By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
BATAVIA – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council honored artists and contributors of the local cultural scene on Saturday during GO Art!’s annual community arts awards gala at Terry Hill Country Club.
The honorees include, from left: Michael Bonafede of Albion for his role as drummer and help in planning many community events; Kim Buczek (Linda Blanchet Award) for earning doctorate in music arts and performing in Cincinnati area; Jim Hancock of Medina for his volunteer work with many community causes and events; Albion native Lance Anderson, president of the Lake Plains Players – a community theater group; Cassandra Prong (daughter of honoree Bill Hayes – honored for his years of support for GO ART!); Vincent Pastore, a life-long Batavian and accomplished musician; and Leslie DeLooze, accepting on behalf of the Richmond Memorial Library, which offers many arts and cultural programs through the year.
Orleans Hub will have more on the program later today.
ALBION – When South Main Street was made wider along the west side of the Courthouse Square in 1954, an old fire cistern was discovered.
There were several around the village that the Fire Department could tap into before there was a municipal waterworks. In other words, firemen had a supply of water in case a fire broke out in one of the buildings around the Courthouse Square.
The Pullman Memorial Universalist Church shows in the background of our photo. The old cistern was being filled in when this picture was taken.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo courtesy of Batavia City School District – Michelle Restivo of Albion is pictured at the Jackson Primary School in Batavia. Last week she was picked as a “Teacher Who Opens Door to Education.”
BATAVIA – Michelle Restivo makes fun a priority in her classroom. But that doesn’t mean she skimps on learning.
Restivo of Albion teaches kindergarten at the Jackson Primary School in Batavia. She acknowledged she and other teachers feel pressure to keep the school day packed with instruction so students can score well on tests through the Common Core.
But that doesn’t mean Restivo will eliminate art, crafts and other projects. She said those activities are needed for students, especially those in the elementary grades.
And she incorporates lessons in those activities, having them draw the ocean and sailboats in a lesson about Christopher Columbus, for example.
“If they’re not having fun and looking forward to it, it won’t be meaningful learning,” Restivo said.
She was recognized last week by a Rochester radio station for winning the “Open the Door to Education” contest. She was interviewed on 100.5 The Drive. She will receive a new door for her home from DeRisio Construction.
Restivo was nominated for the award Kelseylynn Chechak, whose son Jacob was in Restivo’s class last year.
“I could not have dreamt of a better teacher,” Ms. Chechak wrote. “She encouraged the children, celebrated their successes, and made learning fun. Learning about different countries, the kids had passports, their chairs set up like airplane seats, and a paper suitcase to put all their research in. This is just one example of Mrs. Restivo’s amazing teaching methods. Although she is an amazing educator, the kids saw her mostly as a friend. Her love, patience, and friendship was shared with all of the kids.”
Restivo and her husband Jonathan have two children in the Albion school district: Shelby and Ben.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Kim Remley, chairwoman of Stop Polluting Orleans County, addresses the congregation today at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion. She won the 2014 Pullman Memorial Humanitarian Award.
The church honored Remley for her advocacy efforts the past 20 years with SPOC, a group opposed to additional landfills in Orleans County.
“She is a great choice,” John Andrews, a Pullman church member, said about Remley. “Her dedication to the cause has been unwavering. She has persevered and pushed on. She’ll never quit.”
Remley is pictured with Lousie Wu, wife of church pastor Lee Richards, and Richards after the service today when she was presented with the humanitarian award.
The service this morning had an environmental message, with a focus on being good stewards of the earth.
Remley and SPOC in the late 1990s successfully fought an effort by Waste Management to open a third landfill in Albion. That landfill would have been far bigger the McKenna Landfill and Orleans Sanitary Landfill, sites along the canal between Densmore and Transit roads.
Richard Penfold is trying to pick up the Waste Management application and open a new landfill. Remley and SPOC continue to fight against that effort.
“I really think that it’s the wrong thing for us because of the impact on the environment and the traffic issue,” Remley said about a new landfill.
Lee Richards, pastor of the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, leads a toast for Remley during a reception this afternoon.
Richards said Remley was recognized for her work with Stop Polluting Orleans County “and for exemplifying the liberal religious values of love, respect, social justice and service to others.”
Today’s service included many members of the First Presbyterian Church in Albion, where Remley has been a long-time member and active leader in the church’s youth programs. Other SPOC and community members also attended the Pullman service and reception today for Remley.
“I admire Kim,” said Grace Denniston, a member of the Carlton United Methodist Church. “I think she is a very courageous person who stands up for what she believes in, even if it’s not popular.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The top of the Orleans County Courthouse dome is shining purple this month for Domestic Violence Awareness Appreciation Month.
The County Legislature is urging the community to wear purple on Oct. 15 to show support for the issue.
The county’s domestic violence unit last year responded to 376 referrals, including a murder and attempted murder, county legislators said in issuing a proclamation declaring October to be “Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Orleans County.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
CARLTON – About two dozen hay bales caught on fire this morning on Park Avenue, along the Oak Orchard River, in the Town of Carlton.
The Carlton Volunteer Fire Company was the scene at about 9:30 a.m.
Jim Tabor is pictured on top of the Carlton pumper, using a master stream to direct more intense water at the hay bales, attempting to break them apart.
Barre and Albion firefighters, as well as the Carlton Highway Department also responded to the incident, and helped tear apart the hay bales so they wouldn’t keep smoldering throughout the day.
The fire was smoky, and could be seen from several miles away.
Photo by Tom Rivers – An 8-foot-high Peace Pole will be erected by the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.
ALBION – An 8-foot-high Peace Pole will soon be erected by the First Presbyterian Church of Albion. The pole will display the phrase, “May Peace Prevail On Earth,” in eight languages with one in English.
The church is welcoming the community to submit ideas for other languages to share that message on the pole.
People are welcome to drop off short forms with their pick for a language and why it should be included. The church wants to include languages that have historical connections to the community, perhaps the native tongues of different immigrant groups.
A committee that includes a historian will review the submitted recommendations and make the final selections.
The Peace Pole will be erected in the grassy area north of the Presbyterian Church’s sanctuary. The four-sided pole is made of wood and is 8 feet tall and 3 ½ feet per side. The pole will be surrounded by a small garden.
The Peace Pole is a project of the TGIF Tween-Teen Community Outreach Program of the church, CCIA, and the Life Program at Albion Middle and High Schools. The pole is being paid for with a grant from the Genesee Valley Presbytery.
Forms to nominate a language can be obtained and dropped off at the Hoag Library, Bindings Bookstore, Uptown Browsery and Downtown Browsery, or a form can be mailed to TGIF, First Presbyterian Church, 29 E. State Street, Albion, NY 14411.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
WATERPORT – There are a lot of vehicles in Carlton with license plates from Pennsylvania, Ohio and other states outside New York.
Many of those visitors are in town trying to catch some of the Chinook salmon on their annual spawning run up the Oak Orchard River and other Lake Ontario tributaries.
There was a crowd of anglers at the Waterport Dam this morning. The parking lot was full by the dam with many of the fishermen having to park along the road.
Shawn Dominikowski, 22, of Horseheads has a salmon on the line. He and his friend Brandon Barnic, 22, left Horseheads at 2 this morning and arrived at about 5 a.m. to claim a spot along the river.
Shawn Dominikowski, left, and Brandon Barnic look over the fish that Dominikowski caught this morning in the Oak Orchard River. It was the first time Dominikowski caught a salmon.
After some safety concerns last fall and earlier this spring, Brookfield Power Company posted some of its property with restricted access. Anglers are banned from standing in the water near the power plant.
They can stand in some sections of the water as long as they are wearing a personal flotation device.
These two fishermen both travelled from Central Pennsylvania to fish at the Oak Orchard. They arrived on Thursday and are staying until Sunday. D.R. Bubb is at left with his friend Tom Rager. They have both been catching their limit of three salmon each day.
They’ve been to Orleans County to fish each the past five years. They like the thrill of reeling in a 30-pound salmon.
“They’re very strong fish,” Rager said. “It’s so much fun hooking into one of them.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 October 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
WATERPORT – Paul Glor of Rochester is way ahead of a field of about 75 runners this morning at the Brown’s Berry Patch 5K. Glor finished the race in 15:50. He has won the race the last five years and six times overall.
Participants are pictured at the beginning of the race, an annual event at Brown’s since 1996. The race has raised $32,000 for Hospice of Orleans, not counting today’s total.
Jack Richardson, 81, of Albion nears the finish line with his grandson, Chad Hardy, a senior at Roberts Wesleyan College. Richardson, a retired pastor, runs many local 5-kilometer races. His daughter Martha Hardy, Chad’s mother, also ran the race this morning.
Paul Glor was the men’s overall winner. He is pictured with Dana Phillips of Lyndonville, the women’s overall winner.
Klatt is shared superintedent for Barker, Roy-Hart
Dr. Roger Klatt
Dr. Roger Klatt, a 1978 Albion High graduate and former Albion teacher and coach, was presented with the Educational Leader of the Year Award by Niagara University College of Education on Thursday.
Klatt, who taught and coached at Albion for 15 years, is now the superintendent of both the Barker and Royalton-Hartland School Districts.
He was presented the award for his work as a school leader for the Barker and Roy-Hart Districts.
In presenting the award, Niagara College of Education officials noted that prior to becoming one of the first “shared superintendents,” Klatt spent 17 years in a variety of administrative roles at Barker Central including middle school principal, director of instructional services, assistant superintendent and superintendent. Prior to that his 17 years of teaching experienced were highlighted by being selected as Albion Central’s Educator of the Year in 1995.
“Many of his family, friends and past/present colleagues were in attendance last night sharing in the occasion,” said Barker Athletic Director and former Albion teacher and coach Dave Carson. “I know Roger is proud of his Albion roots and all three of the districts that he has served and it was clear last night that the folks from Albion, Barker and Roy-Hart are proud of him.”
