Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Village of Albion has a new basketball hoop on a concrete quarter court at St. Joseph’s Park on North Clinton Street.

The smaller court was paid with state funds administered by the Orleans County Youth Bureau.

Another one of the smaller basketball courts will be installed at Veterans Park at the corner of Linwood Avenue and Brown Street, said John Grillo, the Albion recreation director.

The village has money for a third court that will either go at Carosol Park at Caroline Street and Ingersoll Street or at Lafayette Park with entrances on both West Park and West State streets.

“They will be shooter courts to give kids in the area something more to do especially if they’re younger and can not make it to Bullard,” said Mayor Tim McMurray. “We just want to provide the kids another avenue for entertainment, getting outdoors and off the phones.”

At St. Joseph’s Park, a deteriorating pavilion was removed to make room for the new basketball area.

Grillo said he is pleased to see the new court at St. Joseph’s, and looks forward to the next two courts.

“I think it’s wonderful,” he said. “We want to give people an opportunity with the parks on all areas of the village. That’s our goal.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

BARRE – A caravan of vehicles helped move a 222,500-pound load from Graham Manufacturing in Batavia this morning to the Erie Canal in Albion.

The top photo shows utility workers raising wires high to give the load its needed clearance.

The slow-moving caravan of vehicles slowed down traffic as it made its way north on Route 98.

It then turned left and went west on Route 31A, before turning right and going north on Gaines Basin Road, until making a final right hand turn on Albion-Eagle Harbor Road.

The load is a 195,500-pound condenser made by Graham. The cradle for the condenser weighed an additional 27,000 pounds, for a 222,500-pound total.

A group of bucket trucks are ready to raise wires for the load as its moves north on Gaines basin Road near the intersection with Countyhouse Road.

This is at least the fourth condenser made by Graham that was taken to the Erie Canal for transport. Previous condensers headed east to its final destination at the Navy.

Previous trips went to Albany, then down the Hudson River to New York Harbor. From there the condensers went on an ocean-going-barge for the trip to the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.

Massive cranes are in place to move the condenser to a barge. The barge wasn’t there to take the condenser by early this afternoon.

The load is close to the Erie Canal, just west of the boat launch on Albion-Eagle Harbor Road.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The historic Pratt Theater on the third floor of the Pratt building in downtown Albion hosting a concert with several bands on Sunday afternoon. This photo shows Karen Conn and her daughter Shannon Vanderlaan singing “Rhiannon.” They are part of the Pratt Pit Band that performed 10 songs on Sunday.

Conn is an Albion music teacher while Vanderlaan teaches music in the Rochester City School District.

The concert also included performances by Black Sheep, Eclipse, Frequency Theory and the Greater Royal Praise and Worship Team.

Don Mancuso, a legendary guitar player in the Rochester music scene, performed with the Pratt Pit Band and later with Black Sheep, which was without its star singer, Lou Gramm, because he is on tour.

Black Sheep with Gramm previously performed at the Pratt Theater in June 2024. On Sunday, Garrett Crumb, a lead singer with “Johnny Smoke,” filled in as lead singer for Black Sheep.

That band includes Michael Bonafede of Albion as drummer. Black Sheep last year was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.

Michael Bonafede and his wife Judith Koehler worked about 20 years to restore the Pratt Theater to again host concerts and community events.

They recently sold their three downtown buildings, including the Pratt, to Taylor McCabe and Sara Barbur.

Bonafede will continue to promote concerts and events at the theater. The Pratt building was originally built in 1882.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Ian Mackay heads west in a mouth-controlled power wheelchair on Sunday at about 4:30 p.m. He is near the Main Street lift bridge in Albion, with the Lockstone building behind him.

He is joined on a bicycle by Dr. Josh Blausten, Mackay’s college chemistry professor from Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, California. One of Mackay’s friends since college, Jimmy Quenelle, also has been on the 10-day journey from Albany to Buffalo.

Mackay is executive director of Ian’s Ride. He also works as an accessibility consultant to Apple. He is traveling about 350 miles along the Erie Canal towpath.

The group heads west along the canal towpath. Mackay can go 8 miles per hour in the motorized chair. His lithium batteries can go about 80 to 90 miles before needing to be charged.

Mackay was paralyzed from the neck down after a bike accident in 2008 when he collided with a tree and suffered a spinal cord injury. He has become a strong advocate for accessibility in the outdoors, and has done several long distance trail rides including in Washington State; from Washington DC to Columbus, Ohio; and the annual Sea to Sound ride for 74 miles over three days. That ride before Labor Day weekend had 150 participants including 50 people in wheelchairs.

Mackay also holds Guinness World Record for traveling the farthest in a motorized, mouth-controlled wheelchair in one day. From June 21-22 in 2022, he went 184.4 miles in 24 hours. He took 14 laps over a 13-mile paved loop at Sauvie Island near Portland, Oregon.

The record-breaking feat is featured in an upcoming documentary, “Good Moment.” It has its world premiere on Oct. 11 at the SOHO International Film Festival in New York City.

Albion Mayor Tim McMurray greets Ian Mackay when he was in Albion on Sunday. Mackay said every part of the towpath has been accessible to him so far from Albany to Albion.

Mackay said he has enjoyed the journey along the canal towpath and seeing so many small towns and so much wildlife. He said the crusher-run towpath is prefereable to asphalt paths.

“It’s been incredibly beautiful,” Mackay said. “You’re seeing great blue herons. We even saw a muskrat run by.”

He has seen locks and lift bridges in action, and learned about the canal history’s. The Erie Canal celebrated its bicentennial last year.

“It’s neat seeing the whole experience of the Erie Canal,” Mackay said.

Mackay is from Washington state. During his ride on Sunday afternoon he checked score update for his favorite team the Seattle Seahawks, which lost a close one, 33-31, to the Washington Commanders. He also kept a close eye on the Buffalo Bills score. The Bills came back to win, 24-16, versus the Los Angeles Chargers.

Photos courtesy of Teena Woodward, Ian Mackay’s mother: The trio made it to Bates Road in Medina last evening. They plan to start later this morning around 10:30 for the final segment of Ian’s Ride along the canal to Buffalo.

Ian Mackay has long hair and his friends held it up to form a Y while in Clyde.

Justin Suarez of Aerosol Kingdom finishes third project in Albion

Photo courtesy of Justin Suarez

ALBION – Justin Suarez of Aerosol Kingdom finished his third large-scale mural in Albion today. The northside side of the Lockstone at 160 North Main St. now features a pollinators’ garden showing flowers, a bee, butterfly and a hummingbird.

Suarez used a state grant from the Cultivating Havens for the Arts through Regional Murals (CHARM) for the project.

Natasha Wasuck, co-owner of The Lockstone, said Suarez picked Albion for the project through the CHARM grant because he felt welcomed by the community with his previous projects here.

Suarez previously did a mural on the southside of the Lockstone in 2022, facing the Erie Canal. That one showed flowers.

In 2020, he painted a mural of the Santa School on the north side of 170 North Main St., the building for The Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Justin Suarez of Rochester uses spray paint to create the large paintings. It took him about a week to paint the latest mural in Albion. The Lockstone is an event center that hosts many weddings.

Photos courtesy of Cindy Busch: The Medina Mustang Band performs against a backdrop of important leaders in the United States’ history at the Fall Festival of Bands on Saturday night at Veterans’ Memorial Park. The show titled “We the People” celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary and features the music of Aaron Copeland.

MEDINA – The Fall Festival of Bands brought out a crowd to Veterans’ Memorial Park Saturday night to see their hometown band and half a dozen other area bands perform under a perfect sky.

Competing bands were Medina in SS2 class, with a first-place score of 74.60, followed by Le Roy with 72.10; in SS3, Marcus Whitman was first with 70.30, Pioneer, second with 66.30 and Falconer-Freesburg, third, with 64.60; and in LS2, Greece, first, with 78.85 and West Seneca, second, with 74.30.

Medina’s show, “We the People” pays tribute to the country’s 250th anniversary, and is performed by 92 students in grades 7 through 12.

The program also paid tribute to the late John Ryan, who was a color guard instructor for Medina and was involved with several other marching organizations. He passed away at age 85 on Aug. 17. His career with the Mustang Marching Band started in 1975 and spanned 30 years, serving with Mustang Band directors Joe McKain and Jim Steele. As director of the Mustang Winter Guard, it grew to become one of the highest ranked in the United States.

The horns are featured here as they perform in front of a portrait of Abraham Lincoln.

Two people in Saturday’s crowd were twins Darlene Rich and Sharlene Pratt, both of Medina and both former band members. They attend the Festival of Bands every year, they said.

“Once a Mustang Band member, always a Mustang Band member,” Pratt said.

The sisters said not only they, but their older sister Fonda was in the band under Joe McKain.

“Regardless of the weather, we always come to watch the band,” Rich said. “We have sat here under umbrellas in the pouring rain. This is our ‘ladies night out.’”

The sisters said they get goosebumps when they see Medina’s show this year.

“It brings tears to your eyes,” Rich said.

The evening  also featured a 50/50 drawing.

The Mustang Band currently sits in third place in Smal School II in the New York State Field Band Conference, behind Oswego and Mohanasen, with Medina one point out of first place. They compete against Oswego next Saturday in their division. Oswego High School is located at 2 Buccaneer Blvd. The show starts at 6:30.

The Mustang Marching Band is lined on the end of the field at Vets Park.

Photo by Karen Jones: Seniors in the band pose for a photo on Saturday.

Ian Mackay, on trek from Albany to Buffalo, wants to highlight accessibility in nature

Provided photo: Ian Mackay is using a mouth-controlled power wheelchair to travel the Erie Canal towpath. He is scheduled to pass through Orleans County today and tomorrow.

ALBION – A man who is paralyzed from the waist down is headed to Orleans County today on the Erie Canal towpath, as part of 10-day journey to highlight accessibility in nature for people who are disabled.

Ian Mackay is one day nine of the 10-day initiative. As of about noon today, he was at South Greece and headed west. His team estimates he will be in Holley around 2:30 p.m. today, and then will reach Albion around 4 p.m.

He plans to have pizza at Avanti’s in Albion after today’s ride.

Mackay is paralyzed from the neck down after a bike accident when he hit a tree in 2008. He continues to lead an active life and loves to explore the outdoors.

His schedule showed him stopping at Albion today and then starting the final day of the trip in Albion on Monday morning and then go 46 miles to near Buffalo. But he may go past Albion today due to the long journey on Monday. He usually starts the day’s ride around 10 or 11 a.m.

Mackay is using the ride from Albany to Buffalo to highlight what’s possible for wheelchair users when accessible infrastructure makes outdoor recreation more inclusive.

Mackay is founder and executive director of Ian’s Ride, which is based in Washington state.

“This is an opportunity to show what’s possible when people have access to the outdoors,” Mackay said before the trip started. “The Erie Canalway Trail is an incredible piece of American history, and I’m excited to experience it with my friends, meet people along the way and continue pushing for trails that everyone can enjoy.”

Peter Bartula sent in this photo of a spectacular sunset this evening over Lake Alice in Carlton.

Katie Bourke took this photo of the sunset in Albion, looking west down Route 31 near the Route 98 intersection.

The high temperatures for the next few days include 66 on Sunday with a chance of showers, cloudy on Monday with a high near 65, partly sunny on Tuesday with a high of 70 and then partly sunny on Wednesday with a high near 74.

The village zoning map shows the area in green between Washington and West State streets that is currently zoned for Mobile Home Park. It would need to be changed to R-C (Residential/Offices/Limited Business) to allow for a housing project across from the boiler house of the Albion Correctional Facility.

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board is recommending the Village of Albion approve a zoning change to allow for the housing project at west end of Washington Street and West State Street.

The zoning for the land in the late 1990s was changed to a “Mobile Home Park” classification to allow for manufactured homes, but that project by the late Richard DeCarlo Sr. didn’t happen. The site at the west end of West State Street and Washington streets has remained vacant since. The land is across from the boiler house of the Albion Correctional Facility.

The vacant land formerly was used a horse racing track and the fairgrounds in Albion. CDS Monarch is eyeing the site for a 70-unit housing project in Albion. It wants the zoning to be changed to R-C Residential/Offices/Limited Businesses, which allows a mix of residential, offices and limited business uses in transitional areas between residential and commercial areas.

Richard DeCarlo Jr., president of Albion Mobile Home Inc., is requesting the village to rezone this property at 470 Washington St.

CDS Monarch sees demand for housing in Albion and Orleans County. The company wants to develop 13.5 acres into housing with one building having 30 units, and then five other 8-plex apartment buildings, Planning Board member Chris Kinter said during the board’s meeting on Thursday. Kinter is the village’s code enforcement officer.

The site is on flat land and is shovel ready for development, Kinter said. There is also room on the site to do more development in the future if there is a demand, he said.

If the zoning change is approved by the village, CDS Monarch will then present a site plan for the project, where the public and village officials can share their viewpoints.

ARG Disposal & Transfer has its business from 366 Washington St. and has voiced concerns that the housing project may not be the best fit for that area which also includes the village’s DPW facility and the Albion Correctional Facility. Their attorney has suggested the zoning instead be changed to light industrial.

Tim Elliott, a member of the County Planning Board from Ridgeway, during Thursday’s meeting also said he could foresee there will be conflict putting housing in an area with so many other uses.

Another Planning Board member, Dan Strong of Carlton, says the developer would upgrade the property, and bring needed housing and tax revenue for the community.

“The developer is taking the chance he can fill it,” Strong said.

File photo by Tom Rivers: Lucas Bodinez of Pittsburgh stands in the fast-moving current of the Oak Orchard River on Oct. 20, 2023, trying to catch a Chinook salmon or a steelhead (rainbow trout). Many out-of-state anglers come to Orleans County in the fall for tributary fishing.

Press Release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Today is the one of six designated free fishing days in New York State, where the fishing license requirement is waived.

“Fishing in New York is better than ever,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “Whether it’s chasing salmon on a Great Lakes tributary, pursuing bass on a scenic lake, or casting a line in a local stream, there’s something here for everyone. I encourage anglers to take advantage of New York’s Free Fishing Days and introduce someone new to the sport.”

This Free Fishing Day coincides with National Hunting and Fishing Day, which was designated by Congress in 1972 to encourage people to experience, understand, and appreciate traditional outdoor sports and recreation and our abundant natural resources, and to recognize hunters and anglers for their leadership in fish and wildlife conservation.

The final Free Fishing Day for 2026 will take place on November 11 (Veterans Day). On Free Fishing Days, New York residents and non-residents may fish for free without a fishing license. Free Fishing Day participants are reminded that, although the requirement for a fishing license is waived during Free Fishing Days, all other fishing regulations remain in effect. When not participating in Free Fishing Days, anyone 16 years of age and older must have a current New York State fishing license to fish. Fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase.

Press Release, Orleans County government

RIDGEWAY – The Orleans County Legislature, in conjunction with the county Youth Bureau, will be hosting its 12th annual “Family Game Night” on Thursday, October 8th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Ridgeway Fire Hall located at 11392 Ridge Rd. in Ridgeway.  The event is free but residents are asked to register in advance.

The event will feature free pizza, board games, prize drawings and other activities and promotions. There also will be several display booths with county departments who will be providing information on various programs and services available to Orleans County families.  Each family will also be given a board game to take home to start their own game night.

“It’s hard to believe this is our 12th Family Game Night and I am so happy families continue to join us year after year as we promote turning off the electronics and engaging in a traditional board game,” said Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson.  “We also use the event as an opportunity for our departments to engage with residents on the programs, opportunities and services available through county government.”

For more information or to register for the event call the Youth Bureau at 585-589-2745 or send an email to OrleansCountyYouthBureau@orleanscountyny.gov with your name, phone number, address and number of people attending.

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina Marching Band is shown performing on Sept. 11 during halftime of the OC Rivals football game at Vets Park. The band is debuting new uniforms this season and also is performing a show, “We The People” celebrating the nation’s  250th anniversary with the music of Aaron Copeland.

MEDINA – Saturday will be a special day for the Medina Mustang Marching Band.

It will be their first performance for their hometown fans, under the direction of new band leaders Kyla Leno-Denise, Andrea Busch and Michael Denise.

Other leaders assisting the band are Tim Sexton, drill design;, Joe Organisciak, music arranger and writer; Michael Denise, battery arranger and writer; Tiffany Organisciak, front ensemble instructor; Zach Busch, wind instructor; Adam Mark, battery instructor; and Diana Baker, McKenna Callard, Katie Crooks and Kaela Grosslinger, guard instructors and designers.

Medina’s fall show is titled “We the People,” and features the music of Aaron Copeland. Their performance earned them a second-place finish at their first competition of the fall season Sept. 12 in Jordan-Elbridge.

The Mustang Band boosters have sponsored a Fall Festival of Bands for many years at Veterans’ Memorial Park. Saturday’s event begins at 6 p.m.

The schedule includes:

• Falconer-Frewsburg at 6:00 p.m.
• Pioneer Yorkshire at 6:13 p.m.
• Marcus Whitman at 6:26 p.m.
• Le Roy at 6:39 p.m.
• Medina at 6:52 p.m.
• West Seneca at 7:05 p.m.
• Greece at 7:18 p.m.
• Retreat/Awards at 7:45 p.m.

The Mustang Boosters will again have a concession stand offering not dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chill, pizza, candy and beverages.

Photos and information courtesy of Albion Elks Lodge #1006

BATAVIA – Members of the Albion Lodge #1006 of the Benevolent and Protective order of Elks on Tuesday treated the long-term resident veterans of the VA Medical Center in Batavia to an outdoor chicken barbecue with corn bread, salt potatoes, baked beans, fruit, coleslaw and dessert.

The veterans were invited to ask their family members or a favorite staff member to join them.

The Elks Lodge also donated to each veteran a cold weather waterproof hooded wheelchair cape (pictured), as well as travel mugs with straws and tote bags.

Highly favorable feedback was received from staff and veterans regarding this event and a great time was had by all.

This picnic has become an annual event for the Albion Elks Lodge #1006, with gifts and picnic funded by the ELKS National Foundation Spotlight Grant.