By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Sebastian Stritzinger, almost 2 of Albion, watches the parade from the shoulders of Ben Metcalf.
It was a long parade this morning and the participants avoided a storm despite ominous skies and a forecast for fierce winds, heavy rain and lightning.
Albion Marching Band members, Mykailah Roberts (front) and Taylor Walczak, lead the Color Guard down Main Street for the parade. The band was given a big reception from the crowd.
The Batavia High School Marching Band heads north on Main Street towards the canal after its performance.
It was sprinkling at about 9:45 a.m., and participants with the Hospice float took cover under umbrellas. The rain stopped in time for the parade at 10 a.m.
Albion FFA members head down Main Street on their float.
Today’s activities continue until about 9 p.m. Click here to see the schedule.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Joe Mahley of Lockport works on a portrait of Ben Franklin during today’s chalk art competition at the Albion Strawberry Festival. Mahley won the top prize, $150, for adults. He said chalk art is a “serious hobby.”
“Chalk the Walk” debuted at this year festival and organizers from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council and the Albion Merchants Association want to bring it back next year.
Emma McQuillan, 10, of Albion won first place and $50 in the 12-and-under division for her art work of the Statue of Liberty and an American flag.
There were 14 participants in today’s event that drew many onlookers to the west side on Main Street between the canal and Bank Street.
Kyanara Canales, 15, of Albion works on her portrait of Mohandas Gandhi. She said he started the civil disobedience movement and stayed true to his beliefs despite being imprisoned. Kyanara won first place and $100 in the teen division.
Leo Gray, 8, of Batavia works on the dinosaur at left. His mother, Jennifer Gray, drew the dinosaur at right. She is the executive director of GO-Art!. The mother and son were exhibitors in today’s event, and weren’t official entries.
Gray said the debut chalk art competition had a good start. She said there will be some tweaks to make it better next year.
Valerie Carscallen of Albion works on her art work. Her granddaughters also competed in the event. Carscallen said it was a nice addition to the festival. While the artists worked, music from bands could be heard from venues at either Waterman Park or on Bank Street.
“I can’t think of a better way to spend the day than to listen to music while working with chalk,” she said. “It’s wonderful.”
Joe Mahley of Lockport poses with the finished portrait of Ben Franklin. Mahley participates in many chalk art competitions.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 June 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Cheyanna Eagle, an Albion High School senior, lies on the front of a damaged car this morning during a simulation to warn students about driving drunk, impaired or distracted.
Tonight is Albion’s prom, and it’s also soon to be the start of graduation parties. Albion High School leaders welcomed about 35 first responders for this morning’s simulation that included six students who wore makeup to appear bloodied from an accident.
Albion, Barre and Carlton firefighters work to tear off the top of this vehicle to rescue a trapped student. This was the first time in six years Albion staged the simulation.
“We want to show you what happens when people make bad choices, whether driving drunk or after using drugs or pills,” Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni told students watching the simulation.
Joe Madejski, an Albion junior, is put through drunk driving field sobriety tests.
Katie Mann waits in an ambulance. She was one of six students who wore makeup to help send a message about the seriousness of driving impaired or drunk.
“This is not a lecture,” Chief Nenni told the students. “We’re going to show you what happens when someone makes a bad choice.”
COVA medics Barb Morlino, Jason Spencer (back) and Bob Snekser work on student Evan Steier after he was pulled from the wreck.
Evan Steier is taken by stretcher to a Mercy Flight helicopter.
Mercy Flight arrives for a transport.
Firefighters and medics tend to student Emma Wadhams.
Allyson Irwin, an Albion senior, is also an Albion firefighter. She joined the other firefighters in today’s simulation.
The arm of Cheyanna Eagle hangs off the car while firefighters work to free another student.
Cheyanna Eagle is pronounced dead at the scene. Her mother, Renee Hungerford, sees her. Hungerford hugged her daughter and screamed in agony.
Even though it was a simulation, Hungerford said after that it was a shock to see her daughter on a stretcher, pretending to be dead.
“The emotions took over,” she said.
Hungerford was asked about two weeks ago to be part of today’s simulation. She said she reluctantly agreed to the exercise.
“I’ve had nightmares for two weeks,” she said. “But it’s an important message the kids need to know.”
Cheyanna has been an active member of the Albion drama program. She could hear some of her classmates crying while watching the simulation this morning.
“We wanted to send this message especially with prom tonight,” she said.
Matthew Peterson, the high school principal, talks to students after the simulation. He thanked the first responders for their work with the exercise.
“This was done because we care deeply about everyone of you and we want you to make the right decision,” Peterson told the students.
Peterson said after that he had never seen such a simulation. He said it was powerful to witness.
“It’s difficult to simulate emotions, but there were tears and shock,” he said. “I think it will leave a lasting impression.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Shelby Washburn of Lonsberry Concessions in Castile gets a booth ready to sell lemonade, nachos and soft pretzels at the food court on East Bank Street for the 30th annual Strawberry Festival. The two-day event starts today and runs until Saturday evening.
Debbie Yockel, an employee at Five Star bank in Albion, works on organizing the turtles for “The Amazing Turtle Race,” which is 2 p.m. Saturday between the lift bridges on the Erie Canal.
Five Star employees take the lead in running the event, which is a fund-raiser for the festival. Tickets to buy turtles for the race are $5 each or 5 for $20, which several checks given to the owners of the fastest turtles.
Lt. Tom O’Hearn patrols in the food court. Saturday will be his final day in uniform after a 20-year career with the Albion Police Department.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 June 2016 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – This photo shows Brunner International on Bates Road in Ridgeway. The side of the road where Brunner is located is outside the village, while the other side is in the village with an additional tax rate of $17.30 per $1,000 of assessed property.
MEDINA – The Medina community has the highest tax rate in the region, and Holley and Albion aren’t too far behind, according to a report today from the Empire Center.
The Empire Center looked at communities with the highest combined tax rates – village, town, county, school, libraries and other special districts.
The Village of Medina in the Town of Shelby has the highest combined tax rate at $58.19 per $1,000 of assessed property. The Empire Center’s study is based on tax rates in 2014.
The Village of Medina in Ridgeway had the second highest tax rate, $57.93, in the Finger Lakes Region, which includes nine counties. Medina has been on top of the list of highest tax rates for several years in the Finger Lakes.
Orleans communities take five of the top 11 spots in the Finger Lakes. The Village of Holley (Town of Murray, Holley Central School and Orleans County taxing jurisdictions) ranked fourth with combined tax rates of $55.08. The Village of Albion in Gaines is eighth at $51.29 and the Village of Albion in the Town of Albion is 11th at $50.53.
“The ‘all-in’ property tax bill is often a key factor in locational decisions by individuals and businesses,” the Empire Center states in the report. “In addition, the tax data point to an inverse relationship between effective tax rates and property values, with high effective rates often correlating to low median home values.”
Sloan in Erie County has the distinction of the highest combined tax rate in the state at $64.46 per $1,000 of assessed property. Several villages in Allegany County top the Medina rate: Wellsville, $63.71; Alfred, $63.17; Andover, $63.09; and Bolivar, $60.79.
Most of the most tax-oppressed communities are villages. Orleans Hub has written about the big disparity in state funding for villages compared to cities. That is one driver of the higher tax rates for villages, compared to cities.
The Orleans villages also receive a small share of the local sales tax portion. About $15 million in local sales tax is generated annually in Orleans County. The county government keeps about 92 percent of that money with only about $400,000 shared among the four villages. Other counties, such as Genesee, share far more of the sales tax with villages and towns. Genesee keeps 50 percent for the county government, and shares the other half with the City of Batavia, and Genesee villages and towns.
Former Medina Mayor Andrew Meier pushed for dissolution of the village government, saying it would knock down the tax burden on village residents by about $6 per $1,000 of assessed property. Village residents rejected dissolution, 949-527, in a Jan. 20, 2015 vote.
Provided photo – This two-story garage in Medina ta 342 South Ave. was damaged around midnight in a fire.
MEDINA – Firefighters were dispatched at 11:58 p.m. last night to a garage fire at 342 South Ave.
Medina, Shelby and Lyndonville firefighters worked to put out the fire. Damage is estimated at $2,500 to the contents and structure. There were no injuries to any residents or firefighters. The fire was determined to be accidental in nature and caused by careless disposal of smoking material, said Steve Cooley, public information officer for Medina Fire Department.
“No working smoke detectors were found in this structure,” he said. “We would like to remind all residents the importance of having multiple smoke detectors on all levels of your home, garage and any other out buildings.”
ALBION – A corrections officer at the Orleans Correctional Facility, a medium-security men’s prison on Gaines Basin Road, has been charged with selling drugs, although law enforcement officials say it’s “undetermined at this time” if the corrections officer was providing drugs to inmates.
Ronald W. Standish Jr., 32, of Holley Road in Albion was arrested on Wednesday after an investigation into the sale and distribution of heroin and cocaine in Albion.
The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department and the Albion Police Department K9 Unit executed a search warrant at Standish’s residence. As a result, investigators with the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office arrested Standish on numerous sale and possession charges.
Standish was charged with four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (Class B felonies) and four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (Class B felonies).
He was arraigned in Albion Town Court by Justice Joseph Fuller. Standish was committed to the Orleans County Jail on $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond. He is to return back to Town Court on Friday at 9 a.m.
Standish has been a correction officer for approximately four years.
“This investigation is ongoing,” said Joe Sacco, supervising investigator for the Task Force. “It’s undetermined at this time if Standish was supplying drugs to inmates within the prison. The New York State Department of Correctional Services Inspector General’s Office is assisting in this investigation.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 June 2016 at 12:00 am
YATES – Two culverts on Platten Road in the Town of Yates will be replaced likely late this summer or early fall.
The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday approved the low bid, $817,643, to Keeler Construction of Albion. The county will soon have a preliminary construction meeting with Keeler to determine the work schedule, said Jerry Gray, the county highway superintendent.
The county bid the two culverts together to get a better price on the project, Gray said. There is one culvert east of Swett Road and the other is west of Swett. The culverts carry water from Oak Orchard Creek tributaries.
Other bids for the culvert project include: $833,667 from Villager Construction in Fairport; $837,750 from Ironwood Heavy Highway LLC in Rochester, $848,845 from Union Concrete and Construction Corp. in West Seneca, $880,806 from Zoladz in Alden, and $884,607 from C.P. Ward Inc. in Scottsville.
The project will be paid from an $8 million bond the county took out two years ago for a series of infrastructure projects.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 June 2016 at 11:09 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MURRAY – Five people were taken by ambulance for minor injuries after a two-vehicle accident this morning on Route 31 between Holley and Hulberton roads.
The driver of this van was headed westbound when the van crossed into the eastbound lane and struck a pickup truck that swerved to avoid a head-on collision, a state trooper said.
Eric Smith, left, of Glenside Auto in Holley works with Holley firefighter Fran Gaylord to tow the van, which had four occupants who all had minor injuries and were taken by Monroe Ambulance for medical treatment.
The state trooper at the scene said it is unknown why the driver of the van crossed into the opposite lane. The trooper said the accident could have been far worse if it had been a head-on collision.
The trooper was working on a report of the accident and wasn’t ready to release names of those involved.
The driver of this truck swerved to avoid the van, but was hit in the back of the truck on the passenger side. The collision knocked the rear axle off the truck.
Rich Gallo, in safety vest, is fiance of the driver, Michelle Hampton of Murray. (Gallo shared her name with the Orleans Hub after texting Hampton.) Gallo said he is thankful the accident wasn’t worse. He is pictured trying to move the rear axle with Joe Morlino (center) of the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company and Louie Lustumbo, owner of TLC Auto Recycling in Kuckville.
The accident at 9:32 a.m. closed Route 31 between Holley and Hulberton roads for about an hour.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 June 2016 at 12:00 am
George Cond
ALBION – In 2010 the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame was established in Santa Claus, Ind. The inaugural class included Charles W. Howard, the Albion resident who started a Santa Claus School in 1937. He ran that school until his death in 1966.
Each year, a new class of Santas are inducted into the Hall of Fame and the 2015 group includes another Santa from Albion: George Cond. He portrayed Santa at Christmas Park, which was developed by Howard on Phipps Road by the Santa Claus School.
Cond will be formally inducted into the Santa Claus Hall of Fame next month during a Santa Convention in Branson, Missouri. The convention was in Albion last year. The event will be in Branson from July 6-10 and about 1,000 Santas from around the world are expected. (Click here for more on the Santa conference in Branson.)
A committee reviews nominations for the Santa Hall of Fame and Cond was selected. He joins a Hall of Fame class that includes Ed Asner, who played Santa on the big screen. (Click here for more on the new Hall of Fame inductees.)
Ed Asner
Cond was born in 1925 and lived until 1996. He is best known as the man who portrayed Santa Claus at Charles W. Howard’s Christmas Park in Albion, according to Cond’s Hall of Fame announcement.
“A student of Howard’s Santa Claus School, Cond assumed the role of Santa at Christmas Park in late 1950s and continued until the close of the park in 1966,” according to the Hall of Fame. “With Howard busy as the Executive Director and away on business during the Christmas Season, Cond handled most of the day-to-day Santa appearances throughout the park. He appeared in and around the Western New York State region on behalf of Christmas Park.”
Phil Wenz is spokesman for the Hall of Fame. He also was in the inaugural Hall of Fame class and portrays Santa full-time throughout the year at Santa’s Village Theme Park in Dundee, Illinois. Wenz also coordinated the convention in Albion last year.
“George Cond probably played Santa in Albion more than Charlie Howard,” Wenz said in an interview. “George was the day-to-day operational Santa. Charlie was a national star and George was more local. But to be Charlie’s hand chosen Santa that had to be a great honor.”
Cond also modeled Santa Claus suits for the Santa Claus Suit and Equipment Company owner Elizabeth W. Babcock in the 1970s and 1980s. Cond continued to make special Santa appearances to local families and events through the 1990s.
(Editor’s note: If anyone has pictures of Cond as Santa, please send them to news@orleanshub.com.)
