Provided photos: Community Action has a new Sharing Table that will have food and some household items.

ALBION – A new program bringing food to community members is gaining popularity in towns across the nation.

Anna Cruz, who moved to Albion from Long Island, learned about the Sharing Table from an online university, Western Governors’ University. She said a woman in Seaford began one last March.

Its concept is that a table is made available to the public, laden with canned food, produce, pet supplies, cleaning supplies, linens or toiletries.

People are invited to take what they want and leave what they can, even if it’s nothing. There are no requirements or income guidelines for those who frequent the Sharing Table.

Cruz shared the idea with staff at Community Action in Albion, and they liked the idea.

“This is a whole new initiative,” said Annette Finch, director of emergency services at Community Action.

The table will be available at Community Action’s Main Street Store every Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Our goal at Community Action is to make people self-sufficient,” said Renee Hungerford, director of Community Action. “Our hope is if someone needs help, in time they can give back.”

From left, Community Action director Renee Hungerford, Anna Cruz, Main Street Store employee Mary Yockel and director of emergency services Annette Finch discuss a new program planned for the Main Street Store in Albion.

Cruz said they plan to start a Sharing Table Club, which will meet once a month. Members will get a meal basket, which will have different themes, for example, an activity basket with popcorn and a movie.

Similar tables are cropping up across the United States, said Cruz, a clinical coordinator for Western Governors University.  She saw a shoe table advertised on Facebook.

“I thought a Sharing Table would be great to do here,” Cruz said. “I saw the table out front and called Michelle to ask if we could use that.”

Michelle George is manager of the Main Street Store. The table Cruz refers to is a fruit/vegetable stand outside the Main Street Store, which is loaded with all kinds of items, much of it surplus from the Orleans Correctional Facility. They never know what they’re going to have on the stand, Finch said. One time a tractor trailer pulled up with an abundance of salad mix. It was gone in six hours. Another time it was half a truck load of limes.

Hungerford said no one needs to feel guilty about taking anything from the Sharing Table. If they can leave $2, that would be fine, or perhaps they would like to give back by volunteering two hours in the Main Street Store.

Submitted photo: An Orleans Hub reader sent in this photo today of the Generations Bank site in the Albion Walmart.

ALBION – A banking site that has been at the Albion Walmart since the store opened in June 2006 has closed.

Generations Bank decided the close the branch, which was originally Medina Savings and Loan. Medina merged with Generations Bank, which is based in Seneca Falls, on Oct. 1, 2018.

“The business of banking is changing rapidly, driven by technological advances,” said Michael Reed, vice president and marketing officer for Generations Bank. “We have found that our customers are enjoying the convenience of banking wherever and whenever they want with services like our mobile banking app and online banking.”

Generations is seeing increasing transactions from customers, but the number is declining an the office locations, with the Albion site no exception, Reed said.

“After much analysis it was determined that we could continue to serve our customers in the Albion area via our electronic platforms, Customer Contact Center and the much larger office location in Medina (just 10 miles away from the Albion location),” Reed said. “While we are not presently seeking additional locations in Orleans County, we do evaluate opportunities as they arise.”

The employees at the Albion branch have all been retained and will be working out of the Medina location.

Graduates limited to 3 guests unless state changes guidelines

ALBON – The school district announced today there will be an in-person graduation ceremony with the entire class together on June 25. The event is being moved from the usual high school gym to outside at the football stadium.

Last year there wasn’t an in-person graduation for the Class of 2020 due to the Covid-19 restrictions. Instead, the district did in-person graduations for each student one at a time, and then compiled a video for the class. The group wasn’t together for the ceremony, but did drive around campus together the evening of commencement.

The district announced graduates will be limited to 3 guests for commencement. That could change if the state changes the guidelines and allows more people. Right now, the state guidelines allow a maximum of 500 people at outdoor venues and they don’t need to show proof of a vaccine or negative Covid test. Last year the cap for graduations was 150 people. (If the state becomes more restrictive on the crowd size, the district said it will communicate any changes as soon as possible.)

Albion has set 2 p.m. on June 26 and June 27 as potential rain dates. The ceremony also will be live-streamed on the district’s YouTube channel.

Press Release, State Sen. Rob Ortt

The Village of Albion is the recipient of over $388K in state grant money for the renovation of buildings located in the area surrounding downtown Main Street. These state grants will help cover up to 75 percent of renovation costs to commercial and residential buildings.

Made possible through the state’s Homes and Community Renewal Program, grants of $50,000, or up to 75 percent of renovation costs, will be allotted for projects that apply.

“The historic small towns and villages located throughout Upstate and Western New York are what makes our area so interesting and unique,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt. “By investing in these historic towns and villages, we are injecting new life into our local area. Not only will we be attracting new visitors to come and patronize the quaint establishments that form Main Street, but it will also entice the younger generation, who in recent history have tended to leave, to stay, settle down, and start a family in a revitalized community. I am proud to have been a part of the legislative process to make sure that these funds were available for our residents.”

The Village of Albion will be holding a meeting Monday, May 10, at 6 p.m. at The Lockstone, located at 160 North Main St., to deliver additional information to individuals interested in applying for these state funds.

Those interested in attending this meeting should call the Village of Albion’s office at (585) 589-9176.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Owen Monaghan, a Webelos Scout in Albion, sets a flag on a veteran’s grave at Mount Albion cemetery this morning.

A group of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts worked together setting about 2,000 flags on veterans’ graves at Mount Albion and also St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.

The American Legion provided the flags and the scouts put them on the graves in what is usually an annual tradition just before Memorial Day. However, the Scouts weren’t able to do it last year due to concerns about the spread of Covid-19.

JaiLi McPhatter, 9, was art of the scouting team this morning that set the flags at markers by the veterans’ graves.

These scouts include, from left: twin brothers Stryker and Colson Braley, and Jax Gotte.

Jeff Braley is the den leader for the group of scouts in the third and fourth grade. He said the group welcomes more members. There will be a signup in the fall. For more information about joining, contact Ben Metcalf, the cubmaster, at (585) 489-2969.

These flags were temporarily set on the grave of a Civil War soldier.

Plantings were delayed a year due to Covid-19 restrictions

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – This line of about 125 shrubs was planted this week along the Erie Canal towpath in Albion. This section is just west of the Brown Street bridge.

The Canal Corp. had planned to have the shrubs and small trees planted last year but that was pushed back a year due to Covid-19 restrictions.

This is the same group of shrubs with the photo taken from the Brown Street bridge.

The Canal Corp. is planting numerous shrubs and small trees and is on schedule to have all of the plantings done by May 31, with stakes and mulch, a spokesman for the Canal Corp. said on Friday.

The Canal Corp. also is developing a plan to water the new plantings through the summer months, the spokesman said.

The new plantings are part of a vegetative management plan for the canal’s banks. The Canal Corp. in 2017 hired a company, Mohawk Valley Materials from Utica, to cut down trees next to the towpath. This photo from November 2017 shows how the section looked near the Brown Street bridge.

The Canal Corp. has since removed the trees, stumps, given the banks a smoother shape and planted grass. The Canal Corp. took down trees on 145 acres between Medina and Fairport.

The new shrubs and trees provide a vegetative screening and don’t compromise the bank’s integrity, like the larger trees with their burrowing root systems.

Here are some of the small trees and shrubs planted near the bottom of the embankment next to Sandy Creek in Albion.

These photos show the trees and shrubs in Albion earlier this week before they were planted. They were on Canal Corp. property between the Main Street and Ingersoll Street lift bridges.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Lions Club is back raising money after Covid-19 wiped up its fundraisers last year, including the annual Mother’s Day rose sale.

That fundraiser returned this year and the club sold 250 dozen roses. These four Lions Club members – from left Jake Stinson, Lloyd Wright, Club President Dan Conrad and Ron Albertson – stopped by Wright’s garage on Friday to organize the flowers which were all pre-sold.

The club in the past used to sell 340 dozen, with the late John Keding selling close to 100 from his auto repair shop on East Avenue. Keding passed away at age 85 on Jan. 18.

The Lions Club currently has about 25 members. Wright, the long-time treasurer, said the flowers are a popular item and he expects the club will sell 300 dozen next year.

The sales help the Lions fund scholarships, support a local Little League team and other community efforts.

Wright said the club lost momentum last year in Covid, and couldn’t even meet in person for several months. But the group is reinvigorated in 2021.

It is next planning to be part of a craft fair with food vendors on June 12 to support COVA. Several food, and arts and craft vendors will be part of the event, which will help fill a void with the Strawberry Festival cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions on large crowd sizes.

The Lions Club will be selling Italian sausage meals with peppers, onion, chips and a bottle of water. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 12 at Arnold Gregory complex parking lot on South Main Street, behind COVA. The food will be served drive-by, takeout only. Law enforcement officers can stop by and get a free meal from the Lions Club that day.

Paul Urquhart top firefighter in 2019-20, Jeremy Babcock for 2020-21

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Fire Department presented its awards for the past two years on Thursday because last year’s installation banquet was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The top photo shows outgoing fire chief Harry Papponetti, right, presenting the Firefighter of the Year for 2019-20 to Paul Urquhart. Papponetti praised Urquhart for responding to the majority of the department’s calls despite having one of the longest drives to get to the fire hall.

Urquhart, 23, joined the Albion FD 2½ years ago. He followed 2019-20 with another big effort in 2021-21, when he responded to 300 of the department’s 445 calls. That was second most among Albion firefighters.

Urquhart in November was hired to be a full-time firefighter/EMT for the Medina Fire Department.

“I love being a firefighter,” Urquhart said. “I love being able to provide a service for the community.”

Papponetti also presented the Chief’s Award for 2020-21 to Urquhart on Thursday during an installation meeting for the Albion Fire Department, which was held at the fire hall.

The award winners in the 2019-20 year include:

• Fire Police of the Year: Shawn Cook
• EMS member of the Year: Fred Piano
• Driver of the Year: Jeremy Babcock
• Officer of the Year: Rob Conner, Jr.
• Chief’s Award: Jeremy Babcock.
• President’s Award: Darryl Szklany
• Firefighter of the Year: Paul Urquhart

Jeremy Babcock won the “Firefighter of the Year” award for 2020-21. He accepts the award from Papponetti.

Babcock responded to 422 out of the department’s 445 calls from May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Only three firefighters were at 200 or more calls for the year. Paul Urquhart had 300 and Harry Papponetti responded to 223.

Papponetti said Babcock often was quickly to the fire hall to drive a truck and ran many of the scenes. He then would handle paperwork for the department, responding to insurance companies at many of the accidents and fires. Babcock also was “Firefighter of the Year” in 2016-17.

“He is my right-hand man,” Harry Papponetti said. “If I need something, I call Jeremy.”

The award winners in the 2019-20 year include:

• Fire Police of the Year: Shawn Cook
• EMS member of the Year: Fred Piano
• Driver of the Year: Jeremy Babcock
• Officer of the Year: John Papponetti
• Chief’s Award: Paul Urquhart
• President’s Award: Janet Cheverie
• Firefighter of the Year: Jeremy Babcock

Papponetti praised Piano for his commitment with so many EMS calls, including when he was going to assist patients with Covid.

“With all of the Covid calls, Fred really stuck his neck out,” Papponetti said. “Fred, the squad is grateful for what you do.”

John Papponetti, left, presents a keepsake to Al Cheverie in appreciation for his seven years of serving as president of the Albion Fire Department. The sign includes the president’s gavel and an image of the firefighter helmets for Cheverie, his wife Jan and their son Andrew. Joe Grube is the new president for the Albion FD.

Cheverie said the department’s finances are in good shape. He presented President’s Award in 2019-20 to Darryl Szklany for all of his “unsung” behind the scenes work, including cleaning the gravestones for many firefighters who are recognized during an annual memorial service.

Cheverie presented the award for 2020-21 to his wife Janet Cheverie, who is an active firefighter with the Albion FD.

“She is the glue holding me together the past seven years,” Cheverie said. “She keeps me sane.”

Dale Banker, the director of the Orleans County Emergency Management Officer, swears in the new officers for the Albion FD. He is shown shaking hands with Fred Piano, the EMS captain.

Other officers for 2021-22 include:

• Fire Chief: Rob Conner, Jr.
• Deputy Chief: James Peruzzini
• Assistant Chief: John Papponetti
• Captain: Steven Papponetti
• 1^st Lieutenant: empty
• 2^nd Lieutenant: Joe Grube
• 3^rd Lieutenant: Jeremy Babcock
• Chief Mechanic: Harry Papponetti

2021 Executive Committee

• President: Joe Grube
• Vice President: Jeremy Babcock
• Treasurer: Dawn Marciszewski
• Assistant Treasurer/Financial Secretary: Kelly Irwin
• Secretary: Chrissy Bloom
• Directors: Jeremy Babcock, Carol Tibbits and Nathan Bloom

Years of Service Awards

• 10 years – Fred Piano
• 15 years – Amber Conner, Marsha and Shawn Cook, Dennis Hunt
• 20 years – Rob Conner
• 40 years – Martin Stirk
• 50 years – Harry Papponetti

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Harry Papponetti, left, was presented with several citations and gifts on Thursday during the Albion Fire Department’s 2021 installation meeting. John Papponetti, Harry’s son, is also Albion’s assistant fire chief.

Harry Papponetti stepped down as fire chief on May 1 after three stints as chief over 16 years. Papponetti has been a line officer with the AFD for 49 out of his 51 years as a firefighter.

John Papponetti presented his father with a display of an American flag on burned wood that also included a family photo from 1998 of Harry with his children – Scott, Steven, John, Sarah and Jimmy. The flag includes a clock with the number 50 and the three stripes represent Harry three tenures as fire chief.

He will continue in the department’s leadership as the chief engineer, overseeing all of the apparatus, including fire trucks, air packs, hoses and equipment.

John also presented his father with an AFD jacket and a new helmet shield with Harry’s number, 121, and his new title of “Chief Engineer.”

Assemblyman Steve Hawley presents a citation from the Assembly to Papponetti for his 50 years as an active firefighter. Papponetti was to receive the citation last May but the department’s banquet and installation dinner was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson, far right, also presented a citation from the county to Papponetti, who received the recognition inside the Albion fire hall.

He also received citiations from Albion Mayor Eileen Banker and her husband Dale Banker, the county’s Emergency Management Officer director. Dale Banker presented the citation from the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York.

The other firefighters stood up to commend Harry Papponetti for his 51 years of service. Papponetti thanked the group for their commitment to training and responding to motor vehicle accidents, fires and other calls for the department. Last year there were 445 calls.

He said he is grateful he joined the department 51 years ago and was fortunate to know so many mentors. The most difficult part in recent years has been going to funerals of many of his long-time friends who served with the AFD, Papponetti said.

“Everytime we have a funeral it’s hard on me because I grew up with that person,” he said.

Papponetti also thanked his family and acknowledged their sacrifice with him missing so many dinners and events due to his commitment to the fire department.

Papponetti said the fires were more frequent and more destructive when he started as a firefighter. There weren’t many smoke detectors back then to give an early detection of a fire.

He used to bolt out of class in school when the fire whistle sounded, and then go back to class when the fire was put out.

“When you heard that horn blow it was a structure fire,” he said.

Rob Conner Jr., 39, is Albion’s new fire chief. Conner has been with the Albion Fire Department since he was in the explorer post when he was 16.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a little kid,” Conner said about being a firefighter. “It has taken a lot of time and hard work.”

Show explores golden age of radio

Photos and article from Albion Central School

ALBION – This year has been a challenging one in many ways, but that hasn’t stopped the Middle School theatre department from bringing a musical to our community.

This year, the Middle School Drama Club chose to develop its own virtual production under the leadership of Director Carrie Kozody and Assistant Director Kevin Feder. Together, with their creative team (Kamie Feder, Samantha Flansburg, Greg Martillotta, Kevin Smith, and their Middle School students), they created a virtual time machine experience, exploring the golden age of radio entertainment.

“It is our pleasure to bring this performance to you and it is our sincere hope to be back on the stage for you in the fall,” Kozody said. “But, until then, the show must go on! We hope you enjoy our theatrical exploration.”

The title of their show is “Up and Down the Dial…A Radio Timewarp.” The show takes the listener on a virtual trip back in time to the days when radio was the main source of entertainment as, by the end of the 1930’s, nearly 83% of American homes had a radio in the living room. Through the use of the radio, parents and children alike crowded around the set to hear the latest version of their favorite show. Families could enjoy comedy acts, dramas, or “live” musical performances. Many of the programs promoted “old-fashioned” American values while the stories provided people a model to live by.

Keeping this in mind, the Middle School group chose seven scenes to share in their theatre production. These scenes range from children’s stories (It Could Always Be Worse) to comedy (Who’s on First) to family favorites (Father Knows Best) to Big Band selections played by the Middle School Jazz Band.

Through this experience, the group has learned about the programs that children and adults tuned into for entertainment, about the products that were popular at the time, and how the idea of the “sponsor” was born. The stage crew took a special interest in learning about the sound effects table and the sound engineers, who were needed to develop the sound effects necessary to help a listener to create a mental image of what is happening in the story. Such sounds could include a window opening and closing or the sound of boots walking upstairs, to name a few.

Additionally, the group learned that the use of radio was an excellent way to unite communities of people, even if only remotely, a concept that has become all too relatable as we continue to navigate challenges brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Up and Down the Dial…A Radio Timewarp” will be available for viewing on the School Youtube channel the week of May 10 and will be free of charge.

State funds will cover up to 75% of building renovations

Photo by Tom Rivers: Main Street in downtown Albion is shown this afternoon.

ALBION – The Village of Albion has been awarded a Main Street grant from the state that will pay up to 75 percent of building renovation costs in the downtown business area.

The village will be holding a meeting 6 p.m. on Monday at The Lockstone, 160 North Main St., for interested property owners to hear more about the program.

The target area for the grant includes both sides of North Main Street between Orchard Street and West State Street, and West Bank Street from North Main Street to North Liberty Street. Attendees should call the Village Office at (585) 589-9176 to confirm their attendance at the meeting.

The grant is for $388,192 and that includes $311,079 for building renovations, $47,613 for streetscape improvements, $25,000 for administration and $4,500 for architecture, engineering and environmental costs.

The project is expected to include 8 residential units and 24 commercial units. Property owners will need to state their interest in the grant, and submit a description of their projects with quotes for the costs. J. O’Connell and Associates in Clarence is administering the grant for the village.

The village has formed a committee that will review the proposals and select the grant awardees. The committee will also decide how to divvy up the streetscape grant. Those upgrades may include new benches, trash receptacles and trees.

Natasha Wasuck, owner of The Lockstone, was able to rally interest from several building owners in the grant application.

The meeting on Monday will provide an overview of the grant. Property owners who didn’t show interest in the initial application aren’t shut out from the process. They can now submit a project and see if it is picked by the committee, which will use a scoring system in ranking the projects.

The renovation projects can include grants up to $50,000, with the grant not to exceed 75 percent of the project cost.

Renovation projects that provide direct assistance to residential units may also award an additional $25,000 per residential unit, up to a per building maximum of $100,000 and not to exceed 75 percent of the total project cost, according to the NYS Homes and Community Renewal.

Eligible uses of funds:

• Health and safety improvements – fire alarms, sprinklers, fire escape repair, correcting code violations
• Accessibility improvements – ramps, elevators, widening entryways, automatic doors
• Energy efficiency improvements – insulation, HVAC system upgrades, water-conservation improvements
• Facade restoration – preservation projects, reopening storefronts, removing solid security gates, signs, awnings, re-pointing brick, window repair
• Residential improvements – convert vacant upper stories into apartments, correct code violations, update existing apartments
• Prepare commercial spaces for tenants – drywall, electrical, plumbing

Ineligible uses of funds include acquisition, new construction, demolition, capitalizing on a revolving loan fund, improvements to churches or religious structures, improvements to municipally-owned buildings and general maintenance.

The state also forbids using the grant for non-permanent fixtures, furnishings, appliances, electronics, security systems and business equipment. Recipients also can’t use the funds for site work or ancillary activities including septic systems or laterals, grading, parking lots, sidewalks, landscaping, fences or free-standing signs.

ALBION – A company headquartered in Geneseo is looking to fill 200 positions in Albion at 231 East Ave., the building that is also used by CRFS.

Coast Professional Inc. is hiring for up to 200 customer service jobs for call center representatives and managers. They will field inbound and outbound calls. Coast officials said the pay will be at competitive “Service Contract Act wages.”

The start date for some of the positions is as soon as May 14. Most careers at Coast include a health and wellness compensation package with medical, dental and vision benefits, life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, referral bonuses, and Paid Time Off (PTO), including vacation, sick, and federal holidays, the company stated in a news release

“We are excited to bring more job opportunities to Albion and the surrounding areas and to become an integral part of this community,” said Michele Malczewski, the company’s chief human resources officer. “This achievement represents Coast’s resiliency, dedication to our overall company mission, and further solidifies our future growth trajectory.”

Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate U.S. citizenship and pass a federal security clearance background check. Bilingual, Spanish-speaking candidates are encouraged to apply.

Coast’s 45,000-square-foot Albion office is designed to accommodate for future expansion. This is the company’s fifth location nationwide with other offices in Geneseo and West Monroe, La.

Those interested in a full-time customer service position with Coast can click here for more information.

About Coast Professional, Inc.

Coast Professional, Inc. is an accounts receivable management and call center company, dedicated to the respectful and ethical communication with consumers. Coast provides professional services to hundreds of campus-based colleges, universities, and government clients.

Coast is a seven-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 list for America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies provided by Inc. Magazine and in 2020, was recognized for the fifth time as one of the “Best Places to Work In Collections” by insideARM.com and Best Companies Group.

Since 1976, Coast has worked closely with clients to increase recoveries by assisting consumers in resolving their financial obligations. Coast’s success is exemplified by exceptional recoveries, superior service, and dedication to the highest levels of compliance.

Circulation currently at 40 percent of pre-pandemic levels

Photos by Tom Rivers: Hoag Library Director Betty Sue Miller speaks during the library’s annual meeting on Monday evening. Joyce Riley, board president is at far left, and Dawn Squicciarini, a newly elected trustee, is at center.

ALBION – Hoag Library is reopening its three meeting rooms to the public. Those rooms have been popular since the library moved to the new building in 2012. Before the pandemic, the three rooms were often booked throughout the day, with multiple organizations using them.

They have been off limits since mid-March 2020. Hoag two weeks ago let a small quilting group use one of the rooms. They can easily social distance and spread out their sewing machines.

The library held its annual meeting last night with the dividers removed and all three meeting rooms opened into one large space.

Betty Sue Miller, the library director, said people can now reserve a room. They can stop by the library in-person or use the Hoag website to make a reservation.

Although they are reopening, they can only be at up to 50 percent capacity and only one group will be allowed per day in a room, rather than back-to-back meetings the same day.

That will allow the rooms to be cleaned only once when the library closes for the day.

The main room has a capacity for up to 60 people, while the side rooms each hold up to 30 people.

Miller said the circulation use at the library is currently at about 40 percent of the pre-pandemic levels. She expects that to bounce back more as more programming returns to the library.

This summer, Hoag will run the summer reading program. There will be a 20-by-40-foot tent outside the library for six weeks for programs. The Friends of the Library is paying for the cost of the tent.

Hoag will be hosting book discussion and other programs are in the works. Miller also said two electric charging stations, with two units, also will be added to two parking spots at the library, with a NYSERDA grant helping with the costs.

“It puts us out there on the cutting edge,” Miller said.

Joyce Riley, outgoing president of the board of trustees, said library staff were creative in serving the public during the pandemic, offering curb-side delivery and more online programming, including storybook times through Zoom.

The library also will be replacing $23,000 worth of lightbulbs, replacing them with less-energy intensive LEDs.

Hoag also will be adding a book vending machine with books available to children in the Hoag service area ages 6 to 12. That machine and the books are funded by a grant from the Xerox Corp. and secured by former library trustee Elissa Nesbitt. The program will start once the book vending machine arrives and is set up.

It expands a book-giving program currently offered for children from birth to age 5. They are all eligible for a free book on their birthdays and around Christmas.

The library director also provided an update on the restoration of 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.

A donor provided $10,000 to have the Civil War flag restored. Spicer Art Conservation, LLC in Delmar near Albany has started the delicate process of first removing the flag from being glued to cardboard in a frame.

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.

Hoag held its annual election on Monday. There were two candidates for two seats on the board. Dawn Squicciarini was elected to a three-year term with 30 votes, and Kevin Doherty, the former board president for 11 years, is back on the board with a one-year term as trustee. He received 19 votes.

The board then elected Linda Weller to serve as the president. The other board officers will be decided during the May 13 board meeting.

Weller thanked Joyce Riley for her service as president. Riley also commended the library staff for continuing to serve the community during a difficult year with changing guidelines in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Riley noted 211 new library cards were issued in the past year with about 900 others renewed.

“The staff showed flexibility and resiliency,” Riley said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – There are three or four baby birds making a lot of racket from a nest on the east side of the Orleans County Courthouse, in a crevice below the dome. This is on the side facing the Orleans County Jail.

The nest has been quite a curiosity in recent months. There are plenty of strong opinions whether these birds are crows or ravens.

The parents have been swarming around the Courthouse Square, hanging out in trees and on top of churches.

One of the parents returns to the birds and they greet the parent with wide-open beaks and loud squawks.

At least one of the parents is second from left and returns to check on the babies. The bigger beak could be an indicator that the bird is a raven – or maybe it’s a crow, I can’t say for sure. Others have told me they are too big to be a crow and have to be a raven, but others have also been quite incessant these are crows.

The harried parent takes off to get more food for the youngsters.

The parent is on top of the Albion Free Methodist Church and is either taking a break from the loud baby birds or patrolling for some worms or other food for the demanding infants.

Click here for a short video of the noisy birds.