Photos by Tom Rivers – Bill Pileggi and Triple Play perform Friday night at the food court in the Albion Strawberry Festival. Pileggi volunteers helping to book musicians for the two-day event.

Schedule of events for today (June 14, 2014)

7:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. Pancake Breakfast at the First Presbyterian Church
8 a.m. 24th Annual 5k/8k Race (Registration 7 – 8 a.m. at the Courthouse Square.) Sponsored by Albion Free Methodist Church
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Car Show Sponsored by Don Davis Registration 9 a.m. – noon; Judging 12 – 2 p.m.; Awards 3 p.m.
10 a.m. Parade Albion Purple Eagles, Hitmen Brass Band, Mighty St. Joes, Mark Time Marchers, Rochester Scottish Pipes & Drums, Pembroke Dragons, Kendall-Holley Marching Band, White Sabres Drum Corps

The Fauxtones played Friday night inside the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church. The event was played to be outdoors, but moved inside with the threat of rain. Sebastain Erakare plays the guitar and sings in the foreground. His father Jan-Mikael Erakare sings and plays bass, and Sebastian’s brother Ben Schell plays the drums in the rock/pop band.

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Craft Booths – Courthouse Square
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. View Abraham Lincoln’s Coffin – Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Home
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. “I Got It,” Drum Circle, Dunk Tank & Kids Games Family Fun Center
12 p.m. – 2 p.m. 4H Llama – Courthouse Lawn
12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Kandy Kiss the Balloon Clown – Courthouse Lawn
12 p.m. – 2 p.m. M.A.C. (acoustic band) – Courthouse Steps
12 p.m. – 3 p.m. Juggler Kevin Kelley – Courthouse Lawn
12 p.m. – 4 p.m. GCASA Youth Activities – Albion Free Methodist Church
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Caricature Artist Syd Dziewa – Courthouse Lawn

I Got It is back at the festival and always draws a crowd.

1p.m. – 3 p.m. Community Open Mic hosted by The Pratt Pack – Food Court
2 p.m. Turtle Race at the Main Street Canal Bridge
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Magic Illusions – Courthouse Lawn 5p
2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Wegmans ZooMobile – Courthouse Lawn
2 p.m. – 4 p.m. DAR Open House – 249 N. Main St. 5pm-7pm The D.O.B. Artists –
3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Don Newcomb Band – Courthouse Steps
3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Crandall Wood and Main Band – Waterman Park
3 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. The Who Dats – Food Court 5pm-7pm The D.O.B. Artists –
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Jonsie and the Cruisers – Food Court
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Boots Tootsie (jazz band) – Courthouse Steps

Photos by Sue Cook – Children in the Albion Free Methodist Church play on the pirate ship. The kids chased each other around pretending to sword fight. The church had a float in the parade to promote its Vacation Bible School from July 28-Aug. 1.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

ALBION – Brad Shelp has the tough job lining up everyone for the Strawberry Festival Parade. It’s not a free-for-all, but instead a carefully coordinated and planned effort.

Shelp helped organize the first parade in the Strawberry Festival going back nearly three decades ago.

“I started at the beginning 28 years ago,” he said. “I took four years off, but now I’ve taken it back. It’s bigger than last year. I think it’ll be a good parade this year.”

Nine marching bands and about 50 floats were part of the 90-minute parade that starts at the elementary school on Route 31 and heads west to Route 98, turning north to the canal.

“I try to keep the music from overlapping each other,” Shelp said. “I usually go through it two or three times. You get your little dance groups that have music, too, so you want to keep them away from the bands.”

The Sandstone Park Midget League baseball team gets pumped to prepare for their place in the lineup.

Jenny McKenna, the NYS Guernsey Princess, was riding in a car for the parade. Guernseys are orange and white milking cows. She will be the princess for one year. This follows her reign as a former Niagara-Orleans Dairy Princess. She had brochures prepared to give to anyone who wanted to know more about the breed.

“We’re the only one in our area that have Guernseys,” McKenna said about her family farm in Barre. “We’re just trying to educate the public in our area about the Guernseys.”

Jeffrey Brown (strawberry) was there with his brother Harrison (the bear). They were joined by Carolyn Ricker (Waldo) of Bindings Bookstore for some chat time as people got organized.

Brown’s Berry Patch brought a 1929 Ford pickup that was restored by Bob Brown and his father Ralph.

“We’re here to celebrate the Strawberry Festival tradition,” said Margy Brown as she dressed Jeffrey in his costume.

Ricker, owner of Bindings Bookstore, dressed up in a Where’s Waldo costume to promote an event next month, when Waldo will be hiding in 25 Albion businesses. Children can earn coupons toward books and win prizes depending on the number of Waldos they find.

The Albion Marching Band led by drum major Brooke Chandler preps by marching around the high school’s loop and rehearsing. The white plumes on some of the hats mean the student is a senior this year.

Luann McMullen, who works with the banner holders and calls herself a band mom, explained the significance of today’s performance for the Albion Marching Band.

“Mr. Burlison has been a big part of the marching band,” McMullen said. “He was the Assistant Band Director.”

The students lost Mr. Wayne Burlison in March due to colon cancer. The students wore stickers that said “Mr. B” on them and some students had a teardrop painted on the corner of one eye.

“He was integral in coming up with the music, the arrangement of the music and the choreography. He’s been with a lot of these kids since they’ve been in the fourth and fifth grade.”

For their performance the students played “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “Somebody to Love.” A quintet of students also had a moment in the performance where they presented roses to the drum majors. The theme revolves around love and the heart.

Jessica, Kerry and Eulalie Panek of Panek’s Pickin’ Patch watch the Pembroke Dragons Marching Band as they practice across the parking lot.

Vickie Randall, the Recreation Manager at the Arc of Orleans, was helping to arrange people in the float for the Self Advocates Program. Randall hopes the parade will raise awareness for the program because they rely on community support.

“Self advocates are independent people with disabilities who may need assistance along the way,” she said. “Because they are independent, they do their own fundraising for their own activities. They don’t receive funding from the Arc anymore because they are independent. They do car washes and they do a bottle drive at Albion Redemption Center.”

Local legend Dancing Derrick wears the Weed Man costume for another year and gets ready to dance in the parade. To prep for the festivities, he busts a move in the parking lot.

The Dansville White Sabers drum line practices in the parking lot by the Elementary School.

Jeremy Graham, assistant fire chief for Albion, dances for Rocky Sidari IV to keep him entertained. Rocky is the son of the Rocky Sidari, the fire chief.

Father Csizmar directs marching band to ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ by Queen

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Rev. Richard Csizmar, pastor of Holy Family Parish, directs the Albion Marching Band in a performance of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by the rock group Queen.

Father Csizmar won an “Elect the Conductor” contest, getting the most votes of five other community members. The fund-raiser generated $4,000 for the band. Members sold tickets for $1 each for people to vote for one of six guest conductors. The fund-raiser helped pay for the band’s trip to Philadelphia.

Csizmar directed the group after its performance in the parade at about noon today. He received a big round of applause and Band Director Michael Thaine said Csizmar will receiver a souvenir “golden baton” for serving as guest conductor.

Photos by Sue Cook – The starting gun fired and people burst off the starting line near the corner of East State and Main streets.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

ALBION – A record crowd of 296 runners lined up for the 24th Annual Albion Strawberry Festival 5k/8k Race. The cool, overcast weather didn’t keep away a large crowd of onlookers and supporters.

The race is organized by the Albion Running Club and proceeds from the event are shared with local charities and non-profits, including the community kitchen at Christ Church, a mission trip, Care Net of Greater Orleans and Hospice of Orleans.

The race has jumped from about 200 participants two years ago to nearly 300 today.

“We’re always surprised and excited with the support that we see from runners in the area,” said race organizer, Brian Krieger. “It’s great to see a lot of people that have worked on getting their bodies more fit. We’ve got a lot of new beginner runners and a lot of people over 70.”

Sheila Lemcke, this year’s strawberry runner, jogs backward and calls out to people to beat her to the finish. She tried to finish in the middle of the pack – about 29 minutes for the 5k – and people who finished ahead of her won a prize.

As is tradition with the race, one runner is dressed as a strawberry. Other runners are challenged to beat the strawberry’s time. This year, Sheila Lemcke was chosen to be the strawberry after race organizers read about her “Albion woman loses 100-plus pounds with lifestyle change” on the Orleans Hub. Lemcke lost more than 100 pounds through fitness and nutrition. She continues to run for health with excellent times in many races.

“I was trying to finish in half the pack to help motivate those that needed a little motivation,” Lemcke said. “I’ve always been trying to increase my speed and go faster. This time I was able to slow down and enjoy and talk to some of the runners. I hope more will join us next year.”

The race honored the memory of Wayne Burlison and Judy Christopher.

Race organizers honored two people who were influential in the Albion running community. Judy Christopher, former owner of Phoenix Fitness, organized the race for about two decades.

Christopher died from cancer at age 70 on Aug. 3, 2013. Her husband Gene volunteered at the mile 3 marker today, calling out times for the runners. Judy and Gene’s son David Cristofaro completed the course, pushing a jogger stroller.

Several runners removed their shoes for the last section of the race to honor Wayne Burlison, who helped start a running club and “Run for God” program in Albion.

Burlison enjoyed running barefoot. He died from cancer on March 26 at age 36.

Burlison’s wife Lisa ran the race in her husband’s memory today. Several runners also wore “Run for Wayne” shirts.

Wayne Burlison’s wife Lisa Burlison and her son, Adam, both remembered Wayne this morning. Lisa wrote “Wayne” on her inner arm and “Hope” on her leg. She also wore her husband’s orange compression socks.

“Wayne was a very humble person and wouldn’t have expected any of this,” Mrs. Burlison said. “He ran for his health and because he could spread the Word of God and set forth that example.”

She said that Wayne’s message was “living your life for God and taking care of your body, and spreading that love and that care for each other just being a part of a community, and that we’re in this together. Wayne was a huge encourager for everybody. It’s just a huge blessing to see all these people reach out and remember him.”

Some of the runners, including Greg Staines at left and elementary school principal Rachel Curtin, removed their shoes to honor Wayne Burlison.

Mark Hyrvniak, a physical education teacher at Albion High School, was the first to cross the finish line. Hyrvniak said he tries to encourage students to participate in the race.

“We always try to get as many runners as we can to get out here and support the community,” he said. “This is a great race. I’m glad everyone came out for Wayne. He was a teacher that passed away this past spring. I think it was motivation for a lot of runners in the community to get moving and run for him.”

Mark Hryvniak, one of the track and cross country coaches at Albion High School, finishes ahead of everyone else with a time of 16:36.

Kimberly Mills was the first female to finish in a time of 19:07. In the 8k, Chad Byler of Rochester won the men’s division with a time of 26:57. Trisha Byler of Rochester led the women in a time of 30:43.

To see the list of runners’ times from the race, click here.

Photos by Tom Rivers

The Albion Purple Eagles Marching Band ended its season today with a rousing performance in front of the home crowd at the Strawberry Festival.

The band has had a memorable season, winning first place in every competition it entered – in Nunda, Holley and Seneca Falls. The band also played in the Rochester Lilac Festival and traveled to Philadelphia.

The Albion band’s show, entitled “Heartbeats,” features love-themed music including songs by Queen, Bon Jovi, Phil Collins, and Elvis Presley. Effects include a 10-foot high valentine heart prop and a mass release of red, eco-friendly balloons.  In the top photo, the balloons are released on Main Street and fly high near the First Presbyterian Church.

Senior Ben Kirby plays the trumpet for the last time with the Purple Eagle Marching Band during today’s Strawberry Festival Parade.

Drum major and senior Brooke Chandler leads the band down Main Street.

The drum line plays in front of the reviewing stand.

The band makes its way down Main Street. Fifth-graders Lucas O’Connor and Annalise Steier hold the banner in front.

Joe Madejski plays the trumpet. The top of the First United Methodist Church shows in the background.

Students all wore decals “Mr. B” in honor of Wayne Burlison, the assistant marching band director. Burlison was 36 when he died from colon cancer on March 26. He helped plan the season’s show. This decal is on the hat worn by Char Olick, one of the drum majors.

Photos by Tom Rivers

The 28th annual Strawberry Festival has opened in Albion and vendors are selling food, crafts and lots of other items in the downtown and Courthouse Square.

Albion attorney Nathan Lyman is shown cooking hot dogs at the Rotary booth. Lyman helped start the first festival with his wife Gail.

Kentucky Fried Chicken in Albion is a debut vendor in the food court. Co-owners Sandy Chappius, left, and Madeline Hsiao want to support the festival and promote the KFC.

The festival for the first time includes a farm equipment display. Bentley Brothers brought down several tractors and big pieces of agriculture equipment on the north side of the canal between the two lift bridges.

The Albion Middle School Jazz Band performs in front of the Orleans County Courthouse. Students Riley Seielstad, left, and Hailey Bader sing “Hallelujah,” a tribute to Wayne Burlison, an Albion music teacher who died from cancer on March 26.

The festival continues until Saturday night.

File photos by Tom Rivers – Don Bishop, one of the Strawberry Festival organizers, drives a car in last year’s parade with a turtle in back. The Amazing Turtle Race will be 2 p.m. on Saturday at the canal.

ALBION – The Albion community’s signature event, the two-day Strawberry Festival, is back beginning today with an agricultural theme and many new events, as well as returning favorites.

A committee of volunteers has been working with the village for many months to plan the long list of events in the Courthouse Square, the downtown and along the canal bank.

“We’ve tried to keep it a community event where you can bring the entire family,” said Michael Bonafede, chairman of the Strawberry Festival Committee.

The festival’s theme – “Flourish! Our Farms – Our Future!” – will be celebrated with an agricultural equipment display on the north side of the canal between the two lift bridges. There will also be a farmers’ market at Waterman Park and some farm floats in Saturday’s parade at 10 a.m.

The parade is one of the highlights of the festival. There will be nine marching bands and about 50 floats in the parade.

The Alexander Firemen’s Marching Band performs in the parade last June. Nine bands will be in Saturday’s parade.

The Albion Rotary Club sponsors the festival and many of the club’s members serve on committees with other community members.

“Our members are very dedicated to it,” said Cindy Perry, Rotary Club president. “They have been on the committee for years. They don’t want to see it lose momentum. They want to keep it going and see it grow.”

Bonafede was pleased to see new partners emerge for events, including GCASA, which is running youth activities at the Albion Free Methodist Church on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

The DAR will open its historic home for tours on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. The site at 249 North Main St. is on the National Register of Historic Places. Another National Register site, Mount Albion Cemetery, will be the focus of a tour after the parade on Saturday. County Historian Bill Lattin will lead that effort.

Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Home, which is also on the National Register, will be open for tours during its 100^th anniversary. The funeral home will be hosting an exhibit on funereal history and will have a replica of Abraham Lincoln’s coffin on display.

The festival has typically been focused by the courthouse and in the downtown. The festival footprint has expanded north to include the Erie Canal. Besides the farm equipment on display, the “Amazing Turtle Race” will be in the canal at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

“We’re trying to incorporate more of the canal because it’s such a significant part of the area,” Bonafede said.

There will be a full schedule of live music and family entertainment today and Saturday. Festival-goers can hear bands and see rare animals.

Other popular mainstays include a classic car show, a 5K/8K run and walk on Saturday at 8 a.m., a craft and collectibles show and the food court.

For more on the festival, click here.

The schedule of events for today includes:

11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Food Court – East Bank Street

11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Craft Booths

12 p.m. – 6 p.m. View Abraham Lincoln’s Coffin – Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Home

1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Albion Middle School Jazz Band – Courthouse Steps

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Ghost Riders Band (country music) – Courthouse Steps

2 p.m. – 6 p.m Lakeshore Alpacas – Courthouse Lawn

3 p.m. – 8 p.m. “I Got It,” Drum Circle, Dunk Tank & Kids Games Family Fun Center

4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Razz Jazz – Courthouse Steps

4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Chicken BBQ at the First Presbyterian Church & Strawberry Social

4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Dave Viterna Group – Food Court

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The Triple Play Band – Food Court

7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Fauxtones (rock/pop band) – Courthouse Steps

Press release, Albion Police Department

ALBION – A 9-year-old boy in the village of Albion was accidently shot in the arm Thursday night with a handgun by his older brother.

The 9-year-old was transported by Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He is in stable condition, Police Chief Roland Nenni said.

Police were dispatched to 110 Brown Street at 9:57 p.m. Police learned the 13-year-old brother had stolen the handgun from an elderly acquaintance of the family. The 13-year-old appeared to be playing with the handgun in his second floor bedroom when it discharged, striking his brother whom was lying in a nearby bed, Nenni said.

The 9-year-old victim and his brother then ran from the house to the next-door neighbor where their mother was located. The children’s father was inside the residence at the time the shooting occurred. Neither parent was aware that the 13-year-old had a handgun.

The investigation also revealed the 13-year-old stole an additional .22 caliber handgun from the elderly acquaintance and had concealed the firearm in a detached garage at 341 Caroline St.

The 13-year-old was charged with Reckless Endangerment in the 1st Degree (D Felony), Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree (E Felony) and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree (D Felony). He was issued appearance tickets to appear at Orleans County Probation at a later date.

Village of Albion Code Enforcement also responded to the 341 Caroline St. address and revoked the Certificate of Occupancy due to several serious code violations.

The case remains under investigation. The names will not be released due to the juveniles involved.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – A group of students took a hay ride to Albion’s Senior Prom tonight. They are pictured on Lynch Road, almost near their destination at Hickory Ridge Golf Resort in Holley.

Two other seniors drove their dates to the prom in tractors.

ALBION – Police have arrested the parents of a 13-year-old boy who accidentally shot his brother, 9, in the arm last night.

John H. Glena, 43, and Kelley S. Glena, 46, of 341 Caroline St. both were charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The two weren’t arrested because of the firearms incident but because of the condition of the dwelling where their children lived, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni said.

John Glena

Kelley Glena

Police were dispatched Thursday to 110 Brown Street at 9:57 p.m. A 13-year-old appeared to be playing with the handgun in his second floor bedroom when it discharged, striking his brother lying in a nearby bed, Nenni said.

After the accidental shooting, police say the 9-year-old victim and his brother ran from their house to the next-door neighbor where their mother was located. The children’s father was inside the residence at the time the shooting occurred. Neither parent was aware that the 13-year-old had a handgun, police said.

Village of Albion Code Enforcement responded to the 341 Caroline St. and revoked the Certificate of Occupancy due to several serious code violations. The home was found to have several unsafe code violations and several other factors that jeopardized the health of the children ages 9 and 13, Nenni said.

Both parents were charged with 2 counts of endangering the welfare of child. Appearance tickets were issued for Albion Town Court on July 1.

The 9-year-old was transported by Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was in stable condition this morning, Nenni said.

Update

In an email at 8:41 p.m., Chief Nenni said the boy has been released from the hospital and will require followup care.

The 13-year-old also allegedly stole an additional .22 caliber handgun from the elderly acquaintance and had concealed the firearm in a detached garage at 341 Caroline St. The 13-year-old has been charged with Reckless Endangerment in the 1st Degree (D Felony), Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree (E Felony) and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree (D Felony). He was issued appearance tickets to appear at Orleans County Probation at a later date.

Because he is a juvenile his name hasn’t been released.