Photo by Tom Rivers: Jax Richards-Dyson of Holley, a member of the senior high all-county band, raises a cymbal after he was announced on Saturday as the winner of Scholar Artist Award among senior music students in Orleans County.
Press Release, Orleans County Music Educators’ Association
MEDINA – Jax Richards-Dyson, a senior from Holley, was the recipient of the Scholar Artist Award at last Saturday’s All-County Music Festival in Medina.
The Orleans County Music Educators’ Association (OCMEA) wanted to recognize and celebrate their graduating music students who demonstrate commitment and leadership in their respective music programs, while also prioritizing academics and maintaining good grades.
County music teachers were asked to nominate students who met the following criteria: maintain a GPA of 90.0 or above, actively participate in their school’s music department, and demonstrate leadership in their school district and/ or community. Jax, who was nominated by Mr. Zach Busch (Holley junior-senior high band director), was selected by the OCMEA executive board.
Jax has a GPA of 97 and is a leader in his music department. He plays percussion in the HS concert band, piano in the jazz band, serves as Holley’s Concert Choir accompanist, and marches on the drumline of the Holley-Kendall Marching Band.
Jax has also been a regular in his school’s theater productions, taking on roles both on stage and in the pit. He also plays piano and performs in a variety of groups around the Rochester area. He plans on attending college next year and hopes to major in pre-med.
“Jax has always been a lead by example type of student,” Mr. Busch wrote in his nomination. “He is always a musician I can count on to know his music and positively contribute to any ensemble he is playing in through his preparation. He is also the musician who spends the most time practicing of all the musicians at Holley HS – and it shows in his skill and ability. Jax’s actions in practice set an example for other students who wish to work up to the level of musicianship he has achieved. Jax can often be observed helping younger students with their music during rehearsals for the many groups he performs in.”
Jax was one of four nominees this year. Other nominees included Madison Hults from Kendall, nominated by Miss Chalmers; Gideon Pask from Albion, nominated by Mr. Michki & Mr. Confer; and Emily Miner from Lyndonville, nominated by Mrs. Trupo.
Mrs. Andrea Busch, Co Vice-President of OCMEA, created the award last year and said, “I am so proud of Jax and all of the other students who continuously go above and beyond to make Orleans County an amazing place for music education. All four of this year’s nominees are outstanding young men and women, and I cannot thank them for the positive impact they have made.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 March 2026 at 8:30 am
Another day, another jump in gas prices in Orleans County.
AAA is reporting the average price for regular unleaded in Orleans County jumped 11 cents since yesterday, from $3.376 to $3.482 today. That followed a 7-cent increase from Monday to Tuesday, putting the total at 18 cents over two days.
The 11-cent increase since Tuesday was the largest in Western New York, where most counties saw 2 to 4 cent increases. In Genesee County, it dropped 4.5 cents to $3.428.
The national price was up an average of 4 cents in one day to $3.578 today, while the state average also increased 4 cents to $3.506. The average price of gas is up 20 percent since the start of the war in Iran on Feb. 28. The average price of gas nationally has risen every day the past 11 days.
In New York, the average price for diesel is at $4.969, up from $4.895 the previous day and $4.144 a week ago.
The state-wide average for unleaded was $3.105 a week ago and $2.994 a month ago. That is a 40-cent increase over the past week and 52 cents since a month ago, according to AAA.
The highest recorded average price was $5.041 on June 14, 2022 with diesel’s high of $6.542 on May 19, 2022. This was a time when oil and energy supplies were disrupted at beginning Russian-Ukraine war. In a few weeks during that war, gas prices shot up 50 percent from $3.50 a gallon to just over $5.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2026 at 9:21 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Village of Holley Mayor Mark Bower holds the Orleans County Tourism calendar for 2026 that includes a photo of a deer taken by Robbie Weit.
The mayor presented Robbie with a “Certificate of Achievement” during this evening’s board meeting.
This photo of a deer is the November cover in Orleans County’s 2026 calendar put together by the county tourism department.
Bower said he looked the calendar in December and was pleased to see the local photo of the deer. He was amazed when he learned it was taken by a Holley fourth-grader.
Robbie goes on photo outings with his grandfather, Dave Brooks. They drive the back roads looking for wildlife, landscapes and other interesting scenes.
They were out late in July when they saw the deer. Robbie aimed a Canon with a zoom lens at the deer and got his winning photo, “Doe in Flower Field.”
Robbie about a year ago also was recognized as an honorary member of the Clarendon Fire Company by Fire Chief Bob Freida and Deputy Chief Don Moiser. Robbie has made posters for both Clarendon and Murray fire halls about the Sept.11 attacks that killed 343 New York City firefighters. Robbie dresses as a firefighter at Halloween and looks forward to joining the department when he is older.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2026 at 5:22 pm
MEDINA – The Village Board approved a formal resolution calling on the governor and State Legislature to increase funding to municipalities.
The New York Conference of Mayors, a organization representing cities and villages throughout the state, asked Median to support the resolution. Medina also will send a letter of support from Mayor Marguerite Sherman.
The state’s current Aid and Incentives to Municipalities distributes $715 million statewide to towns, villages and cities outside of New York City. With AIM, the cities get $647.1 million or 90.5 percent of the total, while towns statewide receive $47.9 million, and villages share $19.7 million.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed a $150 million increase in Temporary Municipal Assistance with the lion’s share again going to cities of all sizes in the state.
Medina approved the resolution of support on Monday, but Trustee Scott Bieliski noted Medina doesn’t get much in the program, despite offering many municipal services.
“With the state budget, our residents could be paying more than they are receiving,” he said.
The Village of Medina with a population of population 6,047 currently gets $45,523 in AIM, and would get another $9,555 in Temporary Municipal Assistance, or $55,078 total. That breaks out to $9.11 per person.
That is a far cry from what smaller cities receive. The City of Batavia in Genesee County, population 15,174 gets $1,750,975 in AIM, and would receive another $609,978 in TMA for $2,360,953 total. That would be $155.59 per person.
Sherman, the village mayor, noted villages like Medina don’t get much in AIM and Temporary Municipal Assistance.
“We don’t get a huge share of this,” she said. “Hopefully we can get some more. Every bit helps.”
The resolution from the Medina Village Board states the increase in funding from the state will help municipalities “address fiscal challenges and maintain essential services for residents.”
The cities, villages, and towns are essential in delivering services, infrastructure, public safety, and quality of life that residents expect and deserve, the resolution states.
“Local governments across New York continue to face mounting fiscal pressures driven by inflation, increased service demands, infrastructure needs, and rising operational costs, while striving to provide relief to taxpayers amid a rising cost of living,” according to the resolution.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2026 at 3:05 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – It’s a radical different look inside Lee-Whedon Memorial Library these days. There aren’t too many tables or chairs left, and the big book shelves are mostly gone.
The books are on temporary shelves with wheels. Those shelves will be rolled into storage pods for interior work on the library as part of a $5.2 million capital project.
The library will close next Saturday on March 21 and reopen about six weeks later on May 4.
The books are on shelves from Lincoln Moving & Storage of Buffalo.
While Lee-Whedon is closed, library users can access digital materials through hoopla, Libby, Mango and Freegalmusic.
Lee-Whedon members also can use their card at other Nioga libraries. The closest ones are Yates Community Library, Hoag Library in Albion, and Royalton-Hartland Library in Middleport.
Lee-Whedon broke ground last Aug. 22 for a 4,785-square-foot addition on the back of the current library, which is 11,100 square feet.
The addition will create space for two meeting rooms, two tutoring rooms, a programming room with makerspace, Friends of the Library book sale room, a quiet research room, an art gallery, a teen room and 14 parking spots.
There will also be additional restrooms, a new circulation desk, a new entry portico with automatic sliding doors, about a 10 percent increase in the collection and upgraded technology.
The state is contributing nearly $1.7 million in New York State Public Library Construction Aid grants to the $5.2 million project. The community also has donated more than $500,000 to the expansion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2026 at 2:21 pm
GameTime design: The proposal for Medina from GameTime includes playground equipment would be accessible to children with disabilities and mobility issues.
MEDINA – The Village of Medina has $110,000 secured towards a new inclusive playground that would serve kids of all abilities, including those with mobility issues.
But the village will need a sizable state grant to make the playground a reality. The village could pursue three state grant programs for the playground, which would have cost $541,252 in 2024. That price has likely gone up in the two years since then, perhaps by $100,000, said Haylee Ferington, who is helping to lead the effort for the new playground as a member of Friends of Medina Parks.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Haylee Ferington, a member of the Medina Parks Committee, updates the Village Board on Monday about upcoming grant opportunities for an inclusive playground at State Street Park.
The Friends applied for state grants last year but didn’t get picked for funding. Ferington advised the Village Board the grant applications would be stronger I fthe Village of Medina was the applicant.
The board will consider that, and needs to decide before the next round of grant applications in May, Ferington said.
The state funding opportunities come with a 50-50 match through the state Canal Corp., 70-30 match through the Environmental Protection Fund, and a 90-10 match through the State Historic Preservation Office, she said.
Gov. Hochul on Jan. 6 also has announced a new “NY Plays” funding opportunity for $67.5 million towards playgrounds. The grants range from $100,000 to $2.5 million, and require a 20 percent local share.
Ferington said the new playground has secured funding commitments of $50,000 from the Community Foundation of Buffalo, $50,000 from the Community Foundation of Rochester, and $10,000 from Brookfield Power which runs a hydroelectric plant in Medina.
“We’re hoping 2026 will bring about more fruitful funding opportunities through the state,” she told the Village Board.
The Friends of Medina Parks will meet at 6:30 this evening to make a recommendation to the Village Board on which state grants to pursue. The board will have to decide by May which ones to go after and if it will apply as the village.
Photo courtesy of Kendall Fire Department: The Kendall Fire Department gave these kids a ride on fire trucks on Monday morning. They were picked up and taken to school, where they were enthusiastically greeted outside by their classmates.
Press Release, Kendall Fire Department
KENDALL – Community spirit was on full display on Monday morning as the Kendall Fire District escorted several local students to school aboard a fire truck after they participated in the department’s Snow Day Hydrant Challenge.
During the recent snow day on Jan. 26, students from the Kendall community stepped up to help their neighbors by shoveling out fire hydrants throughout the district. Keeping hydrants clear of snow is critical during winter months, ensuring firefighters can quickly access water in the event of an emergency.
To recognize their efforts, the Kendall Fire District entered the participating students’ names into a drawing. Several winners were selected to receive a special ride to school on a fire truck.
The students arrived at Kendall Central School in style, greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of classmates, teachers, and staff members who gathered outside to welcome them. The moment highlighted the pride the community takes in supporting one another and recognizing acts of service no matter how young the volunteers may be.
“This is what community is all about,” said Captain James Fox of the Kendall Fire District. “Seeing students take the initiative to help keep their community safe and then seeing the entire school come together to celebrate them was truly special.”
Captain Fox expressed his appreciation to District Chief Randy Davis, Deputy Chief Mike Cole, the Kendall Fire District, and the Kendall Central School District for helping make the event possible. Their leadership and partnership helped bring the recognition together and ensured a memorable experience for the students involved.
For us at the Firehouse, the event was more than just a fun ride to school it was a reminder of the importance of community involvement and the positive impact young residents can have on public safety, said Fox.
As the fire truck pulled away and the students began their school day, the smiles on the faces of the children and staff alike served as a powerful reminder that even small acts of service can bring a community together.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2026 at 9:29 am
Village Board thankful for short-term “SOS: Save Our Sidewalks” assistance, aims for long-term plan
MEDINA – Bob Sanderson enjoys taking walks around the village of Medina, but he said he has to pay close attention to crumbling sidewalks so he doesn’t trip.
Sanderson decided to help the village and homeowners get some of the sidewalks in better shape. He has pledged some of his own money and lined up other donors at $200,000 so far towards new sidewalks.
The Village Board on Monday unanimously voted for Sanderson to move forward with a “SOS: Save Our Sidewalks” plan that would go 50/50 for property owners willing to put in new sidewalks. Sanderson advised Mayor Marguerite Sherman he would have a committee review the proposals for the new sidewalks and that committee would distribute the funds, which would be outside the village budget.
Medina had a similar local grant program more than a decade ago when a donor offered to help people paint their houses. That money and program was handled outside the village budget.
Board members expressed their appreciation to Sanderson during Monday’s meeting. Sherman said Sanderson and the committee want to have a simple process for residents to put in new sidewalks. They likely will have to submit an estimate to the committee before work gets started. Sherman said more information will be forthcoming on the process.
The board has tried to encourage better sidewalks in the community. In 2021, it removed a sidewalk application fee to replace the walkways. The village Department of Public Works also removes the old sidewalks so new ones can be put in.
Sherman also announced an effort for a longer-term plan – “Medina Safe Steps Initiative.” The board voted to have the Planning Board look at updating the sidewalk ordinance for ongoing maintenance. The village also will be looking at grant sources to help replace the sidewalks. Sherman said there are state funding sources for sidewalks through the Department of Transportation.
Sherman said she hears from many residents, including the mail carriers at the U.S. Postal Service, about the rough conditions of the sidewalks in the village.
She said she is grateful that there will soon be assistance from the Sanderson-led group, and the village will have a long-range plan.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 March 2026 at 8:35 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The price for regular unleaded in Albion was at $3.49 on Monday night at the Kwik Fill in Albion.
Gas prices continued to jump on Monday, with the average price in Orleans County up another 7 cents from yesterday – from $3.306 on Monday to $3.376 today, according to AAA.
Gas prices went up an average of 39 cents per gallon of unleaded to $3.40 in New York State from March 2 to March 9, while the national price increased by 48 cents to $3.48.
The national price is up another 6 cents since yesterday to $3.539 today, while the state average increased by about 7 cents to $3.469.
The war in Iran is the main culprit behind the surge in prices. Refineries also are beginning the process of producing summer-blend gasoline which contains pricier additives to help reduce evaporation during warmer months, AAA said.
Here are the average prices with counties in Western New York:
Photo courtesy of Medina Band Boosters: The JV winterguard from Medina competed on Saturday in Greece and came in second place.
Press Release, Medina Winterguard
GREECE – The Medina Mustang Varsity and JV guards competed on March 7th in Greece, their 6th competition this season. A total of 19 guards participated in this competition.
Medina JV are in the cadet class and they came in 2nd place with a score of 64.62.
Medina Varsity are in the A1 class and they came in 3rd place out of 3 with a score of 71.65.
You can see these guards in action at our home show on Sat. March 14th at the high school gym when the doors open at 3 p.m. and the show starts at 4 p.m.
The Medina Band Boosters are also hosting a Basket Raffle on Friday, March 13th at the high school gym at 6 p.m. and the drawing starts at 7:30.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 9 March 2026 at 3:14 pm
Left – Provided photo: Nicole Tuohey holds one of the heart cookies like her mother used to make and sell at Case-Nic Cookies to benefit the Arc and developmental disabilities. This is the eighth year of selling “Have a Heart” cookies, during which time they have raised more than $13,000. (Right – Photo by Ginny Kropf) Hans Rosentreter stands in front of Hans Bakery, holding a plate of “Have a Heart” cookies to promote the fundraiser started by former owner of the store, Mary Lou Tuohey and her daughter Nicole. Rosentreter is continuing the tradition Mary Lou and Nicole sponsored for years in support of Arc GLOW during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The basket raffle in the store window will also support the ARC and run through March 30.
MEDINA – A fundraiser started by Mary Lou Tuohey with her daughter Nicole while owner of Case-Nic Cookies is now being continued by the store’s new owner, Hans Rosentreter at his Han’s Bakery.
Rosentreter purchased the store just over a year ago.
“I knew Mary Lou would want to continue to do her fundraiser, and I was happy to go along with it,” Rosentreter said.
Nicole was born 35 years ago with a developmental disability called Triple X Syndrome. Doctors told her parents at her three-week checkup that she may never walk, talk, read, write, do math or ride a bike.
At 3 months of age, Nicole was enrolled in the Arc’s Rainbow Preschool, which was her stepping stone to a full life, Mary Lou said. Nicole is now 35 years old and attends the Day Hab Program through Arc GLOW. She not only does everything doctors said she wouldn’t do, but more.
“The early intervention and her current involvement with Arc GLOW have helped make her the woman she is today,” Mary Lou said. “That is why Nicole will be having a cookie sale and window basket raffle again, with all the money raised going to programs that serve individuals at Arc GLOW.
Rosentreter said his family has dealt with developmental disabilities and that is why he is happy to participate in the Tuohey’s fundraiser.
He is baking the frosted heart cutout cookies, using Mary Lou’s recipe. They are being sold in his bakery for $1 each. He also has allowed use of his store window for a basket raffle to support Arc GLOW, the same as Mary Lou did when she owned the store.
A plastic bucket has been placed in the entryway full of envelopes which contain a listing of each basket. Customers may take an envelope home, include the amount of money for a sheet of tickets and then indicate next to each item how many tickets they want placed in the drawing for that item. Then they return the envelope and bring it in the store during open hours or drop it in the mail slot during closed hours.
Extra cookies may be ordered by calling the bakery at (585) 798-1676.
The cookie sale and basket raffle will continue until March 30.
Photo and information courtesy of Troop 35 in Medina
MEDINA – Scouts and friends of Troop 35 in Medina removed two dump trailer loads of wreaths that were placed in December as part of Wreaths Across America.
The group removed the wreaths from Boxwood, St Mary’s, and Sacred Heart cemeteries on Sunday in preparation for spring cleanups. Picture below if some of the volunteers that helped.
Picture left top right: Lani Dieter, Maddox Smith, Jimmy Dieter and Cole Herman.
