By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 June 2023 at 9:18 pm
Photo courtesy of Tim Archer
ALBION – Albion sixth-grade students were able to meet with a state Department of Transportation worker at the Main Street lift bridge construction site. A worker for one of the subcontractors shows a hydraulic mechanism from the bridge that was constructed in 1914. The bridge closed to traffic on Nov. 14 and has been dismantled and taken off site north of the canal for a major rehabilitation.
The hydraulic piece has been offered to the school as a piece of local history memorabilia, said Tim Archer, teacher of the sixth-grade citizenship class.
Some of the students who visited the site include, from left: Carter Krull, Colson Braley, Blake Doty, Mary McCormick, Kendall Peruzzini and Maddox Krull.
“Students are preparing for more extensive canal history research next year leading up to the spring 2024 bridge reopening,” Archer said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2023 at 2:55 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion middle school students this fall are planning to paint “Welcome to Albion” in large letters above the canal mural on the back of the fire hall on Platt Street.
The Village Board gave the OK to the project. Students will also freshen up the mural that was originally painted in 1998. It was the Girl Scout Gold Award project for Corinne Toenniessen, who received some help in the design from Terri Wood.
Kamie Feder, the Middle School art teacher, presented the plan to the board last week. Jay Pahura, superintendent for the Albion Department of Public Works, said he would get a scissor lift for the students and Feder to work on the project. The DPW also will have the area blocked off to traffic while the project is worked on.
Feder led a group of students last June in painting a mural of flowers on the back of the former bathroom building at Bullard Park. That structure is now used for storage since new bathrooms were added to Bullard about two years ago.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2023 at 6:28 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Onyedikachi “Will” Robinson works on a painting on Friday evening at the opening reception for a new art show at Marti’s on Main. He is one of three artists featured in the show that continues through July 31.
Robinson, 25, makes large paintings, including the portrait of Bob Marley in back. Robinson was working on a painting, “Shine Up,” of an older woman.
He is a native of Nigeria who was playing basketball in Canada. He said he was homeless in Kentucky and some older people steered his life on the proper path. He now lives in Rochester and works in construction. He makes his frames from discarded wood at construction sites.
“I’ve always loved old people,” he said. “They pointed me in the right direction.”
Robinson said he would like to see more people reach out to the elderly, who often suffer from loneliness.
Two of Robinson’s paintings include “Man in Distress” and left and “Prayer” at right. These paintings are about 5 feet in height.
He is a self-taught artist who creates paintings 5 to 6 feet in height. Robinson is 6 foot, 6 inches.
He sketches his paintings, and then paints them, often all in one day.
“It’s self expression,” said Robinson, who started painting in middle school. “I make the portraits to express myself.”
Marti’s also features 12 paintings and nine collages by Jill Gussow of Rochester. She is a retired art professor at Brockport State College. Kim Martillotta Muscarella, owner of Marti’s on Main, was one of Gussow’s students.
Many of Gussow’s paintings are of birds. She paints them on colorful pieces of wallpaper. She wants to create a feeling of birds in a garden.
“I hope people feel joy,” she said about her paintings.
She also wants people to better appreciation the wonder of nature.
“Many people have a lack of awareness about their environment,” she said.
The exhibit also includes work by Richard Della Costa of Kendall. He was unable to attend the opening reception. This photo shows “Mr. Saturn” at left and “Moon Ships” at right.
Della Costa makes collages from found objects. He often combines pieces of junk, discarded bits of metal and glass, and antique objects in his assemblies.
Onyedikachi “Will” Robinson works on his painting as a tribute to an older woman on Friday at Marti’s on Main.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2023 at 4:29 pm
Provided photo
ALBION – Albion Rotary Club President Alex Krebs, left, presents a check for $1,000 to leaders to the Mike and Faith Smith, leaders of the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen at Harvest Christian Fellowship.
The $1,000 represents the proceeds from Rotary’s St. Patrick’s Ham Dinner in March.
The OK Kitchen started on June 2 last year at Harvest Christian Fellowship on Route 31, across from Bullard Park. The kitchen serves meals from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays.
The OK Kitchen served about 15,200 meals in in first year. In addition to the meal on Thursdays, there is a meal to-go, a frozen meal and an extra bag of food. Faith Smith said her hope is that every person that walks through the door will receive at least 4 days of food with just one stop.
Faith and Mike Smith also deliver meals on Thursday nights to shut-ins that can’t make it to the kitchen. She said they are looking for more people willing to deliver meals on Thursday evenings.
“The need is getting bigger than we expected and our car can only hold some many meals,” Faith Smith said.
The donation from Rotary will be used to purchase paper products, an industrial mixer and many types of to-go containers.
Krebs said she is grateful Rotary could assist the OK Kitchen. She is the founder of the Orleans Community Kitchen that opened in 1994 and led the effort for many years.
Photo by Tom Rivers: This group was out on a chilly Feb. 1 pumping gas for people at the Crosby’s at the corner of routes 98 and 31 in Albion. Pictured from left include Gary Westlund, Gary Kent, Phil Brady and Tim Tierney.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2023 at 12:52 pm
ALBION – A group of volunteers that pumped gas for senior citizens on Wednesday mornings in Albion has been forced to discontinue the service due to liability concerns.
Reid Petroleum informed the Albion Betterment Committee that it could no longer allow the volunteers to pump gas for people due to concerns the volunteers could get hurt.
Reid Petroleum officials met with the group on June 7, the last day of gas pumping and presented them with a $1,000 check to be given to the PAWS Animal Shelter.
The Betterment Committee has been pumping gas from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday morning for about 20 years in all kinds of weather, from brutal cold to oppressive heat. No one ever was injured, said Gary Kent, one of the ABC directors and a mainstay at gas pumping.
The volunteers all were willing to sign waivers to not seek money from Reid Petroleum in case they were hurt at the site. But Reid Petroleum still felt the company would be exposed to liability, Kent said.
“We all got a kick out of it,” Kent said about pumping gas. “It was fun helping people. We enjoyed socializing and interacting with the people.”
He reached out to the Kwik Fill gas station in Albion but that company also rejected the volunteers due to liability.
“I got to tell the other guys it’s over,” Kent said today.
He felt like the volunteers made a difference for many senior citizens, pumping their gas and taking their money into Crosby’s.
“When you get to be 80, 85, 90, it’s anything to make it a little bit easier,” Kent said about the service.
The Betterment Committee also offered a 10-cent discount per gallon. They accepted donations to be given to PAWS. Many of the seniors gave back the gas discount and said to give the money to PAWS.
Last year the Betterment Committee donated about $900 to PAWS from the donations. It was about $850 in 2021. The group was on a pace to top $1,000 this year.
Kent said many of the volunteers were dedicated over the years, including Gary Westlund, Clarence Winkelmann, Tim Tierney, Phil Brady and Mike Wright.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2023 at 12:28 pm
Effort still about $100,000 for top rubberized layer, new hoops, fencing
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Keeler Construction in Barre put down the first layer for two full-size outdoor basketball courts at Bullard Park today.
The subsurface layer also fills in water holes and uneven parts of the surface that was used for a skate park and parking.
Another ¼-inch layer will go on Tuesday.
The “Bounce for Bullard” Committee still needs about $100,000 to put on a final rubberized layer,, as well as four hoops and fencing on the south side of the courts to help prevent basketballs from going onto Route 31 (East Avenue).
The new layers being put down today and Tuesday are funded with a $40,000 grant from the James and Juli Boeheim Foundation. The Greater Albion Recreation and Events, Inc., a non-profit organization, secured the funding with assistance from the Orleans County United Way.
“I’m very excited to see it getting done this morning,” said Susan Oschmann, one of the leaders of the basketball court effort in Albion.
She is planning a 3-on-3 basketball tournament on Aug. 5 as part of the Rock the Park music festival at Bullard. The tournament is expected to be played on the new courts with portable hoops. The rubberized surface won’t be ready by then because the funding needs to be raised.
Oschmann said the Bounce for Bullard Committee will continue to do fundraisers, and seek donations and grants to pay for the rest of the project.
Future 3-on-3 and adult basketball tournaments are expected to raise funds for maintenance of the courts.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee counties, welcomed guests and recapped the state of the agency at the annual staff in-service meeting Friday at the Albion Elks Lodge. (Center) Barb Shine, president of Community Action’s board of directors, introduced staff and praised the agency’s accomplishments during the past year. (Right) Bonnie Malakie, who leads Head Start, shared her department’s successes.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 19 June 2023 at 8:25 am
ALBION – Community Action of Orleans and Genesee County’s annual staff in-service meeting took place Friday at the Albion Elks Lodge with more than 100 employees from both counties.
Executive director Renee Hungerford welcomed the guests, saying its purpose was to recognize achievements, celebrate milestones, examine community needs challenges during the last year and learn about compliance.
She told of the challenges she faced when she came to the agency in October 2020, in the midst of a pandemic.
“They had recently lost their CEO to cancer and their CFO had resigned, but everybody came together as a team,” Hungerford said.
She talked about the changes that have been made, saying, “Change brings opportunity.”
Some of the changes include a new computer equipment, new website, new internet, job aids security cameras, getting Microsoft 356, parking lot lighting, first aid and Narcan training, panic buttons, adding telehealth service at the Main Street Store for veterans, receiving a grant for $250,000 from the Highmark Blue Fund for a two-year Stone Soup program and a three-year grant to start a respite program, providing organized activities, support and respite for caregivers.
The Stone Soup program’s goal is to provide 350 low-income families with nutrition education and cooking utensils and, in the second year, provide food prescription vouchers giving them access to fresh, healthy produce.
Caregivers Revitalize is the three-year respite grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation through United Way, which will provide respite every Tuesday afternoon, alternating between the YMCA in Medina and the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley. In the third year, the program will expand into Genesee County.
Last year, Hungerford introduced a program called Axis of Care, for which she won an Innovation award. The program has grown from an idea on paper a year ago as a collaborative effort between four organizations to an alliance with representatives from more than 30 local agencies. Intended to help find new ways to solve the problems so many in the community face, Hungerford said they connected more than 80 individuals to insurance, vaccines, healthcare and nutrition courses and brought resources to them through mobile resource fairs.
Community Action held a contest last year to rename its Main Street Store to better reflect all that the store offers. Not only do they have good quality, affordable clothing, jewelry, furniture and more, but they added an outdoor emergency refrigerator and walk-in coolers. They offer a tutoring program for Albion seniors and job assistance, including how to make out a resume and dress properly for a job. The new name is Main Street Corner Thrift, Gifts and More.
Jackie Dunham, left, and Melinda Daniels gave away prizes for answering agency-related questions.
Two years ago, they had a Continual Care Solutions representative do an analysis on their office and discovered they didn’t have the ability to do the type of reporting required. Katrina Chaffee took the lead on developing that program.
Hungerford said their financial system was antiquated and not working out. She hired Tom Costa this spring as chief financial officer who is working on a new system.
“We want our program directors to know how much money is left in the budget and how much they can spend,” Hungerford said.
A recap of last year’s accomplishments saw 3,134 individuals received assistance in 3,009 households; 1,077 people utilized Community Action food pantries; 1,000 utilized food distribution; 461 individuals received 6,335 prepared meals at the Eastern Orleans Community Center; 271 individuals received assistance to avoid eviction; 194 children received school supplies; 78 individuals avoided utility shut-off; 24 received employment support; 57 homes received weatherization services; 152 homes received holiday meal kits; 103 households had air conditioners installed in partnership with Social Services; 241 children enrolled in Head Start and 53 enrolled in Early Head Start, many of them receiving age appropriate immunizations and improved literacy skills; 358 youth participated in ACT – Helping Youth ACT Responsibly; and 18 students attended the credit recovery program.
Other highlights of the year include free Door Dash deliveries; sale of the West State Street property; starting a seedling program and community garden; participation in an inaugural New York State Community Action podcast; and instituting an Employee of the Month program.
Other speakers who shared their department’s goals and achievements were Bonnie Malakie, Head Start/Early Head Start; Susan Jessmer, Agency Policies and Procedures updates; Melinda Daniels and Hungerford, Basics of ROMA, Results Oriented Management and Accountability management practice; Marty Taber, ACT; Katrina Chaffee, Emergency Services; and Tom Costa, financial.
Every three years, Community Action does a Community Needs Assessment, and they are in the process of doing one now. Some of the recommended needs are: Exploring opportunities to build and expand relations for further collaboration with community partners; exploring opportunities to build relationships with healthcare organizations; explore fund development methods to enhance current programming or develop new programs; explore opportunities to assist customers with transportation needs (new United Way funding will expand Orleans transportation program); explore opportunities to increase housing by developing a homeless shelter program; explore systems to assist with the collection of data; and enhance training opportunities for staff to increase their technology skills.
Photos by Katrina Chaffee: (Left) Sheriff’s Deputy Torry Tooley presented a program on safety at Community Action’s in-service meeting, sharing tips on everything from identifying a threat to how to act in the case of an active shooter.(Right) Charles Nesbitt, former State Assemblyman and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, was guest speaker at Community Action of Orleans and Genesee’s annual staff in-service meeting Friday.
Two guest speakers were Deputy Torry Tooley, a SWAT team leader from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, and former Assemblyman and Distinguished Flying Cross recipient Charles Nesbitt.
Tooley showed a video and shared tips on how to defend yourself in a variety of circumstances, particularly a shooting incident.
In introducing Nesbitt, Hungerford said he was a hero and an example of courage and sacrifice.
Nesbitt told the audience they are making a difference every day in what they do, and he thanked them for making this a better place to live.
He explained he was 20 and in college when he enlisted in the military, even though he had an educational deferment, “Because if I didn’t, someone else would have to go,” he said.
He ended up in the 57th Assault Helicopter Company as a pilot, where he accumulated more than 1,000 hours of combat time.
“Here I was barely out of high school and in charge of an aircraft rescuing people,” he said.
He would later receive the Distinguished Flying Cross for his acts of heroism saving several platoons.
Nesbitt grew up in Barre, where his dad ran a farm. His dad served in World War II and then got called back during the Korean War. Charlie, his mom and brother tried to run the farm, but it eventually failed. His father later started a very successful car dealership, in which Charlie worked until making the decision to run for the New York State Assembly.
At that time the district was made up of Monroe County, 53 percent; Genesee County, 30 percent; and Orleans County 17 percent. Newscasters were predicting Orleans County had no chance whatsoever to win. In fact, one Rochester station declared the Monroe County candidate a winner.
“They forgot about Orleans County,” Nesbitt said. “I got 90 percent of the vote. I won the election two to one. There were lots of reasons why I won. I wanted to make a difference. I had kids growing up in school here and I wanted to prove a person from our little corner of the world could win, so the kids of our schools and the people who live here could win and be part of the process.”
Nesbitt soon became a ranking member of the Veterans’ Committee in Albany and eventually the minority leader of the State Assembly, leading the Republican conference.
Then Governor George Pataki called him and offered him a commission as head of the Tax Appeals Division of the State of New York.
After more than 20 years in Albany, his commission wasn’t renewed and he returned home to Albion.
“Here I was in Albany in the center of the action, and now I’m floundering,” Nesbitt said.
So he threw himself into getting involved in his local community. He is on the Albion Alumni Foundation Board, the Cobblestone Credit Union board, chair of the Rural Opportunities Housing Board and has started a consulting business.
He said he had one simple message.
“Change is going to happen whether you like it or not,” he said. “Change is going on here right now. And change is good. It means we are not stagnant. And sometimes you need to be the person leading the change.”
Friday’s program also included short stories by several who shared how Community Action made a difference in their lives. They were Linsey Vallett, Beth Longhini, Melissa DeRose and David Dodge.
A plea was also issued for employee Edna Schramm, whose husband needs a stem cell transplant. All in attendance were urged to get tested to see if they might be a match.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The following retiring teachers and staff were recognized during last week’s Board of Education meeting, from left: Tim Archer, Joyce Monacelli, Della Morales, Diane Stirk, Karen Spierdowis, Sue Ann McGaffick, Dawn Squicciarini, Mark Vanacore, Laura Marek, Margaret Swan and Nancy Lowery. Other retirees not at the recognition program include Toni Plummer, Stephanie Simpson, Duncan Hughes, Katharine Waite and CarmenRose Brittan. Margy Brown also was recognized for 15 years of service on the Board of Education including eight years as the board president.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 June 2023 at 9:40 am
ALBION – The school district will be losing many long-term teachers and staff to retirement. They were recognized last week before the Board of Education meeting.
“Each has contributed to our district in a unique way,” said Wayne Wadhams, the Board of Education president. “Thank you.”
The following are retiring from the school district:
Margy Brown served 15 years on the Board of Education, including eight years as the board president. She ends her term on June 30.
• Margy Brown is ending a 15-year tenure on the Board of Education. She was elected to three 5-year terms. She served eight years as the board president, and led many of the board committees including wellness, fiannce and audit, electronics and board documents, maintenance operations and safety, board process and protocol.
• Toni Plummer – a middle school health teacher who also was a mentor teacher coordinator, and was instrumental in Albion’s service learning efforts, Community Schools Program and also in student teacher placements.
• Duncan Hughes – A high school math teacher who also taught financial literacy. He is now working as a nurse at a veterans’ hospital.
• Katharine Waite – The high school assistant principal for eight years, she joined Albion after 10 years in Perry as a principal. Waite retired on March 31.
• Karen Spierdowis – She worked as an English teacher in all three school buildings in her career, and also was a new teacher mentor.
Mark Vanacore is retiring as Albion’s technology director. He started his career in Albion as a physics and math teacher.
• Mark Vanacore – He started as a physics and math teacher in 1991 before becoming the district’s technology coordinator in 2007. He developed the MST curriculum guide, hekped design he district website and “has put in many countless hours to make sure our programs are running smoothly.”
• Diane Stirk – The district’s tax collector and accounts payable clerk, she brought an attention to detail to the job in the district office, and worked very well with the public and her co-workers.
• Della Morales – The high school library media specialist, she also led the diversity club and connected students to many service projects, especially at the community kitchen.
• Sue McGaffick – She worked as an aid in the high school library and the Correction Room. She was praised for giving students “love and compassion” and sometimes a “knock it off” response. “She maintains a cooperative attitude in all situations,” said High School Principal Jenn Ashbery.
• Margaret Swan – a cleaner for Albion, she was praised for her dedication and attention to detail. “You have been a silent hero working behind the scenes,” said Tim Mercer, Albion’s director of facilities.
• Stephanie Simpson – a special education teacher in the elementary school since 1998, she was commended by elementary school principal Angela Conway for being “a beacon of compassion” and for her “unwavering dedication.”
Laura Marek, the district treasurer, receives gifts and praise from Rick Recckio, the school business administrator.
• Laura Marek – The district treasurer, she has “expertise beyond spread sheets,” said Rick Recckio, the school business administrator. He praised Marek for a positive attitude, an unwavering work ethic and “a genuine passion for serving others.”
• Joyce Monacelli – A fifth grade math teacher who started as a kindergarten teacher in 2002, she was commended for fostering a love of numbers in her students.
• Carmenrose Brittan – An English as a new language teacher since 1999, she was praised for her “passion for learning and for embracing new cultures.”
• Nancy Lowery – A teacher aide in the elementary school since 1998, Lowery brought “unparalleled dedication” to the job, and principal Angela Conway raised her “for turning ordinary bulletin boards into works of art.”
Dawn Squicciarini, right, is congratulated by Board of Education member Linda Weller.
• Dawn Squicciarini – She started as a long-term sub in the elementary school in 1988 and in 2012 moved to the middle the school as a special education teacher. Besides her “relentless advocacy for all students,” Squicciarini volunteered for many years in the concession stand during soccer games.
• Tim Archer – He started as a part-time public information assistant from 1989 to 1996. He worked full-time in that role in 1999 before becoming a full-time service learning teacher in the middle school 20 years ago, overseeing many service learning projects in the community “that brought local history to life,” said Brad Pritchard, the middle school principal.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 June 2023 at 5:54 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Father Richard Csizmar, a priest at Holy Family Parish in Albion, offers a blessing for Chris Sacco during a baccalaureate service at Holy Family Church on June 4.
Several local clergy members offered to pray with members of the Class of 2023. The service is voluntary for the class members. Albion is one of the few local school districts with a baccalaureate service led by church leaders.
The Albion High School Select Choir sings “Only In Sleep.” A senior, Clara Bolton, played “How Great Thou Art” on her tuba and senior Audrey Pask played “Amazing Grace” on her clarinet.
Maya Knaak lights a candle as part of the baccalaureate service. Susan Boring, pastor of the Eagle Harbor United Methodist Church, is at right.
The soon-to-be grads were told the flames were representative of light.
“God’s light and love will be with you at all times,” said the Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Albion. God’s light will shine in all the dark places and you will not be alone.”
The Rev. Marsha Rivers, pastor of the First Baptist Baptist Church, puts a cross necklace on Andrew Udertiz. Each of the students received a cross necklace. About 25 members of the Class of 2023 attended the service.
The Rev. Marsha Rivers delivered the keynote address, “And the Cloud Goes Wild.” Rivers is a 1992 Albion graduate. Before leading the local Baptist church, she worked as a newspaper reporter, a college admissions counselor, editor of a magazine, and led non-profit agencies, among her career arc.
“I’ve done lots of things and traveled to lots of places and met lots of people, and I trust that you will, too,” she told the seniors. “Even if your path is plainer, clearer, or more direct than mine has been, I hope and pray that you will know this — the one thing you truly need to know to pass the test of life: You are loved. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you are loved by the good, kind, compassionate God who created the universe, including you.”
Rivers said the many people we encounter in life make up our “cloud.” She noted some of the graduates’ parents were her classmates and are part of her “cloud,” serving as witnesses of God’s love and compassion.
“When we know, deep-deep-down and for-sure-for-sure, that we are loved, we can navigate life, no matter how circuitous it turns out to be; and we can handle the hardships — which, I am sorry to tell you, are inevitable,” she said. “But above all, when we accept and understand and believe the truth that we are loved, we develop the capacity to love God, love ourselves, and love others in return.”
The Rev. Brenda Bierdeman, center, of the Albion Free Methodist Church prays with an Albion senior. Jason Tarnowski, pastor of the Albion Free Methodist Church, is at left, and David Beach, pastor of the Gaines Carlton Community Church, is at right.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 June 2023 at 3:45 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A high-arcing shot goes up Saturday in one of the 3-on-3 basketball games on Main Street in Albion.
More than 45 kids played in the youth basketball tournament during the Albion Strawberry Festival. The event raised $1,300 towards new basketball courts at Bullard Park on Route 31.
A cornhole tournament organized by Dubby’s Tailgate on Friday night also raised $300 towards the new basketball courts.
Part of Main Street was closed to traffic for the festival. Organizers wanted to take advantage of the Main Street lift bridge undergoing a once-in-a-century overhaul which allowed for the street to be shut down for traffic.
The Bounce for Bullard Committee organized the tournament and has another planned for Aug. 5 as part of the Rock the Park event or the Albion Summer Music Festival.
Construction expected to start soon on two new courts. The Greater Albion Recreation and Events, Inc., a non-profit organization, secured a $40,000 grant from the James and Juli Boeheim Foundation towards two new full-size courts at Bullard.
Keeler Construction will soon put in the subsurface for the courts.
The winning teams in the 3-on-3 tournament include:
High School – first place, Triple Threat from Lockport; second place, Thunder from Alden; and third, Batavia from Batavia.
Middle School – first place, Certified Munchies from Albion; second place, Batavia from Batavia; and third place, 5 Stars from Medina.
Elementary – first place, Rangers from Spencerport; second place, ROC Boys from Rochester; third place, Ranger Rebounders from Spencerport.
