Photo by Assemblyman Steve Hawley: The site of a former farm field in Elba, which once produced large amounts of crops, is now a parking area where a developer plans to install industrial-grade solar panels throughout the rest of the property.
Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) recently sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul urging her administration to halt two large-scale solar projects underway in Genesee County.
Hawley voiced strong opposition to the $950 million Cider Solar project and the $345 million Excelsior Solar project, both of which would consume nearly 6,000 acres of productive farmland. He noted that Genesee County is one of New York’s leading agricultural regions, yet the state has seen alarming losses in recent years. Between 2021 and 2022 alone, New York lost 14% of its farms and more than 9% of its farmland.
“While farmers across Western New York are struggling to keep the lights on, Gov. Hochul is busy taking away thousands of acres of vital farmlands to advance her radical climate agenda,” Hawley said.
As part of his letter, Hawley invited Gov. Hochul and members of her administration to visit his district, which overlaps with part of her former congressional district, to hear directly from local residents whose livelihoods are at risk.
“My colleagues and I have spent decades fighting in Albany to make sure local agriculture is not left behind,” Hawley said. “Now, this administration is forcing taxpayers to foot the bill while they bulldoze and pave over the lifeblood of so many families and small businesses. Western New Yorkers are tired of politicians who’ve never stepped foot on a farm making policy for agriculture. It’s time for Gov. Hochul to put the shovel down and start protecting our farms, not putting them out of business.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 27 August 2025 at 3:49 pm
Museum embraces light show that mimics Northern Lights
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Professor Michael Richmond showed this photo of an aurora borealis during his talk on auroras at the Oak Orchard Lighthouse’s annual fundraiser at Carlton United Methodist Church.
Chris Manaseri, president of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse board, welcomes guests to a dessert buffet and special program at the Carlton United Methodist Church to benefit the lighthouse.
CARLTON – The Oak Orchard Lighthouse held its annual fundraiser Saturday night at the Carlton United Methodist Church on Archbald Road.
The event featured the usual dessert buffet, as well as guest speaker, Michael Richmond, professor of physics and astronomy at RIT, who also runs the RIT observatory.
Richmond, who has taught at RIT since 1997, earned his bachelor’s degree in astrophysical sciences at Princeton and a Ph.D in astronomy at the University of California at Berkeley. His program was chosen because of the recent installation of aurora-like lights on the lighthouse.
Richmond said most of the continental United States doesn’t see auroras as clearly or often as Point Breeze does. He explained it takes gas, solar wind and a strong magnetic field to create an aurora. He also said earth is not the only planet to have auroras.
He passed out special glasses for the audience to wear to determine the color of gases in an aurora, which then determines the kind of gas it contains.
Lighthouse board president Chris Manaseri welcomed guests and introduced Dave Giacherio, who with his wife Cheryl was instrumental in acquiring a grant for the aurora-like light show recently installed at the lighthouse.
“The aurora over the lighthouse was accomplished by the cooperation of the entire community,” Giacherio said. “Chris negotiated with New York State and helped dig the holes in the stone around the lighthouse.”
He also acknowledged Peg Wiley, who was in attendance, and the late Dick Anderson for their initial efforts to build a lighthouse and for maintaining their support.
Wiley said she was particularly interested in the evening’s program, as her father-in-law Robert S. Wiley once built a spectrograph for Bausch and Lomb, where he worked for 55 years. One of the telescopes he worked on has the largest eschelle ever built up to that time and is in a stellar observatory in the Atacama Desert of Chile.
Michael Richmond, professor of physics and astronomy at RIT, shows the audience a device which helps determine the type of gas in an aurora.
Manaseri shared the importance of this fundraising event.
“We still have to pay insurance and upkeep on the property,” he said.
The Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum is run by a 10-member board with the help of half a dozen docents, Manseri said. The museum is open from 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and from noon to 3 p.m. Sundays from May to October.
The evening’s dessert buffet prepared by board member Larry Grimes featured ambrosia, chocolate cake, carrot cake, pineapple upside down cake, peach cobbler and blueberry cobbler.
The evening concluded with drawings for centerpieces and a 50/50 drawing.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 August 2025 at 8:51 am
Chad Kenward, Shawn Houseman will serve in roles; Medina could add a third officer
Chad Kenward
MEDINA – The school district has hired two retired police officers to provide a security presence on campus this year.
The Medina Village Board, as part of its budget process last April, voted to end its contract with the school district where two Medina police officers served as a school resource officers.
The school district paid the village $82,500 towards each school resource officer. Village Board members said that didn’t fully cover the full costs of each officer, which Trustee Scott Bieliski said is about $125,000 to $130,000.
The school district has hired retired Medina Police Chief Chad Kenward and retired Brighton police officer Shawn Houseman to serve as school security. They will each be paid $53,000 for full-time work at the district this year. With the costs of insurance, FICA, Medicare, etc., the cost is close to what Medina has been paying per officer, said Dr. Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent.
Shawn Houseman
The Board of Education may add a third officer during the school year, he said.
Kenward retired as police chief in June 2023. He has served as the school resource officer before during his law enforcement career.
Houseman retired from the Brighton Police Department in 2022 after 26 years in law enforcement. His career also included nearly five years with the Medina Police Department and six years as a deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.
The two school safety and security officers are authorized by the district to carry a firearm while on school property.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 August 2025 at 8:00 am
KENDALL – Jen Orr sent in this photo of a waterspout in Lake Ontario near Kendall at about 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
A waterspout appears as a funnel-shaped cloud in a vertical direction over water. It is rotating column of air, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The NOAA advises people not to move closer to a waterspout because some of them can be as dangerous as tornadoes.
A tornadic waterspouts form over water and some move from land to water. They are associated with severe thunderstorms, and are often accompanied by high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning, the NOAA said.
Fair weather waterspouts are generally not associated with thunderstorms. A fair weather waterspout develops on the surface of the water and works its way upward.
“By the time the funnel is visible, a fair weather waterspout is near maturity,” the NOAA said. “Fair weather waterspouts form in light wind conditions so they normally move very little.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2025 at 5:25 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Don Allport, R-Gaines, last week presented a proclamation on behalf of the Legislature to representatives from Oak Orchard Health proclaiming Aug. 3-9 as National Health Center Week. Receiving the proclamation from Oak Orchard include Dr. Danielle Renodin-Mead, pediatrician and chief medical officer; Christian Borgal, clinical operations manager for Oak Orchard in Albion and Medina; and Ella Knaak, grant writer and advocacy specialist.
Oak Orchard Health started 52 years ago in Albion and has expanded to several sites in WNY. Oak Orchard now serves 34,000 patients at 11 locations.
Community health centers started 60 years ago. There are now 1,500 community health centers in the country.
“For nearly 60 years, community health centers have provided high-quality, affordable, comprehensive primary and preventive health care in our nation’s medically underserved communities, delivering value to, and having a significant impact on America’s health care system,” Orleans County legislators stated in the proclamation.
The Oak Orchard community health center started as a migrant health project in 1973, but legislators said it has grown to include comprehensive primary care, pediatric care, dental, optical, hehavioral health and patient engagement services.
BARRE – Heritage Wind is pleased to announce the latest awards from the project’s Community Grant Program. These biannual grant awards recognize and support organizations for their outstanding work throughout Orleans County.
The recipients for the latest round of awards include:
Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association – $5,000
Arc GLOW – $3,000
Lee-Whedon Memorial Library – $3,000
The Cobblestone Museum – $3,000
Albion Youth Football and Cheer – $5,000
The Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association will allocate funding from this grant cycle to assist in the purchase of K9 safety inserts for patrol cars. The association thanked Heritage Wind for the funding.
“The Orleans County Deputy Sheriff’s Association would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Apex Clean Energy and Heritage Wind for awarding us funding that will directly support the purchase of a new K9 cage insert for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, specifically for K9 Odin,” the association said in a statement. “Our K9 program plays a vital role in public safety and community engagement. Whether assisting in search and rescue missions, aiding in suspect apprehension, conducting drug interdiction operations, or participating in educational demonstrations for local youth, K9 Odin is a valuable asset to the community. Ensuring his safety during transport not only protects him but also enhances the overall effectiveness of the unit, ultimately making our community safer.”
The Arc GLOW will be using their funding to upgrade their conference rooms at Orleans Enterprises to help individuals improve their readiness and confidence as they transition into community-based employment or volunteer roles.
Lee-Whedon Memorial Library has planned to take grant funds to assist with the building of an upcoming library expansion. The expansion will include various study and conference rooms that will be available for community members to utilize for various events, meetings, and workspaces.
“The Board of the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library is happy to receive a $3,000 grant from Apex that will be used for the expansion of the library. This expansion allows the library to better meet the needs of our community,” said Kristine Mostyn, Library representative.
The Cobblestone Museum welcomes over 5,000 visitors each year. The organization plans to use funding from the community grant to upgrade the technology in the Welcome Center to show highlights from various cultural areas around Orleans County.
“Thank you for the Heritage Wind Community Grant,” said museum director Doug Farley. “We are looking forward to breaking ground this fall on a new accessible tourism facility at our Visitors Center and new technology will help us provide support materials for the many sites in the county that welcome tourism.”
Grant funding to Albion Youth Football and Cheer will be used for the new concession and press box to be placed at Bullard Park sports fields.
“On behalf of Albion Youth Football and Cheerleading, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous grant toward the construction of our new press box and concessions stand,” said coach Geno Allport. “This contribution represents far more than just a building; it’s an investment in the future of our youth and community. The new facility will enhance the experience for players, cheerleaders, families, and fans alike. It will serve as a central hub for game day excitement, community gatherings, and a safe, supportive environment where our young athletes can thrive. For not only football, also soccer, coach pitch, T-ball, music events, sledding and much more!”
With these latest awards, Heritage Wind has provided over $180,000 to support community causes, events, and non-profit organizations. These grants are part of a larger community grant program by Apex Clean Energy that has awarded over $6 million in funds to local communities nationwide since 2020.
Heritage Wind is committed to being a strong community partner for residents and local organizations. We are proud to support the continued commitment to making your community better in every way that it can. As the project approaches construction, Heritage Wind will continue its commitment to being a strong community partner to local governments, area businesses, and non-profits working to improve people’s lives across the region.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2025 at 11:36 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Jay Grasso, owner of G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing in Spencerport, goes over the state’s Vacant Rental Rehabilitation Program Grant which has a maximum award of $2.5 million per application.
MEDINA – The villages of Albion and Medina are joining in a combined effort to secure $2.5 million from the state to rehabilitate vacant rental units for housing.
The state started offering the Vacant Rental Rehabilitation Program Grant last year, said Jay Grasso, owner of G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing in Spencerport. G&G is the grantwriter for both Albion and Medina.
The state is offering the program to boost housing opportunities. Grasso said both villages have units that could use the funding to help make them more inviting for prospective tenants.
Orleans County also has a shortage of residential units, according to a housing study commissioned by the Orleans County United Way.
The Village of Albion will be the lead agency for the grant. Medina on Monday agreed to have Mayor Marguerite Sherman send a letter of support. The Albion Village Board backed the application on Aug. 13.
Grasso said the two villages working together improves the chances of a successful grant application.
“If Medina were to apply for $2.5 million on their own you wouldn’t get it,” Grasso told the Medina Village Board. “For a village alone it’s too big of a chunk of money.”
If Albion and Medina are approved for the funding, Grasso anticipates each village would get about $1.1 million. The other $300,000 would go towards lead and asbestos remediation, and administration of the grant, Grasso said.
G&G currently is administering a Vacant Rental Rehabilitation Program Grant in Ontario County that includes several communities.
The grant can pay up to $75,000 to rehab each unit. That could be a single-family house or apartments. No match is needed from the landlord.
The goal is to turn space that is currently uninhabitable or unmarketable into safe, quality, and affordable rental units.
Eligible projects could include health and safety improvements, correction of code violations, plumbing, electrical, roof and windows, environmental cleanup (lead/asbestos), accessibility upgrades and general improvements to make habitable.
Grasso said the grant would be a big boost for housing opportunities in both Albion and Medina.
“This is a much stronger application doing it jointly,” he said. “My goal is to keep it fair. You both have similar needs.”
The grant is due by 4 p.m. on Sept. 9. The program is not available for rental units in New York City.
The program is funded by the state through the Office of Community Renewal.
For more on the Vacant Rental Rehabilitation Program Grant, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 August 2025 at 9:07 am
Retiring chief will join Major Felony Crime Task Force
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Mayor Marguerite Sherman presents a plaque to Todd Draper in appreciation for a 21-year career with the Medina Police Department.
Draper is retiring on Friday as Medina police chief. He has been in that role for about two years. He was previously a lieutenant and the department’s K9 handler.
“We appreciate all that you’ve done,” Mayor Sherman told Draper during Monday’s Village Board meeting. “It’s not an easy job.”
Draper will be joining the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force as an investigator. Sherman said she is happy he will continue to be working in law enforcement within the county.
The Village Board will interview six candidates for police chief with three interviews on Sept. 2 and then three more on Sept.9.
“Twenty one years is a long time,” Trustee Jess Marciano said about Draper’s career with the Medina PD. “He’s been a dedicated department head. He’ll be missed.”
Medina Police Chief Todd Draper accepts a plaque in appreciation of his service to the Medina Police Department the past 21 years.
Photo from Medina PD: This Glock-style pistol with 21 bullets was discovered by Medina police officers on Nasir Shine on Monday.
MEDINA – A Medina man is facing multiple weapons charges as well as resisting arrest after police officers responded to a menacing complaint on Monday afternoon.
Police were dispatched to 751 Church St. at 12:25 p.m. A caller reported a man had pulled a gun and threatened multiple individuals, Medina Police Chief Todd Draper said in a news release.
While officers were in the area responding to the incident they located a man leaving the residence who matched the description of the suspect. When officers attempted to detain him, he resisted, Draper said.
The man, Nasir Shine, was taken into custody and transported to the Medina police station. A search of his backpack revealed a black Glock-style pistol with an extended magazine. This firearm didn’t have a serial number and was loaded with twenty-one 9mm bullets, Draper said. A search warrant followed at 751 Church St. and a BB gun also was located.
Shine, age 23, was charged with resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration, Class A misdemeanors; criminal possession of a weapon in the 3rd degree, an E felony; criminal possession of a weapon in the 3rd degree, previously convicted of a crime, D felony; and criminal possession of a weapon in the 3rd degree, large capacity ammunition feeding device, a D felony.
A 17-year-old also was charged with menacing in the 2nd degree, reckless endangerment 2nd degree, and endangering the welfare of a child, all Class A misdemeanors.
Shine was transported to the Orleans County Jail for centralized arraignment while the 17-year-old was issued a juvenile appearance ticket.
The investigating officers from Medina PD include Lt. Christian Navas, and officers Dustin Meredith, Miles Erickson and Tanner Ferris. Investigator Brian Marsceill from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
