Residents urged to call 911 and have fireworks removed

Provided photos: These homemade fireworks were made by Gary Tarr, who faces felony charges for reckless endangerment and arson for a fire on Saturday that caused extensive damage to three houses. The fireworks are about the size of toilet paper rolls.

ALBION – The man facing felony reckless endangerment and arson charges after a massive fire on Saturday shared many of his homemade fireworks with people in the community.

Gary Tarr shared his homemade fireworks.

That is a huge concern for local law enforcement officials.

“We do know they are extremely dangerous,” Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni said at a news conference this morning. “If you know where devices are, we want to recover them.”

Nenni said no one will be charged for being in possession of the illegal fireworks. The police don’t even need the names of people who have them.

Nenni urged people who have the fireworks to call 911 and local law enforcement will respond. The fireworks will likely be removed by bomb technicians from Monroe County.

“They are extremely dangerous and we want them so we can dispose of them,” Nenni said.

Gary Tarr, 56, was mixing compounds with commercial grade fireworks last Saturday. He lit a small portion of the firework to test it, and it exploded.

These fireworks were recovered by bomb technicians from Monroe County. The fireworks have a very quick burn rate and could explode soon after being lit.

The garage at 221 West State St. quickly was engulfed in flames, and explosions continued for 15 minutes after the initial blast.

Three houses were badly damaged in the fire. Tarr was inside the garage after the first initial explosion. Nenni said Tarr is lucky to be alive. He suffered facial and torso injuries, as well as an “extreme loss of hearing.”

Nenni doesn’t know how many fireworks made from Tarr are in the community. They have a very fast burn rate once the fuse is lit, and Tarr used “highly combustible” materials in making the fireworks.

He was able to purchase the compounds from local stores, and was mixing those materials with commercial grade fireworks, Nenni said.

The result are fireworks with no quality control.

“We know they have been distributed in the community,” Nenni said. “These are extremely dangerous.”

Nenni stressed for people to call 911, and they won’t face any charges.

“If you have them don’t drop them off or touch them,” Nenni said. “Call us.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: The explosions in the garage at 221 West State St. quickly caused a fire to spread to three houses.

Maison Albion will celebrate grand opening at site transformed for weddings and special events

Photos by Tom Rivers: A Christmas tree is reflected in one of the mirrors in the bridesmaids suite at Maison Albion, which will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday.

ALBION – Kerri and Cole Glover will host its grand opening of Maison Albion with an over-the-top Victorian holiday party on Saturday with a French flair.

Maison Albion had ornaments made in the likeness of the building at 13800 County House Rd., formerly known as The Pillars.

The Glovers have been preparing to open their doors to the public since they purchased the property at 13800 West County House Road, formerly known as The Pillars. They have worked since early July to transform the property.

The public will have its first chance on Saturday to see the new look for the 1878 mansion.

“The first phase of the project is almost complete,” Mrs. Glover said. “The name of the launch is ‘Fête de Nöel,’ which translates to ‘Christmas Party,’ fitting with the over-the-top Victorian holiday party theme.”

To adhere to Covid-19 regulations, Maison Albion will only be welcoming 50 guests at a time in designated two-hour time slots, beginning at 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The $25 admission charge will be donated to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

There will be temperature checks at the door and masks will be required to enter. The owners will be monitoring the changing Covid requirement as the situation develops in Western New York and will adhere to regulations as they may change, Mrs. Glover said.

Maison Albion is also offering virtual tickets to the event. Guests can “attend” the party online in the comfort of their home and enjoy everything the guests will via their guest guide from 6 to 8 p.m.

The bridal suite is pictured in this photo. Maison Albion owners Kerri and Cole Glover have transformed the site to give it a style from a late 19th century French estate.

Once inside, guests will be able to celebrate with hors d’oeuvres, drinks and many desserts. The house will be dazzling with holiday decorations designed by the area’s favorite local planners and florists, Mrs. Glover said. The event will include a tour led by a group of volunteer docents who will welcome and lead guests through this historic home.

The site will have nine Christmas trees decorated for the grand opening celebration. The chandelier in this photo was in the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

Fête de Nöel will be an annual fundraising event, Mrs. Glover added. All proceeds will be donated to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. The donation will top off the evening’s events.

Maison Albion is a historic mansion built in 1878, which the Glovers have reimagined to host weddings and events. Guests will be transported to a time of luxurious craftsmanship and lavish celebrations through its breathtaking ballroom and grounds reminiscent of a late 19th century French estate, Mrs. Glover explained.

Tickets may be purchased through their website at www.MaisonAlbion.com.

The Glovers chose a French name and theme for their new venue for several reasons. The couple met in France and they love the French influence, originally from the settlers of this area and from abroad, she said. They created a French design for the interiors in the way Victorians would have enjoyed it – influenced from Marie Antoinette’s apartments at Versailles and Chinoiserie.

“We chose ‘Maison Albion’ because we wanted a fresh start for the venue,” Mrs. Glover said. “‘Maison’ means ‘house’ or ‘home’ in French. Also, Albion was originally settled by the French. In addition, we want our venue to feel warm and welcoming to the community.”

The Glovers plan to host several events for the community annually, and they will also donate the venue 10 times a year to non-profits for their events.

Saturday’s celebration will also include a ribbon-cutting with the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.

Group nearing 17 years of pumping gas for senior citizens

Photos by Tom Rivers: Gary Westlund pumps gas for a local senior citizen on Wednesday at Crosby’s in Albion at the corner of routes 31 and 98.

ALBION – A dedicated group that has pumped gas every Wednesday morning the past 16 years for senior citizens has also raised about $600 this year for the PAWS animal shelter in Albion.

The Albion Betterment Committee has spearheaded the effort every Wednesday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Crosby’s gas station on Route 31. Besides pumping the gas, the ABC pays for a 10-cent discount per gallon.

Few of the senior citizens accept the discount. Most choose to give it back for ABC to donate to PAWS. That has added up to $600 this year.

The Betterment Committee this holiday season also is directing some of those unclaimed discounts to the Salvation Army red kettle drive. That is up to $120 so far. Community Action runs the red kettle campaign in Orleans County. This year they aren’t having in-person bell ringers due to Covid-19.

Gary Kent, one of the ABC directors and a gas pumper, wanted to send some money to the red kettle campaign, which continues with countertop kettles in some stores.

Gary Westlund knocks some snow off the windshield and wipers of a vehicle driven by a senior citizen.

Kent sees the gas pumping as a way to assist senior citizens and make a weekly connection with those residents.

He praised a group of local veterans who have been dedicated to the effort, including Gary Westlund and Clarence Winkelmann. Joe Gehl, an ABC director and Korean War veteran, also has been very supportive of the effort.

Westlund, a Marine and retired materials manager at Delphi in Rochester, drives from Spencerport to Albion every Wednesday to pump gas for senior citizens. On Wednesday, he also wiped snow off their windshields.

Fay DeClerk

“He is as dependable as the sun rises,” said Kent, a retired social studies teacher at Kendall.

Sometimes the volunteers will check car fluids and walk the money inside the store so seniors don’t have to get out in the cold.

They also will open doors for other customers at Crosby’s and offer a friendly greeting.

Kent said the volunteers show no signs of slowing down from the weekly commitment. In February, they will mark 17 years of pumping gas for seniors.

“It’s a good cause,” Westlund said. He also visits family on his weekly trips to Albion.

Fay DeClerk appreciates the volunteers being so reliable and helpful on Wednesday mornings.

“They’ve pumped my gas a lot of times,” she said Wednesday morning. ‘It’s nice of them.”

Photo courtesy of Albion Police Department: Albion Police Officer Christopher Glogowski is pictured with elementary school students in this photo from February 2019.

ALBION – The school district agreed to keep a school resource officer until the end of the school year on June 30, 2022.

The Board of Education voted on Monday to renew a 2-year contract with the Village of Albion, at the same $81,250 rate. The contract keeps an officer committed at the district from Sept. 1 to June 30.

Chris Glogowski, an Albion police officer, has served in the role since February 2019, after the district didn’t have an SRO for several years. The Board of Education on Monday said Glogowski has proven to be “a valuable asset to the district.”

“He also has spent a large portion of his time working with our students and building a relationship with them,” the Board of Education stated in the contract agreement. “You can often find him greeting students when they arrive in the morning, along with a send-off wave at the end of the day. When he isn’t greeting students, you can find him in the classroom reading stories to students which he continued during our closure through recorded videos.”

If Albion is unable to assign an officer to the school, the contract will be reduced by $350 per day.

The school resource officer works under direction and supervision of the Albion police chief, but the school superintendent and building principals also can have input in the officer’s duties and job performance.

The duties of the SRO include but are not limited to law enforcement, investigation, education, counseling (as appropriate), and those items identified in a specific job description, according to the contract.

The officer will work normal school hours, Monday through Friday, and some major school social and sporting events.

The $81,250 contract with Albion is less than the $95,070 that both Lyndonville and Kendall pay the county to have a deputy assigned as school resource officer. With the county contract, there is no built-in overtime. If Kendall or Lyndonville district need overtime, that is invoiced separately.

Medina’s contract for a school resource officer has the school district paying the village $70,000 for services from a Medina police officer this school year.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Fire Department is shown at the scene of 221 West State St. at about noon today for a rekindle at the scene.

This house was engulfed with fire on Saturday evening. The blaze, which started in an attached garage, spread to two neighboring houses, one on East Academy Street and the other on West State Street.

Firefighters left the scene at about 2 a.m. last night but were called back at about 3:45 when the fire rekindled. They were then called back again at about 11:45 when smoke could be seen coming from the house.

Fire Chief Harry Papponetti said the house is an unsafe structure. He isn’t allowing firefighters inside to deal with hot spots.

“We’re going to give it a good soaking,” he said at about noon today.

The Fire Department was spraying water on the house, using a deck gun on top of the fire truck.

Papponetti said the insurance company will decide how soon the house will come down.

The two neighboring houses remain boarded up.

Click here for a video of the Fire Department on scene at about noon today.

A section of East Academy Street is blocked off to traffic.

Albion firefighters Rob Conner, left, and Joe Grube check where the garage was for any hot spots.

Photos by Tom Rivers: In an unusual sight in December, the Erie Canal is full in Orleans County. This photo was taken on Saturday in Albion of the guard gates near the Bowman bridge, between the Gaines Basin and Main Street bridges.

The Erie Canal, which has been kept full in Western New York, will be drained starting on Monday.

The canal normally would have drained the canal about a month ago. But this year in a pilot program the State Canal Corp. kept the canal full and gradually released water to supplement tributaries that are popular for fishing.

The higher water flows in the streams and creeks gave better opportunities to catch brown trout, Chinook salmon and steelhead (rainbow trout) in Lake Ontario tributaries.

This fall the Canal Corporation increased regulated water releases into Orleans and Monroe County’s premium streams—Oak Orchard Creek and Sandy Creek.

In early November and early December, other Lake Ontario tributaries – Eighteenmile, Johnson, Oak Orchard, Sandy and Salmon Creeks – all saw higher flows.

The extra water was intended to entice more brown trout, steelhead, and Atlantic and Pacific salmon populations to run up these streams, improving conditions for the fish and expanding opportunities for local and visiting anglers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release on Oct. 20.

“This fall, New York is enhancing some of our world-class fisheries and expanding opportunities for anglers into December by creatively using water from the Erie Canal to bolster fishing conditions and to extend the season,” Cuomo said. “As a fisherman, I’m pleased to see our incredible Lake Ontario tributaries will be host to even better experiences for anglers. This innovative use of iconic infrastructure continues our strong tradition of ecotourism while supporting our small businesses.”

The Gaines Basin Road bridge, which opened last week after reconstruction, is shown during snow flurries on Saturday.

ALBION – Santa Claus will be coming to town on Dec. 19. The jolly old elf has shied away from many in-person gatherings this season due to Covid-19 concerns.

But he will be greeting people on Dec. 19 at the Hoag Library parking lot from 1 to 2 p.m. in Albion. He will visit with children and their families as long as they are wearing masks and adhering to social distancing. Santa may also take a ride around the village to wave to youngsters.

The Albion Lions Club is planning the event, which will also will include a visit by Deputy Jeff Cole and his K-9 Otto, and an appearance by Dominic the Donkey and his horse friend.

The Lions Club also is doing a toy drive and letters for Santa. The toys can be dropped off at Roots Hair Salon at 29 Bank St., Jeff Colonna’s can redemption center on Hamilton Street, and 169 State St. in Medina. Dan Conrad, the Lions Club president, will deliver the toys as Santa at the Community Kitchen, the event at the Hoag parking lot, through the Hands 4 Hope ministry and also will visit some homes in the community to give out the presents.

The letters to Santa can be dropped off at Roots Hair Salon, Bloom’s Flower Shop at 139 S. Main St. and 169 State St. in Medina.

That address in Medina is for Best of Tymes Party Rental. It will be hosting Santa this Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. with cotton candy, popcorn and a hot cocoa bar.

Mickey Edwards, former Albion teacher and principal, has been leading Byron-Bergen school district

ALBION — The Board of Education has picked an Albion graduate to be the next district superintendent.

Mickey Edwards

Mickey Edwards started his career in Albion as an art teacher. From 2007 to 2009, Edwards was the Principal at Charles D’Amico High School. He also served as the Assistant Principal at Carl I. Bergerson Middle School for four years and interned as Dean of Students in Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School. Edwards lives in the district in Kent. His three children all graduated from the district.

The Board of Education this evening appointed Edwards to be superintendent. He is expected to start in mid-January to February 1, 2021.

“I am incredibly honored and grateful to the Board of Education for extending me the opportunity to serve as Albion’s next Superintendent of Schools,” Edwards said in a news release from the district. “My hope is to bring my experiences, skills and network of contacts to the district and help build upon our mission of Achievement, Character and Success for Life. I look forward to being a part of the team and serving our community together.”

After graduating from Albion, Edwards spent four years active duty in the United States Marine Corps before beginning his career as a teacher at Albion.

After working at ACS, he was the Coordinator of Curriculum and Instruction at Orleans-Niagara BOCES before gaining six years of experience as a superintendent. In 2014 he was appointed as the superintendent at Wyoming Central School District. He was there two years before being hired in 2016 as superintendent at Byron-Bergen Central School.

Under his leadership, Byron-Bergen Junior-Senior High School has been named to US News and World Report Best High Schools in the Nation for the last two years. Additionally, Edwards resurrected an agriculture and FFA program in the district after the program’s 40-year hiatus and worked to increase the amount of advanced college courses offered at the high school, including AP and Genesee Community College ACE Courses. He also implemented a program for trauma, illness and grief in the district to address the social and emotional needs of staff, students and families.

“The ACS Board of Education is pleased to welcome Mickey Edwards as our next Superintendent of Schools,” according to a statement from the board. “With input from stakeholders, the Board set out to find a superintendent who was a proven leader, of unquestioned integrity, with proven collaboration and communication skills and an ability to improve student performance and programs. We believe Mr. Edwards embodies not only these characteristics and qualities, but so much more. His experience as superintendent in two previous districts will allow him to hit the ground running, while his background as a lifelong Albion resident and Purple Eagle will provide him with a deeper understanding of school and community needs and the drive to fiercely advocate for our students.”

When he was at Albion previously, Edwards was on the committee that developed the district’s mission statement of “Achievement, Character, and Success for Life,” and still firmly stands by it. He believes the mission statement “needs to be part of everything we do, not just words on a wall.”

Edwards serves on a number of committees and boards across the Genesee Valley region including chairman for Career & Technical Education Committee, member of Legislative Committee, a representative in the House of Delegates for NYS Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS) and the Board of Directors for Rural Schools Association and Genesee County Business Education Alliance.

“We would like to thank the students, parents, teachers, staff and community members who participated in focus groups and completed the superintendent search surveys,” the BOE stated. “The input provided was invaluable, and gave us the guidance we needed as we reviewed applications and interviewed candidates for the position.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Albion Betterment Committee had this sign honoring Charles Howard erected in 2015 on Route 98 in Albion.

This photo shows Charles W. Howard with a Santa at Christmas Park in Albion. Howard operated the Park and a school for Santa Claus in Albion until his death on May 1, 1966.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed off on state legislation to name a portion of Route 31 in Albion in honor of Charles W. Howard, who ran a Santa School in Albion from 1937 until his death in 1966.

Howard also was the Santa for nearly 20 years in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. He remains a revered figure among the people who portray Santa today. The Santa School continues to operate in Howard’s name in Midland, Mich.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) and Sen. Robert Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) both are pleased with passage of their legislation which designates a portion of New York State Route 31 in the town of Albion as the “Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway.”

“Mr. Howard was known for his hard work, his love for community and his jolly spirit; he represented the best any New Yorker could hope to achieve,” Hawley said in a statement. “With this highway dedication and the committed partnership of Sen. Ortt, Western New York has finally given the man the recognition and reverence he deserves. This holiday season and  year-round, we can all learn from Charles about how to be good neighbors, how to work to spread cheer and joy and how to live life to the fullest.”

The Orleans County Legislature in August 2019, passed a resolution, urging the state to recognize Howard by naming a portion of Route 31 in his honor.

Signs proclaiming the section of Route 31 in Howard’s honor will be displayed when entering the Town of Albion – northwest corner of Transit Road from the east to the southeast corner of Wood Road from the west.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This group helped plan Small Business Saturday in Albion. They are pictured in Tara Thom quilt shop on East Bank Street. Pictured from left include Courtney Henderson (owner of Milk and Honey) and her daughter Lair Alchin, Maureen Bennett (owner of A Lil’ Cottage Chic), Tara Thom (owner of Town and Country Quilt Shop), Beth Schorer, (owner of Beth’s Sewing Box) and Cliff Thom, who assisted in planning the event.

ALBION – Many of Albion’s locally owned businesses are working together in a Small Business Saturday event, urging people to give the local merchants a chance and not spend so much money online with Amazon or through the Big Box stores.

The local stores tomorrow are offering a “shop hop” where people have a chance to win a $100 gift card through members of the Albion Merchants Association. That’s if people get a passport for the event stamped by 10 locations. If they get it stamped by five businesses they have a chance at winning a gift basket.

Many of the stores in the downtown, on Ridge Road and the Arnold Gregory Office Complex will have in-store specials and prizes.

The AMA wants the community to know the stores have been resilient during the pandemic, and together they offer a variety of merchandise and services.

“People say we don’t have anything in Albion but we literally have everything,” said Courtney Henderson, owner of Milk & Honey in Albion, a women’s and children’s clothing boutique.

She is one of the businesses offering discounts for Small Business Saturday, as well as exclusive “swag bags” for the first 10 customers who spend $100.

She is one of the 10 locations on the shop hop. The others include Laura Loxley Vintage Inspired Goods, Town & Country Quilter, The Flying Needle and Thread, Beth’s Sewing Box, The Olde Dogge Inn, How Sweet It Is Bakery (pop up shop at Tinsel), Downtown Browsery, Red Check Rustic and The Backroom – Pretty Sweet Bakery & A Lil’ Cottage Chic.

Saturday’s shop hop will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will also be a country fair at Arnold Gregory’s and Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza will be at Tinsel’s from noon to 5 p.m.