BATAVIA – The Genesee Community College History Club is proud to launch its commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord with a special Historical Horizons Lecture on Wednesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. in Room T102.
The event, titled A Single Blow: The Battles of Lexington and Concord, will be presented by renowned historian and author Phil Greenwalt and is free and open to the public.
In his lecture, Greenwalt will explore the pivotal events of April 19, 1775, which marked the beginning of open conflict between Great Britain and its thirteen North American colonies. Attendees will gain insight into the years of unrest that led to this historic moment and how it set the course for American independence.
Phil Greenwalt is the co-founder of Emerging Revolutionary War and is also a full-time contributor to Emerging Civil War. He is the author or co-author of five books on the American Revolution and the American Civil War.
Greenwalt graduated from George Mason University with a M.A. in American History and also has a B.A. in history from Wheeling Jesuit University. He is currently the Chief of Interpretation and Education at Catoctin Mountain Park.
He has over 15 years of service in the National Park Service and has worked at De Soto National Memorial, Everglades National Park and Morristown National Historical Park before Catoctin. His first permanent ranger position was as a historian with the National Park Service at George Washington Birthplace National Monument and Thomas Stone National Historic Site. However, he started with the National Park Service as a historical interpreter intern in college at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.
Copies of Greenwalt’s book will be available for purchase through the GCC Bookstore, and attendees will have the opportunity to meet the author and have their books signed after the talk.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 February 2025 at 8:15 am
Morelle says Republicans determined to cut healthcare programs to fund tax cuts for the wealthy
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney joined other Republicans on Tuesday in narrowly passed budget resolution with $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in reduced federal spending over the next decade.
The resolution was approved 217 to 215. Only one Republican, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, opposed it. He said it adds to the federal deficit.
Tenney issued this statement on Tuesday night:
“House Republicans took the first step today toward delivering on our promise to the American people: to craft a fiscally responsible budget that reins in out-of-control spending and lowers costs for hardworking families. With the national debt projected to reach $59 trillion by 2035, it is imperative that we curb reckless government spending. This resolution establishes a framework for Congress to implement at least $1.2 trillion in spending cuts, putting our nation on a path toward fiscal stability.
“This legislation also enables Congress to advance President Trump’s policy agenda, including securing our borders, reversing the Biden-Harris administration’s harmful energy policies, strengthening our national defense, and most importantly, building on the success of President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Time is quickly running out to extend TCJA’s pro-family, pro-worker, and pro-growth tax provisions, many of which are set to expire at the end of the year.
“Passing a comprehensive tax package as soon as possible is critical to preserving historic tax cuts for small businesses and working families. If Congress fails to act, taxpayers in NY-24 will face a 25% tax hike, and nearly 6 million jobs could be lost nationwide.
“By passing this resolution today, we are moving a step closer to ensuring the Trump administration is able to implement the America First Agenda that Americans overwhelmingly voted for last November.”
Congressman Joe Morelle, a Democrat from Rochester, was among the no votrs. No Democrats backed the tax resolution.
Morelle, whose district used to include part of Orleans County, delivered remarks on House floor, denouncing the GOP’s budget proposal saying Republicans and President Donald Trump are going to do massive cuts to healthcare programs to fund tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires.
Morelle’s remarks include:
“I rise today in strong opposition to this budget resolution.
“As an Appropriations Committee member, thoughtful consideration of government spending is a responsibility I don’t take lightly.
“I believe every hard-earned taxpayer dollar must work for all Americans—not fuel widely irresponsible economic theory.
“I’d like to think my colleagues on the other side of the aisle believe the same thing, given the rhetoric we’ve all heard over the last several years.
“So, I encourage the American people to watch what House Republicans do, not what they say.
“Remarkably, instead of lowering costs, this reckless budget resolution bestows tax cuts for the wealthiest one percent of Americans while jeopardizing essential healthcare and nutrition programs.
“For this reason, I strongly oppose the budget resolution authored by House Republicans.
“Shockingly, gutting programs our communities rely on isn’t harmful enough, because this resolution will also require taxpayers to borrow another $1.6 trillion over the next ten years.
“Our nation’s founders vested in the House of Representatives a unique set of powers to make it responsive to the will of the people.
“The Father of our Constitution, James Madison, said the House should have ‘immediate dependence on, and intimate sympathy with, the people.’
“House Republicans demonstrate no dependence on nor sympathy with the American people.
“I urge my colleagues to reject this handout to millionaires and billionaires, and work on a budget that instead advances the interests of American families.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 February 2025 at 9:33 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The dome of the Orleans County Courthouse is illumined in blue tonight in a show of support for corrections officers.
The dome will stay lighted up in the evening and at night for the next week to show concern and appreciation for corrections officers across the county and state, said Lynne Johnson, the County Legislature chairwoman.
Orleans County is home to two state prisons as well as the county jail.
“These are very troubling times in our state’s prisons and we are very concerned about the safety of our corrections officers,” Johnson said in a press release today. “It feels like almost everyone in Orleans County knows a person who works at one of these facilities. These corrections officers are our family members, friends and neighbors and we want them to know how much we appreciate them.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 February 2025 at 3:16 pm
Governor urges officers to return to work; praises those who stayed on job and 6,500 National Guard assisting in prisons
Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul: Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks today in Albany after a public safety roundtable.
ALBANY – An angry Gov. Kathy Hochul told corrections officers on strike to end their unsanctioned strike and get back to work, saying their absence has put prisons and the entire state at risk.
Many corrections officers went on strike Feb. 17 at Collins and Elmira prisons, and those strikes spread to the majority of the 42 prisons in the state by the next day, including the two prisons in Albion.
As public employees, the correction officers can’t legally go on strike, according to the Taylor Law. A judge also told the COs to return to work.
“Let me be clear: the illegal actions being taken by a number of individuals is putting the entire state at risk,” Hochul said during a news conference in Albany today following a public safety roundtable. “We need them back to work; this must end immediately.”
Today is the second day of a mediator meeting with state officials and the union representing the corrections officers. The union didn’t officially support the strike.
“We’ve done everything we can to encourage them to get back to work,” Hochul said. “They know they are in violation of the New York State Taylor Law. They also are in violation of a temporary restraining order to return to work.
“We offered an amnesty period where they could go back to work, no questions asked. We also repealed a staffing memo that had been viewed as controversial. We also suspended portions of the HALT law, which requires a certain amount of time out and other activities that we do not have the staffing to implement.”
Hochul said 6,500 members of the National Guard have been deployed to help fill the void of the lack of staff.
“That means that they’ve been taken either from their homes or critical assignments — whether they’re protecting assets in New York City or elsewhere against terrorism,” the governor said.
She said the striking COs need to make a “good faith effort” to resolve the strike. She said she understands the frustration about long hours with mandatory overtime.
“We need more of you on the job, I get that,” she said. “But, we have a situation right now, which is absolutely untenable, especially the fact that there were prisons left unguarded — think about that. The incarcerated population was left unguarded. There were people from other unions, people who work in health care, and the commissary, who were left unprotected by these actions.”
Photo by Tom Rivers: The National Guard has been helping with staffing at the two prisons in Albion since last Thursday. This photo from Friday shows some of the National Guard vehicles at the QWL site on Washington Street.
Hochul said she is thankful for the National Guard and the corrections officers who have stayed on the job or returned to work.
The state is taking legal proceedings against those who are not coming to work, and she said their health insurance is no longer entitled from the state.
“People took an oath of office to protect the public,” she said. “We have to get back to ensuring that that oath is kept. There’s an enormous strain on our system right now. I encourage everyone to come back to work. We hear you with respect to the long hours.”
The governor said the prison population is about half of what it was and she is moving to close or “consolidate” some of the prisons to maximize every beds in the facilities.
“In fact, we’re transporting members of the incarcerated population as we speak to take them to other facilities where I can protect them more readily,” she said. “So, that’s where we are. That’s the status. We’re very engaged and look forward to a resolution as soon as possible.”
ALBION – Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson today said the dome on the Orleans County Courthouse will be lit blue for the next week to show concern and appreciation for corrections officers across the county and state.
Orleans County is home to two state prisons – Orleans Correctional Facility and Albion Correctional Facility as well as the county-run jail.
“These are very troubling times in our state’s prisons and we are very concerned about the safety of our corrections officers,” said Johnson. “It feels like almost everyone in Orleans County knows a person who works at one of these facilities. These corrections officers are our family members, friends and neighbors and we want them to know how much we appreciate them.”
Corrections officers have been expressing concerns over staffing levels and state legislation like the HALT Act that limits inmate discipline that they have said makes performing their difficult job even harder. The New York State Department of Corrections has just begun mediation with the corrections officers’ union to address these concerns. Orleans County correction officers at the county jail also operate under the same rules as state prisons.
“Corrections officers at both the state and county are an integral part of our criminal justice system, keeping our community safe by maintaining order inside the walls of our correctional facilities and preparing inmates for future release back into society,” said Johnson. “This is no easy task but they do a great job under difficult circumstances. By lighting the courthouse dome blue, we want to send a message to them that they are in our thoughts and prayers.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 February 2025 at 12:51 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: J. Lincoln Swedrock, an engineer and vice president with BME Associates in Fairport, presents a request for the Medina Village Board to consider rezoning 46 acres on West Oak Orchard Street from light industrial to residential-3.
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board has been asked to consider changing the zoning for 46 vacant acres from light industrial to residential-3 to allow for new housing.
Sieck Wholesale Florist owns the land off West Oak Orchard Street near the Medina school campus. Ed Michel of Sieck Wholesale wants to keep the other 8.8 acres of the property as light industrial. That land is next to the railroad and includes a cell tower, an old boiler and another older building. Michel acknowledged those older buildings are in rough shape and will either be cleaned up or demolished. (Housing is not allowed in a light industrial district.)
Michel spoke at Monday’s Village Board meeting along with J. Lincoln Swedrock, an engineer and vice president with BME Associates in Fairport. Michel would like to develop the vacant land into housing, perhaps townhouses, multi-family housing and single-family residences.
He first needs to see if the village will change the zoning of the property. If that happens, he will work on determining what the market would support for new housing.
Village Board members voted to refer the matter to the Village Planning Board for its input. Mayor Marguerite Sherman said there aren’t enough housing options in the village.
The spot on West Oak Orchard Street may be appealing with the close proximity to Medina schools and access to village water and sewer.
The village doesn’t allow a cul-de-sac so an access road would need to extend through the property to Salt Works Road.
Swedrock said the meeting on Monday with the Village Board is just the first step in the process. He and Michel will need to connect with Shelby town officials about the access road if the project advances.
“Housing is a big push right now in New York State,” Sherman said at the meeting. “We need housing in the village, we really do.”
If the board wants to rezone the property, there will be a public hearing. There also will be opportunities for public input on the housing proposed if Michel decides to pursue the project if the rezoning is approved.
“Nothing is planned right now,” Swedrock said about the housing development. “It would be a diversity of housing options. But right now, it’s just do we want to look into this?”
Kathy Hochul welcomes laid off federal workers to pursue a career with the state government. This screen shot was taken from her video on YouTube.
ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul today launched a new “You’re Hired” initiative to recruit talented public sector workers into State service.
This initiative comes as the new federal administration utilizes the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to lay off thousands of highly-qualified workers in the federal government.
“The federal government might say, ‘You’re fired,’ but here in New York, we say, ‘You’re hired.’ In fact, we love federal workers,” Governor Hochul said. “Whatever your skills, we value public service. Check out potential jobs at ny.gov/wewantyou. Come join our New York State family.”
To kick off this initiative, Governor Hochul released a video message to invite federal workers to join the New York State workforce. The Governor’s video message is available to stream on YouTube (click here).
Since taking office, Governor Hochul has implemented several initiatives to strengthen New York’s public workforce. In 2023, Governor Hochul extended 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave to the entire state workforce, for the first time in state history.
In 2024, the state launched the NY HELPS program, temporarily waiving civil service exam requirements for many job vacancies, resulting in nearly 24,000 appointments in state government, on top of 6,000 appointments in local governments.
Additionally, the state created 10 Centers for Careers in Government, offering job seekers guidance on civil service systems and career opportunities. The Governor has also lifted the hiring freeze, expanded opportunities for individuals and veterans with disabilities, and funded new testing centers to further support the workforce.
New York State Department of Civil Service Commissioner and Civil Service Commission President Timothy R. Hogues said, “Public service is a noble calling, and we’re looking for the best and brightest to come work for New York State. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, we have been working hard to retain and recruit the next generation of employees and servant-leaders. By coming to work for the Empire State, you’ll have the opportunity to help your neighbors, community and state in a variety of ways — serving, protecting, and caring for your fellow New Yorkers and our wonderful resources in solid, stable jobs.”
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Careers in public service offer stability, competitive pay, great benefits and a chance to make a difference in the lives of your fellow New Yorkers. I encourage all former federal workers with a continued interest in public service to check out the many careers in New York State government today.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 February 2025 at 9:52 am
The union representing corrections officers on strike met with state officials on Monday during the first day of mediation, attempting to resolve issues that led to a strike that is now in its ninth day.
Martin F. Scheinman is serving as mediator in talks between New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (the union for corrections officers) and representatives from Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, including Daniel Martuscello, the DOCCS commissioner; and representatives from the state Office of Employee Relations. The mediation is scheduled for three days from Monday to Wednesday.
“Day 1 of mediation concluded late yesterday afternoon and there were extensive discussions with the State and DOCCS on the need for operational changes, including immediately suspending certain provisions of HALT during the staffing crisis, potential legislative changes to permanently change HALT, elimination of triple shifts, legal mail scanning, no departmental discipline for members considered AWOL, increased recruitment efforts and incentives to bolster staffing,” said James Miller, spokesman for NYSCOPBA.
The state wants corrections officers back on the job and has threatened to remove their health insurance and dock their pay.
Gov. Kathy Hochul also is seeking to close up to five prisons and give 90 days of notice, instead of the one year that is required. She is seeking a waiver from the one-year notice.
ALBANY – Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) attended a press conference on Monday to call for immediate action to resolve the crisis at state correctional facilities.
Hawley also spoke on the impact radical policies like the HALT Act have had on correctional officers and their families.
According to statistics from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, since the introduction of the HALT Act in March of 2022:
Inmate-on-inmate assaults have increased 169%;
Inmate-on-staff assaults have increased 76%; and
Instances of contraband have increased 32%.
Hawley believes this current administration has failed the law enforcement community and must take steps to provide safer working conditions for our correctional officers and prison staff.
“Gov. Hochul and her friends in the Majority have decimated our state’s correctional system,” Hawley said. “Instead of giving our law enforcement officers the tools they need to do their jobs, this administration has pushed radical policies like the HALT Act that give more power to criminals and take precious resources away from those who’ve sworn to keep us safe. The solution is simple. Get rid of these radical, so-called reforms and stand with our men and women in blue instead of closing prisons and putting our correctional officers out of work.”
ALBANY – Today, members of the Senate Republican Conference met with family members of New York State correction officers and urged immediate action by Governor Hochul in response to recent prison strikes, calling for an Executive Order to repeal the HALT Act.
Since last week, correction officers have been on strike in dozens of facilities throughout the state. The officers began the strike in response to deteriorating work conditions, including understaffing, mandatory overtime, excessively long shifts, and polices – like the HALT Act – that have made their jobs more difficult and dangerous.
A recent report from DOCCS shows dramatic increases in the number of assaults within our prisons since the enactment of HALT. From 2002 to 2024, assaults on staff from inmates increased by 1,473 (a 32 percent increase), inmate-on-inmate assaults increased by 1,489 (an 81 percent increase), and overall assaults increased from 2,962 in 2022 to 4,635 (a 56 percent increase).
“The dangerous situation in our prisons is a direct result of bad policies and a lack of leadership from Albany,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt. “We ask our correction officers to do a dangerous job, as a result of bad Democrat policies, the resources Correction Officers need to do their jobs safely have continually been stripped away. I’ve listened to the many families of COs who are suffering the most—not having their loved one home because of grueling long shifts and their safety being threatened every day is heartbreaking.
“I have been proud to stand with our COs and their families for as long as I’ve been in office, and this conference will continue to stand with them until changes are made to keep them safe as they carry out a very difficult job. This crisis will not come to an end without changes in policy from Albany, starting with a repeal of the HALT Act.”
The HALT Act went into effect in New York State in 2022 and has tied the hands of our correction officers to protect themselves, as well as other inmates in their facilities.
The Senate Republican Conference has consistently called on the Democrat Majorities to prioritize the needs of our law enforcement and equip them with tools needed to do their jobs safely and effectively, as well as for the reversal of progressive policies, such as the HALT Act, that have empowered violent inmates, stripped officers of necessary tools to maintain order, and created an untenable crisis in our correctional facilities.
Our Conference will continue to stand in solidarity with New York’s correction officers who have been sounding the alarm on dangerous working conditions in our state’s prisons. Immediate action from the Governor and Democrat Majorities in the Legislature is necessary to restore safe working conditions, reverse these disastrous policies, and support the law enforcement professionals who keep our communities safe.
Senate Republicans pointed to key proposals that could provide an immediate impact toward making correctional facilities safer for workers, visitors and inmates:
S.2656: Repeals the HALT Act (Stec);
S.3087: Requires DOCCS to establish a contraband screening plan for correctional facilities, including the use of drug-detecting canines at the entrance of each correctional facility and the development of a third-party secure vendor mail program for packages received by inmates (Helming); and
S.4422: Requires visitors to submit to body scanners before entering a correctional facility (Stec).
In addition to calling for common sense proposals to increase safety in correctional facilities, Senate Republicans introduced an amendment on the Senate floor during today’s session to repeal the HALT Act. Every Senate Democrat voted against the amendment.
“As the ranking member of the Crime Victims, Crime and Correction committee, I’m seeing firsthand how the HALT Act has done nothing but make our prisons more dangerous for corrections officers, staff and even incarcerated individuals,” said Senator Rob Rolison. “It is our responsibility to restore safety and order in our correctional facilities, protecting those who work tirelessly to keep everyone safe. Today, alongside the families of brave corrections officers, we are making it clear that Albany must act now to repeal the HALT Act and ensure safe and humane conditions in the state’s correctional system.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 February 2025 at 4:07 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Carol Culhane has created a painting for the Orleans County bicentennial that she says honors the pioneers who tamed the land and lived modestly in log cabins.
In her painting, she shows Main Street in Albion in the 1800s, and has images of a log cabin with livestock, and paintings of the County Courthouse and the Clerks’ Building.
The painting will be featured in a program on April 15 for the county’s 200th anniversary. Orleans was officially recognized on April 15, 1825 by the State Legislature after separating from Genesee County.
Decades before the courthouse (built in 1858) and Clerks’ Building (constructed in 1882) were erected on the Courthouse Square, there was a log cabin there. A historical marker at the courthouse lawn notes the first settlers in Albion in 1811 built a log cabin where the Clerks’ Building stands. The late Al Capurso had that marker installed in 2013 to honor those pioneers – William McAllister and his wife.
Capurso, the former president of Orleans County Historical Association, in 2017 shared his idea with Culhane to have the courthouse and Clerks’ Building in the same painting with a log cabin to honor the pioneers.
Culhane, a member of the Bicentennial Committee, has been thinking about Capurso’s idea and wanted to make it a reality.
She presented the finished painting to the Bicentennial Committee today. She will have it made into prints. Culhane will have 500 of the prints made at 18 inches by 24 inches. They will be available for $10 each with proceeds to go towards celebrating the county’s bicentennial this year.
“I love Orleans County,” said Culhane, a former Gaines town supervisor. “It’s a privilege and an honor to do this.”
She wanted to include the Courthouse Square, a pioneer tribute and include Albion’s historic Main Street.
“One of the things I’ve always admired about Albion is the beauty of the streetscape,” Culhane said.
The bicentennial posters will be numbered from 1 to 500 and Culhane will sign them. She expects the posters to be available in about 10 days. For more information about acquiring one, contact her at (585) 738-3016 or by email, cecjcculhane@gmail.com.
Town switched software, which resulted in difficulties that have been remedied
Press Release, Shelby Town Supervisor Scott Wengewicz
SHELBY – Following up the Comptroller’s Audit Report from September 2024, the Town of Shelby retained Nichole Ruf with Drescher Malecki to reconcile the Town’s cash and fund balances for 2023 and retained Tina DeNigro from LGSS to bring all bookkeeping activity current and to reconcile the Town’s 2024 financials. This is a summary of their reports to the Town Board during the February 11, 2025 Board meeting.
Prior to 2023, the Town used KVS as its bookkeeping software. KVS was bought out and the Town needed to switch to a new software system. The Town Board in 2022 chose Williamson Law Books to replace KVS as its new bookkeeping software.
Ms. DeNigro advised that Williamson was a significant step back from KVS and had certain limitations. For example, at month end, once the month is closed, Williamson did not allow any more entries to be made to that month. In other words, any receivables (monies owed to the Town) that came in after month end or any errors that were discovered after month end could not accounted for in the month in which they occurred.
Instead, entries would have to be added manually to make any necessary adjustments. Other accounting software programs do not have that limitation.
It also appeared that the conversion from KVS to Williamson Law was performed with insufficient direction and oversight. When implementing a new software program, the beginning balances should always agree to the audited ending balances for the prior year, but that did not happen because the conversion was completed prior to the completion of the audit of the Town’s 2022 financials.
Additional issues were created as a result of the conversion to Williamson. For example, only the Town’s cash accounts were created in Williamson; no balances were carried forward for the accrual accounts, such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, and unearned revenue. Accordingly, fund balances (total operating surpluses and deficits) were not established in Williamson.
The Town’s account structure also changed significantly during the conversion. Specifically, the Town’s computer account, which is the Town’s clearing and disbursement account, was set up as one general ledger account (record of all financial transactions for a specific account) in KVS. In Williamson Law this was set up as 18 different accounts.
Finally, the code structure of the funds changed so that the 204 accounts in KVS became the 200 accounts in Williamson, the 200 accounts in KVS became 201 accounts in Williamson, and 201 accounts in KVS became 202 accounts in Williamson.
Ms. DeNigro noted that given these issues, the conversion to Williamson would have been difficult for any bookkeeper to understand. Ms. Ruf noted it was clear that during the course of 2023, the process was starting to work better and fewer corrections were needed, but given the structure of Williamson, it was difficult to go back and make adjustments to previous months.
For year end 2023, Ms. Ruf noted that it was her opinion that there was “never anything that was intentionally done wrong.” There is a difference of approximately $3,000 to the positive, which means there is not any money missing (the Town’s bank accounts show $3,000 more than the Town’s books).
The year-end numbers for 2023 will be audited and then provided to Ms. DeNigro for LGSS to complete the Town’s financial reports for 2024. However, looking at 2024 as a stand alone year, the checking account and the payroll account have a discrepancy of less than $100 each.
Both Ms. Ruf and Ms. DeNigro identified issues with the Town’s utility payment software and procedures that will need to be addressed moving forward.
Both Ms. Ruf and Ms. DeNigro noted that in their opinions it would not be worth the Town expending additional funds and resources to go back to any previous years. The Town is in a good place moving forward.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 February 2025 at 10:44 am
Photos by Marsha Rivers
Orly the Ox, the Orleans County bicentennial mascot, tries a maneuver on a sculpture by the Erie Canal in Medina.
These 23 precast concrete modules were dedicated on Nov. 17, 2023 at the Lions Park just east of the lift bridge on Route 63.
UB architecture students created the memorial to honor Sydney Gross, who is remembered for a vibrant personality. Gross was a student in the program who left a strong impression on her professors and the other students. She was a very social person who was friends with everyone. She was killed in a car accident in July 2009.
Orly the Ox is highlighting people, places and things in Orleans County in 2025 as part of the county’s bicentennial celebration. Orly encourages others to explore the sculpture. It can be a place to reflect, meet with friends and also try some daring climbing maneuvers.
(Left) Orly took a bite out of an apple while standing by The Big Apple in Medina. This 11-foot-high sculpture was created by artist Richard Bannister of Barre in 2000. It stands next to the Glenwood Avenue bridge. Bannister created the giant apple as a tribute to Western New York fruit growers. Orleans County is one of the top apple-growing counties in the state.
(Right – Photo by Isabella Zasa) Orly visited the Shoe Tree on Foss Road in Lyndonville, an attraction covered in hundreds of shoes. Local legend says that tying your shoelaces together, making a wish, and successfully tossing them onto a branch will make your wish come true.
Over the years, the Shoe Tree has gained widespread recognition, appearing on multiple websites and in the 2008 book “New York Curiosities.”
Orly has some ambitious fitness goals for 2025. He stopped by the YMCA in Medina and cooled down in the Silver Sneakers class with some stretches and movements. He also worked out on several exercise machines, including the stair climber and a rowing machine. He then lifted some dumbbells and a kettlebell.
Orly tried billiards and some of the other games at Dubby’s Tailgate in Albion, even making a behind-the-back shot playing pool.
Orly is on TikTok, and his adventures can be followed on the Orleans County Tourism’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
BATAVIA – Genesee Community College has named Orleans County to the fall Dean’s List. Students honored on the Dean’s List have maintained full or part-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.50 to 3.74.
