Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Scouts from Troop 164 dedicated a special Boy Scouts of America gravesite marker today at St. Joseph’s Cemetery for Frank Sidari, who was an active member of the troop for about 75 years.

Sidari was a Scout in the troop when he was a kid, and went on to be a Scoutmaster for more than 30 years. He was an active volunteer with the troop up until his death at age 90 on April 18, 2015.

The gravesite markers were created by former Albion resident Bob Capurso, who now lives in Bergen. Capurso was a Scout in Troop 164 in the 1960s through 1972. Sidari was his Scoutmaster. Capurso has started a company called Legacy markers that create the bronze markers for influential Scouting leaders. The marker for Sidari is the fourth one made by Legacy Markers.

Sidari also is a Silver Beaver winner, the highest award given by the Boy Scouts of America.

Sidari was in the last Mounted Cavalry Division in WWII. He was an Infantryman and Rifleman from 1943-1946 in the 124th Cavalry in the China-Burma-India Theater. After the war, Sidari worked as a union carpenter and then as the Albion Code Enforcement Officer.

Sidari’s wife Jane and her and Frank’s sons attended the dedication today. They include, from left: Frank, Bruce and Mike Sidari.

Members of Troop 164 were part of the dedication today. They include, from left: Bob Capurso, Cubmaster Mike Beach, Oliver Beach, Noah Shiffer, Assistant Scoutmaster Bryan Catlin, Matt Flanagan, Sue Flanagan, Scoutmaster Dan Flanagan, Jonathan Doherty, Tom Madejski, Assistant Scoutmaster Rick Merrill, Ethan Merrill and Michael Grabowski.

Frank Sidari is pictured here on March 15, 2015 during a 90th birthday celebration.

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Provided photo

Members of the Albion High School Rotary Interact Club recently visited East High School in inner city Rochester as part of a student cultural exchange.

The students learned how life in an urban school is both similar and different than one in a rural district. Earlier in the year East High students visited Albion, enjoying both time at the school as well as a visit to a dairy farm and Mt. Albion Cemetery.

Tim Archer, advisor of the Albion Interact Club, called the activity an “enriching experience” for both sets of students. AHS Interact students who attended East High included Emily Blanchard, Nikki Eldred, Shannon Broda, Riley Seielstad, Evan Steier, Jarod Hollinger, Celeste Hoffman, Emilie Barleban, Haley Bader and Matilda Erakare.

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Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Students the Albion AP Biology class this morning helped plant and water flowers in 17 planters that soon will be set in downtown Albion. The top photo shows Shelby Restivo, right, and Brandon McGuire working on the project.

The students are in Sandy Climenhaga’s class. The bio students learn about flowers as part of their class. They study photosynthesis and dissect flowers to learn about plants.

“I want them to have an appreciation for their small downtown,” Climenhaga said. “Now they are invested. They can go by the flowers and know they helped do that.”

Jessy Cruz and Bryce Pritchard water the flowers, which will be placed on Main Street and in the downtown later this week.

The bio students are pictured this morning. The group includes, front row, from left: Elizabeth Furmanski, Yasmeen Shabazz, Shelb Restivo, Brandon McGuire and Leah Shildt. Back row: Sandy Climenhaga, Kirsten Wroblewski, Chanynce Powell, Kastriot Bela, Kirk Ellison, Bryce Pritchard, Jessy Cruz, Kaitlin Zwifka, Jessica Schleede, and Lisa Stratton, president of Albion Merchants Association and coordinator of the flower project.

The Village of Albion, Town of Albion and Merchants Association all shared in buying the flowers.

Kastriot Bela and Yasmeen Shabazz plant flowers this morning behind the DPW garage on Washington Street.

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Press Release, Albion Marching Band

Provided photos: The Albion High School Marching Band took top honors in both events they competed in at the Seneca Falls Pageant of Bands this past weekend.  The top photo shows part of the band entering the judging area at Saturday’s competition in Seneca Falls.

The AHS Jazz Ensemble earned the 1st Place trophy in Class B, scoring 96 out a possible 100 points. The Purple Eagles also came home with the first place award in Open Class, after receiving a score of 91 for their 2017 show, “Bond….James Bond,” which is based on the music of that iconic spy film series.

Both the jazz and marching bands continue their competition season this coming weekend at the Darien Lake Music Festival. As always, the band will also march in Monday’s Albion Memorial Day parade.

From left: Jerico Chudy, Matt Kovaleski and Sierra Chudy play snare drums with the AHS Marching Band in Seneca Falls on Saturday.

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Provided photos

ALBION – Members of the VFW Auxiliary Strickland Post #4635 paid a visit to the Albion Elementary School and met with kindergarten students today.  Corinne Padura, left, read a book to the students about the origins of the American Flag as well as the symbolism of the stars and stripes.  She talked about the importance of respecting the flag and proper care of the flag.

The top photo shows the VFW Auxiliary members with students in Mrs. Perry’s class. The group includes, from left: Corinne Pahura, Payton Babcock, Sue Boyce, Olivia Ginger, Debbie Ashe, Dalmas Weese and Edwin Dudley.

Corinne Pahura reads a book about the origins of the flag to the entire kindergarten class. She was a former kindergarten teacher.

Students sang “We Love Our Flag” and recited a poem about the flag.

Red, white and blue,

These colors run true;

Red, white and blue,

waving I love you!

At the end of the program each child received a flag.  Students will use these flags during their annual Flag Day program on June 14. This community outreach effort is part of the VFW Auxiliary Americanism program.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The winning poster has been chosen to help promote this year’s Albion Strawberry Festival. Destini Hurlbert holds the poster with a depiction of a Santa Claus.

This year’s festival, June 9-10, celebrates a Santa theme in honor of Albion native son, Charles W. Howard, who operated a school for Santa, served as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa for 18 years, and also ran the popular Christmas Park in Albion.

Jackie Quintana, last year’s winner, came in second with this photo. The students all researched historic photos of Howard and the Santa School to help with the poster design.

Charity Henhawk came in third with this design to help promote the Strawberry Festival.

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Photos by Tom Rivers: Dance Reflections in Albion won for “Best use of theme” in last year’s Strawberry Festival, which had a theme: Hook, Line & Strawberry, to promote the local fishing resources and to play on the strawberry theme of the festival.

ALBION – The Albion Strawberry Festival parade is less than a month away and festival organizers want parade participants to start thinking about their floats.

The parade this year has a Charles W. Howard theme, in honor of the man who founded a Santa Claus School in Albion. Parade participants are urged to incorporate Santa and Christmas decorations in their displays.

There will, however, only be one Santa Claus in the parade. He is expected to make a guest appearance with Mrs. Claus. Some members of Charles Howard’s family also are expected to be in the parade with his granddaughter serving as the parade grand marshal.

Parade participants are welcome to wear Santa hats, dress as elves or think of other ways to promote a Santa theme.

The festival has expanded its list of parade categories for awards. All of the winners will receive certificates.

The categories include:

• Best use of theme (Charles W. Howard and Santa Claus)

• Most original

• Best band

• Best cheer/dance

• Special recognition/community service

• Best public safety agency (fire department, police, ambulance)

• Best classic car

• Best wooden boat

• Best use of humor

Santa is expected to make an appearance in the Albion Strawberry Festival. He may opt for his casual wear because Santa doesn’t tend to wear his full Santa suit during the the off-season.

The Albion Merchants Association also will have a holiday window decorating contest during the 31^st annual Strawberry Festival on June 9-10.

Charles Howard ran a Santa School in Albion from 1937 to 1966. Howard also served as the Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for 18 years. He remains revered among people who portray Santa for establishing standards in how to act and dress as Santa.

The Albion Betterment Committee is working on raising money for a bronze statue and memorial in downtown Albion in honor of Howard. The group is hoping to celebrate Howard, and promote Albion’s history with Santa Claus.

The two-day Strawberry Festival has many activities, from a food court, craft vendors, a classic car show, turtle race, trout pond, 5k and 8k race, and family fun center. A chalk art festival also will be back.

For more information, check the festival’s website by clicking here.

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