Photos by Tom Rivers: These Santas and some elves are shown in April 2015 in Albion as part of a group photo with about 200 Santas who were in town for a Santa convention. A group of Santas will be back in Albion in August 2027 celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School.

Group will be in town to celebrate 90^th anniversary of Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School

The logo for the upcoming Santa gathering from Aug. 6-8, 2027 in Albion and Lockport. The event will be based in Lockport at the palace theater with the group visiting Albion, where Charles Howard ran a Santa School from 1937 to 1966.

ALBION – The Santas will be coming back to Albion in Auust 2027 for a 90^th anniversary celebration of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School.

There were about 200 Santas in Albion for convention in 2015 and a smaller group in 2010.

The gathering next summer could have 400 Santas and other Christmas entertainers, said Phillip L. Wenz, a recently retired professional Santa who organized the 2010 and 2015 events in Albion. Wenz worked at Santa’s Village in east Dundee, Ill, near Chicago and serves as a Santa historian.

“We are planning upwards of 400 Christmas performers for all over North America,” Wenz stated. “We would like to have as many local people participate in the events as well.”

Charles Howard started the first school for Santas in Albion in 1937 and kept it going for nearly 30 years. He passed away on May 1, 1966. The school continues in his name, now run by Tom and Holly Valent in Midland, Mich.

The Santa School celebration will host activities in Albion and at the 1,100-seat Palace Theatre in Lockport.

Christopher Parada is executive director of The Palace Theatre. He also built a Christmas cottage in Lockport and he has portrayed Santa there since 2010, welcoming about 10,000 children every Christmas season. Parada, a Medina native, also owns the New York Santa Claus Suits & Equipment Co., replicating Howard’s style for suits.

Parada is pleased to be hosting the event next year that is expected to bring many Santas to the community. Lockport has the hotels and accommodations for the visitors, as well as the spacious theater to host presentations.

“Bringing this historic event to the Albion and Lockport, New York areas is a truly meaningful opportunity to celebrate and honor 90 years of the Santa Claus School and the enduring legacy of Charles W. Howard,” Parada said.

The Santas will see a bronze statue in honor of Charles Howard that was unveiled on June 10, 2023 during the Strawberry Festival and also a 24-foot-long mural depicting Santa flying in his sleigh over Courthouse Square and downtown Albion. That mural was created by Albion native Stacey Kirby Steward was unveiled in June 2018. The Albion Betterment Committee also is working to open a Santa School Museum on Main Street in Albion.

Many of principles taught by Howard continue to shape the look and actions of Santas. Howard remains a revered figure among the Santas, 60 years after his death.

“As the founder of the original Santa Claus School, Howard established a standard of authenticity, professionalism, and heartfelt spirit that continues to define the portrayal of Santa Claus today,” Parada said. “As a lifelong resident, I take great pride in seeing our local communities serve as the backdrop for such an important milestone—one that highlights both our regional heritage and a nationally recognized tradition rooted right here in Western New York.”

Parada has led the theater in Lockport through multi-million-dollar upgrades. That theater opened in 1925.

“The Historic Palace Theatre provides an ideal home base for this celebration, offering a unique and immersive setting for presentations, programming and shared experiences,” Parada said. “Its theatrical atmosphere will help foster a sense of community, connection, and camaraderie among attendees.”

The August 2027 event is still in the planning stages. Wenz said discussions have been made with the Howard family, friends and other special guests to take part in the programs and activities. As in the past events, there will be no event fees. For more information e-mail Wenz at santaclausproductions@msn.com.

One trustee pushed for 1% increase, but mayor said that would have taken too much from fund balance

Photos by Tom Rivers: (Left) Albion Mayor Tim McMurray speaks during Wednesday’s Village Board meeting when he said the village budget is beyond bare bones with any additional cuts into “bone marrow.” (Right) Trustee Kevin Sheehan wanted the board to take $50,000 more from the fund balance to lower the tax increase to 1.0 percent.

ALBION – The Albion Village Board adopted the 2026-27 village budget on Wednesday that will increase taxes by 2.5 percent.

One trustee, Kevin Sheehan, sought to use $50,000 from the village fund balance which would have reduced the tax increase to 1.0 percent. But Mayor Tim McMurray said that would have left the village with too little of a cushion for any unanticipated expenses in the new fiscal year that starts June 1.

The mayor said Albion has old waterlines, infrastructure and equipment, which could result in a big bill if something breaks and needs to be replaced.

The 2.5 percent increase follows a budget from a year ago that raised taxes by 11 percent, and that was when the fire department was moved out of the village budget into its own taxing entity with a fire district.

The new budget totals $9,371,115 with the General Fund at $4,890,354, the Water Fund at $2,927,243 and Sewer at $1,554,518.

The water and sewer funds are self-supporting through water and sewer bills. Property taxes go towards the General Fund, which increased by 2.7 percent or $126,399 – from $4,763,955 to $4,890,354.

The village’s tax levy will go up by $85,221.61 or 2.5 percent from $3,463,463.38 to $3,548,685. The tax rate will increase 2.4 percent or 38 cents from $15.99 to $16.37 per $1,000 of assessed property.

The owner of an house assessed for $140,300 would see an increase in village taxes by $53.28 from $2,244.09 to $2,297.37, village officials said.

Chart data from Albion Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Van Skiver. Note: The fire department is out of the village budget but the village still owns the fire hall and is responsible for its maintenance.

The budget is only taking $5,900 from the fund balance. In many past budgets in recent years, the budget was able to tap into $200,000 or more of fund balance which lowered the tax rate. (The village in the current 2025-26 budget used $64,000 in its fund balance compared to $261,150 in 2024-25.)

The village currently only has $242,000 in fund balance. McMurray said the state comptroller would like to see Albion with about 20 percent of the general fund as a fund balance, or nearly $1 million to help weather emergency expenses. Albion also has $250,000 in reserve funds to help with future equipment needs.

Sheehan sought to take $50,000 more out of the fund balance which would have put that fund below $200,000.

“That will bring the rate down,” he said. “I’m all about lowering taxes.”

But McMurray said reducing the fund balance only sets Albion up for big tax hikes in the future. He said previous village boards dwindled the fund balance down far too low, leaving the more recent board in a difficult position with the budget.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting new results,” he said.

Sheehan was on some of those boards when the fund balance was bigger and used to help hold taxes at minimal increases.

“I take offense when you say ‘previous boards,’” Sheehan responded to McMurray. “I was on three boards. There’s ways to get through it.”

Sheehan said state grant programs can help the village with some of the equipment needs.

Sheehan opposed the budget as presented on Wednesday, while McMurray, and trustees William Gabalski and Jami Allport voted yes.

The village’s tax base barely grew in the past year after seeing a huge jump a year ago after reassessments. The village’s taxable valuation went up 41.6 percent or by $63,666,806 – from $152,867,932 to $216,534,738 in 2025.

However, this time the tax base grew by less than 0.1 percent or $182,846 from $216,534,738 to $216,717,584.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – George Graham of Oakfield holds a stone sculpture he made called the “English Rose” that is featured at the Marti’s on Main art gallery. Graham’s piece is made from Indiana limestone. Behind him on mantel are two more of his sculptures: “Floppy Disk” made of alabaster and “Mobius II” made from Pink Wonderstone.

Graham and Richard Bannister will be featured sculptors at Marti’s which kicked off a new season of art shows on Friday. The gallery at 20 South Main St. also is having an open house today from noon to 4 p.m.

Kim Martillotta Muscarella, the gallery’s owner, has an expanded lineup of shows this year, up from six last year to eight in 2026. This is Marti’s 16th season of doing art shows in Albion.

These paintings were created by Dr. Athena Nichols, an Albion High School art teachers. Marti’s is displaying artwork by Nichols and five of her students – Hanna Kumulac, Aubrey Gannon, Nerik Santiago Franco, Lindsay Crawford and Mickhale Meyer-Lane.

The schedule and the opening celebations on the third Friday each month include:

• April 17 – Albion High School Seniors Show and Tony Barry
• May 15 – Becky Winans, Cindy Meal and Mark Weld
• June 19 – Arthur Barnes, Marco Rodrigues, David Burke and Rosie Patronski
• July 17 – Kim Martillotta, Richard Della Costa, Nancy Radzik and Rebecca-Berry Kent
• Aug. 21 – Jan Kisiel, Jenna Papponetti, Paul Facklam and Sharon Stewart
• Sept. 18 – Jennifer Hecker, Jeff Watkins, Jill Gussow and Rosanne Mascari
• Oct. 16 – Sam Roskowski and Susan Cameron-Duffy
• Nov. 20 – Shirley Nigro, Elizabeth Cooper, Paul Martin and Geoff Harding

For more information on the gallery, call Martillotta at 585-590-9211.

Artwork by Hanna Kumulac

Photography by Mickhale Meyer-Lane

Artwork by Aubrey Gannon

Kermit and giraffe artwork by Lindsay Crawford and artwork at right by Aubrey Gannon

‘Madam George’ expected to be entered in film festivals

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Maja Korsika, a filmmaker and student at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, is shown in the Pratt theater in downtown Albion on Saturday. Korsika is the writer and director of a short film, Madam George, which she described as an absurdist comedy.

Korsika and a team of about 20-25 people will be spending four days in Albion working on the 12-minute film.

Korsika was looking up photos of the Pratt Center in New York City when she came across photo of the Pratt theater in Albion on the internet. Those photos by Walter Jakubowski showed the opera house in Albion as an authentic theater from about a century ago.

Crew members getting ready to shoot a scene inside the Pratt Theater on Saturday. The crew arrived in Albion about 2 a.m. Saturday and will be busy making the film this weekend.

The Pratt Opera House was built in 1882 by a local farmer, John Pratt. The Pratt was largely unused after 1930, until Michael Bonafede and his wife Judith Koehler worked to save the site over the past 20 years at 114-120 North Main St.

When Korsika saw the photos online of the Pratt Theater, she went to the Pratt website and contacted Bonafede to ask if she could see the theater. She and two others from her team drove from New York City in early March and toured the opera house.

She was convinced the Pratt would be an ideal backdrop for her film.

“I like the rawness of the this theater,” she said. “There is so much imperfection that makes it so cinematic.”

The brick walls and wooden floors are better than a sterile “black box” studio for making the film, she said.

The Pratt stage needed to be cleared out to accommodate the filmmakers. Bonafede had drums and percussion equipment on the stage from concerts in 2024, as well as historic wall hangings and amplifiers. He was able to mobilize a group to move all of those items last week.

He is hopeful the film will allow more people to see the Pratt theater and Albion, which has many historic resources besides an authentic opera house. Albion is home to five districts on the National Register of Historic Places – Courthouse Square, downtown Albion, Mount Albion Cemetery, the Cobblestone Museum and Erie Canal.

“This will shine a good light on the community,” Bonafede said about the film.

Korsika said she and her team will do the coloring and sound design after the filming in Albion. She plans to enter “Madam George” in film festivals with a premiere in late summer or early fall.

Korsika is thankful for the accommodations and hospitality of the Bonafede family and the Albion community.

Photos courtesy of Taylor McCabe

In one scene on Saturday, West Bank Street needed to be closed briefly to traffic. The Albion Police Department was able to block off the street for about 20 minutes beginning around 10:30 a.m.

The group is shown with dancers in the GAR room, which used as a gathering place of Civil war veterans from 1884 to 1930. The GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) room is on the third floor of the Day and Day building next to the Pratt.

The film crew is expected to shoot scenes today at the Pratt and on Beaver Alley.

Photo by Tim McMurray

ALBION – It was a big haul of trash today with 342.5 pounds picked up along the railroad tracks in Albion. That is a new record high since the Albion Rotary Club and Rotary Interact started the annual cleanup in 2021. This year students from the Albion National Junior Honor Society joined the effort and helped set the new record, eclipsing the 307 pounds from last year.

Photos by Tom Rivers

The trash was picked up as part of the Erie Canal Cleanup efforts around the county and state today.

Three high school students – Gideon Pask, Nisi Beltran Roblero and Julia Graham – are picking up garbage near the railroad tracks close to West Academy Street.

The volunteers filled about 25 big trash bags in area just east of Platt Street going along the railroad tracks to West Academy Street.

Rotary Club members Mike Schmackpheffer and Sandra Walter work on an area east of Platt Street.

Tim Archer, the Interact Club advisor, teams with students Ayme Vallejo-Morales and Cordelia Rivers in getting trash along the tracks.

Albion mayor Tim McMurray helped haul about 25 bags of garbage to the drop area by Tinsel/The Lockstone where it will be picked up by Canal Corp. workers.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Gregory Hallock, executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council, presents a “Lifetime Achievement” award to Lynne Menz on Friday at GO Art! in Batavia. Menz received the award for her many years of working on arts and cultural events in Orleans County.

BATAVIA – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council has recognized an organization and a long-time community member for their efforts to add cultural programs to Orleans County.

GO Art! each year presents Genean awards to people and organizations that are committed to cultural life in Genesee and Orleans counties. The awards were presented on March 28, but Lynne Menz, the Lifetime Achievement winner from Orleans County, was unable to attend the program that evening.

On Friday, when GO Art! was announcing its grants to cultural programs for 2026 in Orleans County, Menz also was presented with her Genean Award.

Menz, a Point Breeze resident, worked for many years with the Orleans County Tourism Department, and has been a very active volunteer with the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association, Friends of the Orleans County Marine Park, Oak Orchard Lighthouse Association and Medina Sandstone Society.

Menz helped her father, the late Bill Menz, raise community support for a bronze statue of a soldier outside the YMCA in Medina, which formerly was used as the Medina Armory to train soldiers.

She is doesn’t with her projects. She is leading the Friends of Orleans County Marine Park in hosting a popup and jam on Sept. 12, a marketplace at the park on Route 98 with vendors and music.

There will also be a new fisherman selfie sign at the park for anglers to pose with fish.

Provided photo: Jodi Fisher, program director for GO ART!, presents the “Organization of the Year” award to the Greater Albion Community Recreation and Events Inc., a not-for-profit organization. This award was presented on March 28 to G-ACRE leaders, including Ron Albertson, center, and John Grillo, Albion’s recreation director for the past 50 years.

G-ACRE runs the annual Rock the Park – Albion Summer Music Festival, featuring bands and performers all day in an August celebration.

G-ACRE also has been a fundraising arm for recent improvements at Bullard Park, including new basketball and pickleball courts, a spray park, pavilion, disc golf course and other improvements.

The full list of Genean Awards includes:

• Lifetime Achievement in Orleans County: Lynne Menz
• Lifetime Achievement in Genesee County: Maryanne Arena
• Supporter (of the Cultural Sector) of the Year: Raeann Engler
• Individual Artist of the Year: Bill Schutt
• Honorable Mention: Lily Renz
• Organization of the Year: Greater Albion Community Recreation & Events, Inc. (G-ACRE)
• Volunteer of the Year: Andrea Hofmaster

Bradley Pierce started taking college classes in the 6^th grade

Photos by Tom Rivers: Bradley Pierce will graduate from Albion High School on June 26, a year ahead of schedule. He will receive his degree from Genesee Community College on May 16.

ALBION – Bradley Pierce was in sixth grade when he took his first college class. He earned an A in computer information systems at Genesee Community College.

In the past five years, he has completed 63 college credits and will graduate from GCC on May 16. About six weeks later on June 26, he will graduate from Albion High School. The 16-year-old is headed to Rochester Institute of Technology to major in software engineering with a minor in AI.

Bradley is pulling off a rare feat of graduating a year early and having an associate’s degree before his high school commencement.

He has been precocious since a young age, even reading his father’s old college textbooks about computer science when Bradley was in elementary school.

During the Covid pandemic in 2020, schools turned to online learning due to the restrictions on having students in person at school. Bradley didn’t find the assignments challenging. He was bored and frustrated.

His parents, Kandace and Nick Pierce, shared their concerns with the Albion Middle School leadership. The principal suggested Bradley audit a college class.

The Pierce family talked to GCC, which was willing to try Bradley in the ACE program (Accelerated College Enrollment), which allows high school students to enroll in college-level courses and to earn college credits. GCC let Bradley try one course, not wanting to overwhelm him. Bradley had no problems, attaining a very high A in that first class, which was in the spring semester of sixth grade.

He took one or two GCC classes every semester after that, from seventh to 11^th grade, with a couple classes also last summer. (Bradley was considered a junior to start this high school year.) All of the college classes have been online, except for five that were taught by Albion teachers in person at the high school, allowing Bradley and his classmates to earn dual credits.

“I preferred the online classes because they are more intense,” he said. “I can go at my own pace.”

Bradley Pierce has used an accelerated schedule to complete a course load through high school and also Genesee Community College. He will attend Rochester Institute of Technology to major software engineering.

Bradley is finishing up his last GCC class this semester in discrete math, which is about theories, proofs, logical math and their applications to computer programming.

He has managed his academic demands while also working three or four days a week at Save-A-Lot in Albion. He also had a job with the Village of Albion last year digitizing old public records. He is in the National Honor Society, Student Council and Yearbook Club at Albion.

“Bradley is a renaissance man,” said Tina Burgett, one of his teachers at Albion. “He is interested in many things and he is excellent at many things.”

Burgett first taught Bradley in fourth grade as his art teacher. She has also led his art classes in the middle and high schools.

She praised him for bringing a passion for learning in all of his subjects, including a pottery class were he made an exceptional bust.

“Art can be scary for someone who is focused on math and computers,” she said. “But he cares about the end product. I think he has an infectious excitement for the things he cares about. It’s been a blessing to be his teacher.”

Nick and Kandace Pierce knew their son Bradley was precocious when he was a little kid. He started cracking the Wi-Fi signal at age 8. He was reading college-level computer science textbooks in elementary school, and was writing his own computer programs. He also found security gaps in some on the popular online computer games, and he let operators know about those vulnerabilities, which he said were resolved.

Bradley made his own computer programming language, Scrybe. He created games on his graphing calculator in high school, including Tetris. He developed a Spanish conjugation program that is now available for other students.

Bradley’s father has a computer degree and is a self-described “electronics nerd.” He does electronics repair and works at Ace Hardware. Bradley’s mother is an intensive care nurse at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

Bradley has a brother Jacob who is in fifth grade and also enjoys computer programming, and loves chess.

The Pierces are from Oklahoma City. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce were on a vacation to Niagara Falls when they fell in love with Western New York. They moved to WNY in 2016, impressed with the quality of schools, the relatively low-cost living and the many healthcare options.

“We liked the old Victorian homes,” Mr. Pierce said. “There are no tornadoes and we like the agricultural landscape.”

Photos courtesy of Tim Archer

ROCHESTER – A group of Albion High School students spent the school day on Wednesday at East High in Rochester as part of an urban/rural student exchange.

Students from East High will visit Albion on April 30 and experience some of “farm country.”

The Albion students are in the Rotary Interact Club. They were in classes at East High and students from both schools shared about their schools and lifestyles. The two schools have done this exchange for 12 years.

Emmaline Gailie of Albion, front center, and students from East High and Albion had lunch together on Wednesday.

Olivia Andrews, left, and Tra’Monie Walker of Albion, right, enjoy lunch with new friends from East High.

The students learned that despite the many outward differences, they were alike in many ways, said Tim Archer, the Interact Club advisor.

Chris Marsaw, who recently moved to Albion, named ‘Firefighter of the Year’

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jodi Marion, a member of the board of directors for the Albion Fire Department, receives the President’s Award from Albion FD President Scott Papponetti on Saturday during the banquet for the Albion Fire Department and Albion Joint Fire District. Marion was congratulated by, from left: Assistant Fire Chief Matt Francis, Fire Chief Jeremy Graham, and Scott Papponetti, president of the Albion FD. Marion was praised for her work behind the scenes throughout the year. She also did a lot of work planning Saturday’s banquet at the Carlton Rec Hall.

ALBION – The Albion Joint Fire District and Albion Fire Department held its annual banquet on Saturday night and celebrated a busy year 2025 where firefighters responded to 692 calls.

It was the first year of the Fire Department operated under the Joint Fire District. The department used to be part of the Village of Albion. It started on Jan. 1, 2025 as its own taxing entity with its own board of commissioners.

David Buczek, vice chairman of the board of commissioners, thanks the volunteer firefighters for their commitment to the community. Buczek is joined by chairman Al Cheverie. They spoke during Saturday’s banquet at the Carlton Rec Hall.

Buczek thanked the members of the Albion Fire Department.

“The dedication and professionalism you bring to this community does not go unnoticed,” Buczek told the firefighters. “You show up day in and day out, often in situations most people hope they never have to face, and yet you do it with pride, skill and commitment.”

He thanked the families and loved ones of the firefighters for their sacrifices when firefighters respond and answer the calls for service.

The commissioners are pleased with the good working relationship with the fire department and the commitment to giving firefighters the tools and resources to serve the community, Buczek said.

“Investing in better tools, safer gear, new apparatuses and updated equipment. These aren’t just line items in a budget, they’re investments in our firefighters and in the safety of our community,” Buczek said. “When our crews are better equipped, they can do their jobs more effectively and more safely, and that benefits everyone.”

Kevin Sheehan, left, was recognized for his service as a fire commissioner. Sheehan was elected an Albion village trustee on March 18. He stepped down as fire commissioner on March 29 due to potential conflicts with both roles. The fire district rents the fire hall from the village.

Sheehan received a plaque from Al Cheverie, chairman of the fire commissioners, and David Buczek, the vice chairman.

The plaque stated: “With sincere appreciation and in recognition of your service as a commissioner of the Albion Joint Fire District from Jan. 1, 2025 to March 29, 2026.”

Marty Stirk receives the award as “Driver of the Year” from Fire Chief Jeremy Graham.

The Fire Department presented several awards on Saturday.

Chief’s Award – Fire Chief Jeremy Graham presented the “Chief’s Award” to deputy chief Steven Papponetti for his constant communication and commitment to the department in many ways.

Chris Marsaw, left, is congratulated by Albion Fire Chief Jeremy Graham after being recognized as the “Firefighter of the Year” for 2025 in the Albion Joint Fire District. Marsaw joined Albion as a firefighter about 1 ½ years ago after moving to the community and responded to 251 calls last year. He works as an EMT for Mercy Flight.

President’s Award: Scott Papponetti, the Albion FD president, recognized Jodi Marion with the award for her efforts behind the scenes and her work planning the annual banquet. Marion is on the department’s board of directors.

Officer of the Year: AJ Fisher, who is first lieutenant, and a frequent responder and leader of the fire department.

Firefighter for the Year: Chris Marsaw, who joined the Albion FD about 18 months ago after being a part of the North Greece and Lakeshore departments. Marsaw, 30, moved to Albion with his wife Kimmie and their two children. They were drawn by the affordable housing.

He joined the Albion FD and he said he was welcomed by the department’s leaders and other firefighters. He responded to 251 calls last year.

“He comes to everything,” said Fire Chief Graham.

Marsaw is an EMT who works for Mercy Flight.

“I like being able to help people,” he said. “Albion is great department. It’s a team effort.”

Top Responder: Jeremy Babcock who responded to 430 out of the department’s 692 calls.

EMT of the Year: Robert Toman, who responded to 321 calls in 2025.

Driver of the Year: Marty Stirk

Years of Service Awards:

• 5 years: Austin Genno, Brianna Pahura, Victoria Tabor, James Fisher and Emma Klaver
• 10 years: Allyson Irwin, Gary Rowley Sr., Jason Hapeman and Krystal Hughson
• 15 years: Fred Piano
• 20 years: Mike Dalle and Dustin Pahura
• 25 years: Dennis Hunt, Sarah Meisner and Charles Prentice
• 35 years: Charlie Monacelli
• 40 years: Dean Covis
• 45 years: James Pahura
• 50 years: Jim Passarell
• 55 years: Ed Walczak
• 60 years: Tom Fintak

Some members of the Albion Fire Department gather for a group photo at the department’s annual banquet on Saturday at the Carlton Rec Hall.

Rock the Park brings about 1,000 to Bullard with proceeds going to park improvements

Photos by Tom Rivers: The band 7th Heaven fired up the crowd to close out the 10th Rock the Park music festival at Bullard Park on Aug. 2, 2025. The crowd was rocking for the concert. The organizers gave away 500 glow sticks to the attendees.

ALBION – The bands have been announced for the 11^th annual Albion Summer Music Festival, and this Rock the Park will feature some new faces to the amphitheater at Bullard Park and some long-time favorites.

This year’s music festival will be one day on Aug. 1, after recent festivals were for two days. The event takes a lot of effort from a team of volunteers, said Ron Albertson, the festival chairman. He said there is other entertainment going on in the community, including the Orleans County 4-H Fair.

The one-day event at Bullard Park will be a musical showcase.

“We have an incredible, incredible lineup this year,” Albertson said.

The performers include Knight Patrol, Songbirds, The Who Dats, V3, Mixed Experience and Bad Sign.

The band Bad Sign closed out the lineup of performers during last year’s festival on Friday night last festival. Bad Sign stepped in at the last second when there was a cancellation. Bad Sign plays blues, rock and southern rock. The band includes lead singer Erika Horning of Batavia, guitarist Erick Horning of Batavia, bass player Clint Worthington of Holley, drummer Joe Maino of Pembroke, and keyboardist Ron Bordinaro of Batavia.

Proceeds from the event have been used towards improvements at Bullard Park. Recently that included money towards a new pavilion and electrical upgrades. Rock the Park also was critical in the push to overhaul Bullard about a decade ago.

Proceeds initially went to a grant writer. Albion was successful securing a state grant for nearly $500,000 that resulted in the new amphitheater, splash park and pavilion. Other projects followed with new basketball courts, a walking trail and disc golf course.

The latest effort is focused on a new concession stand.

The non-profit organization, Greater Albion Community Recreation and Events, runs the Albion Summer Music Festival. The group has committed $5,000 towards the new concession stand, Albertson said.

GACRE also wants a new backstop fence on the baseball diamond as well as improvements to the playing field.

“We’re not done,” Albertson said. “We want to finish at Bullard Park.”

The music festival typically draws about 1,000 people with a $5 entry fee. Albertson said the organizers want to keep it affordable, and keep the amphitheater rocking.

The bands making their debut at the festival include Knight Patrol, a cover band that performs the greatest hits from the ’80s, and Songbirds, a Fleetwood Mac tribute act.

Local favorites include The Who Dats, V3, Mixed Experience and Bad Sign.

The band, V3, performed Friday evening at Bullard Park for the 10th Rock the Park/Summer Music Festival on Aug. 1, 2025. From left in photo include Jesse Neely on bass, lead singer Kole Moore and Alex Fitzak on guitar. V3 will be at this year’s event on Aug. 1.

Kevin Sheehan advised by attorneys he can’t serve in both roles

Photo by Tom Rivers: Kevin Sheehan speaks during a candidate forum on March 5. He was elected to the Albion Village Board on March 18. He was sworn in as a village trustee on April 6, the start of a four-year term.

ALBION – Kevin Sheehan believed he could serve as both an Albion village trustee and a commissioner for the Albion Joint Fire District.

He said the roles seemed separate. The Albion Fire Department used to be part of the village budget with the Village Board functioning as oversight of the fire department, setting and managing its budget.

But the fire department shifted to the Albion Joint Fire District on Jan. 1, 2025. Sheehan was elected to a three-year term as a fire commissioner on Dec. 10, 2024. The commissioners set the district’s budget, and the taxes for the district are collected as part of the Albion and Gaines tax bills in January.

On March 18, he was elected to a four-year as village trustee. Soon after that election he was advised by both the village attorney and fire district attorney that the two offices are incompatible and he can’t do both.

The sticking point, Sheehan said, is the fire district leases the fire hall from the village. In that role, the village has influence over the fire district’s budget. The Village Board works with the fire commissioners to set the rent for the building.

Sheehan wrote a letter March 27, resigning as fire commissioner, effective March 29.

He attended this evening’s fire district monthly meeting, and sat in the audience rather than at the table with the fire commissioners in the back of the fire hall.

Sheehan said he very much enjoyed serving as a fire commissioner and regretted he needed to step down from the position.

“Mr. Sheehan, it has been an honor and a pleasure to have you as a commissioner,” Al Cheverie, the chairman, told him at the meeting.

The fire district currently only has three out of five fire commissioners in office. The district has yet to allow Charlie Monacelli to take office. He was elected in December but has a past felony conviction for attempted burglary in the third degree in 2000. He was in prison for 4 ½ years and then was on parole until 2009. Monacelli wants to be installed as commissioner and has told the district he will pursue litigation if his civil rights continue to be violated with him being kept from the position. He insists arson is the only disqualifying charge to serve as a fire commissioner.

Cheverie, during this evening’s meeting, said the fire commissioners are under a “gag order” and can’t comment on the issue publicly.

He said the fire commissioners will discuss filling Sheehan’s vacancy next month, which likely will be done by appointment.

Cheverie also said the fire commissioners, who also include David Buczek and Derek Howes, need to divvy up Sheehan’s work on the fire district. Sheehan was on three committees: finance, building and legal.

At its meeting this evening, the fire commissioners:

• Approved two new members as firefighters – Kyle Sidari and Lisa DeCarlo.

• Approved paying $575 each to the top 10 responders to calls in 2025.

• Authorized Treasurer Victoria Tabor to invest fire district funds in treasuries which are like CDs. Tabor was authorized to put $380,000 from the “Apparatus Repair & Replacement Reserve” into a fund that will generate 3.75 percent interest if untouched until April 2027, 3.78 percent through October 2027, and a 3.80 percent annual percentage yield until April 2028.

The commissioners also authorized investing $50,000 from the “Building Repair & Replacement Reserve” into a fund with a yield of 3.44 percent through March 2027.

Students also place a dozen new Revolutionary War bronze flag markers

Photos courtesy of Tim Archer

MEDINA – These Albion students, Blake Doty (left) and Jeffrey Echevarria, put a refurbished historic marker back on Wednesday. This marker is at the Millville Cemetery in the town of Shelby.

Albion students repainted four historic markers, a process that started in the fall.

This marker is on North Gravel Road (Route 63) just north of the lift bridge and Erie Canal. It notes the location of the first commercial quarry for Medina Sandstone. It was established by John Ryan.

Students on Wednesday also put a refurbished historic marker in Ridgeway on Route 104 where a tavern opened in 1811. The road was the first Indian Trail route then a stagecoach route.

A fourth historic marker for the Gaines Basin Schoolhouse was finished last fall. That schoolhouse was built in 1832 and is one of the oldest cobblestone buildings in the region.

The students also placed a dozen new Revolutionary War bronze flag markers on graves that didn’t have the markers. Jeffrey Echevarria is shown at the Gaines Cemetery placing a marker for John Percival. The markers were donated by the Orleans Chapter DAR.

Press Release, Albion Fire Department

ALBION – The Albion Fire Department would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the members of our community who came out to support our Subway fundraiser on April 2.

Events like these play an important role in helping us continue to serve and protect the residents of Albion and Gaines.

We would also like to thank the staff at Subway for their partnership and hospitality.

The continued support from our community means more than words can express. It is an honor to serve such a dedicated and caring community.

Thank you again for standing with the Albion Fire Department.

We would also like to invite you on April 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Recruit NY event at the  Albion Fire Department, 108 N. Platt St. We will have information and demonstrations throughout the day.

If you’re not sure if you want to join, you are still welcome to stop down and chat with us.

File photo by Eliott Neidert: This photo from February 2017 was taken by a drone and shows part of downtown Albion with the Orleans County Courthouse in the background.

Press Release, Village of Albion

ALBION – The Village of Albion is inviting local business owners to participate in an upcoming Comprehensive Planning Workshop on April 22 at 5 p.m., to be held prior to the Village Board meeting at the Village Office, 35 E. Bank St.

This workshop is an important opportunity for Albion’s business community to share ideas, concerns, and priorities that will help shape the Village’s Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan serves as a long-term roadmap guiding decisions about economic development, infrastructure, land use and community growth.

Village officials are specifically seeking feedback from business owners about:

• Current business conditions in the Village
• Barriers to growth and investment
• Opportunities for revitalization and economic development
• Infrastructure and parking needs
• Ideas to strengthen Albion’s downtown and commercial areas

Input gathered during this session will directly inform the goals and strategies included in the Comprehensive Plan. The Village encourages all business owners, whether long-established or newly opened, to attend and help shape Albion’s future.

“This is a valuable chance for the business community to have a voice in planning for the future of Albion,” said Nichola Ostrander. “Your insight is critical to creating a plan that supports local businesses and promotes sustainable growth.”

No registration is required. For more information, contact Nichola Ostrander at info@cmdgroup-usa.com.

Photos courtesy of Geno Allport

ALBION – A new team of Albion Village Board members took the oath of office and began their four-year terms on Monday.

The top photo shows the new Albion mayor, Tim McMurray, who is holding his granddaughter Celia. McMurray is joined at the swearing in by his daughter Kali, his girlfriend Erin Gallagher, and uncle Ron Albertson.

McMurray was elected on March 18. He previously served as a village trustee for four years. He is a Marine Corps veteran.

(Left) Jami Allport is a new village trustee. She took the oath of office while standing with her husband Geno and their daughter, Hensley. Mrs. Allport is executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern. (Right) Kevin Sheehan took the oath of office and was joined by his three grandchildren – Charlotte, Wrenyn and Jack. Sheehan is a retired plumber and pipe fitter and has served an Albion trustee, deputy mayor and code enforcement officer. He also is a commissioner for the Albion Joint Fire District.