Provided photo – Albion students who attended the “Close Up” trip include, from left: Morgan Seielstad, Daniel Beam, Andrew Hollenbeck, Kaitlyn Pieniaszek, Ben Miller, Jacob Squicciarini, Dylan Bader, Drake Arnold, Alyce Miller and Scott Daniels.

Press Release
Albion Central School

ALBION – Each year, high school students from around the country gather in Washington D.C. to share ideas, embrace geographic differences, make connections and ultimately gain a better understanding of how our government works.

This experience is hosted by the “Close Up” Foundation with a mission it is to inform, inspire, and empower young people to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy. It brings together students from a wide variety of backgrounds and communities so they can share their outlooks and immerse themselves in national policy.

This year 10 students from Albion High School participated in this self-funded week-long educational experience. The trip included touring national monuments, meeting with representatives from the military, Secret Service and exploring many other opportunities.

Each of the students had different opinions of the highlights of the trip.

“This trip has taught me that even as someone who is not eligible to cast a vote, there are outlets for my voice to get heard,” said student Scott Daniels said. “A citizen in America holds immense power, we are the government, and once we become informed, we can be politically effective.”

Andrew Hollenbeck said: “The trip made it apparent that in the future, politics was going to be up to us. We are the future of this country and we better be prepared.”

Ben Miller attended one workshop which discussed the “Pledge of Allegiance.” “Being able to participate in the Close Up trip and this workshop in particular opened my eyes to the views of many people from around the U.S. and their ideas on how to improve our government.”

Alyce Miller found a unique experience that really impacted her. She said: “While on the trip to Washington, D.C., we were fortunate enough to speak with a man who had been homeless. This experience really opened our eyes to what the world is really like. He is now heading up a soup kitchen to help others who find themselves homeless. His hard work and perseverance demonstrated that you should never give up!”

Jacob Squicciarini summed up the trip by echoing a common theme amongst students. “Although it may seem that one person cannot possibly make a difference, if that one person works hard and spreads the work, others will join the cause and better times will come,” he said.

‘We have to remind ourselves it’s a building and the people make the church.’

Photos by Tom Rivers – Members of the church sing hymns during today’s service, the last Sunday service at the site. A wooden beam helps support the roof in the sanctuary. The costly repairs for the roof is prompting the congregation to move out of the building.

ALBION – The congregation at the First United Methodist Church in Albion held its final Sunday service at its historic church at the corner of Platt and East State streets this morning.

The church will have its services starting in one week at Christ Episcopal Church. The United Methodists are hosting the ecumenical Good Friday service at 7 p.m. on Friday and will have a final service later that night to close the church.

Today was an emotional service, with many long-time members wiping away tears and hugging after the service.

“It’s sad to leave,” said Leslee Lockwood, who has been attending the church for 40 years.

The church has decorated the wooden pillars that support the roof in the sanctuary.

The church faces a $1 million expense in rebuilding the roof system. The congregation of about 50 doesn’t have that kind of money. It has tried for several years to line up grants, without success. It has sought multiple estimates and bids on how to fix the building.

It has proven too much.

The congregation offered the building to the denomination, but the denomination doesn’t want it. The church plans to sell the building, but that sale date hasn’t been determined yet.

The Rev. Jack Laskowski preaches from the pulpit this morning.

Jack Laskowski, the church pastor, delivered a message of hope on the congregation’s future this morning.

He noted that on Good Friday, when Christ was crucified, the world seemed bleak. But Jesus came back on Easter, bringing hope to the world, Laskowski said.

Laskowski said the impending closing of the church building has been sad for many in the congregation. There have been generations and generations of weddings, baptisms and funerals.

Lockwood said moving from the church building would be harder for the members if it was the end for the congregation. But the church – the people – are shifting to a different site.

“It would be worse if we were going to disband,” Lockwood said.

The church has a large and magnificent stained glass window of ‘The Good Shepherd.”

After years of fretting about the failing roof and mounting building repairs, Lockood said it will be freeing to be relieved of that burden.

“We’ll be energized to do more of God’s work,” she said. “We won’t have to worry about a building, and about a roof, and falling plaster and bricks. This will free us up to do more in the community.”

Pat Davis has been coming to the church since she moved to Albion 25 years ago. She marvels about the architecture of the building from 1860. It’s one of seven churches that are part of the Courthouse Square, which is included on the National Register of Historic Places.

A church-goer sings from the hymnal during this morning’s service.

“It’s a beautiful church,” Davis said. “We have to remind ourselves it’s a building and the people make the church.”

Davis said the congregation has always been friendly and committed to the community. That’s why she has stayed and why she is relieved the group is continuing – together.

Church-goers get in line at the back of the church near “The Good Shepherd” window and wait their turn for communion this morning.

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Knights of Columbus in Albion are serving 500 chicken barbecue lunches today at St. Mary’s Athletic Club on Moore Street.

The top photo shows Tom O’Hearn, Dusty DeCarlo and Mike Fischer. The trio and a bigger cooking crew arrived at 7 a.m. to prepare the chickens.

O’Hearn’s hand and a thermometer appear in the photo of all the chickens.

The chicken barbecues are a Palm Sunday tradition for the Knights, which plans to share proceeds of the event with Boy Scouts and Hospice of Orleans.

Inside St. Mary’s, volunteers prepare the meals with cole slaw, rolls, potatoes and desserts. Jean Smith is in front, followed by Mary Ann Tillman, Michele Grabowski and Joan Adduci.

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Lisa Burlsion, wife of the late Wayne Burlison, welcomes runners and walkers to the first “Run for Wayne,” which started at 12:01 p.m. today on Clarendon Road by the elementary school, where Mr. Burlison was a music teacher for 12 years.

Lisa’s and Wayne’s son Adam holds balloons, which he released to start the race.

Mrs. Burlison thanked the community for their support, and for attending the event today.

“I am so grateful for your help in carrying on Wayne’s legacy,” she said.

Brian Krieger, executive director of the Albion Running Club, helped organize the first “Run for Wayne” today in memory of Burlison, one of the founders of the Running Club. Burlison was 36 when he died from colon cancer on March 26, 2014.

Krieger and Burlison were close friends and running partners.

There were about 125 people who ran a 3.17-mile course or walked a mile. These runners are along Route 31, headed east to Mount Albion Cemetery.

These volunteers, members of the youth group at Albion Free Methodist Church, hand out water and Gatorade at the 1-mile mark. The group includes Tess Pettit, Trinity Allen, Zachary Moore and Caleb Pettit.

Alyce Miller, left, and Sarah Graham, cheer the runners on in Mount Albion. The two were in the elementary band with Burlison as their teacher.

Runners passed by Wayne Burlison’s gravesite at Mount Albion Cemetery.

Burlison lived 3 months and 17 days after his diagnosis of Stage 4 colon cancer. That’s why the course was 3.17 miles.

Burlison played in many community bands, including the Mark Time Marchers.

“Run for Wayne” started at 12:01 in recognition of Hebrews 12:1 as one of Burlison’s favorite Bible verses.

Randy LeBaron, pastor of the Albion Free Methodist Church where Burlison was a member and participant in the praise band, completed the 3.17 miles today. LeBaron ran a half marathon in September 2011 with Burlison.

Mike Thaine, the high school band director in Albion, hands a medal to Pat Crowley after she crossed the finish line. Burlison was assistant director for the marching band.

Stephany Austin of Albion finishes the “Run for Wayne” with sisters, Michkayla and Riley Eaton.

Proceeds from the race will be directed to a scholarship to be given out in Burlison’s memory to a graduating Albion senior.

The Running Club plans to make the “Run for Wayne” an annual event in late March.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Diane Morrell of Albion works on a project at Hoag Library. A large oil painting that was at Swan Library was added to the loft area in the Hoag, one of many paintings from Swan that are now at the Hoag.

Display cases, book shelves and other artifacts from the Swan have been brought to the Hoag, including this display case. Library Director Betty Sue Miller, left, and reference librarian Cheryl Mowatt look over some of the items in the case.

A 1897 graduation program for Albion High School is among the artifacts featured in the display case.

Library staff and volunteers aren’t sure who is pictured in this portrait. Betty Sue Miller said there are other mysteries in portraits and relics discovered at the former Swan Library.

That building has been sold to Chad Fabry of Holley. Library staff, volunteers and professional movers cleared the library of most of the items, with many of those pieces moved to a 24-by-36-foot storage unit.

The book case in memory of Simon Adler used to be behind the circulation desk at Swan Library. Now it’s just around the corner from the circulation desk in the new library.

“We’re trying to bring some of what was Swan Library here,” Miller said.

This portrait of Abraham Lincoln was discovered stashed away in the former Swan Library.