Mecate serving food, alcohol in former KFC location

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A new Mexican restaurant, mecate, has opened in Albion at the former KFC location, 172 South Main St. The top shows two of the owners, Fabricio Palma, left, and Omar Garcia. Abigail Ramirez also is a co-owner.

The group also owns Mecate restaurants in Henrietta, Webster and Macedon. They opened their first Mecate in 2022.

“We feel like it will be a great addition,” Garcia said. “We are bringing something new to Albion.”

The Mecate is managed by Lucy Ramirez of Albion. She had been working out of the Mecate in Henrietta. About a dozen people work at the Albion location.

Mecate is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant had a soft opening on Thursday.

The owners worked about three months remodeling the restaurant. They installed a new bar, booths and kitchen equipment.

The wide-ranging menu of Mexican food also includes lunch specials and soups. The most popular items are birrias, which are slow-simmered beef.

“You’ll find a little bit of every style,” Garcia said about the menu of Mexican food.

The Mecate is at the former KFC, which was open in Albion from 2012 to 2019.

From left include Fabricio Palma, Ofelia Ramirez, Lucy Ramirez, Omar Garcia and Abigail Ramirez. Abigail, Lucy and Ofelia are sisters, and Fabricio Palma and Ofelia Ramirez are married.

Ofelia Ramirez gets ready to serve a drink made by Mekhi Rivera, the bartender. Rivera, 21, of Albion said he enjoys the fast pace in the restaurant business. He said Mecate has brought in people from other locations to help train him as a bartender.

Mekhi Rivera, left, and Mayner Rodriguez are working as bartenders today at Mecate. Rodriguez works at another Mecate and has been training Rivera.

The bar includes televisions, and Mecate has the package for showing NFL games.

The owners picked “Mecate” as a name because they said it sounded catchy. The term mecate means a rope made of hair or maguey fibre commonly used for tying horses.

Business started as Bayex and has grown significantly in half century to over 200 employees

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – It was a day of celebration and reconnecting at Saint-Gobain ADFORS on Wednesday. The company marked 50 years in the Albion community.

The top photo shows long-time employees who are now retired. They started when the Albion site was Bayex. From left include Ted Grimes, 41 years of service; Gary Narburgh, 44 years; Keith Sabo, 42 years; John Tower, 30 years; Darryl Szklany, 29 years; Francis Dibley, 35 years; and Gary Bloom, 39 years.

“It was a good company,” Grimes said. “No one wanted to leave.”

This group said there was strong camaraderie among the employees which made they want to go to work. They credited Joel Allen, the plant manager for many years of their tenure, for being a great boss and leader.

Saint-Gobain ADFORS has done multiple expansions over the years, from the initial 45,000-square-foot plant and 13 employees to 181,000 square feet and 222 employees.

Saint-Gobain ADFORS expanded the plant at 14770 East Ave. with new space added in 1985, 1995 and 2008. The company also uses a building a Route 98, the former Remley Printing site, as a warehouse.

Gary Narburgh holds a photo from when the company opened a new manufacturing plant in Albion in July 1976. Narburgh started working there a month later and stayed for 44 years.

“It was local and they were always good to you,” he said.

Saint-Gobain ADFORS opened the doors for the public to tour the plant on Route 31. The company makes many building and construction products.

Provided photo: State Assemblyman Steve Hawley presented a citation to the company for its 50 years of commitment in Albion. Accepting the citation are Tyler Lombard, an HR recruiting and staffing specialist at Saint-Gobain ADFORS; and Constance Wadsworth, human resources manager.

“Achieving 50 years of business is easy feat,” Hawley stated in the citation. “Saint-Gobain ADFORS has served the Orleans County community and beyond with economic growth and stable employment and has initiated excellence through five decades of hardworking and dedicated individuals producing materials that make businesses and governments alike more efficient and lives more sustainable.”

This self-adhesive drywall tape is among the products made at Saint-Gobain ADFORS in Albion.

The company manufactures technical textiles for the construction industry, manufacturing the consumer drywall tape product FibaTape, along with reinforcement materials sold to other manufacturing companies for the production of cement board, carpet backing, and road reinforcement.

Community members were able to tour the manufacturing space. Here they see a large machine that cuts dry wall tape into smaller sizes.

This photo shows many spools of polyester.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Rochester served lunch to about 475 people. Saint-Gobain ADFORS invited employees, retirees and their families for the celebration. They also were treated to LuGia’s Ice Cream and live music by the Who Dats.

The company wanted a big celebration to thank their employees for their hard work over the years.

“It’s a big milestone, especially for this community,” said Constance Wadsworth, human resources manager. “A lot of places have been shutting down or moving south.”

This display shows some of the Saint-Gobain ADFORS products in a typical home.

High-energy Highway 31 drew a crowd to Bullard last week

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Highway 31 had Bullard Park rocking on last Wednesday evening during the Village of Albion’s summer concert series.

The series started on June 4 and included 15 different musical groups. The series closes on Wednesday with the Sky Cats. They were originally scheduled for Aug. 6 but some stormy weather cancelled that concert.

Highway 31 performed on the amphitheater, and played ’90s music, contemporary country and some rock.

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.

About 400 people attended the concert with the majority bringing their own lawn chairs. Several food vendors also have been at the concerts.

Tim LaPorte Sr., right, performs with his sons, Clinton LaPorte (left) and Timmy LaPorte on drums.

Provided photo: The Yohe Family Farm in Albion will be offering wagon rides on Wednesday at Hoag Library.

Press Release, Hoag Library

ALBION – Hoag Library’s 2025 Summer Reading Program is winding down, but the fun isn’t over yet! We have a week full of activities for all ages as we celebrate the end of another great summer of reading.

There is an ongoing Story Walk at Mount Albion Cemetery. Take a stroll and enjoy a children’s story displayed page-by-page along the path.

Upcoming Events:

• Today at noon – Free concert with Andrew Flory, a Lutenist, Classical guitarist, educator
• Monday, Aug. 18 at 11:30 a.m. – Wildlife Rockstars, an educational program using birds, amphibians, and reptile animal ambassadors.
• Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 3 p.m. – Teen Faux Stained Glass
• Wednesday, Aug. 20 at 2 p.m. – Summer Reading Finale with Yohe Wagon Rides & Serenity Acres Farm. Celebrate with horses, wagon rides, and farm animals.
• Saturday, Aug. 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Red Cross Blood Drive

Join us to close out summer with music, art, animals, and community fun. All events are free.

Hoag Library is proud to support literacy, creativity, and community connection year-round. For more information, visit us at 134 S. Main St., Albion, call (585) 589-4246, or follow us on Facebook.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Walmart officials and leaders of the store in Albion, including store manager Cherry Hodge with scissors, cut the ribbon to mark the completion of a store remodeling.

ALBION – The employees at the Albion Walmart were in a  celebratory mood this morning as the store completed a remodeling that began in March.

The store has completed its first major revamping since it opened in June 2006 at 13858 State Route 31.

The Walmart put in new freezers and coolers, replaced every shelf, put in new registers, fixture and did a new layout for the store. Walmart also expanded with a new building dedicated to its online shoppers. That side of the business has grown since the Covid pandemic hit about five years ago.

The store also was repainted and rebranded. Most of the work happened at night.

“It’s beautiful,” said Cherry Hodge, the store manager since 2010. “It needed it. The customers deserve it.”

Cherry Hodge, store manager, is pleased with the bright new look inside the Albion Walmart.

The Albion Walmart has 180 employees. Hodge and Walmart leaders recognized 16 of those employees who have been with the store since it opened more than 19 years ago.

“This is a good store with good associates,” Hodge said. “We work together as a team. Walmart is a great company to work for. They’re good to their people.”

John Emery, market manager for Walmart, praised the employees and customers for their patience during the remodeling.

He presented a certificate of appreciation to Hodge, who he said was often at the store at 3 or 4 a.m. during the remodeling process.

Nicole Wilson, a coach at the Albion Walmart, highlighted many of the employees for their extra efforts during the remodeling.

Walmart presented a $5,000 check to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. Cherry Hodge and John Emery, right, of Walmart present a ceremonial check to Don Draper, the undersheriff.

Walmart also is giving $1,500 to the Albion Fire Department. The AFD was represented by, from left: Dawn Marciszewski, Robert Toman, Allyson Irwin and Catrina Bias.

Chis Lazarou, store manager of the Lockport Walmart, attended the celebration today and led the group in the Walmart cheer, which puts customers first. Lazarou said some of the Lockport employees helped in Albion during the remodel.

“We all support each other,” he said about the Walmart stores and employees.

Many of the Albion Walmart employees gathered for a group photo after the ceremony this morning inside the store.

Photos by Tom Rivers: The current Albion ladder truck is shown inside the fire hall on Platt Street on Thursday evening. This truck is from 1994 and will need to last another four years.

ALBION – The Albion Joint Fire District voted Thursday to buy a new ladder truck at a cost of $2,480,698 from Pierce Manufacturing.

The new truck won’t be ready for about four years due to a significant back order.

Albion’s new truck will be a quint with a dual purpose. Not only will it have a 100-foot-long ladder, but the truck will carry 300 gallons of water and also will function like a fire engine with the ability to pump water.

The current ladder truck from 1994 doesn’t pump or carry water, and has a 103-foot-long ladder.

Pierce was the only fire truck manufacturer to submit a bid. Two others picked up bid packets – Bulldog Fire Apparatus and Empire Fire Emergency – but they didn’t submit a bid for the new truck.

Al Cheverie, chairman of the Albion Joint Fire District, said he has full confidence in Pierce building a very reliable fire truck for Albion that will be in use for many years.

By the time the truck arrives in 2029, the fire district expects it will have half of the cost already set aside in a reserve fund with the rest to be financed unless the district can secure a grant to help cover some of the costs.

The fire district, as part of its 2025 budget, created a reserve fund that has $250,000 towards fire apparatus. If that continues each year at that level, the district should have $1,250,000 set aside towards the truck in 2029.

Cheverie said the costs of fire apparatus has steadily risen in recent years. The Village of Medina, for example, agreed to pay $1,698,995 to Pierce in Appleton, Wisc. for a new fire truck with a 100-foot-long ladder. That was June 26, 2023. Medina’s truck is expected this December, about a 2 ½ year wait.

The fire district needs to wait 30 days as part of a permissive referendum process. If enough people signa  petition in the fire district, which includes the towns of Albion and Gaines, there would be a public vote on whether the district can purchase the new truck.

Albion Joint Fire District officials discuss issues on Thursday evening during the district’s monthly meeting. From left include commissioners Kevin Sheehan, Craig Lane, Chairman Al Cheverie and Dave Buczek, as well as Treasurer Victoria Tabor and Assistant Fire Chief Steven Papponetti.

District commissioners agreed to not hold Pierce to a solid date for the truck delivery given the uncertainties with supply-chain issues.

“It’s unrealistic to lock them down on a certain date with the market being what it is with supply and materials,” said David Buczek, one of the commissioners.

Holding Pierce to precise date and assessing fines for going past that could prompt the company to walk away from the project, Buczek said.

Craig Lane, the Orleans County DPW superintendent, also is a fire commissioner. In his job with the county, he said contractors and suppliers have some leeway for final delivery of their product.

Pierce is working on a custom-built fire truck and there could be factors outside their control that potential delay the shipment of the apparatus, Lane said.

This site rendering from Fagan Engineers in Elmira shows how trucks would turn and enter the site to make deliveries. This plan was presented to the Village Planning Board and Orleans County Planning Board in May 2024.

ALBION – A plan to build a new Dollar General in Albion is back before village officials in Albion.

Dollar General in the spring of 2024 presented a plan to build a new 10,640-square-foot store in the village on Route 31 across from the high school.

The store would be next to the Cone Zone ice cream business, next door to the east. The Broadway Group LLC from Huntsville, Ala. would demolish an existing building, which has been used for selling cars, and put up the new store.

Dollar General needs a variance for the project to go forward. It is seeking to have 35 parking spaces instead of the required 53.

The Village Zoning Board of Appeals today set a public hearing for 4 p.m. on Sept. 9 for the variance.

The Orleans County Planning Board in May 2024 recommended the Village of Albion approve a variance request for the parking spaces for the store.

The village code requires one spot for every 200 square feet for a retail store. The Dollar General would need 53 parking spots under the village code, but The Broadway Group is seeking a variance to allow for 35 spaces.

The site is already tight for space and many of the customers come and go fairly quickly, Dan Strong, a member of the County Planning Board, said during the May 2024 county meeting.

Strong, a Town of Albion code enforcement officer, is handling the code enforcement duties for the project because the village code officer, Chris Kinter, is the owner of the site for the proposed store at 327 East Ave.

Dollar General previously said the store size proposed for Albion typically have 32 parking spaces. The company could add more, but that would result in more pavement and less green space, the Broadway Group wrote in its request for a variance.

The Broadway Group will provide a more detailed description of the store’s appearance and parking lot lighting when it seeks site plan review and a special use permit. First the company wants to make sure it will have a variance to have fewer parking spaces required in the code.

Dollar General sells general merchandise and food. It used to have a store in Albion on Route 31 across from the former GCC campus. The former Dollar General building is now used by a bottle redemption business.

Dollar General has several stores in Orleans County: 11273 Maple Ridge Rd., Medina; 11349 Ridge Rd. in Ridgeway; 30 North Main St. in Lyndonville; 16684 Route 31 in Holley; and 16669 Roosevelt Highway in Kendall.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Holy Family Lawn Fete was a busy place on Sunday afternoon, with many activities for people of all ages. New to the event: a dunk tank.

The top photo shows Bernard Melucci, 9, of Lyndonville throwing a ball at the dunk tank target.

Behind him are tents for people to eat burgers, hot dogs, pasta and other food.

Bernard Melucci keeps his eye on the target – the bull’s eye on the dunk.

There were about 100 baskets up for raffle at the Lyceum.

Mary Louise DiGirolamo, right, makes a purchase from Deb Zicari, president of the Ladies of Charity. There were baked goods, fruit and vegetables for sale by the Ladies of Charity.

Eileen Banker and Jim Passarell ran the raffles for a 65-inch TV and for gas cards.

Issac Robinson is soaked and cold sitting in the dunk tank. He worked out getting the dunk tank for the Lawn Fete. Next time he hopes more people will sit in the booth.

Ava Ludwick, 17, of Albion throws a ball at the dunk tank target and hit it, sending Robinson into the chilly water.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Jovannie Canales, lead pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship, holds a flat-screen television that was given away at the end of the Family Fun Day at Bullard park on Saturday.

There were 90 volunteers from 11 churches that put on the event that included many activities, free food, the chance to win prizes and also get baptized. Canales said 24 people chose to be baptized during the event.

Anita Garcia, a deacon at Harvest Christian Fellowship, announces that many prizes would be given away.

There were 900 people registered for Family Fun Day but the heat and a Buffalo Bills game likely kept some people from going to the park. There were still at least 500 people for the three-hour event on Saturday afternoon. In addition to the church representatives, there were about 35 community organizations at Family Fun Day.

Sarah Ferguson, right, of Risen Café and Riley Angelucci served hot dogs for free. They had 1,000 ready and had go through at least 500 with about 45 minutes to go on Saturday.

Albion firefighter Fred Piano assists Christopher Bergeron, 7, of Albion in spraying water from a fire house at targets.

Tim Bourke, a balloon artist from Albion, works on an animal for Jessica Woodhams and her daughter Davina, 4, during Family Fun Day.

Melisa Canales, left, and her husband Jovannie serve as lead pastors at Harvest Christian Fellowship. The couple used to be the pastors at the Oasis Church in Medina, which started Family Fun Day. That church last year  merged with Harvest Christian Fellowship.

There were six Family Fun Days in Medina at Butts Park before the change to Bullard Park last year.

Lodge in Albion hosts event with bands, raffle baskets and food

Photo by Tom Rivers: This banner welcomes the public to the Veterans Memorial Run, a 110-mile bike ride on Saturday that started and ended at the lodge at 428 West State St.

ALBION – The Albion Elks Lodge held a 110-mile ride on Saturday and they hosted an event at the lodge in a fundraiser for local veterans.

This was a first-time event and the lodge wants to do it the second Saturday every year. There were 17 bikes and three cars on the 110-mile trip.

Richard Robb, president of the Elks Riders in Albion, said the group will ensure the money goes to local veterans.

Photo courtesy of Richard Robb: The riders made three stops on the 110-mile trip on Saturday. Here they are shown at the Holley VFW. They also stopped at Maxwell Station in Olcott and The Grove 1848 in Kendall.

For many years the Elks Riders did a dice run as a fundraiser for the Jason Johnston scholarship. Johnson was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on Dec. 26, 2009. Johnston was a specialist and paratrooper in the Army. He was on his second tour in Afghanistan. He completed a 13-month-deployment in 2008 and left again for the war-torn country in October 2009.

His scholarship has more than $50,000 raised, Robb said. The $1,000 annual memorial scholarship that goes to a student pursuing a career in a helping profession, such as a nurse, doctor, firefighter, counselor or other social services.

With the scholarship well funded for many years to come, the Elk Riders decided they wanted to use the annual ride and fundraising event to go towards veterans in the community.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Todd Dawley, left, and Jeff Mosher worked the grill on a very hot day with temperatures near 90. The Elks recently upgraded that grill area making it enclosed in the back. The lodge also added a new fence and made other landscaping improvements to the property.

Nick Salvatore, lead singer of Salvatore, sings “Hard to Handle” by the Black Crowes. Salvatore followed the band, Bad Luck.

There were about 30 baskets and 25 gift cards up for raffle at the pavilion of the lodge.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These kids are delighted to be catching fish in today’s 29th Annual Danny Spierdowis Memorial Kids’ Fishing Derby will be from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 9 at Albion Sportsmen’s Association on Keitel Road.

There were 67 kids 16 and under signed up for the annual derby. Prizes go to kids who catch the most fish by cumulative weight and also for the longest fish. There are different age divisions.

Lily Miller, 8, of Lyndonville holds a bluegill she caught in the old quarry. Lily caught seven fish in the first half hour.

Connor Jurs, 13, of Kent holds one of the fish he caught this morning. The fish were biting and the kids were reeling them in.

Many kids and some dads tried fished from the shore of the former Peck’s quarry today. Many sunfish, bluegills and bass were caught.

The fishing derby is named in honor of Danny Spierdowis, who loved the outdoors, especially fishing in the former Peck quarries at the Sportsmen’s Association. Spierdowis was killed in a car accident at age 19 on Jan. 20, 1990. His mother Linda and sister Karen were at the derby today.

Marcus Coville of Waterport helps his grandson Eli Schutz, 9, after Eli caught a fish.

Jeff Casillo measures the length of a largemouth bass caught by Blake Morrison, 13, of Middleport.

“I caught one bigger but he got away,” Blake said.

Adam Burgio, left, is on the prowl for fish in today’s derby. Adam has fished in the derby for several years. This is the last year he can do it because he is 16.

Loren DuBois helps his daughter Aurora, 6, after she caught a fish. Aurora was prolific in catching fish today. The fish were put in buckets of water and then weighed. After they were weighed they were let back in the quarry.

Kristy Webber of Albion, right, watches her daughter Charley, 11, try to catch a fish in today’s derby.

Christopher Pirro of Albion puts a worm on the hook for his daughter Vayda, 5, while his son Benjamin, 10, waits for a fish to bite his line.

2 historical markers to be placed in Murray next year, the 250^th anniversary of the country

Photos and information courtesy of Tim Archer: Orleans County Historian Catherine Cooper shares insights about the Revolutionary War with Albion eighth-graders Sutton Sanders, left, and Luci Borrello.

ALBION – Albion Middle School eighth graders Luci Borello and Sutton Sanders have been busy this summer researching Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Orleans County.

At the behest of the county, and leading up to the country’s 250th anniversary, they hope to compile a more accurate updated list of War of Independence veteran burials.

The girls have already applied for two Pomeroy Foundation roadside markers for placement in Murray and a new veteran’s headstone in Barre. Likewise, they have met with historians, town clerks, cemetery supervisors, DAR and SAR members, and more.

The headstone site is that of Revolutionary War veteran Robinson Smith in Murray, who was a “Life Guard” for Gen. George Washington.

The students met with Patrice Birner, a member of the DAR chapter in Orleans County.

Press Release, Village of Albion

ALBION – Landlords with vacant rental units in the Albion area are invited to attend an upcoming informational session for the New York State Vacant Rental Rehabilitation Program.

The session will be hosted by the Village of Albion in partnership with G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing. The meeting will be Wednesday, August 13, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Village of Albion offices, 35 E. Bank St.

This state-funded program is designed to assist property owners in bringing vacant rental units back into active use through eligible rehabilitation work, supporting the broader goal of increasing access to quality rental housing in the community. During the session, attendees will learn about program eligibility requirements, available funding, the application process, and how disbursements are handled.

“This initiative presents an excellent opportunity for landlords to invest in their properties while contributing to Albion’s housing stability,” said Jay Grasso of G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing. “We’re excited to help local property owners understand how to take full advantage of the program.”

All property owners with vacant rental units in the Village of Albion are encouraged to attend. No registration is required.

For questions or additional information, please contact G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing at Nichola@ggprocess.com or (585) 368-8866.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Thrive Foods about three years ago acquired the Freeze-Dry facility in Albion at 111 West Ave. Thrive had big plans for the site, but laid off 29 workers in December and today told the remaining staff of 40 the site would be closing. Many of the workers were sent home today.

ALBION – Three years ago the new owner of the Freeze-Dry facility had grand plans for the site, with planned capital investments and more workers.

But this morning, many of the employees were told the site is closing and today was their last day on the job.

There has been no official notice that Thrive Foods is closing the Albion site. There hasn’t been a WARN notification from the Department of Labor. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act helps ensure advance notice if there is a plant closing or mass layoff. The WARN Act applies to layoffs of at least 50 people. Thrive had about 40 employees in Albion.

Thrive already had reduced the Albion workforce by about 30 in December. Back then Thrive had about 75 workers in Albion.

In September 2022, Thrive Foods announced it acquired Freeze-Dry, which at the time had 60 employees. Freeze-Dry had operated for about 20 years out of a 240,000-square-foot facility, which previously was used by Lipton’s and then Ontario Foods at 111 West Ave.

Freeze-Dry Foods specialized in freeze-dried products, including pet treats, proteins and ingredients. It was honored in 2016 as the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year.

The products have a shelf life of up to 25 years because Freeze-Dry eliminates moisture and oxygen, while preserving nutrients, flavor, taste, color and aroma.

Freeze-Dry was one of the few freeze dry companies in the United States. (The technique dehydrates frozen foods so the moisture content changes directly from a solid to a gaseous form. The product maintains its original size and shape with a minimum of cell rupture. Removing moisture prevents a product from deteriorating at room temperature.)

Thrive Foods also manufactures freeze-dried products, including fruits and vegetables, proteins, pet treats, probiotics, enzymes and prepared meals. When Thrive bought the Albion site, it then also had facilities in Modesto, California and American Fork, Utah.

Steve Palmer, CEO of Thrive Foods, met with the Albion workforce on Aug. 26, 2022. He told the staff there would be more jobs, and investment in the Albion facility.

Thrive was eligible for a state grant but the company never met the employment obligations and the application was withdrawn, according to the December minutes of the Orleans Economic Development Agency.

Orleans Hub reached out to Thrive officials for a comment but didn’t get a response yet today.