By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2019 at 2:42 pm
Courtesy of Orleans County Health Department
ALBION — The Orleans County Health Department has created a map to show the streets included in a boil water advisory, which is expected to last 3-4 days after a big water main break in Albion on Tuesday.
Water users are urged to bring tap water to a rolling boil, boil for a minute and cool before using. Or they can use bottled water certified for sale by the NYS Department of Health, according to a boil water notice from the Village of Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2019 at 12:48 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: A hydrant is flushed on Main Street near Caroline Street while the Village of Albion Department of Public Works worked to fix a water main break on Tuesday.
ALBION — The Village of Albion has clarified the downtown business district where a boil water advisory is in effect. Water customers north of Bank Street in the downtown should boil their water for up to a minute before drinking the water.
The advisory will last 3 to 4 days in the “worst-case scenario,” said Mayor Eileen Banker.
The water main break was repaired on Tuesday evening. The village needs to flush lines and hydrants, and then test the water with samples taken 24 hours apart.
The advisory also includes the area between the Erie Canal in the village going north to Bacon Road in the Town of Gaines.
Water users are urged to bring tap water to a rolling boil, boil for a minute and cool before using. Or they can use bottled water certified for sale by the NYS Department of Health, according to a boil water notice from the Village of Albion.
“Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing food until further notice,” the notice says from the village.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Crews work to fix a water main on Route 98 in Albion in this photo from about 11:30 a.m. today.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 January 2019 at 6:43 pm
Advisory includes business district, and Albion between canal and Bacon Road
ALBION — Village of Albion water customers that should boil their water include the area between the Erie Canal and Bacon Road in the Town of Gaines, as well as the Main Street business district north of Bank Street.
Water users are urged to bring tap water to a rolling boil, boil for a minute and cool before using. Or they can use bottled water certified for sale by the NYS Department of Health, according to a boil water notice from the Village of Albion.
“Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing food until further notice,” the notice says from the village.
The village water system lost pressure at 12:30 a.m. today after a 10-inch water main suffered a substantial break.
The loss of pressure in the water main increases the chances that harmful microbes can get in the water, which could cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms that may pose a special health risk to infants, some elderly residents or people with severely compromised immune systems, according to the boil water notice.
The village advises that water in the affected area may need to be boiled the next three to four days.
Photos by Tom Rivers: A piece of a cast-iron pipe from a broken water main is pictured by crews working to fix the 10-inch main on Route 98, near the Main Street lift bridge.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 January 2019 at 4:18 pm
Crews working to replace section of broken cast-iron main
This photo shows the broken cast-iron main. The crews have to pump water out of the pit so they can work on replacing the watermain.
ALBION – Village of Albion water customers north of the Erie Canal are urged to boil their water for a minute before drinking it.
The boil water advisory also includes the downtown business district. It doesn’t include Town of Gaines water customers.
The village has been working since 1 a.m. last night to repair a major water main break. The village has shut down some lines and a booster pump station so it can replace a broken cast-iron pipe.
That water main is at least 10 feet below ground. The village needed to cut through 14 inches of pavement and then dig down to get to the 10-inch main.
The water main was down so far because the main goes underneath the Erie Canal.
The village will replace the broken section of the waterline with 10-inch PVC pipe.
Once the water main is fixed, the lines will need to flushed and tested for at least a day before the boil water advisory is lifted.
Several municipalities are assisting the Village of Albion Department of Public Works with the repair, including the Village of Medina, and towns of Albion, Barre, Carlton, Gaines and Murray as well as the Orleans County Highway Department.
There is a detour on Main Street from Bank to Caroline streets while the repair is made. Albion and Medina both have their vacuum trucks to pump water from the hole so the pipe can be replaced.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 January 2019 at 9:21 am
Customers may have reduced pressure or no water
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Village of Albion Department of Public Works employees are digging under Main Street, just north of the Erie Canal, this morning to get to a broken water main.
This is the main waterline that feeds much of the village and the Barre water tank.
Many customers are already reporting they don’t have water or greatly reduced pressure.
The village shut down a booster station to reduce the water being pushed through the line.
The village has cut the water flow to the water main. The DPW has been working to fix the leak since late last night.
The village was alerted to a water problem at about 1 a.m. last night on New Year’s Eve when the Clover Hill Adult Residence on South Main Street called in to say it didn’t have water.
Someone also called dispatch to report water was spewing out of the ground on Main Street near the canal. Jay Pahura, the DPW superintendent, confirmed the leak and brought in a crew. They have been working all night, at times in 50 mile per hour gusts.
As of 9 a.m., they hadn’t reached the watermain under Main Street to see what needs to be done to fix it.
Pahura said water customers, including some in Barre, should expect reduced pressure and possibly no water until it’s fixed.
There is also a detour around the spot on Main Street, from Bank to Caroline streets, while the DPW is working to fix the water main break.
Distressed parents can leave a baby up to 30 days old at police stations with no questions asked as long as staff present
The Albion and Holley police departments both have signs letting the public know the sites are Safe haven sites. The Albion PD is located at 106 North Platt St. and the Holley PD is at 8 Thomas St.
Press Release, Roland Nenni, Police Chief for Albion and Holley police departments
The Albion and Holley police departments in conjunction with Project Stork Inc. are proud to announce the recent designation and training for both agencies as Safe Haven locations.
New York State Law provides that a distressed parent who is unable or unwilling to care for his or her infant can give up custody of a baby that is 30 days old or less – no questions asked.
The parent must simply bring the infant to a safe haven location and make sure a person is located to give the child. As long as the child shows no signs of intentional abuse, no name or other information is required.
The officers and staff of both the Albion and Holley police departments were given training on the law and the procedure on how to handle an infant being turned over.
Signs have also been placed outside of both police stations indicating that the stations are Safe Haven locations. Each station also has a complete kit of supplies needed to care for an infant until other trained personnel arrive. These kits include items such as diapers, formula, clothing and other essential items.
I would like to thank the founder of Project Stork Inc., Jenny Staebell, for providing the signs and infant kits to the two police departments for this potentially lifesaving option to a distressed parent.
Thanks to the Safe Haven Law no one ever has to abandon a child again. For more information on the Safe Haven law in New York, click here.
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‘The citizens of the communities we serve will have a greater chance of survival when a person goes into cardiac arrest because of our new capabilities.’ – Police Chief Roland Nenni
Press Release, Roland Nenni, Police Chief for Albion and Holley police departments
Photo courtesy Albion Police Department: Albion Police Officer Daryl Robb trains with one of the new AEDs.
The Albion and Holley police departments are proud to announce the addition of Automatic External Defibrillators, commonly known as AEDs, to all police patrol vehicles in both departments as well as units in each police station.
All Albion and Holley police officers and civilian staff have also been certified by the American Heart Association by attending the Heart Saver AED/CPR course.
The AEDs and training were funded by a Community Health Grant from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation. The total cost of the AEDs and training was $11,335. Without this funding the life-saving tools would not have been possible.
The Albion Police Department and Holley Police Department first respond to all emergency medical calls in their respective jurisdictions. Albion and Holley officers arrive on scene within minutes of a medical emergency, often well before EMS personnel arrive. Officers will now have the life-saving tools needed during these medical responses. The citizens of the communities we serve will have a greater chance of survival when a person goes into cardiac arrest because of our new capabilities.
The AHA Heart Saver AED/CPR course that was taught to all officers and staff also comes with a Basic First Aid component. With this added training means an added level of care that will be provided to patients of medical emergencies.
I am very happy that we now have this added lifesaving ability. I am so proud that our officers see themselves as true public servants and as life savers, not just as law enforcement officers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 December 2018 at 1:40 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion police and firefighters respond to an accident just before 1 this afternoon when an elderly driver drove over the curb and ran into Tease, a hair salon at 12 East Bank St.
The driver didn’t appear to have a medical issue. She apparently made a mistake and hit the gas pedal, an Albion police officer said. She was looked at by COVA personnel and she signed off without needing treatment.
Kylie Hughson is the owner of Tease. She was inside with three customers when the car hit near the front door, shifting the door frame.
“It was a big boom and the whole building shook,” she said.
Ron Vendetti, Albion’s code enforcement officer, is the owner of the building. He called Jim Babcock, a local contractor, to make the repairs to the door frame. It will need to be pushed back into place. Babcock said a cast iron post seemed to absorb the blow.
He will work on the building after Hughson takes care of her customers. Babcock said he expects to have the door frame back in place in time for Hughson to open the business on Saturday.
Firefighters and police officers push the car back onto East Bank Street.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 December 2018 at 2:08 pm
Matthew Peterson
ALBION – The high school principal is leaving to take a job at Oakfield-Alabama High School.
Matthew Peterson has worked at Albion since August 2014. He worked in Albion as assistant principal before becoming the principal the following year.
He will start his new job in Oakfield-Alabama on Jan. 14.
“As part of an enduring personal mission to support my four children and lovely wife with as much as possible, I pursued an opening to become the next principal at a school much closer to my home in Genesee County that I am familiar with from my days as a teacher,” he wrote in a message to the community on the district website.
Peterson said he is grateful to have met so many Albion students and community members. He said he expects there will be a smooth transition to another principal in Albion.
“The decision was not made without careful consideration of the staff and students that I currently serve here at Albion,” Peterson wrote. “Although I am excited to begin a new chapter in my life in another school, I will miss the Albion Central School District very much. Albion will always hold a special place in my heart and I want to thank every single one of you who took the time to introduce yourselves and welcome me to this community.”
Provided photo: Pictured from left include Albion police officer Dan Baase, Sgt. Karol Hughes, Lt. Dave Mogle and police officer Daryl Robb are shown at the Albion Tops on Wednesday.
Press Release, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni
ALBION – Members of the Albion Police Benevolent Association on Wednesday volunteered to assist the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. Several police officers donated their time to “Ring the Bell” and man the Red Kettle at the Tops Market on West Avenue in the Village of Albion.
The Albion Police Department and Albion Police Benevolent Association have assisted in the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign for many years and we hope that in some way they have helped a person in need. The job of police officers is to serve and protect. The term serve to a police officer can have many meanings. The Albion Police P.B.A. feels that to serve goes farther than just enforcing the law.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 December 2018 at 10:08 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – John Keding, center, was presented with a pin and commendation letter this morning for his 50 years of service to the Albion Lions Club. Ron Alberton, left, is the Albion Lions Club president. He presented Keding with the recognition pin and letter. Keding is joined by his daughter, Christine Buongiorne, who is also a member of the Lions Club.
Albertson and Buongiorne made a surprise visit to Keding Automotive, which Keding has owned for 45 years. At age 83, he remains a full-time presence at the repair shop on East Avenue.
“He’s old school,” Buongiorne said about her father. “He has a work ethic once he makes a commitment.”
Keding joined the Lions Club in 1968. He served as president in 1976. For about 25 years he was the club’s secretary, taking attendance, writing the minutes from meetings and doing all of the reports. It’s a demanding role that few want to do in the club.
Albertson said he is impressed with Keding’s long-time service and his integrity. He said Keding is also popular among the Lions Club members for his sense of humor and enthusiastic singing, especially of “Home on the Range.”
Keding coordinates the club’s annual rose sale around Mother’s Day, when the Lions Club sells about 350 dozens of roses. It’s one of the club’s best fundraisers.
He has a shift later today ringing the bells for the Red Kettle drive. He will be at the Tops in Albion from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Albion Lions Club has about 20 members. They meet the second and fourth Tuesdays. Albertson said the club welcomes more members. Call him at (585) 738-8690 for more information.
Photos by Tom Rivers: The former Albion grammar school, renovated for $7 million a decade ago, has 30 apartments for senior citizens on East Academy Street.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 December 2018 at 8:50 am
Turning big school buildings into apartments and offices costs many millions of dollars.
Home Leasing in Rochester has started work on the former Holley High School, turning a building that had been vacant for about 30 years into 41 apartments for senior citizens with about 6,000 square feet also to be used as the Village of Holley offices.
The Holley project will cost about $17 million. Tax credits and grants have been critical for the project to move forward.
The big cost for renovation won’t result in a property tax boom for Holley. Home Leasing is paying $13,500 in a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) beginning in 2021. The $13,500 will be shared among Holley Central, the Village of Holley, Orleans County and the Town of Murray.
Home Leasing in Rochester faces an ambitious project in turning the long-vacant former Holley High School into 41 apartments and the offices for the Village of Holley.
The 30-year PILOT agreement has the amount in payments increasing 2 percent each year until it reaches $23,973.90 in 2050.
Those 41 apartments would generate about $330 each in annual tax revenue in 2021 with the PILOT in 2021.
The owner of a house in Holley, valued at $80,000, pays about $4,000 in taxes. The tax rate for the school, village, town and county is about $50 per $1,000 of assessed property.
The renovation of the old school was never looked at as a tax windfall. Village officials didn’t want a prominent location in the community to continue to deteriorate, oppressing the entire neighborhood. The property also was in bankruptcy and had long stopped generating any taxes.
Albion also witnessed a stunning $7 million transformation of an old school. PathStone, formerly Rural Opportunities, in 2007 started work on the former Albion Grammar School, which was built in 1906 with gray Medina sandstone. The school on East Academy Street served kindergarten through grade six before closing in the early 1970s. It was originally a high school.
Rural Opportunities in 2009 opened the Albion Academy with 30 apartments for senior citizens, as well as space on the first floor for the Office for the Aging and the Arc of Orleans County. The Meals on Wheels and Nutri-faire program is run from the Academy.
Rural Opportunities wanted to plan its expenses for taxes. It reached a deal with the local municipalities to pay what the site was generating in taxes, $5,800, when it was privately owned with only a few apartments.
The Town of Albion, Village of Albion, school district and county agreed to keep the tax burden at $5,800 annually for 10 years.
The Albion Academy, like the Holley school, was viewed as an opportunity for affordable senior housing, while saving an important community landmark and providing a big lift to a neighborhood.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 December 2018 at 11:06 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is seeking to make rifles permanent for big game hunting in Orleans County.
The County Legislature on Feb. 22, 2017 passed a resolution which was later supported by the State Legislature to allow rifles for deer and bear hunting. That authorization will expire on Oct. 1, 2019.
The County Legislature has been asked by the Orleans County Sportsmen Federation to request permission from the state for permanent use of rifles for big game hunting.
County legislators have it on their resolution at the Legislature’s meeting this Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
The County Legislature was presented with a petition signed by about 500 sportsmen two years ago in support of rifles for hunting.
The meeting on Wednesday is at legislative chambers in the top floor of the County Clerks’ Building, 3 South Main St.
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Donate today to keep Orleans Hub healthy and accessible to all. Thank you!
Photos by Tom Rivers: Mike Outten, the pastor of North Point Chapel in Albion, greets kids on Wednesday evening after they had pizza in the fellowship hall. They were heading to sanctuary to sing.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 December 2018 at 10:23 am
About 70 kids attend Wednesday program at North Point Chapel
Lisa Waldron, one of the leaders of the Truth Explorers youth program, speaks to the kids. They sang upbeat songs with a biblical message.
ALBION – North Point Chapel is bustling with kids on Wednesday evenings. About 70 children attend the Truth Explorers program.
The church started the program last January. Initially, it had a few kids on Wednesdays and they were mainly the kids of the North Point church families.
The church put flyers in the community and went door to door inviting children. Attendance was up to 30 in May. The program took a break in the summer. It was at 30 in September and then doubled when kids were given a $10 gift card from Walmart if they invited a friend.
Most of those friends have continued to go to Truth Explorers on Wednesdays. Last week there were 72 kids for the 2-hour program.
“We just love ’em and have fun,” said Lisa Waldron, leader of the program with her husband, Dean.
The Waldrons play recorded music that is up-tempo which Christian lyrics. They share a Bibical message. They keep the kids moving to different activities.
The program keeps the kids’ attention, and introduces many to Bible verses. Mike Outten, the church pastor, is pleased to see the kids so interested. Every week there are new faces. Last Wednesday there were three necomers.
The church bought a used mini-van in September so it could pick up children for Truth Explorers. The van holds 13 people. Outten made four trips on Wednesday to give children rides to North Point, which owns the former United Methodist Church building at the corner of Platt and East State streets.
“The kids are coming and they’re making friends,” Outten said. “They’re having a blast and they’re learning about Jesus.”
The children sing songs, including, “The B-I-B-L-E, that’s the book for me.”
The kids arrive about 6 p.m. and have pizza in the fellowship hall. They go to a check-in table and get points if they brought a Bible and memorized a verse.
The more points they accumulate, the bigger the prize they can win. They also earn points playing games at the church, including a bowling game where they can knock down plastic soda bottles. They can also shoot basketballs and play mini-golf.
North Point has 16 volunteers running the program, from serving food, checking to see if kids know their verses to running the games. Outten said the church welcomes more volunteers, who all need to go through a background check.
He said more children, ages 5 to 12, are always welcome for Truth Explorers. There is also a teen program on Wednesday evenings.
Outten and North Point took a leap of faith acquiring the long-time United Methodist building about two years ago.
The church purchased a used van in September to pick up kids in Albion for the program. The van holds up to 13 people. Outten makes four trips with the van on Wednesdays.
North Point started as a congregation about three years ago. It first met in the Hoag Library before going to the Arnold Gregory Office Complex. Two years ago North Point went to the United Methodist building after that congregation left the building and now shares space at Christ Church with the Episcopalians.
The United Methodists were told their historic building needed a million-dollar roof repair. When the North Point congregation was preparing to run steel rods in the ceiling, to support the walls and roof, it found the original steel cables. The big roof repair wasn’t needed after all.
Outten said he felt God leading North Point to the church building. His biggest priority was never about the building. He has been most concerned with reaching the community, especially the children.
“This building has come back alive again with all of these kids,” he said Wednesday above the excitement of the kids who were eating pizza and chatting with their friends. “This is the future of the church right here.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 December 2018 at 4:57 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion FFA unloads a flatbed trailer this morning after 35,000 pounds of produce was delivered to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.
Adam Krenning, left, is the FFA advisor. He is joined on top of the trailer by his nephew, Ryan Krenning, an FFA member.
About 20 farms donated to the annual FFA food drive. FFA members called them about six weeks ago. Many of those farms have been contributors to annual food drive for several years now.
Emily Harling works with other FFA students to unload the trailer.
The following donated to the effort:
Triple G Farms – Potatoes
Root Brothers – Cabbage
Kludt Brothers – Squash
Nesbitt Fruit Farm – Apples
Orchard Dale Fruit Farm – Apples
Kreher’s – Eggs
Martin Farms – Squash
Jeff Partyka – Apples
CY Farms – Onions
Starowitz Farms – Cabbage
Torrey Farms – Onions and Potatoes
Panek Family Farm – Green Beans and Corn
Robert Colby/ Colby Farms – Potatoes and Cabbage
Bittner Singer Orchards – Apples
Orleans County Farm Bureau – Hams
Mortellaro and Sons – Onions
Costanzo’s Bakery/ Dale Root – Bread
Adam Kirby – Apples
Navarra’s Greenhouses – Crates
Call Farms – Potatoes
Poverty Hill Farms and Upstate Niagara – Butter
Middle School Principal Brad Pritchard, right, joins the FFA students in a line that filled a shed with potatoes and other produce.
Some of the food today was picked up by six food pantries in the county, and four soup kitchens. The rest will be stored and given to people in the coming weeks and months.
Community Action will use the food for more than 450 families, including 250 in central Orleans, 186 in the Holley area and 20 in Lyndonville.
Russ Peters, pastor of Alabama Full Gospel Fellowship in Shelby, said the food will help the church prepare about 55 to 60 food baskets for families in the community.
“This is a huge help,” he said.
Michael DiCureia hands off a box of eggs.
State Assemblyman Steve Hawley was back again helping to unload the tractor trailer. He hands a bag of cabbage to Amanda Krenning-Muoio, a senior field advisor for New York Farm Bureau and Adam Krenning’s sister.
