Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A giant banner went up today on the Day and Pratt building in downtown Albion. The Strawberry Festival Committee is trying something new this year to promote the festival and recognize key sponsors of the event on June 10-11.

In the top left in the window, D.J. Button holds a wire to secure the banner. In the lift are Michael Bonafede, building co-owner, and Tim McMurray, a village trustee and festival committee member.

The two-day festival is back for the 34^th time after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions.

Press Release, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama, NY, is providing a Youth Fishing Opportunity on Saturday, June 4th and June 11th, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Both mornings, youth 15 and younger are invited to Ringneck Marsh, where they can fish with their families, learn about fish biology, and improve angling techniques with the help from refuge staff. Fishing poles, equipment, and worms will be available for visitors to use, if needed, at the Ringneck Marsh parking lot.

Ringneck Marsh will have fishing open to public as usual. Anglers 16 and older are required to have a fishing license.

Please find us on Facebook @IroquoisNationalWildlifeRefuge, visit our web site or contact Refuge staff at 585.948.5445 for more information about Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of a new season of free “On the Canals” excursions along the New York State Canal system.

Now in its third year, this free recreational program, sponsored by the New York Power Authority and New York State Canal Corporation, offers unique opportunities to experience the waterways of the Canal system and the adjoining Empire State Trail. This summer’s “On the Canals” excursions include kayaking, cycling, cruising, painting, birding, and accessible activities such as adaptive paddling and biking.

“I am thrilled this free program is returning for a third season and can think of no better way to spend the summer than ‘On the Canals,’ as these recreational activities bring New Yorkers and tourists alike to our waterways and trails and help support our local economies,” Governor Hochul stated in a press release. “As a frequent boater on the Canal and having kayaked and cycled during the first two seasons of ‘On the Canals,’ I know firsthand how spectacular these recreational opportunities are. I look forward to this new season offering unique experiences that allow for families and individuals of all abilities to enjoy our historic Canal system.”

This season’s “On the Canals” program builds upon the successful first two seasons by expanding the types of activities offered, increasing participation by offering more outings over a longer period, and growing the number of locations across the Canal system where excursions are held. “On the Canals” will also be on hand at various festivals this year, with adaptive equipment available to try out. Itineraries this season include:

• Paddle/Pedal in Brockport with adaptive equipment available
• Bike Safety Rodeo and Repair Workshops in Buffalo
• Black Rock Historic Bike Tour in Buffalo
• Hydrobike & Kayak the Canal Aqueduct in Medina
• Fish & Kayak at Medina Falls & Glenwood Lake in Medina
• Kids Paddlesports on the Canal in Oswego
• Introduction to Kayaking & Stand-Up Paddleboarding in Oswego
• Sunset Paddling and Urban Paddle in Oswego
• Montezuma Wetlands: In Search of the Bald Eagle in Montezuma
• Painting Alongside the Canal (En Plein Air) in Amsterdam and other canalside locations
• STEAM Workshops for Kids & Teens in Schuylerville and Utica
• Bike & Boat Cruises in Schuylerville
• Cycling Tours in Schuylerville and surrounding areas
• Guided Kayak Tours in Buffalo, North Tonawanda, Waterloo and Macedon
• Historic Boat Tours in Schuylerville, Herkimer, Buffalo and on Seneca Lake
• Youth Kayak & Water Safety in Macedon
• Intro to Cycling & Bike Maintenance in Schuylerville
• Paddle/Pedal in Halfmoon

Editor’s Note: The Orleans County YMCA is running the kayaking and hydro bike programs for the canal. For more information on registering for excursions in Medina, click here for information about the Canal Basin excursions and click here for the excursions from Glenwood Lake to the Medina Waterfalls . For the other outings on the canal, click here for more information.

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “I am incredibly proud to join Governor Hochul and our colleagues at the New York Power Authority as we officially launch this year’s ‘On the Canals’ summer excursions with new offerings that make this program more accessible than ever. Our Canal system is a fundamental part of our state’s history and should be enjoyed to its fullest capacity by all New Yorkers and visitors who come looking for education, adventure, and fun, and I encourage everyone of all ages and skill levels to spend their summer experiencing New York’s most iconic waterways and trails ‘On the Canals.’”

Initially piloted in the summer of 2020 as “NY Canal Staycations,” the “On the Canals” program has expanded as a year-round recreation initiative in New York State after participation nearly tripled in 2021.

“On the Canals” is funded through the New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation’s Reimagine the Canals initiative – a $300 million effort to revitalize the Canal system as a tourism and recreation destination while simultaneously boosting economic development and improving the resiliency of canalside communities.

The New York State Canal system, which provides unique and unparalleled experiences, officially opened this year for its 198th consecutive season of navigation in May.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Albion Middle School students hold flower-themed designs that will be used when students paint a mural on the former bathroom building at Bullard Park. Pictured form left include Makenzie Cook, sixth grade; Neveya Barnes, eighth grade; and Shayla Higgins, seventh grade.

ALBION – Middle School students will transform the appearance of the former bathroom building at Bullard Park, painting flowers and bright colors to a drab structure.

The students are planning to paint a mural on the building from June 15 to June 17. The district will supply the paint and paint brushes.

The Village of Albion is working to put a tongue-and-groove wood exterior on the concrete-block building. That wood will match the look of the new utility building and bathrooms in the center of the park. That was added as part of $800,000 in upgrades at Bullard, which included new playground equipment, a splash park and amphitheater.

Albion art teachers Kamie Feder and Tina Burgett will work with about a dozen students in creating the mural. The teachers and three of the students – Makenzie Cook, Neveya Barnes and Shayla Higgins – met with the Village Board last week to get permission for the project.

The board gave it the OK and said it would push to have the new wood in place in time for the project.

The painting will be 8 feet high and stretch 36 feet, Feder said. Besides flowers, strawberries and some playground equipment will be painted in the mural to give it a park feel.

In other action from last week’s meeting, the board:

• Accepted the retirement of Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Mary Delamarter, effective June 22.

• Made a motion to start advertising to fill a part-time police officer position. This officer won’t have a regular shift but will fill spot when other officers are out sick or unavailable.

• Appointed Janet Salvatore as an alternate on the Orleans County Planning Board, representing the village of Albion.

Contributed Photo – Melanie Green

Coming off a very successful collegiate season Medina High graduate Melanie Green will step onto the stage of one of the premier events in women’s golf when she makes her debut at the 77th U.S. Women’s Open on Thursday at the Pine Needle Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. I really appreciate the opportunity to play and make the most out of it,” said Green who will tee off in the second threesome of the day at 7:11 Thursday morning.

Green is one of 50 first time qualifiers and one of 30 amateurs in the 156 player field. Interestingly, that group of amateurs includes one of the top competitors from her days of scholastic competition in Bailey Shoemaker who twice finished second to Green at the New York State high school championship tournament.

The field also includes 12 former U.S. Open champions, 13 former runners-up as well as defending U.S. Senior Women’s Open champion and three time U.S. Open champion Annika Sorenstram.

Green, who previously competed in the U.S. Girls Junior Tournament in 2018 and the U.S. Women’s Open Amateur Tournament in 2019, qualified for the Open by shooting a 6 under par 138 at the Fort Myers, Florida qualifier on May 4.

And as for the keys to having a successful tournament Green says “just to stay patient and enjoy myself and continue to do everything I’ve already been doing with my game.”

Green, who twice captured the New York state championship while at Medina High, recently completed her sophomore year at the University of South Florida where she earned American Athletic Conference All-Conference honors for the second year in a row.

MEDINA – The Boxwood Cemetery Commission sees a lot of need at Medina’s historic cemetery with some of the larger monuments fallen over or in disrepair. Many of the gravestones are well over 100 years old and in need of attention.

But the cemetery commission doesn’t have easy access to money to make the repairs. There is $89,000 sitting in a perpetual care fund but the commission hasn’t been able to use any of that money.

The local commission has reached out to the Village Board and the state Division of Cemeteries. The Village Board would like to give access to the perpetual care funds, but in a staggered way.

The Commission is going to draft by-laws for using the funds, with no more than 10 percent to be used in one year. That would give the Commission up to $8,900 to reset stones in the first year.

Last year a fallen tree knocked down and broke a large obelisk in the cemetery and that was about $5,000 to fix and reset. A lift needed to be brought in to the cemetery for the job.

The Village Board said with the by-laws in place it expects it would OK using the funds for the cemetery work. The board doesn’t think the state needs to give approval for tapping the perpetual care funds as long as there is a stated policy and process for utilizing the money.

Kathy Blackburn, the Commission chairwoman, said the perpetual care would focus on the gravestones and wouldn’t be used for taking down trees and planting new ones.

The Village Board said it will wait on a vote until seeing the language in the by-laws, including a description of how the funds can be spent.

The issue was brought up at last week’s board meeting. Blackburn was joined by Commission member Jake Hebdon, who said the cemetery needs the funds now to address some disrepair in the gravestones.

He said each gravesite has $100 set aside for perpetual care, and now is the time to do some of that care.

“I think we’re being cautious, which is good,” Hebdon said about spending funds from perpetual care. “But we could use it now.”

In other action from last week’s meeting:

• The Village Board voted to increase the pay for summer help from the $13.20 minimum wage to $15. The village has three summer help positions available for the Department of Public Works but only one person, Jacob Bensley, applied.

The board hired Bensley at $15 an hour and said it would eliminate the third position so the two jobs would be at $15 an hour. That might draw more interest in applications.

The summer workers help with mowing, brush pickup, watering flowers and other tasks with the DPW. Interested applicants can get more information from the Village Office.

• Gave the Girl Scouts permission to do gardening work at State Street Park and Gwinn Street Park. The Scouts want to leave little signs when they are done that says, “A Girl Scout was here.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – Matt Heinsler, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, left, and Jim Simon of the Air Force stand at attention after placing a memorial wreath by the monument at Veterans Park in Lyndonville. There also was a display that was intended to remember POWs and those missing in action.

Auston Bentley, a Lyndonville freshman, plays Taps during the Memorial Day service today.

Lyndonville Lions Club members walk in the parade. From left include Lynne Johnson, John Belson and Harold Suhr.

Johnson, the County Legislature chairwoman, also spoke during the Memorial Day service at Veterans Park.

She urged people to spend time today in “measured remembrance” in thinking about the sacrifices of the men and women who fought and died for the country’s independence and freedom.

“Always remember the courage and sacrifice that is the ultimate gift from those who put themselves in harm’s way for all of us,” Johnson said.

Bob Burtwell, a member of the American League, marches in today’s Memorial Day parade in Lyndonville.

Jonathan Cappetta, left, carried the banner along with Keith Trautman, not in picture. Keith is the grandson of Joe Hausler, a member a of the American Legion. They were part of today’s parade and then service at Lyndonville’s Veterans Park.

Steve Goodrich, the commander of the Houseman-Tanner American Legion Post in Lyndonville, leads the crowd in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

He said there are now 435 Lyndonville veterans in the six cemeteries in the town. Goodrich has been a member of the post for 14 years, during which 25 members have died. He urged veterans in the community to be part of the local American Legion.

“It’s getting harder and harder every year,” he said about the Post’s service to veterans and the community. “There are less and less of us.”

The flag holders are Austin Kassay, left, and Brody Spoth. They were later applauded for holding the flags for more than an hour in the 80-plus degree heat.

Goodrich urged the community to look at the names and faces on the 100 new Hometown Hero banners of soldiers and to explore local cemeteries, pausing at the graves of veterans.

Yates Town Supervisor Jim Simon served over 20 years in the Air Force with duties as a helicopter pilot, staff officer, military history teacher, commander and strategic planner.

Over 500,000 Americans have been killed in combat and another 85,000 missing in action, Simon said.

“We are here to honor, as Abraham Lincoln said, those who gave the last full measure of devotion,” Simon said.

Anna Stelianou waves to people in the Lyndonville downtown. She rode a new trolley with veterans in the trolley’s first parade. The parade was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions.

Stelianou was a key donor in getting the trolley. It was dedicated today in memory of her brothers – Fred, Peter, George, Menel and Ernest Stelianou.

The trolley will be used to transport veterans during parades so they don’t have to make a long walk on pavement in the hot sun or in bad weather.

Eric Villalta, the Lyndonville band teacher, directs students in playing a Salute to America, and The Stars and Stripes Forever. The chorus led by teacher Jennifer Trupo sang the Star Spangled Banner, My Country ’Tis of Thee and America the Beautiful.

Harold Scribner of the Lyndonville Fire Department enjoys a breeze by the Johnson Creek dam and waterfalls. The display of American flags is on the school grounds.

Annabelle Follman, a junior at Lyndonville, will represent Lyndonville at the Empire Girls State program in Brockport in July. She thanked veterans and active duty military members for their service.

Lyndonville Little Leaguers carry a flag and walk in today’s parade.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina second baseman Tyler Kroening makes a throw to compete a double play. Sliding in to second is Depew’s Nicholas Kornyski. The play came during the Mustangs sectional title win over the Wildcats at Niagara University this afternoon.

A pair of two run scoring innings combined with a strong pitching performance sparked Medina to a 4-1 victory over Depew at Niagara University this afternoon earning the Mustangs the Section VI Class B championship and a berth in the upcoming state tournament.

Aidan Paul picked up the win on the mound for the Mustangs pitching six scoreless innings allowing just 2 hits and striking out 6. One of those strikeouts was clutch to end the fourth inning as the Wildcats left a runner stranded at third base in what was then a tight 2-0 contest.

“Aidan had an allergy attack before the game but we got that settled down and he went out and worked hard out there,” said Medina Coach Jon Sherman.

Aidan Paul delivers a pitch for the Mustangs.

“I was grinding  out there. It was hot,” said Paul who allowed only four base runners over the first six innings. “I couldn’t have done it with out my defense and the offense. Everyone contributed.”

The Mustangs got the only two runs they needed as it turned out in the second inning.

Julian Woodworth tripled with one out and came home on a sacrifice fly by Brody Fry. Two walks and a single by Tyler Kroening then loaded the bases and Xander Payne was hit by a pitch forcing in the second run.

The runs also gave Paul a big boost on the mound. “They were big,” he said. “You get ahead like that then you can settle down and relax a bit.”

Medina did leave the bases loaded in the second and left a pair of runners stranded in both the fourth and fifth frames before picking up a pair of big insurance runs in the sixth.

Payne doubled in the first run and then, after a double by Joe Cecchini, Zack Fike singled in the final run.

Paul also had a big day at the plate banging out 3 hits as Woodworth had 2.

Defensively, the Mustangs turned a double play in the fifth inning from Fry at third to Kroening at second to Fike at first.

“It wasn’t our best game,” said Sherman “but we had some kids come through.”

The Mustangs advanced to the state qualifier by nipping Niagara-Orleans League rival Roy-Hart 1-0 on Saturday for a third straight Class B2 title. The Wildcats trimmed Lew-Port 1-0 in the Class B1 final.

Improving to 21-3, Medina will now face the as yet to be determined Section V champion in the Far West Regional next Saturday afternoon at Monroe Community College.

It will be Medina’s second straight trip to the state playoffs. The Mustangs advanced to the state semis in 2019. There were no state playoffs in 2020 or 2021 because of Covid 19 restrictions.

Big plays of defense helped lock up the Mustangs win. Here Joe Cecchini, left, makes a throw from his shortstop position and Zack Fike fields a grounder at first base.

Julian Woodworth banged out two hits including a key triple to spark Medina’s early two run second inning which put the Mustangs on top to stay.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – This girl waves an American flag while the Medina Alumni Marching Band performed and marched up East Center Street to State Street Park for the Memorial Day observance.

The Medina community lined the parade route today in the return of the Memorial Day parade after it was downsized in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions.

Scott Carlton, a member of the Sons of the American Legion, hands flags to Bridget McLaughlin and her children, 1-year-old Shawn on her lap and 3-year-old Maddie. The Sons handed out about 2,000 flags today.

The Color Guard carried flags at the start of the parade procession.

The Marching Band and the Color Guard makes their entrance on Main Street.

Nick Reese plays in the drumline for the Medina Marching Band.

Terri Moriarty of the Medina Lions Club tosses candy to kids lined up on Main Street.

Medina Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts were happy to be part of the parade.

Local Girl Scouts carry their banner in the parade.

Joshua Vacanti of Lockport, a star of The Voice on NBC, sang during the parade and promoted a singing competition on July 23 as part of The Salt & Light Festival in Gasport.

Brian Kozody and about 80 graduates performed in the Medina Alumni Marching. The group first performed five years on the 50^th  anniversary of the band. They expect to be back again in five years on the 60^th anniversary,.

Scott Petry, a Shelby firefighter, drives a firetruck while his son Hank, 3, waves to the crowd.

The Cayea brothers promoted the Home for the Holidays 5K race on Nov. 26. From left include Alden, Alwyn, Arian and Aeddon. Alden won the last race on Nov. 27, 2021.

Village Trustee Jess Marciano hands out candy along the parade route.

This Army truck carries a casket to send a powerful message about the sacrifices of soldiers.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Kevin Sheehan, standing, shares his concerns about St. Joseph’s Park staying open all night on Clinton Street. Sheehan, the village’s code enforcement officer, lives next to the park.

ALBION – The Village Board was told by some neighbors of two parks, St. Joseph’s and Lafayette, to keep those sites locked at night or else neighbors will be disturbed at night and the sites will attract illicit activity.

The board last month voted to take the locks off the gates of the two parks on the west side of the village. Both parks are on residential streets with houses close by.

Neighbors attended this past Wednesday’s board meeting and said they have heard people having sex at night at Lafayette and people hanging out very late.

The neighbors said they support keeping the parks open during the day, but should be locked up at night.

“I don’t understand the pros of keeping the parks open at night,” said Lynn Burgess, who has lived next to Lafayette for 34 years. “We shouldn’t have to be woken up at night.”

Village Trustees Tim McMurray and Joyce Riley voted to keep the locks off the parks and they continue to support that. They said more police patrols can help keep the parks safe at night. They urged residents to call the police if there are people in the parks at night.

The village is proposing a parks and recreation code that calls for the parks to be open from 8 a.m. to dusk. People in any of the parks after dusk could be ticketed for trespassing.

Some of the neighbors of Lafayette Park, which has entrances on State and Park streets, asked that the park be locked at night because some of the park users are loud at night disturbing residents.

The other parks don’t have gates that can be locked. Vets Park on Linwood Avenue and Carosol on Ingersoll have low fences without a gate. People could easily hop those fences anyway if gates were locked, trustees said. Bullard Park on Route 31 is wide open and would be impractical to put in fencing with an entrance gate, trustees said.

Chris Barry, one of the village trustees, said Lafayette and St. Joseph’s have the locking devices. He supports locking those parks at night. Lafayette is unusual in that it has entrances from two streets. It’s a “thoroughfare” allowing people to cross from one street to the other, Burgess said.

Mayor Angel Javier, who voted to not locks the parks at night, said there will be incident reports of the local parks that will be posted and made available to the public “so people know what is happening at the parks.”

Kevin Sheehan, the village’s code enforcement officer and a former village trustee, lives next to St. Joseph’s Park on Clinton Street. He said that park has playground equipment in front by the entrance. The park then extends far back away from the road, away from any street lights. That makes it easy for people to congregate at night somewhat undetected and disturb neighbors.

Sheehan said the parks are for kids and should be open during the day, but not at night.

“I love hearing the kids play there,” he said. “It’s like music, but the park should be locked at night.”

Burgess, the Lafayette neighbor, said a lock at night is an easy deterrent “to people who shouldn’t be there at night.”

Trustee Tim McMurray said the parks can be a safe place after hours for kids in unstable homes. Some kids go there after hours and don’t cause trouble.

Trustee Barry said he was one of those kids, however, who went there in the dark and destroyed things.

Susan Oschmann, a member of the Albion Recreation Committee, raised the issue last month of the locked St. Joseph’s Park. She lives close to the park and tried to take her grandchildren there in 2018 and was surprised to see the front gate locked.

The village used to have the police department unlock the gate in the morning and then at dusk, but it didn’t always happen if the police had other calls.

Sheehan was given a key to the gate and he often unlocked and locked St. Joe’s. But Oschmann said it seemed the park was often locked up, even during the summer, despite nice playground equipment and a picnic area.

The village will be putting in brighter lights at Lafayette and security cameras at Bullard to help deter any vandalism.

The village is proposing local parks law that sets the hours of operation from 8 a.m. to dusk. The proposal, which should be voted on next month, also doesn’t allow disruptive behavior – disorderly conduct, harassment or loitering. No person will be allowed to carry or discharge a firearm, slingshot or bow and arrow, and no stone throwing will be allowed.

The code also doesn’t allow any excavating or digging up of plants. No pets are allowed but the village may set aside space for dogs in a fenced in area in the future.

There also shouldn’t be any selling or soliciting in the parks, and no posting of advertisements.

By Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum Director – Vol. 3 No. 13

CHILDS – This is the fourth article in the “Historic Childs-Musical Instruments” series, and the subject instrument is a Gulbransen Player Piano built in 1926.  This upright player piano is part of the artifact collection at the Cobblestone Museum’s Vagg House, a 1920s home that was once the residence of the last blacksmith on Ridge Road, Joseph Vagg, and his wife, Nellie.

René Schasel & “Jairus,” 2001

The Museum was fortunate to acquire the Gulbransen Player Piano as part of the Schasel Collection of artifacts, donated by the Estate of René Schasel in 2020.

A player piano (also known as a pianola) is a self-playing piano, containing a pneumatic or electro-mechanical mechanism, that operates the piano action (keys) via programmed music recorded on perforated paper, or in rare instances, metallic rolls. The rise of the player piano grew with the rise of the mass-produced piano for the home, in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Sales peaked in 1924, then declined, as the improvement in phonograph recordings due to electrical recording methods developed in the mid-1920s. The advent of electrical amplification in home music reproduction via radio in the same period helped bring about their eventual decline in popularity, and the stock market crash of 1929 virtually wiped out production.

Gulbransen Company of Chicago was an outstanding musical instrument manufacturer of player pianos and home organs. It also made reed organs. It was originally established in 1904 by Axel Gulbransen as Gulbransen Piano Company. In the history of musical instruments, Gulbransen is notable for several innovations.

In its early years, Gulbransen made the first upright piano with a player piano mechanism in the same case. By the 1920s, thousands of player pianos were manufactured by the firm. Later, in the electronic organ era, Gulbransen pioneered several innovations in the production of home electronic organs that became industry standards.

The Museum’s Gulbransen Player Piano is completely operated by “foot power.”  There are no electrical components. The piano player operates the piano by pumping a pair of pedals that power a large bellows in the bottom of the piano.

The air in the bellows moves through a labyrinth of air tubes that operate the 81 pneumatic pumps that move the hammers that strike the piano wires. Intent to play notes is produced via perforated paper rolls that are “programmed” to produce every note needed to play chords and melody to perform a specific song.

The musical repertoire for the instrument is only limited by one’s ability to acquire additional player piano rolls as shown above.

The Museum’s player piano is now maintained under the watchful eye of Dennis Mellander of Pavilion, seen here.

“There’s a million things that could go wrong with it,” Dennis said. He noted that every key has its own little pump and those can go bad, and there is a lot of cloth and leather parts that will dry out.  “Moving parts give out,” he said.

The Gulbransen has several levers that are used to control certain actions in the player piano. The “pianist” can change the volume of the instrument and adjust the tempo. A lever also locks the keyboard when needed.

Mellander stated, “The levers give the player the ability to add some musical expression to the composition.”

Dennis taught instrumental music at Byron-Bergen Middle School before retiring. He currently has a private studio and teaches individual students and also repairs pianos on the side.  His resume is embellished in that he is the principal organist at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Le Roy.

The Cobblestone Museum is planning a fall “concert,” to demonstrate the Gulbransen Player Piano and also the Museum’s Edison Cylinder Phonograph at the Vagg House on Friday, September 23 at 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. If you’d like to be included in the “audience,” call the museum at (585) 589-9013 for a reservation.  A free-will offering will be gladly accepted.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Matt Passarell carries the American flag as part of the honor guard in Albion near the beginning of the parade on May 29, 2017.

Orleans County communities will observe Memorial Day with parades and ceremonies on Monday.

Many of the events were cancelled or downsized in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions. This year the observances return like they did before Covid.

ALBION – There will be a parade starting at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Park and Main Street. Participants will march to the Albion Middle School on Route 31 where a ceremony will take place on the front lawn with Charlie Nesbitt as featured speaker. Nesbitt, a former state assemblyman, was a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War.

HOLLEY – A ceremony will start at 9 a.m. at the American Legion Post on Wright Street. From there veterans will march to the cemeteries. They will set wreaths at the veteran’s plot at Hillside Cemetery and at the grave for Jewell Buckman. Then they will proceed to the Holy Cross Cemetery for wreath-laying. After that they will march to the VFW Post 202 for military honors, with lunch to follow with hot dogs and hamburgers.

KENDALL – There will be a 7 p.m. observance at the Kendall Community Park where there is a war memorial and gazebo. It is located on Kendall Road, across from the Kendall Elementary School.

LYNDONVILLE – The parade will start at 9 a.m. at the Catholic Church and end near Veteran’s Park next to the library on Main Street. The American Legion will dedicate and debut a new handicap-accessible trolley.

MEDINA – The parade will start at 11 a.m. at the Olde Pickle Factory building on Park Avenue and proceed to the State Street Park where a ceremony will be held at about noon. Participants should begin lining up for the parade at 10:30 at the Pickle Factory parking lot.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina players and coaches hold the Section VI Class B2 championship banner and plaque after Saturday’s narrow 1-0 title win over rival Roy-Hart. The Mustangs next face B1 champion Depew for the Section VI Class B berth in the state tournament at noon Monday at Niagara University.

Taking aim at earning a berth in the state tournament, Medina will face Depew in the Section VI Class B state qualifier game at 12 p.m. Monday at Niagara University.

Medina advanced by nipping Niagara-Orleans League rival Roy-Hart 1-0 for the Class B2 championship on Saturday. The B-2 title is the third straight for the Mustangs.

Depew downed Lew-Port interestingly by that same narrow 1-0 margin for the Class B1 title Saturday. The sectional title was Depew’s first in over 50 years since the Wildcats captured three championships in a span of four years in 1971, 1969 and 1968 which ironically was over Medina by a score of 8-1.

Monday’s contest will be a rematch of a late season non league game which saw Medina nip host Depew 2-0 in eight innings as Aidan Paul and Xander Payne each pitched four innings to combine for a no hitter with 20 strikeouts.

The Mustangs bring a 20-3 record into the state qualifier while the Wildcats are 16-7.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

Illuminating Orleans, Vol. 2, No. 19

The Stars and Stripes, Friday, December 18, 1918: “It is our duty to make good what they offered, their lives, their blood to obtain.”

Eight young men from Orleans County were killed in a five-hour span on the fields of France on September 29, 1918. Twenty were injured. Two other young men had been killed on the previous day.

The men were members of the Second Battalion, 107th and 108th Infantry which was under the command of Major John Thompson of Medina. It included Company F. Medina, Company E of Niagara Falls and Jamestown, and Companies G and H of Rochester. They were part of the Allied final assault on the infamous Hindenburg Line, a German built defensive position on the Western front.

Australian, American, British and French soldiers participated in the marathon attack and successfully breached the line on Sept. 29.

Major Thompson described the action of that day in an article published in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, 25 November 1918:

“At 5:50 o’clock on Sunday morning, September 29th, the barrage from our guns was started. That was our signal to go ahead. Our 846 men almost as a unit went over the top with a dash and a song….From the moment the advance began until we stopped, three miles ahead, at 11:00, our men were in a hail of bullets and a cloud of blinding smoke. The barrage laid down by the enemy tore up the ground around the men and the noise was deafening.

The Second Battalion enjoys the distinction of being the only one which pierced the line at that dangerous and effective point.”

Five of the Second Battalion’s casualties on September 29, 1918, were from Medina:

• Cpl. James P. Clark, aged 19. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Butts-Clark American Legion Post #204 was named in his honor.
• Cpl. William J. Collins, aged 20.
• Mechanic Walter Lindke, aged 26,
• Pvt. Cecil Green, aged 21.
• Pvt. Albert E. Coon, aged 19.

Two of the casualties were from Albion:

• Sgt. James A. Sheret, aged 24. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
• Pvt. Egbert Sheret, aged 22.

One of the deceased was from Kent, NY

• Pvt. A H. Wilson, aged 19.

Pvt. F.J. Bloom and Pvt. Walter Gaylord aged 19, both of Medina, were killed on September 28.

Thirteen soldiers from Medina were injured in action on September 29:

Martin McKernan, M.D. Barrus, John S. Green, William F.  Smith, W.F. Tripp. C.F. Fenton, Michael Smith, James G. Eddy, J.D. Clark, H.A. Durnell, Seth F. Clark, Fred Alloway and M.C. Ward.

Eight soldiers from Albion were injured:

L.W. Sanford, Carl Long, E.L. Wilson. Andrew E. Sheret, E.D. McGaffick, F.D.  Depzynski, L.G. Williams and B.A. Perry.

In addition to Cpl. Clark and Sgt. Sheret, William F. Smith and Mahlon C. Ward of Medina, and Raymond F. Reed of Waterport were recommended for bravery.

Though faced with insurmountable odds, these men fought with distinction and were instrumental in breaching the last and strongest of the German army’s defense system.