By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 July 2019 at 6:20 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Jonah Fisher, 2 ½, plays the “mouse” during a game today at Hoag Library. He ran underneath a big parachute where there was another kid who was the “cat” trying to find him. The game was part of a field day and “Water Wars” event outside Hoag Library, which planned the activities with help from the Albion varsity girls softball team as part of the summer reading program.
Julia Graham, 8, of Albion takes a turn as the cat, trying to find someone hiding under the parachute.
These cousins – Garrett Smith, 7, (left) and Henley Miller, 5, of Albion – work together in the three-legged race.
After the field day events, the water balloons and squirt guns came out for “Water Wars.” Millie Fisher, 4, of Albion squealed when she was sprayed with a squirt gun.
June Moore, 5, of Albion looks to get someone wet with her squirt gun.
Aura Fox, 6, of Albion threw water balloons at some of the other kids.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 July 2019 at 2:27 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The 650 cyclists on the Cycle the Erie Canal trip are passing through Orleans County today on the second day of the trip, which started Sunday in Buffalo.
The top photo shows two cyclists crossing the Main Street lift bridge in Albion after they explored the downtown.
Mike Cronin of East Greenbush, near Albany, takes a break near the Main Street lift bridge in Albion.
Cronin, 72, is a first-timer on the ride across the state. He has boated in the canal near Albany and wanted to experience it by bike with the chance to make friends.
“I’m meeting new people I’ve never met before,” he said in Albion at about 8:30 this morning.
He likes the architecture and history of the canal towns.
He said he is physically up for the challenge of pedaling about 400 miles on the towpath.
“I’m getting older,” said the owner of a flag store. “If I wait too much longer, I’ll age out.”
There is no age limit for the cyclists. One of them is 86. The youngest is 5.
Tinsel, an ice cream shop that opened last month, gave out bananas and the Albion Browsery handed out bottles of water. Holley is an official rest stop for the cyclists with refreshments at the Canal Park.
The cyclists are headed to Fairport today. They spent last night at the Orleans County 4-H fairgrounds in Knowlesville.
Orleans County has seven of the 16 lift bridges on the Erie Canal.
These cyclists are reflected in the Erie Canal as they approach downtown Albion.
Albion police officer Dan Baase helps with traffic control while the cyclists cross Main Street.
This photo was taken on the stairs of the Main Street lift bridge.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 July 2019 at 1:28 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Bob and Shirley Gouger of Waterport were out Saturday morning watering the flowers in downtown Albion.
The Gougers were volunteering for the task for the first time on Saturday. They used the water truck from Village of Albion Department of Public Work.
Gary Kent pours water into one of the flower planters near the Five Star bank. Flowers are also watered at the routes 98 and 31 intersection, at Bullard Park and by some of the gateway signs in the village.
Kent is a retired social studies teacher in Kendall. Mr. Gouger is a former student of Kent’s. He volunteered when Kent said volunteers are needed on the weekends.
(Skip Stratton, one of the dedicated volunteers for the flower watering in recent years, is doing the job today.)
Shirley Gouger and her husband Bob water the flowers on Main Street.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 July 2019 at 10:46 am
Photos courtesy of Thom Jennings
BUFFALO – Albion native Erica Jennings led the brain cancer group during the June 21 Ride for Roswell. Erica, a teacher in Buffalo, was joined by her husband Thom Jr. and their daughter Elle in leading the group. Erica was diagnosed with brain cancer in December. She has had two brain surgeries.
“Erica is a thriver, not a survivor,” said her father-in-law, Thom Jennings of Albion. “Faith, hope and love, she has all three, and she is stronger than the largest army.”
Erica, the daughter of Tom and Angie Graham of Albion, has completed radiation and is undergoing chemo treatments at Roswell Park in Buffalo.
She works as a Spanish and French teacher at City Honors in Buffalo.
Erica is carrying the flag for people diagnosed with brain cancer.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 July 2019 at 9:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Karen Conn, an Albion music teacher, leads children in a singalong at the Hoag Library on Tuesday as part of the Summer Reading Program.
In this song, Conn and the kids are singing, “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.”
Hoag Library has many different programs scheduled throughout the summer, with most at 11 a.m. on weekdays. On Monday, the program was making Galaxy Slime.
Next week, there will be Waters Wars on Monday with Albion football and softball teams. Click here to see some of the programs planned for the summer.
The Albion NY Rocks group has a display of rocks that have been painted, including some that look like a box of chocolates. They are in the front case at Hoag. The Albion NY Rocks group will be at the library on Tuesday at 11 a.m., helping children paint rocks.
Provided photos: The Albion High School Clay Target Club includes, from left: Ben Hickman, Zac Albright, Mike Donahue (coach) Patrick Brien, Jordan Boccacci-Phillips, Max Hapeman, James Hapeman, Alex Rustay, Jeff Atwell (coach) Nick Sacco, Tim Brien (coach) Shane Hastings, Austin Aman, Lacey Standish, and Ryan Uderitz (coach). Missing from the photo are Chris Rice (coach), Eli Pask and Cole London.
Alex Rustay, left, and Nick Sacco were the top scorers for Albion in the state competition.
ALBION – The Albion High School Clay Target Club participated in the Clay Target Leagues New York State Championship in Cicero on Sunday.
There were 76 schools (950 student athletes) from across the state represented at the event. Albion’s varsity team of Alex Rustay, Patrick Brien, Nick Sacco, Zac Albright and Shane Hastings finished 9th overall out of 65 teams.
Patrick Brien and Alex Rustay both received All-State honors for finishing in the top 100 in the entire league (1,700 student athletes).
Alex Rustay was tied for 5th with a score of 96 out of 100. Nick Sacco was tied for 13th with a 94 out of 100. Patrick Brien was tied for 30th with a 92 out of 100. They are all seniors this year.
Alex Rustay shot a perfect round at the event 25 out of 25 (25 straight) and Nick shot back-to-back perfect rounds for 50 out of 50 (50 straight) at the event.
This was the first year Albion High School participated in the New York State Clay Target League.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 June 2019 at 5:44 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Westside Market, a new farmers’ market in Albion, was open for the second week today at the former Billy’s Pub location at 438 West Ave.
The top photo shows Stymus Farms and Kirby’s Cider Mill with some of their early season offerings. They will both have more available later this summer and fall.
The market is open on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will continue through Oct. 27.
Brian Alexander, co-owner of Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza, pulls a pizza out of the oven. Dubby’s debuted at the Albion Strawberry Festival earlier this month.
Brian and his wife Rebecca Alexander live in Carlton. They have a special breakfast pizza – sausage, gravy, potatoes, eggs and cheese (with a drizzle of maple syrup) – they serve at the Albion market.
Steve Culmo of Dubby’s cuts the slices of the breakfast pizza.
Heather Allchin, co-owner of The Hot Spot, grills hot dogs and hamburgers. Her daughter Leah Pawlak also made cookies that were for sale. The Hot Spot debuted on May 1 and has been based at the parking lot for Ace Hardware in Albion.
Allchin said the new farmers’ market is very visible on Route 31 with good parking.
Other vendors today included OG Primitive with crafts and farmhouse décor and Johnny Bee Good Honey from Albion.
Dorothy Daniels is the market manager. Her late father, Ralph Dollinger, owned the site, which previously was used as the office space for GCASA.
Daniels said she wanted to see the space be put to good use.
“This town didn’t have a farm market,” she said. “It’s something for the community.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 June 2019 at 11:45 pm
Brennan Moody’s parents accept his diploma at graduation
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Members of Albion’s Class of 2019 toss their caps near the end of commencement on Friday in the high school gymnasium.
The students have been reeling from loss of their classmate Brennan Moody last week in a car accident.
Before the graduation ceremony, 85 teachers and staff surrounded the class in the LGI room and did the Albion cheer, urging them to celebrate the evening.
Nicholas Sacco waves while walking up to get his diploma. His mother, Chantelle Sacco, is a member of the Board of Education. She presented her son with his diploma.
There are 155 students in the graduating class. They were all given a guitar pick with Brennan Moody’s name. Brennan loved to play the guitar and performed in the school musicals, with the band and choruses. He died on June 18.
Many people who attended graduation wore “Albion Strong” T-shirts in support of the Moody family.
Rhiannon and Erin Moody accept the diploma on behalf of their son. Mrs. Moody is hugged by Michael Bonnewell, the Albion school district superintendent, while Mr. Moody is embraced by Kathy Winans, the senior class advisor.
The Moodys receive a standing ovation from Brennan’s classmates and the crowd. Erin and Rhiannon Moody both walked over and hugged two of Brennan’s classmates, Angel Colon and Isaac Coppini, who were in the car the night of the accident on Eagle Harbor Road.
Sean Weis also was seriously injured in the accident. A picture was shown on the monitor in the gym of him receiving his diploma on Thursday at the Erie County Medical Center. He is shown with Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent; Frank Movalli, high school interim principal; and Margy Brown, president of the Board of Education.
Avalina Hand is the valedictorian of the class of 2019. She is headed to Rochester Institute of Technology to study diagnostic medical sonography.
She praised her classmate, Brennan Moody, for using his talents with music to bring joy to other people.
“Above all else he was a friend,” she said.
She encouraged her classmates to follow his example of accepting and loving other people.
Jessica Schleede, the class salutatorian, joins her classmates in the processional into the gym to start commencement. She is headed to St. Bonaventure in the fall with a dual major of elementary and special education.
The Class of 2019 is like a big family, she said.
They have grown close and been bounded through their sorrow. Not only did the class lose Brennan Moody last week, but their classmate Evan Ferchen passed away at age 8 on March 27, 2010, two days after heart surgery. Brandon Parker was 9 when he died on Feb. 23, 2011.
Brennan Moody sang many songs publicly at school, including, “This is the Moment” at the Senior Tea. Schleede said that song is a reminder “to live for today and not for tomorrow.”
She said the class will always be welcoming and students should turn to their friends for years to come.
“If at some point you find yourself lost always remember you are part of a very big family,” she said.
Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent, said he was particularly close with this year’s class. He served as interim high school principal for three months this school year and joined the students at numerous events, including a chorus trip to New York City.
He recalled being in the city when a woman asked him if a group of students were his kids. He answered affirmatively, which surprised the woman.
“Yes, these are all my kids,” Bonnewell shared in his speech. “You are all my kids.”
Bonewell said the class distinguished itself in many ways. The group performed 6,200 hours of community service. They were members of teams that won seven Niagara-Orleans championships and three Sectional crowns. They were all-state in music, and widely recognized for the musicals by the Stars of Tomorrow program in Rochester. The marching band played the national anthem at a major league field (Cleveland Indians) and for two minor league teams.
Students earned 700 college or Advanced Placement credits, while 42 percent have advanced Regents diplomas with distinction, well above the state average.
But not everything can measured. Bonnewell said the students have supported each other through heart-wrenching loss.
“This class has distinguished itself by its resiliency,” he said.
McKenna Boyer, the class president, gives the welcome message. She praised her classmates for their school spirit, their excellence in athletics and the arts, and for their commitment to each other.
“Our class has stuck together in the hardest of times,” she said.
Julie and Chris Keller, both Albion teachers, were among 85 staff that marched in the processional. Normally the staff and teachers were black robes. This time they all wore choir robes in honor of Brennan Moody and Sean Weis, who were both active in the chorus. The teachers and staff also wore Albion Purple Eagle buttons that said, “Together We Are Strong.”
Kirk Ellison, the class treasurer, leads his classmates into the gym. He is followed by twin sisters, Alexa and Malory Adams.
The Caledonia Pipe Band remains a commencement tradition at Albion. The pipe band leads the students into the gym and then for the recessional at the end of graduation.
Enoch Martin gives Mike Bonnewell, the district superintendent, a hug after Enoch received his diploma.
The graduates stand for the national anthem, which was sung by seniors in the chorus.
Evan Howard pauses to accommodate a group that wanted to take his photo.
Amanda Kuehne is joined by her family for a picture in front of “2019.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 June 2019 at 1:41 pm
Photos courtesy of Mark Standish
ALBION – Contractors today are working on the Densmore Road canal bridge. The state Department of Transportation is spending $11 million project to rehabilitate seven canal bridges across Orleans County. Crane-Hogan Structural Systems in Spencerport is working on the bridge.
Densmore Road over the canal is the second in a series of seven bridges that are being repaired as part of this project. The bridge carrying Bennetts Corners Road over the Canal in Murray was the first to upgraded. The seven single-lane truss bridges were constructed between 1909 and 1914.
The work on the bridges includes installing high-strength galvanized steel to replace steel floor systems, low chords, gusset plates, and truss elements. Bridge railing and guide rail on the bridge approaches also will be improved and each bridge will be repainted. The alignments and profiles of the bridges will not change.
The Densmore Road bridge closed on April 15 with the construction expected to take about six months.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 June 2019 at 7:47 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Trellis Pore of Albion and members the Trellis Cooper Band performed during Albion’s Canal Concert Series on Thursday.
The concert series is every Thursday, except for July 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the gazebo behind the Albion fire hall. The series continues through Aug. 22.
Many of the concert goers set up chairs near the Albion fire hall where there was food and some shade from the bright sun.
This young member of the band plays the tambourine.
Doug Egling of Albion performs a solo on his saxophone.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 June 2019 at 3:19 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Preston Flugel, one of the summer park supervisors for the Village of Albion, pushes a kid in a swing this afternoon at Veteran’s Park at the corner of Linwood Avenue and Brown Street.
Today was opening day of the village’s summer parks program, which is free to children in the Albion school district. The program will have paid park supervisors on duty from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, until July 26.
Kaitlyn Van Skiver manages to push two young children in the kiddie swings at the park today. There were 40 kids for opening day, which is a big turnout for the first day.
The program includes recreational games and activities. There are arts and crafts, water games, obstacle courses, bowling trips at Oak Orchard Lanes and many other activities.
Kiara Smith offers some pointers to Evan Kirby, 7, in a game of badminton.
The summer parks program is usually based at Bullard Park, but that site on Route 31 is under construction with a new splash pad, amphitheater, bathrooms and other improvements.
The parks program also holds several weekly camps, including next week when there will be wrestling for grades 6-12 at the Albion High School gym from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and volleyball for grades 6-12 at Albion HS gym from 10 a.m. to noon.
Caitlynn Snook was busy pushing kids in swings.
The volleyball camp is led by the High School volleyball coaching staff. Students will learn the basics of volleyball along with skills, drills, match situations, scrimmages and matches. There is no pre-registration and no additional fees required.
The wresting camp is led by Andrew Grillo, a Holley-Kendall wrestling coach, a state wrestling champion and former Brockport State College wrestler. Grillo will be joined at the camp by instructors who are college wrestlers and former high school standouts.
Students will be able to drill techniques, wrestle live and conclude each day with wrestling related games. Inexperienced wrestlers will have an opportunity learn the basics skills in wrestling while the experienced wrestler will expand on what they already know.
There is no pre-registration or no additional costs.
Photo courtesy of Hoag Library: Patrick Holman of Medina performed a magic show on Saturday to help celebrate the start of the summer reading program at Hoag Library.
ALBION – Local performer Patrick Holman kicked off Hoag’s Library’s Summer Reading Program, A Universe of Stories, this past Saturday with an exciting magic show. Holman entertained about 45 people at the performance, with 24 children registering for the reading program.
There is still time to enroll in the summer reading program. Registration is still open to children and adults, and concludes Aug. 15 with a performance by Buffalo & Brandy and cookout with the Albion Lions Club.
Hoag Library has collaborated with community partners, including local business owners, elected officials, and educators from Albion Central School to bringthis engaging summer program to Albion.
In addition to events at the library, staff will participate in community events, such as the Summer Parks Program, the Orleans County 4-H Fair, and the Albion Summer Festival featuring Rock the Park.
For information on other programs and activities at Hoag Library, visit www.hoaglibrary.com or through Facebook.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2019 at 3:23 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Nichols, Long and Moore Construction in Tonawanda puts a new layer of crushed limestone dust on the Erie Canal towpath near Allen’s Bridge Road in Albion today.
The company uses a roller to harden the towpath after the limestone dust was put down. The company was hired for the job after the towpath was beat up from construction equipment as part of the tree removal and embankment maintenance project.
The Canal Corp. had a new layer removed in parts of Albion and Medina when the material wasn’t compacting very well. The new limestone dust is a finer material.
The Canal Corp. and the contractors are working to have the new surface for the towpath ready by July 1. Next month there are two big cycling events that will be passing through on the towpath.
The new surface covers most of the towpath from Medina to Spencerport.
Nichols, Long and Moore Construction is using a paving machine to put down the limestone dust.
A State Canal Corp. employee asked people to please observe the signs that say the trail is closed in some sections so contractors can get their work done.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2019 at 12:07 pm
ALBION – The Clarendon Road culvert in Albion will be closed for about a month this summer so a new culvert can be installed.
The Town of Albion received a $174,000 grant from the state’s BridgeNY program for the project.
A section of Clarendon Road from Route 31 to Holley Road will be closed beginning July 8. Local traffic will be allowed, including for the elementary school, the Town Hall and Victory Baptist Church.
Construction of the new culvert should take about four weeks, said Mike Neidert, Albion highway superintendent.
The construction bids came in over budget, so the town is doing the project with the Orleans County Highway Department.
The new culvert is expected to be under budget, Neidert said.
Anyone with questions about the project can contact Neidert at the Town of Albion, (585) 589-7048 ext. 16 or email highway@townofalbion.com.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2019 at 8:31 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Alec Sherman is pictured with a display about the Albion marching band from 1950 to 1975, when the Purple Eagles were led by his father, Moses Sherman.
The display at Hoag Library includes trophies, programs, photos, a band jacket and vinyl records of band concerts.
This display will be up until Thursday. The library rotates exhibits. Betty Sue Miller, the library director, was in Sherman’s marching band. She urged Alec to put together the display.
“I thought it was a neat look back at time,” Alec said about the exhibit.
Moses Sherman is shown in action leading the Albion marching band. This photo is from the early 1970s.
Sherman grew up in a small town in Vermont. He earned a degree at Ithaca College and first worked at Tully, a small school district in Central New York. He was hired at Albion in 1950 and stayed until 1975. He finished his career in Massena in northern New York.
Sherman passed away in 1997. His father had tremendous pride in the Albion band, Alec said.
The band performed all over New York, including about 30 times each summer at fire department parades and community festivals. A highlight for the band during Sherman’s tenure was a week-long trip to England in 1972. More than 100 students performed in London. The band also performed in Montreal and Toronto.
Moses Sherman’s trumpet is part of the display at the library.
“He taught them life lessons about dedication and preparation,” said Alec, who is a retired U.S. history teacher at Albion. He also coached basketball, softball and track.
Alec also played in his father’s bands. Alec played the cornet, a small brass instrument like a trumpet. He graduated in 1968 and saw first-hand his father’s devotion to the music program.
A trophy and band jacket are in the exhibit.
Alec Sherman is selling digitally remastered albums, ranging from 1964 to 1974, of the band’s concerts. Sherman has recordings from eight spring concerts, which were typically two-hour events.
The remastered CDs are available for $35 each and Sherman uses the proceeds for $500 annual scholarships given each year in memory of his father (to be awarded to a graduating senior who is active in the band program) and also for Alec’s mother, Margaret McKirdy Sherman, who was a teacher at Albion. Her scholarship is a humanitarian award going to a graduate with a record of community service.
For more information about the CDs, contact Alec Sherman at alecsherman1950@gmail.com or click here for more information on the Albion Alumni Foundation website.
