Photos courtesy of Albion Central School: New Albion teachers stopped by Panek farms on Thursday.

ALBION – The group of new Albion teachers toured sites in the community on Thursday as part of their orientation.

Tim Archer, a retired teacher who led many community services projects with students, led the new teachers on a three-hour tour of the Albion community.

They visited Doug Farley, Bill Lattin and Collin Capurso at the Cobblestone Museum and its one-room schoolhouse, Kathy Harling (associate court attorney) at the Orleans County Courthouse, the Rev. Sue Thaine at the First Presbyterian Church, Harriet Greaser in her home (former Presbyterian Church manse), the Mt. Albion Cemetery Soldiers and Sailors Monument (Civil War memorial), and Jim and Kerry Panek at Panek Farms. New school board member Kaitlyn Panek was on hand to welcome the teachers.

Doug Farley, director of the Cobblestone Museum, shows the teachers a one-room schoolhouse that was built in 1849 and served the school district until 1952.

The teachers are shown inside the County Courthouse, a building constructed in 1858 that remains as the county’s main courts facility.

Provided photos

ALBION – SUNY Brockport students were at Bullard park today sanding the pavilion and digging out weeds in the playground. They also raked up mulch and filled in sports around the park.

There were about 1,000 Brockport students working on projects around the Rochester region today for the university’s annual Saturday of Service.

 Brockport wants to see students build community connections and a strong civic responsibility.

These students are pictured with John Grillo, Albion recreation director for the past 50 years.

Some Brockport students also worked on projects at the First Presbyterian Church of Albion. They helped with some painting and weeding around the church.

Students are shown in the sanctuary of the historic Albion church.

Aric Albright to take over in expanded role as superintendent of streets

File photo by Tom Rivers: Jay Pahura, Albion’s Department of Public Works superintendent, checks on the spray park at Bullard Park in June 2020. Pahura and the DPW did a lot of work on the upgrades at Bullard, in addition to their work maintaining and plowing streets, fixing water leaks, setting up and tearing down for events, and other projects in the village.

ALBION – The village’s superintendent of the Department of Public Works will be retiring on Friday. Jay Pahura has worked for the DPW the past 36 years.

Pahura has been a master problem-solver for the village, keeping the streets maintained, fixing waterlines and other aging infrastructure, village officials said in commending Pahura on Wednesday during his final Village Board as DPW superintendent.

“Over the years, you have helped keep this community moving—often behind the scenes, often without recognition, and always with a commitment to getting the job done right,” Mayor Tim McMurray said in praising Pahura on Wednesday. “From responding to major infrastructure repairs and unexpected emergencies, to preparing for public events and handling all the details that others may have forgotten to ask about, you have been someone the village could count on.”

Pahura brought a deep knowledge of the village and its infrastructure and strong work ethic to the job.

“Your work has made a real difference in the day-to-day lives of our residents,” McMurray said. “The roads, water, facilities, events, and services that people rely on do not happen by accident. They happen because of dedicated public servants like you who take pride in their work and understand that the smallest details often matter the most.”

The Village Board on Wednesday appointed Aric Albright, the chief operator of the village sewer plant (Pollution Control Facility), to an expanded role as superintendent of streets.

Albright will oversee the DPW, sewer plant, water plant and Mount Albion Cemetery. He will take on the added duties without a pay raise at his request, McMurray said.

Jason Zicari, the long-time superintendent at Mount Albion, also is retiring. Scott Bradshaw will serve as the working foreman at the cemetery.

Levi Boyer, chief operator at the water plant, will continue in that role.

McMurray said there will be cost-savings for the village with Albright in the new expanded role, and the mayor said it also makes more sense with the new position supervising all four departments.

“The village will be better off having one manager over everything,” McMurray said.

Albright and the village staff at the sewer plant as will continue to manage the sewer plants for Holley, Elba and Bergen.

The board on Wednesday voted to hire a part-time clerk to help with the paperwork and reports required at the sewer plants, and also Mount Albion. Callie Allport was hired for the job at $19 an hour.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Rich Nolan, lead singer for the Highway 31 band, belts out a song during Wednesday’s concert at Bullard Park.

The band was scheduled for Aug. 12, but a thunderstorm postponed the concert to Wednesday.

The band is shown performing a medley of “Jack & Diane” by John Mellencamp and “Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen.

The band members include Rich Nolan of Gasport as lead singer, and the guitar trio of Aaron Clark of Holley, Clinton LaPorte of Le Roy, and Clinton’s dad Tim LaPorte Sr. of Batavia. Timmy LaPorte of Elba, Tim’s son and Clinton’s brother, is the drummer for the band.

There was a large crowd for the concert, including this group of dancers. Organizers said about 1,000 turned out for the event.

Food vendors were available throughout the concert series which started on June 10.

This group sat a little farther away from the amphitheater.

The concert series was funded with state arts money administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

Village last adopted plan 13 years ago; needs to address changes in community

Photos by Tom Rivers: Albion Mayor Tim McMurray speaks during a meeting last week about an updated comprehensive plan for the Village of Albion. The plan was last updated in 2013 in a joint project with the town of Albion. The new plan will be specific to the village. McMurray said a comprehensive plan should be updated every five years.

ALBION – The Village of Albion is working to update a comprehensive plan that will guide land use and help set policies for addressing needs in the community for housing, economic development, recreation, public safety, infrastructure and historic preservation.

The village last adopted a comprehensive plan in 2013 in a joint effort with the town of Albion. The new plan will be focused on the village and overdue in addressing changes in the community, Mayor Tim McMurray said.

He welcomed about 30 people last week to an informational meeting on the initiative to update the plan. He wants to hear from more residents and Albion stakeholders on how the village should be planning for its future.

Albion has changed since the 2013 plan.  The population is down 6.9 percent from 2010 census to 5,637 in 2020. The largest private employer was at the former call center on east Avenue used by Chase and CRFS. That site is now vacant.

The Erie Canalway Trail that passes through Albion is now part of the Empire State Trail, creating strong opportunities for tourism and the downtown.

There have also been changes with bridges closures/reconstruction, emergency service restructuring (Albion Fire Department now in Albion Joint Fire District and COVA Ambulance closed with area served by Mercy Flight EMS). There is a renewed discussion of village dissolution.

There are also new state policies and funding programs to address broadband, climate resilience, wetlands, housing and historic preservation.

Albion is working with G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing on the updated plan. G&G shared the following data about the village:

• Median household income is at $41,581 in village compared to $65,969 countywide
• Renters are severely cost-burdened with 37.4 percent paying at least 50 percent of income on rent
• 312 housing units are considered distressed, abandoned or off market.
• 40.7 percent of housing is built in 1939 or older
• 16.0 percent of workers are doing their jobs from home

Village officials want to hear ideas on developing a clear identity for Albion, McMurray said. Albion has several authentic stories to build on, but what story best reflects the community as a whole, he asked the group gathered at Hoag Library.

He said some possible themes or brands include Christmas Town, a sports and youth-focused community, a creative and artistic community, a historic Erie Canal community with landmark architecture, and “a community of caring and connection” where neighbors look out for one another. Or perhaps, McMurray said, Albion should look at a different brand entirely.

“What is our 5, 10, 15 and 20-year plan, rather than going day by day,” he asked the group.

Jay Grasso, owner of G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, is working with the village on the updated comprehensive plan. Not only will the plan help guide future development and land use in the village, Grasso said an updated plan is imperative for Albion to secure larger grants for housing, economic development and other community needs.

Some of the categories and ideas identified so far include:

Downtown and economic development

• Continue building renovation and downtown revitalization, and connect heritage tourism to the Empire State Trail.
• Diversify the economy away from a dependence on any single large employer and create an “Underutilized Sites Redevelopment Program” with the initial focus on the vacation former CRFS and Chase building.

Housing and Neighborhoods

• Make housing affordability and cost burden an explicit priority
• Create a village-specific housing needs assessment to better target programs
• Establish a vacant property registry and annual inspection program
• Pursue CDBG housing rehabilitation and demolition/clearance funding
• Allow carefully regulated ADUs (accessory dwelling units) to expand smaller-unit housing options

Transportation & Infrastructure

• Continue phased improvements to sewer plant, water plant and distribution system
• Develop a coordinated street and stormwater capital improvement plan
• Continue sidewalk repair and complete a current sidewalk condition survey
• Add a “complete streets” focus for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Study circulation and emergency-response impacts from the permanent Clarendon Street and Brown Street crossing closures
• Treat broadband as essential infrastructure; coordinate mapping/expansion and consider a “dig-once” policy

Government, Parks & Community Service

• Institutional future: acknowledge village dissolution/consolidation question while writing comprehensive plan and make recommendations that are useful under either outcome
• Shared Services: Build on existing intermunicipal cooperation. Monitor Mercy Flight EMS arrangement and joint fire district, and evaluate additional service-sharing opportunities.
• Community Assets: Continue park maintenance, seek funding for Bullard Park improvements, and address Village Hall records-storage conditions

Historic & Natural Resources  

• Albion is a certified local government and the village should leverage that designation to pursue grants. Albion should also connect historic sites to the Canal/Empire State Trail, and promote historic tax credits and NY Main Street funding
• The village should consider pursing the Climate Smart Communities registration, and should pursue a village street-tree program

Public Safety

• Continue safe neighborhoods, downtown, parks and public spaces through strong local police services, including coordinating police, code enforcement and housing initiatives to address vacant, distressed and problem properties.

Some needed updates for land use and zoning:

• Modernize the Canal Overlay for completed Empire State Trail; finish updates for signage, awnings, outdoor dining, and planned unit development
• Village should consider accessory dwelling units (ADUs), re-evaluate earlier R2 to R1 rezoning recommendations, energy efficiency and equity considerations to site planning.

McMurray, the village mayor, welcomed residents to be part of subcommittees working on different parts of the comprehensive plan.

“If you want things to change get involved,” he said.

Jerome Pawlak, a resident, attended the meeting and urged the village leaders to collaborate more with the towns of Albion and Gaines, as well as officials with the county and the local agencies.

County Legislator John Fitzak said the grants shouldn’t be viewed as “free money” because municipalities and businesses often need to provide some of their own money and may have to front the costs before getting reimbursed the grant amount.

“We still have to do most of the work ourselves,” Fitzak said about funding projects. “The grant is the cherry on top.”

Scott Burto, grants manager for G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, speaks during last Wednesday’s meeting about the comprehensive plan. Burto previously served 23 years as mayor of West Carthage in Jefferson County in northern New York. Burto said it is a very competitive environment with many municipalities seeking grant funding.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Anita McCarthy places tickets in baskets up for raffle this afternoon at the Lockstone in a fundraiser for a new Santa School Museum.

There were just over 100 baskets in the raffle. The Albion Betterment Committee put on the benefit to help raise money for a new roof for the museum at 128 North Main St. Organizers say just over $4,000 was raised at the benefit today.

The group has secured a $10,000 grant from the Rochester Area Community Foundation, but the cost is expected to top $70,000 for the roof.

The Betterment Committee will be seeking a grant from Preserve New York for the roof and a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson for arts space and programming on the second floor.

People gather inside the Lockstone for today’s fundraiser.

The Betterment Committee purchased the building at 128 North Main last November from the estate of Henri Pulley. The site is 6,600 square feet. The Betterment Committee said the roof needs to be replaced before a museum opens.

The winning numbers for the basket raffle are called off. From left include Gail Ebbs, Lori Laine and Maureen Bennett. Laine helped secure many of the baskets for the raffle.

She said the museum on Main Street will be a boost for the community and the downtown business district.

“I believe in Albion and Albion needs to be branded,” Laine said. “What is a better brand than Santa Claus?”

The museum will pay homage to the late Charles W. Howard, who created the first Santa School in the world. He ran it on Phipps Road in Albion from 1937 until his death in 1966.

The group wants to develop an interactive tourism center with displays about the Charles W. Howard Santa School and Christmas Park, which Howard ran for many years near his farmhouse on Phipps Road.

Laine said many people still have strong memories of visiting Christmas Park as kids and meeting Santa.

“They hold that place as very special in their hearts,” Laine said.

Nolan Blake, grandson of Betterment Committee member Valerie Rush, served as an elf and took gift baskets to the winners. Rush has long portrayed Mrs. Claus during community events.

Betterment Committee leaders Joe Martilotta, Joe Gehl and Gary Kent have worked for years to promote Charles Howard’s legacy in Albion. Gehl, center, pulled the winning 50/50 ticket. Peter Turkow, the winner, donated the money back to the Betterment Committee.

Gary Simboli played Christmas music from his keyboard during the benefit.

Jesse Colmenero took photos of people and families in a holiday backdrop.

These Santa-themed rocks were painted during the event.

Provided photo from Susan Starkweather Miller

ALBION – The new slate roof is shown on Mount Albion Chapel on Friday. Easton Specialties Inc. in Honeoye Falls put the new Vermont slate on the roof for the chapel, and it was done in a way that the pattern and colors match the original slate from 1875.

The new roof is part of an overall $225,000 restoration of the building.

Local mason Neal Muscarella last year repaired and repointed the chapel’s entire exterior.  The most extensive damage was in the northwest section.

Easton also has rebuilt the northwest corner’s rafters and repaired the roof deck in spots where it has failed over the years. The company installed an ice and water shield, a copper drip edge and flashings.

Mount Albion will host a tour of the cemetery at 6 p.m. on Aug. 30, with the tour led by retired Orleans County Historian Bill Lattin and current Village of Albion Historian Sue Starkweather Miller. There is tour this evening beginning at 6 p.m. at the Otter Creek Cemetery with Town of Gaines Adrienne Kirby (13252 Ridge Road, Gaines).

There will be other substantial work to follow at the chapel including interior replastering of the north wall; electrical upgrades (wiring, outlets, internal and external lighting); heating unit for seasonal use; removal of old floor, repair subfloor and put in a new floor; and refurbish exterior doors and window trim.

The $225,000 for the chapel restoration was funded by donations from the community.

File photo by Tom Rivers: The chapel at Mount Albion Cemetery is shown in September 2024 before getting new mortar and a new roof.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Marti’s on Main art gallery in Albion held a reception on Friday for a new art show featuring Jan Kisiel, Jenna Papponetti, Paul Facklam and Sharon Stewart. The top photo shows Harriet Symons, 10, taking a photo of paintings by her grandmother, Sharon Stewart of Albion.

Sharon Stewart is shown with some of her acrylic landscape paintings. Some of them are from trips she went on to Italy and Greece.

Stewart is a retired math professor from a community college in Kentucky. She and her husband Brian moved to Albion to be close to their daughters and their families, including six grandchildren.

Stewart, 79, was an art minor at Houghton College. She has 21 paintings featured in the new show at Marti’s, which is located at 20 South Main St.

Jenna Papponetti, 26, of Albion has seven charcoal landscape drawings on display featuring the Erie Canal. Papponetti also has written and illustrated three books. For more information on her books and artwork, click here.

Paul Facklam is recently retired as an art teacher at Roy-Hart, working in the elementary, middle and high schools. Before his 27-year teaching career, Facklam worked 20 years as an illustrator.

He has paintings with marshmallows, which he said represent “that soft, sensitive part out us.”

The paintings by Facklam shows marshmallows with fishing lures, billiard balls, and a hammer and nails.

“The hammer and nails represent the difficult or painful things that happen to us,” he said. “The fishing lures symbolize the things that we can be drawn to that are not particularly healthy for us.”

Jan Kisiel, a retired event planner who lives in Holley, has 12 pieces in the art show. She uses egg tempera painting, mixing dry pigment, egg yolk and some water.

The top painting shows a lamb sticking out its tongue. It was inspired from the ‘Good Shepherd” stained-glass window at the Canalside Community Church in Albion, a former United Methodist church. That window shows Jesus as a shepherd with lambs. In the window, one of the lambs is sticking out its tongue.

Kisiel said being an artist and an event planner are similar in that both need a strong attention to details.

For information on Marti’s, click here or call 585-590-9211.

Photos courtesy of Marlene Seielstad

ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club on Thursday presented a ceremonial check for $5,000 to the Office for the Aging in Orleans County. Rotary held its annual golf tournament last month at Shelridge Country Club in Medina and most of the proceeds will go towards the OFA’s volunteer transportation program, which provides rides for local senior citizens to medical appointments and essential errands.

Pictured from left include tournament committee leader Cindy Perry-Follman, OFA director Melissa Blanar, OFA employee and golf tournament committee member Becky Karls, and OFA employees Jackie Taylor and Kathleen Bates.

For information about senior rides and volunteer driving, contact the Office for the Aging at (585) 589-3191

Kathleen Bates also was honored and welcomed as a “Friend of Rotary.” Bates has volunteered at many Rotary community events, including the golf tournament, dinners and by selling light-up toys at Albion’s July 3^rd celebration at Bullard Park.

She was presented with the honor by Becky Karls and Rotary President Mike Bonnewell, left.

The Rotary Club meets the first and third Thursdays at Tavern on the Ridge with the first meeting at noon and the second meeting at dinner time.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: The Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern’s executive director Jami Allport is all smiles in her new bright office in what used to be the maternity ward on the second floor of the former Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital.

 ALBION –  After spending 15 years in the downtown on Main Street, the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern has moved into what they hope will be their “forever” office.

According to executive director Jami Allport, the move on Aug. 5 was a smooth one. Their new office gives them 2,200 square feet  (compared to 900 at their previous location in the Presbyterian Church), and allows for three bathrooms, a client interview room, four office spaces, kitchen and a designated break room.

The Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern had its beginning 70 years ago as the Migrant Ministry Program, started by Medina teacher, the late Arden McAllister. He was joined by Sister Marian Adrian who was visiting Orleans County from Buffalo and saw many children without shoes and socks. Sister Marian would become a key player and in 1968, the Migrant Ministry program became Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, with an office in Batavia. That site was closed 10 years ago as a cost-saving measure.

When Sister Marian died in 2020, she left a considerable sum of money to assure the agency would continue to help those in need. It became known as “The Agency of Last Resort,” helping the neediest of the needy.

When the Village of Albion raised the rent for GOMOC’s office downtown, the agency relocated for three years to the basement of the Presbyterian Church at Main and State Street. GOMOC was running out of space when agency leaders learned of the availability of the former maternity wing at the former Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital, now an office complex.

“Our new space is not only bright and big, but welcoming, too,” Allport said. “It is appropriate in that this was a place which welcomed new life, and now it provides a new beginning for us.”

Not only does the new space have a corner office with two windows, but there are individual offices for an office manager, furniture coordinator, youth coordinator, a newly added homeless coordinator and a summer intern.

“This location makes us feel more professional,” Allport said.

(Left) Jami Allport, director of the Ministry of Concern, looks down the spacious hallway in their new quarters in the Arnold Gregory Complex. (Right) The new home of GOMOC allows space for a client interview room, as pointed out by executive director Jami Allport.

The Ministry of Concern is currently helping 1,000 families a year, and seeing an increase annually. During a recent week, they saw 17 youth in 15 minutes who signed up for the Back to School Program (clothing).

Allport said there was a time when the agency was in a slump, but survived because of the generosity of Sister Marian.

“I’ve been told I have a lot of the qualities Sister Marian did,” Allport said. “She was extremely aware and knowledgeable about finances. She was cautious, but still fulfilled the mission. She was definitely a rock.  She created a very solid foundation for us to build on.”

The world in which GOMOC started doesn’t exist anymore, Allport said.

The agency has seen an influx people getting out of prison with no place to live and many working homeless, she said.

“Going forward we have to look for funding to meet the needs of our community now,” she said. “Many of our old problems still remain, but many are definitely different now.”

GOMOC relies on individual and corporate donations, but Allport also seeks grants to meet their needs. She has written 38 grants this year, and only a few have been funded.

“While I apply for a lot of grants, every single donation we get makes a difference,” she said.

She added that everyone is welcome and no one who comes in for help is judged.

“We are here to help,” she said.

GOMOC welcomes financial donations and donations of small furniture, such as beds, dressers, tables and chairs.

The Ministry of Concern is open Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. and see the last client at 3:30 p.m.

Basket raffle on Sunday at Lockstone goes towards museum

Photo by Tom Rivers: The bronze statue of Santa at Waterman Park is shown recently while traffic moves along Main Street. The Albion Betterment Committee is working to develop a Santa School Museum in the brick building in the middle across the street.

ALBION – The Albion Betterment Committee has been awarded a $10,000 grant towards a new roof for the Santa School Museum. A new roof for the building at 128 North Main St. could be at least $70,000.

The Betterment Committee continues to pursue grants and raise money for the roof and the museum. There will be a basket raffle on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. at the Lockstone, 160 North Main Street. Proceeds go to the Santa School Museum.

The event also will include drinks from Cold Brew Coffee, treats from Sav’s Creekside Café, a photo backdrop from The Wed Shed. Jesse Colmenero photography will be there to take photos of families and children. Gary Simboli will be performing music from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. To donate a basket contact Lori Laine at mailgirl2159@yahoo.com.

The $10,000 grant was awarded by the Rochester Area Community Foundation. That organization also approved a $5,000 grant in the spring for new windows at the building.

The Betterment Committee purchased the building in November from the estate of Henri Pulley. The site is 6,600 square feet.

The Betterment Committee is working to turn the vacant two-story site into the Santa School Museum. It will pay homage to the late Charles W. Howard, who created the first Santa School in the world. He ran it on Phipps Road in Albion from 1937 until his death in 1966.

Howard continues to be revered among the people who portray Santa. The Santa School continues in his name in Midland, Mich. Howard also was well known as the Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from 1948 to 1965. Howard also was inducted as an inaugural member in 2010 of the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame.

The Betterment Committee wants to make the Main Street site into a tourism center that celebrates Santa. The group wants to develop an interactive tourism center with displays about the Charles W. Howard Santa School and Christmas Park, which Howard ran for many years near his farmhouse on Phipps Road.

The Betterment Committee envisions the first floor as interactive exhibits and displays, as well as room for a bakery and food operator. The site could also offer services, including showers, for canal boaters, cyclists and other visitors.

The second floor is envisioned to offer space for artists – painters, potters, and others in need of studio space. The second floor has large windows that let in natural light that would be ideal for artists.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Elks Lodge today unveiled a new memorial for veterans by the lodge’s flagpole at 428 West State St.

Jeff Mosher, a trustee at the lodge and a member of the Elks Riders in Albion, unveiled the monument with Sharon Pollock, the exalted ruler at the lodge.

The Elks used proceeds from past motorcycle dice runs and other fundraisers to pay for the memorial, which was created by Brigden Memorials in Albion.

The front of new Orleans County Veterans Memorial includes the logo from the Albion Elks Lodge, an image of a U.S. soldier, and the seals of the six branches of the military – the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard.

A group from the Elks Lodge and others on a 100-mile motorcycle dice run gathered by the flag pole to see the new memorial.

“We want to remember all the veterans, past and present,” Pollock said. “Some have paid the full price, or come back injured and crippled. This beautiful monument pays tribue to all veterans.”

The back of the monument includes a quote from President Ronald Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from Extinction.”

After the memorial unveiling, about 50 motorcyclists left for a 100-mile Veterans Memorial dice run that will include stops at the VFW in Batavia, Elks Lodge in Brockport, Priscilla’s Black North Inn at Point Breeze, the VFW in Medina and a return to the Elks Lodge in Albion. (Jeff Mosher is riding the motorcycle with the American flag and an Elks flag on the back.)

There will be food and live music at the Albion Elks Lodge today after 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

The Albion Elks Lodge hosts many patriotic events throughout the year, including a Flag Day observance. The lodge also will be having a chicken barbecue next month for veterans at the VA in Batavia. The local lodge also donated $1,000 towards a van to take veterans to medical appointments.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Employees from Easton Specialties Inc. in Honeoye Falls put new slate on the roof of Mount Albion Chapel on Thursday afternoon.

The chapel from 1875 is getting a new roof as part of a $225,000 overall restoration of the building.

Local mason Neal Muscarella last year repaired and repointed the chapel’s entire exterior.  The most extensive damage was in the northwest section.  Muscarella has worked on several projects at Mount Albion over the years, including the Civil War memorial tower, the front sign, and the pond at the western side that is memorial to firefighters.

Before Easton Specialties started putting on the new slate, The Environmental Construction Group in Albion abated asbestos from the tar along the edges of the roof.

Easton also has rebuilt the northwest corner’s rafters and repaired the roof deck in spots where it has failed over the years. The company installed an ice and water shield, a copper drip edge and flashings, and now are nearly  done with the new Vermont slate with colors and in a pattern that are a perfect match to the original 1875 slate.

 There is still a lot to do inside the chapel. The overall $225,000 project includes interior replaster of the north wall; electrical upgrades (wiring, outlets, internal and external lighting); heating unit for seasonal use; repair of plaster and vaulted ceiling; removal of old floor, repair subfloor and put in a new floor; and refurbish exterior doors and window trim.

Mayor says selling the park to a business could be better use for site

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Village Board discussed the Santa statue and other Santa-themed items at Waterman Park during the board meeting on Wednesday. The board wonders if it makes more sense to move the statue and other elements about a block south to village-owned green space by the Presbyterian Church.

Perhaps the statue could be part of a space with a Santa House or gazebo, Village Board members said.

Mayor Tim McMurray and Deputy Mayor Greg Bennett said it may be a better asset for the village to sell the pocket park at Waterman, where it could be used for pop-up businesses or other purposes by a business.

The subject was brought up as part of a discussion about different parks in the village. Bennett acknowledged that many community members have worked hard at the site over the past decade or so.

The Albion Rotary Club spearheaded the 24-foot-long mural in 2018 that was painted by artist Stacey Kirby Steward. That mural shows a Santa in a sleigh over the Courthouse Square and downtown Albion. The mural is mounted on a steel frame at the park that is a half block south of the Erie Canal.

The mural honors Albion’s history as home to the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School from 1937 to 1966. Howard also ran Christmas Park in Albion. Mr. Howard passed away in 1966. The Santa School continues in his name in Midland, Michigan.

The bronze statue of Santa was dedicated on June 10, 2023. It followed an $80,000-fundraising effort by the Albion Betterment Committee that took nearly a decade.

The spot by the Presbyterian Church was considered for the bronze statue, but bronze statue artists thought the statue would be dwarfed being next to the church, which is 175 feet tall. The artists thought the statue would look very small to passersby if it was placed next to the church.

They liked the spot at Waterman where people can walk by close to the statue, which is closer to the street so it doesn’t seem so small to people passing by.

During the statue dedication, many of Howard’s grandchildren and other family descendants attended the event which was held on a Saturday during the Strawberry Festival.

Charles Bergeman, Howard’s grandson, attended the event in 2023. He passed away later than year in October due to cancer. A sleigh was dedicated in Bergeman’s honor this past May. The sleigh was refurbished by Jim Babcock, a local contractor who is on the Betterment Committee’s board of directors.

The Betterment Committee is now working to develop a Santa School museum and visitor center almost across the street from Waterman Park.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Beaver Alley in downtown Albion is a one-lane street of Medina Sandstone pavers.

The Village Board is considering closing vehicular traffic to the street and allowing the site to be used for pedestrians and events, including concerts, a farm market and other community activities.

The sandstone pavers are pictured with a dusting of snow. The street is hard on the village’s plowing equipment.

The board wants to hear from the public about the idea during the Aug. 26 board meeting that begins at 7 p.m. at the Village Hall.

Mayor Tim McMurray said bollards could be put at each end of the alley to keep out cars and trucks. He said the alley, if made more inviting with lights and signage, could be a popular spot for events, providing a boost to the downtown business district.

McMurray said the pavers may need to be reset to be a smoother surface for pedestrians. Weeds also sprout up between the blocks. Herbicides are typically sprayed to battle the weeds.

The street was paved until 2003. When the Pike Company in Rochester, a contractor for the state Department of Transportation, tore up routes 31 and 98 in Albion about two decades ago, there were sandstone pavers under the roads.

Ed Salvatore was the Albion mayor at the time and he negotiated having the Pike Company put 5,500 of the pavers in Beaver Alley. Salvatore said the Medina sandstone blocks provided a sharp contrast between the new style of road construction on Main Street with the style from a century earlier. He also wanted to preserve some local sandstone history and add another element to historic downtown.

Before asphalt and concrete, many of the streets were made of cut Medina sandstone blocks. Salvatore wanted Beaver Alley, a short one-lane street, to resemble a street from the late 1800s.

There have been complaints the street is bumpy and hard to drive on. The DPW says the pavers also damage snow plows.

Village officials envision the site as a possible entertainment area like Jackson Square in the City of Batavia, which hosts a popular concert series.