Albion

Judge strikes down NY indoor mask mandate at public places; Hochul will fight decision

Photo by Tom Rivers: A notice at the entrance of the Tops store in Albion on Jan. 5 informs the public of the state’s indoor mask requirement.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 January 2022 at 8:16 am

A State Supreme Court justice on Monday ruled that Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Department of Health overstepped their authority in requiring masks be worn in indoor public places.

Hochul announced the mask mandate on Dec. 10, to take effect Dec. 15 to Dec. 31. It has since been extended to Feb. 1.

Judge Thomas Rademaker of the State Supreme Court in Nassau County said Hochul and Department of Health need the State Legislature’s approval to pass such orders. The Legislature last year curbed any governor’s power to issue such decrees during a state of emergency.

Hochul said she will fight the judge’s decision.

“My responsibility as Governor is to protect New Yorkers throughout this public health crisis, and these measures help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and save lives,” she said in a statement. “We strongly disagree with this ruling, and we are pursuing every option to reverse this immediately.”

Mickey Edwards, Albion Central School superintendent, sent a message to the community on Monday, saying the mask mandate remains in effect at the district.

“It is the New York State Education Department’s understanding that the Department of Health will appeal the Nassau County Supreme Court decision, which will result in an automatic ‘stay’ that will unambiguously restore the mask rule until such time as an appellate court issues a further ruling,” Edwards said. “Therefore, schools must continue to follow the mask rule.”

Fire damages former Hawks Hideaway bar in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 January 2022 at 10:57 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Firefighters were dispatched at about 9:30 this morning to the former Hawks Hideaway bar at 14111 Albion-Eagle Harbor Rd.

The building is currently being used for storage. No one lives there.

Multiple fire departments responded to the scene in 10-degree weather.

Orleans County fire investigators are at the scene.

No other information is available.

$100,000 goal met for bronze Santa statue in Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers: This photo from March 24, 2021 shows the directors of the Albion Betterment Committee with sculptor Brian Porter after they signed a contract to have Porter create a bronze statue of Santa Claus in downtown Albion at Waterman Park. Pictured from left include ABC director Joe Gehl, Brian Porter, and ABC directors Gary Derwick and Gary Kent. The project also includes landscaping, interpretive panels and lighting.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 January 2022 at 8:29 am

ALBION – The Albion Betterment Committee has reached its goal of raising $100,000 for a bronze statue of Santa on Main Street in Waterman Park.

The group has been raising funds for nearly seven years for the statue, a base, bench, interpretive panels and other features celebrating the life of Charles W. Howard, who ran a Santa Claus School in Albion from 1937 until his death in 1966. The school continues today in Howard’s name in Midland, Mich.

The Betterment Committee has hired Brian Porter to create the bronze statue. Porter made the statue of the soldier outside the former Medina Armory, which is now the Orleans County YMCA.

The Albion Betterment Committee had this sign honoring Charles Howard erected in 2015 on Route 98 in Albion.

In November, the Betterment Committee was at $64,000 for the project. It did a community appeal to close the gap, and Maurice and Courtenay Hoag came through with a major donation, said Joe Gehl, one of the ABC’s directors. The Hoags have been a major benefactor for a public library in Albion that bears their name.

“Obviously, we’re very excited in having attained this milestone, which will allow us to enhance the Park and make it more tourist-friendly,” Gehl said.

The Betterment Committee said the statue should be done and dedicated in June 2023 during the Strawberry Festival.

The group wanted to recognize Howard who also operated Christmas Park in Albion and is revered among Santa portrayers even today. About 200 of the “Santa’s” attended a convention in Albion in 2015. That Santa convention “raised awareness of the community-building potential represented by greater acknowledgement of his place in history,” the ABC directors said.

The Betterment Committee has put up new signs in Albion celebrating Howard’s legacy, and also were successful in getting the state to declare part of Route 31 in Albion as the Charles W. Howard Memorial Highway. Those signs went up in December 2020 right before Christmas.

Local man worked on new NASA space telescope

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 January 2022 at 5:40 pm

‘This thing is going to change what we know about the universe’ – Dirk Climenhaga

Provided photo: Dirk Climenhaga, a library assistant at Hoag Library, has created a display about the James Webb Space Telescope. Climenhaga, a former engineer at Kodak, worked on the space telescope when he was a engineer with Kodak and ITT.

ALBION – It’s been an exciting few weeks for Dirk Climenhaga with the launch and deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope.

Climenhaga, 64, worked on the space telescope when he was an engineer at Kodak and then ITT.

Kodak and then ITT were among numerous subcontractors hired by NASA to work on the space telescope. Climenhaga was on a team at Kodak in 1994 that worked on part of the secondary mirror on the telescope.

“We made sure it was workable,” Climenhaga said.

The space telescope has proven to be workable. It was launched on Christmas. The powerful infrared telescope has a 21.3 foot primary mirror.

The observatory will study every phase of cosmic history – from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, NASA said. It will essentially be able to look back in time at the first stars and galaxies, Climenhaga said.

“This thing is going to change what we know about the universe,” he said. “We will see the first stars from the beginning. This is so amazing to show what God has done.”

Climenhaga grew up in Medina and lives in Gaines. His wife Sandy is a biology teacher at Albion.

Climenhaga started working at Kodak in 1978 as an assembler and moved up to be a draftsman and an engineer, retiring in 2008.

Climenhaga has been working since 2013 as a library assistant in Albion at the Hoag Library. He does special programs such as 3D printing, classes for mechanical, architectural and animation. He also shares his vintage train setup and assists people with Rokenbok, educational toys that he said better than Lego.

In his latest project, he has a display up in the library about the James Webb Space Telescope. He welcomes people to stop by and ask questions.

“People in the world will be surprised by unexpected discoveries with this new technology,” he said.

Image credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Adriana Manrique Gutierrez – An artist’s conception of the James Webb Space Telescope shows all its major elements fully deployed.

Albion highway department receives new loader with state grant covering $180K

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 January 2022 at 6:30 am

Provided photos

ALBION – The Town of Albion has a new loader and a state grant for $180,000 covered most of the cost for the $215,000 piece of equipment.

Pictured from left include Wayne Downs, Albion highway department employee; Michael Neidert, Albion highway superintendent; Joe Navarra, Albion highway department employee; State Sen. Rob Ortt; Town Supervisor Dick Remley; Terry Wilbert, Albion town councilman; and Scott Fisher, sale representative with George & Swede Sales & Services in Pavilion.

State Sen. Rob Ortt sits behind the wheel of the loader. Ortt secured a $180,000 State and Municipal Facilities (SAM) grant for the Hyundai wheel loader. It includes a general purpose bucket, clam bucket, forks, snow pusher and extendable boom all designed as quick attach attachments. It was purchased at George and Swede in Pavilion. After a trade the total cost was $187,600, Neidert said.

Fire engulfs Albion home on Knapp Street; 4 firefighters escape upstairs in fast-moving blaze

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 January 2022 at 11:46 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A firefighter heads face first down a ladder, escaping dark smoke from the upstairs of 136 Knapp St.

The upstairs was full of gray smoke but it turned quickly into rolling black smoke. Four firefighters were upstairs and had to bail out in what firefighters said was a flashover, when a fire quickly intensifies.

Justin Niederhofer (in red) quickly gets out of the house as the fire intensifies while another firefighter hangs out a window. It was a scary moment for the firefighters on the ground and the onlookers as the dark smoke spewed out of the windows with the firefighters inside.

Niederhofer, Seth Dumrese, Steven Papponetti and Dustin Pahura all were able to get out.

Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management coordinator, has been battling fires for over 40 years. He didn’t recall a fire change so rapidly.

Papponetti suffered a cut to his hand in making his escape out of the upstairs, coming down a ladder head first.

The fast-moving caused extensive damage to a home. The homeowner, Mike Reigle, suffered burns on his arms and head. He was able to drag a mattress outside that was on fire.

A propane heater likely caught the mattress on fire, officials at the scene said.

Jerry Bentley, deputy fire coordinator, gets water on the flames in the house.

The dispatch call to firefighters at about 10 a.m. initially said it was a porch fire. But that changed to a fully involved structure fire at about 10:20 a.m.

One firefighter is grabbed after coming down the ladder face-first while another firefighter gets ready to come down in a tense moment this morning.

Main Street lift bridge in Albion may be closed 2 years for major repairs

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 January 2022 at 8:14 am

No construction start set for project ending in 2024

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Main Street lift bridge in Albion was originally built in 1914. It is one of 16 lift bridges on the Erie Canal, and one of seven in Orleans County.

ALBION – The Main Street lift bridge in Albion may close for about two years as part of an estimated $21,200,000 project that includes major repairs to the lift bridge in Brockport on Route 19.

The state Department of Transportation is reviewing bids right now. No schedule has been set for when the lift bridges will close and construction will start, a DOT spokesman said.

The Albion bridge was originally built in 1914. It typically closes a few days each year for short-term repairs. It is one of 16 lift bridges on the Erie Canal, and one of seven in Orleans County.

The DOT said the work includes installing high-strength galvanized steel to replace the steel floor system and select truss members.

Updates will also be made to the mechanical and electrical components of the lifting mechanisms. The lift tower will also be rehabilitated.

In addition, the bridge railing and guide rail on the bridge approaches will be improved and bridge will be repainted.

The DOT will have the project done the same time contractors work on the lift bridge on Route 19 in Brockport.

Construction is expected to be completed in summer 2024.

The lift bridge on Main Street in Albion typically closes a few days a year for repairs. It will get an extensive overhaul that will have it closed for about two years.

Firefighters battle blaze at garage on Goodrich Street in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 January 2022 at 9:24 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Joe Grube, an Albion firefighter, directs the first blast of water onto a garage that was on fire this morning at 45 Goodrich St., in Albion. The garage is owned by Wayne and Nicole Struble.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at about 8:30 a.m. The garage is located at the end of a dead-end street in the village. Goodrich is between the railroad tracks and East State Street.

Justin Niederhofer, Orleans County deputy emergency management coordinator, pulls off the basketball backboard and hoop so firefighters could get water in the upper part of the garage.

Firefighters responded from Albion, Barre, Carlton and Murray. National Grid was also on the scene as well as the Albion Police Department and Albion code enforcement. The temperature is in the teens with some strong wind. That wind is blowing away from the house next door.

No other information is available.

Maison Albion hosting benefit on March 8 for Theresa Karlak’s family

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 January 2022 at 2:46 pm

Theresa Karlak

ALBION – Maison Albion will be hosting a benefit on March 8 for Theresa Karlak’s family at the event venue, 13800 West County House Rd.

The “Tribute to Theresa” will be on Theresa Karlak’s 19^thbirthday. The gathering from 5 to 8 p.m. will include a ceremonial candle lighting by the pond, light refreshments and appetizers, and a basket raffle.

Theresa was tragically killed after being struck by a vehicle while she was walking on New Year’s Day in Eagle Harbor. A vehicle struck her and also caused minor injuries to her younger sister.

Theresa’s brother Joseph Karlak works at Maison Albion, which welcomes donations from local organizations and businesses for baskets to be raffled during the event.

The gathering is free to attend but guests are encouraged to donate $19 in honor of Theresa’s 19^th birthday. Proceeds raised from the event will be given directly to the Karlak family and 19 percent of those proceeds will be donated to a local animal shelter on behalf of Theresa Karlak who had dreams of being a veterinarian.

For more information click here.

3,500 doughnuts sold out fast in benefit for Albion family

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 January 2022 at 9:49 pm

GoFundMe also established for Theresa Karlak’s family

Theresa Karlak is shown in a photo on a GoFundMe established to help her family.

ALBION – Tim Hortons in Albion sold 3,500 doughnuts in the past two days in a benefit for Theresa Karlak’s family.

Theresa, 18, worked at Tim Hortons the past six months. She was killed on Saturday night after being struck by a car while she was walking with her younger sister in Eagle Harbor.

Theresa was a popular employee at Tim Hortons, who started her workday at 3:30 a.m.

“Thank you to the community that supported the Karlak Family through this fundraiser,” Jennifer Karbowski, co-owner of the Tim Hortons, posted on the Orleans Hub’s Facebook page. “We sold over 3,500 donuts over the last 2 days. It has been an overwhelming response. Thank you for your love and support during this time.”

The doughnuts sold for $1.25 each and all proceeds will go to Theresa’s family. Many customers also made cash donations to help her family.

Theresa’s sister Sarah Karlak also started a GoFundMe to help the family with funeral costs and to pay for a headstone.

“There are no words to describe the pain we are feeling at the loss of our sweetest angel who was taken too soon from us,” Sarah writes on GoFundMe.

Theresa loved animals and wanted to be a veterinarian. Tim Hortons was one of her three jobs. She was saving money to go to college.

“To our littlest Tiny T we love you so much,” Sarah writes. “There is nothing in this world we wouldn’t give to see you one more time and tell you how much we love you.”