Provided photos: The Albion High School Marching Band took top honors in both events they competed in at the Seneca Falls Pageant of Bands this past weekend. The top photo shows part of the band entering the judging area at Saturday’s competition in Seneca Falls.
The AHS Jazz Ensemble earned the 1st Place trophy in Class B, scoring 96 out a possible 100 points. The Purple Eagles also came home with the first place award in Open Class, after receiving a score of 91 for their 2017 show, “Bond….James Bond,” which is based on the music of that iconic spy film series.
Both the jazz and marching bands continue their competition season this coming weekend at the Darien Lake Music Festival. As always, the band will also march in Monday’s Albion Memorial Day parade.
From left: Jerico Chudy, Matt Kovaleski and Sierra Chudy play snare drums with the AHS Marching Band in Seneca Falls on Saturday.
ALBION – Members of the VFW Auxiliary Strickland Post #4635 paid a visit to the Albion Elementary School and met with kindergarten students today. Corinne Padura, left, read a book to the students about the origins of the American Flag as well as the symbolism of the stars and stripes. She talked about the importance of respecting the flag and proper care of the flag.
The top photo shows the VFW Auxiliary members with students in Mrs. Perry’s class. The group includes, from left: Corinne Pahura, Payton Babcock, Sue Boyce, Olivia Ginger, Debbie Ashe, Dalmas Weese and Edwin Dudley.
Corinne Pahura reads a book about the origins of the flag to the entire kindergarten class. She was a former kindergarten teacher.
Students sang “We Love Our Flag” and recited a poem about the flag.
Red, white and blue,
These colors run true;
Red, white and blue,
waving I love you!
At the end of the program each child received a flag. Students will use these flags during their annual Flag Day program on June 14. This community outreach effort is part of the VFW Auxiliary Americanism program.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 May 2017 at 4:02 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The winning poster has been chosen to help promote this year’s Albion Strawberry Festival. Destini Hurlbert holds the poster with a depiction of a Santa Claus.
This year’s festival, June 9-10, celebrates a Santa theme in honor of Albion native son, Charles W. Howard, who operated a school for Santa, served as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa for 18 years, and also ran the popular Christmas Park in Albion.
Jackie Quintana, last year’s winner, came in second with this photo. The students all researched historic photos of Howard and the Santa School to help with the poster design.
Charity Henhawk came in third with this design to help promote the Strawberry Festival.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 May 2017 at 11:28 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Dance Reflections in Albion won for “Best use of theme” in last year’s Strawberry Festival, which had a theme: Hook, Line & Strawberry, to promote the local fishing resources and to play on the strawberry theme of the festival.
ALBION – The Albion Strawberry Festival parade is less than a month away and festival organizers want parade participants to start thinking about their floats.
The parade this year has a Charles W. Howard theme, in honor of the man who founded a Santa Claus School in Albion. Parade participants are urged to incorporate Santa and Christmas decorations in their displays.
There will, however, only be one Santa Claus in the parade. He is expected to make a guest appearance with Mrs. Claus. Some members of Charles Howard’s family also are expected to be in the parade with his granddaughter serving as the parade grand marshal.
Parade participants are welcome to wear Santa hats, dress as elves or think of other ways to promote a Santa theme.
The festival has expanded its list of parade categories for awards. All of the winners will receive certificates.
The categories include:
• Best use of theme (Charles W. Howard and Santa Claus)
• Most original
• Best band
• Best cheer/dance
• Special recognition/community service
• Best public safety agency (fire department, police, ambulance)
• Best classic car
• Best wooden boat
• Best use of humor
Santa is expected to make an appearance in the Albion Strawberry Festival. He may opt for his casual wear because Santa doesn’t tend to wear his full Santa suit during the the off-season.
The Albion Merchants Association also will have a holiday window decorating contest during the 31st annual Strawberry Festival on June 9-10.
Charles Howard ran a Santa School in Albion from 1937 to 1966. Howard also served as the Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for 18 years. He remains revered among people who portray Santa for establishing standards in how to act and dress as Santa.
The Albion Betterment Committee is working on raising money for a bronze statue and memorial in downtown Albion in honor of Howard. The group is hoping to celebrate Howard, and promote Albion’s history with Santa Claus.
The two-day Strawberry Festival has many activities, from a food court, craft vendors, a classic car show, turtle race, trout pond, 5k and 8k race, and family fun center. A chalk art festival also will be back.
For more information, check the festival’s website by clicking here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2017 at 8:40 pm
Wadhams and Harling elected in Albion, while Keppler, Pawlaczyk and Sevenski elected in Medina
The school budgets in Albion and Medina received wide support in budget votes today.
• ALBION – The district’s $34,796,676 budget passed 526 to 123. The budget includes a 1.4 percent tax increase, only the second time school taxes are going up in last 11 years.
Voters elected retired teacher Wayne Wadhams, 513 votes, and Kathy Harling, 491 votes, to five-year terms. Marlene Seielstad wasn’t re-elected. She received 211 votes.
A proposition for $460,000 for bus purchases passed, 559 to 91, and a proposition to collect $687,211 for Hoag Library was approved, 469 to 177.
• MEDINA – The proposed $36,620,793 budget received 91.2 percent support, 423 to 41. The budget reduces taxes by 0.22 percent, down from $8,660,915 to $8,641,861, or $19,054 less in taxes.
The district has steadily been reducing taxes in recent years. The 2013-14 budget had a $9,135,636 tax levy. Medina has now reduced school taxes by $493,775 in four years, a 5.4 percent decrease.
A proposal to reduce the size of the Board of Education from 9 to 7 seats passed, 259 to 198. The board will remain at nine seats in the 2017-18 school year, with the reduction taking effect beginning July 1, 2018.
Four ran for three open seats. The following were elected: Bill Keppler, 329; Arlene Pawlaczyk, 299; and Dave Sevenski, 292 votes. Mary Hare received 267 votes.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2017 at 8:19 am
Provided photos: Adam Burlison, 10, of Albion holds his trophy after winning a spelling bee on Saturday in Grand Island.
ALBION — An Albion fourth-grader won a spelling bee on Saturday that featured 46 of the top spellers in Western New York from grades 4 and 5.
Adam Burlison, 10, was perfect as the field of spellers was winnowed from 46 to 1. The second-place finisher misspelled “heritage.” After Adam spelled it right, he sealed his victory with the word, “sentimental.”
It was a heart-pounding 2 1/2 hour event for many in the Albion community. Adam’s mother Lisa, an Albion elementary school teacher, posted the competition on Facebook live. When Adam won, the bus for the Albion marching band burst into cheers and applause. The band was coming home from the Lilac Festival in Rochester.
Adam’s father is the late Wayne Burlison, the assistant marching band director and elementary school band teacher. Wayne was 36 when he died from colon cancer on March 26, 2014.
The announcer at the spelling bee used each of the words in the contest in sentence. For “sentimental,” the announcer said: “Sentimental. She gave her father a sentimental card for Father’s Day. Sentimental.”
Adam was like a machine as he spelled his words – geothermal, successful, voluntary, stockade, fantastic, dilute, ventricle and many others.
Adam Burlison competed against 45 other top spellers. His winning word: “sentimental.”
He was one of three Albion students at the competition in Grand Island. Madison Banker and Sawyer Brigham also competed. All three students are in Meghan Kania’s class. Sawyer also finished in the top 10.
The final three in the spelling bee made it through all of “expert” words on the fourth grade list. Then the judges asked words from a fifth grade list that contestants didn’t study.
Adam has honed his spelling skills by reading lots of books, his mother said. His favorite books are fiction/fantasy, which Mrs. Burlison said have a lot of unusual words.
The closed captioning also is on the TV in the Burlison home because Lisa has a slight hearing loss.
“I realized at an early age that he was learning to read from that as well,” she said about the words on TV.
She thanked his friends at school for helping prepare him for the spelling bee. They asked him words over lunch in the cafeteria.
Provided photos
ALBION — Scouts from Pack 164 in Albion gathered at Mt Albion Cemetery this morning for their annual outing to place American flags at the graves of veterans. This is always one of their favorite community service projects of the year, done each May before Memorial Day.
Alakai Colmenero places a flag at Mt Albion.
Zack Baron finds another marker that needs a flag.
Jonny Soule scouts the scene for markers.
CubMaster Mike Beach points out a few markers to see eager followers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 May 2017 at 7:25 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Two flowering dogwoods were recently planted on the front lawn of the former Swan Library, at 4 North Main St.
The Albion Betterment Committee and the Orleans County Historical Association split the costs for the new trees. The site used to have a tall pine tree, but that was removed last year because the tree’s roots were pushing out the stone retaining wall.
Pictured include, from left: Gary Kent, director for the Betterment Committee; Chad Fabry, owner of the former Swan; Gary Derwick, director for the Betterment Committee; and Al Capurso, president for the Historical Association.
The Betterment Committee has had many dogwood trees planted along Main Street and in other prominent parts of Albion in recent years.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Tim Archer is pictured with one of his service learning classes on Tuesday after member of the VFW presented him with his teaching award. Archer said the students are committed to the many service projects.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 May 2017 at 1:17 pm
Tim Archer praised for honoring veterans, promoting citizenship
ALBION – An Albion teacher has won a state-wide teaching award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars for his work promoting citizenship and connecting his seventh-grade students with projects honoring veterans.
Tim Archer is now under consideration for the national VFW award for a middle school teacher. The VFW each year honors an elementary, middle and high school teacher.
“I’m impressed with everything he’s done,” said Earl Schmidt, the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency director, and a member of the VFW. “He goes above and beyond.”
Archer and his class have worked on several projects honoring veterans. Their next effort will be rededicating a World War I bronze plaque on the Orleans County Courthouse.
The memorial was given by the American Legion, which asked Archer to help find a suitable place to display it. That marker will be rededicated at 3 p.m. on June 9, going back to its original spot on the Courthouse.
Tim Archer, right, received surprise visitors on Tuesday afternoon at his seventh grade service learning class. Three members of the VFW stopped by to present him with the New York “teacher of the year” award from the VFW. The VFW representatives include, from left: Earl Schmidt, the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency director; Jim Freas, Medina VFW post commander; and Rebecca Hucknall, a senior master sergeant and VFW post adjutant.
Dan Monacelli, the middle school principal, said Archer has been “an amazing mentor” to his students, inspiring them in them service projects, while promoting citizenship and flag etiquette.
“This is a big deal,” Monacelli told one of Archer’s classes on Tuesday. “It’s big because of his hard work and because you kids buy into it.”
Students secured a proper cemetery marker for one Civil War veteran at the old St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Albion. Hey painted 160 Civil War markers (Grand Army of the Republic) that were rusting at Mount Albion Cemetery. They dedicated a historical marker for the lone Orleans County veteran who died at Gettysburg.
“He brings the curriculum to life,” Monacelli said. “You can reach out and touch it.”
Archer, in addition to the community projects honoring veterans, has many veterans come and and speak to his classes.
Some of the recent projects Archer has led with his students include:
Historical marker unveiled for local soldier who died at Gettysburg
On Oct. 8, 2016, a new historical marker for Herbert Charles Taylor, the only Orleans County resident believed to have been killed in the Battle at Gettysburg, was unveiled at Hillside Cemetery.
The local Honor Guard is pictured in the background of this photo. Taylor is buried in the older section of Hillside Cemetery, a historic site in the Town of Clarendon, just south of the Village of Holley.
Gettysburg was the Civil War’s deadliest battle with about 23,000 Union casualties and about 28,000 killed from the Confederacy. Taylor, a member of the 140th N.Y. Infantry, was with his regiment at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863 and repulsed the attack on Little Round Top.
Marker added at Civil War section of Mount Albion, and GAR markers repainted
Albion students on May 26, 2016 dedicated a new marker at the Civil War section of historic Mount Albion Cemetery. Students researched local Civil War soldiers. Archer and the students also repainted about 160 GAR grave markers for soldiers who fought for the Union in the Civil War.
Seventh-grader Emily Merger wore a period dress for the ceremony last May. She said women also made many sacrifices during the Civil War, keeping houses, farms and businesses running while caring for children while their husbands were at war or killed in battle. Tim Archer, the Service Learning teacher, is in back.
Civil War soldier gets headstone 101 years after death
A new headstone was unveiled on April 30, 2016 for John Frost, a principal musician (chief bugler) for the 33rd New York Infantry and also the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division of 6th Corps. Frost was buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Brown Road in 1915.
Frost raised five children in Orleans County and sold coal for a living. In 2015, the Holy Family Parish was going through records at the cemetery and realized that John Frost never had a headstone. County Historian Matt Ballard, a member of the parish and also the Knights of Columbus, shared the story with Archer,who then told his students about Frost.
The students wanted Frost to have a headstone. They worked with the Veterans Service Agency in Orleans and Niagara counties to secure a headstone for Frost. The marble stone was unveiled about a year ago.
Bronze memorial for World War I vets headed back to Courthouse
Provided photo: American Legion Sheret Post #35 Commander Wally Skrypnik is pictured with a large bronze plaque memorializing 24 area soldiers who died during World War I. Skrypnik is pictured with Albion seventh graders Leah Pritchard, center, and Emily Harling. The seventh grade service learning class is working on having the memorial placed at the Orleans County Courthouse.
The latest project for Archer and the students includes finding a fitting home for the bronze marker that lists the names of 24 local residents from the school district (towns of Albion, Barre, Carlton and Gaines) who died in World War I.
The American Legion Sheret Post #35 donated the large 3-by-5-foot bronze plaque memorializing 24 local WWI soldiers. The plaque has been displayed in various indoor locations, but was most recently in storage, not visible to the public.
After being impressed by the students work last year on area Civil War soldiers, the local American Legion Post felt it fitting to donate the plaque to the hard-working students on the 100th anniversary of the United States entrance into WWI.
Archer was willing to accept the challenge to have the memorial placed back in the community.
“Our kids will learn a great deal about courage, integrity, and self-sacrifice,” Archer said in September. “There is no greater example of ‘loving thy neighbor’ than laying down your life for another. We all need role models like this.”
Those listed on the plaque include: John D. Arnett, Albert Beary, Jesse S. Brooks, John A. Butler, Leo. F. Christopher, Oliver E. Clement, Ronald F. Corey, Robert B. Densmore, Harry H. Dibley, Frederick Green, John Kurzawski, Martin Larwood, Louis Monacelli, Dewey Mott, Benjamin A. Needles, Leonard Osborne, Adolfo Passarelli, Stanley Rutkowski, James A. Sheret, Egbert Sheret, John H. Stevens, Alexander Wilson and Stanley P. Zyglarski.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 May 2017 at 9:15 am
ALBION – Bank of America has notified customers it is closing its Albion branch on Aug. 15.
“While your account will stay the same, we’re sorry for the inconvenience this closing causes,” the bank said in a letter to customers dated May 5. “To minimize the inconvenience, we have many others ways you can continue to bank with us.”
The Albion branch is located at 156 South Main St. Bank of America also recently opened a drive-through ATM by Dunkin Donuts in Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 May 2017 at 8:00 am
Photo courtesy of Mike Thaine
ALBION – The Albion Marching Band braved the constant rain on Saturday and practiced for four hours. Andrew Moore looked like he was dressed to go duck hunting.
The marching band normally starts outside practices in early to mid April, but had been confined to using the gym and halls. The band tried going outside once before this spring, but that only lasted 10 minutes before fleeing from the rain.
But the band and its 75 students make their season debut this Saturday at the Lilac Festival in Rochester. Yesterday was the last chance for a long drill practice before the Lilac Festival.
Mike Thaine, the band director, said the students stayed positive despite the rain and 45-degree weather.
By Matthew Ballard, Orleans County Historian Posted 6 May 2017 at 8:06 am
“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 3, Issue 19
ALBION – On November 19, 1913, the Ever-Ready Manufacturing Company of Buffalo delivered a six cylinder, 90 horsepower Thomas flyer hose, chemical, and ladder truck for the Active Hose No. 2 Fire Company in Albion.
At a cost of approximately $6,000, the fully-loaded vehicle was said to max out at 75 miles per hour. A year and a half prior to this delivery, Dye Hose No. 5 Fire Company purchased a similar machine, making Albion’s fire service one of the best in the United States.
This photograph shows Chief Engineer C. Royce Sawyer, right, seated in his recently purchased 1913 Buick Model 30 Roadster, which was designated as the chief’s car for the Dye Hose Company. The vehicle was equipped with a carbonated gas fire extinguisher, visible on the car’s driver-side running board.
Around the time this photograph was taken, two of Albion’s volunteer companies took out incorporation papers following village approval to do so. The process of incorporation allowed both companies to move their automated fire apparatus to the municipal building shown in this photo. Sawyer was an incorporator of the Dye Hose Company, while J. Wallace Eggleston, seated left, was an incorporator of the Active Hose Company.
At the time of his retirement, Eggleston had responded to over 2,000 fire alarms with the Active Hose Co. No. 2, becoming an inactive fireman in 1966 after more than 50 years of service. When the Orleans County mutual-aid system was established in 1949, he served as its first coordinator.
He worked with Sawyer to motorize Albion’s fire apparatus, encouraging village officials to invest in the machine purchased by Dye Hose. Eggleston was also an advocate for the creation of fire districts, convincing nearby towns to enter into contracts with the village to provide fire protection. This effectively spread the cost of the fire department across the tax rolls and reduced fire insurance rates for rural residents.
In the far bay with closed doors, you can see the Dye Hose fire apparatus parked inside. Active Hose housed their vehicles in bays located along Platt Street. This building was later converted into offices for the Village of Albion and the Albion Police Department.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 May 2017 at 12:40 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Amy Sidari, center, is pictured with some of the current and past teachers at the Gotta Dance by Miss Amy studio in Albion.
Sidari opened the business 20 years ago. This year’s recital includes a special celebration for the 20 years. The dance instructors will do a 15-minute dance together.
Sidari worked as the lone dance instructor the first two years before adding additional teachers. Crystal Hollenbeck, front right in the photo, has been a dance instructor for Miss Amy for 16 years. Hollenbeck pushed for the teachers to do a dance together as part of the recital.
There will be recitals today and Saturday at 6 p.m., as well as a noon recital for the younger students. The recitals are at the Albion Middle School Auditorium.
Amy Sidari will also do a dance with many of her family members at this evening’s recital. They will be performing for the crowd, which will include a front row seat for her three aunts, from left in chairs: Jane Sidari, Santa Calles and Louise Felso. The Sidaris and their extended family will performing, “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge.
The family has been rehearsing the dance since March. They are pictured during a rehearsal on Wednesday evening. Steve Coville and his wife Annette, left, joined the three aunts in getting a close seat to the action.
Sidari opened the dance studio at 28 West Bank St. She has expanded from a one-room studio to two dance rooms, with one serving as a larger performing arts center with frequent guests in “The Cabaret at Studio B.” Gotta Dance also offers voice and piano lessons.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2017 at 2:42 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The State Canal Corp. has made a temporary fix to a leak in the canal between the Keitel Road and Densmore Road bridges. The leak was on the southside bank by the Albion Sportsmen’s Club (the former Peck’s Quarry).
The state used concrete blocks and a fabric covered with pea gravel to make a short-term fix, according to an Orleans County official.
The Canal Corp. is digging down to see if additional action is needed.
Orleans Hub left a message with the Canal Corp. on Tuesday but hasn’t received a call back.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2017 at 1:11 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Ann Batt moves a block up high during a game of Jenga this morning at Charles D’Amico High School in Albion. Laurencé Walker (left), a senior at Albion, is in position in case the tower tumbles. Batt was joined by her daughter, Sue Reed.
Senior citizens played many games with students, and also were treated to breakfast and lunch, and a concert by the jazz band and some of the chorus groups.
Jane Sidari rolls oversized dice during a game of Yahtzee. Katie Rustay, a senior, helped run the game.
Kay DiLaura looks over some of the student artwork on display.
