Page Sponsor
Albion school district to send $39.9 capital project to voters on Dec. 17 for referendum
Photos by Tom Rivers: This slide was presented during the Board of Education meeting on Oct. 5 and shows the concept of turning the art foyer at the high school int a fitness center.
ALBION – The Board of Education voted this evening to send a $39.9 million project to the community for a public referendum on Dec. 17.
The board considered three different options for the capital project, with the options at33.4 million, $39.9 million and $47.3 million.
The district’s Finance Committee recommended the second option at $39.9 million, said John Kast, the board’s vice president and chairman of the Finance Committee.
The project will address many needs in the district, and Albion already has the local share set aside so no new local taxes will be needed.
Kast said the project will be 90.6 percent reimbursable in state aid.
Voting on the project will be from noon to 8 p.m. on Dec. 17. If voters back the project, it will go to a design phase that will need the State Department of Education’s approval before the project goes to bid. Construction could take place over three years.
The proposed project also includes work at all three school buildings as well as the bus garage. The price in the three options varied depending on the scope of work in the elementary school.
The new project includes some elements that were considered for the previous project, but were removed, Hunsinger said.
The project could include the following:
High School
- Renovate Ag, IT and wood shop – $6.1 million
- Greenhouse addition – $1 million
- Renovate LGI – $3 million
- Renovate counseling suite – $1.2 million
- Renovate art foyer into fitness center – $1.6 million
- Digital athletics/arts wall of fame – $200,000
- Replace areas of damaged roofing – $100,000
- Remediate sewer odor in athletics vestibule – $100,000
Middle School
The auditorium in the middle school would be renovated while preserving its Art Deco character.
- Renovate auditorium, including seating, lighting, rigging and sound – $7.5 million
- Replace areas of damaged roofing – $600,000
- Replace exterior window sills – $300,000
- Provide security film on at-grade windows – $200,000
Elementary School
The scope of work for new ventilation systems, cabinets and windows ranged from $6.2 million to $20.1 million depending on the three options. The Board wants to address A, B, J and I for full replacement at a cost of $12.1 million with the other sections to be considered in future capital projects.
- Replace east playground at $2 million
- Replace west playground surfacing at $800,000
- Renovate main entrance courtyard at $300,000, with $200,000 to add snow melt
- Provide security film on at-grade windows at $200,000
- Replace classroom ventilation system, adjacent cabinets and windows; replace classroom flooring, ceilings, caseworks, lighting and upgrade classroom toilet rooms wings A, B, J and I at a cost of $12.1 million. Doing all sections would have added about $8 million to the total.
Transportation building
- Replace trench drain in storage and service bays at $200,000
- Replace areas of damaged roofing, $30,000
The district worked with the Campus Construction firm to identify the scope of the project.
The cost estimates represent about a 21 percent increase from the current construction prices. Campus Construction is estimating a 7 percent price increase in construction each year. If the work is done in two to three years, the company is estimating a 21 percent escalation in construction costs
If the project is approved by the voters on Dec. 17, the district will shift $15 million into a capital reserve fund to pay the local share of the project. The district would take that as part of $30 million in undesignated funds, said Rick Recckio, the district’s assistant superintendent for finance.
He expects Albion would only need about $8 million of that $15 million to pay towards the local share of the capital project with Albion paying on the project over 10 years.
The project addresses top priorities identified through a building conditions survey that included input from building leaders in the district, said Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent.
The survey established a list of priorities ranked from 1 to 4. The final list includes the “priority 1’s,” he said.
“You never exhaust the list,” he said.
Albion is on a cycle of doing a capital project about every five years. Other issues identified in the building conditions survey but not in the final project could be considered again in about five years if the new project is approved by voters, Edwards said.
Board of Education member Chris Kinter has a possible project for the future. He wants to see a better way for parents to pick up and drop off their kids at the elementary school. He said cars often get stacked in a line on Clarendon Road that stretches out to East Avenue. He thinks more room for cars on the school campus would keep the line from going out on Clarendon Road and onto Route 31.
Medina, Roy-Hart spikers bow in sectionals
No. 4 seed Chautauqua Lake defeated visiting No. 13 Medina 25-8, 25-10, 25-10 and No. 9 Allegany-Limestone bested host No. 8 Roy-Hart 25-18, 25-17, 25-18 in opening round Section VI Class C volleyball matches this evening.
Lauren Snyder had 8 kills and 2 aces, Tessa Degenhardt 6 kills and Zoe Healey 3 kills for Roy-Hart.
Sam Heschke and Raelynn Baker both had a kill and Caliyah St. Louis an ace for Medina.
In other reported sectional matches involving Niagara-Orleans League teams Alden defeated Akron, Newfane downed Tapestry and Falconer topped Wilson all in 3 sets and East Aurora bested Albion in 4 sets(25-23, 17-25, 25-14, 26-24). For Albion, Jillian LeBaron had 14 digs and 6 kills, Anna Grillo with 7 digs and 7 kills and Charlotte Pike had 23 assists, 6 digs and 2 aces.
Barker outlasts Medina in a shootout to open the Class C sectional field hockey playoffs
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Milayna May gets the ball just past the reach of a diving Medina goalie Madison Zeiner to score the winning goal in a shootout win over the Mustangs in a sectional game at Barker this evening.
Breaking away from a scoreless deadlock, No. 3 seed Barker outscored No. 6 Medina 4-3 in a shootout to win a Section VI Class C quarterfinal round field hockey playoff game this evening at Barker.
Addisyn Weller, Elise Monaco, Sophia Pavlock and Milayna May took turns scoring the goals in the shootout for Barker.
Jenelle Stalker, Isabelle Perez and Adelynn Lacy each scored a goal for Medina in the shootut.
Barker will next visit No. 2 seed Akron in the semifinals Friday.
Akron downed No. 7 Roy-Hart 9-3 as Abigail Schlabach and Mackenzie Tomporowski both scored 3 goals, Madigan Regan 2 and Brooke Milhollen 1.
Adella Dukes scored 2 goals and Jillian Schimek 1 for Roy-Hart.
Other quarterfinal results saw No. 1 seed Iroquois blank No. 8 Newfane 8-0 and No. 4 Wilson down No. 5 Eden 4-1 as Brynn Lepsch scored 3 goals and Taylor Ernest 1.
Wilson will visit Iroquois in the other semifinal Friday.
In the shootout, Barker goalie Adeline Atwater here blocks the initial shot attempt by Medina’s Isabelle Perez who ended up scoring on a penalty shot.
Gas prices down 3 cents in past week in NYS, up $1.29 from year ago
Photo by Tom Rivers: The gas prices at the Sunoco station in Angola along the State Thruway were at $4.39 for regular unleaded and $6.53 for diesel on Sunday.
AAA is reporting today that the average price for regular unleaded dropped 6 cents in the past week to $4.29 a gallon, which is up from the $3.03 price a year ago.
In New Yor State, the average price is at $4.42 today, down three cents in the past week and up from $3.13 a year ago.
“Gas prices aren’t budging much as crude oil prices remain high at $99 to $107 per barrel this morning,” AAA said in a news release. “The national average has stayed above $4 per gallon since late July and is currently more than a dollar higher than it was this time last year. Fall months typically bring lower gas prices, but volatility in the oil market has led to seasonal record highs this year.”
Here are the average prices at counties around Western New York:
- Orleans, $4.410
- Genesee, $4.349
- Monroe, $4.371
- Niagara, $4.349
- Erie, $4.358
- Wyoming, $4.420
- Livingston, $4.394
- Chautauqua, $4.390
- Cattaraugus, $4.299
- Allegany, $4.404
Hamilton County in the Adirondacks is the highest in the state at $4.737 a gallon, while Seneca County has the lowest average at $4.160.
The national diesel price is at $6.31, up 5 cents from last week and up from $3.63 a year ago. In New York, the average diesel price is $6.50 per gallon, down a penny from last week. A year ago, the average price was $3.87 per gallon in NYS.
Nearly 700 cast ballots in first 2 days of early voting in Orleans County
ALBION – Orleans County had nearly 700 people cast ballots on the first two days of early. There were 663 voters total with 381 on Saturday and 282 on Sunday, according to the Orleans County Board of Elections.
There are seven more days of early voting in Orleans County with many positions on the ballot, including a race for governor, Congress and many other offices at the state, county and town levels.
There is one polling location open in the county for early voting. It is at the Orleans County Board of Elections Office, 14016 Route 31 in Albion.
During the general election on Nov. 3, there will be polling locations at each of the 10 towns in Orleans County.
The remaining early voting schedule includes:
- Monday, October 26 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 27 – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 28 – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Thursday, October 29 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday, October 30 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, October 31 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, November 1 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The nearly 700 voters in the first two days of early voting is far more than 9 days of a primary back in June when only 78 people did early voting in the county.
Lady Hawks and Lady Eagles face sectional semifinal contests on Tuesday
Holley and Kendall will both be competing in the semifinal round of the Section V girls soccer playoffs on Tuesday.
In Class C1, No. 3 seed Holley will visit No. 2 Red Creek at 6 p.m.
Holley, which nipped Geneseo 1-0 in the quarterfinals, is now 12-5-1 while Red Creek, which trimmed Williamson 1-0, is 10-3-3.
The victor will face the winner of the No. 4 Byron-Bergen vs. No. 1 Avon semifinal in the C1 title contest on Friday.
The Lady Hawks offense has been led by Carsyn Mogle (11 goals, 7 assists), Jayna Burris (7 goals, 8 assists) and Emma Burne (4 goals, 5 assists)
In Class C2, top seeded Kendall will face No. 5 Genesee Valley Belfast at 6 p.m. at LeRoy.
Kendall, which blanked No. 8 Naples 3-0 in the quarterfinals, is now 16-1 while Genesee Valley Belfast, which edged No. 4 Campbell-Savona 4-3 in overtime, is 15-3.
The victor will advance to Friday’s C2 championship game against the winner of Tuesday’s No. 6 Fillmore vs. No. 2 Keshequa semifinal.
The Lady Eagles offense has been sparked by Ryleigh Denning (25 goals, 5 assists), Sophia Picardo (13 goals, 12 assists) and Jersie Drake (11 goals, 12 assists).
Section V Boys Soccer
No. 3 seed Holley will visit Genesee Region League foe No. 2 Byron-Bergen/Elba in the Class C1 semifinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
In two regular season meetings the teams tied 2-2 and Byron-Bergen/Elba won 3-0.
Sheriff’s Office identifies man, David Greene, who died in Knowlesville fire
Dennis Hurd, a neighbor, was injured trying to save Greene
Firefighters on the Shelby ladder truck try to put out the flames at a fire on Thursday night at 12625 Presbyterian St.
Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office
KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the identities of the individuals involved in the fatal house fire that occurred on Thursday, October 22nd, at approximately 8:28 p.m., at 12625 Presbyterian Street in the Town of Ridgeway.
The individual who was found deceased inside the residence has been identified as David L. Greene, age 68, of 12625 Presbyterian St.
A second resident of the home that was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester for treatment of injuries has been identified as Terrance T. Greene, age 25, of 12625 Presbyterian Street.
The neighbor who entered the burning residence in an attempt to rescue those inside has been identified as Dennis J. Hurd, age 67, of 12628 Presbyterian St.
During the rescue attempt, the neighbor sustained injuries after being overcome by heavy fire and smoke and was transported by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital for treatment.
As previously reported, the neighbor became aware of the fire and, without hesitation, entered the burning residence in an effort to assist those trapped inside. Despite the dangerous conditions, the individual attempted to reach those inside before being forced to exit the residence.
The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Orleans County fire investigators, and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and recognizes the courageous actions of the neighbor who risked personal safety in an attempt to save another person’s life.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available and is appropriate for public disclosure.
Editor’s Note: A GoFundMe has been set up to assist Terrance Greene and his family. Click here for more information.
There is also a GoFundMe for Dennis Hurd, who was badly burned and faces a long hospital stay, according to his family. Click here for more information.
Sponsored Post
Office for the Aging hosting Medicare Vendor Fair on Nov. 10 at Hoag Library
Press Release, Orleans County Office for the Aging
ALBION – The Orleans County Office for the Aging will be hosting a Medicare vendor fair on Nov. 10 at Hoag Library.
The fair is for Medicare beneficiaries during the fall Annual Open Enrollment period which runs from October 15th through December 7th. Open enrollment is the time for Medicare beneficiaries to review plan information and make educated decisions on what they want their coverage to be starting January 1, 2027.
During the vendor fair, representatives from Medicare Advantage Plans will be present to assist people in understanding changes in current plans and discuss any new plans for 2027. They can also help those interested enroll in a plan.
Attendees should bring their original Medicare Card and a list of both their prescription drugs and medical providers. Health insurance counselors from OFA will also be on hand to answer questions and screen for benefits.
The Medicare vendor fairs will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hoag Library, 134 South Main St. in Albion.
Registration for the event is encouraged. Light refreshments will be served. For registration and additional information, call OFA at 585-589-3191.
Historian’s column: Evocative photos from yesteryear in Albion show a variety of businesses
Enterprises included road sprinkler to quell dust, coal yard along canal, bean-sorting operation
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No. 29
ALBION – This column features a sampling of evocative photographs of times gone by in Albion.
The top photograph dates to 1910 when the canal area adjacent to the swing bridge in Albion was being enlarged.
Ralph Vick, Maurice Schwartz and Don Campbell are seen here standing on the old canal bank which was dredged that summer. A fleet of boats ferrying a cargo of lumber waits its turn. The bridge swung from the center of the canal so that boats could pass on either side.
This 1905 photo shows coal being unloaded from a canal boat at John Howard’s Coal Yard at the foot of Clinton St., Albion. Hard, dusty work. Several men on the canal boat shoveled coal into the large bucket which was hoisted by pulley to the top of the large chute and then emptied into the coal barn.
Later, the coal was loaded onto wagons and delivered to area businesses and homes. Coal was the primary source of fuel for power and heat. John Howard’s was one of five coal yards located by the canal in the early 1900s.
This eye-catching photo shows a group of about 50 female workers who worked during the winter months at the M. W. Tilden warehouse located at the north end of West Academy Street. in Albion. The workers hand sorted beans on a conveyor belt and removed imperfect beans, stones and debris. Rejected beans, known as “poor beans” were sold to farmers who cooked them to feed swine.
The photograph was taken in 1911, around the time the warehouse was purchased by the state for the canal widening project. As it transpired, that area was not used in the widening project.
Unpaved municipal streets became very dusty during the summer. Sprinkling water on road surfaces helped quell the dust. The Village of Albion contracted with Shourds Bros., then located on the north end of Platt St., to provide this service which was included in property taxes.
If a property owner was delinquent in payment of taxes, the street area in front of that property was not sprinkled. Shourds Bros. also sprinkled the racetrack at the Orleans County Fairgrounds before and after every race and as otherwise needed.
A water tank can be seen in the center of the photograph. A large wooden tank is being filled. The tank sits on a wagon which was pulled by a team of horses.
