By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 April 2021 at 10:47 am
The Village of Albion has been approved for $3.2 million form the state to upgrade the water treatment plant, repair water transmission mains and upgrade the distribution system.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the funding which includes a $1,949,400 Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grant and $1,299,600 in short-term low interest financing.
The funding was part of $48 million approved for projects around the state by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors.
“Clean water and functioning water infrastructure are essential parts of the standard of living and qualify-of-life for all New Yorkers, and towns and villages across the state have an ongoing need for wastewater treatment plants and water tanks that needs to be filled,” Cuomo said in a news release. “The newly enacted budget dedicates $500 million to support clean water initiatives which increases our investment and brings the state closer to fulfilling its commitment to New Yorkers. These projects will underscore our pledge to help protect the environment and the health of New York’s residents and families.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 April 2021 at 5:54 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Brian Neal, a Barre firefighter, sprays water on a brush fire along the canal embankment near Keitel Road in Albion.
A hedgerow on the fruit farm also was on fire. Carlton firefighters were working on that hedgerow, while Albion, Barre and Kendall firefighters tried to keep the fire from spreading down the canal embankment.
Fred Piano, left, and A.J. Fisher use grassfire brooms to try to keep the fire from spreading up near the towpath. The fire had spread about 100 yards, just west of Keitel Road.
The fruit farmer was burning brush, mainly branches trimmed from fruit trees this winter. The fire spread with the dry conditions and wind. Although there is a residential burn ban until May 14, farmers can still burn brush.
There was also a brush fire in Ridgeway on Route 104 at about 4 p.m.
Fred Piano and A.J. Fisher sweep the burnt grass and branches back into the fire.
Barre firefighters attack the fire from this truck, spraying from near the towpath. Mark Farone is holding the hose in this photo. He is joined in the back of the truck by Brian Neal and John Egloff. Gary Rowley is walking close by in the orange shirt.
Kendall brought a pumper that holds 900 gallons of water. The truck has a turret gun nozzle mounted in front. Kendall added that truck in 2019. It is the only one like it in Orleans County. Kendall could move the truck along the lane to spray at the brush fire.
Click here to see a video of Kendall fire truck spraying water on the brush fire.
When Kendall went to refill its truck, Barre firefighters then took a turn spraying the brush with water. Brian Neal is spraying the water from the towpath.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 April 2021 at 1:28 pm
Mayor says Albion will seek full costs of damages
Provided photo
ALBION – A “Buddy Bench” at Bullard Park was destroyed and left in a heap with nails sticking out. It was discovered this morning by a grandmother with her grandkids. They went to use the Pee Wee Park section for smaller children.
Some of the park’s picnic tables were also recently broken. Albion Mayor Eileen Banker said the village has no tolerance for vandalism in the parks.
Those responsible will be held criminally and financially responsible, Banker said.
“If this continues we will consider closing the parks,” she said today.
She urged people who see vandalism to report it to the police.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 April 2021 at 11:59 am
ALBION – The Village Board on Monday evening approved spending $71,400 to replace two 30-foot-long pumps at the water treatment plant.
The village has three pumps for bringing in water from Lake Ontario, and uses the third pump as a backup. The two main pumps are “failing rapidly,” Adam Rush, the chief operator, told the Village Board.
The Village Board declared the situation an emergency, which allows Albion to buy the pumps and have them installed without doing the normal competitive bidding process. If the village did that process, with preparing bid specifications and doing the legal notice postings, it could add another 4-5 weeks before the new pumps could be in place.
Even with the emergency declaration, Rush said it will take 6 to 8 weeks to get the new pumps, which need to be built specifically for Albion’s needs for depth and pressure. The installation will require bringing in a crane to take out the old pumps and put in the new ones.
Rush expects the old pumps will hold up until the new ones are in place, but the current ones are functioning at reduced capacity. They are pumping 1.9 million gallons of water a day now, and they are vibrating, making loud noises and “they shake violently,” Rush told the board. He doesn’t think they would hold up for the village’s peak water demand of 2.4 million gallons a day in summer.
“We are slowing down the pumping to preserve them,” he said. “Right now we can’t go full throttle.”
Besides providing water for the village, Albion’s water plant is the supplier for several towns in the county.
“This is our water,” said Mayor Eileen Banker. “We have to be able to provide water.”
The pumps are about 8 years old. They pull water from the lake that can have high turbidity, with sand, sediment and sometimes mud that takes a toll on the pump parts.
The village will pay for the new pumps out of the water department’s fund balance. The water fund includes $18,000 this budget year for service pumps.
Fire contracts approved with towns of Gaines, Albion
In other action on Monday, the Village Board approved new 2-year contracts for the village to provide fire protection and emergency services to the towns of Albion and Gaines.
The Town of Albion will pay a 5 percent increase to $109,455 in 2021, and then another 3 percent increase in 2022 to $112,739.
The Town of Gaines will pay 5 percent more in 2021 for $110,250, and then a 3 percent increase in 2022 for $113,557.50.
Albion will pay the amount in quarterly payments while Gaines agreed to a lump sum by April 15 each year.
Albion is considering creating a joint fire district which would take the fire department out of the village budget. If that happens, with the fire district becoming its own taxing entity, the fire contracts between the village and the two towns would become void.
• The board renewed a lease with State Assemblyman Steve Hawley for his district office at 121 North Main St., the Albion Visitors Center. Hawley will be billed a 2 percent increase to $1,391.93 a month.
The board also approved the following appointments for 2021-22:
Linda Babcock as the Fair Housing Officer for a term of one year.
Karen Conn to the Planning Board for a term of five years.
Trellis Pore for a term of five years to the Zoning Board.
Bernard Baldwin, Mike Beach, Annette Finch, Saul Harrison, Carly Ward and Terry Wilbert to the Recreation Committee for terms of one year each.
Mary Ann Braunbach to the Historic Preservation Commission for a term of four years.
Pam Davies, Lisa DeCarlo and Carol Tibbitts to the Grievance Committee for a one year term each.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 April 2021 at 9:48 am
Zack Burgess, Jess Marciano, both in early 30s, are a new generation in local government
Photos by Tom Rivers: Zack Burgess takes the oath of office on Monday evening while his mother, Lynn Burgess, holds the Bible. Albion Mayor Eileen Banker, right, administers the oath in the board room at the Village Office. Burgess’s sister Amber Bedford, her husband Wes and their two children watched him take the oath.
ALBION/MEDINA – Two new village trustees were sworn into office on Monday, Zack Burgess, 31, and Jess Marciano, 34, are part of a new generation getting involved in local government.
Both were elected on March 16. Marciano was one of two trustees who were unopposed in Medina. She was elected along with incumbent Owen Toale.
Burgess won on March 16 with nearly 80 percent of the vote over retired social studies teacher Joe Martillotta, the former owner of the Crooked Door Tavern in Albion.
Burgess, a life-long Albion resident, has been active in the village, serving as co-chairman of the Rock the Park Music Festival at Bullard Park. He works as a sales representative at Bentley Brothers.
He has worked with many of the current Village Board members and many of the village employees through Rock the Park. He presented plans to the board for that music event many times in recent years and also connected with village department heads on the music festival, which was a fundraiser for the park.
Provided photo: Jess Marciano, right, took the oath on Monday with her daughter Cadence. Marciano’s wife, Rhonda Marciano, is shown holding the Bible.
Jess Marciano and her family were living in a small townhouse outside of Buffalo. They were looking for a permanent home with a “community feel.” Marciano and her wife Rhonda didn’t expect to move so far east as Medina. But the other communities they looked at didn’t feel like the right fit.
“We were hooked before we pulled out of the driveway of the new house, but the selling realtor, Renee Schuner, was a fantastic representative for Medina’s tourism committee,” Marciano said. “Renee sent us down Main Street, ending at Zambistro, for a full Medina experience. For nearly four years, especially the last two as a stay-at-home parent, I am reminded almost daily why this is such a wonderful place to live.”
Marciano joined Medina’s Parks Committee last year and is now on the Village Board. She worked at Walmart for 11 years, starting in loss prevention and ending as a co-manager, responsible for total store operations and directly supervising the salaried managers. In 2017, she started with ADESA Buffalo, where she worked for two years, one as sales supervisor and the other as the office manager.
The trustees start at a very busy time for the Village Boards, as they have several extra meetings in April, working to get the village budgets adopted by the end of April. Albion’s budget for 2020-21 totals $6,872,286 while Medina’s includes $5,925,742 in spending.
Zack Burgess signs the oath of office, which was administered by Village Clerk Linda Babcock.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 April 2021 at 9:52 pm
Director and performer expanded shows for Lake Plains Players
Photos by Tom Rivers: Lance Anderson portrays Jean Valjean in the production of Les Misérables. Anderson said playing Valjean in October 2013 was a dream come true. Anderson expanded the LPP’s number of productions, including a children’s theater camp over the summer.
Lance Anderson, a star performer and director for the Lake Plains Players, passed away on Thursday. He suffered a stroke in mid-December. His friends say he was preparing to go to a rehab site and his death is a shock – and a great loss.
Anderson was in his mid-50s. He caught the theater bug while a student at Albion in the early 1980s. He went on to a career as a vocal teacher, and remained deeply involved in the local community theater group, the Lake Plains Players.
Anderson was the group’s president. He performed on stage, directed many shows, and would do many of the thankless tasks behind the scenes.
“Lance was heavily involved in every single show,” said Gabrielle Montgomery, the Lake Plains Players acting president. “He did so much for the group. He was indefatigable.”
Anderson led a group that was friendly and accepting to everyone, but also pushed to put on high-quality productions.
He was proud of the group for its production of Les Misérables in the fall 2013. Anderson played his dream role, of Jean Valjean in a show which included a cast of 78.
Anderson expanded the LPP’s productions to include summer recitals and a children’s theater camp in the summer. He led the theater camp with Jennifer Trupo, a Lyndonville vocal teacher who directs the Lyndonville-Medina school musicals.
They took on the summer theater camp despite the commitment of three nights a week of rehearsals with a large group of kids. And he drove about an hour each way from his home in Spencerport.
“He just felt it was so important to give kids a chance to do theater,” Montgomery said.
During the Covid pandemic, Anderson and the LPP performers posted many “Living Room Concerts” on Facebook. Anderson performs “Sweet Zoo” by Jeffrey D. Harris from Barbra Streisand’s “My Name is Barbra” album. His video was posted on April 17, 2020.
The Players don’t make cuts for the large fall musicals among community members. The cast has a strong camaraderie, and Anderson was able to connect with everybody.
“He wasn’t just a boss or a director or someone you did a show with,” said Montgomery, who has been involved with the group since 2011. “He was really a good friend to a lot of us. He really made a huge impact.”
Lance Anderson hams it up while singing “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” during a Christmas recital at St. Mary’s in Albion on Dec. 5, 2013. Anderson and the Lake Plains Players performed in many venues in Orleans and Niagara counties.
Anderson was a mentor to many of the LPP members, including Montgomery. He encouraged her first to get started in set design, promoted her to assistant director and then director of some of the LPP productions.
Many of the performers have been with the LPP for many years. Anderson was a big part of building an organization with a strong camaraderie, drawing people from Orleans, Niagara, Genesee and beyond.
“The Lake Plains Players is a different sort of theater group,” said Montgomery, who has been involved with the group since 2011. “It’s a family atmosphere. The group really cares about its members.”
Anderson would often teach vocal lessons in Albion and Medina, and then make it to rehearsal for the Players. He taught many of the leading performers on the high school stage, and he made it to all of their shows.
Jennifer Trupo, a longtime member of the LPP, first met Anderson when was in seventh grade at Lyndonville and Anderson was vocal director for the school musical, Singing in the Rain.
“He was a force, making us march around the stage while singing,” she recalled.
He was intimidating when she was in junior high, pushing hard for excellence. Later they performed many shows together, including You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown in January 2013, when Trupo was Lucy and Anderson was Charlie Brown.
Courtesy of the Lake Plains Players: Jennifer Trupo is Lucy and Lance Anderson portrays Charlie Brown in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” by the Lake Plains Players in January 2013.
The Players used to performed their big fall musical in either Medina or Lyndonville’s auditorium. In recent years it has performed just over the Orleans County line in Niagara, using Roy-Hart’s auditorium in Middleport.
Anderson had his heart in Orleans County, and he pushed for other venues for LPP shows, including summer recitals at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina.
These children are elves enjoying singing and dancing to the song, “Sparklejollytwinklejingly.” They are shown in August 2018 during the summer theater camp performance of Elf Jr. The Musical. There were 45 children in the cast.
Trupo and Anderson paired up to lead the summer theater camps, which included Little Mermaid in August 2015, Alice in Wonderland in 2016, Wizard of Oz in 2017, Elf the Musical in 2018 and The Lion King in 2019. Last year’s camp was cancelled due to Covid.
Anderson took on the challenge, even though he was nervous about working with a large group of kids from elementary to high school. The Players kept the cost down and find a spot for every kid who wanted to be on stage.
“He was just so wonderful,” Trupo said. “He was so great with the kids. They just loved him.”
Anderson was a star performer in his own right, but in the past decade he was willing to be put in the long hours as director, putting together programs, stage work and other tasks, so others could shine on stage.
“His goals were all about making things better, and having the group have longevity, and have a strong presence in the community,” Trupo said. “(His death) is the most heartbreaking, terrible tragic loss.”
Anderson was presented an award by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council in October 2014 for his dedication to the Lake Plains Players.
Lance Anderson has the role of Jean Valjean, left, and Tyler Weymouth plays his nemesis, Inspector Javert, who ruthlessly pursues Valjean in Les Misérables.
During his acceptance speech, Anderson said the Players are like a family that finds a spot for interested community members to be part of their shows.
“It’s an honor working with so many lovely people,” Anderson told the GO Art! crowd at Terry Hills Golf and Banquet Facility in Batavia. “I’m very proud to be a part of the Lake Plains Players.”
Donations are being accepted in memory of Anderson to the Lake Plains Players Performing Arts Scholarship, c/o Lake Plains Players, 94 Jesson Pkwy, Lockport, NY 14094 or by clicking here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 April 2021 at 2:08 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from December 2013 shows an artificial Christmas tree on the lawn of the Courthouse Square. The Albion Merchants Association is raising money for a large live Christmas tree.
ALBION – The Albion Merchants Association is seeking donations to have a Christmas tree planted in the Courthouse Square.
The group has an $800 fundraising goal for a “Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce” tree. It is trying to hit the fundraising goal soon so the tree could be planted this spring by Preston’s Lawncare.
Artifical trees have been set up at the Courthouse Square in the past by the Village of Albion DPW. More recently, the DPW has set up that tree at the Waterman Park, where there is a large Santa mural. The Albion Betterment Committee is working to have a bronze Santa statue in that park, about a half block south of the Erie Canal.
The Albion Merchants Association said the live tree planted at the Square would be used for events, including tree-lighting, Christmas caroling, family photo opportunities and the annual Hometown Holiday celebration in December. It would also add to Albion’s ambiance as a “Santa village,” said Natasha Wasuck, who is spearheading the project for the AMA.
Photo by Elliott Neidert: This drone photo from February 2017 was taken by Elliott Neidert. It shows the Courthouse Square with a light coating of snow.
Photo courtesy of Albion Central School: Heidi Blickenstaff, who portrayed Katherine Blake in the Broadway production of Freaky Friday, met through video conference with Albion cast members Saturday.
Posted 1 April 2021 at 8:54 am
Press Release, Albion Central School
ALBION — The Albion High School Arts Department recorded their production of Disney’s “Freaky Friday” on Saturday, and also met a Broadway actress who starred in the show.
In an effort to make this year’s show extra special, the high school production team invited Heidi Blickenstaff, the original cast member who portrayed Katherine Blake in the Broadway production and actress in the recent Disney film (2018), to meet and greet the student cast, crew and orchestra before recording their production of “Freaky Friday.”
Ms. Blickenstaff talked about how the magic of music and theater is needed in this world, especially in the time of the pandemic, giving the students a new appreciation for the show. She also talked about what this show means to her: what themes are present throughout the script, how the music made her feel, and what audiences can gain from watching this production.
We are so appreciative to Ms. Blickenstaff, the production team, High School Principal Jennifer Ashbery, and the district administrators who helped to make this happen!
The virtual show will be available for the public to stream on April 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. and April 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 and can be bought at www.albionk12.org.
ALBION – Despite pandemic illness restrictions, local churches are offering a variety of worship opportunities this Holy Week.
Many churches will be pre-recording or streaming live services on their Facebook, YouTube, or regular web pages. Some will hold in-person services with mask & distance requirements in place.
At least two churches in Albion will present Maundy Thursday Communion Services and Good Friday Tenebrae Services: Albion First Baptist (30 West Park St.) Thursday & Friday at 5 p.m., and Albion First Presbyterian (26 East State St.) Thursday & Friday at 6 p.m.
Most area churches will hold in-person Easter Celebrations at their regular worship times. Alleluia! He is Risen! Come hear the greatest story ever told, again or for the first time.
– Submitted by Rev. Aleka Schmidt, pastor of First Baptist Church and president of the Albion Area Ministerium
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 March 2021 at 6:21 pm
Provided photo: This historical marker will soon be placed by the Erie Canal in Albion to commemorate Marquis de Lafayette, who as a young French aristocrat and military officer served with George Washington.
ALBION – A new historical marker will be dedicated April 14 in Albion. The sign will be placed by the Erie Canal near the gazebo on Platt Street.
The project is led by a middle school service learning class taught by Tim Archer.
The sign will commemorate Marquis de Lafayette, who as a young French aristocrat and military officer served with George Washington and was instrumental in the Continental Army securing American independence from the British monarchy.
The marker will be dedicated at 10 a.m. on April 14 in an informal event that includes the service learning class and Seventh Grade History Club.
In 1824 Marquis de Lafayette was invited to visit the United States for the first time in 41 years. As an American hero and one of the only surviving commanders from the Revolution, he was met with great enthusiasm in visits across 24 states.
Lafayette sailed on the Erie Canal on June 6-7, 1824, travelling between Lockport and Rochester during his farewell tour.
The sign is paid for from the Orleans County Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. The marker notes Lafayette’s journey on the Erie Canal during the farewell tour, and the sign will also include The Lafayette Trail logo.
The Lafayette Trail Inc. notified the Albion officials that the organization is planning bicentennial celebrations of Lafayette’s farewell tour in 2024-2025.
Press Release, Albion Mayor Eileen Banker and the Albion Village Board
Provided photos: Roland Nenni holds a gift from the Albion Village Board, which he was presented today in the Albion Village Board meeting room. Nenni has his last day in the office today, ending a 29-year career in law enforcement. He has served the past decade as Albion police chief, while also leading the Holley Police Department the past five years. Nenni also has served as the SWAT commander for Orleans County and teaches at the Rural Police Academy at GCC.
ALBION – Chief Roland Nenni started his career with the Albion Police Department in 1994 after serving for a year and a half with the Holley Police Department. Chief Nenni served in many roles with the Police Department prior to him being promoted.
During the late 1990’s, Nenni as an officer completed the DCJS Crime Prevention Officers School and Community Policing School. Because of this training he was instrumental in forming many neighborhood watch groups in the village. As an officer he spent hundreds of hours teaching the community crime prevention measure, safety measures and conducted many security surveys for residents and businesses.
One of the many roles was to serve as the department’s lead trainer. Nenni completed held many training certifications which allowed the Albion Police Department to intensely train officers at an extremely high level.
In 2002 while on vacation in Florida, Nenni had an opportunity to have a discussion with executives of a new police technology called Taser. As a result of that meeting the Albion Police Department was one of the first agencies in New York to deploy Tasers to every officer. Taser is now a standard item amongst law enforcement.
Early in his career he was assigned to the Department’s Emergency Response Team which later became part of the Countywide SWAT Team. During this time he completed a SWAT Basic School conducted by the US Army at Ft. McLellan Alabama and the FBI Sniper Scout School. He then completed the Tactical Medic Course and Team Leader Development Course.
While on the team, Nenni served as a sniper, team medic, and tactical team leader. He was one of the developers of the Countywide SWAT Team which combined all the law enforcement agencies in Orleans County into one SWAT Team. Nenni continued to serve on the team as a Co-Commander and then became the Overall Team commander in 2014.
When promoted chief of the Albion Police Department in 2011, the Albion Police Department became the first agency in the county and region to accomplish several initiatives. The Albion Police are dispatched and respond to all EMS and Fire Calls. Chief Nenni obtained AEDs for every police vehicle in an effort to save lives as officers often arrive on scene of medical emergencies before other responders.
The Albion Police Department was the first agency to outfit every police vehicle with a patrol rifle and provide train every officer with advance training with them. The Albion Police Department was the first agency to place less lethal munition in every vehicle. Up until this point there were very limited less lethal options for officers. The Albion Police Department has responded throughout the county to provide this option to other law enforcement agencies during incidents.
The Albion Police Department also expanded its training requirements for officers during Chief Nenni’s tenure. The required training for officer in NYS consists of 1 or 2 required training sessions a year. Chief Nenni built the training up to make many offices instructors in various areas. The Albion Police Department now trains in over 15 to 20 specific disciplines and is always expanding. The Police Department recently changed its Policy Management that will require policy training several times a week.
The Albion Police Department is the only agency in the county to be accepted into the US Department of Defense 1033 Program. This program provides equipment free of charge to law enforcement. Chief Nenni has obtained over $1.6 million in equipment from this program. This equipment consists of armored vehicles, robots, generators and utility vehicles. These items were made available to all the agencies in the county and have assisted agencies outside Orleans County.
In 2015 Chief Nenni started the County Wide National Night Out. This event grew over the years and involved many civic and service organizations. The 3-plus hour event is held in August and averaged 1,500 to 2,000 attendees and provided services to members of the community. Those who attended were able to make connections with professionals that could help with any life event that a person could experience. Also, in 2015 the Albion PD was the first agency in Orleans County to implement body cameras and complete video recording throughout the entire police station.
Chief Nenni became certified in high levels of incident and event management. This allowed the Albion Police Department to manage large events such as the Strawberry Festival, several running races including the Metro 10 and other events that take place throughout the year. Those who attend these events don’t see the hours and plans that Nenni establishes to make them safe and enjoyable.
The Village of Albion has seen many serious incidents during Nenni’s time as police chief. While many of these incidents were tragic, the ultimate successful conclusion was made possible because of the training and dedication of the entire Police Department.
The Albion Village Board would like to sincerely thank Chief Nenni for his dedicated service to the Albion Police Department and most important to the residents of the Village of Albion. To say Chief Nenni gave 150 percent to the department and the citizens of the village is an understatement.
The board wishes Chief Nenni much happiness, good health and continued success in the next chapter of his life!
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 March 2021 at 8:27 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Albion Police Department Sgt. Brandon Annable, left, and Lt. David Mogle are pictured outside the Albion police station on Platt Street. The two officers worked on a police reform plan that was required by all 500 law enforcement agencies in the state.
ALBION – The police reform and reinvention plans for the Albion Police Department and Orleans County Sheriff’s Office were both sent to the state by their governing bodies last week.
The Albion Village Board and Orleans County Legislature both voted on Wednesday to send the plans to state. Gov. Andrew Cuomo last June gave all 500 law enforcement agencies until April 1 to submit the plans after public feedback.
Albion gave residents a chance to comment on the police department through a five-question online survey.
“What we heard was vastly positive,” Lt. David Mogle told the Village Board last week.
The Sheriff’s Office held at least three public forums. Both the Sheriff’s Office and Albion PD formed committees with residents to go over the agencies’ policies for use of force and de-escalation, community relations, and training of officers on bias in profiling.
Mogle said the process allowed the Albion PD to hear from the community. One concern from the committee is people don’t like the tinted windows on the Chevrolet Tahoes driven by officers. Mogle said as those vehicles are rotated out the replacements won’t have tinted windows in the future.
The committee also suggested the Albion PD have more officers spend time in school buildings. The department currently has a dedicated school resource officer, Chris Glogowski. He has worked at the school district since February 2019, with the district contributing $81,250 annually to the village to have the officer dedicated to the schools.
More officers could spend time in the schools with the district’s approval and if it works with the Police Department’s staffing, Mogle said. Those officers could spend part of a shift with the school resource officer, Mogle said.
The department, under Police Chief Roland Nenni, has annual training for officers that far exceeds the annual state requirements. Albion officers do annual training with firearms, use of force, updates in laws such as bail reform and “Raise the Age,” Emergency Vehicle Operation Course, Stinger Spike Strips (vehicle pursuit termination efforts), administering Narcan, using tourniquets and other First Aid, and defensive tactics, Taser and use of less lethal bean bag shotgun, reality-based training focused on de-escalation, Bloodborne pathogens, and active shooter training.
The department has long banned the use of chokeholds. It has a policy against racial-based profiling. The Albion PD also is looking to add a Racial Justice training, the department states in its reform and reinvention plan.
The Sheriff’s Office is responsive to the community, embracing more training to de-escalate volatile situations, Sheriff Chris Bourke said during a public forum on Feb. 4.
Bourke said deputies have received more training in responding to people in a mental health crisis. They are trained to help de-escalate those and other potentially volatile situations.
The Sheriff’s Office operates with the purpose that “all persons have the right to dignified treatment under the law; protection of this right is a duty which is binding upon all members,” according to the community relations policy.
Sheriff Chris Bourke
The policy about bias-based profiling states that all members of the Sheriff’s Office “will not affect a stop, detention, or search of any person which is motivated by race, color, ethnicity, age, gender or sexual orientation.”
Bourke said the Sheriff’s Office has about 100 employees with 45 at the county jail. There are usually 22 to 24 deputy sheriffs, which includes two investigators, three sergeants, a lieutenant and one civil sergeant. The Sheriff’s Office currently has two vacancies for deputies and an investigator.
Jeff Gifaldi, the chief deputy, said the Sheriff’s Office has three patrol cars out 24-7, except on the weekends, when it is increased to four cars.
The Sheriff’s Office also runs a marine patrol from April 1 to Nov. 1 with a full-time deputy and 10 part-timers. The work in 26 miles of water along Lake Ontario, as well as Lake Alice, Glenwood Lake, the Erie Canal and other smaller bodies of water, Bourke said.
The Sheriff’s Office also runs the 911 dispatch center with nine full-time dispatchers and two part-timers. Last year they handled 32,000 calls.
“We’re proud of the services you provide in Orleans County,” County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said during last week’s meeting.
She faulted the state for threatening a funding cut for the municipalities that didn’t submit a plan by April 1.
“I commend the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office for all of their labor getting this plan together under threat of no funding, which wasn’t fair to you,” Johnson said.
To see the police reform for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 March 2021 at 10:31 am
Event will fill some of void with no Strawberry Festival
ALBION – There may not be an Albion Strawberry Festival the second weekend in June, but there will be some community activities.
The Albion Merchants Association announced it will have a food truck rodeo from noon to 7 p.m. on June 12. Interested vendors can send an email to albionmerchantsassociation@gmail.com.
The Albion Village Board last week gave its approval for East State Street to be blocked off to traffic between Main Street and Platt Street for the event. The board said it supports the food truck rodeo as long as the public health guidelines for Covid are being followed.
The state has currently limited outdoor gatherings to no more than 200 people. That crowd size limit, and the uncertainty for the future, prompted organizers to cancel the typical Strawberry Festival for the second year in a row. The festival draws several thousand people for a parade, food court, live music and other activities. Holley also cancelled its June Fest which would have been June 5.
The Merchants Association would like to have live music in the Courthouse Square during the food truck rodeo.
The organizers of the Strawberry Festival 5K/8K also are planning that race for 8 a.m. on June 12, and may release the runners in smaller groups to spread them out on the course.
There will also be a craft fair with food and other activities on June 12 at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex. That event will be a fundraiser for COVA.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 March 2021 at 9:56 am
Runners released in waves every 10 minutes at Wayne Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness 5K
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Emily Douglas of Oakfield, left, and Nicole Zinkievich of Medina cross the finish line at Wayne Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness 5K on Saturday in Albion. The race ended in the parking lot at the elementary school.
The event was first 5K of 2021 in Orleans County with nearly 100 completing the distance. That included 69 on the course in person with another 11 who did the 3.17 miles virtually. More are expected to do the race virtually.
Most of the course went along Route 31 from the elementary school to Mount Albion Cemetery and back.
The race was cancelled a year ago during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. This year’s race included precautions against Covid. There was no large gathering at the start or finish of the event.
The runners were also released in smaller groups of no more than 25 every 10 minutes, with groups starting at 1 p.m., 1:10, 1:20 and 1:30. People also had the option of doing the distance virtually at a different time and location.
Edna Hyer of Orchard Park is close to the finish line. She won the 80 and over age group for women.
Arian Cayea of Medina was second overall in a time of 18:02.
Michael Dee of Syracuse won the race in a time of 16:47 for the men. The fastest woman was Mary Bostwick of Cheektowaga in 25:36.
The race was organized by Wolfpack Multisport. That group is planning for the Albion Strawberry Festival 5K/8K in Albion on June 12. The main festival has been cancelled but there will be other events that day, including the 5K/8K.
The Wayne Burlison Colon Cancer Awareness 5K started in 2015 to honor the memory of an Albion elementary music teacher who died at age 36 from colon cancer on March 26, 2014. The “Run for Wayne” highlights the second leading cancer death among men, but is often treatable if detected in the early stages.
The race is slighter longer than a typical 5K at 3.17 miles. Burlison lived 3 months and 17 days after he was diagnosed with colon cancer.
Burlison was active in several musical groups in the community and also helped start the Albion Running Club. He lost more than 150 pounds through better nutrition and exercise and completed a marathon and half-marathons.
Photo by Tom Rivers: An Albion firefighter directs traffic on March 19 at a car accident with minor injuries on Route 98 in Gaines near the five corners.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 March 2021 at 3:03 pm
ALBION – A committee of Albion firefighters and village officials will be studying if a fire district would make more sense for the fire department, rather than having it part of the village budget.
The fire department is in the village budget, with the towns of Albion and Gaines paying the village in a fire protection contract.
In a fire district, the fire department expenses would be removed from the village budget and the fire district would be its own taxing entity.
The Holley Fire Department recently was moved out of the Holley village budget and is now part of a joint Murray Fire District with the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company.
The Albion Village Board on Wednesday voted to research the formation of a district. Joe Grube, a former Gaines town supervisor, will lead the study. Grube is the current vice president of the Albion Fire Department. He is in line to become the president in May.
He sees the biggest benefit of a fire district is the clear breakdown of the costs of operating a fire department. Right now, the costs are blurred in the village budget. For example, a mechanic in the DPW of the village works on fire trucks while on “village time.” That cost as well as insurance and upkeep of the fire hall aren’t necessarily defined in the village budget.
Grube said the possibility of creating a fire district is “very preliminary.” One issue that needs to be resolved is whether a fire district can cover two towns. Grube said he has only seen fire districts in one town or in part of a town.
The village and fire department discussed exploring a fire district about three years ago, but the effort has been languishing. Grube wants to see the “benefits and detriments” of a district for the towns of Albion and Gaines, and the village of Albion.
“The biggest benefit will be transparency in the costs,” he said. “Right now it is very cloudy because so much of the costs are buried in village budget.”
If Albion does form a fire district, there would be elected commissioners. There would be public hearings and a public referendum for a district to be created.
If the district moves past the preliminary stage, Grube said he expects the committee would expand to include representatives from the two towns.
If there is a new fire district, there would be a separate tax from the fire district that would be part of the tax bill that comes out in January. It would also mean the village tax rate would likely go down because the fire department wouldn’t be included in the village budget. However, there would be a new tax for village residents with a fire district.
