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Gas takes 16-cent jump in past week nationally
Average price in Orleans County now at $4.38 a gallon
Photo by Tom Rivers: The average price for regular unleaded is at $4.39 today at the Crosby’s in Albion, corner of routes 98 and 31. With the rewards card at 5 cents off, the price drops to $4.34.
The average price for regular unleaded gas jumped 16 cents nationally in the past week to $4.31 a gallon, while in New York State, the average is at $4.39, which is up 8 cents since last Monday, AAA reported.
A year ago the average prices were at $3.17 nationally and $3.25 in New York State.
In Orleans County, the price increased from $4.34 to $4.83.
“Volatility in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed crude oil back into the $100 to $110 per barrel range for the first time since July, sending pump prices to levels comparable to June,” AAA said in a statement this morning for its weekly gas price report. “This September, the national average is rising during a period when gas prices typically decline due to lower seasonal demand.”
Diesel prices are at a record high. The national average is $6.23 per gallon, up 33 cents from last week. New York’s average diesel price is $6.17 per gallon, up 25 cents from last week and nearly double the $3.10 average recorded one year ago.
Here are the average prices around Western New York:
- Orleans, $4.383
- Genesee, $4.316
- Monroe, $4.302
- Niagara, $4.314
- Erie, $4.324
- Wyoming, $4.342
- Livingston, $4.319
- Chautauqua, $4.377
- Cattaraugus, $4.326
- Allegany, $4.343
Governor announces $200 energy rebate checks will be mailed starting next week
Single filers with incomes under $150K to receive $100
Press Release, Governor Kathy Hochul’s Office
Photo courtesy of Governor’s Office: Governor Kathy Hochul speaks on Aug. 20 in Webster for a celebration of Coca-Cola Company and Fairlife’s $650 million, state-of-the-art dairy production facility in Monroe County.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that energy rebate checks up to $200 will be sent to 8.2 million households across New York State starting on September 21.
Checks will be mailed directly to eligible New Yorkers, with deliveries to continue through December. There is no need to apply, sign up or do anything to receive a check.
“As Washington Republicans continue to send the cost of everything from utility bills to gas and groceries soaring, I’ll never stop working to address the rising cost of living for New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “Too many families are struggling with rising household energy bills and soaring gas prices at the pump — and that’s why we’re putting money directly back in New Yorkers’ pockets by sending energy rebate checks to millions of families as part of our affordability agenda.”
Governor Hochul’s enacted budget included a one-time $1 billion Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) to help provide needed relief in the face of federal tariffs that have increased the cost of living across the board and President Trump’s war in Iran that has New Yorkers now paying on average $4.35 per gallon at the pumps, a 45% jump since the war began. Diesel has jumped 49% since the war began at the end of February to $5.98 per gallon.
POWER checks will provide $200 to joint filers with incomes under $150,000 and $150 to joint filers with incomes between $150,000 and $300,000. Single filers with incomes under $150,000 will receive $100. The rebates will be issued as advanced credit checks and will be mailed out between September and December.
Who’s Eligible for a POWER Check?
You are eligible for a rebate credit check if, for tax year 2024, you:
- Filed a timely New York State Resident Income Tax Return;
- Were a full-time resident for New York State;
- Reported income within the qualifying thresholds; and
- Were not claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return.
Firefighters collect $6K for Make-A-Wish with boot drive
Provided photos
MEDINA – About 30 firefighters were out on Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon with a boot drive to collect money for Make-A-Wish.
The firefighters collected nearly $6,000 – $5,955.60. There are a couple more donations coming in, too, said Tim Petry of the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.
Firefighters from East Shelby, Medina, Shelby and Ridgeway were at three intersections in the community. There were at Route 104 and Route 63 in Ridgeway; Maple Ridge Road near the Route 63 intersection in Shelby; and downtown Medina at the main intersection.
Make-A-Wish is an organization that gives life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Medina Marching Band debuts new uniforms, program called ‘We The People’
Band opens season with 2nd place at Jordan-Elbridge
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Medina Marching Band performs on Sept. 11, 2026 during halftime of the OC Rivals football at Vets Park. The band is debuting new uniforms this season and also is performing a show, “We The People” celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary with the music of Aaron Copeland.
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Medina Marching Band is shown performing at halftime on Friday evening of the OC Rivals football game versus Lakeshore. The game was played at Vets Park in Medina.
The band the next day then competed for the first time this season at Jordan-Elbridge High School in Jordan, which is near Auburn.
The competition featured nine bands, six of which were in Medina’s class, SS2. In that class Medina came in 2nd place behind Oswego.
Medina’s show is called “We The People” and celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary with the music of Aaron Copeland.
The band consists of 90 students and is directed by Kyla Leno-Denise and Andrea Busch. The band is led on the field by drum major Sophia Lopez. The is performing in new uniforms this year.
Medina’s next performance is at their home show, “Fall Festival of Bands” on Saturday, Sept. 26th beginning at 6 p.m. at Vets Park.
The results from Saturday include:
- SS2 – 1st, Oswego with 69.700; 2nd, Medina with 67.900; 3rd, Westmoreland with 67.250; 4th, Jordan-Elbridge with 66.900; 5th, Horseheads with 65.850; 6th, Vestal with 63.750.
- LS2 – 1st, Corning with 69.250.
- National – 1st, West Genesee with 79.100; 2nd, Baldwinsville with 77.600.
Here are more photos from Friday’s halftime show:
In 1893, several from Orleans County visited World’s Fair in Chicago
(Left) This notebook was used in 1893 to record a trip to the World’s Fair, held in Chicago. (Right) The first page of the notebook.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No. 25
A small, modest notebook with a brown cover. It is easy to overlook. Its condition belies its age though, it is a surprise to open it, read the date and the first page:
Sept. 4, 1893
“Left home for the World’s Fair. Took the 6:44 train for Buffalo, arrived there 9 p.m., left at 10 pm. Paid for two tickets to Buffalo $2.04
Paid for ticket to Chicago $20. On the way we passed through the following places: Dunkirk, Erie, Ashtabula, Cleveland, Landusky, Toledo. Passed through Elkhart 9’o clock a.m. Thursday. Stopped 20 min. for refreshment. Paid for coffee .10 cents.”
This notebook is unique. It is a hand-written record of a visit to the World’s Columbian Exposition, generally referred to as the World’s Fair, which was held in Chicago from May 1 – October 30, 1893. The entries are short and terse. We are assuming that this traveler is a gentleman traveling with his wife. His record of this three-week trip covers only 26 of these short pages. He includes a list of expenses on the last five pages. The remainder of the notebook is blank.
[P.2] “Passed through South Bend, 9:50 am. Passed through Seaport 10:50 am, 5 miles from Chicago.
Weds. Sept 5 paid for 1 room at Calumet Hotel .75c and 4 meals $1.40. Went to Fairgrounds at 8:00 at 64th St. entrance, gate fee .50c.”
Naturally, we were intrigued by the prices. Yes, .75c for a room! We checked.
Our anonymous traveler chose to travel by train. He would have traveled on the Nickel Plate Road, which advertised three fast express trains daily between Buffalo and Chicago, “with superb dining carriages.”
One could also have traveled by steamer. The Cleveland & Buffalo Transit Co. advertised the “Great All-Water Route” on magnificent side-wheel steel steamers from Buffalo, with the option of visiting Cleveland, Detroit and Mackinac Island.
The theme of the 1893 World’s Fair was a celebration of human achievement and progress. Our diarist was suitably impressed with all that he saw. Visiting the New York State building, he wrote: “Elegant chandeliers hang from the ceiling. The shades and ceiling are carved too beautiful for description.”
Over the course of the next few days, he saw:
[P.4] “The old pistol that shot Tecumseh… A punch bowl used by General Washington which was on display in the Pennsylvania Building and also a plaster cast of his face after death ….The old charter from Charles II to William Penn 1682 also a seal attached to the charter for the territory now known as Pennsylvania.”
At the Art Gallery, he saw a statue of Charles Dickens; the Emperor of Germany; William Shakespeare; Abraham Lincoln; Emperor William 2 of Germany; a painting of the Death of Archimedes and a painting of deer by Rosa Bonheur, owned by Consul General of Spain. In Governor’s Building, a flag used on the tent of General Washington was on display.
[P.8] “Paid .50c for coffee, tea & doughnuts at Wellington Café in the Fishery Building. Paid for lunch, .35c Thursday evening.”
This World’s Fair visitor certainly made the most of his trip. Over the next three days, he visited the Leather & Shoe exhibit, listened to Flecker’s Elgin Band, and toured the Machinery and Agricultural Buildings. He went into Marshall Field’s store and saw the Pullman building on Michigan Avenue.
Twenty-seven million people visited the 1893 World’s Fair. Many people from Orleans County made the trip as this “news” was reported in the newspaper social columns: Mr. & Mrs. Walter Tuttle, Mrs. E.J. Vosler, Mrs. Hawley and Mrs. George Lum were part of a group from Lyndonville that went in June, Martin Sutter and John Griffin from Medina went in August.
Some World’s Fair attendees took advantage of their trip to Chicago to expand their trips. George W. Kohler of South Dakota attended the Fair in June and then came east to visit family in West Shelby, after an absence of 14 years.
Our diarist also visited relatives during the last week of his trip – Dean Jaquith, Ben Jaquith, Aunt Flora, Cousin Lydia and visited Willie Tanner’s grave in Cleveland.
The final entry on September 27:
“Took cars in Cleveland for home, got into Buffalo 3 PM, found friends waiting for us, reached Albion 6:30 pm. Fred came for us, found Mr. Tanner not well, having been poorly during the three weeks of our absence.”
This little notebook gives us a glance into everyday life in the 1890s. Travel and communication were efficient. Public transportation worked. Travelers could expect to be met at the train station, as arranged. The city of Chicago handled the influx of Fair visitors. People assumed that these systems would work and felt confident about traveling. The speed of travel may have increased over the past 130 years, but as to efficiency and public confidence, well, that’s debatable.
High School Football Weekend Recap
B1 Division
Game Results
Albion/Medina 42, Lake Shore 19
Williamsville South 69, Lew-Port 13
McKinley 48, Amherst 0
West Seneca East 34, Maryvale 15
Standings (Division, Overall)
West Seneca East 2-0, 2-0
Williamsville South 2-0, 2-0
Albion/Medina 1-0, 2-0
McKinley 1-0, 2-0
Maryvale 0-1, 1-1
Lew-Port 0-1, 0-2
Amherst 0-2, 0-2
Lake Shore 0-2, 0-2
This Week’s Schedule
Thursday
Lake Shore at West Seneca East, 7 p.m.
Lew-Port at McKinley, 7 p.m.
Friday
Albion/Medina at Williamsville South, 7 p.m.
Maryvale at Amherst, 7 p.m.
C North Division
Game Results
Barker/Roy-Hart 44, Tonawanda 20
Alden 32, Eden/Nort Collins 21
Springville 32, JFK 8
Cleveland Hill 42, Akron 8
Standings (Division, Overall)
Springville 1-0, 2-0
Barker/Roy-Hart 1-0, 1-1
Alden 1-0, 1-1
Cleveland Hill 1-0, 1-1
Eden/NC 1-1, 1-1
Akron 0-1, 0-2
JFK 0-1, 0-2
Tonawanda 0-2, 0-2
This Week’s Schedule
Friday
Barker/Roy-Hart at Eden/NC, 7 p.m.
Cleve Hill at Alden, 7 p.m.
Akron at Springville, 7 p.m.
Tonawanda at JFK, 7 p.m.
Section V
Game Results
Avon 47, Holley/Lyndonville 0
This Week’s Schedule
Friday
Holley/Lyndonville at Notre Dame/Byron-Bergen, 7 p.m. at GCC
Carlton hires manager for Heart & Soul program
Community welcome to complete surveys and share vision for town
Photo by Tom Rivers: Mollie Radzinski, the coordinator of the Carlton Heart & Soul program, is shown by a banner with the logo for the initiative. She attended the Pop-Up & Jam event on Saturday at the Orleans County Marine Park with vendors and musicians.
CARLTON – A coordinator has been hired for the Carlton Heart & Soul project. The community received grant funding for the initiative.
Mollie Radzinski has been hired as the part-time coordinator. She brings deep community connections, and lots of knowledge and passion to the part-time position.
“She the right person for the job,” said Jim Tabor, vice president of the Carlton Heart & Soul Committee. “She’s energetic with a lot of good ideas.”
Carlton is one of 140 “Heart & Soul” communities. The program is led by local residents and officials to develop a vision for the community’s future that reflects what residents love about their community and why they choose to live there.
The Carlton Community Heart & Soul Core Team includes: Peter Bartula, president; Jim Tabor, vice president; Penny Miller, secretary; Lynn Wright, treasurer; Lynne Menz, communications; and John Fitzak, Chris Manaseri, Brian McCue and Heather Tabor.
Radzinski works full-time as a senior communications specialist for the Rochester Institute of Technology in the College of Science; Division of Access, Engagement and Success; and RIT Global.
She also is a board member for the Lake Plains Players, a lector and teacher at Holy Family Parish, a member of the Catholic Daughters, a board member for the Albion Alumni Foundation, and a dance teacher at Gotta Dance Performing Arts in Albion.
Carlton is the first “Heart & Soul” community in Orleans County. Carlton was picked by the Rochester Area Community Foundation and Community Foundation for Buffalo to be the first community to implement the Heart & Soul model in Orleans County, an initiative fully funded with grant support from Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.
Carlton is currently in Phase 1 of the initiative and is collecting input from residents.
The four-phase, step-by-step process includes:
- Phase 1: Imagine – Heart & Soul teams are formed to build awareness, interest, and commitment in all segments of the community.
- Phase 2: Connect – Stories are gathered from residents, leading to the development of Heart & Soul Statements that identify what matters most and reflect what they love about their towns.
- Phase 3: Plan – Residents develop action plans to guide future town planning based on their Heart & Soul Statements.
- Phase 4: Act – Heart & Soul Statements are officially adopted by town and city councils, incorporated into comprehensive and other plans, and are used to guide future policies and decisions.
Radzinski and the local team urged residents and stakeholders in Carlton to complete an online survey about the town. Click here to see it.
Carlton doesn’t have a clear downtown business district or focal point like a city or village. Carlton is split up into three different school districts – Albion, Kendall and Lyndonville. There are also multiple zip codes with Kent, Waterport and Albion.
Jim Tabor and Radzinski said the Heart & Soul model will help identify focal points for the town and develop a plan for building on Carlton’s strengths and improving on some of the weaker areas.
Some suggestions so far include recreational enhancements to the town park such as basketball and pickleball courts as well as trails linking the east and west sides of the Oak Orchard River.
Weekly High School Sports Schedule
Monday
Girls Soccer – Byron-Bergen at Holley, Kendall at Attica, 7 p.m.
Field Hockey – Nichols at Barker, 5 p.m.
Volleyball – Attica at Kendall, Holley at Byron-Bergen, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Boys Soccer – Wilson at Akron, 4:45 p.m.; Vertus at Lyndonville/Barker, 5 p.m.; Medina at Cheektowaga, 6 p.m.; Kendall at Holley, 7 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Albion at Roy-Hart/Medina, Akron at Wilson, Barker/Lyndonville at Newfane, 6:45 pm.
Field Hockey – Barker at Roy-Hart, Newfane at Wilson, 4:30 p.m.; Kenmore at Medina, 5 p.m.
Cross-Country – Medina at Newfane, Albion and Roy-Hart at Wilson, Barker at Akron, Kendall at Wheatland-Chili, Holley at Oakfield-Alabama, 5 p.m.
Volleyball – Medina at Akron, Roy-Hart at Wilson, Albion at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Girls Soccer – Kendall at Holley, 7 p.m.
Volleyball – Lyndonville at Notre Dame, Kendall at Holley, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday
Boys Soccer – Newfane at Medina, 4:30 p.m.; Attica at Lyndonville/Barker, 5 p.m.; Albion at Wilson, 6:45 p.m.; Pembroke at Kendall, Holley at Wheatland-Chili, 7 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Roy-Hart/Medina at Barker/Lyndonville, Wilson at Albion, 6:45 p.m.
Field Hockey – Roy-Hart at Newfane, Wilson at Akron, 4:30 p.m., Sacred Heart at Medina, Barker at Kenmore, 7 p.m.
Volleyball – Medina at Wilson, Akron at Albion, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Football – Albion/Medina at Williamsville South, Barker/Roy-Hart at Eden/North Collins, Holley/Lyndonville at Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Pembroke at Kendall, Wheatland-Chili at Holley, 7 p.m.
Volleyball – Roy-Hart at Medina, Elba at Lyndonville, Pembroke at Kendall, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
Boys Soccer – Medina at Wilson, Roy-Hart at Newfane, 10 a.m.; Kendall at Byron-Bergen, 2 p.m.; Lyndonville/Barker at Holley, 7 p.m.
Girls Soccer – Barker/Lyndonville at Akron, 12 p.m.; Newfane at Roy-Hart/Medina, 1 p.m. (at Vets Park)
Field Hockey – Barker at Wilson, 12:15 p.
Albion goes 2-2 in youth football action
Contributed Photo – Jeramiah Hildreth hauls in a 69 yard touchdown pass for Albion Varsity Division team.
Albion earned a 2-2 split with Barker/Roy-Hart in Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) action Saturday.
Beginners Division
BRH 39 Albion 6
Levi Purnell led Albion into the end zone, rushing for 26 yards and a touchdown. Myles Labarge had a big day on the ground with 79 rushing yards, while James Mahoney added 21 yards and Tanner Beecher chipped in 4 yards.
Purnell and Beecher led the defense with 3 tackles each. Hudson Hodgins, Mahoney and Labarge recorded 2 tackles apiece, while Milo Mackenzie, Grant Whitcroft and Jaxon Nashburn each added a tackle.
Mini Division
BRH 44, Albion 6
Albion’s Mini squad battled hard against Barker/Roy-Hart, but BRH came away with a 44-6 victory.
Tre Ellis led Albion’s offense with 41 rushing yards and a touchdown. Hudson Palmer added 40 yards, while Patrick Westlund contributed 36 yards on the ground.
Palmer led the defense with an impressive 7 tackles. Westlund, Elijah Cornick, Ellis and Neil Farley each recorded 4 tackles. Xavier Richardson and Drake Neri added 3 tackles apiece, while Gunner Jackson finished with 2.
Jai’heem Drisdom, Xavier Weis, Colton Daggs, Artavion Lewis, Quinton Gottberg, KK Harper, Landon Stalker, Joshua Bennett, Carter Hall and Mayson Vosbugh were also in on tackles.
JV Division
Albion 34 BRH 12
Albion’s JV squad put together a big all-around performance, defeating Barker/Roy-Hart 34-12 behind an explosive offense and a defense that flew to the football all game.
Cayden Farrell led the offense, rushing for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns while also throwing a touchdown pass. Kairo Bennett broke loose for a 66-yard touchdown run, while Jayce Torres added 32 rushing yards and hauled in a 10-yard TD pass. Greyson Roberts punched in a 2-yard score to round out the scoring. Arkell Lewis added 14 yards on the ground, Jaidyn Harper 8 and Kaydence Russaw 5. Through the air, Elijah Wayne Warren had 24 receiving yards and Parker Gardner added 9.
Bennett was everywhere defensively, leading the Eagles with an impressive 15 tackles. Russaw finished with 8, Harrison Froman 6, Kyle Schomske 5 and Mason Cornick 4. Wyatt Purnell, Lewis and Torres each recorded 3 tackles, with Gardner adding 2.
Kaynon Reamer, Conor Murphy, Warren, Khrystopher Wilston-Jones, David Parsell, Chase Armer, Owen Marritt and Zion Richardson all got in on the defensive action as well.
Varsity Division
Albion 32 BRH 14
Albion turned in a strong, complete dominant performance by the offense and defensive lines lead the way.
On the ground, Jeramiah Hildreth rushed for 69 yards, AJ Lewis 68, Damareon Shine 53, and Camden Holt 19, with all four finding the end zone for rushing touchdowns. Holt also made a huge play through the air, connecting with Shine for a 69-yard touchdown pass!
Defensively, the Eagles flew to the football all game. Conner Hinkley and AJ Lewis led the way with 7 tackles each, followed by Hildreth with 5 and Holt with 4. Shine, Cooper Traxler and Kayden Donnelly added 3 tackles apiece, while Owen Beecher, Matthew Colmenero, Brady Graham, Ryan Gardner and Harrison Galloway each finished with 2.
Lyndonville scores two youth football wins
The Lyndonville youth football teams closed out their last home games of the season winning 2 of 3 against Attica on Saturday.
In the Beginner Division the Lyndonville won 33-14.
Sawyer Joy scored 2 Touchdowns, scoring on runs of 60 yard and 70 yards. Teddy Tardibone 2 Touchdowns as well, both on 70 yard runs. Brodie Suhr joined in with a 5 yard score. Tardibone connected with Joy on a 2 point conversion pass as well and Luke Joy converted on a great tackle breaking run for a 1 point conversion. Kam Kirkpatrick and Jack Meindl also had great runs.
JW Hetzel, Easton Zeliff, Thorn Blount, and Hank Petry played tough defense on the defensive front.
The Cubs are 3-0 on the season.
At the Mini level Lyndonville won a hard fought game 13-6.
The win was sealed with a huge goal line stop following a huge touchdown saving tackle by Cole Preston tackling the ball carrier inside the 5 yard line on a 60 yard breakaway run. The Sabres scored on two touchdown runs by Kam Griffin on runs of 49 yards and 22 yards. The PAT was punched in by Leondre Barnes. Adrian Winters helped convert some key short yardage runs on 3rd and 4th downs while Preston Rath had a great day on the ground helping to fuel the run game.
Zendaya Bishop and Nicaly Rhim led the defense.
The Sabres are 1-2 on the season.
The Majors game was a 27-13 win for the visiting Attica team.
Two long touchdown runs by Kannon Pangrazio-Coger kept the game close along with clutch runs by Zach Allen, Scottie Nesbitt, and Jameson Schoales.
The Bengals are 1-1 on the season, having one game postponed due to weather.
Lyndonville travels to Akron next week.
