By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 July 2020 at 10:49 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
POINT BREEZE – Dick Remley holds up a plaque and pin which he received on Thursday in appreciation for his leadership as Albion Rotary Club president in 2019-2020.
Remley, the Albion town supervisor, acknowledged it was a very unusual year for the club, which has been meeting since mid-March through the Zoom video conference.
Thursday was the first time the club had an in-person meeting in more than three months.
Marlee Diehl, in red shirt, is the club’s new president. Thursday’s meeting was held at her home overlooking the Oak Orchard River. (Her husband Bill Diehl has twice served as Albion Rotary Club president.)
The club typically meets Thursday’s for lunch at Tillman’s Village Inn. The club is hoping to return to regular in-person meetings soon.
Most of the club’s fundraisers and events have been cancelled in 2020. The club looks forward to 2021 and a return of the St. Patrick’s Ham Dinner, Strawberry Festival and a fishing derby. The club will celebrate its 100thanniversary in 2022.
Diehl, a retired recruiter and past district governor for Rotary, is sworn in as new club president by Frank Adamson. He administered the oath by phone. Adamson is a Canadian and couldn’t be with the Albion Rotarians in person due to the Peace Bridge and other U.S.-Canada crossings closed to nonessential travel.
Frank Adamson administers the oath of office to Albion Rotary Club board members. Adamson leads a district that includes about 70 Rotary clubs in Western New York and Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Rotary Club in Fonthill, Ontario.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Rachel Curtin, the elementary school principal the past seven years at Albion, attempts a shot during a basketball game on Oct. 26. She was on the Albion Hotshots, a team of teachers and staff who played the Harlem Wizards in a fundraiser for the Albion PTA.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 July 2020 at 1:59 pm
ALBION – Rachel Curtin, the principal at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School the past seven years ,is leaving Albion to lead the Chautauqua Lake Elementary School in Mayville.
That is near her hometown of Ripley. Chautauqua Lake is a merged district of Ripley and Mayville.
Curtin’s resignation was accepted during a Board of Education meeting on Tuesday. She starts her new job on Monday.
“I’m really grateful for the time I have had here,” Curtin said today. “I worked with so many wonderful and caring teachers. Our students also are an inspiration, they really are.”
Rachel Curtin performed at several community events, including the Nicholas Kovaleski Hometown Christmas. She is shown singing “Heaven Everywhere” during the show in December 2015.
Curtin joined Albion after working as a principal in Silver Creek, which is also in her home county of Chautauqua. She started her career as a music teacher.
She said the Covid-19 pandemic made her want to be closer to her family back home.
“I really thought I would retire at Albion,” Curtin said. “Chautauqua Lake is my hometown. The Covid crisis has taught us family is so important to have in your life.”
The Board of Education on Tuesday also accepted the resignations of Lisa Burlison, an AIS and reading teacher at the elementary and middle schools, and Anna Atwater, an elementary vocal music teacher.
Rachel Curtin stands on a new elementary school playground with a megaphone on May 22, 2014. She thanked the contractors, community and school employees for working to make the project a reality. After the opening ceremony, students joyfully played on new slides, swings, climbing apparatus and other playground equipment. The new playground replaced one made out of wood that tended to attract bees.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 July 2020 at 9:21 am
Scott Bischoping
ALBION – The Albion Board of Education appointed an interim superintendent on Tuesday evening. Scott Bischoping starts the job on Monday.
He will take over as superintendent for Michael Bonnewell, who will serve as evaluator of teachers in the his last year with the district before his retirement.
Bischoping most recently served as interim superintendent at North Rose-Wolcott Central School from Feb. 3 until last week.
Previously, Bischoping was an interim superintendent at Batavia City School District. He also was the district superintendent for Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES.
Bischoping began his career in 1988 as a business education teacher at Livonia.
Albion is pushing to have a new superintendent in place by Jan. 1.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 July 2020 at 2:11 pm
Albion grads accept diplomas in virtual ceremony and then celebrate with parade
Provided photos from Sue Starkweather Miller: Paige and Kendall Derisley, twin sisters, have fun during a parade for graduates on Friday evening. Kendall is going to Fredonia and Paige is headed to GCC.
ALBION – The Class of 2020 held a virtual graduation ceremony with seniors receiving their diplomas in prerecorded personal ceremonies spread over 10 days. A compilation of those ceremonies was presented Friday evening at 20:20 (8:20 p.m.)
Click here to see the 1 hour, 47-minute video on the school district’s YouTube page.
The video includes student speeches by Valedictorian Ashlyn LeBaron, Salutatorian Katelyn Spierdowis and Class President Angel Rosario Soto. High School Principal Jennifer Ashbery, Board of Education President Kathy Harling and Superintendent Michael Bonnewell also addressed the graduates.
Students were also able to celebrate on Friday evening with a parade in vehicles around the campus and community.
Screenshot from YouTube video: Angel Rosario Soto, the class president, will be majoring in nursing at Brockport State College. He plans to finish his studies at the University of Buffalo and become a registered nurse anesthetist.
He played on Albion’s soccer, wrestling, tennis and track teams and was involved in the National Honor Society, Masterminds and other clubs.
Rosario Soto thanked his parents for their sacrifice and hard work. He said teachers really stepped up during the pandemic and “didn’t let us give up.”
He regretted the class hasn’t been together since March 13, the last day of in-school learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rosario Soto said the class has faced other challenges, besides the pandemic. The class members were born right after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. They grew up in era of the War of Terror.
The era included frequent school shootings across the country. The Albion students had drill to respond to an active shooter.
Rosario Soto said the class experienced other history, including the election of the first black president – Barack Obama.
The class president also praised the varsity football team for making it to a Sectional game at New Era Field, the home of the Buffalo Bills.
The class is ready for a new chapter.
“If you start to strive for something, don’t give up,” Rosario Soto said. “You pick yourself up and bust your butt off until you get there. Don’t let the negativity override the positivity.”
He urged the class to live their lives with purpose.
“Starting today our job is to show up wide-eyed, willing and ready for what, I don’t know, for anything, for everything,” he said. “To take on life, to take on love, and to take on the responsibility and the possibility. Today my friends our lives begin and I for one can not wait.”
Salutatorian Katelynn Spierdowis is headed to Clarkson University to major in civil engineering. At Albion, she was involved in the drama program, the orchestra and chorus. She played on the volleyball and tennis teams.
Spierdowis thanked the community for supporting the class, especially during the pandemic, when students were adopted by community members and showered with gifts.
“Your love and compassion has made us all feel truly special,” she said.
The graduating during the Black Lives Matter movement, a national push to fight systemic racism. Spierdowis said she is biracial and she shared about the challenges of acceptance.
“My friendships have been diverse,” she said. “I won’t label them as black or white. They were just my friends.”
She urged her classmates to “pursue a cause that is important to you.”
She concluded with a message of gratitude for the school district and community.
“Thank you Albion for giving me such a great start,” Spierdowis said.
Photo courtesy of Randy LeBaron: Ashlyn LeBaron gives the valedictory address. She will be majoring in nursing at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester. She was active on volleyball and track teams, as well as band, jazz band, pit orchestra, Bible study club, Rotary interact, history club and the National Honor Society.
LeBaron thanked teachers, coaches, administrators and family “for investing in our lives.”
She said the pandemic disrupted the senior year. The pandemic prevented the seniors from having their own in-person ceremony with all of their classmates.
“These times that we are in have changed our world and they have also changed us,” she said. “I believe each of us will rise out the situation stronger than how we went into it. These trials have shown we have the work ethic and determination to triumph over any situation. And we made it. ”
The class demonstrated perseverance and diligence to overcome obstacles that no other graduating class has faced. She said.
“It’s because of that I believe our class will go on to change the world,” LeBaron said. “The class of 2020 will serve as an example of resilience to all.”
Michael DiCureia gets a ride in the parade from his mother Bridget DiCureia.
District Superintendent Michael Bonnewell said the class has needed to adapt to unforeseen changes. The superintendent said he appreciated the chance to see the students individually during their personal graduation ceremonies spread out over about 40 hours and 10 days. They were spaced out in 15-mnute intervals.
That was the first time the students had been inside the high school in three months.
Bonnewell said he wished there could have been a large ceremony. Commencement usually has about 2,000 people inside the gym. The state capped the ceremonies to no more than 150 people and that was if they were outdoors. Indoor gatherings were limited to 25 people.
“Class of 2020, this is certainly not the graduation and indeed the senior year any of us wanted or had imagined for you,” Bonnewell said.
The class succeeded in the last stretch of their school experience, despite the challenges, he said.
“You persevered, grew and prospered in spite of the pandemic,” he said.
They can go into the next stage of life knowing they have overcome a great challenge.
“I miss you already and always,” Bonnewell told them.
High School Principal Jennifer Ashbery waves to graduating senior Deyonci Farley during the parade. Deyonci and his family are headed down Route 31.
Jennifer Ashbery, the high school principal, praised a class of “accomplishment, resilience and perseverance.”
There were 135 students in the class. Friday’s graduation was the 142nd commencement for Albion.
Kathy Harling, the board president, said the Covid-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented shutdown of schools.
“No one asked for a global pandemic,” Harling said. “No one asked to be confined to their homes for weeks and months on end.”
She said she hoped the pandemic gave students spend more time with their families and also by themselves – “You can be at peace for yourself and enjoy your own company.”
She urged the graduates to take a cooperate approach in their role as citizens.
“The community functions better when we all work together,” Harling said.
Aggeliki Alexandris, who is headed to GCC, rides in the parade with her mother, Shelcy Plueckhahn.
Kyle Pappalardo gets a ride from his brother Liam Ward at the parade. They are both members of the Class of 2020.
Ryan Krenning is joined in the graduate parade by his mom, Amanda Krenning-Muoio.
Connor Hollenbeck, who is going to Rochester Institute of Technology, is joined by his parents, Dawn and Brian, at Friday’s parade.
Click here to see more photos of the parade on the school district’s website.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 June 2020 at 3:43 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – This banner of Sidney Eddy hangs on a light pole next to the First Presbyterian Church of Albion. Eddy served in World War I. He returned to Albion and ran a printing company and was a charter member of the Albion Rotary Club.
The Albion Department of Public Works hung up 33 banners this morning.
Provided photo: Albion Mayor Eileen Banker coordinated the effort with the banners. She is shown in a lift next to the banner of her father, the late John Pahura. The banners are 2 ½ feet by 5 feet.
“They look beautiful,” Banker said today.
Families or loved ones of the soldiers paid the cost for the banners. Banker is putting in another order for about 15 more banners.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Badger, a Belgian Malinois, stopped by the Albion Village Board meeting this evening. Badger started worked his first shift with the Albion Police Department on Sunday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2020 at 9:42 pm
Nathaniel Staines introduces Badger to the Village Board this evening. Pictured in back include Trustee Chris Barry, Mayor Eileen Banker and Trustee Kevin Sheehan.
ALBION – The newest member of the Albion Police Department met the Village Board this evening and many of the department heads.
Badger, a Belgian Malinois, is coming off 14 weeks of K-9 training. He worked his first shift on Sunday night with handler Nathaniel Staines, an Albion police officer the past 4 ½ years.
Badger succeeds Rex as the Albion PD’s K-9. Robert Wagner was Rex’s handler.
Badger showed the village officials he is a friendly dog. He happily let people pet him on the head, and even hopped in Aric Albright’s lap. Albright is Albion’s sewer plant superintendent.
The dog has completed training in tracking and article searches. He will be certified this fall in advanced narcotics searches.
“We’ve had a very long history with K-9s,” said Police Chief Roland Nenni. “We’ve had very good dogs.”
Badger is a “passive alert dog.” Instead of barking, he will lay down if he detects something for Staines to check out.
The dog “runs like a rocket” and has impressive jumping ability for tracking suspects, Nenni said.
Nenni said Badger and Staines have already formed a strong partnership.
“We’re best buds,” Staines said.
The two did their training at the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office in Lockport. Nenni said donations and funds from the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force covered the cost of the dog. Purina has also donated about six months of dog food for Badger.
Staines, an Albion resident, said he dreamed of being a police officer and K-9 handler since he was a kid.
Before joining the Albion PD, he worked about 2 ½ years for the Le Roy Police Department and also was a part-time officer in Holley.
Nenni said Staines has already excelled as a handler, connecting with the dog and getting Badger to follow his commands.
Nathaniel Staines and Badger worked their first shift together on Sunday after 14 weeks of training.
Badger makes a new friend in Jay Pahura, the DPW superintendent.
Aric Albright, the Albion sewer plant superintendent, gets a snuggle from Badger at the board meeting. Badger proved friendly in his first meeting with the village department heads.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 June 2020 at 6:53 pm
Commencement will be virtual on Friday with senior parade in vehicles
Photos by Tom Rivers: Geno Allport hugs his daughter Callie after she graduated in a personalized ceremony last Thursday. The district did personal ceremonies for all members of the Class of 2020 because of the limitations on large gatherings during the Covid-19 pandemic.
ALBION – It was stretched out nearly 35 hours, the personalized graduation ceremonies for 135 members of the Class of 2020.
Albion completed the individual graduations on Saturday. They were spaced out every 15 minutes. It took more than a week to have all the students come through. They brought their families and close friends.
“It made it more special,” said Mekhi Rivera, who received his diploma last Thursday. “My family was right there with me while I walked through the cafeteria, down the hallway and then right up to the stage.”
Photo courtesy of Sue Starkweather Miller: Salutation Katelyn Spierdowis delivers her speech which will be shared online Friday during a virtual commencement. District Superintendent Michael Bonnewell is at left, next to Kathy Winans, the senior class advisor.
The district tried to create an almost-normal graduation ceremony. Pomp and Circumstance was played, High School Principal Jennifer Ashbery announced their names, the grads walked up a riser, then they walked to the center of the stage and Board of Education President Kathy Harling handed them their diplomas.
They smiled for a photo with the BOE president, and then moved down the line to be congratulated by Kathy Winans, the senior class advisor, and then Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent.
Then the graduates walked down the riser, stopping briefly to get their picture taken by their families.
Callie Allport gets ready to walk up the riser and accept her diploma. From left on stage include Superintendent Michael Bonnewell, Senior Class Advisor Kathy Winans, BOE President Kathy Harling and Principal Jennifer Ashbery.
Geno Allport takes a video of his daughter Callie Allport as she walks down the riser after receiving her diploma.
After they received their diplomas, students returned to the stage for photos with their families.
It some ways, the graduates liked it better than the traditional ceremony, when 2,000 people pack the high school gym and it can feel hectic after the ceremony, with a big crowd gathered on the front lawn of the school.
This year, it is a quieter commencement but it still proved meaningful to graduates.
Callie Allport had her family and close friends at her graduation. She said she would have liked to have her classmates by her side, but having her family up close proved extra special.
Mekhi Rivera is happy after receiving his diploma last Thursday. He is pictured with his girlfriend Mercy Sugar, his mother Sandra Rivera, and brother Israel Florentino.
In many ways, it felt like the usual high school graduation at Albion. But the gym was;t packed. And there weren’t other classmates in the front rows.
Mekhi Rivera misses his classmates. He said he has only seen a few close friends since the school was closed in mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s been hard not seeing my friends and the teachers,” Rivera said.
Mehkyron Drisdom received his diploma last week in a personalized ceremony.
Mekhi’s mother Sandra Rivera has attended several Albion graduations. She appreciates the district’s efforts to have a ceremony for each graduate because a large ceremony isn’t possible during the Covid-19 pandemic. The state has capped graduations at no more than 150 people.
She would have liked her son to have been with all of his classmates and a large contingent from the community.
“This was different,” she said after her son walked the stage. “I like it with the gym full. You can feel the love in the air.”
The district will compile the individual ceremonies and put them together in a virtual graduation to be aired online Friday at 8:20 p.m. That will include the student speeches by Valedictorian Ashlyn LeBaron, Salutatorian Katelyn Spierdowis and Class President Angel Rosario Soto.
The ceremony will be presented after a senior parade in vehicles on the school campus. Seniors will start to line up at 6:30 p.m. at the middle school.
Molly Wadhams continued one commencement tradition: a photo on the front lawn with the class numbers.
Molly Wadhams would have preferred the big graduation ceremony with all of her classmates. She said the past three months have been difficult for seniors who missed their senior prank, senior skip day, baccalaureate and other time with their friends. She also was looking forward to her final time on stage in a school musical. But the Little Mermaid was also cancelled in April. (Wadhams is majoring in musical theater at Geneseo in the fall.)
Molly Wadhams is happy after receiving her diploma.
She is hopeful the senior prom can still happen. It was scheduled for June 12, but now is scheduled for Aug. 6.
“It has been hard but you can’t change it,” she said about a senior year during a pandemic.
She also liked appreciated that the school changed one policy for the personalized graduations. They let the seniors decorate the mortar boards on the graduation caps. Wadhams’ mortarboard had a musical theme, “End of Act One 2020.”
Her mother Pam Wadhams has had two other children graduate from Albion. As a parent, she wanted Molly to be recognized at graduation with her classmates.
“It’s nice we can do this,” Mrs. Wadhams said about the personalized graduation. “But it is a little sad because her friends aren’t here.”
Molly Wadhams is ending Act One and looks forward to the next chapter in her life.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 June 2020 at 10:38 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A mural of three swans soaring over the Albion countryside was unveiled to the public for the first time today.
The mural is about 23 feet long. It is in the Curtis Room at Hoag Library. That is the main meeting room of the library, which is being used today as a polling site for a primary and special election. The library is closed to the public today except for people voting.
Stacey Kirby Steward, an Albion native, was up high on scaffolding in the Hoag Library on Saturday, working on the mural.
The family of the late Marion Moore paid the artist fee for the mural. Moore served as director of the Swan Library from 1961 to 1973. Albion’s public library was known as Swan Library from 1900 to 2012. The new Hoag Library opened in July 2012.
The mural shows three swans flying over the Erie Canal. The painting also highlights the farm fields, Lake Ontario and a cobblestone schoolhouse. Steward used a drone to get aerial views of Albion last fall, looking down on the area near the Gaines Basin Road canal bridge.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2020 at 3:39 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion teachers worked in the Community Kitchen on Friday at Christ Church. Della Morales, left, is the high school media specialist. She scoops a serving of ham and scalloped potatoes.
Julie Keller, a second grade teacher, is at right.
“We’ve been looking for more opportunities to let the students we’re still here and we want to be involved with them for a long time,” Morales said.
Albion just recently teachers started volunteering with the kitchen. On Friday, they arrived at 11 a.m. to start preparing a meal for more than 200 people.
This group of five in the kitchen includes, from left: Kelly Uderitz, high school special education teacher, Jay Kovaleski, high school physical education teacher, Chris Keller, middle school English; Dawn Arnold, elementary teacher; and Kelly Adams, whose husband Don is an elementary PE teacher.
Chris Keller, president of the Albion Teachers Association, said the group has been looking for more ways to serve the community.
“We’ve been trying to do more community outreach,” Keller said. “We have awesome people who have just been chomping at the bit.”
He praised the kitchen’s director Faith Smith and her husband Michael for their long-term commitment to preparing the meals and serving the people. Smith, the director the past 11 years, tries to line up donations and secure food to make a well-balanced meal.
Jay Kovaleski, a high school physical education teacher, helps in the kitchen on Friday.
The teachers are going to work in the kitchen the third Fridays this summer. They donated $200 to the kitchen, in addition to volunteering.
Faith Smith, the Community Kitchen director, said the teachers have been a big blessing. They have been prepping, cooking and serving to-go meals.
“They are a great group of people who work very well together,” Smith said. “They not only are giving their time to volunteer but they are also collecting donations for the kitchen.”
She praised them for their efforts on Friday in a hot kitchen, making the scalloped potatoes and ham, and baking brownies.
“They are going above and beyond teaching in the classroom and giving back to the community,” Smith said. “I think what they are doing is wonderful. I am grateful they choose to help and support the Community Kitchen.”
The teachers on Thursday also did a parade through the school district, spending two hours on the road, going by homes in Albion, Barre, Carlton and Gaines.
Betsy Krenning, one of the Albion Teachers Association leaders, said the group with 163 members wanted to let students know they have been missed since the school campus was closed in mid March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Krenning is shown at the Save-A-Lot parking lot while teachers decorated their vehicles.
Mindy Kenward, an Albion fifth grade teacher, drives the truck for the fifth grade teachers during the parade on Thursday.
The ATA also purchased banners that are on the tennis courts, congratulating the Class of 2020.
The group earlier this month also paid for a platter of sandwiches for the staff and The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion, and also purchased plants for residents.
The teachers for at least the past five years have had a spot in the downtown during Beggar’s Nite, handing out candy to hundreds of children the Friday before Halloween.
Teachers also have had a booth at the Albion Strawberry Festival, giving out several hundred books for children to read over the summer. This year’s festival was cancelled, but it is expected to be back next June.
Some of the prekindergarten team includes Peggy Lemcke, left, who is retiring as an aide and teacher Jennifer Waters. They had fun during the parade last Thursday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 June 2020 at 9:56 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Christa Construction of Victor has construction equipment and supplies on site for a 40-unit apartment project in Albion.
DePaul Properties of Rochester last year took down three houses on Liberty Street, between the railroad tracks and Beaver Street.
That land will become the DePaul Boxcar Apartments, which will have 36 one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units. The one bedroom units can have up to two people and the two-bedroom apartments have room for up to four people.
The sign for the project says the new complex should be complete in July 2021.
DePaul will have staff on site to oversee the apartment complex, and also to take residents to appointments with a DePaul van.
DePaul is designing the project to support people with disabilities, including senior citizens and veterans. The organization will do extensive background checks for credit, criminal and sex offender history and evictions.
DePaul is calling the property the Boxcar Apartments to reflect its location next to the railroad.
The new apartments will be created to fill the need for housing for persons earning up to $31,800 for a single person and a family of four earning up to $45,420.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 June 2020 at 8:53 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Jim Preston, co-owner of Preston’s Lawncare & Landscaping, works on a new veterans’ memorial at the Courthouse Square in Albion on Saturday morning.
Preston’s brother Aaron put in the stone pavers for the site and Jim is doing the landscaping work.
The Albion Knights of Columbus Council No. 1330 is paying for the memorial, which was approved by the County Legislature last December.
The memorial includes a flag pole, currently flying a POW/MIA flag. A monument and bench will be added to the site.
Jim Preston was joined by his wife Molly and their son Blake with the landscaping work on Saturday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2020 at 6:35 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Stacey Kirby Steward was up high on scaffolding in the Hoag Library today, working on a mural of three swans flying over the countryside in Albion.
The mural is about 23 feet long. It is in the Curtis Room, the main meeting room of the library.
The public will be able to see the finished mural for the first time on Tuesday, with the meeting room used as a polling site in a special election and primary. Voting is from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The family of the late Marion M. Moore paid the artist fee for the mural. Moore served as director of the Swan Library from 1961 to 1973. Albion’s public library was known as Swan Library from 1900 to 2012. The new Hoag Library opened in July 2012.
The mural shows three swans flying over the Erie Canal. The painting also highlights the farm fields, Lake Ontario and some of the cobblestone houses.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2020 at 1:08 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Jodi Zeppetella, an insurance agent for Bentley Brothers Inc., carries a box to a trunk during Friday’s food distribution in Albion.
The distribution is coordinated by Community Action of Orleans & Genesee and the Orleans County Office for the Aging.
The groups put a call out for volunteers and Bentley Brothers brought four employees on Friday, including owner Laura Olinger.
The Orleans County YMCA and CRFS also had staff help with the distribution for the first time in Albion. The Y has also been helping with the distributions in Medina.
Laura Olinger, owner of Bentley Brothers, joined in the distribution. She was there with some of her employees including Jodi Zeppetella, Lisa Ray and Brianna Carr.
“I feel the need to give back,” Olinger said. “It’s the right thing to do for our community.”
Next week the Friday distribution will be in Holley for the first time from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at parking lot for Holley Pharmacy and the former grocery store. People are getting three boxes: mixed dairy, cooked meat and produce. Each box weighs about 25 pounds.
Volunteers moved more than 900 boxes of food on Friday in Albion.
This round of food distributions introduces a new state-funded program called Nourish New York. This funding allows Foodlink to purchase local product.
Some of the Foodlink product also is from the federal USDA’s new initiative called CFAP (Coronavirus Food Assistance Program). In this program, distributors who would normally serve schools, restaurants, and municipal programs are able to pre-pack boxes of perishable product and deliver to distributions being done all over the country, said Melissa Blanar, OFA director in Orleans County.
The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County also is hosting a USDA farmers-to-families food distribution this coming Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the 4-H fairgrounds on Route 31 in Knowlesville. Those 1,200 boxes of produce each weigh about 20 pounds.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2020 at 12:35 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Medina Lions Club presented a $500 check on Friday to the Community Kitchen in Albion. Faith Smith, left, accepted the funds on behalf of the kitchen. She has been the director the past 11 years.
Billy Roman, center, is president of the Medina Lions Club. He is joined by Lions Club member Mary Hare.
Roman said hunger has no boundaries. The Lions Club wanted to help an organization that is serving many in the community.
The kitchen has been serving more than 200 hot meals on Fridays. The kitchen is at the Christ Episcopal Church on West Park Street.
