The Orleans/Niagara BOCES recently named its Employees of the Year for the 2024-2025 school year.
Employees are nominated by their peers and a committee selects an awardee in each of these categories: Administrator, Clerical, Continuing Education, Custodial/Maintenance, Staff Specialist, Substitute, Teacher Aide and Teacher.
Rachel Ross is the Administrator of the Year. Rachel has worked for Orleans/Niagara BOCES for one year and is the principal of the Godfrey Learning Center and the Orleans Learning Center.
“My favorite part of the job is the people,” she said. “I feel so lucky to work with such great students and staff every day.”
Ross said she was shocked when her name was announced at the opening day celebration. “It hit me emotionally. I think it is clear indication that I am on the right path and doing the right things. There is no better feedback to guide and affirm your practice than this. I am grateful for the feedback.”
Penny Aikin is the Clerical Person of the Year. Aikin has spent 39 years in Continuing Education, five years as a Keyboard Specialist and the last 34 as a Secretary. She is also a certified TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) Test Administrator which allows her to test adult students part-time in the evenings at our Lockport Literacy Zone located at 50 Main Street. Penny loves working with adult students.
“Our Literacy Program offers adults in the community assistance whether it is someone who needs their GED, someone needing to learn English or students seeking to obtain their citizenship,” she said. “The work that I do as a Data Manager has helped to insure we are the number one literacy program in New York State. I love my job as it enables me to work directly with an awesome literacy staff and to interact frequently with students all having different goals and needs.”
Aikin said it is an honor to be recognized for the work she does each and every day.
Erica Kopp is the Continuing Education Employee of the Year. She has worked at Orleans/Niagara BOCES for 19 years and says her favorite part of her job is teaching and helping people move forward in their lives.
“Many of our students come in carrying regret or embarrassment about not finishing high school,” she said. “It takes so much courage and determination to complete the program. Supporting them through that journey is incredibly meaningful. I was truly surprised and very appreciative of my colleagues choosing me! We have so many dedicated teachers and I honestly could not believe I was selected.”
Donald Duncanson is the Custodian/Maintenance Person of the Year. He has been working at BOCES for 4 1/2 years.
“My favorite part of my job is meeting new people every day and solving and fixing problems,” he said. “I feel very honored to have been chosen. I work with great people and it makes my job easy and enjoyable.”
Laird Burkett is the Staff Specialist of the Year. Laird has worked at BOCES as a Computer Technician for eight years. He said his favorite part of his job is helping people do their best work.
“I listen to teachers and staff, simplifying the technology behind the scenes, and support our team so solutions last,” Burkett said. “When a classroom runs smoother because we planned together, that’s the most rewarding part.”
He said winning this honor was very humbling. “Any success I’ve had comes from bringing people to the table, hearing their needs, and doing the follow-through together.”
Jennifer Jourdain is the Teacher of the Year. Jennifer works at the Niagara Academy and is on her 21st year at ONBOCES.
“What I love about my job is that the students I work with have typically had nothing but negative school experiences at their home district,” she said. “When they enter our alternative program, I love seeing these students gain confidence in their ability and find success for themselves in school.”
She said she felt honored when announced as the teacher of the year. “It was great to receive this award following a year of feeling respected and valued by the organization I work for. I look forward to being part of the BOCES culture moving forward.”
Teresa Armstrong is the Teacher Aide of the Year. “I was shocked!” she said about the recognition. “It was a wonderful surprise to be recognized by my peers.”
Armstrong has been at Orleans/Niagara BOCES for 22 years and is at the Niagara Academy. “My favorite part of my job is making connections with not only the students, but also my colleagues as we strive to make a difference in our students’ lives.”
Ron Jackson was named the Substitute of the Year. Ron worked as a welding teacher at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center until his retirement in 2024. He filled in as a teacher in the welding program for part of the school year.
“I started on my birthday, February 18th in 2019,” he said. “I had to laugh, I’ve worked in power plants for 32 years and let’s just say, we didn’t get any snow days there! My first day teaching was a snow day. I hadn’t had a snow day since 1979!”
When asked what his favorite part of his job was, his answer was, “That’s hard to answer. It really wasn’t a job to me. It was the most rewarding opportunity I have ever had the pleasure of doing. So, I guess I would say it would be having the opportunity to pass on my life’s lessons to anyone who would listen.
“My passion has always been in welding, but my goal was to teach kids to be employable first and welding second. I do miss being part of something bigger than myself. It is the best job I have ever had. I am very honored to have received this and all I can say is from the heart, thank you for this wonderful opportunity to work with some of the most caring and dedicated people I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 September 2025 at 9:58 am
Photo by Aidin Bharti/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul – Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks on Monday during the opening of the World Canals Conference in Buffalo, which is during the Erie Canal’s Bicentennial year.
MEDINA – The World Canals Conference is in Buffalo this week, and today a group of about 85 people will be in Medina as one of four field visits with the conference.
In Medina, the group will visit the Medina Triennial headquarters, the Bent’s Opera House, Canal Culvert in Ridgeway, the First Baptist Church, Shirt Factory and downtown. The group will be on two buses and will head over to visit Lockport around noon.
The Medina-Lockport field trip has a focus on how art and history have helped spur downtown revitalization.
Other field trips include North Tonawanda and Lockport with a focus on waterfront revitalization and economic development; Niagara Falls and the Welland Canal with a focus on the Underground Railroad and freedom seekers who crossed the Niagara River to live in Canada.
A field session in Brockport and Fairport shows how those canal communities use the historic waterway for recreation, access, and accessibility.
The Seneca Chief, a replica of the Erie Canal boat that carried Gov. DeWitt Clinton across the canal for its maiden voyage in 1825, will depart Buffalo on Wednesday morning to recreate the governor’s famous trip from 200 years ago.
The Seneca Chief will embark on a 33-day journey that will end in New York City on Oct. 26, the official anniversary of the completion of the Erie Canal. The boat will reach Medina on Thursday and stay overnight before continuing east on Friday to Brockport.
During remarks on Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted 2025 as the Erie Canal’s Bicentennial year. About 500 people are in Buffalo for the conference.
“The Erie Canal is more than a waterway; it is a symbol of perseverance and progress,” Hochul said. “Two hundred years ago, it stood as a marvel for innovation and determination fueling America’s growth and opening pathways of opportunity. Today, as we celebrate its bicentennial, I am honored to welcome the world to Buffalo, my hometown, for the 2025 World Canals Conference. Together, we will carry forward the Erie Canal’s legacy as a global symbol of connection, commerce, and possibility for the next century and beyond.”
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Seneca Chief is shown in Medina on Aug. 12, 2024. The boat is a reproduction of the original 73-foot-long Seneca Chief boat that opened the Erie Canal in 1825. It was the first boat to travel the canal from Buffalo to New York City. It will be back in medina on Thursday before heading east on Friday to Brockport.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 23 September 2025 at 8:45 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: A group walks down East Shelby Road on Oct. 7, 2023 for the 35th annual walk/run for the Knights-Kaderli Fund. The Knights and Kaderli families estimate that more than $1 million has been used from the fund since it was established, helping cover some of the utilities, co-pays and other bills for people fighting cancer in Orleans County.
MEDINA – For the past 37 years, the community has gathered for a walk/run to support patients living with cancer in Orleans County.
The Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run began when two families – those of Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli – decided to join their fundraising efforts in memory of their loved ones into one event.
“This year we are happy to celebrate our 37th annual Knights-Kaderli Walk on Oct 4,” said Stacey Knights Pellicano, Knights-Kaderli board member and daughter of Richard Knights. “This is our favorite time of year. We look forward to being with all of our supporters. If you have ever participated in our event, you understand the energy of that day. It gives us hope and unites participants.”
The walk/run will begin at 11 a.m. Oct. 4 at East Shelby Volunteer Fire Hall. Registration fee is $20 and participants are encouraged to ask their friends and neighbors for small sponsorship donations. Every dollar helps, Pellicano said. There is also a large basket raffle for the Knights-Kaderli Fund that morning at the East Shelby Firehall.
The 5K will continue as an untimed walk/run, so registrants can participate in a leisurely walk with family and friends, or set their watches for a 5K run. As always, participants and the community are encouraged to participate in their basket raffle. Lunch will be served immediately after the race and guests may eat outside under the pavilion. Everyone is urged to photograph their experience and tag Knights-Kaderli on Facebook and Instagram at #KnightsKaderli5K for some fun prizes.
Richard Knights and Sue Kaderli were both lifelong residents of Orleans County. Knights died from cancer at age 38 in 1984. Kaderli passed away from the disease at age 52 in 1989.
“They were both known for their spirit of community and we are honored to remember them in this way,” Pellicano said.
Funds are raised through annual events and various contributions made by individuals, organizations and memorials.
For more information or financial assistance, contact Mary Zelazny at (585) 746-8455, Melissa Knights Bertrand at (716) 983-7932 or Pellicano at (716) 998-0977.
Participants may register for the walk/run online (click here). Those unable to participate are asked to consider a direct donation through Venmo@knightskaderli.
Photos courtesy of Friends of Boxwood: The Burroughs family plot is shown at left. Shawna Baldwin recites Edgar Allan Poe (right).
Press Release, Friends of Boxwood Cemetery
MEDINA – The Friends of Boxwood Cemetery, in Medina, are excited to announce the fourth annual, “Boxwood at Night: See the Cemetery in a New Light.”
This year’s event will be on October 4. Tickets cost $20 and there will be two time slots: 7 to 8 p.m. and 8 to 9 p.m. The time slots are when you can enter. Once you are checked in, you are welcome to stay until the event ends at 9:30 p.m.
Tickets are limited to the first 300 people so you will want to get your tickets before they sell out.
“Guests will take a leisurely walk through the cemetery at their own pace in a relaxing, family-friendly atmosphere,” said event co-chair, Nicole Bensley. “I’m especially excited by the new entertainment and the partnership with Paradise Fest NY to provide even more dramatic lighting to the cemetery.”
This is the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery’s biggest fundraiser of the year and the funds will go to completing the Potter’s Field memorial.
Tickets are available during business hours at the English Rose Tea Shoppe and Thistle Ridge – both places are on Main Street in Medina. Tickets will also be available at the Canal Village Farmers Market in Medina on Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. As an added convenience, you may also purchase tickets using a credit card by going online.
Raffle tickets will also be available to purchase at the Farmers Market booth and again at the event.
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by GO Art!
“We are proud to partner once again with GO Art! to make this a special event for the community,” said Robbie Klino, president of the Friends of Boxwood Cemetery. “It is through their generous support, and the support of businesses and individuals throughout the community that will allow us to put on a spectacular night of entertainment featuring several local artists.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 September 2025 at 4:25 pm
Provided photo: Those who attend the class will receive a free disaster preparedness kit.
KNOWLESVILLE – There is still time to register for citizens preparedness class set for this 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Trolley Building of the Cornell Cooperative Extension on Route 31.
September is National Preparedness Month, and the Emergency Management Office in Orleans County is working to educate the community on how to prepare.
The class on Thursday is free, but registration is required – simply to ensure that National Guard can bring enough emergency kits to distribute to those who attend.
The mission of these training classes is to give residents the tools and resources to prepare for any type of disaster, respond accordingly and recover as quickly as possible. The course provides an introduction to responding to natural or man-made disasters.
Participants are advised on how to properly develop family emergency plans and stock up on emergency supplies. Those who attend a class will be given a free NYS Disaster Preparedness Kit (one per family) containing key items to assist in the aftermath of a disaster.
“For our community, these classes are extremely beneficial in helping the everyday resident to prepare for the different weather events that impact us,” said Justin Niederhofer, the county’s emergency management director. “The classes are taught by the Army National Guard and offer a quick synopsis of various events experienced regionally, the impact they had and how individuals and families can take steps to minimize the impacts of similar events in the future.”
To register for the event, visit www.prepare.ny.gov and click on the training calendar to find the event you would like to attend.
Image courtesy of Kendall Central School: The new elementary school playground at Kendall is designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. The playground includes ground-level entry points, durable turf surfacing, and equipment designed to accommodate children with limited mobility.
Press Release, Kendall Central School
KENDALL – Kendall Central School invites the public to the official ribbon cutting ceremony for its new elementary school playground on Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Kendall Elementary School, 1932 Kendall Rd.
The celebration will mark the opening of Kendall’s first community-accessible playground, which is a one-of-a-kind facility in the Northeast that will serve both students and families for years to come.
“I am beyond excited to finally share the finished product with our school and larger community,” said Superintendent Nick Picardo. “Our early vision was to ensure that our students and residents had a space to come and spend time with family and friends right in our community. I believe this playground will become a central place for families to gather, play, and enjoy the outdoors right here in Kendall.”
The playground was made possible through the district’s 2023 Capital Project Vote and features cutting-edge structures including the Volo Aire, a multi-level climbing tower with covered slides that is the first of its kind on the East Coast. Other highlights include a zipline, We-Go-Round, We-Saws, swings, climbing mounds, chill spinners, and shaded seating areas.
Designed with accessibility at its core, the playground includes ground-level entry points, durable turf surfacing, and equipment designed to accommodate children with limited mobility. Dedicated areas for both younger and older elementary students ensure that children of all ages can play safely and comfortably.
This new addition is a major milestone not just for the district, but for the region: a protected design radius has been placed around Kendall, ensuring that no other nearby playgrounds will feature the same exclusive components.
“In early January 2025, with a completed design in hand, the superintendent received a frantic call from me thanks to a brand-new, never-before-seen structure having just been released to the market,” said Andy Walsh, Genesee Regional Manager of Parkitects. “Under Nick Picardo’s leadership and with the support of the Kendall team, the decision was made to pivot and include the first Volo Aire in New York State. That bold move brought one of the most inclusive and accessible tower structures ever built to the Kendall community.”
Planning for the playground began with a unique focus on student voice and research. A student-led committee worked alongside staff and design experts to test playgrounds across Western New York and cast votes on preferred features—including the curly slide, which won by a landslide during Kendall’s own “Voting Day.”
“This vibrant new space is more than just a place to play, it’s a reflection of our community’s creativity, collaboration, and commitment to joyful learning,” said Elementary Principal Kevin Watson. “From the first sketch to the final bolt, this playground was designed with our students in mind. I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve built together. We invite you to come explore, play, and celebrate with us. This playground is a gift to our students, families, and neighbors, and we can’t wait to see it filled with laughter and joy!”
The community is encouraged to attend the ribbon cutting on Oct. 1 to explore the new playground and celebrate this exciting milestone. For more information about the new playground, visit http://www.kendallschools.org/playground or follow @kendallcsd on Facebook.
Church will dedicate refurbished pipe organ, celebrate people featured on quilt from 1987
Photo courtesy of Lyndonville Presbyterian Church: This quilt was made in 1987 by a Sunday School class at Lyndonville Presbyterian Church.
Press Release, The Rev. Martha Mitchell, pastor of Lyndonville Presbyterian Church
LYNDONVILLE – Eight years ago, when I first came to Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, a parishioner rescued a quilt from storage in the church basement.
We hung it in our dining hall. Since then it has fascinated people who wander in. Some head right over saying, “My name is on this quilt!”
The Sunday School class made it in 1987 when the church was the United Presbyterian Church. Ever since we placed it for public display, we have dreamed of hosting a homecoming.
We are hoping that many of the people on the quilt will materialize in person. They are now parents or even grandparents. Some of the leaders are deceased. We thought it would be fun for people to reunite who once knew LPC and contributed to its history.
Saturday, October 11th, we invite anyone who ever had any connection with Lyndonville Presbyterian Church to come on over and mingle at 107 North Main St.
11a.m. to 3 p.m. family activities like ring toss, cornhole, a fishpond, chalk drawing (so you can fill up our parking lot with chalk art), pumpkin decorating and more.
Beef on Weck lunch at noon, free will offering.
Photo Booth so that we can get as many photos as possible to correspond to the names on the quilt for an updated picture quilt.
Sunday, October 12th, we are dedicating our refurbished pipe organ during our special musical worship service at 10:30 a.m. Once again, all are invited to join us.
A coffee hour follows worship, so come peek in and see where you once spent time. Or just come join us for two days of wonderful celebrations whether you’re an old friend or a brand-new curiosity seeker.
Bring your whole family and head over. We look forward to seeing you on October 11th or 12th or both!
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 September 2025 at 12:03 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Medina Mustang Band was among 10 marching bands that performed on Saturday during Medina’s home show, the Fall Festival of Bands.
The top photo shows Raelynn Baker, a member of the Color Guard.
Medina has about 80 students in the band. They compete in the Small School, Division 1. Medina scored 72.450 points for first place in that division.
Medina’s program is entitled, “Fragile World – The Way We Were.” The program includes selections from “Raging Machines” by Brian Balmages, “The Way We Were” by Barbra Streisand, and “Winds of Change” by Randall Standridge.
The band enters the field at Vets Park for its performance. There are about 80 students in the band that is directed by Matt Jaeger.
Carmen Stalker serves as drum major of this year’s band. She is shown leading the group on Saturday.
The front end ensemble follows the drum major’s lead.
Mackenzie Poynter is a senior member of the Color Guard.
The trumpeters brought a big sound to the show. River Jones, left, was one of the featured performers on Saturday.
Natalie Herbert, left, and Ella Crooks show their skills tossing the wooden rifles as part of Medina’s Color Guard.
Lyla Page serves as the backfield conductor for the Mustangs.
Kylee McMullen smiles after a segment in Medina’s show.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 September 2025 at 10:33 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Webster Marching Band closes out Saturday’s Fall Festival of Bands in Medina, which featured 10 marching bands from Western New York and the Rochester area.
About 1,000 people attended the event. The bands compete in the New York State Field Band Conference which culminates on Oct. 26 with the championships in Syracuse at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Jayliana Wilson, drum major for the Greece Marching Band, signals to judges that the marching band is ready to perform during the Fall Festival of Bands. Greece performs in the Large School, Division 2 category.
The scores for the bands on Saturday include:
• Small School 3 – 1. Marcus Whitman, 68.000; 2. Pioneer, 66.400; and 3. Falconer-Frewsburg, 66.150
• Large School 3 – 1. Hilton, 68.800
• Large School 2 – 1. Lancaster, 76.500; 2. Greece, 76.150; 3. West Seneca, 73.300; and 4. Orchard Park, 73.050.
• Small School 1 – 1. Medina, 72.450
• National – 1. Webster, 79.450
The Medina Marching Band features about 80 students. The theme of this year’s show is “Fragile World.” “It starts out dark and mysterious, with voiceovers about a fragile and frail society. Near the end the mood turns joyous.
Braedan Signorino, drum major for the Falconer and Frewsburg marching band, leads the group in performing “Through the Storm.” This is the ninth year the two schools have worked together for a field band program.
Pioneer presented a show, “Pure Imagination,” which featured music from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman.
Marcus Whitman performed “I’m Mortal” featuring music by Ludwig van Beethoven.
The Hilton Crimson Cadets Marching Band presented “Sweet Dreams.”
The Marching Legends of Lancaster performed “Vacancy on 13,” a show focused on superstition and bad luck where many hotels do not have a 13th floor.
Orchard Park performed “Color and Light” which combined classic musical theater and contemporary classical music.
Greece performed “Into the Storm” – a journey through Mother Nature’s unpredictability of mayhem and beauty that lies ahead.
West Seneca’s marching band presented “Inspiration.”
Webster brings out some of the props for its show, “In times of …” which explores human experience in innocence, struggle, loss and reflection.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 September 2025 at 8:51 am
Photo courtesy of Carl Tuohey
MEDINA – Medina Theatre was open on Sunday afternoon for people to watch the Charlie Kirk memorial service.
About 80 people were in the theater on Main Street, and they came from Kent, Lyndonville, Medina, Middleport and Rochester.
Kirk, a conservative leader, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 at an event in Utah for his “The American Comeback Tour.” Kirk visited students on college campuses to debate on hot-button issues.
His service was held at State Farm Stadium in Arizona. Some of the speakers included President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Kirk’s wife Erika
On several occasions the speakers of the service brought a full round of applause from the local attendees during the peaceful event, said Carl Tuohey, one of the attendees
While the memorial service lasted five hours, well beyond the expected two hours, the Medina viewing ended at 4 p.m. with a speech by local minister Vincent Iorio. The event was hosted by Bob Sanderson.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 21 September 2025 at 7:10 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Brad Zacher and his son Henry, 5, build a fort with the giant LEGO blocks during Saturday’s special event at Sacred Heart Club.
MEDINA – A first-time LEGO/Building Bricks event sponsored by Medina Tourism at Sacred Heart Club was a resounding success, according to Kathy Blackburn, a member of the Tourism Committee.
“It’s been great. We had quite a turnout,” Blackburn said.
Jan Smith, a member of the Tourism Committee, brought the idea to the Committee and they jumped at it.
The event featured several components – assorted building blocks for children (and adults) to play with at Sacred Heart Club; a competition between first-, second- and third-graders at Roy-Hart and Medina school districts; prizes for everyone who brought in a LEGO creation; displays by Roclug (a Rochester LEGO user group) and local merchant Shawn Ramsey; an I Spy game sponsored by Lee-Whedon Memorial Library; a building table; a sensory area; and a scavenger hunt at downtown merchants.
LEGO and Building Bricks competitions are a big deal, in places like Rochester where there is Roclug. In Medina, Shawn Ramsey from Canalside Tattoo, with friends Sam Vella and Tyler Vercruysse are starting a hobby club to get people interested in LEGOs and Building Bricks.
Members of the Roclug LEGO building group out of Rochester sit with their giant display of creations they brought to Sacred Heart Club on Saturday. From left are Robert Herberger, Chuck Frueh and Shyra Murphy, all of Geneva.
At Roclug’s table, Robert Herberger, Chuck Frueh and Shyra Murphy of Geneva discussed their interest in building blocks.
“I have been into LEGOs since I was 6,” Frueh said. “Then about five years ago a set came out to build a typewriter. When LEGO Masters television show came out, I discovered there are LEGO conventions, and I started looking for one nearby. I found Rochester and signed up. Since then, LEGOs have taken over my life.”
Saturday, they had an entire table set up with LEGO displays they have created.
“What I hoped today was to meet some like-minded LEGO enthusiasts in hopes of making contact with others who would like to get together and create displays about the Medina community,” Ramsey said.
Shawn Ramsey of Canalside Tattoo, left, Sam Vella and Tyler Vercruysse (not shown) also had a large display of their LEGO collection. They hope to start a LEGO building group in Medina.
Medina art teacher Jen Scott’s sculpture class submitted multiple entries, which were then judged by popular vote. First place was a structure titled “Medina Sandstone,” and winning students were Sophie Kroenig, Payton Denniston, Elaina Bruce, Anna Saj and Jordan Olson.
Second place was a “Worker Boat,” created by Jordon Olson, Brady Brandt and Wyett Gunthaner.
Third place, “Canal Locks” was created by Eli Biesinger.
(Left) Photo by Ginny Kropf: Kathy Blackburn and Barb Gorham hold one of the certificates given to each entrant in the LEGO event sponsored by Medina Tourism Committee. (Right) Photo courtesy of Kathy Blackburn: The winning entry in the LEGO competition at Sacred Heart Club on Sunday was this building titled “Sandstone,” by Sophie Kroenig, Payton Denniston, Elaina Bruce, Anna Saj and Jordon Olson.
Two participants were Brad Zacher and his son Henry, 5, who sat on the floor with a pile of LEGOs.
“We went to Disney in August and got a LEGO set there to build a fire house, fire truck and helicopter,” Brad said.
Saturday, Henry said they were going to try and build a big square fort with the giant blocks piled on the floor.
“We just live down the street and when I saw this event, I thought it was cool,” Brad said.
River Cogovan, 7, came with his aunt Gretchen Albone.
“I like to build and create different things,” River said. “I have thousands of LEGOs at home.”
Orly the Ox, Orleans County’s bicentennial mascot, paid a visit to the LEGO event, getting his picture taken with the children.
Overall, Blackburn said the hits of the event were the giant LEGOs and the building table.
Fiona Tavis, 10, of Medina works on building the Medina Falls at the LEGO event Saturday at Sacred Heart Club.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 September 2025 at 5:24 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council has a new free art library outside the Author’s Note book store in Medina at 519 Main St.
The art library was architecturally designed by Jeff Pasnik, built and designed by Carpenters Local Union 276, and painted by Jaylah Sherman.
They also made and painted the free art library outside Hoag Library in Albion.
GO Art! has another free art library in Batavia created by Bill Schutt and sponsored by the Batavia Rotary Club.
A fourth art library is expected next weekend in Holley outside the Community Free Library. GO Art! also would like one at the Woodward Memorial Library in LeRoy.
Gregory Hallock, GO Art! executive director, said the organization is working to add art kits for the sites and welcomes donations.
This free art library was added about a week ago outside Author’s Note in Medina.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 September 2025 at 3:17 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
RIDGEWAY – Al Schumacher, a motorcyclist from Middleport, dressed as Santa today for a 50-mile ride around Orleans County.
Schumacher has wore the red Santa suit the past several years for the annual toy run led by ABATE in Orleans County.
There were 23 motorcyclists in the ride today. They have to pay either $20 or donate a toy to be part of the journey that started at the Ridgeway fire hall on Route 104. Motorcyclists headed west before getting on Route 18 and going east across the county towards Kendall. Then they got on Route 31 in Holley headed west towards Albion before getting on 31A and going back towards Medina. The ride ended at the Vets’ Club in Medina.
Don Sloper, president of the local ABATE chapter, said the toy run has been an annual tradition in September for about 40 years.
The group usually raises $600 to $1,000 which is donated to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee for their annual toy drive during the holiday season.
“It’s good riding weather for us and it gives them a good start (on the toy drive),” he said.
Al Schumacher and the other motorcyclists get ready for the 50-mile ride.
Santa rode on a trike motorcycle. The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office provided an escort for the toy run.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 September 2025 at 2:48 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
RIDGEWAY – Ridgeway firefighter Morgan Austin, third from left, collects a donation for the Make-A-Wish Foundation today on Route 104 near the Route 63 intersection. She is joined by other Ridgeway firefighters – Paige Smith, left, and Madison Austion.
Firefighters from the western battalion in Orleans County were out today collecting money in a boot drive for Make-A-Wish. The public gave about $6,500 in today’s boot drive from 9 a.m. to noon.
Firefighters were at different locations:
Route 63 with Shelby and East Shelby firefighters,
Maple Ridge Road and the downtown intersection with Medina firefighters
South Lyndonville Road and Route 104 with Ridgeway firefighters.
Kyle Brakenbury, a member of the fire police for the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, collects a donation today.
Firefighters did the drive today in honor of Koleson Meakin, age 4, who received a wish last January with his family through Make-A-Wish. Koleson spent a week in Disney World with his parents and little sister.
Koleson is diagnosed with TPK1 Thiamine Deficient Leigh syndrome, a rare genetic metabolic disease.
Ridgeway Fire Chief Tyler Luckman receives a donation from a motorcyclist.
These Ridgeway firefighters include Tyler Luckman, Austin Seefeldt and Austin Mosher.
People donated cash, usually $1 or $5, but one person gave a hundred-dollar bill in Ridgeway.
This group includes, from left: Page Smith, Madison Austin, Morgan Austin, Alex Benz and Buford McAdoo. All are Ridgeway firefighters except Benz, who is a member with Shelby.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 20 September 2025 at 4:42 pm
Photos courtesy of Cobblestone Museum: St. John’s Episcopal Church is at left and the Newell Shirt Factory/Hart House Hotel is at right. Both are historic sites in Medina.
The Cobblestone Society’s annual Architectural Tour of Homes is scheduled Oct. 18, featuring structures in two counties.
“The Cobblestone Museum has had a long history of home tours, starting in the 1960s,” said museum director Doug Farley. “They were originally all cobblestone structures, but in more recent years we have added a variety of construction.”
Historic homes and businesses are selected with a geographic focus to minimize the drive time between sites, Farley said. Bill Lattin will create a self-drive map that shows all six stops and indicates other points of interest along the route. All of the stops will be open for indoor tours, as well as viewing the outside and grounds. Hours are from noon to 5 p.m.
Tickets for the tour are on sale now at the museum, by phone at (585) 589-9013 or on the website. They will also be available the day of the tour at the Museum and at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Medina, which is one of the stops on the tour.
Sites included in the tour are the Isaac Bennett House, 203 State St., Medina’ Newell Shirt Factory/Hart House, 113 West Center St., Medina; St. John’s Episcopal church, 200 East Center St., Medina; Maple Crest Inn, 503 Prospect Ave., Medina; Sherry Wheatley’s featured home in Country Sampler; and Hartland Historical Society Cobblestone Schoolhouse, 9713 Seaman Rd. at Carmen Road, Middleport.
Delbert Young’s home will be featured on the tour.
The Isaac Bennett House, owned by Delbert Young, is the oldest Medina sandstone house in the village. It was built for Isaac Bennett in the late 1820s to early 1830s. Bennett procured stone for building purposes on the east side of Oak Orchard Creek. He owned several hundred acres of land spread on either side of Ridge Road.
The question is always asked, “Why does the front of the house face south, not toward State Street.” When the house was built, a street ran along that side of the house toward a canal bridge that is no longer there.
Young purchased the property from Rick and Marilyn Drilling. Retired Orleans County historian Bill Lattin stated, “This is one of Medina’s outstanding homes, both in its appearance and architectural integrity. It is nicely restored and well kept. There is a beautiful arboretum-like setting in the back yard with many unusual trees and plantings by the owner from seedlings.”
Newell Shirt Factory/Hart House Hotel is located in the former Robert H. Newell building, and had long been admired by Andrew Meier. For 86 years, the building was home to the Robert H. Newell Shirt Factory, which manufactured custom-made shirts, including many for customers like Winston Churchill, President Harding and Bob Hope. The Newell company left the historic building in 2004 and moved to Maple Ridge Road.. The business closed in 2007.
The village of Medina acquired the building after years of unpaid taxes. The three-story site had been neglected and was in disrepair when it was put up for sale in 2005, and Meier bought it. He was 25 at the time. “It had great bones and potential,” he said. “I knew the risks going in. It was an opportunity that came up that I could not pass up.”
He set about the task of methodically renovating and preserving the 14,000 square-foot building that originally opened in 1876, a site that was a hotel for its first 14 years before it became the Newell building.
The Hart House Hotel onsite includes rooms named for famous former Newell customers, including Churchill. There are also rooms named for legendary comedian Hope and Astor, a wealthy industrialist from New York City.
Several dining options are available at Hart House, including Factory Expresso, a coffee shop café with several lunch options; and the Shirt Factory Restaurant, featuring a menu with several dinner options.
St. John’s Episcopal Church is described by the Medina Sandstone Society accordingly:
“St. John’s church began as St. Luke’s Mission, a result of a rapidly growing village and a group of men who felt spiritual guidance was needed. The year was 1827 and the Erie Canal was bringing progress along its path.
“Construction was started in 1832 with a contract with Joseph Nixon for $3,585. Medina sandstone, quarried from the banks of the Erie Canal. Was used to construct this amazing structure. It is believed to be the building in Medina constructed of Medina sandstone. The building was completed, except for the tower, in 1838. On Christmas Eve 1838, St. John’s held its first service.
“In addition to its unique architecture, St. John’s is known for its beautiful stained glass windows and for its inclusion in Ripley’s Believe it or Not for being ‘the church in the middle of the road.’”
Not only is St. John’s the oldest church in Medina, it is the oldest Episcopal Church in Orleans County. For more than 180 years, St. John’s Church has had an important impact upon the community of Medina and continues to be an active parish today.
The Medina Sandstone Society inducted this outstanding example of Medina sandstone construction into its Sandstone Hall of Fame in 2015.
Visitors are advised that the stained glass windows, some from the 1800s, are the earliest ones in Orleans County.
The Maple Crest was the family home of Judge Henry Childs, later becoming known as the Maple Crest Inn. It is located at the corner of West Center Street and Prospect Avenue in Medina. The Maple Crest was built in 1860 for a Main Street merchant, who was a cousin of Susan B. Anthony.
Henry Augustine Childs was the eldest son of Levi and Ann Wright Childs, born in the town of Gaines on July 17, 1836. After finishing his early education at the Albion Academy, he started to fulfill his childhood ambition to become an attorney by studying law under Benjamin Bessac in Albion.
Four years later he was admitted to the bar and associated with the firm of Sickles and Graves in Medina. In 1868, Henry was elected Orleans County district attorney, an office he held for nine years, until 1877.
Judge Childs married Julia Freeman in 1859 and they had three children. Henry’s son Milford W. Childs married Pearl Cook, daughter of the S.A. Cook, a significant businessman in Medina history through his furniture business, S.A. Cook.
It came as no surprise to Orleans County residents when Henry’s name was placed in nomination for a Supreme Court justice position with the Western District of New York at the judicial convention in Buffalo in 1883. He was elected by a large majority and served with distinction from January 1884 until his death in May 1895. His jurisdiction covered Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.
Judge Childs’ local fame in the hamlet of Childs came about in 1897 when the residents of Fairhaven (as Childs was then known) wanted to open a U.S. Post Office in that name. that’s most likely when residents learned the “Fairhaven” was already taken. Postal regulations only permit one post office in any state to use the same name, and Fair Haven was already in juse in a small town near Oswego.
Judge Childs was selected for the hamlet’s namesake because folks felt he personified the high ideals and integrity of the community, all the while demonstrating the axion of “A local boy who makes good.”
The Maple Crest’s current owner, Rollin Hellner, remarked, “When I saw the Maple Crest, I knew I wanted to live there. I bought it in July 2022.” Hellner has made some repairs and restored the windows, original plasterwork and the parquet flooring. He has painted the outside in the home’s original color.
It was Margaret Raymond who purchased the Childs home in the 1930s and opened a restaurant in it, which she called “The Maple Crest.”
Sherry Wheatley’s residence at 10421 West Shelby Rd., Middleport, was featured in the spring and summer issues of Country Sampler Magazine.
Sherry and her late husband Jack purchased the house and 18 acres of land in 1985. The Greek Revival farmhouse was built in the 1840s. The Wheatleys spent more than two decades restoring the house and enhancing its appearl by adding a pergola, a gazebo and picket fencing.
Roofing, siding and windows were replaced and rooms were reconfigured, with a restoration that spanned 25 years of blood, sweat and tears. Twenty years into the restoration, a car crashed into the house and damaged the main structural beam. Undeterred. Sherry moved forward, stating, “It was a total gut job, but it has truly been a labor of love.”
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Sherry Wheatley stands in front of the grain bin she had converted into living space at her home on West Shelby Road.
A consummate collector, Sherry said her preferred style has evolved, and now she adores collecting and decorating with antiques. “I used to love modern design, but over the years my tastes have changed and now I favor primitives,” she said. Her collection of antiques spans more than 30 years of collecting. Her home and grounds represent unlimited imagination and repurposing.
Visitors are reminded while on site to be sure and check out Sherry’s collection of farm animals, including six chickens, seven goats, three sheep and two donkeys. She recently secured a grain bin from her sister’s farm, which she has had converted into a one-of-a-kind living area she calls “The Olde Grainery.”
The Hartland Historical Society Cobblestone Schoolhouse is nestled at the intersection of Seaman and Carmen Roads near Middleport. The former District #10 cobblestone schoolhouse stands as a proud relic of 19th century craftsmanship and community spirit. Built around 1845 in the Greek Revival style, it’s sturdy walls of field cobbles mark it as the earliest known cobblestone school in Niagara County.
For more than a century, this one-room schoolhouse served generations of local children, its modest structure echoing with lessons and laughter. After falling into disrepair, it was lovingly acquired by the
Hartland Historical Society in 1999, which undertook its restoration and transformed it into a museum and gathering space.
Today, it hosts monthly meetings and continues to educate visitors – not through textbooks, but through its enduring presence and the stories embedded in its stonework. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the schoolhouse is more than a building. It’s a testament to the region’s architectural heritage and the community’s commitment to preserving the past.
