By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 December 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Orr
POINT BREEZE – Jennifer Orr of Albion didn’t expect to take her kids to the beach today, but that is what she did with temperatures at 72 degrees and lots of sunshine.
She was at Point Breeze with her kids when they decided to make their own version of a snowman in the sand.
There is still no sign of snow in the forecast. There is, however, a chance for strong winds. The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for Orleans County and much of Western New York from 4 p.m. today until 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
File photo by Tom Rivers – Walter Zelazny & Sons farm in Medina was out harvesting corn on Nov. 14, 2014 in this field at the corner of Route 63 and Fletcher Chapel Road.
Press Release Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office
ALBANY – Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the growth of agricultural sales in New York outpaced the national average, with cash receipts up 36 percent across the state, more than the 32 percent gain nationally.
In 2014, farmers in New York State also set a new record for sales with $6.36 billion in cash receipts, up from $4.7 billion in 2010, representing a nearly $1.7 billion increase in gross income from sales of crops, livestock, and other products.
“New York State is home to thriving agricultural businesses known for their high-quality products and award-winning tastes,” Governor Cuomo said. “This administration’s continued commitment to cutting through the red tape, lowering costs and investing in this vital industry is paying dividends today. I congratulate all of New York’s farmers on another banner year.”
Since taking office, Cuomo has made the state’s agricultural economy a top priority, supporting agricultural research, promoting locally grown and produced foods, helping to market the booming craft beverage industry, and connecting our farmers and agri-businesses to new markets through farmers’ markets, Taste NY stores and increased procurement opportunities.
As a result, New York has seen a surge in average gross income and a significant increase in sales of many of the state’s top commodities.
Since 2010, the following commodities have shown the greatest increases:
Poultry and eggs up 63 percent to $206 million;
Peaches up 80 percent to $12.6 million;
Honey production up 59 percent to just under $9 million;
Cattle production up 132 percent to $415 million; and
Hay up 173 percent to $147 million.
The New York dairy industry also saw record high dairy prices in 2014, constituting approximately half of the state’s agricultural receipts.
The Governor’s Taste NY initiative continues to expand since its launch in 2013, helping to link our local producers and growers to consumers around the world through events, culinary tours and several Taste NY stores. This year, the state opened four Taste NY stores, including the first store outside New York State in Puerto Rico.
There are now 11 Taste NY stores along our highways and in our transportation hubs, enabling travelers to buy New York State’s homegrown and homemade products. The Taste NY Market at Todd Hill recently exceeded $1 million in sales.
The state also held three Taste NY Culinary Tours in 2015 that brought together more than 100 restaurateurs, many from downstate, to the Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley and Long Island regions to experience the quality and diversity of agricultural products specific to the region and encourage local sourcing.
Cuomo has pushed to help agricultural producers and growers tap into the New York City marketplace, and connect with schools. The recently announced Farm to School program will assist Pre-K-12 schools procure and serve healthy, locally grown foods on school menus, bolstering the demand for agricultural products.
In addition, partnerships across the state and in particular, downstate, are helping the industry bring its goods and products to the state’s growing number of farmers’ markets.
New York is also leading the growth of the rapidly expanding farm-based beverage industry. The overhaul of legislative and regulatory policies, coupled with substantial improvements to the state’s business climate, have stimulated record growth in craft producers, while increasing demand of agricultural producers.
Since 2011, the industry overall has grown 154 percent. New York now has more than more than 800 beer, wine, spirits, and cider businesses, contributing over $27 billion to New York’s economy annually.
“With the Governor’s commitment to growing the agricultural economy and New York State farmers’ increased innovation and resiliency, New York State has a winning combination,” said New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. “There’s no doubt the agricultural economy is stronger now than ever. With record sales and a significant growth trend in sales of many key commodities, New York continues to be a leader in agriculture.”
According to a study conducted by Cornell Professor Todd Schmit, New York’s agricultural sector has a strong multiplier effect on the state’s economy. For every dollar spent in agricultural output, an additional $.43 is generated for non-agricultural industries. In addition, every new job created within agriculture leads to the creation of .80 non-agricultural jobs.
“The growth of agricultural sales demonstrates that farming in this state is an extremely important industry to New York’s rural economy,” said Dean Norton, New York Farm Bureau president. “It could not have been possible without the hard work and commitment demonstrated on farms in every region to produce quality products that consumers want. The growth also demonstrates what is possible when the State improves the business climate for family farms and invests in industry promotion.”
School pushes to educate students about dangers of drugs, bullying, texting and driving
Press Release, Kendall Central School
KENDALL – Kendall Central School has begun a partnership with all five Orleans County school superintendents, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Orleans County District Attorney’s Office and Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse to educate students and their families about drugs, the dangers of texting and driving, and bullying and cyber bullying.
The goal is to create awareness among students and adults so that everyone is aware of the signs of risky behaviors and the avenues to pursue to obtain help.
KCS plans on partnering with the police department to offer educational sessions to students, parents and district employees on the types of synthetic drugs that are circulating in Orleans County and the various forms they are being distributed in.
The district hopes to convey clearly that it if someone tries a drug once, it can lead to addiction, brain injury and/or death because of the potent level of chemicals that are present in a single dose of a synthetic substance. School officials want to make everyone aware of the signs of drug use and/or addiction, so that if a student realizes a friend is abusing drugs, they can ask an adult to intervene.
Age-appropriate education will be given to elementary through high school students during school hours and evening information sessions will be offered to parents.
“We need to educate everyone to stop the use of drugs in our area,” said Julie Christensen, district superintendent. “We hope to begin offering education sessions this year and make it a series of sessions next school year.”
The district also plans on educating high school students about the dangers of drunk driving, driving while high on drugs, texting while driving and risks when using social media.
The district addresses student conflict by educating students about the different forms of bullying/conflict, such as cyber bullying via social media, text and email.
Students are learning proactive strategies through the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program and information conveyed from the district’s instructional technology specialist. The Elementary Student Council has constructed a buddy bench that will be placed on the playground so that students can sit on it when they are lonely and looking for someone to play with.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 December 2015 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – The 3-million gallon water tank on Route 31A was drained on Sept. 28, 2015 so inspectors could check the tank for structural deficiencies.
MEDINA – The Village Board approved borrowing $1.25 million to take care of serious deficiencies in a 3-million-gallon water tank on Maple Ridge Road.
The Orleans County Health Department is pushing the upgrades. The village drained the tank and made emergency, temporary repairs in late September.
The tank is currently about a third full, at a water height up to 11 feet. It is currently passing Health Department standards at the low water level in the tank, said Brian Sibiga, an engineer with Wendel.
The firm will be paid $80,079 to oversee the renovations to the concrete tank. Wendel will do design work and prepare bid specifications for a project that is expected to go out to contractors in March with the work done before the peak summer water demand.
The proposed upgrades/improvements include concrete patching, crack coating, and upgrades to the tank exterior with crack sealing and coating. There will also be upgrades to the tank’s interior and improvements to the existing pump station.
“There is quite a bit of work needed on the tank,” Sibiga told the Village Board this evening.
The upgrades should give the tank another 20 years of useful life, Sibiga said.
The village also is looking to replace about 2,000 water meters for village customers. That project will improve village efficiencies and water operations. The Village Board declared the project would not have a negative environmental impact.
That project is separate from the $1.25 million being borrowed for the water tank project.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 December 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Two people facing multiple felony counts appeared in Orleans County Court today and Judge James Punch set bail at $100,000 for both of them.
Terry Holloway Jr., 32, of 404 East Oak Orchard St., Medina was arrested on Aug. 1 on drug and weapons charges.
He was arraigned today in County Court on two counts each of third-degree criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance, as well as third-degree criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.
Holloway is accused of being involved in the sale and distribution of heroin, crack cocaine and the sale of an AR-15 semi-auto assault rifle with over 200 rounds of ammunition, the Orleans County Major Felony Task Force reported.
Holloway has a prior felony for criminal possession of a controlled substance, as well as prior misdemeanor crimes, District Attorney Joe Cardone said.
Holloway was among 20 people arrested in drug sweep during the summer by the Task Force and other law enforcement officers.
Joshua L. Miller also was among those arrested in that sweep. Miller, 35, of 4706 East Shelby Rd., Medina is accused of manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine in Orleans County.
He was arraigned this afternoon on criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree, unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine in the third degree, and criminal possession of precursors of methamphetamine.
Miller has a prior felony and five prior misdemeanors, Cardone said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 December 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Merchants Association held its annual holiday window decorating contest and Pratt Works was declared the winner on Saturday after judges looked over the decorated storefronts in the downtown and on Main Street.
Pratt Works will receive a plaque for first place. These photos were all taken this evening.
The Hazy Jade Gift Shop came in second place.
Bloom’s Flower Shop tied for third place.
Dance Reflections by Miss Heather also came in third in a tie with Bloom’s.
Several other merchants decorated for the season with lighted displays in their storefronts. This photo shows Bindings Bookstore.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 December 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
BARRE – Santa Claus gets ready for a big hug today from a local Girl Scout. Santa is making the rounds today and on Sunday in Barre, visiting local children. He has traded his sleigh for a Barre fire truck as he makes his rounds around town.
Ben Flansburg, a Barre firefighter, is in back at right.
Girl Scouts in Barre and Albion were having a Christmas party at the Barre fire hall when Santa stopped by around 10:30 a.m. Barre firefighter Bert Mathes is in back at left.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 December 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – FFA students in Albion delivered more than 30,000 pounds of food to Community Action this morning. The top photo shows Vivian Rivers, FFA president, handing a box of food to Emilie Barleben.
The FFA has been organizing, collecting and delivering the food to Community Action since 2010. The 30,656 pounds delivered today set a new record for the FFA, topping the 27,000 pounds from last year.
Jared Hollinger, an FFA member, hands a heavy box of produce to Adam Krenning, FFA advisor and Albion agriculture teacher. Kelsee Soule, FFA vice president, is also on the truck.
Students boxed up the produce on Thursday and Friday, and then stacked it on the tractor trailer this morning.
Emilie Barleben and Natalie DiCureia work together carrying a big box of squash.
Garrett Derisley and Katie Mann carry boxes of squash to a second trailer full of food.
The FFA members gathered for a quick photo after loading the tractor trailer. They hold a sign saying “Thank You” to the farms and businesses that donated for the food drive.
There were 22 farms and businesses that donated to the effort, including Call Farms, Costanzo Bakery, Barry Flansburg, Kast Farms, Kirby Farms, Kludt Brothers, Kreher’s Egg Farm, L. Brooke Farms, Müller Yogurt, Nesbitt Fruit Farm, Orchard Dale Fruit Farm, Orleans County Farm Bureau, Panek Farms, Partyka Farms, Pawlak’s Save-A-Lot, Rich Products, Dale Root, Root Brothers, Starowitz Farms, Torrey Farms, Triple G Farms, and CY Farms.
Angela English, a member of the Lord’s House in Waterport, carries a sack of cabbages for the food pantry at the church.
Ten food pantries and three food kitchens received food this morning.
When the trucks pulled up with the food, many of the food pantry volunteers clapped. Annette Finch has worked 38 years at Community Action. She started crying when she thanked the FFA kids for their work on the food drive. FFA students started calling farms about two months ago, trying to line up donations.
“This is a real tribute to young people and we don’t hear enough about the good that young people do,” Finch said.
Russ Peters, pastor of the Alabama Full Gospel Church, carries a bag of potatoes for the church’s food pantry.
Andy Ebbs is the maintenance supervisor for Community Action. He said the FFA food drive is a big help in stocking the food pantry shelves. He also said the Boy Scout food drive is important for Community Action.
Ebbs marvelled about all of the produce, which will be used through the winter.
“It’s simply amazing, especially seeing these girls throw their backs into carrying heavy bags of cabbage,” Ebbs said. “This is a real life-saver for us.”
FFA member Ellen Narburgh carries a sack full of cabbage.
When the Albion FFA first organized a food drive for Community Action during the holidays in 2010, the student organization was able to secure 3,000 pounds in donations. That jumped to 9,000 pounds in 2011, 17,000 the following year and 19,000 in December 2013. Last year it was 27,000 pounds. The FFA set a goal for 30,000 this year and surpassed that mark.
By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 12 December 2015 at 12:00 am
Volume 1, Issue 37 supplement
(Editor’s Note: This week’s column for Old-Time Orleans is a supplemental issue connected to last week’s piece on the St. Mary’s Athletic Club baseball team.)
On occasion, my weekly column flushes out a piece of related local history. New photographs, documents, records, and even artifacts have surfaced thanks to the willingness of the Orleans Hub and Batavia Daily News to publish the column every week.
I greatly appreciate the feedback, both positive and negative, regarding the content of each piece and hope that the community continues to provide these responses.
Following the publication of my most recent article, I received several photographs from Clarendon Town Historian Melissa Ierlan of several baseball uniforms. The pieces were loaned to her by Larry and Brenda Swanger, who graciously allowed the uniforms to be cleaned and displayed in Clarendon.
Without a doubt, the uniforms are the exact style worn by the players from last week’s photograph so I thought it would be fitting to not only share images of these amazing artifacts, but provide some additional insight into the formation of the St. Mary’s Athletic Club in Albion.
In 1912 a local Polish Roman Catholic Union branch was established in Albion thanks to the diligent work of Frank Turski of Buffalo and Rev. Charles Mioduszewski of St. Mary’s Assumption Parish in Albion. It was on Sunday, Dec. 1, 1912 that a delegation of PRCU members from Buffalo including Turski, Antoni Kazmierczak, Frank Andrezjewski, and Jacob Graczyk arrived in Albion to install the organization’s newest branch in Western New York.
Established at Chicago in 1873 by Rev. Teodor Gieryk and Rev. Wincenty Barczynski, the PRCU was active in developing social programs aimed at supporting widows, orphans, and the needy. Nearly a decade later the organization developed an insurance program, similar to the Knights of Columbus, and led the way in promoting gender equality in fraternal organizations. Many branches, including Albion’s Branch 654, promoted local sporting events and sponsored teams throughout major cities such as Detroit, Chicago, and Buffalo.
We can see that one uniform is marked St. Mary’s P.R.C.U. A.C., representing the St. Mary’s PRCU Athletic Club, the precursor to the officially established St. Mary’s Athletic Club now located on Moore Street in Albion.
Both shirts include a patch on the left sleeve, a gold circular patch with crossed flags, a heart, and shield. The patch, the crest of the PRCU, contains a Polish flag and United States flag crossed with the Sacred Heart and Polish Falcon. The crest shows the assimilation into American society that many Poles sought while retaining their religious and cultural heritage. The St. Mary’s Athletic Club officially established itself in 1924 as a men’s social club, strange considering the height of prohibition at the time.
The organization existed as an extension of the local Polish Catholic Church until the 1940s when the Athletic Club cut ties with the Parish. Expressing distaste for the debauchery and poor behavior of those drinking at the club, some parishioners voiced a concern that many men would consume alcohol at the St. Mary’s Club, stagger uptown, and draw unwanted and unwarranted attention to the church.
The organization continues to support baseball programs locally and until recently, provided death benefits for “regular” members who could claim Polish lineage.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 December 2015 at 12:00 am
File photos by Tom Rivers – John Dady, part of the Dady Brothers with his brother Joe, performed along the Erie Canal in Albion on July 12, kicking off the concert series on Thursdays. The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council approved funding for the concerts in 2016.
BATAVIA – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council has announced $52,283 in funding for several cultural programs in Orleans and Genesee counties for 2015.
The funding in state decentralization grants is up from the $41,600 approved in 2015.
GO ART! also approved $5,000 total for two Ripple Grants to support local artists who wish to involve the community in their creative process.
One of those $2,500 goes to Bill McDonald of Batavia for the Travelling Towpath Troubadors, a concert series along the Erie Canal. The Troubadors performed several canal concerts from a boat this past summer. The group will be back for more music in 2016.
Members of the “Old Hippies” play as the Travelling Towpath Troubadors in a concert on July 12 in Medina’s Canal Basin. The group includes Vinny Pastore, Jim Catino, Kay McMahon and Bill McDonald.
The decentralization grants approved for projects in Orleans County include:
Lake Plains Players for its fall musical (to be announced), $1,819.73;
Lake Plains Players summer musical (to be announced), $638;
Lake Plains Players, Summer Youth Theatre Camp, $1,324.73;
Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, “Finally Fridays!” – 15th annual series of free music programs during winter, $1,969.73;
Lyndonville Lions Club for Concert Fun in Lyndonville, $2,794.73;
Mental Health Association for pottery and print making, $835;
Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4-H Fair Flower Show, $585;
Orleans Renaissance Group, Inc. for an evening with Irish Tenor, Ronan Tynan, $3,619.73;
Julie Patel portrays Olive Ostrovsky, one of six contestants in the The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which was perfomed last summer at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery by the Lake Plains Players. Patel is singing, “My Friend, the Dictionary.”
Tale for Three Counties Council for three-county community reading effort “A Tale for Three Counties,” $2,094.73;
Village of Albion, Concerts on the Canal, $2,509.73;
World Life Institute in Waterport for “Voices from the Earth,” $4,875;
Yates Community Library for “More than Just Books,” $2,969.73
GO ART! welcomes artists and organizations to apply for funding again next year. Workshops for the 2017 grant cycle will be in the summer of 2016 at select local libraries and at the GO ART! building in Batavia.
Megan Brenner-Zwara plays Mary and Joseph Kusmierczak is George Bailey in the Lake Plains Players production of the It’s A Wonderful Life, which was performed last month. The Players were approved for funding in 2016 for three different theater projects.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Here is another photo of the breath-taking sunset on Sunday. This picture shows a silhouette of some of the churches at the Courthouse Square including, from left: Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (Holy Family Parish) and First Baptist Church.
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory until 7 p.m. today for Orleans County and much of Western New York. There will be southwest winds from 15 to 30 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 miles per hour.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Downtown Albion is decorated with banners and wreaths for the holiday season. Many of the merchants also have lighted displays in their storefront windows.
ALBION – Albion business owners will host their fourth annual “Hometown Holiday” on Saturday. The event has grown with new activities including a “Where’s Rudolph” challenge.
“This is our annual community program where we encourage people to shop local,” said Carolyn Ricker, president of Albion Merchants Association and owner of Bindings Bookstore. “There will be a lot of activities for kids and families to do together.”
There will be a Rudolph at 19 sites and children who can find at least five will receive a goody bag. Each participating merchant will have a passport for all of the reindeer locations.
Merchants will host other activities, including ornament making, letter writing to Santa, story time, coloring contest, and cookies with Mrs. Claus. The events run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Santa at the Cobble-Ridge Co-op at 14462 Ridge Rd. from 1 to 3 p.m.
The event also includes a Christmas Gift Fair with several vendors at the Pullman Memorial Church from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information on the day, visit one of the businesses or check the Merchant’s Association Facebook page by clicking here.
A slender Santa who resembles Jim Knight helps promote the Christmas Gift Fair last Saturday. Vendors will be back tomorrow at the church.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and State Sen. Robert Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, have both issued statements following the conviction of former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son Adam on bribery, extortion and conspiracy counts.
Skelos, a Republican from Long Island, is the second State Legislature leader found guilty of public corruption following the conviction of former State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on Nov. 30.
“There can be no tolerance for those who use, and seek to use, public service for private gain,” Gov. Cuomo said in a statement. “The justice system worked today. However, more must be done and will be pursued as part of my legislative agenda. The convictions of former Speaker Silver and former Majority Leader Skelos should be a wakeup call for the Legislature and it must stop standing in the way of needed reforms.”
Ortt issued this statement:
“Hopefully today’s decision will serve as a catalyst for good government in Albany,” Ortt said. “Although the Senate took important steps toward that end this year, such as stripping pensions from convicted elected officials, more work remains. That’s why I will continue to support increased transparency and accountability measures, so that we can restore the public’s trust in state government.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2015 at 12:00 am
STAMP project could get boost from $500 million in Upstate initiative
Orleans County is part of the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council which was approved for $500 million in state funds on Thursday, one of three regions in the state that will share $1.5 billion in the Upstate Revitalization Initiative.
The state created 10 regional economic development councils to compete for funds about five years ago. With the new Upstate initiative, only three will receive funding. Besides the Finger Lakes region, the Southern Tier and Central NY were approved for $500 million each.
Jim Whipple, chief executive officer for the Orleans Economic Development Agency, said the $500 million will go towards larger projects in the region.
“It’s not for the nuts and bolts of economic development,” he said.
He expects some of the money will go towards advancing the STAMP site in the Town of Alabama, just south of Orleans County. That high-tech site includes 1,250 acres.
In announcing the Finger Lakes as a $500 million winner, state officials said it wants to build on the Rochester area as national Institute for Manufacturing Innovation focusing on field of integrated photonics, for which the State has committed $250 million in support.
The Finger Lakes Region’s plan consists of three industry clusters, or pillars, that will act as the core drivers of job and output growth: Optics, Photonics, and Imaging; Agriculture and Food Production, and Next Generation Manufacturing and Technology.
“I am extremely excited and proud to announce that the Finger Lakes region was a winner of the Upstate Revitalization Initiative,” said State Assemblyman Steve Hawley. “Economic Development is extremely important in New York State and our potential for job growth, innovation and expansion in science and technology and new businesses is at an all-time high. I look forward to working with local officials, developers and businesses to make my Assembly District the crown jewel of the Finger Lakes region.”
The state identified the following as top projects for the Finger Lakes region:
Sibley Building Phase II – $3,500,000 award from state
This $65 million project represents the second phase portion of a comprehensive, $200 million redevelopment strategy for the 1.1 million square-foot historic Sibley department store building in downtown Rochester, across from the new transit center. Phase II will include the development of 96 market rate and middle-income apartment units, 34,000 square-feet of Class A office space, 10,000 square-feet of retail space, retail pushcarts, an urban farmers market, and 150 underground parking spaces.
University of Rochester Goergen Institute for Data Science – $1,000,000
The University of Rochester adopted data science as its top priority in its 2013-2018 Strategic Plan and announced a $50 million effort – in addition to $50 million in previous investments – to create an internationally distinguished Institute for Data Science. The University seeks to leverage $25 million in private support already raised to construct a new 60,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that will be the academic home for the New York State Center of Excellence in Data Science and build upon existing University infrastructure and strengths, such as the Health Sciences Center for Computational Innovation.
Energy Storage Ecosystem Resources – Safety Testing and Cylindrical Cell Prototyping – $2,000,000
This project entails fitting up space at Eastman Business Park, including the purchase and installation of equipment required to perform safety testing and certification for energy storage devices at the BEST Test Commercialization Center (BTCC) and to provide cylindrical cell prototyping capabilities at the Battery Prototyping Center on the campus of the Rochester Institute of Technology. The proposed expansion to the BTCC includes modifications to facilities to fit up an additional 4,000 square-feet of specialized laboratory space and additional equipment that will allow for safety testing for individual cells and battery packs.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – The Village Board has approved a 20-year agreement for solar power at the water and sewer plants, a deal that is expected to reduce the electricity costs for the village by at least $2 million over two decades.
The Village Board accepted SolarCity’s proposal to install and own the solar energy systems that would be mounted on panels at the sewer plant on Zig-Zag Road and the water plant on the shores on Lake Ontario on Wilson Road in Carlton.
SolarCity will sell the power at a reduced cost to the village. SolarCity also will be eligible for federal tax incentives for installing and operating the system. The company also has most of the upfront costs for installing the system.
“It’s really kind of ground-breaking for us to be where we are with the project,” said Dean London, the Albion village mayor.
The village currently pays 12 cents per kilowatt-hour. SolarCity will sell electricity to the village for about half of what Albion is currently paying.
The agreement was approved by the Village Board on Wednesday, pending final review of the document by village attorney John Gavenda.
SolarCity will construct the solar energy system next year using two parcels of land by the sewer plant and one parcel by the water plant.
“It’s a new thing for us,” London said. “There is a potential for huge savings.”
