Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Chuck Persons rides his motorcycle at the start of a 50-mile trek through Orleans County today in the annual motorcycle safety and awareness ride.

The Orleans County chapter of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) organized the ride and also held a rally at the courthouse steps. Only a few motorcyclists went on the ride due to the rain.

These motorcyclists, including Don DuBois of Medina in front, get ready for their safety and awareness ride. The bikers urge the public to “ look twice, save a life.”

Don Sloper, president of the Orleans County chapter of ABATE, speaks during today’s rally at the courthouse steps. About 110 riders are in the Orleans County chapter.

Barry Flansburg, center, represented Assemblyman Steve Hawley and County Legislator Skip Draper represented State Sen. Rob Ortt. They presented proclamations in support of motorcycle safety and urged other motorists to use extra caution when making a left turn or pulling out onto the roadway.

Chris Genovese, legislative coordinator for ABATE of New York and a meber of the Buffalo and Erie County chapter, shared legislative priorities for ABATE.

Two bills seek to hold motorists accountable for reckless driving that endangers others. ABATE wants a vehicular violence awareness component into the pre-licensing course to stress the importance of a culture of responsibility and respect among drivers.

“Through education and awareness, ABATE of NY seeks to reduce the incidence of reckless driving and vehicular violence, ultimately creating safer roads for all users in New York State,” the group states.

Genovese also highlighted the Grieving Families Act which seeks justice for the families of those who are wrongfully killed by the acts of others, including riders killed by negligent drivers.

“This important legislation provides surviving families the ability to seek fair compensation for their pain and suffering, addressing the emotional and financial hardships that come with such a devastating loss,” ABATE states on its website. “By expanding the definition of ‘family’ to include not only traditional relatives but also those who have close, dependent relationships with the deceased, the Grieving Families Act recognizes the wide-ranging impact of such tragedies. This bill is crucial for holding negligent drivers accountable and providing much-needed support to those left behind.”

Kevin Doherty

ALBION – Hoag Library will hold its annual meeting on Monday at 7 p.m., with an election for two trustee positions from noon to 7 p.m. that day.

Only one candidate, Kevin Doherty, submitted a petition to run for a trustee position.

Two trustee positions are available: one four-year term and one two-year term.

Write-in votes will determine at least one of the new trustees.

Doherty is the lone candidate whose name will be on the ballot. Doherty has been a part of Hoag Library for many years, and served as president of the board when the new library was built in 2012.

“Our facility is a great example of what can be accomplished when personal agenda are laid aside for the community benefit,” Doherty said in a candidate statement on the Hoag Library website. “As an institution, Hoag has evolved to meet the changing needs of our service area.”

Doherty also has served multiple terms on the Albion Board of Education and has been an elected leader or representative at the local, diocesan and national levels of the Episcopal Church. He also has been a volunteer with the Orleans County 4-H Fair and Albion Strawberry Festival.

Doherty runs Doherty Communications as a senior voice network analyst. He and his wife Linda are parents had six children who all graduated from Albion. Two of their nine grandchildren are currently in the Albion school district.

To be eligible to vote, individuals must reside within the Hoag Library service area, which aligns with the Albion Central School District boundaries – many the central Orleans County towns of Barre, Albion, Gaines and Carlton.

Hoag Library leaders welcome community members to attend the annual meeting to hear updates about the library’s programs, services and future plans.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Dave Viterna Group performed at Marti’s on Main on Friday evening. The art gallery is celebrating its 15^th season of hosting art shows in Albion.

The gallery used to be in the home of Kim and Neal Muscarella. But in 2021, they moved Marti’s to the former Cornell Cooperative Extension building at 20 South Main St.

Kim Martillotta Muscarella and her family transformed the interior of the building into an art studio and gallery.

These fish and sea creatures hang inside Marti’s and were created by Janey Balcerzak, Kim Martillotta Muscarella’s 15-year-old great niece. They are an acrylic on decoupaged.

Kim Martillotta Muscarella’s granddaughters are featured artists in the opening show. Lily Zambito created the large painting in center, “ButterFL eyes” and her sister Sophia Zambito created the prints.

Marti’s opening show also features work by Laura Amor, including this acrylic, “Poppies in Gray Frame.”

Kim Martillotta Muscarella takes a photo of the Dave Viterna Group performing on Friday at the gallery.

The gallery is open by appointment. Call Muscarella at (585) 590-9211 for more information.

The gallery is open to the public for new art shows the third Fridays each month from 6 to 9 p.m.. The  schedule for the season includes:

• May 16 – featuring David Burke, Jeff Watkins and Bob Wisner
• June 20 – featuring Rosie Patronski, Shirley Nigro and Kim Martillotta Muscarella
• July 18 – Bicentennial show highlighting work celebrating the Erie Canal and Orleans County
• Aug. 15 – Environmental Show and also highlighting work by Sarah Hyatt
• Sept. 19 – featuring Chris Manaseri, Becky Maynard and Brandi Zavitz
• Oct. 17 – featuring Nancy Radzik, Rebecca Barry and Bradeen Walders
• Oct. 24 – The SkyCats Halloween Party with concert from 6 to 9 p.m.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These Albion second-graders meet “Nugget,” an 8-week-old beef calf during today’s Mini-Farm Day at Albion.

The FFA has run the event for many years, arranging to have farm equipment and animals outside the high school.

FFA member Nate Gibson, in back, talked with students about Nugget, which currently weighs 225 pounds and should top 1,500 when its fully mature.

“It’s about inspires young minds on where their food comes from,” Gibson said. “It’s always a good time.”

Nugget is owned by FFA President Kaitlynn Basinait and her family.

These second-graders throw small bales of hay, a new activity at the Mini-Farm Day.

Students in Mr. David Plewinski’s second grade class meet “Kevin,” a cowhorse owned by Darren Roberts of Kent. Kevin competes nationally at cow-sorting events.

Elliott Beyrle, a junior, talks with students about Kevin.

Students meet a rabbit named “Dot” inside the FFA’s ag shop. The rabbit is on loan for the day from the Orleans/Niagara BOCES.

FFA member Drew Pritchard introduces some of the kids to two goats brought to school by Kaitlynn Basinait and her family.

FFA members Brayden Snook, center, and Logan Scott, left, talk with student about a fertilizer sprayer used in the spring to energize crops. Bennett & Sons in barre brought the sprayer to school for the Mini-Farm Day.

A black lab “Henry” was popular with the kids. Henry is a hunting dog owned by Kaitlin Bennett, a member of FFA.

Board pared some expenses at last moment to get tax rate under $16

ALBION – Village taxpayers may have expected a drop in their village taxes with the 2025-26 budget because the fire department no longer is part of the village budget.

The fire department now is in the Albion Joint Fire District which is its own taxing entity with its own tax bills.

But the village taxes will be up in 2025-26 – by 11 percent. The Village Board is putting more money in reserves and faces other inflationary increases, with less fund balance to help offset taxes, board members said on Tuesday when the budget was adopted.

The spending in the General Fund increased less than 1 percent or by $62,106 from $4,701,848 to $4,763,955.

But the tax levy, what the village collects in property taxes, is up 11.1 percent or by $345,650 – from $3,117,813 to $3,463,463.

The tax rate will drop more than 20 percent or by $4.41 per $1,000 of assessed property – from $20.40 to $15.99. A big increase in the village’s tax base following town-wide reassessments last year pushed down the tax rate. The village’s taxable valuation is up 41.6 percent or by $63,666,806 – from $152,867,932 to $216,534,738.

The village is using about $200,000 less in its fund balance and that accounts for more than half of the tax increase. Village Clerk-Treasurer Tracy Van Skiver said the village’s fund balance currently stands at only $300,000. She said the state comptroller’s office has recommended the village get the fund balance between $800,000 and $1.1 million. Those funds can help the village with unexpected expenses outside of what is budgeted.

The village only is using $64,000 in its fund balance to help offset property taxes in 2025-26, compared to $261,150 in 2024-25.

“My concern is the fund balance,” Van Skiver told the board on Tuesday. “We’re trying to protect it.”

The budget was adopted by the board on Tuesday after about a 90-minute discussion from board members. The board started the meeting with the budget with the tax rate at $16.34. The board wanted to get that below $16 and needed to cut about $60,000.

The tentative budget had five new reserve accounts at $105,000 for the Department of Public Works and Police Department. Those reserves would have money set aside for equipment, vehicles and infrastructure, and lessen the need for financing and borrowing in the future. The reserve funds should lessen the need to whittle down the fund balance.

The board decided to keep the reserve accounts, but to reduce the amounts by 36 percent or by $37,800 – from $105,000 to $67,200.

“Having some reserves is in the best interests of the village,” said Trustee Greg Bennett.

But he didn’t want to see steep cuts to departments for what they need now just so the village could set aside more funds for the future.

Trustee Joyce Riley suggested eliminating the village’s animal control department which costs $17,000 and having the county take over the responsibility. But Bennett and Trustee Tim McMurray didn’t want to eliminate positions and services to the community. They both said the current animal control officer, Harry Papponetti, responds promptly to calls and concerns in the village. They didn’t want the department axed at the last second without input from Papponetti.

Riley said the village, in order to rein in expenses, ultimately will need to look at eliminating positions.

“Cutting people is where the real savings is, but it’s difficult,” she said. “We need to do it in a way where we’re conserving the village.”

(The Village Board is holding a public hearing at 6 p.m. on June 11 at the Village Hall to hear from the community about possible elimination of the village government and consolidation with the towns of Albion and Gaines.)

Besides reducing the reserve funds, the board made the following budget adjustments on Tuesday to get the tax rate below $16:

General Fund

• Schools and conferences for clerk’s department, down $2,000 to $3,500
• Auditor for clerk’s department, down $850 to $17,850
• Attorney, down $5,000 to $25,000
• Janitor in DOW, down $5,720 to $10,400
• Parts & Repairs in DPW, down $5,000 to $70,000
• Highway overtime in DPW, down $8,000 to $12,000
• Tree replacement in DPW, down $500 to $1,000

Water Fund

• Auditor, down $825 to $17,325

Sewer Fund

• Auditor, down $825 to $17,325

The total budget is at $8,904,229 with General Fund at $4,763,955, Water Fund at $2,640,689 and Sewer Fund at $1,499,585.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Three people were safely able to flee from a house filling with smoke at 257 East State St. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 11:57 a.m.

Albion police were first to arrive and tried to contain a fire with extinguishers. But the fire had moved upstairs and was crackling inside, said Police Chief David Mogle.

Albion, Barre and Medina firefighters are currently on the scene. No other information is available.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A group of first responders was at Tim Hortons in Albion this morning decorating “Smile” cookies with frosting.

Personnel from Mercy Flight EMS, the Albion Police Department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and the State Police added the frosting on the chocolate chip cookies. Volunteers from Key Bank also helped this morning.

The are $2 and will be for sale today through May 4 with all of the proceeds going to Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester.

Will Francis, a sergeant with the Albion Police Department, gets ready to frost a cookie. Francis worked at the Tim Hortons back in 2012 before he joined the Albion PD.

Albion police officer Chris Glogowski bought some of the Smile cookies and passed them out from the drive-through window.

Eileen Banker, chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley and the former Albion mayor, joined her grandson Landon Williams in decorating cookies this morning. Landon, 13, spent 11 days at Golisano Children’s Hospital about a year ago after having a tumor removed from his spine. He has recovered and is back to playing hockey, and even scored a goal in his first game back about two weeks ago.

Joey Filippelli, co-owner of the two Tim Hortons in Orleans County, set up three games where people could win Tim Hortons gift cards. Here, Sheriff Chris Bourke guesses the number of Timbits in the container.

Filippelli appreciates the first responders coming in to help boost the sales of the cookies to benefit Children’s Hospital.

 Albion Village Trustee Tim McMurray tries to toss a Timbit in one of the cups to win a prize. The games were available in the morning today, and will be set up in medina tomorrow from 7 to 10 a.m.

These Mercy Flight staff members include, from left: Kara Bentley, Megan Amacher, John McCarthy, Matthew Reed, Ron Kingsbury, Kari Hagglund and Pam Cherry.

This group paused for a quick photo. First responders will be at the Tim Hortons in Medina on Tuesday from 7 to 10 a.m., helping to decorate the cookies. Will Francis of the Albion PD is at front left and Devon Pahuta, an investigator with the Sheriff’s Office, is at front right.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – The Albion Central School District seeks nominations from staff and community members for the Educator of the Year award.

Each year, the Board of Education presents this recognition to a staff member during the Annual Board of Education Recognition Reception in June. We will accept nominations through May 9.

If you would like to nominate someone for this award who you feel is an exemplary ACS educator, please send the following information:

1. Name of educator you wish to nominate
2. Reasons this person should be awarded Educator of the Year. Demonstrate how this individual strives to demonstrate our Mission, Vision and Core Values.
3. Please include your name in case we need to contact you for more information.

SEND NOMINATIONS (either via email or hard copy) TO:

Albion Central School District Office

ATTN: Ms. Cindy M. Ishmael

324 East Avenue

Albion, NY 14411

(cishmael@albionk12.org)

Photo and information courtesy of Albion Central School

ALBION – Carl I. Bergerson Middle School inducted 25 students into the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) on Thursday, April 10.

The current members of NJHS led the ceremony, explaining that the organization is built on the four pillars of scholarship, service, leadership and character and that inductees must exhibit all four qualities and be recommended by a faculty member in order to be eligible.

The current members of NJHS include Madison Blount, Colson Braley, Stryker Braley, Aubrey Bruning, Kelsey Crawford, Blake Doty, Jax Gotte, Lena Grillo, Rianne Hand, Sophie Kozody, Carter Krull, Maddax Krull, Noah Latz, Nicole Loney, Adele Mathes, Logan Mayes, Mary McCormick, Brooklynn Miens, Tatiana Morales, Jane Nesbitt, Hannah Olles, Kamryn Peruzzini, Kendall Peruzzini, Brooklyn Pisano, Parker Roberts, Thailer Seibert, Scarlett Stambach, Oliver Stoffa and Caden Woolston.

Some of the current members were recognized with the Service Pin for completing 25 hours of service. Those members include Colson Braley, Stryker Braley, Kelsey Crawford, Blake Doty, Jax Gotte, Rianne Hand, Sophie Kozody, Carter Krull, Maddax Krull, Nicole Loney, Mary McCormick, Jane Nesbitt, Kamryn Peruzzini and Kendall Peruzzini.

Once the Service Pins were awarded, Mr. Greg Martillotta, the school’s band teacher, addressed both current and new members of NJHS as the night’s guest speaker.

The soon-to-be new inductees were then asked to stand and recite the NJHS pledge before crossing the stage to receive their certificates and sign the registry book. The newly inducted members of NJHS include Madysin Austin, Luciana Borello, Isabella Colonna, Annabella Dusharm, Jeffrey Echevarria-Saldivar, Avery Faskel, William Fisher, Madison Fraiser, Brody Furness, Robert Hickman, Amelia Klatt, Allyson McQuay, Brian Patten, Peyton Pisano, Kennedy Roberts, Sutton Sanders, John Michael Vivas, Caleb Wolfe, Logan Banister, Lucas Conner, LaDereon Griffin, Aaliyah Jones, Aubrey Marconi, Cindy Trejo Mandujano and Sophia Wendt.

Congratulations everyone!

ALBION – The Albion Village Board is working on a budget for 2025-26 that will likely include a sizable tax increase.

The board held a public hearing on the budget on Wednesday. Although spending is up a modest 2.7 percent, the village is looking at a 13 percent tax increase.

The budget needs to be adopted by an April 30 deadline. There could be some additional reductions in spending and the in tax levy, but Mayor Angel Javier Jr. said there is little to cut in the budget.

The general fund expenses would increase by $126,976 or by 2.7 percent from $4,701,848 in 2024-25 to $4,828,825 in the new budget.

The tax levy, what the village collects in property taxes, would go up 13.2 percent or by $410,520 – from $3,117,813 to $3,528,333.

The budget for 2025-26 doesn’t include the fire department, which is now in its own taxing entity as a fire district. That new district sent out its first tax bills in January as part of the tax bill from the town and county, and the fire district doubled the fire department’s budget.

The village has increased the water and sewer rates, and the 2024-25 village budget imposed a 6.6 percent tax increase.

Mayor Javier said he is sensitive to the rising costs on taxpayers, and he thinks dissolving the village is worth considering to help better spread out the costs of services into the towns of Albion and Gaines. There will be a 6 p.m. public hearing on June 11 at the Village Hall to hear from residents about whether the board should pursue a dissolution of the village.

Albion faces rising costs for equipment, including two new dump trucks in the 2025-26 budget, and lots of other capital expenses in the coming years for water and sewer lines, and other infrastructure and equipment.

The board also is using about $200,000 less of fund balance which is a big factor in the proposed increase. The budget for 2024-25 included $261,150 in fund balance, while the proposed budget for 2025-26 only taps $64,000 in fund balance.

Jeff Holler, a local resident, urged the board to set aside more money in reserve funds for those costs in the future. But Javier said that would only jack up the taxes even more.

Javier said the village has tried to get an increase from the county in the local sales tax but has been rebuffed. The local towns and villages remain at the same level since 2001, while the county has been able to keep the rising sales tax revenue since then. The local sales tax totaled $23.4 million in 2024. The county kept all of it except $ 1,366,671 that is divvied up among the 10 towns and four villages. The Village of Albion will get $162,169 of the sales tax in 2025, less than 1 percent.

Trustee William Gabalski acknowledged the village is in a grim predicament of trying to prevent a tax increase despite the need to provide services and fund infrastructure projects, without a boost in outside revenue. The village taxpayers are bearing nearly the full burden, he said.

“We’re in a very difficult situation,” he said at the hearing, when asked about increasing the reserves. “I’d like to do a lot more, but when I look at where the tax levy is no one will be able to afford to live here.”

Trustee Joyce Riley said she favors an incremental approach to adding to the reserves, and also raising water and sewer rates to fund infrastructure.

A consultant gave the village a report last year, suggesting more aggressive rate increases for water and sewer, but Riley said that was an “outlandish” proposal due to the impact on residents.

“The entire village would have come in here and beat us with a broomstick,” Riley said about those steeper costs.

Riley said she doesn’t think dissolving the village will be the best answer for taxpayers, and for providing services.

“We need to explore all of the options,” she said. “We should use a surgical knife and not a hatchet. Melding into the towns may not be the answer.”

Village taxpayers will see a lower tax rate in the next budget, and that’s from reassessments in the village last year that increased the tax base by 42.2 percent or by $63.0 million – from $152,867,932 in 2024-25 to $215,893,938 in 2025-26.

The bigger tax base will have the tax rate drop from $20.40 per $1,000 of assessed property to a tentative $16.34.

The water fund budget would change from $2,069,406 in 2024-25 to $2,195,250 in the new budget. The sewer fund would increase from $1,412,000 to $1,487,250.

The board will meet again at 6 p.m. on Tuesday to discuss and try to finalize the budget.

Village hopes for new owner, but site could face demolition

Photo by Tom Rivers: The former Shay’s bar at 56 North Main St. is in rough condition inside. The Village Board approved a survey and engineering study for the building to help determine the future of the site.

ALBION – The former Shay’s bar at 56 North Main St. has a gaping hole in the roof and a deteriorating interior, and that condition is worrying village officials.

The former operator, Mike Seaver, passed away at age 69 on Sept. 20.

Code enforcement officer Chris Kinter told the Village Board on Wednesday it would “cost a small fortune” to fix the building. He thinks there might be someone willing to take on the project. Or the building may need to be torn down.

Kinter said the walls appear to be bowing inwards, putting the neighboring and adjoining structures at risk.

The Village Board followed village attorney John Gavenda’s advice and approved getting an abstract survey done on the property to see if there are on liens on it. The board also will have an engineering study of the building to determine the extent of the damage and the building conditions. The village will reach out to T.Y. Lin for the assessment of the building.

Kinter also said Shay’s should have an asbestos survey.

All of those costs are expected to be around $7,000. The village will front the expense and then seek to be reimbursed from the owner’s estate.

Kinter said he is hopeful the actions will lead to a new owner that invests in making the building structurally sound and available for public use.

Provided photo: A food pantry and other services from Community Action are now located at 131 S. Main Street, accessible from Platt Street.

Press Release, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee is excited to announce that its Orleans County Emergency Services and Case Management programs will officially open today at a new location.

The new office, located at 131 South Main St., is just steps behind the agency’s Main Street Thrifts, Gifts, and More store in Albion. Customers are advised to enter through the Platt Street entrance to the plaza.

This move from 409 East State St. reflects Community Action’s commitment to being more accessible to the people it assists. With a more central location, the agency hopes to remove barriers for families who rely on support programs, especially those without reliable transportation.

“We know how important it is for our programs to be easy to find and even easier to access,” said Ryan Lasal, Director of Community & Family Program Innovation at Community Action. “This move brings us closer to the heart of our community and allows us to better meet people where they are.”

The new office will also house the food pantry, previously located at the State Street address. However, the overnight pantry at 409 East State Street will remain open, ensuring that individuals in immediate need continue to have after-hours access to food assistance.

“Sometimes it’s just helping someone get through a tough month — whether it’s paying a bill, getting food, or finding a bit of stability,” Lasal said. “This move brings us closer to the people who rely on us, making it easier to be there when they need us most.”

In addition to the existing programs CAOG offers to help people become self-sufficient, CAOG is actively involved in the New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) Program, also known as the “1115 Waiver Program.”

This initiative allows all Medicaid members to be screened for unmet needs related to housing, nutrition, and transportation. Based on screening results and other eligibility criteria, Medicaid members may receive free services to support their overall health and well-being, including rent or utility assistance, medically necessary home modifications, food prescriptions, pantry stocking, transportation, and more.

Community Action of Orleans and Genesee is contracted with the FLIPA “Social Care Network” for which Community Action CEO, Renee Hungerford serves as co-chair of the governing board. The program is funded in New York State through March 2027.

“We will soon be offering these screenings at all locations, including the 131 South Main Street location,” Hungerford said. “We are excited that the new location will make these opportunities more accessible.”

All other Community Action programs will continue operating from their current locations. To learn more about Emergency Services, Case Management, or food assistance, community members are encouraged to call (585) 589-5605 or visit www.caoginc.org.