By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2025 at 11:41 am
Active community volunteer in fight against cancer
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – There is a big benefit today in Albion for Debbie Prest, who has been a very active community member and Albion booster for many years.
Prest is battling cancer. She has helped many people put on benefits over the years.
A big group of her friends have rallied for today’s fundraiser, which includes more than 150 baskets up for raffle. The cardboard cutoff of Josh Allen will be available to bid on in a silent auction.
The benefit is from noon to 4 p.m. at Dubby’s Tailgate, 165 South Platt St.
These volunteers are wearing shirts that say, “Debbie’s Dreamers – Believing in a cancer-free future.”
Prest runs the Red Check business in Albion. She helps organize and raise funds for Albion’s downtown flowers, the annual wine tasting event in the downtown, and many other events through the Albion Merchants Association.
“You meet Debbie once and she’s your friend,” said Teresa Gurney, one of the volunteers today. “She’s the best. I’ve never seen her in a bad mood even when bad things happen to her.”
Christine Ranallo puts some tickets in the baskets up for raffle today. Ranallo and the other volunteers put their tickets in before the doors opened at noon.
Becky Alexander, co-owner of Dubby’s, said Prest has become one her closest friends since Dubby’s Tailgate opened about four years ago. Prest loves to taste test items that the Alexander family are experimenting with.
Prest also has helped organize live music and events at Dubby’s, most recently with Bingo and painting classes.
Alexander met Prest through volunteering at Rock the Park, Albion’s summer music festival.
Alexander said Dubby’s will change its name for today to “Debbie’s” in honor of their friend.
Karen Spierdwowis, another volunteer, puts in her tickets in the basket raffle.
This group led by Tom O’Hearn and Dusty DeCarlo is cooking 550 chicken barbecues. In front from left include DeCarlo, O’Hearn and Ray Stefani. In back from left are Gary Moore, Kevin Sheehan, Mike Schuck, Phil Burgess, Gary Van Wycke and John Gurney.
The dinners are $20 each. O’Hearn and the team volunteer to cook the chickens at 5 to 6 benefits a year. He has been doing this since 1986 when he learned from Chester Preston.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 July 2025 at 8:53 am
Photo courtesy of Chris Busch: These two yellow squash are ready to race in Saturday’s Zucchini 500 at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market. There were 18 competitors in the zucchini races on Saturday. The races continue July 26 and Aug. 2 and begin at 10 a.m. and last until 1:20 p.m.
MEDINA – Zucchini and yellow squash can be more than nutritious foods. They also can be turned into sleek racing machines.
The Canal Village Farmers’ Market on Saturday hosted the first of three Zucchini 500s. There were 18 racers they put wheels on zucchinis or yellow squash. They also decorated the produce for the trip down a wooden track built by Dave Miller. His wife Gail is the farmers’ market manager.
Dave Miller sends a yellow squash racing down the track on Saturday. This car was made by Roux Gilman of Medina. It covered the distance in a speedy 1.782 seconds.
The races started at 10 a.m. and continued through 1:20 p.m. They will be back on July 26 and Aug. 2.
The racing classes include:
Sprout – under 8
Tenderfoot – 8 to 16
Young-at-Heart – 16-plus
Outlaw Class – Open to all ages and any vegetable. Entrants can use their imagination to create a racing vegetable, keeping to the vehicle specs in the rules.
The farmers’ market provides the produce (donated by Human Farms) and the participants have access to stickers, flags and other decorations for their racing vehicles.
Roux Gilman, 4, holds his yellow squash that was turned into a speed machine for Saturday’s Zucchini 500.
Dave Miller served as starter for the races. He built the track which is equipped with al electronic timer to the nearest thousandth of a second.
All of the participants get a certificate for competing in the Zucchini 500.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 July 2025 at 10:35 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MURRAY – Don Telaak, representing Telaak Farms in Little Valley, drive his Go Rilla in the modified tractor division at today’s Murray Tractor Pull.
The event is part of the series for the Empire State Pullers, which has 18 pulling events this year in a season that started June 14 in Dansville and ends Sept. 13 in New Haven, Vermont.
About 1,500 people attended the tractor pull on Groth Road. The Christ family created the pulling track and facility about 30 years ago.
Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. The Murray Tractor Pull raised $8,500 for the Ronald McDonald House in 2023 and $10,000 last year.
Lee Bement of Pitcher, NY competes with “New Yorker” in the modified class. His tractor is turbine powered and hits 13,000 RPMs.
Sharon Everman of Dansville comes off the track with “Wild Hare.” She competes in the modified class and recorded a pull of 290 feet, 1 inch.
Scott Christ is shown in the concession stands today. He and his family and other volunteers worked on the track, stands and concessions the past month to et ready for today’s event.
Christ said the weather was perfect, not too hot or chilly which kept a big crowd watching the action for several hours.
Scott and his son Travis both compete in the Super Farm Class.
Lloyd Christ, Scott’s father and Travis’s grandfather, is at the starting line in the Heavy Super Stock category. Christ named his tractor, “It’s Only Money.”
The monster-size tractors and semi trucks need to pull a 40,000-pound sled down a track that is 320 feet long.
Christ was able to get the tractor to budge despite all the dark smoke that was emitted. He just got a new pump today. He expects to be back in action the next tractor pull.
Lloyd Christ has been a mainstay with the Empire State Pullers for many years. He and his family are heavily involved in the sport and are happy to host an event at the home track.
Thomas Foster of Clarendon went to the tractor pull with his grandmother Juanita Harling and his great-uncle Larry Kennedy. Foster said he has been going the tractor pulls for 30 years.
“It’s the power, the smoke and the thrill,” he said.
A pickup truck named “Snow White” bears down and gets ready to pull the sled. It won the unlimited truck event by going 307 feet down the track.
Kevin Zimmerman and his truck made it 273 feet down the track pulling the heavy sled.
Noah Austin of Alpine, NY competes in the truck-pulling competition.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 July 2025 at 9:17 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Peggy Barringer is shown with some of her photographs of a great blue heron at sunset along the Erie Canal in Albion, not far from her backyard.
Barringer is one of 11 featured artists in a bicentennial show at the Marti’s on Main gallery in Albion, highlighting the 200th anniversary of both the Erie Canal and Orleans County.
Barringer also has black-and-white photo of the Erie Canal in the show, including this shed that she said no longer exists. She started walking the canal in her 50s and became more serious about photography then after being downsized by Chase Bank.
“I started to walk the canal regularly and I started to see things with a fresh set of eyes,” she said.
Two of her photos have been winners in the annual state-wide Erie Canal photo contest. Barringer is often on local expeditions trying to get photos of snowy owls, bald eagles and other scenes.
“There’s a lot of here with nature and wildlife,” she said about Orleans County. “The sunsets are gorgeous. I chase the eagles and snowy owls.”
Other artists in the show include Chris Manaseri, Kim Martillotta Muscarella, Elizabeth Cooper, Amber Smarpat, Bradeen Walders, Jeff Watkins, Tony Barry, Connie Mosher and Christy Valsente.
Christy Valsente of Holley creates art work in glass. This piece is entitled, “Corn.”
Kim Martillotta Muscarella did this acrylic painting of a sunset.
Muscarella said the county has a vibrant diversity in the landscape that appeals to artists, especially with the Erie Canal and agriculture scenes.
“People who come to visit here say it’s so beautiful with the apple trees and the great blue herons,” Muscarella said.
Tony Barry, a retired art teacher at Holley, stands near one of his Erie Canal paintings of a scene in Holley.
“I like the simplicity of it with the birds and the variety of trees,” he said about the painting.
Barry enjoys painting scenes of the canal and the Holley Waterfalls.
‘I like the environment around here and the people that live here,” he said. “I like the beauty of the canal, even in the winter. I appreciate the starkness of it.”
Jeffrey J. Watkins did these oil paintings of “Evening, Alabama Swamps” at left and “Evening on the Canal.”
Bradeen Erakare, 31, has three paintings in the show. The one on the left is her friend since childhood, Gregg Albertson, and the other is another lifelong friend, Jackie Madejski. Albertson was Erakare’s neighbor growing up in Albion. He now lives in Nashville and is a musician. Madejski is an actress currently with the lead role in Hamlet during a summer production in Cooperstown. The other painting is a landscape along Wood Road in Albion.
Erakare said part of celebrating the county’s bicentennial should include recognizing friends and people in the community.
‘The people make up the town,” she said. “As an artist the people inspire me.”
4-H Fair by Amber Smarpat
Chris Manaseri painting this pic of the tugboat Lockport tied up at canal side.
Elizabeth Cooper of Medina created these dolls of pioneers with an ox.
Rosie Patronski painted the tower at Mount Albion Cemetery.
BATAVIA – Several students from Orleans County are among the 217 to make Genesee Community College’s President’s List.
Students honored on the President’s List have maintained full-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.75 (roughly equivalent to an A) or better.
The students from Orleans County on the President’s List include:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 July 2025 at 12:19 pm
LYNDONVILLE – Maddox Smith, a freshman at Lyndonville, has the Board of Education’s permission to build four new picnic tables for the school grounds by the playground.
Maddox is working on the tables for his Eagle Scout project. He is a Scout in Troop 35 in Lyndonville.
Maddox said he would work with scouts to build the picnic tables and assured the board they would be built well. During Tuesday’s board meeting, he asked the board to have the district cover the costs for the materials.
Jerod Thurber, the Board of Education president, thanked Maddox for spearheading the project. Thurber said the picnic tables have deteriorated and new ones would be welcome.
Thurber would like to see a quote for “forever woods.” He asked Maddox to price out the costs for the materials. Thurber said he would help Maddox secure donations so no district funds would be needed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 July 2025 at 11:41 am
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board is seeking to expand the boundaries of the school zone where the speed limit is capped at 15 miles per hour.
The board will have a public hearing at 6:05 p.m. on July 28 about the expanded zone. Medina Police Chief Todd Draper suggested the change, and Medina school officials also support it, said Medina Mayor Marguerite Sherman.
The school zone is designated from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Mondays through Fridays. The state Department of Transportation allows a school zone to extend a maximum of 1,320 feet along a highway passing a school building entrance or exit of a school abutting on the highway.
The proposed expanded zone includes:
Gwinn Street, extending 1,320 feet north from the northern intermediate school entrance
Gwinn Street, extending 650 feet south of the southern intermediate school entrance
West Oak Orchard Street, extending 500 feet west of Oak Orchard School western loop entrance
West Oak Orchard Street, extending 1,320 feet east of Oak Orchard School eastern loop entrance
The school zone restrictions do not apply to ambulances, fire vehicles or police vehicles when on emergency trips.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 July 2025 at 11:13 am
Morelle faults GOP for ‘rubber-stamping reckless and cruel spending cuts’; Tenney backs ending ‘wasteful and woke spending’
Republicans in Senate and House of Representatives have both voted to end $1.1 billion federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and about $8 billion in foreign aid for global health and refugee assistance.
The Senate passed cutting the $9 billion in funding which had already been approved by Congress in a 51-48 vote, with the House then approving it 216-213.
U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, NY-24, was among the Republicans who backed the funding cuts. In an earlier vote to advance the measure, she said the cuts were “a bold step toward restoring fiscal sanity in Washington.” She called NPR and PBS “left-wing propaganda outlets.” She said she supports ending “wasteful and woke spending.”
Elise Stefanik, a Republican from northern New York, cheered the passage of the cuts in Congress.
“This week, I voted to save the American taxpayer $9 billion of unobligated bloated spending via a rescissions package including defunding NPR, a promise I vowed to deliver to #NY21. Promises made, promises kept,” she said in an email to constituents today.
“The bill will now go to President Trump’s desk, fulfilling his mandate to rein in reckless spending and cut waste, fraud, and abuse.”
Congressman Joe Morelle, a Demcrat from Rochester, decried the cuts for public programs, such as PBS, NPR and rural radio. The legislation poses direct threats to local institutions, including Rochester’s WXXI News as well as endangers free educational TV, accessible emergency alerts, and local sports coverage, he said.
“Once again, House Republicans are rubber-stamping reckless and cruel spending cuts that will have a direct impact on communities like ours,” Morelle said. “Ripping away free educational resources like Sesame Street does nothing to improve the lives of our children and does not move us any closer to solving the real challenges our families face. My Republican colleagues need to stop bending the knee to Donald Trump and start standing up and standing with Democrats to protect the programs, resources, and fundamental rights Americans rely on.”
Many new events, including $1,000 pie-baking competition
File photos by Tom Rivers: Kerri Richardson, left, and her sister Caton Conde were among the moms trying to decipher which kid was theirs while the mothers were blindfolded and kids called out, “Mom!” at last year’s fair. The “Mom Calling Contest” returns next week.
Press Release, Orleans County 4-H Fair
KNOWLESVILLE – The 2025 Orleans County 4-H Fair is set for July 21st–26th, and this year brings more fun, and more prizes, than ever before. With over $16,000 in awards and giveaways, the fair features a wide variety of contests, activities, and entertainment for all ages.
One of this year’s biggest surprises? The brand-new $1,000 Apple Pie Baking Contest, sponsored by Valent with support from local apple growers.
“Everything happened so fast,” said Kayla Dengler, the fair contest coordinator. “Valent came forward to coordinate donations, and within 36 hours, the contest was fully funded- and all 20 spots, 10 youth and 10 adult, were claimed.”
A waitlist quickly followed due to overwhelming interest. Contestants will bake their pies at home and bring them in for judging on Thursday, July 24 at 5 p.m. The top baker in each division will walk away with a sweet $200 prize.
This year’s lineup includes several new contests, many free to enter and open to the public:
Feuding Farmers – Life-sized Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em robots with a pitchfork twist!
Pickle Eating Contest – Fast, fun, and full of crunch
Cosplay Contest – Come dressed as your favorite character
Orleans Trail – A live-action Oregon Trail challenge where teams of four compete to ford rivers, hunt to survive, and settle the West (if they don’t catch dysentery first)
Basketball Free-throw Contest – Free to enter!
Qasim Huzair of Lyndonville sings “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses to win the $500 first place prize in the karaoke competition at last year’s Orleans County 4-H Fair.
And some fan favorites are making a return, including:
$1,000 Karaoke Contest
Dairy Decathlon- Ice cream? Yes. Cheese? Yes. Milk? Of course!
2nd Annual Disc Golf Contest
Mom Calling Contest – Can your mom tell it’s you from across the barnyard?
Hay Bale Rolling- Teams of 2 race the clock to push a massive round haybale through a course
Kids Pedal Tractor Pull- Free for kids under 85 lbs
In addition to the contests, the fair is also a celebration of the dedication and hard work of local 4-H youth, who will be proudly showcasing their animals, projects, and exhibits throughout the week competing for prizes and awards.
Whether you’re here for the food, the animals, or just the chaos of shouting “You have dysentery!” in front of a crowd, the 2025 Orleans County 4-H Fair (July 21–26) has something for everyone.
Questions about entering? Call 585-798-4265 or message us on Facebook!
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 18 July 2025 at 8:23 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Mary Lonnen of Lyndonville, left, stops during her tour of the garden to take a picture of garden owner Jeanette Riley, seated at left, and her sister Joyce.
ALBION – An annual garden tour to benefit the Cobblestone Society has become a highlight of the summer season for many in Orleans County.
This year’s event took place Thursday afternoon and evening in the opulent gardens of Jeanette Riley and her family on Riley Place, off Moore Street in Albion near the bank of the Erie Canal.
Terry Wilbert of Albion meanders along a path in Jeanette Riley’s garden. His wife Kae, a bassoonist, was preparing for the performance of the quintet E-Yah-Pah-Hah.
Shirley Bright-Neeper of Medina and Joyce Chizick of Lyndonville, both members of the Cobblestone Society, led the annual event. Bright-Neeper praised the volunteers who helped, and the band, which she said was “absolutely wonderful.”
Showers were forecast, but held off for the event, which attracted more than 100 guests, exceeding expectations.
“This is our fifth year for the garden tour and it is a record one,” said Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum director, who was all smiles as he directed traffic by the Riley’s driveway.
Joyce Potote of Holley chatted with Yuko and Chris Wilkins from Tokyo, who are on furlough in Albion as missionaries with the Free Methodist denomiantion. They marveled at Riley’s gardens, Potote saying she had visited them before with her garden club.
Mary Lonnen of Lyndonville and Sandy Fenton of Medina strolled the winding paths, admiring plants and statuary and stopping to take pictures along the way.
“As a fellow gardener, I just love it here,” Lonnen said. “Jeanette has so many original ideas. We all appreciate what she’s done here.”
“It’s wonderful they are sharing their wealth and imagination with us,” Fenton said.
There was plenty of comfortable seating throughout the garden, with many niches, alcoves and secluded arbors in which to relax. A small barn was converted into a kitchen area where elaborate snacks were supplied for guests, most all made by Chizick. Near the orchestra, Georgia Thomas served up sweet treats and iced tea. Another shaded area provided space for Mark Bower and Chris Sartwell to serve a selection of wine to guests.
As parking near the garden was limited, organizers arranged for a shuttle which transported guests back and forth from the former St. Mary’s Church a short distance away on Brown Street.
Riley, who was seated on a garden bench with her sister Joyce, greeted guests and answered questions, while sometimes posing for a picture. She said she was thrilled to be able to share what she has accomplished there with so many people.
From left, Chris Capurso, Brenda Radzinski and Gail Johnson, all board members of the Cobblestone Society, greet guests as they arrive at Jeanette Riley’s garden on the banks of the Erie Canal in Albion for the annual soiree Thursday afternoon and evening.
(Left) Georgia Thomas of Medina offers a petite pineapple square at the dessert table set up near the area where the quintent E-Yah-Pah-Hah entertained guests. (Right) Joyce Chizick arranges a tray of hors d’oeuvres she prepared for the Cobblestone’s garden tour on Thursday.
Guests stroll at their leisure through the extensive gardens of Jeanette Riley on the bank of the Erie Canal on Moore Street in Albion.
Yuko and Chris Wilkins, left, from Tokyo and Joyce Potote of Holley rest in one of seating areas throughout Jeanette Riley’s garden. The Wilkins are staying in Albion while on furlough as missionaries with the Free Methodist denomination until September.
Sandy Fenton of Medina, left, and Mary Lonnen of Lyndonville pose by a grouping of metal blooms in Jeanette Riley’s garden during the Cobblestone Society’s annual mid-summer celebration.
Guests enjoy elegant finger foods made by Joyce Chizick of Lyndonville.
Mark Bower and Chris Sartwell poured wine under a garden umbrella for guests, including Dick Remley at right.
ALBION – Entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply for the next class offering 10 weeks of instruction for small business owners or people looking to start a new business in Orleans County.
The Orleans Economic Development Agency will be running the fall Microenterprise Assistance Program from Sept. 3 through Oct. 30 starting at 6 p.m. on Thursdays at the Cornell Cooperative Extension on Route 31 in Knowlesville.
Since MAP was started in 2002, 569 people have graduated. More than 200 have started a business in the county.
The 10-week program covers topics such as legal requirements for starting a business, forms of ownership, business plan development, taxation for sole proprietors, marketing and advertising strategies, bookkeeping and record keeping, banking essentials, pricing goods and services, and cost analysis.
Prospective entrepreneurs aged 18 and older, who maintain a permanent residence or business physically located in Orleans County, are encouraged to apply.
Applications are due by Aug. 22. The course fee is $300. However, financial aid is available for qualifying applicants based on financial need. Interested individuals can complete the application online (click here) in under 10 minutes or contact OEDA with further program questions at (585) 589-7060 ext. 1 or MHolland@orleansdevelopment.org.
