The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department has lifted the travel advisory as of 9 a.m. this morning.
Though the snowfall has ended, bitter cold temperatures and winds persist as Orleans county residents return to work and school. The National Weather Service is forecasting today’s high will be near 18, with wind chill values as low as -5 degrees.
Photos by Tom Rivers
The Albion Rotary Club had its annual St. Patrick’s ham dinner today at the American Legion. Here Rotarians Becky Karls, right, and Deb Boyer serve up a takeout dinner. Albion student Jasmine Ballines, left, volunteered as a “runner.”
Albion Rotary Club members Don Bishop, center, and Dick Remley, right, serve up a ham dinner for Eric Brown. Michael Bonnewell, Albion school superintendent and a Rotary Club member, serves in the food line.
Leeanne McKenna, center, won the iPad raffle. She is joined by her grandchildren Piper Chatfield, left, and Thomas Green.
The Irish dancers class at Spotlight Studio performed several dances. Three of the members include, from left, Zoey Chatifeld, McKenna Boyer and Faith Chaffee.
Photos by Peggy Barringer
SHELBY – A Shelby resident is looking forward to Saint Patrick’s Day, which will be celebrated on Monday.
Albion resident Peggy Barringer passed by the property on Fletcher Chapel Road on Sunday and couldn’t resist taking a couple pictures.
Julie Miller of Barre took this photo at 10 a.m. of a farm on Eagle Harbor Road. The sky was dark and the onslaught of snow had just begun.
Nola Goodrich-Kresse took this picture at Shadigee, the beginning of Route 63 North in Lyndonville. It was windy before the snow started falling.
Jason Jones took this picture of the Walsh Hotel in Medina while blizzard-like conditions descended on the area.
Dave Ingerson took this picture of the intersection of South Main and Route 31A in Medina. The roads were so bad the county issued a travel advisory and Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for Orleans and several other counties.
Photos by Tom Rivers
A man walks along East Bank Street in downtown Albion this afternoon. The downtown was largely deserted due the nasty winter storm. A travel advisory also has been issued by the Sheriff’s Department.
David Nichols shovels in front of his house on East State Street in Albion.
The National Weather Service says there will be moderate to heavy snow falling this afternoon throughout Western New York, which is under a blizzard warning due to the snowfall and winds. The area could receive a foot or more of snow and winds could gust up to 50 miles per hour.
Traffic slowly moves along Main Street in Albion this afternoon in front of the First Presbyterian Church and the Orleans County Courthouse.
A blizzard warning is in effect until 2 a.m. tonight. Temperatures are expected to drop into the teens after 5 p.m.
Bonnie Velez shovels her sidewalk on East Park Street in Albion.
Stan Farone of Albion has a snowblower rigged to a tractor. It came in handy today so he could clear his driveway and sidewalk on East Park Street.
The Albion Department of Public Works has been busy plowing streets. Here the plow truck heads east on Bank Street near Platt Street.
James Fisher of the Albion Fire Department responded to a fire call on Ridge Road in Gaines. The chimney fire was quickly put out and brought under control. Fisher watches firefighters on the roof of the house.
Photos by Tom Rivers
GAINES – Firefighters quickly put out a chimney fire this afternoon at a house owned by Bill and Anne Downey at 13506 Ridge Rd., in the town of Gaines. The call went out at about 1:45 p.m.
Firefighters are taking the cap off the top of the chimney and they will run a chain through the chimney to clear debris and fire hazards.
Dan Strong of the Carlton Fire Company walks down Ridge Road at about 2 p.m. when he joined other firefighters at a chimney fire.
Firefighters said they had a good turnout for an afternoon call when many firefighters typically are at work. Many were home today due to the blizzard and were available to respond to the call.
Al Cheverie and his son Andrew of the Albion Fire Department were among the firefighters who responded to the call in a blizzard this afternoon in Gaines.
Photo by Dave Ingerson
Dave Ingerson took this picture earlier today while traveling down South Main Street in Medina.
The National Weather Service downgraded the blizzard warning to a winter weather advisory a little after 9 p.m.
Orleans and northern Erie, Niagara and Genesee counties are under the winter weather advisory until 8 a.m. on Thursday. The area could get another 1 to 3 inches of snow overnight with temperatures dropping to 8 degrees.
The Buffalo Niagara International Airport recorded 13.0 inches of snow in about a 12-hour time frame today. That shattered the previous March 12 snowfall record of 7.3 inches, set in 1959, according to The Buffalo News.
Photo by Tom Rivers – Albion DPW Superintendent and Lions Club member Dale Brooks, left, reviews plans for Bullard Park in Albion with Kevin Howard, a Lions Club member, and John Grillo,the recreation director. Annette Finch, in back, is on the Recreation Committee.
ALBION – If the Albion Recreation Committee had its choice for a priority project at Bullard Park, the group said it would favor a spray park.
“We would be a leader in Orleans County is we did this,” said John Grillo, the Albion recreation director. “It would draw people here.”
The committee helped form a master plan for Bullard Park about three years ago that called for reseeded fields, a concession stand, lodge, walking trails, relocated bathrooms, the spray park and a walking trail.
The village sought state funding to help with the project, but was denied in 2012 and 2013. Village officials don’t want to give up on Bullard improvements, but the work will likely have to go in stages and the money may need to come from the local community.
The Lions Club wants to help with upgrades. The Village Board has agreed to create an account in the village – “Rebuild Bullard” – and village staff will process any donations.
The Lions initially thought replacing the main playground equipment might be the first project as part of rebuilding Bullard. But Grillo and Recreation Committee members said they think the spray park would draw more people to Bullard and have the most benefit for the community.
“It would draw a lot of kids and families,” Grillo said after a meeting at Hoag Library to discuss Bullard. “It would be a blast.”
Grillo remembers the popularity of wading pools at two village parks until they were removed about 25 years ago. He sees how spray parks are an attraction in other communities, including Batavia.
The spray parks do not pose a threat of drowning. They have big sprinklers.
The spray park would ideally be located in the center of Bullard, just west of the Pee Wee Park, according to a conceptual plan. If the village can raise the money, bathrooms with a changing area should be next to the spray park. The bathrooms and changing area could be part of a concessions area for the park.
Grillo said the lodge would his choice for a second priority. He sees that at other parks and then are used by the community throughout the year.
Annette Finch, Recreation Committee member, said the lodge could function as a senior citizen center for seniors to play cards and have meetings. Holley and Medina both have sites for seniors, but Albion doesn’t have a site.
The village will seek a rendering for the improvements that can be showed to the public, as well as cost estimates for the projects.
The Lions Club and village leaders also said they will try to get a sense of community support – in terms of dollars – that can be raised for the project. The village may reach out to neighboring townships and the county for financial contributions to make the projects happen.
The Lions scheduled a meeting for 7 p.m. on April 15 at Hoag for the next session at the park.
MEDINA – The Orleans County YMCA will close at 2 p.m. due to the deteriorating weather conditions. All evening sports leagues are also cancelled at the Y on Pearl Street.
Photos by Tom Rivers – Motorists drive at the routes 31 and 98 intersection in Albion this morning.
Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess has issued a travel advisory for all of Orleans County from 10 a.m. today until further notice.
The sheriff said heavy snow and poor visibility make driving dangerous. He said there should be no unnecessary travel until further notice.
A motorist heads north on Route 98 in front of Tim Hortons this morning.
