By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 March 2020 at 10:07 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Erie Canal is pictured on Dec. 8, 2017 in Albion with the Gaines Basin Road bridge in the background. This bridge will close on March 23 for six months for rehabilitation.
ALBION – The Gaines Basin Road canal bridge will close on March 23 for six months of rehabilitation. It is one of seven canal bridges to be upgraded as part of a $10.7 million initiative by the state Department of Transportation.
Crane Hogan Structural Systems in Spencerport is the contractor on the job. Crane Hogan will be installing high-strength galvanized steel to replace steel floor systems, low chords, gusset plates, and truss elements.
Bridge railing and guide rail on the bridge approaches also will be improved and the bridge will be repainted to black. The alignments and profiles of the bridges will not change.
The seven single-lane truss bridges were constructed between 1909 and 1914.
The bridges in the $10.7 million project include Bennetts Corners Road in the Town of Murray, Telegraph Road in the Town of Murray, Transit Road in the Town of Murray, Densmore Road in the Town of Albion, Gaines Basin Road in the Town of Gaines, Bates Road in the Village of Medina, and Marshall Road in the Town of Ridgeway.
ALBION – Students in Albion Rotary Interact attended a leadership conference last Thursday at Clarence High School with about 100 other students in Western New York.
Area civic and community leaders provided a panel discussion around the student-led conversation. Topics included mental health, social media, politics, racism and college preparation.
Albion Rotary Interact students are pictured with Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard, one of the presenters at the conference. From left include Samantha Basinait, Alanna Holman, Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard, Emily Mergler, Ally Mathes and Sarah Mathes.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 March 2020 at 12:13 pm
350 attend wine-tasting event at downtown businesses
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – These four friends enjoyed the Albion Sip N’ Stroll on Saturday. Lindsay Monacelli, Erin Conley, Cindy Ramsey and Kimberly Koia were among about 350 people who sampled wine at 15 locations for the seventh annual Sip N’ Stroll in downtown Albion.
The four ladies are shown at Laura Loxley on Main Street, trying wine from A Gust of Sun Winery in Ransomville.
Denise Hagen of Albion tries wine from Autumn Moon Farm Winery in Bergen. They are in the kitchen and party room at the Lockstone.
Ray Wendling, owner of North Ridge Distillery in Medina, offered samples of “Forbidden Apple” at Tinsel.
Jennifer Mateo and her husband Erik Mateo tried wines from Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina. Sarah Geer served the wine at Red Check Rustic in the Pratt Opera House building. Geer was joined by her husband Peter in serving the wine for Leonard Oakes.
Nickie Girardo, manager at 39 Problems in Albion, serves up appetizers for the 100 people who bought VIP tickets for the Sip N’ Stroll. The Lockstone hosted the VIP party.
The Lockstone opened its doors for the VIP party. John Hernandez and his wife Natasha Wasuck have been working about two years to turn the site into a wedding and events venue. There is still a lot of work to do. The Lockstone will host two weddings in October.
The couple opened Tinsel, an ice cream shop, last June at the front of the building at 160 North Main St.
People check in at the beginning of the VIP party at the Lockstone, the former Burgio Tire just north of the Erie Canal.
Janna Stirk, Liz Groat and Natasha Wasuck took the lead in planning the seventh annual wine walk for the Albion Merchants Association.
In September, Stirk opened “Marked. by Janna.” on East Bank Street, where she does body-waxing and micro-blading. She said the Sip N’ Stroll is a chance to highlight the businesses in the downtown. She sees a lot of new energy among the business owners.
Stirk has led many painting parties in the kitchen room at the Lockstone. She said the Lockstone will be a landmark establishment for the community, at a location that serves as a gateway into the downtown.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 March 2020 at 3:25 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Rev. Brad Hunt, pastor of the West Barre United Methodist Church, speaks during today’s Lenten luncheon at Christ Church. The Episcopal Church on West Park Street is hosting Lenten luncheons on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. during the Lenten season.
Today was the first Lenten luncheon and 70 people attended. The West Barre church provided the lunch – chicken soup, bologna sandwiches and desserts.
The Rev. Brad Hunt urged the group to not necessarily give up something for lent, but to take on something instead.
He urged them to be deliberate to reaching out to others and encouraging people. He said they could send a humorous card or a note telling someone or a business how much they appreciate their good works in the community.
“Stir up the goodness in other people,” he said.
Aleka Schmidt, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Albion, led the group in singing hymns.
The Lenten luncheons will continue each Wednesday at noon at Christ Church until April 1.
The Albion Ministerium will join in holding a Maudy Thursday service at 7 p.m. on April 9 at the First Presbyterian Church of Albion. That service will include singing from a community choir and also communion.
The Baptist Church will host a Good Friday service at 7 p.m. on April 10.
The Rev. Randy LeBaron, leader of Go Scatter Ministries, promotes an Easter Cantata – “Wonders of the Cross” – which will be 7 p.m. April 4 and 3 p.m. April 5 at Oak Orchard Elementary School in Medina. LeBaron is portraying Jesus in the cantata.
Don Snyder, retired chaplain, also urged the group to attend “Stories of Hope by People in Recovery” on March 6 event from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the lower level of GCASA, 249 East Ave., Albion. Snyder is a volunteer with Orleans Recovery – Hope Begins Here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 March 2020 at 9:19 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Students in the Albion elementary chorus sing on Tuesday evening during a district-wide chorus concert at the Albion High School gym. About 1,000 people attended the concert, which was a celebration of Music in Our Schools Month.
The third, fourth and fifth-graders sang “Springtime,” “Cantamos,” and “We Will.”
Anna Atwater directs the elementary students during the Albion concert.
The middle school chorus also performed during the concert.
District Superintendent Michael Bonnewell welcomes the community to the concert. Carrie Kozody, middle school chorus director, and Kevin Smith, audiovisual equipment technician, are in back as well as the high school mixed chorus.
Some of the performances this month at local districts include:
• March 5 (7 p.m.) – Kendall All District Band and Chorus Concert at Kendal Jr./Sr. High School Auditorium
• March 7 (2 p.m.) – All County Music Festival (Elementary School Band, Junior High Chorus, High School Band) at Kendall Central School
• March 13 (7 p.m.) and March 14 (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) – Holley MS/HS, “High School Musical”
• March 19 (7 p.m.) – Holley district choral concert at HS Aud
• March 20 (7 p.m. ) and March 21 (noon and 7 p.m.) – Albion Middle School Musical, “Matilda”
• March 20 (7 p.m.) and March 21 (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) – Kendall musical “Annie” at Jr./Sr. Aud
• March 27-29 – Lyndonville and Medina’s musical production of “Mama Mia” with shows at Lyndonville Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Match 27, 7 p.m. on March 28 and 2 p.m. on March 29.
• March 31 (2 .m.) Holley Elementary School music assembly at HS Aud
• March 31 (7 p.m.) Holley District Band Concert at HS Aud
• March 31 (7 p.m.) – Lyndonville Music in our Schools Concert
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 March 2020 at 4:50 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: Bryce Wilson of the Carlton team pitches in a game under the lights on the Albion varsity softball field on June 10, 2017. The district allows the Albion Midget League to play a game under the lights for players in the league who are in their last year in Little League. The district has allowed the game the past three years.
ALBION – The Board of Education is considering whether it should change the district policy for community use of varsity fields.
The district currently only makes exceptions for use of a varsity field for an all-star or championship game.
The district has much more leeway for the JV fields and many youth sports leagues use those for soccer, softball and baseball.
The district the past three years has allowed the Albion Midget League to have a senior game under the lights. This is for players ages 12 or 13 in their last season of Little League. It’s technically not an all-star game, but the Board of Education has made that exception for one game usually in mid-June.
The district has received a request from the Albion Storm Fastpitch Softball to have four games under the lights on the varsity softball field from May 15 to June 12.
The Albion Storm Fastpitch Softball also requested 30 dates for use of the JV softball field from April 28 to June 18.
The Board of Education discussed the request during Monday’s BOE meeting. District Superintendent Mike Bonnewell said the two requests in May shouldn’t be approved. The varsity team plays May 15 and there is a playoff possibility on May 28 that could be moved to May 29.
The superintendent advised against approving the dates requested for June 5 and June 12.
“I would caution the board because you are caretakers of the property the community has entrusted you.”
Not only does the softball field get use during a game, but part of the varsity soccer field has players on it who are in the outfield.
The school’s policy for restricted usage of the fields states:
“The Board of Education reserves the right to limit access to any specific area of the school facility. The varsity football field, due to its composition, is available only during the ‘off-season’ for occasional non-athletic events (e.g. band competitions).
“The other fields (soccer, softball and baseball) are available for special events such as championship and/or all-star games.”
“The Board of Education endorses use of school facilities by District community groups whenever reasonable and at reasonable costs. Activities for youth should, whenever deemed appropriate by the Superintendent, be allowed at no cost. Other activities should be allowed at reasonable costs as set by the Superintendent and approved by the Board.”
The policy also states school groups get first priority for use of facilities.
If the varsity field use requests are approved, Bonnewell said the district needs to either change the policy or give different groups a waiver.
For the softball request, the players are all Albion district children. Board member Wayne Wadhams said he would like to see they have a chance to play at least one game under the lights. The district has the only lighted field in the community.
“That’s a big deal for kids,” he said.
Board member Elissa Nesbitt also wants to find a way to work with community groups that doesn’t violate the school policy for use of fields.
The board decided to have the softball group resubmit its facility request to only ask for the JV fields for regular-season games.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 March 2020 at 1:06 pm
ALBION – Seventh-graders will no longer be allowed to play on junior varsity or varsity teams at Albion Central School, the Board of Education decided recently.
The district will give 8th graders an opportunity but only if they have strong grades, are emotionally mature and are exceptional athletes.
The 8th graders will be deemed exceptional with recommendations from coaches and at a skills assessment.
Adam Krenning, the athletic director, went over the Athletic Placement Process (APP) with the board recently. The district approved establishing a protocol for moving 8th graders up the JV or varsity levels.
Not all of the board members were in favor of excluding seventh graders. Wayne Wadhams, a retired teacher who volunteers with the track team, said cross country and track and field are sports where seventh- and eighth-graders can be moved up without displacing athletes in grades 9 through 12.
With the APP, 8th graders identified for consideration will need written permission from parents and guardians to participate before there is any evaluation.
The athletic director also needs to confirm the student is suitable for consideration and there needs to be medical clearance to make sure having an eighth-grader play at JV or varsity doesn’t increase the likelihood of injury.
Other steps in the process include:
• Sport Skill Evaluation: sport coach will rely on past personal observations; consider input from the student’s former coaches; if coach is unfamiliar with the student, the coach may observe the student in a physical education class
• Physical Fitness Testing: must be done by a certified physical education teacher
• Qualification Determination: the results of the three evaluations are sent to the director of physical education/athletics
• Try-Outs: student is allowed to try out for the sport and level requested or student must return to the modified level of competition
The entire APP process should take five days or less, Krenning told the BOE.
Krenning told BOE members APP wouldn’t be used to fill spots on teams, but to give higher-skilled eighth-graders a chance to flourish at their sport.
The district hasn’t had a set guideline for identifying exceptional athletes in middle school for the JV or varsity teams. The district now has a set rubric in picking 8th-graders who have a chance to try out for JV or varsity.
Mike Bonnewell, the district superintendent, voiced concern over moving up middle school students who would compete for playing time with 9th through 12th graders. If the 7th and 8th graders stayed on modified, they would still be playing the sport and not cutting into some time for high school athletes. He said cross country, track and field and swimming are exceptions.
In cross country everyone can run the race, except at Sectionals which is limited to the seven top runners from a school. Swimming and track and field can always add heats or expand an event to accommodate more athletes.
The board opted to allow 8th graders to move up if they meet the standards, and will look at the policy again next school year to discuss whether it makes sense to allow 7th graders to be on JV or varsity teams.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Teresa Gaylard, children’s librarian at Hoag Library, is presented with the Friend of Education award on Monday evening by Albion school officials including Della Morales, high school library media specialist; Sarah Jones, elementary school media specialist; and Kathy Harling, Board of Education president. Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent, is in back.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 March 2020 at 8:49 am
Teresa Gaylard accepts the Friend of Education from Kathy Harling, president of the Albion BOE.
ALBION – Teresa Gaylard, the children’s librarian at Hoag Library, was recognized with the Friend of Education award on Monday evening by the Albion Central School district.
Gaylard has been the children’s librarian for about 2 ½ years. She works closely with the library media specialists at the elementary and high schools to promote programs at the school and Hoag Library.
“She goes above and beyond collaborating with us,” said Della Morales, the high school media specialist.
Gaylard works with the library leaders at the elementary and high schools for “Popcorn and Paperbacks,” where students read books in the school and come to the Hoag for popcorn and a book discussion.
Gaylard also attends many events at the school to promote Hoag as a resource for students and their families. She also participates in family literacy nights at the school, and runs an energetic summer reading program that keeps students engaged in reading in July and August.
Gaylard started in September 2017 as the children’s librarian at Hoag. She first began working at the former Swan Library when she was 19. She came back to Albion after 12 years as a librarian at the Dayton Metro Library.
Gaylard has made a mark at Hoag Library, updating the collection, attracting bigger crowds to library programs and connecting with the community.
Gaylard runs four weekly story times at Hoag, and often will dress up as characters. She reads the stories, incorporates a dance and ends the stories by blowing bubbles. The routine has proven popular with young children.
The Board of Education also recognized two elementary students with awards on Monday during the monthly BOE meeting.
• Dana Burns, a fourth-grader, received the Leadership Award for being a hard worker in class and helping some of his classmates when they are stuck on a problem.
• Tyson Brady, a fifth-grader, received the Character Award for bringing a positive attitude to school everyday, who doesn’t get easily frustrated and knows when to walk away from negative situations.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 March 2020 at 4:04 pm
Village facing increased operating costs, capital improvements
ALBION – The Albion Village Board voted last week to raise the water and sewer rates for users inside and outside the village.
Village officials say this is the first increase in six years. For most users, the increase will be 35 cents per 1,000 gallons of water and 30 cents per 1,000 gallons for sewer.
The village needed to raise the rates in response to increased costs for labor, materials and electricity, said Gary Katsanis, the village’s deputy mayor.
The village also is facing capital improvement projects for water and sewer.
“In the sewer plant, the DEC mandated an additional processing step, which will use ultraviolet light as a disinfectant,” Katsanis said. “Installation is expensive and operation involves increased utility costs.”
The water distribution system also is aging and the village will be upgrading some waterlines, including an upcoming project on Clinton and West Academy streets.
“We need to fund that, and we also need to evaluate other portions of the water distribution system to ensure that it is providing the pressure and flow that is needed by the community,” Katsanis said.
The village also will be replacing the main watermain from Lake Ontario to the village, and the major components of the pumping system for the main, which is about 60 years old, Katsanis said..
“The village has state support for a $3.2 million repair and upgrade to that system, but there will be a significant cost to the village for that work,” he said.
Currently the residential and commercial rates are $3.26 per 1,000 gallons for water for inside-village customers and $3.52 for sewer.
Outside-village users are billed $4.19 for water and $4.45 for sewer.
There are also quarterly fees for water – $5 administrative fee and $5 water meter use – and $10 administrative fee for sewer.
The higher rates – add 35 cents to water and 30 cents to sewer per 1,000 gallons – will start on April 1 and be reflected in the water and sewer bills that come out in July.
Katsanis said the board recognizes that paying a water bill can be difficult for some community members.
“With this in mind, the Board reduced the basis under which the minimum amount billed is calculated,” he said. “The current minimum bill is $58.02 and is based on usage of 5,610 gallons per billing cycle. We reduced this minimum to 5,100 gallons, so that the new minimum bill is actually a few cents lower than the existing amount. The new calculation is based more on the principle of water customers paying for the gallons they actually use.”
The board will also phase in the increase for larger water and sewer customers. They will be billed the full new rate for up to 100,000 gallons. After that, the increase will be 17 cents this year and the other 18 cents in 2021.
Photo courtesy of Dena Scribner: Bill Scribner on Saturday was recognized for his 20 years of service as an instructor at the Rural Police Academy at Genesee Community College. Scribner, a retired Albion police sergeant, is currently Deputy Chief for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Department. He is pictured with some of the Rural Police Academy staff, including from left: retired Attica Police Chief John Laird, assistant director of Police Academy; Michael Miller, Rural Police Academy staff member who is retired from the Greece PD and a current deputy with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department; Rob Tygart, Rural Police Academy staff member and investigator with Ogden PD; Brittany Cushman, RPA staff and deputy with Livingston County; Bill Scribner; Jason Yasso, RPA staff and chief deputy with Livingston County Sheriff’s Office; Roland Nenni, RPA staff and Albion and Holley police chief; Doug Brooks, RPA director and a retired police chief.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 March 2020 at 7:07 pm
BATAVIA – A retired Albion police sergeant was recognized on Saturday for his 20 years of service as an instructor with the Rural Police Academy at Genesee Community College.
Bill Scribner of Lyndonville was honored during commencement ceremony at GCC for 25 graduates in the nearly year-long program.
Scribner graduated from the program in 1997. Since 2000, he served as one of the class instructors.
“I felt a commitment to give back to that police academy,” Scribner said.
After he graduated, he was asked to give a lecture to the class. That turned into leading several different courses for the students.
Scribner has taught courses on report writing, vehicle and traffic stops, narcotics and dangerous drugs, animal abuse cases, courtroom testimony and procedures, domestic violence, persons with disabilities, and mental health – mental hygiene law (getting people care who are in crisis) and mental health of officers and coping with stress of job.
Scribner attended NCCC for instructor development school as part of his qualification to lead the classes.
Since he retired from the Albion Police Department in 2015, he has worked for the Western New York VA Healthcare System as a police officer the past 5 years, including the past 2 ½ as the deputy chief for a group of 39 officers who worked at the Buffalo VA, Batavia VA and nine community-based outpatient clinics.
Scribner said teaching the courses and being on staff at the academy has helped him to be a better police officer and leader.
“It was a great way to keep up with the changes of the laws and changes in the police academy,” Scribner said.
When he graduated in 1997, graduates needed 499 hours of coursework and firearms training to complete the program. Now it’s about 850 hours, with an expanded course on domestic violence and mental health.
The graduates from Orleans County in the new class from the academy include Morgan Ewert and John Martek from the Holley Police Department, and Matthew Prawel from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.
