By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 February 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – State Trooper Engin Okdem tries to dribble the basketball past Albion teacher Mike Jones during the fourth annual basketball game between NY State Troopers and Albion Purple Eagle Faculty. The Troopers won, 67-62.
Albion teacher Michael Fahy, center, warms up with the team during the halftime intermission.
State Trooper Jay Hoy, based at the Warsaw barracks, is a K9 handler. He did a demonstration at halftime with K9 Rison. The dog is trained at detecting drugs and helping to locate people.
Doug Rich, a State Trooper who lives in Orleans County, prepares to throw the ball in bounds.
Kiera LeBeau of Houghton, niece of teacher Kathy Schmitt and State Police Lt. Kurt Schmitt, dunks the ball after getting a boost from a trooper. Kids from the crowd were invited to shoot free throws when the teachers were fouled.
Mike Jones, center, boxes out for the Albion teachers on a shot that went in by teacher Lucian Price.
The game was a fund-raiser for the Middle School FFA.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Meredith Patterson delivers a speech today at the Orleans County Legislature meeting, a speech that helped her win the zone competition of the American Legion Oratorical Contest on Feb. 6 in Mount Morris, qualifying her for the state competition March 5 in Albany.
Patterson, an Albion senior, said the Constitution was crafted with “fortitude and perfection” to last more than 200 years and counting. She urged people to research and understand the Constitution, calling the document a job description for citizens.
Orleans County Legislature Vice Chairwoman Lynne Johnson is pictured in back of Patterson.
ALBION – Fourth-graders in Mr. Epperson’s class at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School collected 208 winter clothing items – hats, mittens and scarves – to be shared with students who need them.
The photo shows Mr. Epperson’s class. The students in early February organized a building-wide event called “Sharing the Warmth with Others.” Their goal was to collect new winter clothing items.
Kelsey Froman, a student in the class, took the lead in the effort for the second year in a row. In the first year, students collected 256 items.
When asked how she came up with the idea, she said: “Last year while I was riding the school bus to school, I noticed that some kids didn’t have warm clothing and it was very cold outside, so I decided to ask if I could collect some at school to give to them.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 February 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – The Village of Albion Planning Board has given the final approval for a new 1,800-square-foot building to make and sell tortillas at 439 West Ave.
The Planning Board last Wednesday voted on the project by Gabriel Rodriguez. He will put the new building next door to his home, where he also sells boots and clothing.
The tortilla store will share the driveway to the residence and the other business. The site is west of King Street in a General Commercial district.
In another project, ARG Disposal shared its plan to use the former New York State Electric and Gas building at 366 Washington St.
The 4,215-square-foot building would be used as ARG’s headquarters for its roll-off business. The building is currently vacant.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Nearly 35,000 miles and counting for Brian Kent
Provided photos – Brian Kent, right, lets a man sign the map on top of Kent’s electric-powered vehicle, a Nissan Leaf. Kent is travelling the country in the vehicle to promote the cars as a viable option for long-range trips.
For nearly six months Brian Kent has been traveling the country, spreading a message that electric cars are reliable long-range vehicles.
Since he left Albion on Aug. 24, Kent has driven a 2013 Nissan LEAF nearly 35,000 miles. He was at 34,260 miles on Thursday when he was in South Lake, Texas.
When he left Albion in late August, Kent intended a 100-day trip that would cover 26,000 miles. He wanted to drive through 48 states (all but Alaska and Hawaii).
Kent scrapped the plan, preferring not to stick to a strict schedule. He estimates he has talked with more than 2,000 people on the trip, often when he is charging his car.
Kent’s car is pictured in Cheyenne, WY, on Nov. 12 next to an 8-foot-high boot.
He has made numerous new friends and has emerged as a bit of a celebrity of the electric car movement. He received a hero’s welcome when he visited a Tesla sales site in Dallas-Fort Worth.
He has been featured in blogs and news sites that promote and explore electric cars and the green energy movement.
Kent plans to come home in April. He wants to be in New Jersey on March 31 when the new Tesla Model 3 is introduced.
Kent has planted a tree in almost all of the states he has visited on the trip. He is pictured in Arizona last month.
Kent set out to shatter myths about the electric vehicles. They are capable of long-range trips. He wanted to show the network of charge stations throughout the country and also meet other electric vehicle drivers.
“I wanted to show that a car like mine could do it,” he said by phone. “I wanted to demonstrate the viability of limited range, affordable electric vehicles.”
Kent parked next to a holiday light display in December.
He also wanted to break the world record for longest trip in an electric vehicle (non solar). Norman Hajjar set the mark in Tesla Model S with 12,183 miles from March 28 to April 21, 2014 in a trip that started in Portand, Oregon and ended in Venice, Calif.
Kent smashed that record. But another driver, Steve Sasman, also took a big trip in 2015. Sasman covered 27,615 miles last year in the US and Canada. News of his trip came out in December. Kent faced a dilemma in late December. He could set the 133-day record but he would have to really push his Leaf.
He wasn’t going to do it, but some of his key supporters urged him to break the record. On the last day he drove 650 miles in his Leaf, a trip from San Diego to Canada, breaking the record for the entire trip by 5 miles at 27,620 miles.
Kent has been visiting the state capitals. Here is his car in Indianapolis on Sept. 20.
He has been at a more leisurely pace the past two months since breaking the record. He has been spending time with one of his supporters, a family in the Dallas, Texas area. But he will soon be heading to Little Rock, Ark, as he works his way to New Jersey for the new Tesla unveiling.
Kampgrounds of America is one of Kent’s sponsors. They have charging stations and they have also let his stay in cabins. He spends about half of his nights sleeping in the car. He has it set up with a feather bed in back. He took out the back seats.
“The best part: no exhaust,” he said.
Besides Kampgrounds of America, Kent is partnering with Michelin, Plug in America, National Drive Electric Week, EV Charge Hub, Clean Technica, Inside EVs, and The Green Optimistic for the educational trip.
A woman in Texas signs the map on Kent’s car, one of the keepsakes from the trip.
Kent said the car has only ran out of power once. The first day of the trip when he was in the Catskills and took a wrong turn, resulting in an 18-mile detour. He needed to be towed. He said driver error, and not the car, is at fault for that incident.
Otherwise, the car has been able to go all over the country without missing a charge.
Kent also has planted a tree in nearly every state he has visited. That is 35 in 39 states. Four times he didn’t have someone lined up who would care for the tree, ensuring it was watered and cared for in the critical few weeks after a tree is planted.
He tries to see the capital in each state. He also stops at the popular tourist attractions, trying to get his car in photos with famous scenes, including mountains in the background or public art or war memorials.
Kent’s car has accumulated messages since the trip started about six months ago.
His car is covered in decals of sponsors and messages from supporters. He has wrap on top of the car that shows a map of the U.S. In each state he asks at least one person to sign their state.
“This is the best life experience I’ve ever had,” Kent said. “I’ve met an amazing array of people along the way,” he said.
Kent is pictured at a beach in California. He is calling the journey, “The Negative Carbon Road Trip.” The trees planted will more than offset the carbon dioxide for running his vehicle.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Crews are painting the former Monro Muffler Break and Service site in Albion, giving it the black and red colors for Verizon.
The phone and telecommunications company will open a store in Albion at 214 West Ave. Verizon had a small store in downtown Albion about seven years ago. It will have a new presence in Albion in a setup comparable to the one in Brockport.
In addition to painting the building, Verizon will take out the garage doors and do interior furnishings, said Ron Vendetti, the village’s code enforcement officer.
Verizon also will put new signs on the building.
Verizon’s black and red are replacing the yellow and blue from Monro Muffler.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Higher minimum wage talk has service provider cautious
Photo by Tom Rivers – Buses at Ridge Road Express are parked on West State Street on Tuesday after about a foot of snow fell in Albion.
ALBION – Albion Central School sent out nine bid packages to transportation companies for busing services in 2016-17.
Only one company responded to the request for proposals. The Board of Education approved the contract with Student Transportation of America (Ridge Road Express), the district’s current provider.
Ridge Road Express will be paid 9 percent more for the three contracts, which include $958,680 for the main contract (2 bus runs in mornings and 2 in afternoons); $583,120 for out-of-district transportation; and $103,000 for the student charter contract.
The district had the same contract with Ridge Road Express for 15 years, a deal that allowed for inflationary increases.
The district expected more than one bidder for the new contract. However, some transportation providers are reluctant to commit to new clients because of the uncertainty with the minimum wage, said Shawn Liddle, Albion’s assistant superintendent for business.
“They are leery about extending themselves too far out,” he said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pushing to raise the minimum wage from $9 to $15. The minimum wage was $7.25 about three years ago.
Liddle was asked why only one company would bid on a bus contract for about $1.5 million at a recent Albion Board of Education meeting.
“The governor is saber-rattling with the minimum wage,” Liddle responded.
Other districts are seeing similar responses to busing proposals, where companies are reluctant to negotiate contracts based on the unknowns with their salary costs, he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Megan McDonald, a computer literacy teacher at Albion, leads a workshop for parents last week. The four-part program with other specialists will continue until March 31.
ALBION – Parents were urged to think twice about posting and identifying pictures of their children on Facebook and social media sites, especially pictures that the children could some day see as embarrassing.
“Think about the pictures you are posting of kids,” Megan McDonald, a computer literacy teacher at Albion, said during a workshop last week. “Don’t overshare.”
Pictures that “tagged” and identify children can be accessible for years to come, McDonald said.
“You are creating a digital footprint for them,” she said.
The Albion Rotary Club is teaming with the school district and Head Start at Community Action to put on a four-part literacy program for parents of children from birth to age 5.
McDonald led a session on Internet safety. She urged parents to learn about the many different social media sites used by children, and to keep kids from signing up until at least 13 for Facebook.
Parents shouldn’t view social media as a dangerous activity, McDonald said, but they should show some caution. She said the sites can help strengthen relationships.
Parents should put privacy controls on social media accounts so kids’ posts and pictures can only be seen by friends and family.
She said there are other sites that allow children to code and build technology skills.
She urged parents, especially with young children, to limit their screen time and have them away from computers and gadgets with breaks after 20 minutes.
She also tells her students to keep a media log to track how much time each day they spend on cell phones, TV, video consoles, tablets and computers.
“I’m all for digital media, but we want them up and moving,” McDonald told parents. “Manage kids’ screen time and have other alternatives.”
The four-part literacy program will give parents of children from birth to age 5 tips on helping their children excel at school. Besides McDonald’s presentation, a speech pathologist addressed parents last week.
Other upcoming sessions include Feb. 25 on story telling (will help parents tell their own stories) and will focus on making reading fun; March 10 will focus on prekindergarten and kindergarten readiness with the parents’ role. That workshop will include classroom visits.
The program will conclude on March 31 with a family fun night that includes children’s author Josie Waverly, professional storyteller Gretchen Murray Sepik, and other games, stories, prizes, refreshments and a book fair.
The program is free and open to parents in the Albion school district. Child care will be provided. Parents should enter at about 5:45 p.m. through the community entrance in the back of the school.
For more information, contact Community Action at 589-5683.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – The Off-Track Betting site in Albion will close later this month after revenue from the branch plummeted in recent years. OTB will put the building up for sale.
ALBION – The Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. will close its OTB parlor at 317 West Ave. on Feb. 27.
The decision follows a big drop in revenue at the site. The amount of bets has declined from $1.3 million in 2010 to $517,000 last year. It’s down another 24 percent this year, said Sean Schiano, director of branch operations for WROTB.
WROTB has closed many betting parlors in recent years. There are currently 27 in operation, down from 72 in 15 Western New York counties about 30 years ago.
The OTB branch in Albion is in a commercial district in a busy part of Albion on Route 31.
WROTB runs a lean operation in Albion with a full-time branch supervisor and a cleaner who works about 15 hours a week. The site still has been operating in the red.
“The bottom line is it takes away revenue we send to Orleans County,” Schiano said.
WROTB is owned by 15 counties plus the cities of Rochester and Buffalo. They share in profits from the overall operation. The video gaming center at Batavia Downs has proven a money-maker for WROTB, more than offsetting losses at OTB branches.
The success at Batavia Downs allowed WROTB to boost its revenue to Orleans County from $39,000 in 2014 to $52,000 last year.
However, WROTB doesn’t want to keep betting parlors that operate at a loss. The organization has partnered with restaurants and bowling alleys to have EZ-Bets, where people can bet on horses without WROTB staff.
WROTB would like to have EZ Bets in Orleans County, perhaps at more than one location.
The site at 317 West Ave. will be put up for sale. It is located across from the Pawlak’s Save-A-Lot plaza. The OTB is off the tax rolls. Schiano said once it is sold the community will get the benefit of the property generating taxes.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – It may have been cold out, but sledders couldn’t resist the hill at Bullard Park. Nicky Mandigo, 12, of Holley got a running start and dove on his sled at dusk today.
It may have only been 12 degrees out, but the wind was calm and the setting sun added to the fun for sledders.
Braydon Blair, 5, of Albion makes his way up the hill which was reconfigured last year with fill from the former Clarendon Street bridge.
Braydon heads down the hill which has a nice snow pack after the snow since Thursday.
Emma Tower, 13, of Albion runs and gets ready to dive on her slide. The sledders had a friendly competition to see who could make it the farthest down the hill.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2016 at 12:00 am
James Tuk, John Belson vie for Lyndonville mayor
The slate of candidates is set for village elections next month in Orleans County.
Lyndonville has the only contest featuring a race for mayor with James Tuk and John Belson running for the village’s top elected official. Tuk is the current deputy mayor and has been leading the village since Steve McAvoy resigned as mayor on Oct. 31 due to the demands of his full-time job.
Belson lost a close re-election for Yates town supervisor in November to Jim Simon. Belson wants to continue in public service. He is running under the Lyndonville Party while Tuk picked “The Lake Party.” The mayor’s post is a four-year term.
Three people are running for two seats on the Village Board, including incumbents Ellen Tuohey (Independent Party) and Danny Woodward (Peoples Party). Andrew Cousins (Sustainable Futures) also is running for village trustee.
The election will be on March 15 with voting from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Hall.
In Medina, Michael Sidari, a current village trustee, is the only candidate for a two-year term as mayor. Sidari is running under The Village Party, along with incumbent Marguerite Sherman and Tim Elliott, who are seeking two-year terms on the Village Board. Current Mayor Andrew Meier isn’t seeking re-election.
Voting in Medina is from noon to 9 p.m. at the Senior Center.
In Lyndonville and Medina, candidates run under independent parties without the official backing of either Republicans or Democrats.
In Albion, the Republican and Democratic parties still hold caucuses to pick candidates. Albion has two four-year seats open on the Village Board. The Republican Party is backing incumbent Gary Katsanis, and Democrats are backing Mattea Navarra-Molisani and incumbent Peter Sidari.
Voting is from noon to 9 p.m. on March 15 at the Village Hall.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 February 2016 at 12:00 am
ALBION – The Village Board wants to pursue a state grant that would provide money to renovate and spruce up downtown buildings.
The board hasn’t decided how the grant would be managed or administered. It is considering options, including having Code Enforcement Officer Ron Vendetti work as the grant administrator.
“We definitely don’t want to miss out on the opportunity,” Mayor Dean London said at Wednesday’s board meeting.
Adam Johnson, president of the Albion Merchants Association and owner of a downtown building, urged the village to pursue the Main Street grant in the next round of state funding this year.
Medina was approved for a Main Street grant in December and will work over two years to implement the grant. The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is administering the grant for Medina.
The grants provide matching funds for building owners for smaller projects such as painting to more costly interior renovations. Johnson is working to renovate his building so it can be used for a restaurant.
“It would be a great help for the businesses,” Johnson said about the grant.
Village Board members are expected to discuss the grant more during a 7 p.m. Feb. 24 meeting.
In another downtown issue, Lisa Stratton updated the board on efforts for flowers in planters and hanging baskets.
Stratton, owner of the Hazy Jade Gift Shop, said the flowers will cost $1,469.81. The Town of Albion has offered to pay $1,000 towards the effort.
Stratton asked the village to help cover the difference. Village Trustee Eileen Banker said she would work with Stratton in seeking donations or sponsors.
Stratton also said Albion Merchants Association could use volunteers to help water the flowers on weekends once the flowers are put on Main Street. Volunteers also water flowers by the welcome signs and at Bullard Park.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Dr. Howard Ward and Jeremy Babcock work to ensure top-notch facilities, services for students
Photos by Tom Rivers – Howard Ward and Jeremy Babcock, both Albion graduates, are pictured at Rochester Institute of Technology, where Ward is an associate vice president and Babcock the executive director of housing facilities.
ROCHESTER – His spacious office in the Global Village at the Rochester Institute of Technology is a long way from his living conditions as a kid, when Howard Ward grew up without running water at a migrant labor camp on Baker Road.
Ward, who earned a doctorate in higher education, is an associate vice president at RIT. He has worked 39 years for colleges and universities.
At RIT, he oversees an $82 million annual budget, 208 employees and leads a team committed to impeccable facilities and service for students and staff. The Global Village is a $55 million student housing and retail complex.
Jeremy Babcock has known Ward for two decades. He spoke at Babcock’s Albion High School graduation in 1995. The two stayed in touch when Babcock worked in student services at Brockport State College. Babcock had the tough job of handling student discipline. He also helped manage construction projects.
He would often call Ward or have lunch with him, seeing him as a friend and sounding board.
Babcock, after 10 years at Brockport, joined Ward’s team at RIT on Feb. 20, 2012 – Babcock can recite the day. Babcock took a job as an assistant director of housing. On Nov. 1, Babcock was promoted to executive director of housing facilities following a grueling search and interview process.
“He’s skilled and talented,” Ward said about Babcock. “He’s well respected on campus. I look forward to his vision.”
Babcock, 39, oversees a staff of 24, the residential halls and 1,000 apartments. He deals with everything from keys, pest control, furniture, laundry facilities and many other issues.
Two overcomers
Ward and Babcock have more in common than their high school alma mater. They have both overcome challenges, and they both left Albion after high school, attending small colleges about six hours away from home. Both wanted to push themselves, and see if they could make it on their own.
Ward, a 1972 Albion grad, grew up in the former Coloney Camp in Carlton. He lived there from when he was 2 until he graduated. It was one of the state’s largest farmworker labor camps, home to 60 African-American families.
Ward grew up in a loving home with loving neighbors. But his house resembled a shack. It was small, poorly insulated and field rats made a racket at night, scratching against the pasteboard outer walls, trying to get inside.
Ward was a star football player for Albion. He earned a scholarship at Mount Union College in Ohio. (In 1973, Coloney Camp was torn down and Ward’s family moved into a newly-built housing development, Carlton Manor, on Baker Road.)
He excelled as a lineman for the Mount Union football team, and was leading tackler in a senior all-star game among Ohio football players. Some NFL scouts were interested. But Ward, who was popular on campus with students, college professors and even the president, was urged to consider a career in college student services.
He took that advice and would work at Mount Union, Bowling Green, Ohio Northern University and RIT. He said he has been blessed. He hasn’t forgotten his Albion roots, and he has led diversity training for school staff, and worked with students on the college admissions process.
Howard Ward and Jeremy Babcock work out of the Global Village at RIT, a $55 million student housing and retail complex.
Babcock, the son of Jim and Linda Babcock, is an active member of the Albion Fire Department and a skilled golfer. He and Ward often play golf together, including at charity events. Babcock has a knack for hitting the ball straight, about 200 yards down the middle for his tee offs.
He does it all despite being born with birth defects in both arms. Babcock said his parents and friends always encouraged him as a kid. He played Little League baseball, basketball and used adaptive equipment made by his father to ride snowmobiles and be active in many other ways. Babcock these days drives the biggest fire trucks for the fire department.
“I’m really fortunate with what I can do,” Babcock said. “My family and friends always pushed me.”
He brings a knowledge of construction, and that helps at RIT when he reviews plans for buildings, housing units and other projects. Ward said Babcock also brings a sensitivity to using doors and buildings that many staff don’t consider in the design and construction of the space.
Babcock sees the big picture, working to do what’s best for the university and the students, Ward said.
“I like his tenacity,” he said.
Babcock was 18 when he ventured from Albion to attend college near Pittsburgh at the California University of Pennsylvania. He earned a degree in business in 1999, and then a master’s degree in business administration in 2001.
“I wanted to prove to myself that I could be on my own,” he said.
A similar path
Ward also needed that distance to become his own man. He said he was a “momma’s boy” in high school and had to fight homesickness in college. He was also one of the few black students at Mount Union.
He gained confidence and friends through football, good grades and a welcoming personality. He started his career as a residence hall director. He is now one of the key leaders at RIT. He said he enjoys empowering staff and students.
Jeremy Babcock and Howard Ward are pictured at Ward’s office at RIT on Monday.
Babcock started his career as a resident director at Brockport, overseeing a residence hall with 200 students and a staff of six. He had to discipline students and have some expelled from school. Some of those students used the punishment as a wake-up call. They turned themselves around, graduated and thanked Babcock for pointing them on the right track.
Ward stayed in touch with Babcock, and was impressed how he handled some of the situations at Brockport, working with students and also with construction of new townhouses.
“He’s worked with tough characters and high-level people,” Ward said. “He’s been involved with major projects.”
RIT has been in growth mode in recent years, and continues to expand. Babcock will helped manage another $1.9 million in renovations and projects this year.
Babcock said RIT is a home away from home for students. He appreciates Ward’s push for excellence, to make the facilities safe, comfortable and appealing for students and staff.
“We need to give them the best possible experience whether dining, the residence halls, or the apartments,” Babcock said.
The two joked over lunch Tuesday about the upcoming golf season. Babcock, a lefty, is consistent with the 200-yard drives down the middle of the fairway. Ward and some of the long hitters may hit the ball farther than Babcock, but it is often sliced or hooked.
At the end of the day, Babcock wins almost every time.
ALBION – During the Albion High School staff meeting for February, colleagues took time to recognize A.H.S. School Counselor Scott Green, who was selected by recruiters from the U.S. Army for his undying dedication to Albion students and his willingness to make a difference in the community.
Green was instrumental in organizing a large fund-raiser in October to benefit a former Albion graduate injured after a tragic accident. His efforts resulted in assisting the family to obtain and equip a specialized vehicle to transport the student.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 February 2016 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – Gretchen Murray Sepik of Albion stars as Erie Canal Sal during a performance at the Strawberry Festival in June 2013. She will be part of a family fun night to promote storytelling and literacy on March 31 at the elementary school. The literacy effort will be on four Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. beginning Feb. 11.
ALBION – A four-part literacy program will give parents of children from birth to age 5 tips on helping their children excel at school.
Community Action of Orleans & Genesee is teaming with Albion Central School and the Albion Rotary Club to run literacy workshops on four Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m.
The first workshop will be at the elementary school this Thursday and will focus on early brain development, the beginning of speech and use of technology with young children.
“Parents are first and foremost their children’s first teacher,” said Bonnie Malakie, director of the Head Start program through Community Action. “This will help parents with fulfilling their role.”
The program will bring in specialists in speech pathology, language development and storytelling.
The program is free and open to parents in the Albion school district. Child care will be provided. Parents should enter at about 5:45 p.m. through the community entrance in the back of the school.
Besides the Feb. 11 workshop, other sessions include Feb. 25 on story telling (will help parents tell their own stories) and will focus on making reading fun; March 10 will focus on prekindergarten and kindergarten readiness with the parents’ role. The workshop will include classroom visits.
The program will conclude on March 31 with a family fun night that includes children’s author Josie Waverly, professional storyteller Gretchen Murray Sepik, and other games, stories, prizes, refreshments and a book fair.
For more information, contact Community Action at 589-5683.
