File photo by Tom Rivers: The Rev. Dr. Don Algeo, pastor of the Gaines Congregational United Church of Christ, offers the benediction and a closing blessing during an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 14, 2024 at the First Baptist Church of Albion. Algeo’s church on Route 104 in Gaines will be hosting a community Ash Wednesday service at 4 p.m. on Feb. 18.
Press Release, Albion Ministerium
ALBION — The Albion Ministerium, a longstanding collaboration among local churches, will hold an ecumenical Ash Wednesday service at 4 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Gaines Congregational Church, 14023 Ridge Road West.
Ministerium clergy members will be on hand for the imposition of ashes and prayer from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at Albion First Baptist Church, 30 West Park Street.
Starting February 25 at 12 noon, ONE Catholic will host the Ministerium’s annual Lenten Luncheon series at St. Joseph’s Lyceum, 114 South Main Street.
Soup, sandwiches and desserts are provided by the participating churches. The Ministerium provides beverages and table service. The hour-long gatherings include a brief devotional message from one of the clergy members, as well as a time of hymn-singing. They will occur five consecutive Wednesdays, from Feb. 25 through March 25.
There is no charge for the meal; a free will offering is collected to be used for luncheon supplies and other Ministerium events, such as the Albion High School Baccalaureate in June.
Luncheon attendees are welcome to park in the Albion First Baptist Church lot, adjacent to the Lyceum. A handicapped accessible lift is available at St. Joe’s.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 February 2026 at 6:07 pm
ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club is trying a new fundraiser and community event on Tuesday and people are invited to gorge on all-you-can-eat pancakes.
The Shrove Tuesday or “Fat Tuesday” eating fest has been popular in many churches, a time to partake in very sweet food just before the start of lent on Wednesday, a 40-day fasting season.
The pancakes will be served by the Albion Rotary from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church, 29 East State St. in Albion. There will be options for fruit toppings, chocolate, peanut butter, and different flavored syrups.
The pancakes also come with sausage, bacon and applesauce. Tickets are $10 presale from Rotary members, $12 at the door, and $5 for kids 12 and under.
Marlene Seielstad, a Rotary member, hopes there will be a big crowd eating at the church fellowship hall. There will be Mardi Gras decorations and a fun atmosphere, a nice break from the recent brutal winter weather, she said. People can also get their pancakes to go.
The Shrove Tuesday event will replace Rotary’s St. Patrick’s Ham Dinner in March.
“We wanted to offer something different to the community,” Seielstad said. “We hope people will bring their friends and neighbors. Everyone wants to have some fun in February.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2026 at 8:28 pm
This photo shows a printout of a Dollar General rendering of a proposed store on East Avenue in Albion, across from the high school.
ALBION – The Village of Albion Planning Board adjourned a public hearing today about the site plan for a new Dollar General at 327 East Ave. The board will meet again at 5 p.m. on March 12 and is expected to vote on the site plan.
The plan was supposed to go to the Orleans County Planning Board on jan. 22 for its review. But that meeting was cancelled due to rough winter weather.
Karen Conn, the Village of Albion Planning Board chairwoman, wants the county board to look at the site plan and offer its feedback before there is a final vote by the village.
The Village of Albion Planning Board heard from neighbors during today’s hearing who are concerned the store would bring more traffic by the school and a residential neighborhood. Neighbors also said they are concerned about tractor-trailers being able to maneuver the site and turn onto East Avenue.
The site is zoned general commercial and the store fits the criteria of what is permitted in that zone, Conn said.
The Village Planning Board can make recommendations on how the building should look, traffic flow on site and other issues.
The state Department of Transportation reviewed the entrance and parking lot. Conn said the DOT is recommending Dollar General have tractor trailers turn east out of the site after making deliveries, rather than going west due to the tightness of the site.
The 10,640-square-foot building would have a parking lot with 35 spaces. The village code requires one space for every 200 square feet of gross floor space for retail stores. The Village of Albion Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 9 approved a variance to allow for 35 spaces. That is more than enough spots, Dollar General representatives said, and will allow for more green space on site. The company said a store this size typically has 32 parking spaces.
The Broadway Group from Huntsville, Ala. is developer of the store in Albion. The company would demolish a building that has been used for auto sales and a warehouse. Currently, Ridge Road Station is parking smaller school buses on site.
The property is owned by Chris Kinter, the village’s code enforcement officer. He has recused himself from the review of the project with Dan Strong, the Town of Albion code enforcement officer, filling in for the village with this proposal.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Broadway Group wants to knock down this building at 327 East Ave. and build a new 10,640-square-foot Dollar General across from the high school.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2026 at 10:55 am
ALBION – The Albion Village Board voted on Wednesday to increase the fines for parking violations.
The board held a public hearing and there wasn’t any feedback from the community.
Police Chief David Mogle suggested the fines be doubled from their current levels of $25 if paid within seven days of the violation, $30 if paid after seven days but within 30 days, and $35 if paid after 30 days.
Board members didn’t want to double the fines. They opted instead to set the fines at $40 if paid within a week of the violation, $50 if paid after a week and within 30 days, $65 if paid after 30 days.
The Albion Police Department is almost out of parking tickets and will soon be ordering more. Mogle advised the board the fine amounts had not been changed in many years.
The Police Department can issue parking tickets for parking in the street overnight from Nov. 15 to April 15, parking in a no parking zone, blocking a fire lane, parking closer than 10 feet of a fire hydrant, double parking, parking in handicapped parking spot without a permit, parking on curb or sidewalk, and overtime parking.
The board also held a public hearing on Wednesday on increasing the term from two to four years for the clerk-treasurer, deputy clerk and deputy treasurer.
There were no public comments and the board approved the new four-year terms to run concurrently with the mayor’s four-year term.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2026 at 8:44 am
Both villages have contested races for mayor, trustee
ALBION/MEDINA – The candidates are set for the March 18 village elections in Albion and Medina with the two communities having races for mayor and trustee.
In Medina, Marguerite Sherman is seeking re-election to a two-year term as mayor. She is running under the “Village Party.”
Deborah Padoleski, a current trustee and retired Medina village clerk/treasurer, is challenging Sherman, a retired special education teacher. Padoleski and Sherman have often been at odds with each other the past two years over the purchase of a new ladder truck for the fire department and a one-bay addition to house the vehicle.
Padoleski said Sherman and the previous board didn’t properly plan for the new truck and addition. Padoleski led the effort to have the new truck declared surplus at Monday’s Village Board meeting, saying that $1.7 million expense plus at least another $1 million for the fire hall addition are unaffordable for the community.
Sherman said the ladder truck is needed and the costs will only rise if the village has to sell this one and eventually pursue another one. The fire hall from the 1930s is in need of upgrades and is too small for the new truck. Sherman has tried to get Padoleski and the majority of the board to back grant applications for the fire hall addition but has been unable to get a consensus so far.
Padoleski is running under the “People’s Party” and is joined by Trustee candidates – Mark Prawel, a current trustee, retired Medina police officer and car mechanic; and Jeffrey Wagner, the owner of the former Apple Grove restaurant in Medina.
Dean Bellack, an active volunteer for the YMCA, United Way and Lions Club, also is running as a trustee under the “Connect Orleans Party.” Bellack has been vocal about the village’s high taxes and need to expand housing options in the community.
In Albion, the Democrats and Republicans held their party caucuses last month. The Democrats picked Joyce Riley, a current village trustee, to run for mayor.
The Republicans backed Tim McMurray, a current trustee for mayor, and also supported Kevin Sheehan and Jami Allport for village trustee.
Sheehan was on the Village Board for many years until 2020. He also worked as Albion’s code enforcement officer and is retired an a union plumber and pipe fitter. He is currently a commissioner for the Albion Joint Fire District.
Allport is the executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern and the cheerleading coach at Albion.
Tuesday at 5 p.m. was the deadline to file independent petitions signed by at least 100 registered voters in the village. Riley submitted petitions for mayor for the “Vote for Albion” party.
Issac Robinson also submitted petitions as trustee for “Vote for Albion.” Robinson is a former Army medic who used to own the Robinson’s Redemption business in Albion near Walmart. He owns a bottle redemption business in Lockport and works in the arcade industry.
“I just wanted to give people a choice,” Robinson said about running as an independent candidate.
‘Coming together and putting the rivalry aside is a win for our students as well as our community’
Press Release, Albion and Medina Central School Districts
ALBION/MEDINA – It was over 130 years ago when the Albion and Medina high school football rivalry first ignited. Now, a new era is set to begin on a united front.
Both the Albion CSD and Medina CSD Board of Education voted this week to combine the school’s football programs in preparation for the 2026 fall football season. At the Feb. 9 Albion CSD Board of Education meeting, the Board voted unanimously in favor of merging the programs. At the Feb. 10 Medina meeting, the Board subsequently followed suit.
This decision follows suit of approximately 90 high schools in Section V and VI who currently participate in merged football programs. These mergers were prompted by similar challenges including declining school enrollment and declining extracurricular participation trends. These challenges affect the school’s ability to maintain a safe, competitive, and developmentally appropriate program for student-athletes.
“The best interests of our students need to always remain top of mind,” said John Kast, Albion Board of Education vice president. “Both schools are familiar with the power of community and we believe that bringing our communities together to work toward the same goal will only make us stronger.”
“As leaders in the community, we have a duty and responsibility to make decisions based on what is best for our students,” said Donnell Holloway, Medina Board of Education member. “Coming together and putting the rivalry aside is a win for our students as well as our community.”
The teams will be combined at all three levels, modified, junior varsity and varsity. Teams need to have a minimum of 16 players. The projected participation for 2026 with a merged team includes 35 at modified, 40 at junior varsity and 29 at varsity.
“We are looking forward to providing a safe and competitive program for our student-athletes,” said Eric Valley, Medina athletic director and varsity football coach. “We hope to foster an exciting environment where school pride, comradery and lifelong friendships can flourish.”
The merger has been an ongoing discussion, becoming more urgent as the section VI deadline approached this month. Both schools were already forced to eliminate their JV programs and have continuously struggled to field full practices. They have already worked collaboratively to host joint practices on multiple occasions last season.
“Like many schools, we have been facing a tiring uphill battle,” said Mickey Edwards, Albion CSD superintendent and alum of Albion’s football program. “We are optimistic that this decision will help ensure long-term program sustainability and offer higher-calibre opportunities.”
Finalized branding including the team name, logo and colors will be shared at a later date. Details on what division the teams will play in are not yet confirmed. The schools are planning for a 5-year agreement, giving the new program time to develop and a better chance of success.
Each school will host two games at all levels, including their own homecoming. Sectional playoff games will alternate between schools. Practices will be split as evenly as possible between the two districts. Each district will be responsible for hiring coaches to represent their district and each level will have coaches from each district.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 February 2026 at 9:21 pm
This graphic was presented by Medina football coach and athletic director Eric Valley as the possible name and colors of the new Albion and Medina football program.
MEDINA – The Medina Mustangs and Albion Purple Eagles will be joining forces on the football field this fall after more than a century as bitter rivals.
The Medina Board of Education this evening approved a five-year agreement with Albion on a merged football program. The Albion Board of Education approved the merger on Monday.
Both school districts will pay 50 percent of the program costs the first two years, and then the funding shares will be based on the percentage of each district’s student participation among the players in the program in years 3 to 5.
Both schools have declining numbers of students playing football. They haven’t been able to field junior varsity teams, and Medina nearly went to 8-man football last season before going back to 11-man football just before the start of the season.
Eric Valley, Medina’s varsity head coach and the district’s athletic director, said the two schools have held joint practices in recent years. He remembers talking with Albion coaches in those practices, saying the two programs worked well together.
Valley is expected to lead the new merged program. He would like the team to be called the “O.C. Rivals” with gray, black and maroon in the colors. The logo could have two shovels, representing the two communities that began to flourish after the digging of the Erie Canal two centuries ago.
Valley said the merged team will likely be a Class B school. He is projecting the two schools will have 29 players for varsity, 40 for JV, and 35 for modified. That is enough to have a competitive program with a focus on student safety, he said. Medina and Albion needed to play some kids up a level when they may not have been ready due to a shortage of players.
The teams will alternate practicing at each school after every week. Both schools are expected to host two home games.
“We’re pretty optimistic,” Valley said after a unanimous vote from the Medina Board of Education. “We think we have a good core of kids and both schools have beautiful facilities. ”
Valley said five of the six coaches will be back from Medina’s team. He knows at least one will return from Albion.
The football program will be hosting an informational meeting at 6 p.m. this Thursday in Albion for players and parents and will soon be doing one in Medina.
He wants to form the staff for the program and advise players on off-season workouts.
He is pleased the two schools have joined forces and football will continue for Albion and Medina.
“Some people don’t like change but the alternative was no football,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 February 2026 at 3:27 pm
This is a photo of a print out of a rendering of the proposed Dollar General store in Albion on East Avenue across from the high school.
ALBION – The Village of Albion Planning Board will take comments from the public about the site plan for a new Dollar General on Route 31 across from the high school.
The public hearing will be 5 p.m. on Thursday at the Village Office, 35-37 East Bank St.
The Broadway Group LLC from Huntsville Ala. is seeking to build the new store at 327 East Ave. The company is proposing a single-story 10,566-square-foot building with parking, storm water management, lighting, landscaping and connection to public utilities.
The 1.12-acre site is owned by Chris Kinter, the village’s code enforcement officer. Kinter has recused himself from the application and review.
The Broadway Group plans to demolish the existing structure, a former auto garage and vehicle maintenance facility. The site is currently used to park school buses.
The village Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 9 approved a variance for the project, allowing Dollar General to have 35 parking spaces instead of the 53 required for a store that size. Albion’s zoning calls for one parking space for every 200 square feet of a retail store.
The Broadway Group said having 35 parking spaces will allow for more green space on the site.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 February 2026 at 11:11 am
ALBION – The Albion Board of Education on Monday evening gave unanimous approval to a merger of its football program with Medina.
The two schools are gridiron rivals going back more than a century. But programs have declining student participation, putting both programs at risk of being able to field teams.
Medina’s Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the merger during a 6:30 p.m. meeting today.
Albion didn’t discuss potential names and uniform colors for the merged team or length of the contract. They details will be worked out in the coming months, said Chris Kinter, a member of the Albion Board of Education.
The two districts need to decide this month if there is a merged program to give Section 6 time to work out the classifications and schedule for the fall football season.
The agreement on Medina’s agenda for today calls for a five-year agreement between the two schools with the team to be called the “Orleans Rivals.”
The schools are to split the costs 50-50 for the first two years for modified, junior varsity and varsity. (Both schools didn’t field JV teams this past year due to a shortage of players.) After two years the costs will be based on percentages of student participation from each district. That percentage cost will then be updated annually.
Student-athletes from Medina and Albion who seek to participate in the football program must try out, according to the agreement. No student will be guaranteed a position on the team or playing time.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 February 2026 at 8:29 am
‘The Smallest of Joys’ invites people to slow down and ‘create your own magic’
Diane Shiffer’s book is published by Hay House LLC. The book was pre-launched on Monday with customers able to order it through Amazon and other book sellers. The book will be released in hardcover on April 14. Diane Shiffer is shown outside her Albion home in this screenshot from her Instagram account. She has more than 2 million followers on social media.
ALBION – An Albion woman with a massive following on social media has written a book, The Smallest of Joys, that is available for pre-ordering. The 256-page book will be out in hardcover on April 14.
Diane Shiffer has a devoted following @shifferdiane, and uses the hashtag: “YourChubbyVintageNana.”
“I never sent out to write a book,” Shiffer said in a video posted on her social media on Monday, the day of the book’s pre-launch. “Honestly, I never even thought it was something I could do. For years I was just writing things down to understand my own small life, to make sense of the days and to notice what was still good, and somehow, somehow those quiet thoughts became my book, the smallest of joys.”
The book is published by Hay House LLC. “The Smallest of Joys” is an invitation to slow down and embrace yourself. Shiffer brings messages about:
Embrace your inner weirdo
Be patient with yourself through life’s changes
Keep a tidy home without overwhelm
Develop a positive body image
Heal from heartbreak
Connect with others through gratitude
Find everyday magic in the simplest moments
“Whether you’ve been following Diane for years or are just meeting her now, this book is like a warm teacup in your hands and a soft blanket around your shoulders,” Amazon states in promoting the book. “A modern antidote to hustle culture and self-criticism, it’s a reminder that kindness—especially toward yourself—can be a powerful way to live.”
Shiffer is a retired educator and social worker. She started to go viral on social media during the pandemic in 2020 when she posted short videos of her in daily life – baking, sewing, doing household chores, sharing words about kindness, and showcasing some of her vintage finds, such as potholders.
She speaks directly to her followers in her videos, calling them “my sweeties” and “my dears.”
Shiffer was featured by CBS Sunday Morning last April. CBS correspondent Faith Salie said Shiffer’s “soothing voice and infectious laugh” are a big part of her appeal. Salie said about Shiffer, “spending time with her feels like a warm hug.”
Shiffer shares heartfelt advice on discovering joy and beauty in everyday life.
“This book exists because of you, my dear internet friends, the people who taught me that small gentle things matter,” Shiffer said in a social media post on Monday. “I also know that we are living in a heavy moment. There is real grief and real fear and real injustice in the world right now, and joy doesn’t erase that but it can help us stay human inside of it.”
“I’m holding both, gratitude and perspective, hope and responsibility. If this book finds its way to you I hope it brings a little calm, a little steadiness, a reminder that tending to your spirit is not a distraction from the world. It is part of how we keep showing up for it.”
For more information on “The Smallest of Joys,” click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 February 2026 at 10:01 am
Village also may pursue new street sweeper for DPW
ALBION – A member of the Village of Albion Planning Board said it’s long overdue for the village to update a comprehensive plan for zoning, land use, development and other long-term priorities.
Jeff Holler, a member of the Planning Board, said that board and a Comprehensive Plan committee have been working on a revised plan, but the village needs a planning professional to move the project forward.
Holler said there are grant opportunities through the state Department of State that would pay for a planning firm to assist the village with the updated plan.
He has been pressing the Village Board at recent board meetings about applying for state grants for the comprehensive plan. That updated document would help guide development in the village with businesses, housing and other projects, Holler said.
Village trustees Tim McMurray and Joyce Riley said the board will out to its grant writer, G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, about pursuing a grant for the comprehensive plan.
During the board meeting on Wednesday, DPW Superintendent Jay Pahura said the village should be looking to replace a 30-year-old street sweeper, which is expected to cost $350,000 to $400,000.
Pahura was able to save $149,000 from last year’s CHIPS allotment from the state and expects to set aside a similar amount this year. That would give the village about $300,000 towards the new street sweeper, which he said can also be used for leaf pickup especially in high-traffic areas such as Route 31 and Main Street.
Village Clerk Tracy Van Skiver said there also are state grants to that could go towards the purchase. She will check those programs that have funded street sweepers for other communities.
The board also agreed to a policy update where employees in the village office will be paid if the office is closed due to weather or another emergency. This applies to employees scheduled to work on the affected day, and not people who may be on vacation or off.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 February 2026 at 9:25 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Joyce Riley was the Democratic Party line for mayor of Albion in the March 18 election. She also plans to run under an independent line, “Vote for Albion.” She is shown speaking at the Albion Republican Party caucus on Jan. 24.
ALBION – Registered Democrats in the Village of Albion have backed Joyce Riley for mayor in the upcoming March 18 election.
She will face off against Tim McMurray, who has the Republican line. There is still time for candidates to run under an independent line. They have until Feb. 10 to submit petitions signed by at least 100 registered voters in Albion.
Riley also intends to run as an independent under the “Vote for Albion” line.
Riley and McMurray both have been trustees on the Village Board for nearly four years. Riley ran for mayor in 2018 and lost a close race to Eileen Banker, 250 votes to 211. Kevin Doherty also received 153 in that election for mayor.
Riley was elected trustee in March 2022. She said Albion is on better financial footing, after working to establish reserves and build back its unfunded balances. That should help the village pay for equipment purchases in the future and guard against big tax increases.
“We’re on the cusp of turning things around,” Riley said.
Riley worked as a registered nurse and later supervised an ambulatory surgical unit in Washington, D.C., overseeing 200 employees. When she retired, she moved back to Albion in 2015.
Riley, 77, said she brings a lot of energy to the Village Board, and a willingness to do the research and planning to make decisions that are best for the community.
She is also hopeful for the village because so many people are engaged as volunteers.
“There are more people getting involved,” she said. “We have more collaborations.”
Riley is the lone candidate who will appear under the Democratic line. Republicans, in addition to backing McMurray for mayor, also supported Jami Allport and Kevin Sheehan for village trustee.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 January 2026 at 1:56 pm
Tim McMurray for mayor, and Jami Allport and Kevin Sheehan for trustees
Photos by Tom Rivers: About a dozen people attended the Village of Albion Republican Caucus on Saturday afternoon at Hoag Library. The candidates include from left: Kevin Sheehan for trustee, Jami Allport for trustee and Tim McMurray for mayor.
ALBION – A small group of registered Republicans on Saturday picked their party’s candidates for the March 18 village election.
Tim McMurray, a current village trustee, was backed for mayor, will Republicans at their party caucus also chose former Village Board member Kevin Sheehan for trustee and Jami Allport for trustee.
McMurray, 42, said he would be a very accessible mayor for the public, attending numerous local events while reaching out to other local and state officials to build support for the village.
McMurray said Village Board members need to be more active in supporting local businesses, and welcoming feedback from the community. He wants the Village Board meetings to be livestreamed and board members to have a booth at the Strawberry Festival to hear from the public.
He also said he would strive to make sure the full Village Board is kept well apprised of issues facing the village government and would welcome their contributions in resolving issues and reaching good decisions for the village.
“The people have the power,” McMurray said. “They just have to come in and make their voices heard.”
McMurray has paid the costs to attend meetings in Albany through the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) so he can be a more effective Village Board member. He also attends the local Orleans County Association of Municipalities meetings to connect with other local village, town and county officials.
McMurray worked at the former Chase and North American Mortgage call center in Albion, as well as in construction. He is a Marine Corps veteran who has volunteered as a youth football coach in Albion for 18 years.
Jami Allport, 38, is the executive director for the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern and also the cheerleading coach at Albion.
Allport said her role at GOMOC shows her how many people are struggling to pay bills and meet their basic needs in the community. The Village Board needs to consider that impact whenever taxes or water bills go up, she said.
Allport graduated from the Leadership Orleans program in 2025, where she learned about many facets of the community and also built a network of other leaders in the county.
“I don’t have an agenda except to push people’s topics,” she said during the Republican caucus. “I’m would be bringing new ideas and fresh energy to the board.”
Allport said her roles at GOMOC and as a coach at the school bring her in contact with many people who share their opinions and concerns. She wants residents to feel they have a strong voice in the village government.
Kevin Sheehan, 63, served on the Village Board for nearly nine years until 2020, when he became the village’s code enforcement officer for two years. Sheehan is retired as a plumber and pipefitter after a 33-year career. He is currently a commissioner on the Albion Joint Fire District.
Sheehan was nominated by Tom O’Hearn to run for mayor but Sheehan declined in favor of McMurray.
“He is younger and has more energy,” Sheehan said about McMurray.
Sheehan said in his tenure on the board, Albion averaged a 1.7 percent tax increase while meeting the needs of the village’s departments for equipment. He said the village can be creative in offering services without overwhelming taxpayers.
He said about half of the village is nontaxable, and that further strains those paying the taxes. The village should look at a “frontage fee” for nontaxable parcels to generate some added revenue for the village.
“I just can’t see going to that well of the taxpayers,” he said during the caucus. “We’re being overtaxed.”
The village saw the closing of the Thrive Freeze-Dry plant in August, which employed about 70 people at its peak in December 2024 and laid off its last group of 40 workers in August.
Sheehan wants to see that site and the CRFS building on East Avenue at full capacity.
He also suggested taking a serious look at selling 121 North Main St., which is owned by the village. That office building is rented out to Assemblyman Steve Hawley, the Orleans Economic Development Agency and other tenants.
“Should we be in the rental business?” Sheehan asked.
He’d also like to see a tenant in part of the building across from Mount Albion that is owned by the village. Part of that building for many years has been rented out as an apartment but Sheehan said there currently isn’t a tenant, depriving the village of that income.
Tim McMurray wants to sees more public participation in village government and more accessibility by village board members. McMurray wears sunglasses inside due to the effects of concussions and a traumatic brain injury. Joyce Riley spoke briefly at the Republican Caucus. She is seeking the Democratic Party backing at its caucus on Jan. 27 and also will be running under the independent line, “Vote for Albion.” The Democratic Caucus is at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Joyce Riley, a current village trustee, is seeking to run for mayor on the Democratic Party line and also the independent “Vote for Albion.” She asked the Republican Committee for a chance to speak at the caucus. Committee chairman Jeff Holler said she could. Three of the Republicans then walked out before Riley spoke.
Riley said she has worked hard for the village the past four years. It is far more than two meetings a months and four or five hours of time.
“For this village to survive and be successful, we need people to think outside of the box,” Riley said. “We need to evaluate each project and see if it makes sense.”
Riley pushed back on Sheehan’s position that the previous boards were wise in keeping tax increases so low. Riley said that has left the current board with depleted fund balances and reserves.
The board has been forced to make significant tax hikes to build up the fund balances and begin reserve funds for future equipment and projects.
The village’s tax levy is up $612,407 over the past three years – 21.5 percent. The tax levy went from $2,851,056 in 2022-23 to $3,463,463 in 2025-26.
The 2023-24 budget increased taxes by 2.5 percent, followed by a 6.6 percent increase in 2024-25 and 11.1 percent in 2025-26 (even with the fire department going out of the budget into a new fire district).
Will Gabalski, a village trustee for nearly two years, attended the caucus and asked the candidates questions. He said he expected there would be a lot to cut in the budget when joined the board but he said there is little to chop in the budget.
He suggested the board give a serious look at consolidation of services to bring down costs for the community.
“When I came on the board I thought you could take a red pen, but you couldn’t,” he said. “There’s reasons the taxes have gone up. The consolidation word is something we have a responsibility to our constituents to keep an open mind about.”
Provided photo: Jim Doyle will lead a class at Hoag Library where people can make music with a mountain dulcimer.
Press Release, Hoag Library
ALBION – Hoag Library is bustling this winter season with a full schedule of engaging programs that combine creativity, music and essential community services.
Participants recently completed the popular “Make Your Own Mountain Dulcimer” classes, crafting their own instruments from start to finish. Due to strong interest, future dulcimer-making classes are in the works, and interested individuals are encouraged to contact the library.
In addition, music lovers can join Learn a Dulcimer Song with Jim, held on the first Tuesday of each month. This casual session does not require registration, and participants may bring their own dulcimer or use one provided by the library.
Hoag Library will host the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Taxpayer Assistance Program in February, March, and April, offering free tax help by appointment. Registration is required by calling the library.
Additional February programs include a Red Cross Blood Drive on Feb. 21 (register here) and Advance Planning 101 with the Center for Elder Law & Justice on Feb. 27, covering healthcare proxies, power of attorney, and wills.
Rounding out the season, the Hoag Music Series returns March 28 with a performance by the Medusa Quartet of Toronto.
For full program details and updates, visit the Hoag Library website or contact the library directly.
