Kendall boy, 16, needed blood transfusions when he was a baby

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kristen Ostrander, center, is shown giving blood today at the Elks Lodge in Albion with Connie from the Red Cross and Kristen’s son Jared.

Ostrander helped rally blood donors for today’s drive and the result has been 58 appointments, the most in several years. There is room for more walk-ins before the drive ends at 7 p.m.

The blood drive at the Elk’s Lodge usually attracts about 40 blood donors. Today there are 14 first-time donors and many who haven’t given in a while are back, said Wendy Evenden, accounts manager for the American Red Cross.

Jared was born nearly 17 years ago on July 25, 2007. He was born three weeks early and was diagnosed with Patent Ductus Arteriosus and persistent pulmonary hypertension of a newborn. One of his ducts didn’t close properly and his blood was flowing backwards, his mother said.

Jared needed two blood transfusions, and he was able to rebound at the NICU at Strong Memorial Hospital and went home after 17 days. He has not be affected by the issues since then. Jared is going into his senior year at Kendall. He is on the wrestling and track teams at Kendall.

Ostrander said she was looking for a way to give back to the community and knew summer tends to be a time when the Red Cross needs blood. The is currently a critical need for the blood supply.

The current donor base is the lowest since Sept. 11, 2001, Evenden said.

The Red Cross welcomes more drives in honor of people who have received transfusions. Evenden said some drives can be in memory of someone, and the Red Cross welcomes challenge drives pitting organizations, fire departments and other groups. For more information, contact here at wendy.evenden@redcross.org or call (716) 260-6899.

There are other upcoming drive sin Orleans County:

Monday, July 29:

Orleans County YMCA

306 Pearl St.

Medina, NY 14103

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 9:

Orleans County Administration Building

14016 Route 31

Albion, NY 14411

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 13:

Sacred Heart Club

189 N Gravel Rd.

Medina, NY 14103

1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 24:

Hoag Library

134 South Main St.

Albion, NY 14411

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information on Red Cross blood drives, click here.

Tugboat pushing empty barges back to Albany after delivering bridge to Buffalo

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A tugboat passed through Albion this morning around 10:20, pushing a 195-foot-long barge.

The barge has a much lighter load after Carver Companies delivered a bridge to Buffalo last week.

The bridge was in four sections, and two barges carried two sections each. Carver is bringing the two barges back to Albany.

Jim Babcock stopped to get an up close look at the barge and tugboat. He said it was the biggest barge he’s ever seen on the canal.

The tugboat moves the barge east on the canal, going under the Ingersoll Street lift bridge.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Crew members help guide a 195-foot-long barge as it nears a bend on the Erie Canal in Gaines this morning, close to the historical marker that notes this spot is the northernmost point on the Erie Canal. This photo was taken at about 6:25 a.m.

Crew members from Carver Companies started the day early in Albion. A tugboat pushing the barge started at 6 a.m. and began moving a 195-foot-long barge from its overnight spot between the lift bridges in Albion.

There were a few people up from the community to see the tugboat and barge begin the trek headed west. Carver Companies estimates it will be in Medina around 8:30-9 this morning.

Donna Matteson drove from Kent to Albion to see the barge at 6 a.m. She is pleased to see the canal used to move some heavy cargo. In this case it is two sections of a pedestrian bridge in Buffalo.

Carver already has moved two other sections of the bridge to Buffalo, passing through Orleans on Monday and reaching Buffalo on Tuesday. Carver has been moving the two big barges for about 2 1/2 weeks on the canal, starting in Albany.

Crew members stand on the end of the barge to help direct the massive vessel carrying sections of a bridge. This was at about 6 a.m. when the crew departed from Albion.

The barge and tug head west while early morning mist is on the canal in Albion.

The barge gets under the guard gate in Albion. Carver Companies said the two sections on the barge are bigger and heavier than the first two that passed through Orleans County on Monday. The heavier cargo caused the barge to sit lower in the water, scraping bottom at times on the journey.

Carver Companies posted on its Facebook page the barge needs to draft 9 feet in order to clear under bridges that are 15 feet, 6 inches.

The two pedestrian bridge sections on the barge today are 2 feet higher than the sections are on the first barge, so Carver has the barge sitting deeper in the water to get under the bridges.

The barge passes under the Gaines Basin Road canal bridge.

The barge and tugboat heads west near the northernmost point of the canal, with Eagle Harbor the next hamlet on the journey.

Carver Companies said it is hoping to reach Buffalo Saturday morning with the two sections of the pedestrian bridge.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A 195-foot-long barge made it to Albion, passing underneath the Ingersoll Street lift bridge at about 7:40 p.m.

The barge is carrying two sections of a pedestrian bridge headed to Buffalo. The tugboat CMT Otter pushed the barge from Rochester to Albion today. The barge and tug are staying in Albion overnight, and will head east at about 6 a.m. on Friday.

Carver Companies, a company based near Albany, expects the barge will reach its final destination in Buffalo on Saturday. The first barge carrying two other sections of the bridge passed through Orleans County on Monday. On Tuesday it reached Buffalo at Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy.

The barge heads west on the canal in this photo taken from the Brown Street canal bridge.

The two sections on the barge today are bigger and heavier than the first two. That caused the barge to sit lower in the water, scraping bottom at times on the journey.

Carver Companies posted on its Facebook page the barge needs to draft 9 feet in order to clear under bridges that are 15 feet, 6 inches.

The two pedestrian bridge sections on the barge today are 2 feet higher than the sections are on the first barge, so Carver has the barge sitting deeper in the water to get under the bridges.

The canal is listed as being 12 feet deep, but Carver Companies said it is lesser than that in some spots. “This resulted in slower speeds than expected today,” Carver poste don social media.

Here are more photos of the barge and tugboat coming into Albion this evening.

The barge emerges from underneath the Brown Street bridge.

The barge carries a long sing urging people to “Follow Me To Buffalo.” The trip started about two weeks ago in Albany and has attracted lots of media attention and many onlookers.

A 1,200-horsepower tugboat has kept the long and heavy barge moving.

Many people took photos and videos of the barge coming into Albion, and tying up for the night between the lift bridges.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Bullard Park welcomed a bigger crowd of kids today for the summer recreation program. Today was the program was open to children throughout Orleans County, as well as Elba’s summer rec program in Genesee County.

There were six bounce houses set up, as well as face painting, food, a magic show and other activities.

About 300 kids were at the park today, said John Grillo, Albion’s recreation program director.

Seven students form the Iroquois Job Corps helped run the event today with the village recreation department.

Kade Leverenz, 5, of Holley heads down the slide in one of the bounce houses.

These kids play with giant Legos brought to the park by the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern. GOMOC used a grant from ESL to purchase the blocks and other games. The Ministry of Concern also used the grant to pay the $5 cost for each ticket for a child to use the bounce houses, attend a magic show and also get food served by the Masonic Lodge.

John Hollenbeck, 14, volunteered with the Masonic Lodge and served up popcorn.

Patrick Holman of Medina put on a magic show. Here he is assisted by Julianna with a rope trick. Holman tied a knot that moved up and down on the rope. The rope also was cut in half and then seemed to miraculously come back together as one rope.

These kids try to catch the knot from the rope. Holman performed his show for about 50 kids at the park’ amphitheater.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Orleans County Joint Veterans Council today was given a van to be used to transport veterans to medical appointments.

Pictured from left include Jake Hebdon of Cooper Funeral Home in Medina, Josh Mitchell of Mitchell Family Cremation & Funerals, Joint Veterans’ Council president Dave Kusmierczak, and Joint Veterans’ Council secretary Nancy Traxler, who is also the county’s veterans service agency officer. (Mitchell is handing off the van’s keys to Kusmierczak.)

Cooper Funeral Home and Mitchell Family Cremation & Funerals merged on April 1. The funeral home co-owners said the new partnership brought efficiencies, and they didn’t need the van anymore.

The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica has about 73,000 miles. It has a value of about $15,000. Rather than sell it, Hebdon and Josh Mitchell wanted to give it to the local Joint Veterans Council.

The funeral directors said they work with the local veterans frequently, especially the Honor Guard that attends funerals for veterans.

Dave Kusmierczak is president of the Joint Veterans Council and one of the volunteer drivers. The council will be able to retire one of its five other vans that is high mileage with about 120,000 miles.

“This was a total surprise,” Kusmierczak said about the van. “It’s a blessing they looked us up to give us the van.”

The council typically saves money from donations and fundraisers and then buys a used van that is low mileage.

The council has about 20 volunteer drivers who take veterans to about 1,000 medical appointments each year. The council is always looking for more volunteer drivers and people in the office to schedule drivers for appointments.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can call (585) 589-2856.

The van donated by the funeral home will be inspected with decals added that says it is owned by the Joint Veterans Council and provides transportation to veterans for medical appointments.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These wrist bands are available to purchase today as part of a benefit to help Dan Ryan’s family with expenses.

Dan Ryan passed away on June 23 after getting pneumonia that then caused multiple organ failure. Ryan had been battling a liver problem.

The band Eclipse performs on the stage at Dubby’s Tailgate. Eclipse followed Clueless on the stage. Chris Moore and other musicians are expected to play until the benefit ends at 9 p.m.

Ryan was the drummer of Eclipse which includes Erin Moody on lead vocals, D.J. Button on guitar, Brett Zambito on bass, and Mike Parker on drums.

Zambito said the loss of Ryan is painful for the local music community and for Albion.

“His kids just adored him,” Zambito said about Ryan, the father of Nadalee, 12, and Tyler, 6. “He was a good dude. It’s sad all around.”

There are 73 baskets and gift certificates up for raffle. Dan Conrad and Ryan’s sister Pam Kennedy helped to collect many of the baskets.

Pam Kennedy and her son Ayden, 10, sell the raffle tickets for the benefit today.

Provided photo: Dan Ryan was a drummer in many local bands the past 20 years. He was a key force in the Rock the Park music festival at Bullard Park.

ALBION – A benefit at Dubby’s Tailgate on Sunday will be in honor of a man who gave countless hours to help other people, including the annual Rock the Park music festival at Bullard Park.

Dan Ryan died at age 39 on June 23. He needed a liver transplant. He got pneumonia and then suffered multiple organ failure, his sister Pamela Kennedy said.

Ryan is survived by two children, Nadalee, 12, and Tyler, 6. The benefit on Sunday will help his family with Ryan’s expenses.

“He was always talking to people and helping people,” Kennedy said. “He was a good guy.”

Kennedy is helping to organize the benefit on Sunday that goes from noon to 9 p.m. Ryan’s friend Dan Conrad also is working to organize the event. They both welcome more basket raffle donations for the fundraiser. Kennedy can be reached at (585) 471-0944 and Conrad at (585) 590-1148.

Ryan played the drums for the band, Eclipse. That band will be performing on Sunday, along with Clueless, Chris Moore, and others.

Ryan played with other local bands in the past two decades. He was driving force in starting Rock the Park, which is now in its ninth year. The event from Aug. 2-3 will be dedicated in his memory.

Zack Burgess was in the band Zero with Ryan on the drums in the early days of Rock the Park.

“While he was never part of our actual committee, Dan would show up the days leading up to, and the day of the event, ready to help out with whatever was needed. Which, those that knew him will tell you, was not an uncommon trait for him,” Burgess posted in a tribute on Facebook.

“Over the years, Dan played drums in our original host band Zero, and even set up his drums for the rest of the bands to use. He played on our float in the Strawberry Festival parade, designed and refinished multiple Rock the Park guitars to raffle off, and even ran sound for us (for free) for the first two years of our event. And that’s all outside of the manual labor he would provide just to help us get the event set up.”

Kennedy said her brother loved to play the drums since he was a little kid. He taught his kids to play them, too.

Conrad spent many hours fishing with Ryan. He saw how Ryan would look to help others, never wanting anything in return.

“He was a fun, outgoing person,” Conrad. “He was there for everybody.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: The band Eclipse performs “Stinkfist” by Tool during Rock the Park 7 at Bullard Park in Albion on Aug. 6, 2022. Erin Moody is lead singer for the band that includes Brett Zambito, left, on guitar and D.J. Button, right, on guitar, as well as Dan Ryan on the drums. This year’s Albion Summer Festival/Rock the Park 9 on Aug. 2-3 is dedicated in honor of Ryan, who passed away at age 39 on June 23.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli was in Albion on Saturday to meet with the local Democratic Party and encourage them in what is often a daunting task of fielding candidates in a Republican-dominated county.

DiNapoli has been state comptroller since 2007. He has met with local Democrats at least twice before in Albion.

He noted Democrats in rural parts of the state have the work extra hard to get candidates elected. In Orleans County, Republicans outnumber Democrats by a 2-to-1 ratio.

“Every vote you get in Orleans County is a hard-fought vote,” DiNapoli told about 30 people during a gathering on Saturday at Hoag Library. “I don’t want you to think that we at the state level don’t appreciate and recognize it.”

He said Democrats can win by drawing support from independents and even some Republicans. He urged them to keep trying in the local elections and stay active as a committee in the county.

“Bad things happen when good people don’t vote,” he said.

Tom DiNapoli addresses local Democrats in Albion on Saturday. Jeff Lewis, Democratic Party chairman in Orleans County, is in back at right.

A priority this coming election is to defeat Donald Trump in the presidential race. DiNapoli said there “is a lot of soul-searching going on” among Democrats. Joe Biden faces increasing pressure to drop out of the race. He is trailing Trump in the polls, and Biden is coming off what many view as a “disastrous” debate against Trump last month.

“We have to stay united as Democrats and make sure Trump is not re-elected again,” DiNapoli said, calling Trump “a threat to democracy.”

The state comptroller said New York State is doing well economically as it works to recover from the Covid pandemic. He said New York City is back to 100 percent with jobs from the pre-Covid levels. Other parts of the state aren’t quite back to 100 percent and are in the 90s. But DiNapoli said unemployment is low at 4.9 percent and sales tax returns have been strong.

The comptroller oversees at $268 billion pension fund, that DiNapoli was up 11.5 percent last year. His office also puts out many reports highlighting challenges in rural areas, including shrinking population, an aging population, emergency services, affordable housing and child poverty. DiNapoli said three upstate cities – Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse – are among the top 10 in the country for highest child poverty levels.

He tries to highlight issues for state legislators and the governor to work on and address with legislation and the state budget.

“As Democrats we want everyone to be lifted up and not just the wealthy and the few,” he said.

David Wagenhauser, a Democrat from Waterloo in Seneca County, attended the Democratic Party gathering on Saturday with DiNapoli.  Wagenhauser seeks to unseat Rep. Claudia Tenney in the 24th Congressional District that covers 14 counties including Orleans.

Wagenhauser is a retired lawyer. He has served as a Brockport village trustee.

DiNapoli said a victory by Wagenhauser would help put the House of Representatives back in a Democratic majority. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also is up for election in November, and her re-election is critical for Democrats to hang on to a razor-thin majority in the Senate, DiNapoli said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Who Dats performed from the amphitheater at Bullard Park on Wednesday evening as part of a July 3^rd celebration.

Several hundred people enjoyed the music at the park.

Todd Graham of the Who Dats takes the lead in this in this song, while Lonnie Froman, the band’s lead singer, took a break for one number. John Borello is at left and Alex DeSmit is on the drums. Ed Hilfiker (not in photo) plays guitar for the popular band that has been entertaining for many years.

There were also several food vendors and four bounce houses.

Ryan Klatt, left, and Steve Keenan also performed from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. as the Ryan Klatt Duo. They are shown near the pavilion and little kids’ playground area.

These kids enjoy the spray park on a hot day with temperatures in the high 80s.

The Village of Albion Recreation program and Greater Albion Community Recreation and Events (G-ACRE) organized the event, which included 350 chicken barbecue dinners sold, face painting and pony rides. John Grillo, the village’s recreation director, said he would like to see the day capped with fireworks in the future.

Rock the Park (Albion Summer Music Festival) returns to the stage on Aug. 2-3.

ALBION – Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern has announced a new program to benefit school children in Orleans and Genesee counties.

Jami Allport, executive director of GOMOC, is excited about their new Back to School Program and hopes it will prove to be very successful.

She explained her agency used to do school supplies, but it has been evident that most schools are now providing the necessary supplies to children, so the need there is not as great as it used to be.

At a recent staff meeting, Allport said Rose Friedl, newly appointed youth coordinator, came up with the idea of providing new sneakers and clothing to school children.

Friedl was formerly with GOMOC’s furniture program, and this is her first big event as youth coordinator, Allport said.

Previously, GOMOC provided clothing and gifts for children at Christmas time, but they realized that many other organizations step up at that time also, including Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Medina Area Association of Churches, the Salvation Army and local churches. But, other than backpack programs, there is a need to help children and families get ready to go back to school.

“We hope this program will bridge that gap,” Allport said.

Allport said GOMOC provided gifts and clothing for 137 children last Christmas, so she knows the need is out there.

“If we can help 100 children – 50 in Orleans and 50 in Genesee County, I will be happy,” Allport said.

To utilize the program, families must visit GOMOC’s office in the First Presbyterian Church of Albion and fill out an intake form and the size, ages, color and list of what their children would like. Entrance to the office in the church basement is off Platt or East State Street. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The agency is closed on the Fourth of July.

Allport stressed how important it is for a child of any age to have nice clothing for school.

“We want kids to feel confident and happy when they go back to school, and sometimes having a new shirt or pair of sneakers will do that,” Allport said. “Many children have never had a new pair of shoes or outfit. Even kids at pre-K level are aware of how the others look.”

Allport is asking the community to step up and donate money or gift cards so they can purchase what these children need. If donating clothing or footwear, the tags must be on them. The public is also encouraged to adopt a family, and either shop for what is on their list or donate money so the items can be purchased.

For more information, contact GOMOC at (585) 589-9210.

The drive will run through Aug. 22.

“If we are able to surpass 100 children, that would be wonderful,” Allport said. “We want to help as many kids as possible.”