ALBION – Foodlink will be back soon in Orleans County for two emergency food distributions.

There will be a Foodlink food distribution in Medina on Monday, May 11, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Calvary Cupboard-Calvary Tabernacle Church, 324 Catherine St. People should use the parking lot entrance on Ann Street.

Foodlink and Calvary recently had a food distribution on April 27 in Medina.

Foodlink will return to Albion on May 14 for a distribution in partnership with Community Action of Orleans & Genesee and Orleans County Office for the Aging.

Foodlink has done food distributions in Albion since the Covid-19 pandemic. Those distributions were on Fridays – April 17 and May 1.

The May 14 distribution will be on a Thursday. It will be at the same time, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., as the first two events and at the same location, the Main Street Store at 131 S. Main St. (across from the Hoag Library).

Foodlink has delivered 300 boxes of food during the distributions. This is a drive-through only event with no walk-ins. People must stay in their vehicles, have their ID visible and must not roll down their windows.

The trunk should be cleaned out so the box of emergency food can be put into it. People should have their trunk open and ready. Once the trunk is closed and tapped, people may drive away.

There will be no pre-registration for the event, it is a first-come, first-served.

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Organizers cancel due to Covid-19, look forward to big bash in 2021

Photos by Tom Rivers: The band 7th Heaven capped a day of music at Bullard Park on Aug. 3, 2019 during the Albion Summer Festival featuring Rock the Park. The sixth annual event attracted about 1,000 people to the park. Michael Giarrizzo, left, plays guitar and sings for the band, while Terry K. is the lead singer and Dave Quick is the bass player from Kendall.

ALBION – Another big community celebration has been cancelled. Organizers of the Albion Summer Festival featuring Rock the Park announced the seventh annual music event played for Aug. 3 won’t happen this year.

Concerns for public health due to the Covid-19 pandemic prompted organizers to cancel the festival.

Zack Burgess, one of the organizers, posted on Facebook that it was a difficult decision. The Planning Committee had was anticipated the best music festival yet, with a new performance stage at the park and the a well-known regional band, Nerds Gone Wild. That band plays many popular party songs from the 80’s.

“The health and safety of our attendees is our number one priority, and we cannot consciously put you all at risk,” Burgess said. “Thank you for your support through our first six years, and the would-be support for the seventh. We would not be able to do this if it were not for all of you. We hope you understand that this was not an easy decision to make.”

The sixth annual event attracted about 1,000 people to the performance tent last Aug. 3, where five bands performed from 3 to 11 p.m. The event also includes craft and food vendors.

The committee presented a check for $5,000 to the village last year to go towards the new amphitheater with $2,000 for electric work, and $3,000 for side slats that can be rolled up.

Burgess said the committee appreciates the support from the village in putting on the festival.

“We look forward to continuing to work with you next year,” Burgess said. “Stay safe, all. We hope to see you in 2021.”

7th Heaven plays to a big crowd under a tent at Bullard Park last summer. The band delighted the crowd with music by AC/DC, Billy Idol, Def Leppard, Aerosmith, Don Henley and others. Five bands played under the big beer tent from 3 to 11 p.m., including Shotgun Pauly, The Trellis Cooper Band, Zero, The Who Dats and then 7th Heaven.

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LynOaken Farms donates 300 five-pound bags of apples

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee distributed 210 boxes of food this morning in Albion. Foodlink provided the food in the boxes and LynOaken Farms in Lyndonville donated 300 five-pound bags of apples.

Jeff Atwell, a Community Action employee at right, helps get a box ready this morning. The distribution site was in front of the Main Street Store.

The crew from Community Action is ready to put boxes in trunks of vehicles. This photo was taken about 11 a.m. The food distribution started at 9:30 a.m. It was rainy and that may have kept some people away.

When Community Action did the Foodlink distribution two weeks ago, the 300 boxes were gone by 10:45. The distribution starts at 9:30 although many people are lined up well before that.

These boxes left over are going to the food pantry at Community Action and also Christ Church in Albion.

The Community Action workers include, from left: David Laraby, Mike Jessmer, Ricky Standish and Jeff Atwell.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The staff at The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Facility in Albion were presented with pizzas, flowers and coffee mugs with a photo of the nursing home in Albion.

The Albion Lions Club organized the effort, with Oak Orchard Bowl preparing the eight pizzas.

Alanna Gordan, an aide at The Villages, accepts some of the pizzas on Thursday evening from Randy Hanks, owner of Oak Orchard Bowl. Amy Jaczynski, a housekeeper, is in back. Mark Johnson of the Lions Club, back right, holds a box of the coffee mugs.

Mark Johnson holds one of the mugs which were made and donated by Jeff and Delores Mosher, owners of Dee’z Cups in Kent.

Amy Jaczynski and Alanna Gordon accept the pizzas and gifts last evening at The Villages. The flowers were donated by Bloom’s Flower Shop in Albion.

Johnson and Hanks said the groups all wanted to show support for the dedicated employees at The Villages, who are caring for residents in the 120-bed facility during a big outbreak of Covid-19. Nearly 50 residents at the site have tested positive for Covid-19, with 11 of the residents dying after contracting the virus.

“We know they are going through a lot here and we want to let them know we care about them,” Hanks said.

Jaczynski said the gesture was appreciated by the entire staff.

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Village Board passes budget with no change in tax rate

Photo by Tom Rivers: The village parks are all closed right now, including Veteran’s Park at the corner of Brown Street and Linwood Avenue. That park last summer hosted the parks program while Bullard Park was under construction.

Preston Flugel, one of the summer park supervisors for the Village of Albion, pushes a kid in a swing last June 26, which was opening day for the summer parks program.

ALBION – The Village of Albion won’t be running a summer parks program due to the health concerns with groups of people congregating.

The program normally runs for five weeks from late June to late July or early August.

The village hires about a dozen park supervisors who lead games, crafts and other activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays.

The program is normally based at Bullard Park and the smaller park for kids, Pee Wee Park, which is also at Bullard. Last year the program was at Veteran’s Park at the corner of Linwood Avenue and Brown Street. Bullard Park was under construction last summer.

All of the village parks are currently closed. Village officials are hopeful the parks can be reopened at some point this summer. There won’t be any paid staff on site if the state gives the approval to reopen the parks.

Canceling the parks program will save the village about $20,000, although the cost wasn’t a factor in the decision.

Village budget keeps tax rate at $17.80 per $1,000

The Albion Village Board has approved a $6,972,285 budget that keeps the tax rate at $17.80 per $1,000 of assessed property.

The budget stays under the tax cap. The 2020-21 spending plan increases the tax levy The budget would increase the tax levy, what the village collects in taxes by $17,252, or by less than 1 percent (0.6 percent). The tax levy will go from $2,730,417 in 2019-2020 to $2,747,669 in 2020-21.

The budget takes effect beginning June 1 with a fiscal year that ends May 31.

The budget reflects a larger tax base in the village. Albion’s total assessed value increased by $969,218, from $153,394,234 to $154,363,452.

The budget includes $3,990,893 in the general fund, $1,678,241 in the water fund, and $1,303,151 in the sewer fund.

Albion Mayor Eileen Banker said she is concerned about the revenues for the village this coming fiscal year. The village was told by the county in December it would receive $165,688 in local sales tax in 2020. But the sales tax revenues are expected to be down, which could have an impact on what Albion receives. State funding for road paving and maintenance (CHIPS) also could take a hit.

The Village Board said it will keep a closer eye on the budget to see if adjustments are needed during the coming fiscal year.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: Wally Skrypnik (left) of the American Legion and Mark Roberts of the VFW Post carry flags in the honor guard to start the Memorial Day parade in Albion last year on May 27.

ALBION – The Memorial Day parade and the ceremony that follows at the Albion Middle School have been cancelled due to concerns about bringing groups of people together during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s something that happens to be done for the betterment of the community,” said Gary Befus, who coordinates the Memorial Day observance along with Phil Warne of the Legion.

The Legion will still be putting about 2,000 flags on the graves of veterans at Mount Albion Cemetery, St’ Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery and other cemeteries in town.

Normally, local scouts help with that effort but Befus said the Legion members will take care of it this year. He said the scouts often move in a pack of kids when they place the flags and he wanted to avoid that during the pandemic.

The Honor Guard will recognize veterans on Memorial Day with gun salutes at the local cemeteries. Befus said the Honor Guard will meet at the Legion post the morning of May 25 and will be given sanitizer. Each member will be wearing gloves and driving in separate vehicles. Normally the Honor Guard stands close next to each other but they will be spread out more on Memorial Day, Befus said.

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Photo courtesy of Albion Central School: Sue Webster and Cassie Dash, both staff members at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School, are joined by the Purple Eagle mascot with a poster sending students “6 feet of love.”

ALBION – A new video put together by Rachel Curtin, principal of the elementary school, includes photos of many elementary school staff and teachers, holding signs to let students know they are missed.

Click here to see the video which is titled, “We love our Purple Eagles.”

Curtin created the nearly 6-minute long video with background music of students performing at a recent school concert.

“Keep working hard and stay positive,” Curtin urges the students. “With respect, responsibility and optimism, Mrs. Curtin.”

Respect, responsibility and optimism are the three guiding principles of the school district.

Today is the start of the seventh week students have been home from school.

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300 boxes of food were gone quickly

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee employees help serve boxes of food and bags of potatoes this morning in Albion, including Ricky Standish, lower right.

Community Action and the Office for Aging in Orleans County teamed with Foodlink to serve 300 boxes of food that were each 25 pounds.

They were set up in the parking lot on South Main Street in front of Community Action’s Main Street Store. This photo was taken about 10 a.m., when the line was noticeably much shorter.

The event was advertised to be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. But people started showing up after 6 a.m. with lines forming by 7:30 a.m.

Foodlink arrived with a truck by 8:30, and the food distribution started soon after that. By 10:45, the boxes were all gone.

People who arrived when the food was gone were offered a bag of potatoes and were also encouraged to try the Community Action food pantries in Albion and Holley.

Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni helped set up the plan for the event. Vehicles would enter the parking lot from Chamberlain Street and were then split into two lines.

An Albion police officer directs traffic on Platt Street. This photo was taken about 9 a.m., when there was already a long line for the food distribution, which wasn’t supposed to start until 9:30.

Annette Finch, community service director for Community Action, said she is working with Foodlink to have another distribution in the near future.

Finch estimated that 40 percent of the people who pulled up for a box of food were senior citizens. Many others were younger adults with families.

Jeff Atwell of Community Action carries a box to the trunk of a car. Drivers and passengers all had to stay in the vehicles with the windows closed. They pulled up with the trunks open. When the food was put in the trunk and closed, Atwell and other helpers tapped the trunk for people to drive away.

Greg Gilman of Community Action directs motorists on which line to enter. Albion Mayor Eileen Banker, left, assisted with the distribution this morning.

There were small bottles of hand sanitizer given to all the people helping move the boxes to trunks of vehicles. After each interaction, the volunteers or Community Action employees needed to sanitize their hands. The sanitizer was packaged by inmates at the Albion Correctional Facility.

Provided photo. These Office for the Aging employees assisted with the food distribution this morning. They include, front row, from left: Leanne Donovan and Samantha Koons. Back row: Becky Karls and Susie Miller.

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‘We want to send our seniors some love’

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – James Denoncourt, an Albion High School senior, picks up a lawn sign that was distributed today outside Hoag Library. James is shown with his mother, Linda Yockel.

James and his classmates have been out of school since March 16. Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced all public schools in the state will remain closed until at least May 15.

James said he misses seeing his friends at school. He has been looking forward to the baseball season, with the varsity team expected to compete for the league title and possibly advance deep into the playoffs.

James hopes students can return to school before the year ends, and he can end his senior year with the prom and graduation.

His mother appreciated the lawn sign, celebrating all the seniors in the Class of 2020.

“I think it’s awesome,” Yockel said. “They’re doing something for seniors who have had so much taken away.”

Kelly Ricker, left, and Kathy Harling passed out the signs today. They coordinated the efforts to have about 135 signs made for seniors.

They will be at the library again next Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. to pass put signs. Harling, president of the Board of Education, asked that parents or students send her an email at skharling@yahoo.com to request a sign.

The signs with the post were $12 each. They are all already paid for with the Albion Alumni Foundation covering half of the cost.

Harling’s son Michael is a senior this year. Sidari’s twins, Patrick and Laiken, also are in the Class of 2020.

“We are trying to make it a special time for them,” Harling said about the seniors.

“We want to send our seniors some love,” said Ricker, who is a lifeguard and assistant swimming coach at the district.

Kelly Ricker hands off a sign to Jocelyn Wilson, whose son Cody is in the Class of 2020.

Some Albion community members also are encouraging people to participate in “Friday Night Lights” every Friday until the end of June. They are encouraged to turn on their porch lights in support of the Class of 2020.

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ALBION – There will be a drive-through food distribution from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday outside Community Action’s Main Street Store, 131 South Main St.

Community Action of Genesee Orleans is partnering with Foodlink and the Orleans County Office for the Aging for the food distribution. They will be giving out a 25-pound box of emergency food in response to the Covid-19 public health crisis.

There should be enough boxes of food for about 300 families. It will be distributed on a first come-first served basis.

There are no income restrictions. The food on Friday will be available for people with vehicles. Walk-ins won’t be served.

People who arrive for the food must stay in their vehicle and keep their windows rolled up. They should have their trunks cleaned out and open. Once the food is set in, the trunk will be tapped and people can drive away.

Staff and volunteers at the distribution will be wearing masks and gloves, and using sanitizer, said Annette Finch, director of community services for Community Action.

Community Action is seeing more demand for food at its Albion pantry and its community center in Holley, Finch said.

The Albion food pantry is open from 8 to 11 a.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. That site is located at 409 East State St.

The Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley also provides take-out lunches from Monday through Friday beginning at 11:30 a.m. The site has served 600 take-out meals the past month. It also provides emergency food bundles.

“The demand has been unbelievable,” Finch said about the need for food in the community.

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ALBION – Mount Albion Cemetery will be closed to the public today due to concerns about the high winds, which could bring down trees and branches in the historic cemetery on Route 31.

The cemetery is a popular place for walkers and joggers. Mayor Eileen Banker said she expects it will be reopened on Tuesday as long as there isn’t any danger to the community from the wind storm.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A line of 25 vehicles heads down East Park Street this afternoon to welcome Sue Babbitt home. Babbitt is a well-liked office manager at the Ace Hardware in Albion.

She battled through a near fatal case of the flu and pneumonia, which deteriorated into acute respiratory distress syndrome. She came home on Friday. She was admitted to intensive care on March 11 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Sue Babbitt is emotional when she was greeted this afternoon by a procession of family, friends and co-workers. Her husband, Ray Babbitt, is with her on the front porch.

Babbitt’s family and friends weren’t able to see her in the hospital after March 16. That’s when Strong instituted a policy of no visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After pulling through at Strong, she was transferred to Elderwood of Lakeside in Brockport. She was discharged on Friday and was finally able to see some of her loved ones.

But it wasn’t until today that many of her friends, family and co-workers were able to see her. They were relieved to see her in good spirits.

“Everybody wanted to see her so badly,” said Sue’s daughter, Jennifer Deskins.

She put an invitation on Facebook for a welcome home parade for her mother. There were 25 vehicles in the procession. They lined up at the CRFS parking on East Avenue and then headed past Sue’s house.

Gerry and Molly Ulrich, owners of Ace Hardware in Albion, made the trip from Lockport today to drive by Babbitt’s house. Babbitt is popular at the store, especially with her co-workers. She oversees the cashiers, who tend to be high school and college students.

“She awfully good to the cashiers,” said Ray Babbitt, Sue’s husband and an Ace employee. “She’s like a mother to all of them.”

Ray said he is grateful for his wife’s recovery. It feels miraculous to see her now. About a month ago doctors were doubtful she would survive the illness.

Sue said she feels much better now and is grateful for the medical staff at Strong.

“The people who cared for me you couldn’t ask for better people,” she said.

She was amazed to see so many people drive by her house today to show her some love, especially on the Easter holiday.

Many of the vehicles had signs, welcoming Sue Babbitt home after a difficult month battling flu and pneumonia.

Jennifer Deskins captured a video of the procession and streamed it online through Zoom for friends and family around the country and world, including a stepbrother, Michael Babbitt, who is in the Air Force and stationed in Germany.

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Flags throughout Orleans County and New York State have been lowered in honor people who have died from Covid-19 in the state.

The top photo shows the flag on the Courthouse lawn with the First Presbyterian Church of Albion in the background.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday ordered that flags be lowered for the Covid-19 victims. The deaths in the state from the virus totaled 7,067 deaths as of Thursday.

“That is so shocking and painful and breathtaking, I don’t even have the words for it,” Gov. Cuomo said on Thursday. “We’ve lost so many New Yorkers to this silent killer. It has been a silent explosion that just ripples through society.”

The flags will be lowered while the state is on “Pause,” with schools and nonessential businesses closed until at least April 29.

The state has about 160,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, more than any country besides the United States.

The flag is at half-staff in front of Hoag Library in Albion.

The American flag and POW/MIA flag are lowered at the Canal Corporation’s maintenance facility in Albion.

Ace Hardware in Albion has its American flag lowered out of respect to the victims of Covid-19.

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