Village facing increased operating costs, capital improvements

ALBION – The Albion Village Board voted last week to raise the water and sewer rates for users inside and outside the village.

Village officials say this is the first increase in six years. For most users, the increase will be 35 cents per 1,000 gallons of water and 30 cents per 1,000 gallons for sewer.

The village needed to raise the rates in response to increased costs for labor, materials and electricity, said Gary Katsanis, the village’s deputy mayor.

The village also is facing capital improvement projects for water and sewer.

“In the sewer plant, the DEC mandated an additional processing step, which will use ultraviolet light as a disinfectant,” Katsanis said. “Installation is expensive and operation involves increased utility costs.”

The water distribution system also is aging and the village will be upgrading some waterlines, including an upcoming project on Clinton and West Academy streets.

“We need to fund that, and we also need to evaluate other portions of the water distribution system to ensure that it is providing the pressure and flow that is needed by the community,” Katsanis said.

The village also will be replacing the main watermain from Lake Ontario to the village, and the major components of the pumping system for the main, which is about 60 years old, Katsanis said..

“The village has state support for a $3.2 million repair and upgrade to that system, but there will be a significant cost to the village for that work,” he said.

Currently the residential and commercial rates are $3.26 per 1,000 gallons for water for inside-village customers and $3.52 for sewer.

Outside-village users are billed $4.19 for water and $4.45 for sewer.

There are also quarterly fees for water – $5 administrative fee and $5 water meter use – and $10 administrative fee for sewer.

The higher rates – add 35 cents to water and 30 cents to sewer per 1,000 gallons – will start on April 1 and be reflected in the water and sewer bills that come out in July.

Katsanis said the board recognizes that paying a water bill can be difficult for some community members.

“With this in mind, the Board reduced the basis under which the minimum amount billed is calculated,” he said. “The current minimum bill is $58.02 and is based on usage of 5,610 gallons per billing cycle. We reduced this minimum to 5,100 gallons, so that the new minimum bill is actually a few cents lower than the existing amount. The new calculation is based more on the principle of water customers paying for the gallons they actually use.”

The board will also phase in the increase for larger water and sewer customers. They will be billed the full new rate for up to 100,000 gallons. After that, the increase will be 17 cents this year and the other 18 cents in 2021.

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Event with several hundred players is in memory of Ben Kirby

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Connor McQuillan, formerly of Albion, watches action at today’s Ben Kirby Memorial Indoor Soccer Tournament. Connor’s dad Sean played goalie for one of the teams. Sean organized the tournament for several years.

About 30 teams played today at the high school and elementary school gyms. The tournament continues on Sunday with about 40 teams competing.

Each team has a minimum of five players. Several hundred players will be in Albion for the tournament.

Dennis and Wendy Kirby, right, are Ben’s parents. They are pictured with Cole Schmitt, the main organizer for the tournament, and his girlfriend, Katlynne Tubo, who also is a key organizer.

Ben Kirby was a long-time Albion soccer player whose family has been dedicated to the program at Albion.

Kirby was a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology when he died in a car accident on Nov. 6, 2017, on Route 531 in the Town of Gates. He was 21 at the time, in his senior year majoring in software development.

“We’re so thankful and appreciative that they remember our son,” Mrs. Kirby said.

The family works with the Albion Alumni Foundation to give two $500 scholarships each year in Ben Kirby’s name. The scholarship is to be given to a student nominated by one or more of the teachers in the Albion High School. It is intended for someone who is a “good kid” who may not be a Scout, but best exemplifies the characteristics of the Scout Law that Ben lived by: A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.

Aaron Kirby, Ben’s older brother, was among the players in today’s open division games. Aaron lives in Buffalo.

Most of today’s players were girls at the junior varsity and varsity. An open division also was available to adults – men and women – later in the day.

On Sunday, most of the teams will be boys at the elementary, junior high, JV and varsity levels.

Kendyll Hadick and his Albion teammates warm up before their game in the open division.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Lincoln Voorhees, 5, of Albion gets a lift from state trooper Greg Narburgh, an Albion native, during a break in this evening’s basketball game between the state troopers and the Albion faculty.

It was a high-scoring game with the faculty winning, 104-103. Some of the long-range shots were worth 10 points.

Albion teacher Rich Gannon served as the announcer in the game, which was a benefit for the Albion varsity softball team, which is coached by Cathy Schmitt.

Retired Lt. Kurt Schmitt goes over the ground rules for the game – lots of offense and not much defense. His wife is the varsity softball coach at Albion and one of the players for the Albion faculty this evening.

Jamison King, a first-grader, gets lifted up by state trooper Greg Narburgh for a close shot at the basket.

Mike Jones, one of the top players for the Albion faculty, is introduced just before the game.

Albion teacher Josh Green warms up with his 3-year-old son, Hollis, before the game at the high school gym.

State trooper Randy Shenefiel, left, did a demonstration with Arry, an explosive detection dog. Shawn Gourdine, right, also is a state trooper and K9 handler.

Arry is named for Sgt. Harry Adams, a member of the State Police who was killed on Sept. 1, 1951 on Sawyer Road near Albion. He was directing traffic at an accident scene when he was struck by a car.

All of the K9 dogs at the State Police are named for troopers who were killed in the line of duty.

State trooper Randy Shenefiel introduces Arry to the crowd during halftime at the game. They are based out of Niagara. Arry is a Dutch Shepard that specializes in explosives, patrol and tracking.

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‘People are caught off guard to have a homemade taste in a jar.’ – Darrin Albanese

Photos by Tom Rivers: Darrin Albanese is shown with jars of Albanese’s Finest Gourmet Pasta Sauce on Monday after they were freshly made by Permac in Bergen. Albanese has the sauce at about 25 locations in Western New York and soon it will be available at many Tops stores.

ALBION – Darrin Albanese for years enjoyed cooking for family and friends. He liked to see their exclamations, especially with his homemade spaghetti sauce.

Some of his friends liked it so much they insisted he make more batches and put it in jars for them to take home.

Albanese, 52, uses natural, fresh ingredients with no added salt or sugar. He has tweaked the recipe from his mother Theresa and father David.

“I’ve always enjoyed cooking, especially for when people come over,” Albanese said.

Last year, after prodding from friends and his daughter Kaleigh, he decided to make the sauce available as a business.

He worked with Cornell University’s Food Venture Center to test the shelf life of the sauce and affirm the scheduled process for a manufacturer to make the sauce in bigger batches.

In late October, he had the first jars available of Albanese’s Finest Gourmet Pasta Sauce. ANG Shur Sav in Churchville was the first store to put it on its shelves. Now Albanese’s Finest is at about 25 locations, and soon will be sold at several Tops stores.

Albanese has been doing tastings at many of the sites and that has fueled many of the sales of the traditional Italian marinara sauce.

“People tell me it has an undeniable taste,” Albanese said. “People are caught off guard to have a homemade taste in a jar.”

The jars are 24 ounces and include fresh spices and herbs.

Permac Enterprises in Bergen manufactures the sauce for Albanese, and about 160 others. Jamie Lloyd, co-owner of Permac, said Albanese has one of the fastest trajectories of any of the businesses the company has worked with the past 16 years. Lloyd said securing a purchase order from Tops, less than four months after the first jars went on the market, is very unusual. It’s hard to get shelf space in the bigger grocery store chains.

He said Albanese has a quality product, and he is a good promoter, connecting with stores and doing many tasting events for people to try the pasta sauce.

“You got to make sure everybody knows how good it is,” Lloyd said. “It’s up to them to get out and market it.”

Albanese said he takes the sauce on the road, often driving 100 miles or more a day, offering samples to store managers or owners. If the store agrees to sell the sauce, Albanese will try to set up tastings for people to try the sauce on pasta or bread.

The label was designed by Darrin Albanese and includes a photo of his daughter Kaleigh, who encouraged her father to make the sauce available to more people. The label also includes a swan, which has been Darrin’s nickname since childhood. “I wanted to show her if you put your mind to something you can do it,” Albanese said.

Once they taste the sauce, the sales are easy, he said. He sold seven cases, about 80 jars, at a tasting at the Miller’s Bulk Foods on Route 104 in Ridgeway. He had to drive home to Albion when he ran out of jars at a tasting at the Runnings store in Brockport.

Albanese is pleased with the early success of the product. He is looking to make a meat sauce available in May.

When he was a teen-ager, he worked at his family’s restaurant, Albanese’s Restaurant & Lounge, which was open for about 20 years on Route 31 in Albion. He also did dishes at Tillman’s Village Inn.

Albanese said he feels like the timing is right for Albanese’s Finest. He sees a public wanting higher-quality foods, that are all natural and taste like they are homemade.

He knew his family and friends liked his pasta sauce. The reaction these past four months has proven the sauce has appeal beyond his immediate circle.

He recalled his first tasting on Nov. 15 at Skip’s Meat Market on Ridge Road in Greece. He had the sauce in a crockpot. There was a line of people wanting to try the sauce. They gave him an enthusiastic response.

“It’s fun to know something you came up with that people enjoy it,” he said. “The experience at Skip’s Meat Market solidified that even strangers like my sauce.”

Albanese’s Finest is currently available in Orleans County at the following locations:

Albion – Save-A-Lot and The Back Room Bakery

Holley – Hurd Orchards

Kendall – Partyka Farms

Medina – The Bread Basket. Miller’s Bulk Food, LynOaken Farms and Leonard Oakes Estate Winery

To see the full list of locations, check the Facebook page for Albanese’s Finest.

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DePaul in July 2018 presented these renderings of how the building would look in Albion, including new sidewalks by the property on Liberty and Beaver streets.

ALBION – Construction of a 40-unit apartment project is expected to start this spring, after several years of lining up financing.

DePaul Properties of Rochester last year took down three houses on Liberty Street, between the railroad tracks and Beaver Street.

That block will be home to 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.

“We expect tenants could begin to move in in November 2021,” said Gillian J. Conde, vice president for DePaul Properties. “We will update that projection as we go – weather is always the largest factor.”

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 excited to bring new housing to the village and looks forward to being an active member of the Albion community,” Conde said.

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, Conde said.

“The site will be enhanced with safety features that allow ageing in place, with details that address mobility issues, lighted ADA bathrooms and appliances,” she said in an email this morning. “Twenty of the apartments will offer on-site supported housing supports for persons that are frail-elderly or those with in recovery for mental health. All units are one-year leases with an on-site property manager, full-time maintenance person and nights and weekends security.”

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Janice Rice, the store manager for Gordmans in Albion, cuts the ribbon at about 9 this morning at the Route 31 plaza.

Gordmans opened today after being changed over from a Peebles. Gordmans is a retailer with designer name brand apparel, home decor, gifts, fragrances, clothing and other items.

“We have put the fun back into shopping,” Rice said during the ribbon-cutting.

Gordmans employees joined in the ribbon-cutting. Rice thanked the 25 workers for “putting in long, long hours” to get the store ready for the customers. The store was closed from Feb. 8 until today to get ready for the grand opening.

Gordmans and Peebles are both owned by Stage Stores, with Stage buying Gordmans in April 2017. Peebles opened in the Albion plaza in 2007. Gordmans has switched over 13 former Peebles stores in New York.

Perk Banker and Liane Hill, center, were among the first group of customers to check out the store. The first 100 customers today will receive a Gordmans insulated tote bag and have an opportunity to win a $50 gift card or a $5 shopping card.

Albion Mayor Eileen Banker presents Janice Rice, the Gordmans store manager, with citations from the Village of Albion and also State Assemblyman Steve Hawley. Banker is Hawley’s chief of staff.

The Albion mayor thanked Gordmans for keeping the store in Albion.

“We are very much appreciative that you have stayed in the area,” she said.

Jen Ashbery, the Albion High School principal, accepted a ceremonial check for $1,000 from Gordmans for the school.

The store has 20 percent off specials for opening day for people who take out a Gordmans credit card.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Ron Ayrault of Holley dances with his great-granddaughters – Kamryn and Kendall Peruzzini, and Emma Ayrault – during the 22^nd annual Father-Daughter Dance on Friday at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School in Albion. About 250 people attended the event, which was organized by Harvest Christian Fellowship.

This group of girls has fun at the dance.

Brennan Blowers of Batavia dances with his daughter, Eleanora

The Rev. Tim Lindsay, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, dances with his granddaughter, Alexis Eckerd.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: The former Peebles location at the Route 31 plaza in Albion will have its grand opening on Tuesday as a Gordmans store.

ALBION – Gordmans will celebrate its grand opening on Tuesday at the former Peebles store at the Route 31 plaza in Albion.

The Peebles store is changing over to a Gordmans, a retailer with designer name brand apparel, home decor, gifts, fragrances, clothing and other items.

Gordmans and Peebles are both owned by Stage Stores, with Stage buying Gordmans in April 2017. Peebles opened in the Albion plaza in 2007.

Gordmans has switched over 13 former Peebles stores in New York. They will all have their grand opening on Tuesday beginning at 9 a.m.

Those New York locations include Albion, Geneseo, Geneva, Gouverneur, Hornell, Hudson, Johnstown, Malone, Newark, Ogdensburg, Oneida, Penn Yan and Sidney.

At the ribbon cutting ceremonies, Gordmans will donate $1,000 to a local school at each of the 13 stores.

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Photos courtesy of Albion Central School: The top 3 in the Albion Middle School Spelling Bee include, from left: second place winner, Ben O’Conner; first place winner, Adam Burlison; 2nd place (tie) winner, Finn McCue.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – Adam Burlison is the Albion Middle School Spelling Bee winner. This is the second year in a row that Adam has won the local spelling bee and will compete at the regional level.

He competed against 24 other students in grades 6 through 8 in the Albion competition.

It took 13 rounds to weed the spellers down to just three finalists. Finn McCue and Benjamin O’Conner were tough spellers and lasted until the 15th round when Finn misspelled the word “solace” and Ben misspelled the word “proximal.”

Adam spelled “misdemeanor” correctly in the 15^thround. To win the contest, Adam had to spell the round 16 final word correctly, or Finn and Ben would have a chance to correctly spell the word and continue in the contest.

Adam’s  winning word was “hymnal.”

The audience erupted into applause when Adam spelled the word correctly.

Adam received a certificate from Middle School Principal Brad Pritchard and now moves on to the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee on Feb. 29 at 10 a.m. in the Le Roy High School Auditorium.  He will compete against other local winners in the GLOW region.

Mrs. Bonnie Baldwin registers the spellers for the bee. Baldwin coordinated this year’s event.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Kahleb Dozier portrays Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, during this morning’s Wax Museum at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School in Albion. Kahleb shared how Elvis was a big star, but would die at age 42 in 1977 from an overdose of prescription drugs.

This is the second year students in Cheryl Rightmyer’s and Shani Farce’s fourth-grade classes researched and dressed up as famous people. The 42 students in the two classes helped make their costumes and brought along props to highlight their characters.

The students would sit still almost like statues. After someone pressed a sticker to represent a button, the students came to life and portrayed an influential person, either in the past or present.

Besides learning about the notable people portrayed at the wax museum, the students also built their confidence in delivering a public presentation.

Kasia Robinson portrays Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks. She is best known for her instrumental role in the Montgomery bus boycott. On Dec. 1, 1955, Parks rejected an order from a bus driver to give up her seat and move to the “colored section” in the back of the bus. She was arrested. Her defiance inspired the black community to boycott the Montgomery buses for over a year.

Jonathan Soule is Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a leading author, politician, inventor, civic activist and statesman. As a scientist, he made many discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals and the Franklin stove.

Tyriek Johnson portrays Harry Houdini, a master illusionist and stunt performer.

Maci Manicki presents Jane Goodall, who is considered the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees. Goodall has worked extensively on conservation and animal welfare issues for more than a half century.

Makenzie Cook is Anne Frank, a victim of the Holocaust who wrote about her family’s two years in hiding from 1942 to 1944. Her diary is one of the world’s best known books.

Adelaide Pettit highlights Rachel Carson, an American marine biologist, author and conservationist whose book Silent Spring helped advance the environmental movement. That book led to a nationwide ban on DDT and other pesticides. Carson inspired an environmental movement that led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Nicholas Olate performs with the Olate Dogs during Thursday’s Billy Martin’s Cole All-Star Circus at Albion High School. About 700 people attended the show.

The Olate Dogs, previous winners of America’s Got Talent, were the headliners in the show. The dogs amazed the crowd with high-energy, fast-paced pet tricks.

Nicholas Olate gives one of the dogs a hug after it delighted the crowd.

At intermission, people could get their picture taken with the dogs. Lux and Harrison Froman of Albion pose with the famous canines.

The circus performed two shows in Medina on Jan. 17, and also was in Holley on Wednesday. They will be in Kendall today at 7 p.m.

Jose Ayala, the “master of balance,” stands precariously high on a tower of cylinders and blocks.

Hannah Ebbs, 3, of Albion gets her face painted by Ivan Arestov, one of the circus performers.

The Ayala Duo shows of a feat of strength and balance.

Elena impressed the crowd with a series of quick costume changes that seemed like magic. She switched into many different outfits. Alex, in back, also made a lightning-fast switch into a white suit.

Elena appears with another different outfit after briefly being covered in a cape.

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