Press Release, Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council
BATAVIA – GO Art! is seeking submission for an upcoming exhibit, This Art is Garbage. The exhibit provides artists an opportunity to explore the possibilities of garbage and waste as a medium for creativity.
Artists are asked to redirect items that would normally be thrown away, into works of art. Open to artists of all skill levels, we are actively seeking submissions from students, emerging artists, and professionals. Garbage is a theme that connects us all and we hope to showcase a wide variety of skill levels and perspectives.
The exhibit will be at Oliver’s Gallery, GO Art! Seymour Place, 201 E Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020.
Work should be dropped off from Feb. 7-10, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The work will be displayed from Feb. 14 to March 30 with an artist reception on Feb. 15 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Guidelines:
Works of art may include: a component of garbage in the finished piece, garbage may be used in the art making process (for example, creating texture and pattern), or garbage as the subject of the piece (for example, creative photography of discarded objects). “Upcycled” items, such as painted furniture, are not accepted.
Work must not exceed 36”x 36”
Artwork must be wired and ready to hang (GO Art! reserves the right to turn away any submitted work that is not properly wired and ready to hang.)
This exhibition is organized by Leigh LeFevre and Rebecca LeFevre. Feel free to reach out with any questions or follow on instagram for updates: Leigh: leighlefevre@icloud.com, @takeastepback_podcast, and Rebecca: lefevre.studio@gmail.com, @rebeccalefevre.art.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2024 at 1:38 pm
The average price for regular unleaded gas dropped 3 cents in New York state in the past week, from $3.38 a gallon a week ago to $3.35 today, according to AAA. Nationally, the price is $3.10, down three cents a week ago. A year ago, the price was $3.22.
In Orleans County, the average price is up 2 cents, from $3.56 to $3.58 a gallon, according to AAA.
Diesel is at an average of $4.457 in New York today, compared to $4.479 a week ago, $4.601 a month ago and $5.326 a year ago.
AAA issued this statement about gas prices:
“The new year is beginning with a drop in the average price of gas,” AAA said. “The drop comes after the national average for a gallon of regular rose the previous week for the first time since September.
“Historically, this time of year sees upward and downward fluctuations in the price of gas. A retreat by oil prices over the last week into the mid-$70s per barrel is helping drive the price of gas down at the start of 2024. Demand for gas is expected to taper this week after the busy holiday travel period.”
Here are the average prices for regular unleaded gas in WNY counties:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2024 at 10:35 am
3,515 articles were posted in past year
Orleans Hub marked its 10th anniversary in 2023, a year when the news site again topped 8 million pageviews. We posted 3,515 articles in the past year.
The Orleans Hub totaled 8,198,018 pageviews last year, an average of 22,460 a day. That is down slightly from the 8,352,422 in 2022. Our record is 10,932,597 in 2020, the year that Covid dominated the news. During the height of Covid there were frequent updates on closings and restrictions.
The Hub averaged 8,458 daily users or unique visitors throughout 2023, which was up slightly from the 8,452 in 2022. The year 2020 was our record with a daily average of 9,956.
The most-viewed articles are typically stories about crime and tragedy. There were some exceptions last year with the opening of a gun and outdoors store in Medina and a letter to the editor from local pastors about a drag queen show in Albion.
These kids head down the slide at the Orleans County 4-H Fair on July 26. Orleans Hub works every day to try to connect people to community news, posting about 4,000 articles a year. While tragic events tend to be the most-viewed articles, many of the news articles show people having fun in the county at festivals, fairs and other community events.
Here are the stats on pageviews and daily users in the years since the Orleans Hub started on April 1, 2013.
2023: 8,198,018 – average daily unique visitors: 8,458
2022: 8,352,422 – average daily unique visitors: 8,452
2021: 9,853,855 – average daily unique visitors: 9,195
2020: 10,932,597 – average daily unique visitors: 9,956
2019: 9,556,253 – average daily unique visitors: 8,529
2018: 8,467,818 – average daily unique visitors: 7,463
2017: 8,553,605 – average daily unique visitors: 7,884
2016: 8,334,946 – average daily unique visitors: 7,112
2015: 7,811,345 – average daily unique visitors: 6,739
2014: 5,267,498 – average daily unique visitors: 4,700
2013: 1,697,887 – average daily unique visitors: 2,100 (went live April 1)
We appreciate the readers and advertisers for their commitment to the Orleans Hub. The news is offered for free without a paywall, or surveys to unlock the news.
Those who consider making a donation to the Orleans Hub can click here for more information or send a check to Orleans Hub, 170 North Main St. Albion, NY.
Press Release, Alzheimer’s Association Western New York Chapter
MEDINA – The Orleans County Walk to End Alzheimer’s exceeded its goal for 2023, raising $32,485 to date, a 22% increase over 2022.
The walk was held on Sept. 9 at State Street Park in Medina and donations were accepted until the end of the year.
“As a co-chair and a longtime committee member of the Orleans County Walk to End Alzheimer’s, I am thrilled with the success we’ve seen this year,” said Medina resident Mary Lou Tuohey. “More than 200 people attended our very fun and meaningful event in September, and we raised an unprecedented amount thanks to our hardworking committee members and very generous Orleans County community! It was a beautiful day all around.”
Lynn Westcott, senior director of development for the Alzheimer’s Association Western New York Chapter, acknowledged the increase in support.
“We are extraordinarily grateful for the dedication and hard work of the Orleans County committee and the continued, generous support from the community,” she said.
Westcott added that the funds raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s ensure that the many programs and services the Alzheimer’s Association provides in Orleans County remain free to those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, along with their caregivers. In addition, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s funds critical research and advocacy efforts which have resulted in new treatments for people living in the early stage.
More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including 410,000 in New York State, with 546,000 individuals in New York serving as unpaid caregivers for those living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
This year’s WNY Walk to End Alzheimer’s was presented by Uniland. Local Orleans County sponsors included UnitedHealthcare, FMC Middleport and Talis Equity.
The six Walks to End Alzheimer’s held throughout Western New York raised nearly $850,000 in 2023. To get involved with the 2024 Orleans County Walk to End Alzheimer’s, contact Westcott at lwestcott@alz.org or 716.440.4251.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 January 2024 at 8:16 pm
The Orleans Hub each year highlights a group of local residents who stand out for their selfless devotion to make Orleans County a better place.
Here are our picks for “Outstanding Citizens” from the past year, people who stood out for working through difficult challenges to complete a community project or serve others.
Trio worked for nearly a decade to bring bronze Santa to Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers: These directors of the Albion Betterment Committee are shown on June 10 with a new bronze statue of Santa in honor of the late Charles W. Howard, who started a Santa school in Albion in 1937 and ran it until his death in 1966. From left include Gary Derwick, Joe Gehl and Gary Kent.
A trio of long-time friends about a decade ago launched an ambitious project to honor a revered Albionite from about a half century ago, an effort the three members of the Albion Betterment Committee also said would help promote the community today.
On June 10, Gary Derwick, Joe Gehl and Gary Kent cut the ribbon for a new bronze statue in downtown Albion in honor of Charles W. Howard, the man who is still considered the “Dean of Santas.” Howard ran a school to train Santas from 1937 to 1966. The school continues in his name today in Midland, Mich. Howard also developed Christmas Park in Albion and served as the Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade for 18 years.
The three leaders of the Albion betterment Committee have been rallying behind Howard’s legacy in the past decade. They have put up “Believe” signs, convinced the state to name a portion of Route 31 in memory of Howard, and backed other projects promoting Howard, including two Santa murals in Albion.
The bronze statue was the biggest effort. They raised about $80,000 for the project and hired Brian Porter to create the statue in a likeness of Howard in his Santa suit.
Derwick, Gehl and Kent hope the statue will be a springboard for others to promote the community’s Santa lineage. Already, it seems to be paying off. This past holiday season about 40 of the light posts were decorated, as well as 12 Christmas trees on the courthouse lawn. There also was a big “Santa’s Hometown Parade” with many lighted floats on Dec. 9.
Pastor helps students get school year off to good start with annual Family Fun Day
Pastor Jovannie Canales interviews Sherry Tuohey, who heads MAAC’s Red Barrel program at Christmas, during the Family Fun Day at Butts Park on Aug. 5. Canales and his wife Melisa, left, are leaders of the Oasis Church in Medina. It used to be known as The Second Church True Disciples of Jesus Christ until changing its name in May.
Pastor Jovannie Canales wants students to be well-stocked with supplies when the school year starts. He also wants their families to be connected to agencies and churches that can make their families stronger.
For six years Canales, pastor of the Oasis Church, has organized a Family Fun Day at Butts Park in Medina. The event attracted 600 people on Aug. 5. It has grown from the first one in a parking lot. Now there are musicians, many non-profit organizations, lots of free food, BMX bikers and skateboarders, many from the faith community, and numerous school supplies.
Canales and his wife Melisa are leaders of the Oasis Church in Medina. It used to be known as The Second Church True Disciples of Jesus Christ until changing its name in May. The church is bilingual, speaking and writing in Spanish and English. Canales wants everyone to feel welcome. The church attendees come from many backgrounds – Mexican, Honduran, Puerto Rican, Panamanian, Jamaican, white and Black.
Canales also helps organize the National Night Out, which included 42 different organizations and many first responders at Butts Park on Aug. 1. At least 500 people attended the event that allowed residents to connect with law enforcement, other first responders, and community organizations.
Canales also has served on Medina’s Police Reform Committee that regularly meets with leaders of the police department. That committee has worked with the department to increase community policing, training and how to better respond to people in a mental health crisis.
Newcomer to Albion takes dream of new basketball courts to reality
Susan Oschmann joined in on some of the action at the new basketball courts at Bullard Park on Oct. 26. Oschmann pushed for two years to get new courts at Bullard, lining up fundraising and support for the project.
Susan Oschmann made it a mission two years ago to get new basketball courts at Bullard Park. Oschmann rallied the community, including basketball legend Roosevelt Bouie of Kendall, in getting two new courts complete. They opened on Oct. 26.
Oschmann recently moved to Albion from Kendall and was surprised to see the sorry shape of the courts at Bullard, a place where Bouie got his start when he was a kid.
The previous court was back further in the park and the surface wasn’t level with asphalt heaving in sports. The hoops were missing nets and were seldom used.
Oschmann wanted kids, including her grandchildren, to have a place to shoot basketballs with friends.
Oschmann and Bouie have been friends since they were kids. Bouie was a big star at Syracuse University and he helped secure $40,000 in funding from the James and Juli Boeheim Foundation.
Altogether more than $100,000 was secured to put in two full-length courts, four basketball hoops and some fencing. The courts are painted in vibrant colors.
Oschmann said there is still more to do – about $50,000 is needed for more fencing as well as benches for spectators in a shaded area and working outdoor lights.
Oschmann also helped spearhead a new sled library, where people can borrow a slide when the Bullard Park sledding hill is covered in snow. She also coordinated the Santa’s Hometown Parade in Albion on Dec. 9.
Medina woman makes mission of helping veterans through ‘Operation Honor’
Jenn Thom cheers on runners during the Operation Honor 5K on Nov. 11. The course started at the Junior Wilson Sportsmen’s Club, went through village streets and concluded at the Sportsmen’s Club. She has organized the race on Veterans’ Day since 2018.
Jenn Thom has made it a personal mission to try to help local veterans who may be experiencing a financial pinch. She is one of the leaders of Operation Honor, a local non-profit that raises money for veterans.
Operation Honor modelled the example of the Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund, where people battling cancer can apply for assistance and receive some help to pay bills and other expenses.
Thom hasn’t served in the military. She runs an accounting business. Operation Honor is her way of serving veterans who she said sacrificed so much for the country. Many of those vets often find themselves in financial stress. Operation Honor is able to lighten that load whether covering utility bills, car payments, or purchasing heating pellets for veterans in need.
Besides giving directly to veterans, Operation Honor provides funding to other groups that help vets, including a van service that takes veterans to medical appointments. Operation Honor donated $10,000 last month to the Joint Veterans Council towards a low-mileage van. Operation Honor also has given to the Warrior House in West Shelby, which provides a hunting retreat for wounded vets and children who have lost a parent in war.
Operation Honor is looking to start an oral history initiative with local veterans being interviewed about their time in the military. Sarah Surdel, another Operation Honor leader, is heading that effort in 2024.
Albion woman starts organization giving senior citizens rides on 3-wheeled bike
Provided photo: Susan Walders took a tri-shaw bike to The Villages of Orleans in Albion on Sept. 27 and gave several residents rides outside the nursing home. She plans to be busy taking people on rides in 2024.
Susan Walders has been determined to help senior citizens, especially those in nursing home and other care facilities, get outdoors and connect with nature. She sees bike rides as a great way to meet that goal.
Susan Walders rides a tri-shaw bike down the sidewalk along East Avenue in Albion on Sept. 2. She is practicing as a “pilot” with the new bike.
Walders was able to raise $12,000 new tri-shaw, a 3-wheeled bike with cushions for two passengers. She has formed a non-profit organizations, Cycling Without Age in Orleans County, with a board of directors.
The bike arrived in late August and Walders took it to The Villages of Orleans on Sept. 27 for the first bike rides, taking residents on a path behind the nursing home.
Other “pilots” have been trained to ride the bike. She expects to be busy this year going to nursing home and other care facilities for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
United Methodist congregation in Albion covered many of the expenses to get the organization off the ground. Walders also secured other donations and sold items that she crocheted and knitted.
The 3-wheeled bike is sturdy. The pilots go on slow rides so the seniors and other passengers can enjoy the scenery.
“We want to get people out of their rooms and into the community and nature,” Walders said. “They can feel the wind in their hair. Getting outside on this bike will improve mood and sociability.”
Walders pushed for the new service for seniors, partly so she could get her mother outside for rides. Her mom is a resident at The Willows in Medina and she was the first passenger for Cycling Without Age in Orleans County.
Scott Christ and many volunteers bring back the Murray Tractor Pull
Scott “Spanky” Christ, the lead organizer for the Murray Tractor Pull, also competed in the event on July 22. He drives “Just For Fun” in the Super Farm Class and is regularly among the points leaders in that class for the Empire State Pullers.
The community missed the Murray Tractor Pull. The event returned July 22 after a four-year absence, first cancelled due to Covid restriction in 2020, and then not coming back in 2021 or ’22.
Scott “Spanky” Christ wanted the event back and put in a major effort getting the course ready, recruiting competitors and bringing in a record-size crowd of 1,600 people to the venue on Groth Road.
The event raised $8,500 for the Ronald McDonald House, a worthy cause that provides hospitality for families with children fighting a serious illness.
Christ is part of a three-generation family that competes in tractor pulling. His father Lloyd drives his Heavy Super Stock tractor, “It’s Only Money,” and Scott son’s Travis also competes in the Super Farm Class with “No Expectations.”
The crowd, which included many first-timers to a tractor pull, seemed to revel in watching high-powered tractors, semi trucks and other vehicles pulling a 40,000-pound sled.
“Everything went over very well,” Christ said after the tractor pull. “Hats off to all of the volunteers.”
Provided photo: The Christ family in Holley and a team of volunteers that put on the Murray Tractor Pull present a ceremonial check for $8,500 to the Ronald McDonald House.
Brett Sobieraski inspired many by running 1,300 miles in 50 days in honor of slain Rochester PD officer
Provided photos: Brett Sobieraski, a Carlton resident, is shown on June 4 entering New York State, the eighth and final state of a 1,300-mile journey on foot.
Brett Sobieraski does mighty feats frequently. In 2015, he swam 32 miles across Lake Ontario for a charity that helps support the surviving spouses and children of fallen soldiers. In 2018, he ran over 175 miles for 50 hours nonstop to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics.
Sobieraski is a retired Rochester police sergeant who lives in Kent. In 2023, Sobieraski announced he would be running a marathon every day for 48 days, traveling on foot from Florida and Rochester, going 26.2 miles a day. He would run the marathons to honor the memory of Rochester police officer Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz. He was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022. Sobieraski also sought to raise $100,000 for Mazurkiewicz’s family.
That goal was expanded to 50 marathons in 50 days, and Sobieraski would raise $110,000 for the family.
The journey began April 23 in Palatka, Florida and ended June 11 in Rochester. Sobieraski added two marathons near the end. He was allowing two rest days but added more when he was feeling strong and the mission had such a following as he passed through communities and reporters picked up the story.
The “8 States for Maz” marathon mission was featured by the Today show in a moving feature about the loss of a fallen police officer and the impact on Mazurkiewicz’s family.
Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz
Sobieraski said he felt like the community too quickly moved on after the death of Mazurkiewicz. Sobieraski said he wanted the officer’s family to feel love and respect from the community, and know Maz’s life of service is deeply appreciated. The response was far more than Sobieraski could have imagined. In the last 5K of the final marathon, 850 people joined him.
Sobieraski spent much of the trip as a lone solitary figure, running along the side of a road, often carrying an American flag. He took a chance in committing to such a demanding goal, including sections that were up mountains.
In the end, he brought together the community, and honored Mazurkiewicz, a Rochester PD veteran who was shot in the upper body on Bauman Street. He worked in RPD’s Tactical Unit 8. He would investigate many of the city’s toughest cases. Sobieraski said Maz was deeply respected in the RPD. Sobieraski picked eight states to run, with the eight in recognition of Maz’s tactical unit number.
“We need to pay attention when cops are murdered,” Sobieraski said. “These are our people, and their families are suffering.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 January 2024 at 5:26 pm
The new year will start off with some dustings of snow with high temperatures in the 30s.
The forecast calls for a mostly sunny Tuesday with a high near 37, followed by a chance for snow showers ad a high near 38 on Wednesday, according to the national Weather Service in Buffalo.
On Thursday, snow showers are likely with a high near 30, followed by a partly sunny Friday with a high near 34. Saturday, it will be mostly cloudy with a high near 33 and a chance of snow at night.
A path leads to the Civil War memorial at Mount Albion, a structure built in 1876 that is 68 feet high.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 January 2024 at 2:59 pm
Cobblestone Museum director says designation opens up grant possibilities and benefits property owners with tax credits
Photos courtesy of Landmark Society of WNY: The cobblestone schoolhouse from 1849, left, and Cobblestone Universalist Church from 1834 are among 29 contributing buildings in the historic district in the Childs Hamlet.
CHILDS – The Childs hamlet has been nominated by Gov. Kathy Hochul to be included on the state and national registers of historic places.
The Cobblestone Museum has been working with the Landmark Society of WNY on an application for the historic designation for 19 contributing primary buildings, 10 contributing secondary structures, one contributing object as well as 12 non-contributing secondary structures and two non-contributing primary buildings. The district is at the Ridge Road and Route 98 intersection and also extends along Ridge Road that reflect the rural and commercial character of the district.
Three of buildings – the cobblestone church, cobblestone schoolhouse and the Ward House – were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1993 by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The historic Childs hamlet expands the number of buildings to be recognized.
“Architectural styles seen in the nominated district reflect its long history with examples of Federal, Greek Revival, Colonial Revival, and one designed in the Craftsman style,” according to the nomination.
A National Register designation opens up grant possibilities and benefits homeowners with tax credits, said Dog Farley, the Cobblestone Museum director.
Once the designation is finalized, Farley said the museum plans to hold a community workshop to look at streetscape improvements in the hamlet.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Landmark Society of Western New York in October 2019 unveiled its annual list of “Five to Revive,” which included the hamlet of Childs in the Town of Gaines, Orleans County. The district is home to several cobblestone buildings, Tillman’s Village Inn and other historic structures. That designation launched the effort to get the Childs hamlet recognized as a historic district.
He thanked the Landmark Society for its assistance in trying to elevate the status of the hamlet. The Landmark Society in October 2019 named the Childs hamlet to its annual list of “Five to Revive,” an annual list of historically significant sites that are need of protection and financial resources.
“The future economic potential of Childs lies in its unique historic character,” The Landmark Society stated in October 2019. “Modern planning and zoning practices that encourage sensitive new construction, along with the addition of pedestrian-oriented infrastructure and design, could help guide the hamlet’s growth and enhance its economic development.”
The Childs district includes a historic schoolhouse, the First Universalist Church, residences, a former village inn and stagecoach stop, a former blacksmith shop, and mid-nineteenth to early-twentieth century agricultural buildings such as barns.
The museum has also relocated several mid-to-late 19th century buildings. Those buildings are non-contributing to the nominated district because they were moved to the complex outside the nominated period of significance, beginning in 1977. The buildings should therefore be reevaluated as a museum unit when their date of relocation collectively achieves 50 years of age from when the last building was moved to the campus, the Landmark Society stated in the nomination packet.
Map from Landmark Society of WNY: The district is at the Ridge Road and Route 98 intersection and also extends along Ridge Road.
The description from the governor’s office about the Childs hamlet includes:
“Childs Historic District, Orleans County – The Childs Historic District represents the critical relationship between rural and commercial that characterized the nineteenth century in New York. The hamlet of Childs developed at the intersection of two new state routes during the 1800s which later developed into major thoroughfares.
“The community’s proximity to the Erie Canal catapulted it onto the global stage in the 1820s, as Orleans County became the national center of wheat production as a result of being able to cheaply and efficiently ship wheat eastward. Suddenly, rural subsistence farmers were plugged into massive markets and quickly became cash crop farmers.
“This resulting economic stability led to an increase in building and infrastructure, and locals were able to construct buildings that reflected their wealth and prosperity. The architectural resources in this historic district collectively represent the hamlet’s commercial development due to its prominent location from 1820 until 1960.
“The district includes Federal, Greek Revival, Colonial Revival, and even one Craftsman-style building. The several Greek Revival structures built using cobblestones present a unique regional building material and method of construction.
“Taken together, these buildings retain their character-defining features and integrity of design, materials, workmanship, and feeling while their proximity to roadways evoke a mid-nineteenth to early twentieth-century community feel. They also highlight efforts to preserve the hamlet’s architectural heritage which dates back to the 1960 founding of the Cobblestone Society.”
The brick house from the 1820s is at the southeast corner of routes 98 and 104. The site will become the Thompson-Kast Visitor Center for the museum.
The Childs hamlet is among 37 nominations for State and National Registers of Historic Places announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul. She said the sites have been recommended by the New York State Board for Historic Preservation.
“These nominations reflect generations of community building, planning, and activities that give us a glimpse into our collective past as New Yorkers,” Hochul said in a statement. “Identifying these resources and adding them to our historic registers expands our ongoing understanding of our shared history and are important reminders of the innovation, passion, and lived experiences of New Yorkers who came before us.”
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Erik Kulleseid will now review the recommendations for approval. That list will then go to the National Park Service for a review. Once approved, they are entered on the National Register.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 December 2023 at 7:26 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
Each year I pick some of my favorite “people pictures” and others that highlight big news events or moments for the community.
In the top photo, “Santa Vern” donned a red suit and scooted down Main Street in Albion during the Strawberry Festival parade on June 10. Santa Vern was in town as a vendor for his business, Kris Kringle Kettle Korn, and sold several types of popcorn including a Christmas flavor with red cinnamon, blue raspberry and caramel.
He and his wife, “Bonnie Claus,” made the trip from Boonville in Oneida County. The parade had a theme of “Here Comes Santa” in honor of a new bronze statue of Santa being dedicated in memory of Charles W. Howard, who ran a Santa school in Albion from 1937 until 1966.
Downtown Albion has a fresh coat of snow in this photo on Jan. 25. It was a struggle for many of the downtown businesses in 2023 with the Main Street lift bridge closed for a big repair project. A lot of traffic was diverted from the downtown, which left it quieter than in years past.
The truss on the west side of the Main Street lift bridge is hoisted on Jan. 27 at about 2:30 p.m. The first one was removed with a crane at about 11:45 a.m. Both trusses were then set on a cradle on the north side of the canal for an extensive rehabilitation with the corroding steel taken off and replaced with new high-pressured beams and other steel. The rebuilt trusses were set back in place on Dec. 4.
The nearly full year without the trusses and beams was the first time since 1914 there wasn’t a bridge over the Erie Canal in Main Street in Albion.
Clark Rigging & Rental used a big crane with a 400-ton capacity to pick up and move the 53,000-pound trusses that are 115 feet long.
Brad Batz directs the junior band during the all-county music festival on Feb. 4 at Medina. Batz is director of jazz studies at Nazareth College in Rochester. He led the all-county band that included 79 students from five school districts. The band performed “Jubilance” by James Swearingen, “Dixieland USA” by Andy Clark, “Balladair” by Frank Erickson, and “Boom Boom Galop” by Randall Standridge.
Hoag Library in Albion in February unveiled a series of six new paintings by Stacey Kirby Steward, including this one of three raccoons working on a concoction while following a recipe in the popular cooking book, Joy of Cooking. It is mounted on the end of shelf with books in the Home and Family section. Kirby Steward, an Albion native who lives in Spencerport, created the paintings of animals engaged in reading. She thought of the books to pair with the animals. Betty Sue Miller, the library director, said the paintings enliven the library, filling spots where you don’t expect to see artwork. They are very pleasant surprises, she said. “It’s just magical,” Miller said. “Each book fits with the animal.”
Gary Daum, a long-time member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lyndonville, walks through the sanctuary of the church after a fire on Feb. 28 badly damaged the building at 36 Lake St. The intense heat and flames left pews covered in soot and soggy insulation. The walls peeled and the former white interior turned gray and black after the fire. The building was leveled in early November.
Natalie Herbert of Medina and other winter guard members twirl the flags during a March 12 competition at Medina, where 19 guard units performed in the high school gym. Medina performed a show called, “Mission: Graduate.” The group advised a crowd of 450 people: “Wherever you meet this place: Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.”
Elizabeth Whipple plays the role Dorothy in the Lyndonville school production of The Wizard of Oz from March 24-26. Lyndonville had 108 students in the cast, crew and orchestra. That includes 38 students in grades 1 through 6 who were Munchkins. The Follman family also let their dog Max be in the show as Toto.
Owen Toale has Medina Mayor Mike Sidari laughing in Toale’s last meeting as a member of the Medina Village Board on March 27. Sidari presented a proclamation to Toale that declared March 31 as “Owen Toale Day” in appreciation for “a lifetime of service to the Village of Medina.” Toale wrapped up 12 years on the Village Board, including seven years as deputy mayor. Toale, the former editor and managing editor of The Journal-Register in Medina, praised the board members, villages employees and department heads, and many dedicated citizens for their commitment to the community, and pushing Medina forward.
A massive fire engulfed a three-story Medina sandstone building on April 7 at 613 Main St., a site that has been used as a carpet store next to the railroad tracks. About 150 firefighters from three counties, including five aerial ladder trucks, were able to keep the fire from spreading. The building from 1901 is owned by Jeff Fuller. The building remains standing but the floors and roof caved in.
Space Monkey does a flying somersault off the top ropes to crash into Kevin Bennett during an Empire State Wrestling match on April 15 in the Medina High School gym. The three-hour event featured many daring moves in the ring and attracted about 450 people in a fundraiser for the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company. Bennett is the ESW champion and he held off Space Monkey to keep the title.
Almeta Whitis of Rochester portrayed Harriet Tubman in a presentation on April 18 at Hoag Library. Whitis has been telling the story of Tubman’s life for 50 years. Tubman led more than 300 slaves to freedom on 22 trips on the Underground Railroad, leading many of those people to Canada. She also was a nurse, spy and was the only woman to lead troops into battle for the Union Army during the Civil War. Whitis said Tubman used songs to let Slaves know she was there and was ready to lead them to freedom up north or to Canada. “She was a force to be reckoned with as most Black women are,” Whitis said.
Dylan Coyle of Albion tosses a frisbee at a basket at Bullard Park in Albion on May 2. The village Department of Public Works put in several of the baskets that day as part of a nine-hole disc golf course. Coyle has been pushing for a disc golf course in Albion for several years. “There are no green’s fees,” he said. “It’s a great activity to get out into nature and have fun with your friends.” A new disc golf course also opened in Medina in October at Gulf Street Park.
Natalie Baron, a high school senior, joined her grandmother Donna Eisermann for songs by the jazz band during a senior citizen day at the school on May 10. About senior citizens were treated to lunch, music and games during the annual senior citizen day, a tradition that goes back to the 1970s. Natalie’s brother Zack played the drums in the jazz band. Natalie and Zack both sing in the chorus and select chorus. “I love seeing my granddaughter and grandson, and interacting with the kids,” Eisermann said.
Roger Hill, a Seneca Nation chief, urged the community to join the Seneca Nation in fighting the STAMP development. He is shown during a public hearing on May 11 at the Alabama fire hall. Many speakers at a NYS Department of Environmental Conservation public hearing were strongly against the DEC approving the plan proposed for mitigating the environmental impacts for the full build-out of the land. About 200 people attended a 2 ½-hour public hearing at the Alabama Fire Hall.
Saul Harrison cooked chicken and ribs on May 13 behind the Cone Zone in Albion at 317 East Ave. It was opening day for Daisy’s Sweet Sauce. Harrison started the business as a tribute to his late mother. He has cooked ribs and chicken for family and friends, and for barbecues at Shiloh Church. He makes his own sauces – barbecue, Liquid Gold and butterscotch. “It’s enjoyment to feed people and get their reaction,” Harrison said.
Father Richard Csizmar, a priest at Holy Family Parish in Albion, stands at the entrance of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on June 4 with Susan Starkweather Miller after the conclusion of a baccalaureate service led by church leaders for the Class of 2023. Csizmar, a beloved priest in Albion for 28 years, announced his retirement from full-time ministry in 2023 after more than a half century as a priest. “I have felt at home here,” Csizmar said. “It has been a great run. I’ve had a lot of wonderful experiences.”
A bronze statue was unveiled in Albion on June 10 honoring Charles W. Howard, who ran a Santa School in Albion from 1937 until 1966. Mary Ida Doan, center, takes a close look at the statue depicting Howard as Santa during a June 10 celebration in Albion. Doan and her late husband, Nate Doan, both graduated from the Santa School led by Howard. She traveled from Michigan to be in Albion for the dedication. Many of Howard’s family members also get up close to see the statue.
The Town of Carlton celebrated its bicentennial on June 17, and the festivities included a parade down Route 98 from Waterport Carlton Road to Park Avenue. The Carlton Clippers team in the Albion Midget League were in the procession behind some large farm machinery.
Amari Jones, one of the park supervisors for the Village of Albion Recreation Department, eludes a kid in a game of chase on June 29. The park was busy during the summer, regularly drawing more than 100 children for games, crafts and other activities. New in 2023 were some snacks and water provided by Foodlink in Rochester.
State Sen. Rob Ortt greets a person along the parade route during the Kendall Carnival on July 14. Several local and state officials and candidates were in the parade, as well as many local organizations.
Dairy Show judge Kelly Reynolds asks Lane Miller, 6, of Lyndonville a question during the Dairy Show on July 25 during the Orleans County 4-H Fair in Knowlesville. Lane made his debut in the show ring as a Clover Bud.
Ken Kuehne of Kent, left, brought 12 exotic snakes and other reptiles to Hoag Library on July 25 as part of a summer reading program. Kuehne and his daughter Amanda, right, let these kids hold an 11-foot-long Columbian red-tailed boa constrictor that weighs about 60 pounds. Kuehne owns Know Your Rep and does events with snakes and reptiles at schools, community organizations and businesses, and at parties. He said snakes are often portrayed as villains in movies. “We have a learned fear of snakes,” he said. “I want to get rid of that myth.”
Dan Rubinstein of Ottawa, Canada, passed through Orleans County on a paddleboard on Aug. 1. He is shown passing through Eagle Harbor headed west towards Medina. Rubinstein, 49, this summer went on an epic journey on the paddleboard, going about 25 miles a day going across the Hudson River, Erie Canal and then the Niagara River. The paddleboard expedition is part of a book he is working about our relationship with water. Not only is water critical to life, but it has the power to help people connect to themselves and nature. “When we’re on water things slow down,” he said.
Treyden Rhim of Medina throws a ball at the dunk tank target on Aug. 1 during National Night Out in Medina. Mayor Mike Sidari took a turn in the dunk tank and was sent plunging into the water several times. At least 500 people attended the event that allowed residents to connect with law enforcement, other first responders, and community organizations.
Highway 31 performed at Rock the Park in Albion on Aug. 5. They rocked to ’90s music, contemporary country and some rock, including favorites like “Footloose,” “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” and “Little Less Talk and Lot More Action.” Rich Nolan of Gasport, right, is the lead singer. Here he watches the guitar trio of from left, Aaron Clark of Holley, Clinton LaPorte of Le Roy, and Clinton’s dad Tim LaPorte Sr. of Batavia. Timmy LaPorte of Elba, Tim’s son and Clinton’s brother, is the drummer for the band. Highway 31 was the seventh of the nine performers during the music festival.
These three Albion freshmen were among the first customers at the Taco Bell, stopping in before the start of the school year on the morning of Sept. 6. They include from left: Ayden Coston, DeAvion Bloom and ChrisJen Winters. “We wanted to get the school year off to a good start,” ChrisJen said. The new 2,600-foot restaurant opened following about four months of construction. Hospitality Syracuse is the developer for the project next to McDonalds and across from Freeze-Dry Foods.
These firefighters work together to lower a giant American flag and fold it after a Sept. 11 memorial observance in Albion. The flag was displayed high on Main Street from the Albion and Medina ladder trucks.
Graham Manufacturing of Batavia’s welding instructor Bill Muoio, left, guides George Issa, an Iroquois Middle School student in Elma, in a welding demonstration on Sept. 26 at the Genesee County Fairgrounds in Batavia as part of the fifth annual GLOW With Your Hands event. There were 1,102 students at the career exploration including about 200 from Orleans County. Altogether, 30 school districts from the GLOW counties sent students for a hands-on career exploration event with businesses and organizations from the trades, manufacturing, agriculture and construction industries.
Graham Kirby, 10, of Albion served as a hoggee on Oct. 7 in a boat captained by Veronica Morgan of Albion. Morgan put together a program, “I was a hoggee on the Erie Canal.” She wanted to spotlight the role of hoggees, who were children who walked with mules that pulled boats on the canal. In this photo Graham Kirby looks to the boat captain to see if he is needed for any task. The hoggees would get the captain food and be sent for other chores on the boat when they weren’t outside walking with mules.
Dennis Moriarty, vice president of collection operations for Modern Disposal, speaks with about 125 residents from Carlton on Oct. 3 about garbage collection on private lanes or roads. Modern said many of those roads are too narrow and don’t have turnarounds for the larger garbage trucks. Residents objected to a two-tiered garbage collection system, with residents paying more on the private roads or having dumpsters placed at the end of roads. The issue remains unresolved. Moriarty thanked the crowd for their interest in the issue. “I thought it was a good conversation,” he told the group. “I love the passion about garbage.”
Kayla Neale, a senior at Holley Junior-Senior High School, holds a bald eagle she made on Oct. 29 that won first place in the state and national VFW 3-D Patriotic Art Contest. Kayla made the eagle from recycled materials – a coat hanger, fabric, buttons for eyes and sun flower seeds for talons. She won $150 in the state contest and then $2,500 in the national competition.
Josefino Paz (right), an ESL teacher at Albion, created an ofrenda in the middle school library as part of a Day of the Dead observance in the school on Nov. 2. Paz made the display in memory of his late siblings, Felipe and Vicente. An ofrenda is an altar created in Mexican homes to welcome the returning souls. An ofrenda typically features candles, wild marigolds, incense, photographs, mementos and loved ones’ favorite foods like fruit, tortillas, tamales, chocolate and bread. The Albion school hosted its first Day of the Dead observance. The Mexican Day of the Dead Celebration is a time of joyful remembrance of deceased loved ones, filled with an array of colors, scents, sounds and stories.
Will Kruger leads a cheer on Nov. 9 during a pep rally at Holley to send the girls soccer team off to the state tournament. Kruger is a member of Holley’s X-Factor, a rabid group of fans. He is leading the students in chanting, “I believe that we will win.” Holley won the Section V title by beating long-time rival, Byron-Bergen. Making it to the state tournament was unprecedented for the Holley girls.
Michael Flanagan plays the role of Leo Bloom in the Lake Plains Players’ production of The Producers from Nov. 10-12 at Roy-Hart High School Auditorium. Bloom transforms from being a shy and mousy accountant into a more confident and charismatic person when he envisions being a Broadway producer.
A massive fire broke out in the morning of Nov. 26 at Frank’s Auto on Route 31 in Albion. About 100 firefighters responded and kept the fire from spreading to a cabbage warehouse next door. The fire decimated Frank’s Auto, which was started in 1980 by Frank Strasburger.
Sara Flansburg, left, celebrated with Jaye Sullivan on Dec. 5 when Flansburg became the new owner of Blissetts Speciality Shop at 447-449 Main St. in Medina. The business started 81 years by Sullivan’s family. She said Blissetts is in good hands with Flansburg. The business sells wedding and formal dresses, and also has a children’s boutique with clothing and gifts for infants and young children. “I feel like this is a staple in the community, not only in Orleans County but beyond,” Flansburg said. “Nothing is changing. We’re here to cater to the customer to help them find the perfect dress.”
Bruce Naas of Oakfield gets his tractor decorated in lights and a wreath for the Barre Tractor Parade on Dec. 9. About 20 tractors and other farm equipment were adorned in Christmas lights for the parade down Route 98.
Albion welcomed floats and fire trucks for “Santa’s Hometown Parade” on Dec. 9, when temperatures were about 60 and many people watched the parade in lawn chairs. This photo shows the Albion Fire Department which was led Brantley Conner in the battery-operated car. He was joined by his brother Lucas Conner and mother Amber. AJ Fisher is at left.
‘In all kinds of weather, he cheerfully performs his duty. Possessed of an even temperament and tranquil disposition, he permits nothing to ruffle his spirits and philosophically meets all conditions.’
Albert Redfield, with his horse and trusty dog, in front of the Dye Hose No. 5 Fire Company building on East Bank and Platt St., Albion.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Vol. 4, No. 1
ALBION – Everybody knew Albert Redfield. He was a fixture in Albion. A mail messenger, he transferred mail to and from the post office to the New York Central station.
At the time of his death in 1917, he is believed to have been the oldest carrier of a mail messenger route in the United States, having held the position since 1875.
Albert W. Redfield held the contract to transfer mail from the train station in Albion to the post office from 1875 to 1917.
According to an Orleans Republican article on January 2, 1913, Albert made eight round trips a day between the post office and the train station, from 6 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., and one trip on Sunday. He handled the incoming and outgoing mail for the village of Albion and surrounding area. At that time, the Railway Mail Service carried and sorted mail and packages.
“In all kinds of weather, he cheerfully performs his duty. Possessed of an even temperament and tranquil disposition, he permits nothing to ruffle his spirits and philosophically meets all conditions.”
The Redfield family had held the mail carrier contract for the route since 1862, when it was awarded to Albert’s brother, Ebenezer G., who held it for eleven years. Their father, William Byron Redfield, was a carrier for two years. Albert left his job as a painter and took up the reins on January 1, 1875.
It was not a lucrative position by any means. The 1913 article noted that regular mail carriers at that time earned around $1,000 but Albert’s contract paid only $365 a year, and he was responsible for the expense of his horse. Not surprisingly, he had not taken a day for vacation in his 42 years of service and had lost little time due to illness.
His occupation is listed as “hackman” in the 1880 and 1892 census records. A “hackney” was an English term for a horse-drawn vehicle kept for hire, hence the term hackman. The 1900 and 1915 census records use the term “mail carrier” as his occupation instead.
Albion did not have a dedicated post office building for many years and used rented facilities instead. From the 1890s, the post office operated from the imposing sandstone building on East Bank Street (105-107), built by George Kinmont. He operated his marble and granite business in the other half of the building.
A man of diminutive stature, Albert weighed about 90 lbs. and was “a trifle over four feet six inches in height.” He had been refused muster when he enlisted for the Union Army in Canandaigua.
He married Nancy Amelia Putnam in 1862. She predeceased him on June 10, 1884. They had one daughter, Eve, born 1878.
Albert died at his home at 25 Clinton St. on Christmas Eve, 1917. He was buried at Mount Albion Cemetery on December 27, 1917.
Well friends, it’s that time again. As we say goodbye to 2023 and welcome in the New Year it’s time to start making resolutions so, get your pen and paper and starting listing off all those things you will vow to either start or stop in 2024. For me, I’ve decided to cut down to only one cup of coffee a day (as long as it’s in my new mug as pictured). Seriously though, has anyone ever kept a New Year’s resolution for an entire week let alone the whole year?
Now I’m not saying that wanting to make some positive changes is an entirely futile exercise, but I think a better approach would be to make goals rather than resolutions. What is the difference you ask? Well, a resolution is defined as “a firm decision to do or not to do something” whereas a goal is “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed.” I believe the former tends to set us up for failure while the latter can help us to follow through on what we want to do.
To illustrate, let’s say that you feel like you have gained more weight than you wanted over the past year and would like to do something about it. You can either (A) make a resolution to stop eating junk food and exercise at least 30 min. a day or (B) you can set a goal for yourself to lose 20 lbs by the end of 2024 and come up with a realistic plan to reach your goal through diet and exercise.
Again you might ask, what is the difference? Well, with option (A) you have set yourself a pretty rigid plan and the first time you sneak a candy bar or skip your run you might reason to yourself that you have already broken your resolution and just throw the whole plan out the door. On the other hand, if you choose option (B), there is a lot of room to try different methods to see what works for you and even if you mess up on Day 1 you still have 364 more days to try again.
So what are your goals for 2024? What are some things that you want to accomplish? What are some good habits you want to start or some bad habits you want to quit? Start by writing down your goal and then brainstorming some things you could try towards that end. If a year seems too far away simply create some mini-goals and add them to your calendar. For example, using the goal of losing 20 lbs. by the end of the year, you could start out with a mini-goal of losing 5 lbs. by April 1st by exercising 5-10 min/day 2-3x/week. Then another mini-goal could be to lose a total of 10 lbs by July 1st by exercising 10-15 min/day 3-5 days/week. You get the picture. Don’t start off rigid and unrealistic by making a resolution but rather, give yourself grace and a real chance to reach your goal.
So what it is going to be for 2024? If you aren’t sure I might suggest a goal of thinking more of others than yourself.I think that is something we all should strive to get better at. If you agree then here are some possible things that you could do throughout the year to help you grow in this area:
• Pick a Thursday to help serve dinner to others at Koinonia Kitchen
• Show up some Saturday to help distribute food and clothes or to pray with families on the Hands 4 Hope Truck
• Stop by Risen Café and Pay It Forward by purchasing a meal voucher for someone who is homeless
• Donate furniture and appliances to GOMAC so that they can deliver them to those in need
• Pay the bill for someone behind you in line at the drive-thru or at a restaurant
• Double whatever you give to your favorite church, charity, or other non-profit organization
• Look for ways to lift people up on social media versus tearing them down
• Ask to join someone who may be eating or drinking their coffee alone
The list could go on but hopefully some of these suggestions could at least get you started.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2023 at 7:52 pm
ALBION – A new travel guide features a dominant photo of a sailboat at sunset at Lake Ontario, a photo taken by Pamela Moore. Other photographers include Alyssa Baker of the Kendall fireworks, Katie Oakes of apple harvest workers, Heather Holiday of people fishing, and Lynne Menz of the new bronze statue of Santa in Albion.
The Orleans County Legislature last week approved a bid by Freeport Press in New Philadelphia, Ohio to print 45,000 copies of the travel guide at a cost of $21,676 with the cost to be paid out of state I Love NY matching funds. The 48-page guide highlights many local attractions and events in the county.
The travel guides will be distributed at travel centers and at trade shows, and also many other locations in the county and region.
The Legislature also approved other agreements for the tourism department. Lynne Menz Designs of Kent will be paid up to $18,000 for tourism coordinator services, and up to $22,000 for design services in 2024. The design services include advertising design, publication design, social media, photography and video production.
The Legislature also agreed to pay Ron Bierstine of Kent as the sportfishing coordinator for $45 an hour, not to exceed $10,000 for the year.
The Legislature last week also approved the travel for Dawn Borchet, the tourism director, to attend the following upcoming trade and travel shows: Fly Fishing Show – Edison, NJ; Sportsmen’s Show & Outdoor Recreation RV’s & Boat, Monroeville, PA; West Virginia Fishing, Hunting & Outdoor Sports Show, Morgantown, WV. The costs will be paid by Lake Ontario Sportfishing Promotional Council.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2023 at 10:04 am
Weekly overtime drops from 60 to 56 hours, as part of phase-in reduction to 40 hours
Photo by Tom Rivers: Workers harvest cabbage on Route 98 in Gaines in August 2017.
The threshold for overtime will decrease for agricultural workers starting Jan. 1. The current limit is 60 hours a week at straight pay before workers can earn overtime. That will drop to 56 hours in the new year.
It is part of a phase-in reduction where the overtime threshold will be lowered by four hours every other year to 40 hours a week in 2032.
“Our agricultural industry is the backbone of New York, feeding people across the country, and farm workers are an essential piece in that process,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “Introducing a phased transition allows farmers the necessary time for adjustments while protecting the farm workers who are a huge part of putting food on New Yorkers tables. These regulations reinforce New York State’s ongoing dedication to its workers.”
The change has been fought by many in the agricultural community, who said it would increase farms’ operating costs in a state where New York already is at a competitive disadvantage with other states and countries. Farmers during previous hearings said the change may lead to smaller paychecks for workers because the ag businesses may need to rein in costs by avoiding overtime. (The state is offering some tax credits to farms to help offset the increase in wages.)
“Commissioner Reardon’s decision to lower the farm labor overtime threshold will make it even tougher to farm in this state and will be a financial blow to the workers we all support,” New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher said when the lower threshold was finalized. “Moving forward, farms will be forced to make difficult decisions on what they grow, the available hours they can provide to their employees, and their ability to compete in the marketplace.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2023 at 9:35 am
Provided photo
MEDINA – The Medina Rotary Club recently presented its $2,500 scholarship, which is based on academic achievement and community service.
Rotary Club President Peter Bartula presents the check to scholarship winner Abbie Goodrich, who just finished her first semester at Niagara Community College and is working towards her degree in Animal Management. This is an annual scholarship that goes to a student from Medina.
The Medina Rotary Club also is gearing up for a Cornhole Tournament with $5,000 in prizes at Dubby’s Tailgate on Jan. 6. There will be 80 teams of two players in three brackets with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes in each bracket.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2023 at 8:49 am
ALBION – Bloom’s Flower Shop, one of the Albion’s longest-lasting businesses, has relocated from 139 South Main St. to 115 East Bank St.
Kristen Ostrander, owner and designer of Bloom’s, left a site with 2,000 square feet to move downtown in a building with 10,000 square feet. She welcomes the chance to grow the business and be a bigger part of downtown activities that promote the community.
“Being down here I’m closer to the other businesses and I can participate in the events and host some of the events,” Ostrander said at the business on Friday.
Bloom’s moved on Dec. 24-25 and opened at the East Bank location on Tuesday. Ostrander and her family have put in a new floor, a cooler, painted and taken out a wall.
She already has received much more foot traffic with the store being in the downtown.
“There is better parking and it’s easier to get in and out,” she said. “There aren’t any stairs.”
Bloom’s earlier this year added tuxedos and now has a changing room for people to try on those clothes.
Ostrander purchased Bloom’s on May 10, 2021 from previous owner Debbie London. The business goes back nearly 90 years in Albion, opening on Sept. 15, 1935. Ostrander said it has been in four different locations over the years, including at 16 East Bank. She has a receipt from 1943 showing that Bloom’s location.
Ostrander said the move to more space gives Bloom’s a brighter future.
“Bloom’s Flower Shop is my passion and love,” she said. “Bloom’s has been such a long-term staple. It belongs in Albion.”
The business will have an open house from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 12.
Kristen Ostrander works on a flower arrangement at Bloom’s. The site previously was used by Frontier Heating & AC Service which is now on Route 31A in Barre.
The New York State Thruway Authority is reminding motorists that a toll increase takes effect on the New York State Thruway system on Jan. 1, 2024.
The New York State Thruway Authority Board of Directors approved the new toll rates in September 2023 after a 10-month public process.
Beginning January 1, the base NY E-ZPass rate will increase by 5 percent outside of the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, representing the first toll adjustment for these customers since 2010. A second 5 percent increase will take effect in January 2027.
Standard toll rates for non-NY E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail will increase to 8.6 cents per mile for both groups by 2027. These rates will remain below the current standard rates of many other systems across the nation.
NY E-ZPass customers are the most frequent users of the Thruway and receive the steepest discounts and highest level of convenience for payment. Non-NY E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail customers pay a differential and are more infrequent users of the system.
The differential covers additional processing costs and incentivizes customers to get a NY E-ZPass tag for the most convenient way to pay their tolls. Beginning Jan. 1, non-NY E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail customers will pay 75 percent more than NY E-ZPass customers. NY E-ZPass continues to be the most affordable payment option available to all of our motorists who sign up for a tag (thruway.ny.gov/getezpass).
Motorists can view the adjusted toll rates on the 2024 Toll Adjustment Calculator on the Thruway Authority’s website.
