Albion

Albion Police Department receives traffic safety award

Posted 15 November 2016 at 10:01 pm

Press Release, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni

ALBION – The Albion Police Department is pleased to announce being awarded the 2016 Community Traffic Safety Platinum Award by the America Automobile Association.

The nationally recognized AAA Platinum Community Traffic Safety Award is the highest award AAA can bestow on any Police Department. It’s awarded to departments that have developed and maintained traffic safety initiatives in their communities and who have shown success in those initiatives.

The Albion Police Department has used programs such as Buckle Up New York, Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, Stop DWI, Pedestrian Crossing Safety and Awareness, and the Child Passenger Safety Seat Program to enforce vehicle and traffic laws as well as to educate and assist motorists.

Throughout 2016 the Albion Police Department conducted several targeted details that focused on specific areas of safety for both motorists and pedestrians. These details were done in non-traditional ways to increase their effectiveness.

Several more details are planned using techniques that have never been done in our area and will increase awareness and effectiveness with the end goal of making our community safer.

This is the sixth consecutive year that the Albion Police Department has received the Community Traffic Safety Platinum Award.

The Albion Police Department is dedicated to making our highways and streets safer for all who use them. Throughout the holiday season we will continue our efforts by adding more patrols and details and we urge motorist to make responsible decisions.

(Editor’s Note: The Holley Police Department, which is also managed by Nenni, won AAA’s Bronze Award for community traffic safety.)

Return to top

Albion’s latest musical features lovesick zombie

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 November 2016 at 7:06 pm

ALBION – Enoch Martin stars as Jonny Martin, a high school student who dies in a motorcycle crash but comes back as a zombie. Jonny had fallen in love with Toffee (Riley Seielstad) and returns as a zombie to attend the high school prom and be with Toffee.

The Albion High School drama program will perform Zombie Prom on Friday at 7 p.m., and Saturday at noon and 7 p.m. at the middle school auditorium.

The musical is set at Enrico Fermi High School, which is near a nuclear power plant. The students go through their daily routine at their lockers, in biology lab, industrial arts class and more. They also practice drills where they seek protection under their desks. That’s where Jonny (Enoch Martin) and Toffee (Riley Seielstad) fall in love.

Toffee’s parents played by April Henchmen, left, and Sam Slick don’t approve of the rebellious Jonny, nor does the principal of the school, Delilah Strict (right), played by Angela Tarricone. They encourage Toffee to break up with Jonny. When Jonny hears the news, he leaves distraught on his motorcycle and ends up dying in a crash.

Toffee (Riley Seielstad) is in mourning over Jonny’s death. Her friends encourage her to get over Jonny and think about the upcoming prom and other fun senior activities.

Angela Tarricone, who plays Miss Strict (the high school principal), isn’t happy when the students don’t follow her exacting rules. Here, Tarricone and cast members sing, “Rules, Regulations, and Respect.” As the plot develops, Miss Strict has a surprising connection to one of the lead characters.

Kate Krieger plays “Little Debbie.”

Zachary Moore (Jeffrey) jumps in the arms of Chase Froman (Jasper) when a siren goes off because the school is near a nuclear power plant.

These boys are busy measuring wood in shop class. They include, from left: Zachary Moore (Jeffrey), Chase Froman (Jasper), Connor Zicari (Joey), Victor Benjovsky (Jake) and Richard Flanagan (Josh).

Return to top

Mt. Albion workers tackle big job of removing leaves

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 November 2016 at 3:11 pm

ALBION – Parts of Mount Albion Cemetery look like a blanket of orange, red and yellow leaves.

The cemetery’s workers have been making long piles of leaves and then sucking them up with a vacuum truck. Kenny Blank, one of the cemetery’s workers, was clearing leaves on the east side of the cemetery this afternoon.

Blank and the cemetery workers are busy trying to clear the historic cemetery, home to many tall mature trees, from numerous leaves.

Many leaves are yet to fall at Mount Albion.

The tower at Mount Albion, a memorial that was built in 1876 to the nearly 500 Orleans County soldiers killed during the Civil War, is more visible now that the trees are shedding leaves.

Mount Albion is even more stunning in the fall, with the blast of colors from the fall foliage.

Return to top

Winners named in Albion scarecrow contest

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 October 2016 at 6:00 pm

ALBION – This scarecrow, made by Matt Hand and family (United Structural LLC), won first place for scariest in the first-time scarecrow contest in downtown Albion.

The event was organized by Energize Albion and the Albion Merchants Association.

Gianna Hyde received runner-up for scariest with Humpty Dumpty.

Organizers of the first-time contest in Albion are pleased with many participants and creativity shown, said Kim Remley, one of the organizers. She expects the scarecrow contest will return next year and become an annual fall tradition in Albion.

The scarecrows have been out most of October and the community was urged to vote for their favorites in four categories: cutest, scariest, funniest and most traditional. The winners were announced on Friday at Beggar’s Night. There were 68 votes.

Here are the other winners:

Cutest: Dance Reflections by Miss Heather won first place.

The Village of Albion’s office staff were runner-ups for “cutest” with Leilani, pictured Friday evening during Beggar’s Night.

Downtown Browsery won first for “funniest” with the “Can-Can Girls.”

Albion Agencies’ “Ninja Turtle” was a runner-up for funniest with this Ninja Turtle.

Krantz Furniture also was a runner-up for funniest with “Scarebot.”

Sisters Ella and Kelsey Froman won first place in most traditional for this scarecrow.

Five-Star Bank was a runner-up for most traditional.

Knight’s Pride also was a runner-up for most traditional.

Return to top

250 turn out for walk at Watt’s to raise funds for local cancer services

Photo by Tom Rivers: This group from Albion Central School posed for a group photo before today’s “Orchard Walk for the Cure” at Watt Farms. Several Albion teachers and staff are cancer survivors and they were part of the walk today that raised about $7,000 for The Cancer Services Program of Genesee and Orleans County.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 October 2016 at 4:18 pm

Peggy Lemcke, a teacher’s aide at Albion Central School, is applauded before the walk for being a cancer survivor for 16 years now.

ALBION – About 250 participants today raised more than $7,000 to pay for cancer screenings and to support people battling cancer in Orleans and Genesee counties.

Watt Farms for 11 years was a host for the making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Several hundred people attended that walk each year and raised $350,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Karen Watt, a 12-year breast cancer survivor, wanted to shift the walk this year so the funds would stay in Orleans and Genesee counties. She also wanted the proceeds to benefit people battling all types of cancers.

Today’s funds will go to Cancer Services of Genesee and Orleans, which funds mammograms, colonoscopies and other services to people underinsured or without insurance. The group contracts with Community Partners at Orleans Community Health in Medina for those services in Orleans County.

Lisa Franclemont, coordinator of Cancer Services of Genesee and Orleans, welcomes the participants for the walk at Watt’s.

Karen Watt and her grandson Evan lead the group in the walk, which was either 1 kilometer or 5 kilometers.

This group in front is from Holley Fire Department. Holley firefighters have been regulars the past five years at Watt’s for the walk. Karen Meiers, wife of past fire chief Ron Meiers, has been a breast cancer survivor for five years.

Joe and Maegen Suhr of Lyndonville are pictured with their daughter Ella, who turns 1 on Wednesday. Ella completed chemo treatments on Oct. 3. She also had two surgeries after doctors found a brain tumor. Many of the participants in the walk today wore shirts that said “Suhr Strong.” Ella’s parents are both teachers. Joe teachers high school history at Lyndonville and Maegan is a high school special education teacher at Batavia. They said Ella had a clear scan for cancer two weeks ago.

Emily Blanchard is pictured with Karen Watt after the walk today. Emily was the top individual fund-raiser at $3,450. Emily, 17, has been raising money for the walk the past nine years and estimated she has secured nearly $30,000 in donations by sending letters, emails and asking people in person.

Emily raises the money in memory of her grandmother, Patricia Blanchard, who was a kindergarten teacher at Lyndonville. She also ran a nursery school.

“She was the kind of person that everyone loved in Lyndonville,” Emily said.

This group mostly includes students from Syracuse University, who joined their classmate Joyce LaLonde who walked in memory of her mother, Kathy LaLonde, who died from breast cancer at age 54 on Oct. 6, 2013. Joyce and her father Steve are fifth and sixth from left in front row. Many of Kathy’s friends and family from Albion also walked at Watt’s today in her honor.

Lisa Franclement, left, introduces cancer survivors before the walk today. They include, from left: Karen Meiers of Holley, 5 years; Marge Walls of Elba, 29 years; Karen Watt of Albion, 12 years; Peggy Lemke of Albion, 16 years; Dawn Arnold of Albion, 2 years; and Kelly Wadhams of Albion, 5 years.

Return to top

500-plus turn out for Beggar’s Night at Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 October 2016 at 10:22 pm

ALBION – Downtown Albion was full of superheroes, and some scary characters during Beggar’s Night this evening. More than 500 kids turned out for the event in the downtown. There were also games, candy and bounce house at the Free Methodist Church.

The top photo shows Eric Flugel and these three girls dressed as the pink ladies from the movie Grease. Flugel is joined by his daughter Autumn, 10, (left) and his nieces, Liana, 10, and Alayna, 6.

This photo shows Ethan Campbell, 3, leading a pack of candy hunters on East Bank Street. Ethan is dressed as “Bat-Hulk” which includes a Hulk Hogan shirt with Batman mask and cape.

Leah Pawlak has on a costume of Annabelle, a character in a horror movie, during Beggar’s Night. She is joined by her brother Tristan Lusk and their grandfather Jerome Pawlak. They are handing out candies for Pawlak’s Save-A-Lot outside Family Hardware on West Bank Street.

Kylie Hughson, owner of the Tease hair salon, decorated her storefront and sidewalk for Beggar’s Night.

Mary Grose of Albion holds her granddaughter Rainnah Hughes, a rainbow witch, while stopping at Arnold’s Auto Parts, where employee Joe DiBella handed out candy while wearing a costume.

A Cookie Monster scarecrow is in front of Dance Reflections by Miss Heather, were Heather Hapeman and her family doled out candy.

Provided photo: Gretta Smith, left, (Cindy Lou Who) and Amber Robinson (The Grinch) dressed up for Beggar’s Night outside the Lynne Marie hair salon, which is owned by Robinson.

Return to top

Albion and Medina downtowns host Beggar’s Night on Friday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 October 2016 at 6:01 pm

File photos by Tom Rivers: Princesses, ghosts, clowns and other creatures will be in downtown Albion and Medina on Friday for the annual Beggar’s Night events. Merchants at both downtowns will be handing out candy. This photo from October 2014 shows cousins Maria Bregy, a princess, and Anthony Love, a Power Ranger, walking up East Center Street in Medina by Rotary Park.

ALBION/MEDINA – The business associations in Albion and Medina have big baskets of candy ready to hand out during the annual Beggar’s Night celebration on Friday when hundreds of kids in costumes are expected.

Albion has 26 businesses or organizations committed to stops in the downtown. Lisa Stratton, owner of the Hazy Jade Gift Shop, said 476 children attended Beggar’s Night last year. She has enough treats for 500 kids.

The Albion event begins with a parade from the Albion Fire Hall on Platt Street at 6 p.m.

This photo from October 2015 shows members of the Albion Teachers Association handing out candy in front of the First Presbyterian Church. The teachers include, from right to left: Janet Husung, Stephanie Schepis, Mary Jane Klips, Juie Keller and Dawn Squicciarini (in purple).

The Albion Free Methodist Church is a new addition to Beggar’s Night this year. The church at 25 S. Platt St. will have a bounce house, games and candy from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Medina is expecting about 750 kids for Beggar’s Night, which begins at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m. Children are asked to line up in the parking lot of the Medicine Shoppe at 5:15. Medina has about 40 to 50 businesses participating, said Cindy Robinson, the Business Association president.

“We enjoy it,” Robinson said about the business owners who often are in costume for the occasion. “It’s nice to see the kids dressed up. It’s a feed-good kind of thing.”

Return to top

Albion loses a beloved beech tree on Main Street

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 October 2016 at 2:43 pm

ALBION – One of the Village of Albion’s landmark trees, a beech at 48 North Main St. in front of KeyBank, was cut down on Sunday.

Here is how the site looked on Oct. 9, a day after KeyBank took over the former First Niagara location.

KeyBank employees have heard sorrow from customers all week, several employees said today.

The tree was diseased, with many dead branches that were a safety hazard to the public, one of the employees said today.

The tree’s takedown has been in the works for many months. First Niagara actually was supposed to have it removed, but that didn’t happen. KeyBank had it cut down on a Sunday when the bank wasn’t open.

Gary Kent, a member of the Albion Betterment Committee, has planted many trees on Main Street in recent years. He said the beech by the bank was one of the grandest in Albion.

“It burns me up,” Kent said about the tree’s removal. “It’s a serious loss for the downtown.”

The tree provided much needed “green” in the downtown, where there are few mature trees, Kent said.

KeyBank took over the site on Oct. 8, when the bank’s acquisition of the former First Niagara branches became official. The tree was identified for removal several months ago, a KeyBank employee in Albion said today.

Here is how the site looks today without the tree.

Oak Orchard Health buys OTB site, 2 other properties on Route 31

Photo by Tom Rivers: The former Off-Track Betting parlor at 317 West Ave. in Albion, as well as the green house at left, were acquired by Oak Orchard Health, which runs a healthcare site next door.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 October 2016 at 11:20 am

ALBION – Oak Orchard Health is looking to expand healthcare services in Orleans County, including dental and possibly vision and behavioral health, after acquiring three sites on Route 31 in Albion.

Oak Orchard purchased the former Off-Track Betting Corp. site at 317 West Avenue, as well as a next-door house, and a vacant parcel. The sites are next to Oak Orchard’s existing Albion health care site.

“We know there is a great need in Orleans County for health services and we look forward to filling some of that need,” said Jim Cummings, chief executive officer for Oak Orchard.

Oak Orchard, a Federally Qualified Health Center, will work on securing financing for a new site on the newly acquired properties. The current site is cramped. A bigger new building would allow Oak Orchard to add medical professionals and will become the main healthcare site for Oak Orchard in Albion, Cummings said.

The existing site may become the site for vision, dental and behavioral health services, Cummings said. Oak Orchard will work with the Orleans County Health Department and State Department of Health to assess services that could be provided by Oak Orchard.

The green house by the OTB will be torn down, Cummings said. The OTB parlor, which is set back from the road, may stay and be used for storage and for Oak Orchard’s maintenance staff. The new building might go in front of the OTB building.

Oak Orchard will work with an architect for the new building. If the financing, and state and local approvals fall into place, Cummings said the new site could be ready in about two years.

“We’re moving on our plan for more medical space,” he said. “That is our broad-based goal because the needs in Orleans are significant for health and dental.”

Oak Orchard is marking its 50th anniversary in the community this 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.

Oak Orchard Health recently received a perfect score during an operational site visit by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health and Services Administration’s Bureau of Primary Health Care.

Oak Orchard successfully fulfilled all 19 program requirements – an accomplishment that places Oak Orchard Health among a very small number of community health centers nationally to achieve this score, Cummings said.

The health center was measured on clinical, quality, financial, and operational performance and practices during the in-depth review. The operational site visit results provide a comprehensive assessment of the health center’s compliance and performance status.

“An operational site visit that results with no negative findings is very rare and a testament to the dedication put forth each day at Oak Orchard Health,” Cummings said. “I am proud of our team and its successful efforts to deliver high quality health care to our community.”

Return to top

Holy Family Parish in Albion will have a ‘Blue Mass’ for first responders on Sunday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 October 2016 at 9:23 am

ALBION – Police officers and first responders from throughout Orleans County are welcome to a “Blue Mass” at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (Holy Family Parish).

The Albion Knights of Columbus Council 1330 is sponsoring this Mass, and encourages police officers, firefighters, medics, coroners, correctional officers and other first responders to attend.

“The Knights would like to take this opportunity to demonstrate their respect and gratitude for all that have and for those currently serving through the offering of this Mass,” said Greg Dugan, the grand knight. “In addition, we remember our fallen who have given their lives protecting us.”

The Knights of Columbus Color Corp and The Gates Keystone Club (Pipers and Drums) will be participating and the Rev. Richard Csizmar will serve as celebrant and homilist.

First responders are urged to arrive a half hour before the Mass and gather outside the church for a solemn processional inside St. Joseph’s on West Park Street.

Following the service there will be a reception at the top floor of the Lyceum next door.

Return to top

Jim Babcock’s friends take delight in roasting him

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 October 2016 at 9:35 am

GAINES – Jim Babcock was roasted on Saturday during a benefit at Tillman’s Village Inn. About 100 people attended the event, which was a fund-raiser for The Salmon Children’s Foundation. That foundation has raised about $15,000 for Albion High School graduates in scholarships in memory of Nicholas Kovaleski.

This photo shows Phyl Contestable, “The Reverend Mother,” picking on Babcock, a local contractor and owner of Jim Babcock Construction. The Reverend Mother said Babcock was a handful for the nuns when he attended Catholic school in Albion.

Marcy Downey plays Ernestine, a telephone operator, during the roast of Babcock. Downey pretended to get a call from a motorist who discovered Babcock, who battles narcolepsy, asleep in his truck by the side of the road. Jim Salmon is at left. He served as host of the roast.

Steve Babcock shared some silly childhood stories of his brother to the delight of the crowd.

Amy Sidari took a turn roasting Babcock and showed a photo of Babcock dressed as a woman during a fund-raiser at the Cabaret at Studio B. Babcock has also portrayed Sony Bono in a variety show at the Cabaret.

Josie Waverly is dressed as Dolly Parton. Waverly performed a spoof of the Parton song, “9 to 5,” in describing a kitchen repair gone wrong.

Kelly Kovaleski, mother of the late Nicholas Kovaleski, said her son had a good sense of humor and would have enjoyed the roast of Babcock.

The Kovaleski family has launched the “Live With Purpose” organization to help high schoolers set goals, make positive choices and utilize their talents. Kelly and her husband Jay will debut their interactive workshop for the community at Holy Family Parish on Oct. 26 from 7 to 8 p.m. Click here for more information.

Nicholas Kovaleski was remarkably determined, even as a teenager, working towards his goals in football, swimming and tennis, and giving of himself by helping at home and through Boy Scouts. Nicholas adopted “Live with Purpose” as his motto when he was 11.

He was courageous in his fight against leukemia. Nicholas was just 15 when he died from the disease on June 29, 2011.

Babcock thanked the crowd and participants for the roast on Saturday.

Return to top

Grandmother battling cancer serves as honorary captain for Albion youth football team

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 October 2016 at 5:48 pm

ALBION – Nancy Neri of Albion is led on to the football field at Bullard Park in Albion today by her grandson, Luqman Cornick. Neri served as honorary captain for the Albion varsity youth football game today. Her husband Scott is behind Luqman.

Neri has battled cancer the past four years. It started as breast cancer and spread to her brain.

The team, led by head coach Shawn Callicutt, wanted to recognize Neri for her many faithful years along the sideline, cheering on her grandson and other Albion youth football players.

The Albion and Roy-Hart captains shakes hands before the coin toss at their game this afternoon.

Nancy Neri shows the players the coin before the toss.

Neri flips the coin into the air before the varsity game today featuring mostly seventh- and eighth-graders.

Return to top

Albion library welcomes kids for Halloween fun

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 October 2016 at 4:52 pm

ALBION – Gavin Hughes, 5, of Medina paints a pumpkin at Hoag Library today as part of “Halloween Fun Day” at the library. Children were welcome to paint pumpkins, color Halloween masks and drink apple cider.

Gavin and his family stopped in Albion to see the new children’s playground at the elementary school, and then had fun at the library.

About 50 children painted pumpkins, which were donated by Panek’s Pumpkin Patch in Albion. Kirby Farms donated the apple cider.

These teens helped out at the event and then painted some pumpkins. They include, from left: Kirsten Struble, John McGuire III and Meghan McDonnell.

Return to top

Firefighters give prevention tips to elementary students

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 October 2016 at 12:19 pm

ALBION – Volunteers from the Albion and Barre fire departments are spending several hours at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School today, teaching students about fire prevention. The top photo shows Evan Love, a second grader in Mrs. Lisa Burlison’s class, aiming a fire hose at targets. Barre firefighter Brian Bentley provides some guidance for Evan.

Students spray water at targets. The house with the fake flames was built by Andrew Cheverie for his Eagle Scout project in 2014.

Misael Hernandez-Buzard, a second-grader, sprays water at the targets.

Andrew Cheverie leads students in another simulation. Students have to feel the door handle and door to see if they are hot. After they open the door, the students get low to move under the smoke.

One student quickly gets through the smoke simulator. Andrew Cheverie is in back.

Rob Conner, an Albion firefighter, discusses the ladder truck used by the Albion Fire Department.

Albion firefighter Beau Piskorowski tells pre-kindergartners about some of the gauges and equipment on a fire truck.

Return to top

Albion celebrates opening of new playground at elementary school

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 October 2016 at 11:47 am

ALBION – Elementary students at Albion are in a celebratory mood today because a new playground has opened. (It’s also Fire Prevention Week and students are getting a chance to spray water at targets and do other simulations.)

The new playground is in a farm theme. Students voted on three theme possibilities last year and the farm overwhelmingly defeated a woodlands theme and also a purple-and-white colored playground with a spaceship.

Albion also opened a new playground on the other side of the school two years ago. The playground that opened today has more equipment geared towards younger students, although some of the bigger equipment can be used by children up to age 12.

There are about 900 students in the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School in grades prekindergarten through 5. School leaders like having two playgrounds because one can easily become crowded.

Each class sent two representatives to cut a ribbon at the playground this morning. The elementary band also played “Old Macdonald Had a Farm” over the loud speaker.

Each class will get 15 minutes on the playground today. Both playgrounds at the elementary school are open to the community after school, and on weekends and holidays.

Students climb on boxes that look like hay bales. The playground has several climbing challenges and other equipment to help with balance and fitness.

Return to top