Photos by Tom Rivers – Shelcy Plueckhahn, right, opened Capable Hearts today at 12 East Bank St., Albion. She is pictured with her sister Jewel Shingleton.

ALBION – A new gift store with Christian books and inspirational messages opened today at 12 East Bank St.

Capable Hearts is more than a business, said owner Shelcy Plueckhahn. She sees the store as a ministry for the community. She wants the site to be used for Bible studies, youth groups and as a support for people enduring grief.

Plueckhahn knows about suffering a devastating loss. Her son Demitrios Alexandris was 14 when he died in October 2009. Demitrios had several disabilities and was well-loved by his Albion classmates.

He was expressive in sharing his Christian faith. He drew a heart for his mother and that drawing hangs inside Capable Hearts. It also is the store’s logo.

“Losing Demitrios was the hardest part of my life,” Plueckhahn said. “This store is like having my son here. This is him continuing with his messages. He started it and we’re going to continue it.”

Plueckhahn and her family created this display which she calls “the ladder of hope.” It includes resources to help people with their grief.

Plueckhahn works full-time as a family advocate at Head Start. She is running the new business with her family and friends. She is selling books, archangel figurines and other gifts to cover the costs of the storefront and programs.

“Our mission is reaching out to people,” she said.

She knows not everyone is comfortable in a church setting. She hopes the store will provide a place for people to connect with God and others in the community.

For more information on Capable Hearts, visit capablehearts.com.

ALBION – The victim in Friday’s fire at Nayman’s, a small engine repair shop at 205 North Main St., has been identified as the business’s owner, Francis Nayman, 76.

The fire and death have been ruled accidental with no foul play suspected, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni said.

“This determination is based upon the evaluation of the scene combined with an autopsy performed by the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office,” Nenni said.

Police and fire investigators believe the fire was caused when Nayman came into close proximity of a portable propane heater. That caused Nayman’s clothing or the wheelchair he was sitting in to ignite, Nenni said.

Nayman is a long-time owner of the business. He suffered a stroke several years ago and was limited to the wheelchair. He inspired many in the community with his work ethic. He also was active in the local Democratic Party for decades.

Albion Police and the Albion Fire Department were dispatched to Nayman’s at 3:51 p.m. on Friday for a possible structure fire. Firefighters entered the building with smoke and a fire on the floor in the center of the mechanics area of the business.

The fire was quickly extinguished and the smoke was ventilated. Nayman’s badly burned body was found on the floor by a wheelchair that was also heavily damaged, Nenni said.

The incident was initially ruled suspicious due to limited physical evidence initially observed and the circumstances surrounding where the body was located, the police chief said.

The official case ruling will be made when lab results are returned following additional forensic tests to be performed, Nenni said.

The incident was investigated by the Albion Police Department, Orleans County Fire Investigation Unit, New York State Police ID Unit, New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, Orleans County Coroner’s Office and the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Photo by Tom Rivers – A section of Main Street in Albion has been blocked off for about six hours today while police and fire investigators were on scene at Nayman’s, a small engine repair garage at 205 North Main St. The street was expected to be reopened after 10 p.m.

ALBION – A fatal fire remains under investigation and the person who died in the fire is not being identified because police are not 100 percent sure who it is, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni said tonight.

There will be an autopsy Saturday morning by the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office. The autopsy as well as the fire scene investigation should provide more answers about the cause of the fire and death, as well as the deceased’s identity, Nenni said.

Albion firefighters were quickly on the scene after the dispatch call went out at 3:51 p.m. when there were reports of smoke coming from Nayman’s, Nenni said. Firefighters were already out for another call in the community.

They quickly put out the fire at Nayman’s and discovered a burned body inside. Police and fire investigators originally ruled the fire and death suspicious, and that hasn’t been ruled out, Nenni said.

“We’re still deeming it suspicious,” he said at about 10 p.m. today. “Right now it’s an unknown.”

Albion police officers and firefighters were joined in the investigation by Orleans County fire investigators, New York State Police crime and identification technicians, and investigators from the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

“We will know more tomorrow,” Nenni said. “We’re still deeming it a suspicious incident.”

ALBION – Police and fire officials are investigating a fatal fire in Albion at the Nayman’s garage at 205 North Main St.

Albion fire officials confirmed a body was found inside the garage. Local police and the Albion Fire Department arrived on scene soon after dispatch put out the call for a structure fire at the location at 3:51 p.m.

State police and state fire investigators have joined local police and firefighters at the scene.

The name of the person who died hasn’t been released and investigators are inside looking for a cause of the fire.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Former Boy Scouts and their leaders in Troop 60 in Albion met for a farewell dinner at Hojack’s Bar and Grill tonight. The troop is turning in its charter next month.

Pictured, kneeling, include from left: Dale Adamo and Ben Metcalf. Standing, from left: Jonathan Doherty, Scout Executive Jess Markel, Dave Hollenbeck, past scoutmaster Mike Metcalf, and assistant scoutmaster Steve Yoder.

The troop formed in 1997 and was sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church. About 50 to 60 boys participated in the troop, with 12 attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.

“It taught me a lot about character,” said Ben Metcalf, 26. ‘If everyone lived by the 10 Commandments and the 12 Scouting principles, we wouldn’t have any problems in the world.”

Ben and his brother Tom both earned their Eagle rank. Their father Mike was a long-time Scoutmaster and volunteer.

Some of the Scouts reminisced by their adventures, including winter camp outs, biking and canoeing trips along the Canal (all the way to Camp Dittmer in Phelps), the Pinewood Derby and other activities.

Troop numbers dwindled in recent years. There was one Scout left at the end of last June and he transferred to Troop 164 in Albion. There are two remaining troops in the Albion community, Troop 164 is sponsored by the Catholic Church and Troop 175 is sponsored by the West Barre United Methodist Church.

Many of the Scouts became leaders in the five-county Iroquois Trail Council by working at Camp Dittmer in the summers. Allen Sanford is among the recent Troop 60 Scouts who continues to be a leader at Dittmer.

Metcalf worked as a Scout Executive before joining Jim and Adam Kirby at their farm in Albion.

Steve Yoder has been an assistant scoutmaster for about 30 years, staying with the program after his son aged out. He started volunteering in Rochester, and was with Troop 60 from day one in 1997. Yoder has been paralyzed on the left side of his body since he had a stroke in his early 30s about three decades ago.

He didn’t let that stop him from sharing how to start fires in the wilderness and stay warm on winter camp-outs. His secret to staying warm in the cold: eat a lot of cheese.

“Everyone contributes something,” he said about the Scouting program. “It’s gratifying to teach them a skill and have them come back later and say, ‘You taught me that.'”

Jonathan Doherty is among the Eagle Scouts at Troop 60. He stayed on as an adult volunteer and will help at Troop 164. He organized the dinner tonight.

Troop 60 won’t be going away, even as it turns in its charter.

“You still have all these people,” said Jess Markel, a Scout Executive who attended tonight’s dinner. “Hopefully Troop 60 will be a phoenix and rise again.”

Provided Photo – Albion Police Department members volunteered with the Red Kettle campaign today. He following are pictured, from left: Officer Jeff Gifaldi, Officer Brandon Annable, Officer Robert Wagner, Sgt. David Mogle, Lt. Thomas O’Hearn and Officer Karol Hughes.

Press Release
Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni

ALBION – Members of the Albion Police Benevolent Association volunteered their time today for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. Several Albion police officers donated their time to “ring the bell” and man the kettle at the Tops Market in Albion.

The Albion Police Department and Albion Police PBA hope that in some way they have helped a person in need. The job of police officers is to serve and protect. The term serve to a police officer can have many meanings. The Albion Police PBA feels that to serve goes farther than just enforcing the law.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Firefighters and police are on the scene at a fire at Nayman’s, a long-time business at 205 North Main St. The dispatch call went out at 3:51 p.m.

Orleans Hub will have more on the fire later.