Month: June 2019

Our Letters Policy

Posted 24 October 2023 at 3:00 pm

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Lady Eagles return large veteran group

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 31 August 2024 at 9:31 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Helping to lead the Kendall girls varsity soccer team into the up coming season is this quartet of veterans. From left are Sophia Picardo, Stella Kwiatek, Addison Kludt and Ava Quintern.

Underclassmen dominate the veteran laden lineup for the Kendall girls varsity soccer team which is taking aim at a top Genesee Region League finish this season.

The Lady Eagles, which went 8-4-1 in the league and 10-6-1 overall last fall have a large contingent of over 15 returnees.

Senior Ava Quintern (24 goals, 7 assists) and sophomore Sophia Picardo (14 goals, 11 assists) who both earned G-R All-Star honors and sophomore Addison Kludt, who was an Honorable Mention selection, head the Lady Eagles large veteran group.

The returning upperclassmen also include seniors Ciarra VanDusen, Ava LaMay and Leann Clay; juniors Stella Kwiatek and Alea Barrett and sophomores Keara Reed, Hailey Ball, Olivia Sawyer and Adriana Schiavone.

“We’ve got a lot of players back and we’re looking to have a very good season,” said Coach Angel Rosario.

The Lady Eagles will open G-R competition on September 9 at home against Oakfield-Alabama.

Tourney will be tune up test for Hawks

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 31 August 2024 at 9:25 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s veteran group includes, in front, Brenden Sargent, Chase Kempa and Aidan Kelley. In back are Ryan Dunn, Will Kruger, Chris Mosier, Cam Mosier and Blake Coleman.

Working to fill some holes caused by the graduation of five players who earned Genesee Region All-Star honors last fall, Holley will tune up for the league campaign by competing in the Kendall Tournament next week.

The Hawks will face Albion and Kendall will take on Rochester Prep in the tourney openers at 5 p.m. on September 5. The consolation and championship games will be on Sept. 6. The Hawks G-R opener will be Sept. 10 at Byron-Bergen.

Anchoring the Hawks lineup will be the veteran group of seniors Chris Mosier (Midfield), William Kruger (Defense), Ryan Dunn (Defense) and Brenden Sargent (Defense) along with juniors Blake Coleman (Midfield) and Cam Mosier (Forward) and sophomores Chase Kempa (Midfield) and Aidan Kelley (Defense).

Holley’s graduation losses included Cavan Benage (Goalie) and Keon Haughton (Midfield) who both earned G-R All-Star honors along with Lorenzo Zaragoza (Midfield), Carter McGuire (Defense) and Lance Babcock (Defense) who all received Honorable Mention.

“We did lose quite a bit with Benage probably being the biggest but we have a good group back and they’re working hard,” said Coach Zach Ritz.

Holley went 5-5 in the league and 6-8-2 overall last fall.

Route 63 near refuge closed until Sept. 13 due to culvert replacement

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 August 2024 at 7:29 am

ALABAMA – A section of Route 63 near the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge will remain closed to traffic until Sept. 13, the state Department of Transportation said.

The road was closed to motorists on July 1 and was anticipated to reopen on Sept. 1. But that has been pushed back about two weeks for a federal culvert replacement project.

Motorists are encouraged to follow the posted detour that utilizes State Route 77, Gasport Road and Route 31. Local traffic will be able to access Route 63 up to the immediate work zone. The refuge remains open.

Medina and Akron score N-O golf wins

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 30 August 2024 at 8:08 pm

In Niagara-Orleans League golf action today Medina gained a forfeit win over Wilson which had only two players and Akron downed Barker 237-293.

Wilson’s Ben Meyers took medalist honors with a 41.

Cam Fike shot 44 and Ryleigh Culver 48 for Medina which is now 1-1.

Thunder Hallett shot 40 to earn medalist honors for Akron which improves to 2-0. Aiden Romesser, Cam Wild and Brodie Hill all added rounds of 46 for the Tigers.

Nate Popovich led Barker with a 46.

Albion school district seeks solution for crossing guard after position cut by village

Posted 30 August 2024 at 3:37 pm

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – With the 2024-25 school year quickly approaching, the Albion Central School District continues to be deeply concerned regarding the Village of Albion’s decision to eliminate its crossing guard.

The village budget was passed on Thursday, April 25, and the district was notified of the change in early June, not by Village of Albion trustees, but by the Albion Police Department. According to Mickey Edwards, Superintendent of ACS, it was Lt. Brandon Annable, the position’s previous supervisor, who called to notify the district of the change.

As they were notified in June, and Albion school district had already passed its budget that May, the District and its Board of Education were shocked.

“No one wants to see any of our students injured while crossing the road,” said ACS Board of Education President Wayne Wadhams.

“The safety of our students has to come first,” ACS Board of Education Vice President Linda Weller said. “All students get bussed, except those closest to the school and those are village students who need a crossing guard.”

As soon as they were made aware the village had not included a crossing guard in its annual budget, Edwards said the district looked into hiring for the position directly.

“We have always prioritized the safety and security of our students,” Edwards stated. “Putting students at risk is never an option.”

“I understand that money is tight but I don’t think that our children’s safety is a place to cut funding,” BOE member Kurt Schmitt said. “These are village children that are walking home and we need to keep them safe. If the school was legally allowed to hire the crossing guard, we would.”

It was during this time Bond, Schoeneck & King, the District’s law firm, advised that, due to section 208-A of the NYS General Municipal Law (click here), the school district is not legally allowed to directly employ the primary crossing guard.

Bond, Schoeneck & King also advised the district that the only time in which it is allowed to enter an agreement with a village or police department, with the purpose of directly hiring a crossing guard, is to increase the number of school crossing guards already employed by the respective village or police department.

Consequently, for this to be possible, the village or police department would already need to have a crossing guard on their payroll.

For at least the last decade, the Village of Albion has employed the crossing guard that has been supervised by Albion PD. In the absence of an employed guard, Albion Police Chief David Mogle has said that his officers will help to provide coverage.

“We are going to do the best we can,” Chief Mogle said. “We will do what we have to do to protect the kids.”

The Albion PD has two officers on duty at a time, meeting the department’s minimum staffing requirement, to help ensure the officers’ safety when attending calls. According to Chief Mogle, while the department tends to be busier in the afternoon there is still the potential for the officer filling in as the crossing guard to be called away, no matter the time of day.

“We hope that the school and the village are able to hash it out and find a dedicated guard to fill the position,” Chief Mogle said.

This is not the first time the Albion BOE has discussed this issue, according to Weller.

“The first time was in 2017 when the village first tried to get rid of the crossing guard and the district tried to work with the village to find a solution,” Weller explained. “As a Board, we thought this matter had been solved as it has been a village budgeted item since before I was on the board. This isn’t a new law, why they (the village trustees) chose to cut it out of the budget this year, only the village can answer that.”

“This is the second time, since I’ve been on the school board, that this issue has come up,” Wadhams added. “We need to find a long-lasting solution to prevent this from becoming an annual problem.”

ACS’s School Resource Officer Deputy Matthew Prawel agreed and emphasized that drop-off and pick-up times are an especially important part of his day.

“It should come as no surprise that our students’ most vulnerable moments are when they are outside our buildings during arrival and dismissal times,” Prawel said. “My presence is most needed when students are getting on and off buses to ensure the safety of our students as they enter and leave our buildings.”

His job isn’t over once students have boarded or unloaded from the buses, he is also in charge of ensuring transportation on and off campus runs smoothly.

“My focus is on making sure our students, staff and visitors are all safe while they are at Albion Central Schools,” Prawel said. “I strap on the yellow traffic vest twice a day for both our Middle School and High School dismissal times. For me to cover the crosswalk, in addition to the district’s driveways, would not be possible and leave people at risk.”

Morning arrival isn’t any easier, according to the District’s SRO.

“Drop-off time is especially difficult as the avenue is used heavily for people commuting to work at that time,” Prawel said.

“Whether the school was on the avenue or not, that would be a high-risk area for someone crossing Route 31 in the mornings.”

The school district and Prawel emphasize the importance of the work and dedication of the Albion Police Department and its ongoing assistance in keeping our school and village community safe.

“We are incredibly grateful to Chief Mogle and the rest of the Albion Police Department, for continuing to be great partners in prioritizing the safety of our students, staff, and greater Albion community,” Edwards said.

“I couldn’t do it without their support,” Prawel agreed. “The Albion Police Department is integral in ensuring our school and village community remain safe.”

‘Lumps and Bumps Clinic’ part of Resource Fair on Sept. 12 at OCH

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 August 2024 at 2:49 pm

Photo by Ginny Kropf: An addition to this year’s Resource Fair at Medina Memorial Hospital will be a “Lumps and Bumps Clinic” with surgeon Dr. Devon Huff, shown here comparing notes with Jorgie Lang, office coordinator in the surgery clinic.

MEDINA – This year’s Resource Fair sponsored by Orleans Community Health on Sept. 12 will have several new features. The event will run from 4 to 7 p.m.

Topping the list of new features will be a Lumps and Bumps Clinic with surgeon, Dr. Devon Huff.

Huff will see people with lesions, warts or skin tags and offer to remove them if appropriate.

“It is often very difficult to get an appointment to see a dermatologist and get evaluated,” Huff said. “If a pathologist can tell us what it is, we can remove it with minimal scarring.”

Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach, said features such as the Lumps and Bumps Clinic are reasons why more people will come.

Huff joined Orleans Community Health at the beginning of the year, where he spends one/half day in the clinic and one day a week in surgery. His full-time affiliation is with Kenmore Mercy Hospital in Buffalo.

Huff said working in a small hospital has its advantages, as long as you stick to what a small town hospital can do.

“It’s nice not to be stressed out and the people here are so nice,” he said.

He said it is important to build back the prominence of a hospital in a small town, so people will know what it has to offer.

Robinson praised Huff, calling him a “dedicated yet modest general surgeon with a great deal of experience in wound care.”

Huff came to Buffalo from the sun-soaked Ventura County in California in 2003 for medical school, Robinson said. He married a fellow med school alumna, who is now a pediatric emergency room doctor at Oishei Children’s Hospital. They have two daughters, aged 5 and 9.

Beyond the operating room Huff’s diverse array of hobbies includes real estate development, where he has had success beathing new life into older homes though renovation projects, Robinson said.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Huff finds joy in outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing and mountain biking. He loves to travel, especially to national parks, where he enjoys expanding his love of photography.

“Dr. Huff’s dedication to patient care, coupled with his diverse interests, promises a unique and enriching contribution to the healthcare community,” Robinson said.

In addition to the Lumps and Bumps Clinic, the Resource Fair will offer tours of the hospital at 4, 5 and 6 p.m.; a chance to meet with representatives from several countywide organizations; Stop-the-Bleed training from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and a chance to talk with hospital personnel regarding patient portal, billing, health insurance and more. All are free.

There will also be an opportunity to register for testing in radiology and/or for a hospital blood draw at $10 per test.

It is also noted a second Stop the Bleed training is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. Sept. 18 at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.  The training teaches participants how to recognize life-threatening bleeding, apply direct pressure, use tourniquets and pack wounds.

Eagles look to challenge for top G-R honors

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 30 August 2024 at 12:06 pm

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s veteran group includes, in front, Jonathan Reyes, Michael Colucci and Ethan Hardenbrook. In back are Jonny Conte, Jonathan Esposito, William Kludt, Vinnie D’Agostino and Colby Hughes. Missing is Emiliano Sanchez.

Boasting a strong veteran nucleus, Kendall will tune-up for the upcoming Genesee Region League campaign by hosting a season opening tournament next week.

The tourney will get underway on September 5 with Kendall taking on Rochester Prep and Holley facing Albion both at 5 p.m. The consolation and championship games will be held on September 6.

Kendall’s veteran contingent includes seniors William Kludt, Colby Hughes, Jonathan Reyes and Emiliano Sanchez along with juniors Jonathan Esposito, Michael Colucci, Ethan Hardenbrook, Vinnie D’Agostino and Jonny Conte who will man the goal position.

Hughes earned G-R All-Star honors last fall while Kludt and Reyes both received Honorable Mention.

“Our defense is pretty solid and we’ve got a good group on offense so I expect to challenge for the G-R title,” said Coach Rich Esposito. “I think we will be right in it.”

The Eagles graduation losses included G-R All-Stars Jimmie Swift (Goalie) and Louis Conte (Forward) along with Honorable Mention selection Josh Esposito (Midfield).

Kendall, which went 5-4-1 in the league and 9-9-1 overall last fall, will begin G-R competition at Attica on Sept. 10.

Lady Hawks face a rebuilding task

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 30 August 2024 at 11:53 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading Holley into the upcoming soccer season will be this group of veterans. In front are Mia Thom, Zoey Wolf and Hanna Ostrom. In back are Alexia Renner, Alivia Wolf, Natalie Foose, Kylee Dann and Mackenzie Fiorito.

Facing a bit of a rebuilding task, Holley will begin prepping for the Genesee Region League girls soccer season by competing at the Wheatland-Chili Tournament on September 5 and 7. The Lady Hawks will face Caledonia-Mumford in the semifinals.

Graduation took 11 players from last year’s state semifinal team including six who earned spots on the G-R All-Star squad. Those players include G-R All-Stars Samantha Bates (29 goals, 10 assists), Jailyn Bishop (11 goals, 13 assists), Emma Brady (9 goals, 9 assists) and Bella Thom (5 goals, 7 assists) along with Honorable Mention selections Layne Walker and Leigha Walker.

“We lost a lot but we return a good group,” said Coach Renee Wolf. “We’ve rebuilt before.”

Holley is led by a veteran group of eight regulars including seniors Alivia Wolf (4 goals, 6 assists), Zoey Wolf (4 goals, 2 assists), Natalie Foose, Kylee Dann, Alexia Renner and Mackenzie Fiorito along with sophomore Mia Thom (3 goals, 4 assists) and freshman Hanna Ostrom. Zoey Wolf earned G-R All-Star honors last fall and Alivia Wolf was an Honorable Mention selection.

The Lady Hawks, which went 11-2 in the league and 18-4 overall last fall, will open the G-R campaign against Pembroke on September 9.

Low risk of high-water levels for Lake Ontario in next 6 months

Photos by Tom Rivers: The sun sets on Lake Ontario in this photo on Aug. 9 at Lighthouse Christian Camp in Barker.

Posted 30 August 2024 at 9:21 am

Press Release, International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board  

Recent Lake Ontario forecasts indicate that under average water supply conditions, water levels are expected to remain near average through November 2024 and well within the expected range for this time of year.

“Water supply conditions have resulted in one of the longest periods of sustained near long-term average water levels on Lake Ontario,” said General Quander, United States Co-Chair of the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board.

Lake Ontario, which has been within (+9 cm/- 15 cm and +3.5 in/- 5.9 in) of the seasonal long-term average since the start of calendar year 2024, is anticipated to continue its gradual seasonal decline through the fall months. The risk of high-water levels remains low for the six-month forecast period.

In consideration of the current and projected conditions, the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board plans to use its minor deviation authority to deviate from Regulation Plan 2014 through October 18, 2024.

This minor deviation is expected to provide more predictable water levels on Lake St. Lawrence and the upper St. Lawrence River for recreational navigation, while having minimal impacts on other interests throughout the system. The Board also plans to use its minor deviation authority to conduct a temporary flow reduction in early September to facilitate in-water inspections of Hydro-Quebec facilities.

Regulation Plan 2014 is the set of rules that govern Lake Ontario outflows, which influence water levels across the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River system. A rule within Plan 2014 known as the “September Rule” prescribes flow increases through the Moses-Saunders Dam if the water level of Lake Ontario measures above 74.8 m (245.4 ft.) at the beginning of September.

This photo from Aug. 9 shows the sunset from the shore in Barker.

Increased Lake Ontario outflows cause water levels of Lake St. Lawrence, immediately upstream of the Moses-Saunders Dam, to decrease. This reduction in Lake St. Lawrence water levels could negatively impact the recreational boating community in the final weeks of the season.

Therefore, the Board will use its authority to deviate from Plan 2014 and adjust flows through October 18, 2024, to target a minimum weekly mean water level of Lake St. Lawrence of 73.1 m (239.8 ft).  The Board cautions that levels may drop below this minimum target for periods during the week if strong easterly winds occur. As required by the Directive, the Board plans to fully offset the impacts of the deviation by increasing flows starting on October 19, 2024.

“As water levels throughout the system continue their gradual seasonal decline, the Board encourages recreational boaters to monitor the water level forecasts to determine the optimal time to remove their vessels and equipment for the season”, said Dr. Wayne Jenkinson, Alternate Canadian Co-Chair of the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board.

Green wins first match for U.S. at Curtis Cup

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 30 August 2024 at 9:14 am

Contributed Photo – Melanie Green

Medina’s Melanie Green got off to a strong start for Team USA in Curtis Cup competition at Sunningdale, England this morning.

Playing in the tournament’s first match, Green and her partner Rachel Kuehn scored a 6 and 4 foursomes victory over the Great Britain/Ireland team sister duo of Patience and Mimo Rhodes.

Green and Kuehn jumped out to an early 3 up lead after just five holes to help Team USA take an early 2-1 lead in the competition.

This is the first Curtis Cup tournment for Green and the third for Kuehn. Earlier this summer Green also competed for Team USA in the Arnold Palmer Cup tournament in Ireland.

The tournament matches a team of 8 U.S. amateurs against 8 amateurs from Great Britain and Ireland with the competition continuing on Saturday and Sunday.

Albion denied in Bridge NY grant to fix Brown Street bridge

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Brown Street bridge is shown on Thursday evening over the Erie Canal in Albion. The bridge has been closed for more than a decade.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 August 2024 at 8:28 am

ALBION – The Albion Village Board acknowledges it was a “long shot.” The village applied for a Bridge NY grant to fix the Brown Street bridge, which has been closed for about a decade.

Village Board members worry about the deteriorating condition of the bridge. They say paint and pieces are falling into the canal.

The village didn’t get the grant that sought $5,574,000 to overhaul the bridge, but Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley said the board isn’t going to sit back and accept the bridge’s sad fate.

Jay Grasso, the village’s grant writer, said other projects were approved in the county for Bridge NY money. He said the state tries to spread out the funds around the state.

“Only so much can go into Orleans County,” he told the board on Wednesday.

The Village Board back in February reached out to the county, state and federal levels for help with the deteriorating Brown Street bridge. The structure from 1912 has been closed to vehicular traffic since July 18, 2012 after an inspection by the state Department of Transportation showed serious deterioration of major elements of the steel truss floor system.

The board wants the bridge to get a major rehabilitation or be removed. A letter has been sent to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle, State Sen. Rob Ortt, Assemblyman Steve Hawley and County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson. But Riley says the response has been “crickets.”

The bridge is owned by the state Department of Transportation. The village was able to get DOT permission to apply for the Bridge NY grant.

The bridge remains open for pedestrians, but village officials said rusty bridge pieces are falling into the canal. The board included photos in the letter of the bridge, calling it a “biohazard” for the Erie Canal.

“You can see clearly from the pictures the erosion of paint, rust, steel fragments, missing bolts and concrete that have fallen into the canal,  contaminating it and its tributaries, like Sandy Creek,” according to the letter from the board.

Hawley seeks delay in Advanced Clean Truck regulation

Posted 30 August 2024 at 8:04 am

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) drafted a letter to Gov. Hochul on Wednesday requesting that the Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) regulation delay its enforcement start date from Jan. 1, 2025.

Following conversations with constituents and local business owners who rely on trucks for their operations, Hawley has learned that the implementation of the program – which resulted from an effort to curb excess emissions from shipping trucks – is already producing problems businesses are struggling to accommodate in this short timeframe. Hawley is asking for the delay until the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority conducts and concludes the highway and depot charging needs evaluation.

“The New York State Automobile Dealers Association (NYSADA) and the Trucking Association of New York (TANY) have already expressed concerns with the regulation’s implementation next year, and their claims need to be heeded” Hawley said.

“As a government we need to start listening to all stakeholders who will be affected by decisions New York State makes.  In this case, it would appear that truck dealers and trucking businesses have never been consulted. Unfortunately, this happens over and over again with the State of New York.”

Mount Albion tour brings 100 to learn about lore of historic cemetery

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 August 2024 at 6:09 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – About 100 people gather outside the chapel at Mount Albion Cemetery at the start of a cemetery tour on Sunday evening. The Ingersoll Memorial Foundation is in front.

The event closed out the four cemetery tours organized by the Orleans County Historical Association. Other tours included West Ridgeway Cemetery, the Orleans County “Poorhouse Cemetery” in Albion, St. Mary’s Cemetery in Medina.

The Mount Albion tour drew the biggest crowd. People were able to go inside the chapel which is dedicated in memory of former Albion Mayor Donna Rodden.

Albion Village Historian Sue Starkweather Miller led the tour with retired county historian Bill Lattin. Starkweather Miler said the chapel from 1875 needs significant repairs to the roof and other improvements.

A committee has been formed to spearhead fundraising for the project, which could top $100,000. Besides Starkweather Miller, other committee members include Tony Wynn, Toni Plummer, Tim Archer and David Snell.

Sue Starkweather Miller discusses how on Aster Day people decorate the gravestones of loved ones with asters, flowers which are a sign of remembrance. Aster Day used to be a big celebration at Mount Albion around Sept. 15.

Mount Albion was developed in the rural cemetery movement, creating a park-like setting. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, the first site in Orleans County on the National Register.

There are about 22,000 people buried in the cemetery but not all have gravestones. The clerk’s book at the cemetery keeps a record of everyone at Mount Albion, Lattin said.

Sue Starkweather Miller shares about Donna Strickland Rodden, the first woman to serve as mayor of Albion. She was in that role from 1973 to 1983. She was a big proponent of historic preservation and pushed to have Mount Albion and the downtown business district named to the national registers of historic places.

She was a “brilliant woman” who earned two doctorates and also a master’s degree in journalism. Rodden worked in New York City before returning to her hometown where she was a school librarian and class advisor, as well as the village mayor. She also ran a gift shop and wrote a song about Mount Albion that was played at the cemetery tour called, “Top of the Tower.”

Bill Lattin holds a carved frame made by Jerome Gumaer, who lived from 1843 to 1912. Gumaer carved the frame while a prisoner of war at the Libby Prison at the Confederate capital of Richmond, Va.

Sue Starkweather Miller discusses the life of Henry “Hank” Porter who worked as a chief illustrator for Disney. Porter joined Disney in 1936, and worked on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, including the scene when the Dwarfs leave the mine singing “Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, it’s home from work we go.”

He was part of the team that created Fantasia and Donald Duck. Porter also is credited with the iconic looping “D” is Disney’s signature.

During the World War II era, he was one of Disney’s most prolific artists, creating more than a thousand insignia and emblems for the military, other US Government agencies and charity organizations involved in the war effort, according to an article in Cartoon Research.

Porter died of cancer at age 50 in 1950. Lattin showed a self portrait by Porter in 1921 when he was in art school at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. Porter painted himself lighting a cigarette.

Bill Lattin shows a button that has been in his family for generations. Robert Capstick, a Civil War soldier, gave it to Lattin’s great-grandmother Sarah Harding who used to live on West Countyhouse Road. Capstick was destitute but he had the brass button and gave it to Harding in appreciation for nursing him back to health.

The button is from the inauguration of George Washington in 1789 and declares “Long Live The President.” Capstick is buried at Mount Albion.

Sue Starkweather Miller highlights George Bullard, a state assemblyman and attorney. He was very active in local civic affairs. In his will he left 24 acres to the Village of Albion that became Bullard Park. The park opened in 1928.

Bill Lattin speaks at monument for the Whitmore family, which he said is one of his favorites at Mount Albion. The monument is shaped like a houses. It has oaks and acorns, which are symbols for strength and endurance.

Lattin said the monument reflects the patriarchy of the day. It lists the name of the man, Samuel S. Whitmore (1802 to 1883), in big bold letters. His spouse, Laura Nowlin, is referred to as “his wife” in smaller letters. Very seldom, if ever, is there a monument that lists a woman’s spouse as “her husband,” Lattin noted.

Mount Albion was considered a pre-eminent place to be buried, a “status cemetery,” Lattin said. Many people who weren’t from Albion opted to have their grave site at Mount Albion, he said.

Sue Starkweather Miller discusses the life of George D. Harris, a prominent local builder and contractor. His office was on the canal. He died in 1918 at the age of 50.

The painting is by Peter West, who gave it to Harris in exchange for work. The rod and reel in the painting were owned by Harris. (West’s grave was also a stop on the cemetery tour. He was a professional animal painter.)

Three of Harris’s granddaughters attended the tour on Sunday, and his grandson listened by speaker phone.

As a contractor Harris built many new homes in Albion and redesigned others, including the former Swan Library, the Trolley Depot next to Swan Library, Jacob Landauer’s home on West State Street, the Baptist Parsonage, remodeled the Citizen’s National Bank, remodeled the Village Hall, built the Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital and built a high school at the two bridges in Carlton which has since been demolished.