Media Coverage for Our Bicentennial Year
As part of our promotional efforts for the bicentennial year, we’ve been reaching out to news publications, TV stations and other media outlets to spread the word about this milestone. Our goal is to maximize awareness and engagement by securing coverage across various platforms. Below is a current, regularly updated list of media outlets that have featured or will feature our bicentennial promotions
If you are a member of the media and are interested in covering our bicentennial celebration, we would love to collaborate with you. To schedule a visit, conduct an interview, or gather more details, please reach out to our press contact at Isabella@orleanscountytourism.com or call 585-589-3282.
As seen on television news:
Spectrum News 1
On Thursday, February 27th, Spectrum News 1 aired a special segment featuring our Tourism Director, Dawn Borchert, as she highlighted Orleans County and our bicentennial celebration. Reporter Wendy Mills also spoke with our Sportfishing Coordinator, Ron Bierstine, to discuss the county’s fishing opportunities and showcased local anglers at the Oak Orchard Dam. Adding to the excitement, our bicentennial mascot, Orly the Ox, made a special appearance.
Click here to watch the full segment. Thank you to reporter Wendy Mills for visiting and shining a spotlight on Orleans County.
News 8 WROC
On Wednesday, March 5th, News 8 WROC out of Rochester aired a segment featuring Orleans County Historian and Bicentennial Committee Chairwoman Catherine Cooper and our bicentennial mascot Orly the Ox.
Click here to watch the full segment. Thank you to reporter Adelisa Badzic for coming out to do this feature on Orly the Ox.
WNY Tonight on Lockport Community TV
On Wednesday, April 3, WNY Tonight, a weekly show on Lockport Community TV that highlights the people, places, organizations and events that make Western New York a great place to live, work and play, aired a live 30-minute interview with Orleans County Bicentennial Committee members Catherine Cooper, Orleans County historian, and Tom Rivers, editor of Orleans Hub. They discussed the county's bicentennial, Orleans County history and why the area is a great place to visit. Click here to watch the interview.
Online articles:
The Orleans Hub is an online news website dedicated to providing comprehensive coverage of Orleans County, New York. The website features sections such as headline news, local sports, police blotter, county court, obituaries, and community directories. Additionally, it offers opinion pieces, health and wellness articles, fishing reports, and a visitor’s guide, aiming to keep residents informed about local events and issues.
Orleans Hub editor Tom Rivers, also a member of the Bicentennial Committee, helps promote coverage of the celebration. Below is a full list of articles written by Rivers that highlight the bicentennial.
Feb. 24, 2025: "Artist creates painting for county’s bicentennial, showing log cabin and courthouse from near same spot"
Feb. 24, 2025: "Orly the Bicentennial Ox continues adventures in Orleans"
Feb. 19, 2025: "Bicentennial art show at Marti’s will highlight Orleans County, Erie Canal."
Feb. 10, 2025: "Orly the Bicentennial Ox enjoying his adventures in Orleans"
Jan. 23, 2025: "Orly the Bicentennial Ox taking temporary residence at Hoag Library"
Jan. 5, 2025: "Orleans County celebrates bicentennial in 2025." By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
Dec. 2, 2024: "Ox mascot helps pump up pride for next year’s county bicentennial"
Oct. 25, 2024: "Fair ox completed to promote Orleans County’s Bicentennial in 2025"
Sep. 19, 2024: "Clarendon will paint a bicentennial ox to celebrate county’s 200th anniversary"
July 29, 2024: "‘Bicentennial Ox’ starred at Orleans County 4-H Fair"
June 14, 2024: "‘Bicentennial Ox’ arrives at fairgrounds, will be painted during fair"
The Genesee Valley Penny Saver is a free community publication serving the Genesee Valley region of New York State. Established in 1948, it provides local news, events, and advertising to connect residents and businesses. In addition to its weekly print distribution across multiple counties, the publication also features content online, offering a digital platform for community engagement and commerce.
Feb. 20, 2025: "Orleans County & the Erie Canal are Celebrating 200 Years!" By Suzie Wells.
The Daily News Online is the premier digital hub for news and advertising in the GLOW region.
Powered by the dedicated team at The Daily News, a publication owned by SMG-Batavia, this site delivers in-depth coverage of news and events across Genesee, Wyoming, and Orleans counties.
March 8, 2025: "Painting honors Orleans County pioneers"
Why our bicentennial is a newsworthy story:
The bicentennial celebration is a landmark event that captures the essence of Orleans County’s rich history and vibrant community spirit. Marking 200 years of heritage, this milestone has proven to be a compelling narrative for local media and residents alike.
A standout part of our celebration is our official bicentennial mascot, Orly the Ox. The committee chose the ox because these hardworking animals were vital in Orleans County’s early days—pulling wagons, clearing trees, digging the Erie Canal, and taming the land.
Orly will appear on our Facebook and Instagram pages every weekday in 2025, showcasing local attractions, personalities, and our rich history. Read more about the ox’s legacy in Orleans County.
Another highlight is our "Oxen of Orleans" art project initiative. In celebration of the Orleans County bicentennial, local artists and organizations are encouraged to participate in the “Oxen of Orleans” public art project. This initiative will feature life-size, fiberglass ox figures which will be displayed throughout the county, creating a public art trail. The figures may be embellished to celebrate Orleans County's history, landmarks, and cultural pride.
As of this moment, those committed to the Oxen of Orleans County project are the Orleans Cornell Cooperative Extension (see their finished Ox at its temporary location at the Hoag Library), the towns of Clarendon, Carlton and the Oak Orchard region (sponsored by the Friends of Orleans County Marine Parks).
This year, many bicentennial events will celebrate both Orleans County’s and the Erie Canal’s bicentennials. Throughout the year, a variety of events will honor these two historic milestones. A complete list of planned bicentennial events can be found here.
Orleans County Tourism and the Orleans County Bicentennial Committee are thrilled to invite residents and visitors to celebrate this historic milestone. Through showcasing Orly the Ox on our social media, developing a public art trail, and organizing and promoting bicentennial events, we aim to create a fun and informative year that honors our past while inspiring our future.
