Photos by Tom Rivers: Sandy Climenhaga was named Albion Central School’s “Educator of the Year” on Monday. Climenhaga is retiree as a high school science teacher. “This district has such great teachers,” she said. “We love our kids.”

ALBION – The school district said good bye to several retiring teachers and staff on Monday, thanking them for their dedicated service to the students and district.

Mickey Edwards, the Albion school district superintendent, presents the “Educator of the Year” award to Sandy Climenhaga.

One of those retiring teachers, Sandy Climenhaga, also was recognized as the district’s “Educator of the Year.” Climenhaga teachers the Advanced Placement biology or living environment classes. She also received the “Excellence in Teaching Award” this year from the National Honor Society.

She was called a “truly dedicated and inspiring teacher” who is a vital part of the district’s science department by Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent.

Climenhaga has maintained a high level of energy and passion throughout her career, teaching high-level science classes and showing a big heart for her students, Edwards said.

“Students describe her as being unforgettable,” he said.

Climenhaga joined Albion Central School in 1996 as a substitute teacher. She worked in the middle school as a science teacher in 2008-’09 before being hired in the high school the following year.

“She positively impacts every student who comes into her classroom,” said Jennifer Ashbery, the high school principal.

Climenhaga runs AP study groups, and connects with students through Google and Zoom meets.

Climenhaga said she is “being humbled” to be recognized as Educator of the Year.

“The district has such great teachers,” she said. “We love our kids. This district cares about every kid and not just how they do in the classroom.”

Ricky O’Kussick, who retired after 28 years as a custodian, is congratulated by Board of Education member Curt Schmitt.

Ricky O’Kussick worked 28 years as a custodian, including 20 years in the middle school and the past eight years in the elementary school. He spent most of his career as the night leader of the custodial staff.

O’Kussick was well-liked for his friendly demeanor, and many took note that he kept his original photo ID badge his entire career.

“I liked everything about it,” O’Kussick said about the job. “I didn’t mind cleaning. I wanted the kids to come into a clean building every day.”

Albion also recognized Tim Mercer, who retired after 28 years and ended his career as director of facilities at a time when Albion was doing a major capital project.

Mike Thaine, who is retiring as the high school band and music teacher, is congratulated by high school principal Jennifer Ashbery.

Michael Thaine worked at Greenwood and Plattsburgh school districts before returning to his alma in 1998 as the elementary music teacher, introducing third- and fourth-graders to musical instruments. He worked in that role for nine years before becoming the high school band and music teacher.

Thaine led multiple groups – the marching band, jazz band, pit orchestra and many smaller ensembles.

He taught students more than music, said Ashbery, the high school principal.

He exemplified kindness, humor, love, compassion and service, she said.

Thaine could have a retired a year ago but wanted one more year with the students.

“There are so many great kids here,” he said. “I’ve always felt that. The best part of the job is the relationships with the students.”

Jennifer Holman was recognized for her career as a special education teacher.

Jennifer Holman has worked a special education teacher for Albion since 1996. She boosted students’ reading and other skills, Ashbery said.

Holman created a learning environment “that is the most enriching and welcoming classroom you can imagine,” the principal said.

Jill Albertson started with Albion in 2005 as the director of the Even Start program and then was an academic intervention specialist, before working several years as an earth science teacher in the high school. She was praised for her dedication to students.

Nancy Moore has worked as a teacher’s aide for 30 years, starting in the correction room in 1995 and then in a 6:1:1 special education class in the elementary school. Most of her career has been in a 12:1:1 special education classroom in the middle school.

Brad Pritchard, the middle school principal, said Moore is well versed in many subjects and has been very supportive of many staff in her career.

“Nancy’s dedication and work ethic made a difference in students’ lives,” Pritchard said.

He also commended Theresa Christopher for her career as a foreign language teacher. Christopher didn’t just teacher a foreign language. She exposed students to cultures, running cultural diversity nights for students and their families.

Christopher wanted a mastery level form her students, and would put in the extra time to help students reach a higher level.

“What a remarkable person she is who really cares about our students,” Pritchard said.

Retirees recognized before Monday’s Board of Education meeting include, front row, from left: Ricky O’Kussick, Jennifer Holman and Jill Albertson. Back row: Mike Thaine, Nancy Moore and Sandy Climenhaga. Others retirees include Theresa Christopher and Tim Mercer.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Albion, speaks with students on Sunday evening before they entered the church for the baccalaureate service.

Thaine gave the students a blessing before the service started.

“You and God are a hybrid,” she told them. “You are special together.”

She said the local churches are resources as they start the next chapters of their lives, whether they go to college, the military or right into the work force, whatever they decide to do. Thaine told the students they are always welcome to call her if they want someone to talk to.

“This service is a reminder that you don’t walk along,” she said. “You walk with God.”

Dillon DiGiulio lights a candle with other classmates during Sunday’s baccalaureate service. They also had the option of receiving a cross necklace and having a local clergy member prayer with them.

Father Mark Noonan, priest of One Catholic, prays with student Peyton Robinson. Many of the students asked the local pastors to pray with them.

Some of the class members posed for a group photo outside of the historic church. The service is optional for students. There were nearly 50 seniors at the service, which doubled the participation from a year ago.

The Rev. Dr. Brenda Bierdeman, a pastor at the Albion Free Methodist Church – Community of Hope, gave the keynote address. Bierdeman told the graduates that their everyday decisions, thoughts and words will determine the type of person they are and how they are known to others.

“What you do is not nearly as important as who you are,” she said.

Bierdeman urged them to be deliberate with their words, and not say whatever pops in their head. That goes for what they text and what they post on social media.

“Is it true, is it helpful, is it kind?” she asked the students.

She encouraged them to use language that lifts up others, and inspires confidence and courage.

She also urged them to seek out a relationship with God through Jesus.

“God will never turn his back on you,” she said.

Rori Higgins also shared a blessing with the class. Other classmates read scripture, including Leo Bolton, Oliver Beach and Madalyn Ashbery. Mallory Kozody also shared a prayer with the group.

About 250 people attended the service at the First Presbyterian Church.

The High School Select Choir sang, “Ave Verum Corpus.” Cassandra Brown also played a flute solo, “For The Beauty of the Earth,” and Mallory Kozody played a solo on her clarinet, “Come, Thou Fount.”

‘These organs are a treasure. The reason for these concerts is to show the public what a treasure they are.’

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Maarit Vaga presents flowers to Aaron Grabowski after his performance at the organ in Holy Family Parish during the Cobblestone Society’s fifth annual organ concert on Sunday.

ALBION – The annual progressive organ concert on Sunday to benefit the Cobblestone Museum was strongly attended, according to director Doug Farley.

“This was our fifth annual concert and 75 people registered ahead, in addition to several walk-ins,” Farley said. “We are thrilled attendance continues to be strong.”

The event began at Christ Episcopal Church, where former Orleans County historian and Cobblestone Museum director Bill Lattin welcomed guests. He explained there used to be six pipe organs in Court House Square, but now are five after one was removed at the former United Methodist Church.

“These organs are a treasure,” Lattin said. “The reason for these concerts is to show the public what a treasure they are.”

Lattin also pointed out the stained glass windows and urged the audience to notice the architecture and stained glass in each of the churches, all of which are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Doug Farley, left, director of the Cobblestone Museum, welcomes the 75 guests who attended a progressive organ concert on Sunday. The first concert was at Christ Episcopal Church, where organist Darryl Smith, visible at right,  played the 1877 Steere & Turner pipe organ.

Farley added how fortunate they were to have four very talented organists in attendance – Darryl Smith, Aaron Grabowski and Gary Simboli, who were part of Sunday’s program, and Scott Schmidt, a local organist who has participated in the progressive concerts in previous years.

Albion native Darryl Smith, who played the 1877 Steere & Turner pipe organ at Christ Episcopal Church, said she has been playing organ since high school. Her first job was as organist and choir director at the First Baptist Church of Medina. A graduate of Houghton, Smith has served in positions of music or discipleship at Brick Presbyterian Church of Perry, Barre Center Presbyterian Church and Albion Free Methodist Church.

“I love this organ because its pipes are vintage to its time,” she said.

The instrument is unique in that it maintains its original mechanical linkage, known as tracker action, between the keyboard and pipes. Lattin displayed a giant lever which youth in earlier years had to pump behind the scenes. The organ was rebuilt in the 1980s.

The Erakare family sings at Christ Episcopal Church, accompanied by organist Darryl Smith. From left are Susan Walders (mother of Bradeen Walders-Erakare, who is married to Sebastian Erakare), Maarit Vaga and her husband Jan Erakare, their son Sebastian and his wife, Bradeen Walders-Erakare.

Attendees next moved into the dining room for a wine and cheese reception, before crossing the street to Holy Family Parish (St. Joseph’s Church), where Medina organist Aaron Grabowski entertained on what was originally an 1896 Garrett House tracker organ. The console was moved to the front of the loft during changes made to the key and stop action, converting it to electro-pneumatic action in 1939-40 by Teller’s Organ Co. of Erie, Pa. The original tracker slider chests were retained. Air reservoirs were re-leathered in 1976.

House sold his company to Viner and Sons in 1898, making this original instrument of two manuals and pedal with 16 speaking stops one of his last.

The organ is currently being maintained by Parsons Pipe Organ Co. of Canandaigua, where Grabowski is employed.

According to the concert’s program, it would be safe to say pipe organs are a big part of Aaron Grabowski’s life. During the week he works full-time as a tuning foreman and organ builder for Parsons, and on weekends, he is music director and organist at St. Mary’s Church in Medina.

Grabowski began formal organ lessons at the age of 16, and after graduating from high school, he enrolled at the University of Buffalo, where he received a bachelor’s degree in organ performance.

He was music director at St. Paul’s in Kenmore, where the Rev. Paul Whitney was serving before coming to Medina. It was due to Father Whitney that Grabowski came to Medina when the priest asked him to restore the organ at St. Mary’s. Upon seeing the charming hamlet of Medina, Grabowski suggested to his wife Gayle they should consider making Medina their new home. They purchased a Victorian home there in 2005, which they are restoring.

(Left) Darryl Smith sits at the 1877 Steere & Turner pipe organ at Christ Episcopal Church in Albion. She likes the organ because of its vintage pipes which she says are authentic to their time. (Right) Final organist in Sunday’s progressive organ concert was Gary Simboli, retired chorus and musical director at Albion Central School, shown here at the 1925 Moller Opus 4132 pipe organ at the First Baptist Church of Albion.

The third and final organ in the concert was at the First Baptist Church, next door to Holy Family Parish, where Gary Simboli demonstrated the 1925 Moller Opus 4132 pipe organ. Simboli is a graduate of Geneseo State College and is the award-winning instrumental music teacher (retired) from Albion High School.

The Moller organ replaced the church’s first pipe organ from 1883, and features two separate pipe chambers and pressure driven pneumatic action. It includes three manuals and 63 registers, producing a rich, romantic sound. The organ was rebuilt in the 1980s under the pastorate of the Rev. Bob Mowatt.

“This is an amazing instrument,” Simboli said. “I am not an organist. I had one lesson when I filled in for the regular organist. I like the different instrumentation of this beautiful organ.”

He was told because he had big hands he could play the organ, as he could reach the keys with his left fingers, which produced the sounds of the foot pedals.

The pieces Simboli chose featured the sounds of flute, chimes, trumpet, clarinet, oboe, harp and the full organ.

Aaron Grabowski sits at the organ in the loft of Holy Family Parish (St. Joseph’s Church) in Albion. The original 1896 Garret House tracker organ was converted to electro-pneumatic action in 1939-40 by Teller’s Organ Co. of Erie, Pa.

After the final concert, many concert-goers drove to the Tavern on the Ridge for supper. Among them were Joe and Linda Rak of Lyndonville, who said this was their first organ concert, but they would definitely consider it again.

“We like to do things in the community,” Linda said. “The music today was absolutely amazing. These churches were all so beautiful and in such close proximity. And the organists were so talented. It was a big learning experience to hear all the sounds an organ can make.”

One special attendee who Farley introduced was Carla Maul, who drove from Ellicottville.

“I love organ concerts and I Googled it, thinking I might find one in Buffalo,” Maul said.

She teaches a drum and bugle corps and plays brass. But she likes organ concerts for their individuality, she said.

“My favorite today was Aaron’s Cannanode,” Maul said.