Snowfall will pick up and temps will drop

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.

Due to the inclement weather, Oak Orchard Health will close its health care sites at noon in Albion, Lyndonville, Brockport and Warsaw in Wyoming County.

The county remains under a travel advisory and a blizzard warning is in effect until 2 a.m. The National Weather Service says 10 to 16 inches of snow could fall today and overnight.

With a travel advisory in effect and the snow coming down fast and furious, Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina is taking an unusual step in closing at 2 p.m. today.

“We try to stay open but there are times when prudence must reign,” said Catherine Cooper, library director.

Lee-Whedon is usually open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. Other libraries in Orleans County didn’t open today, including Hoag Library in Albion and Community Free Library in Holley. The Yates Community Library in Lyndonville is closed on Wednesdays.

Cooper said most of the libraries in the three-county NIOGA system are closed today.

Sheriff says no unnecessary travel until further notice

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.

Employees should report to jail, nursing home, public safety

ALBION – Orleans County offices will be closed on Wednesday and all nonessential personnel are directed to stay home, Legislature Chairman David Callard decided tonight.

Employees are to report at the jail, nursing home, highway department and for public safety jobs with the Sheriff’s Department and dispatch.

The county has closed the County Administration Building, Mental Health Building, Legislative Office and Clerk’s Building for Wednesday. This is the first time the offices have closed since the storm in October 2006, said Chuck Nesbitt, the county chief administrative officer.

Orleans is under a blizzard warning for Wednesday.

Five area schools will be closed on Wednesday

Update: Albion Central is closed on Wednesday.

Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina school districts have cancelled classes and activities on Wednesday due to the impending severe weather.

The National Weather Service has upgraded the Winter Storm Warning for Orleans and surrounding counties to a Blizzard Warning, in effect from 2 a.m. on Wednesday until 2 a.m. on Thursday.

The storm may result in accumulations of 9 to 17 inches with wind gusts up to 45 mph creating periods of whiteout conditions.

The National Weather Service warns, “Conditions will rapidly deteriorate Wednesday morning with relatively light snow becoming heavy by late morning. The combination of heavy snow and blowing snow will make travel extremely difficult to nearly impossible Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday evening. Visibility will be reduced to near-zero at times with deep snow cover on roadways during the peak of the storm along with significant blowing and drifting of snow.”

ALBION – With blizzard-like conditions in the forecast for Wednesday, the County Legislature meeting has been cancelled. It had been scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and will be rescheduled, Legislature Clerk Nadine Hanlon advised tonight.

County officials have also closed the county office building, Clerk’s Building, and Mental Health Building. The jail, nursing home, highway department and public safety services will be open.

Albion Town Justice Kevin Howard also has closed court for Wednesday due to the weather conditions.

Two school districts announced this evening they were closing on Wednesday with the threat of a major snowstorm.

Orleans County is expected to get about a foot of snow on Wednesday. Both Holley and Kendall schools will be closed.

In addition, Albion town court has been cancelled for Wednesday.

Orleans Hub will update the list of closings if we get more from school officials.

The area will be hit with a major dumping of snow on Wednesday, with 10 to 17 inches in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service.

It has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Orleans and several counties, a warning that is in effect from 2 a.m. Wednesday to 2 a.m. Thursday.

The storm will bring a mix of heavy snow and blowing snow. Northeast winds at 25 to 35 miles per hour, with gusts up to 45 MPH, will create near whiteout conditions at times, the Weather Service advised.

“The combination of heavy snow and blowing snow will result in severe winter travel conditions,” the Weather Service said. “Driving will become extremely difficult or even nearly impossible at times.”

Photo by Tom Rivers – Tim Lindsay, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion, is site leader for the new Jobs for Life program in Orleans County. He discussed the program during a meeting with the Albion Rotary Club last week. Lindsay welcomes mentors and businesses to be part of the program.

ALBION – A group of churches is trying to “flip the list,” and the break the cycle of poverty for local residents.

The churches have formed Hands 4 Hope Orleans and launched a “Jobs for Life” program that is designed to give residents basic job skills, and also connect them to job opportunities and a mentor who will be a source of encouragement. The Rev. Tim Lindsay, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Albion, is site leader of the program.

“We’re trying to do things that foster independence and help people become self-supporting,” Lindsay told the Albion Rotary Club on Thursday. “We want to put jobs at the top and get people out of the cycle of dependency.”

Hands 4 Hope Orleans started the 16-class program on Jan. 27.  The class meets twice a week at Hoag Library. Local business leaders have volunteered to help lead some of the classes. The first group of five students is scheduled to graduate on March 24.

Lindsay said he has witnessed big changes in the students in about six weeks of classes. They have gained confidence and direction.

He urged the Rotary Club, which includes several local business owners, to consider hiring a Jobs for Life graduate. The first class is expected to include five graduates. Lindsay expects to have additional classes in the future.

Each graduate will receive a certificate and businesses can have faith the students have learned the importance of values, showing up on time, conflict resolution, team work, a positive attitude, taking responsibility and overcoming roadblocks.

“We want this certificate to mean something to employers,” Lindsay said.

Besides Harvest Christian Fellowship, the Oak Orchard Assembly of God, Light of Victory, Albion Free Methodist Church and Alabama Full Gospel are all helping with Jobs for Life. For more information on Hands 4 Hope Orleans, click here.