Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is announcing this year’s Patriot Trip to Washington, D.C. The trip will run from September 17 to 20 and is open to local veterans and their families.
Participants will get a tour of the memorials dedicated to our nation’s heroes and landmarks that honor those who served. This year’s trip will feature stops at several notable locations in the D.C. area, including the WWII, Korean and Vietnam War memorials and Arlington National Cemetery.
“This trip is an excellent opportunity to honor not only our local veterans but also those who served before them,” said Hawley. “I am incredibly excited to host this event for another year. We owe our veterans a deep level of gratitude for all they have sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy in this country, so being able to take them to our nation’s capital to see these historic landmarks is truly an honor.”
Due to the many generous donations from the community, local businesses and organizations, the expected cost is $450-$500 per person for double occupancy for all three nights at the hotel, with everything included. To register, contact Hawley’s office at 585-589-5780 or email hawleys@nyassembly.gov for more details. The deadline to register for the Patriot Trip is Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 3 p.m.
Those who wish to donate to support this event can make their checks out to Patriot Trip and send them to PO Box 171, Albion, NY 14411.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 August 2026 at 4:02 pm
Photos courtesy of Tim Archer
ALBION – Some Albion eighth-grade students worked on community service projects over the summer.
In the photo at left, Elizabeth Colmenero (right) and Giuliana Liuzzi painted portions of the Town of Albion sign along Clarendon Road.
In the photo at right, Gavin O’Brocta (right) and Kyler Bennett painted the poles for historic markers, including the one by the Orleans County Courthouse.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 August 2026 at 3:11 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: A giant American flag is displayed high over Main Street from the Murray and Albion ladder trucks on Sept. 11, 2025.
ALBION – Orleans County will again be holding a Sept. 11 remembrance service on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
There has been a remembrance service every year on Sept. 11 since the attacks, but the crowds have been getting smaller. Last year about 75 people attended the service outside the courthouse.
Scott Schmidt is hoping for a much bigger turnout this year. Schmidt is the keynote speaker for the service that starts at 6 p.m.
Schmidt, the Orleans County chief coroner and a funeral director for Mitchell Family Cremations and Funerals, spent three weeks with the federal DMORT team after 9/11 and assisted in collecting and identifying remains, and interviewing family members searching for loved ones.
He left for New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was there for 20 days, including a week at Ground Zero. He noted the death toll continues to grow as more people die each year from their exposure to particulates while working at or near Ground Zero or from when then were fleeing the site where two skyscrapers collapsed.
He would like to see more students and younger people at the remembrance service.
“The new kids in school don’t know what Sept. 11 is or what happened that day,” Schmidt said today. “I want bigger turnout, especially among students. I would love to see the courthouse lawn full like it used to be. It’s something we shouldn’t forget.”
The terrorists attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000 others. Terrorists crashed two planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the other into a field in rural Shanksville, Pa.
During the service, Schmidt and the speakers will remember the nearly 3,000 victims from the attacks, and highlight the bravery of the first responders who fled towards the danger to help others.
The service will include a welcome message from Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature; and opening and closing prayer from David Fish, pastor of the Barre Center Presbyterian Church; a timeline of Sept. 11 by Justin Niederhofer, the Orleans County emergency management director; and a gun salute from the Honor Guard of the American Legion and VFW.
Doug Egling will play “America the Beautiful” and the crowd will join in singing, “God Bless America.”
File photo by Tom Rivers: A woman fishes off the end of the western pier at Point Breeze on March 20, 2021.
Press Release, Congressman Joe Morelle
ROCHESTER – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle (D, NY-25) introduced the “Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act,” legislation to stop President Donald Trump’s attempt to rename Lake Ontario and protect the historic names of all five Great Lakes.
The legislation, co-led by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D, MI-06) and Congressman Tim Kennedy (D, NY-26), comes after President Trump issued an executive order on Aug. 27 attempting to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”
“Lake Ontario is Lake Ontario. No executive order, proclamation, or presidential temper tantrum is going to change that,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “Families are worried about paying their bills. Businesses are looking for certainty. Communities like ours are asking Washington to focus on the challenges that actually affect people’s lives. And Donald Trump is spending his time trying to rename a lake.
“This is ridiculous, it’s embarrassing, and it’s exactly the kind of unserious distraction Americans are tired of. President Trump can play games with a map all he wants, but I’m not going to stand by while he wastes the authority and resources of the federal government doing it.
“Here in Rochester, we’ll keep calling it Lake Ontario. And in Congress, I’m working with my colleagues to make sure it stays that way.”
The Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act would prohibit the President, Secretary of the Interior, or any other federal official acting under presidential authority from changing the official geographic names of Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, or Lake Superior.
The legislation would also specifically nullify Executive Order 14422, issued by President Trump on Aug. 27, and prohibit the federal government from implementing or enforcing the order—or any substantially similar action. It would further prohibit federal funds from being used to carry out the attempted renaming.
“The Great Lakes are a shared treasure that generations of Americans and Canadians have worked together to protect. Canada is not our enemy. It is our neighbor, our ally, and one of Michigan’s most important economic partners. It is a friendship that no stroke of a pen should be able to erase,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “By preventing President Trump from trying to divide us with distracting public relations stunts, maybe then he will turn his attention to his reckless trade war that is raising costs and threatening American workers.”
“Americans are struggling to afford groceries, housing, and everyday essentials, and yet this President chooses to pick petty fights with our closest ally,” said Congressman Tim Kennedy. “This unserious, unacceptable attempt to rename the historic, shared Lake Ontario adds insult to injury as Trump’s tariffs drive up costs, making an already difficult situation worse. Our families, workers, and businesses need an administration focused on lowering costs and strengthening our economy, not distractions. Renaming a lake won’t put food on the table, lower anyone’s bills, or create a single job. It is a pathetic attempt to distract from an affordability crisis that this President has failed to fix.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 August 2026 at 1:05 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – The Medina Village Board last week approved opening a new parking lot at 115 Pearl St. This photo was taken last Monday before the traffic cones were removed. The lot was used by the public later in the week.
The lot is at the southwest corner of the intersection of Pearl Street and Proctor Place. It is rectangular in shape with dimensions of approximately 132 feet frontage on Pearl Street and 100 feet frontage on Proctor Place.
This land was donated to the village by 415 West Avenue LLC, which is owned by Dr. Syed Shah, a cardiologist.
The DPW removed concrete from the site and put down the millings. It will be paved in the future.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 August 2026 at 11:00 am
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.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 August 2026 at 10:25 am
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.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 31 August 2026 at 10:03 am
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.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 31 August 2026 at 9:57 am
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.
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.
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.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 August 2026 at 8:01 am
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.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 30 August 2026 at 6:12 pm
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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 August 2026 at 5:26 pm
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.
