for the Lyndonville fireworks display.
Powers has been doing the show sin Lyndonville for the past decade. He said the setting is ideal – “5 stars out of 5 stars.”
There are no nearby structures. It’s mostly hundreds of acres of fields. That allows Young Explosives to send up bigger shells. At most other sites, Young is limited to shells that are 3 and 4 inches in width and those typically go up 375 to 425 feet. At Lyndonville, Young Explosives will send up shells that are 8, 10 and 12 inches, and those big shells explode abut 1,000 feet up high.
The Lyndonville fireworks typically goes about 38 minutes. Tonight may stretch out to 45 minutes, and there will be less time in between the fireworks.
“If we do it right there should be no dark sky,” Powers said today, taking a short lunch break before he and a crew of four others returned to setting up for tonight’s show.
The fireworks usually are set off beginning at 10 p.m. Tonight it begins at 9:55 with a special “50” ground display, followed by a display of the American flag.
Wes Bradley, the fireworks chairman the past 19 years, pulls a collection container in today’s parade. Bradley is retiring as chairman of the fireworks.
Powers said he has enjoyed working with Bradley over the years. Bradley helped raise the money to give Lyndonville such a big show. He also keeps Powers and the crew in good spirits, bringing them a chicken barbecue during the busy setup.
90 West Country Band performs on a stage behind the town hall. 7th Heaven will close out the concerts from 7 to 10 p.m. at the stage.
These three are part of a crew that cooked 800 chickens for a barbecue. They include Chris Hughes, left, and his brothers-in-law, Eric Gremli of Auburn and Ryan Demorest of Syracuse. They come to Lyndonville to help the Lions Club with the chicken barbecue. Lions Club members Mark Hughes, John Belson and Roger Wolfe recruit several family and friends for the annual task. They said they haven’t been able to see the noon parade in years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 July 2024 at 10:20 am
Photos courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES: Austin Gardner took first in Electronics Technology in the state competition and then was in the national event.
Local students who won the state competitions in April for SkillsUSA last week advanced to nationals and vied against other top students around the country.
Atlanta, Ga. hosted the 2024 SkillsUSA Championships on June 26-27. More than 6,000 students competed at the national showcase of career and technical education.
Austin Gardner of Lyndonville qualified for the event after taking first in Electronics Technology in the state competition. He won a “Skill Point Certificate” at the national competition.
A group of Orleans/Niagara BOCES students also won the gold award at the state competition for crime scene investigation. Gabrielle Rosenbeck (Newfane), Shianne Beauman (Royalton-Hartland) and Sahara Holland (Barker) went to Atlanta for the competition and won a Skill Point Certificate. Those three plus Gardner are students at the Orleans Career Technical Education Center in Medina.
“More than 6,000 students from every state in the nation participated in the 2024 SkillsUSA Championships,” said SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis. “This showcase of career and technical education demonstrates SkillsUSA at its finest. Our students, instructors and industry partners work together to ensure that every student excels. This program expands learning and career opportunities for our members.”
The SkillsUSA Championships event is held annually for students in middle school, high school or college/postsecondary programs as part of the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference.
These students won the gold award for the state competition for crime scene investigation. Pictured includes, from left: teacher Gene Newman, Gabrielle Rosenbeck (Newfane), Shianne Beauman (Royalton-Hartland) and Sahara Holland (Barker).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 July 2024 at 9:25 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Who Dats performed from the amphitheater at Bullard Park on Wednesday evening as part of a July 3rd celebration.
Several hundred people enjoyed the music at the park.
Todd Graham of the Who Dats takes the lead in this in this song, while Lonnie Froman, the band’s lead singer, took a break for one number. John Borello is at left and Alex DeSmit is on the drums. Ed Hilfiker (not in photo) plays guitar for the popular band that has been entertaining for many years.
There were also several food vendors and four bounce houses.
Ryan Klatt, left, and Steve Keenan also performed from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. as the Ryan Klatt Duo. They are shown near the pavilion and little kids’ playground area.
These kids enjoy the spray park on a hot day with temperatures in the high 80s.
The Village of Albion Recreation program and Greater Albion Community Recreation and Events (G-ACRE) organized the event, which included 350 chicken barbecue dinners sold, face painting and pony rides. John Grillo, the village’s recreation director, said he would like to see the day capped with fireworks in the future.
Rock the Park (Albion Summer Music Festival) returns to the stage on Aug. 2-3.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 July 2024 at 3:26 pm
ALBION – Students and a manager at the Iroquois Job Corps in Shelby visited the Orleans County Legislature last week to highlight the 60th anniversary of the Job Corps program.
The local Job Corps is one of 120 across the country. Job Corps says millions of young people have been changed because of the transformative nature of the program.
Born out of the War on Poverty and signed into law as the Economic Opportunity Act on August 20, 1964, Job Corps has provided safe housing, education, career and technical training opportunities, and support services for deserving young people, Job Corps officials said.
The Iroquois campus can serve 225 students who are ages 16 to 24. They receive training in six main programs: brick masonry, carpentry, electrical, commercial painting, clinical medical assistant, and certified nursing assistant.
Students stay on campus and receive other education. Some of those programs include work towards an equivalency diploma, and driver’s education.
The local Job Corps is drawing more students from Western New York, including the rural GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming), Wayne, Monroe and Niagara counties, said Luke Kantor, Admissions and Career Transition Services manager for the Iroquois Job Corps.
“They can better themselves, earn their GED and a trade or skill,” Kantor told county legislators.
Two current students spoke to legislators last week and praised the program.
Infinity Hall-Caswell and Trevon Stringer are both from Rochester. Hall-Caswell is in the CNA program and will be going to GCC with a goal of becoming a registered nurse.
“It’s been a life-changing experience,” she said about Job Corps.
Stringer, 23, enrolled in Job Corps in the electrical program. He said Job Corps has built his confidence to live by himself and equipped him with more skills to be successful.
“I’ve seen a lot of violence and people on the wrong path,” Stringer said. “I didn’t want that for myself.”
Job Corps students do many projects in the community, including helping to build dog runs at the PAWS Animal Shelter, constructed benches and chairs for Medina Rotary, and painting rooms at the Shelby Town Hall.
The center also has a local community relation council and a workforce council. The workforce council includes union reps and business leaders who give insight on how Job Corps can best prepare students for careers when they graduate.
The Iroquois Job Corps will celebrate graduation on Aug. 16.
BUFFALO – The following students from Orleans County graduated from the University at Buffalo.
• Ryan Taylor of Medina graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in statistics from the School of Public Health and Health Professions. Taylor’s conferral date was June 2024.
• Brennan Lyon of Kendall graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the College of Arts and Sciences. Lyon’s conferral date was June 2024.
• Arella Biesinger of Medina graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication from the College of Arts and Sciences. Biesinger’s conferral date was June 2024.
• Carly-Grace Woodworth of Medina graduated with a bachelor’s degree in environmental sustainability from the College of Arts and Sciences. Woodworth’s conferral date was June 2024.
• Natalie Wright of Kendall graduated with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the College of Arts and Sciences. Wright’s conferral date was February 2024.
• Noah Pencille of Medina graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history from the College of Arts and Sciences. Pencille’s conferral date was February 2024.
• Amber Salonen of Holley graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of Arts and Sciences. Salonen’s conferral date was June 2024.
• Andrew Houseman of Medina graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Houseman’s conferral date was June 2024.
• Elle Gross of Medina graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in health and human services from the College of Arts and Sciences. Gross’s conferral date was February 2024.
• Carter Green of Medina graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in media studies from the College of Arts and Sciences. Green’s conferral date was June 2024.
UB is New York State’s flagship and the largest and most comprehensive institution in the State University of New York system. UB celebrated over 9,400 students across 23 school-based or university-wide recognition and certificate ceremonies held April 26 through May 19.
Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to increase access to State Parks, recreational facilities and historic sites, and to support the tourism industry in New York.
S.5423/A.4853 will increase access to New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation sites by prohibiting the mandated use of credit cards as a means of payment for use of its facilities.
Many New Yorkers, including seniors, unbanked or underbanked individuals, minors, and others use only cash. While credit cards offer convenience, not everyone has access to them. Legislation S.5423/A.4853 removes this potential barrier, ensuring equal access to New York’s State parks, historical sites, and recreational facilities we all cherish. By still accepting cash at these state facilities, New York will continue supporting the inclusive enjoyment of our state’s treasures.
Governor Hochul also signed S.9250/A.10333 to extend the authorization for certain operators of leased personal watercrafts to be exempt from the boating safety certificate, which will support the tourism businesses that lease these vehicles to those vacationing at New York’s waterfronts.
Extending this exemption prevents detrimental impacts to the tourism industry who lease these vehicles to those vacationing in relevant waterfront areas in New York.
Today’s bill signing builds on Governor Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” summer campaign to promote physical and mental health by encouraging New York’s kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings.
“Our State Parks are an important driver behind our state’s economy, and my administration is committed to ensuring everyone has access to our breathtaking sites and to boosting the tourism industry,” Governor Hochul said. “These acts of legislation will make sure that New Yorkers and our visitors can see and experience all that New York has to offer.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 July 2024 at 11:36 am
ALBION – The bail has been increased significantly for a man charged with second-degree murder in a fatal Barre crash on Feb. 8.
Noah Magee
The bail for Noah Magee was $2,500 at his initial appearance in Orleans County Court on June 12, but was raised this morning to $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond or $200,000 in a partially secured bond.
Judge Sanford Church said he reviewed the full grand jury minutes since the June 12 appearance and felt justified in the higher bail for Magee.
Magee, 19, of Brockport was driving a pickup truck the wrong way on McNamar Road on Feb. 8 when he hit Roger Kingdollar who was riding a dirt bike. Kingdollar, 24, died from the collision.
Magee was initially charged with reckless endangerment 1st degree (D felony), leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident (D felony) and other vehicle and traffic infractions.
After more investigation in the incident, the charges were upgraded to second-degree murder, an “A” felony with a maximum sentence of 25 years to life.
Church also reviewed video of the collision that was captured from a nearby residence.
“There is no doubt the collision caused the death,” Church said in court today.
While there wasn’t an intent to cause the death of Kingdollar, Church said Magee should still face a higher bail due to the reckless conduct. If he faced a lesser charge of manslaughter, where someone is killed without malice, the bail should also much higher than $2,500, Church said.
District Attorney Joe Cardone at the June 12 arraignment sought $250,000 in bail for Magee, saying he was a potential flight risk due to the serious charges.
After Church kept the bail at $2,500, the same amount set at the town court level before the second-degree murder charge was added, Cardone then filed a bail application, seeking a higher bail. Cardone said the new more serious charge warranted an increase in the bail amount.
Cardone today also asked that Magee’s driving privileges to be suspended, but the judge did not agree to that.
Magee’s attorney Paul Vacca interjected after Church announced the higher bail, with Vacca seeking it be $25,000.
The judge said no to Vacca.
“That is my ruling,” Church said.
Magee was then handcuffed and led out of the courtroom.
