By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 August 2020 at 8:31 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans County has been on a rainbow run in recent weeks, with the multi-colored arcs emerging in the sky soon after a rain. This evening a bright-colored rainbow appeared at about 7:30.
The top photo shows the rainbow with the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.
Here the rainbow is pictured with a banner of Craig Lane, a major in the U.S. Air Force. The banners of local soldiers went up in late June and feature 33 people from the community who served in the military. This one is on East Bank Street.
The rainbow stretches over the County Clerks Building and the Orleans County Courthouse.
The courthouse dome has a special shine with the rainbow close by.
Downtown Albion, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, provided a nice setting for the bold rainbow.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 August 2020 at 3:44 pm
The Pate family – sisters Maia, left, and Eowyn with their parents, Angelo and Ondrea. There will be a benefit on Aug. 30 at the Elks Lodge in Albion from noon to 6 p.m.
ALBION – There will be a benefit on Aug. 30 for an Albion family who has been displaced from their home after a fire on June 20.
Angelo and Ondrea Pate and their two daughters, Eowyn and Maia, are currently staying with Ondrea’s father Richard Brackenbury in Waterport.
The Pate residence on West Academy Street was damaged in an early morning fire. The cupola on the house burned and flames spread inside the home. It is a total loss.
Mrs. Pate said the family is awaiting action from their insurance company, but they were told it could take a year.
“We’re still in limbo,” she said today. “We’re taking it one day at a time.”
The family would like to stay in Albion so Eowyn can finish her senior year and Maia, an incoming freshman, can also graduate from Albion.
During the fire, Ondrea’s daughter Felicia was also in the house with her four children. They were visiting from the state of Alabama and have since returned.
Noreen Dixon and her sister Donna Halladay are organizing the Aug. 30 benefit. The Pates were great neighbors to their mother, Marguerite, checking in on her frequently, and responding in the middle of the night if she needed help.
“They have been so great to my mother,” Dixon said today. “They would do so much for her, and take her calls at all hours.”
The benefit at the Elks Lodge includes beef on wick dinners for $10, raffles, a Chinese auction and a candy bar. There will also be live music with the event outside at the pavilion as well as inside. There will also be take-outs available. Organizers are preparing for 500 dinners.
“They have pretty much lost everything,” Dixon said. “It’s a horrible thing to go through.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 August 2020 at 11:00 am
District has ‘Thought exchange’ on school website to post concerns and questions
ALBION – The school district has scheduled three virtual parent forums on Aug. 19 to discuss the district’s reopening plan.
Scott Bischoping, the interim superintendent, will go over the reopening plan and also will take calls and emails during the forum. Parents also can call in at 589-2078 or send an email to Covid19Coordinator@albionk12.org.
The forums at 10 a.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. will be held on the ACS YouTube channel. Each forum time has a different link. (Click here to be directed to the links for each forum.)
If parents are unavailable on Aug. 19, recordings of each meeting will be available to watch on our YouTube channel. Parents can continue to send emails to Covid19Coordinator@albionk12.org.
Albion also has a “Thought exchange” on the district website. School district stakeholders can click on the link, post thoughts, concerns or questions regarding reopening of our schools, and then have others rate it. They can also rate other stakeholder thoughts.
When more people rate the responses, district officials start to see a clearer picture of topics that are more of a concern.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 August 2020 at 10:25 am
Matthew Farley is in intensive care after suffering third-degree burns during from a grease fire on Tuesday night.
ALBION – The mother of an Albion man who suffered third-degree burns in a grease fire on Tuesday night has started a GoFundMe to help pay for his medical care.
Matthew Farley was cooking in the kitchen at his West State Street residence when he suffered severe burns at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday.
His mother, Staci Donnelly, says he has third-degree burns throughout his body and is in intensive care at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
“He will need much time in the hospital, and then a long road of physical therapy,” she posted on GoFundMe. “He will have to relearn many skills after his burns have healed. We are looking at a very long road ahead of us.”
She also asked the community to keep her son in their prayers.
“Please lift him up in prayer as we all know the power of prayer in numbers,” she said.
Click here to be directed to the GoFundMe for Farley.
Photo by Tom Rivers: A crowd of about 1,000 people attended the National Night Out at Bullard Park in Albion on Aug. 6, 2019. One highlight was the “Battle of Belts.” Dillon Black, front right, and Dan Baase, both of the Albion Police Department, were part of a four-man team of law enforcement officers. They topped two other adult teams with a time of 51.39 seconds. The teams compete to see who is the fastest getting into car and fastening their seatbelts. Each member then must switch seats and again fasten their seat belts. The time ends when each person has sat in each seat in the car and the horn is honked.
Press Release, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni
ALBION – It is with deep regret that we must announce that the 2020 National Night Out Event is being cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns.
The event was postponed from its original date of August 4 to October 6 with the hopes that the risks associated with Covid-19 would be mitigated by October. While we as a community have done an amazing job to control the infection rate, we cannot guarantee that our event could be held in a manner to keep people safe.
This is very unfortunate as the event helps connect people in need with resources that can be life changing. This is at a time when those resources are needed more than ever.
The National Night Out Committee has worked very hard to make this year’s event better than ever and we vow to make next year’s the best we have ever held.
The committee will continue to work hard to prepare for next year’s event. Any donations that were made to the event will be applied to next year’s event unless they are requested to be refunded. Next year’s event will be held on August 3, 2021 at Bullard Park.
Below is a list of past participants that may can be contacted if anyone needs that assistance that they offer to our community.
Orleans United Drug Free Communities Coalition
Tobacco Free GLOW
Parent Network of WNY
Oak Orchard Health
OCALS Learning Services
Catholic Charities Friendly Phones & Home Visitation Program
Orleans County YMCA
Care Net Center of Greater Orleans
Light of Victory Church
Albion Free Methodist Church Youth & Kids Ministry
MHA of Genesee & Orleans County
Orleans County STOP DWI
ABCD at Holley
Orleans County Child & Family Services
Orleans Community Health
Orleans County Department of Mental Health
Medina Area Association of Churches (MAAC)
The Arc of Genesee/Orleans Rainbow Preschool
Community Action of Orleans & Genesee Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R)
Orleans County Health Department
Orleans County Suicide Prevention Coalition
Fidelis Care
Genesee/Orleans Ministry of Concern- Just Friends Youth Mentoring Program
Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 August 2020 at 9:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A new tugboat (second from left) named after Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a famed leader of the women’s suffrage movement, moves a barge in Albion on Monday, just east of the Ingersoll lift bridge.
The State Canal Corp. was trimming vegetation along the canal banks. The other tugboat at far left also is a new model of a tugboat on the canal.
The new tugboat was dedicated on May 17, 2019 in Rochester to start the canal’s navigational season.
Coline Jenkins, Stanton’s great-great granddaughter, was on hand to dedicate the 26-foot vessel, which is stationed at the Canal maintenance facility in Albion.
The Elizabeth Cady Stanton is shown Friday on the Erie Canal in Albion, between the lift bridges on Main Street and Ingersoll Street.
The Erie Canal, which opened for its 196th season this year, played a significant role in the women’s rights movement. In the 1800s, the canal was like an interstate highway. It was frequently traveled between Seneca Falls and Rochester as Cady Stanton and her fellow suffragists coordinated their campaign for women’s rights.
Seneca Falls, which is part of the state’s canal system, hosted the first women’s rights convention on July 19-20, 1848.
Cady Stanton was one of the key leaders of the convention and the movement. She was the primary author of the Declaration of Sentiments, a manifesto that called on women to fight for their Constitutionally guaranteed right to equality as U.S. citizens.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 August 2020 at 11:52 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Mike Grabowski makes the cole slaw in the kitchen at the Elks Lodge this morning in preparation for the chicken barbecue and “Un-Lawn Fete” for the Holy Family Parish in Albion.
The church had 540 dinners available and they all sold ahead of time. They meals will be served by drive-through only in takeouts from 11:30 to 3:30 at the Elks Lodge on West State Street, drive-through only for takeouts.
“This is the 26th straight year for this wonderful opportunity to get friends and parishioners together—be it with a distance-required aspect,” Father Richard Csizmar, the parish priest, said in a message to parishioners. “This will help us meet the financial needs of our parish, especially our annual insurance obligations. Thanks to all those who have prepared so much for this day and those who will attend.”
The event also includes 50 baskets will also be up for raffle at the church grounds at 106 S. Main St. The basket raffle starts at 9 a.m. and goes until 4 p.m. The cash prize raffle includes two prizes of $500 and five prizes of $100.
This group preps the plastic bags for the takeouts. They include from left: Joan Adduci, Jean Shervin (in back), Lorriane Dibley and Michelle Grabowski.
Tony Navarra cooks the salt potatoes in the kitchen.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 August 2020 at 7:30 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A crew from Russia reached Orleans County today as part of an epic journey in an 18th century replica boat named Pilgrim. The Densmore Road bridge is in the background.
They are shown approaching the Keitel Road canal bridge in Albion at about 2:30 p.m. They left Spencerport this morning and reached Medina later in the afternoon.
Click here to see a video of the boat approaching and passing underneath the Keitel Road bridge.
According to media reports, including Rochester journalist John Kucko, the boat has already traveled 11,000 miles nautical miles in the past two years.
Sergey Sinelnik is the captain and has long dreamed of sailing around the world. He is leading the crew to Duluth, Minnesota. Duluth is the sister city of his Russian hometown.
The boat passes by the Keitel Road bridge and heads west by farmland in Albion.
The group will push to reach Alaska after being in Minnesota. Then the boat will be taken to Seattle where it will then continue the trip by water. Kucko said the crew has about another year of travelling as part of the journey.
The boat reaches Albion and is between the two lift bridges, with the Ingersoll lift bridge in the upright position. The crew was friendly, waving to the many onlookers getting a glimpse of the boat, which is 42 foot long, 14 tons with three masts.
The Main Street lift bridge goes up for the boat.
Click here to see a video of the bridge and the boat.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 August 2020 at 11:59 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Cole and Kerri Glover, right, donated $1,000 to the Orleans Community Health Foundation on Wednesday. They are social distancing while presenting a check to Jeanne Crane (left) who is president of Foundation and Heather Smith, who is the executive director.
The Glovers are the new owners of the former Pillars on West Countyhouse Road in Albion. They are turning the property into Maison Albion, which will be decorated in a French theme and will host weddings and other events.
They had an estate sale at the property on Saturday. One large elephant figure, which was a prop in a film, was auctioned off with proceeds going to the Hospital Foundation.
The Whitehall Mansion in Brockport bought the elephant for $700. The Glovers added $300 to make the donation $1,000.
The $1,000 will go towards the “Say Boo to the Flu” program run by Jessica Capurso, out of the Community Partners department at Orleans Community Health. Community Partners collaborates with Albion Rotary and Leon’s Gift in Memory of Leon Sidari to educate the community on the importance of flu vaccinations for youth. This year they are focused on expanding the program and these funds will greatly help facilitate any additional needs they will have for another successful year.
The Glovers said they plan to make Maison Albion available for free for 10 community fundraisers each year. Mrs. Glover urged people to reach out to her at bonjour@maisonalbion.com for more information.
This elephant sold as a fundraiser for the Orleans Community Health Foundation.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 August 2020 at 11:36 am
District plans for Pre-K to Grade 6 for in-person Monday through Friday; Grades 7-12 would alternate between in-person and remote learning
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Albion Middle School will see more cleaning if students are approved for in-person learning this school year.
ALBION – The school district wants to hear from parents if they plan to have their children return for in-person schooling in 2020-21 and if they will have their children be bussed in the mornings and afternoons.
Albion in the survey also is asking families about their internet access at home.
Albion is asking families to complete the survey by Aug. 7 to help the district as it prepares for a new school year. Click here to see the survey.
“I thank you for your patience and understanding as we proceed through the process of determining how best to meet the needs of your child(ren) over the next several months, while maintaining the health and safety expectations that are required,” interim superintendent Scott Bishoping said in a message to the community.
Albion also completed a 48-page reopening plan on Friday that was submitted to the State Education Department. The plan was also posted on the district website.
Albion’s first option for reopening would be in-person schooling Monday through Friday for grades prekindergarten through 6.
In grades 7-12, there would be an A Group and B Group that would alternate between in-person and remote learning. Wednesday would be remote learning for everyone in grades 7-12. The students would be in-person at school two days a week.
In option 2, would have Pre-K to grades 6 doing in-person everyday but Wednesday, which would be remote learning. Grades 7-12 would alternate between in-person and remote on Monday and Tuesday and Thursday and Friday, with Wednesday remote for all students in 7-12.
Option 3 would have PreK to grade 6 doing remote learning three days a week and in-person two days a week. For grades 7 to 12, the A group would do in-person learning on Monday and Tuesday and then remote learning Wednesday through Friday. The B Group would do remote learning from Monday through Wednesday and then in-person learning on Thursday and Friday.
Students will need to maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet as much as possible and wear masks when social distancing isn’t possible.
• Minimize student movement: This potentially means having students eating lunch in their classroom instead of the cafeteria and eliminating assemblies, field trips and other large-group activities, the district states in the reopening plan.
Special area subjects – art, music, physical education – may be pushed into the classroom. “Whenever possible, students will utilize outside space for physical education instruction,” the plan states. “We will adhere to 12 feet between students when engaging in physical activity and music rehearsals.”
• Social Emotional Learning team: The district will have a team with certified teachers, certified school counselors, a licensed mental health professional/community partner through Orleans County Mental Health, school psychologists, school social worker, school resource officer (SRO) and school administrators.
This task force team will develop a cohesive and strategic plan, regardless of the re-entry phase, to support students and staff upon for the 2020-2021 school year. This includes a means to identify and actively support student and staff well-being and mental health concerns.
• The district will have a “Helpdesk” for parents/students/teachers to report technical issues that might be experienced during remote learning.
The school district will provide all students with access to learning materials and resources in multiple formats, wherever possible.
In the event students do not have sufficient access to devices and/or high-speed internet, the district will provide the students with alternate methods to access materials and instruction by picking up materials at school or dropping off materials to students’ homes.
ALBION – After decades of service, Rainbow Preschool, operated by Arc of Genesee Orleans, will permanently close on Aug. 14.
Rainbow Preschool, located in Batavia and Albion, serves children from 2½ to 5 years old with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The preschool provided special education, physical therapy, occupational therapy, assistive technology, counseling, parent training, music therapy, and speech/language therapy to help students achieve kindergarten readiness.
Preschool staff are New York state certified teachers, with teacher assistants and aides in the classroom.
The decision was made after careful consideration by Arc of Genesee Orleans’ board of directors.
“This decision was made with heavy hearts,” said Donna Saskowski, executive director. “For any children who are enrolled with Rainbow for the 2020-21 school year, we will work directly with parents and with school district representatives to secure appropriate placements and ensure continuity of services.”
Rainbow Preschool provided critical services to generations of children with and without disabilities and they have a proud history of service for children with special needs. The current environment of the pandemic, uncertain funding and declining enrollment all played a role in this difficult decision. While no return to class date was set due to NY State COVID-19 restrictions, enrollment to date included 26 children.
The school in Albion was located at the Arnold Gregory Complex at 243 S. Main St. In Batavia, Rainbow Preschool was at the former Robert Morris school on Union Street.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 July 2020 at 9:23 am
Middle and high school students may go alternate days in hybrid model
File photo by Tom Rivers: Students are quick to get off the bus on the first day of school at Albion in this photo from Sept. 7, 2016.
ALBION – The school district on Wednesday updated the community about a reopening plan that needs to be filed with the state on Friday.
Albion and the 700 other school districts have until Friday to submit the plans to the state Education Department. Districts need to develop plans for in-person learning, a hybrid model with both in-person and remote learning, and a plan for on-line only.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state will review the plans and make an announcement by Aug. 7 whether school districts will be allowed for in-person instruction.
School districts were forced to go to on-line only beginning on March 16 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The school buildings didn’t open again to students for the rest of the school year.
In a Q & A posted on the district website, Albion said the reopening plan will be posted on the school website on Friday.
The district said it is pushing to have students in prekindergarten through grade 6 to be able to attend in-person classes each day.
“By converting some rooms used for special areas and supports into classroom space, we may be able to have all of the students attend and still be able to use social distancing in classrooms,” the district said. “That is likely not going to be the case at the 7-12 level.”
At the 7-12 level, Albion is planning a hybrid manner of instruction with a group of students attending one day, and another group the next day.
“We are still working out the format that best fits for all of the needs of our students,” the district stated.
Families will have the option to keep their children home from school for remote instruction, even if in-person schooling is offered.
“We understand that there are reasons why a family would want to keep their child home and so, we will offer the opportunity for remote or virtual learning whether we can bring students in or not,” the district stated.
Albion will be surveying parents to determine the preference for in-person learning or remote.
The district said the school schedule will be a similar format as last year. However, Albion plans to stagger arrival and dismissal times to avoid students entering and leaving the building in a group.
“More specific information will be shared with families later in August after we get word from the governor regarding the format that we will be able to plan on to start the school year,” the district said.
The big difference for the 2020-21 school year will be the social aspect for students, with social distancing and mask wearing.
“The same requirements will prevent students from gathering in hallways between classes or having close conversation at lunch time,” the district said. “We are looking at other ways to allow students to socialize with one another, but whatever we come up with will look different than what they are used to.”
Photo by Tom Rivers: This 24-foot-long mural of Charles Howard as Santa in a sleigh over downtown Albion was installed in June 2018. It was painted by Albion native Stacey Kirby Steward. The mural honors Albion’s history as home to the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School from 1937 to 1966. Howard also ran Christmas Park in Albion. Mr. Howard passed away in 1966. The Santa School continues in his name in Midland, Michigan.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 July 2020 at 12:57 pm
ALBION – The State Assembly has approved naming a portion of Route 31 in Albion in honor of Charles Howard, who founded a Santa Claus School in 1937 and ran it until his death in 1966. The school still bears Howard’s name but is now operated in Midland, Mich.
The state road officially will still be known as Route 31, and East and West Avenue in the village. But there will be signs at each end of the Town of Albion on Route 31, noting the stretch of Route 31 is the “Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway.” The section in Albion goes from Transit Road to Wood Road.
The State Senate also has approved the “Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway.” The legislation needs the governor’s signature before it’s a done deal.
Mr. Howard, in addition to founding a Santa Claus School, established Christmas Park in Albion on Phipps Road near Route 31. He portrayed Santa in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City for 18 years.
This photo shows Charles W. Howard with a Santa at Christmas Park in Albion. Howard operated the Park and a Santa Claus School in Albion until his death on May 1, 1966.
He developed the Santa School after noticing many Santas didn’t have training, and didn’t always interact with children well or meet a standard for dress. He established decorum for Santas and his Santa Claus suits became popular.
Howard remains a revered figure among the Santa portrayers world-wide. They have an annual conference, which twice in the past decade has been in Albion.
“Mr. Howard brought national acclaim to himself and his home town by establishing the world’s first Santa Claus School,” according to a resolution from the Orleans County Legislature last August in support of naming a section of the state road for Howard.
Jane Holland, Charles Howard’s granddaughter, sent an email on July 31, 2019 to Joe Gehl, one of the directors of the Albion Betterment Committee. The Betterment Committee has stepped up efforts to recognize Howard’s role in the community. The Betterment Committee has put up a gateway sign on Route 98, declaring Albion as Howard’s hometown. The group also has “BELIEVE” signs in the community and is working on a memorial bronze statue of Howard in downtown Albion.
The Betterment Committee has sought support for the road naming from local, county and state officials.
Holland said the family endorses having Route 31 be dedicated for Howard, who was a farmer and active in the community as a volunteer, in addition to running Christmas Park and training Santas at the school.
“Grampa was a humble man of little means but a big heart and a giving, caring soul,” she said in her email. “To see him honored on his beloved trail to and from the town – the family still today cherishes and welcomes its comfort when we visit – would be a great privilege.”
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) announced the Assembly approved the road naming. The Assembly also approved designating Route 77 between Pembroke Town Park and the intersection of Indian Falls Road in the Town of Pembroke in honor of a local soldier killed in the Vietnam War.
That section of 77 in Pembroke will be known as the “SP4 C. Jay Hall Memorial Highway.” Hall served as a rifleman in the United States Army in Binh Duong, Vietnam. On October 7, 1969, he was on a reconnaissance patrol in an area of known enemy activity. He and his group were suddenly subjected to an intense attack from enemy forces.
With complete disregard for his personal safety, Specialist Hall exposed himself to hostile fire while his comrades were able to obtain cover. During this action, he was mortally wounded.
“I’m proud that the Assembly passed these bills to help us recognize the men of our community so they will be remembered now and forevermore,” Hawley said about naming the portions of the state roads for Howard and Hall.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 July 2020 at 11:43 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The State Canal Corporation has added a new kiosk and rest area with a bench and two loop-style bike racks.
The rest area is just west of the Ingersoll Street lift bridge. The new rest area is one of a dozen being installed across the trail system.
“The intent is for it to be a gateway into the trail,” said Shane Mahar, Canal spokesman. “The kiosk provides an overview of the system and some local history and information.”
The Ralph C. Wilson Foundation provided funding for the new sign, bench and the loop style bike racks.
The kiosk promotes the 750-mile Empire State Trail, which includes trails on the Erie Canal towpath, the Hudson Valley and Champlain Valley.
The sign notes the closest services after Albion are in Medina, 11 miles to the west, and Holley, 10 miles to the east.
“The Trail promotes heathy lifestyles and provides a place for friends and families to experience the Empire State’s special places and rich diversity – connecting urban centers, village main streets, and rural communities from New York City through the Hudson River Valley, west to Buffalo along the historic Erie Canal, and north to the Champlain Valley and Adirondacks,” the sign states, urging people to explore the trails.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 July 2020 at 10:36 am
‘I get here early or else it could all be gone’ – Mother of 5
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Tim Hollenbaugh of Bentley Brothers helps with the food distribution this morning in Albion in the Main Street Store parking lot.
There was a long line of cars down Chamberlain Street, McKinstry Street, East Park Street and then spilling out on Main Street when the distribution started at 8:45 a.m.
This box of dairy includes smaller containers of chocolate milk, a half gallon of milk, and containers of cottage cheese and yogurt.
One of three delivery trucks hadn’t arrived yet but organizers decided to get the line moving due to the traffic backup. The trucks delivering meats and dairy arrived, but the group was waiting on the produce truck. Each vehicle gets three boxes.
Orleans Hub talked with three people who were near the front of the line. They showed up very early.
An Albion woman, 62, was first in line. She arrived at 5:05 a.m. after getting a hot chocolate at Tim Hortons. She works part-time and shares the food with her mother and son.
“It’s hard to buy food today because the prices have gone up so much,” she said.
The woman estimated the value of the three boxes at about $80. She comes to a distribution about every two weeks and tries to be there early.
“Sometimes I get here at 6:30 and the line is already way down the street,” she said.
Today there was a new addition: a couple for a free gallon of milk.
“They keep adding things,” the appreciative woman said.
Nathan Poler of Bentley Brothers carries a box to one of the vehicles.
A 33-year-old mother of five from Albion pulled up on Chamberlain Street at 6:15 this morning. She was the sixth vehicle in line.
The woman her family has dropped from two incomes to one during the Covid-19 pandemic. The food distributions have been “extremely helpful” in feeding her family.
This meat box includes chicken patties, chicken nuggets and frozen meat balls.
The woman spends the time waiting in her car by “extreme couponing.” She checks local stores online for coupons. Those savings have also helped her family during a budget crunch.
She notices more people are showing up early for the food distributions.
“The lines are getting longer and longer,” she said. “I get here early or else it could all be gone.”
The distributions on Fridays have food for about 300 vehicles. There are also distributions the second and fourth Wednesdays at the 4-H Fairgrounds with 1,200 boxes of produce, with one per vehicle.
A 70-year-old retired woman from Albion said the food distributions have been very helpful. They ensure she has quality food.
“My medical bills pile up and you have to decide between them and food,” she said.
The woman said she shares some of the food with her son and neighbors.
She called herself an “early riser” and arrives for the food distributions at about 6:15 in the morning.
“It’s worth it,” she said.
Kim Hazel of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County helped with the distribution today. She has been a part of the efforts at the Fairgrounds. “You get a system down and then you can work well with it,” she said.
Annette Finch, community service director at Community Action, said she worries about having enough volunteers for the weekly efforts.
She welcomed members of local sports teams to volunteer and earn some community service hours.
Volunteers are still needed for all Fridays in August. For more information on volunteering, call Melissa Blanar at the Orleans County Office for the Aging at 589-3191.
The line of vehicles stretched down Chamberlain Street this morning.
