By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 April 2017 at 3:35 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Dominic Burton and Isaac Neidert (in back) were among the volunteers out today picking up trash along the Erie Canal. Dominic and Isaac are shown just west of Main Street in Albion.
They helped with the cleanup organized by the Albion Betterment Committee.
There were about 100 canal cleanups in the state today, including three others in Orleans County. The Sons of the American Legion and Medina Lions Club each picked up garbage along the canal in Medina. In Holley, the Masonic Lodge from Kendall picked up trash along the canal.
This group worked on cleaning up the towpath in Albion. They are pictured between the lift bridges in Albion.
Gary Kent, one of the directors for the Albion Betterment Committee, joins other volunteers in the cleanup this morning.
(Anyone with photos of the cleanups efforts in Medina or Holley is welcome to email them to news@orleanshub.com.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 April 2017 at 6:57 am
ALBION – The Village Board has been working on the 2017-18 budget, trying to contain a tax increase for property owners.
During a public hearing on the budget last week, the tax rate was at $17.85 per $1,000 of assessed property. That would be up 19 cents or 1.1 percent from the current $17.66 rate.
“We’re still working on the budget,” said Deputy Mayor Eileen Banker. “We still have more work to do.”
The board has until April 30 to adopt the budget, which runs from June 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018.
The tentative budget presented at the public hearing called for a 3.4 percent increase in the tax levy from $2,487,946 to $2,572,865. That means the village would collect $84,919 more in taxes.
The budget showed a $6,732,740 total for all funds: $3,787,558 in the General Fund, $1,617,300 in the Water Fund, and $1,327,881 in the Sewer Fund.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 April 2017 at 8:57 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: A green house next to the former Off-Track Betting parlor in Albion was knocked down on Monday. The house is at 321 West Avenue.
ALBION – Oak Orchard Health is taking a step forward with its plans to expand in Albion. The healthcare provider on Monday knocked down a house at 321 West Ave. Oak Orchard, which owns a healthcare center next door, acquired the OTB site and the house last year.
Oak Orchard is planning an expansion in Albion, and is working to secure funding for the project, said Jim Cummings, Oak Orchard CEO.
Oak Orchard Health would like to expand healthcare services in Orleans County, including dental and possibly vision and behavioral health, after acquiring the sites on Route 31 in Albion.
For now, Oak Orchard will have the debris from the house removed, and then will have the site backfilled and seeded, Cummings said.
The former OTB site will be used for Oak Orchard’s maintenance shop and for storage.
“We are presently working with our architect to design the combined expansion and renovation project that we hope to develop,” Cummings said. “As with most significant projects of this type we are also working to develop funding and the timing of the project will obviously be tied to the acquisition of this funding.”
Here is how the house looked last October. The former OTB parlor is in back.
Oak Orchard is a Federally Qualified Health Center. The organization celebrated its 50th anniversary in the community last year. Oak Orchard was originally founded by the University of Rochester in 1966 to provide health care for migrant farmworkers. Oak Orchard has expanded to an integrated health center with services for all community members. Oak Orchard has sites in Albion, Lyndonville, Brockport, Warsaw and Hornell, as well as a mobile dental unit.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 April 2017 at 8:43 am
ALBION – Chad Fabry is pictured with a pioneer monument in the backyard of the former Swan Library, 4 North Main St.
The monument went up about 40 years ago, with an image of a woman carved in stone.
A concrete slab was attached to the monument, with these words inscribed: “Larger than life emerged from the block of local sediments she looms up reminding us endurance was required to pioneer.”
The large piece of Medina sandstone was set behind the library as a tribute to pioneers in Orleans County. This photo shows the first section of West State Street near the Main Street intersection.
Fabry is the owner of the Swan site. The building closed a public library in June 2012, just before the opening of the new Hoag Library.
Fabry bought the Swan site, which was originally a mansion, in January 2015. He believes the pioneer monument would be better located on a public space, perhaps at Mount Albion Cemetery.
“It’s beautiful over there,” he said about the historic cemetery. “It would be a great spot for it.”
Fabry is willing to give the monument away for free if it goes to a public place where it can be better showcased. He estimated the stone weighs about 12,000 pounds.
The site also includes passive stone benches by the monument, which Fabry is also willing to donate to a new location for the memorial.
“I’d love to see it prominently displayed on public property,” he said.
The monument could use some touching up and finishing, in Fabry’s opinion.
“I love the premise of it,” he said about honoring the pioneer residents.
A relocated pioneer monument with some touching up would coincide with important community bicentennials. The Erie Canal is marking the 200th anniversary of its construction, beginning this year and continuing through 2025. Construction started in 1817 and the 363-mile-long canal was complete in 1825. Orleans County also turns 200 in 2026.
Fabry thinks Mount Albion would ideal for the monument, but perhaps other sites by the canal or elsewhere in the community would be appropriate.
He worries about the monument long-term if it stays at Swan. At some point in the future, the property will have a new owner. Fabry said that owner might not be willing to preserve the monument. He doesn’t want it to be simply knocked down and removed.
Fabry repainted the historical marker by Swan Library. It used to be blue and gold, like the others in Courthouse Square. Fabry gave the marker a bronze look, to signify the building is privately owned. He thought the blue and gold on the marker represented New York State colors and may have sent a message the Swan site was a publicly owned site.
He put on the repainted marker on Monday. The site currently has one tenant, who sells antique books. Fabry said the building is ideal for offices.
For more information about the monument, contact Fabry at (585) 465-8591.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Vinny Navarra said this sign that says “Liquor” has resulted in a 50 percent boost in his business at Main Street Liquor & Wine in Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 April 2017 at 4:44 pm
ALBION – Last month Vinny Navarra said he put up a “flag” with the word “Liquor” to promote his business, Main Street Liquor & Wine, on Main Street.
The sign had a dramatic effect, boosting his sales by 50 percent in March, he said.
Village Code Enforcement Officer Ron Vendetti said the flag shouldn’t be allowed because it is really a “fluttering device,” which is banned in the village code for signs.
He has sent Navarra a citation, saying the “Liquor” sign isn’t allowed. Navarra attended Wednesday’s Village Board meeting and said the sign has given his business a big boost.
“This is why everyone is moving out of the village,” Navarra told the board. “We’re picking on the damn signs.”
Vendetti said he is just doing his job, enforcing the codes. He referenced the village code, Section 290-95D, which states: “No sign or part thereof shall contain or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or similar fluttering devices.”
He suggested the Village Board look at the sign code, and make some revisions.
“My job as code enforcement officer is to enforce the code,” Vendetti said. “If the board wants to change the code, then change the code.”
Board members said they want to look at possibly making some revisions.
Trustee Pete Sidari said the village may need to make some modifications to stay current.
“I don’t want to see a lot of crazy stuff down there,” he said.
Board members said they will review the sign ordinance, and will seek input from the Historic Preservation Committee.
The general regulations of the sign ordiance also include:
A. No illuminated signs or outdoor illumination shall direct light in a way which would create a traffic hazard or nuisance or be unreasonably detrimental to adjoining or neighboring properties.
B. No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to confuse or obstruct the view of any traffic sign, signal or device.
C. Except for time and temperature signs, no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving light or lights.
E. No sign shall consist of animated or moving parts.
F. No sign shall be attached to fences, utility poles or trees.
G. No sign or sign support shall be erected or maintained above the peak of the roof of any building or structure.
H. No sign which obscures visibility at elevations between three and seven feet above street level shall be placed or maintained within 25 feet of the intersection of the street or highway lines.
I. No motor vehicle, mobile home or trailer on which is placed or painted any sign shall be parked or stationed in a manner primarily intended to display the sign.
J. No sound amplifiers, public address systems or other sound devices shall be used as a means of advertising or to attract attention to a sign.
K. No off-premises advertising signs shall be permitted other than as permitted under the exempt sign provisions of § 290-98 and directional signs as provided for in § 290-101A.
L. No advertising message shall be extended over more than one sign placed along a street or highway.
Photo by Tom Rivers: A new banner is on the former Pawlak’s Save-A-Lot in Albion. The site was a Save-A-Lot for 15 years. On Saturday, it switched to Pawlak’s Food Center.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 April 2017 at 1:26 pm
Pawlak’s no longer a Save-A-Lot in Albion
ALBION – The Pawlak family, a fourth-generation grocery store operator in Orleans County, is going back to its roots as an independent grocery store.
The family for 15 years operated a Save-A-Lot in Albion at 320 West Ave. On Friday, Jerome Pawlak and his son Joe had their last day running the store as a Save-A-Lot.
On Saturday it became Pawlak’s Food Center. The store is affiliated with the Olean Wholesale Grocery Cooperative, which serves independently owned groceries in New York, Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio.
“We have decided to join this group and will complete the conversion of the store shortly,” the Pawlak family said in a message to customers. “We ask that you bear with us during the remodeling period.”
The family has been in the grocery business for 57 years, starting in Lyndonville. It ran a Save-A-Lot in Holley for about 3 ½ years before closing in September.
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.
Pawlak said it’s a very competitive business. His family puts a focus on giving the customers what they want. Pawlak said he was sometimes constrained by Save-A-Lot in what the store offered and how he ran discounts and other specials.
“Save-A-Lot dictated a lot of what we could do,” Pawlak said. “Now we can be more customer-driven.”
Pawlak’s Food Center will carry more items. The freezer already has been stocked full with Perry’s Ice Cream. Pawlak’s will carry more Western New York products, including Sahlen’s hot dogs.
“We must continually evaluate our business to best serve the needs of our valued customers, our associates and our community,” the Pawlak family said in a message posted at the store.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 April 2017 at 5:24 pm
ALBION – Joan Adduci was among the busy volunteers at a chicken barbecue today at St. Mary’s Athletic Club on Moore Street in Albion.
The event, a Palm Sunday tradition, was a sellout with 500 chicken barbecues. The meals were a benefit for the Boy Scouts and the Care Net Center of Greater Orleans.
Sawyer Braley, one of the Boy Scouts, delivers a takeout.
Gregory Traves, a past grand knight for the Knights of Columbus, checks the tickets. There was a lineup of vehicles on Moore Street for the popular dinner.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 April 2017 at 10:25 am
ALBION – The Albion Board of Education approved a $34,796,676 budget on Monday, a spending plan that goes before voters for a final say on May 16, with polls open from noon to 8 p.m. in the Elementary School, Conference Room A.
The budget for a tax increase for only the second time in 11 years. Albion is proposing the 1.42 percent increase to reduce the risk of a bigger tax swing in the future, said Margy Brown, the Board of Education president.
She said the budget remains fiscally conservative, while ensuring opportunities for students.
The district would collect $8,474,939 in taxes as part of the budget, which is up $119,000 from the $8,355,939 in 2016-17. The tax rate would increase from $15.43 per $1,000 of assessed property in 2016-17 to a projected $15.57 in 2017-18.
The budget includes propositions for $460,000 for bus purchases; $687,211 for Hoag Library (the same as in 2016-17); and two positions on the Board of Education. (Candidate petitions for the BOE are due 5 p.m. on April 17.)
The district will have a public hearing on the budget 7 p.m. on May 9 in the LGI at the High School.
In other action on Monday:
• The Board of Education discussed work to upgrade the district’s web site. The revamped site will have more scrolling photos on the main page, and easier to find updates on district events.
Brown asked the other board members to weigh in with their ideas for how to best use the website to communicate with the community.
Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent, said the new site will give administrators the option to update the site from their phone and off location.
• Bonnewell said he is reaching out to Albion police to step up enforcement of motorists who do not observe red lights on school buses.
Bonnewell also wants visitors to not park in front of the elementary school, where buses pick up and drop off students.
File photo: The Albion Marching Band heads down Main Street last June during the Strawberry Festival parade.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 April 2017 at 9:09 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Sophia Zambito helps Laiken Ricker with her makeup before Friday’s performance of Tarzan by Albion High School students. Sophia and Laiken were both gorillas in the musical. Albion’s musicials each year win recognitions through the Stars of Tomorrow program through the Rochester Broadway Theater League
ALBION – The Albion music program has stretched its streak to 10 straight years of being on a national list of schools with music programs cited for excellence by the North American Music Merchants.
NAMM has named Albion and 526 other school districts in the country as a “Best Communities for Music Education.”
The NAMM organization gives out the award to recognize districts that make music a priority, especially in an era of tight school budgets and packed student schedules. Only 3.9 percent of school districts in the country are on the current list. Albion is the only district from Orleans County on the list. Holley has previously made the list.
“Congratulations to the 527 school districts that are among the Best Communities in the nation for music education,” NAMM said in announcing the honorees. “The award program recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of the curriculum.”
Albion runs an active music program in the elementary, middle and high schools. The high school puts on two full-scale musical and students also perform in several different instrumental and choral groups. In all, high school musicians perform numerous times during the school year. The Jazz Band Cabaret (April 22 at 2 and 4 p.m.) is next on busy schedule of music events.
The middle school puts on two musicals each year, and its students perform with the marching and jazz bands. Elementary music teachers lead students in performances throughout the year.
To see the list of school districts recognized by NAMM, click here.
Hannah Van Epps helps Chase Froman with his makeup. Chase played the leopard last week when Albion students performed the Tarzan musical. Albion does four full-scale musicals each year, with two by the middle school and two by high school students.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 April 2017 at 10:12 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Albion firefighters hold some of the new extrication equipment that recently was added to the department. Pictured, from left, include: Fire Chief Harry Papponetti, holding a rams that spreads metal (for displaced steering wheel); Deputy Chief Jeremy Graham, holding a spreader; Captain Rocky Sidari with a cutter; and driver Jeremy Babcock.
ALBION – The Albion Fire Department responds to many motor vehicle accidents every year, with many on routes 98, 31 or 104.
Last year the department responded to 92 motor vehicle accidents and used extrication equipment at more than 50 of those calls, Fire Chief Harry Papponetti said.
The department has new extrication tools that work faster with more power to separate or cut metal.
Albion’s Hurst tools were hydraulically powered before. The new tools use batteries. They can simply be turned on and they’re ready. The hydraulic tools have cables that get in the way and can only be used close by to a fire truck. A generator has to be turned on to provide power for the tools.
Albion purchased two sets of tools, one for each fire engine. Each of those trucks will have a cutter, spreader and ram. The department also bought new stabilizing jacks for vehicles that are on their sides or flipped over.
The equipment cost $77,000. Albion last year sold a rescue truck from 2004 for $55,000 and used that money to buy the new equipment. The department also used proceeds from its boot drive and other fundraisers to help buy the new tools.
“It is five times more powerful,” Papponetti said.
Albion is the second fire department in Orleans County with the new battery-powered Hurst tools. Carlton was the first to get the equipment.
Carlton was featured in a Hurst newsletter for using the new equipment on Nov. 20. That day a big branch snapped on Kenyonville Road, crashing into a passing car. The driver and passenger needed to extricated.
This photo shows a car that had its roof cut and pulled back so the driver and passenger could be safely removed. A branch crushed the roof as the car was moving on Kenyonville Road on a windy Nov. 20. Carlton firefighters also used a spreader and cutter to remove the car doors, and the ram tool to move a collapsed dash.
The new tools for Albion allowed the Fire Department to retire a hydraulic Hurst tool from 1974. Albion was the department in the county in 1974 to have that Hurst tool, Papponetti said.
Albion firefighters saw the battery-powered Hurst tools at a trade show. Papponetti wanted to see how they worked before acquiring them. DK Autobody provided three vehicles for Albion firefighters to try the new tools. Papponetti said the equipment worked remarkably well, chomping through powerful steel and opening crushed doors.
The tools can also be used at structure fires, opening locked doors and moving other obstructions so firefighters can get access to a fire, or safely get out.
“This is so much better and so much faster,” said Deputy Chief Jeremy Graham said about the new tools compared to the hydraulic Hurst equipment. “There won’t be any tripping over hoses or refilling gas tanks.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 April 2017 at 5:04 pm
This tree has toppled in front of the Albion Middle School during the powerful wind storm on March 8, which left more than 11,000 National Grid customers in Orleans County without electricity. That was about 60 percent of National Grid’s customer base in the county.
ALBION – The school district waited too long to announce school was closed for two days following the punishing wind storm on March 8, Board of Education members said on Monday.
Albion was closed on both March 9 and March 10, and put out an official announcement early each morning. Many other districts, which suffered widespread power outages and damages from the storm, put out the closing announcements the day before.
“It was obvious we were going to close,” said BOE member Linda Weller, who asked Superintendent Michael Bonnewell why an official notification didn’t go out the day before school was closed.
The wind storm knocked out power for 11,250 National Grid customers in Orleans County. Power wasn’t restored in much of Barre and Carlton for more than two days.
“It was inevitable we would be closed those two days,” said BOE member Chantelle Sacco. “We need to show our families more consideration.”
She said the district should have put out the notice the day before, to help parents plan.
“There was added stress by not cancelling sooner,” said Marlene Seielstad, the BOE member. “It was an extreme amount of stress for families, especially in Barre.”
Bonnewell said the district’s closing policy is to assess weather conditions and make a decision by 5:30 a.m.
The district has closed school five times this school year.
December 15, 2016: snowstorm
On Thursday, Dec. 15, the school put out a message at 6:15 a.m. that the school day was on a 2-hour delay “due to sudden snow band.”
At 8:12 a.m., the district sent a message that conditions had not improved as expected by forecasters and school would be closed that day.
March 8, 2017: wind storm
The district sent a message to parents at 2:03 p.m. that afterschool activities were cancelled.
The wind storm knocked down numerous trees, snapped big branches and took down wires. About 60 percent of the county didn’t have electricity. Most school districts hit by the storm announced there wouldn’t be school the following day due to power outages.
Albion waited until Thursday at 5:15 a.m. to say there wouldn’t be school. “Please be safe today!”
Holley, Medina and Kendall would announce later that day they weren’t having school on Friday, either. Lyndonville announced it would have school the next day.
On Friday, March 10, at 4:20 a.m. Albion sent notice that school was closed.
On Sunday, March 12, the district put out a message at 1:30 p.m. that electricity had been restored at the elementary school on Saturday night.
March 14-15: snowstorm
When a big snowstorm was predicted for March 14, the district announced a closing the night before, March 13, at 10:24 p.m. (There was added confusion that Time Warner posted on March 13 that Albion was closed before the district had sent official notice. Once time Warner did that, Bonnewell said the district was compelled to close. “Time Warner listed us as closed and that can’t be undone,” he said.)
The storm intensified and on Tuesday, March 14, the district sent notice at 9:08 p.m. that school would be closed the following day. In all, about two feet of snow fell over two days.
Michael Bonnewell
Board members say they have received numerous comments from the community that Albion waits too long to close school. Board members said Albion is often the last of the five school districts in Orleans County to announce it is closing.
Bonnewell said snowstorms can hit geographic areas differently. Albion sees big ranges in snowfall in many snow storms. Most of the district is in the central Orleans County towns of Carlton, Gaines, Albion and Barre.
Snow conditions can also improve – or get worse – quickly.
When he calls for a snow day, Bonnewell is up late at night and then up very early, checking weather stations, and talking with local highway superintendents, the Sheriff’s Office, State Police and the district’s transportation director.
His goal is to make a decision by 5:30 a.m.
Bonnewell said a survey of school superintendents in New York State showed that school closings are among the most stressful parts of the job, and the most emotional for a community.
He noted the district closed on five days so far, with safety of students as a priority. Two other districts in the county didn’t close on all five of those days.
“It’s very gray,” said Board member Dean Dibley. “It’s not black and white.”
David Sidari, a board member, said many school districts are closing a day before, based on weather forecasts.
“The other districts are closing too early,” Sidari. “The snowstorms hit everywhere differently.”
Sidari said the powerful wind storm was unusual, a once every 5- to 10-year event. That damage couldn’t have been predicted, he said.
National Grid also estimated on Thursday, March 9, it would have power restored in Orleans County by that night. Full restorations didn’t happen until the weekend for several thousand Grid customers in the county.
When the snow storm hit March 14-15, Seielstad said Bonnewell and the district leaders posted numerous detailed messages that were helpful to parents.
She acknowledged there were unknowns with the power restorations. She said the district, in those cases, could have sent a notice that it was waiting for more information and would keep families posted. That would have eased some of the strain during those stressful few days.
“I also heard from parents who didn’t want school to be closed,” said Board of Education member Wendy Kirby.
Provided photos: The four Madejski brothers from Albion all now have attained their Eagle rank in Boy Scouts. The brothers include, from left: Greg, Giovanni, Joe and James. They are pictured at Joe’s Court of Honor celebration today in the Lyceum at Holy Family Parish.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 April 2017 at 10:35 pm
Joe follows brothers, Greg, James and Giovanni
ALBION – Joe Madejski is now an Eagle Scout, the fourth of the Madejski brothers to earn the highest rank in Scouting.
Madejski had his Court of Honor celebration and ceremony today. His brothers – Greg, James and Giovanni – attended the event, their first time all together in more than a year. (They also wanted to see Joe perform as Terk, one of the lead roles, in Albion’s musical, Tarzan.)
Greg, 28, was the first to reach the Eagle Scout milestone, followed by James, 27, and the Giovanni, 24.
The Madejskis have been active in Scouting in Albion for about two decades. Besides the four brothers, their father Tom has been Scoutmaster and is a past president of the Iroquois Trail Council. The boys’ mother, Sandra, was a den mother and has served in numerous roles for Troop 164, currently the advancement chairwoman.
Jackie Madejski, the brothers’ sister, has been a supporter of her brothers. She worked at Dittmer, a Boy Scout Camp in Phelps. She is pictured with James, Joe, Giovanni and Greg.
Jackie Madejski, the boys’ sister, also had a role in Boy Scouts, working at Camp Dittmer, a Scout camp in Phelps.
Scouting has been a good family activity, Mrs. Madejski said. She enjoyed meeting so many other Scouts and their families.
Tom Madejski said Scouts teaches responsibility, gradually giving the boys more and more freedom.
“It gives them a chance to get comfortable being uncomfortable,” Madejski said. “It’s a chance to be on their own.”
The four brothers – and sister – have taken varied career paths.
Greg is a graduate student at the University of Rochester, working in biomedical engineering. For his Eagle project, he put in a garden and did landscaping by Medina Memorial Hospital, a garden that still remains by the hospital.
James earned a degree in dramatic writing from SUNY Purchase and lives in Los Angeles, working in the film industry in script development.
For his Eagle project, he did a survey for the Medical Society of the State of New York.
“It was the first time in a major way I had to research something I didn’t know,” James recalled at the Madejski home in Eagle Harbor. “In the film industry, you communicate with people you don’t normally communicate with.”
Giovanni earned a degree in industrial and systems engineering and is currently a ski instructor in Colorado, embracing the outsdoors life that is a big part of Scouting. Giovanni has been a ski instructor for a year.
He said there is a strong fraternity among the Eagle Scouts, a mutual respect for the hard work and commitment to earn the rank.
He is pleased to welcome his youngest brother in the group.
“We’re all completionists,” Giovanni said about the brothers.
For his project, Giovanni designed, raised money and led the construction effort for a patio on the back end of the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley.
(Jackie Madejski, 22, earned a theater degree at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She graduated about a year ago and is working in theater in DC.)
Joe said he is grateful for Scouting, for the chance to experience the outdoors, and meet so many friends. For his Eagle project, he made a prosthetic hand for a woman who was a patient at Medina Memorial Hospital. Joe used a 3D printer to make the prosthetic. The project was also intended to give Medina Memorial some exposure to 3D printers for prosthetics.
Joe designed the prosthetic and used the printer at the UR where Greg is working as a grad student.
Joe will soon decide where to attend college to pursue a degree in biochemical engineering. A university in Chicago is in the running. If Joe goes there, the brothers said that would put one of them in four different time zones.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Mike Outten, pastor of North Point Chapel, preaches his sermon this morning at the church, which celebrated its official launch in the former Albion United Methodist Church building.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 April 2017 at 3:21 pm
ALBION – Mike Outten and the congregation at North Point Chapel were open to taking on the vacant historic church building in Albion’s Courthouse Square.
But Outten said the church wouldn’t be able to do it on their own. They would need God’s intervention.
North Point on October had no money in its bank account. Yet it had an opportunity to acquire the former United Methodist church building and a next-door parsonage for only $38,000.
Outten said the church was able to raise the funds by January’s closing. The sale still needs a final OK from the Attorney General’s Office.
“In October we said yes to purchasing this building,” Outten told the North Point congregation today, which met for the first time in the former United Methodist building. “Isn’t God awesome?”
In addition to the sale price, North Point is assuming the monthly cost of having wooden beams support the roof in the sanctuary. North Point also agreed to the $22,000 cost to have the company the put up the wooden support system remove the beams when a repair to the sanctuary roof is complete.
A projector displayed worship songs this morning at North Point, including the lyrics to “Man of Sorrows.”
For now, North Point is meeting in a double classroom as part of an addition to the church in 1959. The original church building dates to at least 1860.
Outten noted a historical marker by the church, which said it was formed from circuit riders who spread the Gospel message in the 1800s.
North Point will have an evangelical mission, striving to bring the Gospel message to Albion and Orleans County, while working on the church building and doing good work in the community, Outten said.
But the church has a higher mission, of helping people be drawn to Jesus, and experience the transforming power of God.
Rich Levandowski and Sarah Alexander are part of the worship team that led in singing “Man of Sorrows,” “Nothing but the Blood,” “Amazing Grace,” and “All I have is Christ.”
North Point had been meeting at the Arnold Gregory Office Building, the former Albion hospital. There were about 20 people attending the church, but that number doubled this morning with the launch service on Platt Street.
“We’re encouraged to see people come together to worship and to see new beginnings,” said Al Alexander, an elder in the church who lives in Barker.
Outten will have office hours in the church from Tuesdays through Fridays. On Thursday evenings Outten leads a Bible study at Tim Hortons.
The church will welcome two missions teams to Albion this summer. A group from Mississippi will lead a Vacation Bible School and street ministry from June 24-30. Another group from Georgia will help with evangelism, VBS and a basketball camp from July 24-29.
Samantha Flaherty holds her baby, Brantley, during this morning’s service, which started at 10:30.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 April 2017 at 12:40 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Enoch Martin plays Tarzan and swings into the jungle with Jane (played by Angela Tarricone).
The cast and crew will perform shows today at noon and 7 p.m. The musical has dramatic special effects, an elaborate set, top-notch acting, high-energy dancing and includes seven characters who get to fly with a harness and rigging system.
Gary Simboli is the director and he said the plot is powerful, telling a story of bridging differences and devotion to family.
“You see how beautiful life can be,” Simboli said. “If you leave without a tear in your eye, I’ll have to ask what is wrong with you.”
Matilda Erakare plays the mother gorilla Kala, here holding the baby Tarzan. She was devastated after a leopard kidnaps her newborn son. When Kala goes to find her son, she discovers Tarzan. She raises him despite Kerchak’s refusal to treat Tarzan as his son. Kerchak is played by Victor Benjovsky, back left.
Maia Pate plays the young Tarzan, shown here making friends with the goofy Terk (Joe Madejski), who teaches Tarzan how to behave like a gorilla.
Tarzan earns respect from the gorillas after killing their nemesis, the leopard (played by Chase Froman).
Kate Krieger, right, and Riley Seielstad get to fly in this scene deep in the jungle.
Jane (Angela Tarricone), an English naturalist, makes field notes about the the different creatures and creatures she sees in the jungle. She is especially intrigued by Tarzan (Enoch Martin). Tarzan saves Jane from a giant spider.
Joe Madejski provides lots of comic relief in his role as Terk.
Tarzan (Enoch Martin) lets out his big yell when Jane (Angela Tarricone) agrees to stay in the jungle rather than go back to England.
There are 23 gorillas in the cast. They take a bow during the curtain call.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 March 2017 at 3:54 pm
Photos courtesy of Albion Central School
ALBION – Seventh-graders at Albion once again had their Empty Bowls project to raise awareness and funds for hunger locally.
Students made bowls of pottery in an art class led by Kamie Feder. This is the ninth year students have participated in Empty Bowls.
The students in the top photo include, from left: Leah Kania, Annaleese Wright, Diana Moreno and Riley Hollenbeck.
The students raised $555 last week, with the money donated to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. There are about 40 bowls left and they will be for sale for $5 each at tonight’s Tarzan show at the Middle School Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m.
Orleans County Lynne Johnson bought one of the empty bowls. She is chatting with Loren Reid, Faith Bennett and Diana Moreno.
Each student who made a bowl also produced their own quote. Altogether, 145 bowls were made by the students.
Loren Reid, James Beach and Faith Bennett do their best to promote the event, which was last week at the middle school.
Dan Monicelli, the middle school principal, chooses a bowl. James Beach, teacher Kamie Feder and Leah Kania are behind the table.
Community Action presented a certificate of appreciation to the students.
In addition to the Empty Bowls event, students assist Community Action during the holidays by helping fill holiday food boxes. Many of the students also go to FoodLink in Rochester to help pack food boxes for surrounding food pantries, including in Albion.
