By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2026 at 1:13 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Central Hall is now on the market and listed for sale at $229,000. The photo shows Debi Woodroe, owner of Woodroe Realty in Medina, and her husband Butch Balschmiter at about noon today putting their signs in the yard at 34 East Park St.
The County Legislature on Sept. 23 declared the building as surplus and retained Woodroe Realty to sell the building with a 2 percent commission.
The building used to include the County Treasurer’s Office but the treasurer moved to the former Bank of America site at 156 South Main St. in 2024. That is next to Subway.
The county also has moved the historian’s office and the Department of History’s artifacts from the site to 2,000 square feet of space on the side of a plaza next to Subway.
With Central Hall entirely vacated, the Legislature wants to sell it.
Central Hall, a solid red-brick building, was a school from 1882 to 1934, and then was used as the post for the American Legion until the site was bought by the county in 1980.
Debi Woodroe sees lots of potential at the building, which is zoned residential/commercial. It could be used as business offices or as a residence. There are two furnaces including one from 2024 and two entrances if the site were to be split into two apartments, she said.
There are seven parking spaces in back as part of the property, as well as a handicapped accessible ramp.
The roof was replaced in 2011, new windows and a chair lift to the second floor were installed in 2021.
“This building was very well built with lots of character,” she said.
For more information call Woodroe at (585)746-1663 or check her website by clicking here.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 2 October 2026 at 12:54 pm
Nicole Tuohey again selling elephant links for $1, which includes a cookie
Photo contributed: Nicole Tuohey stands next to a pile of elephant’s links, which she makes and sells in Hans’s Baker to benefit Alzheimer’s research. The links are sold for $1 and come with an elephant cookie. She strings them down Main Street the night before the Alzheimer’s Walk, which is Oct. 10.
MEDINA – Alzheimer’s disease has been a big part of Mary Lou Tuohey’s life for more than a decade – dealing with it, dreading it, fundraising for research for it and promoting awareness of it.
On Oct. 10, the annual Walk to end Alzheimer’s will take place in State Street Park, with registration at 9 a.m. The walk will start at 10 a.m. A basket raffle is currently on display in the window at Hans’s Bakery. The drawing will take place after the last walker finishes.
One thing Mary Lou has been adamant about over the years is instilling in daughter Nicole the impact the disease has had on their lives and the need to support efforts to combat it.
That is why Nicole every year has sold “elephant links,” which she fastens together and stretches down Main Street. Her goal every year is to sell enough to stretch them down the block of downtown Medina.
Nicole started making the links when her mom owned Case-Nic Cookies and she sold them for $1 in the store. They also come with an elephant cutout sugar cookie, formerly made by Mary Lou, and now by Hans Rosentreter, who purchased the store and runs Hans’s Bakery there.
The elephant signifies memory (an elephant is said to never forget) and memory is what Alzheimer’s destroys.
Along with the links, Mary Lou started a basket raffle, with items displayed in her store window, and now in Hans’s window.
Tickets for the raffle are currently on sale at the bakery, with a unique system Mary Lou developed where supporters can buy their tickets even when the store is closed. A bucket outside the door is filled with envelopes in which there is a sheet listing all the baskets, which are displayed in Hans’s window. Customers put in their money ($10 per sheet) in the envelope, mark how many tickets they want in their chosen baskets, and drop the envelope in the mail slot in the door.
Every year, Mary Lou shares a story of her family’s history of Alzheimer’s and how it has affected Nicole.
Nicole’s grandma and grandpa both died of Alzheimer’s.
“For a total of 27 years, my mom watched her mom and dad fade away,” Nicole’s message reads. “She saw her dad, who was an engineer for Harrison Radiator for 30 years, owned his own business, loved to fish, fix cars and golf, and took care of his family, become a man who forgot who he was, wore diapers and only said, ‘What’s on the agenda?’ He ended up in a nursing home when Grandma could no longer take care of him.”
A few years later, Nicole’s Grandma Bradley became increasingly forgetful, got lost when driving and couldn’t take care of herself any more. She, too, had to go in a nursing home, where Mary Lou took Nicole to visit.
“Gramma didn’t know who I was,” Nicole shares. “She spoke ‘gibberish’ and the only thing Gramma did was cuddle the doll, Andrew, that her four children got for her. She loved Andrew, but didn’t know who her four children or seven grandchildren were. Mom cried every time we left.”
Nicole tells her story because she worries and wonders if her mom will get Alzheimer’s disease.
“If she does, what will happen to me,” Nicole asks. “ I love her and need her.. I don’t want her to fade away from life like Gramma and Grampa Bradley did. I don’t want her to not know who I am.”
That is why Nicole sells her elephant’s links for Alzheimer’s, and stretches them down Main Street the night before the Alzheimer’s Walk. All the money raised goes directly to Alzheimer’s for research to help find the “link” to Alzheimer’s.
“I pray my mom does not have to suffer through this horrifying disease,” Nicole wrote in her message.
File photo by Tom Rivers: Toni Bradshaw entered these pumpkins – Freddy Krueger at left and E.T. at right – in a pumpkin-carving contest on Oct. 12, 2024 at the Orleans County 4-H fairgrounds. She won first place with E.T. The contest returns on Oct. 10.
Contributed by Katie Oakes, Orleans County CCE Master Gardener Coordinator
KNOWLESVILLE – Master Gardeners are calling for entries for their annual Pumpkinpalooza competition! This contest is open to the public and takes place during the Medina Lions Club Scarecrow Festival on Saturday, October 10th at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
“When most people think of fall, they think of pumpkins! And scarecrows! Come enjoy both with us on Saturday, October 10th!” said Lisa Lancaster, Master Gardener and chairperson of the Pumpkinpalooza committee. “It’s a lot of fun and a great way to welcome fall! Plus, it’s all indoors so it’s a rain- or-shine event!”
Creative pumpkin designers of all ages can enter their exhibits in three categories – Best Carved, Best Decorated, and Best Painted. Gift certificate prizes will be awarded to the winners of each category. Pumpkin entries must be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. in the Lartz Building on the 4-H Fairgrounds. Master Gardener volunteers will judge the entries and announce the winners at noon. Winners need not be present to win.
In addition to the public pumpkin contest, Master Gardeners will also have free pumpkin painting available for children 12 and under, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or while supplies last). All pumpkins for the painting activity are generously donated by Panek Farms in Albion.
“I think it’s so worthwhile to offer something free for children to enjoy,” explained Brenda Radzinski, Master Gardener and a key committee member of the event.
Master Gardeners are hoping to have their biggest turnout yet, so even if you’ve never been involved in the event before, get your creative juices flowing and prepare your pumpkin entry! Examples of past entries included elaborate carved figures, painted fall landscapes, and a pumpkin fairy house decorated with flowers and miniature accessories.
“The joy on the kids’ faces when you watch them create their very own masterpiece is so rewarding at the end,” said Melissa Greean, Master Gardener and another lead committee member of the Pumpkinpalooza event. “We hope to have this event grow each year!”
Pumpkinpalooza ends at 1 p.m., but the Scarecrow Festival goes from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. There is a $12 cost per scarecrow with all supplies included. Both events will be held in the Lartz Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds, 12690 State Rt 31 in Albion. For questions about Pumpkinpalooza or other Master Gardener events, call 585-798-4265 ext. 125 or email klo54@cornell.edu.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2026 at 8:32 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Gia Baker, 9, of Albion decorates a pumpkin on East Bank Street in Albion during last year’s Fall Fest in Albion. The event returns on Saturday with many activities.
Albion and Kendall will both be hosting fall festivals on Saturday with scarecrows, pumpkin painting and other activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Albion Merchants Association will have its Fall Festival in downtown Albion. People can make scarecrows, paint a pumpkin, browse local vendors, and enjoy music and other activities.
The scarecrows are usually attached to the light poles in the downtown during October. This year, they will instead be displayed along a fence at Bullard Park.
Albion will also welcome the band Yacht Club for a concert at 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge at 428 West State St. This is a fundraiser towards the July 3rd celebration at Bullard Park, which includes fireworks and other activities.
Mavis Williams, a member of the Kendall Scarecrow Committee, took the lead in creating this RIP scarecrow during last year’s scarecrow festival.
The Kendall Scarecrow Festival will be at the Kendall Community Park, 1941 Kendall Rd.
This year’s scarecrow contest has a theme of “Happy 250th Birthday America!”
The festival includes food, live music by Rebel’s Posse, raffles, games, hayrides, and other family-friendly activities with crafts, face painting, inflatables and pony rides. There will be a chainsaw carving demo by Jeff of Critters 3D.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2026 at 8:00 am
Jeffrey Ghee also was charged Thursday in local drug investigation
Jeffrey Ghee
A Medina man who was charged in a drug investigation on Thursday also is facing federal charges in a bank fraud conspiracy.
Jeffrey Ghee, 39, is among 15 people in the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation charged on Thursday after a multi-agency investigation conducted by federal, state and local law enforcement partners.
The charges were announced by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, the UGSN operated in Albany and elsewhere since at least September 2024. The complaint alleges that members and others associated with those gang members sought to obtain revenue for the gang through the commission of various crimes, including bank fraud. The criminal complaint further alleges that the defendants conspired together to defraud and attempt to defraud individuals, financial institutions, and the U.S. Treasury out of more than $620,000.
The criminal complaint charges the 15 defendants with participation in a bank fraud conspiracy. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release of up to 5 years.
Ghee on Thursday also was one of four people charged in Orleans County after a search warrant by the Orleans County Major Felony Crimes Task Force and the FBI at 746 Church St. in Medina. Law enforcement seized over an ounce of cocaine, as well as cocaine packaged for sale, methamphetamine pills and parafluorofentanyl. They also seized digital scales, packaging material and over $1,300 in cash, the Task Force said.
Ghee was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, intent to sell (Class B felony); one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (Class B felony); one count of tampering with evidence (Class E felony); one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree (Class E felony); and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree (Class A misdemeanor).
Ghee was issued an appearance ticket returning to the Shelby Town Court on Dec. 1. He was taken into federal custody and transported to Rochester to appear in federal court.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 October 2026 at 6:49 pm
Pictured from left include Jeffrey Ghee, Brennan Callara, Erica Ghee and Terrence Wells
MEDINA – Four people in Medina have been charged today after law enforcement seized over an ounce of cocaine, as well as cocaine packaged for sale, methamphetamine pills and parafluorofentanyl.
The Orleans County Major Felony Crimes Task Force and the FBI, in a joint investigation, executed a search warrant at 746 Church St. in Medina. They also seized digital scales, packaging material and over $1,300 in cash, the Task Force said.
The following, all residents of 746 Church St., were charged:
• Jeffrey Ghee, 39, was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, intent to sell (Class B felony); one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (Class B felony); one count of tampering with evidence (Class E felony); one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree (Class E felony); and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree (Class A misdemeanor).
Ghee was issued an appearance ticket returning to the Shelby Town Court on Dec. 1. Ghee was taken into federal custody and transported to Rochester to appear in federal court.
• Brennan Callara, 29, was charged with: one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, intent to sell; one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree; one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree; and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.
Callara was issued an appearance ticket returning for Shelby Town Court on Dec. 1. He was transported to Orleans County Jail where he was held on a parole warrant.
• Erika Ghee, 47, was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, intent to sell; and one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree.
Ghee was issued an appearance ticket for Shelby Town Court on Dec. 1. She was transported to Niagara County on an outstanding arrest warrant.
• Terrance Wells, 42, was charged with one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree.
Wells was issued an appearance ticket for Shelby Town Court on Dec. 1.
Assisting in this investigation was Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, the Medina Police Department, NYS DOCCS Office of Special Investigations, NYS Parole and the State Police.
Further arrests and charges are pending in this investigation, the Task Force stated in a news release.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 October 2026 at 3:48 pm
ALBION – A Rochester man with no prior criminal history was sentenced to five years of probation in Orleans County Court for having cocaine in Albion.
Tamage Faison, 19, pleaded guilty on June 17 to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 5th degree for having cocaine on March 4.
He could have faced time in state prison, but County Court Judge Sanford Church followed the sentencing parameters in a plea agreement and gave Faison five years of probation. District Attorney Susan Howard also said she supported probation in this case.
“Thank you for the opportunity and for your consideration,” Faison said before he was sentenced.
In other cases in County Court on Wednesday:
• Javon Presley, 37, of Niagara Falls was arraigned on multiple charges after he allegedly broke into a Medina home on Feb. 14 and took a debit card and $970 in cash.
He was arraigned on second-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny, third-degree robbery, and criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation.
He entered not guilty pleas to the charges. Presley has posted bail at $2,500.
• The judge found that Raymond Stanley, 50, of Holley violated terms of his probation and could face up to nine months in jail when he is sentenced on Nov. 18.
Stanley has been on probation for petty larceny. He acknowledged he was in an accident on an E-bike because he was “stoned” on April 23, missed four probation appointments, used cocaine, used marijuana three times, used alcohol, and went to Genesee County without probation permission.
• Eric McGill, 43, of Albion was offered a plea deal where he would face up to three years in state prison for making a terrorist threat and one year for criminal possession of a weapon in the 3rd degree. The agreement would be a maximum three-year cap to satisfy the charges.
McGill, formerly of Medina, faces multiple charges from two incidents in June.
On June 13 during the Albion Strawberry Festival 5k/8k race on East State Street, McGill allegedly became angry that East State Street was temporarily closed to traffic due to the race.
He allegedly had a sledgehammer intentionally putting people in fear, according to the DA’s office. McGill allegedly threatened to knock out a recruit police officer that was assisting with traffic control. He also allegedly threatened to drive through the course.
Two days later on June 15, McGill allegedly contacted Orleans Correctional Facility and told someone there he wasn’t afraid to use a gun at the prison. He then allegedly showed up outside the prison and made a pointed gun gesture towards the prison. and not afraid to use gun, made pointed gun gesture toward facility. He had a Byrna less-lethal pistol.
He was charged with displaying a dangerous instrument, making a terroristic threat, criminal possession of a weapon in the 3rd and 4th, and aggravated harassment in second degree.
McGill faced new charges from last week when he was entering the building and being screened to go into court. When he went through the metal detector, it alerted to metal. He was asked to take off his belt and allegedly got belligerent with security staff, throwing his belt at an officer and then allegedly took off running
He has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon and menacing. Those charges aren’t part of the plea offer.
Provided photo: This swimmer enjoys the pool at Camp Rainbow on Townline Road in Ridgeway.
Orleans Community Connects is pleased to announce its support of Camp Rainbow through a grant that helped fund essential staff positions for the camp’s summer program.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support from Orleans Community Connects,” said Lisa Bors, vice president of Public Relations and Development from Arc GLOW. “The funding allowed us to maintain key staff positions that otherwise would not have been covered, helping us provide a safe, engaging, and memorable experience for our campers.”
This support enabled Camp Rainbow to employ two of its three lifeguards, a music counselor, a science counselor, a teacher, and a camp nurse. The funded staff members played a vital role in the camp’s daily operations, providing water safety supervision, educational enrichment, creative programming, and healthcare services throughout the summer.
“Orleans Community Connects is committed to investing in programs that positively impact children and families throughout our community,” said Nyla Gaylord, executive director of Orleans Community Connects. “We are proud to support Camp Rainbow and help provide the staffing needed to deliver high-quality educational, recreational, and health services to local youth.”
Through partnerships like this, Orleans Community Connects continues to strengthen community programs that promote youth development, learning, health and well-being.
File photo by Tom Rivers: People step inside the Mount Albion Cemetery chapel as part of a tour of the cemetery on Aug. 30. The chapel is getting a $225,000 restoration. The Medina Sandstone Society is helping to pay for a new floor for the building that was constructed in 1875.
Press Release, Medina Sandstone Trust
MEDINA – The Medina Sandstone Trust is accepting grant applications for programs that benefit the Village of Medina, Town of Ridgeway, and Town of Shelby communities.
Applicants must be a 501c3 nonprofit, municipality, or school district residing or working within Orleans County.
Consideration will also be given to projects within the entire Orleans County area that focus on the preservation of historical structures, especially those constructed from Medina Sandstone. Grant requests generally range from $500 to $1,000, but larger requests will be considered for preservation projects.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 October 2026 at 8:39 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Congresswoman Claudia Tenney holds a press conference on Monday outside the Orleans County legislative chambers with Wayne County Sheriff Rob Milby, Genesee County Sheriff Joe Graff, Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke and Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard.
ALBION – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney has been holding roundtable discussions with law enforcement leaders across the 24th Congressional District, including one in Albion on Monday.
Other roundtables discussions this week were held in Lyons on Wednesday and Canandaigua on Tuesday.
“Our sheriffs, police officers, prosecutors, and other law enforcement professionals understand the public safety challenges facing our communities because they confront them every day,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Over three days and across NY-24, I heard directly from the men and women responsible for keeping our communities safe about the obstacles they face, the impact of policies coming out of Albany, and what they need to do their jobs effectively. Their experience should help shape public safety policy. I will continue working in Congress to ensure local law enforcement has the tools, resources, and support they need, and Albany should be listening to the people confronting these challenges on the ground.”
Tenney, during a press conference in Albion, said law enforcement agencies are often understaffed, especially in state prisons. She pushed back on the “Local Cops, Local Crime Act” that went into effect on Aug. 25 and banned 287(g) agreements where local law enforcement assist with federal civil immigration enforcement.
The ban on those agreements was championed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, who wants local law enforcement resources to not be diverted to helping ICE, which she said is carrying out unprecedented aggressive immigration enforcement.
“ICE can no longer commandeer locally-funded police to aid an out-of-control federal agency with an $85 billion budget,” Hochul said on Aug. 25 when the Local Cops, Local Crime Act took effect.
But Tenney, joined by law enforcement Monday at a press conference in Albion, said local police should be encouraged to cooperate with federal agencies. Tenney said the governor’s policies are making the state less safe.
The congresswoman said it should be “common sense” for the local law enforcement to cooperate with other agencies.
Wayne County Sheriff Rob Milby said the state action, banning 287(g) “convolutes things for our officers out there.” He said the new law from the state can lead to hesitation and a delayed response “which can get somebody hurt.”
The Wayne County sheriff is among 15 sheriffs who have filed a lawsuit against the state after the ban on 287(g) agreements was enacted by the state.
Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke said Orleans isn’t in a 287(g) agreement with ICE, and no ICE detainees are held in the County Jail. Orleans does have an agreement with the U.S. Marshals where that agency can keep people in the local jail.
Milby said it is clearly “overreach” from the state, dictating how local communities utilize their law enforcement resources. He called it a violation of “home rule.”
Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke said he feels fortunate to have strong backing for his department from the local County Legislature, Congresswoman Tenney, Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Sen. Rob Ortt.
Bourke said his department will assist federal agents if requested.
“We are not trying to be immigration agents,” Bourke said. “But when a federal law enforcement operation is taking place and then request assistance, we certainly will help them.”
The roundtable discussions were closed to the press at the three locations this week. After speaking with law enforcement for about 90 minutes in Albion, Tenney held a press conference and restricted to questions to law enforcement issues with nothing to be asked off topic.
The congresswoman was asked about ICE enforcement and how the agricultural industry is vulnerable to losing employees who are critical to harvesting crops.
Tenney said she supports the legal guestworker program with H2A and wants it expanded for dairy farms. Her office is willing to farmers and their workers with visas.
“But if we have a criminal illegal alien who’s in this community, those are people that are a threat to our communities and are a threat to not only communities, farmers and other ag workers when we have someone that’s a gang member who’s actually trying to hide between the legal immigrants that are here,” she said.
Tenney said she wants law enforcement leaders and officers to have the tools to do their jobs, going after “bad people in our communities.”
“There seems to be sort of an anti-police sentiment that’s been going on for the last number of years in our state,” Tenney said in Albion. “That concerns me because we have rural communities that are also impacted by crime, and especially, one of the worst things that we face in our communities is the continued prevalence of illicit drugs, fentanyl and things, coming across our borders that are hurting our communities, killing our children, making our communities less safe.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 September 2026 at 7:27 pm
ALBION – Two people at the former Hemp House on Main Street in Medina were sentenced to five years probation and no jail time today for attempting to possess more than 10 pounds of marijuana.
Mitchell Kwandrans, 39, of Medina and Marcus Verratti, 41, both admitted in court on July 29 to attempting to possess more than 10 pounds of marijuana. They pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of cannabis in the first degree.
Kwandrans owned the Hemp House which was shut down by the NYS Office of Cannabis Management for possessing and selling unauthorized cannabis products. Verratti was an employee of the Hemp House. (A Niagara County lab weighed the cannabis at 10.16 pounds after it was seized by law enforcement on Nov. 5.)
County Court Judge Sanford Church agreed to terms of a plea agreement and sentenced both to five years of probation.
Both apologized in court today and each will need to pay $375 in court fees and fines.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 September 2026 at 1:01 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion 8th-grade students in Kamie Feder’s enrichment art class have been painting a patriotic mural the past three school days at Veterans Park in Albion at the corner of Linwood Avenue and Brown Street.
Aleeah Vallejo is shown working on the silhouette of a soldier saluting. The mural is on the south side of the bathrooms at the park. Before Monday, this wall was bland and all white.
Nikko Russo is on a step ladder working on a bald eagle while Blair Daggett paints poppies for the mural.
Blair Daggett gives the poppies different shades of red. Blair also had the main design for the mural, which is 9 feet high and 36 feet long.
The mural shows a bald eagle, a silhouette of a soldier saluting, red poppy flowers, the American flag, and the message “Lest We Forget.”
This is the third mural in the community that has been painted by Feder and her students. In recent years, Feder and her students worked on a flower-themed mural at the former bathrooms at Bullard Park and also revamped a canal-themed mural on the Albion fire hall. Feder’s classes also have done many murals inside the middle school.
There are five students working on the mural today. During the three days, 11 different students have worked on the project.
The students and their teacher are shown by the mural after they had lunch and were getting ready to complete the large painting. From left include Blair Daggett, Nikko Russo, teacher Kamie Feder, Adalynn Saeva, Julianna Grier and Aleeah Vallejo.
Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments
The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) are offering their final 2026 free drive-thru rabies vaccination clinics in October.
The Orleans County Rabies Vaccination Clinic will be held on Wednesday, October 7, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 State Route 31, Albion).
The Genesee County Rabies Vaccination Clinic will be held on Thursday, October 8, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia).
Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets.
Animals must be at least 3 months old.
Each animal must be leashed or secured in a crate.
Animals must be accompanied by an adult who can safely control the animal.
Limit 4 pets per car maximum.
Remember to bring proof of previous vaccination.
“We encourage all Genesee and Orleans County residents to take advantage of our last rabies immunization clinics of 2026 and ensure their pets are protected against rabies,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for GO Health. “Rabies continues to be a serious public health concern in both counties and is a preventable viral disease.”
To prevent the spread of rabies, the health department reminds residents to take the following precautions:
Keep your pets up to date on their rabies vaccinations.
Obey leash laws. Keep your pets under direct supervision and on a leash so they do not come in contact with wild or stray animals. If an animal bites your pet, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact the health department.
Avoid contact with wild or stray animals. Do not handle, feed, touch, or attract wildlife (raccoons, skunks, bats, bunnies, rabbits, and foxes) or stray dogs and cats.
Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.
Prevent bats from entering living quarters. If you find a bat in your home, safely capture it and call the health department. DO NOT release it! For a video on how to safety capture a bat, visit https://bit.ly/CatchBatVideo
For more information about GO Health Programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or contact your local health department at:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 September 2026 at 8:41 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
BATAVIA – Anthony Hernandez Landaverde, a sophomore at Lyndonville, operates an excavator on Tuesday at the Genesee County Fairgrounds in Batavia. The excavator was one of the stations at the annual GLOW With Your Hands workforce exploration event.
There were about 1,200 students from the four rural GLOW counties at the event. In Orleans County, the participation included 45 from Lyndonville, 60 from Albion, 40 from Kendall, 40 from Medina and 20 from Holley.
Tanner Holliman, a Kendall student, is shown some lineman skills from Kevin Czuba of National Grid. The utility company shared about jobs with the company, including linemen, service work, stations work, material handlings and planning.
The workforce development staff, business and economic development leaders, and education officials from Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming have teamed to organize GLOW With Your Hands since 2019, to help students see high-demand careers in manufacturing, agriculture, skilled trades and healthcare.
The officials want to fill needed positions for local businesses and connect local students to careers in their communities.
Brunner in Medina had a team at GLOW With Your Hands for the first time to let students know about the company that manufactures brakes for big trucks and school buses. Brunners will be expanding and adding 30 to 40 employees at Medina because it will be producing lease rings at the site.
From left to right include Justin Ennis, human resources for Brunner; Samantha Ford, human resources for Brunner; Brian Pitcher, forge manager; Michael Lang, engineer; Seamir Rahman, materials manager; and Josh Sanders, maintenance supervisor.
CNC Technical Solutions in Medina also had a display at GLOW With Your Hands and showed students its robot dog. CNC offers hands-on industrial training.
Kayleigh Hepper of Perry uses an auto-feed screw gun to hang drywall at one of the station’s on Tuesday. David Littlefield, an instructor with Rochester Davis-Fetch, a commercial interior contractor, led the station. Littlefield said the GLOW With Your Hands event did a great job showing students many different career opportunities in the local community.
Students meet with businesses and organizations in one of the fairgrounds buildings. There were more than 70 employers, industry partners, post-secondary institutions and workforce organizations representing opportunities throughout Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
Since 2019, more than 6,000 students have attended GLOW With Your Hands.
Charles Augello, owner of Western New York Aerial AG, showed students his drone and highlighted how agriculture is embracing technology. Augello started his company last year. He is very busy, often doing 150 to 200 fill-ups a day and spraying herbicides and fungicides for local farmers.
The drone was in demand this year with so much wet weather. The mud often kept farmers from getting sprayers and equipment in their fields. Augello was able to use his drone with a 26-gallon tank to spray onions and other vegetables.
“We need more drone applicators in the area,” he said.
Students in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering program at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES highlighted that program to other students. From left include Jackson Snook, a senior at Albion, and Brody Hazel of Lyndonville. In back is Mason Snook, an Albion senior.
Jackson said he enjoys making different parts of machines. The BOCES programs also has been a fun way to meet students from other nearby districts, he said.
The AME program teaches Computer Numerical Machining, Computer Aided Design and welding technologies.
Mason Snook said there is a lot of hands-on learning in the class.
“We spend about a half-hour in the classroom, then it’s about two hours of building things,” he said.
GLOW workforce officials said the local BOCES programs have seen a boost in enrollment partly through the GLOW With Your Hands events.
