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Democrats stepped up their efforts this election season, locally and around the country
Editor:
I am writing this in the aftermath of the November elections. The results proved to be a very good night for our Democratic candidates across the country.
It now appears that Democrats have attained majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate, and have made significant gains in governorships and state legislatures. While forecasts and polls indicated it would be a good night for Democrats, the full extent of that will not be clear until a number of close races are decided.
I want to offer my personal thanks to our Democratic candidates whose names were before the voters in Orleans County, for not just offering your names to give voters a real choice, but for working so hard for many months to turn out the votes by Election Day.
Many thanks, as well, to those who have volunteered in any way to support these campaigns by circulating petitions, offering generous financial contributions, placing lawn signs, writing letters to the editor, posting messages on social media, delivering flyers to thousands of homes, writing personal postcards, making phone calls and sending texts, taking the time to vote, and encouraging friends and family to vote as well. I have not seen this level of activism in Orleans prior to this campaign season!
Special thanks to our Board of Elections staff and poll workers. The very act of voting, which we have long taken for granted as free and fair, is under increasing threat, so your calm and capable presence gives great assurance to voters that we work with incredible integrity and honesty.
It’s no secret that Orleans County, in recent years, has been a real challenge for Democrats, but we have a better chance of prevailing when we have quality candidates up and down the ballot. Whatever happened in this election, I hope we have tasted even more possibilities for success, and can encourage one another to make a run for office in future elections.
Finally, I want to express my enormous respect for all of our Orleans County Democratic Committee members and friends. You are the ones who help make all of this happen!
James R. Renfrew, Chair
Orleans County Democratic Committee
Hawley: DEC has $3,500 grants for fire departments that provide wildland fire protection
Photo by Tom Rivers: Albion firefighters Fred Piano and A.J. Fisher sweep the burnt grass and branches back into a fire along an Erie Canal embankment near Keitel Road in Albion on April 8, 2021.
Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C Batavia) is encouraging eligible volunteer fire departments throughout the 139th Assembly District to apply for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) 2026 Volunteer Fire Capacity Grant Program, which provides up to $3,500 for wildland firefighting equipment and supplies.
Eligible purchases include protective gear, communications equipment, hoses, nozzles and hand tools. Departments must have at least 80 volunteer personnel, provide wildland fire protection to communities with fewer than 10,000 residents and provide a dollar-for-dollar local match.
“Our volunteer firefighters dedicate countless hours to protecting our communities, and ensuring they have the equipment and resources necessary to do their jobs is incredibly important,” said Hawley. “I encourage eligible departments to pursue this funding opportunity, and my office is available to provide letters of support for their applications.”
Applications are due Dec. 30. Departments can find program information and applications through the DEC website or contact DEC at vfagrant@dec.ny.gov or 518-402-2496.
New mural celebrating Barre to be unveiled on Nov. 19 at Town Hall
Photo by Tom Rivers
BARRE – Stacey Kirby Steward is working on a mural celebrating the Barre community. The 4-by-8-foot painting will be unveiled at 7 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Barre Town Hall.
The mural includes Barre landmarks and highlights an agricultural theme. Steward is working on the final touches, and she tried to show different parts of Barre, including Route 98, West Barre, East Barre, Pine Hill and some of the crops on the muck.
The Barre Betterment Committee spearheaded the project and received a grant through the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.
Steward did two community painting sessions in September with the Barre community as part of the project.
The public is welcome to the unveiling next Wednesday.
Lady Hawks have G-R All-Star quartet
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley G-R All-Stars Carsyn Mogle, left, and Jayna Burris.
Holley has placed four players on the Genesee Region League girls soccer All-Star team.
The Lady Hawks are represented by the underclassmen quartet of juniors Kyla Burne and Jayna Burris, sophomore Carsyn Mogle and freshman Emma Burne.
Mogle had 12 goals and 7 assists on the season, Burris 7 goals and 9 assists, Emma Burne 4 goals and 6 assists and Kyla Burne 1 goal and 3 assists.
The Lady Hawks also had junior goalie Zoey Warner and sophomore Brianna Tomasino receive Honorable Mention.
Holley went 7-4-1 in G-R competition and finished with a 14-6-1 overall record as the Lady Hawks captured the Section V Class C1 championship.
Holley G-R All-Stars Emma Burne, left, and Kyla Burne.
Food drives in Albion confirmed through June
Some months will have 2 distributions with 1 in afternoon
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Brian Patten, a member of the Albion Interact Club at school, helps with a food distribution this morning from the Albion municipal lot on Platt Street across from the back entrance to Dunkin’ Donuts.
Community Action of Orleans & Genesee manages the state-funded food distribution, working with Foodlink in Rochester.
Tina Schleede, chief financial officer for Community Action, helps pack boxes with food. Caleb Wolfe, right, was one of four Interact Club members from the school who helped this morning with the distribution.
Community Action and the volunteers were able to give out food for about 200 households.
The food distributions started more than six years during the height of the Covid pandemic. Community Action announced the distributions will continue through at least June, with some months having two distributions in Albion, including an afternoon option.
The dates for the distribution in Albion for the upcoming months include:
- Dec. 14 at 10 a.m.
- Jan. 11 at 10 a.m.
- Feb. 8 at 10 a.m.
- Feb. 25 at 4 p.m.
- March 8 at 10 a.m.
- March 30 at 4 p.m.
- April 12 at 10 a.m.
- May 10 at 10 a.m.
- June 14 at 10 a.m.
- June 29 at 4 p.m.
Ernest Gursslin of Community Action, left, and Brody Furness, an Albion student, carry food to the vehicles that were lined up in the parking lot.
For more information about the food distributions, call Community Action at (585) 589-5605. Ext. 101.
The Lyndonville Presbyterian Church and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County also run food distributions. Check Foodlink for a calendar of the when the distributions are happening in the Rochester region.
Northshore Fury completes tourney season
The Northshore Fury 16U AAU basketball team capped its fall season with a second-place finish in Bath over the weekend, falling to El Town Elite of Elmira in the championship game.
The Fury finished the season with a 10–4 record across four tournaments in Western New York. The season was highlighted by an October championship at the John Wilbur Memorial tournament.
Lane Woodworth (Lyndonville) led the Fury in scoring with 17 points per game, followed by Trey Rhim (Notre Dame) with 15 and Jude Lacy (Medina) with 10. Marshall Thomas (Notre Dame) and Zia Dix (Medina) each averaged seven points per game.
Dean Fischer (Medina), Brayden Aydelotte (Lyndonville), Chris Edwards (Holley), Mason McGuire and Gunner Knight (Holley) anchored the team’s defensive efforts.
Activities for the spring 2027 season will begin in February, with teams for players in grades 7–8, 9–10 and 11–12.
Coaches and families interested in joining Northshore Fury for spring 2027 are encouraged to contact Joshua Dix by call or text at 585-356-6215 or by email at ocfuryhoops@gmail.com.
Hawks have 5 G-R soccer All Stars
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley G-R All-Stars Cooper Wolf, left, and Dylan Warner.
Holley’s Chase Kempa G-R Player of the Year
Five Holley players have earned spots on the Genesee Region League boys soccer All-Star team.
That Hawks quintet includes seniors Chase Kempa, Cooper Wolf and Aidan Kelley along with junior Dylan Warner and sophomore Cam Kelley.
Kempa, who was named the G-R’s Player of the Year, led the Hawks in scoring with 8 goals and 15 assists.
Wolf had 5 goals and 7 assists, Cam Kelley 5 goals and 4 assists and Aidan Kelley 1 assist.
In goal, Warner made 89 saves and had a 0.75 goals against average.
The Hawks also had senior Breyden Crawford, junior Tarek Garrett and freshman Jayden Rivera earn Honorable Mention.
Garrett had 5 goals and 5 assists and Rivera 5 goals and 3 assists.
Holley posted a 9-1-2 in G-R competition and finished the season with a 14-2-2 overall record.
Holley G-R All-Stars Aidan Kelley, left, and Cam Kelley.
Forecast shows highs in mid 40s and above throughout the week
Kimberly Stawicki sent in this photo from Sunday morning at the Swallow Hallow Nature Trail off Knowlesville Road at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
The area won’t see snow accumulations yet this week with the forecast showing highs in the mid 40s and above, including one day with a high of 60, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
Today, the forecast shows a high of 51 with a chance of showers and an overnight low around 40 followed by a high of 60 on Tuesday with an overnight low of 41.
On Wednesday, which is Veterans Day, the high will be 55 with an overnight low of 39. That is followed by a high near 49 on Thursday with an overnight low around 34.
Friday will have a high near 44 with a low around 32, followed by a high near 46 on Saturday with an overnight low around 34, according to the Weather Service.
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Gas prices fall 16 cents nationally in past week to $4.00
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Speedway gas station in Pembroke was selling regular unleaded gas for $3.99 on Saturday.
The average price for regular unleaded gas is at $4.00 nationally today, which is down 16 cents in the past week, AAA reported this morning. A year ago, the average price was $3.06.
In New York State, the average is $4.25 today, which is down 9 cents in the past week. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.11 a gallon.
“Gas prices have been going down for nearly two weeks, as crude oil prices have dipped, but pump prices remain the highest they’ve ever been during this time of year,” AAA said in a news release. “Before 2026, the national average had never gone above $4 per gallon during the month of November. This morning, oil prices range from $89 to $96 per barrel compared to $99 to $108 one week ago.”
Diesel prices are down, though prices remain much higher than a year ago. The national average is $6.17, down 12 cents from last week, but up from $3.73 a year ago, AAA said. In New York, the average diesel price is $6.43 per gallon, down 5 cents from last week. A year ago, New York drivers were paying an average of $3.89 per gallon.
Here are the average prices among Western New York counties for regular unleaded gas:
- Orleans, $4.381
- Genesee, $4.276
- Monroe, $4.299
- Niagara, $4.240
- Erie, $4.310
- Wyoming, $4.378
- Livingston, $4.338
- Chautauqua, $4.343
- Cattaraugus, $4.263
- Allegany, $4.350
Hamilton County in the Adirondacks is the highest in the state at $4.57 gallon, while Chemung has the lowest average at $4.05.
