By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 November 2022 at 10:20 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Sheila Doty sets the tables at the Orleans Koinonia Kitchen at Harvest Christian Fellowship. Doty was among a big group of volunteers from the church getting ready to serve up to 350 Thanksgiving dinners on Thursday.
“It is my way of sharing,” Doty said about helping at the “OK Kitchen.” “It warms me up and makes me feel good.”
There are about 75 settings at the church. The meals will be served from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at 560 East Ave.
Roland Meiers, right, and Tim Delamarter chop onions for a casserole. The OK Kitchen opened at Harvest on June 2 and serves meals and offers fellowship on Thursdays.
Donna Verhagen, left, and Dee Huntington get turkeys ready to be cooked. There are 19 turkeys that will be served on Thursday for the Thanksgiving meal.
The food is ready and the tables are set for Thursday’s big meal.
Tim Delamarter checks the temperature of the turkeys in the oven.
Faith Smith and her husband Mike Smith organize nonperishable food items to be given out on Thanksgiving.
Mrs. Smith serves as the volunteer director of the kitchen. Albion students donated many of the canned food through a class challenge. Students were encouraged to bring in food with the grade level with the most cans winning an ice cream social.
About 200 to 250 people are served through the kitchen each week, with Mr. and Mrs. Smith taking meals to about 100 shut-ins.
Last week the village of Albion government prepared and served the meals – authentic Mexican tacos. That meal brought in a big crowd – 245 people were served.
Many other churches and community groups from around the county are taking a Thursday to prepare and serve a meal.
‘This is 100 percent community-based, supported by the community,” she said about the OK Kitchen.
Mrs. Smith said many of the people who come to the kitchen on site are there mostly for the fellowship, for the chance to sit down and have a meal and conversation with others.
“It’s the fellowship kitchen,” Smith said. “It’s for everyone.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 November 2022 at 10:10 am
Photos courtesy of Faith Smith
ALBION – The Albion Police Department and Village Board held a swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday evening for three officers who have been promoted to sergeant.
Will Francis, one of the new sergeants, takes the oath which is read by Village Trustee Tim McMurray at left.
Dillon Black also was promoted to sergeant. Black and Francis are both Albion graduates.
Albion Police Chief David Mogle, left, and Lt. Brandon Annable, right, welcome new sergeants – Robert Wagner and Dillon Black – to the department’s leadership.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2022 at 1:37 pm
ALBION – The Orleans Koinonia Kitchen at Harvest Christian Fellowship will serve Thanksgiving meals on Thursday from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at 560 East Ave.
The community kitchen in Albion used to be based out of Christ Church on Main Street and served its meals on Friday evenings.
The new community kitchen switched to Thursdays at Harvest Christian Fellowship, with the first meals served on June 2.
Different church and community service groups volunteer on Thursdays, including doing prep work a day before.
With the switch to Thursdays that means the kitchen can serve a Thanksgiving meal on the day of the major holiday.
Faith Smith, director of the kitchen, is grateful the kitchen can provide meals and a gathering place on Thanksgiving for many people in the community.
“I just feel there are a lot of people especially seniors especially who are alone,” she said today. “I just want to open our doors and have a home-like setting and be able to fellowship with friends. It’s Thanksgiving but it’s also Friendsgiving.”
Many church members from Harvest offered to prepare and serve the meal. Smith said there will be 19 turkeys cooked for the dinner. The menu also includes green bean casserole with and without bacon, stuffing with and without sausage, homemade cranberry sauce, applesauce, rolls, sweet potato casserole and many dessert – pies, brownies and cakes.
The meals are available for free and can be eaten in the fellowship hall and taken home.
“I’m extremely excited,” Smith said. “I’ve always wanted to do the dinners on the holidays.”
She said many community organizations have assisted the kitchen in its first six months. Just recently the Elks Lodge in Albion donated $2,000 and also gave the kitchen a freezer and meat-slicer.
Another church also is serving Thanksgiving meals for free to the community on Thanksgiving. The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries is partnering with the Renovation Masonic Lodge 39 to serve the meals from noon to 4 p.m., or until gone at the Masonic Lodge, 39 Platt St.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2022 at 1:23 pm
File photo by Tom Rivers: Doing the Dec. 15, 2019 Christmas in the Neighborhood concert at the First Presbyterian Church of Albion, students sing, “Rise Up Shepherd and Follow.”
ALBION – The lineup of musical performers is set for Albion’s annual community holiday concert.
The event will be 3 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the First Presbyterian Church. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. All proceeds go to the Albion High School Alumni Foundation scholarships program and the First Presbyterian Church.
The concert includes current Albion students and many alumni. Concert coordinators are all Albion graduates and include Sue Thaine (the church pastor), Mike Thaine, Gary Simboli and Sue Starkweather Miller.
This year’s list of performers includes Gary Simboli, Community Brass Ensemble, Albion Presbyterian Choir, Hannah Brewer, Ethan Ferchen, Mike Thaine, Matt Mooney, Travis Klossner, Janet (Miller) Klossner, Karen Kenney Conn, AHS Choir Ensemble, Mike Grammatico & grandson Nate Grammatico, Community Choir: Hallelujah Chorus, AHS Instrumental Ensemble, Marlene Seielstad, Jennifer Trupo and Jason Pahura.
The community chorus has been practicing Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus on Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church. They will perform the song during the concert.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2022 at 11:20 am
Businesses would like to see motorists turn at Bank Street instead of State Street
Photo by Tom Rivers: Main Street from near Beaver Alley to just north of the Erie Canal is blocked off to traffic while the lift bridge gets an extensive overhaul in the next 18 months.
ALBION – In the first week that the Main Street lift bridge was closed to traffic there were far less vehicles moving through the downtown, some Albion businesses said during a meeting Monday of the “Bridging Albion” committee.
Lynn Palmer, owner of Upscale Overstock at 50 North Main St., said her sales were down about 67 percent in the past week.
She was expecting brisker business with the holiday season close by. But she said there are far fewer cars coming down Main Street.
Palmer is hopeful “Small Business Saturday” this Saturday will bring people downtown to support the local merchants.
Laura Kemler, owner of Laura Loxley Vintage Inspired Goods, said signage about the bridge closing seems to be diverted traffic to turn right at State Street, then left onto Ingersoll Street, bypassing the downtown. She would like to see traffic come down to Bank Street, and then turn to go to the Ingersoll lift bridge.
“It has really put a halt on our traffic,” Kemler said. “We’re not getting eyeballs on our stores.”
The group would like to see more signs in the community proclaiming that downtown is open for business. They want more leeway for businesses to put sandwich signs in the sidewalk, promoting specials.
Businesses also will try to put out more flags when they are open, to make the downtown look more dynamic and to better show the public there are many businesses on Main Street and Bank Street.
Michael Bonafede, one of the Bridging Albion members, said the local merchants need help right away from the community and the government officials to weather the tougher economic climate imposed by the closure of the bridge.
The bridge is expected to be shut down for 18 months while the span from 1914 gets extensive repairs.
The Albion Merchants Association is planning a “Small Business Saturday” celebration on Nov. 26 with activities and special deals in the downtown and also at the Arnold Gregory Complex at 243 South Main St. There also will be another day of events on Dec. 10 that are planned by Albion businesses.
Next year’s summer concert series also will include four concerts in a blocked off part of Main Street (between Bank Street and Beaver Alley) and five concerts at Bullard Park.
Natasha Wasuck, one of the Merchants Association leaders, said the group wants to see more food trucks in the downtown and other attractions in addition to the special events. She is asking the Village Board to either waive and significantly reduce the food truck fees. Those fees are currently $100 for one to seven days, $250 for eight days to 6 months; and $500 for 6 months to a year.
Provided photo: Jim Doyle and Elizabeth Tuttle have joined the staff at Hoag Library in Albion.
ALBION – Hoag Library is delighted to welcome Elizabeth Tuttle and Jim Doyle to the NYS Pubic Librarian certified team!
At the September meeting of the Hoag Library of the Swan Library Association Board, trustees approved the hiring of Elizabeth Tuttle as a full-time Youth Services Librarian. Elizabeth graduated with an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo in May 2022. She is already planning exciting youth programs, including a visit from Santa on Nov. 28, and storytimes in December.
At the November board meeting, library trustees approved Jim Doyle as a part-time Reference Librarian. Jim graduated with an MLS from the University at Buffalo in 2016. Jim is looking forward to planning adult programs and sharing his musical talents.
Additionally, at the November board meeting, Elizabeth Haibach was named Assistant Director. Haibach worked as an Adult Services Librarian at Hoag Library since November 2018, and also holds an MLS from the University at Buffalo.
Jim Doyle and Elizabeth Haibach are both Albion natives, graduating from Albion Central School. Elizabeth Tuttle commutes from Shortsville, and plans to relocate to Albion.
This brings a total of six Hoag Library staff members that hold NYS Public Librarian certification including, Mike Magnuson, Dee Robinson, Elizabeth Haibach and Betty Sue Miller.
Please join us in welcoming the new faces to our wonderful library!
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 20 November 2022 at 12:01 pm
Thanksgiving meals also will be available at the Masonic Lodge
File photo by Tom Rivers: Mitch Grater and Ed Wolfe flip chickens that are among the 1,000 chicken dinners that were served on Dec. 18, 2021 at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex on South Main Street.
ALBION – The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries is partnering with the Renovation Masonic Lodge 39 in Albion to give away free meals during the holidays.
The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries was started in Albion little more than a year ago by Pastor Albert D. Wilson Jr. and his wife Ykeeta, who are affiliated with a similar ministry in Buffalo. They hold services in Albion at 7 p.m. Fridays in the Arnold Gregory Complex.
On Thanksgiving Day, free turkey dinners with all the trimmings will be given away. Meals can be eaten in or taken out from noon to 4 p.m., or until gone at the Masonic Lodge, 39 Platt St.
On Dec. 10. During Albion’s Hometown Holidays Event, Royal Body Shop Ministries will give away 2,000 chicken dinners at the Masonic Lodge. Last year 1,000 dinners were given away free of charge as part of the Ministries’ “Que in” for Christmas event. This year, they are doubling the number of dinners. The meal is take-out only and starts at noon, until gone.
In addition, the Royal Body Shop Ministries is holding a raffle for a 65-inch smart TV. Tickets are $1 each and are available at Arnold’s Auto Body Parts. The winner will be drawn during the event on Dec. 10. All proceeds go back to the church for future community projects.
The Hometown Holidays event will include many activities to celebrate the season, including “Santa’s Hometown Parade” at 5:30 p.m.
Albion built plant after years of complaints of foul-smelling water from reservoir, Erie Canal
This photograph shows the Village of Albion Water Treatment Plant as it appeared at the dedication ceremony in 1963.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
Illuminating Orleans, Vol. 2, No. 38
ALBION – It was announced recently that the Village of Albion had approved the construction of a Fluoridation Building at the Albion Water Treatment Plant in Carlton, at a cost of $388,000.
The Water Treatment Plant has now been in operation for 60 years. The Medina Daily Journal announced that Arthur Leavitt, State Comptroller, would tour the “new water treatment plant at Lake Ontario and the booster station at Five Corners” on July 30, 1962 “accompanied by village officials and other interested civic leaders.” The plant, which is located on Wilson Road, was formally dedicated on September 24, 1963.
Albion voters had approved the $1,760,000 bond for the construction of the plant by a 4-1 majority on March 15, 1960. At issue was the source of water supply: the bond proposal favored the establishment of a new water system for the village, and of sourcing water from Lake Ontario.
Those who opposed the 1960 bond proposition claimed that the proposed plan was too expensive, an unfair burden on future generations and that all of the possible alternatives had not been investigated thoroughly.
The sourcing of Albion’s water supply had been a contentious issue for many years. At first, water was supplied from wells dug by the Albion Water Works Company in 1897. The village bought this private company in 1914 and drilled additional wells. This was supplemented by water from the Otter Creek reservoir, southeast of the village.
However, these sources proved inadequate, and the village frequently relied on water drawn from Erie Canal. This was occasional at first, but by 1959, the village was using three intakes from the Canal on a regular basis, even though this has been deemed “an unsuitable source” as early as 1914 by the New York State Conservation Commission. The State Department of Health disapproved the use of canal water as an auxiliary source and set a succession of deadlines – 1946, 1949, 1953, 1955 and 1958 – for the discontinuation of its use. Concerned by continuing use of potentially dangerous water and frustrated by the Village Board’s delays in producing a plan to find another source of water, it was reported that the State would resort to a court injunction to stop the use of Canal water.
The Buffalo engineering firm of Nussbaumer, Clarke and Valzy was responsible for the project. A report noted in the Buffalo News of February 16, 1961, highlighted the urgent necessity for completion of the new plant. Albion Mayor John D. Robinson had received hundreds of complaints about the taste and odor of the drinking water.
People complained that it tasted like iodine, gasoline, or paint and that when boiled, an oily scum rose to the top. Apparently, the Eagle Harbor Reservoir, which had been used for Albion’s winter water supply, was dry for the first time in years. A protracted cold spell caused the formation of ice on the canal, and only three feet of water was available. Assemblyman Alonzo L. Waters assured the Mayor that the state would raise the level of water in the canal to alleviate the problem. A representative of the Health Department stated that the water was safe to drink but unpalatable.
Mayor Robinson acted as master of ceremonies at the dedication of the new plant on September 24, 1963.The raising of the flag was performed by the Color Guard, Sheret Post, American Legion, under Commander Sam Navarra. The Albion Central School Band, Moses Sherman conducting, played the National Anthem and God Bless America. The invocation was given by Msgr. Felix F. McCabe, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, and the benediction by Rev. Herbert W. H. Corey, pastor of the First Methodist Church, both of Albion.
In his address, Lieutenant Governor Malcolm Wilson praised the village for its vision and foresight in building the new water system. It now supplies the village and the towns of Albion, Barre, Carlton, Gaines and Murray.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 November 2022 at 10:15 am
13-year-old Edwina has lots of advice to share
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Asher Curfman portrays Vladimir, a scary uncle who resembles Dracula. Vladimir is one of the characters in the Albion Middle School production of “Dear Edwina.”
Friday was opening night at the middle school auditorium. There are shows today at noon and 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Lily Brigham plays the role of Edwina, a 13-year-old advice-giving extraordinaire. Edwina receives many letters seeking her opinion on may challenges, from birthday party etiquette, to a picky brother, to setting the table with proper silverware.
Edwina hears a talent scout is visiting her community of Paw Paw, Michigan, and Edwina is determined to make a good impression and be included in the Kalamazoo Advice-a-Palooza Festival. She is jealous of her siblings who are very talented at piano and math.
Kamryn Simmons gives a high-energy performance in a song about manners, “Say No Thank You.” The show features many different soloists.
Liam Leader plays Scott who expresses his love for Edwina.
Anna Grillo, Carly Smith and MaKenzie Cook have a new batch of letters for Edwina.
Lily Brigham, right, plays the part of the “Fairy Forkmother” while Sophie Kozody is Chef Ludmilla.
Ayme Vallejo Morales plays the role of Lola in this song, “Hola, Lola.” In her advice letter, Lola writes about an upcoming trip to Switzerland and feeling shy. Edwina advises her to learn to say hello in the new language.
Anna Grillo plays “Mary Sue Betty Bob” and sings “Put It In The Piggy.” She sends a message about saving money and putting your nickels in the piggy bank. Phoebe Allen is at left and Lily Brigham is at right.
Design by APD Engineering & Architecture in Victor – Hospitality Syracuse is proposing a 2,600-square-foot Taco Bell at 118 West Ave., next to McDonalds.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 November 2022 at 9:02 am
ALBION – The Village of Albion Zoning Board of Appeals approved several variances for the proposed Taco Bell store on Route 31 in Albion.
The ZBA met on Nov. 15 and approved the variance requests from Hospitality Syracuse for the 2,600-square-foot building.
The ZBA agreed to allow the restaurant to have four signs, which is more than the maximum of two allowed in the village code. The developer is proposing four signs with three on the building and one on a freestanding pole.
The freestanding sign will be 79.5 square feet, which is above the 48 square foot maximum. The ZBA approved that variance for the sign’s size.
The ZBA also approved a pole height of 25 feet, which is 5 feet higher than the limit. The total cumulative area of the signs is at 147.6 square feet, which is 44 feet over the Albion limit. That was given the OK by the ZBA.
The developer is seeking the additional building signage due to the unique “tower” aspect of the building design. A sign on each side of the tower provides architectural symmetry, and a sign over the door identifies the main entrance, Hospitality stated in the application.
The configuration of the drive-through does not allow for a pylon setback greater than what has been proposed.
The Village of Albion Planning Board on Nov. 10 approved the site plan for the project, which proposed for a vacant lot owned by Landsman Development of Rochester.
Hospitality is eyeing a spring construction start on the project.
Photo by Tom Rivers: The project is proposed for a vacant lot along Route 31 next to McDonalds and across from Freeze-Dry Foods. Hospitality Syracuse will remove the 36-foot high steel water tank from the back corner of the lot, and make about 40 percent of the 1.33-acre lot green space with grass. The company will remove the chain-link fences and replace them with ones made of wood.
