By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 July 2021 at 7:26 am
ALBION — A committee has approved divvying up $311,079 for building improvement projects at 10 locations in downtown Albion. The grants will fund up to 75 percent of the projects
The state allowed a maximum award of $50,000 per building owner for non-residential projects with residential projects eligible for up to $100,000 through the grant.
Albion’s Main Street grant is for $388,192 total and that includes $311,079 for building renovations, $47,613 for streetscape improvements, $25,000 for administration and $4,500 for architecture, engineering and environmental costs.
The village has contracted with J. O’Connell and Associates in Clarence to administer the grant. The projects need approval from the State Historic Preservation Office because the downtown is included on the National Register of Historic Places. The 10 projects are currently being reviewed by SHPO, Village Clerk/Treasurer Linda Babcock advised the Village Board on Tuesday.
That committee that approved the allocations includes Karen Conn, Code Enforcement Officer Kevin Sheehan, Tony Wynn, Planning Board Chairman Matt Hand, Mary Sullivan from the Village Clerk’s Office, Richard Nenni and Jeannette Riley.
10-12 North Main St. (John Brabon for apartments) – $67,930
The projects all need to be done within two years from the when the grant was awarded. That gives the building owners and village until March 31, 2023.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 July 2021 at 4:49 pm
Kevin Howard, mainstay for Lions Club, first honoree
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Kevin Howard, left, was presented with the inaugural “John Keding – Pride of the Pride Award” during Tuesday evening’s Albion Lions Club annual meeting.
The award was named in honor of John Keding, a Lions Club member for more than 50 years and a longtime local auto repair shop owner. He passed away at age 85 on Jan. 18. Howard is pictured with Keding’s wife, Pat, and their daughter Christine Buongiorne.
Kevin Howard and Mark Johnson work the grill during the Lions Club meeting which was held outside at the Elks.
Howard, a retired state trooper and former Albion town justice, has been a member of the Albion Lions Club for 15 years. He was praised for his willingness to cook food during Lions Club fundraisers. He also helps the first Friday each month for the Community Kitchen in Albion, when the Lions take a turn preparing the meals.
“It’s a way to give back to the community, and the this community has been very good to me,” Howard said.
The Lions Club isn’t a demanding commitment, he said.
“It’s fun and you get to see a lot of people,” Howard said.
The award winner also helps with cleanup projects, and brings a positive attitude.
“He is very hardworking and fun to be around,” said Mary Janet Sahukar, the club secretary. “He keeps things moving.”
The club also installed its officers for 2021-22, including from left: Dan Conrad, president; Mary Janet Sahukar, secretary; Lloyd Wright, treasurer; and Ron Albertson, vice president.
Conrad said the club wanted to honor Keding with the Pride of the Pride Award.
“That man was Mr. Lion,” Conrad said. “I could be a Lion the rest of my life and not fill his shoes.”
The club on Tuesday also welcomed two new members: Ben Lennox and Jonathan Doherty.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 July 2021 at 9:56 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Serenity Acres brought horses, goats, a donkey and a dog to Hoag Library today as part of the “Tails and Tales” summer reading program.
The top photo shows River Marat, 10, riding the horse owned by Dona Scharping of Serenity Acres.
Hoag will have animals visiting the library outside on many upcoming Tuesdays, including calves at 11 a.m. on July 20 from Poverty Hill Farms in Albion, birds at 11 a.m. on July 27 from the Braddock Bay Raptors, and 4-H Small Animal Friends at 11 a.m. on Aug. 3.
These kids check out the goats visiting today.
Tanya Bjornstad and her daughter Alice get a close look at the donkey.
Jenna Uderitz, 5, of Albion gets a ride on one of the horses.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 July 2021 at 10:58 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – These two cyclists approach Albion this morning and are greeted by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus portrayed by Bob and Kathy Schumacher of Medina.
There are 350 cyclists peddling along the Erie Canal Towpath today. They started in medina and headed east to Fairport.
The 23rd annual Cycle the Erie Canal event started Sunday morning in Buffalo and concludes July 18 in Albany. The cyclists ride about 40 to 60 miles each day.
Last year’s event was cancelled as a group due to Covid-19 restrictions. This year’s group is about half the size of the 650 to 700 that typically ride.
Walter Mayo, 74, of Derby in Erie County is riding in the event for the sixth time. He stopped for a photo of the Santa and Mrs. Claus, who promoted Albion for its distinction as the home to the world’s first Santa Claus School.
The cyclists were also directed to check out two nearby Santa murals.
Mayo said he has rode 2,000 miles since January to prepare for the week-long bike trip along the canal.
“I love it,” he said. “This is the best organized bike trip I’ve been on and it’s in New York.”
Kevin Bedard, 70, of Holley is riding the trip for the second time, and first since 2003.
“It’s the camaraderie of being with people from all over the country,” Bedard said. “And I’m proud of our area. Western New York has the best section of the canal.”
The cyclists stop in front of Tinsel and the Lockstone, where there were free bananas, oranges and bottles of water. The Downtown Browsery also offered free blinking lights to put on the bikes. Many of the cyclists were happy to hop off their bikes and look around the downtown area.
Natasha Wasuck, owner of The Lockstone and Tinsel, organized the welcome for the cyclists in Albion this morning. Holley is an official welcome stop 10 miles to the east of Albion.
Wasuck said she enjoys meeting the cyclists, who this year are from 34 states.
“it’s just fun to meet all of these people who are from so many states,” she said. “”It’s just exciting. You don’t see 300 cyclists all together.”
Stan Farone, right, of Albion is doing the ride for the fourth time. Farone, an Albion village trustee, said he has made friends with many of the cyclists who come back year after year.
Sunday was a tough day to ride due to the rain, and Farone said there was wind and mud on the towpath this morning.
But the riders didn’t seem discouraged.
“I like doing it and meeting the people,” Farone said. “I’ve got to do it while I’m still young. I’m 71.”
Albion police officers Will Francis and Jessica Saraceno stop traffic so this cyclist, Daniel Pilliard of Missouri, can cross Main Street.
These cyclists head east from Albion this morning after already riding 10 miles from Medina. The group will stay overnight in Fairport in tents.
Lowell Pilliard, 18, poses for a photo with his grandfather, Daniel Pilliard, 70. They drove 18 hours from Missouri for the cycling event. Lowell has done two other long bike trips in his home state, while his grandfather has been on group excursions in several countries.
“It’s great exercise and you get to see a lot of stuff,” said Daniel Pilliard. “I love it. It’s a great time.”
This cyclist walks across the Main Street lift bridge after visiting the downtown in Albion. The riders this year range from age 12 to 88.
Nina Sharrock of Bergen County, NJ, wanted to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Sharrock said the bike ride is enjoyable for people who aren’t necessarily hardcore cyclists.
“This is a little less challenging and a lot more fun,” she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 July 2021 at 5:04 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Betty Sue Miller, director of Hoag Library, is shown with the library’s new book vending machine. A $10,000 grant from Xerox paid for the machine as well as many books to be given away.
The library will give away the books through tokens. Those tokens will be given to children 12 and under who will be eligible to receive books on their birthdays. (The library’s has had a birth to age 5 book program for children to receive a book near Christmas and on their birthdays. That is funded by an anonymous donor.)
The vending machine accepts tokens, and then gives out books selected by the reader.
Miller also wants to connect with local coaches, teachers and others who work with youth. The library wants those adults to give out tokens for free books as a reward for children. Miller welcomes coaches and other adults who work with youth to stop by the library for tokens.
The Xerox grant is big enough to pay for another restocking of books, Miller said.
Elissa Nesbitt, a former library trustee, secured the grant from Xerox.
The vending machine includes a specially designed wrap with the Hoag Library name and quotes picked by the library, including:
“Reading for me, is spending time with a friend.” – Gary Paulsen
“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.” – Dr. Seuss
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” – Frederick Douglass
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 July 2021 at 11:11 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Jahmeek Riley plays a creative game of HORSE with Randy during today’s opening day of the summer parks program in Albion at Bullard Park.
Last year’s program was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. This year the program will run for four weeks, Mondays through Fridays, until July 30.
There will be park supervisors on duty from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with many games, activities and other programs. Parents and guardians can sign up children on site. They can print out the form online at the Village of Albion website. Immunization records also need to be provided and the program will follow state guidelines for summer park programs.
The parks program will be based at Bullard Park on Route 31 and will include the new splash pad.
These sisters, Ashlee (left) and Haylee Young, have fun at the new splash pad. They are from Charlotte, NC and are visiting family in Medina.
The two sisters get soaked at the splash pad. The splash pad is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Photos courtesy of Hoag Library: Pictured include George and Marie Follett, who are seated. In back from left include Eric Coontz, Susan Follett Delamarter, Karen Follett and Erica Helm.
ALBION – Friends and family of George and Marie Follett on Wednesday gathered at Hoag Library to dedicate the “George and Marie Follett Music Collection” now housed at Hoag Library and available for circulation within the NIOGA Library System.
Karen Follett donated the 200 music books in honor of her parents, George and Marie Follett. Those books include biographies, books on theory and form, and music history.
The couple, which just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, both worked for Albion Central School. Mr. Follett was a school psychologist and Mrs. Follett was a music teacher.
Library Director Betty Sue Miller thanked the family for making this valuable and unique asset available to the community, while others in attendance shared how George and Marie’s love of music impacted their lives.
“The Follett Music Collection is given in honor of George & Marie Follett, two long-time members of the Albion community who have devoted their careers to education, inspiring many with their love of music,” the display notes. “An avid fan of Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms, George’s love of music enriched his years as a school psychologist and teacher of the occasional music appreciation course. Marie taught music to generations of students in the Albion Central Schools, and helped build secure foundations for the continued excellence of music programs throughout the district.”
The Follett family was joined by library staff, board members and two former students – Susan Boring and Gary Simboli – who went on to become music teachers.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 30 June 2021 at 10:30 am
ALBION – The past year was a very difficult one for Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, dealing with a pandemic, the passing of the former executive director and a good deal of turnover in key positions, new executive director Renee Hungerford told a packed room during an in-service event June 18 at Maison Albion for agency staff.
“We have themed the event, ‘A New Day,’” Hungerford said. “After all this, we are ready for a new beginning. It’s a new day.”
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Renee Hungerford, director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, confers with Sean Ossont, president of Continual Care Solutions, whose new program ImPowr was presented at Community Action’s in-service event June 18 at Maison Albion.
The program focused on how Community Action is one agency that works together with partners to help people become self sufficient and rise up out of poverty.
A highlight of the day was a presentation by personnel of Continual Care Solutions, who have developed a program called ImPowr to simplify correlating data from each department.
Continual Care Solutions CEO Mike Kamish started his company three years ago. He designed ImPowr to cover all programs and services Community Action offers.
“It has the ability to do everything your agency has to do, all in one data base,” he said.
The morning began with opening remarks from Hungerford, and Community Action’s board chair Barb Shine and ROMA training by Jackie Orr, New York State Community Action Association CEO. ROMA, Results Oriented Management and Accountability is required by the state for all Community Actions.
Skip Helfrich, head of Leadership Orleans, led several team building activities.
After lunch catered by Chaps’ Elba Diner, a tribute to former director Ed Fancher, who died May 20, 2020.
Orr, Bonnie Malakie, director of Children’s and Youth Services, and Annette Finch, director of Emergency Services, presented a tribute to former director Ed Fancher was presented by
Orr, who read a poem she had written, while Finch and Malakie shared their memories of working for Fancher, who passed away from cancer on May 24, 2020.
Annette Finch, a 44-year employee of Community Action, is silhouetted against the screen showing the late director Ed Fancher with Assemblyman Stephen Hawley. Tears were shed as Finch paid tribute to Fancher, who passed away from cancer on May 24, 2020. Fancher was the agency’s executive director and worked for Community Action for 32 years.
“I talk from my heart,” Finch said. “I had started at Community Action in 1977 and in 1986 I got a call from Ed’s mother-in-law asked me if I could get Ed a job. She said he was just married and having a baby. I went to Mr. Pulley (director at the time) and told him Ed had been in the Marines and had done accounting. I asked what we could do about this young guy who wanted to work for us. Mr. Pulley asked me, ‘What do you think?’ I said, ‘I think we should give him a chance. Ed went on to become our executive director. We don’t want to go back in time, but we don’t want to forget the man Ed was.”
“I sit in my office and I see his chair. I talk to him, asking him to give guidance to us, to Renee and to the staff – to keep this agency’s mission. God love Mr. Pulley for bringing that wonderful man into our agency,” Finch added.
Malakie offered her remembrances.
“I know the reason you are all here is because your heart is in the right place. It’s hard to believe it’s been more than a year. I know what Ed would say. ‘Don’t talk about me for very long, if you have to talk about me at all.’ He was such a big part of our lives and Community Action. He truly loved Community Action, Head Start, the Main Street Store, all of which were under his leadership. He was a true servant leader. Nothing he expected you to do, he wouldn’t do himself.”
Malakie called Fancher consistent, humble, collaborative, committed, caring and giving.
“He did not like to be in the limelight,” she said. “He was highly respected in the community. He had been treasurer of every organization in the county, a Boy Scout leader, a member of the Albion Alumni Association, an active member of his church and its choir and member of many professional organizations.”
To be sure Fancher’s legacy is carried on, $5,000 in donations has been made to the Albion Alumni Association in his name. Steps are being taken to make sure the new Ed Fancher Memorial Scholarship Fund becomes endowed. A $2,500 per year scholarship will exemplify his life of service as director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee. It will be awarded after a student completes one year of college, having maintained a 3.0 GPA.
“As you go forward in 2021-22, don’t think about the past,” Malakie concluded. “It is what it is. It’s a ‘New Day.’”
The day concluded with recognition of employees for their years of service. Recipients who would have been honored in 2020 for 2019 were Lisa Church and Edna Schramm, 20 years; Cheryl Bartz and Judy Martino, 15 years; Joe Wright, 10 years; and Brenda Cook, Rachael Escobar, Teri Lester and Barb Miller, five years.
Those recognized from 2020 were Heidi Wyant, 30 years; Cathy Brien, 25 years; Lisa Church. Edma Schramm, Bonnie Malakie and David Laraby, 20 years; Ken Pritt, 15 years; Carrie Moreland and Taryn Moyle, 10 years; and Julie Bailey, Virgie Brooks, Michelle Figueroa, Erin Mattison, Jessa Pollock and Tami Slingerland, five years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 June 2021 at 5:36 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
GAINES – Jessica Capurso, left, is handed the president’s gavel last week from outgoing president Alex Krebs during a Rotary Club meeting held outside under a tent at the Cobblestone Museum.
Capurso works as director of Outreach, Education and Marketing at Community Partners for Orleans Community Health.
It was a difficult year for the Rotary Club, with the club meeting through Zoom video conferencing and most of its fundraisers and community events cancelled due to Covid-19.
The club recently returned to in-person meetings for Thursdays at lunch. Those are currently being held at the Cobblestone Museum. People can still participate through Zoom.
The Rotary Club is looking forward to its upcoming golf tournament on July 15 at Shelridge Country Club. Golfers can still sign up at $90. Call or text (585) 703-3159 or (585) 261-2307 for more information. Proceeds from the tournament will go towards the Leadership Orleans program and a transportation program through Office for the Aging.
The Rotary Club also recently welcomed two new members – Robert Batt and Laura Olinger. Batt is executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County and Olinger is owner and president of Bentley Brothers.
The changing of the guard meeting last week included a remembrance for four people who have recently passed away who were influential with the Rotary Club.
The club reflected on the lives of the late Ed Fancher, Al Capurso and Rollie Kast, who were all dedicated community members. The club also highlighted the late Patricia Shelp, wife of long-time Rotarian Brad Shelp. Mrs. Shelp was a Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary’s highest award. She was a dedicated Albion school teacher, speech therapist and librarian.
“All loved their families and the community and exemplified the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self,’” said Rotarian Bonnie Malakie.
Photos courtesy of Albion Central School: A third-grader works on painting a Little Free Library, one of three that will be at the school district.
Posted 29 June 2021 at 11:41 am
Press Release, Albion Central School
ALBION – As the school year was wrapping up, so too did three service-learning projects in Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School.
Melody Vanacore, Sarah Jones, and Kyle Syck were in charge of creating Little Free Libraries, Amanda Flagler and her students researched birds and created birdhouses for the nature trail, and finally Kyle Syck and Eric Johns have been working on maintaining the nature trail.
The Little Free Libraries were created from recycled materials by Mr. Syck’s high school woodworking class. Syck, Jones, and Vanacore planned what the libraries would look like and what they would need, sourcing the materials from leftover pieces of other projects. Third-graders then painted the libraries and helped to fill them with donations from the community and the school.
One of the libraries will be outside the Elementary School by the second grade door, one outside the school’s East Gym, and one on the nature trail.
A student in Mr. Kyle Syck’s class works on the nature trail.
The nature trail is currently being maintained as part of a second service-learning project by Mr. Syck, Mr. Johns, Elementary School Assistant Principal Kevin Beaumont, and some high school students. This is phase one of a progressive project which will take years to complete. The students and staff have worked on widening the trail, putting down wood chips, and have removed trees, rocks and other debris from the trail.
According to Mr. Syck, in addition to the community using the trail, the Purple Eagle Cross Country team uses the trail for practice and mentioned that they would sometimes trip due to it being uneven and tripping hazards for the runners. Seeking a solution, Mr. Syck and his students reached out to potential donors for truckloads of wood chips. While they waited for the donations, Albion FFA donated bales of hay to put down before the chips. Moving forward, Mr. Syck says he and Mr. Johns plan to add identification signs for some of the trees lining the trail.
These students and teacher Amanda Flagler created birdhouses for the nature trail.
In addition to a Little Free Library being placed along the nature trail, Mrs. Flagler’s fourth-graders have hung bird feeders along a mile of the circuit. The students researched local birds that frequent the woods and worked on painting and decorating the birdhouses. Mrs. LeBaron’s class joined Mrs. Flagler’s students as they placed the houses and helped to identify any birds they saw along the way.
Every year, the district asks our new teachers to complete a service-learning project before they are able to get approved for tenure. All of these projects are sponsored and coordinated by Albion Central School District’s Service-Learning program.
These students work on the Little Free Library project.
