MEDINA – Medina Healthcare Center has announced a new occupational health service for the community, with the addition of Department of Transportation physicals and compliance testing now available on-site through Michelle Smith FNP, a National Registry certified provider.

DOT physicals are available for $145 per exam and are designed to help commercial drivers and employers meet federal safety requirements quickly and conveniently close to home.

With Orleans County and surrounding communities serving a strong agricultural, transportation, logistics and commercial driving workforce, this new service fills an important local need, according to Scott Robinson, director of marketing at Medina Memorial Hospital.

Seasonal farm operations, trucking companies, school transportation providers, construction firms, municipalities and independent drivers often rely on CDL-certified drivers to keep operations moving safely and efficiently, Robinson said.

“Access to certified DOT examinations locally is an important service for both workers and employers,” said Michelle Smith, FNP. “Our goal is to make the process convenient while helping drivers stay healthy, compliant and on the road.”

DOT physicals are required for many individuals who operate commercial motor vehicles, including:

• Commercial truck derivers
• CDL license holders
• Bus and motorcoach drivers
• Municipal and highway department vehicle operators
• Delivery and freight derivers
• Municipal and highway department vehicle operators
• Construction and heavy equipment transport drivers
• Emergency response and specialty vehicle operators.

In addition to DOT physical examinations, Medina Healthcare Center now offers

• DOT drug testing
• DOT alcohol testing
• Randomized drug testing services for employers.

These services support businesses and organizations that must maintain compliance with federal workplace safety and transportation regulations.

“We’re hoping this announcement is helpful to many in the community,” Robinson said.

Appointments and additional information are available by called Medina Healthcare Center at (585) 798-2550. The center is located on the first floor of the Medina Memorial Hospital.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Canal Corp. employees raise the flags on Thursday at the Ingersoll Street lift bridge in Albion. The flags include the American flag, New York State flag and the Canal Corp. flag.

The Erie Canal officially opened today for its 202^nd consecutive navigational season.

The canal is coming off the bicentennial celebration for when the historic waterway was completed in 1825, linking Buffalo on Lake Erie to Albany on the Hudson River.

This season the canal will be open to boaters from May 15 to Oct. 14. There will again be no tolls or fees for recreational use of the canal system.

The standard operating hours will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

There are extended hours until 9 p.m. from May 16 through September 10 at select locks and lift bridges, including the lift bridges in Spencerport, Adams Basin, Brockport, Holley, Hulberton, Albion, Eagle Harbor, Knowlesville, Medina, Middleport, Gasport and Lockport.

Here is the scene last week looking east from the Main Street lift bridge towards the Ingersoll Street lift bridge.

Photos courtesy of Tim Archer

ALBION – Two new historic markers were installed this week, one honoring Revolutionary War soldiers at Tanner Cemetery on Route 31, across from Mount Albion Cemetery, and the other at Annis Cemetery on Riches Corners Road.

The markers were installed by Albion highway superintendent Mike Neidert and the highway department.

The funding for the markers was secured by Albion eighth-graders Luci Borello and Sutton Sanders through the Pomeroy Foundation. Two more markers will be unveiled on Saturday in Hulberton.

The Tanner Cemetery marker recognizes “Patriot Burials.” The marker notes the cemetery had burials as early as 1825, and Revolutionary War soldiers Jedidah Phelps and William Tanner are buried there. This marker includes a special insignia on them indicating partnership with the Sons of the American Revolution.

The marker for Annis Cemetery also notes there were burials there as early as 1825. The cemetery includes young children, war veterans and early immigrants from England.

There will be a 10:30 a.m. ceremony at Pierce-Smith Pioneer Cemetery, 3960 Hulberton Rd. for the Hulberton markers. The public is welcome to attend and bring a lawn chair.

The ceremony is student-organized and will be part of a celebration for the 250th anniversary of the United States. Both Revolutionary War and Civil War re-enactors will be present.

File photo by Tom Rivers: Holley Mayor Mark Bower addresses a big group of Holley students in the elementary school parking lot on May 4, 2024 before they went out picking up littler along the canal and village streets. He thanked them for helping to make the Holley community a better place.

HOLLEY – More than 100 Holley students will out on Sunday picking up litter and doing other community service projects. The effort is the annual Day of Impact led by Holley Rotary Interact and EarlyAct Clubs.

They will be at the elementary school parking lot at 10 a.m. and then disperse into the community. The Day of Impact will be held in honor of Eric Fredendall, who welcomed opportunities to make a positive difference in his community.

The event expands upon the Annual Clean Sweep, an effort Fredendall actively supported, to create a day of service that reflects the lifetime of impact he had on Holley.

Participants will take part in a variety of service projects, including cleaning the canal and village streets, organizing the fire department’s storage center, working on the memorial tank at the VFW, and completing several additional community improvement tasks.

Volunteers will also prepare meals and assemble emergency supply kits for Operation Open Hearts.

HOLLEY – Hurd Orchards, a farm going back more than 200 years, will be honored next week when it is included on the State Historic Business Preservation Registry.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley will be at Hurd’s for a 2 p.m. celebration on May 22 at 17260 West Ridge Rd.

Founded in 1825 by Luther Hurd, Hurd Orchards has two centuries of history from its early beginnings in pioneer farming to its evolution into a thriving fruit-growing enterprise, Hawley said.

“The Hurd family has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt, innovate and lead within New York state’s agricultural industry,” he said.

Hawley is proud to be able to present this prestigious certificate and proclamation to Susan Hurd Machamer and Amy Machamer, who represent the sixth and seventh generations. The orchard continues to grow and evolve while honoring its rich history and commitment to excellence.

Hurd Orchards is the fourth business in the

Hawley last week presented citations to two other Holley businesses for the joining the State Historic Business Preservation Registry – Stockham Lumber and the Holley Cold Storage.

Kirby’s Farm Market, down the road on Route 104 from Hurd Orchards, also was recognized last year. Kirby’s is just across the Orleans/Monroe county line in the town of Clarkson.

The Historic Business Preservation Registry was established by the State Legislature in 2020. The registry recognizes businesses that are at least 50 years old. These businesses also contribution to the municipality’s history and identity.

Linda Sue Park and Gordon Korman also giving presentations at nearby schools

Press Release, Author’s Note

MEDINA – Two  #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning middle grade authors with nearly 135 published works between them, Linda Sue Park and Gordon Korman, will visit Author’s Note, Medina’s independent bookstore, for a special double-hitter event in conversation together at Author’s Note to discuss and sign their newest books, Just One Gift and Hypergifted, on Wednesday, May 20th at 6:30 p.m.

Linda Sue Park, the acclaimed author of the #1 New York Times bestseller A Long Walk to Water, which has sold 3 million copies worldwide, constructed her newest title, Just One Gift, in a special format.

Using linked poems written in accessible verse that highlights transformative moments of connection, the new middle grade novel celebrates the ways, large and small, obvious and unanticipated, in which our lives are enriched by the people we encounter. Robert Sae-Heng contributes black-and-white art to this eloquent stand-alone read that is also a welcome companion to the author’s popular book, The One Thing You’d Save. Booklist, in a starred review, said the book “bursts with so much heart and community,” while Kirkus Reviews called it “charming, poignant, and thoughtfully woven.”

A #1 New York Times bestselling author of scores of novels, Gordon Korman, will share his newest book, Hypergifted. The novel is the third book about Noah Youkilis, a super-genius robot who graduates from middle school straight to college.

Friendship, education, and a robotic fish-out-of-water lend theme and charm to this heartwarming sequel to Ungifted (2012) and Supergifted (2018), in which Noah Youkilis attempts to learn how to fit into the wild world of a college campus while being bombarded with hilarious mishaps. Kirkus Reviews says, “Told from multiple points of view, the story is laugh-out-loud funny, and readers will be entertained as Noah and Donovan try to make sense of college life,” call the work “a hilarious romp.”

Ms. Park and Mr. Korman will present and read from their new works, sign books purchased at the event, and answer questions during their visit to Author’s Note on Wednesday, May 20th at 6:30 pm.

Linda Sue Park, a renowned author of numerous picture books and novels for young readers, won the 2002 Newbery Medal winner for A Single Shard. In addition to writing essays for numerous publications, Linda Sue has served as a panelist for the National Book Award, the Kirkus Prize, the PEN Naylor grant, and the SCBWI Golden Kite Award. She will visit Merton Williams Middle School in Hilton earlier that day.

Gordon Korman is the #1 NY Times bestselling author of more than 100 books for kids and young adults, most recently HYPERGIFTED and SNOOP. His writing career began at the age of twelve when his seventh grade English assignment became his first published novel. Now, nearly fifty years later, he is a full-time writer and speaker, with over forty million copies of his novels in print in thirty-three languages. A native of Ontario, Canada, he lives with his family on Long Island. He will visit Avon Central School earlier that day, and York Central School the day following and Geneseo Central School the day prior.

Author’s Note anticipates a large turnout for this special event and strongly suggests preordering copies of both authors’ works at Author’s Note, 519 Main Street, Medina or online at authorsnote.com/events.

Due to both authors’ extensive bodies of work, signing books purchased elsewhere is not permitted at this event. For those unable to attend, signed books can be ordered for pickup or free shipping at authorsnote.com. Contact Author’s Note for more information at (585) 798-3642.

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Brett Decker, club manager at Shelridge Country Club, explains the rules to 112 golfers in their carts, waiting to tee off during a golf tournament to benefit the United Way of Orleans County. The organization is now known as Orleans Community Connects. This year’s tournament is June 5.

MEDINA – The annual charity golf tournament to benefit Orleans Community Connects (formerly United Way of Orleans County) is scheduled for June 5 at Shelridge Country Club, 10994 Telegraph Rd. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and tee-off is at 9 a.m.

“To community members, sponsors and golfers of all skill levels – you are invited to ‘Hit the greens and help the community’ at this major fundraising event,” said Dawn Winkler, financial manager for Orleans Community Connects.

This annual tournament plays a crucial role in supporting Orleans Community Connects’ efforts to give back to local organizations. One-hundred percent of all profits will benefit non-profits within Orleans County, helping fund vital programs that make a difference in the lives of residents.

“We are excited to see our friends and supporters at our first golf tournament as Orleans Community Connects,” said board president and golf chairman Dean Bellack. “The proceeds from this year’s tournament will go to the most deserving non-profits in Orleans County. If you have played before, please join us again, and if you have not had the opportunity yet, we are looking forward to meeting you. Let’s all Connect.”

Participants will enjoy a full day of golf, contests, prizes and community engagement. Each registration includes green fees and golf cart, lunch, beverages and dinner.

“Our golf tournament is absolutely essential to the success of our 2026 fundraising campaign,” said Nyla Gaylord, executive director of Orleans Community Connects. “By joining us on the course, participants are directly helping other non-profits in Orleans County that are doing incredible work on behalf of us all.”

Golfers may register online or print registration form to mail in by visiting www.OrleansCommunityConnects.org/events.

 For the first time, the basket raffle will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. on the lower level of Shelridge. Drawings will start at 3 p.m.

For more information, e-mail Events@OrleansCommunityConnects.org.

Photo by Kim Remley: Green Orleans sponsored a discussion last week at Hoag Library about a proposed data center at the STAMP site in Alabama, NY.  From left to right, David Giacherio (Green Orleans and Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association), Sarah Howard (Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation), and Grandell “Bird” Logan (Tonawanda Seneca Nation).

Press Release, Green Orleans

ALBION – Approximately 50 Orleans County residents recently gathered at the Hoag Library for a Green Orleans sponsored presentation on the mega data center proposed for the STAMP site in Alabama, NY.

The evening was kicked-off by Dave Giacherio, a retired scientist and professor, representing Green Orleans and the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association. Giacherio posted a quote that set the tone for the evening’s presentation. It read: “Nothing that is vast enters the life of mortals without a curse” (Sophocles, circa 480 BCE).

Giacherio gave a broad-brush overview of artificial intelligence (AI), because the rush to build data centers around the nation is closely linked to AI. Data centers function as the “brains” for AI, carrying out the incredibly large number of calculations needed to answer AI queries.

He noted AI offers both great promise and great risks. The promise includes massive increases in efficiency and productivity across all of society, a revolution in healthcare, and large advances in science and technology. He gave an example where AI readily solved the extraordinarily difficult bio-science problem of protein folding.

The risks of AI include massive economic and social disruption (including huge job losses), societal risks from people using AI for criminal purposes, and the risks from AI itself acting against the best interests of humanity.

Giacherio gave examples where AI urged a young man to commit suicide, where AI provided instructions for preparation and dispersal of toxic pathogens, and where AI helped plan a school shooting.

The current rush to develop AI and build data centers does not include appropriate measures to ensure human safety. Giacherio claimed that what is needed is a pause in the manic rush to develop AI and data centers, and a reimagining and redirection of AI so that humans and their concerns are “in the loop.”

Sarah Howard of the Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation focused on health and environmental concerns. Low-frequency noise, which is emitted by such hyperscale data centers can travel several miles and would be heard by some Orleans County residents.

Persistent exposure to noise, especially low frequency noise, causes physical health problems such as hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as emotional distress. This noise will also impact wildlife in the surrounding public-protected areas.  Also, the 24/7 lighting will affect birds, including migratory birds (light pollution affects migratory fly-path navigation).

Wastewater discharge from the proposed data center will flow into a tributary of the Oak Orchard Creek via the Village of Oakfield wastewater treatment facility – inevitably impacting the $28 million/year sportfishing industry. The Orleans County coordinator of Sportfishing and the Seth Green Chapter of Trout Unlimited have expressed opposition and concerns.

Next up was Grandell “Bird” Logan of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation (TSN). Logan did a short review of the history of the Tonawanda Seneca people, noting that their territory has shrunk dramatically over the last centuries. He talked about the “Big Woods”, a section of old-growth forest on the reservation that is rich in plant and animal life, and which is culturally central both to the TSN and to other tribes around the country.

The STAMP site is adjacent to the TSN and the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Logan explained that there is only a 400-foot buffer between it and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation’s federally recognized reservation territory.

He noted the risks of noise pollution, air pollution, and groundwater pollution from a gigantic data center so close to their homeland. Logan stressed that humans are not the only creatures that can be affected – the rich animal and plant life of the reservation could also be at risk.

The evening’s presentation ended with a vigorous discussion with the audience.

Green Orleans is a small grassroots organization committed to the preservation of our environment. The organization holds its meetings on the third Thursday of every month at 11:30 a.m. at the Hoag Library. All are welcome.

Community Heart & Soul initiative to prioritize action plan

Provided photos: Carlton Heart & Soul volunteers convene at a recent meeting.

Press Release, Rochester Area Community Foundation

The Town of Carlton and Village of Corfu were selected as the first communities in Western New York to launch Community Heart & Soul, a program that helps build stronger, more connected communities centered around what people love about where they live. Batavia will follow shortly after, launching later in 2026.

“My hope is that the Community Heart & Soul process encourages greater community involvement in village decision-making and helps restore the pride, character, and sense of identity that make our little village special,” says Ken Lauer, Corfu resident, Village Trustee, and owner of Buttercrumbs Bakery.

When people talk about small rural towns, the story often focuses on what’s been lost: like anchor employers, bustling main streets, and vital services. But that’s only part of the story.

Every small town also has strengths — including its people, traditions, quirks, and local legends — that residents don’t want to lose as they plan for the future.

Through a guided, two-year process, Community Heart & Soul will help residents identify the priorities, places and traditions that matter most, and work together to turn those shared values into action. The goal: to engage the entire community in shaping the future of their town.

“Most of our members are lifelong residents of Carlton,” says Peter Bartula, one of the volunteers with Carlton Heart & Soul. “We want to help our town to achieve the success that other Heart & Soul Communities have achieved.”

Developed and field-tested in more than 130 small cities and towns across the country, the Community Heart & Soul model empowers residents to dream together and access resources to make things happen. At the end of two years, communities will have identified common ground, prioritized ideas, and developed a plan for short- and long-term action.

Corfu Heart & Soul volunteers are shown in this picture.

In 2025, Rochester Area Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo invited towns and villages with a population of 25,000 or less in Genesee or Orleans counties — areas served by both organizations — to apply. Six communities raised their hand to explore whether Community Heart & Soul was the right fit for their town. A $1,000 mini-grant for community engagement work was offered to communities who were not selected for the initial cohort, to honor residents’ efforts.

Community Heart & Soul and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr Foundation have committed expertise and funding towards the engagement process. These resources will help pay for marketing, materials, food, event supplies, coaching, and project coordination.

Staff members from Rochester Area Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo will serve as “coaches,” guiding residents through Community Heart & Soul’s four phases: imagine, connect, plan, and act.

“Heart & Soul gives residents the support to turn their ideas into action,” says Sara Bukowiec, Director of Rural Community Impact at Rochester Area Community Foundation. “And it gives funders the opportunity to listen deeply and learn what’s most important to these communities.”

A major goal of the initiative is to build relationships between communities and their local funders, opening the door to funding opportunities during Community Heart & Soul, and in the future.

“We are honored to help bring this innovative, resident-driven process to Genesee and Orleans counties. This opportunity reflects our enduring commitment to strengthen communities across Western New York as we connect people, ideas and resources to improve lives,” says Cara Matelliano, Vice President, Community Impact, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.

Residents can learn more from Heart & Soul volunteers at these upcoming events:

• Village of Corfu Memorial Day Parade – Monday, May 25 at 12 p.m.

• Town of Carlton Hometown Days – Saturday, June 6 at 12 p.m.

People interested in participating in Corfu, Carlton or Batavia Heart & Soul should contact Paige O’Connor (poconnor@racf.org or 585.341.4332).

Becky Winans creates mandala art – ‘Sometimes I paint all night, I love it so much’

Photos Becky Winans holds her granddaughter, while looking at three pieces of mandala art, which are part of her first show at Marti’s on Main Street.

Becky Winans of Medina wears a Mandala necklace she made.

ALBION – Becky Winans, a wife, mother and grandmother, never aspired to be an artist, and it wasn’t until 2019 that she realized her talent and “let loose.”

She currently has her first show at Marti’s on Main at 20 South Main St. There is an opening reception on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the art gallery.

Winans grew up in Millville, the former Becky Pask. Her great-aunt was Esther Boyle of Medina, an artist and art teacher for the Medina School District for many years.

“She left an impression on me which sparked an interest in painting lake stones, like we did together when I was a small child,” Winans said. “I took up painting in 2018 and started out painting stones I collected from the shores of Lake Ontario.”

Gradually, she began painting on small canvas, and then larger canvas. One of her prized artistic accomplishments was painting a wooden clarinet which had been given to her at a yard sale a couple of years ago. Then a friend gave her an old ukulele and she decided it was a perfect piece on which to create artwork. Both are included in her show.

“I’m always searching for unique things to paint and dabble at a bit with decoupage art,” Winans said.

A self-taught artist, Becky Winans of Medina looks at the clarinet she painted. It is part of her first show which will debut with an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Marti’s on Main Street in Albion.

When she discovered mandala, she was hooked. The majority of her exhibit is mandala, an art form which Google calls “a geometric configuration of symbols.”

Gallery owner Kim Martillotta Muscarella said mandala was done by monks as a form of meditation.

Winans explains mandala requires intricate work – exact spacing, texture and consistency of paint. She sometimes uses acrylics and, at times, paint pens.

She builds each piece through layers of patterns and colors, allowing her intuition to guide her hand. Her style, she said, often features bright colors that evoke a sense of joy and happiness.

“I draw inspiration from the intricate patterns of nature and spirituality when creating mandala art,” Winans said. “The circular form of the mandala represents the universe and the interconnectedness of all things, illustrating the importance of balance, wholeness and unity in life. This concept profoundly inspires my creative process.”

The clarinet she painted took a lot of work, she said. She first disassembled all the keys, then painted them individually and put them back together.

“Sometimes I paint all night, I love it so much,” she said.

“Mandalas create a calming and meditative space for reflection,” Winans said. “My hope is that my mandalas instill a sense of peace, contemplation and perhaps joy as you immerse yourself in each piece, allowing for personal interpretations that resonate with you.”

Also exhibiting in Friday’s show is Mark Weld of Middleport and Cindy Meal of Lockport.

Weld is a self-taught artist and welder. He creates metal art and has exhibited in regional shows, including the Allentown Art Festival and the Adirondacks National Exhibition.

Meal began painting in 1997. She had been writing poems and short stories in her spare time, but needed something more. She wanted to somehow paint to communicate, and when a friend told her to do it, she did. She learned about plein art, but also strives to paint more creatively using expressionism, impressionism and abstraction.

An opening reception is from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, and the exhibit runs through June 13. Viewing is by appointment by calling (585) 590-9211, or communication may be sent to Marti’s on Main Street, P.O. Box 103, Albion, 14411.

District under tax cap for 17^th straight year

MEDINA – School officials have put together a $47,998,851 proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year.

District residents will go to the polls on May 19 from noon to 8 p.m. in the Oak Orchard Primary School Gymnasium, 335 West Oak Orchard St.

The budget increases spending by 2.89 percent from the current $46,648,693. The tax levy, what the district collects in property taxes, would increase by 1.97 percent – from $9,170,809 to $9,351,474.

State and federal aid are at $36,556,210 and covers 76.2 percent of the budget. Property taxes represent 19.5 percent of the budget.

School officials provided these highlights of the budget:

• Maintaining all existing programs, sports and extracurricular activities
• Continued commitment to providing school supplies for all students
• Review of current and future contractual obligations
• Purchases 2 full-sized buses and one half-sized bus.
• Support for district strategic priorities
• Providing students with the most up-to-date programming and facilities
• Development of a new 5-year staffing plan
• Use of available reserves and fund balance to balance the budget

The budget is again under the tax cap – for the 17^th straight year.

“The budget was developed with the Medina Central School District’s vision and mission in mind, guiding all budgeting decisions,” Board President Alissa Mitchell wrote in a letter to the community. “Additionally, the long-range fiscal planning of our Board of Education has allowed the District to submit a budget below the tax cap for the seventeenth straight year.”

There are three candidates for three open seats on the Board of Education:

Steven Blount – A physician assistant at Rochester Regional Health Medina Family Medicine, Blount has been on the board the past three years. Since 2023, he has earned a Doctorate in Health Administration and an MBA.

“I am running to ensure that our district operates with transparency and accountability while maintaining the excellence in education you have come to expect,” Dr. Blount state din the district newsletter. “I want to bring my experience in complex problem-solving and evidence-based practice to the Board to help navigate the challenges facing our schools, ensuring every child in Medina has the resources and support to reach their fullest potential.”

LuAnn Tierney – A retired teacher at Roy-Hart, Tierney currently is a track and field official for USATF, NCAA and NFHS. She has been on the Board of Education for six years.

“My goal is to help create an environment on the school board that is supportive of education, supportive of our staff, and our community,” Tierney said. “This will allow us to have the ability to weigh everyone’s opinion, come to consensus and respect the outcome. We have always worked to do our best to provide a quality education while keeping the tax rate increases to a minimum. We continue to explore new ways to improve and grow as a district.”

Mackenzie Sullivan – The nursing supervisor for Orleans Community Health/Medina Memorial Hospital, Sullivan is a Medina graduate.

“I would like to serve in this role to help ensure that our standard of excellence continues well into the future,” she said. “As a parent of a current student in our district, I am also a personal stakeholder in the success of the Medina CSD. In my career as a registered nurse, I am well versed in NYS regulatory agencies and the struggles of navigating amongst them, bringing that experience and viewpoint to the board.”

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) on Wednesday held a virtual press conference slamming President Trump for causing the highest gas prices in years.

She called for an immediate and permanent end to the president’s war in Iran, which is directly responsible for raising costs for hardworking Americans.

“Every commute to work, every ride to a doctor’s appointment, and every carpool to school costs 50 percent more today than it did just a year ago due to skyrocketing gas prices. That is a direct result of President Trump’s reckless war with Iran,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The American people do not want this war; they want lower costs. President Trump must end the war once and for all and provide relief to Americans struggling with higher costs in his economy.”

The average cost of gas in New York state today is $4.59 per gallon—nearly 50 percent more than it was a year ago. In some parts of New York, gas is over $5.00 per gallon.

This is a direct result of President Trump’s war with Iran, which has caused the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a quarter of the world’s oil passes.

In a press conference, Senator Gillibrand reiterated her call for President Trump to end the war to provide relief to American consumers.

Senator Gillibrand has made clear that she will not provide a blank check for President Trump’s reckless war in Iran. She has voted yes multiple times on war powers resolutions to reassert Congress’ responsibility, demand accountability, and send a clear message that military force must be debated, justified, and authorized before American lives are put at risk. She has repeatedly called for the president to prioritize lowering costs at home rather than reckless foreign wars abroad.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Bill Lattin, retired Orleans County historian, and Sue Starkweather Miller, Village of Albion historian, lead a tour of Mount Albion Cemetery on Aug. 3, 2025.

Press Release, Orleans County Historical Association

ALBION – The Orleans County Historical Association (OCHA) once again welcomes the community to their monthly history talks and August cemetery tours.

The history talks are held from May to October on the last Wednesday of the month at 7p.m. in the Gaines Basin Cobblestone Schoolhouse on 3286 Gaines Basin Rd. The talks are free and donations are gladly accepted.

Many of this year’s presentations will spotlight the Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) of our country and state (NY 250).

The schedule includes:

• May 27 – “DAR Celebrates 250 years of Independence” with Patrice Birner, Orleans County DAR
• June 24 – “The Haudenosaunee Perspective of NY 250” with Terry Abrams, Niagara County Historical Society
• July 29 – “Soldiers Who Served in the Revolutionary War from Orleans County” with Tim Archer, retired Service-Learning Educator, Albion School District
• Aug. 26 – “Songs and Stories of the Erie Canal” with Don Dwyer, musician and storyteller
• Sept. 30 – “The Burned Over District Part Deux! The Fire Was Not Easily Extinguished” with Doug Miller, retired history teacher
• Oct. 28 – “Neat Stuff from the Hoag Library Special History Collections” with Dee Robinson, Hoag Local History Reference Librarian

The tour last summer at Mount Albion included a stop in front of the Civil War Memorial, a 68-foot-high tower in on honor of nearly 500 people from Orleans County who were killed in the Civil War.

The popular summer cemetery tours will once again take place this August. All tours begin at 6 p.m. at the cemetery main entrance. Rain or shine.

• Aug. 2 – Maple Ridge Cemetery at 12055 Maple Ridge Rd (Rt 31A) Shelby with Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
• Aug. 9 – Boxwood Cemetery at 3735 N. Gravel Rd, Medina with Todd Bensley, Village of Medina Historian
• Aug. 16 – Beechwood Cemetery at 1523 W. Kendall Rd. at Woodchuck Alley, Kendall with Emily Richardson, Kendall Town Historian; Dave Gaudioso, Kendall town councilman; and Bill Lattin, retired Orleans County historian.
• Aug. 23 – Otter Creek Cemetery at 13252 Ridge Rd., Gaines with Adrienne Kirby, Town of Gaines Historian
• Aug. 30 – Mt. Albion Cemetery at Route 31, Albion with Bill Lattin and Sue Starkweather Miller, Village of Albion historian

Go to orleanshistory.org or email ochistoryassociation@gmail.com for more information.