The long drive to the Southern Tier was well worth it as Albion snapped a season opening two game losing streak by downing host Olean 38-21 in a B2 Division game this evening.

Albion jumped out to an 8-0 first quarter lead on an 11 yard touchdown pass from Amari Jones to Javon Jones and a two-point conversion carry by Jacob Hughson.

The Purple Eagles maintained a 22-13 lead at the half on second quarter touchdowns by Hughson on a 4 yard run and by Javon Jones on a 36 yard pass reception from Amari Jones. Amari Jones tacked on the two-point conversion after the first TD.

Albion made it 30-13 in the third quarter on a 6 yard TD run and a two-point conversion carry by Amari Jones.

The Purple Eagles locked up the win in the final quarter on a 4 yard touchdown run by Hughson and a two-point conversion carry by Amari to make it 38-13.

Amari Jones finished with 104 yards passing and 98 rushing; Javon Jones 87 receiving and 40 rushing and Hughson 89 rushing.

The loss drops Olean to 2-1.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Dominic Larabee goes up to tip a pass by Cleveland Hill quarterback Zach Phillips during the Mustangs win over the Golden Eagles this evening at Vets Park.

Rebounding from an early 6-0 deficit, Medina answered back with three straight touchdown drives to key a 39-12 victory over Cleveland Hill in a C North Division game this evening at Vets Park.

Improving to 3-0 in the C North Division, defending champion Medina pulled even on a 3 yard touchdown run by Noah Skinner with 3:30 to go in the opening quarter and then took the lead for good at 7-6 on an extra point kick by Cole Callard.

Quarterback Aiden Pitts completed two 10 yard passes to Jerrell Nealy and also had runs of 16 and 13 yards to highlight the drive.

The Mustangs upped the lead to 19-6 at the half on second quarter touchdown runs of 1 yard by Amari Soule and 4 yards by Skinner.

Skinner had runs of 34 and 11 yard to key the first drive. Pitts then hooked up with Cayden Lilleby for a big 20 yard pass completion and Skinner had a 14 yard run to highlight the second drive.

Keeping the momentum, Medina built the advantage to 32-6 in the third quarter on touchdown runs of 14 and 7 yards by Skinner as Callard tacked on the extra point kick after the second score.

Pitts had pass completions of 10 yards to Nealy and 11 to Lilleby on the first drive. He also had a 19 yard completion to Soule and Skinner added a 14 yard run to key the second drive.

Lilleby scored the Mustangs final touchdown on a 26 yard run in the fourth quarter as Callard again added the PAT kick. Skinner, who rushed for nearly 200 yards on the evening, had a 24 yard carry to set up the opportunity.

Cleve Hill took the brief 6-0 lead on a 23 yard touchdown pass from Zach Phillips to Amarion Spivey just three minutes into the game. The Golden Eagles other TD came on a 95 yard kickoff return by Tristan Pratt on the final play of the third quarter.

The loss drops Cleve Hill to 0-3.

Medina next visits Tonawanda next Friday.

Medina’s Cayden Lilleby in route to scoring a touchdown as Cleve Hill defender Jay’Mere Ramadan moves in.

Press Release, Community Coalition for Justice

ALBION – As part of our ongoing discussion about racism and the division in this country, the Community Coalition for Justice brings a presentation entitled “Teaching U.S. History & Unpacking The Terms ‘Woke’ And ‘Critical Race Theory’” on Monday, Oct. 10, (Columbus Day) at Hoag Library from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.

This presentation will include the showing of W. Kamau Bell’s “United Shades of America” on a July 7, 2022 episode entitled “The Woke War” and an interactive discussion lead by a panel of responders.

Kamau Bell has hosted the CNN series “United Shades of America” since 2016. Known as a comedian and political commentator, Bell tackles many very relevant and controversial issues around the country. In this episode, he travels to Arizona and “talks with parents and educators to hear both sides of CRT” and how it relates to the education of our youth.

The Community Coalition for Justice includes the Hoag Library, Albion Betterment Committee, Pullman Universalist Church, People Embracing Diversity and the Social Justice Committee.

The Coalition’s Co-chair Bob Golden also will be presented with an Orleans Hub “outstanding citizen” award for his efforts facilitating the discussions.

Shadow flicker, noise and impact on birds among concerns

Photos by Tom Rivers: Shelby residents Brian McCarty and Karen Jones spoke against two wind turbines that would peak at 633 feet along Route 63, south of the village of Medina. Jones said the town needs to do more rigorous environmental impact studies.

SHELBY – The Town Board heard from several residents that they don’t think an orchard on Route 63, just south of the Village of Medina, is a good spot for two wind turbines that would peak at 633 feet.

The turbines proposed by Borrego Solar System Inc. would alter the landscape visually, and also potentially harm residents with shadow flicker, noise, lower property values and other impacts, residents said. They also worry the turbines are in a major migratory bird path.

The Town Board was asked to hold off on approving an environmental impact assessment of the project until a more detailed analysis can be done. The board started going through that assessment on Tuesday night but tabled it after the meeting went on for three hours and neared 10 p.m.

Ryan Wilkins, the deputy town supervisor, said the town is going through the process and no decision has been made.

“We are going to get all the information we can and make the decision after that,” he said.

In the environmental assessment that will be reviewed by the town, Shelby officials will identify if there are any issues that warrant more study or information.

The board already said it wants more information on a water runoff plan and mitigation strategies. It wants to know how the towers would be anchored into the ground.

Dan Koneski said the two turbines are too big to be so close to the village and many other residential properties.

The assessment considers the project’s impact on the land, geological features, surface water, groundwater, flooding, air, plants and animals, agricultural resources, aesthetic resources, historic and archeological resources, open space and recreation, critical environmental areas, transportation, energy, noise, odor and light, human health, community plans and community character.

Shelby resident Wendi Pencille said the Town Board isn’t qualified to make those determinations, especially with the potential harm to human health. The shadow flicker, noise and vibrations can disrupt sleep, cognitive function and could lead to debilitating headaches and depression.

Sherman Gittens, the town engineer from the MRB Group, goes over the environmental impact assessment. That process will continue. “This is a continuing review,” he said.

Pencille said she doesn’t oppose wind energy but said the location of Route 63, on land owned by the Smith family, is not a good spot. (Town Supervisor Jeff Smith has recused himself from voting and discussions about the project because his family owns the land.)

“There are places where wind turbines will do less damage,” she said.

Resident Barbara Hoffman said the turbines would be an eyesore. She also fears the two turbines will lead to more turbines in the town and around the county. She said solar panels would be a better option for the land.

Resident Alana Koneski said the turbines at nearly 650 feet high are way out of scale, especially in populated areas near the village and Maple Ridge Road.

“Please consider all the neighbors out here,” she said.

Dan Koneski said the turbines in Wyoming county are about 400 feet high. The ones proposed for Shelby would be among the tallest in the country. He called the turbines “a nuisance.”

“You won’t be able to hear the deer with the swoosh, swoosh, swoosh all day long,” he said.

Jim Heminway, another resident, said the town has done a poor job of notifying the public about the proposed project. He compared that to when the Village of Medina had a vote to dissolve the village government in January 2015. In that case, the town paid for mailers and advertisements, urging people to oppose dissolution. The issue was voted down, 949 to 527.

Jim Heminway said the town hasn’t done enough to make people aware of the project.

“Many residents are not aware of this project and it impacts a lot of people,” Heminway said. “There is nothing built like it in New York State.”

Resident Karen Jones asked the town for a six-month moratorium on the environmental assessment to allow residents and experts more time to review the potential impacts.

She is concerned about the turbines’ impact on birds and wildlife, the shadow flicker for nearby residents,

She questioned the accuracy of Borrego’s report that put the flicker impact at 19 hours over a full year. She believes it will be longer.

Jones also said the turbines are close to the Shelby Earthworks, an ancient Indian Fort on Salt Works Road in Medina. The environmental assessment doesn’t mention this site in the report.

“I ask for a moratorium,” she said. “It is a moral imperative.”

Resident Craig Stalker faulted the Town Board for trying to fast track the project with little public input.

“This is a horrible location (for turbines),” he said. “It’s near a historic village on the main route to and from town.”

Linda Limina also asked for a six-month moratorium to give residents and the town officials more time “to educate themselves and be more aware of the project.”

Mike Zelazny doesn’t want to see good farmland lost to turbines and solar panels.

Resident Brian McCarty said it was “an absolute betrayal of trust” to consider the project in that area.

Anne Smith of Lakeshore Road in Yates has opposed a turbine project in Yates and Somerset. She said the two in Shelby is a different approach from wind energy companies. Rather than propose a larger project with 30 or more turbines, Borrego is going for two in Shelby. She sees that as a way to avoid a more through environmental study from the state. If Borrego is successful, she expects more developers will put up turbine projects, two or four a time.

“Those two turbines will develop into 2, 4, 6, 8 – 30,” she said. “The whole of Orleans County will be covered in wind turbines.”

She urged Shelby officials to do a survey of the town residents and property owners, gauging their opinions on the matter. She said Yates did three community surveys.

Mike Zelazny said he is concerned about the long-term effect not only of the turbines, but solar panels and batteries. He wonders how the units and equipment will be disposed. The projects seem to be targeted to rural communities.

“There are better places for it rather than residential communities and good farmland,” Zelazny said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: COVA has run an ambulance service in Central Orleans County since 1979.

ALBION – COVA Ambulance announced this evening that it will no longer provide overnight ambulance services starting this Sunday.

The organization has been operating at a deficit, and has been seeking help from local municipalities to stay afloat. Jennifer Stilwell, COVA president, said the central Orleans towns have told them that the municipalities can’t “gift” COVA any money. COVA leaders are hopeful the money can be presented not as a gift but in a way to keep a critical local service.

Stilwell said the county told COVA it can’t give the organization any funding and it’s up to the four towns – Albion, Barre, Gaines and Carlton – to try to help.

COVA issued the following public notice:

“We are saddened to announce that as of this Sunday 09/18/2022 we are forced to implement a disruption of service. We can no longer afford to operate ambulance services from the hours of 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. from Monday through Sunday and we will begin to attempt to utilize a rotating schedule with our partnered EMS Agency Hamlin EMS to provide ambulance coverage if available to the central parts of Orleans County.

“Despite our best efforts we have still been unable to secure municipal funding to help offset our current budget deficit. The financial burden that is upon us has stretched our annual budget beyond capacity.

“For the past three years we have maintained ambulance services covering 96% of the medical emergency calls in the central part of Orleans County. Throughout this period, we have begged for help from our local leadership.

“We have had to make payroll cuts, staff cuts, set up lease programs as well as implemented numerous operational budget cuts to reduce budget expenses. We struggle to continue to maintain operations with the outstanding patient bills and continuous decrease in health insurance reimbursement rates along with the increasing cost of medical supplies, insurance, fuel, utilities and so much more.

“We have been encouraged by the outpouring of community support and are hopeful that we will somehow find a resolution.

“Please take notice that COVA Ambulance will not be operating from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Sunday and we will begin to attempt to utilize a rotating schedule with our partnered EMS Agency Hamlin EMS to provide ambulance coverage if available to the central parts of Orleans County.”

– Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance “COVA”

GAINES – The reopening of the lift bridge over the Erie Canal in Eagle Harbor has been pushed back until Sept. 30.

The bridge closed Aug. 8 for repairs and was expected to reopen on Aug. 29. On Sept. 6, the reopening was then expected on Sept. 16.

The bridge from 1910 is being repaired during the closure. The state Canal Corp. urges motorists to continue to use alternative routes.

Photos by Tom Rivers

GAINES – LeRoy Neeper of Medina shows people an International Harvester Model M 6-horsepower engine from 1922 on Saturday at the Cobblestone Museum.

The machine is in the Blacksmith Shop. The engine was used to power a pulley system for lathes, two table saws, a drill press, joiner and bandsaw.

Just over 300 people attended the open house that featured some old-time artisans. The event was sponsored by the Rochester Area Community Foundation, which covered the admission charge for everyone.

“I think it’s a tremendous asset for the community,” Neeper said about the museum, which is listed as a National Historic Landmark. “It’s history slipping away to modern technology. There’s not enough people with hands-on knowledge anymore.”

David Damico of Le Roy operates a Platen Press in the Print Shop. Damico has been a volunteer at the museum for seven years. He is a graphic media instructor at Finger Lakes Technical and Career Center in Stanley. He likes working with the old printing equipment.

“It prompts me to keep my hands inky,” he said. “I like the touch and feel of the type. It’s being a detail-oriented person versus a get-it-done person.”

He said the visitors seemed interested in seeing the manual process with movable type up close.

“I can explain the density of the ink,” he said. “This is a non air-conditioned environment so you are dealing with heat and the humidity.”

The print shop was built in 1875. It used to be in Medina, but was moved to the museum grounds on Route 98 in 1977.

Georgia Thomas of Medina shows sisters Erin and Lauren Allis of Medina how cream becomes butter. The two girls had to shake the cream for 10 minutes before it made a lump of butter.

“It’s nice for people to know what it takes to make their food,” Thomas said. “You should know what your ancestors did and you can reflect on what you’re doing today.”

There are butter churns at the Farmers Hall of the Museum, including one powered by a dog.

Judith Bromley of East Aurora answered questions in the Harness Shop. She is a qualified master saddle fitter with the Registered Society of Master Saddlers UK. She also is also a bridle fitter, bench and on-site flocker of saddles and is familiar with the shoemaking process and artifacts displayed in the Harness Shop.

George Borrelli demonstrated blacksmithing at the Blacksmith Shop. Borrelli has been blacksmithing for more than 30 years, starting with traditional ornamental work, garden gates, wine cellar gates and fireplace sets. For the past 20 years he has done more contemporary work.

The museum enjoyed a steady stream of visitors during the open house. There were docents also available for tours at the Cobblestone Church, Ward House (former parsonage), the schoolhouse and Vagg House.

Fiddlers of the Genesee performed to a crowd at the Cobblestone Church.

The Fiddlers of the Genesee have been frequent performers at the museum in recent years.

Bill Lattin, the retired museum director, has put together an exhibit “Victorian Mourning Art & Sundries” in the upper gallery at the Brick House.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club today presented a ceremonial check for $6,300 to the Office for the Aging to support a transportation program for senior citizens.

The tournament was held on July 28 at Shelridge Country Club in Medina.

Pictured from left include Becky Karls, Rotary Club member and OFA employee; Melissa Blanar, OFA director; and Cindy Perry, Rotary Club member. Karls and Perry also were the main organizers of the annual tournament.

The funds will support a volunteer transportation program that was started in 2019 by the OFA. That program sees more demand since Community Action ended a transportation program on Sept. 1, 2021 for senior citizens citing a deficit with CATS. Community Action would take local seniors to appointments, including to see doctors out of county.

The volunteers take people to appointments in Orleans County and surrounding counties. There are about a dozen volunteer drivers and they can do in-county only rides if they prefer and be as available as they want, Blanar said.

The funds from the golf tournament will help pay for mileage for the drivers, and a software program that assists the OFA with scheduling appointments. If there are any leftover funds, Blanar said it would be used for emergency food for senior citizens.

She welcomes more volunteer drivers for the program, which helps adults over age 60.

The drivers take people to medical appointments, grocery stores, nursing homes to visit loved ones and other appointments.

If volunteers aren’t available, OFA has a contract with Medina Transport Taxi.

Some seniors also use the RTS public transportation but that agency is often locked into a schedule and it can be difficult to link up with other buses for trips out of county.

For more information about the volunteer program, either as a driver or rider, contact the OFA at (585) 589-3191.

Blanar said many of the volunteer drivers have become friends with the senior citizens getting rides.

“There have been some great relationships created,” she said. “It’s a great program and we want to keep it going.”

Provided photos

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley last Friday recognized a group of senior citizens 90 and older for their many years of dedication.

The residents were first recognized in the Public Square near the Salisbury Fountain before moving to an indoor reception at the Community Free Library.

Residents recognized include Dorothy Barringer, Rhoda Broekhuizen, Roy Bubb, Virginia DeFilipps, Rose Gifaldi, Louise Lusk, Arlene Mawn, Lorraine Pera, Jane Petta, Edna Ruggeri, Pauline Stazie and Norman Wheeler. Clark Knapp also was recognized posthumously.

The top photo shows from left: Dorothy Barringer, Jane Petta, Louise Lusk, Arlene Mawn, Pauline Stazie and Norman Wheeler (pictured with two of his daughters).

Pauline Stazie, one of the honorees, is pictured with Mayor Mark Bower, one of her former kindergarten students. The village presented the honorees with a village pin and Bower read a proclamation, praising their long commitments to Holley.

Honoree Arlene Mawn enjoys the reception at the library.

Jane Petta, left, and Louise Lusk were both honored by the village.

Lorraine Pera, right, is joined by her sister-in-law, Ingrid Lestorti.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kaedon Cleveland and his Medina teammates will host Cleveland Hill at 7 p.m. Friday at Vets Park in a C North Division game.

Facing a third straight division foe, Medina will host Cleveland Hill in a C North contest at 7 p.m. Friday at Vets Park.

Defending champion Medina brings a 2-0 record into the game while Cleve Hill is 0-2. The Mustangs have opened the season with wins over Newfane (21-7) and Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville (48-6) while the Eagles have lost 28-8 to Maryvale and 34-8 to Salamanca.

Mustangs quarterback Aiden Pitts threw four touchdown passes in last week’s win over RBL including two to Kaedon Cleveland and one each to Noah Skinner and Cayden Lilleby. Skinner also had his second straight 100 yard plus rushing game with 133 yards and a TD.

Holley will also be at home this weekend as the Hawks host Bolivar-Richburg at 1 p.m. Saturday in a key early season matchup of 2-0 teams in the 8 Man Division.

Holley has opened the season with road wins over Wellsville (30-14) and Mynderse (36-26) while Bolivar-Richburg has defeated Red Jacket 42-26 and Wellsville 42-24.

Albion will take to the road for the first time on the young season as the Purple Eagles visit Olean at 7 p.m. Friday for a B2 Division contest.

The Purple Eagles are looking to snap a season opening two game losing streak while the Huskies are 2-0. Albion has lost to Falconer (30-16) and Maryvale (22-18) while Olean has downed East Aurora 35-14 and Dunkirk 12-7.

Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville will visit Lackawanna at 1 p.m. Saturday for an interdivisional game.

The Silverbacks are 1-1 and the Steelers 2-0. RBL has defeated Alden 22-20 and lost to Medina 48-6 while Lackawanna has downed Alden 36-6 and Lew-Port 34-17.

C North Division: Medina 2-0, 2-0; Akron 1-0, 1-1; Tonawanda 0-1, 1-1; Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville 0-1, 1-1; Newfane 0-1, 0-2; Cleve Hill 0-0, 0-2.

B2 Division: Olean 2-0, 2-0; Falconer 2-0, 2-0; Maryvale 1-0, 2-0; Dunkirk 0-1, 0-2; Cheektowaga 0-0, 1-1; Albion 0-2, 0-2; East Aurora 0-2, 0-2.

8 Man Division: Holley 2-0, Bolivar-Richburg 2-0, Canisteo-Greenwood 2-0, Red Jacket 1-1, Pembroke 1-1, Finney 0-2, Mynderse 0-2, Wellsville 0-2.

Village officials say some spend more than 2 hours visiting multiple stores; Limit is difficult to enforce

MEDINA – Village officials are considering ending the 2-hour parking limit in the downtown. Many people visit multiple stores in the downtown, including bars and restaurants and stay for several hours, Mayor Mike Sidari said.

The parking limit also would be difficult to enforce, tying up the police department, said Village Trustee Tim Elliott.

Business owners and their employees should be encouraged to not park on Main Street so those spots are available, Elliott said.

Owen Toale, a village trustee and former publisher of the Medina Journal-Register which was on Main Street, would like to see the 2-hour limit stay in place.

“I think you’re asking for trouble,” he said during Monday’s Village Board meeting.

Toale is concerned some business owners and employees would park on Main Street for eight hours or longer.

When he was in charge of the former newspaper in Medina, he had the employees park at the lot in the Canal Basin.

Trustee Marguerite Sherman said many people spend hours in the downtown.

“I wouldn’t want to get a ticket if I went to a restaurant,” she said.

Mayor Sidari said he wants to hear from Medina Area Partnership, which represents many of the businesses. For now, he wants to get the discussion going about whether the 2-hour limit should be eliminated.

Elliott said it would have an added benefit of removing the signs for 2-hour parking. The board has told by the state Department of Transportation there are too many signs in the downtown.

ALBION – A Lyndonville couple has opened a business in downtown Albion that includes an array of new products at a deep discount.

Kelly Fischer-Godlewski and her husband Mike Godlewski have been running Necka’s Treasures from their home for about a year. They decided to make it their full-time focus and move into a storefront.

Provided photo: Albion Village Trustee Tim McMurray joined the Godlewski family for a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday morning.

They receive pallets of products from Target, Home Depot, Cosway, Amazon and Bed, Bath and Beyond. The merchandise are overstocks or “shelf pulls,” typically when the stores replace the items with newer seasonal products.

“The goal is to keep the prices low for the community,” said Fischer-Godlewski.

The pallets have an array of merchandize. Recent shipments have ranged from clothing, exercise equipment, computer products, bed sets, a heat press and drying oven. They even have karaoke and cotton candy machines.

The Godlewskis tried the overstock sales about a year ago selling items from Home Depot as a yard sale from their home. The products at 50 percent or more off their retail value were popular.

Mr. Godlewski checks the electronics and other items to make sure they are working. For many years he has owned and operated Rescom GC Inc., doing home construction and remodeling.

Necka’s Treasures is named for their 3-year-old daughter, Anezka. The store also has a mascot, a baby pig named Crowley.

Necka’s is looking to add artwork and crystals, and will have free coffee and tea for customers. There will also be a monthly raffle for customers who spend at least $5 who are then eligible to win a package of merchandise.

They are planning to be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.