Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These two cyclists approach Albion this morning and are greeted by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus portrayed by Bob and Kathy Schumacher of Medina.

There are 350 cyclists peddling along the Erie Canal Towpath today. They started in medina and headed east to Fairport.

The 23^rd annual Cycle the Erie Canal event started Sunday morning in Buffalo and concludes July 18 in Albany. The cyclists ride about 40 to 60 miles each day.

Last year’s event was cancelled as a group due to Covid-19 restrictions. This year’s group is about half the size of the 650 to 700 that typically ride.

Walter Mayo, 74, of Derby in Erie County is riding in the event for the sixth time. He stopped for a photo of the Santa and Mrs. Claus, who promoted Albion for its distinction as the home to the world’s first Santa Claus School.

The cyclists were also directed to check out two nearby Santa murals.

Mayo said he has rode 2,000 miles since January to prepare for the week-long bike trip along the canal.

“I love it,” he said. “This is the best organized bike trip I’ve been on and it’s in New York.”

Kevin Bedard, 70, of Holley is riding the trip for the second time, and first since 2003.

“It’s the camaraderie of being with people from all over the country,” Bedard said. “And I’m proud of our area. Western New York has the best section of the canal.”

The cyclists stop in front of Tinsel and the Lockstone, where there were free bananas, oranges and bottles of water. The Downtown Browsery also offered free blinking lights to put on the bikes. Many of the cyclists were happy to hop off their bikes and look around the downtown area.

Natasha Wasuck, owner of The Lockstone and Tinsel, organized the welcome for the cyclists in Albion this morning. Holley is an official welcome stop 10 miles to the east of Albion.

Wasuck said she enjoys meeting the cyclists, who this year are from 34 states.

“it’s just fun to meet all of these people who are from so many states,” she said. “”It’s just exciting. You don’t see 300 cyclists all together.”

Stan Farone, right, of Albion is doing the ride for the fourth time. Farone, an Albion village trustee, said he has made friends with many of the cyclists who come back year after year.

Sunday was a tough day to ride due to the rain, and Farone said there was wind and mud on the towpath this morning.

But the riders didn’t seem discouraged.

“I like doing it and meeting the people,” Farone said. “I’ve got to do it while I’m still young. I’m 71.”

Albion police officers Will Francis and Jessica Saraceno stop traffic so this cyclist, Daniel Pilliard of Missouri, can cross Main Street.

These cyclists head east from Albion this morning after already riding 10 miles from Medina. The group will stay overnight in Fairport in tents.

Lowell Pilliard, 18, poses for a photo with his grandfather, Daniel Pilliard, 70. They drove 18 hours from Missouri for the cycling event. Lowell has done two other long bike trips in his home state, while his grandfather has been on group excursions in several countries.

“It’s great exercise and you get to see a lot of stuff,” said Daniel Pilliard. “I love it. It’s a great time.”

This cyclist walks across the Main Street lift bridge after visiting the downtown in Albion. The riders this year range from age 12 to 88.

Nina Sharrock of Bergen County, NJ, wanted to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Sharrock said the bike ride is enjoyable for people who aren’t necessarily hardcore cyclists.

“This is a little less challenging and a lot more fun,” she said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Betty Sue Miller, director of Hoag Library, is shown with the library’s new book vending machine. A $10,000 grant from Xerox paid for the machine as well as many books to be given away.

The library will give away the books through tokens. Those tokens will be given to children 12 and under who will be eligible to receive books on their birthdays. (The library’s has had a birth to age 5 book program for children to receive a book near Christmas and on their birthdays. That is funded by an anonymous donor.)

The vending machine accepts tokens, and then gives out books selected by the reader.

Miller also wants to connect with local coaches, teachers and others who work with youth. The library wants those adults to give out tokens for free books as a reward for children. Miller welcomes coaches and other adults who work with youth to stop by the library for tokens.

The Xerox grant is big enough to pay for another restocking of books, Miller said.

Elissa Nesbitt, a former library trustee, secured the grant from Xerox.

The vending machine includes a specially designed wrap with the Hoag Library name and quotes picked by the library, including:

“Reading for me, is spending time with a friend.” – Gary Paulsen

“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.” – Dr. Seuss

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” – Frederick Douglass

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Jahmeek Riley plays a creative game of HORSE with Randy during today’s opening day of the summer parks program in Albion at Bullard Park.

Last year’s program was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. This year the program will run for four weeks, Mondays through Fridays, until July 30.

There will be park supervisors on duty from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with many games, activities and other programs. Parents and guardians can sign up children on site. They can print out the form online at the Village of Albion website. Immunization records also need to be provided and the program will follow state guidelines for summer park programs.

The parks program will be based at Bullard Park on Route 31 and will include the new splash pad.

These sisters, Ashlee (left) and Haylee Young, have fun at the new splash pad. They are from Charlotte, NC and are visiting family in Medina.

The two sisters get soaked at the splash pad. The splash pad is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Photos courtesy of Hoag Library: Pictured include George and Marie Follett, who are seated. In back from left include Eric Coontz, Susan Follett Delamarter, Karen Follett and Erica Helm.

ALBION – Friends and family of George and Marie Follett on Wednesday gathered at Hoag Library to dedicate the “George and Marie Follett Music Collection” now housed at Hoag Library and available for circulation within the NIOGA Library System.

Karen Follett donated the 200 music books in honor of her parents, George and Marie Follett. Those books include biographies, books on theory and form, and music history.

The couple, which just celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary, both worked for Albion Central School. Mr. Follett was a school psychologist and Mrs. Follett was a music teacher.

Library Director Betty Sue Miller thanked the family for making this valuable and unique asset available to the community, while others in attendance shared how George and Marie’s love of music impacted their lives.

“The Follett Music Collection is given in honor of George & Marie Follett, two long-time members of the Albion community who have devoted their careers to education, inspiring many with their love of music,” the display notes. “An avid fan of Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms, George’s love of music enriched his years as a school psychologist and teacher of the occasional music appreciation course. Marie taught music to generations of students in the Albion Central Schools, and helped build secure foundations for the continued excellence of music programs throughout the district.”

The Follett family was joined by library staff, board members and two former students – Susan Boring and Gary Simboli – who went on to become music teachers.

ALBION – The past year was a very difficult one for Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, dealing with a pandemic, the passing of the former executive director and a good deal of turnover in key positions, new executive director Renee Hungerford told a packed room during an in-service event June 18 at Maison Albion for agency staff.

“We have themed the event, ‘A New Day,’” Hungerford said. “After all this, we are ready for a new beginning. It’s a new day.”

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Renee Hungerford, director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, confers with Sean Ossont, president of Continual Care Solutions, whose new program ImPowr was presented at Community Action’s in-service event June 18 at Maison Albion.

The program focused on how Community Action is one agency that works together with partners to help people become self sufficient and rise up out of poverty.

A highlight of the day was a presentation by personnel of Continual Care Solutions, who have developed a program called ImPowr to simplify correlating data from each department.

Continual Care Solutions CEO Mike Kamish started his company three years ago. He designed ImPowr to cover all programs and services Community Action offers.

“It has the ability to do everything your agency has to do, all in one data base,” he said.

The morning began with opening remarks from Hungerford, and Community Action’s board chair Barb Shine and ROMA training by Jackie Orr, New York State Community Action Association CEO. ROMA, Results Oriented Management and Accountability is required by the state for all Community Actions.

Skip Helfrich, head of Leadership Orleans, led several team building activities.

After lunch catered by Chaps’ Elba Diner, a tribute to former director Ed Fancher, who died May 20, 2020.

Orr, Bonnie Malakie, director of Children’s and Youth Services, and Annette Finch, director of Emergency Services, presented a tribute to former director Ed Fancher was presented by

Orr, who read a poem she had written, while Finch and Malakie shared their memories of working for Fancher, who passed away from cancer on May 24, 2020.

Annette Finch, a 44-year employee of Community Action, is silhouetted against the screen showing the late director Ed Fancher with Assemblyman Stephen Hawley. Tears were shed as Finch paid tribute to Fancher, who passed away from cancer on May 24, 2020. Fancher was the agency’s executive director and worked for Community Action for 32 years.

“I talk from my heart,” Finch said. “I had started at Community Action in 1977 and in 1986 I got a call from Ed’s mother-in-law asked me if I could get Ed a job. She said he was just married and having a baby. I went to Mr. Pulley (director at the time) and told him Ed had been in the Marines and had done accounting. I asked what we could do about this young guy who wanted to work for us. Mr. Pulley asked me, ‘What do you think?’ I said, ‘I think we should give him a chance. Ed went on to become our executive director. We don’t want to go back in time, but we don’t want to forget the man Ed was.”

“I sit in my office and I see his chair. I talk to him, asking him to give guidance to us, to Renee and to the staff – to keep this agency’s mission. God love Mr. Pulley for bringing that wonderful man into our agency,” Finch added.

Malakie offered her remembrances.

“I know the reason you are all here is because your heart is in the right place. It’s hard to believe it’s been more than a year. I know what Ed would say. ‘Don’t talk about me for very long, if you have to talk about me at all.’ He was such a big part of our lives and Community Action. He truly loved Community Action, Head Start, the Main Street Store, all of which were under his leadership. He was a true servant leader. Nothing he expected you to do, he wouldn’t do himself.”

Malakie called Fancher consistent, humble, collaborative, committed, caring and giving.

“He did not like to be in the limelight,” she said. “He was highly respected in the community. He had been treasurer of every organization in the county, a Boy Scout leader, a member of the Albion Alumni Association, an active member of his church and its choir and member of many professional organizations.”

To be sure Fancher’s legacy is carried on, $5,000 in donations has been made to the Albion Alumni Association in his name. Steps are being taken to make sure the new Ed Fancher Memorial Scholarship Fund becomes endowed. A $2,500 per year scholarship will exemplify his life of service as director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee. It will be awarded after a student completes one year of college, having maintained a 3.0 GPA.

“As you go forward in 2021-22, don’t think about the past,” Malakie concluded. “It is what it is. It’s a ‘New Day.’”

The day concluded with recognition of employees for their years of service. Recipients who would have been honored in 2020 for 2019 were Lisa Church and Edna Schramm, 20 years; Cheryl Bartz and Judy Martino, 15 years; Joe Wright, 10 years; and Brenda Cook, Rachael Escobar, Teri Lester and Barb Miller, five years.

Those recognized from 2020 were Heidi Wyant, 30 years; Cathy Brien, 25 years;  Lisa Church. Edma Schramm, Bonnie Malakie and David Laraby, 20 years; Ken Pritt, 15 years; Carrie Moreland and Taryn Moyle, 10 years; and Julie Bailey, Virgie Brooks, Michelle Figueroa, Erin Mattison, Jessa Pollock and Tami Slingerland, five years.

Photos by Tom Rivers

GAINES – Jessica Capurso, left, is handed the president’s gavel last week from outgoing president Alex Krebs during a Rotary Club meeting held outside under a tent at the Cobblestone Museum.

Capurso works as director of Outreach, Education and Marketing at Community Partners for Orleans Community Health.

It was a difficult year for the Rotary Club, with the club meeting through Zoom video conferencing and most of its fundraisers and community events cancelled due to Covid-19.

The club recently returned to in-person meetings for Thursdays at lunch. Those are currently being held at the Cobblestone Museum. People can still participate through Zoom.

The Rotary Club is looking forward to its upcoming golf tournament on July 15 at Shelridge Country Club. Golfers can still sign up at $90. Call or text (585) 703-3159 or (585) 261-2307 for more information. Proceeds from the tournament will go towards the Leadership Orleans program and a transportation program through Office for the Aging.

The Rotary Club also recently welcomed two new members – Robert Batt and Laura Olinger. Batt is executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County and Olinger is owner and president of Bentley Brothers.

The changing of the guard meeting last week included a remembrance for four people who have recently passed away who were influential with the Rotary Club.

The club reflected on the lives of the late Ed Fancher, Al Capurso and Rollie Kast, who were all dedicated community members. The club also highlighted the late Patricia Shelp, wife of long-time Rotarian Brad Shelp. Mrs. Shelp was a Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary’s highest award. She was a dedicated Albion school teacher, speech therapist and librarian.

“All loved their families and the community and exemplified the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self,’” said Rotarian Bonnie Malakie.

Photos courtesy of Albion Central School: Secretaries and teacher aides at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School are pictured recently. The district named the aides and secretaries the “Educators of the Year” for all of their extra effort during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – Albion Central Schools is pleased to announce the Educator of the Year Award has been presented to secretaries and teacher aides throughout the district.

To say this year has been challenging would be an understatement. For many, the ongoing pandemic brought with it a lot of anxiety, the fear of the unknown, and uncertainty for our students, their families and our staff.

While many schools across the nation closed, Albion was able to remain open. Our aides and secretaries stepped up, without hesitation, time and time again. Every day they have gone above and beyond to provide a sense of normalcy in abnormal circumstances, creating a safe and positive learning environment for our students and staff while balancing their regular duties, ensuring that the district continues to run smoothly.

At the end of the day, when we think of our Albion value statements and what they represent, we think of these incredible individuals.

Our 2020-2021 Educators of the Year are Stacey Andrews, Dawn Brower, Christine Capstick, Amy Castricone, Rachel Coolbaugh, Cassandra Dash, Karen Dibley, Sue Dick, Beth Dunn, Kristin Ferris, Elisha Hill, Cindy Ishmael, Deborah Jones, Linda Lewis, Renee Liberti, Nancy Lowery, Laura Marek, Sarah McCormick, Sue Ann McGaffick, Katie McGaffick, Terri Monacelli, Nancy Moore, Tammy Neal, Julie Norman, Pam Sargent, Laura Simboli, Christina Snook, Diane Stirk, Jessica Tracy, Lisa Tucker, Sue Webster, Sarah Williams, Tosha Williams, and Betsy Wolcott.

Thank you all for your dedication to our students, staff and community.

This group includes secretaries and teacher aides at the Charles D’Amico High School.

This photo shows secretaries and teacher aides at the Carl I. Bergerson Middle School in Albion.

This group includes staff at the District Office.

‘She’s a humanitarian and a mentor. She has been awesome to work with and for.’

Photo by Tom Rivers: Annette Finch helps run a food distribution on June 11 in the parking lot of the Main Street Thrift Store. Finch helped organize those distributions that began in April 2020.

ALBION – After more than four decades as a dynamo for Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Annette Finch has announced she will be scaling back and will be in semi-retirement beginning in July.

She started at Community Action 44 years ago in 1977 and has been director of Emergency Services since the late 1980s.

Finch, who will be 73 in October, has decided it’s time she slowed down, but she’s not ready to give up entirely. A team of co-workers will help pick up her slack as she cuts back.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Community Action’s director Renee Hungerford, standing, and Annette Finch, director of emergency services, hold a framed newspaper article written on the agency in its earlier years. Finch has announced she is scaling back her duties, effective in July.

Bonnie Malakie, who has worked at Head Start for 21 years, said Finch always had a real heart for people in need.

“At any time of the day or night or any day of week, Annette would stop what she was doing when someone was in need,” Malakie said. “She would advocate continuously for children, seniors and families. Our agency’s mission statement says, ‘To provide services with dignity and respect to help people become self-sufficient.’ Annette epitomizes that goal.”

Katrina Chaffee, director of operations and reporting, will pick up some of Finch’s emergency services cases.

Michelle Figueroa, case manager, first got to know Finch when she started volunteering in 2002.

“I really got to know her when I became case manager for Emergency Services,” Figueroa said. “Since then we have worked together in a lot of projects. Annette has a heart of gold. She’d do anything for anybody, including her staff.”

“What’s important to me is I have a lot of respect for my staff, and in return, they respect me,” Finch said.

Debbie Rothmund has worked in the Holley Community Center for 21 years.

“What a wonderful, caring and inspirational person Annette is,” Rothmund said. “She’s like a second mom. She’s my mentor. She taught me everything I need to know about helping people, and she’s always searching outside the box for ways to help people. She deserves to retire, but we will miss her. She is a great boss.”

Lisa Wittmeyer has been a case manager at the Batavia office for 20 years. She said Annette fits the Community Action mission to a “T”.

“She’s a humanitarian and a mentor,” Wittmeyer said. “She has been awesome to work with and for. We are going to miss her like crazy.”

Michelle George has been involved in running and growing the Main Street Store since its opening.

“Annette was the principal supporter for purchasing the building on Main Street in Albion and making it the Main Street Thrift Store,” George said. “She was proactive in every aspect of setting the store up, providing staff to get the work done to meet the deadline for opening. “Annette puts her heart and soul into the store, as she does for the many programs she directs,” George said. “She believes completely in the mission statement of Community Action. Her dedication to her job, to her staff and to the customers of Community Action is without parallel. Annette’s priorities have always been quality, compassion and helping others. She directs her programs with those qualities, and their ongoing success demonstrates her excellence in leadership.”

Heidi Wyant, transportation manager at CATS, echoed her co-workers sentiments about Finch.

“She has been a big asset to Community Action and we definitely will miss her,” Wyant said.

“If I have to give up my reins, I’m happy it will be someone like these girls,” Finch said.

Community Action’s director Renee Hungerford is confident the staff surrounding Finch will carry on in her style, with a little help from Finch along the way.

“I am excited about celebrating Annette’s accomplishments,” Hungerford said. “We are all one in this agency, and that’s the most important thing,” Hungerford said.

The wall in Annette Finch’s office at Community Action is lined with some of the numerous awards she has earned during her 44 years with the agency.

Albion born and raised, Finch graduated from Albion High School in 1966. She attended college to study business for a year and a half, and then went to cosmetology school for a while.

“But my real love was nursing,” she said. “Dr. Shifton wanted to put me through nursing school and I never did it.”

In the mid 1970s, she and Carri Blake started the Orleans County Office of the Aging.

In 1977, Community Action’s first director Charles Pulley asked Finch to join him as Nutrition Advocate, where she started a Traveling Nutrition Theater.

“It was a dynamite of a show,” Finch said. ”Fisher-Price gave us Muppet puppets and a stage. Volunteers worked behind the stage and we went to six area schools and talked about the four basic food groups.”

It was also during her years as a nutrition advocate that Finch started a garden project, where volunteers went to seniors’ homes, worked up a plot of ground and planted a garden for them.

“That was a good program,” Finch said.

Another program was Community Action Resource and Educational Services (CARES) where they went to isolated areas of the county, handing out food and applications for Food Stamps.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Annette Finch, director of emergency services at Community Action, is shown in the food pantry at Community Action with State Sen. Rob Ortt in June 2017 when she was honored as a “Women of Distinction” in New York, representing the 63rd Senate District that includes Orleans, Niagara and part of western Monroe counties. The award typically goes to women who own or lead businesses, high-powered political figures, college presidents and others in the limelight. Ortt said Finch, who has spent more than 40 years working with needy families, deserves the same status as the other Women of Distinction.

Finch was instrumental in starting the Clothing Depot on Bank Street in 1979. It was a small store front, Finch said, and people brought in clothing. It got bigger and bigger until they moved to Main Street.

In 1978, they were looking for something to do and Finch came up with a penny carnival across the street in the parking lot. That grew into the children’s carnival which Community Action did at Bullard Park every year until last year, Finch said.

After Loblaws closed in Albion and the building was empty, Community Action ran their first holiday program out of the store. That was in the early 1980s, and a plea was put out for toys, food and clothes.

“For the first several years, we delivered holiday baskets,” Finch said. “Now we have them come to us.”

Community Action also ran a transportation garage/repair shop on West State Street. They had a towing service, which was open to the public, but it ended after three or four years, Finch said.

Finch returned as Resource and Development director, developing fundraisers. She developed case managers and did marketing, talking to church and other groups about Community Action.

Genesee County started a Community Action in the mid 1980s and Genesee and Orleans merged.

Jim Scharping was Community Action’s director when the Holley Community Center was started.

Finch was involved with a kerosene heater program to help people who didn’t have heat.

She used to travel to Foodlink in Rochester and load up the van with English muffins, then drive around and give them to everybody.

The first program under Community Action was the CATS transportation program, which she has overseen for the last 15 years. Finch also took over Emergency Services in Orleans and Genesee counties.

While they were still located on Bank Street, Job Development’s Legal Services was under Community Action’s umbrella. In the early 1980s, the agency moved to its current location on East State Street. At that time, Sid Watts of Shelby worked under the housing program.

As an outreach worker for a time, Finch used to drive through the county, looking at homeowners’ yards. She could tell by the wash on the line and whether there were toys in the yard if kids lived there or not.

Finch recalls when they used to rent U-hauls to deliver surplus food, and volunteers from Cooperative Extension would drive all over the two counties four times a year, handing out cheese, flour, butter, corn meal and muffins.

Finch also connected with the Orleans Correctional Facility for a gardening program.

“They had all this land and they have the manpower, so I went and talked to the prison superintendent,” she said. “For about 20 years, they have been growing produce and bringing it here, and we hand it out to people.”

Hungerford, Community Action’s executive director, said Finch’s new part-time role, effective July 5, will be director of Fund Raising and Public Relations.

Finch said while she is not giving up, she was prompted to slow down a little.

“I still want to see the programs I have started keep growing, and there are still things I want to do,” she said.

Finch said she is proud of the awards she has received during the years, especially one from State Sen. Rob Ortt, when she was picked as a “Woman of Distinction” and recognized in the State Capitol.

Other prized awards were the Volunteer of the Year from the State Salvation Army and the Rosemary Fleming Memorial Award through the state of New York, given for providing administration and support services with commitment, professionalism and dedication to the mission of Community Action. She has also received citations from former State Sen. George Maziarz, Assemblyman Stephen Hawley and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Hoag Library has a flag from an African-American unit that fought in the Civil War. The flag has 35 stars. That’s how many stars were on the flag for two years from 1863 to 1865. The flag was picked up last week from a textile conservator after a restoration.

ALBION – A tattered Civil War flag for the 26^th U.S. Colored Infantry has been cleaned and restored. Hoag Library officials picked up the flag last week from the textile conservator in Delmar near Albany.

An anonymous donor contributed $10,000 for the restoration. The flag will be unveiled from 5 to 7 p.m. on July 14 at the library.

The flag is from a Colored Troops regiment. The 26th Regiment United States Colored Troops wasn’t for a local unit. Those troops were based out of New York City, although former County Historian Matt Ballard said the group was led by a local white soldier, Charles H. Mattison of Barre.

The library trustees in March 2019 felt it would be costly for the library to preserve the flag and then to properly display it. The trustees didn’t think the library should have the responsibility of caring for an artifact that didn’t originate in the local community.

But the community spoke out and urged Hoag to keep the flag. A donor offered to pay to have the flag be cleaned and restored.

Spicer Art Conservation, LLC, did the work on the flag. The firm that has cleaned and restored many Civil War flags, and even one from the War of 1812, which was a half century before the Civil War.

Gwen Spicer, owner of Spicer Art Conservation, did the work restoration work on the flag owned by Hoag Library. She has worked on many historically significant flags and banners, including a pre-Revolutionary War “Liberty” flag and Civil War flags. She has treated flags from every American conflict from the Revolutionary War to the present.

The flag was in a frame for many years. The white stripes in particular were badly deteriorated.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Members of the Class 2021 toss their caps near the conclusion of today’s graduation ceremony at the Spierdowis Football Field.

The ceremony is traditionally held inside the high school gym. Last year there wasn’t an in-person graduation due to Covid-19 restrictions, which limited gatherings to 150 people. Albion instead recorded graduates receiving their diplomas individually and compiled a video.

Albion for 2021 wanted an in-person graduation with the class together. The ceremony was shifted from the gym to outside at the football stadium when the recent guidelines allowed for bigger crowds at outdoor venues.

There were some sprinkles in the beginning of the ceremony, but many people said they preferred the outdoor setting over the gym which can feel stuffy and confined.

Nolberto Martinez Maya, class vice president, is near the front of the processional from the high school to the football stadium. He is followed by Olivia Morrison, class secretary; and Annalise Steier, class treasurer.

Maurice Taylor Jr. gets a hug from Ocie Bennett. Maurice was one of the 140 graduates in the Class of 2021.

The grads walked from the high school to the football field, pass a line of teachers and then through a tunnel of balloons.

Junior girls carry the daisy chain, including Alyson Knack and Emily Harling at left. Junior boys served as escorts and wore purple vests and bowties.

Aubrey Boyer, the class president, said life can often feel like a roller coaster that goes up and then down, and back again. The Class of 2021 has been on a roller coaster “that goes every which way.”

The class has experienced the best and worst of times. The grads had fun at school with homecoming, and grieved the loss of friends and endured a pandemic.

She told her classmates to look to the people seated next to them, and acknowledge they had triumphed by being there.

“We did this,” Boyer said.

The graduates completed their coursework and earned their diplomas, despite the stress and uncertainty of the pandemic.

“Each and every one of you is capable of greatness,” Boyer said. “Seniors, thank you for the rollercoaster ride of a lifetime.”

Kathy Harling, the Board of Education president, speaks to the class and urged them to live with integrity. Their personal character means far more than material possessions, Harling said.

She praised the class for their perseverance, but said they are “much more than the class that endured the pandemic.”

They will go far in life and have happiness if they put others before themselves, and embrace kindness, compassion and honesty.

Ashley Ames, left, is the class valedictorian and Aisha Drisdom is the salutatorian. They gave their speeches together, and urged their classmates to fight injustice and be a force in pushing back against racism, hate and discrimination.

Drisdom said the class showed the ability to learn in new ways and to adapt during the past 15 months of a pandemic.

“Let’s all be the change,” she said. “Self improvement is always possible.”

Mickey Edwards, the district superintendent, commended the class for putting in the work to meet the standards for their diplomas. He said life won’t always be fair. He urged them to continue to be responsible and find the good in others.

Austin Aman walks across the platform to accept his diploma.

Adonis Guzman Ramirez feels victorious after receiving his diploma.

Sierra Kast hugs her father John Kast who is a member of the Board of Education. He presented Sierra with her diploma.

Kyle Sidari smiles after receiving his diploma from his father David Sidari, who is a long-time member of the Board of Edcuation.

The class cheers on and takes a video of Chris Shabazz who did a dance on the way to accepting his diploma. The class sat in the bleachers while friends and family were in chairs on the football field.

Hannah Brewer

Two of the graduates spoke with the Orleans Hub briefly before the ceremony. Hannah Brewer will be majoring in music at Geneseo State College.

She said the pandemic was challenging, especially with remote learning and being limited to two in-person days of school for most of the year until April.

“It was harder this year but it was also more fun,” she said. “It made everything a surprise.”

Damion Lattimer

She is grateful many of the school activities, including the music program, were able to continue this year, although in a different way than before the pandemic.

She said she will miss her classmates when she heads off to college.

“The best thing about Albion is how close-knit we are,” Brewer said.

Damion Lattimer said he is excited to be going to Niagara University to study nursing. He said he will miss his friends and many of the teachers at Albion.

The pandemic forced him and his classmates to accept change and uncertainty.

“For our senior year we had to just adapt and go with the flow,” Lattimer said.

Shakyeliz Luna Colon poses with her diploma.

Saleya Williams smiles for a photo after receiving her high school degree.

Bagpipers play while graduates, including Arianna McGurn and Honesty Little, walk from the football stadium out to the lawn.

Photos courtesy of Albion Central School: This shows the group that was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society earlier this month.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION — Carl I. Bergerson Middle School inducted 22 students into the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).

The virtual ceremony was held during the day on Thursday, June 3. During the ceremony, NJHS Vice President Ella Trupo introduced the pillars of the organization to the new inductees.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the current members were acknowledged and recognized by NJHS President MacKenzie Snook. The 30 eighth-graders were finally able to cross the stage as they missed their chance last year due to the pandemic.

The current NJHS members include Mallory Ashbery, Zackary Baron, Oliver Beach, Leo Bolton, Sawyer Brigham, Olivia Brooks, Cassandra Brown, Dillon DiGiulio, Nolan Franzese, Rory Garrett, Tracy Garrett, Alexis Hand, Matthew Kania, Mallory Kozody, Seth Krenning, Madison LeBaron, Taylor LeFrois, Hunter Lonnen, Kenadie Patten, Lucas Powley, Isaiah Riley, David Rosario-Soto, James Ruiz, Alexandra Sanders, MacKenzie Snook, Adysyn Stirk, Tye Talbot, Ella Trupo, Carson Uderitz, Keira Zambito.

Tye Talbot was the recipient of the Service Award for completing 25 hours of service.

These 30 eighth-graders were inducted into the NJHS last year but there wasn’t ceremony in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Once the current members had crossed, the new members recited the NJHS pledge led by NJHS Treasurer Kenadie Patten. Then, the new members were able to receive their certificates and NJHS Secretary Taylor LeFrois guided them to sign the registry book.

The newly inducted members include Kailee Anstey, Neveya Barnes, Nisi Beltran Roblero, Kaitlin Bennett, Elliot Beyrle, Julia Button, Lindsay Crawford, Abigail Ferris, Benjamin Fleisher, Kaiden Froman, Aubrey Gannon, Rori Higgins, Amiyah Jones, Justin Kania, Abigail Kincaid, Hanna Kumalac, Nathaniel Miesner, Madison Muckle, William Plummer, Pablo Rosario Reyes, Alondra Santana Gonzalez, and Joshua Zayac.

Congratulations everyone!

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Dylan DeSmit, left, and Zack Burgess perform with the band Zero during an open mic night on Saturday. This was the first performance at the amphitheater. Burgess is singing “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

DeSmit, Burgess and other local musicians raised money for a grant writer and some of the costs of the Bullard Park upgrades through a “Rock the Park” musical festival. A scaled-down festival is planned for Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bullard.

Members of the Rebuild Bullard Park Committee, Albion Village Board members and other park supporters celebrated the opening of the amphitheater on Saturday. Pictured from left in front include Jack Burris, Chris Barry, Zack Burgess, Mayor Eileen Banker with scissors, Bernie Baldwin, John Grillo, Stan Farone, Kim Remley and Gary Katsanis.

Bill Pileggi and the band Triple Play perform “Pretty Woman” during the open mic night.

The band Zero led off the open mic night. People can watch concerts in the outfield of a softball field north of the amphitheater. Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza attended the kick off event on Saturday evening. The Zero band members include Chad DeSmit on drums, and from left: Mike Warren, Zack Burgess and Dylan DeSmit.

Chad DeSmit plays the drums for Zero. The amphitheater is next to the playground and spray park at Bullard.

Mike Warren, guitarist and singer for Zero, sings “TNT” by AC/DC during the open mic night. Warren performed for years in the fundraisers to help upgrade the park. He is thrilled musicians have a dedicated place to perform in the community. He said music “is a melting pot” that brings together people from all backgrounds.

Ron Albertson sings “One Way Out” by the Allman Brothers. He dedicated the song to the late Kathy LaLonde, who helped push for the park improvements more than a decade ago.

Ron Albertson, a member of the ReBuild Bullard Committee, also helped organize the Rock the Park festivals. In addition to “One Way Out,” he sang “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd and “There Goes Another Love Song” by The Outlaws.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The spray park at Bullard Park in Albion has drawn many kids and their families since it  opened on June 8.

Saturday evening there was a group of kids cooling off at the site just before a ribbon-cutting celebration at 6 p.m.

This trio is drenched when a big bucket of water tipped, unleashing a downpour.

The site is available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. There is a touch pad to activate the water at the splash park, which is located on Route 31.

This group is soaked after the big bucket dumped water on them.

Lucas Rotthoff, 2, of Albion has fun at the spray park on Saturday. He stopped by with his family and didn’t want to leave. Mark Rotthoff, Lucas’s father, said he was impressed there were so many features on the spray park.

“It’s a nice addition for Albion,” he said. “There is more here than I thought.”

Griffen Harvey, 4, takes a breather after scampering all over the spray park. His grandfather, Ron Albertson, is a member of the Rebuild Bullard Committee that pushed for the park upgrades.

Members of the Albion Village Board and Rebuild Bullard Committee celebrated the spray park with a ribbon-cutting on Saturday.

Pictured from left Chris Barry, Ron Albertson, Bernie Baldwin, John Grillo, Kim Remley, Zack Burgess, Albion Mayor Eileen Banker, Jack Burris, Gary Katsanis and Stan Farone.

The park upgrades include a new amphitheater and utility building with bathrooms. The village will also be adding a walking trail and sidewalks to the spray park and near the amphitheater.

The summer parks program also will be back this year and will run from July 5 to July 30 at Bullard.