Flash flood advisory in effect until 7 p.m.

A tornado warning was issued until 3:15 p.m. for southeastern Orleans County, the National Weather Service said at 2:46 p.m.

The warning also includes northeastern Genesee, southwestern Monroe and north central Livingston counties.

The NWS said a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Byron in Genesee County was moving east at 35 miles per hour.

“Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter,” the NWS said. “Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.”

A flash flood advisory also has been issued until 7 p.m. for Orleans County. The NWS said another line of thunderstorms are moving into the area with rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches possible. That follows the 2 and 3 inches of rain has already fallen with previous storms this afternoon. Flash flooding is already occurring, the NWS said.

The torrential rainfall has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning for Orleans County until 5 p.m. The warning includes Monroe County, southeastern Niagara County, and northern Genesee County.

The NWS said Doppler radar indicates thunderstorms are producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain have fallen with additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch  possible in the warned area.

“Flash flooding is ongoing or expected  to begin shortly,” the NWS said at 12:55 p.m.

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Beer tent is open and band will play tonight

Photo by Tom Rivers: Lee Bement of Pitcher, NY competes with “New Yorker” in the modified class at the Murray Tractor Pull on July 19, 2025. His tractor is turbine powered and hits 13,000 RPMs.

MURRAY – Organizers of the Murray Tractor Pull have announced the event will be cancelled today due to the severe thunderstorms.

The beer tent will be open and the band will play starting at 6:30 p.m. until 11p.m.

The tractor pull is held on Groth Road in Murray and typically draws 1,000 to 1,500 fans. Last year’s event raised $13,000 for the Ronald McDonald House.

The Christ family created the pulling track and facility about 30 years ago on Groth Road.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A major drenching didn’t derail runners around 11:30 a.m. today on the Albion High School track.

Brett Sobieraski, second from right, was joined by three friends on the track. Sobieraski plans to run 220 laps around the track or 55 miles. He will attempt to do that seven straight days at different high school tracks for 385 miles, and then will run a final 15 miles next Saturday back at Albion. When this photo was taken, Sobieraski had run 25 miles so far for the day.

Brenda Myrthil of Rochester has fun on the run, despite the rain.

After a light rain to start today’s run at 7 a.m., the sun came out before a severe thunderstorm hit.

Sobieraski welcomes people to join him on the track for even a lap.

For more information on the 400-mile run for Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, click here.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Brett Sobieraski is shown on the Albion High School track this morning, the beginning of an 8-day fundraiser for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

Sobieraski is planning to run 400 miles over the eight days with a goal of raising $20,000 for Community Action.

He is planning to run 220 laps at tracks the first seven days for 55 miles each day, then a final 60 laps for 15 miles next Saturday.

Sobieraski gets a high five from Jackie Dunham, the director of operations for Community Action.

As of 9 a.m. today, $4,866 has been raised online from 72 donors. Click here for more information about donating online.

Sobieraski rounds the far end of the track by the Albion scoreboard while running next to his girlfriend, Laura Rinaldi.

He welcomes people to join him on the track, even if it’s just for a lap.

He expects to be out at each track for 10 to 12 hours.

The schedule includes:

• Today, July 18 – Albion High School for 55 miles
• Sunday, July 19 – Lyndonville HS for 55 miles
• Monday, July 20 – Batavia HS for 55 miles (7 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Tuesday, July 21 – East Rochester HS for 55 miles (Special Remembrance Day for Fallen Officers)
• Wednesday, July 22 – Kendall HS for 55 miles
• Thursday, July 23 – Medina HS for 55 miles
• Friday, July 24 – Holley HS for 55 miles
• Saturday, July 25 – Albion HS (8 a.m. to 11 a.m.) for the grand finale of 15 miles

Brett Sobieraski runs on the track at about a 10-minute mile pace this morning. Brenda Myrthil of Rochester is behind him.

Myrthil wanted to be part of the experience on the track with Sobieraski, who has completed many endurance challenges to benefit charities and fallen police officers. Sobieraski is a retired sergeant from the Rochester Police Department. He currently works as an investigator with the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force.

“He is such an inspiration,” Myrthil said. “He does these crazy things to draw attention to others.”

She likes running on the track with other people, which she said makes it more of a community event.

Jeff Atwell (left), manager of weatherization for Community Action, and Ernie Gursslin, the facilities technician for the agency, secure a Community Action banner along the track fence. There will also banners for sponsors of the 400-mile run.

There is merchandise available, including commemorative T-shirts.

Brett Sobieraski poses for a photo with two colleagues at the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office before the start of the run this morning at 7. Connor Smith is an intern at the DA’s office and Susan Howard is the district attorney.

“Our whole office supports him,” Howard said. “What he is doing is ridiculously amazing.”

There was a gentle rain at the start of the run at 7 a.m.

Sobieraski said the rain to start the run today felt like a friendly jab from “Maz,” who is the late Anthony Mazurkiewicz. That Rochester police officer was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022.

In 2023, Sobieraski ran a marathon every day for 50 straight days, traveling on foot from Florida and Rochester, going 26.2 miles a day. Sobieraski would raise $110,000 for the Mazurkiewicz family. In the last 5K of the final marathon, 850 people joined Sobieraski in Rochester.

He is hoping for a big turnout on the track for Community Action, especially the finale next Saturday in Albion.

Sobieraski wants the run to bring people together during a time of divisiveness, and also raise money for Community Action which provides many services in Orleans and Genesee counties.

ALBION – A carnival event planned for Bullard Park today as a fundraiser for Hospice of Orleans has been cancelled due to the forecast of severe thunderstorms.

The event will be rescheduled. Christina Nenni and Michelle Wiseman from Best of Tymes Party Rentals were planning to have many activities from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms today

For the fourth straight day, an air quality alert has been issued for Orleans County and Western New York due to the smoke from the wildfires in Canada.

The alert is in effect until midnight today. Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 175 for fine particulates. The State Department of Health recommends individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.

The National Weather Service also said there is an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms through this evening. The primary hazards are damaging winds, heavy rainfall and an isolated tornado, the Weather Service said.

Photos by Natalie Baron: From left include Pat Harrington, Owen Eichensehr, special guest Hayden Fogle and Paul L. Yates. Harrington expressed gratitude to the audience for their attendance during an evening with an air quality alert.

By Natalie Baron, correspondent

MEDINA – Blue Thursdays kicked off its first concert at State Street Park on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. following three cancellations in the weeks before.

The Pat Harrington Trio, which plays around WNY, was joined by award-winning guitarist Hayden Fogle. Along with performing in The Pat Harrington Trio and the Pat & Own Duo, Harrington tours both nationally and internationally and is the lead guitarist for the award-winning band Victor Wainwright & The Train. Special guest Fogle is the grand prize victor in the 2018 Lee Ritenour/Yamaha Music International Guitar Contest for the Blues Category against contestants from 50 countries.

Hayden Fogle feels the groove. Paul L. Yates is all smiles.

The audience braved the hazy, campfire-like weather for an evening filled with music. This follows cancellations due to other unfortunate weather that would have featured the bands the Dave Viterna Group, the Growlers Blues Band, and Miller and the Other Sinners.

Blue Thursdays usually brings by 600-800 people per concert. The turnout was excellent considering the weather. This is a testament to the joy these concerts bring the community.

Blue Thursdays run from 6 to 8 p.m. and are free of charge. As always, there were many food and beverage vendors at the concert, and there was even a vendor selling crocheted goods. The concerts are organized by The Print Shop and Orleans Renaissance Group, showing off blues talents from the Rochester and Buffalo regions. The sound that evening was done by Curly Pfalzer of Pro Sound and Lighting.

The music combined with the bounce house and the playground made this a great evening out for families.

Other performances from the Pat Harrington Trio, The Pat & Own Duo, or additional groups featuring Harrington include July 18 at Heron Hill Winery at 3 p.m., July 19 at 42 North Brewing Company at 4 p.m., and August 14 at Top of the Bay Tex Mex Bar and Bistro at 6 p.m.

Blue Thursdays will continue on July 23 with the Eric Weinholtz Band and wrap on August 6 with Grosh. There are no rain dates.

District makes $266,495 in cuts after budget was rejected twice

Photo by Tom Rivers: Dan Dragula, the Lyndonville school business administrator, goes over a contingency budget during Tuesday’s Lyndonville Board of Education meeting.

LYNDONVILLE – The Board of Education has approved $266,495 in cuts needed for the district to adopt a contingency budget.

Lyndonville adopted the $18,927,505 in a unanimous board vote on Tuesday. The district twice presented a $19,194,000 budget to the public. It was rejected on May 19 by a 172-129 vote, and then again on June 16 with a 327-292 vote.

The district worked to whittle down expenses that aren’t legally required or necessary to maintain the educational program, and not needed to protect the health and safety of students and staff. These contingency expenses could be equipment purchases, optional program enhancements, subsidized community use of school facilities and other discretionary expenditures.

The budget preserves all educational programs for students, and keeps all of the extracurricular programs and sports, including at the modified, junior varsity and varsity levels.

Lyndonville made the cuts from the following areas: $57,000 from administrative expenses; $52,000 from general instruction; $40,000 from operations; $21,118 from special education; $20,600 from library, media and technology; $20,000 from pupil services; $17,746 from Board of Education; $11,000 from Athletics; $8,200 from Central Administration; $7,331 from Instructional Administration/Staff Development; $7,000 from Finance; $3,500 from Community Services; and $1,000 from Transportation.

No new equipment purchases are allowed. Lyndonville zapped $108,600 in equipment purchases with $10,000 from elementary school, $20,000 from high school, $6,000 from music program, $40,000 from building maintenance and upkeep, $600 from library/AV equipment, $20,000 in computer equipment, $11,000 in athletics equipment, and $1,000 from garage equipment.

The board cut conferences and training programs, including for the Board of Education. The budget cuts $20,000 for part-time psychologist intern, and $27,000 in public information services. The Applegram newsletter may not be in print, and instead be online.

Lyndonville Board of Education members Patrick Whipple, left, and Vern Fonda are shown at the recent board meeting. Whipple said he was concerned about the budget cuts for curriculum development and teacher training.

“Not only does this hamper the coming year, but it reverberates from here on out,” Whipple said.

The main focus of the district is education and the contingency budget does weaken the district’s educational program due to the continuing education cuts for teachers.

“That compounds,” Whipple said. “It effects this year’s kids and next year’s. Teachers won’t be honing their craft.”

Whipple also said he was concerned by a reduction of $32,000 in the district line item for legal expenses from $72,000 to $40,000. He said “an increasingly litigious society” could warrant more legal costs for Lyndonville.

“We’re crossing our fingers we won’t need them as much,” Dragula said about the legal costs. If Lyndonville needs to spend more, Dragula said the district would need to find the money in another part of the budget.

Board member James Houseman said any outside groups using Lyndonville facilities should be responsible for any damaged equipment. The baseball and soccer leagues already do that, but the it should be spelled out for all outside groups, board members said.

The contingency budget continues all current community use programs except a $3,500 non-subsidized use of the fitness center. The other programs don’t have a line item cost to the district.

Houseman and board members said Lyndonville should consider fees for use of ball fields, the gym and other facilities. The Lyndonville Facility and Finance Committees will consider if there should be a charge in the future.

District Superintedent Dr. Heather Lyon goes over the district’s code of conduct. She addressed the contingency budget challenges. She said it will be “an ongoing conversation through the school year. She wants serving students and their needs to remain the focus.

“Our students didn’t get to vote but they are impacted by the vote,” she said.

Dr. Lyon has secured some assistance to help with student and teacher supplies in the coming year. The continency budget allows for some teacher supplies, but can’t cover students supplies, such as crayons, pencils, paper and erasers.

Hope Resales in Lyndonville has donated $500 to the district to help with needs due to the budget cutbacks. The ladies of Charity gave $1,600 for student supplies.

The Teachers’ Desk in Buffalo is welcoming Lyndonville teachers this school year to come to the site and pick up needed supplies for free.

Lyndonville was accepted after qualifying for assistance partly due to its high free and reduced lunch rate of 56 percent, Lyon said.

Isabella Brevet, the student representative on board, spoke during Tuesday’s meeting and urged the Board to keep as many programs and services for students as possible.

Provided photos: These inflatable bounce houses are away the items in the carnival zone on Saturday at Bullard Park.

UPDATE at 6:35 a.m. on July 18: This event will be rescheduled due to the severe weather in the forecast for July 18.

ALBION – A fundraiser sponsored by Christina Nenni and Michelle Wiseman from Best of Tymes Party Rentals will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Bullard Park for Hospice of Orleans.

The event also is in memory of Gertie Montulli, who passed away at age 61 on Nov. 9, 2025. She was Wiseman’s best friend and Gertie sold her flavored popcorn at many community events.

A $5 wrist band will admit entrants for the day to play in the carnival zone. More than 30 vendors will be there, along with a food truck and Best of Tymes Party Rentals, who will have all their new inflatable games set up with Rowdy Rentalz bounce houses for all ages.

Kz Characters will be there with Ninja Turtle for photos and meet and greet. Monster Energy Drinks team will also be there to hand out free monster drinks and swag. A petting zoo will have llamas and other animals. In addition, balloon artists will do air-raising events, and there will be face painting. The Kitchen will be there with soul food.

Other features will be free haircuts, tattoos and face painting.

“There will be something for everyone,” Nenni said.

For the older crowd, there will be a basket raffle and 50/50 drawing.

Key Bank is going to match what they raised up to $2,000.

“Hospice is such an amazing organization and is near and dear to my heart and Michelle’s,” Nenni said.

Nenni said her grandmother was served by Hospice in the residence on Route 31. The family is very grateful for the care of her grandmother by Hospice.

“I wouldn’t have survived without them,” Nenni said.

Wiseman said Hospice cared for her mother, with nurses coming to her home and providing exceptional care.

Kim Stawicki sent in this photo from this morning at Glenwood Lake in Medina.

An air quality alert has been issued for the third straight day for Orleans County due to the wildfire smoke.

Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 150 for fine particulates.

The air quality alert is in effect until midnight and includes Western New York.

“When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects,” the DOH said. “People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease.”

The high temperature today in Orleans County is forecast to be 83 with an overnight low of 68.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These kids enjoy the Bubble Foam Pit on Wednesday during the Countywide Rec Day at Bullard Park in Albion. The Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern brought the foam pit and made it available for free.

There were about 350 kids at the Rec day on Wednesday. The park program is closed today due the air quality alert.

Rosie Friedl, back right, operates the foam pit. This is the third event the Ministry of Concern has brought it to this year, making it available for free. Friedl is the youth coordinator for GOMOC.

These kids enjoy the bounce houses at the park. Kids could play in the b9unce houses for free.

The Genesee Orleans County Ministry of Concern, Salvation Army, Knights of Columbus No.1330 and Village of Albion Recreation Department teamed up to put on the event, which also the Albion masonic Lodge serving more than 500 hot dogs for free as well as French fries.

These kids are in the spray park waiting for the big bucket to dump water on them.

The park offered many games and activities, including tug of war.

These children play Gaga Ball.

John Grillo, the Albion recreation director for over 50 years, was the main organizer of the the Rec Day which was open to kids throughout Orleans County and also the rec programs at Elba and Byron Bergen.

Some of the kids took a break from the fast-paced action and opted to paint rocks under the pavilion.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – LCM Contracting, owned by Lucas Silversmith in Medina, works on a new concessions stand at Bullard Park in Albion. These photos are from Wednesday, the second day LCM was on the job.

The new concessions stand will be 15 by 20 feet and 16 feet tall with a second floor press box. The building will have tan-colored walls and a brown roof.

The Albion Youth Sports Athletic Program has been doing fundraisers and collecting donations for the project, which will cost about $25,000 to $30,000.

The concessions stand will be available for other organizations, not just the youth football program, village officials said.