By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 September 2018 at 5:07 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The community has turned out for a benefit today for Lucas O’Connor, 15, who recently had a brain tumor removed and will need brain scans every three months to make sure the tumor hasn’t returned.
Lucas is pictured with his parents, Jodi and Kevin, at the Elks Club this afternoon, where there is a benefit from 2 to 6 p.m. There are nearly 100 items up for raffle. The beef on wick dinner is a sellout.
“It’s amazing, the generosity of everybody,” said Lucas’s father, Kevin. “So much of the media is negative but this is really about people caring about people.”
Lucas was wrestling last October when he sustained a mild concussion. A CT scan and MRI showed that some of the bone near Lucas’s left ear had changed. He was diagnosed with a very rare brain tumor (chondromyxiod fibroma).
That concussion proved to be a blessing, Mr. O’Connor said. Lucas didn’t have any symptoms that the tumor was growing in his skull.
“It’s amazing how God works,” Mr. O’Connor said.
Lucas endured two procedures before he had full craniotomy on July 26 by a team of specialists in New York City. The tumor was benign. Doctors want to check him every three months because the tumor often comes back and is fast-growing.
“He is a fighter,” O’Connor said about his son. “You can’t keep him down.”
Members of the football and wrestling teams are serving the beef on weck dinners. Bryce Pritchard, center, and Jessy Cruz check the potatoes.
Lucas is ready to take the tickets for the dinners. He is joined by his friends Sam Williams, left, and Presley Smith. Presley’s parents, Julie and Ken Smith, were key organizers for the benefit. Sam’s mother, Karen Williams, also was instrumental in the effort.
Tom Smith (left), his brother Gary Smith and Gary’s wife Ronda perform during the benefit.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 September 2018 at 8:18 am
Splash pad will be constructed next year
Photo by Tom Rivers: The basketball hoop at Bullard Park is pictured in this file photo from Aug. 4, 2015.
ALBION – Members of the Rebuild Bullard Committee told the Village Board on Wednesday they are frustrated by a lack of progress in some of the high-profile improvements planned for Bullard Park, including an amphitheater and splash pad.
Ron Albertson, president of the Albion Lions Club and one of the Rebuild Bullard leaders, say residents tell him they are excited for the upgrades but wonder why it’s taking so long.
The village in December 2016 was awarded a $499,605 state grant for Bullard improvements with the village providing $166,370 with in kind-services or funding.
The overall $665,975 project includes a spray park, amphitheater/performance stage, a walking/hiking trail with signage, infrastructure (water and sewer) for the spray park, a utility building, and parking lot and lighting improvements.
“Are you committed to it?” Albertson asked the board members.
The board members say they are committed to the project. This year there have been unexpected pressing assignments that pulled the Department of Public Works from working on the amphitheater. Albertson had hoped that performance stage would be in place for the Rock the Park concert in August.
The amphitheater was supposed to be a pre-fab building that would be easy to construct. But it is instead a stick build that will require a big effort, more than the DPW can do and still get paving projects done before winter, Jay Pahura, the DPW superintendent, said at Wednesday’s meeting.
“It’s an Erector set,” Pahura said. “My guys are not comfortable with it.”
The village may have the structure built by a contractor. Any in-kind hours from the DPW or dollars spent by a contractor would count towards the village’s local share for the project.
The DPW needed to work this summer on Route 31 as part of the state’s repaving. The DPW reset 25 manholes, and put in new water and sewer infrastructure from 31 to the edge of the park. Lines can be run from that spot once the final layout is determined for the spray park and possibly new bathrooms. (The DPW also had to run a 700-foot water line on West Academy Street so the new RTS Orleans transportation facility would have adequate water pressure for its sprinkler system, another unexpected project for the DPW.)
The spray park was planned to be behind the playground equipment in the middle of the park. Mayor Eileen Banker worries about vandalism with the splash pad, especially in light of frequent damage to the bathrooms at Bullard this year.
“I’m committed but I’m very nervous about the splash pad,” Banker said. “We’ve seen so much damage with our bathrooms at Bullard.”
Police Chief Roland Nenni urged the board to have the splash park closer to road with lighting. He thinks a more visible location would deter vandals.
“Let’s design it so we’re dealing with these problems,” the police chief said.
The spray park is on schedule to be built in 2019, Trustee Gary Katsanis said.
The board said the village will follow through with the park improvements. Not doing so would jeopardize future grants for Albion. The board also wants to see the park better utilized as a draw for the community.
“It has to get done or we as a village will be in trouble,” Katsanis said.
The grant application called for 6,000 hours of work from the DPW, the equivalent of three full-time workers spending a year on the project. Katsanis said that wasn’t a realistic commitment, given the many other projects for the DPW.
“This was a planning failure, a failure of foresight,” he said.
Katsanis and Banker both said the village will push forward with the project and strive to communicate any updates with the Rebuild Bullard Committee.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 September 2018 at 8:54 pm
ALBION – The school district and village are both pushing to have an Albion police officer assigned full-time as a school resource officer, hopefully by the end of this calendar year.
Police Chief Roland Nenni met with school officials during the Board of Education meeting on Sept. 10 to discuss having an officer assigned to Albion Central School.
Both the Village Board and Board of Education want to make a resource officer a reality.
“We’re very much in favor,” said Margy Brown, the Board of Education president. “We’re definitely moving in that direction. The board wants it and I believe it will happen.”
The district and village used to have a partnership for a school resource officer but that stopped about a decade ago. Officers with the Albion Police Department have stepped up their presence at the district in recent years, but no officer is assigned to the schools.
Nenni said officers who stop by often are called away for other incidents in the village. A school resource officer would devoted to the district full-time, except for July and August when the officer would be on regular road patrols.
The district and village are trying to determine the cost. Nenni this evening told the Village Board he believes the cost of the officer, salary and benefits, is $81,250.
Kendall and Lyndonville have both added school resource officers this school year and are paying the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office $100,000 to have a deputy assigned to each district. Medina Central School pays the Village of Medina $60,000 to have an officer assigned to the district during the school year.
Nenni said members of the school district will help determine which officer would work at the district. He said a new position would be created in the department and the position would be posted through Civil Service.
“The officer works for us but he is a resource for the district,” Nenni told the Village Board this evening. “I think it would be an amazing thing.”
The police chief said the officer would provide security for the district, and he sees the role of “relationship building” as another big benefit of having an officer devoted to the schools.
Nenni said he is pleased with the reception from the district. He is hopeful the school resource officer can be a long-term position.
“Things are great right now with the partnership between us and them,” he said.
Brown, the Board of Education president, said the board will likely discuss the position during its next meeting on Monday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 September 2018 at 6:24 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Angie Wolfe is pictured with her 6-year-old son, Caleb, during a spaghetti dinner benefit and basket raffle today at the Albion Elks Club. Her friends, family and co-workers at Albion Central School organized the event to help her while she battles breast cancer.
Wolfe, a kindergarten teacher at Albion, was diagnosed with cancer in March. She had surgery in April and went through chemotherapy from May until her last treatment on Sept. 4.
She is hopeful she can return to the classroom in October or November. She also will be undergoing immunotherapy which she said shouldn’t be as taxing as chemo.
“I am absolutely amazed by the love and support from the community,” Wolfe said at a packed Elks Club. “I had a lot of happy tears today.”
Angie Wolfe, 42, gets a hug from third grader Julia Graham. Wolfe grew up in Albion and has taught at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School for 18 years, the first five as a first grade teacher and the last 13 in kindergarten.
Many of her former students and their families attended today’s benefit.
“I love my job,” Wolfe said. “I love the kids and they are giving back today.”
The community donated about 200 baskets that were raffled off.
Lisa Wilson, Myleigh Miller and Damian Wilson (Lisa’s son) volunteered at the front table. Lisa has known Angie Wolfe since they were in second grade. Lisa considers Angie an aunt to her children. Lisa helped organize today’s benefit and she said people were eager to donate to the effort.
“So many kids love her,” Wilson said. “She makes learning fun for them. She makes all of the kids feel special.”
Cindy Newlands, left, and Joyce Allport were among the many volunteers in the kitchen. They served 400 spaghetti dinners by 5 p.m., with an hour still to go.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 September 2018 at 8:11 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A pep band of current students and alumni added to the fun atmosphere on Friday evening when Albion beat Depew, 35-0, during a game at homecoming. Albion is now 4-0 on the season.
Hannah Olles, 7, joins her mother, Marissa Olles, in the alumni stand, where purple beads, popcorn and Albion Purple Eagle merchandise were in demand.
The varsity team takes the field and heads through a balloon arch held up by the cheerleaders.
For more coverage of the game, click here to go to Local Sports.
ALBION – Albion celebrated a festive homecoming week this week with a pep rally and the crowning of the homecoming court. Pictured from left include: McKenna Boyer (Queen), Harrison Brown (King), Ryan Krenning (Prince), Alaina Fleming (Princess), Bailey Blanchard (Duke), Faith Woody (Duchess), Leah Pritchard (Lady) and Tyler Gibson (Lord).
ALBION – Albion seventh-graders Finn McCue, left, and Jett Conn are pictured on the Erie Canal towpath by the Gaines Basin Road bridge. A new path from the towpath to the road was recently created by the State Canal Corporation.
Students in the seventh grade service learning class urged the canal to create the path. Panek Farms allowed the Canal Corp. to clear the path so people could more easily get on the towpath.
The area nearby has some tourism potential. A historic marker noting the northernmost point on the canal is on the towpath, just west of the bridge. A historic cobblestone schoolhouse also is near the canal on Gaines Basin Road.
Finn McCue, left, and Jett Conn repainted the letters on the sign for Tanner Cemetery, a burial site for many pioneer and early residents. The cemetery is on Route 31, across from Mount Albion. The Town of Albion maintains the cemetery and donated supplies for the students to work on the sign.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 September 2018 at 8:20 am
Former mayoral candidate worries exemption will shift more burden to other taxpayers
ALBION – The Albion Village Board approved a tax exemption for veterans last week that will save eligible veterans about $100 a year in their village taxes.
Mayor Eileen Banker said veterans are deserving of the tax break. It won’t take effect for about two years, she said.
“This is something we feel we should do,” she said during a public hearing last Wednesday.
The board approved the exemption despite concerns from two residents that the exemptions would cause taxes to increase for other residents.
Joyce Riley and Jason Dragon, who both ran for the Village Board in March, said Albion village taxpayers are already burdened with one of the highest tax rates in the area. The board shouldn’t have approved the veterans’ exemptions without a plan to reduce the taxes for all residents, said Riley, who ran for mayor in March.
“It shouldn’t be an add-on for those of us paying the full tax burden,” she said. “Our taxes are substantially high. Until our tax burden comes down then we could look at those things (exemptions).”
Banker said the exemptions’ impact on taxes are about equal to each person in the village buying a large pizza. The village’s tax assessments went up in the current budget and she is optimistic more home repairs will keep the tax base growing, which should keep the tax rate in check.
The village tax rate for 2018-19 is $17.73 per $1,000 of assessed property, which compares with $14.12 in Lyndonville, and $15.65 in Holley. In Medina, property owners in Ridgeway pay a $18.71-rate while in Shelby the village rate is $17.18.
Dragon, a village trustee candidate in March, said Albion needs to make significant reductions in the tax rate to be attractive for residents and businesses.
Similar-size villages in other counties that offer similar services as Albion have lower tax rates. In Brockport, the rate is $11.98. In Le Roy the rate is $10.71.
Earl Schmidt, director of the Veterans Service Agency in Orleans County, has been pushing the Albion Village Board for two tax exemptions for veterans.
Schmidt said there are 179 veterans in the village that would be eligible for an Alternative Veterans Maximum Exemption.
Albion approved that exemption at three categories: Wartime – 15 percent off or $6,000 maximum; Combat – 10 percent or $10,000 maximum; Disability 50 percent off or $20,000 maximum.
The Village Board also approved an exemption for Cold War Veterans at 10 percent off or a maximum $6,000 reduction off their assessment. There are 13 veterans in the village that would be eligible for that benefit.
If a veteran was approved for the $6,000 exemption, it would lower the taxable assessment by $6,000. With the tax rate at $17.73, the exemption would save the veteran $106.38 on the village tax bill.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 September 2018 at 10:54 pm
Ride 4 Life spent part of day speaking to jail inmates about overcoming addiction and hopelessness
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Scott Caraboolad, leader of the Ride 4 Life stunt bike ministry, is shrouded in smoke near the end of a stunt bike show on a closed off section of East State Street in front of the Orleans County Courthouse.
Caraboolad and three other daring riders performed many tricks on their motorcycles in front of a crowd of about 400 people. They also performed at Kendall Junior-Senior High School on Friday afternoon. Caraboolad also went inside the Orleans County Jail to speak with inmates on Friday morning.
He believes in second chances, and urged people to not give up on others or themselves.
Caraboolad does one of his many stunts on a motorcycle in front of a crowd of about 400 people.
The motorcycle star lived a troubled life as a drug addict and alcoholic, and was jailed on several occasions for breaking the law. The Akron, Ohio resident shares a message about overcoming addiction and hopelessness. He said he nearly committed suicide on Oct. 4, 2011. That day he turned to God and has been striving to live as a Christian.
He now runs the Ride 4 Life ministry that visits schools, prisons and also does other community events.
Caraboolad burns a tire that left red smoke in the air.
He said Friday’s motorcycle show, which included three other riders, was “a celebration of life and a celebration of the future.” He urged people struggling with addiction or misery to find help.
Several churches in the county, agencies and other service providers attended the event to offer assistance to people seeking help.
Ride 4 Life will do three more shows on Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. as part of “Hope Fest” at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville. There is no admission charge to see the event.
The Ride 4 Life team greeted spectators along West State Street.
This member of Ride 4 Life does a wheelie in front of the crowd.
The red smoke is new to the show the year. Ride 4 Life also performed in Orleans County last October. The group was at Lyndonville Central School on Thursday morning morning and then did a community event in Medina on Thursday evening.
The motorcycles were very loud at times. There were ear plugs available.
Caraboolad had an altar call and about 25 people responded, saying they want to the power of Christ to help live a transformed life.
The Ride 4 Life team signs posters for fans after the show.
Giavanni Lamartina enjoyed a chance to climb on one of the motorcycles.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Main Street in Albion is shown Wednesday evening near the Bank Street intersection.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 September 2018 at 1:05 pm
Restriping the road, with narrower driving lanes, would help businesses, downtown merchant says
ALBION – A downtown Albion business owner said Main Street in Albion is striped in a way that speeds up traffic and makes for tight parking spaces along the street.
Adam Johnson, owner of the 39 Problems bar and restaurant, said the state Department of Transportation recently restriped the road and it makes it appear wider with 15-foot driving lanes. Johnson said other downtowns have lanes that are 10 to 12 feet wide. The narrower lanes act to slow down traffic and also give motorists more room to park cars on the street, he said.
“The DOT made Main Street a runway,” Johnson told the Albion Village Board.
He sent the Village Board a letter, asking the village to support new striping on the road, making the driving lanes narrower and allowing for more space for cars to park.
Johnson isn’t pressing for the DOT to do the work right away. He wants to DOT to make the change the next time the street is redone with new paint.
The Village Board on Wednesday agreed to send a letter to the DOT, requesting the change suggested by Johnson.
“If we had narrower traffic lanes it would slow down traffic and make the businesses more noticed,” Johnson said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 September 2018 at 9:24 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Betterment Committee on Wednesday presented a landscape award to the Albion Village Board for its support of flowers in the downtown and on Main Street. The Village Board, in turn, presented a citation to village resident and downtown business owner Lisa Stratton, who coordinates the efforts to have flowers in the downtown and organizes volunteers to have them watered on the weekends.
Pictured, from left, include: Joe Gehl, a director with the Betterment Committee; Lisa Stratton, president of the Albion Merchants Association; Eileen Banker, Albion mayor; and Gary Derwick, a director with the Betterment Committee.
The Betterment Committee said the flowers are a real positive in the business district for the community.
“It’s a real effort by the village and by some individuals,” Derwick said.
The Betterment Committee in the past five years has presented landscaping awards to Burger King, Albion Agencies, Suburban Electric and Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes.
In the citation for Stratton, the Village Board stated that she is “an exceptional person, who is worthy of the esteem of the community.” The board said that Stratton spends “countless hours” planning events, promoting businesses, and organizing the downtown flower effort in planters and hanging baskets.
Stratton organized having flowers planted in these planters by the municipal parking lot for the first time this year.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 September 2018 at 11:14 am
ALBION – The Village Board will have a public hearing today at 6 p.m. on whether to offer a property tax exemption for veterans. If the veterans received a tax break, it would mean other village property owners would see an increase to make up the difference.
The board in January was asked to approve two tax exemptions for veterans. Earl Schmidt, director of the Veterans Service Agency in Orleans County, said then if the exemptions were passed by the Village Board, other village property owners would see their taxes increase by 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed property, or $18 for a house assessed at $60,000.
Schmidt asked that the Village Board to pass a veterans’ exemption that would provide about 15 percent off village taxes. Schmidt said there are 179 veterans in the village that would be eligible for that exemption.
He also asked that the village pass an exemption for Cold War era veterans that provides about 10 percent off taxes. There are 13 veterans in the village that would be eligible for that benefit, he said at the time.
With both exemptions, municipalities have the option of deciding maximum exemption levels so the amount of the exemptions can vary.
The hearing today is at the Village Hall, 35-37 East Bank St.
ALBION – The Albion First Baptist held its 2nd Annual Pet Blessing and outdoor worship service at 10 a.m. this past Sunday. Each pet in attendance received an individual blessing. And people attending the worship service were invited to take a goodie bag home to share with the pets in their lives.
A candle was lit in memory of all pets who passed away in the last year, and prayers were lifted up for all of God’s creatures and the people working to protect His creation. A special offering during the service raised $34 for P.A.W.S., a local animal shelter.
“Animals and people live and work side-by-side every day,” said the Rev. Aleka Schmidt, the church pastor. “It just makes sense to honor that special relationship and to thank God for the lives of our treasured companions and family members.”
The church hopes to expand its service next year to include pets and their people from across our community.
Danna DuSett brought two granddaughters and her Black Lab, Xena for a special blessing of the animals at the First Baptist Church on Sunday. Aleka Schmidt, the church pastor, is at left.
Prym and Danielle Schmidt, the pastor’s daughter, rode in the back of a mini van for the short trip from Batt’s W.A.R.M. B. Acres on the Gaines Road to the church at the corner of Park and Liberty Street.
The Schmidt family’s dog, Sheila, enjoyed an extra snuggle with her people while receiving a blessing from Pastor Aleka.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 September 2018 at 7:50 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A large American flag waves on Main Street on Tuesday evening during a memorial service on the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks when nearly 3,000 people were killed.
These Albion eighth-graders pass out American flags. They include from left Ashleigh Mowatt, Emilie Sitzer and Alexis Hess. They were later joined by McKenzie Olmsted in singing the National Anthem.
Gary Befus, a member of the American Legion in Albion, organized the memorial service. He said the terrorism attack was devastating with 2,753 killed in New York City, 184 in Washington DC, and 40 more when a plane crashed in rural Shanksville, Pa.
Gary Befus praised the continued service of local firefighters, law enforcement, paramedics and other first responders. Sue Maslyn of the Kendall Fire Department was among the many local firefighters who attended the service.
There were 343 firefighters and 72 police officers killed during the Sept. 11 terrorism attacks.
Orleans County Legislator Don Allport said the country was strongly united after the attacks 17 years ago. When Americans are together, nothing can defeat the country, he said.
“We must be Americans first,” he said. “We must stand united. America is under attack every day.”
Allport also said Orleans County is fortunate to have some many dedicated firefighters and first responders. “Imagine calling 911 and no one shows up,” he said. “But in Orleans County someone shows up. First responders are the very thin line between an organized society and chaos.”
These firefighters salute during the National Anthem. Fritz Neidert of Albion is at center and Doug Jones of Kendall is at right.
Members of the Honor Guard do a 21-gun salute under direction of Phil Warne, right.
Don Snyder, a chaplain for the Sheriff’s Office, praised the service of the first responders, who sacrifice their time and lives, often a great emotional and physical cost.
“First responders are the very best of humanity,” Snyder said. “Orleans County is blessed with first responders who serve in emergency medicine, fire and law enforcement. Our first responders, without hesitation, respond to any need that presents itself.”
This group waves the American flag during the conclusion of the program.
Albion firefighter Al Cheverie stands on a closed off section of Main Street to get a photo of the flag, which was held high by the ladder trucks from the Albion and Medina fire departments.
Al Cheverie used his phone to get a photo of the large American flag.
Jeremy Graham of the Albion Fire Department helps to fold the giant flag.
These firefighters fold the flag. They include Jeremy Graham, Jan Cheverie and Gregg Marston of Albion, and Brad Mahnke of Medina.
Photo courtesy of Peggy Barringer: The Albion High School Class of 1978 held its 40th Class Reunion on Saturday at the St. Mary’s Archery Club in Waterport. A total of 60 classmates attended.
The reunion committee invited Arlene Sanger, the school’s former home economics teacher, to attend the reunion as an “honorary classmate” with her daughter, class member Paula Sanger Violo. The 92-year old Mrs. Sanger now resides in Plattsburgh. She retired in 1982 after teaching in Albion for 29 years.
Photo courtesy of Tom O’Hearn: Former home economics teacher Arlene Sanger gives class member Tom O’Hearn a few pointers on how to barbecue the chicken. She is also pictured in the class group photo in the middle of the 2nd row (seated).
