Photos courtesy of Albion Police Department

ALBION – The Albion Police Department’s armored vehicle was used to make several rescues during the blizzard from Friday night through Sunday.

The Albion PD acquired the vehicle for free in 2020. It is primarily utilized by the SWAT team, but can be deployed in other emergencies. This was the first time it was brought out in a massive snowstorm.

“It’s intent is for anything we need it for,” said Albion Police Chief David Mogle. “It went through snow that no other vehicle could have gone through.”

Mogle drove the MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) all night Friday. It took 2 ½ hours to go down Route 98 through Elba, and then west on Route 262 in Elba. The MRAP was able to pick up 5 people on 262, and bring them to a warming station in Oakfield, and then joined a convoy rescuing about 15 to 20 more stranded people in the Oakfield.

Mogle said the heavy vehicle with thick tires wouldn’t be stopped from the deep snow, except when the visibility was so poor the drivers couldn’t see anything from the whiteout conditions.

The drivers kept the MRAP on the road, using mailboxes and telephone poles as guides.

Saturday morning the armored vehicles was deployed to the Iroquois Job Corps in Shelby was brought back 8 people who had been without electricity for a day in sub-freezing temperatures. The Shelby and East Shelby volunteer fire departments also transported students and staff to the Comfort Inn and Suites in Medina, with the Town of Shelby helping to plow a path for the vehicles.

The MRAP is equipped with different modes and settings that allow it to navigate through large amounts of snow and different terrain, allowing officers to travel through the low visibility snow conditions and reach those in need of help, Mogle said.

“This is the first time it went through snow like this,” he said today. “We knew it could pretty much go through anything.”

The police chief was advised the officers in the vehicle might find people who perished in their vehicles from the cold. But Mogle said law enforcement isn’t aware of any deaths from the blizzard in Genesee or Orleans. There are 27 deaths in Erie and Niagara counties from the blizzard, including 20 in Buffalo.

“The Albion Police Department would like to commend all law enforcement agencies, fire departments, highway departments and the Orleans County Dispatch Center for their involvement and tireless efforts performed throughout the recent snow storm,” Mogle said.

Provided photos

ALBION – The Orleans Koinonia Kitchen at Harvest Christian Fellowship served 247 meals on Thursday in an early Christmas celebration that included a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The top photo shows Faith Smith, director of the OK Kitchen, speaking to the group in the fellowship hall of the church.

Eladio Beltran, left, prepared Mexican chicken tacos with a side of black beans and red rice.

In addition to the 247 meals, 57 children received gifts from Santa. There were also 25 families given 25 holiday boxes.

“We want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for all the help, support, donations and time that this community took part in to make this night a success,” Smith said.

Harvest Christian Fellowship started hosting the kitchen on June 1. It is open Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and has served nearly 7,000 meals in seven months. There is one meal left for 2022. Volunteers from the West Barre United Methodist Church are preparing and serving that meal this Thursday.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Albion firefighters hose down a car that burst into flames at about 1:30 p.m. today at 8 West Academy St. in Albion.

Aurora Andres said she started her car, a 2003 Dodge Neon, and it started smoking and then caught on fire.

She praised the first responders for a quick response that kept the fire from spreading.

Albion police officers Chris Glogowski and Nathanial Staines, and State Trooper Steven Papponetti were the first on the scene and used fire extinguishers to initially knock down the fire.

“It could have been much worse for sure,” Staines said.

Animals were safely removed from the house including four cats, two dogs and three ferrets.

Albion firefighters John Papponetti and Jeremy Babcock were on the scene.

Will Francis, a fire investigator, is on the scene to determine the cause.

‘We’re all warm, we’re all dry and we’re all alive.’

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Spencer Wright of Rochester holds a baby at about 11 a.m. today in the shelter set up at the Albion Elementary School.

Wright was holding the baby for a man he met yesterday. The father was going to check on his home in Barre.

Wright was one of 28 people who spent the night at the shelter set up at the school.

Wright was driving from Lockport to Rochester at about 3 a.m. Saturday when he went off the road on Route 31A in Barre. He said another car was coming in the opposite direction and driving in the middle of the road.

He was stranded in his car for 2 ½ hours until being picked up by Barre firefighters. He was one of about 20 to 25 people at the Barre firehall before they were moved to the school.

“Without them there would have been a lot of casualties,” Wright said about the firefighters. “They were out driving all night, bringing people in.”

Wright said he tried to stay calm in his car.

“I was just trying to figure out what to do,” he said.

He is grateful for the firefighters and a safe place to ride out the storm.

“We’re all warm, we’re all dry and we’re all alive,” he said.

There were about 75 people who stayed at the shelters last night at the Albion and Medina schools, said Justin Niederhofer, the county’s director of emergency management.

Most of the people in the shelters are from out of the area, with some from Poughkeepsie, Boston, New Jersey. Most of those people left this morning. The Medina shelter will soon be closed with the remaining two people there moved to Albion, where there are currently about 10 people.

A Red Cross trailer was used to bring cots and other supplies to the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School in Albion. The site was staffed by the Health Department. In Medina, a school employee and Mayor Mike Sidari ran that shelter.

Albert Purugganan, his wife and their 13-year-old son are trying to get from New Jersey to Toronto to see family for the holidays. The trip was going fine on the Thruway. They were then directed off the Thruway near Rochester and were on Route 31A in Barre and Albion about 6 p.m. on Saturday when the visibility and road conditions noticeably became very difficult.

They went off road and were soon assisted by a deputy from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

They spent the night on three cots at the Albion school.

“The people here are very helpful,” Purugganan said.

The family is still determined to get to Toronto. They checked their car today, retrieving medications and are hopeful they can get back on the road soon.

They are thankful for the pizza at the shelter last night, and the coffee and other supplies at the temporary shelter.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Five large banners will soon be on the landscape in Albion, proclaiming “Shop Local – Albion is Open!”

Michael Bonafede and Karen Sawicz presented the banners during the Albion Village Board meeting on Tuesday evening. Two of the banners are currently up – one on Cobblestone Museum property in Gaines at the corner of routes 98 and 104, and the other on Rick Stacey’s RS Automation property on Route 98, at the Countyhouse Road intersection south of the village.

The three other banners are planned at village parks: Carosol on Ingersoll and Caroline, Vets Park on Linwood and Brown, and Bullard Park on Route 31.

In addition, 20 smaller yard signs with the same message have been placed in the community.

Sawicz, owner of Lake Country Media, wants drivers to continue to go into the downtown and support local businesses. Bonafede owns the Pratt and Day building, and another historic building in the downtown that together are the home for several businesses.

Sawicz said more signage is also needed to help people, especially those unfamiliar with the community, follow detours with the Main Street lift bridge expected to be closed for about 18 months.

Provided photo

ALBION – The Five Star Bank branch in Albion recently presented a $300 donation to Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries in Albion. The church meets at the Arnold Gregory Office Building and offers many ministries to the community, including serving 2,000 chicken barbecue dinners for free on Dec. 10.

Pictured from left include Lisa DeCarlo, member of Royal Body; Al Wilson, pastor of Royal Body; Debbie Yockel, assistant branch manager; Pam Kennedy (in back), a Five Star employee; Ykeeta Wilson, wife of the pastor and a leader at Royal Body; Danielle LaDue, Five Star employee; and Somnuck Sangasy, branch manager.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Josh Mitchell, a funeral director with Mitchell Family Funeral Homes, lights one of the advent candles during a “Blue Christmas” service on Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Albion.

Four candles were lighted to symbolize hope, peace, joy and love.

“Everyone left a legacy,” Mitchell said. “Everyone was loved.”

The Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, welcomes people to the service, which is an annual event during the holidays for people who are mourning the loss of a loved one.

The service is organized by the Albion Area Ministerium, Mitchell Family Funeral Homes, Supportive Care of Orleans and the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Orleans Coalition.

About 50 people attended the service and were invited to light a candle in rememabrance of a loved one.

The Rev. Randy LeBaron, leader of Go Scatter Ministers, also serves as bereavement coordinator at Supportive Care and pastoral counselor at Care Net Center of Greater Orleans. He shared a Scripture from Jeremiah 31:13: “I will turn your mourning into gladness, I will give you comfort and joy instead of sorrow.”

Erin Moody sings “Christmas in Heaven” during the service.

The Rev. Susan Boring, pastor of Eagle Harbor United Methodist Church, welcomes people to the annual service.