Provided photo: A food pantry and other services from Community Action are now located at 131 S. Main Street, accessible from Platt Street.

Press Release, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee

ALBION – Community Action of Orleans & Genesee is excited to announce that its Orleans County Emergency Services and Case Management programs will officially open today at a new location.

The new office, located at 131 South Main St., is just steps behind the agency’s Main Street Thrifts, Gifts, and More store in Albion. Customers are advised to enter through the Platt Street entrance to the plaza.

This move from 409 East State St. reflects Community Action’s commitment to being more accessible to the people it assists. With a more central location, the agency hopes to remove barriers for families who rely on support programs, especially those without reliable transportation.

“We know how important it is for our programs to be easy to find and even easier to access,” said Ryan Lasal, Director of Community & Family Program Innovation at Community Action. “This move brings us closer to the heart of our community and allows us to better meet people where they are.”

The new office will also house the food pantry, previously located at the State Street address. However, the overnight pantry at 409 East State Street will remain open, ensuring that individuals in immediate need continue to have after-hours access to food assistance.

“Sometimes it’s just helping someone get through a tough month — whether it’s paying a bill, getting food, or finding a bit of stability,” Lasal said. “This move brings us closer to the people who rely on us, making it easier to be there when they need us most.”

In addition to the existing programs CAOG offers to help people become self-sufficient, CAOG is actively involved in the New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) Program, also known as the “1115 Waiver Program.”

This initiative allows all Medicaid members to be screened for unmet needs related to housing, nutrition, and transportation. Based on screening results and other eligibility criteria, Medicaid members may receive free services to support their overall health and well-being, including rent or utility assistance, medically necessary home modifications, food prescriptions, pantry stocking, transportation, and more.

Community Action of Orleans and Genesee is contracted with the FLIPA “Social Care Network” for which Community Action CEO, Renee Hungerford serves as co-chair of the governing board. The program is funded in New York State through March 2027.

“We will soon be offering these screenings at all locations, including the 131 South Main Street location,” Hungerford said. “We are excited that the new location will make these opportunities more accessible.”

All other Community Action programs will continue operating from their current locations. To learn more about Emergency Services, Case Management, or food assistance, community members are encouraged to call (585) 589-5605 or visit www.caoginc.org.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – These kids take off for the Easter egg hunt around noon today at the Courthouse lawn in Albion. The Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries organized the event for the fourth year.

About 400 to 500 kids were at today’s egg hunt. They were separated into three age groups: (1-5), (6-9) and (10-14).

For the second straight year Ben Rowcliffe, 9, of Medina got a golden egg. Inside was a ticket for a free bike. There were two golden eggs in each age group.

These younger kids hunt for eggs. Since the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries started the egg hunt in 2022, it has grown from 3,000 the first year to 10,000 in 2023, 12,000 last year and now 15,000.

Pastor Al Wilson said Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries wants to be a blessing to the community, “sharing the love of Jesus.”

Colt Tumia, 8, of Albion gets a Pokémon ball painted on his face by Candace Casey.

Divina Cifunetes of Batavia, 5, was happy to meet the Easter Bunny. (Rose Friedl was in the costume as the Easter Bunny.)

These kids are happy with the eggs they collected. Students from the Iroquois Job Corps spread out the eggs on the courthouse lawn. Within minutes they were all scooped up.

The Masonic Lodge in Albion served 500 hot dogs and about 120 pounds of French fries of free. Shown here cooking are Steve Pawlak in front with the hot dogs and Markus Ruffin in back with the fries.

The Albion Lions Club and Rotary Club also both contributed $300 towards the Easter baskets.

The Easter Bunny visited and greeted Lori Laine, who was at the event with her grandchildren.

Carlitos Lopez, a barber with the Barber Republic in Brockport, gives Gio Ristuccia, 4, of Rochester a haircut. Four barbers were on site giving free haircuts, up from two last year when the lines were long to get a hair cut.

Tony Greene, a barber from Brockport, gives Sebastian Vallejo Morales, 7, of Albion a haircut.

Federal cuts have hit other food programs for needy

Photos by Tom Rivers: Volunteers and employees from Community Action of Genesee & Orleans get food ready this morning for about 200 households in the monthly pop-up food distribution in Albion. Vehicles start lining up in the municipal parking lot by Dubby’s Tailgate at about 6 a.m. for a distribution that usually starts around 8:30 a.m.

ALBION – Despite cuts by the federal government to emergency food programs, the pop-up food distributions are expected to continue in the near future.

Community Action of Orleans & Genesee led a distribution this morning after a delivery by Foodlink in Rochester. Community Action and volunteers gave out about 200 boxes of food. Some of the cars were in the municipal lot on Platt Street at about 6 a.m. for a distribution that started around 8:30.

“It makes a big difference for them because of the price of groceries and everything else,” said Ricky Standish, facilities manager for Community Action.

He put in packages of applesauce at this morning’s distribution, while others sorted out fruit, vegetables and meat.

Community Action has been doing the monthly distributions for five years now. They started during the early days of the Covid pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently recently announced a $500 million cut to the emergency food system in the country. Foodlink said cancellation of “Commodity Credit Corporation” goods as part of The Emergency Food Assistance Program directly impacts 17 truckloads for its food bank – totaling about $655,000 worth of food and an additional $42,500 in funding.

Julia Tedesco, president and CEO of Foodlink, said the $500 million cut by the USDA comes at a time when food insecurity remains at an all-time high, and impacts more than 150,000 people in the Rochester region.

She said food prices remain high, “forcing families across our region to make impossible choices between purchasing food and other basic needs.”

Katrina Standish, director of Community Services & Reporting for Community Action, and Ricky Standish, facilities manager for the agency, carry boxes of food to put in the back end of a vehicle this morning.

Foodlink manages the pop-up pantries in the Rochester region. Foodlink covers the cost and fundraises for the program, which isn’t specifically tied to government funding, said Elisha Mykins, Rural Programs Coordinator for Foodlink.

“The USDA cuts that were recently announced, however, may impact how much food we can offer to our food bank members, which may have a ripple effect on the types and quantity of products available at PUPs (pop-up pantries),” Mykins said. “Foodlink is working on fundraising and getting funding from other avenues to make up for it so it doesn’t make a big impact on our network.”

The schedule for pop-up pantries in Orleans County through June includes:

Albion at 165 South Platt Street – managed by Community Action

Monday, May 12 at 9 a.m.

Monday, June 16  at 9 a.m.

Lyndonville at 107 North Main St. (Lyndonville Presbyterian Church)

Friday, May 2 at 9:30 a.m.

Friday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m.

Friday, June 6 at 9:30 a.m.

Friday, June 20 at 9:30 a.m.

Orleans Cornell Cooperative Extension at 12690 State Route 31 in Albion (Knowlesville)

Monday, May 5 at 10 a.m.

Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m.

Diane Shiffer among ‘grandfluencers’ who are 60-plus with enormous followings

CBS Sunday Morning today featured Diane Shiffer of Albion who has about 1 million followers on both Instagram and TikTok. Shiffer’s uses the hashtag: “YourChubbyVintageNana.”

ALBION – CBS Sunday Morning today highlighted social media who are 60 and older with enormous followings. Diane Shiffer of Albion is among the “grandfluencers” with a massive following on both Instagram and TikTok.

Shiffer, 68, is a retired educator and social worker. She started to go viral on social media during the pandemic in 2020 when she posted short videos of her in daily life – baking, sewing, doing household chores, sharing words about kindness, and showcasing some of her vintage finds, such as potholders.

Shiffer told the story to CBS about how she first went viral. She accidently took a time lapse video of her doing her hair. She posted it on social media and amassed about 2 million views. She also suddenly had hundreds of thousands of followers.

Shiffer uses the hashtag: “YourChubbyVintageNana.” She speaks directly to her followers in her videos, calling them “my sweeties.”

Instagram: These screenshots from Diane Shiffer’s Instagram account show posts of her doing a household task of the laundry, left, and then her making an announcement she will be writing a book and welcomes title suggestions.

CBS correspondent Faith Salie said Shiffer’s “soothing voice and infectious laugh” are a big part of her appeal. Salie said about Shiffer, “spending time with her feels like a warm hug.”

Other “Grandfluencers” with a large social media following have used that to make big money by promoting products. Shiffer hasn’t done that. She announced she does have a book deal focusing on her messages of kindness to others and oneself.

Shiffer about a year ago did something out of the norm. She asked her social media followers to donate to a family in Medina that suffered a tragic loss. Those followers responded in a big way, donating $100,000 to a Medina family that suffered heartbreak with a miscarriage and then a hospitalization.

Click here to see the feature on CBS Sunday Morning.

Photo by Kyle Gill

ALBION – The Albion Rotary and Interact Clubs picked up trash along the railroad tracks in Albion this morning and filled 19 garbage bags with a total weight of 307 pounds. That topped the 291 pounds from a year ago.

Albion Rotary has done the cleanup the past five years with students from Albion Central School.

Pictured from left include Makenzie Cook, Lillian Fisher, Ayme Vallejo-Morales, Cordelia Rivers, Adam Burgio, Tom Rivers, Maddison Button, Tim Archer and Mike Schmackpheffer.

Photos by Tom Rivers

Adam Burgio, an Interact Club member, hunts down litter just east of Platt Street.

Mike Schmackpheffer, a prospective Rotarian, helped the garbage collection. He is getting trash near the wall by Dunkin’ Donuts.

Lillian Fisher, an Interact member, tosses a bag of litter into the dumpster at Ace Hardware. Rotary and Interact thank Ace Hardware for use of the dumpster.

Photo courtesy of Albion Elks Lodge #1006

ALBION – The Albion Elks Lodge held a spaghetti dinner fundraiser with 70 baskets up for raffle and 50/50 drawings on March 29 for Adrianna, a 7-year-old with cerebral palsy and stage 3 kidney cancer with gene deletion.

The Elks raised $4,905 for Adrianna’s family. Holding the check for the Elks include Richard Robb Sr., the Leading Knight and President of the Elks Riders (left), and Mike Jenks, the Exalted Ruler of the lodge at right. Elk Riders VP Todd Dawley is at left.

“The proceeds are going to family members that go out of their way to make this little girl as comfortable as they can,” Jenks said.

The Elks present a check to Adrianna’s friend Karen Czerniak, and her grandmother who is holding Adrianna’s picture.

“If anyone still wants to make a donation make the check out to the Albion Elks Lodge #1006 and we will make sure it gets to the right people,” Jenks said.

Amy Sidari has taught dance for 38 years, including 28 years as Gotta Dance owner

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Amy Sidari (center), owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy, dances with five generations of the the Sidari family during Saturday’s evening’s dance recital at the Albion Middle School. Her daughter Gina is at left. The Sidari family danced to “Home” by Nick Jonas.

Saturday’s recital was the last one for Sidari as owner of Gotta Dance. She has led Gotta Dance the past 28 years and has been a dance teacher for 38 years. She is retiring to spend more time with her family, including three grandchildren.

Amy Sidari is presented with flowers at the start of Saturday’s recital which was attended by about 400 people. An earlier recital for younger children was attended by 320.

Next to her is dance teacher Crystal Hallenbeck-McPhall at left with Gloria Lear in back and Beth Webb at right.

Lear praised Sidari for creating a “safe haven” for dancers of all abilities and ages.

“Coming through the doors of the studio is like coming home,” Lear said. “We are truly grateful for the opportunities from the studio. We are a family and we will always be connected.”

Lear said there will be an open house for Sidari on April 18 at Gotta Dance, 28 West Bank St., Albion.

Sidari said she will remain active in the Albion community as she steps back from running the dance studio.

Saturday evening’s recital included 46 different dance numbers. Here are photos from some of the dances:

These dancers performed “Jazz Warriors Stand Up.” They include Ella Bruski, Krystal Butler, Eliana Coleman, Vanessa Coy, Millie Fisher, Piper Froman, Layla Kania, Keira Lemcke, Alana McAdoo, Aubrey McPhall, Alaina McPhall, Isabella Pahura, Isabelle Perkins, McKenzie Sample, Aubrey Stinson and Harriet Symons.

This group performed “Lyrical Ashes.”

The group performing “A Ballet Beach Baby” includes Blair Allchin, Olivia Bruski, Millie Fisher, Elady Fisher, Isabella Hafner, Keira Lemcke and Giuliana Liuzzi.

This group led off the recital with a “Mom and Me” dance to “Isn’t Going Down Like That.”

Kasey Neal performs a solo, “A Private Time Will Tell.”

This group dances to “Hip Hop Barbie Mix” and includes Aubrielle Barry, Kaitlynn Basinait, Evee Heinsler, Kendra Kaniecki, McKinley Knight, Mackenzie Lefrois, Nicole Loney, Ava Ludwick, Grace McCormick, Peyton McGuire, Semaj Miller, Chloe Mosele and Isabelle Truelson.

A group of adult dancers perform “Beautiful Things.” They are holding Lauren Thomas. Mollie Radzinski, front left, and Beth Webb, front right, are part of a group that also includes Rebecca DeBoard-Lake, Crystal Hallenbeck-McPhall, Brooke Kiefer, Tisha Loney, Kayla Osborne and Sarah Stornelli.

Jenna Uderitz did a solo dance with lots of gymnastic tumbles to “Private Dream on a Star Mix.”

Evee Heinsler, left, and her sister Thalia Heinsler perform a dance together.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Devon Albone, left, and  Rob Luff get the Albone Spray Foam booth ready this morning at the Home, Garden & Outdoor Show at Dubby’s Tailgate.

Albone, based in Medina, is one of 40 vendors at the show, which continues today until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $3.

Albone usually is at similar home and garden shows in Buffalo and Rochester. He is glad to be closer to home to tout the business’s insulation products.

“It’s more home town here,” he said. “It’s more down to earth.”

These goats greet Laural Prentice at the entrance of Dubby’s. Prentice is part of the booth for Hearth and Home Real Estate Professionals, which is owned by her sister, Karen Conn.

Abby Alexander fastens balloons in an arch inside Dubby’s Tailgate.

Ray Laine, left, and his father Tom Laine of Frontier Heating and A/C Service in Albion are back at the home show after about an absence in recent years. Tom said he likes the heated atmosphere in Dubby’s with close access to their restaurant inside. The home show had been at the fairgrounds.

Frontier was picked as the Chamber of Commerce’s “Business of the Year” in 2024.

The Master Gardeners are at the home show giving out free pumpkin seeds for PumpkinPalooza during the Oct. 11 Medina Scarecrow Fest. They are also giving out seeds from a share program and dispensing other advice.

Seated include Master Gardeners Julie Granchelli, right, and Trina Lorentz. They are chatting with Doreen Wilson, left, and master gardener Nancy Walker.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A very large quilt made by local quilters in 1976 has been put in a new frame and is on display in the Orleans County Courthouse.

County Buildings and Grounds employees made the frame about a month ago for the quilt. The large 35-block quilt has been in storage in the courthouse for more than 20 years. It was taken down as part of a renovation and addition to the courthouse that was completed in 2003.

The quilt was made to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States in 1976. The quilt was done in an appliqué style where one or more pieces of fabric are attached to a larger background fabric to create pictures or patterns.

It is back on display for the Orleans County bicentennial this year.

The center block highlights the train depot in Medina that has been used as a senior citizens center for more than 50 years.

These blocks shows the former Christmas Park in Albion at lower left, the county courthouse, a trolley, and in the top row: the former Swan Library, the county seal (which erroneously listed the county’s founding as 1826 instead of 1825), and the Civil War monument at Mount Albion Cemetery.

These blocks highlight the sloopers who traveled from Norway to Kendall, harness racing at the County Fair, the DAR House in Albion, swans in Lyndonville, and Swan Library in Albion.

The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision may release some inmates early due to a staffing crisis.

Daniel Martuscello, the DOCCS superintendent, has announced a plan to release incarcerated people with non-violent felony convictions up to 110 days early. But that is only as long as they have suitable housing and did not commit certain sex or drug-related offenses. They will remain under supervision of a parole officer.

Martuscello has asked the superintendents at state prisons to submit a list by noon Friday of inmates who could be eligible for early release. In a memo issued on Monday, he said the early release will strike “the appropriate balance between the safety and well-being of those working and residing in DOCCS correctional facilities and public safety.”

The DOCCS commissioner said eligible inmates can’t be serving a sentence for an A-1 or A-2 non-drug offense, a class B through E violent felony offense, or a sex offense. They need an approved residence, which is not a shelter or a DSS placement, upon release, he said.

State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, told reporters the staffing issue could be solved by hiring back the 2,000 corrections officers who were on strike.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, issued a statement saying the early release of inmates is an insult to the law enforcement community and a serious public safety concern.

“Gov. Hochul’s public safety strategy is beginning to sound like a late April Fools’ joke,” Hawley said. “Not only has she fired thousands of correctional officers across the state, but now she’s letting prisoners out of jail early to try to fix the problem she created. This administration has created a system of anarchy in our state prisons. This is unacceptable, and I will do everything within my power to ensure this policy is reversed and law and order is restored in our state.”