Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Turtle (Nikolas Greean, 15, of Albion) and Michael Bonnewell, Albion Central School superintendent, watch the Turtle Race on Saturday from their vantage point on the Main Street lift bridge.

Volunteers sold more than 900 turtles for the Turtle Race. The tickets were $5 each or $20 for 5 turtles. Proceeds from the race are used to help pay for the two-day festival.

Becky Dillenbeck, branch manager for Five Star Bank in Albion, and Becky Karls were co-leaders of the race. They are both members of the Albion Rotary Club, the main sponsor of the Strawberry Festival.

The turtles are about to be dumped into the canal with the five fastest turtles earning cash prizes for their owners. Pictured from left include: County Legislators John DeFillipps and Lynne Johnson, Jarred Saj (the top turtle ticket seller with 206), Village Trustee Stan Farone is next to Saj but obscured in this photo, The Turtle, Michael Bonnewell, Sheriff Scott Hess and Strawberry Festival King Chase Froman.

The turtles begin their slow trek down the canal.

Spectators line the canal bank to see which turtles finish in the top five.

Don Bishop, left, joins local Scouts in helping to collect the turtles.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley calls the action in the Turtle Race.

Tom Drennan, a candidate for Orleans County sheriff, and some of his supporters watch the race.

Justin Kirby, one of the Scout leaders in Albion, pulls one of the winning turtles.

The following were in the top five: Brylie Hapeman, fifth, $50; Tiffany Grabowski, fourth, $50; Brady Christiaansen, third, $100; Julie Sanford, second, $300; and Jim Hancock, first, $500.

Photo by Kim Pritt

ALBION – The Strawberry Festival Parade added award winners to the festival processional this year, and Hospice of Orleans won first place for “Best Use of Theme” for this display.

The 30th annual festival this year included a theme that celebrated the historic Erie Canal. Judges gave Hospice the first place for the water imagery in its float.

A group of judges picked first place winners in several categories. (The winners will receive certificates.)

The judges were looking for creativity and enthusiasm – participants who celebrate the community.

The following were first place winners:

Photo by Tom Rivers – “Most original” – Preston’s Landscaping of Albion for creating a lush landscape on a float.

Photo by Kim Pritt – “Best Cheer/Dance” – Kendall Lawnchair Ladies won this category for the second straight year. The Lawnchair Ladies kept a beat throughout the parade route, judges noted.

Photo by Tom Rivers – “Special recognition/community service” – Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern. The agency was praised by judges for including many children in the float as well as sending many positive messages.

Photo by Kim Pritt – “Best public safety agency – fire/police/ambulance” – Albion Fire Department. The department impressed judges by having so many members out on the parade route, as well as several fire trucks. “They were absolutely outstanding,” a judge said. “They looked very dapper out there.”

Photo by Kim Pritt – “Best classic car” – Judges were tied in picking a winner. This Model A was used to promote the Orleans County Historical Association.

Photo by Kim Pritt – This 1947 Cadillac is owned by Brad Shelp and is a favorite of the judges. The car needed a little push after stalling on Main Street. Shelp is the parade chairman.

Photo by Tom Rivers – “Best Band” – Albion Marching Band. The band, in its final parade of the season, makes its way up Main Street.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Albion seniors Cody Osborne, left, and Stephen Williams play with the drum line.

Photo by Tom Rivers – The band, including percussionist Ben Miller, left, perform for the crowd in front of the First Presbyterian Church.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Amiley DeBoard, 8, throws the ball at a target for the dunk tank today. The Martin family in Albion ran the “Dunk Tank for Diabetes” and raised $500 that will be given to Strong Memorial Hospital’s Endocrinology Department.

That money will be used to find a cure for juvenile diabetes.

Greg Martin sits in the dunk tank this afternoon. His son Enoch, 14, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about four years ago.

Isla DeBoard, 5, eyes Greg Martin in the dunk tank. Isla was able to hit the target and have Martin fall into the water.

Greg Martin climbs back to his seat in the dunk tank after plummeting into the water.

Amiley DeBoard lets the ball fly in this photo looking through a slot near the target area.

Participants tops 300 for first time in race’s history

Photos by Catherine Thom

ALBION – A record crowd of 310 runners finished the 5k/8k races today for the 25th annual Strawberry Festival. That topped the previous record of 296 from 2014.

The race started on East State Street by the Presbyterian Church and headed east. The course included side streets and the towpath along the Erie Canal before the finish in front of the courthouse.

Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess, center in black, was among the runners in the race.

Photo by Tom Rivers – The race was organized by the Albion Running Club, which dedicated the race to Judy Christopher. She organized the race in its first two decades and promoted fitness in the community.

Mrs. Christopher died from cancer at age 70 on Aug. 3, 2013. Her husband Gene and their son David were among the family members at today’s race.

Cathy and Kurt Schmitt of Albion finish the 5k race together this morning.

Elliott Neidert and his father Mike Neidert of Albion approach the finish line together.

Every year, race organizers have someone dress as a strawberry. Runners who beat “The Strawberry” win a medal. Race organizers asked Tom Rivers, Orleans Hub editor, to be the strawberry and this is a selfie he took just before the race.

The Rev. Randy LeBaron, pastor of the Albion Free Methodist Church, leads the group in the “Run for God” program in prayer before the race. The church hosted the 12-week running program, taking people from walking to finishing the 5K race.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Strawberry Festival Parade added award winners to the festival processional this year, and Community Action of Orleans & Genesee won first place for “Special Recognition/Community Service.”

The agency is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and its float noted that milestone anniversary.

A group of judges picked first place winners in several categories today. (The winners will receive certificates.)

The judges were looking for creativity and enthusiasm – participants who celebrate the community and this year’s festival theme: “Hook, Line, and Strawberry!”

Participants were encouraged to include fish and strawberry decorations in their floats and displays.

The following were first place winners:

“Best use of theme”- Dance Reflections.

“Most original” – Albion FFA.

“Best Band” – Albion Marching Band. (This photo shows Char Olick, a senior and drum major, leading the band for a final time.)

“Best Cheer/Dance” – The Kendall Lawn Chair Ladies, who performed in the Albion parade for the first time today.

“Special recognition/community service” – Community Action.

“Best public safety agency – fire/police/ambulance” – Albion Fire Department. (This photo shows firefighters Matt Francis, Andrew Cheverie and Heather Johnston.)

“Best classic car” – This 1963 Chevy truck, owned by Bob Wells of Waterport. He built the truck himself and debuted it in classic car shows about a year ago.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Numerous participants – marching bands, community organizations, classic car owners, fire departments and elected officials – converged in Albion this morning for a parade from the school on East Avenue through the downtown along Main Street.

The top picture shows some members of the Albion Marching Band as they conclude their performance in front of the reviewing stand.

Brad Shelp drove a 1947 Cadillac in front of the Albion Marching Band.

These kids are candy hunting along the parade route.

Katie Klotzbach, right, and her mother Kerry Panek joined the Panek Farms float with three of Panek’s grandchildren.

Mike Woodward, a member of the Self Advocate All Stars at The Arc of Orleans County, pretends he is fishing from the group’s float. Participants were urged to decorate floats with a fishing and strawberry theme. This year’s festival theme is “Hook, Line, and Strawberry!”

Festival King Chase Froman and Queen Vivian Rivers both wave to the crowd while they rode in a horse-drawn carriage.

Joe Gehl served in the Honor Guard at the beginning of the parade.

Members of the 4-H program were out promoting 4-H and the upcoming fair in July.

The Kendall Lawn Chair Ladies made their debut in the Strawberry Festival Parade.

Several marching bands performed in the parade, including the White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps from Dansville.

These parade participants were on a float for the Knights of Columbus St. Joan of Arc in Orleans County, Assembly 4th Degree.

The Purple Sharks joined several other youth baseball teams in the parade.

The Wild Rose Pony Club walks down Main Street in the parade.

These participants were part of display for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, which is celebrating 50 years of service as an agency this year.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The 29th annual Albion Strawberry Festival started today and continues on Saturday in downtown Albion and the Courthouse Square.

Yaudiel Castillo, 12, of Albion and his friends try hit the target at the dunk booth and drop Mary Martin into the tank. Mary’s father Greg Martin is running the dunk tank as a fundraiser to find a cure for juvenile diabetes.

His son Enoch, 14, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about four years ago. Proceeds from the dunk tank will go to Strong Memorial Hospital’s Endocrinology Department for finding a cure.

The festival for the first time includes a fishing pond on West Bank Street. The 14-by-22-foot tank is stocked with about 250 rainbow and brook trout. This photo shows John Snell and his daughter Reagan Flor catching a fish.

Curtis Wall, right, of Albion catches the biggest fish in the tank, a rainbow trout. He is assisted by Mike Hall from Western North Carolina Mountain Trout Fishing.

Participants pay $3 for a chance to catch the fish. The rod, reel and bait will all be provided. Any caught fish will be returned to the tank in a catch and release program.

The Michael Ames Duo, which includes Michael Ames and Mary Ellen Hayden, perform on East Bank Street during the festival today.

Vincent Pastore of Batavia plays the violin with a group in front of the courthouse this evening.

Pete Matsen plays the trumpet and Gary Deiboldt the keyboards while entertaining by the courthouse this evening.

Hospice of Orleans has real ducks by its booth to promote its duck race on July 4 in Lyndonville. Nyla Gaylord, left, and Mary Tillman are pictured at the Hospice booth.

On Saturday the 5k and 8k races start at 8 a.m., followed by parade at 10 a.m. and a full day of entertainment.