By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – More than a hundred Teddy Bears, stuffed animals and dolls received medical care this week from Medina Memorial Hospital in the return of the Teddy Bear Clinic.
The top photo shows Jeanine Corbett from the hospital checking on a monkey owned by a kindergartner from the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School in Albion.
The hospital used to have the clinic and welcomed kindergartners to bring in toys that would receive bandages, X-rays, Band-Aids and other care.
But when local schools cut back on field trips about a decade ago, the Teddy Bear Clinic went away. The hospital is bringing it back and Albion kindergartners were the first to give it a try.
Mary Dunham, a nurse a Medina Memorial, looks over some of the stuffed animals brought in today by kindergartners.
The hospital hopes the Teddy Bear Clinic helps children to feel more comfortable if they ever need to go to the hospital.
Erika Keyes shows students the X-ray machine.
Mary Dunham shows students a X-ray of a Teddy Bear with a penny in its stomach.
Jonah Elsenheimer brought in his stuffed animal of a dog. Mary Dunham puts a bandage on the dog’s leg after Jonah said it fell off its skateboard. The students were welcome to make up injuries for their stuffed animals.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 November 2015 at 12:00 am
File photos by Tom Rivers  – Runners cross the Main Street lift bridge as part of the Metro 10 race in Albion on Aug. 22. The debut 10-mile race pitted runners from Rochester versus Buffalo. The metro area that accumulated the most points won a trophy cup to be displayed in its city. Rochester took the title for 2015.
ALBION – Organizers of a day-long music festival and a big running event are teaming up next year to put on their events on the same day, Aug. 20.
Rock the Park and Metro 10 compliment each other, and the events will make for a bigger bash for the community.
“It’s going to make for a bigger draw by partnering up,” said Zack Burgess, one of the organizers of the Rock the Park event at Bullard Park.
The second Rock the Park was July 25 and featured bands playing from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The attendance picked up throughout the day for Rock the Park, but organizers want more people for the late morning, early afternoon performers.
The band Zero closed out the music festival on Saturday with Zack Burgess, center, as the lead singer. Dylan DeSmit, left, is on lead guitar and vocals, and Brad Maxon on bass. Dan Ryan plays the drums.
The Metro 10 started at 10 a.m. on Aug. 22 and ended with a post-race party at Bullard from about noon to 1:30 p.m. The race will start at 8 a.m. next year, with the post-race celebration to start in the late morning. That will guarantee a good crowd for Rock the Park during what was a slower time for the bands this past year.
“We’re going to work together to build a bigger event,” said Thom Jennings, the Metro 10 organizer. “The village will only have to set up the park once and we won’t compete for sponsors.”
Metro 10 is shifting to a new umbrella organization, from the Albion Running Club to the Warrior House, a charity that provides hunting opportunities in West Shelby for wounded veterans. Jennings’ nephew Peter Zeliff Jr.is head of the Warrior House.
There were about 400 runners in Albion race last year. Jennings said that was a great start for the debut race. The feedback from runners was overwhelmingly positive, but many wanted an earlier start time to beat the heat of the summer day.
Up2Somethin’ , a popular party band from Rochester, entertains at Bullard Park during the Metro 10 post-race party on Aug. 22. The seven-piece band includes Rickey Ellis on bass and vocals at right, and lead singer Evyn Grassl.
Jennings would like to bring back Up2Somethin’ to perform at a stage in the park. Burgess said many local bands are expected to follow.
“This is going to fill in the gaps,” Burgess said. “I think it will be a cool thing.”
Jennings also sees the race crowd giving a lift to Rock the Park. That event, with its many arts and craft vendors and lineup of entertainment should keep runners in the community after the race.
“As we’re winding down, they are starting to rev up,” Jennings said. “It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Kirk Narburgh worked on new Hoag Library, several projects at Albion Central School
Photo by Tom Rivers –Â Kirk Narburgh speaks during an informational meeting last May about a $14.3 million capitol project for Albion Central School. Voters approved the project that will address numerous maintenance issues and infrastructure upgrades.
SYRACUSE An Albion native, Kirk Narburgh, is the new chief executive officer and managing partner of King + King Architects LLP. The Syracuse firm touts itself as the country’s oldest architectural firm going back five generations.
Narburgh has worked there for 27 years. He succeeds Peter King as CEO.
“Our transition planning began several years ago,” Peter King said in a news release. “Together, with the other partners, senior-leadership team and staff we are ready to lead the firm forward and continue our legacy for which King + King Architect’s has been known for over 147 years.”
Narbugh, a partner with the firm since 2001, will lead 48 full-time employees.
King + King has worked on projects in Albion, including the new Hoag Library and several building expansions and renovations at Albion Central School.
Narburgh, a registered architect and a landscape architect, has 33 years of experience in total.
“It is an honor to be a part of the King + King family, and I look forward to working with the current and next generation of partners and firm leaders,” Narburgh said.
Narburgh is also an adjunct professor at Syracuse University’s School of Architecture, where he has taught for the past 25 years. His mother, Sharon Narburgh, owns Narby’s Superette and Tackle in Carlton.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION –Â Santa stopped by Albion on Tuesday afternoon to pose in front of Hoag Library to help the Albion Betterment Committee get a sense of where the statue would best be located and how tall the statue should be.
The Betterment Committee wants to have a bronze statue in front of the library in honor of Charles Howard, who started a Santa Claus School in 1937 and developed a Christmas Park at the corner of Phipps Road and Route 31. He ran the school until his death in 1966. The school has been moved to Midland, Mich., and it still bears Howard’s name. (Click here for more on the school.)
One possibility for the project by the library would be to have a granite chair that people could sit in and be pictured with Santa. When Santa was posing at about 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Raymond Ryan and his family happened to be walking by. Raymond, 2, was willing to sit in the chair and seemed enthralled to see to Santa. (See top photo)
One issue to consider is the height of the statue. Should it be life size, about 6 feet high? However, that might look too small to passing motorists. Many of the statues I’ve seen in Western New York are 7 feet or more. If Santa was that big, would he overwhelm children, or maybe a big Santa would add to their sense of awe?
Many of the iconic images of Charlie Howard show him with his hands on hips. This photo was taken in 1965, Charlie’s last season as Santa.
When Albion hosted the Charles W. Howard Legendary Santa Claus Conference in April, the hands-on-hips image was used as the logo for the conference.
Santa is pictured with Joe Gehl, one of the directors of the Albion Betterment Committee. This Santa is about 6 feet.
The Committee is working to have renderings of the site to present to the Hoag Library Board of Trustees. Other issues to consider are how close the statue should be to the sidewalk or to the building.
If Santa is near the sidewalk, there could be more in the background, including lighted Christmas trees and maybe even a sleigh to the side.
This photo was taken across the street from the library in the parking lot of the Main Street Store (the former American Legion). It seems like a taller Santa definitely stands out.
The Committee would like to have an interpretive panel about Howard’s life as a toymaker, farmer and active community member, and another panel discussing Christmas Park in Albion and Howard’s role in shaping the look and behavior of Santas around the world.
Howard was in the charter class in 2010 that was inducted in the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame. (Click here for more information.)
Although Howard was his most iconic with his hands on hips, perhaps a waving Santa would better engage visitors and local residents, serving as a welcome to Main Street and the community.
I talked with some of the Santas during the April conference in Albion. They said a waving Santa tends to be the norm for Santa images, or the child on lap or sack over shoulder. Several of the Santas were adamant that a Charlie Howard statue should have hands on hips. However, the waving Santa may have more community appeal.
Another issue to mull over is which direction should Santa be faced. Should he look south, the same angle as the entrance of the library? Or should he look directly across the street towards the former Legion building? If he was positioned to look across the street, he might be able to greet people going north and south, or maybe at that angle he doesn’t quite greet either direction.
Angling him south, his face would be clearly visible for people traveling north, headed to the downtown business district.
Anytime you deal with art, people have opinions. I favor a big Santa at least 7 feet tall. I think he should be close to the sidewalk so you can have a nice background and pedestrians can easily stop and get a photo taken with him. He would also seem “big” to passing cars. The farther away from the street, the smaller the Santa will look to passing drivers and pedestrians.
The Santa and granite chair could be on a stone or perhaps concrete base that would be slightly elevated. Some granite presents would be a nice touch to have near Santa and the granite chair. Bigger donors might have their names etched in the gift tags on the presents. (These are just ideas at this point.)
About 200 Santas and elves gathered in front of the Orleans County Courthouse for a group photo in April during the Charles W. Howard Legendary Santa Claus Conference. Many of the Santas said they would help make a bronze statue of Howard a reality.
The Santa community and Albion Betterment Committee would like to have the statue in place late next year, which would be the 50th anniversary of Howard’s death. That will be an ambitious goal, especially to raise the funds, which could top $100,000.
The Betterment Committee is trying to get a design together that would be supported by the Library Board of Trustees, the community and the many Santas from around the country and world who hold Howard in high regard.
Orleans Hub will continue to post updates on the project. The Betterment Committee also expects to have a welcome sign on Route 98, south of the village, soon erected that declares Albion as the home of Charles Howard.
By Abigale Wells, Albion High School student correspondent
Photos by Abigale Wells –Â Audrey II gets ready to eat Nick Arieno, who plays Mr. Mushnik. Connor Zicari is inside the plant, making it move. Elijah Van Epps, who plays Seymour (left), also starred in “Little Shop of Horrors.”
ALBION – The Albion High School Drama Department performed its fall play, Little Shop of Horrors, on Nov. 6-7 to a large crowd in the Middle School Auditorium, and many in the audience were in awe of how the plant – Audrey II – came to life.
They wondered who played the plant and how the student made it seem so lifelike.
The student responsible for bringing Audrey II to life on stage was Connor Zicari. He had to play Audrey II at various stages of her development. Zach Shaffer was the voice of Audrey II. Somehow Connor and Zach made it all seem effortless.
“It takes lots and lots of practice,” Connor said. “The six weeks that we practiced, each second was spent trying to sync my movements with Zach’s voice.”
Connor Zicari uses a hand puppet to play Audrey II when it’s in a small stage.
All that hard work showed during the performance. The plant truly brought life to the stage.
There were many layers of material used in order to hide the actors that were devoured by Audrey II. The numerous layers caused excess heat inside the plant.
“One of the biggest challenges of this role is dealing with the heat and sitting still inside the plant for so long,” Connor said.
The plant would grow throughout the show in five stages of development.
Audrey II, in many ways, was the star of the show. Yet Connor was never seen by the audience, and that was fine by him.
“That doesn’t matter to me,” he said about public acknowledgement. “It’s fun being in the plant so I will take that over being seen.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – An annual rite of passage for Orleans County residents should include a visit to Mount Albion Cemetery, especially the Civil War Memorial tower, every fall.
I went to see the tower on Nov. 7. It was a crisp autumn day. I hadn’t been up the 68-foot-high tower in a couple years.
I was happy to see the spiral staircase is freshly painted. Last time I climbed all of the steps, there was lots of graffiti. This was taken from the top of the tower, which was built in 1876, on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country.
I’m a little uncomfortable up high, but here is a view looking down from the tower. There are nice sandstone steps leading to the tower.
The tower provides views of scenic Albion, including the Orleans County Courthouse.
These iron gates lead into the tower, which is a memorial to about 500 Orleans County residents who died in the Civil War. Their names are etched in marble slabs inside the tower.
The cemetery on Route 31 is included on the National Register of Historic Places. There are many historic features of Mount Albion, including this hitching post that was used to tie up horses.
The cemetery, with its winding paths, is a popular spot for joggers and walkers.
BARRE – Scouts in Troop and Pack 175 in Barre collected 478 food items on Saturday in the annual Scouting for Food campaign. Scouts are pictured at the food pantry of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.
The group includes front row, from left: Guideon Pask and Owen Rush.
Second row: Dillon DiGiulio, Brett Schreiner, Willem DeRuysscher, Matthew Mathes and Isaac Hickman.
Third row: Mr. Schreiner, John Schreiner, Dominic DiGiulio, Eli Pask, Ben Hickman, Mr. DiGiulio, Aiden Rush, Mr. Hickman and Sadie Pask.
Scouts not pictured include Nicholas Luft, Ivan Barry, Tristan Lusk and Nicholas Andrews.
Other local Scouts also participated in Scouting for Food.
ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee representative Andy Ebbs receives goods from Albion Middle School students Abby Tucker, Ashlyn LeBaron, Cody Wilson and James Salvatore.
Students in grades 6-8 collected boxes and bags of canned food to help needy families in the community. The project was organized by the Albion Middle School National Junior Honor Society and the Grade 7 Service Learning classes. A special thanks to all who contributed.
Photos courtesy of Eastern Niagara Post –Â Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni, left, and Sgt. David Mogle accept the Platinum Award from AAA Safety Advisor Terri Rae Anthony during an awards luncheon on Thursday at Donna Eick’s restaurant in Lockport.
LOCKPORT – Three police departments in Orleans County were recognized by AAA with traffic safety initiatives on Thursday.
Albion, Holley and Medina police departments were all honored during an awards luncheon in Lockport at Donna Eick’s restaurant.
Albion received the top award – the Platinum Community Traffic Safety Award. Medina was given a “Silver” and Holley a “Bronze” for their efforts.
The Platinum recognized departments for outstanding efforts and enforcement activities geared towards making communities safer over a consecutive three-year period, AAA said.
In addition to Albion, AAA recognized the Middleport Police Department, New York State Police in Lockport and Niagara County Sheriff’s Department.
Chad Kenward, a Medina police officer, accepts the “Silver Award” from Anthony for the Medina PD’s efforts to promote traffic safety.
The Lockport Police Department also was recognized with a Gold award, and Barker Police Department was given a Bronze.
“We are proud of all these departments for their achievement and participation in the Community Traffic Safety Program,” said JJ Miller, AAA East Central Safety Advisor. “They went above and beyond the call of duty by organizing projects to make their communities safer places for motorists and residents.”
To be eligible for the annual awards, a community must conduct traffic safety promotions and educate the public on safety topics.
ALBION – The Albion Police Department is pleased to announce being awarded the 2015 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 and the Child Passenger Safety Seat Program to enforce vehicle and traffic laws as well as to educate and assist motorist.
Throughout 2015 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 fifth 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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Provided photo –Â Orleans County officials gathered on Monday morning to cut the ribbon for a new bridge on Waterport-Carlton Road Bridge over Beardsley Creek. The new bridge replaced one from 1934, with the new bridge costing $486,606. C.P. Ward of Scottsville was contractor on the project. Those pictured, from left, include: John Papponetti, project manager for LaBella Associates; County Legislator John DeFilipps; County Legislator Fred Miller; County Legislature Chairman David Callard; County Highway Superintendent Jerry Gray; County Legislator Ken DeRoller; and Chris Bayer, structural engineer with LaBella.
CARLTON – A bridge on Waterport-Carlton Road from 1934 was replaced with a new one at a cost of nearly $500,000. The county celebrated the new bridge with a ribbon-cutting on Monday.
That project is the latest effort by Orleans County officials to upgrade its infrastructure. It is doing much of the work without any state or federal asisstance.
The county is also paying $322,935 this year to Redman Construction in Brockport to replace a bridge from 1968 in Barre on Oak Orchard Road over Manning Muckland Creek.
The county replaced two bridges last year, two culverts this year, and will do two more bridges and two more culverts next year, all to be paid with county dollars. The projects will cost about $5 million.
Many of those projects used to be funded 80 percent by the federal government, 15 percent by the state with only a 5 percent local share. But the federal and state dollars have been hard to come by in recent years.
County officials worried the bridges would be closed due to deteriorating condition.
“The county is doing it’s part to repair our roads and bridges,” Legislature Chairman David Callard said.
He wants the state and federal governments to follow that example, particularly directing more resources to fix canal bridges. Some of those have weight limits less than 10 tons.
Local farmers have complained for several years that the weight-reduced or closed bridges force them to take long detours. It’s the same with fire trucks and school buses.
And now, with winter approaching, Callard said it could be the same dilemma for snow plow trucks.
“Our snow plows won’t be allowed over some of these bridges,” Callard said.
He has a meeting on Friday with state legislators to press the issue. Callard said he will be meeting with State Sen. Joe Robach of Rochester, who is chairman of the Transportation Committee in the State Senate. Callard said State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Sen. Robert Ortt will also be part of the discussion.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 November 2015 at 12:00 am
BAD-AsH-BBQ already has built up a following
Photos by Tom Rivers –Â Gerald “JJ” Heideman has run BAD-AsH-BBQ from a trailer since the business’s debut on Memorial Day weekend in May 2014. He is working with Adam Johnson to open a BAD Ash restaurant in Albion at the former location of “A Place To Go.”
ALBION – BAD-Ash-BBQ is coming to downtown Albion this spring in a new restaurant after about 18 months on a trailer.
J.J. Heideman, BAD Ash owner, will continue to take the business on the road to parties and community events, but he looks forward to having a permanent location where he can serve barbecue for lunch and dinner.
He is partnering with Adam Johnson in the BAD Ash restaurant on North Main Street. Johnson in January bought two building storefronts, sites that were used as a hair salon and thrift store.
Johnson, a Holley resident, sees a struggling downtown in Albion with several empty buildings. He was looking for a business that would be a draw for the community, bringing customers for the other businesses.
He asked for ideas on Facebook. Heideman read Johnson’s Facebook post, and Heideman was interested. After seeing the space downtown, Heideman was convinced the site would work.
J.J. Heideman, left, and Adam Johnson are renovating the former thrift store space into a restaurant.
Heideman envisions a buffet and a menu that will be expanded from his current offerings of baby back ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken and brisket.
“I thought Albion needed a restaurant, something different than a diner,” Johnson said. “It has to be something special. That’s what downtown really needs.”
Johnson and Heideman are working together on renovating the space for the restaurant. They are taking out the dropped ceiling, uncovering the floor and finding many positive surprises.
“People are going to see a lot of the old classic architecture that has been hidden,” Johnson said.
He has 25 years in the real estate and construction business. He said renovating the storefront will take hard work, but it isn’t a daunting task.
“Nothing that we’ve seen in here scares me,” he said.
Heideman will continue to run Bad Ash with winter catering and parties. He and Johnson believe the restaurant will be ready in the spring 2016. Heideman will keep the concession trailers going after the restaurant opens. Those trailers will continue to build the BAD Ash name, drawing more people to the Albion location, Heideman said.
He will be in Albion early in the morning to barbecue for lunch and dinner. He said he won’t have to worry about running out of food with the restaurant. And it will be easier for customers in the winter or in bad weather because they can come inside.
Adam Johnson has already repainted one storefront and is looking to draw more people to downtown Albion.
Heideman, 35, recently bought a house in Middleport. He was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce as “New Business of the Year” in 2014.
He is thankful the business has taken off so quickly. He is interested in bringing barbecue competitions to the area as part of the growing appetite for barbecue.
Johnson would also like to have an ice cream shop in a neighboring storefront. He thinks BAD Ash, which will also have breweries and wine on tap, will be a draw, perhaps creating congestion in the downtown, which he said would be a nice problem to have.
“This is going to be a big boost for the downtown,” Johnson said.
Photo courtesy of Mattie Zarpentine –Â Michelle Restivo and her grandfather, Richard Heard of Rochester, return to the Rochester airport on Oct. 25 after being on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.
(Editor’s Note: Richard Heard of Albion was on the Honor Flight last month, flying out of Rochester to Washington, D.C., so veterans and their families could see the memorials in the nation’s capital. Heard was joined by his granddaughter, Michelle Restivo of Albion. She has shared highlights from the trip with the Orleans Hub. This is the fourth and final installment. Heard enlisted during World War II and was a radar mechanic. In February of 1943, he was called to active service from reserve status. He was stationed in six states. Restivo works as a kindergarten teacher in Batavia.)
By Michelle Restivo
Our Honor Flight tour of Washington, D.C. was over. We’d visited all of the war memorials and much more.
Grandpa Dick had been thanked for his service by hundreds of people. The little snippets of his experience in the service during WWII that he shared with me are conversations that I will treasure forever.
Seeing and learning so much in such a short amount of time was more than I’d ever imagined. Back on the bus Saturday evening, we started our trek back to our hotel in Baltimore.
I was sure Grandpa would doze a little on the ride back; I’d guess he averages about 14 little naps on any given day at home. And up to this point in our journey, I hadn’t seen him close his eyes once! But to my surprise, it was ME who nodded off on the ride.
I would wake and glance over to check on him, and there he was – looking out the window, or around the bus, wide eyed as ever. I don’t think he wanted to miss a thing of this trip, and his adrenaline must have kept him going long after he felt tired.
Photos courtesy of Michelle Restivo –Â A big crowd gathered at the airport to greet the Veterans on the Honor Flight.
Since our delayed start earlier in the morning had put us far behind schedule, we didn’t have much time in our room before heading down to dinner. A quick freshen up, and we were off again.
Honor Flight Rochester kept our momentum going, we had heard about the delicious turkey dinner awaiting us in the ballroom. We made a quick stop to cash in our drink tickets at the bar. (The Veterans literally paid for nothing on this trip. And why would they – they have already paid so much in their time and sacrifice!)
Walking in, I could almost see these soldiers back in time. Dressed in uniform, gathering with their comrades at a local watering hole on a base or while deployed.
We found a table to join, and I enjoyed hearing the men swap stories of their time and place in the service. It’s really difficult for Grandpa to hear in situations like a dinner party, the background noise muffles all conversation. But, the men tried to include him in their conversations as much as possible.
During our trip, I quickly became adept at being Grandpa’s interpreter, as he called me. I made sure to sit on his “good side”. That way, I could lean in and relay what was being said to him so that he could reply. His voice is incredibly soft these days, so I would often have to repeat what he said to the others at the table. It was an interesting way to hold a conversation, that’s for sure.
After dinner, we retired to our room for the evening. It was pretty cool sharing a room with Grandpa. He is such an interesting guy and watching him putter around was very entertaining. He even shared some hilarious stories with me, about some of his shenanigans while he was in the service. Those are best kept out of print, we decided.
The next morning at breakfast, we heard stories of several Vets who closed down the bar the night before, what a great time they had! Our bus was second to leave the hotel for the airport, so we remained in the breakfast room chatting at a table with two other Vets and their guardians. They seemed to know each other, and since it was quiet with just us in the room, Grandpa was able to participate freely in the conversation.
They again traded stories of their time serving, and then of course the conversation turned to their life after service. Grandpa enjoyed talking with them about Albion; one of the men knew people there through his business. They talked a lot about the way town used to be, establishments that were there that I’d never heard of, people whose names I recognized but didn’t really know. It was fun little trip back in Albion’s history for me.
Our flight back to Rochester was uneventful, and right on time. Grandpa did catch some shut-eye this time; I think the previous day’s events were finally catching up to him. After landing, our trip leaders gave instructions for us to meet by the ramp heading toward security and we would enter the airport as a group. More than once, we heard the volunteers say, “The best is yet to come.”
How could anything top the experiences we’d just had? I knew that Honor Flight invited the public to welcome the group home, and that is special for sure. But I had no idea of what the organization really had planned.
Similar to our arrival into the Baltimore airport, there were people cheering for the Veterans as we exited the plane in Rochester. Waving flags and reaching out their hands. Still staying, “Thank you for your service, sir,” but this time adding, “Welcome home.”
We made our way through a line of distinguished individuals: a retired Army general, a Monroe County executive, a news anchor, an American Legion Post president, and the president of Rochester Honor Flight. Then, the president made an announcement to our group, and I finally realized just what was to come.
Lucille Bloom holds a picture of Richard Heard from when he visited the World War II Memorial in Washington on Oct. 24. She was among the greeters to see him when he returned.
“Ladies and gentleman, we can’t thank you enough for your service. We are so grateful for all that you sacrificed for our freedom. We know many of you returned home after your time in the service, to no fanfare, no thank yous, and that some of you, you returned home to protests of your service and opposition to you, the soldiers. Here is the homecoming you all deserved. Welcome home, and thank you for your service. Now, go enjoy your welcome home party.”
I could hear strains of a brass band playing and we all pushed forward into the airport. What was to come was a scene like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Hundreds of people lining the sides of our pathway, all cheering, “Welcome home! Thank you!”
Included in this first group that we saw was our family. My grandma was there in the front row, holding a picture of Grandpa Dick in front of the WWII memorial. We spotted many of Grandpa’s family members in the crowd, cheering for him and all of the Veterans, welcoming them home.
The smiles I saw Grandpa give during these few minutes were some of the biggest I’ve ever seen. We continued on our way, moving through the cheering crowd. Each time we rounded a corner, went down another hallway, even riding the elevator down to the next level, we saw more people.
There was a flag line by the Patriot Guard riders, girl and boy scout troops, Knights of Columbus presenting their swords, a brass band playing patriotic songs, previous Honor Flight participants, a second flag line by I don’t even know who, a color guard of ROTC cadets, and hundreds of people holding flags and signs.
At one point, we passed a group of school children and I could hear them saying things like, “Is that my guy? What does his nametag say? There’s mine!” I quickly deduced that these were some of the kids who had written letters to the Vets for their mail call the day before.
I leaned down to tell Grandpa this, and he stretched his hand out for me to push him closer to the side so he could see the kids better and shake their hands. Many of the kids held handmade signs, and all of them were cheering and smiling. It was surreal.
A belated welcome home celebration for those men and women most deserving of our gratitude, so amazing that my words cannot even describe it.
After what I can estimate to be 20 minutes, we arrived at our final destination, the international room of the Rochester Airport. We heard from several speakers, including Brian Mitchell as the keynote. He is a Korean War Veteran, and Legion Post President. In his speech, Mr. Mitchell talked a lot about the “Greatest Generation,” people who came of age during the Great Depression and lived during the WWII era. Again, I didn’t know much about this saying and decided to learn more upon returning home.
An excerpt from Tom Brokaw’s book, The Greatest Generation, says it best. “At a time in their lives when their days and nights should have been filled with innocent adventure, love, and the lessons of a workday world, they answered the call.”
Richard Heard is welcomed back by his nephew, Stephen Heard.
Through my reading and my personal experience spending 36 hours with members of this greatest generation, I am forever changed. What I had previously thought to be an uncommon attitude, my Grandpa often told us that he didn’t do anything special in serving during WWII.
However, what I’ve learned is that this is an incredibly common attitude of WWII Veterans. When speaking of their service, I heard many of the Vets I traveled with say things like, “I was doing my job. I was doing what was asked of me. I was doing what was expected of me. I was doing what I knew I needed to do.”
Whether they fought on the front lines or remained stateside like my grandpa, the theme was the same: it was no big deal. I never expected to hear that.
I am far from being part of the Greatest Generation. Instead, I am living within a generation of entitlement, of self service, of avoidance. Hearing such a contrast of attitude was shocking to me, and it made me appreciate all service men and women even more.
Grandpa told me that when he got out of the service, he spent a week in Florida with a family member. Then, he took the bus home to Rochester and arrived at the station to no fanfare at all. He returned to his civilian life after serving our country for almost 4 years during the war, much like I return home from a weekend away. The Honor Flight welcome home party, although belated, was an experience I am grateful to have been part of.
Jacob Williams, Richard Heard’s great-grandson, was part of the welcoming commttee on Oct. 25.
Grandpa doesn’t speak of his time in the service often, he doesn’t act like he did anything special, and he certainly doesn’t think he is a hero. This trip taught me that every American Veteran both living and passed, should be honored and celebrated, and their sacrifices never forgotten.
We can’t give every Veteran a ceremony every time we encounter one in our daily lives. But, I’ve now seen the impact it has to reach out your hand and simply say, “Thank you for your service,” to those men and women. They deserve our eternal thanks and gratitude, and we should be willing to tell them.
Please join me this Veteran’s Day: shake a Vet’s hand, attend one of the programs put on to honor our Vets, send a note to a VA Hospital, or spend time reading about the service of so many before our time and telling others what you learned and what it means to you.
Or perhaps most importantly, if you know a Vet, ask them to tell you a little about their service. Most don’t often offer it up freely, but as Mr. Mitchell said in his closing remarks at our Honor Flight welcome home celebration, ” With every passing day, we are losing a bit of history. Make it a priority to learn from our Veterans about their experiences. Every Vet has a story to tell, and while not all are dramatic, every one is important.”
Thank you Honor Flight Rochester for teaching me so much about American history and the people who helped shape this great country. Thank you to all the American Veterans out there. And most of all, thank you, Grandpa, for your service and for the privilege to join you on this most amazing experience. Happy Veteran’s Day.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 November 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers –Â Staff at Community Action of Orleans & Genesee and leaders of the Albion Correctional Facility gathered for a photo by the prison in Albion. The group includes, from left: Andy Ebbs, facilities manager for Community Action; Annette Finch, community services director for Community Action; Sheryl Zenzen, superintendent of Albion Correctional Facility; Duane Artus, deputy superintendent of administration for ACF; Patricia Assel, deputy superintendent of programs; Tom Colton, vocational supervisor; and Mike O’Connor, horticulture instructor.
ALBION – For more than a decade inmates at the Albion Correctional Facility have been growing vegetables and donating them to local food pantries.
In the peak harvest season in the summer, the inmates have about 200 to 300 pounds a week of vegetables, which may include cucumbers, corn, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, broccoli and cabbage.
The produce is available beginning in June with squash and lasts until November with broccoli and cabbage. Soon they will work on making wreaths for Christmas and the holidays.
About 3,000 to 4,000 pounds of produce are given to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, which distributes it to food pantries in Albion, Medina and Holley. The steady source of fresh vegetables fills a need for the pantries in the summer and fall.
“It’s really a godsend because it helps so many people,” said Annette Finch, community services director for Community Action.
There are 40 inmates that work in the horticulture program, growing vegetables and flowers. Some of those flowers have been donated to the downtown business district in Albion.
“They’re doing things for others, which helps them move forward in their own lives,” said Sheryl Zenzen, superintendent of the Albion Correctional Facility, which has about 1,000 female inmates.
Inmates and correctional facility staff last month also walked a 5K on the prison grounds and raised $1,400 for a domestic violence program.
The staff also are active in donating to the United Way and other charities through SEFA, the State Employees Federated Appeal.
Zenzen said Community Action has been a strong partner for the facility, providing inmates with a chance to learn job skills in an office setting, the Main Street Store and at special events.
Those skills will help the inmates find and keep jobs when they are released from prison, Zenzen said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 November 2015 at 12:00 am
DeCarlo also wins Gaines councilman over Lattin
Darlene Benton
ALBION – Darlene Benton held on to be elected to the Albion Town Board after absentee ballots were counted this morning.
Benton, running as a Democrat, held a six-vote lead a week ago, 526-520, over Paul Fulcomer, the director of the Veterans Service Agency for Orleans County. Fulcomer, a Republican, is soon to retire from that position.
Benton’s six-vote lead grew to 18 when the absentees were counted. She picked up 32 more votes, to 20 to Fulcomer. The final tally: 558 for Benton, 540 for Fulcomer.
“I was staying totally calm in the past week,” Benton said after the results were announced at the Board of Elections. “It’s not my will. It’s the people’s will.”
Benton has been active in Stop Polluting Orleans County, a citizens’ group opposed to more landfills in the community. She said she will stay vigilant in that fight, and work to keep residents updated on any developments with the landfill.
(The town was successful keeping Waste Management from opening a new landfill in the late 1990s, but Richard Penfold of Orchard Park is pushing to open a new landfill.)
Benton has spent much of her adult life in the public realm in Albion, helping to raise money for the former Arnold Gregory Hospital in Albion and the PAWS Animal Shelter. She also worked for Oak Orchard Health and as a dean of the Albion campus center for GCC.
She wrote a column, Making Choices, that appeared in the Lake Country Pennysaver and many free community papers for 15 years. She also runs her own business, Paradise Healing Arts.
Benton has watched the rebirth of the Medina business district in the past decade and she believes a similar phenomenon could happen in Albion.
“I’ve been excited to see what has happened there and I don’t see why it can’t happen in Albion,” Benton said.
She wants to partner with the village government leaders to promote small businesses. She also believes Albion could attract long-term light industrial development, perhaps by reaching out to companies that work in recycling. She also sees potential in a recycling center in the county.
“I think it would be exciting to work with investors on some of these ideas,” Benton said.
Benton was one of the few Democrats to pull off a victory this election season. She thanked her supporters, including many Republicans who donated to her campaign and helped get out the vote.
“It’s going to be exciting,” she said about serving on the Town Board. “I’m very honored.”
Matt Passarell was re-elected town supervisor without any opposition. Jake Olles, who was backed by Democrats and Republicans, was also elected to the Town Board.
In another close race locally, Richard DeCarlo held off Bill Lattin for the Gaines Town Board. DeCarlo had a 14-vote lead a week ago when the polls closed. Lattin narrowed that to seven votes after the absentees votes were counted this morning. DeCarlo won 381-374 for the Town Board seat.
Mary Neilans was elected to the Town Board by a comfortable margin with 445 votes. Pete Toenniessen came in fourth with 224 votes. Carol Culhane also was re-elected town supervisor.
