Photos courtesy of Brenda Benjovsky

ALBION – These members of the Class of 2018 include, from left, Gricelda Maldonado, Rylie Lear, Amaya Beach, Elisabeth Baker and Erin Doty. They were among 133 Albion students to graduate on Friday.

Class leaders include Richard Daniels, valedictorian; Tyler Kast, salutatorian; Nathanael Smith, treasurer; Allison Graham, vice president; Riley Seielstad, secretary; and Victor Benjovsky, president.

Cassandra Serafin, right, and Emily Sevor enter the high school gym with their classmates.

These junior escorts include Enoch Martin, Addison Christ, Jacob Ettinger, Devin Olles, Jace Conn, Jesse Cruz and Matthew Kovaleski.

Heather Wood, Stephanie Eehevarria Rivera and Austin Dugan stand for the national anthem sang by the senior chorus.

Devin Gaylord, left, and Demetrius Gardner take in the big moment.

Brad Sanford and his classmates celebrate commencement in the gymnasium.

Avry Magee is congratulated by teacher Kathy Winans, who is also the senior class advisor.

Madison Giattino is happy after receiving her diploma.

Caleb Pettit is congratulated by his father, Paul Pettit, who is also an Albion graduate.

Many students posed with the large letters on the front lawn of the high school. This group includes the class officers: Allison Graham, Nate Smith, Victor Benjovsky and Riley Seielstad.

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ALBION – An organization proposing a 40-unit housing project on Liberty Street in Albion is seeking the Orleans County Planning Board’s support for the project.

DePaul Community Services, Inc. wants to build the project between the railroad tracks and Beaver Street in Albion. DePaul needs to remove three houses that are on that section of Liberty Street to make room for the housing project.

DePaul’s application for variances and a site plan review will go before the County Planning Board at 7 p.m. on June 28.

The 40-unit residential project is at 150 S. Liberty St. in Residential (R-3) District.

The Planning Board meets at the County Administration Building, 14016 Route 31 West in Conference Room C.

The Planning Board next week will also consider these referrals:

• Request for site plan review and special use permit in Gaines to operate seasonal business at 14386-14398 Ridge Rd. in Commercial Historic District.

• Request for area variance and site plan review in Gaines to convert existing structure to farm labor housing.

• Request for area variances and site plan review in Barre to operate an art studio at 4706 Oak Orchard Rd. in General Business District.

• Request for site plan review to operate wedding venue in Albion at 160 North Main St. in General Commercial District.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Albion’s Concerts on the Canal series continued on Thursday with Jonesie & the Cruisers playing many rock songs. The band is led by lead singer Gary Jones, left. Gary Withey plays the keyboards and sings.

Bands perform every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. under a tent by the gazebo behind the Albion Fire Department on Platt Street. The series continues until Aug. 2. The Lonely Ones are next to perform on June 28.

This dog is a regular at the concerts, taking in the music from a boat on the Erie Canal.

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Provided photo: The committee working on the National Night Out met this morning at Bullard Park to discuss the Aug. 7 event in Albion.

Press Release, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni

ALBION – The Albion Police Department and Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition are Co-Organizers of the Orleans County National Night Out and are proud to give an update on this year’s event that will take place on August 7 at 5:30 p.m. at Bullard Park on East Avenue in the Village of Albion.

This is the fourth year of our event and it is going to be largest so far.

National Night Out started in the 1980s as a way to bring law enforcement and citizens together on the same night each year. We have expanded on that principle and put together an event that focuses on bringing many agencies and organizations together on the annual National Night Out date each year. Participants in the event will include law enforcement, fire agencies, EMS responders, civic organizations and other groups that will be providing activities, demonstrations and giveaways.

Our mission is simple. We want an event where families can come for a night and be entertained at no cost and eat for free in an environment that is free of violence, alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Our goal is to have those that attend walk away with a positive contact that can assist with any needs a person may need. We strive to make this a one-day event where the impact lasts all year long.

This year we have been very fortunate to have had many organizations not only willing to participate in the event but we have received donations and support from many local organizations and businesses. This year’s event features free hot dogs and water, Child Seat Inspections with free replacements, Bike Rodeo with bikes on hand, helmet giveaways, and much more.

We are very excited to doing a “Battle of Belts” competition again this year to promote vehicle passenger safety. The competition entails teams of 4 who compete to see who is the fastest getting into car and fastening their seatbelts. Each contestant then must switch seats and again fasten their seat belts. The time ends when each person has sat in each seat in the car. This event is fun to participate in and even more fun to watch. There is still time to enter and details can be found on the Facebook Page by clicking here.

We are always looking for organizations that wish to be a part of the event or those who wish to donate. Any group that wants to be a part of this great community event is asked to contact us for more details.

For more information contact Chief Nenni at the Albion Police Department 585-589-5627 or nenni@albionpolice.com or Pat Crowley at 585-331-8732 or pcrowley@gcasa.org.

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Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A section of West County House Road in Albion, just east of Eagle Harbor Road, is going to be closed for about a month while Orleans County does preventive maintenance on a bridge, one of six bridges that will get preventive maintenance this year.

The blacktop is being removed so a new waterproofing membrane can be added with a fresh coat of blacktop to follow. The maintenance includes new wing walls and guard rails.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Cheryl Mowatt has been a steady presence at Albion’s public library for 33 years. Today is her last day in her job as reference librarian. She is wearing a card that says, “Keep calm and ask someone else I’m retiring.”

Mowatt and her late husband Bob moved to Albion in 1979 when Mr. Mowatt was appointed to be pastor of the First Baptist Church in Albion. He led the church until his retirement in 1999. Mowatt and her husband have two grown sons, Ian and Andrew, and four grandchildren.

Mrs. Mowatt started work at the former Swan Library in January 1985. In July 2012 the new Hoag Library opened.

“I love the new library,” she said. “It’s beautiful. It’s airy. It’s bright, and it has a lot of parking. The people of Albion are very proud of this building.”

Mowatt has typically been at the front desk, ready to answer a question or help people track down answers. Library patrons had lots of questions over the years, many were health related or about genealogy. She remembers one question that stood out over the years: someone wanted to know if there was a book or materials that explained how to make moonshine.

“I’ve met many interesting people in the 33 years,” Mowatt said this afternoon. “I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s kind of like being a detective. I like the challenge.”

The reference librarians are “jack of all trades,” Mowatt said. They help in circulation and assist the public in using computers and the printer.

The Friends of the Library had a cake made for Mowatt, who serves up a piece to Linda Redfield, right, and Gloria Nauden. Those ladies brought flowers for Mowatt. Dee Robinson, another reference librarian, is next to Mowatt.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Hoag Library celebrated the start of a six-week summer reading challenge on Saturday. There were two bounce houses, children’s games and free hot dogs served by the Albion Lions Club to kick off the program.

Mary Janet Sahukar and her granddaughter Kiran Lennox were part of the Albion Lions Club team preparing hot dogs. Children and adults who signed up for the summer reading challenge were able to get a free hot dog.

The theme of this year’s summer reading challenge is “Libraries Rock!” Last year there were 1,550 participants in the program.

The library will have numerous events during the six-week program. The challenge continues until Aug. 4 with a 3 p.m. ice cream social at the library. There are almost daily events at the library during the program, including many with music and dance.

For more information, click here or stop by the library at 134 South Main St.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Chase Froman is doused in colored corn starch during this morning’s Color Fun Run at Bullard Park. The Albion Class of 2019 organized the fundraiser with help from the Albion Running Club.

There were 75 participants and they could run the 1-mile loop up to three times.

This was the first time a Color Fun Run was in Orleans County. The events are popular ar Darien Lake and bigger city venues.

Gina Sidari, an Albion sixth grader, leads a pack of her friends at one of the stations. Gina won the award for “most colorful.”

These Albion High School students are at the beginning of the Color Fun Run before they were covered in corn starch.

Eleanor Oliver of Spencerport was one of the youngest participants.

Connor McQuillan gets colored up at the finish line.

Pam Allen strikes a pose at the finish. She did the event with her daughter, Trinity.

Alyce Miller and several of her friends and family enjoyed the Color Fun Run.

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Photos courtesy of Albion Central School: Kamryn and Kendall Peruzzini escort their great-grandfather Ron Ayrault into the Flag Day assembly on Thursday. He is seen wearing his Navy uniform. He served during the Korean War.

ALBION – The Albion Elementary School’s annual Flag Day assembly was celebrated on Thursday. Sixty-five veterans and active duty service men and women attended the assembly as invited guests.  Students that invited veteran family members and friends to the ceremony escorted them into the assembly.  Prior to the event, veterans submitted photos while serving their Country.  The photos were used to create a video that was shown as they entered the assembly.

The entire school recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang “The Star Spangled Banner” and the “Albion Alma Mater.”  The elementary honors band performed patriotic selections for the crowd including “Legacy of Heroes” and “All Hail the Conquering Hero.”

Each grade level performed their own patriotic song that they learned during music classes. Kindergarteners sang “Our Beautiful Flag,” first graders sang “America,” second graders sang “God Bless America,” third graders performed “There Are Many Flags,” fourth graders sang “You’re A Grand Old Flag,” and fifth graders sang “Fifty Nifty United States.”

Each classroom selected students as flag bearers and lead the procession into the assembly. These students are in line and waiting for the assembly to begin.

Students process into the assembly.

Steve Ames is escorted into the assembly by his grandchildren Alysa and Tyler Ames.

Phil Warne is escorted into the assembly by his granddaughter Ella Froman. Ron Brown is joined by his grandson Caleb Wolfe.

Alilyah Lissow reads her winning poem to the audience.

All students could enter a Flag Day Poem contest. Over 200 entries were submitted and judged. The grade level winners read their poems during the ceremony. Winners are pictured in the front row, from left: Kasia Robinson (second grade), Sawyer Whittier (first grade) and Madysin Austin (kindergarten). Back row: Alilyah Lissow and Camryn London (fifth grade), Eden Diehl (third grade), Abigail Kincaid (fourth grade).

Fifth grade student Adrian Figueroa-Fuentes also was recognized with an art award. He won the poppy poster contest and received the Patrick DiGirolamo Award for advanced art.

Kindergarten students sing “Our Beautiful Flag.”

Wendy Whiting, a representative from the NYS Attorney General’s Office, presented the “Triple C” award to, from left: Ava Woolston, Kaiden Froman and Rori Higgins. The Triple C Award celebrates students who display courage, character and commitment in their daily lives at home and in school. This award is presented each year during the Flag Day assembly.

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Photos courtesy of Kim Pritt

ALBION – The Ghost Riders performed Thursday evening to start Albion’s Concerts on the Canal. Bands will perform every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at gazebo behind the Albion Fire Department on Platt Street.

New this year the Albion Canalside Cruise night will be held during the concerts.

The Albion Fire Dept. will be selling food and beverages at each of the concerts. This photo shows from left: Jim Peruzzini, Al Cheverie, Fred Piano and Matt Francis.

The concert series is sponsored by the Village of Albion and the Rhode Island Foundation with support from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Genesee Orleans Regionals Arts Council.

The lineup for the rest of the series includes:

• June 21: Jonesie & the Cruisers (Classic Rock)

• June 28: The Lonely Ones (Folk/Americana)

• July 5: Who Dats (Classic Dance Rock)

• July 12: Blind Leading the Blind (Contemporary Rock)

• July 19: The Dave Viterna Group (Classic Rock, Oldies, Blues)

• July 26: Triple Play Bank (Classic Rock)

• August 2: Creek Bend (Bluegrass)

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