By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The 30th anniversary of the Albion Strawberry Festival, set for next week on June 10-11, will again have royalty. The festival committee picked student ambassadors to represent the festival.
The group includes, from left: Prince Garric Winterkorn, King DeClan McCue, Queen Melissa Barnosky, and Princess Ashleigh Mowatt.
To be considered for the royalty, Albion students had to write an essay about this year’s festival theme which celebrates the historic Erie Canal. The students wrote how the canal gave birth to many canal towns, including Albion, which was originally called Newport. The canal was built from 1817-1825 in one of the country’s biggest public works projects ever. The ease of transporting goods turned New York into the Empire State, Barnosky wrote in her essay.
The royalty will be included in the parade at 10 a.m. on June 11. They will also help drop the plastic turtles into the canal during the Turtle Race at 2 p.m. on June 11.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Paula Shipe is the first in line this afternoon to try out the Frosty Bucket at 43 North Main St. Hilary Clark is the second customer.
ALBION – Downtown Albion has new place for a cool dessert. The Frosty Bucket opened today at 2 p.m. at 43 North Main St.
The business is owned by Adam and Tina Johnson. They are also working to renovate a site next door, hoping to turn that space into a restaurant and bar. Mr. Johnson said the family is working to have that open in the fall.
The Frosty Bucket was more do-able, and should provide revenue to help the Johnsons tackle some of the other projects in the building. Johnson is also president of the Albion Merchants Association. He expects The Frosty Bucket will draw people to the downtown business district.
“We want to make use of the building, and get more people downtown and on the sidewalk,” Johnson said just before the business opened this afternoon.
Adam and Tina Johnson are pictured with their son Tyler when The Frosty Bucket opened this afternoon.
Johnson and his employees worked a month to gut the building and put in new floors, walls, a front window, and all the kitchen equipment, which required new electrical work. He also added outdoor tables and chairs. The tables should have umbrellas soon.
Johnson pushed to have the business open in time for the Strawberry Festival, which is June 10-11.
The Frosty Bucket will have a full-time employee and a team of part-timers. The business will initially be open 2 to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Johnson said a take-out menu will be added soon and lunch hours will then be included.
For now, the Frosty Bucket has several flavors of ice cream cones, milk shakes and sundaes, as well as cold beverages.
“We just want to make an impact in the downtown,” Johnson said.
Paula Shipe placed the first order, an ice cream cone with a scoop each of Cannoli and Deep Sea Treasure. Employee Kim Fisher, left, hands the cone to Shipe.
Shipe’s son Phil works for Johnson and has been busy for several months on renovations inside the building, with the past month focused on the ice cream shop.
“They’ve worked so hard on this,” Shipe said. “It’s beautiful. They did a great job.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 June 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Della Morales, library media specialist at Albion High School, helps first-grader Drayson Shonerd put on a hat he made in the Popcorn and Paperbacks program at Hoag Library.
Morales and students in the middle and high school multicultural clubs have been reading and doing craft projects on Wednesday afternoons the past eight weeks. The program concluded its first series today, but Morales said it will return in the fall with a Popcorn, Paperbacks and Pumpkins theme.
There were about 15 regular elementary student attendees in the program. Students in the multicultural clubs would read books to the younger kids and help them with weekly craft projects.
Morales said the idea for the program popped into her head. She thanked Hoag Library and the school district for backing the effort. Tina Burgett, multicultural club advisor in the middle school and an art teacher, also was a big help, Morales said.
“It’s been a real cool program,” she said.
Participants in the program hold a banner they created that says Popcorn and Paperbacks. They are pictured by a garden outside the children’s library, where students planted flowers this afternoon.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 May 2016 at 12:00 am
Provided photos
BARRE – A Barre family on Burns Road is still looking for their beloved dog, Pepper, after a devastating fire on Saturday night destroyed their home.
One of their dogs has been found, but the other German Shephard hasn’t been located.
The property at 5581 Burns Rd. is owned by Allen Whipple. Family members have been looking in Barre and north Oakfield for the dog. Mathew Pribek, son of Mr. Whipple’s late wife Connie, said the family is willing to pay a reward to anyone who finds the dog, which has a reddish color.
“We are cautiously optimistic,” Pribek said. “We believe Pepper is out there.”
Anyone with information about the dog should call Pribek at 585-861-0211.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 May 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Beau Piskorowski, a member of the Albion Fire Department, joins other firefighters in today’s Memorial Day parade down Main Street in Albion.
The parade concluded at the Albion Middle School, where there was a service to honor veterans.
Matt Passarell carries the American flag with other veterans in the Color Guard in this morning’s parade. Passarell is also the Albion town supervisor.
The group of veterans head south on Main Street. It was about 80 degrees out with bright sunshine during the parade.
The Albion High School Marching Band has been a parade mainstay for decades.
The band performs on Main Street before heading to the Middle School, where it played more music on the school lawn.
Katlin Pieniaszek holds the American flag in leading Girl Scouts in the parade.
These younger Girl Scouts carry a banner down Main Street.
Scouts from Troop 175 in West Barre are part of the parade procession.
These Scouts are part of Pack and Troop 164 in Albion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 May 2016 at 11:30 pm
BARRE – Firefighters, including a member of the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company in front, work to put out a fire Friday night at 5581 Burns Rd.
The location is in southern Barre near the Genesee County line.
The initial dispatch call went out at 9:13 p.m. Firefighters from several departments in Orleans and Genesee counties responded to the scene. The house is owned by Allen and Constance Whipple and located at the end of a long driveway.
The house was fully engulfed in flames and bystanders said they could see the orange flames from the road.
No one was injured in the fire, and the Whipples’ dogs were able to get out.
These Barre firefighters work to put out hot spots at the back of the house.
In addition to Barre, firefighters responded from Albion, Elba, East Shelby, Shelby, Medina, Ridgeway and Oakfield.
The fire happened on a section of the road without fire hydrants. Firefighters went to a hydrant on Johnson Road to fill fire trucks with water, which then hauled it to dump tanks to be pumped to the scene.
Water is hauled and then put in the dump tanks. Several fire companies brought tankers and pumpers to fight the fire in a remote part of Barre.
Jason Watts, a past chief for the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company, is at the smoky scene after a house was destroyed by a fire.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 May 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Jennifer Gray, a chalk artist and director of the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council, works on a chalk art creation of the Statue of Liberty and an American flag today outside the Albion Middle School.
Christopher Mitchell Funeral Home sponsored the display which will be on the grounds for the Memorial Day ceremony following a 10 a.m. parade on Monday.
Jennifer Gray, left, and Go-Art! intern Alexis Krinki of Brockport work on the chalk art creation today. Krinki is also a GCC student. This is her first time doing chalk art.
Go Art! and the Albion Merchants Association are organizing a chalk art display and contest on June 11 as part of the Strawberry Festival. For more on that event, click here.
Alexis Krinki works on the stars in the flag for the chalk art display by the Middle School.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 May 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Hayden London is pictured today at Frank’s Auto in Albion, where he has a part-time job.
BARKER – A Waterport teen went fishing with three friends at Golden State Park in Barker on Thursday and likely saved the life of a man who drove into the lake.
Hayden London, 17, and his friends – Alex Plummer, Josh Tombari and Matt Scroger – were fishing by the inlet at the state park. They heard an engine roar and then a big splash in the water.
They ran to the lake and saw a green van pointed down in the water. The front was submerged. Another man was standing near the shore and told the teens a man was inside the van.
London and Plummer each grabbed big rocks. London took off his shirt and dove in the water. He saw a man who appeared to be elderly inside, hitting at the window trying to get out.
London smashed the driver’s window with a rock. Water came rushing inside the van, London recounted today. London put his shirt on the window, to protect the man from the broken glass. London and Plummer then pulled the man out of the van.
“He did a damn fine job,” Lt. Patrick Rindsleisch of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department said about London.
The rescued man seemed to be OK at the scene but was taken by ambulance for observation. Rindsleisch declined to release the man’s name, citing privacy concerns.
But he said London “helped the guy immensely” in a remote area of the Niagara County.
London is a junior a Lyndonville Central School. He said he is grateful the man was saved from the sinking vehicle.
“At first we were froze because we didn’t know what to do,” he said. “We could see he was trying to get out. I didn’t want to watch someone die.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 May 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club awarded three scholarships to graduating seniors for $2,750 total. Rotarians Bonnie Malakie, left, and Club President Karen Sawicz, right, are pictured with the scholarship winners Kyle Smith and Elizabeth Goff. Nathaniel Tremblay, not pictured, also was awarded a scholarship.
Elizabeth Goff received the A. B. “Dick” Eddy Rotary “Service Above Self” Scholarship. This scholarship for $1,250 is awarded in memory of Dick Eddy, a community leader, businessman, and Rotarian, who committed his life to the principle of service above self. The award goes to a senior who has demonstrated a personal commitment to community service and leadership, and displays high potential for future accomplishment.
Goff has been on the high honor roll, and has run sprints in track, while also being active in the school music program. She also serves as president of Rotary Interact, a Rotary program in the school. She wants to study physical therapy in college, with plans to go to Genesee Community College for two years before finishing at Daemen College in Buffalo.
Kyle Smith received the Edward B. Archbald Memorial Scholarship for $1,200. Archbald was a farmer, philanthropist, outdoorsman and a 70-year member of Rotary. This scholarship is presented to a graduating senior pursuing a college education who shares a love for sports, recreational activities, community service and work experience. The scholarship was raised from $500 to $1,250 this year by Rotary.
Smith has been a key player for Albion football and baseball. He will play football at Ithaca College where he will major in business and marketing. He has worked part-time at Mark’s Pizzeria and Panek Farms also also interned with the Orleans Economic Development Agency.
Tremblay received the Rotary Career Advancement Prize for $250. The award goes to a graduating senior entering a field that doesn’t require a traditional college education, such as a technical field, agriculture, law enforcement, or business. Key factors in selecting the recipient include community service, school activities, and work experience. Tremblay wants to become a police officer.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 May 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Marines Pvt. Trey Liberatore and Sgt. Derek Yertich raise the American flag today during a ceremony at Mount Albion Cemetery, where a new memorial plaque was unveiled in honor of the Civil War soldiers from the county.
The two Marines stand at attention while the flag is raised.
The seventh-grade class and many community members and veterans attended today’s dedication ceremony.
Abby Allen sings the National Anthem during today’s program.
Today culminated several months of effort for the seventh grade “Service Learning” classes that are led by teacher Tim Archer.
Students in the fall catalogued the burial locations for more than 250 Civil War veterans buried at Mount Albion. That includes 72 on the east side, 137 on the west side, and 41 at the Civil War section. About 160 of those veterans had rusty, old cast iron Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) markers that needed repainting.
The GAR marker for Christopher Drake was repainted, along with about 160 others that were rusty.
These students – Bailey Blanchard in front, Josh DePoty and Alexa Grandy – read the names of 47 Civil War veterans whose names weren’t included on the marble slabs inside the tower at Mount Albion when the tower was built in 1876.
The tower was dedicated on the country’s 100th anniversary and includes the names of 466 Orleans County residents who died in the Civil War. Seventh-graders researched the names of Orleans residents who died in the war, teaming with archivists and historians in the research.
These Orleans County residents died in the war but their names aren’t in the monument: Miles Ameden, James Bayn, Jonas Bayne, Lyman Blanchard, Henry Burbank, Martin Burnett, James Caldwell, Jefferson Chapman, Oliver Clark, James Collins, William Crann, Dolly Denison, Edmund Everett, George Everett, Edmund Furndon, James Hammon, Henry Harden, Willis Herman, Edwin Holsenberg, Alexander Hosbury, Charles Hulbert, S. Hunnant, John Hurburger, Jenkins Irving, Lawrence Keegan, Ira Kelsey, Frederick Kruse, George Lytle, John McPherson, Thomas Morrison, William Mulligan, Ethan Murin, Alfred Parkinson, Monroe Peaslee, George Washington Pier, Abial Randall, Elisha Sanderson, John Simmons, Arrill Snyder, George Stanton, Charles Starks, George Sutton, Lewis Teyrrell, William Trow, Nathan Venton, George Woodhull, Gilbert Woodhull.
Orleans County Historian Matthew Ballard, who helped students with some of the research on the Civil War soldiers, speaks about the creation of the 50-square-foot lot at Mount Albion for veterans at the site of today’s ceremony. The spot was picked for veterans back in 1883.
Ballard thanked seventh-graders for their “noble deed” in remembering and honoring veterans.
About 200 people attended today’s ceremony including the Honor Guard from the American Legion.
Seventh-grader Emily Mergler, wearing period dress for the ceremony, 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.
Seventh-grader Infinity Bell talks about some of the Civil War soliders from the community.
Seventh-grader Quinn McCue highlights some of the class’s efforts this year. She said the group isn’t done. It will unveil a historical marker in September at Hillside Cemetery in Clarendon for Herbert Charles Taylor, the only Orleans County resident believed to have been killed in the Battle of Gettysburg.
Student Rocco Auricchio reads a poem, “Our Soldier Dead,” by Joel B. Swett.
Seventh-grader Eli Pask notes the sesquicentennial of the surrender at the Appomattox Court House. The 150th anniversary was in April 2015.
The new bronze plaque for Orleans County Civil War soldiers was unveiled today. The plaque is on a 6-foot-long piece of Medina sandstone donated by Fred Pilon. The stone was saved when an Albion street was torn up about a decade ago.
Seventh-grader Jakob Talbot unveiled the new marker. Students also planted a sugar maple tree by the Civil War section and placed an urn by the cannon.
Members of the American Legion Honor Guard do a gun salute after the marker was unveiled.
These students – Ashley Ames, Logan Conlon, Sierra Kast, Kailey Merrill and Lauren Wehling – play Taps at the service today.
Tim Archer listens to his students during today’s program. Archer thanked many of the local historians and Mount Albion staff for help with the Civil War research and recognition efforts this year.
He said he and the students enjoyed spending so much time in the historic cemetery.
“This cemetery is really a treasure that we have right here in our community,” Archer said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 May 2016 at 12:00 am
The late Sgt. Jonathan Webster, 27, served 2 tours in Afghanistan, fought cancer
Photos courtesy of Candy Farmer and Rachel Hafner – Sgt. Jonathan “Webbie” Webster is pictured on one of his two tours of duty to Afghanistan with the Army. Webster died at age 27 on May 10 following complications from chemotherapy to treat cancer.
ALBION – Jonathan Webster was 17 when he joined the Army. It was a decision that brought needed structure for a young man who had lived with foster families. He moved around, making it difficult to settle in at a school district during his high school years.
One of his foster families in Le Roy urged him to get his GED and join the military. Webster followed that advice and he found a calling and sense of purpose with the military. He made numerous friends in the Army and the military became a family for him, even when he served two tours in Afghanistan, Webster’s mother Candy Farmer said.
“He joined the Army at age 17, thank God,” said Farmer of Holley. “When he was in the Army that’s when he was his happiest. The Army saved his life. It gave him structure and a sense of family.”
Jonathan Webster excelled in the military. He was promoted to sergeant.
Webster was enlisted for nearly seven years. He was first sent to Fort Lewis in Washington State, and later served a year at Fort Drum near Watertown. He was honorably discharged on Oct. 4, 2013.
He suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. His family said he was in a convoy when a roadside bomb blew up, killing one of his close friends. Webster received the Purple Heart and numerous medals for his service.
Webster reconnected with family when he was back in the area. He “struggled for a while” readjusting to civilian life, said his sister Rachel Hafner of Albion.
Jonathan Webster holds his niece, Isabelle, in this photo from 2014.
Webster found a groove, living in Gates and working as a machinist. He enjoyed working with his hands. He visited his sister in Albion and her four children. He loved to carve pumpkins with them, take them fishing and play catch in the backyard with a football.
Last August Webster was diagnosed with testicular cancer. The surgery seemed a success, but doctors discovered more cancer with a CT Scan about four months after the surgery. Webster had nine weeks of chemotherapy starting in December.
Webster suffered a rare side effect from the chemo: Bleomycin Toxicity damaged his lungs making it difficult to breathe. Webster was admitted to Strong Memorial Hospital on April 6. On April 28, he was taken to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to await a double-lung transplant. Webster was stricken with pneumonia and blood clots. He died on May 10.
His family remains in shock at how quickly Webster lost his health. He was muscular and committed to fitness.
Webster is pictured with his nephew Brody Hafner of Albion. Webster added many tattoos while he was in the military.
While he was fighting cancer and going through chemotherapy, he sent friends and family reassuring text messages.
“He said everything would be Ok, and don’t worry about me,” his sister said.
Webster was charming around women. But he was also private and didn’t want attention while he was sick.
Webster’s mother said her son overcame a difficult childhood to succeed in life and serve the country with honor.
“He triumphed over everything you put in front of him,” Farmer said.
Webster is pictured with his mother, Candy Farmer of Holley, in this photo from Mother’s Day 2015.
Webster comes from a military family in the Holley area. His uncle, the late Gary Stymus, was one of the 11 Holley men who died in the Vietnam War. Many of Webster’s family members have served in the military, including his brother Jason Webster, who is recently retired from Marine Corps.
Hafner, Webster’s older sister by 10 years, said her brother is a success story.
“He was a hell of a fighter,” she said.
The family is planning a celebration of his life on June 18 from 1 to 6 p.m. at VFW in Holley. Many of Webster’s Army friends from Fort Lewis in Washington and Fort Drum are expected. Military honors, including a 21-gun salute, will be presented at 1 p.m.
A GoFundMe account has also been established to help the family cover funeral expenses.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 May 2016 at 12:00 am
Provided photos
ALBION – This pickup truck flipped over when it was struck this morning by another driver who allegedly ran the Stop Sign at the intersection of Liberty and West State streets in Albion.
The driver of the truck and his passenger were fine, although one may have sustained a minor head injury, Police Chief Roland Nenni said.
Alberto Mendoza-Gonzalez, 42, of Marshall Road, Medina, was the driver of the other vehicle that went through the Stop Sign. He was issued vehicle and traffic violations for failure to stop, speed not reasonable, failure to yield, and driving without a New York State license. The Border Patrol was called due to Mendoza-Gonzalez’s questionable immigration statue, Nenni said.
The police chief said this intersection has been the scene of many accidents over the years.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 May 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Students the Albion AP Biology class this morning helped plant and water flowers in 17 planters that soon will be set in downtown Albion.
The students in Sandy Climenhaga’s class include Caitlin Malanowski in front, and from left: Meredith Patterson, Meghan Hurley, Madeline Gibbs, Sarah Kuehne, Alyce Miller, Sandy Climenhaga (behind Alyce) and Jared Fearby.
The students worked with three volunteers – Lisa and Skip Stratton, and Paul Brooks – from the Albion Merchants Association. Lisa Stratton coordinated the flower effort, which also includes 16 hanging baskets. Donations include $1,000 for the Town of Albion, $500 from the Village of Albion and 17 other sponsors that gave $25 each.
Alyce Miller waters some of the flowers in one of the planters this morning behind the DPW garage on Washington Street.
The bio students learn about flowers as part of their class. They study photosynthesis and dissect flowers to learn about plants.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 May 2016 at 12:00 am
Owner plans to regrade lawn, plant ‘more appropriate tree’
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A 40-foot-high tree in the front lawn of the former Swan Library was taken down this morning by Lusk Tree Service. Chad Fabry, owner of the building, said the large tree was damaging the retaining walls and also caused water to flow towards the historic building.
Fabry said he plans to regrade the lawn to direct water away from the building. He also intends to plant a smaller tree in front of the building.
“It was the wrong tree for the wrong place,” Fabry said about the tall evergreen. “It was an ill conceived selection for that spot. It nauseates me to take out a tree, but I see no other options.”
Fabry purchased the Swan site in February 2015. The 6,000-square-foot site was originally a mansion built in 1851. It was donated by the Swan family for use a public library in 1900. It was the community library for 112 years until the new 14,600-square-foot Hoag Library opened a couple blocks away in July 2012.
Fabry is now using the building for office spaces.
This file photo shows how the site looked with the tall tree.
Provided photo – Albion seventh-graderslast week donated food to Community Action of Genesee & Orleans. Pictured, from left, includes seventh-grade math teacher Mrs. Wesolowski, Community Action Case Manager Michelle Figueroa, Max Hapeman, Aisha Drisdom, Claire Squicciarini, Bryne Dysard and Gavin Reid.
Press Release, Community Action
ALBION – Mrs. Wesolowski and her 7th grade math classes found a creative way to incorporate math skills into helping others, and donating to Community Action’s food pantry.
They began the project by brainstorming ideas of products that would both fill the need of our community and fit the 3-D shapes that they will be studying. There were 90 seventh-graders who collected canned goods or as they would call them “cylinder items and rectangular prisms.”
They brought them to math class and found the volume and surface area in each object. They were able to collect 125 cylinder items and 42 rectangular prisms! They concluded with a reflective entry in their Math Journals about the item(s) the student donated, why they chose that item, and how that item could directly help someone in need.
This is the first year that Mrs. Wesolowski’s class has taken on such a project, but she plans to continue this in the future. Gavin Reid said that the best part about this project was “knowing that people will be able to eat dinner.”
