By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 June 2018 at 11:43 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The summer park supervisors in Albion include, front row, from left: Kyle Smith, Kendall Eibl, Kiara Smith, Charlyne Olick and Sarah Graham. Back row: Alex DeSmit, Gerardo Solis, Kyle Thaine, Owen Foos, Lauren Freeman and Kaitlyn Van Skiver. Missing from photo: Preston Flugel.
ALBION – The Village of Albion will run a six-week summer parks program beginning June 20 through July 27.
The village will have paid park supervisors on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bullard Park and Pee Wee Park, which is part of Bullard on Route 31, at the east end of the village. There will be recreational and arts and crafts activities available for free for boys and girls, ages 5 to 16. The program is open to children in the Albion Central School district.
Parents and guardians are urged to attend registration the first week of the parks program to meet the supervisors and fill out important paperwork.
The parks program will also offer the following camps: tennis for grades 5-12 from June 25-29; wrestling for grades 6-12 from July 2-6; volleyball for grades 6-12 from July 2-6; baseball for grades 4-8 from July 9-13; and tennis for grades 5-12 from July 16-20.
John Grillo is the recreation director. This summer’s program has added weekly fitness challenges as well as special events, including presentations from the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and the Genesee-Orleans Youth Bureau on making good choices.
The annual senior citizen picnic will be July 24 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Children’s Carnival will be July 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Two bicyclists from York, Pa., ride on the Erie Canal Towpath in Albion last Nov. 2 when a contractor was in the area removing trees alongside the canal. The Canal Corporation said the tree stumps will be removed after the navigational season ends on Oct. 10. Besides removing the stumps, the areas where trees were removed will have grass planted.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 June 2018 at 10:23 am
Residents share displeasure about tree-clearing
Brian Stratton, director of the Canal Corp., told the group at the Hoag Library that the tree removal was necessary to keep the canal safe.
ALBION – Canal Corp. officials agreed with local residents that the embankments where trees were cut down last fall are still an unsightly mess.
It’s going to look bad for most of the rest of 2018, Canal Corp. officials said on Wednesday during a meeting at Hoag Library.
But it will start to look better not long after when the canal’s navigational system ends on Oct. 10. The Canal Corp. is working on a contract to have the stumps and root systems removed, and also to have grass or a “grassy material” planted on the slopes, said John Callaghan, the canal’s deputy director.
The tree removal started last October when the Canal Corp. hired Mohawk Valley Materials from Utica to remove trees on 146 acres of canal-owned land from Medina to Fairport. The loss of trees upset many residents who lost privacy and felt the canal was diminished with the trees chopped down.
Bruce Schmidt of Gaines told the Canal Corp. during Wednesday’s meeting that the public and local elected officials were caught off guard by the tree clearing.
“A lot of this was a surprise to people,” Schmidt said.
He urged the Canal Corp. to share more details with the next phases of the “vegetative management plan.”
David Mellen, director of construction management for the Canal Corporation, said the Canal Corp. has held six public meetings now about the project. The Canal Corp. values the public input, he said.
David Mellen, director of construction management for the Canal Corporation, said the Canal Corp. would have been “reckless” to allow the trees along the embankment.
During Wednesday’s meeting Mellen went over why the tree cutting was necessary, especially in Orleans County where 50 acres of trees were removed. Mellen said many sections of the canal in Orleans were identified as high risk for compromised embankments due to tall trees right by the canal. Those trees have roots that burrow deep in the soil, making the canal vulnerable to leaks and potentially to catastrophic blowouts, he said.
Brian Stratton, director of the canal Corp., noted the canal was originally built about 200 years ago, from 1817 and 1825. It was last expanded in 1918. Trees in the past century have sprouted up on embankments, which makes the canal vulnerable, not only from the roots but in case a tree topples over.
“We want to make sure the canal continues to go, that it continues to be beautiful, and that it continues to be safe,” Stratton told about 60 people in a packed meeting room at the library.
This rendering from the Canal Corp. shows a compromised canal with tree roots burrowing into the soil.
This rendering shows the preferred condition of embankments without any trees.
The tree clearing made it to Spencerport until being halted in early February after a lawsuit from the towns of Brighton, Pittsford and Perinton.
The contractor was able to complete about 65-70 percent of phase 1 of the tree removal until the work was stopped, Mellen said.
The company has some cleanup work that remains in Orleans County and Brockport. It has until June 30 to finish the work. That doesn’t include stump removal and grass plantings, which are part of phase 2.
Residents asked if more trees will come in Orleans County by the canal. Mellen said all of the trees identified as high risk have been removed from the county. No more are planned to be cut down.
Bruce Schmidt of Gaines said residents and elected officials weren’t fully aware of the impact of the tree removal.
The Canal Corp. was asked about the loss of privacy and if any new screening will be added. Callaghan, the Canal Corp. deputy director, said the agency will put in smaller trees away from the embankment for screening. The Canal Corp. will meet with homeowners on a case by case basis, with input from arborists.
One canal resident in Knowlesville said her house sits below the canal and the tree clearing has left her property exposed.
“It’s just horrible coming home from work everyday and seeing my home,” she said. “It’s annihilated.”
John Callaghan, the canal’s deputy director, said embankments will look better after this navigational season. He went over some of the next steps, including stump removal and backfill of voids. There will be grading, seeding, some drainage construction, and vegetative screening. The Canal Corp. also wants to add more access points so towpath users aren’t cutting through private backyards.
Lynn Hill, a Barre town councilman, said the Canal Corp. shouldn’t have left embankments in such an unsightly condition this year. He was angry with the lack of specifics in how the Canal Corp. plans to create grassy slopes where the trees used to stand.
“The place looks like hell right now with just stumps hanging there and no vegetation,” Hill said. “There’s no going back. You’ve cut down the trees.”
Mellen said the details of the next contract are being worked out. The contract will be approved with work to start in the fall after the canal navigational season ends and water is drained from the system.
Many of the Canal Corp.’s top leaders were at the meeting in Albion. They were thanked for their presence by Albion Mayor Eileen Banker and Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature. They asked that the Canal Corp. consider residents’ concerns in the next phases.
Paul Hendel, a member of the Murray Town Board and chairman of the Orleans Economic Development Agency, said the canal is a critical resource for the county and effects many businesses.
Holley Mayor Brian Sorochty said the tree-clearing has made other trees vulnerable to strong winds.
Hendel told the Canal Corp. that the EDA and local communities want to be partners in realizing the potential of the canal as an economic driver.
Johnson noted the county and the Village of Medina will be developing comprehensive plans to realize the potential of the canal as a cultural, economic and tourism attraction.
Brian Sorochty, the Village of Holley mayor, said some of the canal neighbors in Holley have lost additional trees since the tree-clearing. The canal trees provided a buffer and wind break for trees by homes. Once the buffer was gone, other trees were more vulnerable. Sorochty said three of his trees have toppled from wind since the canal trees were removed, and one of his neighbors has lost several trees.
“There are ramifications and it’s not just privacy,” Sorochty said. “There is now a wind issue. It’s noticeably different and it’s forever changed.”
Callaghan said the Canal Corp. is determined to address residents’ concerns.
“We have a ‘If we broke it, we’ll fix it’ mentality,” he said. “Our goal is to make the residents more safe.”
Photo by Tom Rivers: Alec Sherman, son of the late Moses Sherman, holds an album from a 1965 band concert led by his father when he was Albion’s band teacher. Moses Sherman had albums produced each year to promote pride in the band and raise funds for uniforms and equipment.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2018 at 11:26 am
Moses Sherman taught at Albion from 1950 to 1975.
ALBION – Moses Sherman was a high-energy band director for Albion from 1950 to 1975. He was a big promoter of Albion’s bands and had concerts recorded as albums to raise funds for the program.
The albums and concerts weren’t limited to the Purple Eagles. Sherman reached out to his friends who led strong programs and they performed at Albion. That includes the Holley Hawks state champion band that was led by Ray Shahin.
Those vinyl records from 40 to 50 years ago have been tucked away in Alec Sherman’s home. About two years ago he thought there might be interest in the community if the records were digitally remastered and released as CDs. Frank Zicari of Albion, a former band student with Moses Sherman, has spent more than a year on the project, re-recording the music and eliminating some of the scratches.
“He was very meticulous,” Alec Sherman said about Zicari. “It was a very time-consuming job.”
Zicari was able to digitally remaster eight of the albums, ranging from 1964 to 1974.
The albums include two from 1964: The Concert of Champions, including The Albion Grenadiers, The Irondequoit Crusaders, Holley Hawks, and The Albion Purple Eagles Marching Band, and the 1964 Spring Concert. Zicari also has remastered CDs from the 1965 Spring Concert, 1967 Spring Concert, 1968 Spring Concert, 1969 Spring Concert, 1973 concerts and 1974 concerts.
Alec Sherman has CDs available of Albion band concerts from about half century ago.
Alec Sherman 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.
“It was his baby,” Alec said. “It was his life.”
At times during a 25-year career at Albion, his father led the marching band, the concert band, the senior band, a dance band, intermediate band for seventh- and eighth-graders and even the elementary band.
Moses Sherman was a creative fundraiser, using the albums to generate money for the program. There were also many bake sales and dances – “whatever they could do to raise funds for uniforms,” Alec said.
The remastered CDs are available for $35 each and Sherman will use 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.
Moses 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.
He pulled out a news clipping from 1964 which showed the band came in fifth out of 53 youth bands that competed in Toronto. According to the article, the band had 84 musicians, 17 in color guard and seven twirlers. In 1972, Sherman took the band to England for a competition.
The annual spring concerts were a big deal, too. Sherman not only had other top-ranked local bands join Albion, but he also brought in professional musicians. The May 23, 1969 concert included Dr. Leonard B. Smith, director of the Detroit Concert Band and an “eminent cornet virtuoso.” Rafael Mendez, a professional trumpet player from California, also played in Albion.
“He wanted to show the kids if you work hard, some day you might be able to do what these guys do,” said Alec, who is a retired U.S. history teacher at Albion. He also coached basketball, softball and track.
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.
Provided photos: Megan Gotte is pictured with her husband Jason, their sons – Jax, 7, and Leo, 5 – and their dog, Lila Rose.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2018 at 8:54 am
Megan Gotte works as nurse, and is active with PTA
Megan Gotte is pictured on Mother’s Day, after about a month of enduring chemotherapy.
GAINES – Megan Gotte has proven her devotion to others in her job as a registered nurse for HCR Home Care. She tends to patients in their homes in Orleans and Genesee counties. She was featured in many news stories after a blizzard on March 12, 2014, when she rode a snowmobile to visit homebound patients.
Gotte and her husband Jason have two young sons and she has been a regular volunteering in their prekindergarten and first grade classrooms on Fridays. She is active in the Albion PTA and often spends four nights a week at Bullard Park for coach pitch and T-Ball.
However, Gotte’s life changed about two months ago when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.
Her friends are planning a June 23 basket raffle and benefit for the Gotte family at the Medina Theater. The event will be from 3 to 9 p.m.
“We love her,” said her friend, Amy Ainsworth-Herman, a nurse at HCR. “She would do the same for us.”
Gotte, 40, has been diagnosed with Stage 3B triple negative breast cancer. Her cancer started out the size of a marble and grew to 9.5 centimeters in three weeks.
She will continue with chemotherapy every week through August and then will have a double mastectomy, followed by five to six weeks of radiation.
She is determined to beat the disease, saying she has every reason to live with sons Jax, 7, and Leo, 5.
Gotte had long curly hair two months ago. She is adjusting to the side effects of chemotherapy.
She said she is thankful HCR has allowed her to do a reduced workload from home. She can’t visit patients right now, and her compromised immune system is keeping her out of her kids’ classrooms as a volunteer.
Her family and friends have stepped up to help care for her children and get her to medical appointments.
“I have awesome friends,” Gotte said on Tuesday at her home on Kent Road.
One of the items that will be at the benefit on June 23 includes a breast cancer awareness cleat signed by Kyle Williams of the Buffalo Bills.
Gotte first worked as a nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital and then joined HCR about five years ago. Two of her nursing friends, Colleen Herriven and Amy Ainsworth-Herman, have been working on the benefit on June 23. Besides baskets up for raffle, there will be food and music from deejay JT Thomas.
A Facebook event’s page lists many of the items that will be available at the raffle including a breast cancer awareness cleat signed by Kyle Williams of the Buffalo Bills and an autographed hockey stick from Zach Bogosian of the Buffalo Sabres.
A GoFundMe also has been established to support the Gotte family to help with out-of-pocket medical costs and other expenses.
Megan Gotte’s friends have also made #GotteStrong stickers and shirts to support the family.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Bonnie Baldwin, an Albion sixth grade teacher, is hugged by Board of Education member Linda Weller after Baldwin was named the school district’s “Educator of the Year” on Monday. Wayne Wadhams, another BOE member, is at left.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 June 2018 at 8:18 am
Bonnie Baldwin lets out a big smile when congratulated by Margy Brown, president of the Board of Education.
ALBION – The school district honored a sixth grade teacher as the Educator of the Year for her commitment to helping all of her students learn, including those who are struggling the most.
Bonnie Baldwin has taught sixth grade English the past five years, and started her career with 14 years as a fifth grade teacher.
Baldwin has many strategies to engage students in the classroom, said Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent. Sixth grade is a transition year for students as they adjust to their first year in the middle school and more demanding school material.
When students struggle, Baldwin stays optimistic in helping students grow their confidence.
“She will find ways to engage them,” Bonnewell said on Monday during a recognition program for teachers and staff.
Margy Brown, the Board of Education president, said her family is forever grateful to Baldwin for helping one of Brown’s sons have a breakthrough in the classroom.
“She gave him the confidence to be successful,” Brown said.
Baldwin said she has been fortunate to have many mentors as teaching colleagues. She mentioned the late Leslie Kish and “an incredible team of fifth grade teachers” to start her career, including Susan Davis and Jennifer Ashbery. In the middle school, she worked next to Jonathan Sanford and other dedicated teachers in her “sixth grade family.”
“Each and every one of them has helped me to fully understand the educator I strive to be – one who is dedicated to helping each child discover his or her true potential and self-worth and to value the power of the written word,” Baldwin said.
The school district on Monday also recognized retiring teachers and staff including:
• Ann Capacci, physical education teacher in high school for 39 years, she also was a very successful volleyball and softball coach, leading Albion to 6 league titles and 3 sectional crowns in volleyball, and three championships in softball. Matt Peterson, the high school principal, praised Capacci “for her enormous heart and compassion for kids.”
• Nancy Wickman, high school chemistry and biology teacher for 34 years, had great camaraderie with the students. “Her passion for science is unmatched,” Peterson said.
• Lee Anne Jedamski, CSE secretary for 14 years
• Debbie Wood, physical teacher for 32 years in middle school
• Kim Toombs, family and consumer science teacher for 32 years in middle school
• Ralph Englert, sixth grade teacher for 33 years
• Doug Mergler, technology teacher for 33 years in middle school
• Carol Smith, cafeteria monitor for 26 years in middle school
• Sally Conley, cafeteria monitor for five years in middle school
• Carol Neibert, typist for more than 20 years in buildings and grounds
• Virginia Bauer, cleaner for more than five years in buildings and grounds
• Larry Gaylard, custodian for 24 years with buildings and grounds
• Linda Weller was also recognized for her five years of service on the Board of Education. She served on the district’s Wellness Committee, Process and Protocol Committee and was the district’s designee on the Hoag Library board of trustees. She also attended numerous programs through the New York State School Boards Association.
Nancy Wickman is retiring after 34 years of teaching high school science. She is shown with Matthew Peterson, the high school principal.
Larry Gaylord worked 24 years as a custodian for Albion. He is congratulated by David Sidari, a member of the Board of Education.
Deb Wood retired after last school year following 32 years as a physical education teacher. She also was a successful coach for Albion, winning more than 100 girls varsity basketball games. She also coached softball and golf.
Carol Smith was praised for 26 years of service as a cafeteria monitor. Margy Brown shows her a book that will be placed in the library in honor of Smith.
Kim Toombs is retiring as a middle school family and consumer science teacher. Brad Pritchard, the middle school principal, said Toombs has been a dedicated teacher who also inspires her students with community service. Since she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, she and her students have made several hundred pillows and ponchos for breast cancer patients in the Rochester area. Her classes have delivered the pillows and ponchos to the Pluta Cancer Center through Strong Memorial Hospital, the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, and Highland Hospital in Rochester.
The following teachers also attained tenure:
• Brooke Beatty, elementary school physical education
• Stephanie Schepis, elementary school classroom teacher
Photos by Tom Rivers: Save-A-Lot’s new owners and employees in Albion held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this afternoon at the store at 320 West Ave. They were joined by some local elected officials. Pictured from left includes: Co-owner Bill Larson; Rob Coyle, district manager for Save-A-Lot; Nancy Larson, Bill’s wife; Dylan Burkhardt, lead stock; Alyssa Kenward, front-end manager; Lura Kenward, store manager; Albion Mayor Eileen Banker; Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of Orleans County Legislature; co-owner John Hedlund; Gary Katsanis, Albion village trustee; and Mitchell Hedlund and Dustin Hedlund, both John Hedlund’s sons who are active in the business.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2018 at 9:10 pm
ALBION – The community can step inside the new Save-A-Lot store in Albion beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday and see how the store has been transformed since January by owners John Hedlund and Bill Larson.
The store used to have a red-color scheme and that has been replaced with blue and gray. The shelves have been replaced and they are shorter and the aisles are wider to give an open space feel, Hedlund said today before a ribbon-cutting celebration with local elected officials.
The Albion store is the first Save-A-Lot with the new store design.
Hedlund and Larson put in a new public bathroom and changed the former video store into an office and bagging area.
The owners have invested in energy-efficient LED lights and more efficient motors to power equipment.
John Hedlund is pictured in the revamped Save-A-Lot in Albion. The store opens its doors at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Hedlund, a North Tonawanda resident, owns a Save-A-Lot in Salamanca and is co-owner of the stores in Batavia and Le Roy.
The owners also run the Batavia and Le Roy Save-A-Lot stores and those nearby sites will provide a synergy with Albion, ensuring a selection of food at low prices, Hedlund said.
The Albion store has kept the meat department, and Larson said Save-A-Lot wants to establish relationships with local farmers to sell produce.
The Pawlak family ran a Save-A-Lot for about 14 years in Albion until the store closed in November. In January, John Hedlund signed a lease to take over the space and reopen a Save-A-Lot.
But first extensive upgrades would be done with new refrigeration, electrical – an overall transformation of the space.
He praised the plaza’s owner, Westwood Financials, for being “very accommodating” to get the space upgraded.
The new store has 20-25 employees. Lura Kenward is the store manager, Zech Simpson is the assistant store manager, and Greg Webster is the meat department manager.
The first 100 customers on Tuesday will receive $5 gift cards.
Albion Mayor Eileen Banker, who is chief of staff for Assemblyman Steve Hawley, presents a certificate to John Hedlund from Hawley in recognition of reopening a Save-A-Lot in Albion. She is joined by Ron Vendetti, Albion’s code enforcement officer, and Lisa Stratton, president of the Albion Merchants Association.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2018 at 8:02 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Albion senior Brad Sanford lights a candle during the baccalaureate service on Sunday evening at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The Rev. Aleka Schmidt, pastor of the First Baptist Church, joined other church leaders at the service.
Before they graduate from high school, the Class of 2018 at Albion was embraced by the Albion Ministerium and given a blessing for their future.
The church leaders organized a baccalaureate service. The service is optional for seniors. About 45 out of the class’s 123 students attended the program.
The candles represent faith and the graduates’ light as they go out into the world, said the Rev. Richard Csizmar, pastor of St. Joseph’s and the Holy Family Parish.
Class leaders Victor Benjovsky, left, and Allison Graham lead the Class of 2018 into the church.
Miranda Smith sings, “Moon River,” during the service at St. Joseph’s. Her classmate Victor Benjowsky sang, “Beautiful City” from Godspell, and seniors in the chorus sang, “May Your Roads Be Straight and Narrow.”
Seniors joined hands for a prayer led by the Rev. Susan Thaine, who starts next month as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Albion. Thaine is a 1986 Albion graduate.
Allison Graham, the class vice president, and Riley Seielstad, the class secretary, light their candles.
Susan Boring, pastor of the Eagle Harbor United Methodist Church, delivered the message, “Choices.” Boring is a 1981 Albion graduate.
She urged the seniors to strive for wisdom, which will help them make good decisions. Boring urged the seniors to choose friends who will encourage them to believe in themselves and make wise decisions. Many people will sap the seniors’ enthusiasm and try to derail their dreams, Boring said.
She is retiring later this month as a Brockport band teacher. She said some people tried to discourage that career choice, but she followed her passion. She also has felt called to ministry and has been a pastor the past 18 years. However, Boring said she delayed being a pastor by about 12 years because she was told women shouldn’t be church leaders.
“There are people in the world who are dream crushers,” Boring said. “If you listen to them you will never reach your full potential.”
Boring encouraged the seniors to open their hearts to Jesus Christ, who will be a close friend. She welcomed them to visit churches and think about how they can connect with God in their lives.
Provided photos: Drummers, from left, Will Trembley, Molly Wadhams, Aubrey Boyer and Abby Allen are focused in competition at Nunda on Saturday.
NUNDA – The Albion High School Marching Band finished with the top score of the five bands in Nunda on Saturday. The Purple Eagles’ score of 97.8 represents the band’s highest marks of the season.
Band Director Mike Thaine was pleased with the group’s performance.
“Every week, we ask each student to take on the personal responsibility of doing just a little better than they did last time,” he said. “So far, they’ve come through with flying colors.”
Two weeks ago at the Seneca Falls Pageant of Bands, Albion earned high honors among the seven bands in competition with a score of 94.75.
The Purple Eagles’ show is based on music of the rock group Queen. The band wraps-up the 2018 season at the home town Strawberry Festival parade on Saturday.
Spectators show their appreciation in the background as the woodwinds finish the drill for the show’s closing number, “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 May 2018 at 5:24 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Orleans Correctional Facility dedicated a new memorial today in honor of 13 employees who died while they were active employees at the medium-security men’s prison. This photo shows the honor guard from the neighboring Albion Correctional Facility, retiring the colors at the conclusion of today’s service at the prison on Gaines Basin Road.
The employees’ union and the Employee Benefit Fund Committee provided the funding for the memorial. The monument reads: “We dedicate this memorial to all security staff from Orleans Correctional Facility Council 82 who have died while in faithful service. You will always be remembered in our hearts.”
There are granite blocks with the names of the honored employees, including David Stanton. He was 34 when he was killed in a motorcycle accident about 31 years ago.
His brother Greg Stanton of Medina appreciates the new memorial.
“I think it’s really nice they did this,” he said.
The following are recognized at the memorial: C.O. David Stanton, who died on April 13, 1987; C.O. Ricky Smith, Feb. 24, 1988; C.O. David Garrow, Aug. 19, 1992; C.O. Craig Nebelecky, June 1, 1993; C.O. Randy Wendt, Oct. 25, 1993; C.O. Patrick Moran, Feb. 10, 1996; C.O. Joel Eisenstein, Sept. 14, 1998; C.O. James Crowley, Aug. 25, 2001; KBS Bonnie Costich, May 4, 2002; S.C. II Cora Persons, Jan. 28, 2008; C.O. Kenneth Bulls, Dec. 22, 2011; C.O. Duane Catanesi, Jan. 1, 2014; C.O. Josef Young, Jan. 24, 2015; and C.O. Michael Duffy, Nov. 22, 2016.
Warren Cornelius, an employee at Orleans Correctional, rang a bell when each name was read.
Family and friends of those recognized at the memorial look over the granite blocks and the monument.
Karen Crowley, superintendent of Orleans Correctional Facility, listens to the Emerald Society Pipe Band. She also welcomed the crowd for the memorial dedication.
“They will never be forgotten,” she said about the employees who are recognized at the memorial.
Corrections officers and staff at the prison stand at attention while the pipe band played “Taps.”
NYS Corrections Emerald Society Pipe Band, left, performed during the dedication.
Two corrections officers carry a wreath that was placed at the memorial
Lonnie Froman, a retired corrections officer and singer for the Who Dats band, sang the national anthem.
There was a 21-gun salute from the Attica Honor Guard.
The honor guards from the Albion and Attica correctional facilities both attended the dedication ceremony.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Workers stand in the newly remodeled Main Street Store, which celebrated its grand re-opening Tuesday. The store had been closed for six weeks after a roof leak, which ruined the floors and much of the merchandise. From left are Cedric, a volunteer; William Weis, employee in training; Danielle Wray, a volunteer; Melissa Williams, employee in training; and Mary Melero, employee in training.
Posted 30 May 2018 at 8:11 am
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent
ALBION – The Main Street Store celebrated its grand reopening Tuesday after being closed for six weeks for repairs
In early April, ice and snow accumulated under the shingles, then melted and flooded the entire store, said manager Michelle George.
The floor was ruined and damaged much of the merchandise.
With community support and funding from Orleans United Way and Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley, a new roof was installed and the floor replaced.
“When we made the repairs, we took the opportunity to spruce up the entire store and rearrange the layout,” George said.
People tell her the Main Street Store is Orleans County ’s best kept-secret, something she really doesn’t want to hear. She wants everyone to know about the store.
“We are not a ‘second-hand’ store, we have all high-end merchandise,” George said. “Our clothing is clean, gently used and mostly brand names. We carefully scrutinize all merchandise and appliances and electronics are tested before we put them on the shelf for sale.”
Lynn Hawkins arranges clothing in the Main Street Store in Albion, which celebrated a grand re-opening on Tuesday. Hawkins job is to wash, dry and tag clothing for display.
All merchandise, including clothing, holiday decorations, furniture, appliances, electronics and gift items are donated. Donations are always needed and pickup can be arranged, or there is a drop-off spot at the store. Tax receipts are always available. Donation drop-off is available from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In addition to being a quality retail store, the Main Street Store, established by Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, provides comprehensive job training, employment support services and education opportunities for residents of Orleans and Genesee counties.
Individuals can take advantage of a full range of services from resumes and job searches to job skills training, on-the-job work experience in the store, employment counseling and certificate courses in cooperation with Albion Central School .
The store also provides GED preparation, high school and college tutoring and personal income/expense planning. There is a “Dress for Success” program for people who work and need help with work clothes.
The community has free access to computers with online capability for those looking for jobs.
Proceeds from the sale of merchandise helps fund these services, George said.
Mary Melero is one of the employees in training, who was working during the re-opening sale.
“They are teaching me a lot, and I love working with Michelle,” Melero said.
Another employee in training is Melissa Williams, who sorts donations when they are received. She hopes her training there will lead to a job in retail or a factory.
The store is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Happy Hour is observed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays, with 50 percent off.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 May 2018 at 4:25 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Sawyer Braley carries the American flag and Jeffrey Brown carries the flag for the Boy Scouts Troop 164 during this morning’s Memorial Day parade.
The Albion community observed Memorial Day with a parade down Main Street and a service outside at the Middle School this morning.
Albion drum majors Riley Seielstad, left, and Arella Ives wait with the band on East Park Street. Flags in the background are on the Courthouse Square.
Matt Passarell of the VFW checks the flag. He is a member of the Honor Guard.
Knights of Columbus members Pino Aldaco, left, and Greg Dugan carry the American flag in the parade.
Local Girl Scouts march in the parade, including Kaitlin Allen, holding the American flag.
Keaton Rowley, 3, of Holley is excited to see the fire trucks in the parade.
The Albion Marching Band gets ready to perform for the crowd on Main Street. Phoebe Allen, left, and Olivia Andrews are holding the banner for the band.
Trinity Moyer is a member of the Color Guard in the Albion Marching Band.
Orleans County Legislator Don Allport, left, and former State Assemblyman Charlie Nesbitt are escorted in the parade. Nesbitt was a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War.
Dominic DiGiulio leads the West Barre Boy Scouts in the parade.
An enthusiastic crowd on Main Street waves to parade participants.
Some of the parade participants return waves to friends and other community members who attended the parade.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 May 2018 at 5:01 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: Father Richard Csizmar was honored today at Holy Family Parish for his 50 years as a priest, including the past 24 years in Albion. Csizmar, right was presented this special decree from Pope Francis in honor of Csizmar’s 50 years as a priest. Deacon James Collichio is at left and Greg Dugan, leader of the Knights of Columbus, is at right.
Csizmar grew up in North Tonawanda and was ordained a priest at age 25 on May 25, 1968. His first assignment was serving for a year at a country parish in Cherry Creek, Chautauqua County, and then a summer assignment at Harris Hill in Williamsville.
He then served 25 years at Notre Dame High School in Batavia, teaching religion, coaching tennis and serving at St. Anthony and St. Joseph parishes in Batavia.
Albion was his first assignment as a parish priest, and Csizmar said he has treasured being a part of weddings, first communions, baptisms and even funerals.
“This is where it has been such a joy to be a part of the lives of parish families for such a long time, trying to put into practice the vision I have for Parish Life,” he said in a message to the parish.
After this morning’s Mass, Father Csizmar greets Tony Navarra outside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Csizmar’s sister, Diane Skomski, said her brother has been a source of pride for the family. He is known as “Rich” to his family. Though he may not be rich with material possessions, Skomski said her brother is rich in “kindness and compassion, generosity and love,” and love of fun, food, laughter, get-togethers, “and most of all, people.”
Csizmar has been devoted to people this past half century, she said.
“We all have benefitted from the love he has shown us,” she said. “Today is our opportunity to show him our love.”
Csizmar is a big baseball fan and he used baseball analogies to express his appreciation to the parish today. He also quoted the famous “Luckiest man on the face on this earth” speech from Lou Gehrig, the famed New York Yankee who died of ALS. Gehrig addressed the Yankee crowd on July 4, 1939 after he was forced to retire due to a debilitating disease.
“I consider myself one of the most blessed men in the world,” Csizmar said at a special Mass this morning.
Csizmar is unusual with his parish assignment to Albion lasting 24 years and counting. Most priests have much shorter stays with parishes. Csizmar said the Albion parish has been welcoming.
After the Mass there was a reception in Csizmar’s honor at the Lyceum. There will be another celebration for the priest with a dinner at Tillman’s Village Inn on June 10 at 4 p.m.
Deacon James Collichio said Csizmar has a “bubbly” personality and strives to connect with people.
“He is a very personable person,” said Collichio, who has been a deacon at Holy Family Parish for 38 years. “He is always lifting up anyone he meets.”
Roz Starkweather attends the morning Masses during the weekdays, as well as Mass on the weekends. She said Csizmar “goes above and beyond” in tending to the spiritual life of the parish, with special services and meaningful messages.
Csizmar thanked the parish for the opportunity to serve them.
“I just want you to know how blessed I am being here with you,” Csizmar told the parish today. “I have been transformed. I thank God for the abundance of your love.”
A member of the Knights of Columbus watches the Mass this morning at St. Joseph’s.
An anonymous donor paid for this tribute for Csizmar, with an emphasis on celebrating family.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 May 2018 at 11:58 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Noah Harrison, 8, of Albion does push-ups today at Bullard Park as part of a push-up-a-thon fundraiser to support AYSAP, the Albion Youth Football and Cheerleading program. His father, Saul Harrison (in back), is one of the coaches for Albion youth football.
The program has four divisions of football teams and cheerleading squads from ages 6 to 13 for football and 6 to 14 for cheerleading.
AYSAP is having a “Family FUNdraiser” today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bullard Park to raise money for new uniforms and shoulder pads for the 120 football players in the program. There are prize raffles, kickball, food and beverages, and 50/50 drawings.
Molly Preston of Preston’s Lawncare and Landscaping presents a check for $250 to support the football program. Her son, Boe, is one of the players. The Prestons are joined by coach Saul Harrison, left, and Geno Allport, the commissioner.
These boys practice some of their plays. They are eager for the season the start in the summer.
By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 26 May 2018 at 9:03 am
Community rallied again in 1970s to preserve ‘The Tower’
‘Overlooked Orleans’ – Volume 4, Issue 21
Passing through the sandstone arch of Mount Albion Cemetery, one may catch a glimpse of the towering monument atop the highest point in the area. The Soldiers & Sailors Monument is perhaps the most impressive and beautiful war memorials in our area, but the true significance of the shrine is often overshadowed by the novelty and “thrill of the climb” up the winding steel staircase.
There is a commonality between the circumstances surrounding the efforts to erect this monument to the memory of over 450 men who lost their lives during the Civil War and the war itself. In the face of grave sacrifice, a community struggled to memorialize the hundreds of young men, sons, brothers, and fathers, who left the security of home for ideals far greater than themselves.
Efforts to construct a county-wide memorial were initiated in 1864, but the association struggled to raise the necessary funds to complete the project. In 1868, the Orleans County Monument Association was established with Ezra T. Coann, H. J. Van Dusen, E. K. Hart, Joseph Cornell, Calvin Beach, John N. Proctor, Charles A. Harrington, John Hull White, Walker Mattison, Seth Spencer, Henry A. King, and Hiram Sickels as directors. Fundraising was slow, but the group was persistent in their labors. By 1874, the organization had raised $3,000 and construction began soon after with an additional $2,000 from the Cemetery Association. On July 4, 1876, as the nation celebrated its centennial, Orleans County dedicated the newly completed Soldiers & Sailors Monument.
“The Tower” remained a permanent fixture on Albion’s horizon and over the years became a destination for local youth, with varying intentions, who trekked to the top. Time chipped away at the monument and by the 1970s was in significant need of tender care and attention. The Orleans County Historical Monument Corporation, with involvement from notable local residents including C. W. Lattin, Harold Breuilly, and Donna Rodden, shouldered the burden of raising the necessary funds to restore the local landmark. With over $20,000 raised, the tower was repaired and rededicated on July 4, 1976; the centennial of the monument and bicentennial of the nation.
On two separate occasions, the community labored tirelessly to preserve the memory of local soldiers. Although erected to memorialize those who sacrificed their lives during the Civil War, perhaps the tower is more a monument to the perseverance of a community; a community that values the preservation and understanding of the past. With a monument that is 142 years old and a cemetery celebrating 175 years, we are fortunate to have such breathtaking landmarks scattered throughout our area.
It may be fitting to share a few brief notes of interest pertaining to Civil War veterans from Orleans County. Thousands of men would enter into service with the Union Army, some would never return, yet many would return with permanent physical and mental scars from the horrors of battle.
• Jennie Curtis of Albion traveled to Washington, D.C. following the Battle of Bull Run to care for her brother who was reported as seriously wounded. On one occasion, she dared to venture out on horseback to determine the location of Confederate lines when she was taken prisoner and accused of being a spy. She was eventually released and spent time caring for sick and wounded soldiers.
• Lt. Col. Rufus B. Bullock of Albion traveled south to Augusta, Georgia to work with the Southern Express Company. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he accepted a commission as lieutenant colonel with the responsibility of overseeing telegraph, railroad, and freight interests in Georgia. At the conclusion of the war, he was elected as governor of Georgia in 1868.
• Maj. Thomas Bell, 8th N.Y. Cavalry – developing a fondness early on in life for theater, Bell allegedly spent two years with Edwin Booth’s company in Alabama before engaging in the foundry business at Albion. After the war, he introduced an article into U.S. law giving veterans preference in civil service appointments.
• Pvt. Otis McOmber, 76th N.Y. Infantry – Carlton native enlisted in 1863 and was mustered into service with the “Cortland Regiment.” At the Battle of the Wilderness, his unit was surrounded by Confederates and taken prisoner. He spent over 11 months at Andersonville Prison where he survived by bribing Confederate soldiers with money sewn into the breast pocket of his coat. His brother Charles was killed at Fredericksburg and brother Lorenzo died during service with the 17th N.Y. Light Independent Artillery.
• Pvt. Herbert Taylor, 140th N.Y. Infantry – Clarendon native Herbert Taylor was with his regiment at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863 and repulsed the attack on Little Round Top. Making the ultimate sacrifice, he is believed to be the only Orleans County native to have died at Gettysburg.
• Pvt. Isaac Hawkins, 54th Massachusetts Infantry – Medina resident Isaac Hawkins enlisted with the all African-American regiment once headed by Col. Robert Gould Shaw and made famous by the 1989 film “Glory.” Hawkins was captured at the Battle of Olustee in Florida, spending over a year at Andersonville Prison Camp and on one such occasion allegedly received 250 lashes as punishment for an unknown reason.
• Maj. Angelo Paldi, 1st Michigan Cavalry – a native of Italy, Paldi was a respected painter and solider who allegedly served with the French Army in Algeria and Spain before immigrating to America. Serving under Gen. George Custer for a short period of time, it was Paldi’s suggestion to form a regiment of Hussars, or heavy cavalry, modeled after the regiments of Europe. After the war he moved to Albion, his body is interred at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Albion.
