By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 October 2017 at 6:20 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – John Gerhardt is up high working on a 5,000-square-foot addition of Harvest Christian Fellowship. Gerhardt, a member of the church’s board of directors, is among a dedicated group of volunteers working on the addition.
The church broke ground on the addition in June. The addition will be used as a sanctuary with room for up to 250 people at 560 East Ave., across from Bullard Park.
Volunteers are doing about 90 percent of the work on the new building.
Gary Derwick climbs a ladder while carrying lumber for the trusses. Derwick said the church is hoping to have the new roof on next week, and to have the building enclosed before winter.
Ken Smith works on the project late this afternoon.
Once the new sanctuary is finished, the church plans to use the existing sanctuary, which seats about 140, for a fellowship hall, and programs for youth and community life, said Tim Lindsay, the church’s pastor since it started in 1987.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Barb Morlino, training coordinator for COVA and the Orleans Training Academy, speaks during a public hearing on Thursday about COVA’s request for a countywide certificate of need to provide ambulance services.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 October 2017 at 4:37 pm
ALBION – Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance is pursuing a certificate of need to provide ambulance services throughout Orleans County.
COVA currently has a CON for the central Orleans towns of Albion, Barre, Carlton and Gaines. It wants to expand the CON to eastern and western Orleans, too.
COVA officials said the CON application shouldn’t be viewed as a takeover for eastern Orleans which is currently primarily served by Monroe Ambulance or western Orleans which is served by the Medina Fire Department.
“This would provide for seamless backup,” said Jason Spencer, COVA’s director operations. “We don’t see any radical changes.”
COVA has three ambulances in Albion. Two of them are pictured Thursday evening at 239 South Main St.
Right now, COVA needs to be requested to respond to a call outside its primary service area.
The Big Lakes Regional EMS Council (REMSCO) held a public hearing on Thursday evening for COVA’s CON application at COVA’s headquarters, 239 South Main St.
Four COVA officials spoke in favor of the application, while Monroe Ambulance opposed it.
Mike Bove, vice president of Monroe Ambulance, speaks against COVA’s request for a countywide CON. Monroe has the CON to serve eastern Orleans as primary ambulance provider.
Mike Bove, vice president of Monroe Ambulance, said Monroe responds to about 600 calls annually in eastern Orleans with an average response time of 12 minutes, 18 seconds. That is well below the 15-minute threshold for rural communities, he said.
Monroe has had the CON for eastern Orleans for about three years. The ambulance company keeps ambulances in Brockport and responds to 90 percent of the calls in eastern Orleans.
“No one can get to 100 percent of the calls, which is why we have mutual aid,” Bove said at the hearing.
Monroe has 28 ambulances and 284 employees. The company can shift resources to Orleans when needed, Bove said.
He opposed the COVA expansion because Bove said there isn’t a need for COVA to have a CON in eastern Orleans.
Laurie Schwab, COVA director, said the Albion-based ambulance company is willing to add resources to better serve eastern Orleans.
COVA currently has a 7-minute average response time for calls in its four towns. COVA is willing to put an ambulance in Holley, which should significantly reduce the response time in eastern Orleans, said Jason Spencer, COVA’s director of operations.
Laurie Schwab, COVA’s executive director, speaks during the public hearing. She said the organization has the resources to expand to serve the county.
Wade Schwab, president of COVA’s board of directors, has been with COVA for 26 years. The organization has changed from being run by volunteers in 1979 to having paid paramedics and drivers. Schwab said COVA has proven its dedication to the community after nearly 40 years of operation.
Barb Morlino, COVA’s training coordinator, said COVA has a training program in place so more residents can serve the community with emergency medical care.
A county-wide CON would allow COVA “the ability to serve residents of Orleans County if the need arises,” Morlino said.
The Big Lakes REMSCO includes the counties of Genesee, Orleans and Niagara. That group will review the CON application and make a decision. That ruling on the CON can be appealed.
If the CON is approved for COVA, the organization wouldn’t automatically become the primary ambulance provider county-wide. COVA would have to reach out to each municipality for a contract.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 October 2017 at 1:08 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Students at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School in Albion check out the rescue boat for the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company today as part of Fire Prevention Week. Carlton, Barre and Albion firefighters ran several stations for elementary students, teaching fire safety and prevention for students from prekindergarten to grade 5.
Garrison Foote, a first grader, aims the hose at a target with help from Barre firefighter Andrew Faskel.
Albion firefighter Greg Marston waits for students at the new fire safety trailer that is available for all 12 fire departments in the county to teach fire prevention and also a fire escape plan. The trailer has been at a different school each day in Orleans County from Tuesday through today. It will be at Medina on Monday.
Elementary students had fun exploring the Carlton rescue boat.
Jaiden Livingston sprays water with help from Barre firefighter Brianna Caldwell.
Albion firefighter Marsha Cook assists a student using a ladder at a fire prevention trailer. The trailer allows students to practice a fire escape.
The Albion Fire Department has a new contest this year to emphasis fire prevention. One student from each grade will be picked (from PreK through grade 5) to ride to school in a fire truck. One student will be picked from each grade who created the best poster or display about fire prevention.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Jerome Pawlak and his son Joe are pictured in April outside Pawlak’s Food Center, after the family switched the store from a Save-A-Lot to an independent grocery store.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 October 2017 at 8:34 pm
ALBION – The Pawlak family has announced it is closing its grocery store in Albion after nearly a half century in Albion.
“We would like to thank the Albion and Orleans County communities, and especially our Associates, for your support, friendship, and the memories you have given us,” The Pawlak family said in an email.
The Pawlaks in April switched from running a Save-A-Lot store to an independent grocery store, Pawlak’s Food Center.
Jerome Pawlak and his son Joe have been running the store together.
The Pawlaks have been unable to sign a new lease with their landlord at the plaza on Route 31, the family said.
“Competitive realities, a slow economy, and cost deflation in the food industry has forced us to make the decision to close Pawlak’s Food Center after 49 years of serving the Albion community,” The Pawlaks said. “We have been unable to compete with these trends and continue to rent our current space. We recognize closing is the necessary course of action to take. The closing also includes The Video Station and Save-On Beverage Center.”
A liquidation sale of the store’s remaining inventory will begin this Saturday at 8 a.m.
The family for 15 years operated a Save-A-Lot in Albion at 320 West Ave.
In April they became Pawlak’s Food Center. The store has been affiliated with the Olean Wholesale Grocery Cooperative, which serves independently owned groceries in New York, Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio.
The family has been in the grocery business for 57 years, starting in Lyndonville. The Pawlaks also ran a Save-A-Lot in Holley for about 3 ½ years before closing in September 2016.
The Pawlak family ran the Albion store as a Shurfine from 1997 to 2002, before Jerome Pawlak changed to a Save-A-Lot to better compete against Tops, which opened a new store next door.
Since then, Walmart opened a Supercenter in Albion (in 2006) with groceries as well as general merchandise. Walmart also has supercenters in Lockport, Batavia and Brockport. An Aldi Foods also has recently opened in Medina.
It’s a very competitive business with many of the dollar stores, gas stations and Rite Aid also selling groceries.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 October 2017 at 8:25 am
Photo by Elliott Neidert: This photo was taken last February with a drone and shows the historic downtown business district in Albion.
ALBION – The village has five grant applications out, totaling $776,175.
A Main Street grant for $289,415 tops the grant applications. That grant, through the NYS Office of Community Renewal, would help several building owners with improvements to historic downtown sites.
Albion expects to hear in December if the application was approved.
The Village Board on Wednesday reviewed a summary of grant applications prepared by J O’Connell & Associates, the village’s grant consultant.
Other grant applications include:
• $267,110 to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to replace pagers.
• $125,000 through the U.S. Department of Justice for the COPS hiring program.
• $53,350 through the State and Municipal Facilities Program for a rescue boat and trailer.
• $41,300 from the NYS Department of Conservation for a tree inventory and community forest management plan.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 7 October 2017 at 8:33 pm
Photos by Kristina Gabalski
ALBION – Michelle Wiseman of Medina created a Justice League float for the pet costume parade as part of today’s Fall Festival in Albion. The pooches include Faith as Superwoman, Theodore as Superman, and TJ as Batman. The Pet Parade was new to the festival this year.
Pumpkins, scarecrows and the smell of BBQ welcomed visitors to the Albion Fall Festival Saturday. The event was held in the downtown business district and included a host of family friendly activities including kids games, face painting and pumpkin painting.
Members of the Crawford and Requa families (joined by 9-year old Hannah Kumalac holding container of glue) put finishing touches on their scarecrow.
Navarra’s Market and Greenhouses brought colorful seasonal produce, fruit and flowers. Joan Navarra-Mrzywka received some help from her “grand-dog” Mia, who is peeking out of the truck window.
Harley Weis, 5, of Albion gets ready to decorate a Halloween-themed rock outside the Downtown Browsery.
The Albion Teachers’ Association offered “Send your teacher an apple-gram” for students.
One of the apples had an especially touching message. An apple is attached to the note. The apple grams will be placed in teachers’ mailboxes when school resumes on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Pumpkin painting was a popular activity.
All proceeds from the pet parade went to the PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion. Minnie and Moose, who belong to Lori Laine, served as official “hosts” for the first-time event.
Sasha, who belongs to Kelly Borello of Lyndonville, came dressed as Santa Claus.
Bogey and Bond were happy to be in costume. Their owners, Kathy and Ray Lackemeyer of Holley, say the recently moved to the area from Maryland, where they have always taken part in costume pet parades. They said they were thrilled to find such an event in Orleans County.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Tara Thom, owner of Town and Country Quilter, gets ready for opening day on Saturday for her business at 10 East Bank St. Thom has run the quilting business out of her home for the past 15 years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 October 2017 at 9:28 pm
ALBION – Two businesses have opened in downtown Albion, optimistic the historic buildings on main and Bank streets can again be a hub for small businesses.
“There’s a lot of creative and entrepreneurial people out there,” said Terri Jordan, owner of Bird & Matilda’s Gift Boutique at 6 East Bank St. “They just need to take the risk.”
Jordan in July opened Bird & Matilda’s, a business named after her great-grandparents. She had run The Soap Cottage from her home in Lake Alice for three years.
Terri Jordan owns Bird & Matilda’s Gift Boutique in downtown Albion.
Jordan and her husband moved to Albion about a year ago. She had an established clientele from her hand-crafted soap-making business. She expanded her inventory to organic baby clothes, bath bombs, body butter, soy candles and other home decor. She also sells hand-carved wooden duck decoys made by her father, Douglas Jordan of Hamlin.
She grew up in Cuba in the Southern Tier. She sees how some communities, with fewer residents than Albion, have experienced a rebirth in their downtown business districts. Angelica is just one example.
“Small towns are making a comeback,” she said. “I believe Albion deserves a chance. It has a lot of potential.”
These hand-crafted soy candles were made by Terri Jordan.
Jordan would like to see businesses put up awnings that add to the small-town charm. She is pleased that Tara Thom is opening a quilt shop next door at 10 East Bank St. Jordan also said the expansion of 39 Problems into a dine-in restaurant is good news for the downtown.
Bird and Matilda’s is open Thursdays through Saturdays. Jordan said a rental assistance program through the village is helpful to new businesses that set up in the historic district.
Bird and Matilda’s some some of the duck decoys made by Douglas Jordan.
Tara Thom has been running Town and Country Quilter from her home on Ridge Road for 15 years. She wants to grow the business and add to the vibrancy of the business district.
“I wanted to be more visible and be a bigger part of the community,” Thom said today.
She will run the quilting business from the East Bank site. She uses a Gammill long-arm quilting machine. She often takes a customer’s quilt top and adds the batting (filler) and and the backing.
In her new storefront, she will offer quilting classes for beginners and long-arm certification classes. Thom will teach some of the classes, as will local quilting experts Janet Root and Irene Henion.
People who complete the long-arm training can rent Thom’s Gammill quilting machine.
Town and Country Quilter has its opening day on Saturday at 10 East Bank St.
Thom has been quilting the past 21 years.
“I like the unlimited possibility of taking a pattern and turning it into your own with different fabric choices,” Thom said. “I like creating heirlooms.”
Them completed the Microenterprise Assistance Program in the spring 2016. That program, run through the Orleans Economic Development Agency, motivated her to take the business outside her home.
“It inspired me to think about a change,” Thom said about MAP.
She will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as part of the Fall Festival in the downtown. Them will have a bigger open house on Nov. 11.
For more information on Town and Country Quilter, call Thom at (585) 455-0760 or click here.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Sara Hillman is presented with the “Character Award” by Margy Brown, the Board of Education president. Sara is active at the school as the yearbook editor and with National Honor Society, FFA, tennis, volleyball and other organizations. She was praised for her leadership and generosity. In volleyball, for example, she helps set up the nets and carry equipment.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 October 2017 at 8:58 am
ALBION – The number of students at Albion Central School continues to shrink.
The school enrollment is down about 1,000 students in the past 20 years.
Albion had 1,832 students in grades kindergarten through 12 last school year. The enrollment this year currently stands at 1,793. (Albion also has 80 students in the pre-K program.)
The enrollment for this year includes 874 in elementary, 411 in the middle school and 588 in the high school, according to a report presented at Monday’s Board of Education meeting.
The district topped 2,800 students 20 years ago. The district the past 20 years has typically graduated senior classes that are bigger than incoming kindergarten classes. Some students have also moved away. Albion has averaged a decline of about 50 students annually the past two decades.
The other school districts in Orleans County and most in Western New York have also experienced significant enrollment decreases the past 20 years.
In other action at the Board of Education meeting:
David Sidari is the longest-serving member of the Albion Board of Education with 19 years as a volunteer on the BOE. School Board Recognition Week is Oct. 23-27.
• The board gave initial approval for the Close Up trip to Washington D.C., estimated cost of $1,727 for each student. About 8-12 students who are juniors or seniors are expected to go. There are scholarships and fundraisers to help with the costs of the trips. The students and chaperones will fly to DC and take busses and the subway. The trip is from March 4-9 and is led by social studies teacher Rich Gannon.
• The board also gave initial approval for the marching band trip from April 27-29 to Cleveland. The band is taking two busses with about 75-80 students expected to go. The cost is about $350 to $400 per student. Melissa Peglow from Orleans Travel Bureau is tour guide and coordinator.
The band will perform national anthem on the field at Cleveland Indians game vs. Seattle Mariners. Students will also perform at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and tour Severance Hall, home of Cleveland Orchestra.
• The district received a notice of retirement for Maureen Bennett, a high school typist, effective on Nov. 18.
• The board approved spending $160 at Kirby Farms for apples for staff during American Education Week on Nov. 13-17. The apples will go to all three school buildings, as well as the bus garage and district office.
• The district also recognized School Board Recognition Week will be from Oct. 23-27. The nine-member board includes David Sidari, beginning 19th year; Marie Snyder, 15th year, Margy Brown, 10th year; Linda Weller, 5th year; Wendy Kirby, 4th year; Chantelle Sacco, 3rd year; Steve LaLonde, 2nd year; Kathy Harling, 1st year; and Wayne Wadhams, 1st year.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 October 2017 at 9:10 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: This house at 544 East State St. will be razed soon.
ALBION – The Village Board today approved tearing down a house at 544 East State St. The village will bear the costs for the demolition and will then sell the vacant land.
The house has been vacant for several years and has boarded up windows. It doesn’t have a driveway and is located on a bend on East State Street.
“It’s definitely a nuisance property,” said Village Trustee Eileen Banker. “We need to do something with these properties before someone gets hurt.”
Mayor Dean London said taking down the house will improve the aesthetics of the neighborhood.
The village Department of Public Works will knock down the house. Albion is seeking bids from contractors to remove the debris. The village’s local development corporation will pay the removal costs.
The village has a buyer for the site once the house is removed. Village officials declined to disclose that price at a special meeting today.
ALBION – The Albion Police Department will help promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month by proudly displaying Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbons on all uniformed personnel.
Each uniformed officer will wear a Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon with silver angel wings on their uniform next to their badge. Ribbons will also be displayed on all patrol vehicles
Breast cancer has in some way affected everyone in our community. The Albion Police Department hopes that by aiding in awareness we can help in a small way to find a cure.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2017 at 3:58 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Two historic churches in Albion’s Courthouse Square are getting a boost in their appearance. Panek Coatings scraped paint today on the Albion Free Methodist Church, a building that was constructed in 1860 and is the first church in the denomination.
Panek scrapes off loose paint to get the church ready for a fresh coat of white paint.
Jim Babcock also has been working on the fellowship hall at the First Presbyterian Church of Albion. The fellowship hall originally served as the church sanctuary from 1845 to 1874, until the Medina sandstone edifice was finished in 1874.
Jim Babcock scrapes off several coats of paint from one of the columns on the building, which was constructed in a Greek Revival style.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2017 at 12:55 pm
Mark Chamberlain
BARRE – The Town Board has awarded the construction bid for a new water district that will include 38.5 “chargeable units” on sections of four roads.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer announced on Friday that Barre has been approved for $1,096,000 in federal funding, including a loan of $606,000 and a grant of $490,000.
Barre officials knew the funding was in place before Friday’s announcement, Town Supervisor Mark Chamberlain said.
The Town Board on Sept. 13 accepted the low bid for the project. Randasco Pipeline of Macedon will build the project for $748,284.
The company expects to start construction in December and work through the winter, Chamberlain said. (Randasco built Water District No. 7 in Barre.)
The construction bid doesn’t include engineering, legal, bond counsel and other fees, including an audit and environmental report.
Water District No. 8 includes sections of Eagle Harbor Road just south of Route 31A to Miller Road, Miller Road to Maple Street, Maple Street from Johnny Cake Lane to the last house on the western end of Maple Street, Kams Road that will loop to Maple Street, and another section of Maple Street between Kams Road and Eagle Harbor Road.
The $748,284 construction bid is about $150,000 less than the engineer’s estimate. That may allow the town to do an extra few hundred feet to prevent a dead end in the water line on Maple Street.
The federal money announced by Schumer on Friday has to first use up the loan of $606,000 and then the grant. If the town doesn’t spend $1,096,000, a lesser amount means a smaller grant for Barre. The $490,000 grant is the maximum award for the project.
Barre has two other water districts in the works. Water District No. 9 is in the preapplication stage with the federal Department of Agriculture for a possible loan and grant package. District No. 9 includes sections of Kams Road, Maple Street, Pine Hill Road, Gray Road, Eagle Harbor Road and Hemlock Ridge Road.
Water District No. 10 is in the early stages. Residents on Transit Road, Angevine Road and McNamar Road have submitted a written request for Barre to work on a new water district on those three roads.
Barre will likely do an income survey of households in the possible district to see if the project would be eligible for federal funding, Chamberlain said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 October 2017 at 8:33 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Varsity football player Shyheim Jakes, number 21, walks towards the football field with Jack Ludwick, who plays on the modified team. Each varsity player walked to the field for Homecoming on Sept. 22 while holding hands with a modified player.
It’s part of a new Big Brother program, where varsity players are paired with kids who play on the modified program in grades 7 and 8.
Pom Seibert, a lineman on the modified team, walks to the field with Caleb Pettit, number 50, who plays on the line for the varsity team.
There are about 30 players on both varsity and modified. Adam Krenning, the head varsity coach, said the program is intended to make the modified players better student athletes. The varsity players help some of the modified team members with homework and stress the importance of keeping their grades up.
“This program gives the younger player a big brother to talk to,” Krenning said. “It is our hope that this program will build a relationship between our varsity and modified student athletes.”
Photo by Sue Starkweather Miller: Modified players join the varsity team for warmups on the field before the Homecoming game on Sept. 22.
Krenning said he hopes players from both levels will attend each other’s games. Some of the varsity players, who are now 5-0 on the season, have attended the modified games which was a thrill to the players in seventh and eighth grade, Krenning said.
The modified players have also joined the varsity players on the field for warmups before the home games. Krenning said that shows the modified players how to prepare for the game and gives them a sense of the thrill of playing under the lights before a big home crowd.
Tyler Gibson, number 7, is quarterback for the modified team. He joins Bryce Pritchard, number 8, who is the varsity quarterback. They walked through a line of youth football players, their parents and coaches before the game on Sept. 22.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 September 2017 at 9:45 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – State Sen. Robert Ortt issued a proclamation from the State Senate this week honoring Charles W. Howard “for a lifetime of exceptional dedication to bringing love, joy and the holiday spirit to the hearts of millions.”
The proclamation was presented Thursday during the Albion Rotary Club meeting. Phil Wenz portrays Santa Claus year-round at the Santa’s Village theme park in Dundee, Illinois. Wenz also is a Santa historian and coordinates annual Santa conferences, which have twice been in Albion. He worked with Ortt on having the proclamation in honor of Howard, who started a Santa Claus School 80 years ago in Albion.
Wenz, left, is pictured with Madelyn Genovese, communications director for State Sen. Robert Ortt, David Holland and Jane Holland, who is Howard’s granddaughter. Dave and Jane live in the Buffalo area.
Charles W. Howard, left, is pictured with a Santa in training in this historic photo.
Jane thanked the Albion community for keeping her grandfather’s memory alive.
“This village and town will always be a special part of our family,” she said.
Howard started the school with three students On Sept. 27, 1937, Wenz said. The school would grow in the following years, and newspapers and magazines did features on the school, which raised Howard’s profile. In 1948 he was Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and did that every year until 1965.
He expanded the school in Albion and developed Christmas Park at the corner of Phipps Road and Route 31.
“This small amusement park would become well known all over New York and the surrounding states, bringing children and families to experience a little bit of Christmas throughout the year,” according to the proclamation from Ortt.
Howard ran the school from 1937 until his death in 1966. The school continues today in his name at Midland, Michigan.
