Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Betterment Center gave people a chance to see the first floor of 128 North Main St., a site the ABC is working to make a Santa tourism center.

The ABC closed on buying the site last month from the Henri Pulley estate.

The Betterment Committee today from noon to 1 p.m. gave people a chance to buy bins of items, as well as old doors and furniture.

There are two big open areas in the building on the first floor. Stan Farone, a former village trustee, checked out the site today. The building has been largely vacant for more than 25 years. Farone remembers when the site was a furniture store.

“I’d like to see a year-round Christmas store,” Farone said. “We need something to draw people here day after day.”

The Environmental Construction Group in Albion sent five of its employees to help clear out stuff from the building (shown in back in the middle). Shawn Wright of the ECG is inside a dumpster from ARG Disposal in Albion. ARG donated two dumpsters to help clear out the building.

Other volunteers also helped move items to the dumpsters.

The Betterment Committee wants to turn the vacant two-story building on Main Street 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, said Natasha Wasuck, a member of the Betterment Committee.

The ABC is applying for grants to help with the project and welcomes donations from the community. The group is eyeing to have the site open by Christmas in 2026.

This photo shows the other side of the building at 128 North Main St.

Jerome Pawlak is a member of the ABC board of directors. He said Albion has made progress in celebrating its heritage with the Santa school, which opened in 1937 and had its last class in Albion in 1965, before moving to Michigan.

There are signs, murals and a bronze statue all celebrating Santa and Charles Howard. Route 31 in Albion also is dedicated as the Charles Howard Memorial Highway.

“There is interest in Santa,” Pawlak said today, looking over items at 128 North Main St. “We have a legacy with Charles Howard. We live in a historic community and this can be part of its revitalization.”

Valerie Rush also is on the ABC board and she has been portraying Mrs. Claus for about a decade. She looks forward to volunteering at the site, greeting people and highlighting Albion’s Santa story.

“I think it’s a great project,” she said. “It’s filling another building in the downtown. We have something very unique here and people are very excited about it.”

The group is a 501c3 organization that accepts tax deductible donations. Donations can be sent to Albion Betterment Committee, c/o Joe Gehl at 14487 Baker Rd. in Kent, NY 14477.

There is an online giving option. Click here for more information.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club served more than 200 chicken dinners on Saturday, including delivering 27 meals.

Shown in the serving line at the First Presbyterian Church of Albion include from left: Taryn Moyle, Bill Lattin, Richard Remley and Becky Karls.

The dinner was a fundraiser for Rotary projects in the community.

This photo was at the beginning of the dinner. This was the second annual chicken biscuit dinner by Rotary.

Marlene Seielstad led the effort in preparing the meal. She is shown at left getting the biscuits ready. In back are Taryn Moyle and Mike Bonnewell, working on deboning the chicken.

Group selling items inside 128 North Main Street in effort to clear out site

Photo from Albion Betterment Committee: These bins of items are available for $10 each today from noon to 1 p.m.

ALBION – The Albion Betterment Committee, which recently purchased 128 North Main St., is offering a glimpse of the site today for the public, and also a chance to help clear out the site by purchasing plastic bins of items.

Those bins are $10 each. There are also old doors and some furniture that will be for sale. The Betterment Committee will be at the site today from noon to 1 p.m.

People won’t be able to look through the bins to see what is inside before buying a bin.

“We have no idea what are in some of these bins but you might find some gems!” the Betterment Committee posted on Facebook. “All the money we raise will go back into the building!”

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

The Betterment Committee wants to turn the vacant two-story building on Main Street 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.

Howard ran a Santa School from 1937 until his death in 1966. It was the world’s first school for Santas. He was a well-known portrayer of Santa, appearing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade from 1948 to 1965.

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, said Natasha Wasuck, a member of the Betterment Committee.

The group is seeking grants to help with building upgrades. The Betterment Committee welcomes donations.

The group is a 501c3 organization that accepts tax deductible donations. Donations can be sent to Albion Betterment Committee, c/o Joe Gehl at 14487 Baker Rd. in Kent, NY 14477.

There is an online giving option. Click here for more information.

Photos courtesy of Albion Central School: Albion students meet Brooklyn, a therapy dog at the school district.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – If you have visited Albion’s District Office recently, you may have had the pleasure of meeting its newest team member, Brooklyn.

Her four tiny legs and soft fur certainly sets her apart, but her curious eyes and gentle demeanor make her especially hard to forget.

Brooklyn is Albion school district’s new resident therapy dog. She is a 2-year-old, hypoallergenic mini Goldendoodle. As part of the district’s first Therapy Dog Program, Brooklyn began serving students in November following approval from the Albion Board of Education.

Her owner and handler at all times is Brad Lehman, Albion’s director of student services. They are both trained and certified through the RocDog organization. Brooklyn accompanies Mr. Lehman to campus 1-2 days per week and is available to help provide emotional support for classrooms or students in need throughout the school day.

“Brooklyn has had the opportunity to visit many classrooms thus far and has been given a very warm welcome,” Lehman said. “The smiles I see from students are infectious, regardless if they are in UPK or at the high school. It reminds me how important this program is.”

Brad Lehman, Albion’s director of student services, is Brooklyn’s handler and owner. He will bring the dog to school one or two times each week.

Many surrounding schools have introduced therapy dogs in their buildings in different capacities. The use of therapy dogs in schools can have many benefits that allow for personal growth and an overall improved learning experience.

They can be utilized as a proactive measure or to help support a student in specific need. Their presence provides comfort and companionship to those who may be feeling isolated, they can help foster social interactions, regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, alleviate stress, decrease feelings of depression, and improve overall well-being.

Albion school district is excited for students and staff to interact with Brooklyn and experience first-hand how beneficial her presence can be. If a student is uncomfortable for any reason, or if a parent/guardian does not want their child interacting with the therapy dog throughout the school year, they can opt-out of the program at any time by contacting their child’s main office.

Law enforcement issues 38 tickets with saturation patrols on Nov. 26-27

Joint Press Release by Albion Police Department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office & New York State Police

ALBION – The Albion Police Department hosted and supervised a multi-agency Orleans County Wide DWI Saturation Patrol and 2 checkpoint locations last week beginning on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and ending at 3 a.m. on Thanksgiving.

This detail combined the Law Enforcement efforts from three law enforcement agencies in Orleans County along with the Orleans County Probation Department and NYS Parole.

The agencies involved consisted of the Albion Police, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, with logistical support provided by the Orleans County Probation and NYS Parole. While the Medina Police Department and the Holley Police Department did not participate in the checkpoint each agency conducted saturation patrols in their jurisdiction.

The detail results are as follows:

• DWI Arrests: 3 – 2 in the Village of Albion (Albion PD), one misdemeanor and one felony; 1 in the Town of Albion (Sheriff’s Office)
• Vehicles through the Checkpoint: 100-plus
• Traffic Stops: 68
• Tickets Issued: 20 by Albion PD, 4 by Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, 4 by New York State Police, 4 by Medina Police, and 6 by the Holley Police
• NYS Penal Law Arrests: 1 Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance 2x counts (Albion PD)
• NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law Arrests: 3 – 1 Felony (AUO 1st) 2 Misdemeanors (AUO 3rd & Suspended Reg)-Albion PD
• Agency Breakdown: Albion PD, 26 stops; Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, 7 stops; State Police, 6 stops; Medina PD, 16 stops; and Holley Police, 14 stops.

The Albion Police Department and the other law enforcement agencies are committed to making the roadways safe for all those who travel upon them.

Compared to previous years, this year’s detail had a comparable number of vehicle stops and vehicles traveling through the checkpoint as previous years, but the percentage of intoxicated or impaired drivers has decreased again from previous years.

The data from this year’s detail indicates that less than 5% of the motorists stopped were intoxicated and around 2% of all encounters were with intoxicated people, whereas in previous years we have seen data as high as 20% of the motorists stopped were intoxicated.

This is positive news in our efforts to reduce accidents caused by intoxicated drivers. The reduction of DWI arrests is a positive and motivating factor when these types of details are conducted.

Many believe that law enforcement want to make more DWI arrests during these details, however we like to see the opposite. Law enforcement had interactions with numerous individuals and found that an overwhelming majority were responsible and not under the influence of alcohol. We also encountered several intoxicated passengers with sober designated drivers.

Intoxicated drivers do not follow jurisdictional lines, so we decided that we would not either. The Albion Police Department and its partners are planning similar details for the future. We will continue to use every resource and tool available to create a reduction in offenders and arrest those who continue to endanger others by driving while intoxicated.

The commitment and dedication by the officers, deputies and troopers who worked the detail undoubtedly saved lives in Orleans County by making arrests and sending a clear message to deter others from drinking and driving.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Volunteers at the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen are getting a Thanksgiving feast ready for 500 people today. The “OK Kitchen” will be serving the meals from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Harvest Christian Fellowship, 560 East Ave. Volunteers also will be delivering take-outs.

Mary Delamarter, front, gets the celery and onions ready for the stuffing. In back, at left, are Kris Witkop sauteing the celery and onions and Cinthia Echevarria stirring the gravy for the turkey.

Joyce Fudge marks trays of green bean casserole. The fellowship hall is ready for people to have a Thanksgiving meal.

These volunteers are shown inside the kitchen at about 10:20 a.m. Some of them arrived at 8 a.m. today. The Ok Kitchen and volunteers have been working on the meal throughout the week.

From left include Dana Bolton, Mary Delamarter, Kris Witkop, Cinthia Echevarria, Joyce Fudge, Sandy Shingleton, Cindy Moore and Robin Zaczek.

Ricky Washburn has been working on cars since he was a kid

Photos by Tom Rivers: Ricky Washburn, left, gives this vehicle a tune-up. His father-in-law, Keith Davis, stopped by the shop.

ALBION – Ricky Washburn has been working on cars since he was kid, initially helping his grandfather.

Washburn has a knack for it, and about 15 years worked as mechanic before taking a job as a corrections officer.

Washburn added two lifts for his garage at 12694 Ridge Rd W, Albion. He is a registered repair shop with the state. He can handle just about any job for an automobile. He does brakes, suspension, exhaust, engine and transmission repair, tune-ups and computer diagnostics. He doesn’t do alignments or inspections.

He said there is a shortage of car mechanics. He started working for an independent shop in Niagara County for three years right out of high school, and then worked 12 years for dealerships before going into corrections.

Washburn worked 16 years as CO, but he left that career to start his own auto repair business in July.

Ricky Washburn is shown in his garage at Washburn Auto Repair, 12694 Ridge Rd W, Albion.

Washburn, 44, said he loved the job as a corrections officer the first 10 years. But the last few years the job became very difficult. He felt the prison was less safe with more drugs including fentanyl finding their way inside. Officers were very limited in using solitary confinement through the HALT Act, which Washburn said made it far more challenging to keep order and discipline inmates.

Many COs quit and new recruits weren’t eager to take their places, resulting in long shifts and mandated overtime.

Corrections officers went on strike in February to demand safer working conditions for COs, other staff and the incarcerated population. When the strike ended in March after 22 days, Washburn didn’t believe the issues had been addressed.

“The conditions only got worse,” he said. “The first 10 years were great. But after HALT, it was all downhill.”

Washburn worked at Orleans Correctional Facility, a medium-security men’s prison in Albion. He decided to step away from corrections and put his energy into his passion for fixing cars.

Washburn said many of his colleagues also didn’t return to the state prisons. Many have taken jobs in county jails.

“I just had enough of it,” he said. “What I’m doing now is healthier with far less stress. I feel like this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Ricky Washburn opened his repair shop in July. The shop is just outside Albion on the eastern end of Ridgeway.

Washburn has been a race car driver and used his talents to keep his car running on the track. His 12-year-old stepdaughter, Laina Stewart, is a top go-kart racer in the region and state.

Washburn’s 4-year-old daughter, Parker, also has started racing. He is their crew chief.

As the owner of his own business, he doesn’t have to worry about mandated overtime where he could miss the races and other important family events. Washburn works until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on Thursday. He is done at 3 p.m. on Thursdays during the racing season so the family can compete at the track in Ransomville.

Keeler Construction apparent low bidder at $997,851

This photo from Sept. 12, 2022 shows Albion town highway employees blocking off traffic on the Phipps Road bridge, which was closed that day. Construction should start on a new bridge this spring. This bridge is on the west end of Phipps Road near Eagle Harbor Road.

ALBION – Four contractors bid on the Phipps Road bridge replacement over Otter Creek, and Keeler Construction is the apparent low bidder by more than $200,000.

Contractors were asked to submit proposals for a replacing the existing 19.5-foot-long bridge and replacing it with one that is 25 feet long.

The project includes the removal of the existing concrete culvert, and replacement with a 3-sided single span precast concrete span unit. The structure will be supported by micro-piles on spread footings, and associated highway approach work and stream work, according to a description seeking bids.

Keeler, a local company based in Barre, proposed to do the project for $992,851.75. That is less than the bids submitted by C.P. Ward of Scottsville at $1,221,503.75; Nardozzi Paving and Construction of Geneva at $1,207,593; and Mark Cerrone Inc. of Niagara Falls at $1,279,443.75. (The bids were opened today at 1 p.m. at the Town Hall.)

The town has been awarded a $1.038 million state grant for the project from the Bridge NY program.

Albion has been working with Ravi Engineering and Land Surveying in Rochester for design and bid specifications, as well as securing easements.

Rick Papaj, an engineer with Ravi, said the bid from Keeler is a “good price” for the town. The Town Board will review the bids and is expected to accept the low bid during its meeting at 5 p.m. on Dec. 8.

Papaj said construction should start in the spring.

The project also gave contractors the option for alternative cast-in-place system for the bridge onsite, rather than a precast structure. The alternates for that, however, were much more than the precast concrete bridge.

Keeler’s bid, for example, would have been nearly $300,000 higher with the cast-in-place unit.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Annabella Dusharm stars as Junie B. Jones in the Albion Middle School’s production of Junie B. Jones, The Musical. Junie B. is a first grader with friendly and bright personality.

She is shown in the opening number: “Top Secret Personal Beeswax.”

Friday was opening night. There also are shows at noon today with the finale at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Samiyah Sanders plays the role of Mrs. Gutzman, who is loved by the class for baking the best brownies and other treats. Samiyah and the cast are singing, “Gladys Gutzman Queen of Snacks.”

Sutton Sanders plays Lucille, center, who was Junie’s best friend but has ditched her for two new friends, Kinzie Rickner as Camille and Nadalee Ryan as Chenille. The three have rhyming names and Junie bemoans no other names rhyme with hers. This trio is singing, “Lucille, Camille, Chenille.”

Kenya N. Bennett plays the role of Miss Scary, the teacher. She instructs the class to choose a word from the list and draw a picture of it.

Junie tries on her glasses. Her teacher suggested she might need them when Junie struggled to see the chalkboard. Junie worries the kids at school will make fun of her because of her glasses, but they tell her she looks good in them.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – It’s been over five years that Community Action of Orleans & Genesee has been organizing a food distribution with Foodlink in Albion. These events have always been in the morning – until Friday when there was one beginning at 4:30 p.m. The top photo was taken about 5 p.m. when the distribution was halfway over.

Foodlink gave Albion an extra distribution due to the delays with getting SNAP benefits caused by the federal government shutdown.

Volunteers in one hour filled 200 boxes with food and placed them in the trunks of vehicles that were at the large Albion municipal lot at 165 South Platt St.

Community Action was grateful for the extra distribution on Friday but the agency wondered about having volunteers to help pack the food into boxes and deliver it to a parking lot full of vehicles.

Community Action had a big group of volunteers on Friday, with a group of 14 cheerleaders providing the most manpower.

Jami Allport is the Albion cheerleading coach and also executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern. The cheerleaders also will be ringing the bell for the Red Kettle Drive to raise money for local residents in need.

There were people who haven’t been to a food distribution before due to the time later in the afternoon. The morning start time prevents many from those food distributions.

Ryan Lasal, director of community programming for Community Action, said the agency will reach out to Foodlink about alternating the times in the future, with a morning distribution one month and then the afternoon time the following month.

Jackie Dunham, chief operating officer at Community Action, was among the volunteers helping with the food distribution on Friday evening.

Other upcoming distributions in Orleans County include:

• Orleans Cornell Cooperative Extension, 12690 State Route 31, on Monday, December 1 beginning at 10 a.m. Pre-registration is strongly suggested. Those who pre-register will be assigned timeslots for pickup (12-12:30, 12:30-1, 1-1:30. 1:30-2 p.m.) Pre-register at 585-798-4265. Walk-ins may start at 2 p.m.
• Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, 107 North Main St., on Friday, Dec. 5, beginning at 9:30 a.m. (No registration required.)
• Community Action at Albion municipal lot at 165 South Platt St. on Monday, Dec. 8, beginning at 9 a.m. (No preregistration required.) Community Action also has the schedule for the first six months of 2026: Jan. 12, Feb. 9, March 9, April 13, May 11 and June 8.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Village of Albion unveiled a new sign today on the eastern side of the village on Route 31 that highlights the community’s ties to Santa. The sign also spells out “ALBION” and local landmarks are painted within the letters.

Albion eighth-grade chorus students sang “Jingle Bells” and joined in a group photo with Village Trustee Joyce Riley, third from right, Village Historian Susan Starkweather Miller, second from right, and Mary Jo Whitman, the artist who created the sign.

The students from left include Ryalee Moyer, Zyann Pore, Kinzie Rickner, Nadalee Ryan, Kyalee Moyer and Kennedy Roberts.

Joyce Riley spearheaded the project for the village, securing a $5,000 grant administered through the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

The sign gives Santa Claus a prominent role. Albion was home of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School form 1937 until Howard’s death in 1966. The school continues in his name in Midland, Mich.

Susan Starkweather Miller shares about Howard, who continues to shape the way thousands of people portray Santa.

She noted the Route 31 in Albion has signs declaring it as the Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway. There is a bronze statue in downtown Albion of Santa, two murals celebrating Howard and the Sana School, and other efforts to promote the community’s heritage with the school and Christmas Park, which Howard operated in Albion bringing 80,000 visitors at its peak.

Howard urged people to give of their time and talents, and not be so focused on possessions.

The “ALBION” sign features the a boat on the Erie Canal with the lift bridge in back, the Civil War memorial tower at Mount Albion and the Orleans County Courthouse.

This shows, from left, Joyce Riley, a village trustee; Susan Starkweather Miller, the village historian, and Mary Jo Whitman, an artist from Batavia.

Whitman said the Santa was intended to be set lower on the back of the sign. If it can’t be adjusted, she said she would make some modifications and touch-ups.

She also is planning a mural in Holley for next year, but is waiting to see if the project will be funded by GO Art!