‘The Smallest of Joys’ invites people to slow down and ‘create your own magic’

Diane Shiffer’s book is published by Hay House LLC. The book was pre-launched on Monday with customers able to order it through Amazon and other book sellers. The book will be released in hardcover on April 14. Diane Shiffer is shown outside her Albion home in this screenshot from her Instagram account. She has more than 2 million followers on social media.

ALBION – An Albion woman with a massive following on social media has written a book, The Smallest of Joys, that is available for pre-ordering. The 256-page book will be out in hardcover on April 14.

Diane Shiffer has a devoted following @shifferdiane, and uses the hashtag: “YourChubbyVintageNana.”

“I never sent out to write a book,” Shiffer said in a video posted on her social media on Monday, the day of the book’s pre-launch. “Honestly, I never even thought it was something I could do. For years I was just writing things down to understand my own small life, to make sense of the days and to notice what was still good, and somehow, somehow those quiet thoughts became my book, the smallest of joys.”

The book is published by Hay House LLC. “The Smallest of Joys” is an invitation to slow down and embrace yourself. Shiffer brings messages about:

• Embrace your inner weirdo
• Be patient with yourself through life’s changes
• Keep a tidy home without overwhelm
• Develop a positive body image
• Heal from heartbreak
• Connect with others through gratitude
• Find everyday magic in the simplest moments

“Whether you’ve been following Diane for years or are just meeting her now, this book is like a warm teacup in your hands and a soft blanket around your shoulders,” Amazon states in promoting the book. “A modern antidote to hustle culture and self-criticism, it’s a reminder that kindness—especially toward yourself—can be a powerful way to live.”

Shiffer is a retired educator and social worker. She started to go viral on social media during the pandemic in 2020 when she posted short videos of her in daily life – baking, sewing, doing household chores, sharing words about kindness, and showcasing some of her vintage finds, such as potholders.

She speaks directly to her followers in her videos, calling them “my sweeties” and “my dears.”

Shiffer was featured by CBS Sunday Morning last April. CBS correspondent Faith Salie said Shiffer’s “soothing voice and infectious laugh” are a big part of her appeal. Salie said about Shiffer, “spending time with her feels like a warm hug.”

Shiffer shares heartfelt advice on discovering joy and beauty in everyday life.

“This book exists because of you, my dear internet friends, the people who taught me that small gentle things matter,” Shiffer said in a social media post on Monday. “I also know that we are living in a heavy moment. There is real grief and real fear and real injustice in the world right now, and joy doesn’t erase that but it can help us stay human inside of it.”

“I’m holding both, gratitude and perspective, hope and responsibility. If this book finds its way to you I hope it brings a little calm, a little steadiness, a reminder that tending to your spirit is not a distraction from the world. It is part of how we keep showing up for it.”

For more information on “The Smallest of Joys,” click here.

Village also may pursue new street sweeper for DPW

ALBION – A member of the Village of Albion Planning Board said it’s long overdue for the village to update a comprehensive plan for zoning, land use, development and other long-term priorities.

Jeff Holler, a member of the Planning Board, said that board and a Comprehensive Plan committee have been working on a revised plan, but the village needs a planning professional to move the project forward.

Holler said there are grant opportunities through the state Department of State that would pay for a planning firm to assist the village with the updated plan.

He has been pressing the Village Board at recent board meetings about applying for state grants for the comprehensive plan. That updated document would help guide development in the village with businesses, housing and other projects, Holler said.

Village trustees Tim McMurray and Joyce Riley said the board will out to its grant writer, G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, about pursuing a grant for the comprehensive plan.

During the board meeting on Wednesday, DPW Superintendent Jay Pahura said the village should be looking to replace a 30-year-old street sweeper, which is expected to cost $350,000 to $400,000.

Pahura was able to save $149,000 from last year’s CHIPS allotment from the state and expects to set aside a similar amount this year. That would give the village about $300,000 towards the new street sweeper, which he said can also be used for leaf pickup especially in high-traffic areas such as Route 31 and Main Street.

Village Clerk Tracy Van Skiver said there also are state grants to that could go towards the purchase. She will check those programs that have funded street sweepers for other communities.

The board also agreed to a policy update where employees in the village office will be paid if the office is closed due to weather or another emergency. This applies to employees scheduled to work on the affected day, and not people who may be on vacation or off.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Joyce Riley was the Democratic Party line for mayor of Albion in the March 18 election. She also plans to run under an independent line, “Vote for Albion.” She is shown speaking at the Albion Republican Party caucus on Jan. 24.

ALBION – Registered Democrats in the Village of Albion have backed Joyce Riley for mayor in the upcoming March 18 election.

She will face off against Tim McMurray, who has the Republican line. There is still time for candidates to run under an independent line. They have until Feb. 10 to submit petitions signed by at least 100 registered voters in Albion.

Riley also intends to run as an independent under the “Vote for Albion” line.

Riley and McMurray both have been trustees on the Village Board for nearly four years. Riley ran for mayor in 2018 and lost a close race to Eileen Banker, 250 votes to 211. Kevin Doherty also received 153 in that election for mayor.

Riley was elected trustee in March 2022. She said Albion is on better financial footing, after working to establish reserves and build back its unfunded balances. That should help the village pay for equipment purchases in the future and guard against big tax increases.

“We’re on the cusp of turning things around,” Riley said.

Riley worked as a registered nurse and later supervised an ambulatory surgical unit in Washington, D.C., overseeing 200 employees. When she retired, she moved back to Albion in 2015.

Riley, 77, said she brings a lot of energy to the Village Board, and a willingness to do the research and planning to make decisions that are best for the community.

She is also hopeful for the village because so many people are engaged as volunteers.

“There are more people getting involved,” she said. “We have more collaborations.”

Riley is the lone candidate who will appear under the Democratic line. Republicans, in addition to backing McMurray for mayor, also supported Jami Allport and Kevin Sheehan for village trustee.

Tim McMurray for mayor, and Jami Allport and Kevin Sheehan for trustees

Photos by Tom Rivers: About a dozen people attended the Village of Albion Republican Caucus on Saturday afternoon at Hoag Library. The candidates include from left: Kevin Sheehan for trustee, Jami Allport for trustee and Tim McMurray for mayor.

ALBION – A small group of registered Republicans on Saturday picked their party’s candidates for the March 18 village election.

Tim McMurray, a current village trustee, was backed for mayor, will Republicans at their party caucus also chose former Village Board member Kevin Sheehan for trustee and Jami Allport for trustee.

McMurray, 42, said he would be a very accessible mayor for the public, attending numerous local events while reaching out to other local and state officials to build support for the village.

McMurray said Village Board members need to be more active in supporting local businesses, and welcoming feedback from the community. He wants the Village Board meetings to be livestreamed and board members to have a booth at the Strawberry Festival to hear from the public.

He also said he would strive to make sure the full Village Board is kept well apprised of issues facing the village government and would welcome their contributions in resolving issues and reaching good decisions for the village.

“The people have the power,” McMurray said. “They just have to come in and make their voices heard.”

McMurray has paid the costs to attend meetings in Albany through the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) so he can be a more effective Village Board member. He also attends the local Orleans County Association of Municipalities meetings to connect with other local village, town and county officials.

McMurray worked at the former Chase and North American Mortgage call center in Albion, as well as in construction. He is a Marien Corps veteran who has volunteered as a youth football coach in Albion for 18 years.

Jami Allport, 38, is the executive director for the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern and also the cheerleading coach at Albion.

Allport said her role at GOMOC shows her how many people are struggling to pay bills and meet their basic needs in the community. The Village Board needs to consider that impact whenever taxes or water bills go up, she said.

Allport graduated from the Leadership Orleans program in 2025, where she learned about many facets of the community and also built a network of other leaders in the county.

“I don’t have an agenda except to push people’s topics,” she said during the Republican caucus. “I’m would be bringing new ideas and fresh energy to the board.”

Allport said her roles at GOMOC and as a coach at the school bring her in contact with many people who share their opinions and concerns. She wants residents to feel they have a strong voice in the village government.

Kevin Sheehan, 63, served on the Village Board for nearly nine years until 2020, when he became the village’s code enforcement officer for two years. Sheehan is retired as a plumber and pipefitter after a 33-year career. He is currently a commissioner on the Albion Joint Fire District.

Sheehan was nominated by Tom O’Hearn to run for mayor but Sheehan declined in favor of McMurray.

“He is younger and has more energy,” Sheehan said about McMurray.

Sheehan said in his tenure on the board, Albion averaged a 1.7 percent tax increase while meeting the needs of the village’s departments for equipment. He said the village can be creative in offering services without overwhelming taxpayers.

He said about half of the village is nontaxable, and that further strains those paying the taxes. The village should look at a “frontage fee” for nontaxable parcels to generate some added revenue for the village.

“I just can’t see going to that well of the taxpayers,” he said during the caucus. “We’re being overtaxed.”

The village saw the closing of the Thrive Freeze-Dry plant in August, which employed about 70 people at its peak in December 2024 and laid off its last group of 40 workers in August.

Sheehan wants to see that site and the CRFS building on East Avenue at full capacity.

He also suggested taking a serious look at selling 121 North Main St., which is owned by the village. That office building is rented out to Assemblyman Steve Hawley, the Orleans Economic Development Agency and other tenants.

“Should we be in the rental business?” Sheehan asked.

He’d also like to see a tenant in part of the building across from Mount Albion that is owned by the village. Part of that building for many years has been rented out as an apartment but Sheehan said there currently isn’t a tenant, depriving the village of that income.

Tim McMurray wants to sees more public participation in village government and more accessibility by village board members. McMurray wears sunglasses inside due to the effects of concussions and a traumatic brain injury. Joyce Riley spoke briefly at the Republican Caucus. She is seeking the Democratic Party backing at its caucus on Jan. 27 and also will be running under the independent line, “Vote for Albion.” The Democratic Caucus is at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Joyce Riley, a current village trustee, is seeking to run for mayor on the Democratic Party line and also the independent “Vote for Albion.” She asked the Republican Committee for a chance to speak at the caucus. Committee chairman Jeff Holler said she could. Three of the Republicans then walked out before Riley spoke.

Riley said she has worked hard for the village the past four years. It is far more than two meetings a months and four or five hours of time.

“For this village to survive and be successful, we need people to think outside of the box,” Riley said. “We need to evaluate each project and see if it makes sense.”

Riley pushed back on Sheehan’s position that the previous boards were wise in keeping tax increases so low. Riley said that has left the current board with depleted fund balances and reserves.

The board has been forced to make significant tax hikes to build up the fund balances and begin reserve funds for future equipment and projects.

The village’s tax levy is up $612,407 over the past three years – 21.5 percent. The tax levy went from $2,851,056 in 2022-23 to $3,463,463 in 2025-26.

The 2023-24 budget increased taxes by 2.5 percent, followed by a 6.6 percent increase in 2024-25 and 11.1 percent in 2025-26 (even with the fire department going out of the budget into a new fire district).

Will Gabalski, a village trustee for nearly two years, attended the caucus and asked the candidates questions. He said he expected there would be a lot to cut in the budget when joined the board but he said there is little to chop in the budget.

He suggested the board give a serious look at consolidation of services to bring down costs for the community.

“When I came on the board I thought you could take a red pen, but you couldn’t,” he said. “There’s reasons the taxes have gone up. The consolidation word is something we have a responsibility to our constituents to keep an open mind about.”

Provided photo: Jim Doyle will lead a class at Hoag Library where people can make music with a mountain dulcimer.

Press Release, Hoag Library

ALBION – Hoag Library is bustling this winter season with a full schedule of engaging programs that combine creativity, music and essential community services.

Participants recently completed the popular “Make Your Own Mountain Dulcimer” classes, crafting their own instruments from start to finish. Due to strong interest, future dulcimer-making classes are in the works, and interested individuals are encouraged to contact the library.

In addition, music lovers can join Learn a Dulcimer Song with Jim, held on the first Tuesday of each month. This casual session does not require registration, and participants may bring their own dulcimer or use one provided by the library.

Hoag Library will host the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Taxpayer Assistance Program in February, March, and April, offering free tax help by appointment. Registration is required by calling the library.

Additional February programs include a Red Cross Blood Drive on Feb. 21 (register here) and Advance Planning 101 with the Center for Elder Law & Justice on Feb. 27, covering healthcare proxies, power of attorney, and wills.

Rounding out the season, the Hoag Music Series returns March 28 with a performance by the Medusa Quartet of Toronto.

For full program details and updates, visit the Hoag Library website or contact the library directly.

Press Release, Albion Elks Lodge

ALBION – In an effort to help Orleans County residents who needed help obtaining necessary items to stay clean and healthy, the Albion Elks Lodge purchased $4,000 worth of cleaning supplies and hygiene items. These items were given to families on January 4, 2026.

A grant from the Elks National Foundation was used to purchase items like shampoos, soap, razors, paper towels, cleaning solutions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, etc.

“It’s such a great feeling to assist our residents that truly need it,” said Mike Jenks, Exalter Ruler of the Albion Elks Lodge.

The Albion Elks Lodge received over $11,000 worth of grants in 2025, and are anxious to help the community again in 2026.

Republicans meet on Jan. 24 and Democrats follow on Jan. 27

ALBION – The Republican and Democratic parties will soon be holding their caucuses to pick their candidates in the upcoming March 18 village election.

The Republican Party will have its caucus at 2 p.m. on Jan. 24 in the Curtis Room at Hoag Library. The Democrats will have their caucus at 7 p.m. on Jan. 27 at Pullman Memorial Universalist Church.

The election is usually the third Tuesday in March, which would be March 17 this year. However, that is St. Patrick’s Day so the election has been moved back a day.

This year there will be four-year terms on the ballot for mayor (currently Angel Javier Jr.) and trustees (currently Tim McMurray and Joyce Riley).

Polls will be open on March 18 from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Office, 35-37 East Bank St.

Candidates also can run as independents and need to submit petitions signed by at least 100 registered voters in the village. Those petitions are due to the village clerk by Feb. 10.

Albion is the only village in Orleans County that has candidates run under the major party lines. Lyndonville, Medina and Holley don’t have the party lines in their elections. In those villages, all of the candidates run as independents.

This is a photo of a print out of a rendering of the proposed Dollar General store in Albion on East Avenue across from the high school.

ALBION – The Village of Albion Planning Board has set a public hearing for 5 p.m. on Feb. 12 for the site plan for the new Dollar General store at 327 East Ave. The meeting will be at the Village Office on East Bank Street.

The new 10,640-square-foot store would be across from the high school.

Tye Albion Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 9 approved a variance for the project, allowing Dollar General to have 35 parking spaces instead of the 53 required for a store that size. Albion’s zoning calls for one parking space for every 200 square feet of a retail store.

The Broadway Group is the developer of the new store. The company said having 35 parking spaces will allow for more green space on the site.

During a public hearing on Sept. 9 about the variance, several speakers said they didn’t think a Dollar General across from the school was a good fit. They also questioned if there was enough room on the lot for tractor trailers to make deliveries and then turnaround without backing out onto Route 31. The store is expected to have two deliveries a week, Broadway Group representatives said at the hearing.

The Planning Board will discuss traffic flow issues and truck turnaround as part of the site plan.

The store is proposed to be next to the Cone Zone ice cream business. The Broadway Group from Huntsville, Ala. proposes to demolish an existing building to the east of Cone Zone and put up the new store.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from November shows downtown Albion from East Bank Street. The downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

ALBION – The Historic Preservation Commission in Albion has struggled to reach a quorum in recent years and the inability to hold meetings has delayed some building owners from moving forward with projects, Village Board members said.

The HPC needs to give its approval for a certificate of appropriateness for signs and exterior work on a building in the historic downtown district.

The seven-member board currently only has four members.

The Village Board will have a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Feb. 25 about disbanding the Historic Preservation Commission and having its functions handled by either the code enforcement officer or the Village Planning Board.

In Medina, the Planning Board decides whether to grant certificates of appropriateness for signs and exterior building work.

In October 2022, Mary Anne Braunbach, the Albion HPC chairwoman at the time, said the commission was struggling to have a quorum. She didn’t want to hold up projects in the historic district because the board lacked enough participants for an official meeting.

With seven members, the commission needs at least four for a quorum. She suggested reducing the members to five members, and then the minimum would be three for a quorum.

Braunbach said then the commission tries to be a resource to building owners looking to upgrade their facades or do other projects. The commission doesn’t want to be an obstacle, she said, but will push for property owners to meet the standard for the historic district.

“We want to let people know we’re working with them,” she told the Village Board then. “We want to help people make the buildings look better and look historic.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from Saturday evening shows traffic and cars parking on Main Street in Albion.

ALBION – The Village Board will take comments from the public on raising the fines for people with parking infractions.

Police Chief David Mogle suggested the fines be doubled from their current levels of $25 if paid within seven days of the violation, $30 if paid after seven days but within 30 days, and $35 if paid after 30 days.

Village Trustee Joyce Riley believes doubling the fines is too much. She suggested a $40 fine if paid with seven days, $50 if paid after seven days and wthin 30 days, and $65 if paid after 30 days.

The other board members agreed with Riley’s reasoning. The board will have a public hearing on the higher fines at 6 p.m. on Feb. 11.

The Albion Police Department is almost out of parking tickets and will soon be ordering more. Mogle advised the board the fine amounts had not been changed in many years.

The Police Department can issue parking tickets for parking in the street overnight from Nov. 15 to April 15, parking in a no parking zone, blocking a fire lane, parking closer than 10 feet of a fire hydrant, double parking, parking in handicapped parking spot without a permit, parking on curb or sidewalk, and overtime parking.

Photos courtesy of Tim Archer, Albion teacher

ALBION – The Sons of the American Revolution visited seventh-graders in Albion Middle School last week and discussed solider life and gear, important events, uniforms, weaponry and other topics.

The SAR promotes patriotic, historical and educational themes, while perpetuating the memory of Revolutionary War patriots. Promoting fellowship among their descendants, they seek to inspire the community with a reverence for principles of government foundered by our forefathers.

This year is the 250^th anniversary of when the United States of America declared its independence.

Luci Borello and Sutton Sanders, Albion eighth-graders, are shown with members of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The two students are working on a burials’ list of Revolutionary War soldiers in Orleans County.

Tim Archer, service-learning teacher at Albion, also said students will be unveiling four roadside historical markers this year in the county that highlight local connections to the Revolutionary War.

The markers were funded through the Pomeroy Foundation.

Bruce Pritchett, a social studies teacher, and his students look over a rifle brought in by the Sons of the American Revolution.

ALBION – It’s almost time for Democrats and Republicans in the Village of Albion to hold their caucuses to pick their candidates for the March 18 election.

The election is usually the third Tuesday in March, which would be March 17 this year. However, that is St. Patrick’s Day so the election has been moved back a day.

This year there will be four-year terms on the ballot for mayor (currently Angel Javier Jr.) and trustees (currently Tim McMurray and Joyce Riley).

Polls will be open on March 18 from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Office, 35-37 East Bank St.

None of the parties have officially notified Village Clerk Tracy VanSkiver of their caucus, which must be held between Jan. 20 and Jan. 27, according to the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM).

The Democratic Party has informed the Orleans Hub the Democrats will have their caucus at 7 p.m. on Jan. 27 at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, 10 East Park St.

Those in attendance will pick the candidates under the Democratic Party line.

Republicans haven’t set their caucus.

Candidates also can run as independents and need to submit petitions signed by at least 100 registered voters in the village. Those petitions are due to the village clerk by Feb. 10.

Albion is the only village in Orleans County that has candidates run under the major party lines. Lyndonville, Medina and Holley don’t have the party lines in their elections. In those villages, all of the candidates run as independents.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Geno Allport speaks during this evening’s Albion Board of Education meeting, stating his support for an Albion/Medina merged football program. Linda Weller, the board president, and Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent, are shown leading the meeting.

ALBION – They have been rivals on the football field for more than a century but beginning in 2026 they could be teammates.

Albion and Medina school officials and coaches have held preliminary discussions about a merger of their football programs with the goal of player safety and a sustainable path for the program at both districts, Mickey Edwards, the Albion district superintendent, said at this evening’s Board of Education meeting.

“This is about providing our students safe and meaningful athletic opportunities,” he said.

Both schools have shrinking enrollments and declining student participation in football. Both did not field JV teams this past season, offering varsity (grade 10 to 12) and modified (grade 7 to 9). Those teams also were often short on players, pushing some students to play above their grade levels. The schools held some joint practices when they were short on players.

Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent, played for Albion’s football teams when he was a student. He said he values the relationships and opportunities from his playing days.

Medina almost went to 8-man football due to low student participation before switching back to 11-man before the start of the season.

The boards of education from both districts need to vote next month if the merger is to go forward, Edwards said.

Section 6 has given the districts until February to decide so the Section can plan the football schedule for 2026. Albion has been playing in Class B while Medina is in Class C.

If the districts vote to move forward with a merger, all the details don’t need to be ironed out by February, Edwards said during this evening’s Albion BOE meeting.

The cost of the program would be split 50-50 for uniforms, coaches, transportation and other expenses. Each district would likely host two home games. There would be a head coach for each team and coaching staff from both districts.

Edwards said Albion and Medina would need to approve an intermunicipal agreement and the two districts would decide on colors and a mascot for a merged team.

Albion will next meet on Feb. 9 and will decide if it backs a merged football program.

John Kast and Trellis Pore were among the board members who spoke at this evening’s meeting, saying they support student safety and continued opportunities with football.

Two community members spoke during the Albion board meeting. Molly Preston is the mother of the Albion varsity quarterback, a sophomore. She also is a member of the football boosters at Albion.

She doesn’t want to see Albion make a hasty decision. She said some Albion players would see less playing time. A merged team would mean more travel time and less school pride, she said.

“I encourage exploration of all options,” she said. “I’m not against a merger but I see it as a last resort.”

Geno Allport, an Albion youth football coach for 25 years, said a merged team would be better for Albion and Medina, allowing them to field more competitive teams at modified, JV and varsity.

Allport also coaches in Rochester for a high school. Albion and Medina working together could offer more coaches, and the players from both schools would become teammates with friendships that last beyond school, he said.

Albion has often been overmatched in recent years, and some Albion kids have transferred to play at private schools in Buffalo, further diminishing the Albion program.

A competitive team would draw more students, keep them engaged and not overcommit some of the younger players who are needed to play above their grade levels, Allport said.

He has seen other nearby schools, who were bitter rivals, link up on the football field as teammates to great success. He noted Elba and Oakfield-Alabama, Alexander and Pembroke, and LeRoy and Caledonia-Mumford have joined forces with their football teams, despite their rivalries from years ago.

Medina has had merged programs with other districts, including a past partnership with Lyndonville for football.

Medina is expected to discuss a possible merger with Albion during the Jan. 13 board meeting. It then meets again on Feb. 10.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman: Albion defensive lineman Jackson Snook is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the go-ahead touchdown late in the Purple Eagles thrilling 30-27 win over visiting East Aurora/Holland on Oct. 16 for Albion’s only win in the 2025 season.

Geno Allport’s family have been season ticket holders since 1974, a year after stadium opened

Photos courtesy of Allport family: Geno Allport holds daughter Hensley at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.

ALBION – It’s not just a football stadium to Geno Allport. The Buffalo Bills are in his family’s DNA, he proudly says, and today’s final regular season home game at Highmark Stadium will be an emotional farewell.

Geno’s family have been season ticket holders since 1974, a year after the opening of what was Rich Stadium. The home of the Buffalo Bills has been called Ralph Wilson Stadium “The Ralph”, New Era Field and Highmark.

The Bills will move to a new $2.1 billion stadium next season. The current facility will be demolished.

Geno, 51, said going to the games has been a strong bonding experience for him with his father and grandfather, and also his son and other family and friends.

“I was born and raised there,” he said on Saturday before today’s finale. “I have all the memories with my mom, dad and grampa there. Hopefully I can create new memories with my kids in the new stadium.”

The Allports will continue to be season ticket holders at the new stadium, but Allport said people who have been in the seats close to them will have spots elsewhere in the stadium. Other long-time fans close to them opted against buying season tickets at the new stadium.

Geno was hoping the current stadium would stay. It has been significantly upgraded over the years. It is the fifth oldest stadium in the NFL.

Geno has been to every home game since 1981, including in Covid when fans weren’t allowed. Allport was able to get a job in security to be at the games in 2020.

When Geno was a kid, the family parked near the players’ lot. Geno would get their autographs and his mother would get photos of him with the Bills players. Now, they aren’t nearly as accessible.

The only game he missed was in October 2006. A freak snowstorm on Oct. 12-13, moved back the playoff game for Albion’s youth football team coached by Allport. He coached that championship game for the Albion team on a Sunday. (He tried to push the game back but the league set it for the same time as the Bills game.)

Tre Allport, 31, has been a regular with his father at the Bills games. In bottom right photo he is shown with retired quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, a Buffalo Bills legend.

Allport said the Bills have provided many incredible victories over the wins. He counts the 51-3 win over the Raiders on Jan. 20, 1991. That demolition of the Raider sent the Bills to their first Super Bowl. The Bills used their no-huddle offense led by Jim Kelly to torch the Raiders that day, running up 41 points by halftime.

“They could do no wrong,” Allport said. “Everything went right.”

He remembers another game from a dark time in the Bills era. They were 0-11 when the mighty Dallas Cowboys came to town on Nov. 18, 1984. The Bills beat them 14-3 with running back Greg Bell gaining 206 yards, including an 85-yard touchdown on the first play. The Bills finished 2-14 that season, and also in 1985.

The team became a powerhouse in the late 1980s and first half of the 1990s with Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed among the star players. They remain the only team to ever make it to four straight super bowls.

The fans would endure a 17-year playoff drought from 2000 until the 2017 season. Led by Josh Allen, the team has now made the playoffs seven straight years.

Allport loves the team, but he loves the people next to him in the stands even more.

The past 25 years, the Allports have had six seats at section 135, row 12, seats 1 through 6.

Before his family heads to today’s game, Allport will go to the Bates Road Cemetery in Medina to stop by gravesites for his parents, Gene “Lou” Allport and Pam Allport.

Geno considered ending his season tickets after this season. But his daughter Hensley, age 7, loves the team, too.

“We will keep going next year,” he said. “I don’t want my youngest one to miss out.”

He is grateful for the many friendships he’s made in the stands. They have watched his son, Tre, grow from a boy to a man. Tre is 31 and endured the 17-year drought before experiencing a team that has made the playoffs eight of the past nine years.

“I wish it wasn’t happening,” Allport said about the finale at the stadium. “I was born and raised there. It will be a sad day. I’ve been dreading it since they announced it.”

Allport said the new stadium won’t be the same mainly because many of the long-time fans who are his friends won’t be right next to him.

“You get used to the people around you,” he said. “We are all yelling to support the team. Next year we’ll be making new friends.”

File photo by Tom Rivers: Geno Allport proudly displays his love for the Buffalo Bills at his Albion home. He was the Buffalo Bills Fan of the Year in 2021. The Allports have been season ticket holders since 1974, and Geno was also recognized for his leadership with Albion youth football.