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New owners for Pratt, Day & Day buildings see sites as downtown hub for Albion
Michael Bonafede, Judith Koehler praised for work reviving historic complex
Photos by Tom Rivers: The historic Pratt and Day buildings, plus a stone building in back, have many tenants in downtown Albion. When Michael Bonafede and Judith Koehler acquired the Day and Pratt buildings about 20 years ago, there was only one paying tenant at $50 a month. Now the Pratt Event Center, at 114-120 North Main St., has several tenants offering an array of services and merchandise.
ALBION – Twenty years ago the fate of the Pratt Opera House and the neighboring Day and Day Building looked grim. The old opera house had a stage thick with pigeon poop and bird carcasses. It hadn’t hosted an event in about 70 years.
The roof was shot and windows were missing. The entire complex was mostly vacant. There were only two tenants – David Gates, who ran a martial arts studio on the second floor, was a paying tenant at $50 a month, and McDonald’s paid $25 a month for storage space.
Michael Bonafede and Judith Koehler saw potential in the historic buildings, and they weren’t afraid of the hard work to get there. They were strongly urged by Albion’s mayor at the time, Ed Salvatore, to take on the challenge of reviving the site, with Salvatore seeing the opera house as a cultural destination and a drawing card for the downtown.
The couple has met their goal of bringing many tenants to the downtown and securing a certificate of occupancy for the theater. They have passed the reins to new owners, Taylor McCabe and Sara Barbur of Genesee County. McCabe is an electrical contractor with McCabe Enterprises in Pembroke while his partner, Barbur, works as a traveling registered nurse.
They have been friends with the Bonafede-Koehler family for many years. The new owners have deep respect for Bonafede and Koehler’s work with the historic structures in the downtown.
“It has been 20 years of toil to bring these buildings back,” McCabe said. “It went from near condemnation to a hub of the downtown. They basically saved the buildings.”
Sara Barbur and Taylor McCabe are shown with Michael Bonafede and Judith Koehler on the stage in the Pratt Theater, which opened as the Pratt Opera House in 1890. The stage was expanded in 1902, becoming the largest stage between Buffalo and Rochester for many years. The theater once sat 800 people and included a horseshoe-shaped balcony, orchestra pit and four surviving boxes. The theater has 300 seats today and will be hosting a concert on Sunday.
McCabe’s father, Barry McCabe, has been a long-time friend of Bonafede and Koehler. McCabe and Bonafede worked together fixing about 50 older homes in Rochester.
When Mike and Judy had a fire in their Albion home in 2010, Barry and his son Taylor were there in the middle of the night to repair the electric and get the power back on.
When Bonafede and Koehler bought the Pratt and Day & Day buildings, the electric in the building could have been considered a fire hazard. Barry McCabe put in new electric, doing it as a favor to his friends with his son Taylor helping over the years on some of the projects.
“We have crawled around so many cubbies of this building,” Taylor said.
Bonafede and Koehler say the buildings are in good hands with the new owners.
“They will do things different from us but their vision is aligned with ours,” Bonafede said.
Besides the Pratt and Day & Day sites, Barbur and McCabe acquired a historic stone building and a parking lot in back from Bonafede and Koehler. That stone building was owned by Mary Hollenbeck before Bonafede and Koehler bought it about a decade ago. It shares a common wall with the Pratt.
The “Stone Building” is behind the Pratt and Day & Day buildings, facing Liberty Street.
Argento’s Deli and Bakery, and the Furniture Room are among the tenants in the stone building that was originally built in 1840. It survived big fires close by in 1860 and 1880, Bonafede said.
The stone building also is used for storage. McCabe sees other potential in that building for loft apartments, or a green room because it is connected to the Pratt theater.
Although they are no longer the owners, Bonafede and Koehler were remain active helping to promote the sites, especially with concerts and entertainment in the theater. Bonafede was the drummer of the famed Black Sheep band, where Lou Gramm was lead singer before joining Foreigner. Gramm sang on the Pratt stage on June 23, 2024 in two reunion concerts with his Black Sheep band mates.
There will be another concert this Sunday starting at 4 p.m. with Black Sheep. Gramm won’t be available this time because he is on tour. Garrett Crumb, a lead singer with “Johnny Smoke,” will be singing with Black Sheep.
Other performers in the concert include The Pratt Pack Pit Band, Eclipse, Frequency Theory and The Royal Body Church Choir.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, and are available at Argento’s Deli, Rise and Grind, The Downtown Browsery, Digital Ink Arts and Arnold’s Auto Parts, or online at www.prattmusic26eventbrite.com.
The tenants of the three sites now include the Downtown Browsery, Argento’s Deli & Bakery, The Furniture Room, Paranormal Response, Red Check Rustic, Albion Bible Baptist Church, Homestead Mending Company, Project U, Old Books at the New Bridge, a holistic health and healing business, studio space for D.J. Button, and a pottery business, the Maggie Potters.
“This is the most occupied space in downtown Albion,” Koehler said.
Sara Barbur and Taylor McCabe, new owners of three downtown buildings in Albion, see lots of potential in the district, and want to see the theater hosts many events for the community. They are shown in the historic Pratt Theater.
McCabe said owning the three historic sites is a good business opportunity, especially with the buildings now in good condition with many tenants. But he sees it as an outlet for community service. As McCabe Enterprises has got busier, McCabe said he has had less time for community initiatives.
He used to be president of the Lyndonville Tigers amateur football team, and McCabe often had the players out doing community cleanups, projects and fundraisers.
Barbur said owning the downtown buildings is “outside the daily grind” in her usual career. She embraces the challenge of bringing even more activity to the properties.
“Taylor is the dreamer, and I’m the more practical person,” Barbur said. “But this will be an adventure together.”
Lou Gramm gave a high-octane performance at the Pratt on June 23, 2024. He is shown singing one of seven Black Sheep songs with Michael Bonafede playing the drums and Alona Kuhns on bass. McCabe Enterprises, an electrical contractor, and Milton CAT brought in the equipment and installed an air conditioning system in the theater for the two shows.
When the Pratt was gearing up for the Black Sheep reunion concert on June 23, 2024, the area was gripped in a stifling heat wave with temps in the 90s. That was too hot for the third floor of the opera house. Bonafede was worried about the crowd and the performers in such a hot space.
He reached out to McCabe about bringing in air conditioning. McCabe was able to secure a generator from Milton CAT and bring in an enormous air conditioner and install the piping to keep the temps down to 72 degrees in an uninsulated theater. Bonafede could see McCabe’s commitment and ability to solve problems with that feat.
McCabe said working out the AC for the two concerts that day was exhilarating.
“I felt incredible,” he said, recalling those concerts in a cool theater. “We enjoyed being a part of that. It was a big milestone.”
Judith Koehler is shown given a tour of the GAR Room last year. This is a rare, historic Grand Army of the Republic meeting room at 116 North Main St. Civil War veterans from three local brigades gathered in this room from 1884 to 1930.
Bonafede and Koehler said some potential buyers have shown interest in the properties, but they didn’t feel like their vision matched Bonafede’s and Koehler’s. They are confident Barbur and McCabe are the right people to lead the properties.
“We see these buildings as a community,” Bonafede said about the three historic sites. “We want fair rents for the tenants and for them to be cooperative people, working together.”
McCabe and Barbur said their goal is to foster economic development for small businesses, while preserving the Pratt theater for performances and events, and also to continue to safeguard at the GAR Room on the third floor of the Day & Day Building.
“These are two sacred spaces with the Pratt and the GAR,” McCabe said. “They need to be cared for and preserved for the long-term.”
Michael Bonafede is shown in November 2022 with a mural in Beaver Alley with a Gold Medal Flour mural on the Pratt building. Bonafede had paint scraped off that summer from the brick wall when he saw remnants of the original Gold Medal Flour mural. He and his wife, Judith Koehler, decided to recreate the original mural from the early 1900s.
Holley spikers down Lyndonville
Holley downed host Lyndonville in straight sets 25-20, 25-20, 27-25 in a Genesee Region League volleyball match Thursday evening.
For Holley, Brianna Pellegrino had 5 kills, 5 aces and 3 digs, Madison Bonacci 4 kills, 5 assists and 3 aces and Chelsea Cervone 4 aces and 3 assists.
For Lyndonville, Leah Kenyon had 9 kills and Hannah Fox 5 aces and 2 kills.
Tenney’s website has info to help access new Trump Accounts for children
Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) announced a new Trump Accounts informational resource on her congressional website to help families across New York’s 24th District understand the program, eligibility requirements, and how to access official federal resources.
Trump Accounts are tax-advantaged accounts established for eligible children under federal law. Children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, who meet federal eligibility requirements may receive a one-time $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury.
The accounts are established for eligible children who are U.S. citizens, under federal law in the child’s name, with a parent or guardian serving as custodian until the child turns 18. Tenney’s new constituent resource provides an overview of Trump Accounts, information about the federal seed contribution and certain charitable contributions, and instructions for accessing the official Trump Accounts program.
“Every parent wants to give their child a strong start and the opportunity to build a successful future,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Trump Accounts create a new opportunity for eligible children to have an account established in their name, including a $1,000 federal contribution for those who qualify. Families deserve clear and accessible information about federal programs available to them, which is why our office has created this resource to explain how Trump Accounts work and connect constituents directly with the official federal program.”
To view the Trump Accounts resource on Congresswoman Tenney’s website, click here.
Lady Eagles down Lady Bees in G-R soccer
Kendall bested visiting Byron-Bergen 4-1 in a Genesee Region League girls soccer game this evening as the Lady Eagles improve to 7-0.
Kendall jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half on goals by Sophia Picardo and Jersie Drake off a corner by Ryleigh Denning.
Denning and Drake also scored two quick goals in the second half after the Lady Bees had cut the deficit to 2-1 on a penalty kick goal.
Notre Dame 2, Holley 1
Notre Dame edged visiting Holley 2-1 in another G-R contest.
Holley tied the game in the second half as Emma Burne scored off an assist from Carsyn Mogle.
However, Notre Dame answered with the game winning goal in the final 15 minutes.
Akron posts key field hockey win over Barker
Defending champion Akron posted a key 5-0 win over visiting Barker this afternoon to take over first place atop the Niagara-Orleans League field hockey standings.
Akron improves to 4-0 with the victory while Barker slips into the runner-up spot at 5-1.
Abigail Schlabach scored 2 goals and Brooke Milhollen, Brooklyn Gerstung and Mackenzie Tomporowski each had 1 for Akron;
Akron held narrow leads of 1-0 at the half and 2-0 at the three-quarter mark before locking up the win with a big three goal final period.
The Roy-Hart vs. Medina game was rescheduled for October 10.
In a non league game Wilson defeated Sacred Heat 6-0 as Brynn Lepsch scored 4 goals and Taylor Ernest 2.
Courthouse dome will be lighted in orange next week, then purple in October
County seeks to highlight “Every Child Matters” and domestic violence awareness
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Orleans County Courthouse dome is shown last October when it was lighted up in purple in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The dome will again be lighted in purple from Oct. 2 to Oct. 16 for domestic violence awareness.
The courthouse top also will be illumined in orange from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 for “Every Child Matters Day,” which is recognized on Sept. 30 across Indigenous communities. The day is a time to reflect on the truths of U.S. and Canadian boarding school histories, honor survivors, and commit to healing, reconciliation and education, Orleans County legislators said in a proclamation.
Orleans County Legislator Don Allport on Tuesday presents a proclamation in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. He presented it to Kelley Ortiz, senior caseworker; Cyndi Stumer, deputy commissioner of the Orleans County Department of Social Services; and Judianne Gearing, supervisor in DSS.
Legislators said that while 90 percent of domestic violence cases go unreported, 265 cases were reported to the Orleans County Domestic Violence Unit in 2024, 249 cases were reported in 2025 and 248 cases so far this year from Jan. 1 to Sept. 1.
“Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behavior that may include physical, emotional, psychological, economic, or sexual abuse, perpetrated by an intimate partner over another, to establish and maintain power and control,” the proclamation states.
Domestic violence is the major cause of injury to women, resulting in more injuries to women then auto accidents, muggings and rapes combined, legislators stated.
“Domestic violence is a serious crime that affects people regardless of socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, age, gender, education, employment status, physical ableness, marital status, or childhood history,” the proclamation stated.
Legislator Allport also presented a proclamation about “Every Child Matters Day” for Sept. 30 to DSS caseworker Isabella Gibbs and DSS Commissioner Shirley Mazourek.
The proclamation states that beginning in the early 1800s and lasting well into the 20th century, hundreds of thousands of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children were removed from their families and communities and placed in more than 500 government and church-run Indian boarding schools.
“Many endured the loss of culture, language, traditions and identity, and many children never returned home,” the proclamation stated. “These schools caused intergenerational trauma that continues to affect Indigenous peoples, families and communities today, while Indigenous nations, families, and cultures continue to demonstrate resilience, strength and survival.”
Orange Shirt Day began in 2013 to honor survivors of residential and boarding schools, remember the children who never came home, and recognize the enduring impacts of these institutions.
“The Orleans County Department of Social Services will continue to collaborate with Tribes and Indigenous-led organizations to guide this work in culturally responsive and respectful ways; and commits to listening to Indigenous students and families to guide ongoing efforts toward healing, equity and belonging,” the proclamation states.
The County Legislature also issued a proclamation that declared October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.” Legislator John Fitzak presents the proclamation to the county IT team that includes secretary Lily Kiebala, computer specialist Dan neary, senior computer specialist David Janus, system engineer Zach Reed, system engineer Don Mack, and IT director Ryan Woolston.
The Legislature and IT department encourage people to monitor your accounts, be conscientious of what you share online, keep computer software up to date, create unique passwords and change them regularly, install anti-virus programs and firewalls, and use mobile devices safely. Those are ways you can protect yourself from phishing, viruses, malware, and loss of sensitive data, they said.
“Maintaining the security of cyberspace is a shared responsibility in which each of us has a critical role to play, and awareness of computer security essentials will improve the security of Orleans County’s information, infrastructure and economy,” the proclamation states.
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Hawley says state POWER checks exclude seniors who didn’t file tax returns
Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is raising concerns that New York State’s new Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) program excludes seniors and other New Yorkers who did not file a 2024 state income tax return, including individuals who may not have been required to file one.
New York State began mailing POWER rebate checks on Sept. 21, with eligible taxpayers receiving $100, $150 or $200. The checks are being distributed automatically based on 2024 tax returns rather than being provided as a tax credit.
State law requires recipients to have been full-year New York residents in 2024 and to have timely filed a 2024 New York State income tax return. The law also establishes income limits and requires that the taxpayer is not claimed as a dependent.
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance specifically states that individuals who did not file a 2024 New York resident income tax return will not receive a POWER rebate check. There is no application process for a non-filer to simply apply for the payment.
“If we’re going to spend $1 billion on energy relief, we should make sure it reaches the people who need it most, including seniors who aren’t required to file a return,” said Hawley. “I support rebate checks for families struggling with utility bills. Checks arriving this fall won’t make next winter’s bill affordable. Without the long-term changes to our energy system that our Conference has called for, this is a Band-Aid on a problem Albany still needs to fix.”
For more information on the POWER rebate program and eligibility requirements, visit the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance at tax.ny.gov.
Gillibrand seeks to halt tariffs, Trump’s import ban on Canadian products
Press Release, U.S. Kirsten Gillibrand
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a virtual press conference demanding passage of her legislation to curb President Trump’s costly trade war with Canada. This comes less than a week before a sweeping import ban on Canadian dairy products, alcohol, and motorcycles is set to take effect.
Senator Gillibrand’s legislation, the Banning Antiquated Duties and Delivering Equitable American Levies (BAD DEAL) Act, would repeal all tariffs levied under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and refund Americans for all duties paid under this authority. This includes President Trump’s 50% tariffs on Canada as well as his forthcoming import ban on Canadian goods.
“President Trump and Republicans promised to lower costs and make life more affordable, but they’ve used their total power in Washington to make life more expensive than ever,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Let’s be clear: the latest tariffs and impending import ban on Canadian goods are a bad deal for New York families. I’m doing everything I can to halt these tariffs and lower costs for New York families.”
President Trump’s trade war with Canada is driving up prices and harming New York families. Canada is one of New York State’s largest export markets for both goods and services, and the state imports more than $20 billion annually from Canada. Already, New York families have spent over $5,500 more due to President Trump’s tariff chaos and other reckless policies. The new 50% tariffs on Canada are projected to cost businesses and households across the U.S. up to $10 billion annually.
Senator Gillibrand introduced the BAD DEAL Act last week alongside Senator Peter Welch (D-VT). Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also cosponsor the bill, and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives in August.
Senator Gillibrand has opposed President Trump’s tariffs since the start of his administration and worked tirelessly to get the American people their money back. Last year, she joined 14 of her colleagues in introducing the Small Business RELIEF Act to end Trump’s Tariff Tax and refund small businesses their duties paid. In March, she and her colleagues introduced the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act to exempt small businesses from another set of Trump-imposed tariffs and refund what they had already paid.
The full text of the BAD DEAL Act can be found by clicking here.
Big group expected locally in August to celebrate 90th anniversary of Santa School
Charles Howard remains revered figure for Santas portrayers
Photos by Tom Rivers: This group recently visited Albion to help plan for the three-day celebration in August when several hundred Santas and other enthusiasts of the Charles W-Howard Santa School will be in town to celebrate the 90thanniversary of the Santa School. From left include DeAnn and Phil Wenz, the Santa Claus for Santa’s Village Theme Park in Dundee, Illinois for 35 years; Jane Holland, granddaughter of Charles Howard; and Chris Parada, a Santa portrayer at the Christmas Cottage in Lockport and general manager of the palace Theater in Lockport. Parada also has owns the New York Santa Claus Suits & Equipment Co., which makes Santa suits in the same style designed by Charles Howard.
ALBION – The Albion community may be doing some double-takes in August when 300 to 400 people, many resembling Santa Claus, are expected to be in town as part of a 90th anniversary celebration for the Charles W. Howard Santa School.
Howard ran the school from 1937 with his last class in 1965. He passed away on May 1, 1966. The school continues in his name, now run by Tom and Holly Valent in Midland, Mich.
The chief organizers of the celebration were in Albion recently to identify sites and create itinerary for the visitors.
This photo shows Charles W. Howard with a Santa at Christmas Park in Albion. Howard operated the Park and a school for Santa Claus in Albion until his death on May 1, 1966.
The three-day celebration will be from Aug. 6-8. Most of the event will be based at the Palace Theater in Lockport, which has 1,100 seats and close access to hotels and lodging. The Palace is also run by Chris Parada, a graduate of the Charles W. Howard Santa School. Parada portrays Santa each Christmas season at Lockport, greeting about 10,000 children annually since 2010.
Parada is teaming up with Phil Wenz, who worked more than 35 years as a professional Santa, more than 200 days a year, at the Santa’s Village Theme Park in Dundee, Illinois. Wenz continues his passion as a historian for the Santa community, and holds a special reverence for Charles Howard and his impact on shaping how Santas should look and act.
Wenz commended the Albion community for embracing the life and lore of Howard, especially since a Santa convention in Albion in 2015. About 200 people attended that event.
Since then, there have been two large-scale murals celebrating Santa and Charles Howard, as well as a bronze statue of Howard as Santa. The State Department of Transportation also put up signs on Route 31 dedicating the section of 31 in Albion as the “Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway.”
Those are all must-see spots for the visitors, Wenz said. He also said Howard’s gravesite at Mount Albion Cemetery and the world’s largest apple pie tin at the 4-H Fairgrounds should be on the list. Howard led the effort to bake the world’s largest apple pie in 1929. That record would be broken, before being set again at the fair in 1977 with a 21,210-pound pie. That enormous pie tin is on display at the fairgrounds.
“This won’t just be Santa oriented,” Parada said about the August event. “It will be a celebration of the community and this area.”
Parada and Wenz will be debuting a theatrical performance that helps tell the story of Charles Howard and his impact, and how he went from being an apple farmer to the Macy’s Santa Claus. He was in the Thanksgiving Day parade from 1948 to 1965, appearing on national television.
Parada said he has already heard from people from Israel, Australia, Canada and many states who want to be part of the celebration and learn more about Howard’s life in Albion.
“This is like the Holy Grail to so many guys,” Parada said about Howard’s hometown. “We’re dealing with people from all over the United States.”
The gathering won’t be a Santa convention like Albion hosted in 2010 and 2015. There won’t be any courses taught on how to portray Santa.
Wenz and Parada said the event will focus on the 90 years of the Santa School, with an opportunity to learn more about Charles Howard and the Albion community.
They urge Albion and Orleans County to try to tie into the event with other promotions and activities to welcome the visitors.
The two also want to help with fundraisers for a museum and welcome center in the works for the Santa School. The Albion Betterment Committee is working on that project at 128 North Main St.
Parada praised the Betterment Committee for taking the lead on the museum and many other projects highlighting Charles Howard and the Santa School.
“It’s about believing in your community and your family,” Parada said. “That’s what Charles Howard was all about.”
