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GoFundMe established for family of Albion native and daughter killed in car accident
Photo from GoFundMe: Darrel Gray and his daughter Nora were killed in a Friday morning car accident in Oneida County while on the way to swimming practice for Nora.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established for the family of an Albion native and his daughter who were both killed in a car accident on Friday in Oneida County. Click here to be directed to the GoFundMe which will help the family with memorial expenses.
Darrel Gray, 52, and his daughter Nora, 17, both died in the collision with a tractor-trailer.
Gray graduated from Albion in 1992 and was a member of the school’s high-powered football teams. He was the modified football coach at Adirondack Central School. His daughter was involved in swimming and gymnastics.
The Gray family lives in West Leyden in Lewis County. The accident occurred in the town of Ava.
Gray is survived by his wife Marion and their son Mitchell.
The organizer of the GoFundMe posted this message:
“We are overwhelmed by the kindness that has surrounded Marion and Mitchell in such a short time. Every donation, every share, every message, every memory, and every gesture of love has been felt so deeply.
“Thank you to each of you who has helped carry this family in whatever way you can. The generosity of this community is incredibly moving, but even more meaningful is the reminder that Marion and Mitchell are surrounded by so many people who care for them.
“Please continue to hold them close in your hearts as they navigate the days ahead. We are so grateful for all of you.”
Albion boy cuts hair after 5 years with 16 inches donated to Wigs for Kids
Cooper Traxler giving hair in memory of friend, Byron Neal
Photos courtesy of Jamie Traxler
BROCKPORT – Cooper Traxler, 12, of Albion is shown on Friday before he got his hair cut at Next Level Barbershop in Brockport.
Cooper had 16 inches taken off with his first haircut in five years. He is donating the hair to Wigs for Kids in memory of Byron Neal, who passed away from cancer at age 8 on April 14, 2023. Byron and his family sat in front of Cooper for church services at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Albion.
Cooper got a major overhaul with the haircut by Jeremy Burris at Next Level Barbershop. Many of Cooper’s friends and football coaches recommended Jeremy for the haircut.
Cooper said he was excited for the change with a new school year starting next week. He will be going into seventh grade.
Cooper’s hair will be given to Wig for Kids out of Ohio. He will be raising $500 to go with his hair which will start the wig production, said his mother, Jamie Traxler.
Many kids with cancer lose their hair while enduring chemo treatments.
“He wanted them to have his hair to make them feel more like themselves until their hair grew back,” Jamie Traxler said. “So that they could focus on feeling better and getting better while not worrying about people staring because of losing their hair and how that made them look.”
Anyone interested in donating towards the new wig can send the money by Venmo to @JamieTraxler82.
6 veterans lead Roy-Hart field hockey squad
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading Roy-Hart into the upcoming Niagara-Orleans League field hockey season will be this group of veterans. They include Izabella Green, Mackenzie Landers, Adella Dukes, Savannah Newton, Bella Rhinehart and Miley Reiter. Dukes earned first team N-O All-League honors last fall. Roy-Hart, which went 5-7 in N-O competition last fall, will open the league season at Kenmore on September 10. The Lady Rams will tune-up by hosting Sacred Heart in a non league contest this Thursday.
Holley to host Albion in volleyball opener
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Holley will host Albion in a non league season opening varsity volleyball match at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Lady Hawks will then open the Genesee Region League season at Wheatland-Chili on Thursday. Holley’s veteran group includes, in front, Brianna Pellegrino and Desiree McCormick. In back are Kylie Allport, Ella Wilson and Autumn Bradley.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Getting set to lead Albion into Tuesday’s non league season opening volleyball match at Holley is this group of Purple Eagles veterans. In front are juniors Charlotte Pike, Katelyn Viza and Alivia Dumrese. In back are seniors Jillian LeBaron, Anna Grillo, Carley Smith and Melia Prince. Albion will begin Niagara-Orleans League competition at defending champion Roy-Hart on September 9.
St. Rocco’s Fest will celebrate with food, music and bocce on Sunday
File photos by Tom Rivers: Joe Morlino was among many volunteers cooking food at St. Rocco’s Italian Festival in Hulberton on Sept. 1, 2024. The event is a big fundraiser for the ONE Catholic Family of Churches. Morlino has been volunteering at the festival for 20 years. He is shown cooking French fries, ravioli and mozzarella sticks.
Press Release, ONE Catholic Family of Churches
HULBERTON – The St Rocco’s Annual Italian Festival is celebrating its 51st year with a variety of local musicians on Sunday.
Live music will begin at 11 a.m., and it will feature a varied line-up of talent under the tent throughout the afternoon until 4 p.m.
First up, from 11a.m. to noon, will be PSA – Public Service Announcement, a Holley High School band including lead singer Isla Schultz, Brody Williams on drums, Aidan Kelley on guitar and Kallan Babcock on bass.
From noon to 1 p.m., Roxy’s Accordion Band will take the stage. The legacy of Roxy Caccamise and her Roxy’s Music Store in Batavia has carried on after her passing by her family and a collection of accordion enthusiasts.
Katie Robinson, a pianist and vocalist, will perform from 1 to 2 p.m. Katie performs hits from the 1970s and 1980s including Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Carole King, Seals and Crofts, Cyndi Lauper, James Taylor and more.
Rounding out the live music, from 2 to 4 p.m. will be the Bennetts Corners Band. The band members are Michael Kinsey, Tom Kinsey, Charles Kinsey and Nathaniel Kinsey. They play American Folk, Celtic Folk, American Country, Sea Shanties, and they take occasional comedic breaks.
“We are blessed and excited to be able to host this wonderful community event,” said Jeanne Maxon, chair of the festival committee. “It is especially fun to showcase some amazing local musicians – so please bring a lawn chair and enjoy the free entertainment.”
The St. Rocco Italian Festival is at 3415 Hulberton Rd. Traditional food favorites are served from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the beer tent will offer Rohrbach Beer & Black Creek Cidery on tap.
There will be a bocce tournament, vendors, raffles and family play areas. The event grounds are a smoke & vape free environment. For their safety, no pets will be allowed. There is plenty of free on-site parking. The festival is a cash-only event with no ATM access.
Members of a band, PSA, from Holley Central School performed on June 24 when the Seneca Chief boat came to town. The band members include lead singer Isla Schultz, Brody Williams on drums, Aidan Kelley on guitar and Kallan Babcock on bass.
Todd Eick, BOCES animal science teacher, wins state award
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
Provided photo: Dr. Michael Weyrauch (left), Orleans/Niagara BOCES director of Career & Technical Education and Adult Education, congratulates Todd Eick on his award from the New York Association of Agricultural Educators.
Todd Eick, an Orleans/Niagara BOCES animal science teacher, was announced as the New York State winner of the Ideas Unlimited Award.
Eick, who works at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center, was recognized during the June 2026 New York Association of Agricultural Educators (NYAAE) Conference at the Oswegatchie Education Center for his dedication, leadership, and commitment to agricultural education.
The annual conference celebrates excellence in agricultural education by recognizing teachers whose passion for student success, innovative instruction, and service to their schools and communities exemplify the highest standards of the profession.
The NYAAE says, “Through hard work, dedication to students, and an unwavering commitment to the school district and community, Mr. Eick has demonstrated the qualities of excellence that define outstanding agricultural educators.”
Eick, a former teacher and FFA advisor at Medina Central School, was recognized for the development a project he titles Threads of Agriculture – Weaving Global Agricultural Data into Fiber Art.
The weaving project is an interdisciplinary activity where students design and produce a circular loop scarf that represents and graphs agricultural data. Students collect authentic agricultural data, organize the information for data interpretation and then weave a finished agricultural product that also functions as a linear proportion color graph.
This project can engage students in a global agricultural understanding, fiber and textile production and data analysis – and it is a way to make the hot career skill of data science interesting in a way that can be difficult. Students report strong engagement because of their own decision making, hands-on production and personal research. Students of multiple learning styles find a place where their style is engaged and the project is aligned with standards and reinforces academic concepts in science, mathematics and art.
The NYAAE and Orleans/Niagara BOCES congratulate Eick on his well-deserved award and his continued contributions to agricultural education across New York State. This is the third time that he has won this award at the state level and he is also a previous winner at the national level.
His commitment to developing future leaders in agriculture strengthens local communities and inspires the next generation of agricultural professionals.
“I’m honored and humbled to be recognized by my peers in our professional state organization,” Eick said. “The other projects that were nominated were equally (if not more so) demanding of this recognition. I’m proud of this project, what it provides for the students, and is a great way to incorporate the fiber industry into our curriculum. It is also a wonderful introduction for students to global agriculture.”
Gas up 8 cents in Orleans County in past week, now at an average $4.38
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Crosby’s in Gaines was selling regular unleaded gas for $4.41 a gallon on Sunday.
Gas prices jumped 8 cents in the past week in Orleans County from an average of $4.30 a gallon to $4.38, according to AAA.
The national average price for gas is at $4.08 today, which is down 2 cents in the past week. A year ago, the price was $3.19.
The New York State average is $4.21, up 5 cents from last Monday. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.18.
“For the first time ever, the national average gas price in August has been above $4 per gallon every day,” AAA said in a news release today. “This month is poised to set a new record as the most expensive August at the pump, surpassing the previous August record set in 2022. There’s been little movement on the crude oil front. Due to continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, crude oil prices remain elevated. This morning, oil prices range from $85 to $90 per barrel.
“Despite elevated fuel prices, Labor Day travel is expected to be strong with travelers taking advantage of the last long holiday weekend of the summer season.”
The average prices among Western New York counties includes:
- Orleans, $4.303
- Genesee, $4.179
- Monroe, $4.205
- Niagara, $4.201
- Erie, $4.206
- Wyoming, $4.252
- Livingston, $4.271
- Chautauqua, $4.275
- Cattaraugus, $4.073
- Allegany, $4.224
Hamilton County in the Adirondacks is the highest in the state at $4.671 a gallon, while Chemung has the lowest average at $4.073.
The national average for diesel prices is down a penny to $5.60. Last year at this time, the national average price was $3.70. The New York average for diesel fuel is $5.74, up 4 cents from last week, and up from $3.90 last year.
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Weekly High School Sports Schedule
Weekly Schedule
Monday
Golf – Wilson at Albion, Akron at Barker, Medina at Newfane
Tuesday
Boys Soccer – Albion at Holley, 7 p.m.
Volleyball – Albion at Holley, 6:30 p.m.
Golf – Wilson at Roy-Hart
Wednesday
Boys Soccer – Roy-Hart at CSAT
Volleyball – Lyndonville at CSAT, 6:30 p.m.
Field Hockey – Barker vs. Pioneer at Starpoint, 4 p.m.
Golf – Medina at Barker, Akron at Albion
Thursday
Football – Albion/Medina vs. Akron, 7 p.m. site to be determined
Boys Soccer – Lyndonville/Barker at Park, 5 p.m.; Albion at Pembroke, 6 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Barker/Lyndonville at Albion, 6:45 p.m. (Albion Tournament)
Volleyball – Holley at Wheatland-Chili, 5 p.m.; Medina at Alden, Albion at Alexander, Roy-Hart at Oakfield-Alabama, Kendall at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.
Field Hockey – Sacred Heart at Roy-Hart, 5 p.m.
Friday
Football – Newfane at Barker/Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.
Boys Soccer – Roy-Hart at Niagara Falls, 5 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Roy-Hart at Tonawanda Tournament, 5 p.m.
Golf – Albion at Roy-Hart, Medina at Akron, Wilson at Newfane
Saturday
Football – Holley/Lyndonville at South Seneca, 1 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Holley vs. Lake George at OEJ High, 1:30 p.m.; Albion Tournament 4:45 and 6:45 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Tonawanda Tournament
Sunday
Girls Soccer – Holley vs. Frankfort-Schuyler at Central Valley, 12:15 p.m.
New Albion teachers tour sites in community, learn local history
Photos courtesy of Albion Central School: New Albion teachers stopped by Panek farms on Thursday.
ALBION – The group of new Albion teachers toured sites in the community on Thursday as part of their orientation.
Tim Archer, a retired teacher who led many community services projects with students, led the new teachers on a three-hour tour of the Albion community.
They visited Doug Farley, Bill Lattin and Collin Capurso at the Cobblestone Museum and its one-room schoolhouse, Kathy Harling (associate court attorney) at the Orleans County Courthouse, the Rev. Sue Thaine at the First Presbyterian Church, Harriet Greaser in her home (former Presbyterian Church manse), the Mt. Albion Cemetery Soldiers and Sailors Monument (Civil War memorial), and Jim and Kerry Panek at Panek Farms. New school board member Kaitlyn Panek was on hand to welcome the teachers.
Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Museum, shows the teachers a one-room schoolhouse that was built in 1849 and served the school district until 1952.
The teachers are shown inside the County Courthouse, a building constructed in 1858 that remains as the county’s main courts facility.
