By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 24 September 2025 at 9:32 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Jillian LeBaron returns a serve as Madison Muckle backs up the play during the Purple Eagles home court win over rival Medina this evening.
Earning league victory No. 1, Albion downed rival Medina 25-16, 17-25, 25-20 and 25-18 in a Niagara-Orleans volleyball match this evening at Albion.
Albion grabbed the opening set 25-16 as Jillian LeBaron had a run of six straight service points (15-20).
Medina knotted the match by taking the second set 25-17 as Madison Sanders served up points 2-5 and 15-20.
However, Albion regained the lead for good by taking the third set 25-20 as Anna Grillo served points 6-12 including four aces and LeBaron 21-24 including three aces.
The Purple Eagles then closed out the match by taking the fourth set 25-18.
Leading by narrow 18-16 margin, Albion locked up the win as Grillo had a kill for point 19, Madison Muckle an ace for point 20, Grillo an ace for point 24 and Melia Prince a kill for the set and match winning 25th point.
Medina had cut the deficit to 17-16 after a run of four straight service points by Maya Anderson the last two of which were polished off by kills by Heschke.
LeBaron finished with 10 kills, 8 aces and 28 digs, Grillo 7 aces and 30 digs, Alya Villaneuva 34 digs and Hanna Kumalac 18 assists.
Albion is now 1-4 and Medina 0-5 in N-O action.
Roy-Hart 25-25-25, Akron 18-14-20
Defending champion Roy-Hart improved to 5-0 with a 25-18, 25-14, 25-20 win over Akron which slips to 2-3.
Grace Pearl had 9 kills, Lauren Snyder 7 kills and Raegan Kern 6 kills for Roy-Hart.
Medina’s Maya Anderson tips the ball over the net as Alivia Dumrese (5) and Alya Villanueva (4) defend for Albion.
Albion’s Melia Prince sends the ball over the net as Karlee Cau defends for Medina.
Medina’s Caliyah St. Louis spikes as Albion’s Hanna Kumalac waits to make the return.
ALBION – The State Police will be assisting with an oversized load escort on Thursday morning which may disrupt traffic patterns beginning at 5 a.m. in the city of Batavia and ending in Albion.
The width of this load will at times obstruct oncoming traffic.
The height of this load will necessitate the lifting of most overhead wires and traffic control devices. The load will move into oncoming traffic to avoid overhead obstructions.
The weight of the load will keep speeds to around 5-10 mph with many stoppages.
The permitted route of travel will begin north on Harvester Avenue in the city of Batavia, proceed west on Main St. (Rt-5) to north on Oak St (Rt-98) to west on Rt-31A (Lee Rd) to north on Gaines Basin Road to east on Albion Eagle Harbor Road in Albion.
It is recommended that if you encounter this load, move to the shoulder of the roadway, into a driveway or parking lot or seek an alternate route of travel to your destination. Lower your window and follow directions from State Police or escort vehicles.
Thank you for your patience and drive safety.
Editor’s Note: There have been other oversize loads in recent years from Batavia to Albion. Graham Manufacturing built 200,000-pound condensers for a nuclear submarine. The part was delivered to Albion, where the condenser was lifted by crane and set on a barge on the Erie Canal.
It then headed east to be delivered to a Navy base. There was an oversize load from Graham on May 22, 2022 and then another Sept. 27, 2023.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 September 2025 at 1:14 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Village of Albion has a new 750,000-gallon water tank on Route 98, part of the Village of Albion water distribution system primarily in central Orleans County. The new glass-fused steel tank was built for $1,369,000 by Aquastore.
ALBION – The Albion Village Board expects to raise the water rates significantly, about 50 percent over the next three years.
The increases are needed to pay for upgrades to the water plant and aging infrastructure.
Village Board members will present the rates during a public hearing today at 6 p.m. at the Village Office. The new rates would take effect on Jan. 1.
Water users would face a 25 percent increase in the rates in the first year, then a 20 percent increase in year two, and then a 5 percent increase in the third year. The village would also raise an administrative charge by 55 percent the first year, then 40 percent and 5 percent.
The changes would raise rates for village of Albion residents and property owners by $3.90 per $1,000 gallons to $4.88 next year, $5.85 in year two and $6.14 in year three.
The average village water customer currently pays $92.10 every quarter. That would change to $125.21 next year, then $160.66 in year two, and then $168.70 in the third year, according to village.
The village also supplies water to several towns in Orleans County. They would see their rates go from $3.57 to $4.46 next year, and then $5.36 and $5.62.
The two correctional facilities would be increased from the current $4.65 per 1,000 gallons to $5.81 next year, and then $6.98 and $7.32.
Village Trustee Joyce Riley said the increases are necessary, but she worries some of the towns could switch to the Monroe County Water Authority, which would take away needed revenue for the water system.
The board during a Sept. 10 meeting considered making a 50 percent increase in the first year, but decided to do a staggered approach over three years.
The village is embarking a major capital project at the water plant on Wilson Road in Carlton. The village also replaced a water storage tank on Route 98 and needs to replace many of its transmission lines.
The Albion water fund has estimated expenses of $2,639,864 in the current fiscal year, but the current rates only will generate $2,195,250, forcing the village to use $444,614 in its fund balance. That will leave the fund balance at about $700,000.
The new rates and administrative charges would bring the revenues to $2,680,546 in 2026-27, while the expenses are at $3,021,857. (The expenses increase because the village needs to begin paying back a bond at about $400,000 a year.)
The second year, the revenue is up to $3,328,013 with expenses at $3,172,950. The third year, the revenue totals $3,494,414 with expenses at $3,331,597.
Village Board members said they will be working to develop a capital plan for the water plant and water distribution system.
Wendel, an engineering firm, presented a proposal on Sept. 10 for replacing some of the water lines on the east side of the village, a project that could top $13 million.
That project would include East State Street, from Platt Street to the village line (including Goodrich Street), Moore Steet (from the Butts/Caroline intersection to the village line, Brown Street and Knapp Street.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 September 2025 at 12:28 pm
ALBION – A Ridgeway man appeared in Orleans County Court this morning facing first-degree manslaughter charges for allegedly killing his mother after hitting her in the head with a hammer.
Curtis Schroth, 51, allegedly hit his mother with a hammer on Oct. 15, 2024 at her home on Rutherford Road in Ridgeway. Dolores Schroth died from those injuries at age 78 on Oct. 27, 2024.
Her son was living with her at the time of the crime, District Attorney Susan Howard said.
After seriously injuring his mother, Schroth went to the Albion Police Department on Oct. 15, and confessed to the crime, Howard said.
The case has been at a standstill because Schroth was deemed to be mentally incompetent. He has been in a psychiatric facility for several months but was brought to Orleans County this morning to appear in court after being found competent.
He was arraigned on first-degree manslaughter in County Court on Jan. 8, 2025. Public defender Joanne Best requested a mental competency exam on March 12.
Schroth was held in the county jail for several months before being transferred to a psychiatric facility. He is now back in the county jail. County Court Judge Sanford Church is continuing bail at $100,000 cash, $500,000 bond and $750,000 partially secured bond.
The charge of first-degree manslaughter carries a maximum of 25 years in prison. Howard presented an offer to Schroth today to plead guilty to first-degree manslaughter and face no more than 20 years in prison. Howard said she made the offer after consulting with Dolores Schroth’s other children.
Best, who is representing Curtis Schroth, has until Oct. 22 to file motions in the case with the motions to be argued in court on Nov. 5.
Best in court today said Schroth has an option of a plea of not criminally responsible, where a mental disorder or defect at the time of the crime makes defendants unable to understand the wrongfulness of their actions.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 September 2025 at 7:59 am
Photo from State Sen. Rob Ortt: Rob Ortt, the State Senate minority leader, speaks during a press conference on Main Street in Brockport on Tuesday, where businesses say they have suffered from reduced traffic due to the Main Street lift bridge being closed for more than two years.
BROCKPORT – Two local state legislators are rallying behind Brockport businesses who say they are suffering from a prolonged closure of their Main Street lift bridge.
Brockport, like Albion, has witnessed a major rehabilitation of its lift bridge go way past the 18 months the bridges were expected to be closed. Albion’s bridge reopened last Friday. It closed in November 2022, nearly three years ago.
Borckport bridge is expected to reopen in November – 2 ½ years after it was closed in May 2023.
State Sen. Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Steve Hawley have joined the businesses and village officials in seeking a relief fund, with the funds coming from fines to the contractor for going past the deadline for completing the bridge.
Ortt said businesses already are fighting to survive due to costly mandates and regulations in New York state that drive up their operating expenses.
“Here in Brockport, local businesses have faced even greater hardship because the Main Street Bridge has been out of commission for more than two years,” Ortt said. “It’s clear that there has been absolutely no sense of urgency here, and it’s past time for the Department of Transportation to cut through bureaucratic muck, safely complete this bridge restoration, and deliver real relief to the small businesses that have suffered from these inefficiencies.”
Many of the business owners say they have seen their revenue drop by up to 50 percent with the bridge closure, which has resulted in far less foot traffic to their stores. Some have closed and others are relying on on-line sales to try to survive.
Photo from Assemblyman Hawley’s office: Assemblyman Steve Hawley is asking Gov. Kathy Hochul to establish a relief fund for the Brockport businesses, which the money coming from fines assessed to the contractor each day the bridge is closed past the deadline.
Hawley has joined Ortt, Monroe County Legislator Jackie Smith and Mayor Ben Reed in a letter asking Hochul to establish a relief fund for the struggling businesses. Hawley would like to see Albion businesses also receive relief funds.
Hawley, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, highlighted the press conference in Brockport.
“We were stressing the need for Governor Kathy Hochul to assist the local Main Street businesses in both Albion and Brockport with remuneration for the lost business revenue caused by the unconscionable delay of opening the lift bridges in both communities,” he said.
The state has $254 billion budget. “Surely she can find $$ to assist our Main Street businesses who have been harmed by these delays by contractors hired by NYS,” Hawley said. “It’s time to walk the talk and support our communities’ local businesses.”
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 23 September 2025 at 8:42 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Aiyana Stevens works to keep the ball away from Notre Dame’s Maisie Yunker during the Lady Hawks home field win this evening.
Pulling away in the second half, Holley downed Notre Dame 4-1 in a Genesee Region League girls soccer game this evening at Holley.
Holley held a narrow 1-0 lead at the half on a goal by Ava Mosier assisted by Aiyana Stevens midway through the first 40 minutes.
The Lady Hawks then put a lock on the win with three second half goals, two by Mosier and one by Jayna Burris. Mia Thom, Brianna Tomasino and Kyla Burne all had assists during that stretch.
Holley is now 4-2-1 in G-R action.
Holley’s Emma Burne takes a shot on goal between Notre Dame defenders Maisie Yunker and Gina Grazioplene.
The situation regarding a data center at the STAMP site in Genesee County has reached new levels of complexity. GCEDC claims that Stream Data Centers approached them to withdraw their plans for the large data center known as Project Double Reed in order to propose an even larger data center.
GCEDC then revoked the approvals for Double Reed, even though this was not necessary in order for Stream to submit a new application. Whether the revocation was a response to pending litigation is unknown, but the fact is that GCEDC did the right thing, and deserves credit for it.
A new, larger data center is madness. It makes even less sense than the original proposal, which itself was opposed by a large number of local citizens. Supporters of data centers, notably Stream itself, are claiming billions in investments, well-paying jobs, and tax relief for local schools.
The truth is far more sobering: 1) not enough jobs, especially considering the gigantic tax breaks for Data Stream; 2) enormous strain on the supply of electricity, which will drive up everybody’s rates, and; 3) no net financial benefit for local schools.
Stream Data would be the big winner here, with (probable) access to unfathomably large amounts of low-cost hydroelectricity as well as roughly a half billion dollars in tax breaks. We the people are the losers. The effect of this project would be a net transfer of wealth from ordinary people to trillion-dollar corporations.
Also consider the lands immediately surrounding the STAMP data center – protected lands such as the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. A huge industrial development right next to them poses obvious risks.
The wilderness has no voice – we must speak and defend it. The voices of the Tonawanda Seneca citizens are largely unheard. They seek to protect their nation for the sake of their children, grandchildren, and future generations. We need to hear their voices.
You have a voice. Make sure it’s heard. Tell Stream that we the people don’t want them! I urge you to contact your local elected officials and let them know how you feel. Thanks in advance for doing so.
