Concerts, block parties, Christmas tree festival, business promotions among the ideas

Photos by Tom Rivers: Pastor Albert Wilson of the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries puts a sticker on one of the top five priorities he saw for the downtown area when the bridge is closed. He picked concerts on Main Street with this sticker. Each participant on Monday was given five stickers to prioritize ideas for the downtown area.

ALBION – The closure of the Main Street lift bridge for an estimated 18 months will be difficult for the community, especially the downtown merchants who will see traffic by their stores take a dramatic drop.

But the closure can be an opportunity, too, to bring activities to Main Street that normally wouldn’t happen on such a busy thoroughfare. There could be block parties, concerts, a Christmas tree festival, cornhole tournaments, designated spots for food trucks, ax throwing competitions and many other events.

About 25 community members, mainly the downtown business owners, brainstormed ideas on Monday evening to keep the downtown viable once the bridge closes Oct. 17 for a major rehabilitation that is expected to last 18 months.

“This can devastate a community or we can use it as a building tool,” said Michael Bonafede, a downtown building owner who served as moderator of Monday’s meeting.

Michael Bonafede, owner of three buildings in the downtown, leads a brainstorming discussion on Monday evening with about 25 community members.

Each participant was given five stickers to place by ideas. Those ideas will then be ranked and discussed in an upcoming meeting. The next session is planned for 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 at Hoag Library.

The impending bridge closure has already brought the Albion businesses and village officials together, working on ways to help promote the downtown area, Bonafede said.

“We are going to work on a genuine action plan to maximize opportunities presented by the restoration of our historic bridge,” he said. “We can have events that we’ve never had before.”

Karen Sawicz, owner of Lake Country Media which includes the Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub, encouraged the group to make their concerns known about the project and its impact. She said they should be in regular communication with the village and state Department of Transportation.

Brian Alexander of Dubby’s Tailgate and Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza suggested a small-scale bridge-building competition.

Sawicz wants to see detours posted in the village to help route traffic through the business district. She also would like a stop sign at East State Street and Ingersoll Street, whioch will see a big jump in traffic once the Main Street bridge closes.

“We need to be vocal, but you have to be ‘nice vocal,’” said Sawicz, a former Chamber of Commerce president.

Many events already are planned for the downtown area. The annual Beggar’s Night, where candy is handed out to children, will be Oct. 28. The Hometown Holiday event is Dec. 10, and the Sip N Stroll wine-tasting will be in April.

A bronze statue of Santa Claus in honor of Santa School founder Charles Howard is planned to be unveiled and dedicated in June.

Karen Conn puts one of her stickers by Christmas tree festival during Monday’s brainstorming for the downtown area

One idea was to add a Christmas tree festival. Another person suggested a big increase in flowers in the downtown, making Albion known for flowers. Flowers could also be set near the fencing on the street when the bridge is closed. Those flowers would soften up the scene and not make it send such an unwelcome message.

Merchants suggested more advertising to proclaim that downtown is open. That could be with billboards and ads on the Orleans Hub, the Pennysaver and other publications.

Another idea was for the village to relax sign standards during the bridge closure to allow merchants more ways to promote their businesses.

Albion has hosted a concerts by the canal series for many years. Linda Smith, owner of Krantz Furniture, suggested those concerts be moved to a blocked off section of Main Street. The village is also considering moving those concerts to Bullard Park, but Smith said they should be in the downtown while the bridge is closed.

There could also be classic car shows, even a snowmobile show. A temporary ice skating rink could also be set up on part of Main Street.

The Village Board will have another bridge meeting today at 6 p.m. at the Village Hall at 35-37 East Bank St. for people to share ideas and concerns about the project.

Laura Loxley Vintage Inspired Goods has an open sign at 45 North Main St. Businesses suggested the village ease some of the sign codes to allow merchants to promote their shops during the bridge shutdown.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion highway department has closed a bridge over Otter Creek on Phipps Road following a detailed inspection today that showed the steel high-beam supports are rotted, said Highway Superintendent Mike Neidert.

The bridge was closed on Thursday after an initial annual inspection showed concerns about the bridge’s condition. A more thorough inspection was done today and Neidert said the bridge will be closed permanently until funding is in pl ace for a replacement.

The town tried for a $600,000 Bridge NY grant from the state but was denied. Neidert said the town will keep looking for funding to upgrade the bridge.

The span is technically a culvert because it is 19.5 feet long. Anything less than 20 feet is considered a culvert while bridges are considered to be 20 feet or more.

Neidert said Otter Creek has a bend near the bridge. One idea is straightening the creek which would make for a bigger bridge at 20 feet. That could increase the chances for the town to receive federal funds for a replacement, he said.

The bridge is at the west end of Phipps Road near the Eagle Harbor Road intersection.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Danny Fenley, an employee at the Iroquois Job Corps in Medina, helps with a food distribution this morning in Albion at the parking lot at 165 Platt St. She pulled bags of grapes out of boxes and set them on a table, where they were added to an assortment of food for each vehicle..

“It’s nice to get out of the office and help the community,” Fenley said.

The distribution shifted to the parking lot in June after about two years of long lines of cars down Main Street and Albion neighborhoods.

The change has eased much of the congestion on the streets. The vehicles instead are able to be parked at the lot across from the back entrance of Dunkin’ Donuts.

Richard Standish of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee fills a bag with food. There were three staff from Community Action and then many volunteers who distributed food to about 200 people who had the food put in trunks.

The distributions are scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. and go until the food is gone. The upcoming distributions in Albion include Oct. 17, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12.

There will be another pop-up food pantry this Friday beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, 107 North Main St.

Anthony Washington, an employee at the Job Corps, packed corn in bags at the distribution. There were many fresh fruits and vegetables in today’s distribution.

The food is delivered by Foodlink and is available for free to residents.

The distribution team worked together to get the food ready and delivered to the vehicles.

“Many of the people, especially the seniors, are very grateful,” said Katrina Chaffee, director of community services and reporting for Community Action. “Food has become so expensive. This helps them get through the month.”

Provided photo

ALBION – Orleans chapter DAR Regent Sharon Schneider (left) and Historían Jamie Baumgardt (right) present Albion Middle School Service Learning teacher Tim Archer with a check for $500 to be used toward projects the classes are researching on Mt. Albion Cemetery this school year.

The students plan to prepare a 50-page booklet on the cemetery to be distributed to area libraries, historians and schools. Archer said the students also hope to identify and tag 30 to 40 individual varieties of trees along the cemetery’s main walking paths.

They have applied to have Mt. Albion Cemetery accredited as an arboretum due to its wide variety of trees.

The DAR has been a consistent donor to the Service Learning program and its projects over the last decade, Archer said.

9^th annual event is fundraiser for Supportive Care

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The 9^th annual car show to benefit Supportive Care of Orleans County on Saturday drew a crowd to Bullard Park. The sunny weather was ideal for the car show, which featured 73 vehicles.

There also were four youth football games at the park and many of the parents and players stopped by to check out the cars.

The event is sponsored by Rebekah Karls and Mitchell Family Cremations & Funerals.

The event usually raises about $3,000 for Supportive Care., formerly known as Hospice of Orleans County

A table of trophies awaits the winner sin the car show.

The band Lonesome Road performed at the park. The band members include, from left, Robert Williams on bass/vocals, Todd Colegrove on guitar/lead vocals, David Leonard on drums/vocals and Mike Whiting on guitar/vocals.

Six members of the RIP (Ride in Peace) Hearse Club attended the car show in Albion for the first time.

Guy Vito of Rochester proudly shows his 1965 Cadillac Hearse “Grim Reaper.”  He has been bringing a hearse with haunted house characters to car shows for the past 40 years.

“The kids love it,” he said. “It’s so different.”

The group of hearses proved popular at the car show.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – People enjoy a barbecue and lots of conversation on a closed off part of East State Street in front of the Orleans County Courthouse this evening.

The Albion Merchants Association organized the debut event. All 100 tickets sold for $50 each.

“It couldn’t have gone better,” said Linda Smith, one of the lead organizers of the event. “It was a perfect day.”

She was thankful for great weather, even a harvest moon.

Tables stretched along much of East State Street, between Main and Platt Street. The tables were decorated in a fall foliage theme with sunflowers. There were many pumpkins to create a fall festival feeling.

Liz Groat is ready for a meal catered by Chap’s in Elba. The vegetables came from local farms, Rush’s in Carlton and Torrey’s in Elba.

The Albion committee preferred barbecue over a fancier meal, and it proved popular with the guests. (Last Call Cocktail Co. also was at the event serving drinks.)

The desserts were prepared by three bakeries in Albion: Wild Flour Deli & Bakery, Pretty Sweet Bakery and SnL Sweet Escapes. They are in the kitchen area at the First Presbyterian Church of Albion.

Michelle Hughson gives pumpkin bowling a try. Participants rolled a small pumpkin at pins. Hay bales served as bumpers on the lanes. Ryan Smith in back helped run the game.

Hughson said she enjoyed the fun and offbeat games, which had people mingling and socializing.

She liked the setting by the courthouse and several historic church buildings.

Butch Markee of Medina gives B’Apple Ball a try, where players attempted to shoot apples through a basketball hoop. Markee made both of his tries.

The winner of the tatter toss game won this trophy.

Dakota Marasco of Albion tries pumpkin bowling. She was glad to see a strong response from the community for the first-time event.

Pastor Albert Wilson of the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries offered the blessing before the meal.

Sandy Chappius, left, owner of Chap’s serves an appetizer to Jan Albanese.

Two Albion High School graduates, Karen Conn and Sue Thaine (right), sang a song together set to Edelweiss. Instead the final line saying, “Bless my homeland forever” then changed the lyripcs to “Bless my hometown forever.”

Conn’s daughter Shannon Vanderlaan also sang during the event. Thaine is the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Albion.

People dance to the music of Mike McCauley of Medina, the “One Man Band.”

The event is expected to continue next year, and could be shifted to downtown on Main Street when the Main Street bridge will be closed due to an 18-month rehabilitation project.

Besides Linda Smith, the committee for the Farmer’s Feast includes Kim Remley, Anne Beaty, Aric Albright, Karen Conn, Debbie Prest, Anita Finley, Mayor Angel Javier Jr. and his father, Angel Javier Sr.

ALBION – The Albion Town Planning Board on Wednesday approved a 25-bed women and children community residence on Butts Road. This will be the first residential program for the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse that serves women and their children.

The Planning Board approved the site plan for the project. John Bennett, GCASA executive director, said he expects the project will go out to bid for construction next month.

The agency has seen more women in recovery and addiction programs with the opioid epidemic, with the prevalence of addictive painkillers, Bennett said during a public hearing about the project on Aug. 3.

The $4.6 million community residence will be the first in the GLOW region for women in recovery.

About 12 years ago, women accounted for 23 percent of the GCASA census or people served by the agency. But by 2016-17, that percentage jumped to nearly 40 percent, Bennett said.

The Albion site will allow women, 18 and older, to receive services to aid in their recovery while in a residential setting. Five of the 25 units will accommodate women with children younger than kindergarten. Up to two children can stay in those units. The property will include walking trails and a playground.

Keeping the mothers with the children eliminates a huge barrier preventing some women from going into acute recovery programs, Bennett said.

The project has been awarded a $4.6 million grant from the state Department of Health for construction of the residence. That grant doesn’t include the operation of the site, which will be staffed 24-7, including two employees at night.

GCASA will have 25 employees at the site, including mental health counselors, a nurse, peer counselors, aides, drivers, a child care coordinator, administrators and kitchen staff.

One nearby resident, Aaron Vosburgh, said he was concerned the site will add traffic to a road where there are frequent accidents because of a railroad overpass with a low clearance.

ALBION – The Town of Albion is closing a section of Phipps Road to the traveling public starting tomorrow until the culvert (bridge) that crosses Otter Creek can have a thorough inspection, Highway Superintendent Michael Neidert said.

The culvert at the west end of Phipps Roads near Eagle Harbor Road was inspected today and Neidert and John Papponetti, the county DPW commissioner and engineer, agreed it is in the best interest and safety of the public that the bridge be closed to traffic until a more thorough inspection can be done.

The town has applied for the Bridge NY grant to replace the culvert but has was denied, Neidert said.

The town will know more once the culvert is given a thorough inspection, Neidert said.

Village urged to remind community that ‘Downtown is still open’ during bridge construction

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Main Street lift bridge, shown on Wednesday evening, will be closed Oct. 17 for a major rehabilitation of the bridge that is scheduled to take 18 months.

ALBION – Village officials said they would ask the state Department of Transportation to post detour signs in the village when the Main Street lift bridge is closed for about 18 months.

The bridge is set for a major overhaul and will be closed starting Oct. 17. The DOT is doing major repairs to the Albion and Brockport lift bridges on Main Street in a combined project that will cost $28 million.

Karen Sawicz, owner of Lake Country Media which includes the Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub, urged Albion village officials to post detours in the village to help drivers navigate through the village and not just bypass the downtown area during the project.

She also suggested a temporary stop sign at the intersection of Ingersoll Street and East State Street. That area will see a big increase in traffic when the bridge is closed. The Ingersoll lift bridge will become the main outlet to cross the canal.

“We need signage in the Village of Albion,” she said during a forum on Wednesday evening at the Village Hall.

The DOT is planning to post detours on state roads, but wasn’t planning to post signs to help drivers navigate in the village, said Jay Pahura, the village Department of Public Works superintendent.

The village doesn’t post detour signs in the village for state projects, Pahura said, because then the village assumes liability for anything that happens because of that detour. The DOT also has standards for the size and spacing of detour signs.

“We don’t do it because it’s not our project,” Pahura said.

But he said he would ask the DOT to put up more signs in the village while the bridge is closed.

Sawicz said the DOT should pay for the signs and assume any liability.

“The state needs to step up and help these smaller villages,” she said.

The village was also urged to have signs up that “Downtown is Open” while the bridge is shut down.

Wednesday’s meeting was the first village-led discussion on the upcoming project. There will be a “Bridge Brainstorming” meeting on Monday at Hoag Library from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to discuss ideas to help businesses and the community while the bridge is closed.

The village will then have another meeting next Wednesday at the Village Hall at 6 p.m. about easing the impact on the community from the bridge being closed. The village is looking for residents, business owners and property owners to be on a committee coordinate projects on Main Street and also connect with the village and DOT about concerns in the downtown and ways to lessen the impact of the closure.

Sue Starkweather Miller suggested the village allow the merchants to have sandwich signs and bigger signs during the closure. She said the village should consider backing off some of the codes for signs to help the merchants through the bridge closure. She also suggested signs be up in the community, reminding people that the downtown is open for business.

Part of Main Street will be blocked off near the south and north ends of the bridge, and contractors will be parking near the bridge with some supplies kept close to the site.

Sawicz said she doesn’t want to see nearby merchants to lose parking to the work crews. The DOT needs to emphasize that bridge workers don’t take up private parking spots for businesses and property owners in the downtown.

Some of the businesses – Krantz, Morrison Realty, PathStone – won’t have access to the parking in front of their buildings because the DOT will block off part of the street for a staging area.

Village officials during Wednesday’s meeting were urged to install signs identifying the municipal parking lots on Main and Bank streets, as well as a lot behind the fire hall at the end of Platt Street so people can see there are lots of options for public parking.

The village was also asked to see if the DOT could move back the closure of the bridge until work is very close to getting started. The public will be frustrated if the bridge is closed and not much happens with it for several weeks, even months.

Mayor Angel Javier Jr. and Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley said the Village Board is open to suggestions and will take concerns to the DOT about the project.

“We understand there will be some hardships and we want to alleviate some of that for us,” Riley said.